In the words of the people

If you're a digital publisher, it can often be challenging to post enough interesting content to keep users engaged. But what if you turned the pulpit over to the people and relied more on user-generated posts, photos, videos, and other original content from everyday folks?

That's the question I explore in my newest piece for EContent Magazine, which can be accessed here.

'Tis the season for terror

With Halloween only a few short weeks away, haunted house showmen are preparing to their bring their frightfully fun attractions back from the dead for another season and thrill horror-seeking crowds eager to be mortified. One of the most anticipated commercial haunted attraction openings in the southwest suburbs occurs this week with the return of Midnight Terror Haunted House, which has doubled in size since its debut last year.

Read about how its creator, Justin Cerniuk, achieved his dream of delivering the gruesome goods in his neck of the woods by clicking here to access an article on the topic I recently wrote, published in the Chicago Tribune.

Condensing the nest

Thinking about downsizing to a smaller home? There's a lot to consider before moving down and trading in your residence for a more spatially efficient model that meets your empty nester lifestyle.

Click here to read my latest real estate-related article on this topic for CTW Features.

Auto coverage for that classic car

Thinking about owning a vintage muscle car, old time Corvette, collectible sports car, or other set of rare wheels? Cut-rate insurance won't cut it for these classic vehicles.

Learn about the auto insurance issues you need to consider carefully when it comes to classic cars by reading my latest article for ValuePenguin.com, accessible by clicking here.

Not your average Joe's

The life of a journalist is hard. Sometimes we're asked to write thousands of words on a tight deadline. Other times we're expected to phone dozens of sources in the hopes of a story scoop. And once in a while, we get assigned to go undercover. That's what I recently did for CSP Magazine, which sweetened the deal by sending me on a shopping spree for snacks at a Trader Joe's store – all on the publisher's dime. The results were, to put it bluntly, delicious.

Read my profile on Trader Joe's by clicking here.

How hospitals prepare for disaster

Hospitals are thought of as a safe haven for patients, staff and visitors alike. But health care facilities and medical centers are not impervious to violent acts of Mother Nature. In my newest article for The Joint Commission's Environment of Care News newsletter, I explore the topic of emergency readiness and disaster preparedness at hospitals.

Click here to read the full story.