Downers Grove Magazine January 2023

Terri Doney

Designated Managing Broker

Tamy Bobbitt Associate Managing Broker

A Fresh Start

edition.

It’s hard to believe that we are heading into our fifth year of publishing Downers Grove Magazine. Lucky for us, there is no shortage of exciting stories on local personalities, organizations, and businesses. That is for sure. And we are fortunate to have so many willing and able to share their stories with us.

Many stories sit in our pipeline for months as we patiently wait for the right time. Thankfully, we will be published every other month in 2023, enabling us to bring more stories to our readers in a timely fashion.

Two stories specifically in this issue have been on our radar for quite some time. I have watched Peggy O’Flaherty’s story through the years. In 2019, she brought her company Mavely to my attention. At the time, I asked myself, “what is an influencer?” Fast forward to today as I follow those “everyday influencers” online who benefit from joining her tech company Mavely. Peggy successfully shifted gears and successfully reinvented herself time and time again. I hope you find as much inspiration in her story as I do.

We have talked about Lettie Janka, the “soup lady,” fondly for years. Every time we considered her story, it was during the hot summer months. Amid the chilly temperatures of January, Lettie is an excellent addition to our winter issue. And she is much more than her soup. Outside the kitchen, her acts of kindness are noted by many.

Thousands attended the September Freddy Jones Band concert to support the Education Found of Downers Grove District 58. Celebrating 20 years in the community, the organization will receive a fresh new look in 2023, including its logo and website. Still, its commitment to District 58 families, students, and teachers remains the same. Responsible for programming and events, including the Select 58

Awards, “Sneak Preview,” and teacher grants, the organization looks forward to more success in the years to come.

For many, January is a time to pause and set forth resolutions such as healthier eating habits, losing weight, etc. When Gina Graham approached us with her combination of photography and body image therapy, we immediately jumped on it. Her blend is a unique addition to treatment and one we can certainly appreciate in an industry focused on photos and presentation.

In November, our team discussed World Adoption Day and the successful social media effort to give a voice to the adoption community. The outcome? We are honored that several families in the area have shared their personal stories of trials and triumphs.

Rounding out this issue, The Home 2 Home Project helps the homeless during the critical transition period from shelter to home, offering services to help those in need get on their feet. The “Amplified” podcast is the “tale of two Katies” and their journey together at the Department of Audiology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.

Cheers to 2023! We look forward to spring and our March issue focusing on home and design. Until then, let’s hope for sunny days and minimal snow.

Sincerely, Anne Healy

Associate Publisher anne@HinsdaleMag.com

To guarantee delivery of each issue of Downers Grove Magazine to your home, please subscribe to the print edition by visiting www. downersgrovemag.com.

Happy New Year, and welcome to our first–ever January

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WANDERING THROUGH WINTER

BY ABBEY HAYES | IMAGE BY TIMOTHY EBERLY OF UNSPLASH

Although staying home for the winter sounds quite ideal, there are plenty of activities to enjoy during the colder months. We put together a list of winter activities to ensure everyone has something to look forward to this season. Coordinate with friends and family to make some memories this winter.

Sledding in Downers Grove

Dgparks.org │ 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Grab a sled and head to Downers Grove for a day of family-friendly fun. Sledding is available at Gilbert Park, Ebersold Park, and Concord Park. Please check the safety of the hill before sledding.

Ice Skating in Hinsdale

Villageofhinsdale.org │Weather Permitting

Enjoy ice skating at Burns Field in Hinsdale. Please check the signs before skating to determine if the ice rink is open. The warming house is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the weekends.

Hansel and Gretel

Lyric Opera House │Lyricopera.org │ 1/25/23-2/05/23

Engelbert Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel is back for a limited time at the historic Lyric Opera House. This production is sung in German and there are projected English titles. Showtimes vary by date.

Ice Fest 2023

Downers Grove │ Downtowndg.org │2/3/23-2/5/23

Various ice sculptures will be on display throughout Downtown Downers Grove. Be sure to check out the live ice sculpting demonstration too.

DOWNERS GROVE

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARTY SOHL AND THE METROPOLITAN OPERA

Great Midwest Train Show

DuPage Event Center & Fairgrounds │ Dupagecountyfair.org │2/5/23

This is a must-see show for anyone that loves trains. Viewers can enjoy hundreds of tables of trains. All ages are welcome.

Nature Date Night: Romantic Night Hike

Fullersburg Woods │Dupageforest.org│ 2/10/23 & 2/11/23

Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with a romantic hike in Fullersburg Woods. This candle-lit hike ends with hot chocolate and roasting marshmallows over a fire. This is an event for ages 18 and older. The hike begins at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. Registration is available online.

Tackle the Tri Oak Brook Park District │Obparks.org │ 2/12/23

This triathlon is different from others as it does not include swimming. Participants will row 2,000 meters, cycle 2.5 miles, and run/walk 1.25 miles. Ages 12 and up can participate.

Winter Beer Festival

Ty Warner Park │Westmontparks.org │ 2/18/23 3-7 p.m.

Gather friends for an evening of craft beer, food trucks, and fun. Be sure to register online. Designated drivers can purchase a ticket at a discounted rate.

Morton Arboretum

Lisle │Mortonarb.org

Get some fresh air and enjoy a walk through the trees. The Morton Arboretum offers breathtaking views in the winter. Dogs are welcome at the arboretum on 1/22/23. ■

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OAK BROOK PARK DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE WESTMONT PARK DISTRICT

TAKE a Listen

BY VALERIE HARDY

This is a tale of two Katies. Katie Colella of Woodridge and Katie Farnsworth of Downers Grove, two women who have a lot in common. Besides a shared first name, both grew up in the western suburbs, attended Benet Academy, and ran on their high school’s state-qualifying track team together (Colella was a senior when Farnsworth was a freshman). Both completed their undergraduate studies at Big Ten universities (Colella went to Purdue and Farnsworth went to Iowa) and ultimately pursued doctoral degrees in audiology. In 2016, their paths reconverged when Colella joined the Department of Audiology at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago where Farnsworth had been working for about a year.

Upon reconnecting, Colella learned of one significant different between Farnsworth and herself: while Colella’s hearing is typical, Farnsworth has

idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss, a diagnosis she received at age 2. Yet despite doing track together in high school, Colella said she never knew Farnsworth had hearing loss or wore hearing aids. “That’s because she was too fast!” Farnsworth joked. “Katie C. ran, and I was an alternate [for the state meet].”

Farnsworth added that “hearing loss is very secondary” for her. She identifies in many other ways – daughter, sister, wife, mother, and athlete – before defining herself as someone with hearing loss. She said this is largely possi-

ble because she is “fortunate to not have any other diagnoses. Hearing loss is sometimes secondary to a lot of other things that can make it a bigger challenge for the person with the hearing loss and their families.”

While each person’s hearing loss journey is unique, Farnsworth’s personal experience with hearing loss and career in pediatric audiology make her a knowledgeable source on hearing loss diagnosis and all that follows. That is why, when Colella decided to create a podcast about growing up with hearing loss, her colleague and friend, Farnsworth, was who she wanted to feature in the mini-series’ first season.

Colella had wanted to start a podcast ever since the popular podcast “Serial” aired, but “when the pandemic hit, it gave us all time to reflect. I like to write, and podcasting is writ

Two local audiologists illuminate what growing up with hearing loss is like in their podcast “Amplified: Presented by Lurie Children’s”

CHRIS, RYAN, NORA, AND KATIE FARNSWORTH VISIT WITH KATIE, TONY, SAM, AND KEVIN COLELLA. FAMILY SUPPORT WAS PART OF WHAT MADE THE “AMPLIFIED” PODCAST POSSIBLE. PHOTO BY 726 VISUALS

RECENTLY AFTER HER HEARING LOSS DIAGNOSIS, KATIE FARNSWORTH (THEN RADASEVICH) EATS ICE CREAM WHILE HER SISTER LOOKS ON. PHOTO COURTESY OF “AMPLIFIED” PODCAST

ing in a different medium, writing out loud,” Colella said. She felt it was important to focus the podcast on hearing loss, because “it is something that often gets oversimplified, especially childhood hearing loss,” Colella said. “It’s a concept people struggle to grasp, and so it sometimes gets boiled down to the technology a person wears.”

Colella structured the podcast as a narrative human-interest piece to help children and families, from hearing loss pre-diagnosis forward. It addresses topics such as diagnosis, choosing amplification type and preferred communication mode, self-advocating in school, and coping with lost or malfunctioning amplification. Aptly, the podcast is entitled “Amplified: Presented by Lurie Children’s,” and Farnsworth said she and her family were “100 percent in” on being part of the project.

Season 1 of “Amplified” was released in March. In the five-episode series, Farnsworth provides an insider perspective on growing up with hearing loss. Her parents, two younger sisters,

and husband are also guests on the podcast, voicing what it is like for those in the support system of a person with hearing loss. They share numerous anecdotes through a few tears and lots of laughter. For example, the Radaseviches, Farnsworth’s parents, recount how her grandmother initially attributed Farnworth’s possible hearing loss to having eaten too many hot dogs.

point of view, to listen to the boys and their mom, and to see how their journey is so different than my journey,” Farnsworth said.

About this, Farnsworth verified, “While the etiology of my hearing loss is unknown, I am 100 percent confident it wasn’t the hot dogs!”

“Amplified” Season 2 is already in production, this time with the two Katies as co-hosts. “It’s awesome to have a teammate, and Katie F. is a natural interviewer,” Colella said.

The second season will feature two brothers with hearing loss of genetic origin. “It is so cool to see a different

While Colella said the podcast’s primary audience is families navigating hearing loss and audiology professionals, she found that it really resonated with teachers, parents in general, and anyone interested in an inspirational story. Farnsworth’s hearing loss did not prevent her from joining her college rowing team, completing triathlons, or becoming a mother. She said families working with her at Lurie Children’s and those listening to the podcast may find hope when they “see a working professional with hearing loss and see what the future can look like” for their loved one with hearing loss or another diagnosis that could be perceived as limiting.

Listen to the podcast at Luriechildrens. org/amplified or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another podcast medium, and follow @amplifiedthestory on Instagram. ■

“I like to write, and podcasting is writing in a different medium, writing out loud.”

– KATIE COLELLA

KATIE COLELLA INTERVIEWS KATIE FARNSWORTH AND HER PARENTS, RUDY AND EILEEN RADASEVICH, FOR THE “AMPLIFIED” PODCAST. PHOTO COURTESY OF “AMPLIFIED” PODCAST

A Neighbor TO KNOW

Lettie Janka serves up soup from the soul and care from the heart

BY VALERIE HARDY

“S

einfeld” fans know there is “no soup for you,” but those familiar with Lettie Janka know there is soup for everyone. Janka started SOUP CIRCUS, a small soup delivery business, seven years ago. She offers nearly 30 different soups – most with an accompanying story – and proof that chicken soup and many others truly are good for the soul (both for those who eat it and those who make it).

Ironically, Janka did not initially like soup. However, she lived on her own starting at age 17 and worked at a Greek restaurant where Avgolemono, a traditional Greek lemon chicken soup, was a staple. “It was comfort food,” she said. “It brings that atmosphere of home.”

Early in her marriage, she sought easy but substantial meals to make. “[My

husband] Pete was clearly the better cook between us,” Janka said, “but I was trying. Soup seemed like a notch up from the casseroles I had been making, and I could put it all in one pot.”

She experimented with recipes, and while she still did not prefer to eat soup, she enjoyed cooking it. “It’s all about the smells,” Janka said.

More than the sensory experience or potential profit, however, connection drives Janka. “I’m actually a terrible business person,” she said with a laugh.

Linda Kotowski said SOUP CIRCUS did not originally deliver to Lisle where she lives, but Janka “made an exception and didn’t even charge extra when I offered.”

Janka also frequently gives away “quarts to those in need, without a second thought,” her husband

explained. “One year while she was having her business taxes done, our accountant turned to her and said, ‘Have you considered running the business as a nonprofit?’”

In addition to turning away possible income, her deliveries often take longer than necessary. She said, “Sometimes I’m out there for hours,” like the time she came to deliver soup to a recently widowed woman but stayed to talk. “She said…sitting down with the soup [and someone to listen] was the one thing that made her feel good. I’m not going to limit that show of love.”

Customer Rita Brezina jokes that Janka’s “deliveries are literally warm hugs in a jar.” Another client, Sarah Bogaczyk, said, “Lettie’s soup is a Trojan horse for her kindness. At its most basic, I’m getting one heck of a soup delivered to my doorstep…but that

LETTIE JANKA, AN AVID GARDENER , SAVORS TIME IN HER YARD. PHOTO BY CAROLINA MENAPACE

soup put me into Lettie’s orbit where she makes sure good stuff happens.”

Some of this “good stuff?” Lettie’s deliveries to people experiencing hardship. One recipient, Nancy Saucedo, said, “When my father passed away earlier this year, she dropped off soup that another neighbor had sent me, but she didn’t just leave it. She shared her condolences and listened to me mourn.”

Janka explained, “I’m not a therapist, but I’m pretty empathetic.”

Empathy is behind Janka’s many gifted jars of soup over the years. Shannon David said, “I broke my ankle, and Lettie was at my house that day dropping off soup for my family. She doesn’t miss a beat.”

Julie Waterman added that Janka sometimes drops off extra soup for her to gift to her elderly neighbors. “It’s funny how there’s always ‘extra’ soup for those who need a little cheer,” Sarah Oestermeyer said. “That’s just Lettie’s Way.”

“Lettie’s Way” has a ripple effect, moving others to pay it forward. Janka’s friend Jo-Jo Tabayoyong Murphy experienced this: “She has inspired me to pass along jars and contribute funds so that she might give more soup away.”

Janka has three teenaged children and cares for her aging mother yet somehow finds time to nurture others,

through soup and beyond. “She is constantly looking for ways to help people without any sort of recognition,” her neighbor Claire LaForge said.

LaForge said Janka “adopted an elderly widow” on their block, inviting him over, making his house safer for him, and cleaning up his yard. She also spent time with LaForge’s motherin-law when she could not be alone.

Janka knows firsthand both the rewards and challenges of caregiving. An avid gardener who said “everything outside makes sense,” Janka recently invited other caregivers to meet on her deck as a form of mutual support. “I wanted to share my yard with people who have been burdened in that way,” she said.

According to her childhood friend Tabria Hill, Janka’s compassion is nothing new. Hill, one of three African American students at their elementary school, said few peers accepted her, but Janka welcomed her; “Lettie did not see race or difference. She saw love.”

Janka recently scaled back her soup season to leave more time for her caregiving services. Though she does accept payment, “if someone can’t afford it, I do it anyway,” she said.

Elder care has felt like a calling to Janka, and others echo that. When she provided care services for Marty and Gara Scott’s relative with terminal cancer, they said she did so in a way that was “so personalized…caring for others is in her DNA.”

Janka completes tasks others may be uncomfortable doing. “I’m not afraid to touch people or help them shower,” she said. She recognizes the importance of “keeping someone’s dignity” and bearing witness to their stories.

Motivated by Mumford & Sons’ lyric “love with urgency,” Janka plans to allocate the time she has to further spread love through acts of service. Her friend Kim Jackson said everyone should “take the ‘million small steps’ that Lettie has taken over her lifetime to give back to our communities.”

According to her neighbor Jennifer Formato, to Janka, “nothing is ever an inconvenience.”

Julie Rauch, whose husband grew up next door to Janka, agreed, adding that Janka is “the type of person I want to be, and the type of person I want my kids to become…[always there with] a listening ear, a tender heart, a funny story, some good advice, and a bowl of homemade soup.” ■

“I’m not a therapist, but I’m pretty empathetic.”

– LETTIE JANKA

LETTIE JANKA’S SOUPS ARE MADE AND PACKAGED WITH A SECRET INGREDIENT: LOVE. PHOTOS COURTESY OF SOUP CIRCUS

THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION of Downers Grove District 58

Celebrating 20 years of connecting school and community

BY CYNTHIA MAQUET | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF DOWNERS GROVE DISTRICT 58

What do Freddy Jones Band, 6,000 runners, and green apples have in common? The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58. The Foundation has successfully connected the district’s 13 local schools and the community over the past 20 years.

In 2002, Dr. Dale Martin, former Superintendent of District 58, came up with the idea to enhance additional funding for education in the classroom. “He found the right people, he made it fun and challenging, and we quickly became the ‘shiny new toy in town,’” said Marc Hausmann, the Foundation’s first presi -

dent. This new group raised over $60,000 in just 30 days and put it back into the District 58 school system. Twenty years later, the Foundation has given over $2 million to various initiatives that would otherwise not occur due to limited financial resources.

Today, the Foundation Board consists of 16 members, five of whom grew up in Downers Grove. Their efforts support the nearly 5,000 students within the district, and their focus comprises three key categories: student and fam-

DISTRICT TECHNOLOGY TECHNICIAN TODD CHERNEY AND WHITTIER FIFTH GRADE TEACHER CHERYL LYONS RECEIVED THE 2022 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD FROM THE FOUNDATION.

SEVERAL COMMUNITY MEMBERS INCLUDING DISTRICT 58 FACULTY AND STAFF VOLUNTEERED AT OKTOBERFEST IN SEPTEMBER.

ily programming, staff recognition and support, and community outreach and fundraising.

Dr. Kevin Russell, District 58’s superintendent, initially saw the benefits of the Foundation’s work as a District 58 teacher 20 years ago. “We had one fundraiser at the beginning – The Kelly Miller Circus. Now, there are three major fundraisers: Oktoberfest, Grove Express 5K, and the Harlem Wizards basketball

event. This has shown exponential growth in our Foundation, our fundraising, and our community support,” Russell explained.

With the Downers Grove community’s involvement in several successful fundraisers, the Foundation can support the students and teachers in an ongoing capacity.

Oktoberfest, started in 2013 as an afternoon event, has evolved into a

three-day family fun event. The festival brings in over 2,500 people daily for live entertainment and good eats. With top headliner Freddy Jones Band this year, the Foundation generated close to $100,000 with underwriting support from the Canning Foundation and Cadence Kitchen & Co.

In 2021, the Foundation, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Downers Grove and the Roadrunners Soccer Club, formed the Grove Express Foundation to carry forward the tradition of a Thanksgiving Day Run/Walk in downtown Downers Grove. This past Thanksgiving Day, nearly 6,000 participated, surpassing the participants from last year by 1,000.

The Foundation is always working on current programs and brainstorming new ideas. Megan Hewitt has been the liaison between the District and the Foundation since 2014. She said, “The Foundation consists of dedicated, vibrant individuals who

THE FOUNDATION RECOGNIZES STUDENTS AND STAFF THROUGH ANNUAL PROGRAMS

The Green Apple Awards allow parents, students, or other staff to recognize an exceptional staff member for their dedication to the students by making a donation to the Foundation in honor of this staff member. This program raises over $3,500 annually. Dr. Russell surprises the recipients by hand-delivering the Green Apple Award Card to the individuals with a custom message from the donor. Herrick Middle School math teacher Daniel Dvoracek, a Green Apple Award recipient, said, “For me, teaching has always been about relationships, so when

I received a Green Apple Award it was a highlight in my year to see that families value the connections we create with our students!”

Select 58 recognizes 58 8th grade students (29 from Herrick Middle School and 29 from O’Neill Middle School) for their citizenship and service to the community and their school, as well as being role models for their peers.

Mallory Crowley, one of the 2022 Select 58 recipients, said “it was a great feeling to be chosen as a Select 58 recipient. It felt like my hard work participating in commu-

“SNEAK PREVIEW” IS JUST ONE OF THE STUDENT PROGRAMS HOSTED BY THE FOUNDATION.

GREEN APPLE AWARD RECIPIENT DANIEL DVORACEK

are all motivated to help support education.” She added, “The bigger the Foundation gets, the bigger the impact the Foundation makes.”

The Foundation hosts events throughout the year to engage student involvement. “Sneak Preview” takes place in mid-August and gives incoming seventh graders a glimpse of middle school life. Students can get familiar with using lockers, see different classrooms, and engage in ice-breaking activities with future classmates. “‘Sneak preview’ was great because it made me feel more comfortable finding my way around Herrick. It helped me feel more confident on the first day of school,” said Evy Pundmann, a current seventh grader at Herrick Middle School.

In partnership with the Downers Grove Area Council of PTAs, The Reading Games is another event supported by the Foundation. This event allows third grade through eighth-grade students to participate

in a reading competition districtwide. Students read different types of literature, answer questions about the books on the day of the event and learn teamwork and collaboration. Over 600 students participate in The Reading Games each year.

An essential pillar of the Foundation is offering Teacher Grants annually. After receiving grant applications, the Foundation carefully reviews them and gives over $20,000 in funding to support the initiatives of teachers and staff. Amanda Zimolzak, an interventionist at El Sierra, was a deserving recipient in 2021. “Last year, the Foundation funded my grant for starting a manipulative lending library. We were able to purchase number paths, unifix cubes, and Digi-blocks to share with teachers at our school.” she said.

Although some Board members have students within District 58, many continue to serve despite their stu-

dents graduating from the district. According to former Board President and current Board Member Elizabeth O’Toole, “volunteering for the Foundation is a rewarding experience. It allows an immediate impact on our schools including students, families, and the community.”

Current Foundation Board President Janet Alikpala sees the future as bright: “The success of The Education Foundation in the last 20 years has been widely seen throughout the District 58 community. We are thankful for their hard work and dedication to expanding the education for our children and teachers throughout the schools. We are looking forward to seeing what the next 20 years brings.”

To volunteer or to learn more about The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58, please visit 58Foundation. org. Tickets are now available for the Foundation’s next community fundraiser, the Harlem Wizards basketball game, on Sunday, January 15, 2023.■

nity service and school activities was rewarded. Being chosen as one of only 58 students was an honor.”

Every year, the Foundation receives several Distinguished Services Award (DSA) nominations. The DSA goes to one teacher and one staff member that have been nominated by an essay from a co-worker, parent or student, that demonstrates how the teacher or staff member goes above and beyond. Last year, District Technology Technician Todd Cherney and Whittier Fifth Grade Teacher Cheryl Lyons received the 2022 Distinguished Service Award from the Foundation.

2022 SELECT 58 WINNERS FROM O'NEILL MIDDLE SCHOOL

2022 SELECT 58 WINNERS FROM HERRICK MIDDLE SCHOOL

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Is leaving a well-planned legacy important to you?

Hockey in Chicago will never be the same again. On April 14, 2022, the mic belonging to Pat Foley, voice of the Chicago Blackhawks, went quiet and a chapter that spanned the majority of my life, closed. Before the game began, the hall-of-fame broadcaster stood on the ice with his extended family and mother, Mary, at his side. Addressing the crowd, Foley reiterated one of his hallmark phrases, “I’m the luckiest guy in the room.”

Those of us who spent several nights a week with him during hockey season are lucky, too. He delivered a heartfelt farewell to the team, organization, and fans before heading up to the press box to call the last game of his nearly four-decade run with the Blackhawks. “I’ve always been there for you.” Foley told the fans. “You’ve always been there for me.”

I doubt there was a dry eye in the Madhouse.

My family held season tickets for three decades. The majority of those

He Shot. HE SCORED!

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

years, the team followed a Wednesday and Sunday home game schedule. Come what may, we were there. Game nights, unfinished homework was completed en route, first to the Chicago Stadium, then later the United Center. Spelling words and multiplication tables were memorized before passing the 70x40 foot illuminated Magikist lips on the Eisenhower at Cicero Avenue, dutifully landmarking the journey’s three-quarter mark.

We always arrived early, dodging clouds of smoke and puddles of beer as we greeted our fan family in the mezzanine. When the fluorescent house lights went down, fans rose from worn, black and red tweed seats to accompany Wayne Messmer singing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

High above us, Foley was already at work in the press box, sizing up the warmups, ready to account every play for fans tuned in to WBBM radio. For the years before Hawks home games were televised- and for all away gamesfans trusted Foley for a play-by-play account of the action. And he delivered a vivid illustration, every time.

A few weeks before his retirement, the legendary broadcaster sat down with me at former Coach Quenneville’s old stomping ground, York Tavern. He recounted a few memories of a wildly successful, three-thousand game career.

WHAT SPARKED YOUR INTEREST IN BROADCASTING?

I knew I wanted to be a sports broadcaster at ten years old. A sunny afternoon at Wrigley Field spent with then-Cubs broadcasters Jack Quinlan and Lou Boudreau planted that seed. My father, Bob Foley, owned a Buick dealership that sponsored the Cubs, hence the invitation to the radio booth that day. That led to my calling baseball and hockey games while attending Michigan State.

HOW DID YOU GET THE JOB WITH THE BLACKHAWKS?

My dad played a big role in it. The Hawks announcer had lost his

Pat Foley signs off the air and into legend

Blackhawks President and CEO, John McDonough, accurately described him as “synonymous with Blackhawks hockey, with a voice that resonates loudly to our entire fan base.”

voice, so they were looking for someone. Michael Wirtz, brother of then-Blackhawks owner Bill Wirtz, regularly serviced his car at Foley Buick. One day on his way home from the dealership, Michael Wirtz found himself listening to a broadcast of me calling a Grand Rapids Owls game, a former Eastern Hockey League team. My dad had strategically placed the recording in Wirtz’s tape deck. Michael passed the tape on to his brother, Bill. He said ‘hey, there’s this kid from Glenview who might be okay.’ I had already secured a job with a minor league hockey club in Erie, PA, for that season. I was thrilled to end up with the Hawks instead! My dad really got me to the right place at the right time.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT THE JOB?

Calling the games. I always hoped people came away from my broadcasts not only having a good picture of the game, but maybe having learned something as well. Not everybody knows what ‘offsides’ means. I’m happy to pause and explain it. I always felt I worked for the fans. Helping people understand and get interested in the game was part of it.

WHAT WAS THE TOUGHEST PART OF THE JOB?

The schedule, definitely. I’ve been on the scene awhile. The players today have no idea of the hours hockey players used to keep. I flew with the

-PAT FOLEY ON BROADCASTING FOR THE BLACKHAWKS

team to away games on Friday nights. It was all commercial flights then, no charters. They played the game on Saturday, then stayed the night. We got on a 6 a.m. bus for the airport the next morning. Guys would go home and take a nap, then get up and come back down to the stadium to play home games on Sunday nights. It was crazy! And suffice it to say we didn’t exactly stay in five-star hotels back in the day! (Foley laughed)

WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST?

There are a lot of things I’ll miss, along with the actual broadcasting of the games. There have been some great events, too. Bringing the (Stanley) Cup back to my grade school- Our Lady of Perpetual Help- in Glenview, after the 2013 win was a great day. The gym where the kids were gathered was so loud! The parade days after the Stanley Cup victories were amazing,

too. I was the emcee of the celebration at Soldier Field after the 2015 parade.

I’ll miss the relationships within the organization, too. I used to play a lot of golf with some of the players. We had some good times together. The hard part of that was when a player got traded. But there’s a lot of moving around in this game. You get used to that.

WOULD YOU HAVE CONSIDERED BROADCASTING OTHER SPORTS?

I was open to baseball, too. I had called games in college. Hockey was what worked out, though. I’m so glad it did!

Chicago hockey will be different this season. We’re going to miss his iconic, enthusiastic, “he shoots, he scores!” and “Hawks win! Hawks win!” exclamations, that came to be his calling card. Two generations of Hawks fans are grateful Foley himself, shot and scored.

My family always left the games halfway through the third period to beat the Madison Street parking lot rush and mounting traffic on the Eisenhower heading back to the western suburbs. About the time we were passing the illuminated Ferrara Pan Candy sign in Forest Park, Foley would be signing off a Hawks win, saying, “we hope you enjoyed the broadcast. We KNOW you enjoyed the outcome.” ■

Yes. We did. ■

“I always felt I worked for the fans. Helping people understand and get interested in the game was part of it.”

Niche

Entrepreneur

Peggy O’Flaherty “started over” to create Mavely

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS & KRISTA SOBKOWIAK

Have you ever found yourself in a funk? Wanting to make a change but unsure where to start? In keeping with our ‘new beginnings’ theme, this was the story of Peggy O’Flaherty, Downers Grove resident and co-founder of marketing-influence platform, Mavely. Her timing of entering the game makes her somewhat of an anomaly. There are few female tech entrepreneurs over the age of 50. Once a stay-at-home mother, O’Flaherty caught an entrepreneurial bug early on. “I’ve been told I’m either half-crazy or half-visionary, because I’m always wanting to do more,” she laughed.

O’Flaherty has achieved much success. Being at home while raising her five children made her realize what she wanted to do. Life got hectic. But even in the chaos, there was a void. And with the void came despair. After finding herself overwhelmed while crying in the shower one morning, she had an epiphany. She knew she had to stop just going through the motions of life and address the void she felt. Otherwise, nothing would really change. “When moments like that hit, we have to stop and figure out what’s missing,

DOWNER GROVE RESIDENT AND TECH ENTREPRENEUR, PEGGY

O'FLAHERTY

PHOTO BY 726 VISUALS

or we can’t really go forward in an honest way,” she learned.

O’Flaherty had the itch to create business solutions and solve problems. While raising her kids, she got certified in life-coaching through a spiritual program to help women achieve their greatest selves. She parlayed this training into Creating Space, a program designed to help clients learn to achieve balance with fitness, health, spirituality, parenting, and marriage- with business. Although she had trouble monetizing the project, the experience proved valuable as it was through Creating Space that she realized her true passion-to guide others to what they want to do. It made her see that helping other women find and achieve their best selves was her greatest satisfaction.

While still working in Creating Space, she co-founded OneParish, a church app influenced by University of Notre Dame alumni who wanted to revitalize the Church. Largely a communication and donation tracker, its function was to build back a community of people who don’t regularly attend church. By the time of OneParish’s acquisition in 2017, it was a go-to tool of more than 400 churches and 200,000 users.

It was through a stint with Rodan + Fields skin care company that O’Flaherty was able to recognize and find

creative solutions for direct sales. While she had no trouble building the extensive network necessary for a successful direct sales career, she realized the challenges of multi-level marketing. “Friends don’t want to ask friends to buy products and then renew those products, host parties at

their houses, etc.,” O’Flaherty observed. “I was constantly noticing which aspects of direct selling worked and which ones didn’t. I saw the opportunity to create my own company.”

The result was Mavely, an influence-marketing platform which O’Flaherty co-founded and currently serves as Chief Community Officer. (The name is derived from the word ‘maven,’ a term for an expert in a field). Mavely allows brands to tell their stories through

THE MAVELY TEAM

“Life is full of contradictions, but in the end, we must remain true to ourselves,”

-PEGGY O’FLAHERTY ON FINDING AND RECREATING ONE’S SELF

everyday people- the experts- who want to share their favorite brands and products with friends. The platform drives millions of dollars with companies such as Tide, The Gap and Walmart. She finds great satisfaction in this enterprise, as she combines her experience in consumer engagement, fundraising, sales, and account management.

O’Flaherty created a compilation of her hard-earned expertise as she co-authored Living You Calling vs Chasing Your Craving, —a reflection and guide dedicated to high-performing women who are seeking to create a balance between their personal ambitions, families, and spirituality. Through detailed exercises, readers discover the joy and harmony that often seems unattainable in running a successful business while raising a family.

O’Flaherty hopes to stress to other women the importance of understanding that it’s never too late and you’re never too old to achieve something great. You don’t have to be an

A student, either. While she is proud of her entrepreneurial successes, she considers lifting up other women as the best part of this journey. “I love helping others realize what they’re good at and connecting them to someone who can help them achieve more,” she said.

The networking to establish these connections seems to come easily for O’Flaherty. At times, they seem to fall right in her path. “You would be amazed how much business begins on an airplane,” she said. For her part, she once sat down next to a woman on a flight that had a very well-endowed fifth generation charity foundation. She soon connected the woman to several other charitable organizations she knew needed funding for various projects. On a different flight, she met a fundraiser for the Navajo Native American Nation, whom she was able to connect with Downers Grove-based charity, Watts of Love. Thanks to this chance meeting, there are homes throughout the

American southwest that would otherwise be without electricity.

“Talk to everyone,” she advises. “You never know how you might be able to link people and change lives.”

O’Flaherty is the youngest of ten children. She was raised in Downers Grove and attended St. Joseph School. “I see this town as the idyllic place to grow up,” O’Flaherty said. “I lived in San Francisco for a few years and then in Chicago for a while, but I was glad to bring my family up in this smalltown American gem.”

O’Flaherty has sold three of the four startups she created. She strives to model her ambition to her children, as a way to live. “It’s my job as a mother to show my children the possibility of freedom through me living my best life,” she believes. “It’s important for them to see what could be theirs through hard work.” ■

THE O'FLAHERTY FAMILY: GRANIA, ORLA, LIADAN, ENYA, PEGGY, AND CILLIAN

Presented by CSC Dermatology Questions from the community answered by doctors

Q: What is a dermal filler?

A: Dermal fillers restore facial volume to smooth skin lines and wrinkles as well as enhance areas like the lips, chin, or jawline. This is done with gel-like materials that dermatologists inject under the skin at different depths. Fillers are seemingly unlimited when it comes to applications. They can be used to lift cheekbones, improve hollowness of the facial skin in areas like the temples and under the eyes. Moreover, fillers can be used to treat areas like the neck and chest to restore skin health and diminish the appearance of finely wrinkled and thin skin. Lastly, fillers can also be used to rejuvenate the hands.

Q: What is in a dermal filler?

A: Fillers are made with FDA approved substances injected beneath the skin. These include Hyaluronic Acid, Calcium Hydroxylapatite, and Poly-L-Lactic Acid. Poly-L-Lactic Acid also known as Sculptra is Dr. Steil’s favorite dermal filler. It is biocompatible, which makes it completely safe to use. It is a totally biodegradable synthetic substance,which means it dissolves. Lastly, it works by stimulating skin to rebuild the natural collagen resulting into smoother skin and greater volume.

Almost 20 years ago, Dr. Steil learned from the best, Danny Vleggar, MD. He was a trained Poly-L-Lactic Acid Specialist who taught her how to apply the filler like an expert. For aging facial skin, Poly-L-Lactic Acid can add volume, structure, balance and lift. For younger patients, it can be used to improve facial symmetry.

Q: Are fillers going to make my face look fake?

A: “I have been injecting in Hinsdale for 20 years, and everyone says the same

thing— I don’t want people to know and I want to look natural. At CSC, we will make your treatment look natural,” says Dr. Steil.

The physicians at CSC Dermatology, Dr. Steil and Dr. Bognet, have a combined 30 years of experience treating patients with fillers. They both agree that the best results are when you don’t look like you’ve had a filler. To make this possible, CSC offers only the most professional opinions and treatment styles in all of their procedures. The bottom line— experience matters. “Sometimes a filler is not the solution,” says Bognet and “we tell the patient no. An overfilled face is not on our style.”

Q: What does it feel like?

A: Getting a filler is a very comfortable experience. The filler material is mixed with numbing medication which makes it virtually painless. In addition, applying ice prior to a more sensitive area like the lips helps to aid in numbing.

Q

:

How much do fillers cost?

A: Filler treatments can range from $500-$2000 per session depending on the

exact product and the number of syringes used. “We often layer products to achieve the best result so more than one type of product may be used during a treatment session,” says Dr. Steil.

Q: How long will fillers last?

A: On average, fillers can last from six months to two plus years. After being injected, your body gradually and naturally absorbs filler particles. Factors that affect longevity include the product used, how much was injected, and where it was injected. Depending on your age and your goals, treatments are often repeated yearly.

Appointments are beginning to fill fast.

Call 630 455 0045 now to book a session at either one of our prominent locations in Hinsdale or Downers Grove.

Dr. Rachel Bognet

Dr. Christina Steil

NEW Beginnings

Adoption offers a hopeful, new start

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

“es, adoption makes me special, it means that I am loved,” wrote author Sharlie Zinniger in her 2014 children’s book,  Yes, I’m Adopted! For adoptive families and the children placed with them, adoption is a new beginning of the greatest kind. An adopted child brings the promise of a new life, a permanent enrichment to a family. The process can be rigorous, the challenges great- but the bonds created are forever.

While the greatest number of children in this country are adopted in infancy, there are scores of older children available for placement. If you’re lucky, a child crosses your path by chance, as was the case of former Downers Grove resident, Colleen Thaiss, along with her husband, Eric, and daughter, Caroline.

YA mutual friend introduced the family to eight-year-old Madeline through the couple who had assumed temporary guardianship of her after her mother passed. The sweet, bright-eyed girl began spending time with them. Ten-year-old Caroline loved having someone to play with. The more they got to know Madeline, the more they wanted her to stay.

“2019 was the year we were awarded permanent guardianship of Madeline and the one that forever changed us as a family,” said Eric. “It not only grew us from a three to four-person unit, but in many ways, completed us as a family.”

Colleen and Eric both grew up with siblings and treasure their relationships with them. They were so happy that Caroline could have one of those lifelong relationships - born from shared experiences - good and bad, small and

large - that can only be lived, shared and remembered with a sibling.

“Our extended families have come to know Madeline and love her. She is a wonderful new cousin, niece, and granddaughter,” said Colleen. “We will always love, support and encourage her.”

For her part, when Madeline’s sixthgrade teacher asked her what she is happiest about, she replied with enthusiasm, “I’m always thankful to be a Thaiss! I’m happy to be adopted.”

On the heels of National Adoption Awareness Month (November), Contributing Editor, Maureen Callahan, spoke to three local adoptive families. These are their personal stories, as relayed in their own words.

KELLY JAMES, MOTHER OF RYAN AND HALEY ENGER –DOWNERS GROVE

Adoption had been on my radar since college, so when my former husband, Erik (who died in 2020), and I were unable to have children the biological way, the idea seemed very natural to me. It took Erik a little longer to get comfortable with the idea, but he really wanted to be a dad.

We knew we wanted to adopt a newborn, so the most challenging part was finding a woman who was expecting a baby to choose us to be her baby’s parents. That process is a roller coaster. With Ryan, his first mom chose us and seven weeks later, he was born! I didn’t realize how lucky we were the first time. With Haley, it took us more than three years, and five failed matches (where the mom changed her mind and decided to parent).

THE THAISS FAMILY: CAROLINE, COLLEEN, ERIC, MADELINE AND THEIR DOG BAILEY

Parenting is an awesome responsibility but having someone place her baby with you and trust you with her child ups the ante. You are always mindful of that gift, and that responsibility- to be the best parent you can to this child whom you both love.

The biggest piece of advice I have for anyone wanting to adopt is to be clear about your level of comfort if you choose an open adoption. Don’t promise anything you can’t embrace. I knew that we wanted to have an open adoption, and Ryan’s first parents (and later, Haley’s first mom) wanted the same. We weren’t sure what that might look like, but initially promised an annual visit, letters, and photos. It’s grown to be much more than that, and my children’s first families are part of our family now, and vice versa. The way our family has grown has been an amazing experience, and one that I did not expect. I always say that being a parent is an adventure. I feel like Erik and I got to have an even bigger adventure by choosing adoption.

I didn’t physically create my children, but I see myself in them all the time. They have some of my mannerisms. My kids talk like I do. Sometimes they act like I do. I joke that I can brag about how gorgeous they are because I had nothing to do with their looks! But I’m most proud of the amazing human beings they’re turning out to be, because I feel like I do have something (hopefully a lot!) to do with that.

I am always aware, though, that my kids’ first parents experienced a tremendous loss by choosing adoption. I think you must be willing to recognize and accept that as a parent by adoption, and respect the person, or people, who made your life possible. When Haley was a newborn, someone made a comment about how beautiful she was and that she couldn’t believe that “someone could give her up.” That rubbed me the wrong way. I said, “well, if her first mom (and Ryan’s first mom, too) hadn’t made the decision to choose adoption, I wouldn’t be a parent.” Without Jodi and Chaleigh, I wouldn’t be a mom- and I’m grateful to be my kids’ “mama” every day.

CATHLEEN HOFMANN, MOTHER OF BRIAN, JOHN, AND DANIEL – HINSDALE

I see my adoption story as one of divine intervention. I had just moved to Hinsdale and hadn’t met many people. A neighbor invited me to join a spiritual group at St Isaac Jogues. I told the group that I was having trouble figuring out my life’s purpose as I seemed unable to have more than my first child. A woman approached me after the meeting. She said she knew a father of a child looking to place his baby for adoption. The child would become our second son, John.

Through a social worker, my husband and I offered to take care of the couple financially until the baby arrived. Everything seemed to be going well until the birth parents suddenly changed their minds and promised the baby to another couple. For ten days, I was devastated. It was the saddest I have ever been. Then they came back and said they would reconsider us if we would agree to an open adoption. We negotiated the terms to include photos and letters every three months for the first year. We also made an agreement that he could reach out at the age of 18 if John wished. We wanted it to be on his terms.

KELLY JAMES AND HER ADOPTED CHILDREN, RYAN AND HALEY ENGER

THE HOFMANN FAMILY: BRIAN, JOHN, DANNY, CATHY AND STEVE WITH THEIR DOG OLAF

For our second adoption and third son, Daniel, the process was totally different. We worked with Angel Adoption Agency in Cary, IL. I was supposed to meet the birth mother on the morning of 9/11, which was cancelled for obvious reasons. This was to be her third child. Once again, we worked with a social worker to offer the birth mother and her children assistance for the duration of her pregnancy. It all went very smoothly the second time.

I told my sons their adoption stories from day one. Every adoptive parent handles their adoption story differently when communicating it to their children. I wanted mine to know from the beginning that they didn’t grow in my body, but in my heart. And I wanted them to know how much we appreciated the wonderful- and very difficultdecision, that their birth parents made. We’re very, very grateful to them.

Adoption has been the greatest gift for us. It is the option to grow a family and create faith and love. As much as you’re giving this child, the child gives back to you. The process can be rigorous. It’s hard when you get turned down. But we’re strong. We got through it and came away with an amazing, life-altering situation!

MICHELE VIDA, MOTHER OF COLE AND HENRY VIDA –OAK BROOK

My husband Joe and I married later in life. We were unable to have children, so we decided to adopt. We put together a profile book of family values and photos, so someone could see who we were as a couple. We got set up with an adoption lawyer and within one day of submitting everything, we learned of a woman who was interested in adopting her baby to us. We drove to the hospital in Indiana where she was in labor with our first son, Cole Joseph. He was a perfect newborn.

Three days later, the trouble started. He became violently ill, so we took him back to the hospital. His kidneys began shutting down and a myriad of medical issues kept him from getting better. We finally brought him home at six weeks old. He was on dialysis twelve hours a night. He couldn’t eat and his milk had to be decanted because he couldn’t have any potassium. We were

worked out, it would be the fastest adoption he would have in his 40 years of practice. And it worked out!

We were at the hospital when he was born. We named him Henry Cole, with his middle name as a tribute to his late brother. His birth mother was very organized. She had written letters to the doctors and nurses with detailed instructions to bring him to us right away. She had also written beautiful letters to Henry about why she wanted my husband and I to be his parents, which we have

in and out of Comer Children’s Hospital twice a week for nephrology, oncology, and dialysis. All the while, he was so happy and beautiful. But he slipped away soon after.

Obviously devastated, we left town a lot just to create diversions. We had been in touch with our lawyer, as he often called to check in when Cole was sick. We decided to try adopting once more. One day, as I was at the cemetery to check on Cole’s grave, the attorney called again and said he had someone on the radar and if it

for him. We are still in touch with Henry’s birth mother. He hasn’t met her yet, but we are working out the details of getting them together. It’s really a beautiful situation.

I honestly don’t know what would have happened if we had not adopted Henry. One child does not replace another, and Henry is very aware of his older brother, Cole, who is part of our journey as a family. We gave him eighteen months of a precious life. Nothing will ever take him from our hearts and minds. And we are just so very thankful for Henry. ■

“Madeline continues to blossom, knowing that she is a permanent part of our family”

– COLLEEN THAISS ON HER 11-YEAR-OLD ADOPTED DAUGHTER

THE VIDA FAMILY: MICHELE, HENRY AND JOE 2019

COLE JOSEPH, LATE SON OF MICHELE AND JOE VIDA

Catching up with Cadence Kitchen & Co.’s Head Chef Ajay Popli

A Fresh Take C

BY REGAN BARONI

adence Kitchen & Co., the home of good beats and great eats, offers a fresh and elevated atmosphere for a night on the town to dinners with family and friends.

Winner of several Downers Grove Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards, we are honored to feature Chef Ajay and his culinary talents in our Chef Showcase this edition.

Why did you decide to become a chef?

I’ve always loved how food brings people together.  Once I started working in kitchens, I realized becoming a chef could be a great way to express myself, grow personally, and build lasting relationships with guests and coworkers.  I’d love to open a place of my own some day and provide others with the same opportunities that I’ve had in my career.

What is your signature or favorite dish to prepare at Cadence? What do people love about it?

My favorite is our grilled octopus.  We’ve had probably 12 or 13 variations of it since we opened in 2018 and it’s such a great vehicle for a variety of cuisines, from Mediterranean to Latin American to East Asian.  Our guests have always been excited to try something fun and out of the ordinary.

Is there a chef you admire the most?

Jose Andres is someone I admire not just for his amazing restaurants and food, but for the humanitarian work he’s been doing on the front lines, providing food to people in need.

What are the industry trends?  How do you incorporate these at Cadence?

Globally-influenced food has been a trend recently and we have a diverse group of chefs in the kitchen. Bringing ideas and dishes from our respective backgrounds can be a lot of fun for our diners.

Anything “new” being developed for the menu for 2023?

We’re constantly changing our menu and working on new dishes, but I’m excited about the weekly roast specials we’ll be starting in January.   It will give us a chance to take some classic preparations and bring our Cadence spin to them.

Name the three kitchen tools you can’t do without?

A nice solid plating spoon, a heavy cast iron skillet, and definitely my favorite knife that I’ve used for 12 years. ■

PHOTO

Business,

“When

The Camera NEVER LIES

Combining counseling and photography to find one’s best self

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN | PHOTOS BY GINA GRAHAM AND HAWA IMAGES

From the time we’re young children, it seems we’re trying to fit in to someone else’s idea of physical perfection. For many people, negative self-image has always been there. Some don’t even remember how it started. Gina Graham -licensed clinical therapist and owner of Life Lens and Love Photography- understands this reality. Having overcome her own similar issues in adolescence, she created a way to combine her two passions of counseling and photography.

GINA GRAHAM, LICENSED THERAPIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER

The result is Body Beautiful, a time-limited body-image therapy, which pairs customized photography with counseling. The ability for patients to objectively see themselves in photos, combined with counseling, helps them come away with a very different point of view. One by one, she helps her clients re-evaluate their self-narrative.

Graham’s clinical counseling practice, located in downtown Downers Grove, specializes in body and self-esteem issues. Many of her patients struggle, or have struggled, with eating disorders. Formerly on staff at Linden Oaks Behavioral Health in Naperville, Graham eventually spun off into private practice before moving her office to town. Now, living and practicing in this community, her professional career is peppered with her own life experience.

The majority of her practice tends to be girls and women, although she has also treated males with this affliction. “In my observation, society’s negative physical cultural influence is much more pronounced in women than in men,” Graham finds.

The idea to introduce photography to clinical counseling came as Graham began to incorporate the use of pictures into her patients’ treatment. She found herself asking the

A BODY BEAUTIFUL CLIENT POSES FOR PHOTOS.

patient or their parent to bring photos taken at various stages of life, to an appointment. But lighting, angle, and age of the photos were limited to what the patient brought with them.

Graham realized that if she took her own photos as part of the appointment, she could help patients see themselves in their best possible light.

client might book 6-12 sessions that include photography and counseling.

Around the time Graham began to introduce photography into her clinical practice, another idea she had inside of her resurfaced. She had dreamed of creating a coffee table book of girls and women of all ages, cultures and body types. Graham had hoped to showcase the beauty of a variety of women at varying points in life. The idea was to share images, creatively laid out, along with short narratives from the subjects.

She began by asking her models a few things about body image. She thought she would get a few quotes to sprinkle throughout the book in an artsy way. What she

and go through life. Graham hopes the book will help change some of the negative narrative that begins early in life and often hangs on well into adulthood. “I hope Body Beautiful can help reshape some of the conversations females have as they move through life,” she said. “Body issues often hang around.”

Graham has always seen her work as a calling, rather than a career. For her, the best part of what she does is the “a-ha” moment. She has been at it long enough to see self-loathing teenagers grow into adults who feel good about themselves. For Graham, that’s what makes everything worth it. “I see patients’ lives take a positive direction,” she said. “It’s really magical to see the transformation.” She appreciates the opportunity to be part of a patient’s recovery in such a meaningful way.

– GINA GRAHAM ON HELPING PATIENTS OVERCOME

Her practice is a niche addition to the counseling field. “I haven’t heard of anyone else in the area that does this,” Graham said. “I know of photographers who offer different types of self-esteem photography, and there are many counselors, but I don’t know of any other licensed therapists who combine the two.”

The Body Beautiful photography sessions take a slightly different approach than the typical appointment structure with a counselor. A

found, however, was that there was much to each individual story. Most of the subjects felt some degree of struggle with their physical being. “Women would talk to me for an hour, or sometimes longer,” said Graham. “The interviews indicated to me that the book was really supposed to be about their stories, more than the photos.”

Graham’s book, Body Beautiful, contains much feature photography with an aim to reshape the conversation of body image as girls grow into women

Graham earned a BS in Physical Education and Health, from the College of Charleston, followed by her Master of Social Work from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. She comes by this profession honestly, having struggled as a bigger pre-teen than the other girls on the playground. The bullying strongly resonated with her. Still uncomfortable with herself in college, she came under the guidance of a wonderful counselor with whom she has kept in touch over the years.

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel burns the brightest, however, as the tumultuous time helped to guide her life’s work. It led to a deep understanding of her patients’ trials. “If I can get to people who struggle, preferably at an early age, the outcome can be very positive.”

For further information, or to gain a sense of Graham’s Body Beautiful sessions, visit her YouTube channel: Gina Graham LCSW and Portrait Photographer. Please visit www.lifelensandlove.com for more information. ■

“I’ve been doing this long enough that

I have seen people really recover.”

NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE

GRAHAM COMBINES HER PASSIONS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND COUNSELING

Educational SNAPSHOT

Independent and private schools continue to thrive

BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE STAFF | IMAGE BY CLAY BANKS OF UNSPLASH

The western suburbs are lucky to be the home of several exceptionally strong schools. Many have a rich history and are known throughout the communities they serve for academic excellence, a wide selection of extracurricular programs, and an inspiration for learning. Choosing a private or independent school is a complex decision for families and students, with many great options available. Visiting each school is paramount for an informed choice, but insight into each school's unique traits - from their point of view - helps illustrate their message.

Thank you to our partners highlighted in this exclusive feature for Hinsdale Magazine Group to provide our readers with relevant information and enable them to discover each school's distinctive characteristics.

Avery Coonley

The Avery Coonley School (ACS) is a leader in gifted education serving children in preschool through grade eight. For over 100 years, advanced students have thrived at the school, immersed in a mutually talented community led by highly skilled teachers who understand their academic and social-emotional needs. Students at Avery Coonley represent 40+ zip-codes in the Chicagoland area and come from a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds. This is due to the School’s commitment to diversity and a robust financial aid budget for need-based tuition assistance.

Avery Coonley’s 11-acre campus in Downers Grove offers state-of-the-art technology and flexible spaces for individual and collaborative work. An expansive art studio, computer lab, and Makerspace, along with 9,000 square feet of outdoor play area, including a pond, inspire learning. The new Student Service Center, opened in early January, allows Avery Coonley’s 325 students to interact with staff specialists in a space designed specifically for them.

Students at ACS enjoy being challenged and learning at a minimum of one entire grade level above their current grade. In tandem with a multifaceted educational approach, the depth of conceptual learning in all areas differentiates ACS from traditional schools. As a collaborative learning environment with a student-led approach to learning, classrooms, lessons, and expectations are structured to meet the best interests of gifted children.

Students enjoy activities and clubs, including fine arts, chess, strategic gaming, and debate. Avery Coonley has a very strong, engaged parent community as well, who are the key to the welcoming atmosphere. The Home & School Association organizes many activities throughout the year, and Parent Ambassadors volunteer to give campus tours.

The School’s environment harnesses the energy of students’ curiosity and interests allowing them to be themselves while exploring and developing their talents. Upon graduation, ACS students are motivated citizens of the world, creative thinkers, and independent, lifelong learners ready to meet their full potential in high school and beyond. ■

Downers Grove Christian School

For the last 52 years, Downers Grove Christian School has been academically training students from two-year-old pre-school- 8th grade in a faith-based setting. A quality, Christ-centered education is modeled in a loving environment. This academic community holds high-quality scholastic preparedness, character development and student-teacher engagement as its hallmarks. All aspects of education are presented in a Bible-based framework.

Students are taught to love and encourage one another through the example of their teachers.

All 186 students are acknowledged as individuals with different needs and ways of learning. The caring and capable staff work to assist each child at every academic level. Small class sizes, averaging from 12-18 students allow for plenty of small-group instruction. A full-time resource teacher for individual instruction ensures that no student is ever left behind.

Soccer, basketball, and volleyball teams encourage athletic development. A band and variety of clubs offer stu-

dents social interaction as well as a chance to pursue outside interests from chess to the culinary arts. Speech Meets, Science Fair, Reading Fair, and Math Olympics offer additional opportunities to expand oratory skills. A dedicated, weekly chapel time brings the school community together in prayer, with an invitation for all families to attend.

Bright, airy classrooms with much natural light provide the ideal learning environment. Recent updates to the building include the addition of state-of-the-art classroom furniture and carpeting throughout the school for noise control. This is one of the few schools nationwide that stayed open at full schedule during the pandemic- the result of careful planning and teamwork in the interest of the students.

DGCS students graduate ready to further their academic path within the mindset of hard work, doing one’s best and keeping a positive attitude. They are academically, socially, emotionally, mentally and physically prepared for the next step of their educational paths. ■

Montini Catholic High School

Founded in 1966, Montini Catholic is a family-centered, college preparatory comprehensive high school rooted in the life and teachings of Jesus as emulated by founder, St. John Baptist DeLaSalle. Their LaSallian tradition recognizes the sacredness of all persons and educates students of diverse abilities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds while emphasizing the importance of service and responsibility to Church, family, and community

Academically, their college preparatory experience prepares students for success in college and beyond.  With an emphasis on small class size, courses are offered within three learning levels: Advanced Placement, Honors and College Prep.  Four dual credit courses are also offered. A Signa Fidei program is offered for 20 students each year who enter Montini below grade level.  Students are not placed in academic tracks and benefit from an individualized “Four Year Plan for Success” which helps them explore career interests and set goals. Over the last five years alone, graduating classes have

averaged over $18,000,000 in college academic scholarship offers per year.

Bronco athletes take the same qualities for success in the classroom and apply them to the field!  Bronco athletes develop crucial life qualities including leadership, dedication and confidence! Montini offers 13 men’s and 12 women’s athletic teams and have celebrated a total of 30 IHSA State Championships.

Extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations play a significant role in the overall development and education of a Montini student. 95% of the student body are involved in at least one extracurricular activity. Montini boasts one of the top Math and Robotics Teams in the state of Illinois. They also have the unique ability to live their faith through numerous retreats and service opportunities including two Habitat for Humanity trips and an International Service Trip.

The Montini Catholic family inspires its students to appreciate their differences and thrive as one community.  ■

Nazareth Academy

Nazareth Academy, centrally located in the western suburbs in the heart of La Grange Park, offers a short commute for many families in the area. As one of the oldest educational institutions in the suburbs with a 123-year legacy of educating the whole person, Nazareth offers a small school atmosphere with “big school” opportunities.

Established by a pioneering group of Sisters of St. Joseph in 1900, Nazareth continues to be sponsored by the religious women of the Congregation of St. Joseph. Fourteen students were originally enrolled in a sixroom house; today, it enrolls over 750 students from more than 100 local grammar schools in over 65 communities.

Nazareth values scholarship, service, spirit, and unity, which underscore the Congregation’s mission and support the Catholic Church’s values. The academic approach has resulted in a legacy of high-achieving students who care for one another, feel seen and heard, respect the school community, engage in opportunities,

and find a place to grow. Nazareth is a family where there is something for everyone.

The strong relationships built between students, teachers, and college counselors underscore the value Nazareth places in helping ALL students to succeed. The academic investment in students is reflected in the Class of 2022. Graduates are now enrolled at 73 different colleges in 25 states with 31 million dollars in merit-based scholarships.

At Nazareth, 96% of students participate in a club, sport, or the Fine Arts. Student activities are a reflection of students’ passions and reflect the diversity of students’ interests. The dedication of student-athletes is incredible. Since the Fall of 2021, Girls’ Volleyball, Baseball, and Football have all won State Titles.

Nazareth fosters a culture of inclusivity and a welcoming environment. When this is added to the outstanding academic curriculum, Nazareth can successfully care for the whole person while preparing students for success in college and beyond.   ■

St. Joan of Arc School

St. Joan of Arc Catholic School blends strong academics, students consistently score in the top 15% of standardized tests nationwide, and faith formation to provide total student development. Instruction, modeling, and reception of the Sacraments and prayer, along with community-building activities, encourage service, lifetime friendship, and a strong community.

Established in 1926, St. Joan of Arc currently has 352 students, and the average classroom size is 22 students. The faculty and staff know their students and their individual needs; most attend from preschool through eighth grade. Teachers and administrators have over 15 years of experience, and more than 50% have one or more master's degrees and strive to create a safe and supportive environment.

St. Joan of Arc incorporates the STREAM curriculum. STREAM is the intentional integration of science, technology, religion, engineering, and math. This curriculum moves from teacher-centered instruction to inquiry-based learning. By integrating the arts, STREAM allows schools to build on their traditional liberal arts foundation.

As for academic support, the WIN program is an intervention program standing for "What I Need." Students are assessed three times a year, and the data is reviewed to determine if students need extra support in reading or math. Students can also move based on performance with the goal that each student feels engaged, challenged, and supported.

Several extracurricular activities are available such as basketball, volleyball, or cheer, and students can also join Battle of the Books, Young Rembrandts, or the STEM Enrichment Program. Parent involvement ranges from classroom parties and coaching athletics to joining the School Advisory Board.

St. Joan of Arc follows the Benedictine tradition, teaching students humility and the idea of self-reflection. Students move on to be very successful in high school, many choosing to continue with Catholic Education as knowledgeable learners and leaders with an awareness of their social and moral responsibility to the needs of the parish, local, and global communities. ■

St. Joseph School

Established in 1910, St. Joseph School has provided excellence in education founded on the Catholic faith to Downers Grove and neighboring communities. For the fifth year in a row, St. Joseph School was voted the Finest Grade School and Preschool in Suburban Life’s 2022 Reader’s Choice contest.

Over the years, the school has grown from a few classrooms in the back of the church to over 450 students. Today, two classrooms are offered per grade level, bringing the average class size to 21. An award-winning preschool program is also offered.

As an extension of St. Joseph Parish, the school shares the mission of the Catholic church. They provide opportunities to pursue academic excellence by offering advanced curriculum in core subjects. Students also have opportunities to discover their talents through classes such as STEM, Technology, Art, Music, P.E. and Spanish.

The sports program at St. Joseph School is all-inclusive to encourage participation for fifth through eighth-grade students. The sports offered include volleyball, football, bas-

ketball, track and field, and cross county. St. Joseph students in kindergarten through fourth grade have the opportunity to compete together in sports programs through the YMCA and Downers Grove Park District.

There are many opportunities for parent involvement, including the Parent Forum, School Advisory Board, Athletic Board, Parish Council, athletic and enrichment program coaches, and more. Special events for families include the Christmas and Spring Music Concerts, Green & White Gala, and Friday Night Lights. Afterschool enrichment clubs are also offered including art, violin, band, chess, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, LEGO building and Science Olympiad to name a few.

St. Joseph School is a welcoming, nurturing community where faculty and staff work in partnership with school parents to benefit students spiritually and academically. Students are well-prepared; 82% of graduates make the honor roll their freshman year. With a new team of experienced administrators with strong leadership skills, St. Joseph School is looking forward to continued success in the years to come. ■

St. Mary of Gostyn School

St. Mary of Gostyn School focuses on exceptional academics and Catholic culture with a team of dedicated teachers and staff to help students learn, grow, and thrive. St. Mary’s believes every child is unique, and an emphasis is placed on creativity, critical and analytical thinking, and real-world application with a Catholic worldview.

Over 125 years ago, St. Mary’s opened as the first parochial school in Downers Grove as a one-room wooden schoolhouse. Today, after several additions to the original structure, Activity Center and Gyms, St. Mary of Gostyn School is home to over 450 students. Most recently, in 2021, the library was converted to a STEAM Lab for library work, robotics, coding, and a “Makerspace” area.

Parents, the primary educators of their children, partner with St. Mary’s to create an environment that meets each child’s specific needs. This partnership gives each child a chance to excel academically, build personal relationships, develop confidence, and serve others.

Religious education is a priority at St. Mary’s and helps each child develop a personal relationship with God.

Furthermore, St. Mary’s provides opportunities for growth in self-esteem and happiness inside and outside the classroom, and the curriculum subjects - beyond Common Core Curriculum - are essential.

Many extracurricular opportunities are offered to help create this learning environment, including BAM Theater, Students for Life, chess class, school musical, and a variety of other clubs. Basketball, cross country, volleyball, cheerleading, track and field, and football are also offered.

St. Mary’s offers students academic support, such as supplemental reading and math programs. Individualized or differentiated instruction classes are also available. In addition, a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is used to identify the learning needs of struggling students and provide intervention support.

The success of St. Mary’s students carries through to high school. Last year, 94% of St. Mary’s graduates were accepted into the high school of their choice, and $14,000 in scholarships was earned over the next four years. Learn more at stmarygostyn.org/school. ■

Timothy Christian Schools

As a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Timothy Christian Schools is a preschool through 12th-grade college preparatory school located in south Elmhurst. It is committed to an excellence-driven academic program fostered by the eternally relevant morals, virtues, and values found in the Bible. Whatever a child’s goals are — they can reach them at Timothy Christian Schools.

From personalized and targeted instruction in the classroom, Timothy combines challenging programs with a Christ-centered community. Elementary and middle school students are placed in small groups to provide just-right instruction, whether intervention, additional practice, enrichment, or extension is needed. This continues through high school, where time is built into the day for one-on-one and small group instruction. Timothy has academically rigorous classes for students who need to be challenged. Teachers ignite academic growth and help students identify and nurture their God-given gifts and talents — one student at a time.

There’s a spot for every student, from clubs to athletics to performing arts. Timothy offers over 40 extracurriculars and co-curriculars, with many students participating in two or more activities. Many of the extracurricular programs compete on the state and national levels. Last year, the Mock Trial team won State and competed in Nationals.

In the last decade, Timothy has invested nearly $60MM into capital improvements — including a new middle school, a high school renovation, and, most recently, a new athletic stadium with a turf field, tennis courts, and track. Timothy has done it all without debt and is committed to having one of the lowest tuition fees for a private school with similar programming and size in the western suburbs. Timothy Christian Schools offers more for less.

Timothy is committed to excellence in every area of our school. But above all, it wants all students to leave Timothy with the conviction to live out God’s purpose for their lives — and do it all for His glory. ■

Creating Comfort

Home 2 Home Project designs and furnishes home interiors for clients in need

BY VALERIE HARDY | PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS

Janelle Towne of Western Springs is the founder of Home 2 Home Project, but she said the nonprofit organization actually found her.

In November 2016, Towne, a mother of five, contacted a friend, the executive director of a local homeless shelter, about service opportunities for her daughter. From that contact, Towne learned that two girls, ages 9 and 13, were living in the shelter with their parents, and over winter break, they had to be out of the shelter for most of the day.

Towne invited friends to a “Fill in the Gap” fundraiser. “They would bring gift cards for things to keep people occupied [and warm] when they had to be out of the shelter,” she said, and allow them to purchase Christmas gifts for their families.

“I thought we’d get $500,” Towne explained, but the event yielded nearly $5,000 worth of gift cards.

Soon after, Towne learned that people transitioning out of the shelter receive an air mattress but typically move into an otherwise empty apartment, and approximately 50 percent return to a shelter within six months.

She felt compelled to continue helping, committing to “collect items to make a home for the next person or family moving out of the shelter.”

Her garage was quickly filled with donated items from 30 different households. “Everything was color-coordinated and exactly what we needed, even

though we didn’t ask for anything specific,” Towne said. “It was a miracle!” After that first client move-in, she kept going. On her own, or with

my front door, and people who wanted to help started coming out of the woodwork,” Towne said.

Five years later, with nearly 150 move-ins in the books, Home 2 Home Project has 22 designers (a number of whom are from Downers Grove), over 1,400 volunteers, more than 8,000 Facebook followers, and a new warehouse with an attached storefront to feature local furniture artisans, antiquers, and painters.

“maybe one friend she suckered in,” Towne said she furnished 17 homes for people in need. Each move took weeks to complete.

Without a budget, storage, truck, or team, continuing to set up homes for recently homeless clients seemed impossible, and Towne was ready to quit. However, a member from the project’s Facebook group had raised money and asked if Towne could use it. She applied for nonprofit status, and “every single thing we needed started showing up at

The nonprofit’s clients are often domestic violence survivors or military veterans, but “we serve anyone with a need and that can sustain what we give them,” Towne said.

Partnering agencies refer clients, who then meet with designers. With client input, designers prepare furnishings in the warehouse’s staging area. Next, a move-in day volunteer team is assembled. With an army of volunteers, moves only take a few hours. Move-in days close with a “big reveal – like an HGTV reveal – where the designers walk the clients through the home,” Towne said.

Home 2 Home Project has significantly reduced the recidivism rate for clients. Only one percent of those helped by the nonprofit has returned to a homeless shelter. Coming soon is a monthly “Where Are They Now?” series on Facebook featuring past clients. Follow Home 2 Home Project on Facebook or visit h2hproject.org for more information

to donate or volunteer. Especially needed are heavy lifters, vendors and artisans for the warehouse’s storefront in Hodgkins, and lead designers (no formal design background required). ■

or

JANELLE TOWNE AT HOME 2 HOME PROJECT'S NEW WAREHOUSE IN HODGKINS

“Everything was colorcoordinated and exactly what we needed, even though we didn’t ask for anything specific. It was a miracle!”

-JANELLE TOWNE

When the clock strikes midnight and a new year begins, many commit to shedding unhealthy habits and beginning anew with a(nother) firm fitness plan or decision to diet. Whether a gluten-free, dairy-free, lowcarb, keto-friendly, or high-protein meal plan, these diets du jour rarely see the next month let alone next year.

Jill Keb, a former Hinsdale resident who is a certified food educator, explains that achieving lasting change requires cultivating a lifestyle that is healthy for both mind and body. To support others seeking such a lifestyle, she co-founded Plant Life Journey with her longtime colleague Kathy Taylor of Palatine.

Although Keb relocated to Michigan, the two work more closely now than ever. Keb’s spacious South Haven home is just steps from the shores of

Healthy NEW YEAR!

BY VALERIE HARDY PHOTOS BY CAROLINA MENAPACE

Lake Michigan, and it provides the perfect backdrop for the Plant Life Journey Retreats the pair run.

These 6-day immersive whole food plant-based (WFPB) cooking and wellness retreats offer something for everyone. “We keep exploring what works for different people and meet them where they’re at,” Keb said.

WFPB involves eating minimally processed foods, omitting animal-sourced products, and avoiding oils. The benefits of such a diet are manifold, said Dr. Ashwani Garg, the consulting physician for Plant Life Journey. “It never ceases to amaze me what is possible [via a plant-based diet],” he said.

Dr. Garg recently treated two middle-aged patients who “were able to get off all their medications after about six months of effort...they are adding life to their years, and years to their lives,” he said.

Many people join the retreat in hopes of improving the quality and longevity of their lives. At the September retreat, three guests shared how medical conditions first led them to the WFPB lifestyle.

Participants from across the nation attend the retreats with health or weight loss goals or a simple desire to reset their bodies or reconnect with themselves.

AT THE SEPTEMBER RETREAT, JILL KEB, CAROLYN NORDSTROM, NICKIE GUINN, ANGELA LABERTEW, VICTORIA PLONSKI, CARLY HERRING, SHEILA HERRING, AND KATHY TAYLOR GATHER TOGETHER OVERLOOKING LAKE MICHIGAN AFTER A WALKING MEDITATION.

VEGETABLES ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN THE RETREAT'S COOKING CLASS ON HOW TO MAKE SPRING ROLLS WITH AN ASIAN PEANUT DIPPING SAUCE

Whatever the impetus, guests are likely to find what they seek at the retreat.

A typical daily itinerary starts with morning yoga or a group walk to the South Haven Lighthouse. A communal breakfast follows.

From there, guests engage in a hands-on cooking class in Keb’s “awesome kitchen, with great participation by all,” said Marybeth Sullivan of Park Ridge, a nurse who attended the retreat with her husband in June.

Guests work from a large selection of “tried and true recipes,” Keb said, to prepare nutritious and delicious dishes for subsequent meals. Participants then relax on the deck overlooking the river or walk by the beach while lunch is prepared.

After lunch, guests have two to four hours of free time and limitless ways to use it. Some choose outdoor physical activities like hiking, biking, or kayaking, while others opt to shop, peruse art at a local gallery, explore the Michigan Maritime Museum, sunbathe, or read. Some take to the road and visit neighboring Saugatuck to take a Dune Ride or climb Mount Baldhead.

Health and nutrition education is integrated throughout the retreat, including a brief session before the evening meal.

– JILL KEB

During dinner, participants discuss their learning and favorite WFPB recipes and resources. They then walk to the beach to savor (and maybe take a selfie with) the breathtaking sunset over Lake Michigan.

Guests return to Keb’s kitchen once more to prep – and, of course, sample – a healthy dessert, like the “awesome chocolate pie we make,” Taylor said.

Dr. Garg debunks the myth that dessert and healthy diet do not mesh: “Whether someone is plant-based or not, desserts always satisfy the palate…and are something one can enjoy AND get their healthy fats and fiber from, too.”

There is certainly no shortage of food or activities at the retreat, but, Keb explained, “Everything is optional. If a guest wants to come and sleep all day because that’s what they need, that’s ok.”

One-off activities – vision boards, rock painting, walking meditation in the forest, and a “field trip” to Country Life Natural Foods – round out the retreat.

Retreats typically run Sunday-Friday in the spring and fall, allowing access

to South Haven’s stunning sites without the crowds or premium prices of peak travel times. Limited onsite lodging is available, or retreat guests may stay at an offsite rental or nearby bed and breakfast.

Capacity for each session is 10 attendees, so the retreats are intimate. “The group becomes pretty tight, pretty quick,” Keb said.

Jim Sullivan, part of the June retreat, said, “All of us retreaters became fast friends...and still keep in touch and trade recipes and laughs.”

He attributed his group’s ease in bonding to the retreat leaders. He said any potential for “initial awkwardness was quickly banished by [their] kindness and humor.”

This blend of kindness and humor assuages guests’ apprehensions. For example, Taylor said, “Have no fear! [Participants] can still have the vacation experience. We don’t eat just salad.”

Nor is perfection the goal for retreat guests, Keb said. The focus is on progress.

Carly Herring of Indianapolis and her mom, Sheila, attended the retreat in September as returning clients. Herring said, “I’m surprised I’m still eating like this [WFPB], but it’s easier than I thought. If I eat chips and salsa on the weekend though, I try not to be too hard on myself.”

While the Herrings attended the 6-day retreat twice, there is also a 4-day “Reset” Retreat option for past guests “looking for a booster,” said Taylor, or for individuals already following a WFPB lifestyle.

Pricing varies by length of retreat, dates, and accommodations. For more information about Plant Life Journey’s retreat offerings as well as free access to a selection of healthy recipes, visit plantlifejourney.com. ■

If a guest wants to come and sleep all day because that’s what they need, that’s ok.”

RETREAT LEADERS JILL KEB AND KATHY TAYLOR BAKE HEALTHY “COOKIES” FOR THE GUESTS.

Ghostlight Educational Theatre Collective welcomed community members to their newly restored home inside the Masonic Temple on Curtiss Street in Downers Grove on November 19. Attendees were entertained with food, drink, and performances by students and staff. Ghostlight ETC is an educational theatre company whose priority is making both performance and technical theatre accessible for all regardless of race, gender, identity, disability, or socioeconomic status. They believe theatre should be a means by which students grow and create by examining their sense of self and the world in which they live. Their newly announced spring schedule includes programming for children ages six months through high school. Visit Ghostlightetc.com for more information.

KEEPING IT cozy

Winter in the midwest can feel endless at times. Consider these suggestions to keep it cozy this season.

BY ABBEY HAYES | IMAGE BY PAWEL CZERWINSKI OF UNSPLASH

For some, winter is a time of rest and reflection.For others, it’s a time to enjoy winter sports and outdoor activities. Whether it’s enjoying a hot coffee on the couch or bundling up to shred the slopes, there are plenty of ways to keep it cozy this winter.

Hot Coffee, Please Ember Mug², $129.95 at ember.com

Bringing Buckets Back Lack of Color Teddy Bucket, $79 at revolve.com

Lovin’ Layers Downtown Vest, $179 at athleta. gap.com

Sweater Weather Cable-Knit Turtleneck Sweater, $79.95 gap.com

“A straight, beautiful smile is universally sought after. While it is an esthetically pleasing feature, it enhances a person’s overall wellbeing in many ways. When a person’s teeth are not in alignment, the function of the teeth and jaw are not optimal; therefore, food may not be digested properly, excellent oral hygiene is difficult, wear and tear on the teeth is advanced, and the pressure from the misalignment may cause headaches and facial pain.

Seeing these transformations in my patients, along with a renewed self-esteem and a new desire to smile, is by far the greatest reward of my profession as an orthodontist.”

“The commitment to helping patients have a straight, beautiful smile started with my dedication to learning. Education was the gateway to my profession, and I optimized the opportunity to learn. With a desire to exemplify academic excellence, I graduated first in my dental class.”