Dear Patch readers, Have a story idea you want to share? Want to know more about how to use Patch to spread the word? Grow with Patch this Saturday at Wilmette’s French Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The market is located at Central Avenue and Green Bay Road in Wilmette. I’ll be sharing a booth with Go Green Wilmette and sharing free seeds so you can grow with Patch! Looking forward to meeting you! Best, Chi-an  

A brief storm came through the area Aug. 20. The weather lasted long enough for a lightening bolt to do some damage to a tree in Wilmette. Thanks to reader Rob Faurot for sharing! Check out the full lightening story here. Stay tuned to Patch for more weather coverage.

While walking home last night I did a double take reading the signs posted in Demas Foods & Liquors' windows. After 54 years serving the 4th Street and Linden Avenue community, the grocery store will shutter its doors Aug. 31. The first day I moved to Wilmette I popped into Demas. And though I didn't quite find what I was looking for, its peculiar charm won me over. I've since intermittently gone in for the occassional gallon of milk, etc. and to chat with the cashiers. Over the summer it's been a hotspot for kids wanting to hop off their bicycles and cool down with ice cream. Now, in an …

We're excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "DisPatches: The Changing American Dream." Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses, and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors…

Here at Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch we get geeked out by our engaging readers. Every day you're making the site better by adding your photos, news tips and comments. We want to showcase our favorite user-generated content or reader moment of the week. This time around we're highlighting a smart discussion propelled by a blogger John Powers post on Wilmette's Flood Survey. Read a snippet of the convo above, and check out the full chat in the blog post. Check back Sundays for the next UGC Moment of the Week and feel free to suggest your own!

A month from today will mark the 10-year anniversary of 9/11. As we near a decade since what has been deemed the worst terrorist attack against the United States, Patch is reaching out for your stories. We're hoping to compile personal narratives into a series of photo essays that capture 9/11's aftermath, especially here in Wilmette and Kenilworth. How have you changed since 9/11/01? Has a member of your family been deployed or in the process of being deployed? Did you switch political parties in the wake of the attacks? Did you take up volunteering efforts? Have you stopped driving an SUV? …

When Monday's thunderstorm swept through Wilmette it took down one of the Village's historical treasures, the Bicentennial Ash. While one reader submitted her poem and images of the fallen tree, Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch is taking a reader poll to find out: what you think should be done to commemorate the 265-year-old tree? Should a new crop of Wilmette Wonderboys be produced? A series of plaques be made to spread throughout the village? We'll be running an interview with President Chris Canning tomorrow on the tree, and would love to tie in your thoughts as well. Please let us know in the …

Attending Wilmette's Summerfest this Friday or Saturday? Come on by the giant green Patch tent and sign up for our newsletter to win prizes from the Wilmette Theatre, Big Tomato, Mrs. D's Diner and more. But most importantly stop in so we can chat about the site. I want to know: What do you like about Patch? What isn't working on the site? How can Patch better serve the community? I want to take this opportunity to thank you guys in-person for being a great village to work with and I want to learn how we can move forward. Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch has been up and running for seven months now…

As of early Wednesday morning, power outages were spotted along the southeast part of Wilmette. Earlier Tuesday, winds at O'Hare International Airport were clocked at 70 mph, according to the Chicago Weather Center blog. Meanwhile traffic was greatly impaired and Metra trains were delayed by several hours. As of 3 a.m. the ComEd outage map is showing 3,001 to 10,000 customers in the Chicago North region without power, while 10,000 or more are without electricty in the Skokie region. Some of our Twitter followers have re-capped the storm: @stevefuchs: pounded by hurricane force winds. Fences, …

Dozens of area residents checked out downtown Wilmette Thursday for Ladies Night. While some businesses stayed offered snacks and beverages for patrons, Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch hosted a raffle with the Wilmette Theatre. Check out the winners of our raffle below: Winner of 4 movie passes:  Nan Roytberg    Winner of 2 tickets to Comedy at the Mette Saturday July 9th 9pm with headliner Cameron Esposito: Elizabeth Kogan, Alison Fero and Laura Rodriguez Winners of 2 tickets each to Kiss Kiss Cabaret on Sat. July 23rd at 9:30pm: Hannah Raus, Barbara Jackson and Billie Barron  

Wilmette's annual Ladies Night is tonight, and Patch is getting in on the fun, too. We'll be hanging out at the Wilmette Theatre with Storybook Mom Nili Yellin and raffling off some great prizes. If you sign up for the Patch newsletter you automatically enter a drawing for these great prizes: Three sets of two tickets to Comedy at the Mette with Cameron Esposito:What: A monthly stand-up comedy series on the second Saturday of each month featuring full length headlining and feature sets from the absolute best comics in Chicago, a Chicago Tribune "Best Bet". This month's headliner is Cameron …

Beginning May 4, Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch will be launching a new feature for local bloggers. Patch is looking to expand the online conversation about your community. We're looking for writers and photographers who can riff on various topics, share their personality and engage our readers in discussions. Are you passionate about Wilmette and Kenilworth'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? Can you draw, write poetry or take photos…

Dear Patch readers, It's been awesome to see the extensive political debate on the site. I want to thank all of you for sharing your voices. But in the spirit of civlility and thoughtful discourse, I wanted to refresh our memories on the requirements for online comments. It is wonderful (and exciting!) to watch user engagement on Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch grow each week. As an outlet for immediate interaction and conversation in the village, we strive to highlight important issues and foster community online. One of the best parts about Patch is the opportunity to connect with people in new …

Know a great kid who made Eagle Scout? Science fair winner? Standout athlete? All-around good kid? Did the soccer team take the championship?  They may be our next Patch Whiz Kid honoree. Each week, Wilmette-Kenilworth 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. Please submit your nomination in our comment box below, or e-mail the information to carrie.porter@patch.com. Please be sure to …

Moms, we want to talk to you. And we want you to talk to us. Often. We know you've got wisdom to share—not just with your children, but with other moms facing the same challenges, dilemmas, joys and opportunities you've encountered. Although it seems like you can do everything (it really, really seems that way—we never stop being amazed by it), it wouldn't hurt to have some fellow moms around to share ideas and advice. Here's the deal: Starting very soon, we're going to be offering a lot of information we hope you'll find useful. Tips and stories on everything from finding the best …

Want headlines from Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch delivered directly to your blog or website? Now, you can stream all the Wilmette, as well as Kenilworth news — or just certain categories — directly there for you and your visitors. It was one several changes made to the Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch site last week that also includes free classified ads and a news feed from nearby Patch sites. With a new widget feature, you can create a box that's easily insertable into blogs and Web pages. It's also customizable by topic, so if you just want sports, you can limit to sports or if you just want police …

With more than 500 sites across the country, Patch is growing fast and people are taking notice. Most recently, Russ Mitchell talked with local editors and Patch President Warren Webster for a CBS Evening News segment about the future of journalism in the digital age and Patch's role in an industry plagued by layoffs and unemployment. At Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch, we're dedicated to bringing you hyper-local news coverage you can trust. Feel free to email me with news tips or just to say hi: andrea.hart@patch.com. To see the video and learn more about Patch, click here.

Happy four-day birthday to the Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch! Before we turn another day older, we need to clear the air on a few things. We're taking a new approach to community journalism, but we cannot move forward without you.  You're the heart of this site. You're what makes it beat boldy and loudly. So, don't just follow us or friend us. Engage us. Post photos, events and announcments. Ask questions or make comments. We hope you'll see our suggestions below and raise us your stories. We've hit record; we're just waiting for your voice. 1. Comment on an Article We subscribe to …

Let's get together, what do you say? We can have a swinging time. Before we figure out the tangible when and where, let's start here, on Patch. Patch is a place where people from Wilmette and Kenilworth can connect to the latest news, newest businesses and happenings of the day. We can also connect to each other by sharing announcements, events and comments. Want to share the joys of a new family addition or honor the memory of a community leader? Patch is here for that too with our announcements page and events calendar. My job is to fill these infinite e-pages with information that matters—…