About this column:
In this occasional column, Editor Bill Gilman will his observations of Tewksbury life, as well as announcements of news and features related to TewksburyPatch.Those who know me well know I'm a horrible procrastinator -- especially when it comes to things I find unpleasant. Writing this column is right up near the top of the list of things I put off as long as possible. These past three years, as editor of Tewksbury Patch, have been the most rewarding in my quarter-century in this business. I've had the chance to be part of something new in one of the most amazing communities in Massachusetts. I've been so proud of what we -- and by that I mean you, myself and our staff -- have accomplished here at Tewksbury Patch. More than 6,600 articles, more …
As Hurricane Sandy approaches Tewksbury, the need for up-to-the minute info is even more important. At Patch, we are working around-the-clock to cover the storm, but as with of our reporting, the more interaction we get from users the more comprehensive our coverage will be. Tewksbury Patch is as much your site as it is ours. Here’s how you can use Patch to help paint the local picture of the event.1. Get the news. When we know about storm-related news, so will you. From important town and village announcements, damages, power outages and floods, we’ll have all the news covered 24-7. Refresh …
The entry deadline for the Tewksbury Patch Video Battle of the Bands has been extended. Musicians will now have until 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 19 to submit their entries. The Tewksburty Patch Video Battle of the Bands is the chance of a lifetime for local musicians. This is a chance for you and your bandmates to show off your abilities as musicians and earn some terrific prizes. The winning band will receive a $400 gift certificate to Tewkbury Music Center, Rock Star Makeovers from Touch of Elegance Salon and recording studio time from The Space in Lowell. In addition, the winners will be …
One of the areas in which Patch has been especially well received here in Tewksbury and hundreds of other communities, has been with our election coverage. Residents have looked to Patch for information on candidates, their positions on the key issues and, of course, for breaking political news. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Patch has its sights set squarely on in-depth, grass roots, hometown coverage of the 2012 Presidential Election. Monday, Patch, announced that it will launch 33 new sites in New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina – the first three states to hold …
Beginning May 4, Tewksbury Patch will be making room for local bloggers on the site. We're looking for bloggers who can riff on various topics, share their personality and engage our readers in discussions. Patch is more than a news site, it's an online conversation about your community. Are you passionate about Tewksbury'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 all laugh? Can you write compellingly? Then we want to hear from you. I am specifically interested in talking …
It is my great pleasure to announce that Tewksbury Patch and the Tewksbury Country Club will join forces to sponsor Tewksbury Candidates Night 2011. The event will take place in the main function hall at TCC on Tuesday, March 29, from 7 to 10 p.m. The event is free and public is not only invited but is enthusiastically encouraged to attend and participate. The goal of this event is to give voters a chance to meet candidates face to face and talk to them about the issues important in their lives. This is a great chance for residents to look a candidate in the eye, ask questions and hear the …
Each week, Tewksbury 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 Wednesday as the Patch "Whiz Kid." Submit your nomination in our comment box below or email the information to williamg@patch.com. Be sure to include all of the following information: -Nominator's Name -Nominator's Email -Whiz Kid's Name -Whiz Kid's School -Whiz Kid's Accomplishment -Whiz Kid's Key to Awesomeness (what makes him/her/them successful?) If …
Do you grab your large regular coffee from Dunkin' Donuts or Perfecto's while running to work? Or, do you savor your tea in A Novel Cafe while reading a good book? Perhaps you prefer a hot chocolate from McDonald's while eating breakfast or bumping into locals over your big cup o' joe at Donna's Donuts. With a variety of places to grab a hot pick-me-up, Tewksbury has you covered when you need to take the chill off with a warm drink. Here at Tewksbury Patch we enjoy a coffee, espresso or hot cocoa as much as the rest of you (I'll be honest, not as big on the lattes and chai tea). We want to…
Tewksbury voters will go to the polls on April 2 for what promises to be a lively municipal election. With several contested races on the ballot, as well as critical referendum vote that will have a major impact on the sewer rates and property tax rate, voter turnout should be strong. Tewksbury Patch plans to dedicate a healthy portion of our resources to providing residents of Tewksbury with as much information as possible so they can make an informed decision. All of the candidates have been contacted and have been told exactly the same information you are about to read here. Here is what …
We just had the best time over at A Novel Cafe on Tuesday. We had the chance to meet folks, chat, give away gallons of coffee and lots of other goodies. Thank you so much to Leisa Ginsburg and her tremendous staff for hosting Tewksbury Patch's first (but definitely not last) Coffee Day. Here are the winners from our free drawings! $25 gift certificate to Kyoto - Bob Gregoire Couples Massage ($178 value) from Elements Therapeutic Massage - Debbie O'Neill Thanks again to everyone who stopped by to say hello and to sign up for our daily newsletter (daily morning updates). Keep reading and …
On Aug. 20, 2010, Patch was officially introduced to the residents of Tewksbury. We launched with an array of stories touching on different aspects of life in this vibrant suburban community. What you are reading right now is the 1,000th article to appear on Tewksbury Patch over the course of just five months. In those 1,000 articles, we have published well over 1,000 photos, scores of videos and have mentioned thousands of Tewksbury residents, young and old, by name. In my Welcome Video, I promised that Tewksbury Patch would offer a comprehensive view of life in Tewksbury, and I believe we …
You can now get all your local news and coffee in the same place. Starbucks today announced the launch of the Starbucks Digital Network, in partnership with Yahoo! in U.S. stores. Serving up a collection of hand-picked premium news - including TewksburyPatch, entertainment and lifestyle content along with local insights and events, the Starbucks Digital Network, is powered by free Wi-Fi and available only in Starbucks stores. "Our customers are the inspiration for the Starbucks Digital Network. They've told us they want to be the first to know what's happening in their neighborhoods and …
