Lemon Grove Patch: Still at Your Public Service

We're celebrating our Sweet 16! That's how many months it's been since we launched Lemon Grove Patch, and we’re prouder than ever to be part of the community. Thanks for your warm support.

We want to remind you why we’re here and what this site is all about.

Simply put, it’s all about you. Our mission statement: To make life ridiculously easy for you and your neighbors.

Lemon Grove Patch gives you plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share opinions, post photos and announcements, and add events to the community calendar. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can’t do it without you. Here are 10 ways you can join in the conversation on Patch:

1. Comment on an article

We subscribe to the idea that “news is a conversation.” Much of our reporting emanates from what readers tell us in emails, 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. Post an event

Know of a community fair or a PTA fundraiser? Have a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? If it’s not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add your event to our site at lemongrove.patch.com/events/new.

3. Post an announcement

Post births, engagements and wedding announcements. Tell us who made the honor roll or share school awards, social notes and thank yous. 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.

4. Claim Your directory listing

Our business and organization listings aren’t skimpy. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visit 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 at lemongrove.patch.com/search/listings. That way you can manage photos, link to your Facebook and Twitter pages and respond to reviews and comments.

5. Review businesses in town

Want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets two thumbs-up? Like your local barber shop? Want to tell everyone who has the best tacos in town? You can post a review of your favorite (or least favorite) business on any listing in the directory.

6. Engage with us via social media 

Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/LemonGrovePatch and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/LemonGrovePatch. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let’s start a conversation together.

7. Send us a news tip

At the bottom of the homepage, a link says, “Send Us News Tips.” Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Christine Huard, the editor.

8. Sign up for newsletters

The daily Lemon Grove Patch newsletter brings you articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email every day at 6 a.m. 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 at 10 a.m. Thursdays. Sign up by clicking the “Newsletter” link atop the page.

9. Upload your photos and video

Upload videos of your Little Leaguer’s first home run or that great play soccer field. Post photos from festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share the memories that you’ve caught on camera with the rest of the community. Just go the Gallery.

10. Send a letter to the editor

Patch would like to extend an invitation to every member of the Lemon Grove  community to submit letters to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we’ll post it. Send it to christine.huard@patch.com.

The more Lemon Grove Patch serves as on 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.