Please welcome Joe Lyman back to Massachusetts and to Wareham as the new editor of Wareham Week and WarehamVillageSoup.com.

The Wilmington native succeeds Bill Whelan, who left us earlier this month to pursue a new journalism opportunity closer to his old Boston stomping grounds.

A graduate of Emerson College, where he majored in communications, Joe went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from Boston University. Along the way, he wrote sports articles for Patch.com, reported for WBUR’s World of Ideas, and produced a documentary series of interviews with Massachusetts politicians.

And, oh yeah, he wrote a children’s book, “From Walla Walla Washington to Wagga Wagga New South Wales,” for which he is currently seeking a publisher. And he plays rugby for Boston Ironsides RFC.

When we found him, Joe was working in corporate communications for MRIGlobal in Kansas City, while pursuing his freelance writing opportunities on the side.

Arriving in Wareham this week, he was thrown into the mix, covering a Selectmen’s meeting and a Community and Economic Development Authority Board meeting, and learning all about the sewer plant’s soon-to-arrive Greasezilla device. That was just in his first three days on the job.

“It’s been a little overwhelming,” Joe admits. “I hope readers will have a bit of patience as I take the crash course in all things Wareham, but I am excited to be a community reporter in my home state. The sports teams, the history, the political fervor, and of course the weather. Massachusetts is by far the most interesting state in which to cover the news.”

Currently commuting from a family home at some distance (bring on the caffeine!), Joe and his husband, Marcello Peppi will be moving to Onset next month.

“Onset Village is a well suited place for me. I missed my friend the Atlantic Ocean after living in Kansas City this past year. The Missouri River is just not the same.”

Anyone wanting to help Joe with his crash course in Wareham or to alert him and us to a good story in town may contact him at joe@warehamweek.com or 774-766-7706.