Happy (Belated) 1 Year Anniversary Mineola Patch!

For the past 365 days Patch has been serving the people of the Village of Mineola, the Mineola School District and even some of the surrounding areas. Ok, so our anniversary was technically Saturday, but can you blame us if we were a tiny bit preoccupied covering Hurricane Irene? Besides, we didn’t feel exactly right in throwing a party when all the plates, food and favors would get blown away.

There’s always news happening here and we’ve been ecstatic to be your go-to source for coverage, stories, and even things you may not have known about. As a bonus, we’re going to set the Way-Back Machine to a little over a year ago to . Feel free to browse our archives and please share with us what you think were our during the past 12 months.

While it’s great to take a trip down memory lane, we believe that our best days are ahead of us, that we’ve still got plenty of room to grow and that we’re one of the best-kept secrets in town.

We’re not going away – we’ll be here through this school year and beyond, at the village meetings, through the 9/11 ceremonies, on the sidelines at the sports games and in the front rows during graduations, but we can’t do it all alone. That’s why we’re also asking for you, our fair readers, to help us out in continuing to spread the word about us to your friends, neighbors and whomever else you might happen to think can benefit from our coverage. It’s a big Patch, and there’s room enough for all!

To those who have been with us for most of the year, we thank you. To those new faces, welcome; if you’re wondering how else you can get involved with Patch and your community, let us offer you the following suggestions:

1. Comment on an Article: We subscribe to the idea that “news is a conversation.” Much of our reporting will emanate from what readers tell us in emails, comments on our sites and in conversations around town. Share your thoughts and reactions to our articles by posting a comment directly below each story.  
2. Ask a Question: So maybe you want to know when that pothole is going to get fixed, or maybe you're a local expert on native trees just dying for someone to ask why their allergies are so bad this year. 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 our Q&A section and ask a question, or answer someone else's.
3. Post an Event: Do you know of a book signing at a local bookstore, a celebrity chef appearing at cooking store 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 by clicking here. 
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 Geoffrey Walter, Mineola Patch’s 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. BONUS: Share Your Voice: Got something to say about life in Mineola or news to spread? Need a forum for your community group? Just eager to share your views? 

Again, thank you for your continued support throughout the past year and in the years to come.