Dear readers,

Thursday is my last day at Fair Lawn Patch.

Since Sept. 21, 2010, when we launched with coverage of layoffs in the police department, Fair Lawn Patch has published more than 1,800 articles. After 11 months full of Borough Council meetings, breaking news stories and coffees at Panera, I am moving forward with my career.

Working at Patch and serving you, the residents of Fair Lawn (or anywhere else you type in our Web address), has been a transformative experience for me professionally and personally. From my perspective, this site has been fair and balanced in its coverage of local news. Patch has also provided the type of timely, up-to-the-minute information that you needed in Fair Lawn and should always come to expect in the future. That won't change in my absence.

For me, Patch was largely about the people I met every day. I can say with confidence that each workday was different, a refreshing new experience. Whether we met regularly, spoke just once in the field or on the phone, or merely exchanged emails, you undoubtedly taught me something new.

I won't begin to name names, because I'm bound to forget many of them. However you provided information for, contributed to, or commented on the site, I truly appreciated your input. I feel that in less than a year, we started something from scratch and built it into an integral part of this community. Take a peek back at the attached welcome video, from day one of Fair Lawn Patch—we have certainly come a long way.

I grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and this year lived in Bergenfield, but I'll always consider Fair Lawn a home away from home. I'll certainly never forget our town crier. Where will I ever find that again?

Please continue to read Fair Lawn Patch—I know I will. If you'd like to stay in touch, don't hesitate to contact me at my personal email, jakamaras@gmail.com.

Sincerely,

Jacob Kamaras, Local Editor