Shorebeat editor Daniel Nee, taking a break from hard-hitting news reporting. (Family Photo)
Friday marked the second anniversary of Brick Shorebeat’s launch.
On our first anniversary, I wrote to the Brick community, talking about why I started this business and what I hoped to achieve. It was a bit long-winded, but from the heart. This year, I’ll let everyone in on a more humorous side to our start.
The day after I left Patch.com, two years ago this past week, I had an appointment for wisdom teeth removal surgery. That was a Thursday, and I was gung-ho about getting Shorebeat launched by Monday. Experiencing anesthesia for the first time, everyone laughed as I sang a Billy Joel song on the way home from the doctor’s office in Toms River (for no apparent reason), and as I got together last minute graphics, finishing touches and even the video intro we use to this day – all in a bizarre daze of throbbing, swelling and (at least there’s a good part) painkillers.
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In the end, the pain subsided by Saturday, and the site got off the ground Monday – and we’ve never missed a day since. I don’t say that to brag, but rather to reflect on the awe-inspiring response I’ve gotten from this community from day one. Going back six years to the first time I covered our town with Patch, I never imagined this journey – telling Brick’s story – would lead me through the ups and downs of working for a major corporation, and the uncertainty and pride of starting my own business in the place I love. I’ve made many friends along the way, and this year was incredibly humbled to have been elected by my fellow Brick business owners to the board of our township’s Chamber of Commerce.
At the same time, the strong readership in Brick helped us launch our second site covering Lavallette and the Seasides, and continues to lay the groundwork for more expansion that we expect in the coming months.
It is you, our readers, who I have to thank for your unending trust to keep you informed about the most important things in your life – your town, your neighborhood, and even your children’s schools. It is our advertising sponsors – those who believe in us so much that they pay to be a part of our team – that inspire me to do the best I can, every day.
Over the past year, 505,196 people have read our site, in 1,206,997 sessions. People have viewed our articles 1,677,385 times.
Those numbers are both humbling and exciting. We have a lot to be proud of in this town, not the least of which is the way we’re engaged, active and working hard to make this place the best it can be for our families, friends and neighbors.
I’m incredibly proud to say my journey began right here.
Here’s to another great year ahead!
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