Meet The New (Old) Editor Of Your New Lenox Patch (2024)

Community Corner

There's a new face in charge of New Lenox Patch, though it might look familiar to some of you.

Posted Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 1:01 pm CT|Updated Mon, Nov 14, 2022 at 1:20 pm CT

If you don't know my name or face from my previous time here, hi. It's nice to meet you. Quick facts about me: I am a New Lenox resident and also a lifelong south suburbanite (by choice, which so many of my friends just cannot wrap their heads around), an avid equestrienne, dog and cat mom (two of each, and three horses), bowler, and longtime player of sand volleyball (need a sub on your local team? I'm in!). But most importantly, I am a believer in local news as the tie that binds, and I love it more than I could possibly describe.

Honestly, I'm essentially old news around this neck of the woods. I started at Patch in 2010, and another south suburban site, Oak Forest Patch was the seedling I nurtured and grew into a full-fledged news website. I took such pride in growing the audience from scratch, both on the site and on social media. I went on to later cover your beloved New Lenox, Orland Park, Tinley Park, Homewood-Flossmoor, Chicago Heights, Palos, Lemont, Homer Glen and Lockport, Evergreen Park, Frankfort, Mokena, and Manhattan—all for Patch.

I've covered the most granular stories you can imagine here and in other towns, but I've also tackled big breaking news as it happened. I've met some wonderful people and written about them accomplishing amazing things. I've stood alongside some of you as you've experienced loss and grief; I've also celebrated with many of you, too. You've shared with me your successes, struggles, and slices of your lives. Years ago, New Lenox readers trusted me to deliver the news they need to help them lead informed, safe, fun lives in their community. I'm pleased to have the honor of taking up those reins again, and I hope if you don't already trust me with your stories, you will soon.

I'm a big believer in being present in the towns I cover, and I encourage you to stop me to say hello if you see me out and about (unless you run into me at the grocery store late at night, and I'm clearly in sweats. Then, let's just pretend you never saw me, OK?). See me up at Bulldog or Arrowhead? Let's chat over a beer (but if you buy the last pack of one of my favorites out of the Arrowhead cooler, we're going to have words). Aaaaand maybe wait until I'm not shoving food in my mouth at a Triple Play show, to say hello.

I want to hear what you'd like to see more of on Patch. I've started a digital "Suggestion Box" via the Google Form you see in this article. Please submit your suggestions! All responses will be viewable only by yours truly.

New Lenox Patch is as much yours, as it is mine. I aim for this to be a place that truly reflects your town, its character, and the people who live here. You can reach me any time at lauren.traut@patch.com. I welcome your questions, feedback, story suggestions, and local food recommendations.

OH, and in case you missed it, we're looking for your nominations on two very special types of people in New Lenox! We're looking for "local heroes"—people doing remarkable things, or just things that mean a lot to you and/or the community—and "star athletes"—standout student-athletes that could use another round of applause. Maybe they're volunteers in town, they go above and beyond on the court and off.

Find links to nominate them here:

• Who's a local hero? Nominate them here.
• Star athlete? Nominate them here.

I hope to meet those of you who are strangers, and reconnect with those who've been a part of Patch in the past.

Cheers, New Lenox!