When it comes down to it, behind just about every small business is an entrepreneur hoping to turn their passion into a paycheck. But, as many wise business advisers have noted: Hope is not a strategy. Business owners need support to turn dreams into reality. That's why Patch is pleased to announce a new partnership with SCORE, a nonprofit organization with 12,000 business experts nationwide who provide free mentoring to small business owners. The partnership makes sense because we believe that when local commerce grows, the whole community gets stronger. Patch already provides free listings …
As I was in the garage to double-check the trunk of my car early Friday morning, making sure everything for the day's Patchiversary event at Caribou Coffee in Avon Commons was there, I heard an awful sound. It was the sound of rain changing to something icy and hitting the siding of the house. "Son of a biscuit!" I muttered. "No one's going to be there!" Turns out I was wrong. In spite of the lousy weather early on, Patch followers came out, from my old Plain Dealer buddy Jim Strang to Maryjane Edgar from the Crushers Booster Club to Hope Christian Church minister Rolland Bryar to former …
As the tenth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks have drawn near, I've seen people updating their Facebook profile photos to feature images of eagles, American flags, and the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center. I've always shied away from that. For me, the images of Sept. 11 aren't about eagles or flags or buildings. Faces always come to mind. There is the picture of a firefighter climbing the stairs in one of the towers, wide-eyed and determined. There were photos of the terrified people on the ground, running for their lives as the towers fell. There were survivors, coated in …
The suitcases are being packed, the extra-long twin bedding is ready, the class schedule is finalized. It's time for college students to head back to campus. Whether you're in Columbus or Chicago, Miami, OH, or Miami, Fla., staying in touch is easier than ever, thanks to technology ... and Avon Patch. Sign your student up for the Avon Patch newsletter and they'll get a daily update of what's going on in town. Students, sign in at Avon Patch, and you can comment on articles, ask questions and share the good news with an announcement when you make the Dean's List. You can also keep in touch …
Avon Patch is excited to introduce a new series for Patch readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream." And we want your help. Tell us what issues and stories in Avon are at the heart of your American Dream. Every day, there are stories in the media about how American families, businesses and government are adjusting in these difficult times. Changes seem to come quicker these days, and the debates about unemployment, taxes, economic principles, home ownership, regulation of businesses, religion, education and government are becoming more intense. At Patch, we want to explore these …
All this heat and rain has made for some glorious gardens around Avon. You are invited to share photos of your garden in it's summer finest for a future photo gallery on Avon Patch. Shade garden, flower garden, vegetable garden, it's all good! Email your photos to Avon Patch editor Melissa Hebert. Don't forget to include your contact information so we can talk about what makes your garden wonderful. We'll post our top submissions in a photo gallery soon. Do you like to talk gardening? Share your experiences, triumphs and disasters by becoming a blogger on Avon Patch! It's free, easy and you …
Thanks for all the wonderful, witty and whimsical entries in the "How Hot is It?" contest! With the summer heat reaching near-record temperatures last week, we gave you a place to vent about the heat. People used everything from pop culture to food to news to make their point. And while there was some good-natured grousing, not one person wrote about missing winter. It was hard to choose a winner, but it had to be done. And the winner is... Maryjane Edgar! Her response to "It's so hot in Avon" was "My hot flashes cool me down." Simple, evocative and something many can relate to. …
Happy Patchiversary! Six months ago today, as Avonites were decking their halls and doing their holiday prep, Avon Patch was launched. It was a new adventure for me, coming from a career in print. I'd never edited video, hired freelancers, or done some of the other things I've done since joining Patch last year. The adventure has been exciting, challenging and, at times, just plain fun. I've loved getting to know the people of Avon. Thank you so much for making Avon Patch a part of your community. We've covered news like the Nagel Road interchange saga, the coming development in Avon, new …
According to evangelist Harold Camping, 89, the end of the world happens at 6 p.m. on May 21, 2011. There have been billboards put up, and a website, WeCanKnow.com, is devoted to Saturday's Doomsday. Believing Saturday is the end of the world requires Christians overlooking that the Bible says only God knows when the world will end, and the fact that Camping has gotten his calculations wrong before. Let's overlook. If the world's ending, maybe we should throw it a farewell party! Talk party essentials. What would you want on hand for an end of the world party? Even if it is Doomsday, we …
In the past year, Patch has grown by leaps and bounds when it comes to delivering local news. Avon Patch was one of the two very first Patch sites in Ohio when we launched on Dec. 13. With more than 800 Patch sites in 18 states and the District of Columbia, we're catching on. Now, with the acquisition of Huffington Post to create AOL Huffington Post Media Group, Patch is expanding again. Patch is launching 33 new sites in New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina. And, we've launched our first-ever military Patch, Camp Pendleton Patch. New Hampshire, Iowa and South Carolina weren't chosen …
Is there a graduate in your family? If so, you've got something to celebrate. And a grocery store sheet cake is just the beginning. Brag about your -- or your child's/spouse's/parent's -- accomplishment with a free announcement at Avon Patch. From pre-school to Ph.D, we help you get the word out on your happy news. It's easy to do. Just sign up with Avon Patch, scroll down to the bottom of the page and click onto the link that says, "Announce something to everyone." After that, just fill in the blanks and make sure you choose "graduation" as the category. You can even upload a picture or …
Just a little less than five months ago, we launched Avon Patch as a new voice in the community. Being online, we're designed to be interactive. It's not just my voice that belongs here, your voice belongs here, too. That what makes the new blogging feature so great. Do you have an opinion on what's going on in Avon? What do you think of the city government, development, schools? Here's a chance to make yourself heard. But it's not just big issues we want to hear about. We want to hear about what people of all ages in Avon are doing, feeling, thinking and trying. So you don't have to stick …
Do you have an opinion? Want to sound off about the school board or city government? Are you an expert in your field? Do you consider yourself a local celebrity? Or are you a regular person who wants to share the details of your regular life? Share it with the city as a Patch blogger. As a Patch blogger, you can reach our local audience, avoid the obscurity of those big blogging sites, and you can write as often or as little as you like. Sound interesting? Send an email to Avon Patch Editor Melissa Hebert and we can talk about the details.
Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout? Did your child's lacrosse team win the championship? Or maybe you know of a group of kids who volunteered their time for charity? They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honorees. Each week, Avon Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box below or e-mail the information to Editor Melissa Hebert. Be sure to …
Avon Moms, we want to talk to you. And we want you to talk to us. Often. We know you've got wisdom to share — not just with your children, but with other moms facing the same challenges, dilemmas, joys and opportunities you've faced over time. And we know that although it seems like you can do everything (it really, really seems that way—we never stop being amazed by it), it wouldn't hurt to have some fellow moms around. People you could bounce ideas off of. People who could offer their own advice, from their own adventures in parenthood. Here's the deal: Starting very soon, we're going to be…
Want headlines from Avon Patch delivered directly to your blog or Web site? Now, you can stream all the Avon news — or just certain categories — directly there for you and your visitors. It was one of several changes made to the Avon Patch site this past week that also includes free classified ads and a news feed from nearby Patch sites. With a new widget feature, you can create a box that's easily insertable into blogs and Web pages. It's also customizable by topic, so if you just want sports, you can limit to sports or if you just want police and fire news, you get police and fire news. …
Hello! Nice to see you here! This is a very exciting time. After months of work, Avon's very own Patch site has launched. What is Avon Patch? Our goal is to make it your destination for all things Avon. We're online-only, and will be constantly updating with breaking news and fresh stories. Want to know about what City Council voted on? Come to Patch for the latest news. Want to find a great place for your anniversary dinner? Come to Patch and check our directory. Want to share the great news about your daughter making the Dean's List at her college? Come to Patch and get it in our …
