Meet the New West Chester Patch Editor

You may have noticed a new photo and a new name at the top of the West Chester Patch home page this week. I wanted to take a moment to say hi and introduce myself.

My name is Bob Byrne and I'm the new Local Editor for the West Chester and Phoenixville Patch sites. Before this assignment I've been a Patch Editor in the region for the past two years. I am the "founding" editor (a fancy way of saying I launched) the Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch in May 2011.

No matter what Patch I am privileged to edit, one thing is critical to me. That is getting to know the people in our Patch communities. Patch is all about community and West Chester has certainly welcomed Patch since we launched here. Tom Sunnergren, and West Chester Patch's Founding Editor Jake Speicher are tough acts to follow, but I am in close contact with them in their new assignments that are part of the same regional Patch team.  I'm also hoping you will partner with me to make Patch an even more integral part of the West Chester community.

I've already had the pleasure of meeting small business owners, community leaders and great people all over town.

Chances are that after only a week I haven't a chance to meet you yet. Consider this your invitation to let me know what stories you think we should be covering on West Chester Patch.  Please also consider this your invitation to post photos, stories, triumphs and concerns.

While it's my face and name you see at the top of the homepage, there is a local, regional and national team of Patch editorial and sales people here with me. One of them is a Nate Adams. Nate is the Community Manager for West Chester Patch. If you send an email (Westchester@Patch.com) about how to use the site, or looking for help in posting something or if you see something on the West Chester Patch Facebook or Twitter site you will see some of Nate's amazing work. (He's also an Assistant Regional Editor. That makes him one of my immediate bosses. Did I mention that Nate's a super great guy)?

You can post an announcement about an accomplishment, team, business, church or civic organization. Tell us about your kid, your kid's school or your opinion on the schools and government.

Patch is a platform and we while we do cover hard news (I came to Patch with three decades of news reporting experience) we -and I think this is even more important-are a resource for you to connect with everyone else in Phoenixville.

Here are the links you need to start your own conversation:

To tell tell everyone about an accomplishment or post your own news story about something important to you, click on this link.

To post information about an upcoming event click on this link.

To share an opinion you can start a blog by clicking on this link.

You can also use the comments section at the bottom of this article to tell me what you would like to see on West Chester Patch.

You can also click on "send us a news tip" located near the bottom of the homepage under "Contribute."

I look forward to getting to know you and thanks for using Patch!

You can reach me and everyone of the West Chester Patch editorial at Westchester@Patch.com.

-Bob the Editor