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
Hinsdale’s Healing Home
Wellness House has supported cancer wellness and holistic healing for 35 years By Anna Hughes For the last 15 years, Elaine Adams has been volunteering at Wellness House in Hinsdale. On Wednesdays, she works the front desk. On Mondays and Thursdays, she helps women experiencing hair loss from cancer treatment find the right wig. Each…
13 Going on 30
In its rookie year, Butler Business Professionals Club earns national title By Anna Hughes At the start of the 2024-25 school year, math teacher Ken Shum introduced Business Professionals of America (BPA) to Butler Junior High in Oak Brook. Inspired by his own experience with the organization as a student at Hinsdale Central High School,…
Creating Community Connections
The Elmhurst Neighbors & Newcomers Club has helped build bonds for over 75 years By Valerie Hardy When Betsy Laakko moved to Elmhurst from St. Louis in 2020, she was eager to meet new people. Relocating during the pandemic made this challenging, but Laakko got creative. “I reached out virtually to anyone I could find…
A New Look
Oak Brook Beautification Initiative Underway Images Courtesy of The Village of Oak Brook The Village of Oak Brook has launched an exciting beautification initiative to revitalize key public spaces and enhance the community’s appeal for residents, visitors, and businesses. With the last major beautification effort taking place over a decade ago, the Village Board of…
Swing into Summer
Oak Brook golf shines with upgrades and an elevated experience With summer in full swing, Oak Brook Golf Club is filled with golfers enjoying an elevated experience this summer due to improved leadership and fiscal management by the Oak Brook Board of Trustees. For the first time, revenues generated by golf operations have been reinvested…
Legacies and Crossings
A Summer of Art, History, and Community at the Elmhurst Art Museum By Elmhurst Magazine StaffPhotos courtesy of Elmhurst Art Museum . . This summer, the Elmhurst Art Museum invites visitors to experience not one, but two compelling exhibitions that celebrate the stories behind the art and the communities that shape them. On view through…
The Hart of Hinsdale
Get to know the new village president By Anna Hughes For the first time in 16 years, there’s a new leader at the helm of Hinsdale. At just 37 years old, Greg Hart is the youngest president in village history. His millennial mindset provides a fresh perspective to local government, and he’s honored to represent…
Where Community Thrives
Downers Grove’s new Civic Center and the legacy of Mayor Betty Cheever By Catherine Dobrez Photos Courtesy of the Village of Downers Grove Home of the Village Hall, Police Department, and District 58 Administration, the newly constructed Civic Center lies at the heart of Downers Grove (850 Curtiss St.). This 80,000-square-foot building operates Monday-Friday from…
The Friendly Confines
Tales of a Wrigley Field groundskeeper By Maureen Callahan Ever wonder what the Friendly Confines are like long after the fans have left the ballpark? The stadium always looks great because of the dedicated grounds crew that takes care of the National League’s second-oldest ballpark. Whether it’s before, during, or after a game or concert—day…
Staging a Dream
BAMtheatre grew from backyard players to the western suburbs’ premier youth theater By Maureen Callahan It’s not often a childhood dream becomes a reality, or a hobby becomes a career. But it is possible. Just ask Melanie Lamoureux, founder and Artistic Director of BAMtheatre, the western suburbs’ award-winning and nationally recognized educational theater program. It…
Fishing for Memories
Sergeant Tommy’s Kids introduces children of military and first responders to the outdoors By Maureen Callahan Local heroes are a defining part of the fabric of a hometown. For Downers Grove, a great measure of this respect will always belong to Sergeant Thomas “Tommy” Gilbert, United States Marine Corps (USMC). Tommy grew up in Downers…
Empowered in Portrait
Local photographer captures the beauty of motherhood By Anna Hughes Sharing photos on social media has become second nature to millions. What started as a fun way to keep in touch with family and friends has launched many amateur creators into unexpected careers. In a way, that’s exactly what happened to Kinda Arzon. The Oak…
For the time of your life, get to Greece!
By Maureen Callahan The influence of this nation has reached every corner of the earth. Greece is one of humankind’s oldest and most powerful ancient empires. Its mark on the world is indelible. This is the birthplace of some of the world’s greatest philosophers who shaped the republic. Few other places can claim the contributions…
Q&A with State’s Attorney Bob Berlin
Justice in Focus Hinsdale Magazine Group last caught up with DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin in January 2022. In this issue, we revisit Berlin in a wide-ranging discussion on how his office works daily to protect local residents. Hinsdale Magazine Group (HMG): What are the most pressing school safety concerns facing DuPage County today,…
Decades of Dining
Historical restaurants and eateries in Chicago By Anna Hughes With dozens of new restaurants popping up across the city and beyond, consider returning to the basics and visiting some of Chicago’s oldest restaurants, eateries, and bakeries. These Windy City staples have been serving generations of Chicagoans, providing top-notch food, quality service, and a classic Chi-town…