13 Things to Know About Montgomery Patch

We know what you’re thinking.

You’re thinking, what is this crazy Montgomery Patch thing, and now that I’m here, how can I use it? Well, we’ve got you covered. We want Patch to bring this community together, and we’ve built in a number of ways to make that happen. Here are 13 of them, all of which you can do right now. Yes, right now!

1. Comment on an article

We here at Patch believe that news is a conversation. We’re here to talk with you, not at you. We’re going to get most of our ideas for what to cover from your e-mails, comments on our sites and conversations around town. You can share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story—and feel free to suggest follow-up ideas or issues we should be covering. 

2. Ask a question

We’ll be the first to admit we don’t know all the answers. But we’re betting that someone out there does, and Patch can connect you with the right person. Our Q&A section is the place for you to ask your questions and answer the ones you know, all while connecting with your neighbors. Log on and ask a question, or answer someone else's.

3. Post an event

There’s always something going on in Montgomery, and we can’t be on top of everything. If you know of an event coming up and it's not on our Patch calendar, add it here.

4. Send a news tip

You live in Montgomery, and you know what’s happening here. If you hear a story you think we should cover, or just have a tip for us, head on down to the bottom of our home page, where it says “contribute,” and click “Send us news tips.” Your messages will come straight to editor Andre Salles, who will be forever in your debt. (You also can e-mail him directly at andre.salles@patch.com.)

5. Post an announcement

Have something to tell us? Have you or someone you know just become engaged, or married, or made the honor roll? That’s what our announcements section is for. You can also use it to round up volunteers for a project or search for a lost dog. It’s free, but remember, announcements are for personal use, not for advertising.

6. Sign up for newsletters

Want Montgomery news delivered right to your inbox every morning? Yeah, we can do that. Sign up for our daily newsletter, and you’ll get every article and announcement posted on the site for the past 24 hours delivered via e-mail every morning. You can also get our weekly newsletter, which will give you an overview of the week’s stories every Thursday. Just look for the “follow us” and “newsletter” links on this (and just about every) page.

7. Claim your directory listing

Our business and organization listings are pretty thorough. 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, e-mail us at directorysupport@patch.com. If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it and post your photos and events.

8. Tell us!

You now have a way to share your thoughts on the site without having to add a comment to an existing article. You can tell us what you have to say right now by using the box at the top right of the homepage. Your comment will go directly into the stream, right on the homepage.

9. Upload your photos and video

Think of Montgomery Patch as a community photo album. We invite you to post your pictures of daily life in town—anything from local festivals to Little League games to your best holiday recipes. You can upload videos, too.

10. Advertise with us

For all advertising queries, please send an e-mail to Regional Publisher Randy Clark at randy.clark@patch.com. 

11. 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 here. Or search to find what you're craving -- you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

12. Connect with us on social media

The website is just part of the conversation – it continues every day on Facebook and Twitter. You can "like" us on Facebook at Montgomery Patch’s page and follow us on Twitter @MontILPatch.

13. Send a letter to the editor

And, of course, you can always write to us about anything. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything stirring up conversation around town, make sure it’s not longer than 300 words, and e-mail it to editor Andre Salles at andre.salles@patch.com. Chances are good you’re not the only one who feels the way you do, so drop us a line and join the conversation. The more you speak up and join in, the better Montgomery Patch will be. Thank you!