Editor's Notebook: Patch Celebrates its 100th Site Launch

On Tuesday, Patch celebrates an important milestone - the launch of its 100th site. After just a year and a half, the Patch sites have collectively produced 55,000 articles and have generated 1 million pictures - and we continue to grow everyday.

The first Patch sites were launched in Maplewood, South Orange and Millburn-Short Hills, New Jersey in February 2009. A few months later, the company was acquired by AOL and AOL has since invested $50 million in Patch.

The Smithtown Patch just launched a little more than one week ago, but we are already reporting on Smithtown stories big and small, in places old and new, all around the neighborhood.

So far we've been ...

- At the huge barn fire on Hallock Ave. and the small electrical fire on Ramondo.

- In the historic Main Street playhouse and the brand new Main Street recording studio.

- Reporting on the tragic deaths of St. Patrick's principal Eileen Sadicario, Smithtown High School teacher and coach Patrick Harmon and the fourth precinct jail cell death of Brenda Gaines.

- Interviewing at the seafood shops about the oil spill, in the food stores about their reusable bag policies and at the Smithtown bank about their recent buy-out.

- Covering Smithtown politics in an exclusive video interview with Suffolk County Legislator Lynne Nowick and with footage of Rick Lazio's Watermill appearance.

- Following the massive library renovation project, the school board's summer preparations and the town's top athletes at the Empire State games and the Smith Point triathlon.

- Providing insider views of Smithtown through our columnists Gina Mannara (Single in Smithtown), Mike Hanley (Tips from the Tax Man), Richard Daly (Beauty Glitch? Ask Rich) and Judy Marlow-Ratway (The Smithtownian).

And these are just a few strands of our reporting at Smithtown Patch. In the upcoming months we will be providing intensive coverage of the school district, election season in town government, local business growth and development and helping to honor the strong Smithtown traditions.

This site is as much yours as it is ours. Post announcements, add events and send us news tips. Help us celebrate this milestone by becoming a part of our mission.