Issues
Citizen’s Police Academy
The Elmhurst Police Department provides residents a behind-the-scenes look at local law enforcement BY VALERIE HARDY | PHOTOS BY MADELINE CRAIG This spring in Elmhurst, CPA has had a meaning completely unrelated to Tax Day. It stands for the Citizen’s Police Academy, which is a 12-week program offered twice annually to “pull back the curtain”…
Read MoreSpringtime Selling in Chicagoland
BY CONTRIBUTING PARTNER MAINSTREET REALTORS As the ground thaws and Chicagoland’s yards begin to awaken, homeowners have a golden opportunity to transform their properties and capture the attention of potential buyers. Curb appeal isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a critical factor that can significantly impact your home’s marketability and final sale price, especially during the busy…
Read MoreLooking SHARP(ie)
Downers Grove Co-Op wins state gymnastics title using a little ink BY JEFF VORVA The ink didn’t lie. Heading into the postseason, the Downers Grove co-op gymnastics athletes put Sharpie to arms and wrote a word that would inspire them. “The girls picked a focus word and wrote it on their arm, and that’s what…
Read MoreDr. Rachael Mahmood finishes her term as Illinois Teacher of the Year
BY VALERIE HARDY Dr. Rachael Mahmood grew up in Downers Grove with parents who were both physicians at Good Samaritan Hospital. “Being the child of two doctors, I felt like I had no choice but to become a doctor,” she said. In fact, back when Mahmood was a teenager, her father told her he would…
Read MoreDowners Grove South freshman gets promoted to Eagle Scout
BY VALERIE HARDY When 15-year-old Millan Ananth set his sights on becoming an Eagle Scout, the highest rank within the Scouting America organization (formerly Boy Scouts of America), he knew exactly what he wanted to do as his service project: renovate the weight room at Lakeview Junior High School. Ananth, a 2024 Lakeview graduate, wanted…
Read MoreSECURING THE AREA
Sergeant Robert Jacobs has served nearly three decades with the Downers Grove Police Department BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN There’s something about being from a place, especially if you choose to stay in that place and raise your family—just ask Sergeant Robert Jacobs of the Downers Grove Police Department (DGPD). After having grown up in town and…
Read MoreFight for Air Climb
PHOTOS COURTESY OF AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION On March 9, 2025, hundreds participated in the 32nd Fight for Air Climb at Oakbrook Terrace Tower, Illinois’ tallest building outside Chicago. Climbers ascended 30 floors and 660 steps, supporting the American Lung Association’s mission for clean air and healthy lungs. The Oak Brook Fire Department participated in the…
Read MoreModern Medicine
From data to diagnosis, AI is augmenting medical professionals’ training and practice by VALERIE HARDY Medical training programs and practices in Illinois are on the cutting edge when it comes to considering how artificial intelligence (AI) can enhance patient care and physician functionality. For example, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Department of Bioengineering was…
Read MoreTaste of Oak Brook
A celebration of food, community, and entertainment Every July 3rd, up to 40,000 individuals go to the Oak Brook Sports Core to enjoy Chicagoland’s best food, fun and fireworks at the annual Taste of Oak Brook. This spirited celebration of food, community and entertainment brings together local restaurants, food vendors and live music for an…
Read More“WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS, TAKE PICTURES”
Clarendon Hills resident shares late father’s message of hope, living life to the fullest BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOLLY SOLIK At 24, Molly Solik felt lost. She was working a low-paying job she didn’t enjoy, coming home to an apartment that didn’t feel like home. Like many in their mid-20s, she was…
Read More