13 Things You Need to Know about Sussex Patch

There's a lot to check out on Sussex Patch and while we welcome you to take a few minutes to browse the site, we also want to make sure that you don't miss some of its key features.

In a nutshell: Patch is all about 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 the site will strengthen and enhance the community, but we can't do it without you. Here are 13 ways you can be an active part of the site:

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 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 why your street isn't getting plowed or where's the best place to go for pizza, or where to find a good babysitter. 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. Check it out 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 school concert or any other local event?  If it's not on our Patch calendar, it should be.  Our calendar already is the best in the western suburbs, but we may not have found everything that's going on in the community. If you have something that's not listed, you're more than welcome to add it yourself.

4. Send a News Tip: While we're out and about in the community every day looking for stories, we can't be everywhere. That's why we're going to rely on our readers to tip us off from time to time.

At the bottom of the homepage, under the Contribute section, there's a link that reads, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to , the editor for this site.

5. Post an Announcement: Post births, bar mitzvahs, 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, we welcome you to call on your community for help.

6. Sign Up for Newsletters: The daily Sussex 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 morning. 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 morning. 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 aren't skimpy. Our team of researchers actually hit the streets and visited businesses, schools, parks, libraries and more so we can provide photos as well as detailed information such as products sold and 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, you can claim it.

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 high school football touchdowns or your Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from local festivals, or send in a snapshot of your best holiday recipes. We invite you to share with the rest of the community the memories you've caught on camera.

10. Advertise With Us: For all advertising queries, contact sales@patch.com.

11. Review Restaurants: Do you want to be the first to tell your friends whether the new restaurant in town gets a thumbs-up? You can post a review of your favorite (or not-so favorite) eatery in our local Restaurant Guide. Or, search to find what you're craving — you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

12. Social Media Engagement: You can "like" us on Facebook, and "follow" us on Twitter at twitter.com/SussexPatch. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.

13. Send a Letter to the Editor: Patch would like to invite every member of the Sussex community 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 250 words and e-mail it to Editor Andy Smith at andrew.smith@patch.com.

The more Sussex Patch serves as on online space for 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 to Patch. Chances are, you're not the only one who feels that way.