13 Things You Should Know about Patch

What is Patch?

Is it a newspaper? A community billboard? How do I use it? Why should I use it?

Frankly, what Mentor Patch should be is a reflection of the community it covers. No more, no less – and, to become that, we need you.

Simply put, Patch is about you and your community.

We have a directory where you can search for restaurants, businesses or anything else in the city. We also created several ways for you to involve yourself with the site.

Yes, we cover news; and, at Patch, the news is you. If it matters to you, it probably matters to your neighbors, and it matters to us.

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that news is a conversation. Some of our reporting stems from what readers tell us in e-mails, comments on the site 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 maybe you're a local expert on native trees just dying for someone to ask why their allergies are so bad this year. 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 http://mentor.patch.com/questions and ask a question, or answer someone else's.

3. Post an Event

Do you know of a book signing at a local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing at a cooking store or an art exhibit at a local coffee shop? Is there a garage sale or graduation ceremony coming up? How about a fundraiser for a local charity? If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be. Feel free to add events to our site at http://mentor.patch.com/events/new. 

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage beneath the heading "Contribute," you'll find a link titled "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Jason Lea, Mentor Patch's local 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 dog, use us 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 Mentor Patch newsletter brings you all articles and announcements that have been posted in the last 24 hours. It is delivered to your email every morning. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of content created and featured on our site over a multi-day period. Weekly newsletters are delivered every Thursday morning.

7. Claim Your Directory Listing

To create our comprehensive directory, our team of researchers hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more to provide photos and detailed information from products sold to 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 http://mentor.patch.com/search/listings and begin managing and updating your own content. And, yes, this is a free service. I repeat, no cost!

8. Shout It Out!

You now have a way to speak your mind on the site without having to add a comment to an existing article. You can tell us what you want to say immediately by using the new shout box at the top of the Activity Stream. Whatever you "shout" will go directly into the stream, right on the homepage. You can respond to others' shouts or shout something completely new.

9. Upload Your Photos and Video

Upload videos of the big Mentor High or Lake Catholic game. Post photos from It's Better in Mentor or other local 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.

10. Advertise With Us

For all advertising inquiries, e-mail sales@patch.com and mention Mentor Advertising Manager in the subject line.

11. Review Restaurants

Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets two thumbs up? You can post a review of your favorite (or least favorite) restaurants at http://mentor.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

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Don't just read, actively contribute via social media. Let's start a conversation together.

13. Send a Letter to the Editor

The more Mentor Patch serves as on online space for community dialogue, the more useful our site will be. So the 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.

Patch would like to extend an invitation to every member of the Mentor community (residents, business owners, teachers, anyone who plays a part in this city) to submit a letter to the editor. Express your thoughts or concerns about anything that might be stirring up conversation around town, and we'll post it. Make sure it's not longer than 300 words and email it to Editor Jason Lea at Jason.Lea@patch.com.