Patch Invades Hackettstown to Launch New Site

On September 24, 2010, Long Valley Patch launched as a hyper-local, online news site hoping to serve all the information needs of Washington Township.

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We like to think in the nearly two years since, we’ve lived up to what we set out to do.

We’re not alone, of course. Patch Media has more than 860 sites across 21 states and continues to grow, as the need for providing online, community news expands.

This is also true locally, as we’ve decided to launch Hackettstown Patch right next door.

It’s a natural marriage, of course, bringing Hackettstown Patch into the fold. Long Valley Patch was covering all it could locally and in bits in and , but since the launch of Mendham-Chester Patch earlier this year, we feel the content has gotten stronger and readers have been more engaged.

We’ll be doing the same with Hackettstown, and we’re sure it will be a strong complement to the existing sites in this area.

But who’s going to run the site, you’re asking (OK, maybe you’re not, but we’ll tell you anyway)?

Patch was able to secure an experienced, one-of-a-kind editor to commandeer the new site. Chances are you know him well.

Your trusty old friend , will be in charge of the Hackettstown site. Don’t worry, though, he’ll still be at the head of his original site.

We’ll also have some extended help along the way, especially in the early going. You’ll probably see name pop up here and there, and for those who read that site, will likely see Koestenblatt’s name there, too.

Our regional editors in the Morris and Somerset County region will be jumping in from time to time, too, to help Hackettstown Patch kick off properly.

Speaking of counties, Patch is making history with Hackettstown, as it will be the first Warren County site.

And when can you expect the site to be ready? Sooner than you think, as we aim for Thursday, Sept. 27.

For now, though, you can ‘like’ the Hackettstown Patch Facebook page by going here, and keep an eye on Long Valley Patch for the official launch announcement.

We’re excited to expand Patch’s mission to other towns, and we hope you’ll join us for the ride.