Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, March 18 through March 23

Readers in the Joliet area: ready for some spring snow?

For my church, the timing couldn't be worse. Our only fundraiser for the year, our annual spaghetti dinner, which we've been hosting almost six decades now, is tomorrow. Our workers and patrons are mostly elderly people, and they tend to stay home in bad weather (can't say I blame them).

Today: all Sunday deadlines must be complete by noon because the afternoon is full of interviews. And I have to cover an event later today. Oh, and I have a high school student shadowing me for part of the day. Should be fun! :)

Still, hoping to get to bed early, so I can get up early and work on Before the Blood before I have to head up to St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Homewood, where the spaghetti dinner will be held from 2 to 8 p.m.

So if you're looking for some great food, feel free to stop in tomorrow.

Have a great Friday, readers, writers, and vampire fans! :)

Non-bylined features:

Monday through Saturday I assembled my non-bylined works - brief posts and calendar listings - into one convenient file and posting them on Facebook in the evening, so readers can easily choose the ones they want to read.

 One can also find those event listings, the Gotta Do It calendar, as well as the pets, health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars, under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down.  Gotta Do It runs under "people."

Community news? Again, under the sections tab, under features, and by topic. Updates are posted on these days in print and web (and some only on web on other days as I have the time): Monday (pets), Tuesday (health), Thursday (faith), Friday (arts and entertainment), and Sunday (people).

Social media:

Daily updates: I do post the briefs and calendars on Twitter during the week, so you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I post curated content relating to the BryonySeries at @BryonySeries. And assorted related content at www.facebook.com/BryonySeries. And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to jon WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/writeonminooka/?ref=bookmarks. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

Books and Such

Information on my books (including where to buy) along with upcoming events is at www.bryonyseries.com.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. And if you've read (or plan to read) any of my books. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Meeting new people a full-time job for Plainfield Area Chamber hire

She talks up local businesses and makes new residents feel welcome

“Basically, I get to meet and greet all the new residents that move into the area and I get to bring them goodies.”

That’s exactly what Alena “AJ” Sokoloski said she does all day long as the new public relations director/residential greeter for the Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce.

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/03/16/meeting-new-people-a-full-time-job-for-plainfield-area-chamber-hire/aegdn8o/

An Extraordinary Life: If a job was worth doing, Edward did it well

Joliet man lived patriotism and service to others 

 A newspaper article written when Edward Vercelli was 21 said that the success of the Army Air Forces’ B-29 Pacuson Dreamboat 9,500-mile nonstop flight from Hawaii to Cairo was partly because of Edward, then a navigator in the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron based in Meeks Field, Iceland.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/13/39e5e3c843ce44dc81aa1d88ef4ffe13/index.xml

Joliet woman finds home for cats, rats and dogs

The rescue is hosting a fundraiser March 24 to help with medical expenses and "for people to have a good time," Tana Labuda said.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/17/fc71d30fffca4d2586232891a5ca900f/index.xml

'We're not the same on the inside'

Members of #Joliet support group discuss life with brain injuries 

“I didn’t realize how much I could do until I couldn’t,” Molly Snodgrass, founder, said. “Everything has changed. My hobbies have changed. My interests have changed. I’m almost a different person.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/18/4fd57c02efa3492da39629ed4466d574/index.xml

‘Like a blind man trying to race a car’

Joliet man gives insight into living with a traumatic brain injury 

“We get happy, sad, mad, etc., faster than others because we have dead parts in our brains where our brains are trying to rewire to try to figure things out faster and this turns into overload," Brian Zook wrote. 

http://www.theherald-news.com/2018/03/19/like-a-blind-man-trying-to-race-a-car/a9xq4i9/

Mystery Diner: A.B. Gusto's food in Crest Hill is worth a stop

The pot roast, by the way, is a specialty there and worth your time. it's tender, flavorful and I would consider ordering it on its own or on those previously mentioned nachos in the future.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/19/0a60838f233241b5947a71592ac033f6/index.xml?page=3


Preparing the Lockport area community for the way of the Lord 

 “I think it’s got a great message about love and faith,” Jenni White said. “And I think it’s a good example of who we are as a church.”

The church will present “Godspell” on Friday and Saturday.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/21/ea61ac2a76dc47079ec0d011c7952eb4/index.xml?page=1


A home business so strong, even Amazon took note
Plainfield woman found sucess on Etsy and Amazon Homemade

 "I actually put four to six things on there thinking, 'If I sell one thing a month, I'll be happy. I'll have some extra pocket money,'" Nicky Scott said. "That's really all it was."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2018/03/22/bed57a429acf4305ab45f3fa989b0cb2/index.xml

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage." Follow him at www.facebook.com/artbymattcoundiff or @MattCoundiff on Twitter.