'Bout time I said hello, don't you think? It's been 26 days since I took over the helm at The View from Western Howard County and The View from Ellicott City and a new chapter of my career with Patuxent Publishing Co., began.

Some of you may know me already. I began working for PPC in 1997 as a reporter for the Columbia Flier and the Howard County Times. Back then, I was single -- Mary T. Robbins was my byline -- living in Columbia, writing about crime, cops, courts, education, county government, religion, development, neighborhood disputes -- you name it.

I thrived on hard news, but also enjoyed the luxury of writing features. I've been a journalist now for 19 years and my stories have run the gamut. They are the stories that make up a community.

After a stint in our Baltimore County newsroom, reporting over the years for the Towson Times, the Northeast Booster, the Northeast Reporter, the Owings Mills Times, the Catonsville Times and the Arbutus Times, I make my PPC home in Howard County now, in the View office on Main Street here in Ellicott City. I spent the last year as editor of The Jeffersonian, which served me well, but I was eager to get back to writing and keeping in touch with the community. From where I sit now, I will have the luxury of both.

I hope to share my love of story telling with you as the days and weeks go by, both in stories I will cover for the papers from time to time, and in occasional columns of life's random observations.

Oh and as for that byline? On April 9, 2005, I became Mrs. John Phelan. Not wanting to give up my byline for good, I opted to add my new last name to it and I'm going to try that on for size and see how it fits.

Don't hesitate to call me (410-480-0816, Ext. 8009), e-mail me (mphelan@theviewnewspapers.com) or stop on by. I welcome the conversations the future holds.

user comments (0)