COVER STORY
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2025
Gone Country: Hinsdale graduate brings Music City to Hollywood on “The Voice”
By Anna Hughes | Photos courtesy of NBCUniversal It wasn’t a blind audition for long. An enthusiastic Michael Bublé turned his chair around just seconds after hearing a soulful, gritty country voice on stage. His eyes widened at the sight of 24-year-old Tate Renner, whose cow-boy hat was not quite big enough to hide his…
Marathon Man: Bahir Mansur has competed in 50 marathons and counting
By Chuck Fieldman Don’t tell Bahir Mansur that at 75 years old, he should be slowing down or should have started that process years ago. The 37-year resident of Clarendon Hills still maintains his long-standing family practice physician’s office in Forest Park. And while retirement remains some-thing for the future in his working life, it’s…
The Golden Age: Olympic medalist looks back on legendary swim career
When 16-year-old John Kinsella returned to Hinsdale Central High School in the fall of 1968, his classmates looked at him differently. They marveled as his 6-foot-3-inch frame casually walked down the hallways as if nothing had changed. They wondered if he had. After all, he had just won an Olympic silver medal. “It was kind…
Breaking the Ice: Hinsdale volunteer snow shoveling helps residents
By Maureen Callahan Heavy snowstorms have been dubbed “widow-makers” by the medical community for good reason. The first snow of the year, with its high moisture content, makes snow removal very dangerous for those who are deconditioned to physical exercise or in questionable heart health. Has snow shoveling become a hassle or impossibility? Are you…
Disappointment, Then Elation – Hinsdale Central golfers win state
By Jeff Vorva | Photos courtesy of Pam Devata Hinsdale Central senior Dru Devata was bummed out. He thought that for the third year in a row, he and his Hinsdale Central teammates were going to finish second in the Illinois High School Association Class 3A boys state golf tournament by two shots. See, the…
Three-Peat: Nazareth wins third straight Class 5A football championship
By Jeff Vorva When COVID-19 hit in 2020 and the Illinois High School Asso-ciation football season was postponed in the fall, some of the best players in the state left Illinois to play in states that allowed football during that time. Some players from Nazareth Academy – including star quarterback J.J. McCarthy – left, and…
DuPage Foundation
In early November, the DuPage Foundation celebrated its Annual Benefit: Through the Looking Glass at The Westin Chicago Lombard, welcoming over 425 guests. The event raised nearly $700,000, with additional contributions expected. These funds are vital to supporting the Foundation’s efforts in addressing community challenges and opportunities while aiding donors and businesses in achieving impactful…
Assistance League Chicagoland West
Photos by Michelle James The Assistance League Chicagoland West hosted its annual Books & Brunch in early November at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn. Close to 500 attendees joined the lively conversation with Pulitzer Prize Winner Jonathan Eig as well as authors Luis Urrea and Libby Fischer Hellmann, and moderator Andrea Thome. The Assistance League…
Clearing the Air: The American Lung Association and the local Fight for Air Climb
By Anna Hughes | Photos courtesy of the American Lung Association It’s not easy having to fight for air. It’s unfair when the most basic human need—breathing—becomes a daily battle. Unfortunately, that’s the reality for tens of millions of Americans living with a variety of lung health conditions: lung and respiratory diseases, asthma, and lung…
Snapshot: Vine Academy
Burr Ridge’s premier private school, Vine Academy, is designed for curious and capable learners in grades K-12. We provide a personalized educational experience, embracing students with diverse learning profiles and abilities. Many of our students are gifted or twice-exceptional (gifted with learning differences such as dyslexia or executive functioning challenges.) Our smaller, supportive environment is…
The DuPage County Underground Railroad
Local Underground Railroad stations invite visitors to hear freedom seekers’ stories By Maureen Callahan From the start of slavery, freedom seekers (formerly known as enslaved people) sought a better situation than the one into which they were born or sold. The 1860s found the nation embroiled in the Great Civil War, with slavery as a…
Snapshot: Notre Dame School
Under the patronage of Our Blessed Mother, Notre Dame School partners with parents, the primary educators, in the sacred mission of guiding their children to Heaven. Our Catholic classical liberal arts education engages students’ natural desire for truth, beauty, and goodness. Through the integration of faith and reason, we form wise, virtuous, and free students…
The Ice Thing about Downers Grove winters
Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures makes artistic fun of ice at Downers Grove Ice Festival By Maureen Callahan | Photos by 726 Visuals If you’ve ever visited the Downers Grove Ice Festival, you’ve seen Jim Nadeau’s dream solidified – at least until the sun has its say. Nadeau’s Ice Sculptures in Forest Park began almost four and…
State park and trail commemorate the 16th President of the United States
By Anna Hughes | Photos Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois wasn’t always the Land of Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln didn’t even move to the state until he was 21. He and his family traveled from Kentucky through Indiana and into southern Illinois, where he eventually settled. Illinois, however, had only been a state for 12…
Snapshot: Nazareth Academy
Nazareth Academy, centrally located in the western suburbs in the heart of La Grange Park, offers a short commute for many families in the area. As one of the oldest educational institutions in the suburbs with a 125-year legacy of educating the whole person, Nazareth offers a small school atmosphere with “big school” opportunities. Established…
The Transformative Power of Live Performing Arts
by Laura Michaud and Melissa G. Wilson Live performing arts have a profound impact on both individuals and communities. From the artists who express themselves through their craft to the children who grow by sharing their talents, everyone involved is touched meaningfully. Audiences, too, benefit by gaining new insights, emotional connections, and life experiences. Whether…
2025 Wedding Trends
Although any wedding should be unique to the happy couple, trends often sneak their way into the celebration. We’ve rounded up a list of some wedding trends to be on the lookout for during the 2025 wedding season. By Anna Hughes Elongated Diamonds For the past few years, oval diamonds have been the leading pick…
After the Ashes: Holocaust survivor Eric Blaustein
By Maureen Callahan The Holocaust was among the darkest hours in history. How survivors carry their memories is as varied as the individual stories themselves. In honor of Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27 – local resident Eric Blaustein reflected on the five months he was imprisoned at Buchenwald Concentration Camp near Weimar, Germany as…
Beat the Winter Blues
By Anna Hughes Nothing’s better than a hot chocolate by the fireplace on a cold winter day, but we’ve rounded up a list of events that certainly come close. For a couples date night, family weekend, or unexpected snow day, check out these local events that are sure to bring warmth and fun to the…
Beat the Winter Blues
By Anna Hughes Nothing’s better than a hot chocolate by the fireplace on a cold winter day, but we’ve rounded up a list of events that certainly come close. For a couples date night, family weekend, or unexpected snow day, check out these local events that are sure to bring warmth and fun to the…
Snapshot: Timothy Christian Schools
Partner With A School That Aligns With Your Family’s Values Timothy Christian Schools is a PS-12th grade, nondenominational, college preparatory school committed to Biblical virtues and values. Timothy’s mission is to uphold Biblical truth, ignite academic growth, and inspire courageous leadership—one student at a time. At Timothy Christian Schools, you don’t have to choose between…
Snapshot: Avery Coonley School
Established in 1906, The Avery Coonley School (ACS) is known as a leader in gifted education and offers advanced learners in preschool through eighth grade a curriculum with the depth, pace, and complexity to challenge them to the fullest. Unlike most schools that only offer gifted education in pullout subjects, Avery Coonley is gifted…
