Stories for you
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…
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…
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. Author 726 Visuals View all posts
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…
Turning a Leaf
by Mia Jones As the days start to get a little cooler and kids are going back to school, there are a variety of fall events across DuPage for everyone to enjoy this year. Whether it’s a nature-filled walk or a fundraiser with brewery samples, we’ve got you covered. Elmhurst Craft Beer Fest Elmhurst History…
Fall at the Sports Core
Cool sunny days make fall the perfect season to enjoy your sport of choice at the Oak Brook Sports Core. Whether your passion is golf or tennis, the excellent facilities here can help you take your game to the next level this fall. Oak Brook Golf Club With 18 scenic holes, Oak Brook Golf Club…
Diving For Dreams
Oak Brook resident builds career, pursues dreams at Brookfield Zoo Chicago By Anna Hughes | Photos courtesy of the Brookfield Zoo Chicago For most people, the dolphin show at Brookfield Zoo Chicago is entertaining. Captivating. Majestic. For Tim Sullivan, it was life-changing. Sullivan was 17 years old the first time he saw the show. He…
A Fighting Illini
Local UIUC freshman discusses cancer battle in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month By Anna Hughes Adrian Lam was weeks away from starting his freshman year at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He was a healthy, active 18-year-old boy from the western suburbs both excited and nervous to take the next step in his life.…
Global Reach with Local Roots
Ball Horticultural Company has grown to be the industry’s innovator By Anna Hughes Ball Horticultural Company is to be a major force in horticulture right here in the western suburbs. Driven by its commitment to pioneering plant science and supporting the needs of growers and retailers worldwide, it has grown from a small flower business…
Resurrecting Mary: Chicago’s most famous ghost-in-residence
By Maureen Callahan Legends. Every corner of the world has them. Local lore is part of a location’s identity. One dyed-in-the-wool staple of this area is the story of a young girl on her way home from an evening ball. Since the Roaring Twenties, Resurrection Mary has managed to elude dance hall patrons and cab…
Travel: Pure Michigan
Autumnal days on Michigan’s “Sunset Coast” are the perfect weekend trip when the weather turns cool By Mia Jones Discover why Lake Michigan’s coastline is a fantastic place to visit even beyond the summertime. Within a comfortable, maximum three-hour car ride from the western suburbs of Chicago, you can take your pick from vineyards, restaurants,…
What’s Brewing
Local Oktoberfest celebrations have fun for the whole family on tap this fall When September hits, Oktoberfest isn’t far behind. The famed fall festival originated in Munich, Germany, in 1810 to celebrate the marriage of Ludwig, the Crown Prince of Bavaria, to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen. The celebration, open to the entire city, included…
