Issues
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,…
Read MoreCreating 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…
Read MoreA 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…
Read MoreSwing 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…
Read MoreLegacies 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreWhere 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…
Read MoreThe 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…
Read MoreStaging 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…
Read MoreFishing 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…
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