Today on Patch: New Boards and a New Look

By Joe Vince, Oak Forest Patch Editor

Welcome to the new Oak Forest Patch.

No, wait! Don't go! You're at the right place. 

We've just done some redecorating. How do you like what we've done with the place?

First, the site is livelier, with easier ways for readers to comment and share. Below the news on the homepage—and this will be the same coverage you've come to expect from Patch—you’ll see blogs that showcase more town voices and look at what’s happening beyond the headlines. Plus, we’ve made it easier to start a blog on any topic you like. As always, Patch is your site, too, and we want you take advantage of that. 

That's why we've created a fresh, new feature for reader voices with our Boards. The Boards are a totally open area on Patch where you can post announcements—lost pets, engagements, missed connections or that strange thing you saw in Central Park. We've set up specific topic boards, as well:

• The Opinion Board is where readers can speak their minds, whether it's about a topic we're covering or even one's we're not.
  
• The Buy/Sell/Trade Board lets you tell everyone about garage and yard sales or to see if anyone is looking for a good deal on a used dining room set that’s taking up too much space in your basement.
  
• The Business Update Boards are ideal for business owners to talk about upcoming sales, new locations, menu changes, openings and closings.

As always, Oak Forest Patch is about the community and helping to make the city a better place. This is the next step, and we want to hear what you think about it. Share your thoughts in the Opinion Board or through the feedback form.

In the meantime, keep checking out the new look and make yourself at home.