13 Things You Need to Know about Shaker Heights Patch

Welcome to Shaker Heights Patch! We knew you would have questions about what the site is all about, so here are a few answers.

Simply put, Patch is about information, commerce and conversation. We're here to provide you with breaking news, coverage of the city council and school board, reviews on new restaurants and businesses in town, and much more. But we've built Patch with you in mind: Readers have plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share their opinions, post photos and announcements and add events to the community calendar. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So get to it!

1. Comment on an Article

We subscribe to the idea that news is a conversation. Much of our reporting stems from what readers tell us in emails, 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. Before you do, however, read our Terms of Service, and remember to keep it civil.



2. Post an Event

Do you know about a reading at one of our libraries, a pancake breakfast at your church or an art exhibit at your favorite 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 it to our site.

3. Upload Your Photos and Video

Upload videos of the Shaker Heights football team’s touchdown or your Little Leaguer's first home run. Post photos from the Shaker Arts Festival, 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. Just go to the “Post Pics and Clips” link on the home page.

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the home page, you'll find a link titled "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Kaye Spector, guest editor of Shaker Heights Patch.

5. Post an Announcement

Post your own announcements about births, engagements and weddings. Tell us who made the Honor Roll, won the spelling bee or got a college scholarship. Share news about business promotions, volunteer opportunities, your neighbor’s lost dog. (Just remember that our announcements are for personal use, not advertising.)

6. Start a blog

Got something to say? We’d love to hear it! Join the community conversation by signing up to blog on Patch, where all opinions are welcome. We’re looking for bloggers on all topics from politics, sports and business to cooking, gardening and home repair. And signing up couldn’t be easier.

7. Read Our Newsletters

The daily newsletter, delivered to your inbox early each weekday, brings you the best of the articles and announcements posted in the last 24 hours and a preview of the coming day. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which rounds up the best of the site over the previous seven days. Signing up is a piece of cake.

8. Browse Our Directory

Shaker Heights Patch has a comprehensive listing of all the businesses and institutions in the community, from restaurants, coffee shops and drug stores to churches, libraries and public and private schools. Each listing contains a map, photos and all the information you need to know about hours of operation, goods or services provided and how much parking is available.

9. Claim Your Directory Listing

If you’re the owner or manager of an entity listed in our directory, you can claim your listing and start managing its content, including uploading your own photos. All you have to do is click on the “Claim your listing” link on the directory page.

10. Advertise With Us

Shaker Heights Patch offers a variety of affordable and effective ways to reach the residents you most want to reach, whether they’re in Shaker Heights or other communities or both. Our advertising experts are just a click away.

11. Review Restaurants and Other Businesses

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) by going to our directory page and looking for “Rate Your Neighborhood.”

12. Engage With Us on Social Media

Patch makes it easy to interact. You can recommend a story to Facebook, tweet it to your followers or email it to a friend with a click of the buttons atop each article. Better yet, you can like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. It’s the best possible way of keeping in touch with the rest of the Shaker community.

13. Send a Letter to the Editor

The more Shaker Heights Patch serves as 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.