The Plainfield Sun :: Lifestyles ::

Pierogi lovers' 'heaven' is in a basement

BY GINGER BRASHINGER, Correspondent — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Pierogi heaven is quite possibly located in the basement of Barbara and Alex "Gooch" Kwiatkowski's Midlothian home. Ask any of a large number of their family, friends and "friends of friends" who have been showing up every fall for the last 20 years to spend the day in pierogi production.

Stockings for troops

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Operation Care Package is determined to send Christmas stockings to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan this year. More than 10,000 handmade stockings have come to Joliet from throughout the United States to help make sure this happens.

Wining & dining at annual Epicurean Fest

By DAWN AULET For Sun-Time Media — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

On Friday, area residents will sample 12 different wines, 10,000 appetizers and 4,000 pastries to help more students becomes chefs someday. It's the annual Epicurean Festival of Food and Wine at Joliet Junior College.

Pet pictures for holiday can be a snap

Sun-Times Media — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Pet owners love to take photographs of their pets, and often the photograph ends up as the family's Christmas card. Here are some tips on how to get the best holiday shot of Max or Buddy:

Retriever rescue event scheduled

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Pet rescue event: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 21 at Petco, 369 S. Weber Road, Romeoville. As Good as Gold, Golden Retriever Rescue of Northern Illinois to host meet and greet. Learn about rescued goldens, volunteer opportunities and adoption procedures. For more information, visit www.asgoodasgold.org.

Learn how to build a gingerbread house

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Gingerbread building: 7 p.m. Dec. 1. Learn how to build a ginger bread house with chef Michael Niksic. An attendee will receive an edible house built and decorated during the class. Recipes, templates, storage instructions and a list of parts and sources are all included in the demonstration. Suitable for ages 6 and older and all levels of skill. Registration required.

Preserving, and selling, Slovenian traditions

By DENISE M. BARAN-UNLAND For Sun-Times Media — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:00 CST

The Joliet branch of the Slovenian Women's Union of America (Branch 22) is selling books with the aim of perpetuating Slovenian traditions while introducing readers to a new culture.

Plainfield students host tea party

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:00 CST

Sixth-grade accelerated Language Arts students at Ira Jones Middle school culminated their study of the novel "A View From Saturday" by hosting a tea party.

United we stood; segregated he served

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Every World War II veteran has a story worth hearing. But Aurora resident William "Paul" Vaughn has a perspective on the war shared by very few. From 1943 to 1945, Vaughn was a member of the U.S. Army's 379th Port Battalion, 5th Army Division, which was made up entirely of black soldiers, years before the Army dropped segregation in its ranks.

Volunteers bring dignity to patients' end of life

By DENISE M. BARAN-UNLAND For Sun-Times Media — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:01 CST

Joliet Area Community Hospice's Vigil Care Program helps insure that every terminally ill patient under its care dies with dignity in the company of a compassionate person, even when that patient has no family or friends to sit with them at the end.