COVER STORY
E-EDITION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
Trotting to Alleviate Hunger
The Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot: A Forty-Plus Year Holiday Tradition BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE DAN GIBBONS TURKEY TROT Thanksgiving is a time for family traditions. And not all of them happen around a dinner table. For many Elmhurstians, the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot (DGTT) – held every year on Thanksgiving morning-…
Homegrown Leadership
Dr. Keisha Campbell’s journey from York student to D205 superintendent Photos courtesy of Elmhurst Community Unit School District 205 Elmhurst Magazine connected with Superintendent Dr. Keisha Campbell for an in-depth Q&A about the personal and professional journey that led her back to the community where it all began. A York High School graduate and lifelong…
Songs of the Season
The time-honored tradition of the ECPA Winter Carolers By Anna Hughes | Photos courtesy of Betsy Markwald Photography The first holiday song of the season is always special. It signals a familiar, often nostalgic time filled with family, joy, and gratitude. The Encore Center of Performing Arts (ECPA) knows the power of music, especially during…
Planting Joy in Elmhurst
The story behind Melina Scotte’s latest Elmhurst mural By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff | Photo courtesy of the City of Elmhurst When you step inside the parking garage at 120 W. Adelaide St. in downtown Elmhurst, you’re greeted not by gray concrete but by a sweeping vision of growth, beauty, and resilience. The new mural,…
Festive Florals
Annual flower display showcases holiday horticulture BY ANNA HUGHES | Photos courtesy of Elmhurst Park District Each December, Elmhurst’s Wilder Park Conservatory transforms into a holiday oasis. Guests can step out of the winter cold and into a world of vibrance, warmth, and a little holiday magic. The annual Holiday Flower Show focuses on poinsettias—…
Ministry by Mail
Cancer survivor spreads hope through faith-based nonprofit By Anna Hughes | Photos courtesy of Phil’s Friends At age 22, Phil Zielke was a healthy college soccer player who suddenly found himself battling an unexplained illness. Over the course of a year, he’d lost 40 pounds and dealt with constant night sweats, hip pain, and dangerously…
‘Passionate and Supportive’
Former York running star Newman mourned BY JEFF VORVA The cross-country season in the fall and track season in the spring will go on without Mike Newman, but to many, it just won’t be the same. Mike Newman was known to many as “Mr. Newton.” He was respected across the state. Newman died in early…
The Pride of Lions
CEO Sanjeev Ahuja guides the world’s largest service club BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN /PHOTO BY VICTOR HILINSKI Service organizations are a great way to find a place to belong, make friends and contacts, and serve in your local community. Lions Clubs International (LCI), the world’s largest service society, is headquartered right here in town at the…
Global Impact, Local Roots
CEO Sanjeev Ahuja leads Lions Club International headquartered in Oak Brook BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN Service organizations are a great way to find a place to belong, make friends and contacts, and serve in your local community. Lions Clubs International (LCI), the world’s largest service society, is headquartered right here in the neighboring town of Oak…
Where Belonging Takes Center Stage
Why Supporting Local Performing Venues is More Personal Than You Think BY LAURA MICHAUD & MELISSA G. WILSON When Tim Soszko stepped onto the stage for the first time, he wasn’t chasing applause. He was just trying to survive high school. As a shy, introverted hermit at York High, Tim didn’t know he was creative,…
Cold Pursuits
Bucket list adventures at the top and bottom of the world BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF There are few journeys left on Earth that feel as bold — or as brag-worthy — as a trip to the planet’s frozen extremes. The North and South Poles are still the stuff of explorers and adventurers. Yet these…
Happier for the Holidays
Tried and true tips to help you maintain or reclaim peace and joy during the most wonderful – but often stressful – time of the year BY VALERIE HARDY ‘Tis the season to be jolly, but for many, November and December are far from merry and bright. This time of year often brings increased stress,…
Keep the Wreath Red
A light reminder to decorate safely this season By Valerie Hardy Many local fire departments are giving the green light to keeping the red lights lit on their wreaths this season. They are participating in the “Keep the Wreath Red” program, an annual fire prevention awareness campaign that serves as a reminder for the community…
Santa’s Local Workshop
DuPage nonprofit builds holiday toys for kids BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DUPAGE WOODWORKERS While a student at the University of Illinois in the late 1970s, Western Springs resident George Rodgers was inspired by his dormmate’s classwork. “I thought, ‘Boy, this looks like fun,’” Rodgers recalled. That’s when he first picked up woodworking,…
Titanic – 40 Years After Discovery
A deeper dive into the mission that yielded one of the century’s great discoveries By Maureen Callahan The location of the RMS Titanic – the largest and most opulent passenger steamship of its day – was one of the great mysteries of the twentieth century. The ship set sail from Southampton, England, on April 10,…
Season of Sparkle
Where to experience dazzling holiday displays this season By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff From glowing gardens to festive zoo trails, Chicagoland comes alive with holiday lights each winter. Bundle up for magical walks, drive-thru wonderlands, and indoor attractions that sparkle with the season’s spirit. Dates and times are subject to change—please confirm details with each…
Gather Together
Seasonal tablescape inspiration to carry you from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve HINSDALE MAGAZINE GROUP STAFF The holiday season is as much about gathering around the table as it is about the meal itself. A thoughtfully styled tablescape sets the stage, adding a touch of magic to every celebration. From the golden glow of Thanksgiving…
