Plainfield artist's favorite subject: Americana
At the center of Joe Petruzzi's Web site is an oil painting titled "America the Good and..."; it is a tribute to his son's military service and Petruzzi's own love for all-things American.

Easter Seals clients to become American Girls for a day
In the same spirit of the American Girl doll stories, two special needs girls will model Bitty Baby signature clothing to raise money for Easter Seals Joliet Region.

Express yourself with your mug
It can be said that drinking a cup of coffee is an expression of American freedom. What can be more American than a coffee mug? Last month I started asking readers to send me photos of their favorite coffee mug and the reason it holds so many memories.

Cancer research, toy drive honor teen's work
Mark Staehely battled a rare pediatric cancer for six years before dying in 2006. One of his last wishes is now being realized through a new foundation supporting research into the disease.

'Rent' speaks to audiences of all ages
HALO Productions, a Plainfield off-Broadway performance company, is bringing "Rent" to Aurora at The Paramount Theatre, and Katie Arko, the theater's director of development, said she is excited about it.

Talk to help kids reduce stress
Plainfield School District social workers will present a seminar for parents of middle and high school students to learn how to deal with stress in the household.

Holiday craft shows abound
The following is a list of seasonal craft shows and bazaars offered throughout the readership area.

Lewis U, mediation team earns honors
Lewis University's mediation team earned second- and fourth-place honors in the University of Wisconsin mediation tournament on Oct. 9-10.< br>

Plainfield musicians invited to district festivals
Nearly 50 middle and high school music students in the Plainfield School District were invited to participate in this year's annual Illinois Music Educators Association (IMEA) District IX festivals for band, orchestra and choir.

Ghosts of dinners past haunt Plainfield eatery?
The haunted house on Lockport Street in Plainfield is really a restaurant, but people who work there have paranormal-activity-like stories to tell.

Tickets available for hospice fashion show benefit
Joliet Area Community Hospice Guild is returning to the location of its first Puttin' on the Glitz fundraiser -- the Joliet Junior College Renaissance Center, 214 N. Ottawa St. in downtown Joliet.

Easy, adaptable holiday treats

Whether you need a last-minute hors d'oeuvre or an effortless way to use a spare round of purchased pie crust, try these sweet or savory pinwheels that come together in minutes, bake up attractively, travel well and are incredibly versatile.

Heart attack survival rates improve in women
Two new studies show that heart attacks have become more common among middle-aged women in the last two decades, but in-hospital survival rates, especially for younger women, are improving compared with men. Both studies were published Monday in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

Holiday craft show roundup
The following is a list of seasonal craft shows and bazaars offered throughout the area:

Plainfield students, faculty pledge values
Nearly 1,000 Timber Ridge students, administrators and staff members pledged to commit to the five core values. What started off as a small idea from one team of eighth-grade teachers at the school quickly escalated to a schoolwide initiative.

Plainfield students share career dreams
Creekside Elementary School second-graders will bring their study of communities and community helpers to life with a Career Day. On Oct. 23, students will come to school dressed up in an outfit or costume that signifies their future career goals.

Beware of 'hidden' sodium in restaurant food
If you think you're doing a good job limiting salt at home, be sure not to fall off the wagon when eating out.

Hospice guild putting on 25th fashion show
The Joliet Area Community Hospice (JACH) Guild will present its 25th annual "Puttin' On The Glitz" fashion show Nov. 1 at the Renaissance Center in Joliet.

Judges to give teens 7 reasons to leave a party
Judge Tom Carney and Judge Michael Powers will present a blunt, visual and interactive school program being presented by the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) called "7 Reasons to Leave the Party" at 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Plainfield North High School.

With every bead of his art, Native-Americans honored
Ron Murphy of Joliet has an alter ego. Most days, he's simply "Ron," a 73-year-old retired guy. But every so often this seemingly ordinary fellow is transformed into a different being -- one named Running Dog.

Seasonal craft shows abound throughout area
The following is a list of seasonal craft shows and bazaars offered throughout our readership area.

Chef imports island's healthy eating

You are what you eat. You've heard it a million times, but do you take the phrase seriously? You should, says Michael McGreal, of Orland Park, culinary arts chairman at Joliet Junior College. McGreal just returned from a trip to Prince Edward Island, Canada, where he was impressed with the island's support of local farmers and sustainable agriculture/aquaculture.

Recreation briefs
Recreation briefs: Try your hand at farm chores at Primrose Farm. Meet the farm's animal residents while learning about their care and feeding. Dress for the weather. Children must be accompanied by a paying adult. Class for ages 4 and up meets from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Primrose Farm, 5N726 Crane Road. Fee is $5 for residents and $7 for nonresidents.

From drab to fab: Check out these makeovers
Today's hairstyles are all about getting back to a natural, organic look. This is what John Gialluisi, creative director of Mario Tricoci, says -- and he should know. A few weeks ago, Gialluisi wrapped up work styling models for the nation's top designers as part of Fashion Week in New York.

Halloween events
Looking for an alternative to traditional Halloween trick-or-treating?

Want to be a debutante?
High School juniors and seniors from Will County and nearby communities are invited to attend the second and final informational session on becoming a debutante in the "Miss Fantasia" Cotillion Ball.

Solider gets Bronze Star, ends tour in Afghanistan
Army Sgt. Maj. Mark Bowman of Plainfield returned home to his wife Karen and daughter Eve after a deployment in late September. Bowman finished a successful tour as command sergeant major of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix VIII and as the command sergeant major of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The baby-fat fight
Childhood obesity in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the last several decades, and local communities are devising creative, assertive methods to combat it. The old methods of distributing a few pamphlets and offering a program or two just aren't working today, as Morris Hospital discovered.

Rescue is for the birds
An exotic bird owner since 1978, Kathy Forst decided to put her knowledge and devotion to broader use when, seven years ago, she began volunteering for a Northbrook parrot rescue. There, Forst saw the overwhelming need for similar rescues and decided to begin her own.

St. Jude students learn from each other
Students from St. Jude School in New Lenox traveled last month to the County Line Orchard in Hobart, Ind., for a day of apple-picking, learning about how honey is harvested, and find out how apple cider presses work.

Plainfield students send letters to a WWII veteran
Eagle Pointe Elementary School fourth-graders in Ellen Bailey's class wrote letters honoring World War II veteran and Army Sgt. George Pollitt before he flew to Washington, D.C., on an Honor Flight.

JJC planetarium hosting free show
The Joliet Junior College Trackman Planetarium will host the public program "Star Clusters: Jewels in the Sky" from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15 in celebration of the International Year of Astronomy.