13 Things You Need to Know About Martinez Patch

Martinez Patch is nearing its second week of publication, and the converations are getting lively. I want to thank you for reading and participating in this ongoing adventure. I hope you're having as much fun as I am.

With that, we, at Patch would like to remind you why we're here and what this site is all about. Simply put: it's 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. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So, please get to it! 

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. Ask a Question

So maybe you want to know when that pothole is going to get fixed, or what business is moving in to the abandoned, blighted building. Patch's Q&A section is the place for you to ask your questions and show off your expertise, all while connecting with your neighbors. Visit martinez.patch.com/questions to ask a question, or answer someone else's.

3. Post an Event 

Do you know of a book signing at our local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing in town or an art exhibit at a local gallery? 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 at martinez.patch.com/events/new.

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 me, Jim Caroompas, Martinez Patch's very appreciative editor.

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 pet, we welcome you to call on your community for help. Just remember, our Terms of Service say announcements should be for personal use and not for advertising.

6. Sign Up for Newsletters

The daily Martinez Patch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your e-mail 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 every Thursday at 10 a.m. 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 are ample. Our team of researchers hoofed the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more, shooting photographs and summarizing the most important information, such as products sold and hours of operation. Did we miss one? Are you new? 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 http://martinez.patch.com/search/listings.

8. Shout It Out!

You now have a way to shout out 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 new shout box at the top of the Activity Stream on the homepage. Whatever you "shout" will go directly into the stream, right on the homepage.

9. Upload Your Photos and Video 

Upload videos of your teen-ager's skateboard triumph at the city's skate park or photos of your cat doing the funniest thing ever. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. 

10. Advertise With Us 

For all advertising queries, please send an e-mail to our Martinez Patch Ad Manager Tamra Bernstein. You can reach her at tamra.bernstein@patch.com and at (925) 303-8964

11. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town is fabulous or a little frightening? You can post a review of your restaurants at http://martinez.patch.com/restaurants. Or, search to find what you're craving -- you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

12. Social Media Engagement

Let's start a conversation! You can "like" us on Facebook at facebook.com/martinezpatch and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/martinezpatch.

13. Send a Letter to the Editor

Patch invites every resident in Martinez to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be causing conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and e-mail it to Editor Jim Caroompas at jim.caroompas@patch.com

The more Martinez Patch serves as on online 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 or post on Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way.