I’m going to cut to the chase on this one, no beating around the bush. After 4-1/2 years of being “the blog lady,” I’ve come to the difficult decision that it’s time to retire my post here at the blog. I have truly loved being the voice behind My Southborough, but the time has come for me to pursue other interests.
Now don’t panic, the blog is not going away anytime soon. In fact, it’s my hope My Southborough will continue for many years to come.
For the next couple of months, I will continue to post daily updates on the blog just as I have been doing all along. I’m going to keep up my blogging duties through the town elections in May – there are too many important decisions the town needs to make between now and then to leave you in a lurch.
During that time I’ll also be on the search for someone (or someones) to take over the helm at My Southborough.
If you have even the slightest inkling that being a community blogger might be just the thing for you, I urge you to get in touch. We can meet for coffee and chat and I’ll tell you all about how covering the great town of Southborough has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. I’ll tell you it’s challenging, and demanding, but I’ll also tell you that contributing something of value to the community you love is worth every late-night meeting…well, almost every late-night meeting.
If you’d like to learn more about what it takes to be a hyperlocal blogger, read this, and then drop me a line.
I’ll save the big sappy goodbye for when that time comes. For now, let me just take a moment to say thank you. Thank you for making this site what it has become, for being involved, for caring. Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. Thank you.
(I’m going to leave this post pinned to the top of the blog for the remainder of the day to give people a chance to see it, but I’ll still be posting other stories today. Scroll down to see them.)
Susan, thanks for your contributions over the past 4.5 years….hopefully someone will pick up the torch and keep this site going. Between you and Linda stepping down, there’s a real void.
Susan you have been an amazing resource to this town! Your dedication and passion to keep all of us “in the know” has been immensely appreciated by my family. We will certainly miss you, but wish you all the very best. Thank you!
Susan, thank you for all you have done for this town. You have kept us informed, kept us educated, have given us a place to feel connected to this town. You have handled some pretty hot topics that brought many heated debates- you have monitored them all with grace. We will miss you “Blog Lady” but will be waiting for the next chapter…..
You’ve done so much for this town with MySouthborough. I totally understand the need to do something new – but of course we’ll miss you! Thanks for everything. :-)
On behalf of all the parents in town I want to thank Susan (my sister) for all of the great school news over the years. Whether it was sports scores and schedules from Algonquin or up coming band concerts at Trottier, MySouthborough was always the place to get the latest info. I personally know the dedication she put towards this and I hope there are others out there that are interested in keeping the site alive. Thanks little sister!
Surprised and sorry to hear you are leaving my southborough. The timing couldnt have been harder on the community losing two well built hometown news sources. But i personally understand your decision since having to make that same hard decision with the southborough news less than two months ago. Both sites were informative for the community but i am sure you like me spent numerous hours at meetings and events around town that sometimes had our families taking a back seat. I thank you and best wishes for your new adventures.
Thanks Susan! I know how hard you work on this, and it really shows. You’ve built a really cool community. Best of luck.
Wow. Somebody has big big shoes to fill. You have done an amazing job. It is a daily read for me and serves our community so well. THANK YOU.
You have done a wonderful job on this blog. I have found it incredibly helpful. Thank you for all your hard work!
From Nature Walks to Town Government and the best source of information during Blizzards and Hurricains, you covered it all. Thank you. You’ll be greatly missed. Best wishes for your new endeavors.
Thank you for all the time and effort you put into this blog.It has been a daily “go-to” site for me since you started. Your updates during recent storms and the power outages we have experienced were incredibly helpfull.You will be missed.
Susan,
I’m so sorry to hear about your decision, but I understand and respect it. Thank you for all you’ve done. The blog has been a really valuable resource for our town in so many ways. I truly hope someone(s) steps up to take over, though it’s a monumental task that you made look easy. Best of luck in your future endeavors, and I’m sure our paths will cross again! Martha
Wow, I wish you the absolute best. You brought a needed resource to us all, the chance to banter, share and sometimes disagree but mostly come together with a sense of Community. Thank you so very much for all you and Linda created. You have left huge shoes for someone to fill. Best of luck!
Thank you, Susan, for your dedication to keeping us all informed about the goings-on in town. You will be sorely missed but hopefully someone will want to take over and continue a very important news source for all of us. Good luck in your next endeavor.
Thank you for your hours of work to keep the community informed!! I wish you the best in your next chapter!
Thank you for being such a talented, hard working and amazing resource to Southborough. I will truly miss your voice on the blog and hope that the type of work that you and Linda Hubley started continues on in our town. Thanks again and enjoy what comes next!
Susan, you deserve an extra special something in your stocking this year! Thanks for all that you have done, and all the best to you on what’s next!
Best Wishes, Susan
Thank you so much for all of your great coverage over the past four and a half years. Your entries will be missed! You started something so meaningful and timely, and you will be missed. Thanks for all you’ve done, Susan!
Feeling sad. Especially appreciated your help during the storms. Thank-You for your work and dedication. You and Linda Hubley should get together and oversee a team of interns….get paid for your efforts and spend time with your families. Just sayin’.
I moved to Vermont last November, but still read your blog every day, to keep up with the town I love. Thank you so much for what you have done for us! I will really miss you!
So surprised and sad to learn of your decision. Mysouthborough very quickly became part of the fabric of your beloved hometown. You covered everything we cared about, from why flags were flying at half mast, break-ins, home sales, and weekend happenings to who has pulled papers to run for election and fabulous Town Meeting coverage – in real time! While without power in Vermont during Hurricane Irene, I followed your blog on my phone. Thanks to you I knew where trees were down in my neighborhood back in Southborough and what streets were closed. And, I haven’t even mentioned your wonderful photos! I was very surprised to read your description of how much time you devote to covering and reporting the news. It seems like you are at work 24/7. You should feel really good about what you’ve given your fellow citizens and hopefully someone (or two or three) will step forward to ensure we can keep the conversation going. Best of luck with your venture. You certainly are a woman of many talents!
Your work here has been elegant, warm, unpretentious and important, all at the same time. That combination is so rare, an artistry. I thank you for this gift you have provided to us.
John’s words perfectly describe how I feel about your work on this blog, Susan. You have a gift and will most definitely be a tough act to follow. Thank you so much for what you’ve done for us for the last four-plus years.
It’s important to know when to move on Susan and I’m sure you’re moving on to continue to inspire and keep people connected in some way. Many thanks for all you’ve brought to our community. Take good care,
Marilyn
While I can’t believe you are wrapping things up, I understand. Thanks for your input and commitment to Southborough!
Unfortunately, I think most of our political representatives are now secretly rejoicing because the less the people know, and the fewer voices that are heard, the better off they are.
Susan has provided a forum where their actions were at least held to the light.
Her efforts and equanimity will be sorely missed.
Warning: Don’t surrender this blog to a former PR person who worked at any level of government or in “government relations”.
Has anyone mentioned your wonderful photographs that we will all miss? Ditto for all the comments.
All the best and we’ll see you around town!
Susan, Thanks for keeping us so informed. Since it seems the newspapers around here only use Southborough as a filler or when something is controversial, it has been good to know about the happy news from your site and Linda’s along with all the rest of the news. I think that since your blog’s beginning, decisions made in town by the voters, who follow your blog, are more informed decisions than years past. I definitely think you have built a stronger community because of all of your hard work. I will also miss your beautiful photographs and Liinda’s. Keeping us informed about all the events in town has benefitted many organizations, as the attendance is better because of your notices. Thank you for a job well done!
Great job Susan. I remember when you were just getting started and were trying to establish some readership. You have done that and a lot more. You have become an important resource for Southborough residents as well as for others outside of our town who have an interest here. I hope you can find someone else to shoulder the mantle.
Dick
Thanks Susan for all the work. It is the BEST community blog in Metrowest, and it will obviously be greatly missed.
Susan, this is an excellent high quality blog. Thanks so much for your coverage especially during some of the recent storms.
Susan: thanks for the great service you have provided to southboro residents. Your blog is one of the few websites i check every day. You will be missed. I sincerely hope you find someone to continue the blog. Good luck with your next adventure.
Cheers.
The Town without MySouthborough will be diminished. Your reporting has been invaluable and your lack of any visible agenda has been refreshing. I hope that your successor is as objective. Your gentle editing will be missed.