Sunday Comic: All Eyes On the Tea Party Graduate
Some people are destined to draw more attention than others, apparently.
Opinion
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Retiring at 50: Could You Follow This Woman's Extreme Savings Plan?
Here's the story of Marlene Konkoly, who found creative ways to spend less and save more so she can retire at 50. This story is the first in our series about Extreme Savers.
Americans may be living longer, but our retirement plans aren’t keeping up. Which means people are living longer with smaller bank accounts. But Marlene Konkoly will retire at age 50. How did she do it? She contributes a whopping 45 percent of the gross annual income she earns as a procurement officer for an automotive finance company to her retirement—all while owning a home and remaining debt-free. Konkoly is actually well ahead of the retirement savings curve compared to many of her fellow Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, fewer than half of Americans even know how much money they would need to retire. And nearly a third of employees who had access to a defined contribution plan such as a 401(k) did not participate …
MaryfromIL
2:50 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
My friend and I were about the most thrifty people around. She paid off her mortgage in 5 years, as the single parent of 2 kids in daycare (not cheap), getting no child support. I paid off mine in 6 years. But it's important to live for today as well. My dad died in the service at age 21, so my mom thoroughly enjoyed her life after that, by living for today. However that tends to leave one broke… more ›
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Tough Week? Here's Some Inspiration to Get You to the Weekend
It's been a long week. You need a pick-me-up.
Friday's here. Thank goodness. One more day of work, and that's it. Here's a little inspiration to get you through to Saturday. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors, neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us. But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys. Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And feel better about your tough week. Pit Bull …
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Caption This: Dog in a Bow Tie
Someone looks pretty spiffy. What's this pup thinking?
Patch readers, you're up! We need your wit, creativity and animal psychic abilities to craft the perfect caption for the next edition of our pet photo caption challenge! Suggest your caption in the Comments section below. Comments will close at 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 22. The winner will be announced Thursday, May 23. The author of the winning caption and pet owner can find a Patch-branded version of the photo, with the caption inserted included in the next week's edition. Congratulations to ALLEN CALVIN SR, who won last week's edition, Caption This: A Pup Cools Off. The paparazzi are always hounding me. Have a photo you'd like captioned in future editions? Add it to our collection and your pet will be featured in weeks to come! Remember:
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Just real
10:52 pm on Sunday, May 19, 2013
The blue bow goes NOW and we will never speak of this again..capiche? more ›
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Add a Punchline to Our UFO Cartoon
If you've got wit, add your caption to Patch's weekly comic challenge and win a personalized print.
Are you blessed with insight and good humor? Or just bored today? Share your wit with your neighbors by entering Patch's comic caption challenge. Just add your dialogue for today's comic in the comment section of this post. Our only requirement is that you keep it clean! At week's end, we'll pick the winning punchline based on how many of us here at Patch giggle and smile at your contribution. The user who produces the winning punchline will get a personalized proof of the comic, with the winning words and a credit line, from cartoonist Chuck Ingwersen and Patch. Congratulations to Chris Roethel, who provided the winning punchline to last week's Cubs, Sox Island cartoon: Sox fan: 'How can you sit so patiently and wait to be rescued?' Cubs …
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Resurrected
7:35 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013
When are people going to grow up and learn there's no such thing as UFO's or extraterrestrial beings! more ›
What’s the Going Rate For a Lawn Service in DuPage County?
As part of our new Smart Spending series, Patch wants to uncover the true going rate for various goods and services in town, so you'll know exactly how much you should pay for what you need. Help us out by replying in the comments.
This week: How much do lawn services cost? How much do you pay for your lawn service? And what does that cover - just mowing, or does it cover weeding, pruning, planting? Please share in the comments below - we promise we won't judge you! And if you've got a lawn service you love, tell us that too. Here's a sampling of a few DuPage County lawn-care services: This is the first of an ongoing series, "What's the Going Rate for..." where Patch seeks to uncover how much things cost so you never have to ask again. - - - - - - - - - - There are plenty of ways to keep up with the news:
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Amanda Montano
1:30 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation Ally! We greatly appreciate your post! We were so happy to help out your family in a time of need, it was the least we could do! It is good to hear that you are so pleased with our work! Enjoy your fresh new lawn and leave those flood memories behind! Amanda Montano Montano's Landscaping & Nursery, Inc. (630) 271-9709 http://www.… more ›
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Wi-Fi on Metra Trains: Pricey, but Worth It?
Why doesn’t Metra have wireless internet on its trains yet? Mostly because it would be enormously expensive and a technological challenge, too. But should they?
Should Metra get Wi-Fi? Even if it’s expensive and hard to implement and maintain? The commuter-rail network is considering the possibility, the Chicago Tribune and other news agencies report, but price and technology continue to be two major barriers, despite that a DePaul University report shows 48 percent of Metra riders use personal electronic devices during their commutes. According to the paper, it could cost over $70 million to install wireless internet on all 11 Metra lines over five years—though some of that could perhaps be recouped by paid plans or sponsorships—and there’s a fear that the technology might quickly become obsolete or go unused by customers who prefer other connectivity, like smart-phone hotspots or air-cards. "(…
Your Take: Local Police—What Do You Appreciate?
It's Police Week in the United States; in that spirit, we asked our local readers in DuPage County what they appreciate most about their local force.
Did you know that this week—May 13-20—is officially Police Week in the United States? According to PoliceWeek.org: In 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation which designated May 15th as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Currently, tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the world converge on Washington, DC to participate in a number of planned events which honor those that have paid the ultimate sacrifice. In the spirit of the week, we reached out to our DuPage County readers on Facebook and asked what they appreciate most about their local police departments. Here’s some of what readers shared with us: Carol Gog: “Back in the nineties, I locked my keys in …
Resurrected
11:27 pm on Thursday, May 16, 2013
Mary, Sniper is probably just a wanna be Marine or got passed over in promotions. He's also probably playing with his G.I. Joe doll or his plastic soldier set. more ›
Monday, May 13, 2013
Win Free Tickets to DuPage County Hounds Baseball Game at Benedictine!
One hundred lucky winners will receive tickets to any DuPage County Hounds baseball game this summer. Just sign up for our free daily newsletter and you'll be entered into the drawing.
Summer is well on its way to the western suburbs, and with that comes baseball season. Patch is partnering with the DuPage County Hounds to offer 100 lucky readers a pair of tickets to any one of their baseball games this summer, played at Benedictine University's Sports Complex. We want to send you to a game for free. All you have to do is sign up for our free daily newsletter. The deadline to enter is noon Friday, May 31, the day of the Hounds' home opener, when we'll draw 100 names and contact the lucky winners by email. Good luck to all of our new newsletter subscribers, and don't forget to tell your friends! OK, now for the rules:
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Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday Comics
Sunday Comic: Obama Labels Illinois a 'Disaster'
April showers brought flood of problems to an already troubled state.
Butch
9:27 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Pending Approval Butch 4:13 pm on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 U LOG CABIN LGBT SISSIES have not even appeared in a IRS HEARING! if the IRS was serious they would examine their taxes and have the State Dept revoke their passports. No more of those Swiss jaunts, The tax avoiders are going to run their 40th vote ag Baucus ACA NITWIT HE WROTE IT and got 5 million in campaign fundraising for it and now is… more ›
PaulRevere
12:32 am on Monday, May 20, 2013
Stones: It was national. One "exempt corporations" IRS office handles ALL the Non-profit applications. It is a major scandal. I suggest you listen to every news organization on cable, and you will see just how widespread this is. And we will soon find out how people in the white house actually knew what was going on. more ›