One year ago today, I was sitting in my car, logged onto my laptop with a wireless network card, on the phone with my Editorial Director in New York City. We looked at the internal version of Woburn Patch, making sure everything was in it's proper place.

And then, with the click of a button, the site went live.

And Woburn Patch was born.

It was one of the most exciting days of my journalism career. A site that I had worked on for five weeks, painstakingly making sure that every city building and park was represented, stories were ready and photos were taken, was finally ready for the public.

And you all came to the site. You commented, you clicked, you joined us on Facebook and Twitter. 

We have been through so much in this first year—more than I ever could have imagined when I began working for Patch in October of 2010.

It was with a heavy heart that I met Ricky Greene at the scene of his house fire right before Christmas and we talked about the loss of his pets.

Days later, I cried with you all as we learned that we had lost Officer Jack Maguire after an armed robbery at Kohls. And it was with a fear of what I might find that I raced to Four Corners in September and learned that Officer Robert DeNapoli had been shot.

We've had traffic accidents take the lives of Woburnites, both in the city and out of state. And we've had a traffic accident that landed a car in Horn Pond. 

We've watched the Yes to Our Library supporters work with city officials, and vice versa, to save one of our prized possessions—the 131-year-old Woburn Public Library building.

We've visited schools, watched musicals, celebrated sports wins and honored veterans.

But most importantly, through it all, you, our readers, have made me a part of the Woburn family. I truly love this community and how it has opened its arms and welcomed myself and Woburn Patch into its fold.

So, today, on Woburn Patch's one-year anniversary, I thank all of you for the gift you have given me—support, encouragement, love. Woburn, I can't think of any other place I'd rather be!

With much love,

Your Editor

Danielle Masterson