Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Aug. 23 through Aug. 29

Good morning!

For my third part-time back-to-work week, I have seven stories to share with you today - and more stories will go live over the weekend.

So please check back at shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

I also have a list of additional updates, resources, and information. Please check them out, too.

And if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

Events (or where to find the BryonySeries)

BryonySeries appeared at two Joliet events this past weekend: New Orleans North (today, Aug. 15) and Porch and Park Festival (tomorrow, Aug. 16) and softly rolled out B.L.O.C.K.S.

So if you were not one of the lucky one hundred people who chatted to Timothy and Daniel and received the information, you will have another opportunity on Aug. 30 at The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Timothy and Daniel will be greeting guests and patrons at Bertrand's Back-To-School bash in On Aug. 30 in honor of Bertrand's birthday and his mission to bring the joys of reading to children. 

They will also chat and give out information about B.L.O.C.K.S, in case you missed talking with them a couple of weeks ago.

Of course, readers of all ages are invited to attend, since the BryonySeries offers phantasmic books for all ages.

However, purchases are not required to celebrate with us.

What is the BryonySeries?

Please read "Books of the BryonySeries: A Quick Overview"

BryonySeries books-in-progress

Bertrand the Mouse: We have plenty of Bertrand photos and ideas. Several are at the top of the list. At some point, we will assemble and release some more.

The Adventures of Cornell Dyer: Cornell Dyer and the House of Horreur" (because the toymaker's last name is "Horreur.") is stalled until Timothy finished his master's degree, which he did. So now we just have to stop having family emergencies (they just keep coming) and carve some time for a Cornell breakfast (it's been three years since our last one, way, way too long). I'm having surgery July 17, so I'm hoping we can make that happen before then, just to get the process moving and give Sue Midlock ideas for art (she illustrates all the Cornell books).

Brainy Ann: The fifth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries is outlined and the first chapter is written, hurray! Jennifer Wainwright, who welcomed her first child into the world last year, is nearly done with the cover portrait. I let this book slide for other BryonySeries projects...and I'm still letting it (overall) slide, I'm afraid. But I'm hoping to finish the book this year, fingers crossed.

Jennifer designed the cover portraits for "Julie and the Too-Hard Homework," "Katie and the Big Fear," "Summer Sisters." and "Karla Joins In," as well as the frontispiece for "Lycanthropic Summer."

Other books: I am not writing a novel this year. But I have an idea for a BryonySeries Christmas anthology that I'd like to release in 2026.

Rebekah is also slowly (very, very slowly) updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the weekly recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I haven't posted anything on Twitter/X (except a daily Bible verse) since September I can no longer schedule posts in advance. I'm not sure yet how to manage the account without that option. But you're welcome to follow me at @Denise_Unland61.

BryonySeries stuff: I used to curated content relating to the BryonySeries on Twitter/X at @BryonySeries and still post assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

Again, not sure yet about the direction of the BryonySeries Twitter/X account. Still mulling that over.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.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.

FEATURES

‘The most terrifying bolts of lightning’: Readers relive destruction of 1990 Will County tornado

Much of Plainfield, parts of Crest Hill, Joliet suffered massive damage

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/28/readers-share-their-stories-from-1990-will-county-tornado-the-memories-lived-long-on-forever/

Coffee business remains hot across Joliet area as more shops keep opening

Here’s where you can grab a cup

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/23/coffee-business-remains-hot-across-joliet-area-as-shops-keep-opening/

Silver Cross surgeon gets high ranking by Newsweek

More than a dozen Silver Cross Hospital medical staff recognized

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/26/silver-cross-surgeon-gets-high-ranking-by-newsweek/

Joliet Junior College, Joliet Central alum wins Food Network Show

Another JJC alum named Top Young Chef in the United States

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/23/joliet-junior-college-alum-wins-food-network-show/

Red Robin closes Plainfield location

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/26/red-robin-closes-plainfield-location/

Joliet police investigating Sunday-morning shooting

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/24/joliet-police-investigating-sunday-morning-shooting/

Will County Pets of the Week: Aug. 25, 2025

Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

https://www.shawlocal.com/the-herald-news/2025/08/25/will-county-pets-of-the-week-aug-25-2025/

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, June 24 to June 30

Good morning!

Today I have thirteen features and news stories to share with you today and one gallery of photos that I shot of an amazing STEAM exhibit that's at the downtown branch of the Joliet Public Library through the end of July.

I'm also working straight through to Wednesday, so more stories are coming. So be sure to check back on The Herald-News site: shawlocal.com/the-herald-news.

If you live in the Joliet area, BryonySeries will be part of the Fourth of July celebration at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre on July 3.

We will have free games with prizes and "Word Music" for $1 (new product) for sale, along with books for sale (free gift with select purchases). For more information, read this post.

On another note, if you're a writer, want to be a writer, or know someone in the Will/Grundy counties area that fits that description, be sure to check out this event.  It's free but seating is limited and registration is required.

Here's a recap of other my other writing projects:

Next week,  WriteOn Joliet will return to the digital media center at the downtown branch of the Joliet Public Library to continue editing the radio play we presented at the Billie Limacher Bicentennial Park Theatre in Joliet on April 22.

We learned that recording and editing a radio play is very different from performing one. And it looks like we will be performing this play in another venue in the fall. More of that later.

And in the BryonySeries world:

House on Top of the Hill: Third book in the BryonySeries Limbo trilogy. I now have a good working draft of the entire book and two chapters that are ready for final edits.

Cornell Dyer and the Howls of Basketville: The next book in The Adventures of Cornell Dyer subseries is ready for production - after the Fourth of July. Rebekah will be traveling and then she's taking a few days off. We can't wait to release it into the hands of readers. 

You can find other titles in the series here. Timothy has not yet added our latest titles to the BryonySeries bookstore. But all titles are also on Amazon. 

Karla Joins In: The fourth book in The Girls of the BryonySeries series. Eight chapters are completed. I'm hoping to write the ninth on Sunday. But we shall see.

BryonySeries reference/guide book: Welcome to Munsonville: the People, Places, and Things of the BryonySeries. I'd love to have this one ready by the end of the year. Pecking slowly at it.

A Year of Shadows and Moonlight, of Gathering Blooms in the Woods: A rather unusual, poetic novella in the second person. Half of it is written and edited and another half is loosely written. Rebekah is also playing around with art for the cover. 

Rebekah is also slowly updating the BryonySeries YouTube and Pinterest accounts. And she' catching up with Kindles for some of the BryonySeries books. So do watch for those.

Now back to the stories. Simply click on the link of the story that looks interesting to you. Happy scrolling!

But before the stories, I have a list of additional resources and information. Please check them out, too.

Finally, if you'd like to find more kindness in your life, consider this book.

And have a great Friday!

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

Sue's Diner is a fictional restaurant in the fictional Munsonville that only exists in the BryonySeries.

Each Wednesday, we post a new recipe. The recipe is either featured in one of our cookbooks, will be featured in an upcoming cookbook, or is just an "extra" we want to share with you.

Check out the recipe here.

WRITERS

If you're a writer anywhere in the world, you're welcome to join WriteOn Joliet's Facebook page. We're based in Joliet, Illinois, but we love to meet and interact with writers outside our area, too.

If you'd like to officially join WriteOn Joliet, we have two tiers of dues and two ways to attend meetings. We also have a marketing arm that's getting longer every year. Check us out at writeonjoliet.com.

I also suggest this book: Little Book of Revision: A Checklist for Fiction Writers. It's exactly as it says. Each page some with one suggestion for revision. The rest of the page is blank, so you can add your own notes. All proceeds benefit WriteOn Joliet.

If you need editing or help with self-publishing, check out dmbaranunland.com.

ARTISTS

If you need an artist for a project, I offer these recommendations.

NEWSLETTERS

Sign up for The Munsonville Times by emailing us at bryonyseries@gmail.com. The newsletter still isn't official yet, so we don't have an actual link on the website - but we are working on it! 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Daily updates: I do post the briefs 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 on Twitter at @BryonySeries and assorted related content at facebook.com/BryonySeries, youtube.com/user/BryonySeries, and themes of each book in the BryonySeries at pinterest.com/bryonyseries.

And of course, please follow the adventures of Bertrand the Mouse on Instagram at bertrand_bryonyseries.

BRYONYSERIES BOOKS

For books and more information about the series, visit bryonyseries.com.

BRYONYSERIES EVENTS

A full month of virtual events can be found at bryonyseries.com/calendar-of-events.

QUESTIONS

Email me at bryonyseries@gmail.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.

FEATURES

Baran-Unland: Don’t miss STEAM exhibit at Joliet Public Library: The exhibit is based on the Questioneers characters in the book series by author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts. 

PHOTOS: Questioneers at Joliet Public Library

Melissa McCarthy discusses Plainfield tornado while eating hot wings on “Hot Ones”: McCarthy said all the hot sauces were ‘terrible in their own different ways'

Air quality gradually improving in northern Illinois: The hope is that the upcoming rain might help dissipate smoke

Air quality won’t affect Fourth of July fireworks in Will County: Ben Benson: ‘We’re more concerned with dryness and potential fires’

When will air quality improve in Northern Illinois?: National Weather Service: ‘Conditions are pretty stagnant right now’

How to stay safe during unhealthy air quality: Dr. Kalisha Hill: ‘I think the pandemic conditioned us to wear a mask, if necessary’

New Lenox lighting company specializes in Christmas lights installation: Gary Fouts, owner: ‘They call us and the rest is done’ 

Summer in Will County: 10 free ways to enjoy the great outdoors: Spending time outside may boost your physical and your mental health

Joliet Catholic Academy teacher gave ‘110%’ to students with learning challenges: Amy Douglas: ‘I feel really good about what I’ve done’ 

30 young women receive #scholarships from Lincoln-Way Area Business Women’s Association

Valley View school board to hold special session on Monday: The meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. 

Pets of the Week: June 26: Will County rescues have dogs and cats for adoption

5 Things to do in Will County: Joliet Slammers Military Appreciation Night: Plus 4 more suggestions for enjoying your weekend 

Illustration by Matt Coundiff for "Visage"

Story Round-Up: Features in The Herald-News, Sept. 3 through Sept. 8

First of all, a very happy and blessed 27th birthday to my number four child and number third son, Timothy Michael Baran, who shares a birthday with the Theotokos. May God grant him many happy, healthy and blessed years!

It's been a couple weeks as Rebekah and I spent eight days in Raleigh with Sarah and her family. I nearly literally "hit the ground running" after the plane landed and haven't quit. I plan to format WriteOn Joliet's anthology tonight and work on Before the Blood tomorrow. While I've picked at it here and there since I've returned, Saturday will be the first real attention I've give it in a couple of weeks, and I greatly looking forward to it.

Tomorrow also heralds the return of Ed Calkins, the Steward of Tara. I have two new posts from him, one of which I'll run tomorrow.

Onward to features!

 Local events: Health, faith, and arts and entertainment calendars: where to find them? Under the sections tab on the left hand side of http://www.theherald-news.com/. Click on "features" and the topics drop down. Assembled by moi.

More local events: Gotta Do It, also by me, runs each Sunday in the People section.

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

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.

Thank you for reading The Herald-News. And for reading this blog. Your support is greatly appreciated.

1990 Plainfield Tornado: Then and Now

By Megan Schuller

The finally story by Herald-News summer intern Megan Schuller, this story is a first-person pictorial look at sites struck by the tornado "then" and "now."

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/08/16/52454220654342e59090779d6ef05598/index.xml

An Extraordinary Life: Bonnie Disera was Joliet's George Bailey

Lanette Disera-Geissler of Joliet, Bonnie's daughter, 

 said her mother worked “from 8 a.m. to midnight.” Bonnie’s three favorite words were, “Get to work,” Lanette added.

“She worked nonstop,” Lanette said. “She would take calls at 10 or 11 at night. To her, 11 o’clock was the same as 8 o’clock in the morning. You could call her at midnight with questions. She’d say, ‘Call me any time.’ ”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/09/02/an-extraordinary-life-bonnie-disera-was-joliets-george-bailey/afwmy6u/

Pets of the Week: Sept. 4

Read the caption of each photo to find out about that pet, including where he or she can be adopted.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/08/21/f1ef736e65714baa913d9458826646b9/index.xml

Minooka Creamery goes to the dogs for Joliet hospice

On Sept. 2, several hundred people and pups alike had a doggone good time at Minooka Creamery's Doggie Ice Cream Social. Yes, you read that right: ice cream for dogs. Proceeds benefit Joliet Area Community Hospice’s pet therapy program.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/02/6f192b0c491147c181e5090d23d624b7/index.xml?page=1

The Minooka Creamery announces pet contest winners

Read on for the winners of the canine costume contest.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/03/9392fab3890244279aa7e0eed84807e6/index.xml?page=1

Plainfield woman is a 'walking billboard' for one particular form of cancer

Lori O’Connor knows without subtle reminders of the need for prostate cancer screening (hence, the bag promoting screening on her treadmill handle), men probably won’t think about it, much less discuss it with their doctors or among themselves.

“Men are men,” Lori said. “They don’t bring these things up. ... They don’t know if their fathers had it, which increases their risk, because they don’t talk about it.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/09/02/plainfield-woman-is-a-walking-billboard-for-one-particular-form-of-cancer/afrmefm/

Local Flavor: Troy administrator shares favorite recipes from Cameroon, part 1

Pamela Maxey, the new Troy Community School District 30-C director of early childhood education, was once a literacy advisor for a national language in Cameroon, Africa.

Maxey will be featured in Sunday's People section but today, she's sharing foods she and her family enjoyed while living in Cameroon. And if you like these, Maxey will share two more recipes on Sept. 13.

http://www.theheraldnews.com/lists/2017/09/05/e57d1cf0bf624333a3c11fe6ad4247f3/index.xml?page=1

New Lenox midwife trying to save moms and babies

Sherry Burnam, a certified nurse midwife for over 30 years and part of the group Obstetrics in Women's Health in New Lenox, does not often encounter the above in her patients.

But a medical mission trip to Myanmar (the former Burma) in 2014 starkly showed her what happens to mothers and babies when health providers don't have basic resources.

Often, they die.

So Burnam decided to do address it.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/06/1ca5e23b322a4cb49b02f51bc9f3d1cb/index.xml

Wanna see the world? Don't leave home.

Virtual field trip?

Isn't that just a fancy name for watching a documentary?

Nope.

http://www.theherald-news.com/lists/2017/09/06/7ecb6ac6770743cc872bdea5f7897615/index.xml?page=1

Artworks: Singing is ministry and joy for Joliet grandmother

“If one person heard your message and heard your voice, that’s better than not hearing it at all,” Graves-Brown said in an email. “Dreams only come alive if you are living it.”

http://www.theherald-news.com/2017/09/07/artworks-singing-is-ministry-and-joy-for-joliet-grandmother/afgy7ej/