Get Your 'Patch' On: A Dozen Ways It's All About You

Q. What do you get when you cross a Hazelwood-based local editor and a simple, convenient way to keep up with community news, events and happenings around town?

A. Throw in an active, local Facebook “family” and growing Twitter and Pinterest connections. Wrap it all up with an interactive platform that you can use on all of your favorite devices, and you’ve got Hazelwood Patch. We're all about you and keeping you connected your community.

We value your contributions to our sites perhaps more than our own. We want to hear from you — your comments, your events, your photos, your announcements. That's what this site is all about. Simply put, it's about you.

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. Our goal is to help strengthen the Hazelwood community, but we can’t do it without you.

Here's how you can help and leave your mark on Hazelwood Patch and the Hazelwood community.

1. Tell us what you think. Comment on an article.

As far as we’re concerned, news is an ever-evolving conversation. We’re getting involved in conversations around town and on social networking sites. We’re paying attention to comments on our site and what readers tell us in emails, and we center our reporting around what our community is interested in knowing about. Let us know what you think and help us tailor our news to the Hazelwood community--just share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story. 

2. Start a free blog and make your voice heard throughout the community--and beyond!

Passionate about a particular issue or subject? Love writing about your kids or family? Have something to tell the world? Blog it on Patch and share your thoughts with your neighbors! It's free, easy and fun. And best of all, it gets you engaged in the community like never before. Blogging on Patch means you reach tens of thousands of readers each month and ensures that your voice is heard throughout the community. And if you’re a business owner or expert living in the area, your blog could even increase your bottom line.

To blog for Patch, CLICK HERE.

3. Share local opportunities, happenings, sales and more. Post an event.

Do you know of a book signing at our local bookstore, a trivia night coming up to support our local high school students or a bake sale at your church? 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 by CLICKING HERE. 

4. Be informed and stay connected. Sign up for newsletters.

The daily Patch newsletter brings you everything you need to know about Hazelwood that day—articles, blog posts, events and announcements that are relevant to your everyday life. It is delivered to your email each day at 6 a.m.

To sign up for the newsletter, CLICK HERE. 

5. Let your community know you're here and you're engaged! Claim your directory listing.

Claiming your business' listing on Patch is a no-brainer. Once you've claimed your listing, you can add events and announcements about your business, upload photos, recognize clients and customers and more! You'll also be notified any time a user rates your business or leaves a review. Best of all? It's free! To contact us about the listing for your business or organization, email us at directorysupport@patch.com. We're constantly adding new listings to our business directory, so keep watch as it grows.

If you own or manage a business or organization in our directory, claim it by searching for your business by CLICKING HERE.

6. Step into the 21st century! Get engaged in social media.

Like the rest of modern society, we can't get enough of Facebook and Twitter! And lately, we’ve developed a serious crush on Pinterest. Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and connect with us on Pinterest, and you'll always be connected to Hazelwood information. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute. Let's start a conversation together.

7. Go ahead, brag a little! Or just share your own special events, memories and experiences. Upload your photos and video.

Upload videos of the high school football touchdown or your Hazelwood Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from local festivals or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes and decorations. Share your family photos, from holidays to vacations to back-yard fun—we want to see it all! We invite you to share the memories you've caught on camera with the rest of the community.

Where will the photos go? In our Community Gallery! To upload a photo or video, CLICK HERE.

8. Hate traffic? Patch can help with that!

To help make your morning drive as efficient as possible, Hazelwood Patch allows its readers a live view of traffic conditions via Mapquest. To view the feature, CLICK HERE.

9. Let your tastebuds do the talking. Review restaurants.

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets two thumbs up? You can post a review of your favorite (or least favorite) restaurants! Or read our existing reviews to find what you're craving. You can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

To leave a review, search for restaurants by CLICKING HERE.

10. Be a citizen journalist! 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 Hazelwood Patch's grateful editor. Of course, you can always email Angela at angela.atkinson@patch.com.

11. Share your big news with the community! Post an announcement.

Post birth announcements, engagements and wedding announcements right here at Hazelwood Patch. Tell us who made the honor roll or share news about 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 Service state that announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising.

12. Amplify your voice and add spark to local conversations, whether they're casual controversial. Send a letter to the editor.

Patch would like to extend an invitation to every member of the 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 email it to the local editor.

The more Hazelwood 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 who feels that way.

Ready, set, go! How are you going to make your mark on Hazelwood Patch?

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