In the last couple of years, we have heard from you that asking "when is Walpole going to have its own Patch?

Well, the answer is today. Walpole Patch is here and we're glad to be your neighbors.

As we start this online news journey together, we might have the keys to the car, but we're looking very much to share the driving with all of you.

In my job as a regional editor for Patch and overseeing the local sites, I'm often asked how you describe Patch?

My answer goes way back to the beginning of my time with Patch. In fact, it was the last round of interviews for this job. At that time, Patch was in the building stage, I was asked to describe what I thought Patch would be like when it was built.

Going into the interview, I thought that question might be asked, so I had given it some thought.

"It's like taking to your neighbor over the fence or sitting down at the kitchen table for a cup of coffee, telling each other all the news that is going on. You tell what you know and the other person tells what they know and you start a conversation."

I must have been pretty close to Patch's vision, because I got the job. In fact, now almost two years later, I know I answered correctly.

We are daily two-way conversation about Walpole. Each day, the readers and the editor are engaged in talking about what going.

It can be through an email or a phone call or just stopping Walpole Patch local editor Ben Paulin or myself at a local shop, drinking coffee or grabbing something to eat. (PS. We'll be the guys with computers that say Patch on them and we drink a lot of coffee.)

But face-to-face or over the phone or through the computer is not the only way we can have a conversation. Walpole Patch is designed so we can communicate with each other, whether it's through being a blogger, writing a story, taking a photo or a video or posting a calendar items, which you can right on the site yourself or commenting or taking a poll or claiming your business listing (that's a great deal and it's free, ask me about it) or having our ad on the site.

I've been hanging out in Walpole for over a year as we planned the start of Walpole Patch, listening and learning. Whether it's been in the supermarket or at an event or in a coffee shop, I've heard what you have been talking about.

Wait, our first correction, the year part is actually wrong. I've actually been in Walpole often for the last six years as my daughter, Katie, graduated from Norfolk Aggie in 2010.

GO RAMS.

But today, Walpole Patch is your newest neighbor, so let's get the conversation started.  We're already starting to pour the coffee.

(Michael Hardman is a regional editor for Patch, overseeing Walpole and surrounding towns. He can be reached at michaelh@patch.com. or by phone at 781-507-6885.)