COVER STORY
E-EDITION
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2026
Inside the Music with Tom Higgenson
Catching up with the Plain White T’s frontman and Elmhurst native BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN Music has always been a defining part of Plain White T’s founding member Tom Higgenson. “I honestly think I learned to read by looking at album covers and sounding out the names of bands,” said The Plain White T’s frontman as…
From Stage to C-Suite and Back
How live performance training ignited a career By Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson What does a one-act play about the Alamo have to do with leading a consumer data company? Everything, according to Zora Senat. Today, as Chief Commercial Officer at Cuebiq, a leading consumer data and insights company, Zora’s unique leadership is informed…
The Giving Pledge
A legacy of impactful giving BY DAVE MCGOWAN So, what do two billionaires talk about when they get together? Well, two famed and early ones discussed how and when to donate their money over milkshakes in a diner booth in Omaha. Those two gents would be Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, who decided to give…
History Lessons
Coan and Janowski rally for tennis and XC titles BY JEFF VORVA Making history is not supposed to be easy. And it certainly wasn’t easy for two York athletes to make history by winning individual state championships in the fall. Junior CJ Coan became the first York girls tennis state champion on Oct. 25 when…
Making an Impression
Elmhurst native showcases art career at local museum BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRED MOSS Elmhurst native Fred Moss has long admired the expressive brushstrokes, vibrant palette, and spontaneous feel that characterize impressionist art. He first recognized these patterns in art made by his grandmother, an oil painter who gave him his earliest…
Historic Harmonie
Elmhurst’s oldest choir celebrates German-American culture BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ELMHURST HARMONIE Five years ago, Rev. Mark Bussert was searching for a choir to join as he approached retirement. He was first introduced to Elmhurst Harmonie through one of their holiday performances; soon after, he became the newest member of the…
The Long Legacy
Elmhurst resident turns dream of local art festival into reality BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF ROZ LONG Roz Long has called Elmhurst home for 47 years. The city’s charm and historical roots were enticing to Long, a newlywed looking for the perfect home to raise a family. “There was a house available for…
2026 Wedding Trends:
5 Ways Modern Couples Are Redefining Celebrations
1. Destination Experiences Couples are turning their “I do’s” into multi-day escapes—private villas, yachts, and immersive itineraries. Think welcome cocktails, chef-hosted dinners, and a farewell brunch overlooking the sea. 2. Floor-to-Ceiling Design No longer limited to centerpieces, design now surrounds every sense. Suspended florals, mirrored floors, custom scents, and ambient light art create immersive…
Inside Curling
Villa Park’s Windy City Curling Club is just a stone’s throw away By Maureen Callahan Curling. We’ve all seen it played at the Winter Olympics, but how many can say they really understand this unique sport? To the casual onlooker, it could seem at first like a cross between shuffleboard and marbles played on ice.…
Is it Almost Spring?
Find out on February 2 in Woodstock, Illinois By Maureen Callahan| Photos courtesy of Woodstock Willie Days Committee By February, most of us have winter blues. That is, unless you live in northwest suburban Woodstock, the town that doubled for Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, in Harold Ramis’ 1993 cult classic, Groundhog Day. February 2 marks the day…
Game Changers
TV’s most memorable ads are aired on Super Bowl Sunday BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN “People are usually annoyed by advertising. But one day a year, they love it.” – Soraya Faber, SVP, Executive Account Director of McCann New York It’s the big day! The dips are made, the chili is simmering, and the beer is icing…
