Apple Valley Patch Celebrates One Year

On Dec. 10, 2010, Apple Valley Patch launched with its first handful of stories.

A year later, about 1,800 news items have posted to the site, along with many more events, announcements and blog entries. And don't forget all the comments, Facebook recommendations and Twitter shares that have come with them.

Thank you.

Thank you for helping us make it this far, and for being part of the community. And, for:

• reading, looking, clicking
• posting, submitting, commenting, sharing—SO essential in a very social online environment
• sticking with the site as it has grown and evolved
• helping me learn more about the Apple Valley community
• spending time interviewing with me and other Apple Valley Patch journalists
• asking questions and providing ideas

... and for so many other things.

Whether you're just starting out with Patch or have been avidly contributing and taking it all in, make sure you explore all our options for getting involved with the site—it's really a beautiful thing.

(Plus, it's a one-woman show over here at Apple Valley Patch Headquarters. I'm always grateful for your contributions so readers can learn as much about Apple Valley happenings as possible!)

Things I encourage you to start (or continue) to do on Patch:

• Post upcoming event details on our events calendar, here
• Post announcements here—press releases, birth announcements, student awards, employee promotions, calls for volunteers and more
• Start a blog about whatever interests you
• Comment on stories, and talk with other users through blogs and comments
• Post to our ongoing neighborhood photo gallery (coming soon!)
• Send me photos, writeups, etc. about events, projects or other goings-on around town, at allison.wickler@patch.com. There is no item too small. People want to know about all sorts of things going on where they live, even if it's in tidbit form.
• Send me feedback about what you see, what you don't see, what you want to see

I'll work my hardest at curating a website experience that's useful and valuable to all of you in Apple Valley.

Thanks again, and here's to the next year.

Leave a comment below: What do you think of Apple Valley Patch? What have we done well and where can we improve? What can we do for you?