Welcome, Des Moines Register Readers

In light of The Des Moines Register's decision to begin charging for online content, we thought it’d be a good idea to review how you can use Patch to help make your life ridiculously easy -- for free.

Patch will continue to report what matters most to you in Urbandale. We'll continue to be the hub for Urbandale news, conversation and announcements that you can count on every day. You'll get our own reporting, as well as news from the Register and other area news outlets that's relevant to you. And we continue to invite you to contribute to Patch -- your site -- with your pictures, videos, events, announcements and opinions.

With that in mind, here is a reminder of how you can use Patch:

Comment. If you have relevant information to add to an article, jump in and make a comment. We'll follow up and possibly add it to related articles in the future. Most community stories continue to evolve after they are reported—you can be a real-time source by commenting.

Connect with the local editor. Email Urbandale Patch site editor Anne Carothers-Kay at anne.kay@patch.com if you have any tips or information to share.

Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. When we write an article, we tweet the news and share it with our followers. Want the info the fastest way possible? Follow @UrbandalePatch on Twitter or like us on Facebook.

Get the iPhone or Droid app. Your smartphone is an awesome tool for getting the info on what's going on in your community. Click here to get the Patch app for free on iTunes. For information about the Droid app, click here.

Take pics & video clips. Patch has launched a new Pics & Clips gallery, where you can post any of your own photography. Have a cool photo of something you spotted around town? Share it with us. Cool video? Share that, too.

Add to the events calendar. Having a garage sale? A concert? Want to tell people about your church event? Don't be shy. Post it in our events calendar for all to see. It's easy and it's free!

Post your own announcements and press releases. You don't need an editor's permission to put your news on Patch. Whether it's your wedding or engagement announcement; your student making the honor roll or Eagle Scout; a fund-raising event or you're looking for volunteers for a service project. You can post it yourself on our announcement's page. 

Be a Local Voice. Everybody in any community has a story to tell. Don't keep it to yourself. Are you an expert at gardening or woodworking? Share your knowledge. A music afficionado? Blog about it. Share your career expertise or just your opinion. Sign up to blog on Patch.