Stories for you
POWER IN UNITY: Oak Brook resident Kaarina Lebrun helps bring the community together
By Anna Hughes When Kaarina Lebrun first moved to Oak Brook 16 years ago, she was excited about all the village had to offer for her family. Since then, it has exceeded every expectation—so much so that Lebrun calls it “the best-kept secret in the western suburbs.” More importantly, however, she’s incredibly proud to call…
CHAPTERS OF SUCCESS: Local author Shelby Saville
Local CEO publishes debut romance novel Shelby Saville is not your ordinary CEO. (Aside from the fact that, of course, being a CEO is anything but ordinary.) Over the past 25 years, the Elmhurst resident ascended the ranks at Publicis Groupe, one of the largest media holding companies in the world. Her impressive career has…
TASTE OF TRIUMPH: Sophia Karbowski, Co-Founder of realsy
By Maureen Callahan CEO and Co-Founder of realsy, Sophia Karbowski, got tired of searching for a nutritious grab-n-go snack. “My business partner, Austin Patry, and I often walked up and down grocery store aisles as we searched for something healthy. We always ended up in the produce section trying to piece together a snack,” Karbowski…
PLOTTING SUCCESS: Homegrown author David Ellis
By Valerie Hardy It is common advice to avoid judging a book by its cover, but it is rare to have the privilege of covering a book by a judge. Downers Grove Magazine got to do just that, however, when we caught up with New York Times bestselling author David Ellis after his recent novel,…
The Last Frontier: An unforgettable summer adventure awaits
By Katie Bolinger Alaska’s immense size is matched only by its natural beauty. With space to fit 19 states, it’s a land of icy fjords, towering mountains, and lush forests. Despite its vastness, its population is sparse; DuPage County, Illinois, has 200,000 more residents than the entire state. It’s the perfect destination for solitude, cool…
Vincas Buzelis is serious on the court and serious about joining his brother in the NBA
By Jeff Vorva Vincas Buzelis is asked quite a bit about his brother. And he doesn’t mind it. Vincas is two years younger than his brother, Matas, who is a rookie with the Chicago Bulls. “I’m always proud of him,” he said. “Anything he does, I’m proud of. Before my season, I was able to…
Once-worn formalwear gets a second chance through a nonprofit prom boutique run by Hinsdale’s Jen Chillo
By Valerie Hardy “Never in a million years” did Jen Chillo, a 16-year resident of Hinsdale, think she would end up teaching at the high school she attended. However, she considered it “serendipitous” when she was offered a position at her alma mater, Morton West High School, the week of her 20-year high school reunion.…
Students give back through local nonprofit’s high school program
By Anna Hughes It’s no secret that Gen Z wants to change the world. They’re passionate, informed, and active in their communities, with hopes of building better lives for themselves and their neighbors. This mindset inspired leaders of the Community Memorial Foundation to create a program focused on just that: giving young people in the…
Harp-Struck: D181’s Harp Program flourishes at local schools
By Anna Hughes Nicole DaSilva and her daughter Isabella have a special thing in common: they both play the harp. DaSilva started playing the harp at 12 years old after being mesmerized by it at a symphony performance. She studied music in college and played professionally for a bit, later working at a harp-making company.…
Skokna waits his turn to help lead North Central College to national football title
By Jeff Vorva Let’s try to keep this all straight.Hinsdale’s Thomas Skokna is one of 10 children in his family. There are seven boys – all named after the Apostles. There is Matt, John, Luke, Mark, Thomas, Peter and James. There are three girls – Theresa, Joan, and Gabby. All went to, or are going…
Hinsdale Auxiliary’s 70th annual Derby Day fundraiser supports Brightpoint
By Anna Hughes More than 1.4 million people across Illinois live in poverty. Over 424,000 are children (Illinois Department of Human Services). These families face housing and food insecurity, economic instability, and unreliable child care; many are exposed to the harrowing realities of addiction, abuse, and unrelenting trauma. Children in these conditions are more frequently…
A League of Our Own: The Downers Grove Chryslerettes
Downers Grove Magazine and local area partners search for information By Maureen Callahan Downers Grove has accomplished an objective for which many have long been striving: the local girls’ team, the Borman Chryslerettes (alias Downers Grove Chicks), is now affiliated with the Greater Chicago League of Illinois,” a local paper boasted sometime around 1950. Apparently,…
Center brings seniors together for information, food, fun, and friendship
By Valerie Hardy It is never too late to try something new, and seniors in Downers Grove Township are a case in point. Many come out to take advantage of the variety of programs and services, specifically designed to enhance the quality of life for those aged 55 and over, offered through the Township’s Center…
Downers Grove North grad Sean Ryniec is the nation’s best NCAA DIII kicker
By Jeff Vorva Downers Grove’s Sean Ryniec put a lot of time into his baseball career in high school. His game was at a high level, and at one time, the right-handed pitcher was on the Cangelosi Sparks Black travel team that featured standouts including Cole Van Assen (now at Purdue), TJ Schlageter (Louisville), and…
Greener Grove raises environmental awareness while building community and inspiring change
By Maureen Callahan Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world.” Cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead voiced these sentiments more than half a century ago. But their echoes are timeless. A few years back, concerned Downers Grove resident Louise Kelly noticed a lack of environmental awareness around town. The…
A sneak peek at the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club inaugural House Walk
By Downers Grove Magazine Staff This spring, Downers Grove will open its doors to an unforgettable experience that blends the beauty of local architecture with the spirit of community giving. On Friday, May 2, the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club (DGJWC) will host its first House Walk fundraiser, which promises to be an event like…
Course Material: A Look into the Oak Brook Golf Club
By Anna Hughes Golf has been a staple in Oak Brook for a century. The sport, which blends precision and passion, composure and camaraderie, has been the backdrop for many a business outing, girls’ weekend, and friendly family feud in the village since the early 20th century. Its courses have stood the test of time,…
Oak Brook Kennel Club offers a second home for its special guests
By Bill Esbrook You might call it a drop-dead gorgeous “country club” for dogs. Or maybe a better name for the facility would be “Woof in the City,” considering Aly Solle and Beth Eggers sign off their emails with the salutation “woof.” No matter what the nickname, it’s clear that the two friends and business…
Lights. Camera. Action. – Movie magic awaits in Oak Brook
By Bill Esbrook Oak Brook is, most if not all residents would agree, replete with historic sites, art, culture, and great natural beauty. From the Mayslake Peabody Estate, Drury Lane Theatre, Oak Brook Polo Field, Oak Brook Center, Fullersburg Woods, the Graue Mill Museum, the Drake Hotel, and on and on, the village is a…
Oak Brook native, two-time Olympic medalist, looks back on legendary career
By Anna Hughes When 16-year-old John Kinsella returned to Hinsdale Central High School in the fall of 1968, his classmates looked at him differently. They marveled as his 6-foot-3-inch frame casually walked down the hallways as if nothing had changed. They wondered if he had. After all, he had just won an Olympic silver medal.…
Doubletree, Marriott Hotels: Giving back to the community
Hospitality is the cornerstone of success within the hotel business. Unique and memorable service leads to happy guests. Vinayaka Hospitality owns and operates the 428-room DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Chicago – Oak Brook and 350-room Chicago Marriott Oak Brook, the two largest hotels in the community. For years, both of these hotels have been pillars…
Oak Brook Golf Club: The Upcoming Season is on the Tee
Spring is just around the corner, and Oak Brook Golf Club is gearing up for another incredible season! Throughout the offseason, the Village and Club staff have worked diligently to enhance the golfer experience by planning and introducing exciting new features that will elevate this beloved course. “Thanks to another incredible season, pro-active staff management,…
Groundbreaking: Protecting Oak Brook’s Borders
For a century, multiple radio transmitter towers have stood on 19 acres of unincorporated DuPage County land near the Saddle Brook subdivision. Many longtime residents fondly recall school trips to the site where light bulbs lit themselves. When plans began to emerge to decommission the towers permanently, the Village of Oak Brook Village Board swiftly…
Elmhurst Art Museum’s Skycube, 2015, celebrates ten years
By Maureen Callahan Want to look down at the sky? It’s possible to do just that in the Skycube Plaza of the Elmhurst Art Museum. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, Skycube, 2015 brings views from above down to eye level, in real time. Edge up close to it and look down. You’ll see airplanes lazily…
The Preserve at Oak Meadows celebrates over 100 years
By Hinsdale Magazine Staff | Photos courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County The Preserve at Oak Meadows is marking 100 years of history, reflecting the evolution of the local community and the game of golf itself. Tracing its roots to the old Elmhurst Country Club (ECC), the original golf course experienced notable…
Vander Wal ready to please volleyball crowds at Texas
By Jeff Vorva Abby Vander Wal knows how to please a crowd. It could be at a small gathering at Park Place of Elmhurst Retirement Home, playing guitar and singing Alan Jackson and Ed Sheeran songs with her grandfather. It could be slamming volleyball with great power in a packed gym at Timothy Christian…
Local entrepreneur gives more than just the gift of good food
By Anna Hughes Fresh, natural food: That’s what Andy Koziarski noticed was missing from American grocery shelves. When he first immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1994, the Hinsdale resident was surprised to see that the ingredient lists on packaged foods were extensive—often, when they didn’t need to be. This was not the…
Of Her Own Design: Marion Mahony Griffin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentice
By Maureen Callahan “America’s (and perhaps the world’s) first woman architect who needed no apology in a world of men.” This was a description of Marion Mahony Griffin by the last century’s most renowned architectural critic, Reyner Banham. Griffin was a lady who learned early in life to stand her ground. That ground spanned six…
New Tax Incentive to Support Your Local Community Forever
Illinois donors now have a compelling reason to con-tribute to local community foundation endowments. The Illinois Gives Tax Credit (www.tax.illinois.gov/programs/illinoisgives) launched on January 1, offering significant state tax relief for contributions to permanently en- dowed funds at qualified Illinois community foundations. This new program provides a tax credit of up to $100,000 per taxpayer in…
More than a century later, Sears homes are still hiding in plain sight
By Maureen Callahan If you live in the western suburbs, chances are that you’ve seen a Sears house. They’re in many Midwestern communities. Often, we drive right by these historical gems without ever seeing them. They blend right in on any suburban block until you know what they look like. Sears houses are unique. They…
Celebrate warmer weather with family fun events in the western suburbs.
We’ve gathered a list of happenings that you won’t want to miss. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee March 12 – April 27 Copley Theatre ParamountAurora.com Six quirky contestants vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime in this hilarious fan-favorite musical. With coming-of-age themes that all current or once-upon-a-time adolescents can relate…
State park and trail commemorate the 16th President of the United States
By Anna Hughes | Photos Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois wasn’t always the Land of Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln didn’t even move to the state until he was 21. He and his family traveled from Kentucky through Indiana and into southern Illinois, where he eventually settled. Illinois, however, had only been a state for 12…
DuPage County nonprofit celebrates 35 years of local and global service
By Valerie Hardy Kay McKeen of Wheaton has been proudly “talking trash” for over three decades. Founder and executive director of SCARCE – a nonprofit organization committed to environmental education, conservation, and literacy – McKeen’s mission is to “turn trash into treasures,” keeping as much waste as possible out of landfills while getting as many…
Navigating Seasonal Allergies: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor
By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff As the flowers bloom and trees bud, the annual struggle with seasonal allergies begins. Pollen fills the air, triggering sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and runny noses for millions. While over-the-counter medications provide relief for most, some cases require professional medical attention. Knowing when to visit the drugstore and when to…
DuPage County Historical Architecture A few local architectural gems By Maureen Callahan
A few local architectural gems By Maureen Callahan Old DuPage County Courthouse, Wheaton This building, opened in 1896, replaced the original structure from 1868. It was built on land purchased from Warren L. Wheaton and is one of the rare Richardsonian Romanesque styles in northern Illinois. The duration of this design was short-lived as buildings…
The Power of Unity: How suburban theaters are rewriting the script on collaboration
By Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson Chicago’s western suburbs have long embraced collaboration within individual communities, with local chambers and cities integrating performing arts into events. However, a larger opportunity lies in building a network of cross-community artistic partnerships, potentially transforming the region’s cultural landscape. For example, the Salt Creek Ballet of Westmont performed…
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Photos courtesy of The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (ESO) marked a milestone in its 2024/2025 season with a record-setting performance of The Four Seasons on Jan. 19. The concert, which included Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, was the third-best attended and second-highest selling in the…
Charred Oak Brook: Stop in to sample Le Meridien’s private label bourbon
By Maureen Callahan There’s something about a private label. It’s unique. Bar patrons love to sample spirits made especially for their favorite place. Charred Oak Brook, Le Meridien’s private barrel bourbon, is distilled exclusively for the hotel’s El Tapeo Modern Spanish Kitchen and Longitude 87 restaurants. General Manager, Dick Turner, describes Charred Oak Brook with…
