Email: Kaitlyn.Anness@patch.com
Phone: 732-379-8575
Hometown: Westfield, NJ
Birthday: January 11, 1989

I was born in Westfield, NJ and lived there for 22 years before joining the Patch family. I have been interested in and practicing journalism since I was 15, beginning at Westfield High School and continuing on through college. I began college at Quinnipiac University, where I spent two great years before transferring to Rowan University. After occupying several editorial positions on the college newspaper, I began freelancing for Patch in Collingswood. I graduated magna cum laude from Rowan in May, 2011.

Transplanting myself to Marlboro was not a huge change. Westfield and Marlboro are very similar. They are full of concerned, dedicated citizens that are working daily to make their towns the best possible.

But what Westfield lacks in open space, Marlboro certainly makes up for. Passing farms on the way to Town Hall is one of my favorite things, and proves Marlboro residents are dedicated to preserving what once was in the township.

At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. This disclosure is not a license for you to inject your beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that your beliefs are on the record will cause you to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that we failed in this mission, please let us know.

Politics 
I do not identify with any political party. However, I am fiscally conservative while leaning toward the left regarding social issues.

Religion
I was raised Catholic but do not consider myself a religious person. I welcome an open-minded environment.

Local Hot-Button Issues

Citizens of Marlboro are painfully aware of the over-development of the area. Currently, only 14 percent of Marlboro is still farmland. As Marlboro moves forward, it is apparent that citizens are also concerned with preserving the uniqueness of Marlboro's farmland.

And, as with any town in America, residents are watching their tax dollars closely. After the crash of the market, citizens of Marlboro took action and got involved in every area of the township. The amount of involvement in the community is astounding, and the willingness to become and stay informed is part of what makes Marlboro residents so great to be around as a journalist.

Holmdel is no different. It's full of dedicated volunteers and hard working citizens. I hope to closely follow the progression of the Alcatel-Lucent property as well as keep residents informed about the municipal revenue issues and how it impacts their taxes.