Stories for you
Trailblazers: The inspiration behind the Women of Oak Brook
Local women’s group brings Oak Brook together through connection, friendship, and service By Anna Hughes | Photos by Victor Hilitski Lara Suleiman and her family moved to Oak Brook over ten years ago for its great schools and diverse community. When describing the village they’d be calling home to family and friends, Suleiman often referred…
100 Years of Movie Magic: Chris Johnson & York Theatre
York Theater celebrates 100 years! By Maureen Callahan Every story starts somewhere. For Elmhurst’s York Theater, that beginning was Labor Day weekend, 1924. The Roaring Twenties were in full swing. Downtown Elmhurst saw its second theater open (the first was The Elms on W. First St.). It was a much bigger theater than The Elms,…
Building Hope: The O’Brien School for the Maasai
Local Hinsdale woman continues to help provide remarkable futures for the Maasai village By Mia Jones Walking through 82-year-old Kellie O’Brien’s’ home, it is clear to see her love for gardening and landscaping design, but the Hinsdale-based horticulturalist has also experienced a calling that has grown into a larger project in the last 17 years…
Santa’s Workshop
What started in the basement of a suburban Chicago home back in 1998 as an idea to create unique items personalized for the receiver has become the leader in personalized gifts. With two facilities, including the corporate headquarters in Burr Ridge spanning 100,000 square feet and the primary production and fulfillment center in Bolingbrook covering…
Paying Homage to History: The Legacy of Jorie Butler Kent
By Hinsdale Magazine Group staff Editor’s Note. This article first appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Oak Brook Magazine. Unfortunately, there were errors which this version has corrected. This past October 6, in an event sponsored by the Oak Brook Historical Society, some 50-plus history buffs gathered at the Oak Brook Library to hear…
Holiday Joy
By Anna Hughes Disney’s The Little Mermaid Nov. 6, 2024 – Jan. 12, 2025 Drury Lane Theatre Escape the cold and join the little mermaid and friends under the sea with this Disney classic brought to the stage. With fan-favorite songs by composer Alan Menken including “Part of Your World,” “Under the Sea,” and “Kiss…
Goal Getter: Hinsdale’s Gutman scores for Fire in 100th MLS start
By Jeff Vorva Hinsdale native Andrew Gutman has always been a top-notch all-around soccer player. In college at Indiana University, the Hinsdale Central graduate capped off his career in 2018 by winning the MAC Hermann Trophy, which is given to the top college player of the year. He was also named Top Drawer National Soccer…
Chicago Museum celebrates unity in diversity during the holiday season
By Anna Hughes A Christmas tree is a universal symbol across the globe, representing faith, hope, and the season of joy and giving. The decorated evergreen branches are the traditional backdrop for some of life’s most precious moments, from Santa’s visits to family movies around the fire. It represents a common thread that weaves itself…
Before Barbie: Local museum showcases the world of toys before Mattel-mania
By Anna Hughes When the Barbie movie came out last year, it took the world by storm. When the Barbie doll came out, it had the exact same effect. And then some. Barbie’s release by Mattel in 1959 was revolutionary in the world of toys. Although “fashion dolls” were popularized in the mid-19th century, Barbie…
Raising Awareness:World Diabetes Day celebrated in November
By Maureen Callahan According to the International Diabetes Federation, approximately 537 million adults worldwide are afflicted with diabetes. November is the time of year when we pause to recognize this disease, with World Diabetes Day on November 14. Although it’s not a day to celebrate, it is a time to raise awareness of the condition…
Raising Kind Kids: How family volunteering inspires lifelong giving
By Katie Bolinger As mimics, children often mirror the behavior of their elders, so parents play a crucial role in fostering a child’s desire to give back. Children who see their parents actively volunteering are more likely to follow suit. Leading by example helps kids grow into compassionate, engaged adults who continue contributing to their…
Year-End Giving: Charitable contributions during the holiday season
By Dave McGowan In the last issue, I reported that more than $557 billion was estimated to be contributed to charitable organizations in 2023. Do you know that much of that giving was contributed in the last quarter of the year? Why do people give then? Well, the December 31 deadline to record gifts for…
Western Suburbs Giving Circle
The Western Suburbs Giving Circle of the Chicago Foundation for Women invited current and prospective members to kick off another year of grantmaking at their “Cocktails for a Cause” event at Lifetime Fitness Oak Brook on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The group aimed to lay the groundwork for increasing investment in women’s health and reproductive justice,…
The Wellness House
Photos by Marcello Rodarte The annual Wellness House Ball, held on Oct. 19 at The Old Post Office in Chicago, attracted over 400 attendees to support individuals and families affected by cancer. The Hope Grows Co-Chairs Pamela and George Pontikis, along with Katie and Michael Isadore, organized a night filled with elegant decor, dining, and…
A New Dock: Chicago Boat Show finds new location in Rosemont
By Anna Hughes Chicago’s biggest boat show is moving out of Chicago. Luckily for boaters and loyal show attendees, it’s not moving far. The 93rd Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show will return on January 8-12, 2025, in its debut at Donald E. Stephens Convention & Conference Center in Rosemont. For almost a century, this show…
When the Person in the Mirror is No Longer You
Claudine was 49 when she started working in the public eye as a community service officer. Years of sun exposure, gravity, diet, and various other factors started to show in her appearance. One day, she glanced into her squad car mirror and realized that the person she saw on the outside no longer reflected who…
Fruits and Vegetables: The Terrible Two
Elmhurst resident makes healthy eating fun for kids in new children’s book By Anna Hughes Eating the recommended daily dose of fruits and vegetables is hard. Getting your kids to do the same is even harder. Some days, the uneaten broccoli on your toddler’s plate is the biggest uphill battle you’ll climb – and sometimes…
The Elmhurst Model Railroad Club provides fun for all ages
By Katie Bolinger Just across the street from the Union Pacific West (UP-W) Line, behind an unassuming door, and down a flight of stairs, you’ll find the Elmhurst Model Railroad Club (EMRRC). This hidden gem is a paradise for train enthusiasts. You can ring the bell of a real Santa Fe prairie-type locomotive to announce…
Elmhurst bakery owner serves up success
By Anna Hughes Every time Michelle Deal makes a birthday cake, it’s her wish that’s coming true. The Elmhurst business owner knows that a perfect cake is the finishing touch for any of life’s biggest events. With each frosted flower or fragilely crafted fondant creation, she pours her heart into each and every dessert she…
Bravo! Performers love changes in York auditorium
By Jeff Vorva When Betsy Kungl first watched a performance in the York High School auditorium in 2015, she enjoyed herself, but there was one little hiccup. Well, it was kind of a big hiccup. She didn’t have an ideal seat. “There was a big speaker in front of me,” she said. “I couldn’t really…
Elmhurst Choral Society has been making music for over 70 years
By Maureen Callahan For 70 years, Elmhurst Choral Union (ECU) has enjoyed making music. The group of about 60 members ranges in age from Elmhurst University students to a few octogenarians. All members are volunteer professionals. It’s a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that is overseen by several members who serve as a Board of Directors, with…
The Elmhurst Centre for Performing Arts
Photos courtesy of Jeff Nelson and Bernie Surtz The ECPA welcomed a crowd of supporters to their annual Spotlight Giving Gala on Sept. 14 at River Forest Country Club, where ECPA announced a partnership with Ryan Companies. A multi-billion-dollar firm, Ryan was specifically selected for their experience in designing and building smart, well-planned, mixed-use developments.…
The Elmhurst History Museum
The Elmhurst History Museum has officially started construction on a new outdoor performance space, which includes a band shell and audience flex space on the campus. Funded by an Illinois Department of Natural Resources grant and the Elmhurst Heritage Foundation, the project aims to enhance public programming by hosting concerts, storytelling, and dramatic performances starting…
Rock the Block
The Elmhurst Rock the Block Festival closed out the summer showcasing community spirit and local talent featuring live music, food vendors, and various activities for all ages. The annual event has become a beloved tradition in Elmhurst drawing crowds from near and far while fostering a sense of community and bringing together families and friends…
Village agency recruits volunteers for community service, response, and recovery
By Anna Hughes You can never be too prepared. That’s the foundation of Oak Brook’s Emergency Services Disaster Agency (ESDA). ESDA members are trained to support the village in case of emergency by helping prepare residents, support responders, and aid in recovery efforts in cooperation with local, state, and federal governmental entities, as well as…
Someone You Should Know: Veteran Ron Nelson
Veteran Ron Nelson still pays it forward By Bill Esbrook Always giving back. Consistently paying it forward. Devoting himself to Faith, family, and country. Those phrases might be the perfect way to describe the life of Oak Brook resident and Navy veteran Ron Nelson, who is definitely, as the saying goes, someone you should know.…
Oak Brook Park District employee uses technical talents to create a luminescent winter wonderland
By Valerie Hardy Thanks to Robert Pechous’ design and animation skills, Oak Brook is about to get merrier – and a watt brighter – this holiday season. Pechous, the Director of Recreation and Communications for the Oak Brook Park District, has been the creative and technological force behind the community’s ever-evolving automated Winter Lights display…
Let’s Go!: Every ride’s a quarter, five for a dollar, at Dispensa’s Kiddie Kingdom
By Maureen Callahan Locals with very long memories remember that sometimes, rides were actually six for a dollar, depending on the weekly Tribune ads. Chicagoland area kids sang along with the catchy ads for Kiddie Kingdom on the radio while riding around town in their parents’ station wagons. The clean, reasonably priced amusement park was…
Celebration of International Cultures
Photos by 726 Visuals The Oak Brook Park District and the Village of Oak Brook came together to host a vibrant celebration, creating an unforgettable cultural extravaganza. Held on Sept. 21 at the newly inaugurated Oak Brook Park District Amphitheater at Central Park North, the “Celebration of International Cultures” ignited the spirit of unity and…
A Bridge Between Two Worlds
Susan Zidlicky desires to lessen the gap between the DuPage community and cultural pockets around the globe By Mia Jones Places like El Salvador, Kenya, and the suburbs of Chicago might not seem like they have a lot in common, but for those who choose to travel beyond DuPage County, strong bonds, relationships, and life-long…
Football Fever: Red Devils enjoy first IHSA flag football season
By Jeff Vorva Destynee McCoy said she will remember the good times. The Illinois High School Association sanctioned girls flag football, and this fall was the inaugural season for teams across the state. McCoy, a senior cornerback for Hinsdale Central, and her teammates may have suffered through a 2-9 record, but the Red Devils were…
How faith and advocacy helped a Hinsdale doctor cross to the other side of grief
By Anna Hughes Growing up, Dr. Lanny F. Wilson admired two groups of people in his small, Roman Catholic Kentucky hometown: priests and physicians. He felt his life would be fulfilled if he could become one of the two. “I liked girls too much to become a priest,” Wilson joked. So, he pursued an alternative…
The Fairmount Ave. Soap Box Derby
It’s all downhill for this Randall Park neighborhood tradition By Maureen Callahan It’s kind of a slice of Americana,” laughed Chris Mac-Kenna when he described Fairmount Avenue’s annual Soap Box Derby. It’s almost like a throwback in time. Picture a neighborhood in 1955. Neighbors socialize up and down the street while kids race down the…
Kidpreneur: A goal becomes a reality for Henry Casson
By Chuck Fieldman Henry Casson may only be a 9-year-old fourth-grader. But that hasn’t prevented the Downers Grove resident from already being able to add “entrepreneur” to his life experiences. Henry’s mother, Kelly Casson, said her son’s interest in running a business goes back to late 2022 when he became very interested in vending machine…
Bringing Hollywood Home
The Martin brothers returned to Downers Grove to share their film with local viewers By Valerie Hardy Three brothers who grew up in Downers Grove before heading to Hollywood were recently back in town for a special screening of their feature film, Bolt from the Blue. The Martin brothers attended the Chicago premiere of the…
65 & Still Serving
The Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club celebrates a milestone anniversary and its founder By Valerie Hardy | Photography by Carolina Menapace On Sept. 24, Emmett’s private party space – aptly named the Founder’s Room – was packed with women who were pretty in pink. None more so than Shirley Tolbert, however. Tolbert was the guest of…
Dr. Dieter Gruen: Manhattan Project Scientist
Manhattan Project Scientist stresses the importance of always moving forward By Maureen Callahan When people ask Dr. Dieter Gruen, famed Manhattan Project scientist and Downers Grove resident, the secret of living to the age of 101 years, the answer is simple – “a sense of wonder,” he knows. In more than ten decades of life,…
Hope After Heartache
The EM5 Fly High Foundation spreads kindness and joy in memory of Evan Melau By Valerie Hardy When Evan Melau was fatally struck by a vehicle while riding his bike, his family, friends, family friends, friends’ families, classmates, teammates, and many others were grief-stricken. The loss of such a vibrant 15-year-old devastated the community, a…
DuPagePads Interim Housing Center A Pioneering Model to End Homelessness
The first in Illinois, and one of the first in the United States, Downers Grove is home to an innovative solution to end homelessness. For 40 years, DuPagePads has sought to end homelessness by utilizing the support of the surrounding communities. Now, DuPagePads has centralized services at the Interim Housing Center, known affectionately as the…
Kendall Gretsch at the Paris Games
Hometown Paralympian brings home the silver medal By Maureen Callahan Downers Grove native Kendall Gretsch has a strength few possess. This Team USA member has medaled in both the summer and winter Paralympic Games. As a biathlete (winter games – Nordic skiing and shooting) as well as a triathlete (summer games – swimming, cycling and…
Downers Grove Historical Society
Every year, the Downers Grove Historical Society identifies an individual who epitomizes the spirit of “giving back” to the community. The late Montrew Dunham, who co-wrote the history book “Downers Grove, 1832-1982” and authored the follow-up, serves as the model for this award. This year, the Historical Society recognized Mary Ellen Young as the recipient…
Oak Brook Historical Society Starts Intern Program
The Oak Brook Historical Society is pleased to announce the launch of the John and Janet Baar Summer Intern Program, a unique opportunity for students and history enthusiasts to gain hands-on experience in museum operations and historical preservation. John Baar, a veteran educator and former Village Trustee, and his wife Janet, a retired Abbott Labs…
Butler School District helps shape the next generation of Girl Scouts
By Anna Hughes For over a century, Girl Scouts have been making a positive impact on their communities and in the world. The organization has produced generations of leaders, fiercely passionate women, philanthropists, and lifelong friendships. There are troops in over 92 countries, and over 50 million women have been a Girl Scout at one…
Writer’s Workshop: Oak Brook resident to tell her life story in upcoming book
By Anna Hughes Sitting on the couch of her Oak Brook home, Joan Salvato gestures to a large black photo album on a chair across the room. She jokes that, at 88 years old, it’s too heavy for her these days and asks me to bring it over to her. Despite our 64-year age difference,…
Noteworthy
A Matter of Principal
Jessica Hurt reflects on her inaugural year at York High School’s helm By Maureen Callahan | Photo by Laura Meyer Elmhurst has a tradition of outstanding educational options. Jessica Hurt, Principal of York High School, sets a positive, encouraging tone at one of Illinois’ top high schools. Education has always been the mainstay of who…
Looking Back and Ahead
MLB draftee Ryan Sloan has fun during historic senior season at York By Jeff Vorva Ryan Sloan has a lot to look forward to. The York graduate was selected in the second round of the Major League Baseball Draft –55th overall – on July 14 by Seattle and a few weeks later signed a deal…
Elmhurst Vintage Baseball Game
Photos courtesy of Elmhurst History Museum Elmhurst History Museum held its annual “Town vs. Gown” Vintage Baseball Game to determine the winner of the Cottage Hill Cup. Elmhurst University faculty, staff, commissioners, volunteers, and elected officials, staff, commissioners, and volunteers played an old-fashioned ball game using the wildly different rules of 1858 to entertain baseball…
Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry
In August, Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and Industry members and guests shopped for goodies at the Elmhurst Farmers Market as part of a Membership Breakfast hosted by the York & Vallette Business Association. The Chamber serves the needs of 600 member businesses, not-for-profits and individuals. Programs, products, services and events provide opportunities for networking and…
Elmhurst Brewing Co. & Illinois Brewery Running Series™
Photos courtesy of the Illinois Brewery Running Series In July, participants enjoyed a fun-filled day of running, beer, and good vibes at Elmhurst Brewing Co. Starting and ending at the taproom in Elmhurst, those that ran, walked or jogged celebrated with a locally made craft beverage at the finish line. Author DuPage Magazine Staff…
Stopping Traffic and Starting the Day
Crossing guard Maureen Brdlik has been crossing families for 31 years and counting By Marty Blader For kids, the morning rush is the period from when your alarm goes off to the first chimes of the school bell. On a good day, you have enough time to drink the remnants of cereal and milk from…
DuPagePads Drive for 55
A race to end homelessness puts the ‘fun’ in fundraising By Maureen Callahan For more than three decades, DuPagePads has been bringing people in from outside to assist unsheltered persons on a path out of homelessness. The organization makes clients feel wanted and welcome while they work to create a change in their circumstances. Each…
Riding Into the Wind
Rest In Peace, George the Cyclist By Maureen Callahan Every life is validated by purpose. For avid cyclist George Christensen – writer, movie buff, and afficionado of Carnegie Libraries across the country – what mattered most in life happened on a bike. Tragically, Christensen passed away in April as a truck fatally struck him at…
Superintendent’s Path to Leading District 99
Looking back on how Dr. Hank Thiele’s past has prepared him to lead By Marty Blader Boy and Girl Scouts of America are equipped with the motto “Be Prepared,” which encourages the idea of readiness in both the mind and body. Little did Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele know, as an Eagle Scout, that this phrase…
Local Blessings
Blessings in a Backpack offers a solution for food insecurity By Maureen Callahan Millions of American families experience food insecurity. Sometimes, it’s part of the fall-out from another event, such as job loss. Other times, it’s a longer-term issue. Blessings in a Backpack (BIB) is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization that ensures local students have…
Following Their Lead
Meet the influencers behind @somethingwhitty and @whatgracebought By Valerie Hardy I Photos by Victor Hilitski With the advent and subsequent expansion of social media like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok over the past quarter century, many previously unimaginable professions have emerged. Among these are online content creators and marketers known as social media influencers. These predominantly female…
Giving USA: U.S. charitable giving totaled over $550 billion in 2023
By Dave McGowan Giving USA 2024: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for 2023, released in June, reported that an estimated $557.16 billion was donated by all sources last year. Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, publishes the Report. It is researched and written by the Indiana University Lilly Family School…
Moose Cruise Nights
Photos by 726 Visuals The Downers Grove Loyal Order of Moose hosted another summer of Cruise Nights on Fridays in downtown Downers Grove. Classic cars, souped-up coupes, and other vintage rides were out and about all summer long, and each week, proceeds benefitted a nonprofit. Authors 726 Visuals View all posts DuPage Magazine…
Rotary GroveFest
Photos by 726 Visuals People of all ages enjoyed the Rotary GroveFest in the heart of Downers Grove this past June. Featuring rides, beer garden, live music (and more), the event was a testament to the community’s spirit. Hosted by the Rotary Club of Downers Grove, GroveFest is a powerful force for good, redistributing all…
The Best of Chicago, for Chicago
Meet Julie Maddox, creator of NBC’s “Chicago Today” By Cynthia Maquet Lifestyle, fashion, food, health, and beauty are just a few of the trending topics that are covered every weekday morning on NBC’s Chicago Today. The show, which first premiered in September of 2019, will begin its sixth season of entertainment this fall with the…