Does it matter to you whether people call it a “Christmas” tree or a “holiday” tree?

By Doretta Donovan | Friday, November 20, 2009, 07:30 AM

Does it matter to you whether people call it a “Christmas” tree or a “holiday” tree?

ANDY ROSSI

ANDY ROSSI, Dayton: “Not especially. I just don’t really see it as a controversy. If someone’s involved with Christmas, they’ll call it that. If they’re not involved with it, they’ll use the generic name. It’s not really a problem.”

LINDA COFFMAN

LINDA COFFMAN, West Carrollton: “It does to me. I don’t understand why everyone wants to take away from Christmas. ‘Merry Christmas’ has to be ‘Happy Holidays.’ I think it should be ‘Merry Christmas,’ just like it used to be.”

JACKIE GREENE

JACKIE GREENE, Dayton: “I’ve never thought about it. It’s all to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. The Christmas tree is a symbol of Jesus’ birthday, and he gave us the gift of life. It’s a holiday because family is able to get together for fellowship. What they call the tree doesn’t matter.”

SHANNON SEWARD

SHANNON SEWARD, Beavercreek: “I understand why we have to use the term “holiday,” but the reason for the season is Christmas.”

DARRELL ABNEY

DARRELL ABNEY, Riverside: “It’s kind of offensive. It’s a Christmas tree. It’s like they’re trying to change something that doesn’t need changed.”

STACY MILLER

STACY MILLER, Dayton: “Not usually. It is a Christian holiday in America. I would care less, but I want to be respectful of others.”

JAMIE ERICKSON

JAMIE ERICKSON, Fairborn: “I prefer Christmas tree. I’m just used to it.”

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Will the University of Dayton basketball team live up to its Top 25 ranking?

By Doretta Donovan | Thursday, November 19, 2009, 06:40 PM

Will the University of Dayton Flyers basketball team live up to its Top 25 ranking?

ASHLEY LAKER

ASHLEY LAKER, Dayton: “I believe so. They have a lot of the same strong players that they had last year, and they did well last year. So with more time together, they should be even better.”

CURTIS CORNWELL

CURTIS CORNWELL, Trotwood: “Of course. They’ve got an All-American with Chris Wright; they have three-point-shooting guard Chris Johnson; and they’ve just been improving every year. It’s about time for them to be in the top 25 ranking and to go further in the tournament.”

LOGAN HICKS

LOGAN HICKS, Tipp City: “Yes, because they will have London Warren as point guard this year. Last year, with London Warren not playing enough time to show his full potential, it held the Flyers back.”

BRETT MIETCZCHOWKI

BRETT MIETCZCHOWKI, Dayton: “Yeah, I think they’ll probably stay in the 15-to-25 range. I don’t think they’ll get enough national attention to get up there with the big teams.”

STEVE MARSHALL

STEVE MARSHALL, Miamisburg: “Yes. They have a couple of good recruits this year. Chris Wright will do well, and he’s pretty good.”

FRANCES AVERY

FRANCES AVERY, Troy: “No. There’s a lot of good teams out there.”

MICHELLE CRENSHAW

MICHELLE CRENSHAW, Dayton: “Of course they will. I have no doubts about that. They have great team bonding and a lot of strong players, so I believe they’ll go all the way.”

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Do you know anyone who has lost a job in the last year?

By Doretta Donovan | Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 07:30 AM

Do you know people who have lost their jobs in the last year? Are they still unemployed?

DONTA’E FOSTER

DONTA’E FOSTER, Englewood: “Yes, and they’re still unemployed. They’re collecting unemployment. They’re looking for any type of work, and they’ve applied everywhere.”

CHRIS HERWICK

CHRIS HERWICK, Springboro: “Yes. One friend takes care of his elderly parents, so it’s hard for him to find something that will balance that out. He’s looking for something at night, so he can still take care of his parents.”

TONY WEESE

TONY WEESE, Fairborn: “Yes. They’re doing nothing in the meantime — just collecting unemployment and seeing how long they can milk the extensions. They say it’s an extended vacation.”

ADAM SQUIER

ADAM SQUIER, Miamisburg: “I lost my construction job about eight months ago and got a job with Verizon about four months later. I found the job online on Craig’s List.”

TASHA CHO

TASHA CHO, Centerville: “No. I know of people, but no one personally. I think several of them have gotten jobs in the last couple of months, but that was after being unemployed for over a year.”

DEBBIE CHRISTIAN

DEBBIE CHRISTIAN, Dayton: “Yes, I do. They are all still unemployed. Some are going to school, and some are working part-time jobs while they’re trying to figure it out.”

QUAN HOWARD

QUAN HOWARD, Trotwood: “Yes. They’re trying to find general labor and factory work. It’s been about a year now. They’re collecting unemployment.”

JENNIFER BARNETT

JENNIFER BARNETT, Springboro: “No, but we’ve known people who have had cutbacks in their days or hours.”

JASON LUEDEKE

JASON LUEDEKE, Pleasant Hill: “Yes. They’re just doing odds and ends, nothing major.”

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Will the Cincinnati Bengals win their division?

By Doretta Donovan | Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 02:30 PM

Will the Cincinnati Bengals win their division this year?

NIKKI WORMAN

NIKKI WORMAN, Franklin: “Yes, because of Marvin (Lewis) this year. Marvin knew he was going to get fired, so he has stepped up.”

PATRICK COLEMAN

PATRICK COLEMAN, Dayton: “I think so. They’ve got a good, young defense. (Marvin Lewis) finally got all the players in that he wanted to have.”

PAUL GRUBICH

PAUL GRUBICH, Centerville: “No. Pittsburgh will. Pittsburgh is a better team.”

DAVID BRUCE

DAVID BRUCE, Oakwood: “I think they will. They’re playing great right now, and I don’t see any way they’re going to lose.”

RICK KOHLER

RICK KOHLER, Kettering: “Absolutely. They beat Baltimore twice and Pittsburgh twice. There’s no one else to beat.”

MICHAEL JOHNSON

MICHAEL JOHNSON, Dayton: “Yes, they will, because their defense is unstoppable.”

JOHN WAGNER

JOHN WAGNER, Kettering: “Definitely. They have an extremely great offense. Their defense is great. (Carson) Palmer is on for the first time in 10 years. Ocho and Palmer are getting along, and they are in sync for the first time in Bengals history.”

LAMAR WALLACE

LAMAR WALLACE, Centerville: “It’s obvious that they’ll win their division.”

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If you had flu symptoms, would you still go to work?

By Doretta Donovan | Monday, November 16, 2009, 07:30 AM

If you had flu symptoms, would you still go to work?

DENISE MYERS

DENISE MYERS, Trotwood: “Definitely not. I wouldn’t want to spread whatever it was around.”

ANDREA REES

ANDREA REES, Dayton: “Probably. I work two jobs and go to school. I can’t afford to be sick. If I had a 103-degree fever, then I’d stay home.”

JOE FOSTER

JOE FOSTER, Miamisburg: “Hell, yeah, I would, because I don’t like the people I work with, and it would be payback.”

CONNIE ABNER

CONNIE ABNER, Germantown: “No, not at all. Some people probably do because it’s the end of the year and they might be out of sick days. If you have a family and don’t get paid for sick days, you might not have a choice.”

TYKE KETTERMAN

TYKE KETTERMAN, Springfield: “Yeah, probably, because I always do. I just don’t miss work.”

LAURA COLLIER

LAURA COLLIER, Lebanon: “Yes, because I get too far behind if I’m not there.”

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Are skyrocketing interest rates and fees on credit cards affecting how you use them?

By Doretta Donovan | Sunday, November 15, 2009, 07:30 AM

Banks are hiking interest rates and adding fees for credit cards. Is this affecting the way you use credit cards?

GEORGE KELLAR

GEORGE KELLAR, Springboro: “They need me more than I need them. If they pull that on me, I’ll send the cards back. I don’t need the aggravation.”

JUSTIN ADAMS

JUSTIN ADAMS, Centerville: “Yes. We are totally cutting back on our credit cards. As soon as we finish buying a house, we’re just going to cancel most of them.”

JESSICA MYERS

JESSICA MYERS, Huber Heights: “No, because I’m in debt. I still need to use those cards. I think the fees should just go away. People are struggling severely right now.”

FAITH ROLFES

FAITH ROLFES, Englewood: “Yes. We’ve been trying to go strictly on cash and not using credit cards at all.”

KIM PETRONI

KIM PETRONI, Springboro: “No. We don’t use our credit cards.”

HEATHER BAUER

HEATHER BAUER, Centerville: “No. I never carry a balance.”

DAVE BLAIR

DAVE BLAIR, West Carrollton: “No, because I don’t pay interest on my credit-card use. I pay it off every month.”

TRACI HAMILTON

TRACI HAMILTON, Huber Heights: “No, because my bank hasn’t hiked them up. But I’ve noticed some of my friends have had that happen to them. They’ve stopped using credit cards.”

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Sesame Street just turned 40. Do you have a favorite Sesame Street character?

By Doretta Donovan | Saturday, November 14, 2009, 07:30 AM

Sesame Street just turned 40. Do you have a favorite Sesame Street character?

KRIS STEFFEN

KRIS STEFFEN, Centerville: “Oscar the Grouch, because Dave Chappelle portrayed him well in his comedy show.”

DEEDEE MORTON

DEEDEE MORTON, Miamisburg: “Big Bird, because my daughter likes him the most. He’s larger than life, so when he comes on, she gets all excited.”

SUEANNE BROWNING

SUEANNE BROWNING, Centerville: “Miss Piggy. She’s just so flamboyant and has such a personality. And my cousins have nicknamed me Miss Piggy.”

LORA BOWLING

LORA BOWLING, Xenia: “Cookie Monster. He’s just dear to the heart, warm, fuzzy, soft and cuddly. And I love cookies, anyway.”

ROBERT KRZAK

ROBERT KRZAK, Springboro: “Elmo, because that’s my daughter’s favorite.”

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