About this column:
As a journalist, I try to keep my mouth shut on most issues when I'm on the job. It's my responsibility to observe and analyze, not (usually) to opine. But there are a few situations where, as the editor of Brecksville Patch, I am sure I'll feel compelled to speak my mind. When I do, you'll be able to find it here in The Editor's Notes.
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 …
Giving back is an important part of Patch’s mission, so five times a year, the Patch local editors take some time off to volunteer in the community. Since the Cuyahoga Valley National Park is such an important resource to Brecksville and the surrounding communities, I usually spend my volunteer time helping to clean up the trails. On the “trail sweeps” I’ve been part of, volunteers have cleaned up graffiti, moved fallen trees, cleared culverts for rainwater and just generally tidied the trail of the day. This past Thursday, I joined a group of volunteers on the Tree Farm Trail in Peninsula. …
There are lots of interesting people in Brecksville—and I should know! I'm lucky enough to get paid to meet people and tell the city’s stories each and every day.But I still can’t meet everyone, and that’s where I need you—the readers—to help me out. I’m going to be writing more personality profiles on Brecksville Patch highlighting interesting and influential newsmakers around town. That might include a teacher who really inspires his or her students, a politician who goes above and beyond to lend a hand or a business owner whose shop is a local landmark. Who would you like to see profiled …
Do you have some free time Friday morning? Then plan to stop by Panera and meet the people behind Brecksville Patch: Local Editor Rachel Abbey McCafferty and Advertising Manager Jennifer Woomer.Jennifer and I will be working (and drinking some coffee) at Panera, starting at 10:30 a.m. Friday. There’s no formal meeting—we’re just letting you know where to find us so that you can stop by with your questions and ideas! Not sure what it means to “claim” your business listing? Stop by. Have you had problems trying to post events or announcements? Stop by. Interested in blogging or have an idea for…
I love writing about residents giving back—and I’ve had quite a few chances to do just that at Brecksville Patch.But volunteers don’t always talk about their good works, and that’s where I need you to step in. Do you know a great Brecksville volunteer? What about a class working on a special project to help the community or a local organization dedicated to giving back?Email your suggestions to Local Editor Rachel Abbey McCafferty and you just might see them highlighted on our home page!For some inspiration, check out some of these past profiles: Teacher Uses Technology to Help Students With …
Brecksville City Council will meet at 8 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall, with the committee meetings beginning at 5:30 p.m. There is a lot on both agendas, so I want to know what issues you’re most interested in. The agendas are included as PDFs to the right, so you can give them a read and leave a comment below with your questions. I’ll do my best to get them answered on Brecksville Patch. I’m definitely planning a post on the new police officer and volunteer firefighter, and the presentation on the Stadium Drive property looks interesting. What else do you want to know about?
I was checking Twitter this morning and noticed a little trend—there were a bunch of Tweets bashing Brecksville and then just as many defending it. So, it made me think—I’d like to hear what it is that you love about living in Brecksville. Maybe it’s your neighbors, or maybe it’s being so close to nature. The schools? The theater programs? The restaurants? The choice is up to you. If you have an issue you want to air, you can leave that, too. Maybe one of your neighbors will have a solution. So, let's chat—what do you like best about living in Brecksville?
If you have a spare moment this evening, you should take a break and stop by Creekside Restaurant and Bar to enjoy a few appetizers with the people behind Brecksville Patch!Advertising Manager Jennifer Woomer and I will be there from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. We’ll have some of Creekside’s appetizers for you to enjoy, and plenty of free Patch gear to give away. (Personally, I think the water bottles are pretty cool.)And you can bring your questions. If you’ve ever wanted a demonstration on how to post an event or an announcement, just ask. I’ll have my laptop, and I’d be happy to show you. The same…
Do you have some free time Thursday evening?Yes? Then stop by Creekside Restaurant and Bar and meet the people behind Brecksville Patch! I’ll be there with Advertising Manager Jennifer Woomer from 5 to 7 p.m. We’ll have free appetizers for you to enjoy and some fun Patch gear to give away. (Did someone say tote bags and water bottles?)What do you need to bring? Just your questions about how to use Brecksville Patch. Not sure how to post an event or an announcement? Stop by and we’ll show you how. Really want to claim your business listing or start blogging on the site, but you’re not …
Can you believe it, Brecksville?Today is Brecksville Patch’s one-year anniversary!It’s a big occasion, so I hope you’ll excuse a little sappiness on my part.A year ago today, I was anxiously browsing the site (after a long night putting on some finishing touches), hoping readers would find something to grab their attention. I was excited to learn more about the community I’d be covering, to meet the people whose stories I’d be telling. That community made me feel like I’d been covering Brecksville for years, and for that, I’m grateful. The Kiwanis Club and the Community Center immediately …
Here at Brecksville Patch, we like to write about outstanding people in the community, from teachers who give their all to students to volunteers who turn their passion into a career, from high-achieving students to business owners willing to lend a hand.But I’m sure there are plenty of people around town whose accomplishments and good deeds go unnoticed—that’s where you need to come in. As we reflect on the year, I want to hear who you think should be recognized. Just fill out the form above with the name of the person you’d like to see highlighted and why. Multiple nominations are welcomed…
This was Brecksville Patch’s first year in the city, and what a busy year it was, filled with ups and downs for the community.The city celebrated its bicentennial this year with a variety of different events and memorials, like the parade featuring a local astronaut and the Budweiser Clydesdales.The community was taken aback by a crime where a young woman pled guilty to felonious assault after being accused of pepper-spraying children in the face near the Community Center. The same community came together to mourn the loss of the former police chief’s son in Afghanistan.The school district …
December is a month filled with a variety of holidays and traditions, which vary from family to family. Some families gather together to bake special treats for the season or cut down the perfect tree to decorate. Others have traditional meals filled with meaning. I know Brecksville is a city with a rich history, and I’ve already seen some of the city’s traditions, from a themed tree at the library to the Christmas parade to the Annual Children’s Play. But I want to know more about what makes the season special for you and your loved ones, whether you observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, New…
Did you know you can post your own classifieds—and search for local jobs for free—on Brecksville Patch?Erin Kubat, a representative from the Brecksville Community Center, today posted a job opening for a lifeguard at the center. The part-time job is open to anyone older than 16 with American Red Cross lifeguard training, and first aid, CPR and AED certifications. For more information, check out the posting here. To post your own job openings or other classified ads, visit our “Marketplace” by clicking the tab at the top of the page. You can post or search for a job by using the top box. The …
This September, we're going to put a closer focus on local businesses here at Brecksville Patch. Businesses help build the fabric of a community. They’re where people earn their living. They’re where they start a career or follow their dreams. Local businesses are where people buy their groceries, pick up presents for loved ones and interact with other members of the community. And Brecksville is home to a number of unique small businesses and interesting ventures, with more opening up all the time. Need an example? Seared restaurant will be opening soon, and The Kiln recently relocated to…
Where were you on Sept. 11? Ask that simple question and the stories follow—it’s almost inevitable. Our country changed forever that day and in the tumultuous years that followed. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost been 10 years since the terrorist attacks. To commemorate how that day impacted our country, we want to share how the events of Sept. 11 and those that followed affected the residents of Brecksville. But we’ll need your help. Send us your 100-word story of how Sept. 11 impacted you – it can be big or small. We’ll share those stories on Brecksville Patch, honoring those who …
Today, Patch is launching a new series called Dispatches: The Changing American Dream. Across the country, there are signs of the many ways this dream is shifting and evolving. It’s a reaction to the lingering economic recession, to the changes in the housing market. It can be found in debates about the nation’s debt, our changing political parties and how we educate our children. And the American dream means different things to different people. For some, it’s focused on home ownership. For others, it’s job security or educational opportunities. At Patch, we want to delve deeper into …
On Saturday, I joined Fairlawn-Bath Patch Editor Kymberli Hagelberg, Cuyahoga Falls Patch Editor Lindsay McCoy and a number of other volunteers for a “trail sweep” in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. The other Patch editors and myself were volunteering as part of Patch’s Give 5 initiative, which encourages editors to get more involved in the communities we cover. We spent most of the morning and afternoon walking the Plateau Trail in Peninsula, trimming branches, picking up any litter we found and just generally tidying up the trail. Other groups of volunteers worked on projects around the…
Have you had the chance to check out some of the blog posts community members have written on Brecksville Patch? The bloggers have addressed a wide variety of topics so far, from politics to more personal entries. In the past two weeks, there have been new posts on: The Cuyahoga Valley Republicans, and why the group’s president wants people to think about their freedom, The relationship between a stepmother and her children, and How the recession impacted one local family. You can find all of the posts from local bloggers on the “Local Voices” page. And if you want to share your points …
What inspires you? Is it politics? Poetry? Parenting? Whatever it is, we want to know about it. Brecksville Patch is a place for everyone in the community to share news and information. You can add events, announce news like graduations and, thanks to a recent addition to the site, blog about whatever it is that interests you. By blogging on Brecksville Patch, you’re in charge. Whether you’d like to offer insight on a local topic, commentary on a larger issue or just a glimpse into your daily life is up to you. You can also post original photos or videos. Post as often – or infrequently – as…
