Bye for Now, Vienna Patch
One editor leaves, another takes the helm of Vienna Patch
Starting today, you'll see a new face at the top of your screen each morning.
Just more than two years after the day in 2010 that I arrived in Vienna to launch Vienna Patch, I'm leaving my role as editor and handing over the reins to someone else.
Starting Monday, Nicole Trifone, Oakton Patch's editor, will be taking over the Vienna site. We've been great neighbors since 2010 (you may have seen her around Vienna at the baseball diamonds or at the many floods along Lawyers and Hunter Mill Roads) and I can't imagine anyone better to take on the site and move it forward.
I'm not going far: For the past month, I've been transitioning to the role of Associate Regional Editor, overseeing eight of Patch's sites (soon to be nine as we plan to add Tysons Corner) in Northern Fairfax and Loudoun Counties, including Vienna.
The journey to get here is one I'm proud of; one for which I'm also incredibly grateful. I had no way of knowing what kind of place Vienna would be when I started canvassing Maple Avenue and Church Street with a street team, telling people who I was, what I was doing and the kind of news and information network we were trying to achieve.
But I quickly found I had unknowingly stumbled upon the best kind of Patch town: A town with a community already connected, already interacting, already bursting with ideas — but with no place to gather or share in dialogue. You have embraced the site with open arms, shared news tips, invited me to your meetings and homes, bike trains and fundraisers; stayed up commenting until 3 a.m. as I reported on storms, fires and bad car accidents. We celebrated, we debated, we mourned far too many young deaths and experienced quite a few freak weather occurences. We recognized the wins and awards of Warhawks and Statesmen, watched inspiring community change, and in the process, built a robust place for news, information and dialogue I hope you continue to use as your own.
It’s been my pleasure to cover such a special community. I'll still be around, most often at Fairfax County School Board meetings, the occasional town council work session and, some early mornings, running along the W+OD or coaching Girls on the Run.
I know you’ll still turn to Vienna Patch for your source of news and information and continue to send us tips for stories.
My contact information will remain the same, so if you have any questions or concerns, please e-mail me at erica.hendry@patch.com.
You can reach Nicole Trifone at nicole.trifone@patch.com or 571-969-9871. And, you can reach her at @ViennaPatch on Twitter and through Vienna Patch on Facebook.
You can also follow me as I tweet about news from Vienna and other parts of Northern Fairfax and Loudoun Counties at @EricaRHendry -- and I will still always be happy to receive story tips for Vienna and the surrounding communities.
See you around!
Beau Dure
6:16 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations, Erica!
liz difrancisco
6:19 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
THANK YOU Erika! Fantastic job, keeping Vienna on top of the world! Liz
Carol Lewis
8:15 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations, Erica! I'm delighted that I got to know you not only on Patch but personally through the Mom's Council. I wish you the best of luck in your new position.
kim jackson
8:56 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
well done and best to you!!!
Laurie Dodd
9:42 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
I am very glad to hear that you will continue to cover School Board meetings!
Carolyn Lawson
9:50 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations Erica! Wonderful news - and Nicole is certainly a wonderful choice for Vienna! Win-Win!
Erica R. Hendry
9:53 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Yes she is! A perfect pick for the job and I know she'll do great.
Nicole Trifone
12:46 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Thanks, Carolyn!
Mark Keam
9:59 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Erica, thanks for all you've done to bring the Patch to our community. Good luck with your new role. I know you'll continue to be successful! Mark Keam
George J. Creed
10:00 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Thank you for timely reporting in the Vienna community - great realtime stuff. George
Ryan McElveen
10:57 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations, Erica! Glad we'll continue to see you at SB meetings.
Ryan
Amelie Krikorian
11:03 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations and good luck with the promotion!
Shreff
11:23 am on Monday, August 6, 2012
You are going to be a hard act to follow, Erica. I have never seen so much energy and talent in one place. You will be missed
Melanie Meren
12:00 pm on Monday, August 6, 2012
Congratulations, Erica. I'll miss your coverage, but glad you aren't going far. Welcome, Nicole.
Nicole Trifone
12:46 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Thanks, Melanie!
Cherie Lejeune
10:44 am on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Congratulations Erica! Not surprised that management recognized and gave you this promotion based on your amazing talents. You will energize your base of regional editors, and create even more connected community “roads”. Vienna didn’t really understand the value of "real time news” until you won them over and you know how much I love that part! Nicole belongs to the same online journo warrior club as you, so I know she will continue her super abilities and she gets lots more action in the deal! Owe you a glass of your favorite drink...hopefully somewhere on Church St!
Tim Fricker
12:56 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Erica! Sorry to see you go... it's been great working with you on my Vienna Pedaler articles. Best of luck to you in the new job! And you still need to bring your bike in for service... ;-)
Kristin Gundersen
3:41 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Erica, awesome news, you have left Vienna in great hands! Congrats to you both. All the best!!!!
J Anderson
7:30 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Erica.....NO !! You can't leave us!! I'm going to call some people that know some people..
At least you aren't going far....Congrats.
Steven Greenburg
7:58 pm on Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Erica,
That's what you get for being such a competent, hard-working, AWESOME reporter! I certainly hope that promotion comes with more than just a title ($).
I am so happy to hear that you will still be attending the FCPS school board meetings with the other seven (four on a bad night?) of us. Congratulations again:)
Phyllis Payne
11:11 am on Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Congratulations! Great to hear that your hard work is being rewarded and glad that you will still be covering the school board meetings.
Michael Amouri
9:59 pm on Friday, August 10, 2012
Congratulations Erika. You and I came into Vienna just about the same time. It's been wonderful watching you grow and having you around as we've grown. You are a great choice for your new position and I know you'll do wonderfully in it. All best.
Phil Ingrassia
4:52 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Thanks Erika -- just saw this -- good luck and thanks for your responsiveness over the past couple of years.
Alison Noll
9:59 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
Congratulations, Erika! You have contributed in so many positive ways to our community. I wish you continuing success and thank you for your objective, perceptive and informative reporting. We are in good hands with Nicole going forward. All the best.