A year ago, Milford Patch launched as a website. At the time, we were an unknown. Many people liked the idea of an interactive, community website, with news, information and events. But they weren't quite sure what to expect. Now, a year later, we are more familiar, and we hope, a trusted source of information. That's the goal. We've grown tremendously, and changes have taken place. The site now has more than 1,300 people who follow us on Facebook. And we seem to be getting fewer, puzzled "What's Patch?" responses when we're out and about. The site launched on Oct. 15, 2010, under the …
Milford Patch has made room for local bloggers on the site, and we're always looking for new voices and perspectives. We're looking for bloggers who can riff on various topics, share their personality and engage our readers in discussions. We already have several bloggers who have done just that. We'd like to add more. Patch is more than a news site, it's an online conversation about your community. Are you passionate about Milford's core issues? Are you an expert craftsman or hobbyist who can share do-it-yourself tips? Do you have strong opinions about local government? Can you just make us …
I'm not a bio mom (a term that we stepparents use to describe a woman who gives birth). It's my understanding, though, that pretty much all bio moms can have difficulty placing their young child for the first time into the care of another—even when that other is a capable, caring, professional who may actually have more experience caring for a child than the mom herself (daycare workers, teachers, grandparents). That's pretty much where I'm at right now, on the eve of handing over this website to a new editor. Milford Patch is my baby and I've never given up control of it. Not even for a …
We'll be losing an hour Sunday, but gaining some much-needed sunlight. Daylight saving time starts at 2 a.m. Sunday. So, before you hit the sack Saturday night, set your clocks forward an hour. Worried about losing an hour of sleep? If you wake up and your newly set clocks says 8 a.m., well, just sleep till 9.
Do you know a Milford kid who is a tireless volunteer, a creative genius, a standout athlete or an exceptional student? How about a team or youth group that has done something great? Tell us about these impressive young community members. We're looking for our next Whiz Kid(s) of the Week. Each week, Milford Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams that wow us with their accomplishments. We want to hear about these amazing children and teens and select one each week as the Patch Whiz Kid. Submit your nomination in our comment box…
Our New Year's resolution at Patch is to constantly improve our site and make it one of your virtual stops, every day—even multiple times a day. We've said from the start that you, the readers, are a major part of this effort. So, readers: Milford Patch needs your help. Are you a mother of young or school-age children? Do you belong to parent associations or play groups? Are you a mother who is interested in what's going on around town, as it relates to your children? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, email me at danielle.horn@patch.com. Simply put "Patch Moms" in the email …
Hello, everyone. It's snowing! (Again.) We live in New England. It snows. Sometimes, it snows a lot. And, as a member of the news media, I have a responsibility to tell you it's snowing, every time it snows. The National Weather Service, as of 10 a.m., was reporting a total accumulation of 3 to 5 inches for Milford, before 3 p.m. Today's snowstorm isn't as much of a nuisance as the last couple, mainly because Milford kids didn't have school today, anyway. (Today, Jan. 21, was scheduled as a professional development day—though staff activities ended up getting canceled, the students will not …
When I started reading news online, I had a routine: Wake up, grab breakfast and plop down with my orange juice next to my computer. It really wasn't that much different from my old newspaper routine; I just turned in my print subscription for a free online version. When I finished reading everything that interested me, I'd do it all over again the next morning. Things have changed. As a Patch reader, if I were to abandon online news after I finished my bowl of cereal, I'd miss the stories that got posted later in the day. (I could still see them the next morning, but I'd be behind.) It …
Editor's note: The storm may be over, but that doesn't mean we don't care anymore about your pictures. Add them directly to this article or email them to me at danielle.horn@patch.com; I'll get them right up. This article was originally published Wednesday morning, Jan. 12. As the snow piles up in front of our homes and on our streets, Milford Patch hopes you'll be staying indoors and off the roads. Town and emergency officials Wednesday were advising residents to avoid driving, both for their safety and to allow the Highway Department to do its job. So grab a camera and take a picture or two…
Today, Dec. 15, is Milford Patch's two-month anniversary. We're thrilled to be going steady with you. If only we could offer you a letter jacket... In two months, we've published approximately 250 articles, for and about Milford residents. We've been in town every day, working to get you news as it happens. We've been at sports games, at government meetings, at community events. We've kept our ears to the ground, and our eyes on Milford—constantly. And, we've just gotten started. We at Milford Patch want this site to be the best it can possibly be. We can't get there, however, without your …
Editor's note: The deadline for voting is at 4 p.m. today, Dec. 24. Ahh, the holiday season. It's a time for good company, good cheer, good food, and to dress our pets in cute outfits. From now until Friday, Dec. 24, pet owners are invited to enter Milford Patch's first "Best-Dressed-Pet," contest. Your pet doesn't necessarily need to be in a Christmas outfit. Any outfit will do. Add a favorite photo of your fashionable furry friend directly to this article, and get support for your pet when others "vote," in the attached comment section. The pet whose picture has garnered the most feedback…
My family's Thanksgiving tradition, which I'm sure many families share, is to go around the table and name at least one thing, or person, for which we're thankful. The activity doesn't always produce the most heartwarming responses; it's typical for at least one wise-guy to smirk and say something along the lines of, "I'm thankful Danielle didn't cook the meal." (Culinary prowess is not a trait for which I'm known.) As I pondered what I'll be sharing at the table today, I got to thinking that the question would be appropriate as it relates to Milford Patch. I've been in this job since August…
Normally in this space, we'd be featuring "Chef's Table," a Sunday column through which local restaurant owners and cooks share recipes with Milford Patch readers. The column isn't running this week, though it will return Nov. 28. The absence of "Chef's Table," got us thinking—at some point, we're going to run out of Milford restaurants to feature. It's just simple math. Looking through our directory, we have about 60 restaurants listed in Milford, not including a few that will be added soon. Take away the fast food chains, and that number drops closer to 50. With this in mind, combined with …
Ever find yourself thinking that there simply aren't enough hours in the day? Well, here is our annual opportunity to grab an extra hour. (I'm going to use it for some much-needed sleep.) The time officially changes at 1:59 a.m., to 1 a.m. Sunday. Don't forget to change your clocks and watches. You really don't want to be getting to work an hour early on Monday, do you?
Starbucks has announced that Patch is part of the Starbucks Digital Network, an in-store collection of hand-picked premium news, entertainment and lifestyle content. The network, available only in the coffee chain's U.S. stores, can be accessed for free by using the store's Wi-Fi. Starbucks has touted the venture as the first in-store network of its kind. Upon opening a browser on a laptop, smartphone or tablet, users will be directed automatically to the network. The nearest Starbucks stores to Milford are in Medway and Westborough, both towns that will eventually host Patch sites. The …
