Boston Marathon, Background Checks for Gun Purchases and More in Patch Local Voices

Your voice. Your community.

The Patch Local Voices section can be a powerful tool for yourself, your group or your business. It's the perfect place to promote a big event coming up, voice your opinion on something you are passionate about or share tips from your career field.

Each Sunday we will feature some of Patch's most interesting Local Voices writers, show you who is posting on Patch and how you can get started.

Personal Testimony from the Boston Marathon Bombing

This is the personal story of Kirstin Hegelein, a 2008 graduate of Stoney Creek High School in Rochester, MI.

"As we try to piece together the timing of everything, God cleared us from the bomb area around 15 minutes or so before the bombs went off. We were totally unaware of what was about to happen, but God knew, and He chose to protect us."

Background Checks – A Starting Point for Sensible Gun Laws

Bob Cornwall is resident of Troy, since 2008, a local pastor, writer, interfaith activist and a member of the gun violence task force of the Metro Coalition of Congregations. 

He recently posted that background checks on all gun purchases are a good start in the Patch Local Voices section and it started a conversation on the topic.

"We would like to see expanded background checks, ending of straw purchases, tracking of sales, and banning of assault style weapons and limiting ammunition clips to ten bullets," he wrote.

You can follow his blog on Troy Patch.

Who else is posting on Patch?

• Kensington Community Church in Troy posted about .
• Birmingham's Lori T. Williams, Owner/Managing Attorney of Your Legal Resource, posted 
• Rochester Lions Club wrote about two great events including the Rochester Lions Monday night car cruise at Campus Corners Plaza
• Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs posted about a Clawson Police Unclaimed Auto Auction.
• A Rochester resident shared a personal account of the Boston Marathon experience.
• Dr. Vickie L. Markavitch, Superintendent, Oakland Schools shared her views on the  education budgets coming out of Lansing

How can I post on Patch?

Blogging in our Local Voices Section is easy:

1. Sign in to our site with your email  (or sign up by clicking join on the top right of our home page, if you don't have an account)
2. Fill out your profile by filling out a bio of yourself  (or group/business) and upload a picture of yourself (or group/business) by clicking your name in the upper left side of the home page.
3. Click the Patch town you would like to post in: Huntington Woods/Berkley, Rochester/Rochester Hills, Troy, Bloomfield/Bloomfield Hills,  Fenton, Birmingham, Ferndale, Royal Oak or Clawson and click "Post on Patch."
4. Start writing!
5. Upload a photo to make your post stand out by clicking "Add photos, videos & PDF's" on the upper left side of the page.
6. Hit submit!

Questions? 

Contact Patch Community Editor Jason Alexander at jason.alexander@patch.com or 810-488-1353.