Are you marketing your business in a creative way? Could you be doing more?
During today's Reporter Local Business Chat, we'll talk about the most creative ways to market your business. For example, have you created a company branded fantasy league for your clients and co-workers?

Locals watched Sunday as an end to Hurricane Irene brought road closures, power outages and major flooding to Montgomery and Bucks counties. Below are photos submitted to The Reporter. These photos were mostly submitted by adding the #BucksMont hashtag to the end of a tweet.
We are still gathering photo so send yours to citydesk@thereporteronline.com or tweet us using the #BucksMont hashtag.

Earthquake

Geoff Patton, online editor at The Reporter, speaks to local high school athletes about blogging in the Community Media Lab. Photo by Andy Stettler

The Reporter would like to invite all of our community bloggers and would-be bloggers to join us for a casual meet-and-greet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 23 in our Community Media Lab in The Reporter newsroom at 307 Derstine Ave., Lansdale.

Over the past few months, we've met many of you on Twitter, Facebook, email and on the phone. We've had great conversation about how to make our blogs better with stronger content. Now we would like to meet you in person to talk about your blogs, what you're working on and how we or other local bloggers can help.

Today, we launch our new local blogs Twitter account - @LReporterBlogs.

From this account, we will tweet the latest local blog items in and around our region, plus news about upcoming events regarding our Community Media Lab, a network of bloggers listed on The Reporter's blogs page.

Of course, we're always looking for new bloggers from around the area. If you would like to join the Community Media Lab, simply fill out the form below.

Here in The Reporter newsroom, our priority is to be accurate and fast when alerting the public to breaking news.

When a funnel cloud rose over Lansdale a few weeks ago, we sent out a text alert letting subscribers know about which roads to avoid. We've also alerted the public to developing crime stories and more with the priority that our subscribers should be the first to know about what is happening in our region.Below are five of our SMS alert services. To subscribe, simply text the corresponding code to 22700.

Local News
This service provides subscribers with the latest breaking news information as it happens. If you want to know about local school board decisions, national breaking news and crime and traffic alerts text "LANnews" to 22700.

Daily Weather
This service is particularly helpful to readers and we've received a lot of good feedback. Have the day's weather sent to your phone by texting "LANweather" to 22700.

Sports News
Our sports department excels in covering our local teams while keeping up with national sports breaking news. When you text "LANsports" to 22700, subscribers will receive information on breaking game scores and related sports news.

Phillies News
Are you a Phillies fan (do we have to ask)? Text "Phillies" to 22700 to receive scores and breaking news about the Phils.

Eagles News
Eagles fans will enjoy our new Eagles news service. Just text "Eagles" to 22700 to receive the latest news on Eagles training camp and the upcoming season.

The Lansdale community had its first look at the nearly 40 code violations inside the building that housed the former Lansdale Center for the Performing Arts until last spring.

The Reporter held a live broadcast of the entire meeting and later included the broadcast in a full story after the meeting. But if you didn't make it to the meeting last night. Here are a few items that will help you catch up on what happened.
Lansdale council votes on several measures

Three official actions were taken by council during the meeting, all of which passed by unanimous votes: Council voted not to proceed with litigation relating to the building, voted to publicize reports on the current code violations and future plans for the building, and voted to establish an official council task force to guide the future development of the building. - The Reporter's Full Story

Council, community hear reports about former arts center

Nearly 40 code violations were found within the current building by consultants, and it could take almost $4 million to fully finish the building as an arts and community center, and West said the turnout of more than 60 borough residents Tuesday night made him optimistic for the project’s progress. - The Reporter's Full Story

Presentations
Below are two PowerPoint presentations that took place during the meeting.Lansdale -- Building Assessment Rev IPerforming Arts Center Presentation