Welcome to North Potomac-Darnestown Patch!

Hi, I'm Jillian Badanes, editor of North Potomac-Darnestown Patch, a new source of news devoted to covering local schools, sports, business, arts and government.

Patch is a network of local news websites, each of which is centered on a town or community and run by an editor and a team of freelance writers. On this site we'll be reporting on school events, investigating how development plans will affect existing communities and tell you a little bit about the lives of your neighbors.

Patch depends on user engagement, too. Be sure to register so you can start adding events and posting announcements that you want to share with the community.

I have only been in the area for a few months, but I have already had a chance to meet many of you and I look forward to learning more about your lives. Explore the different story categories, check out our columns written by your neighbors and send me an email or post a comment on a story and let me know what you think. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for the latest updates.

We'll be updating the site several times a day, so be sure to check back often. See you around town!