COVER STORY
MARCH/APRIL 2025
CHAPTERS OF SUCCESS: Local author Shelby Saville
Local CEO publishes debut romance novel Shelby Saville is not your ordinary CEO. (Aside from the fact that, of course, being a CEO is anything but ordinary.) Over the past 25 years, the Elmhurst resident ascended the ranks at Publicis Groupe, one of the largest media holding companies in the world. Her impressive career has…
The Last Frontier: An unforgettable summer adventure awaits
By Katie Bolinger Alaska’s immense size is matched only by its natural beauty. With space to fit 19 states, it’s a land of icy fjords, towering mountains, and lush forests. Despite its vastness, its population is sparse; DuPage County, Illinois, has 200,000 more residents than the entire state. It’s the perfect destination for solitude, cool…
Elmhurst Art Museum’s Skycube, 2015, celebrates ten years
By Maureen Callahan Want to look down at the sky? It’s possible to do just that in the Skycube Plaza of the Elmhurst Art Museum. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, Skycube, 2015 brings views from above down to eye level, in real time. Edge up close to it and look down. You’ll see airplanes lazily…
The Preserve at Oak Meadows celebrates over 100 years
By Hinsdale Magazine Staff | Photos courtesy of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County The Preserve at Oak Meadows is marking 100 years of history, reflecting the evolution of the local community and the game of golf itself. Tracing its roots to the old Elmhurst Country Club (ECC), the original golf course experienced notable…
Vander Wal ready to please volleyball crowds at Texas
By Jeff Vorva Abby Vander Wal knows how to please a crowd. It could be at a small gathering at Park Place of Elmhurst Retirement Home, playing guitar and singing Alan Jackson and Ed Sheeran songs with her grandfather. It could be slamming volleyball with great power in a packed gym at Timothy Christian…
Local entrepreneur gives more than just the gift of good food
By Anna Hughes Fresh, natural food: That’s what Andy Koziarski noticed was missing from American grocery shelves. When he first immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1994, the Hinsdale resident was surprised to see that the ingredient lists on packaged foods were extensive—often, when they didn’t need to be. This was not the…
Of Her Own Design: Marion Mahony Griffin, Frank Lloyd Wright’s apprentice
By Maureen Callahan “America’s (and perhaps the world’s) first woman architect who needed no apology in a world of men.” This was a description of Marion Mahony Griffin by the last century’s most renowned architectural critic, Reyner Banham. Griffin was a lady who learned early in life to stand her ground. That ground spanned six…
New Tax Incentive to Support Your Local Community Forever
Illinois donors now have a compelling reason to con-tribute to local community foundation endowments. The Illinois Gives Tax Credit (www.tax.illinois.gov/programs/illinoisgives) launched on January 1, offering significant state tax relief for contributions to permanently en- dowed funds at qualified Illinois community foundations. This new program provides a tax credit of up to $100,000 per taxpayer in…
More than a century later, Sears homes are still hiding in plain sight
By Maureen Callahan If you live in the western suburbs, chances are that you’ve seen a Sears house. They’re in many Midwestern communities. Often, we drive right by these historical gems without ever seeing them. They blend right in on any suburban block until you know what they look like. Sears houses are unique. They…
Celebrate warmer weather with family fun events in the western suburbs.
We’ve gathered a list of happenings that you won’t want to miss. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee March 12 – April 27 Copley Theatre ParamountAurora.com Six quirky contestants vie for the spelling bee championship of a lifetime in this hilarious fan-favorite musical. With coming-of-age themes that all current or once-upon-a-time adolescents can relate…
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…
DuPage County nonprofit celebrates 35 years of local and global service
By Valerie Hardy Kay McKeen of Wheaton has been proudly “talking trash” for over three decades. Founder and executive director of SCARCE – a nonprofit organization committed to environmental education, conservation, and literacy – McKeen’s mission is to “turn trash into treasures,” keeping as much waste as possible out of landfills while getting as many…
Navigating Seasonal Allergies: When to treat at home and when to call a doctor
By Hinsdale Magazine Group Staff As the flowers bloom and trees bud, the annual struggle with seasonal allergies begins. Pollen fills the air, triggering sneezing, congestion, itchy eyes, and runny noses for millions. While over-the-counter medications provide relief for most, some cases require professional medical attention. Knowing when to visit the drugstore and when to…
DuPage County Historical Architecture A few local architectural gems
A few local architectural gems By Maureen Callahan Old DuPage County Courthouse, Wheaton This building, opened in 1896, replaced the original structure from 1868. It was built on land purchased from Warren L. Wheaton and is one of the rare Richardsonian Romanesque styles in northern Illinois. The duration of this design was short-lived as buildings…
The Power of Unity: How suburban theaters are rewriting the script on collaboration
By Laura Michaud & Melissa G. Wilson Chicago’s western suburbs have long embraced collaboration within individual communities, with local chambers and cities integrating performing arts into events. However, a larger opportunity lies in building a network of cross-community artistic partnerships, potentially transforming the region’s cultural landscape. For example, the Salt Creek Ballet of Westmont performed…
The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra
Photos courtesy of The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra The Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra (ESO) marked a milestone in its 2024/2025 season with a record-setting performance of The Four Seasons on Jan. 19. The concert, which included Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons and Piazzolla’s The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, was the third-best attended and second-highest selling in the…
Charred Oak Brook: Stop in to sample Le Meridien’s private label bourbon
By Maureen Callahan There’s something about a private label. It’s unique. Bar patrons love to sample spirits made especially for their favorite place. Charred Oak Brook, Le Meridien’s private barrel bourbon, is distilled exclusively for the hotel’s El Tapeo Modern Spanish Kitchen and Longitude 87 restaurants. General Manager, Dick Turner, describes Charred Oak Brook with…
