12 Things You Need to Know About Patch

Patch has landed in Claremont and La Verne and we would like to tell you why: to bring you news, information, and provide a place for community discussion on things that matter to you.

We realize it's an ambitious goal, and that's why we can't do it without your help. So, to help you help us, we have put together a list of 12 things you need to know about using Claremont-La Verne Patch.

We've built Patch so that you have plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share your opinions, post photos and announcements and add events to the community calendar. We hope our site strengthens the community and your input is a huge part of that. Kindly consider these ways to get involved right now with Claremont-La Verne Patch:

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that "news is a conversation." Much of our reporting will emanate from what readers tell us in e-mails, comments on our sites, and in conversations around town. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.  

2. Become a blogger

Have something to say or are you a local expert on something such as native trees, local history, and local politics? Patch's Blog Central, also known a "Local Voices," is the place to put down your thoughts. There is no minimum or maximum length and you write as often as you can or want. Our bloggers are extremely important. Be a voice for your community.

3. Post an Event

Do you know of a book signing at our local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing at a cooking store or an art exhibit at a local coffee shop? Is there a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site's events calendar.

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Gina Tenorio and/or Melanie Johnson, Claremont-La Verne Patch Editors. Feel free to email them at gina.tenorio@patch.com, melanie.johnson@patch.com or call Gina at (909) 213-5355 or Melanie (909) 560-3791.

5. Post an Announcement

Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and thank you shout outs. If you're looking for volunteers or searching for your lost dog, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, our Terms of Use say Announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising. 

6. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily Claremont-La Verne Patch newsletter brings you the headlines posted in the last 24 hours. You choose what you want to read. To sign up, just scroll over your user name at the top of the page. It should be listed in a drop down menu. The newsletter is delivered to your e-mail every day. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the last few days. It is delivered every Thursday. Look for the Follow Us and Newsletter links in the right column of this and most every page.

7. Claim Your Directory Listing

Our business and organization listings aren't skimpy. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and hours of operation. To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it in our Directory.

8. Upload Your Photos and Video

Upload videos of high school football touchdowns or your Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

9. Advertise With Us

For all advertising queries, please send an e-mail to our ad manager, David Peck at david.peck@patch.com.

10. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) restaurants. Or, search to find what you're craving — you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

11. Social Media Engagement

We encourage you to "like" us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor

Patch would like to invite every member of the Claremont and La Verne community to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and e-mail it to Editors Gina Tenorio or Melanie Johnson at gina.tenorio@patch.com or melanie.johnson@patch.com.

The more Claremont-La Verne Patch serves as an online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So next time you have something to share with your neighbors, consider taking a moment to send a letter to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way.