Welcome to the Towne Common Help Center. If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, feel free to reach out to us directly at ed@townecommon.com.
Getting Started
How do I create an account?
Click the Register link in the navigation menu. You’ll be asked for your name, email address, and a password. You’ll need to confirm your email address before you can start participating — check your inbox for a confirmation email and click the link inside. If you don’t see it, check your spam folder.
What are the password requirements?
Passwords must be at least 10 characters long and include at least one uppercase letter. The stronger the better — we recommend using a passphrase or a password manager.
Do I need an account to browse the site?
You can browse the events calendar, business directory, and community activity feed without an account. To post, comment, submit events, or connect with other members you’ll need to register.
Setting Up Your Profile
How do I set up my profile?
After logging in, click your name or avatar in the navigation to go to your profile. From there you can upload a profile photo, add a cover image, fill in a bio, and add your general location. A complete profile helps your neighbors get to know you — we encourage filling it in.
Can I choose what others see on my profile?
Yes. You can control the privacy of individual profile fields. Visit your profile settings to choose what’s visible to other members versus the general public.
Can I change my username?
Yes, you can update your username from your profile settings. Keep in mind that your username appears in your profile URL, so changing it will change your profile link.
The Common
What is The Common?
The Common is our community activity feed — the heart of Towne Common. It’s where members share local knowledge, ask questions, post recommendations, start conversations, and connect with neighbors. Think of it as the town common, but online.
How do I post something?
When you’re logged in, you’ll see the post box at the top of The Common. Type your message and hit post. You can also add photos, start a poll, or choose a colorful background for short posts.
What can I post?
Anything that would be useful or interesting to your neighbors — local recommendations, questions about the area, community news, event reminders, photos from around town, historical tidbits, or just a friendly hello. Please review our Community Guidelines for what’s appropriate.
How do hashtags work?
You can add hashtags to your posts by typing # followed by a word (e.g. #Boxborough, #HikingTrails, #LocalEats). Hashtags help members find posts on specific topics. Hashtags must start with a letter and be between 3 and 16 characters.
Can I edit or delete my posts?
Yes. Click the options menu on any of your own posts to edit or delete it. Edited posts will show a small indicator so the community knows the content was updated.
How do I save a post to read later?
Click the options menu on any post and select Save. Saved posts are private and can be found in your profile under Saved Posts.
How do polls work?
Any member can create a poll from the post box. Select the poll option, add your question and answer choices, and post. Members can vote and see results in real time. You can change your vote after casting it.
How do I mention another member?
Type @ followed by their username in any post or comment and select them from the dropdown. They’ll receive a notification that they were mentioned.
Events
How do I find events?
Visit our Events page to browse upcoming community events. Events are organized by date and cover all seven Metrowest towns we serve.
How do I submit an event?
Registered members can submit events using our Submit an Event form. Fill in the event name, date, time, location, and a brief description. Events are reviewed before they’re published, so please allow a little time. You’ll hear back from us if we have any questions.
What kinds of events get approved?
We publish events that are open to the community or a meaningful segment of it — town events, library programs, festivals, club meetings, youth activities, local performances, and similar. Purely private events or purely commercial promotions aren’t a good fit for the calendar.
Business Directory
How does the business directory work?
Our business directory is curated by the Towne Common team. We research and compile local businesses across all seven towns we cover, organized by category. We make every effort to keep listings accurate and up to date.
I noticed a listing is incorrect or outdated. What should I do?
Please let us know at ed@townecommon.com and we’ll get it corrected. Your local knowledge helps us keep the directory accurate.
Can I suggest a business that isn’t listed?
Absolutely — email us at ed@townecommon.com with the business name and any details you have. We’ll research it and add it if it’s a good fit.
Notifications
What kinds of notifications will I receive?
By default you’ll receive on-site and email notifications when someone comments on your post, reacts to your post or comment, replies to your comment, or mentions you. You’ll also be notified about activity on posts you’ve commented on or reacted to.
How do I manage my notification preferences?
Visit your profile and go to Settings → Notifications to turn individual notification types on or off. You can control both on-site and email notifications separately.
Privacy and Safety
How do I report a post or comment?
Click the options menu on any post or comment and select Report. Choose the reason that best fits — spam, advertisement, profanity, or inappropriate/abusive — and submit. We review every report and take action promptly.
How do I block another member?
Visit the member’s profile and select Block from the options menu. Blocked members won’t be able to see your profile or interact with your posts, and you won’t see theirs.
Who can see my activity on The Common?
By default your posts are public and visible to all visitors including non-members. You can change the privacy level of individual posts when you create them. Your profile and settings let you control what personal information is visible to members versus the general public.
Can I hide myself from the member directory?
Yes. In your profile settings you can choose to hide yourself from the member listings while still participating in the community.
Your Account
How do I change my email address or password?
Go to your profile and click Settings. From there you can update your email address and password.
I forgot my password. How do I reset it?
Click Log In and then Forgot Password. Enter your email address and we’ll send you a reset link.
How do I request a copy of my personal data?
Email us at ed@townecommon.com and we’ll provide an export of the personal data we hold about you.
How do I delete my account?
Email us at ed@townecommon.com and we’ll take care of it. Please note that some data may be retained for legal or security purposes as outlined in our Privacy Policy.
Still Need Help?
We’re a small, locally run site and we’re happy to help personally. Send us an email at ed@townecommon.com and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
