As the summer rolls along, we wanted to take the time to remind you why Patch is here and what this site is all about. Simply put, it's 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 our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. So get to it! 

1. Comment on an Article

We believe that "news is a conversation." Often a deeper story emerges after readers begin commenting on published articles. Your comments let us know what you think and where you want to learn more. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.  

2. Ask a Question

Maybe you want to know where you can volunteer during the holidays, or perhaps you have an encyclopedic knowledge of where all the U.S. mailboxes are in Darien and can't wait for someone to ask. 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://darien-il.patch.com/questions and ask a question, or answer someone else's.

3. Post an Event

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

4. Send a News Tip

At the bottom of the homepage, there's a link that says, "Send Us News Tips." Tell us about stories we should cover. Your tip will be sent straight to Lauren Williamson, Darien Patch's (incredibly grateful) 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, we welcome you 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 Darien Patch newsletter brings you every article and announcement posted during the past 24 hours. It is delivered to your e-mail every day at 6 a.m. You can also sign up for the weekly newsletter, which shows a subset of the content created and featured on our site over the past seven days. It is delivered every Thursday at 10 a.m. 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 are pretty awesome. 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, claim it at http://darien-il.patch.com/listings.

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 Darien 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. 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) restaurants at http://darien-il.patch.com/restaurants. Or, search to find what you're craving -- you can filter results by cuisine, price or seating accommodations.

11. Social Media Engagement

You can "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/darienilpatch and follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/DarienILPatch. Immerse yourself in our content and actively contribute and engage via social media. Let's start a conversation.

12. Send a Letter to the Editor

Patch would like to invite every member of the Darien 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 300 words and e-mail it to Editor Lauren Williamson at Lauren.Williamson@patch.com.

The more Darien 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.