I've worked in journalism for almost 20 years, including writing editorials for a major daily Chicago-area newspaper for 12 years, reporting and writing feature stories for seven years, and finally writing education stories for the largest Chicago daily newspaper. I'm excited to join Patch and enter the world of online journalism. My two kids go to school in the Niles area, so I have a great affection for the town and its people. 

As the editor of Grayslake Patch, I look forward to bringing you the news, sports and events of Grayslake that you can't live without. Join the conversation!

I am a dynamic figure, and can often be seen crushing bricks of ice with my bare hands. I'm a seasonal musician, an amateur improvisor and an international outlaw. I jumped out of a helicopter to skydive the Swiss Alps, hung my legs over the ends of the earth at the Cliffs of Moher and watched the sun fade over Madrid at a bull fight. I can tell you what it smells like in the Sistine Chapel. Although I've only been involved in one high-speed chase on the freeways of El Salvador, I have paintings on display in 12 permanent collections across the country. In the immortal words of Elvis: I've never been to heaven... but I've been to Oklahoma.

Steve Sadin has lived on the North Shore most of his life where his journalism career began in high school, had a stint as sports editor for the North Shore Group of Pioneer Press and continues today as a writer for Patch and editor of a newsletter. Along the way, Steve has been a political consultant focusing on the communications ends of campaigns and an editor of both online and print work.  He has been lucky enough to focus his writing on his passions, politics and sports. While sometimes Steve can be a little star struck when meeting one of those fields' celebrities, he loves seeing them as people no different than everyone else. When not writing, Steve, who has finished 10 marathons, can be seen running on the streets of the North Shore and teaching Sunday school.

A native of Chicago's West Rogers Park neighborhood, George Castle has lived in the northern suburbs since 1984. He has worked for numerous newspapers, magazines and web sites, while hosting his own syndicated sports radio show, "Diamond Gems." Castle also has published 10 baseball books since 1998.

Email rjacobson2010@gmail.com

Hometown Fresno, CA

After living 18 years in sunny CA, I came to Chicago to go to Northwestern University. I graduated in 2010 from the Medill School of Journalism and am now a full-time freelance journalist doing a lot of stuff for Patch.

Seth Putnam is a freelance journalist who specializes in feature writing but can also tell stories across multiple platforms.

Janet reports for Niles and Des Plaines Patch and is a Des Plaines resident.  Originally from Ohio, Janet earned her bachelor's degree in journalism from Ohio University in 2006 and worked for The Post, a local, student-run paper, while residing in Athens, Ohio.  After graduating, Janet worked as a reporting intern with The Associated Press in Athens, Greece. Janet also has a master's degree in Elementary Education & Leadership from Arizona State University.  She reports city and governmental news to keep her fellow Des Plaines residents informed.

As the first account executive in Baltimore Orioles history, I yearned for a career using my writing skills. I realized that dream beginning in 1987 with a move to the Northwest suburbs of Chicago. Those 22 years of writing sports never grew old because the faces change every year. In all those seasons, I never ran into a high school athlete who wasn't flattered by the attention.

Born and raised in the Northwest suburbs of Chicago, I moved to the city in 2004 to attend Columbia College, from which I graduated in 2007 with a BA in Photography.  My interests include photo and video.  Currently I am pursuing a career in these fields.

I became entranced with movies at an early age...from The Sound of Music
to the works of Alfred Hitchcock and most everything in-between.  I
would discover an actor or director and then immerse myself into his/her
works for months.  Though many of my favorite films were made before I
was born, I love and value contemporary cinema. When I'm not watching
movies, I work as a full-time Adult Fiction and Audiovisual Librarian at
Niles Public Library.  In 2008, I started the
Hollywood on Oakton Street blog, where you can check out my past
reviews, along with those of my colleagues.  For thriller fans, visit
Carlotta Valdes killed George Kaplan, my suspense films blog which
focuses on the mysteries of Hitchcock...and beyond.  

Ernest J. Schweit is a long-time suburban photographer and journalist.

His background includes freelance photography for newspapers, magazines and books, as well as private clients and corporations.

Ernest also worked more than 30 years as an editor for the Daily Herald in Arlington Heights and has written freelance articles for newspapers and magazines.

He teaches photography at Harper College in Palatine and makes presentations based on his recent book, "Wisconsin Barns." (Farcountry Press, Helena, Mt.)

Julie Tiu devoted 11 years to the construction industry, and is currently working at home as a SAHM (stay at home mom).  Her freelance writing began modestly in 2008 with her blog, So This is Julie. Besides caring for two children and living a blessed life with her husband of 12 years, you can find Julie tooling around town trying to find new places to eat, shop and craft or sometimes volunteering at her church or children's schools. Otherwise, you may find her reading cookbooks while waiting in the school pick-up area.

Carrie Miller is a recovering print journalist, with 10 years of award-winning daily newspaper experience in Kansas and in Florida. Her hobbies are cooking, eating, music, travel, birdwatching and sharking unsuspecting men at billiards. She lives in North Center with her boyfriend, Andrew Sole.

Janice Cha has been volunteering with CARE For the Evanston Animal Shelter for more than 15 years now. In addition to scrubbing dirty kennels, she also has stepped up as chief editor for CARE's newsletter, Pawprints. When she's not taking care of her cats or dog, she can also be found writing about sustainability issues with a special focus on foodservice equipment and restaurant design.

Thanks for clicking.

Here's a link to my portfolio.

A native of Peru, Illinois, Mike's stories have appeared in several suburban newspapers. Mike also is the author/editor of "All the Good in Sports," which previously had been listed in amazon.com's Top 100 sports books. In 2009, he co-authored "Bear With Me -- A Family History of George Halas and the Chicago Bears."

Nate started his journalism career at Ohio University.  As a broadcast student, he spent three years covering OU athletics as well as high school sports.  After graduation, Nate spent a year working as a sports reporter and anchor in Salisbury, MD.  He then spent two years as the sports director at the local NBC affiliate in Rockford, IL. Nate has spent the last two years as an associate producer with Comcast SportsNet Chicago. After spending most of  those two years in the studio, Nate is thrilled to be getting back on the sidelines. 

Phil Meyer is Professor Emeritus in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and was inducted into the North Carolina Hall of Fame in Journalism in the spring of 2008.  He joined the Journalism School in 1981 and served as Knight Chair in Journalism Professor from 1993-2008.  Prior to joining the school, he held a number of reporter and research positions at various media outlets. 

He has won numerous awards including the 2005 Sigma Delta Chi Distinguished Service Award for Research About Journalism (with Scott Maier). He was named a Fellow of Society of Professional Journalists in 2005. In 2004, the Newspaper Division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication gave him its Professional Freedom and Responsibility Award. And in 2000 he received the American Association for Public Opinion Research Award for Exceptionally Distinguished Achievement.

Meyer is the author of several books including The Vanishing Newspaper:  Saving Journalism in the Information Age and Precision Journalism:  A Reporter’s Introduction to Social Science Methods.  Journalism Quarterly in 2000 listed this book as one of the 35 significant books of the 20th century in journalism and mass communication; and the American Association for Public Opinion Research, observing its 50th anniversary in 1996, listed it as one of 50 significant books on public opinion research.

He received his B.S. in technical journalism from Kansas State University and his M.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina.

Jeff Jarvis is the associate professor and director of the interactive journalism program at the City University of New York’s new Graduate School of Journalism.  He also blogs about media and news at Buzzmachine.com; is consulting editor of Daylife; writes a media column for the Guardian, and consults for media companies.

Prior to his current responsibilities, Jarvis held positions including president and creative director of Advance.net; creator and founding editor of Entertainment Weekly; Sunday editor and associated publisher of the New York Daily News; TV critic for TV Guide and People; a columnist for the San Francisco Examiner; assistant city editor and reporter for the Chicago Tribune and reporter for Chicago Today.

Jarvis is the author of What Would Google Do?

Steven Berlin Johnson is a pioneer in the web world, as a co-founder of FEED, Plastic.com, and Outside.in, which was acquired by Patch in March of 2011. He also co-created Findings.com, which launched in late 2011. Steven was the 2009 Hearst New Media Professional-in-Residence at The Journalism School at Columbia University, and served for several years as a Distinguished Writer in Residence at NYU’s Journalism School. He is a bestselling author of seven books, and won acclaim and a Newhouse School Mirror Award for his 2010 Time Magazine cover story, "How Twitter Will Change the Way We Live." 

Speaking of Steven's editorial prowess, check out this video based on Steven's book, Where Good Ideas Come From, which was named one of the best books of 2010 by The Economist.