Seven Years Later

Tomorrow will mark seven years since I retired from the Courier News.

For the past five years, I have been blogging about Plainfield.

Many things have changed during these years. Four people have worked the Plainfield beat for the newspaper since 2003. The local blogosphere has exploded since 2005 to include more than 20 bloggers. People have gone from asking, "What's a blog?" to becoming used to receiving both hyperlocal and mainstream news online.

Some things, however, have been slow to change. There is probably a 10-year file on the topic of security cameras downtown. The city has yet to make effective use of online communication. Development, one of the issues that prompted the launch of Plainfield Plaintalker, has been stalled due to the economy and there is little to report.

Plainfield is currently beset by turmoil in the school district, an impasse between the City council and the administration over fiscal management and a dark cloud of gang violence hanging over the community. Sometimes good news is hard to find.

Still, there does seem to be a more energetic engagement by residents in community affairs, if only to comment on how things are going or to suggest possible new directions.

Certainly in 2003 I never could have imagined the changes that have come about, especially becoming a blogger. Thanks to all who read the blog, and keep those comments coming!

--Bernice