I'm a third-generation journalist from Tampa, FL.

After I graduated from Tampa's H.B. Plant High School in 2003 and I headed to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN. At St. Olaf I studied English Literature, refined my Spanish and worked as the Arts Editor for the campus paper. I also interned for a number of publications including a small daily newspaper in Leesburg, FL and an even smaller newspaper in Sheridan, WY.

I graduated from St. Olaf in 2007. After a brief stint at home in the Sunshine State I came back to Minnesota, where I took at job at the Owatonna People's Press. There I covered almost everything imaginable: A plane crash, the last traveling freak show in the U.S. and many, many floods. And yes, I did meet Adam Young of Owl City too.

In my spare time, I like to read, write fiction, and hang out with my fiancé and our two tuxedo cats, Grete and Gregor. So far, we're enjoying our new home immensely. 

I'm excited to be here and I hope you'll become absolutely addicted to our site. If you have any comments, questions or concerns feel free to contact me.

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 and human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal certain key beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable.
This disclosure is not a license for our editors to inject these beliefs into stories or to dictate coverage according to them. In fact, the intent is the opposite: we hope that the knowledge that our beliefs are on the record will force us to be ever mindful to write, report, and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you, the user, ever think you see evidence that we failed in this mission, we wholeheartedly invite you to let us know.

Politics

I follow politics closely because the political process both interests and irritates me, but I've never been invested in either party. It is rare for me to vote entirely for Dems or Republicans. One of my college roommates once told me she voted straight ticket even if she didn't know the candidates and I gasped in horror.

Religion

I was raised as an Episcopalian, though my parents sometimes moonlight at the Catholic Church. As an adult, I have no particular religious affiliation. Occasionally, I attend Lutheran or Catholic services, but for now I'm keeping my options open.

Hot Button Issues

I have only lived in the area for a few weeks, so please contact me and let me know what's on your mind. My e-mail is clare.kennedy@patch.com or you can reach me at 952-258-9223.