Hi there!

It's obvious that Emmaus is special - from the majestic white steeple of the Moravian Church to the rumbling rails that bring dozens of trains through town every day.

There's another reason that Emmaus is special. It's the site of the Lehigh Valley's very first Patch.

Patch, which is part of AOL, is a big project affecting hundreds of small towns. We're launching community news and information websites to help fill a void in today's tumultuous media landscape.

Most folks get their news from more than one place. Patch is a new option – a choice that we hope you will make daily as we highlight the celebrations and challenges of Emmaus Borough and Upper Milford Township.

Patch is much more than a place to read stories, view photos and play videos. We invite you to join the conversation. Tell us what's on your mind. Share your milestone announcements – births, engagements, weddings, anniversaries, awards and promotions. Post events on our calendar listing. Comment on the latest news. Participate, don't just observe.

Emmaus now joins towns from Palo Alto to Martha's Vineyard which each have a Patch. There are more than 300 Patches in 15 states – with more launching every day. More Lehigh Valley Patches will sprout in a few weeks – in Hellertown/Lower Saucon, Easton, Nazareth and Bethlehem.

Your Patch Editor, Randy Kraft, is an accomplished journalist who loves this place. He's been working day and night to launch Emmaus Patch with a mix of engaging news and features that reflect this vibrant community. Please say "hi" when you see Randy around town. He's easy to spot with his ready laugh, Santa Claus beard and twinkle in his eyes.

So welcome to Emmaus Patch. Make yourself comfortable and stay while. We hope that you'll find your Patch to be an informative and friendly place where you'll discover – daily – what's going on here.