Community Corner

Colombian Adventures, Overuse of the Word Hate and More in Patch Local Voices

Find out who is posting on Patch, including Michael and Graciela, a Colombian couple, and how you can get started.

Your voice. Your community.

The Patch Local Voices section can be a powerful tool for yourself, your group or your business. It's the perfect place to promote a big event coming up, voice your opinion on something you are passionate about or share tips from your career field.

Each Sunday we will feature some of Patch's most interesting Local Voices writers, show you who is posting on Patch and how you can get started.

Find out what's happening in Clawsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

From Colombia with love

The U.S. State Department highly recommended that Michigan native Micheal (Joe) Kershaw avoid Colombia at all costs, Kershaw said.

Find out what's happening in Clawsonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

But Kershaw was in search of some interviews for an article he was writing several years ago. A writing contact recommended he meet up with a woman, Graciela, in Bogota, who would be his bilingual executive assistant.

“After being the only gringo face on the flight from Miami to Bogota I exited customs, walked past the military guards at the airport, saw the lady and it became the old cliché of love at first sight,” Kershaw said about his future wife.

Kershaw’s article got pushed to the back-burner and he spent three weeks touring Colombia.

He never looked back. And now the happy couple is sharing their adventure abroad on Patch.

Michael is a born and bred Michigander with over 40 years experience as a freelance writer.

Graciela has lived all her life in Colombia though traveled the world extensively. She is an accomplished artist and has studied with some of the best artists in South America. Most of her work life has been as a bilingual administrative assistant to company presidents in Colombia.

The couple has posted on Colombian fashion, the American (not so) Tango and Bogotá’s Gold Museum - Museo del Oro.

You can follow them on Patch and on Twitter at @MichaelGraciela.

Who else is posting on Patch?

  • Clawson Mayor Penny Luebs announced a recycling challenge between Clawson and Hazel Park.
  • Frank Versagi posted in Royal Oak about the overuse of the word "hate," saying To hate people, however, is to wish them harm -- as an individual or as a group.
  • A Royal Oak resident talked about his concerns about graffiti affecting property values.
  • Hot Dog! Ferndale's George Vieira posted Detroit Underdog's Over the Top Hot Dogs Woo Local Drunks.

How can I post on Patch?

Blogging in our Local Voices Section is easy:

  1. Sign in to our site with your email  (or sign up by clicking join on the top right of our home page, if you don't have an account)
  2. Fill out your profile by filling out a bio of yourself  (or group/business) and upload a picture of yourself (or group/business) by clicking your name in the upper left side of the home page.
  3. Click the Patch town you would like to post in: Rochester/Rochester HillsTroy,Bloomfield/Bloomfield HillsWest BloomfieldBirminghamFerndaleRoyal Oak orClawson and click "Post on Patch."
  4. Start writing!
  5. Upload a photo to make your post stand out by clicking "Add photos, videos & PDF's" on the upper left side of the page.
  6. Hit submit!

Questions? 

Contact Patch Community Editor Jason Alexander at jason.alexander@patch.com or 810-488-1353.


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