Public appearances by The Times food columnist Lee White highlighted a busy month for people associated with your local newspaper, which has been quickly expanding content and reaching out to help the community learn the best way to get their stories to the public.

White created a very popular series of food discussions at Groton Public Library, with well-known chefs and critics answering questions from the public, which also got a taste of some yummy creations. A library spokeswoman I talked to said the healthy attendance numbers — more than three dozen for the final panel discussion May 31, from what I heard — would prompt a return engagement next year.

Speaking of return engagements, I was asked to deliver a presentation May 16 at Old Lyme Country Club to a monthly meeting of Community Connections, a group of nonprofit leaders in the Old Lyme area, about how to pitch stories and write press releases. The group’s leaders had heard of two similar talks that assistant editor Amanda Hutchinson and I had given in April at Groton and New London public libraries, and asked me to do something for their group.

It was a wonderful turnout, with lots of good questions and connections. My main takeaway: the community has been craving this kind of give-and-take with local editors, so I hope to continue the trend with other meetings in the near future. Call me at (860) 701-4356 to connect.

Meanwhile, you should know that Amanda and I have developed a press-release info packet with lots of pointers and names of specific contacts at The Day and the Times. To get an electronic copy, email l.howard@theday.com.

In addition, I have written up a step-by-step summary about how to upload photographs and attach them to emails, at the request of Community Connections, so I could send that to you as well.

Also please note the many new ways you can get information in the Times.

We have recently added a Startup Success feature in which we ask people to tell about launching their business. We also have a new Let’s Go feature in which we invite people to submit information about events that might attract people from around the region.

In addition, we have three new occasional features. One, called Be An Angel, will highlight people in the community with serious needs and will offer ways to help. Another, Friends & Neighbors, highlights a community member with an interesting achievement or career transition. The third, Throwback Thursday, is largely derived from Internet postings of interesting pictures that take us back in time.

Please feel free to send information and, most important, photos to times@theday.com to be featured in the paper.

On another note, we recently completed our ninth Recorded History podcast with Ken Keeley, author of “A Pictorial Journal of Ocean Beach Park.” The previous podcast featured longtime state troubadour Tom Callinan of Norwich, who sang us through two centuries of American and Connecticut history. Please check out these and other Day podcasts at theday.com/podcasts.

Lee Howard is The Day’s community editor. To reach him by phone, call (860) 701-4356.