Welcome to Lisle Patch!

Hello everyone, and welcome to Lisle Patch! What is it? A daily online information resource. To the right you'll find the welcome video I shot to explain our new role. The film crew and I weren't the only ones filming around town; prominent Lisle sites and figures also grace the village's new welcome video, which debuted at a village hall meeting earlier this month.

This is the first time you're seeing Patch, but a lot of work has already gone into the site this summer. Gearing up for launch meant spending roughly two months compiling our directory and introducing ourselves around town. It was a fortunate time for me to do this because I had a chance to see Lisle at some of its busiest times—the Eyes to the Skies festival, the announcement of Navistar and opening of John Dough Bakery (though one is more delicious than the other), and a 250-person effort to construct Giant Steps School's very first playground. This is an involved, passionate community, and there are so many stories to tell.

I was lucky enough to catch Depot Days during my shoot, ensuring that our Patch video wasn't completely identical to the village's! But I think this stands as a testament to the fact that at Patch we know the pillars of the community; and not only that, but we dig deeper. In print journalism, a small story can get passed up in the fray of bold headlines—tsunamis, corrupt politicians and celeb scandals. For Lisle Patch, no story is "too small." We're here because we want to tell the small stories. They make Lisle unique.

Lisle Patch is meant to be your comprehensive source for all things community-related. My team of freelancers and myself will be attending the village meetings, school functions, capturing images of daily life and speaking to the people who make the wheels of this village turn. And hopefully at some point we'll get to talk to you, because you'll help us become the news source that you need.

A unique feature of Patch is that we want our readers to guide us, to be as active with the site as they are out in the community. I actually found information readers can submit for almost every letter of the alphabet:

Accomplishments, births, class reunions, columns (political, local, special interest, what have you!), comments, deaths (and funeral services), engagements, events, follow us on Twitter, fundraisers, garage sales, honor roll, interview questions (if we know who we're talking to in advance), job promotions, like us on Facebook, lost and found alerts, merchandise for sale, news tips, opinions, photos, questions (about the village, the school district, parks, businesses…), religious events, reviews of local restaurants and businesses, school and sports awards, thank-you's for community support, volunteer opportunities, weddings and whatever else we miss.

So take advantage of this opportunity because if it matters to you, chances are it matters to other community members, too! And don't hesitate to address us with any concerns you have. I want to hear from you! You can reach me at 630-452-0931, karlie@patch.com, or spot me around town by the slight tear in the 'h' of my Patch sticker.