DG 2026
Woodland Windows & Doors
Three generations have built Woodland Windows & Doors on faith, family, and a commitment to serving others. Woodland Windows & Doors began in 1969 with a borrowed axe—and a family determined to build something lasting. “A very good friend of ours lent us an axe because we were splitting firewood,” Ken Mariotti recalls. “It was…
Read MoreGil Ducato, Founder
Reliable Home Improvement and Supply, Inc. In 1967, Gil Ducato started Reliable Home Improvement and Supply, Inc. (Reliable) with a single crew, a garage, and a willingness to knock on doors. Back then, he was selling fences. His wife, Rosalie, was building a business of her own, operating Dream House, a kitchen-and-bath boutique in Lockport.…
Read MoreLasting Legacy
Giving Beyond a Lifetime By Dave McGowan Did you know that approximately 10% of estates include a provision for a charitable distribution? It’s a great way to leave your legacy and to ensure that the organizations you supported during your lifetime will continue to benefit from your generosity. As I mentioned in my May article,…
Read MoreMaking Polo More Accessible
Introducing a new generation to one of the world’s oldest sports Photos by Courtney Kelly Chicago Polo Academy is helping introduce a new generation of players to the sport. Located in Maple Park, Illinois, the academy hosts scheduled competitive tournaments and offers riding lessons, polo instruction, and practices for students under the direction of Thomas…
Read MoreThe Evolution of the Facelift
Cutting Through the Facelift Confusion Feeling overwhelmed by facelift terms? Between “Deep Plane,” “SMAS,” “Liquid Lifts,” and endless new trend names, it’s almost impossible to know what actually works—and what’s just marketing hype. Here is the simple truth: Most standard facelifts pull your face sideways. When skin and muscle are pulled horizontally toward your ears,…
Read MoreThen & Now
The familiar places of Downers Grove, seen across generations By Julia Mazurek | Photos courtesy of Greg Elisha, the Downers Grove Historical Society, the Downers Grove Park District and Michelle Lytle It’s easy to forget that many Downers Grove streets have served as the backdrop for community life for well over a century. …
Read MoreReading Ready
Two former District 58 students turned teachers take literacy instruction to the next level By Valerie Hardy As students at Fairmount Elementary School, Beth Hatlen and Karla O’Brien learned to read together. Today, these childhood friends run a business that helps thousands of other students learn to read. Hatlen and O’Brien co-founded…
Read MoreHome Court Advantage
DGN alum Charlie Rohlf connects passions for sports, technology, and statistics into a career with the NBA By Julia Mazurek | Photos courtesy of District 99 Downers Grove native Charlie Rohlf leads one of the National Basketball Association’s most important teams. He’s not a coach, scout or general manager. Instead, as…
Read MoreFrom One Fire Truck to 8,000 Calls
Downers Grove Fire Department evolves to protect a growing community By Julia Mazurek | Photos courtesy of Downers Grove Fire Department Tucked inside the Downers Grove Museum sits a piece of local history: Engine 1, the fire department’s first motorized truck. The 1920 pumper engine manufactured by the White Motor Company is a symbol of…
Read MoreBuilt to Last
How Andrew Carnegie’s vision helped shape the Downers Grove Public Library By Maureen Callahan A local library is something every community needs. Although it’s importance and relevance can sometimes be overlooked, it’s meant to be a place for everyone. The idea of steel and railroad billionaire Andrew Carnegie was to make education – at both…
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