COVER STORY
MARCH/APRIL 2025
Matas Buzelis The Newest Bull: Draft Hinsdale native in first round
Creating a Buzz By Jeff Vorva | Photos courtesy of the Chicago Bulls His two grandpas played high-level basketball in Lithuania. His father and mother were both successful basketball players in that country as well. Now, Hinsdale native Matas Buzelis can do something even they couldn’t do – play in the NBA. The 6-foot-10 Buzelis…
Hinsdale Rotary Run Charity Classic
30th-anniversary family run to raise money for local nonprofits By Anna Hughes Rotary International brings over 1.4 million people together inter-nationally to promote peace, charity, and good-will through service and efforts focused on positive change. In 1959, Hinsdaleans joined in their mission and established the Hinsdale Rotary Club to unite residents in the spirit of…
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…
Making the Wheels Go ‘Round
A local former bus driver shares his love for kids and kindness By Mia Jones Rick Zarek knew that he did not want to be just any ordinary bus driver; he wanted to be something different. Zarek, a former school bus driver, drove the Hinsdale route for two and a half years for Timothy Christian…
Something to Write Home About
Hinsdale author earns national recognition for her latest novel By Anna Hughes Meet Cristina Henríquez. She’s a critically acclaimed author who has called Hinsdale home for the last 17 years. The Northwestern alum has written four books: Come Together, Fall Apart (New York Times Editors’ Choice selection); The World in Half; The Book of Unknown…
Hall of Famer and San Francisco Forty-Niners General Manager John Lynch
By Maureen Callahan Few professional athletes can claim a record within 500 yards of former Tampa Bay Buccaneer/Denver Bronco John Lynch. Now guiding the Forty-Niners from the General Manager’s office, Lynch leads with a spirit of courageous competition. Hinsdale Magazine Group Contrib-uting Editor Maureen Callahan caught a few moments of the Hall of Famer’s summer…
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…
Former Hinsdalean takes home the Miss Illinois USA crown
She is Beauty, She is Grace By Anna Hughes Grace Rodi has spent half her life in the pageant industry. Her passion started at 12 years old when she received a letter in the mail inviting her to participate in a local competition. At 5-foot-11, she was too tall for gymnastics, and her self-proclaimed “two…
Boosting School Spirit
Local parents help bridge the gap between school funding and student need By Anna Hughes Founded in 1949, the Hinsdale Central High School Booster Club supports students by providing grant opportunities for all school athletics and activities. The nonprofit was originally founded to help the school’s football team, but in the 75 years since, it…
Hinsdale team makes it to the Little League World Series
By Larry Atseff | Photos courtesy of Little League World Series After winning four state titles in the last six years, the 2024 12-under Hinsdale Little League team went beyond this season. They won the Great Lakes Region to get to the first World Series ever for a Hinsdale Little League team. In Williamsport, they…
Clarendon Hills 12U softball team plays on ESPN during regionals
By Jeff Vorva | Photos courtesy of the Clarendon Hills Little League People from all over the nation got a chance to see what Clarendon Hills Little League softball is all about. The CHLL 12-under team became the first team in the organization’s history to qualify for the Little League’s Central Regional tournament after winning…
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…
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…
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…
Brooks Strong Invitational Golf Tournament
Photos by Marcello Rodarte On July 29, 130 golfers gathered under blue skies at the beautiful Hinsdale Golf Club for the 7th Annual Brooks Strong Invitational Golf Tournament, a tradition that has become a highlight of the summer for many. The golfers were joined by nearly 100 sponsors, guests and volunteers for a post-golf celebration…
