DG Spotlight
House & Home — Natalie Weber: KW Experience Realty
Hiring the right real estate agent makes all the difference when making your life’s most important sale or purchase. That’s where Natalie Weber comes in. She’s been the #1 Individual Agent in Downers Grove for the last three years and ranked #10 in DuPage County for New Construction Sales in 2023. And she has come…
Read MoreHouse & Home — Brita Pagels: Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago
There are some things we’re born to do. Just ask Brita Pagels of Pagels Group. As a fourth-generation broker, she’s been immersed in real estate since birth. “Real estate has always been a part of me,” says the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago broker. While her path began by sketching buildings and gardens in pre-Kindergarten, crayon…
Read MoreHouse & home
Homeownership is a significant undertaking, whether buying or selling a home or renovating or building one. It is a major life purchase that significantly affects personal and financial levels. Whether you are a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, the journey towards achieving home ownership – and making it your own – can be both…
Read MoreHouse & Home — Tracy Driscoll and Diane Crisp: Platinum Partners Realtors
Tracy Driscoll and Diane Crisp form a powerhouse realtor team with a collective experience of 43 years in guiding buyers and sellers through the real estate landscape of the Western Suburbs of Chicago. For the past 14 years, they’ve seamlessly collaborated to deliver exceptional service, culminating in over $150,000,000 in real estate transactions at Platinum…
Read MoreHouse & Home — Mary Braatz: RE/MAX Enterprises
There are a multitude of things to know when selling your home. Mary understands this market and her community from 37 years of real estate experience. Mary explained, “When I started in real estate, I wanted to work the area near my home in Downers Grove, and since then, I have come to know it…
Read MoreDowners Grove’s Bill Ludwig continues his family’s legacy in the drum business
BY VALERIE HARDY William F. Ludwig III quite literally marches to the beat of his own drum. Known as Bill or B3, Ludwig proudly wears the title of third-generation drum-maker. Ludwig’s grandfather, William F. Ludwig Sr. (nicknamed “Senior”), played the drums in a circus and toured with a vaudeville act during the offseason. Vaudeville music…
Read MoreDowners Grove Junior Woman’s Club
Teacher grants. High School Senior Scholarships. Junior High Art Awards. Safety Town. These are just a few examples of how the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club (DGJWC) gives back to the community every year. The organization – comprised of women in Downers Grove and surrounding areas – embodies the volunteer spirit. Established in 1959, DGJWC…
Read MoreLore Swieca: Celebrating the turn of a century at the friendly confines
By Cynthia Maquet In 1930, Downers Grove resident Lore Swieca attended her first Cubs game at Wrigley Field. Ninety-three years later, she is still a loyal Cubs fan. On July 16, 2023, Swieca and 54 of her closest friends and family took a charter bus from Downers Grove to the Friendly Confines to celebrate her…
Read MoreIn the Spotlight: The Downers Grove Fire Department and its recent field-based training opportunity
By Valerie Hardy According to the National Fire Protection Association’s website, the annual Fire Prevention Week is scheduled for the second week in October “in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871.” The weeklong observance aims to educate community members of all ages about ways to stay safe from fire.…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes: Meet the Downers Grove Magazine Team
Our goal at Downers Grove Magazine is to feature stories about you. But as we head into our fifth year of publishing, we peel back the curtain and give you some insight into this team and why these individuals dedicate their time and energy to the publication. They have researched, interviewed, and written about a…
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