Petaluma Patch has extensive Sonoma County based experience on its team with three former Press Democrat writers among its contributors. Two, Shelley Klaner and Rayne Wolfe, are long time Petaluma residents. A couple other Petaluma Patch contributors are also south County residents.

Anecdotal comments I've heard from Petaluma residents regarding Petaluma Patch have been favorable. If you live in Healdsburg, please share your opinion about Healdsburg Patch.

Sonoma Patch, however, seems to suffer from a lack of contributors who know the community well. This is evident in how contributors use Sonoma and Sonoma Valley interchangeably when it's not always accurate to do so. The name of a well known local official was misspelled. A series called Neighborhood Files has the tone of a travel writer or other visiting journalist, instead of a local discussing his community. Maybe if the series' title used another word then "neighborhood" I would react differently.

What is impressive about all the hyperlocal Sonoma County Patch sites is that the contributors are all experienced journalists and writers. No entry level staff here. Errors and omissions aside, I generally found the writing entertaining and interesting. Sonoma Patch's editor Alexis Fitts has been meeting with city councilmembers and other community leaders to learn about the area. I am optimistic that over time, Sonoma Patch will grow into a media source we locals will appreciate.

What do you think about Sonoma County's Patch sites? I would love to hear reactions from folks in Petaluma and Healdsburg? Comments from Sonomans are welcomed also.