Happy Second Birthday to Patch

Precisely two years ago today, Glen Cove Patch arrived as a new source for news and a platform for residents of the community.

In our two years here, we've reported thousands of stories, from uplifting school news to political controversies and campaigns, crime to rescues by emergency personnel, and the businesses that have departed or arrived.

But we're equally interested in what the community has to say, and so have created Local Voices so that residents can express their views on everything from history to housing. Just this week, John Cocchiola told the moving story of a survivor of the Bataan Death March, while Claudia Borecky posted her first blog on the sale of the Glen Cove sewer plant.

Here are a few ways you can use the site to be heard, to brag, to let others know about important matters.

Become a blogger: Glen Cove experts in their fields blog weekly on the site. Have a subject area of expertise? Email pam.robinson@patch.com and have your voice be heard.

Sign up for the newsletter: Get a daily summary of Glen Cove-specific news delivered directly to your inbox daily or once a week. The site is updated multiple times each day, so news is always fresh.

Add your photos: We want your best shots. Add them to our gallery. You can also add photos to articles by clicking "Upload" near the photos we've featured. (Poof.)

Express yourself: We love discussion and intelligent debate. We welcome reader comments about small issues we may have missed. Tell us about new initiatives, school accomplishments, neighborhood issues. Don't like our coverage? Tell us. But please, be fair and keep it clean.

Claim your listing: All users can add events taking place at local spots, rate the business on a scale of one to five stars, or write a review.

But owners of local businesses get extra bonuses when they claim a listing. They can make changes and updates to their listings. On the left side of the dashboard you have several options: Your Stats, Edit Listing, Manage Photos & Media, Reviews, Free Tools, Paid Tools and Contact Sales.

Make announcements: Are you looking for volunteers to help your organization? Did your son or daughter win a scholastic award?  Lose a pet? Announce it in our announcements section so the community knows.

So join in the fun. Tell us what else you'd like to see on Glen Cove Patch. And thank you for reading Patch for the last two years.