We Asked: When Did You Last Read a Book for Fun?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes if they can remember the last time they read a book for pleasure and how often they do so.

Harry Potter may have finished its run on the big screen this summer, but the seven-book series will live on and can be credite for introducing a whole generation to reading. However, a survey by the Associated Press in 2007 found that one in four adults did not read a book over the course of a whole year. Despite this trend, the Association of American Publishers said it saw growth in the purchases of books – especially in the digital format. With conflicting numbers, we wanted to know if people in Plainfield were still picking up and reading books. Lisa Garbis, 38, of Plainfield, is an avid reader. She belongs to the Plainfield Public Library Summer Book Club and a book club with her friends. Garbis said reading is not only a personal …

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Lori Janiec

11:01 am on Thursday, September 1, 2011

I read every day on my nookcolor. My goal is to read 100 books this year. I'm on book #63. The Plainfield Library's "Midsummer Knight's Read" was fun! Even got my daughter reading more this summer and she's reading her FIRST Harry Potter book all by herself! We both have our book bags! :) Just finished James Patterson's "7th Heaven" and am half way through "The Lucky One" by Nicholas Sparks. Now …   more ›

We Asked

We Asked: Are You Still Listening to the Radio?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes if they are still listening to FM/AM radio, or if they have switched to other ways to listen to music.

At approximately 1 a.m. July 15, the Chicago area said goodbye to WKQX, more commonly known as Q101. At the end of this month, it's to convert to an all-news format. Whether that signals a demise in radio-broadcast rock music is probably premature to say, but it's clear that consumers have more options than ever for listening to music – especially in their cars. A Ford Focus, for example, has the capacity to play AM/FM radio, satellite radio, Internet radio, CDs and mp3 devices. With so many choices, we wondered if people in Plainfield still tune into stations on their AM/FM radio. Brian Clauson, 33, of Plainfield said he uses a number of devices to listen to music in his car. “I just like a variety,” Clauson said. “Sometimes I listen to …

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We Asked

We Asked: How About a Beer with Your Whopper?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes if how they feel about fast food restaurants serving alcohol.

To survive tough economic times businesses have to find ways to adapt. And for some fast-food companies, including Burger King and Sonic, that means adding wine and beer to the menu at some of their menus, according to a USA Today article. Although new to the United States, serving alcohol at fast-food joints is not uncommon in Europe. British newspaer The Independent reports fast-food chains have been selling beer in European stores since the 1970s. But Linda McAley, 39, of Crestwood, said bringing alcohol into a fast-food restaurant is an invitation for trouble. “It’s fast food, not a dine-in; you’re not going to spend much time, and if you need a drink you go home,” McAley said. “It sounds like trouble to me.” We walked around downtown …

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We Asked: Should Plainfield Fest Leave Downtown?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes if they'd prefer the annual festival remain on Lockport Street or be relocated to the riverfront or elsewhere.

Last week Plainfield Patch reported Plainfield Fest may change locations next summer. Rob Epley, Plainfield Riverfront Foundation president, said he thinks the festival has “outgrown Lockport Street.” Settler’s Park and Riverfront Park have been suggested as possible new venues for the annual summer bash. Changing the locations would prevent Lockport Street from having to be shut down and would stop traffic from cutting through nearby neighborhoods to bypass downtown. But the move would also break a tradition, one that some would prefer not change. Donna Biddle, 48, of Plainfield, has lived in town for more than 10 years. She said despite the traffic headaches, she'd like the annual festival to remain where it's always been held. “Having …

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Ed Arter

10:00 am on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Do you mean where it was when the population was 3,000 ??? Time to realize we are a community of 40,000 and ya can't fit 5 pounds in a 3 pound bag--Settlers Park for Band and Beer / Riverfront Park for Carnies and Funnel Cakes   more ›

We Asked: What's Your Favorite Summer Jam?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes what song makes them feel like it's summer.

There’s something about summer and music. Some artists are able to capitalize on our love of sun and fun. These artists create the perfect summer hit; you know – the one you blare out of care stereo as you drive around on a summer night. (Or makes you miss summer when you hear it in February.) From the Beach Boys’ “Surfin' USA,” to Katy Perry’s “California Gurls,” there’s a summer song for everyone. We hit the streets of downtown Plainfield to ask people to tell us their favorite summer song. Click on each photo to read each person's response.

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We Asked

We Asked: What's Your Reaction to the Norway Terrorist?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes how closely they are following the events in Norway and their reaction to the terrorist attack.

Eyes around the world have been focused on Norway since this weekend. On July 22, Anders Behring Breivik carried out a terrorist attack in the Scandinavian country. According to Reuters, Breivik’s two separate attacks killed 76 people. Newspapers, radio and television stations and the Internet have carried the story to every corner of the globe. But on Wednesday afternoon Tony Harris, 18, of Plainfield, said he had not heard about the news. When informed of the events, Harris said he wasn’t concerned about a similar attack happening in the United States. “I don’t know what you’re asking about; I’ve been without cable for two weeks,” Harris said. “I’m not worried; security is tight against terrorism here.” We walked around downtown …

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We Asked: Whom Do You Support in the NFL Lockout?

Average Joes and Janes offer opinions on the league's players and owners.

It’s been more than 100 days since the National Football League went into a lockout. It's prevented NFL teams and players from contacting each other and forced teams to cancel mini-camps and other organized team activities for the 2011 season.  But what began on March 12 appears to be coming to an end. Many insiders say a compromise is imminent. The NFL owners voted Thursday to accept the latest collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Yet normal parts of the NFL season, such as training camps, free agency and pre-season are still in flux. Reflecting on the lockout, Eric Cottrell, 32, of Plainfield said he wishes players and owners would put their difference aside. “I want them to play,” Cottrell said. “Just get them to play some football.” …

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We Asked

We Asked: What Are Your Summer Vacation Plans?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes where they are vacationing this summer.

Summer vacations are can range from relaxing at an all-inclusive resort in the Bahamas to camping in a tent at Yellowstone National Park. According to a TripAdvisor survey, 83 percent of responding American families plan to take a summer vacation in 2011. With so many families hitting the road, we wonder where people in Plainfield are heading to this summer. Melissa Garcia, 26, of Joliet said she is taking a summer vacation next week with her family. “We’re going to the Dells,” Garcia said. “We have a vacation house up there and go every year.” While many Americans are going on a summer vacation not everyone is leaving Plainfield for the summer. Anabel Hernandez, 37, of Plainfield said her family is staying around town. “We’re just staying…

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We Asked

We Asked: How do You Feel About the Last Space Shuttle?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes how they feel about the United States stopping the space shuttle program.

Friday will bring about the end of an era. The space shuttle Atlantis will make its last journey into space, NASA’s last manned mission for the foreseeable future. The agency is retiring the shuttle program. NASA said it will look to private companies for the future of low Earth orbit missions to space. The agency expects these rockets to be ready by 2015, but others believe it might take longer. NASA said it will focus on developing technologies to get man to an asteroid and Mars. Linda Malczyk, of Gilberts, Ill., not far from Carpentersville, said she was OK with the shuttle missions coming to an end. “I think we should cut it out of the budget,” Malczyk said. “We have other things to focus on moneywise. It’s sad, but we have …

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Neil Trisilla

11:26 pm on Thursday, July 7, 2011

I suppose in the grand scheme of things the money used on the space program is greatly needed in other areas like the article mentions, but my general feeling is still one of sadness. My son has talked of being nothing other than an Astronaut since he was 5! He knew there was "talks" about dismantling NASA, but we haven't really talked too much about it. Unfortunately, I can't just let it blow …   more ›

We Asked

We Asked: What Fests Are You Hitting This Summer?

We asked these Average Joes and Janes if they planned to attend many summer fests and, if yes, which ones.

You name it, and there’s most likely a festival celebrating it. From Plainfield’s Midwest Brewer's Fest in August to the Taste of Chicago this week, it seems like there’s a festival every weekend during the summer. This weekend alone, Naperville, Lisle and Chicago will all host summer celebrations. Plainfield isn’t a stranger to summer festivals either. Beside the beer fest in August, the village also hosts Plainfield Fest in July and Plainfield River Days in September. Plainfield residents Myrna and Jerry McCarthy said they used to hit a number of festivals, but now the limit it to Plainfield Fest and a few other smaller summer festivals. “We always come here to downtown Plainfield for everything,” Myrna McCarthy said. “But …

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