EM Sept/Oct 2026
A Home Where the Bison Roam
Illinois’ prairie at Nachusa Grasslands has been restored over the past 40 years thanks to The Nature Conservancy By Valerie Hardy There are few places left in the Midwest where you can hear the uninterrupted breeze moving through waist-high grasses and spot a herd of American bison grazing as they did centuries ago. Yet less…
Read MoreThe Time Has Come
Reese brothers hoping to meet on football field for the first time By Jeff Vorva There might not be a mathematician alive who could figure out the odds of this happening. Elmhurst brothers Max and Garrett Reese have never been teammates or opponents during a game on a football field. When North Texas faces Indiana…
Read MoreElmhurst’s Youth Advisory Committee
Giving teens a voice to shape their community By Sophia Schiappa What began as an effort to better connect with Elmhurst’s young people has grown into a program where students aren’t just sharing ideas – they’re putting them into action. The Elmhurst Youth Advisory Committee, established in 2023, was created to give local youth a…
Read MoreAn Open Book
Despite a challenging chapter after being diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in 2023, Elmhurst-based author Emily Bond returned to writing with her trademark voice, humor, and focus on female characters who enjoy their jobs. Last March, Bond published her third novel, Sort of Seeing Someone, a romantic comedy sprinkled with magical realism. Sort of…
Read MoreA Rare Journey
Trey Gelsomino’s story of resilience is helping his Elmhurst family raise awareness for WAGR syndrome By Sophia Schiappa By the time Trey Gelsomino turned 9 years old in April, he had accomplished something he had dreamed about for years: riding the towering roller coasters at Cedar Point. The trip was more than a birthday celebration.…
Read MoreAgainst the Odds
Three Elmhurst athletes helped 1st Alliance make club history at the AAU 13Club National Volleyball Championship Four days. More than 100 teams. One historic finish. When the final point landed on the championship court at the AAU Club Volleyball National Championships in Orlando, Florida, the Lions 13-Red players rushed together in celebration. After competing on…
Read MoreTracking a Lacrosse Career
Track star Navarre goes all-in and helps York’s lacrosse team finish second in state By Jeff Vorva | Photos by Jeff Vorva Track? Lacrosse? Track? Lacrosse? York’s Morgan Navarre had some tough choices to make in her four years at the Elmhurst school. She was sensational in both sports, but both sports occur in the…
Read MoreCalling All Dukes
Alums Diane and David Armstrong rethink the structure of York High School reunions By Maureen Callahan A lot happens in high school. The four years that transpire between middle school and college, or the start of your adult life, are significant. Friends from that period of life are the ones who get to see you…
Read MoreYES YOU CAN!
How performing arts create successful musicians—and successful adults By Laura Michaud and Melissa G. Wilson Every September, students across the western suburbs step into band, choir, theater or orchestra classrooms. Most don’t realize those spaces teach far more than music. They build confidence, discipline, teamwork, creativity, and resilience. For many, those lessons become the foundation…
Read MoreHonoring DuPage’s Best Educators
Timothy Christian’s Matt Davidson Among Honored Educators By Julia Mazurek | Photos courtesy of DuPage Regional Office of Education When Jeff Grant’s biology students head outside for class, they’re not taking a break from learning – they’re stepping into one of the most unique classrooms in DuPage County. Just beyond the grounds of Downers Grove…
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