patching...
Update: Avon Patch newsletter: It's free. It's green. It's every morning. Sign up HERE »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

One Year of Avon Patch

On our first anniversary, it's time to look back and forward.

 

Happy birthday to us!

One year ago today, Avon Patch was launched. Check out the video from last year. It was the start of something new for Avon, and for me.

I came from a career of print reporting, from being a sportswriter to a copy editor to covering home and garden to writing about crime and government. Jumping into a much more interactive world has been exciting, and a bit scary at first.

It's been an amazing year, largely because of Avon and the people in it. I am so glad of the people I've met, worked with, interviewed and seen around town.

When people ask what Avon Patch is, it can be hard to answer. Yes, it's online local news. But it's much more than that. Avon Patch is an online community.

Avon Patch has kept residents informed and connected on issues such as the Nagel Road interchange financing controversy and flooding which brought raw sewage into several homes. We've covered successful and unsuccessful school levies, and elections, and gave residents a platform to share their views.

Avon Patch took you along for the ride when Avon High's football team had a historic season that landed the Eagles in the state finals. When the Lake Erie Crushers hosted the Frontier League All-Star Game and then made a late-season charge to get into the playoffs, you were there with us.

We've covered small businesses going for their American dream, from Whistler's expanding to also become Pizza Rak to Perkins undergoing an interior renovation to Distinctive Home Decor decorating the show house at the Cleveland Home & Garden Expo.

We've shown the community coming together to help their own, whether it's Avon High students collecting food for Avon/Avon Lake CRS or friends holding fundraisers for Avon teen Scott Scarvelli, who was paralyzed in a motocross accident earlier this year. One of the joys of this year has been producing videos to show cats available for adoption at the Love-A-Stray shelter in Avon. As a result of those videos, several cats have new homes.

Avon Patch is your Patch. You make it a community. And there are lots of ways for you to be a part of that community.

  • Sign up at Avon Patch and keep up on the community with a daily newsletter in your inbox. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Share news such as graduations, deans lists and weddings with an announcement. Post your event in our events listings.
  • Have something to say about life in Avon? Whether the subject is politics, fashion, volunteering, arts, science or cooking, share your voice and passion and become a blogger. Avon High sports parents and coaches can post photos and game reports. You don't have to write War and Peace. You can keep it short and simple.
  • Talk with your neighbors in story comments. Let your community know where you stand. Share your photos and videos in a story.
  • Do you own a business? Claim your listing in our comprehensive directory, and you can add photos and edit your listing. You'll also be able to post events, or job listing in the Marketplace.

Thanks for a great beginning, Avon! Here's to many more years being your online community.

Related Topics: Anniversary
What do you want to see on Avon Patch? Tell us in the comments.

Patch_comments_icon

Debbie Palmer

8:15 am on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Congrats, Melissa! Many happy returns!

Reply

Jim Strang

6:59 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Patch performs a critically important service in this community. I applaud your accomplishments, and wish you continued success.

Reply

Leave a comment

 
 

In This article

See more

See More on Patch

 
 

Most Popular articles