Downers Grove Magazine March/April 2024

FIELD OF DREAMS

White Sox Draft

Pick George Wolkow

LOCAL LEGEND: WILL KUPISCH

HOME GROWN: FOR GOOD GRANOLA

SPOTLIGHT: WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY

TAMY

PAGELS GROUP

Real Estate Pioneer Lucy Hilt

When you meet Lucy Hilt, a few things are immediately apparent: her quick wit, warm personality...and her vast knowledge of the real estate business. Lucy earned her license 50 years ago, long before real estate was a female-dominated industry. She became a top-producing agent in no time, which was just the beginning of the legacy she has created. Surprising? Not if you know Lucy’s abiding work ethic and determination to break out of any mold. She’s passed that tenacity on to her daughter Elaine and granddaughter Brita. The three generations of strong women, alongside colleagues they’ve carefully selected, are now an awardwinning powerhouse real estate team known as Pagels Group. And they’re ready to break even more barriers, together.

Breakthrough

The theme of this issue is breakthrough for several reasons. More daylight, the sun is out, the grass is greener, and flowers are blooming. You catch the drift. We take it a step further. In this issue, we feature many individuals who break through the clutter. It is loaded with unique stories about those in our town of Downers Grove and beyond.

I am one of those parents on the sidelines of games who tries to remain calm and cool – but admittedly – sometimes fail. My competitive nature comes out. Guilty as charged. And I know the stats. My kids' sports careers will come to an end after four years of high school. After all, only about 2% of high school athletes are awarded some sort of athletic scholarship to compete in college. And pro? About .02% of high school athletes move onto the big leagues. I don't even know the statistics of high school athletes who leap into the pros. Is there one?

emceeing the event. I turned to a friend and asked, "Who is that guy?" Her response was simply, "A local legend." Thanks to contributing editor Valerie Hardy, who had the chance to catch up with "Kup" and share his story.

In December, a local resident and reader, Mary Sobut, reached out to me regarding highlighting organ donation in our community. Mary knows this subject all too well. Her daughter, Amy Kilner, a former teacher at Herrick Middle School, has gone through two kidney transplants. We are proud to feature Amy's story and the need for many waiting for their chance to receive an organ donation. Thank you, Mary and Amy, for bringing this important story - and need - to our readers.

All I do know is that baseball standout George Wolkow has been on our radar since last June when the Chicago White Sox drafted him. A multi-sport athlete at Downers Grove North, we happily highlight this impressive young man on his way to hopefully a storied career. Thanks to writer Jeff Vorva, George, and the Wolkow family for their help bringing his breakthrough performance to our pages.

The Grove Express (formerly The Bonfield Express) is one of my favorite events in Downers Grove. Not a native of this town, I remember the first time seeing Will Kupisch

Allison Rosati, News Anchor at NBC5, shares her journey and how she still has the gift of gab after over thirty years on air. Other breakthrough stories include Ronan Kristufek, who recently joined Michael Flatley's Lord of the Dance, and West Suburban Community Pantry's newest CEO, Sue Armato. Our final breakthrough story? Cicadas. They are back with a vengeance—best of luck with that.

Happy reading, and we will see you in May!

Sincerely,

Anne Healy Associate Publisher anne@HinsdaleMag.com

WANNEPERFECTPATIO?

With sunshine in the forecast, now’s a great time to explore Chicagoland’s best selection of premium patio furniture.

Shop bestselling brands like Berlin Gardens, NorthCape, Winston, Hanamint, Patio Renaissance, Outdoor Interiors, Ebel, and Ow Lee. Plus: replacement cushions, pillows, umbrellas, and much more.

For all your outdoor living needs, head to our family-owned store in Downers Grove today!

Chef Beauʼs Klean Kitchen is Chicagolandʼs Finest Weekly Meal Service. Our meals are made from the highest quality ingredients, with no added preservatives or additional sodium. Chef Beauʼs Klean Kitchen has many plant-based & vegetarian options to choose from. Chef Beauʼs meals are made fresh by professionally trained and educated chefs, catering to everyone who wants or needs to eat KLEAN!

Scott

Maureen Callahan

Valerie Hardy

Anna Hughes

Rachel Pavlovich

Jennifer Frencl

Adam Andrzejewski

Chuck Fieldman

Jeff Vorva

Madeline Craig

Victor Hilitski

Greg Kozlick

Carolina Menapace

Laura Meyer

Brian Ade

Candice Kuhnen

Renee Lawrence Cynthia Maquet

HOME GROWN: FOR GOOD GRANOLA PHOTO BY BELLA AQUINO

LOCAL LEGEND: WILL KUPISCH

ALEX PANCOE

GEORGE WOLKOW TAKES THE FIELD. PHOTO BY JERRY ESPINOZA

OUT & ABOUT

Looking to get outside this spring? Local activities abound.

South Side St.

Patrick’s Day Parade

March 17 @ 12 PM southsideirishparade.org

Calling all lads and lasses! Experience the luck of the Irish and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at one of the largest community-based celebrations outside of Dublin, Ireland. It will kick off at noon at 103rd and Western Avenue, marching south to 115th and Western, and it will last approximately two hours.

Hinsdale Easter

Egg Hunt

March 23 @ 10:30 AM Robbins Park

VillageofHinsdale.org

The Easter Bunny is planning a special stop at Robbins Park on March 23 with lots of eggs for all the kids to find. This spring favorite is a great chance for families to have some free fun and for kids to engage in

some friendly competition. The first group (ages 3 and under) will start at 10:30 AM. Other age groups will follow. This event is best for children 11 and under.

Guys and Dolls

Drury Lane Theatre

April 10 - June 9

DruryLaneTheatre.com

Escape for an evening to 1950s New York City to experience one of Broadway’s best. Guys and Dolls tells the unlikely love stories of gambler Sky Masterson and missionary Sarah Brown, along with nightclub singer Miss Adelaide and her fiancé, craps game organizer Nathan Detroit. This classic musical won the 1951 Tony Award for Best Musical. Showtimes vary by date.

Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club

Disco Dreams

April 20 @ 7 PM - 11 PM

Pella Signature

HJWC.us

Join the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club at their annual benefit presented by CD Peacock to

celebrate local organizations, while supporting and raising money for 2023-2024 grant applicants. Guests can enjoy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, a DJ, as well as a surprise live entertainer and silent auction. Tickets can be purchased on HJWC’s website.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SOUTH SIDE IRISH ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Earth Day Park

Clean-up Day

April 22 @ 4 PM - dusk

VillageofHinsdale.org

Spend an evening keeping Hinsdale beautiful in honor of Earth Day. The community will participate in projects like planting or debris removal. Residents can request to work on a park they feel needs attention. This is a great event for all ages, and it’s a great opportunity for scout groups, church or service organizations, and businesses to give back to the community.

Downers Grove

Junior Woman’s Club

Denim & Diamonds

April 27 @ 7-11 PM

DGJWC.com

Grab your favorite jeans and jewels to join the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club at their annual fundraiser. This year, proceeds go towards the DGJWC Charity Fund and Young Hearts for Life. Support the ladies of the group by contributing to their mission of helping others throughout the community.

Firefly Race Series

May 3 and May 4

MortonArb.org

Put on your running shoes and support the Morton Arboretum by participating in the Firefly Race Series. Enjoy a challenging and scenic course along the

Arboretum’s East Side, while supporting their mission of promoting a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world where people and trees thrive together. Participants may run or walk, but most importantly, they want everyone to enjoy the beautiful landscape in spring bloom.

Westmont Park District’s “Race to the Flag”

May 19 @ 8:00 AM

Ty Warner Park

RacetotheFlag.org

For a fun and active Memorial Day weekend activity, sign up for Westmont Park District’s “Race to the Flag” benefitting the People’s

Resource Center. Proceeds from the 5K run/walk event benefit neighbors in need right here in our community. As a partner in the community, PRC helps to meet neighbors’ basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing assistance services. The race is a tribute to the people who selflessly serve our country.

Oak Brook Historical Society Presents: Fullersburg from 1832 to 1862

May 19 @ 2PM

Oak Brook Public Library

OakBrookHistory.com

Join the Oak Brook Historical Society and the Fullersburg Historic Foundation as they present on the Fullersburg Historic District, one of the oldest settlements in DuPage County and the only settlement between Chicago and Naperville along Old Plank Road (Ogden Avenue) in the mid-1830s.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTMONT PARK DISTRICT

PHOTO COURTESY OF VILLAGE OF HINSDALE

CHRISTINE

SHERIF ALBERT,

AMY FELLER, DDS

HUNGRY TO HELP

West Suburban Community Pantry’s Sue Armato, other staff, and volunteers break down barriers to food assistance in DuPage County and beyond

BY VALERIE HARDY

Last year, West Suburban Community Pantry provided approximately 3 million pounds of food to community members facing food insecurity. Located in Woodridge (6809 Hobson Valley Drive, Suite 118), the Pantry has been working toward its vision of “a community without hunger” since 1992.

“The West Suburban Food Pantry has a long, rich history in DuPage County,” the Pantry’s Chief Executive Officer, Sue Armato, said.

It originated in 1970, when a group of parishioners – led by Roger and Barbara Schmith – from St. Scholastica in Woodridge came together to create a small emergency food pantry in a closet at their church. The need for food within the community grew beyond what the church closet space could accommodate, and in 1992, what came to be titled Woodridge Community Pantry was incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. This expansion allowed the Pantry to serve a greater population from throughout DuPage County.

As the nonprofit grew in size and support, so did its leaders’ awareness of the need for accessible food supply for people in surrounding counties. In 2010, the Pantry adopted its current name to reflect its availability to offer aid to residents of Will County in addition to those in DuPage County. Most recently, the Pantry’s clientele was documented as 66 percent DuPage County households, 30 percent Will County households, and the remainder from other local counties.

While the Pantry’s location, name, and geographic service area changed over the years and services – such as school breakfast programs – were added, one thing has stayed the same: no one is turned away.

Armato, whose family lived below the poverty level when she was growing up, personally knows the importance of having access to food and other critical supports. “My family needed access to food pantries and used the free lunch

SUE ARMATO, WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY CEO

6 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WEST SUBURBAN

COMMUNITY PANTRY’S CEO

1 Sue Armato joined the West Suburban Community Pantry staff over a year ago.

2 A resident of Downers Grove for over 20 years, Armato and her family, when her children were younger, would volunteer at the Pantry and host coat drives and food collections.

3 Having lived below the poverty level as a child, Armato and her family needed to access food pantries, so she brings the “customer” perspective to her work, prioritizing providing a “dignified, caring, supportive experience” to West Suburban Community Pantry clients.

4 Public education is very important to Armato, and she served on the school board for Center Cass School District 66 for 12 years.

5 Armato is an avid animal lover and volunteers as a foster parent for dogs through the West Suburban Humane Society.

6 Gardening is a new favorite pastime for Armato, and she added pumpkins to her vegetable garden this year.

program,” she said. “We needed all the help we could get.”

Rooted in her own experiences with food insecurity along with an unceasing desire to eradicate hunger within the community, Armato is committed to continuing West Suburban Community Pantry’s longstanding compassionate leadership as a “place to go for help and hope” for both individuals and families facing food insecurity. Armato truly empathizes with clients’ needs, and she understands the “powerful impact a pantry can have for a family, for a child.”

turning to resources like the Pantry at increasing rates.

The demand is highest in the late fall and early winter as “more people are trying to have adequate food and supports to manage through the holidays,” Armato said.

Customers come for food and leave with so much more than a shopping cart full of food; they also leave with hope.”

-SUE ARMATO, CEO OF WEST SUBURBAN COMMUNITY PANTRY

In 2023, West Suburban Community Pantry served 53 percent adults, 32 percent children, and 15 percent senior citizens, providing them with a wide array of produce, dairy, eggs, frozen meat, breads and other baked goods, and non-perishable items. However, equally important to providing for clients’ dietary needs, the Pantry also is committed to nourishing clients’ spirits. “West Suburban Community Pantry is that special place where customers come for food and leave with so much more than a shopping cart full of food; they also leave with hope, knowing that they are not alone,” Armato said. “We can see the comfort, the support, the hope, and being part of that type of life-changing work is very special.”

Yet such work can also be challenging. The need for accessible food supports is not subsiding, Armato explained. With rising grocery prices, community members are

Another peak time is when schools are closed for summer break and “children and families no longer have access to free and reduced lunches or weekend food backpacks,” she added.

Thankfully, the Pantry is ready to help, during these busiest times and always. The Pantry served over 110,000 people in fiscal year 2023, and its support services are expanding “to help address the underlying issues that cause someone to access [the] Pantry…with the hope to reduce other stressors and work to eliminate them with our customers so that they are in a stronger position and so they don’t need to come to a pantry anymore,” Armato explained.

However, the Pantry – though guided by an extremely dedicated administrative staff, board of directors, and advisory council – cannot continue the mission to alleviate hunger and contributing stressors alone. “Donations are the backbone to keeping the Pantry in a strong position to support so many of our neighbors and communities,” Armato said, and the Pantry is always seeking to add volunteers to the already solid foundation of nearly 100 regular volunteers.

For more information about West Suburban Community Pantry’s hours and services or ways to access services, volunteer, or make a donation, visit wscpantry.org.

AMONG THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH ARE 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON MARY RAKOWSKI, CHARTER MEMBER MAREN HUBER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT JIM GUNNER, SENIOR PASTOR TIM ROBERTSON, CHARTER MEMBER CARL OTTERNESS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIM TLUSTY.

MISSION a business on a

A granola brand created by Downers Grove’s Kiley Fields tastes good and does good

BY VALERIE HARDY

According to food historians, granola was initially created in the early 1860s by James Caleb Jackson, a nutritionist from New York. Originally called “Granula,” Jackson’s invention is often considered the first dry, whole grain breakfast cereal.

About 15 years after Jackson’s Granula debut, physician and health food pioneer John Harvey Kellogg – widely credited as the founding father of cereal – began serving a twice-baked sheet of unleavened bread broken down into chunks to patients in the sanitarium he ran in Battle Creek, Michigan, itself fittingly nicknamed Cereal City.

Kellogg also referred to his recipe as “Granula.” The only issue? Jackson had already trademarked the name, and Kellogg was threatened by a lawsuit. So, he swapped out the “u” for an “o,” and – voilá – Granola!

Though the product languished for years after its creation, it picked up in popularity in the 1960s with no looking back. No longer under patent protection, granola – a mixture typically made of rolled oats and various other ingredients to add flavor and texture – can be found in loose form on the shelves of nearly any grocery store or in bar form in the lunchboxes of children across the nation and beyond.

Downers Grove has its own resident expert when it comes to granola. Kiley Fields, a Downers Grove resident for

FOR GOOD GRANOLA CHEF AND FOUNDER KILEY FIELDS MIXES FUN AND PHILANTHROPY INTO THE FOOD SHE MAKES.

PHOTO BY BELEN AQUINO

almost two decades, is the chef and founder of For Good Granola, a WBENC certified women-owned business committed to nutrition, flavor, and philanthropy.

THE PRODUCT

For Good Granola offers five uniquely delectable flavors: Original Blend, Cranberry Spice, Smoky Pineapple, Chocolate Chile, and, most recently added, Sweet Curry. All five varieties are gluten free, made with organic buckwheat rather than with oats. Fields said of her decision to use buckwheat in her granola recipes, “As a chef, flavor and texture are a huge priority. When slowly toasted, buckwheat adds crunch…that you just can't achieve with oats.”

Fields shared that buckwheat was recently named a Whole Foods Market top 10 anticipated food trend for 2024. “It’s buckwheat’s year!” Fields said, celebrating that the ancient grain-like seed, a relative of rhubarb, is getting some well-deserved attention. “It’s loaded in vitamins and minerals, low on the glycemic scale so you won’t crash, and awesome for athletes or anyone who needs to sustain energy.”

Other notable qualities of For Good Granola are that it is self-produced by Fields out of a commercial kitchen, it is naturally sweetened with honey or maple syrup (the only sugars come from dried fruits), and two of the

“Granola is the greatest blank canvas.”

– KILEY FIELDS

brand’s flavors – Smoky Pineapple and Sweet Curry – are vegan.

AN AWARD-WINNING RECIPE

Though it has only been a few years since its inception (Fields said she “hit the live button on the website in Feb. 2021”), For Good Granola is very much on the map in the food world. In 2022, the small business’s Original Blend was honored with a Shelfie Award for Best New Breakfast Food by Startup CPG, an organization that connects emerging brands to resources, industry partners, and other supports. The Original Blend granola also received The Specialty Food Association’s sofiTM Gold Product Award in 2023, the top recognition offered by this “industry forward” entity, Fields explained.

The Specialty Food Association also awarded the Chocolate Chile granola with a 2023 sofi TM New Product Award. Fields submitted for the cereal and granola category and swept that category. “Family and friends’ support means a lot, but when you have an outside organization that’s giving you that confirmation, it’s super

cool,” Fields said of having received such significant recognition within the industry.

When she first started her company, Fields said in her head, “If I ever win a sofiTM Award, I’m done.” After doing so, and so quickly, “the end game changed. It pushed us from a trajectory perspective,” she said. “You get that recognition, and you don’t want to let it go.”

As a sofiTM winner, Fields traveled to New York to exhibit her products in the Association’s food show. “Again, it pushed me out of my comfort zone,” she said, “and exposed me to some really cool retailers.”

HOW FOR GOOD GRANOLA GOT GOING

Fields had spent most of her career as a chef working with testing and development, flavor profiles, and the impact of heat and technique, so when the COVID-19 pandemic forced the hospitality industry to virtually shut down, she needed something to reignite her professional engagement. Fields said she is “all about flavor and texture” and began experimenting with granolas in her home kitchen. She appreciated how “granola is the greatest blank canvas,” and she recognized that “the granola aisle was missing a lot of things…products that scream functional health benefits are often created at the expense of taste.”

FOR GOOD GRANOLA BLENDS ARE THE PERFECT ADDITION TO ANY PARFAIT BUT CAN ADD FLAVOR AND TEXTURE TO MANY OTHER DISHES AS WELL.

PHOTO BY BELEN AQUINO

A GRANOLA WITH A GIVING SPIRIT

Not only did starting up a granola business allow Fields to fill the void she saw in the market, she also unexpectedly “had the opportunity to take two really important elements – being a chef and the mother of two daughters with significant special needs – of [her] life and bring them together.”

Fields and her husband, Jim, are parents to Huck (20), a sophomore in college, in addition to Langley (17) and Boelyn (14), who were born with a rare genetic disorder. Both girls “are nonverbal and non-ambulatory, and they require assistance with daily living skills and will for life,” Fields explained.

As Fields reflected on “the village” that helped support their daughters over the years, she realized that building a mission into her business was going to be “the most important thing.” For Good Granola’s goal is

“to support the village that supports so many kids, adults, and families that need it.”

To date, For Good Granola has donated 10 percent of their proceeds to seven different organizations that “engage and elevate individuals with disabilities and strive for inclusion for them within their community,” Fields said.

A few such beneficiaries are Clearbrook, Marklund, Ray Graham Association, and Earn with a Purpose. From general financial sponsorship, to purchasing specific resources, to taking out time to distribute free granola while bringing awareness to her brand’s and the partner organization’s shared mission, philanthropy is at the heart of what Fields does.

WHERE TO FIND FOR GOOD GRANOLA

Seeking to support the brand’s mission and try one (or all five) of the flavors?

For Good Granola is carried locally at Fresh Thyme Market, Kramer Foods, and Standard Market, or visit forgoodgranola.com to place an online order. Products are delivered free anywhere in Downers Grove.

While on the website, be sure to subscribe to For Good Granola’s biweekly newsletter for updates and a selection of recipes. You may be surprised to learn how versatile granola can be. In fact, in January, Fields and a variety of her granola-forward recipes were featured on NBC’s “Chicago Today,” and she recently created a granola pairing guide, similar to a wine pairing guide, that lays out a breakfast application, sweet application, savory application, beer pairing, and cocktail pairing for each of the brand’s five flavors. Granola is indisputably not just for breakfast anymore!

KILEY FIELDS HAS PROVEN THAT GRANOLA BELONGS AT EVERY MEAL. FOR ONE OF HER SIGNATURE RECIPES, KALE SWEET POTATO AND CHICKPEA SALAD WITH BLUEBERRIES AND FETA, CLICK ON THE QR CODE. THIS FANTASTIC MAKE-AHEAD SALAD INCORPORATES FOR GOOD GRANOLA'S ORIGINAL BLEND AND IS PERFECT FOR WEEKDAY MENU PLANNING OR ENTERTAINING.

CHEF KILEY FIELDS’ DAUGHTERS, LANGLEY AND BOELYN, WERE THE INSPIRATION BEHIND FOR GOOD GRANOLA.

PHOTO BY AMY GORAY

FOR GOOD GRANOLA COMES IN FIVE FLAVORS AND CAN ELEVATE ANY DISH.

PHOTO BY BELEN AQUINO

PHOTO BY BELEN AQUINO

The Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club Beckons

As you feel the weather warming up, and you are thinking about outdoor activities, add the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club to your list of considerations.

Once upon a time, because so many school districts serve Oak Brook families, the club was an important focal point for children and families to get together. Village President Larry Herman feels it can be a focal point again, despite increased competition.

As he points out, the setting has been modernized, and it still has two beautiful swimming pools, five tennis courts, and a clubhouse, which continues to be an award-winning host to weddings and celebrations.

He says, “It’s a great place for not only kids but the entire family to enjoy. And, it screams bargain.”

UNLIMITED BATH & TENNIS CLUB FAMILY MEMBERSHIPS

For use of aquatics and tennis facilities:

• Oak Brook Family Memberships are $900

• Non-resident Family Memberships are $1600

• Corporate Family Memberships are $1300

• Individual and senior memberships are also available

SWIMMING

Not only does it have the pools, but It also has a swim team, managed by volunteer parents and headed by Lara Barber. As she says, “We plan a balance of instruction and fun for about 125 participants each summer. The team competes with six others during the season and the coaching staff is led by the Head Coach of the Lyons Township High School swim teams.”

TENNIS

The club is a tennis players dream. Each of the five courts are individual and use a Har-Tru surface which is easier on the body and makes for better all-around play because of the slower pace of the ball. Very important: Jim Lezzatte is the Head Tennis Professional and a member of the United States Professional Tennis Association. In a recent interview, tennis players of all ages raved about his teaching techniques and enthusiasm.

So, from the swimming and tennis facilities and the coaching staffs, to a setting for memorable occasions, to reasonable pricing, Oak Brook Bath &Tennis Club is a topnotch option.

—“A Dining Mecca!”

AMERICAN

Alter Brewing & Kitchen 1170 W 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.819.8411

alterbrewing.com

Beatrix

272 Oakbrook Center 630.491.1415 beatrixrestaurants.com

Blackwood BBQ 1715 W. 22nd St. Oak Brook 312.487.4815 blackwoodbbq.com

Game of Irons

3041 Butterfield Rd #104, Oak Brook 630.303.9454 gameofirons.com

Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar 1775 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.526.4308 lazydogrestaurants.com

Table at Crate 35 Oakbrook Center 630.590.9444 tableatcrate.com

The Grill At Oak Brook Golf Club 2606 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.368.6400 golfoakbrook.org

True Food Kitchen

105 Oakbrook Center 630.716.3056 truefoodkitchen.com

ASIAN

Bibibop Asian Grill 1725 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.634.5616 bibibop.com

Kura Revolving Sushi Bar 1755 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.791.4721 kurasushi.com

Naansense 1715 22nd St., Oak Brook Phone to come eatnaansense.com

ITALIAN

Antico Posto 118 Oakbrook Center 630.586.9200 antico-posto.com

Labriola Café

3021 Butterfield Rd Ste 105, Oak Brook 630.574.2800

labriolabakerycafe.com

La Barra

3011 Butterfield Rd, Oak Brook 630 861 7617

labarraristorante.com

Pinstripes

7 Oakbrook Center 630.575.8700 pinstripes.com

LATIN

Coa (Drake Hotel) 2301 York Rd, Oak Brook 630.264.1550 coaoakbrook.com

El Tapeo (Le Meridien Hotel) 2100 Spring Road, Oak Brook 630.828.2044 eltapeooakbrook.com

Taqueri Invicto 1715 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook Phone to come taqueriainvicto.com

STEAKHOUSE

Michael Jordan’s 1225 W 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.828.2932

michaeljordansteakhouse.com

Old Town Pour House 8 Oakbrook Center 630.601.1440 oldtownpourhouse.com

Wildfire

232 Oakbrook Center 630.598.9000 wildfirerestaurant.com

HOTEL DINING

Longitude 87, El Tapeo Le Meridien 2100 Spring Road, Oak Brook 630.368.9900 marriott.com

Hearth Lounge, Hyatt Lodge 2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook 630.568.1234 hyatt.com

Water’s Edge, Hyatt Lodge 2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook 630.568.1234 hyatt.com

Lakeside Private Parties 2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook 630.568.1234 hyatt.com

Residence Inn, Breakfast 790 Jorie Blvd, Oak Brook 630 571 1200 marriott.com

Hyatt House H Bar 210 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.590.1200 hyatt.com

Hyatt House Morning Spread 210 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.590.1200 hyatt.com

Doubletree The Lounge at 1909 1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook 630.472.6000 hilton.com

Doubletree Atrium Café 1909 Spring Road, Oak Brook 630.472.6000 hilton.com

The Drake Colonial Room 2301 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.571.0000 thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com

The Drake Coa 2301 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.264.1550 coaoakbrook.com

The Drake Polo Lounge 2301 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.571.0000 thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com

The Drake Aroma de Café 2301 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.571.0000 thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com

The Drake Sunday Brunch 2301 York Rd., Oak Brook 630.571.0000 thedrakeoakbrookhotel.com

BREAKFAST/QUICK SERVE

Blueberry Hill Café 3041 Butterfield Rd, Oak Brook 630.575.8401

blueberrybreakfastcafe.com

Corner Bakery 240 Oakbrook Center 630.368.0505

cornerbakerycafe.com

Jeni’s Ice Cream 521 Oakbrook Center 630.822.7996 jenis.olo.com

Starbucks 2407 W 22nd St., Oak Brook 630.368.1091

starbucks.com

OakBrookRestaurants.com

A LOCAL LEGEND

Catching up with “Kup”

BY VALERIE HARDY

Meeting with Will Kupisch at Panera was like sitting with a celebrity. Every few minutes someone would come up to greet him with a hello, handshake, or hug.

One of these people was Carey Greene, a 1993 Downers Grove North High School graduate, who lives in New Hampshire but was in town visiting her mother. She had Mr. Kupisch (“Kup,” as he is more commonly and affectionately known) as her guidance counselor. “She’d come into his office crying about something, and he’d get out his guitar,” Greene’s mother, Eileen Leathers, reminisced about how Kup helped support Greene during her teen years.

TEACHER, COUNSELOR, & COACH

During Kup’s career at North High School, which spanned five different decades (1978–2011), he interfaced with thousands of students: in the classroom, in the counseling office, on the track, or on the field. He started his career at DGN fresh out of college, a self-described “young pup who didn’t know anything,” just grateful to have gotten a job. “I didn’t realize the magnitude of the institution then,” Kup said of North High.

However, he quickly came to realize his good fortune in having been hired at a school where “people care and go the extra,” he said. “North High School knocked it out of the park, and it was a privilege to be part of that.”

Kup was a history and physical education teacher before becoming a school counselor, a position he held for the majority of his career. “You don’t placate them,” Kup explained of his approach to counseling students. “You tell them the truth, so they can move on, not stay stuck.”

His students responded to his nurturing yet direct style, in a counseling capacity and in a coaching one. “Coach Kup” worked with North’s football team for a few years before

KUP, ALONG WITH NEWS PERSONALITY JON HANSEN, EMCEES THE ANNUAL THANKSGIVING MORNING RACE (FORMERLY THE BONFIELD EXPRESS, NOW THE GROVE EXPRESS) IN DOWNTOWN DOWNERS GROVE.

shifting his focus to cross country and track and field.

“Coaching just augmented my position as a person and as a guidance counselor in the building,” Kup said. “You get to know people.”

And people are what matter most to Kup; not just the smartest, strongest, or fastest ones, but “every kid.” Kup explained that regardless of his runners’ times or talents, “they were all special, and if they didn’t feel the love from me, then I failed.”

COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTIONS

Although Kup retired more than a decade ago, he still spreads wisdom and love within and beyond the DGN community. He comes back as a guest coach and motivational speaker for North’s cross country team, proud to support his successor, Coach John Sipple, of whom he feels like “a proud parent for what he’s done with the program,” he said.

“North High School knocked it out of the park, and it was a privilege to be part of that.”

– WILL KUPISCH, ABOUT HIS THREE DECADES TEACHING, COUNSELING, AND COACHING AT DGN

Kup was also integral in getting Downers Grove’s annual Bonfield Express Thanksgiving Day 5K (now the Grove Express) up and running and may be considered the face of the race, emceeing from the starting line. “Quite the man, Mr. Bonfield,” Kup said, of his former District 99 colleague for whom the race was initially named, and quite the event. Kup explained how rewarding it has been to see each year’s race proceeds result in a “scholarship that turned heads, a scholarship based on character, not grades.”

Kup also helps teens and adults from Chicago and other areas of the state build character and an appreciation of nature in his role as a director at the Glenhagen Farm Retreat, a nonprofit camp in Princeton, Illinois (see

companion story). He is also a chaplain of the Downers Grove Police Department, using his counseling skills to offer support in times of crisis. “I pray before I go, not knowing what I’m parachuting into,” Kup said about his response when a situation necessitates a chaplain. “I just pray I can be of some benefit.”

A man of deep faith, Kup also leads the weekly local bible study group of which he has been a participant for 30 years. He also speaks at funerals, baptisms, and weddings. In fact, he has officiated 80 weddings, “half of them, probably, of former students,” he said.

THE KUPISCH FAMILY

When Kup commits to officiating a wedding, he often tells the couple, “I’m going to marry you as if I’m marrying my son or my daughter.”

He is referring to his two children –Andrew Kupisch (a fifth grade teacher at Downers Grove’s Henry Puffer Elementary School) and

Megan Klucharik (a former first grade teacher who is now on the administrative staff for the Glenhagen Farm Retreat) – who both attended DGN. “I had my own kids as my counselees,” Kup said, and got a front row seat to their band performances and track and cross country meets. “I got to see them a lot,” he said about his children. “I’m not sure if I would have coached if I was at another high school,” because that would have meant missing out on many of his own kids’ events.

Coaching most of the year took up a lot of Kup’s time, and he credits his wife, Cathy, for supporting him and their family through those many busy seasons. Cathy – who grew up in Downers Grove and whose father started the local Bob Carter’s Auto Body shop – was also an educator. Both now retired, Kup and Cathy enjoy spending time with their family, including five grandchildren who they often babysit.

Kup considers his family the greatest members of his team: “If people are saying anything about me, it’s really about us. It couldn’t have happened without us.”

THE KUPISCH FAMILY IS ONE THAT ORIENTS AROUND EDUCATION, SERVICE, AND LOVE.

KUP RECONNECTS WITH HIS FORMER COUNSELEE FROM DGN, CARY GREENE, CLASS OF ’93.

GREAT ESCAPE

Glenhagen Farm Retreat offers youth and adults a rich camp experience right here in Illinois

This summer, it will be a full family affair for the Kupisches at Glenhagen Farm Retreat. Kup will continue to serve as the primary director, and his son, Andrew Kupisch, will be joining the directorial staff as well. Kup’s daughter, Megan Klucharik, will continue her administrative role for the camp, and his wife, Cathy, is sure to be around volunteering, too.

Glenhagen Farm Retreat is located in Princeton, Illinois (a 100-minute drive from Downers Grove or two-hour train ride from Chicago) on the 65 acres of recreational land owned by the camp’s founders, longtime Downers Grove residents Andy Tecson and Nancy Hagen.

Opened in 2018, the camp’s name is in homage to Hagen’s late father, Glen Hagen, who – along with her late mother – believed “opportunities should exist for everyone, and the outdoors should be preserved,” Hagen explained.

Accordingly, the camp’s theme is “Care for the Earth,” Hagen said, and it operates as a nonprofit organization, offering grants to groups serving those without resources to pay. These financial subsidies cover transportation,

food, and other costs associated with attending the camp.

However, the camp welcomes groups with the means to pay their own way as well. When not needbased, organizations visiting Glenhagen Farm Retreat will work with the camp to appropriately identify fees on a sliding scale, Tecson explained.

Opened May through October, the camp typically serves groups of 10-40 for up to four-day stays. Only one group attends the camp at a time, so it is a very private experience, and they can set the itinerary that best serves their needs. “It’s very a la carte, choose your own adventure,” Klucharik explained.

As for supplies, most items are provided by the camp, including tents and thick sleeping pads. When a group of middle school boys from Catalyst Circle Rock Academy on the west side of Chicago attended the camp last summer, setting up the tents was one of their favorite activities. “It was a real bonding moment,” said the group’s leader, Charles Myers.

Myers also noted that, living in the city, where there is typically a lot of street noise, the Catalyst Circle Rock group also “benefited from it being completely quiet” at the camp. His students appreciated the nature and wildlife, “fresh air, and great sleep they got” while at camp, and “it was so great,” Myers said,

students keep asking to go again this year and stay longer.

The camp has a creek running through it, and participants enjoy exploring that, hiking, birdwatching (“there are at least 50 different species of birds,” Hagen said), and learning about sustainable energy in action (the camp has solar panels to produce its own electricity, a geothermal unit on the farm, and wind turbines are visible in the distance).

“It is intentional that we don’t have archery, canoeing, [or the like],” Tecson said. “The whole point if you go camping is to get in touch with nature. To decompress.”

That said, despite the camp’s relative simplicity, there are plenty of opportunities for fun. The camp features trails to navigate, a fire pit, volleyball court, and there are plans to add a basketball court.

There is truly something for everyone at the camp, and – as Kup described – the experience is “transforming.”

“We want it to be used!” Tecson said of the Glenhagen Farm Retreat and its amenities, encouraging anyone who knows of a group (school group, religious organization, youth group, after school program, grief group, sorority or fraternity, research group, or other nonprofit organizations) that might be interested in attending the camp to reach out. While “our sweet spot is middle school through college,” Tecson noted, the camp is not age restricted.

For more information, visit www. glenhagenfarm.org or email glenhagenfarm@gmail.com.

CAMPERS FROM GARY COMER YOUTH CENTER OF CHICAGO SUCCESSFULLY SET UP THE TENTS PROVIDED BY GLENHAGEN FARM RETREAT DURING THEIR VISIT.

Who’s Trimming Your Hedges?

Your local landscape isn’t what it appears. What you need to know about the quietly shrinking pool of owner-operated landscaping companies.

Stories about large corporations gobbling up their competitors is nothing new. But did you know the hottest sector in mergers and acquisitions is in your own backyard? That’s right – access to a soughtafter demographic and a consistent revenue stream has made the business of residential landscape design and maintenance the “new darling of the market”.

Many local landscaping companies you see around your neighborhood are being bought up by hedge funds and private equity firms. But you would never know it, until now. Tom Lupfer, former President of the Illinois Landscape Contractor Association (ILCA) and Founder of Lupfer Landscaping Company, shares his unique perspective on this industry trend and its impact on businesses and homeowners.

“As the owner of a local landscaping company that’s been entrenched in our community for over 30 years, it’s great to see money come into the industry. But as a life-long resident and industry guy, it’s hard to see those long-time owners leave. The accumulated knowledge that’s lost every time an owner sells is impossible to replace.”

Acquisitions follow various business models. According to Tom, there’s a specific acquisition strategy impacting locally owned residential landscaping companies that is cause for concern. “Basically, what happens is an investment company buys an

established residential landscape business, removes the owner, and doesn’t replace them. Then they “standardize” the work, which means less customer service and limited knowledge about the land they’re

our community let alone at a customer’s house.”

Now that you’re aware of this trend, it’s important to know who’s actually behind the brand that you’ve entrusted to bring your landscaping vision to life. Names of the original owners may still be on the trucks and uniforms, but the original owner may no longer be associated with the company. That human, personalized touch is gone. Thankfully, that’s not the case at Lupfer Landscaping.

“When you hire Lupfer Landscaping, it’s my name on the truck and I’m the person my customers work with. Residential landscape design and maintenance is a very personal service. We help create outdoor settings where families and friends will gather, photos will be taken, and memorable moments will be shared and cherished for generations to come.”

cultivating,” Tom explained. “Then, the investment company pumps up the numbers and sells the package to another private investor. It’s all about their return-on-investment.”

An increasing number of companies are selling out. Many times, the result is not only less personalized service and lower quality output, but sadly, less community engagement too. “These new owners aren’t on the ground with their clients and crews, like me and the few owner-operator colleagues that are left.

These investors are in an office somewhere, nowhere near

When deciding who to hire for your landscaping needs, ask if the company is owner operated. If the name on the truck doesn’t belong to the owner of the company, you may want to hedge your bet on a locally owned and operated landscaping firm instead.

“I know my clients and they know me. I grew up here and my roots go deep in this community. I still have my very first customer,” Tom said. “Years ago, another of my customers asked me to do a special “sprucing” for her daughter’s first communion. I just did another special “sprucing” for the same customer, for her daughter’s wedding.”

For information about Lupfer Landscaping, scan the QR code or visit lupferlandscaping.com.

Tom Lupfer, President of Lupfer Landscaping, and former President of the Illinois Landscape Contractor Association.

One Goal at a Time

Stan Mikita’s Hockey School helps Deaf players gain skills while building community

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Each June, 80 kids from every corner of the country come to Itasca to participate in Stan Mikita’s Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. It’s a one-of-a-kind summer camp for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) students to participate in an instructional hockey program while just being themselves among other DHH players.

Players of every level of ability, along with their families, have the opportunity to build community. Parents can bounce ideas and solutions to problems off each other. Kids can make

other DHH hockey friends who understand them.

Now in its 50th year, Stan Mikita’s Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has broadened hockey opportunities for thousands of DHH players. Half a century ago, former Chicago Blackhawks superstar, Stan Mikita, was approached by his friend, Irv Tiahnybik, a local business mogul and owner of Leon’s Sausage Company. Tiahnybik’s son, Lex, was a goalie who played in a local hockey league. He was Deaf.

Tiahnybik saw Lex being discriminated against due to his hearing loss. He wanted to create

2023 MARKED THE SCHOOL'S 50 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

a place where Lex could be himself and spend a week playing hockey and learning new things without worrying about prejudice.

Tiahnybik called his good friendChicago Blackhawk, Stan Mikitaand asked him what he was doing that summer. As soon as Mikita heard Tiahnybik’s idea, he jumped at the chance to help.

Stan Mikita had immigrated from Slovakia to the United States via Canada. He rose through the ranks through hard work and grit. The NHL superstar could identify with the struggles his friend's son experienced. “I think my dad was so willing to get involved because, as an immigrant, he knew what a language barrier meant when you're trying to learn a game like hockey,” remembered Stan’s daughter, Jane Mikita Gneiser. “My dad wasn't deaf, but he remembered the struggles he had incorporating into a sport at a language disadvantage.”

Through the combined efforts of Mikita’s hockey contacts and Tiahnybik's business influence, the camp began in the summer of 1973. Kevin Delaney, himself DHH, is the Board President, as well as a program alum. “When I was a kid attending the camp in the 80s, we had some fabulous coaches from the Chicago Wolves and the University of Wisconsin. Other Blackhawks showed up, as their schedules permitted, to help. Gunzo’s Hockey Headquarters, the official outfitters of the Blackhawks, donated any needed equipment. Downers Grove natives Tony and Cammie Granato have also lent their time and talent to this worthy cause,” Delaney relayed. “We’ve been very lucky.”

While players must pay hotel and transportation costs, no coaching or rink fees are assessed for the week. The camp is entirely subsidized through the generosity of a large pool of donors. “Tiahnybik had a huge group of successful business contacts who helped him cover costs,” said Gneiser. “The donor base has grown over the years.”

To qualify, students must need a hearing device. Most participate in a Deaf

“I think my dad was so willing to get involved because he understood, as an immigrant, what a language barrier means when you’ re trying to learn a game like hockey.”

– JANE MIKITA GNEISER, DAUGHTER OF BLACKHAWKS HOCKEY LEGEND, STAN MIKITA

program at school. Campers and their families stay at the Hyatt Itasca. Each day, they are bussed to The Edge Ice Arena in Bensenville, where they have skills instructions in the morning. Afternoons are spent playing games against local teams. “A few times, the opposing teams were offered earplugs so they could get an idea of what it would be like to play hockey without being able to hear,” said Delaney.

Other than that, it’s regular hockey, with just a few exceptions. To stop play, referees put their hands up in addition to blowing a whistle. There are lights on the boards that flash when play stops. “There's still the typical noise of the game – skates and sticks brushing the ice and pucks slapping the boards,”

said Delaney. “The only thing missing is the yelling between the players you often hear at a regular hockey game,” he laughed. There are interpreters on the bench if needed.

While hockey instruction was the initial reason for the camp, Gneiser sees another important angle. “It’s not just a school for hockey instruction,” she said. “It's about families meeting other families in the same circumstances. My dad got our whole family involved when we were kids. We got to know a lot of those kids’ families and are still friends now,” she said.

“Publicity wasn’t my dad’s forte, but he lent his name to the school, knowing it would help them gain notoriety and therefore get the word out for fundraising and instructional help from other Blackhawks,” said Gneiser. It worked.

There are countless awards to Stan Mikita’s name. But the plaque on his statue outside the United Center immortalizes him the way fans best remember him. ‘Keep your feet grounded and always remember where you are from,’ reads the inscription. It's reminiscent of his attitude toward life, including this project.

Registration for the 2024 Stan Mikita Hockey School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is ongoing. This year's dates are June 8-15, 2024. For registration information or to donate, visit ahiha.org.

IRV TIAHNYBIK, OWNER OF LEON’S SAUSAGE COMPANY A ND STAN MIKITA, BLACKHAWKS LEGEND

BETTING ON

HIMSELF

STARTING PRO CAREER EARLY WITH

TBY JEFF VORVA

his spring, 18-year-old George Wolkow will not be playing baseball against Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, York, or Glenbard West. The left-handed hitting Wilkow graduated Downers Grove North early, and this would have been his senior year in high school.

He bet on himself and was drafted by the White Sox in the seventh round last June. He will be one of the youngest players in professional baseball in 2024.

Some experts speculated that the 6-foot7, 240-pound outfielder should have waited a year, and he might have been a first-round draft pick. Even though he earned a reported $1 million signing bonus, he could have left a lot more money on the table if he were drafted higher in the coming years.

But Wolkow, who had also made a commitment to South Carolina in case he wasn’t drafted, made his deci sion based on wanting to get the clock ticking on his pro career.

“Growing up, I put in the work and went through the process to get to this level in the sport,” Wolkow said in a January interview. “For me, I knew the development options in the years after high school are obviously better than

GEORGE WOLKOW

GEORGE WOLKOW

THE WHITE SOX

“I can chase my dreams a year earlier.”

– GEORGE WOLKOW

WOLKOW ROUNDING

THE BASES AS A GREEN BAY ROCKER.

the development you can get in high school. I was ready for that jump and ready to start my career. When I made that decision, I didn’t know if I was going to sign or get drafted or if I was going to honor my commitment to South Carolina. But I was ready for that next step regardless of where it was.”

It wasn’t an easy decision to make. And it may not be an easy decision to live through.

“This kid is going to get his rear end kicked over and over again,” White Sox scout J.J. Lally told the Chicago Sun-Times last August. “But this kid is mentally tough. He’s very mature. He knows he’s going to be challenged. He knows he’s going to get beat. But he’s willing to come back every single time.”

Wolkow is ready for whatever is thrown at him. He seems comfortable being uncomfortable. “I knew it was something I really wanted to do and I knew that it was going to be tough and there are going to be challenges ahead,” Wolkow said. “I feel like I’m a very driven individual, and I really like to push myself in uncomfortable situations. That’s how you get better. Making that jump, I knew, would be uncomfortable at first, but I know I’ll be able to start my career a year earlier. I can chase my dreams a year earlier.”

He might have that drive that makes him want to play for the White Sox parent club as early as this year, but he knows that’s not reality. He is more general than specific in his 2024 goals.

“I just want to be readily available and to be consistent,” he said. “Obviously, I want to have a breakout year and put my name on the map. But the mature way to say it is to be available every day and be consistent. To be a great player, a great person –everything. Whatever level I start at after spring training, I’ll be ready to just get after it. If I do that every single day for two or three months, by the end of the year, I can look back at

it and be happy with the work that I put in. Over time, if I’m good every day, eventually, I’ll be great.”

Wolkow grew up as a kid who was bigger and taller than everyone else his age. His overall goals are as big as his frame. He said his goal is to be a Hall of Famer when his career is over.

There is an adage that baseball is a game of failure, and Wolkow embraces that.

“I love how the best of the best fail seven out of 10 times,” he said. “It’s a game of failure, and it’s the only sport where you can sign a $700 million contract and still have to go in every day and focus on something to get better at. I really like the process and the grind.”

While he grinds through spring training in Glendale, Arizona’s Camelback Ranch, in his first full year as a professional, the baseball fan in him is going to get a kick out of meeting some new peers that he admires.

“Out here in Glendale, we share our spring training complex with the Dodgers, and there are a few big names over there with some pretty cool contracts, so I think being able to walk across the pond and meeting some guys like that would be pretty cool,” Wolkow said, referring to Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

“Growing up, I’ve been a big fan of Bryce Harper. One day, I would love to play against him and walk on the field and shake his hand.”

WOLKOW WAS A STANDOUT MULTISPORT ATHLETE AT DOWNERS GROVE NORTH.

House & HOME

Homeownership is a significant undertaking, whether buying or selling a home or renovating or building one. It is a major life purchase that significantly affects personal and financial levels. Whether you are a firsttime buyer or a seasoned homeowner, the journey towards achieving home ownership - and making it your own - can be both exciting and challenging.

Both personal and financial implications extend far beyond the initial purchase. It provides a sense of stability and security, offering a place to come home to

after a long day of work or raise a family. Homeownership also provides opportunities for personal growth, such as taking on home improvement projects and renovations, cultivating a backyard garden, or hosting social events for friends and family.

Downers Grove Magazine has rounded up local industry experts who understand the emotional aspect of finding your dream home, selling a property, or desiring a design change. Homeownership can be rewarding with the help and guidance from these professionals in the field.

Mary Braatz

RE/MAX Enterprises

There are a multitude of things to know when selling your home. Mary understands this market and her community from 37 years of real estate experience. Mary explained, “When I started in real estate, I wanted to work the area near my home in Downers Grove, and since then, I have come to know it well."

Mary’s daily work plan is simple and effective. “I concentrate on achieving the best results for my clients, and success is the reward.” This ethic has worked well as much of Mary's business comes from opportunities from past clients or referrals to their family and friends. “I am grateful for this,” said Mary. “I feel as though these folks are my friends rather than just ‘clients.’”

She explained, "Covid has so impacted our lifestyles that people now spend more time at home than

previously. This affects how we use and enjoy our homes." Family recreation and outdoor activities like in-ground swimming pools, outdoor barbecue pits, and driveway basketball hoops are driving our demand for quality outdoor space at home.”

There is a long checklist when selling a home. To make this task less daunting, Mary suggests, “Take a thorough look at your property and decide what improvements, when made, will raise the functionality and appeal of your home. Often no cost options like decluttering or staging with existing furniture can have profound rewards.”

When purchasing or selling your most expensive asset, Mary embraces technology and social media but relies on personal attention and service. She will give sound advice from her 37 years on the job to bring you the highest possible value for your home.

Tracy Driscoll

and Diane Crisp

Platinum Partners Realtors

Tracy Driscoll and Diane Crisp form a powerhouse realtor team with a collective experience of 43 years in guiding buyers and sellers through the real estate landscape of the Western Suburbs of Chicago. For the past 14 years, they’ve seamlessly collaborated to deliver exceptional service, culminating in over $150,000,000 in real estate transactions at Platinum Partners Realtors located in Downers Grove. Their success is not only attributed to their extensive experience but also to their commitment to utilizing the latest industry technology and resources.

Driven by a shared goal of industry leadership, Tracy and Diane aspire to provide nothing short of a 5-star experience for their clients from beginning to end. They believe in the importance of early planning, emphasizing that it’s never too soon to start preparing for a move. With a meticulous approach, they assist clients in crafting a tailored plan and offer unwavering support throughout the entire process.

Having sold hundreds of homes, Tracy and Diane have honed their strategies and possess a proven track record of success. They understand the local market intricately and are adept at identifying trends and predicting future developments. Currently, they note the challenge for buyers due to low inventory levels, a trend likely to persist for the next couple of years.

Despite market challenges, the Western Suburbs of Chicago remains a desirable location, particularly Downers Grove, renowned for its low taxes, excellent schools, and vibrant community atmosphere with a small-town charm. Tracy and Diane are dedicated to helping their clients navigate these trends and seize opportunities, whether they’re buying or selling.

Tracy Driscoll and Diane Crisp epitomize excellence in the real estate industry, offering unparalleled expertise, personalized service, and a commitment to achieving the best outcomes for their clients. Both natives of Downers Grove, they cherish their upbringing in the community, and as they raise their families here, their love for Downers Grove only grows stronger. Tracy and Diane can be reached at 630-674-8320.

Chad Esslinger

Esslinger Design Company

Reality television can make it seem like design and renovation are faster and easier than they genuinely are. Chad Esslinger knows this firsthand as a designer on an episode of HGTV’s House Hunters Renovation a few years ago. He also knows otherwise. Working in the industry for the last 27 years, he understands good design is a marathon and not a sprint.

Although his first 14 years were in the corporate product design world, he followed his personal mantra – and Nike slogan - "Just Do It" and gambled on himself to pursue his passion. He launched his own design studio in 2011. Fueled by his burning desire to work for himself, what started as a combination of freelance product design and small residential design projects has morphed into a successful interior design, decorating, and remodeling business. Today, his clients reside all over Chicagoland, and he works virtually with several out-of-state clients.

According to Chad, “Not too many dads do what I do. I bring a family man perspective to my projects, focusing not only on what is aesthetically pleasing but also practical, functional, meaningful, and enduring.” He understands that homes are a reflection of the owner's needs and personalities and helps them achieve a unique and personal look that is both classic and timeless. "People do not want the same look as their neighbor, and good design infuses personality and character into homes, creating a distinctive space."

Looking back, Chad has no regrets about launching a venture in design. Although balancing his successful business with home life can be tricky at times, his passion endures. Building

his company did not happen overnight. "I took my time learning about the industry over the years, and I am honored to be able to help so many people with their homes.”■

Laura McGreal

@properties Christie’s International Real Estate

Visiting a college fair changed the course of Laura McGreal's career trajectory. A finance major, a career in banking was put on hold after meeting a national builder by chance. She took a leap of faith in joining the industry, which paid off. While there, she acquired valuable knowledge regarding sales and mortgages, construction, product development, and land acquisition. A move into starting her own real estate business was a natural progression.

Currently, with @properties Christie's International Real Estate, McGreal understands the value of hard work after building her business from the ground up. Even with the highs and lows of the business, her passion is steadfast and has successfully resulted in a steady line of clients leaning on her for support and guidance. The most rewarding part? "I love getting texts, notes, letters, holiday cards from my clients on the exciting ways their lives have changed based on their moves," she said.

McGreal and her family, including her husband and two daughters (and Bear, their 120-pound Bernese Mountain Dog), live within the community she serves. Often, you can find them walking to their favorite restaurants, the farmers market, or concerts in the park. Since moving to Downers Grove in 2015, McGreal has immersed herself in the "very down-to-earth community with great people."

Familiar with the process of building a new home, whether through a large builder who finances the construction or a smaller, owner-financed custom home, McGreal also enjoys helping clients with older homes with unique character. "Either way, these transactions have many moving pieces, so you need an expert to guide you, "she

said. "Making any home my client's 'own' is the key to success."

As for the future, with a career as fulfilling as hers, McGreal sees herself doing nothing else. And the bonus? "Showing my daughters that if you work hard and treat people right, good things will happen in life."

Brita Pagels

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago

There are some things we’re born to do. Just ask Brita Pagels of Pagels Group. As a fourth-generation broker, she’s been immersed in real estate since birth.

“Real estate has always been a part of me,” says the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago broker.

While her path began by sketching buildings and gardens in pre-Kindergarten, crayon drawings gave way to a Master of Urban Planning and Policy degree, peppered with relevant internships, both local and overseas. Pagels gathered her degrees and life experiences and married them to a genuine love of real estate under the same career umbrella.

Now 12 years in, Pagels has expansive knowledge of the ebb and flow of local current market trends. From her point of view, buyers these days are more concerned with PITI (principal, interest, property taxes and property insurance) as opposed to focusing on the value potential of a property due to increased interest rates. “It’s one more reason to hire a dedicated broker,” she says. Clients need someone in the business who can successfully navigate these changes. Then there’s the personal side of moving, to which Pagels is not a stranger. Having relocated several times as a child, she understands what clients are navigating, and not just from an investment perspective. That’s why the right agent matters. “This industry is relationship driven,”

Pagels knows. “Technology will continue to progress and increase the ease of transactions, but it can never replace human integrity and

interactions.” She builds a close rapport, which is what clients need, both during and after a move. Pagels knows that each and every transaction is as different as each day. She enjoys strategizing to help

clients achieve their individual objectives and sees herself as the strong leader of the broker, attorney and lender group. “I’m here to head up the team every day and every step the way,” said Pagels.

Natalie Weber

KW Experience Realty

Hiring the right real estate agent makes all the difference when making your life’s most important sale or purchase. That’s where Natalie Weber comes in. She’s been the #1 Individual Agent in Downers Grove for the last three years and ranked #10 in DuPage County for New Construction Sales in 2023.

And she has come by this success honestly and organically, growing her business over the past 17 years. A completely self-made entrepreneur, her background in the wholesale mortgage industry and new construction has helped catapult her career.

Natalie’s scope of knowledge is more extensive than most, having worked several years in mortgage financing for Fortune 500 companies right out of college. The mortgage crash of 2008 forced her to re-evaluate her career goals. “Looking back, we had to switch gears suddenly, and those adaptations became the foundation of my career growth.”

“I realized that I have to keep my family sailing, no matter where the wind takes us,” said Weber.

As a lifelong Downers Grove resident and member of several local organizations, Weber has lived in five

different neighborhoods in town. Over the years, she has forged many relationships and contacts which have helped her clients sell and purchase properties. A strong social media presence keeps her abreast of local marketing trends and well-connected to the community.

“Human connection truly fills my cup. I have always enjoyed meeting new people and creating new connections.” Weber gets to know her clients as people. It makes a difference. And the relationships she builds are crucial for the best possible outcome in real estate.

Weber has closed more than $97 million in business over the last few

years. “High-level clients want to work with high-level professional and customer service oriented real estate agents. I deliver.” And it shows. 90% of Weber’s business is from referrals from past clients. “You want to hire an agent that has seen it all and works diligently to ensure a smooth process.”

Weber’s local achievements and performance within the industry are impressive, and her success is beyond her wildest dreams. “I never imagined my humble beginnings would be the foundation to become the top-ranked real estate producer in the town I have called home for nearly 20 years. For that, I am grateful.”

Anchored in Gratitude

NBC 5’s Allison Rosati talks farm life, faith and fame

BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

For some, 5 p.m. signals the end of the workday and the commute back to the comfort of home. For others, it’s cooking the kids’ dinner or settling down for the evening on your family room couch, flipping to channel 5 for the nightly news.

For Allison Rosati, 5 p.m. means saying hello to Chicago with the same smile she’s greeted viewers with for over three decades. Sitting next to her co-anchor, Stefan Holt, she welcomes you back to NBC for another night of the greatest and grittiest parts of the city.

On television, Rosati is the image of confidence, warmth, and poise, engaging both her coworkers on set and her audience at home. She’s a people-person by every definition. But this didn’t always come naturally to her.

“I was such a shy kid. Like painfully shy,” she admitted.

Rosati grew up on a farm in Minnesota with her parents and four siblings. With a dad in the Air Force and an animated family, Rosati had become a master listener, paying attention to all the details. But each night at dinner, her dad expected her to sit down with something to share. That’s when she learned how to tell a story.

“I do think my love for conversation and listening and being interested in politics and stuff was started there,” she recalled.

Although her broadcasts these days can reach millions of people, her main audience back in the day was much, much smaller. It was God. She spoke with Him frequently, which led to the development of a deep faith she carries with her today.

Motivated by her faith and growing interest in storytelling, she entered an essay contest through the American Legion Auxiliary during her junior year of high school. This was the beginning of a series of serendipitous events, which she calls “God moments.” The essay qualified her for ALA Girls State,

a week-long program focused on citizenship, leadership, and helping current and former service members, which heightened her interest in a public career.

This state-wide recognition garnered some attention for Rosati. During her senior year of high school, she was invited to participate in the Minnesota Junior Miss pageant, and she won. The farm girl, so familiar with cattle and corn, now donned a crown. The scholarship that came with the title was life-changing.

“I ended up getting just enough money to go to college for four years. I didn't have any money at all. That, to me, was a God moment,” Rosati said.

The money, however, wasn’t the only thing she gained from that experience. It was the first time people told her that she should be on television, calling her a natural on camera. Until then, Rosati hadn’t considered it much – or at all. She decided to pursue these talents at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.

The following year, Rosati was welcomed back to help out at the America’s Junior Miss pageant in Mobile, Alabama. Unbeknownst to her, this was another God moment – one that would change the trajectory of her life. Broadcaster Diane Sawyer served as the keynote speaker of the event, and

Rosati was inspired by her message.

“I was so in awe of her… her baccalaureate address was to dream big, and [she] encouraged us that we would set our own boundaries, like, you can go as far as you want to go. And I was like, that's what I want to do,” she recalled.

Sawyer’s strong femininity in the male-dominated broadcasting industry stood out to Rosati. She returned to college, continuing her degrees in both speech and communications, determined to follow in Sawyer’s footsteps and pave a path for herself in television.

After three and a half years at Gustavus Adolphus, various newsroom internships, and an eye-opening trip to Europe, she had no more prize money but many new skills. Rosati was a girl with one reel tape (it was the mid-80s) and a dream. Her dream was to be on a morning talk show in Chicago (like the Today show), something that did not yet exist at the time.

Rosati began by driving around Minnesota and offering her tape to potential employers. Eventually, she was offered a job at KTTC-TV, a local station based in Rochester, Minnesota. From there, things moved pretty quickly. She spent two years in Rochester until moving to Buffalo, New York, where she worked for three years, reporting and anchoring at WGRZ-TV.

Photo by Fabian Ramirez-Bolivar

Then, a contact from a few years prior at NBC’s WMAQ-TV in Chicago reached out. It was a dream realized, another one of those God moments. After just five years in the business, she was offered a spot on NBC 5’s first-ever morning show, “First Thing in the Morning.” In the 33 years since, Rosati has made a name for herself as a prominent journalist in the national news landscape.

“In my mind, that is nothing short of a miracle,” Rosati said. “I was so grateful … I do think God works in mysterious ways. He really does. And what's meant for you doesn't pass you by.”

shows – happily, Rosati adds – reviewing notes for the next hour's newscast.

Rosati doesn’t mind, though. She was never in it for the glitz and glam. She’s there to tell a story and to be a voice for communities often without one. Most importantly, she knows the weight of this role and the impact she has on Chicago and beyond. She considers it a blessing.

Some of the stories are tough to tell, and they can take a toll on any journalist. Rosati, sometimes in need of an anchor herself, finds peace and power in prayer. Each morning, she visits a

It's not all fame and fortune in the news, however, even when you're a household name in a top television market. Every day, the Emmy Award winner does her own hair and makeup. (The makeup artists were not brought back after the pandemic.) She picks out clothes (that she bought with her own money) from her closet at home. On top of everything, she balances being a mom to her four kids and dog, Remi. She and her coworkers joke about “the glamorous life of television” as they heat up Gladware dinners between

favorite spot around her house to meditate and talk to God. In the summertime, it’s her backyard that reminds her of a simpler life on the farm. In the winter, it’s a sunroom with views of her beautiful Burr Ridge landscape. Taking time to stay grounded and seek guidance motivates her to continue what can often be a grueling grind.

The grind is fueled by gratitude – something Rosati incorporates into each of her morning meditations. She believes that there’s more good than bad, both

in people and in life. She challenges herself to find the good in her everyday stories, in her everyday life, and in every person she meets. That’s what her digital show on NBC 5, “Happy to Report,” is all about. It’s a compilation of all the best news of the week, and she encourages viewers to tune in, especially those who are frustrated by today's media.

“I believe that there are so many people out there trying to do the right thing every day, trying to make the world a better place,” she said.

Rosati lives by these words in her own life. She dedicates her time and talents to several local charities, including the Oak Brook Infant Welfare Society. The desire to give back, without any recognition or fanfare, is something that was instilled in her by her upbringing and faith.

“

[My grandparents] worked in the iron mines of northern Minnesota, but they would be the first people to drop off food to somebody who needed it or help change a tire on the side of a road, but never asked for anything in return,” she said.

Despite all her years in the spotlight, Rosati is the same girl she’s always been. She works hard every day, gives back to the community like her grandparents taught her to, and loves her family and the life she has built for herself with deep gratitude and an appreciation for God.

Rosati's four kids are all grown up now, with dreams and passions of their own. When everyone is together, however, they gather in the kitchen for a homecooked meal from Mom, sweet treats from Kirsten's Bakery, and, of course, stories to tell.

It’s the moments like these that remind Rosati of how far she’s come. They remind her of the shy little girl who, by the grace of God and with the gift of gab, paved the way for generations of future journalists and all young women with a dream.

“I’m grateful every day. Because I know how blessed and how lucky I am to do what I do,” she said.

“Myrootsinthecommunitygo

-

A Local DANCE LORD

OMG School of Irish Dance’s Ronan Kristufek joins Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Local resident Ronan Kristufek is currently performing on the world stage. After landing a spot on the high-energy Lord of the Dance North American show tour, he will dance in 36 cities over seven weeks. Kristufek got his start at 9 years old at Onórach Mulhern Geraghty Academy (OMG) School of Irish Dance in Westmont. He now teaches there.

Kristufek has competed at 7 World Irish Dance Championships. While this wildly talented young man loves

the stage, his other great passion is teaching. “There is nothing more rewarding than seeing students learn and progress,” Kristufek smiled.

The performer sat down with Hinsdale Magazine’s Contributing Editor, Maureen Callahan, before leaving for his whirlwind tour.

HOW DID YOU BECOME PART OF LORD OF THE DANCE?

A lot of it had to do with the dance resumé I have built over the last few years. I’ve competed quite a bit. The Lord of the Dance show director had

seen me dance at a few competitions. I had reached out to him simultaneously to inquire about the show, too. So, it was a combination of effort on both sides. I danced in Feet of Flames, another Michael Flatley show, in Taiwan last November. It went well. After that show, I was offered a part in the Lord of the Dance North America tour, which kicked off in early February.

HOW DO YOU PRACTICE/ TRAIN FOR THE SHOW?

The choreographers give us the dances to study at home. I practice

KRISTAFUK

STARRED IN LORD OF THE DANCE'S ASIAN TOUR LAST FALL.

"My best advice would be to always remember what you love about Irish dance and keep it as your focus."

- RONAN KRISTUFEK

about an hour or two a day to learn the steps. You are expected to know 100% of what you’re doing on the first day you arrive. I’m lucky to be a fast learner. There are 1 or 2 days of practice before the show starts, but that’s just for fine tuning. There is one male and one female dance captain and a creative director. They’re there to critique you. In the end, everyone wants to put on a great show, so veteran cast members are very helpful to newer ones.

WHAT HAPPENS IF A DANCER GETS INJURED?

There's a physical therapist who travels with the show that is available to anyone who needs them. The dancers are in very good shape, almost like professional athletes, but

something could always happen. If a dancer has to be out for just a couple of shows, someone on the cast can usually fill in. There are also several understudies who know the numbers in case someone must be out for a few days. If it goes longer than that, there are “reserve” dancers who can fill in.

HOW DO YOU STAY ENERGIZED FOR A SHOW THAT LENGTH?

Lord of the Dance has a running time of about two to two and a half hours. Most of the time, it doesn’t seem as exhausting until you look back at what you’ve been doing the last few hours! With a show like that, there's an energy that comes from the audience, too. At times, you're breathing

PHOTO BY ANDREA WAALA

heavily, but the artistry of the show definitely pushes you forward.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR DANCERS FOLLOWING A SIMILAR PATH? Obviously, it’s very important to listen to your teachers and practice. I am blessed to have the Mulherns as teachers. They’re the best around. In addition to teaching me, they also helped nurture the love I have for Irish dance. My best advice would be to always remember what you love about Irish dance and keep it as your focus. I passed through some years of competition when I didn’t necessarily win a lot. But I kept at it because I loved it. So, don't give up on yourself when you get frustrated. Dance because you love it.

KRISTAFUK ADVISES STUDENTS TO DANCE "BECAUSE THEY LOVE IT, NOT FOR HONORS."

OMG STUDENTS, RONAN KRISTAFUK AND LIBBY CARTY, AT THE 2023 IRISH DANCE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Vistro Prime, your neighborhood steakhouse located in Hinsdale, is the brainchild of Jean Banchet Chef of the Year nominee, Paul Virant.

One of Resy’s top-rated steakhouses in Chicago, offering seasonal cooking and local sourcing for a unique dining experience. We’re here for various occasions, including family dinners, intimate dates, private events, wine tastings, and Friday /Saturday lunch.

We are happy to highly recommend Mary Braatz. We lived in Downers Grove for 40 years, and I saw real estate signs for Mary Braatz innumerable times. When it came time to sell our house, who was the first agent to come to mind? Mary Braatz, of course, and she lived up to her billing! She looked out for our best interests and kept us updated on all the details. When we needed licensed contractors for plumbing and electrical issues, she immediately provided us with referrals. She “went to bat” for us when we needed it, and the closing was especially easy. It was a pleasure working with Mary.

Downers Grove Home Seller

The Greatest Gift

Organ donation saves lives daily, as Amy Kilner and John Hickey know first hand

BY VALERIE HARDY

March holds National Awkward Moments Day and April National Read a Road Map Day. Fittingly, March is National Umbrella Month (and, less fittingly, National Noodle Month). Poetry and Car Care Awareness are both nationally recognized in April.

Some of these “holidays” are silly, but others promote critical issues, like National Organ Donor Day (observed each Valentine’s Day) and National Donate Life Month (April). These raise awareness about the need for organ donors and celebrate those who have given the lifesaving gift of organ (or tissue, marrow, platelet, or blood) donation. Organ recipients, like Amy Kilner and John Hickey, also help promote such causes.

AMY’S STORY

Like her mom, Mary Sobut, a special educator in Elmhurst, Amy Kilner felt called to teach. The Naperville resident, who grew up in Downers Grove, taught special education at Herrick Middle School for nearly 30 years before resigning a few years ago for health reasons.

Amy’s medical issues date back to the early 2000s. She has kidney disease, specifically IgA Nephropathy. Before her kidney failure necessitated a transplant, Amy had brain surgery for a brain tumor blocking her vestibular nerve. Meanwhile, Amy’s kidney function deteriorated. She joined the national transplant waiting list. The U.S. Health

Resources and Services Administration reports 85 percent of people awaiting a transplant need a kidney. The average wait time for a kidney? Three to five years.

To speed up the process, people requiring a transplant often seek living donors through their personal networks. This approach paid off for Amy; her mother’s college roommate’s son-in-law, Paul Gierstorf, called to say he was a viable and willing donor.

“If I’ve ever felt called to do anything, it was this,” Paul said of his decision to donate a kidney to Amy, whose strength inspired him.

He recognizes that donating an organ is a “tremendously personal decision” but said, “if a possible donor has two healthy kidneys, strong support systems…and the willingness to commit to a healthy lifestyle, then the path to donate is fairly clear.”

Amy and Paul’s respective surgeries were through Loyola Medicine in June 2017, and they jointly named the kidney “Verona” after Paul’s favorite Starbuck’s roast and because “the kidney looks a bit like a (coffee) bean,” Paul explained.

Post-transplant, Amy returned to teaching, and her health stabilized -

CLOSE FAMILY FRIENDS AMY KILNER AND HER LIVING KIDNEY DONOR, PAUL GIERSTORF, VISIT WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL.

until 2018, when she developed a “terrible infection” that, her mother said, “almost killed her.” Then, in 2020, she received an endometrial cancer diagnosis.

Amy began experiencing extreme exhaustion. “I had been pregnancy tired…Prednisone tired,” she said, but now she felt like she was “wearing concrete shoes.”

She was in rejection, her transplanted kidney failing. In 2021, she spent months at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, gaining back strength and weight. She required kidney dialysis until this December, when a kidney donation coordinator alerted her that a deceased donor kidney was a good match. Amy underwent her

second transplant. She returned home to her husband and teenaged daughters four days later and continues to recover and advocate for organ donation.

Though Amy struggled with her first transplanted kidney failing (“you feel like you failed”), she is grateful for her new kidney, which she named “Tenny,” because its donor was from Tennessee.

JOHN’S STORY

Few people would be grateful for a bout of gallstones, but Naperville’s John Hickey was. In 2021, John sought medical attention for what he assumed were gallstones. He did have gallstones, but imaging also yielded an unexpected and uncertain diagno-

sis: primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), a rare liver disease. He was also diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma.

This was the same combination of diseases that fatally affected Chicago Bear Walter Payton. By the time symptoms arise, the disease is typically too advanced for the patient to be eligible for a liver transplant. Fortunately, John’s early diagnosis qualified him for a transplant, but time was of the essence.

“If I’ve ever felt called to do anything, it was this.”

– PAUL GIERSTORF, ABOUT HIS DECISION TO BECOME A LIVING KIDNEY DONOR

Upon receiving news of John’s situation, nearly two dozen people offered to get tested to see if they would be a

match. John said he “tried to talk them all out of it, especially the young ones.”

However, his efforts to dissuade friends and family failed. A few proceeded with testing, and his niece, Mary Hickey, then 20 years old, emerged as a match.

Mary was in college, and once she learned she was a match, she talked to her professors, who were “flexible and supportive.” They allowed her to submit her end-of-semester assessments early, finishing the semester by Thanksgiving break.

“I honestly looked forward to the surgery in December,” Mary said, and less than eight months after his diagnosis, John’s liver transplant was complete.

With John’s wife, Mary Ann, as their personal caregiver, uncle and

AMY KILNER MARKS HER FIRST ANNIVERSARY POSTKIDNEY TRANSPLANT WITH A THEMATIC CELEBRATION.

niece recovered and celebrated together, including Mary’s 21st birthday, which was a couple weeks post-surgery. She had to wait a few months before consuming alcohol but said her recovery was easy and speedy. She was back in the gym, with “lots of energy,” after a week.

Donating was a “no brainer” for Mary, especially because the remainder of her liver and the segment transplanted into John’s body would both regrow and regain normal function. The best part for Mary, however, was seeing her uncle healthy and enjoying retirement and travel.

“If more people knew how good of a feeling it was…we would have a world of donors!” Mary said. She became an ambassador with Gift of Hope – an organization that advocates for organ donation and supports families through the donation process. She spreads awareness about living donation, particularly of the liver.

John is also paying it forward. He recently became president of Organ Transplant Support, Inc. (OTS), a Naperville-based, volunteer-run nonprofit dedicated to providing education, support, and resources for transplant patients and their families, and raising donation awareness.

OTS’s motto is “No one should go through this alone,” and John wholeheartedly agrees. Just months after his transplant, he became an OTS mentor to others going through the transplant process. It was his way “to express gratitude and give back to the community” that had supported him, he said.

OTS’s meetings, speakers, and other events are often virtual, so it supports people in Chicagoland and from coast to coast. To learn more about OTS or seek its services, visit organtransplantsupport.org.

LIVING LIVER DONOR MARY HICKEY AND HER UNCLE, JOHN HICKEY, THE LIVER RECIPIENT, JOKE AROUND AS THEY RECOVER FROM THEIR SURGERIES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO MEDICAL CENTER.

JOHN, AND MARY HICKEY, ALONG WITH JOHN’S WIFE MARY ANN, CELEBRATE THEIR FIRST “LIVERVERSARY” (ONE YEAR POST-TRANSPLANT).

PEAK

PERFORMANCE

Alex Pancoe reaches new heights for a cause

BY ANNA HUGHES

Meet Alex Pancoe: husband, father, philanthropist, and adventurer. Pancoe, a Highland Park native, is not one to shy away from a challenge. He’s scaled all seven summits, faced near-death experiences, braved inhumane temperatures, and more, all while raising money and awareness for Lurie Children’s Hospital, where he was treated at only 18 years old for a brain tumor. The Northwestern University alum now lives in Lake Forest with his wife, Nina, his 18-month-old son Zephyr, and their four dogs. He spoke at Arc’teryx in Oakbrook Center in January, sharing his story. Now, in an exclusive Downers Grove Magazine Q&A, he recounts his astonishing resume and shares his toughest challenge yet.

Downers Grove Magazine: Firstly, can you tell us a little bit about your brain tumor diagnosis?

Alex Pancoe: I was diagnosed at 18 years old, before my sophomore year at Northwestern. It was a huge shock and totally unexpected. I was treated at what was then Children’s Memorial by Dr. Tadanori Tomita – a legend in the field!

DGM: What was the medical process after you found out you had the tumor? How long was recovery?

AP: I didn’t understand cancer much at that point, so when it was surgically removed, I didn’t realize the significance of the biopsy results – benign or malignant. Luckily it was benign, and I was back to normal within a few weeks.

DGM: What made you decide to climb Mount Kilimanjaro? What was that experience like, and how did it feel standing at the summit?

APPROACHING THE SUMMIT OF MT. BLANC

PHOTO BY HANNAH BURROWS-SMITH

SUMMIT OF FORBIDDEN PEAK, WASHINGTON STATE

PHOTO BY BRIAN MULLER

AP: My whole life, I had operated under the assumption that success was primarily career-driven. I was at a point in my life where I felt very unfulfilled and wanted to push myself and try something totally new. Kilimanjaro is the easiest of the seven summits, but I had never pushed myself physically in my life, and I doubted I would succeed. When I stood on the summit, achieving something I had thought I could never do was a life-changing experience, and “impossible” isn’t part of my vocabulary now.

DGM: What made you decide to complete “The Explorers Grand Slam?” This is an unbelievable physical feat!

AP: After Kilimanjaro, I wanted to see how much further I could go, so I set my aim for Aconcagua, the highest mountain in South America.

It’s more hiking than climbing, like Kilimanjaro – but 3000 feet taller! (22841 feet). When I succeeded, I knew I wanted to climb Mt. Everest and the seven summits. Skiing to the North and South Poles to complete the Grand Slam was something that captured my interest as I continued my journey.

AP: What is the training process like to prepare your body for these dangerous expeditions?

DGM: I am too familiar with high-rise stairwells and stair machines! Physically, I train 10-20 hours a week, increasing the load as I get closer to a climb or expedition. But no amount of time in a gym is a substitute for the real world and building climbing techniques and skills. I try to climb as often as I can, from Alaska to the Cascades, keeping fresh.

DGM: What do you consider to be the hardest thing your body has ever encountered?

AP: I had a near-death experience on Snowmass mountain, a Colorado 14er, and nearly lost my life and leg. I was evacuated off the mountain in a Black Hawk Helicopter by the National Guard. Currently, however, it’s leukemia. I was diagnosed this past year, and that’s the current mountain I am climbing.

DGM: With all these adventures, you raise awareness for Lurie Children’s Hospital. Why is it so important to you to bring awareness to individual patients and the medical team there?

AP: Only 4% of cancer funding goes toward pediatric research. As a recent father, I can’t imagine anything harder than what some of these kids and their families are going through. Lurie’s brings hope both through its clinical results, as well as holistically for the kids and their families.

DGM: If someone was going to take one piece of advice away from your inspiring journey, what would you want it to be?

AP: It might be cliché, but you don’t know if you don’t try. Those impossible dreams might not be impossible. 10 years ago, I would have laughed if you told me I would stand on top of Mt. Everest. My journey was truly something I never entertained as possible.

To support Pancoe’s mission and goal of raising $1 million for Lurie Children’s Hospital, visit peaksofmind.org.

SUMMIT OF MT. VINSON ANTARCTICA

PHOTO BY STEVE MOFFAT

APPROACHING THE HILLARY STEP (OR WHAT REMAINS POST 2015 EARTHQUAKE) ON THE SUMMIT RIDGE OF MT. EVEREST.

PHOTO BY ROB SMITH

SKIING TOWARDS THE SOUTH POLE PHOTO BY ANDY COLE

Making a

Comeback

The Return of the Cicadas

BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE THE MORTON ARBORETUM

Arare ecological event is happening this spring and summer, but it comes with lots of crawly legs and beady eyes. For the first time in 221 years, two broods of cicadas (Brood XIX, which arrives every 13 years, and Brood XIII, which comes every 17 years) will be making their way above ground at the same time. This is the first time this has happened since 1803, when Thomas Jefferson was president. In 2024, the United States will see a trillion cicadas, but what does that mean for us here in Illinois?

Illinois will experience both broods at the same time. The west suburbs of Chicago will experience Brood XIII, which inhabits the northern third of the state and parts of lower Wiscon-

sin. The southern parts of the state will see Brood XIX. While entomologists recommend enjoying this rare occurrence, they say to expect a lot of noise and a lot of bugs.

Warning: Potential Plant Damage Cicadas, however, are more than just pesky. They can be very damaging to trees and plants during the spring and summer months. We spoke with Morton Arboretum Plant Health Care Leader Stephanie Adams, who offered some advice on how to protect against insect invasion.

1. Avoid planting new trees (if possible) until late summer or fall. This is best to prevent the young plants from experiencing too much damage in their early growth stages.

2. Grab some tulle or netting and wrap up your trees! Female cicadas inject their ovipositor, a sharp external organ, into a branch just underneath the bark to lay eggs so they're protected. This cuts slits into the underside of small branches. Adams explained it's not normally where people think about looking for insect damage because it's actually on the underside of branches instead of the top. For people with manicured gardens, she suggests buying protective fabric sooner rather than later!

3. Pesticides are not necessarily the answer here. Studies have not proven that pesticides are helpful for large-scale problems like cicadas. As for contact insecticides, they should be avoided

because they would likely be damaging more non-target organisms than cicadas.

4. Don't cut off branches that seem to be damaged. Adams said that as long as the leaves are green on the trees, they are still photosynthesizing. It's better to wait until the branch is fully dead to cut it off to avoid doing excess damage to the tree.

The good news is that cicadas are native insects, so native trees should not suffer too much from their emergence. Typical damage is no more than native pruning. It's vital that other trees or plants you may have added to your lawns and gardens receive adequate protection, especially young ones. For those wondering how to properly cover their plants, the Arboretum is a great place to see examples of proper netting.

Which trees do cicadas prefer?

The arboretum's website says that preferred plants for egg-laying include apple, hickory, maple, and oaks. Members of the birch, dogwood, walnut, willow, linden, and elm plant families may also be used. They may also lay eggs in introduced exotic ornamentals such as rose, cotoneaster, forsythia, ginkgo, pear, and lilac. Cicadas tend to avoid plants whose sap or gum may prevent egg hatch or keep nymphs from escaping, such as conifers, sumac, cherries, peaches, plums, and persimmon (Brown and Zuefle, 2009).

Spring Break TRAVEL ESSENTIALS A

s the days get longer and trees start to bloom, we know that spring and summer travel are right on the horizon. Whether you're planning a weekend couples getaway, a road trip, or a beachy spring break vacation with the family, having the right travel essentials can make your journey smoother and more enjoyable. In this guide, we'll explore the must-have items to pack for your adventures – wherever they may take you.

CAPSULE CLOTHING:

No one wants to place their checked luggage onto the scale just to see it's a few pounds overweight. To avoid a jam-packed suitcase and enjoy a lighter travel experience, opt for your capsule closet. By mixing and matching a pair of jeans, linen pants, and a few fun tops or light sweaters, you'll have a week's worth of outfits in no time. Add a versatile sneaker, a pool or hotel slip-on, and a dressier option if needed. Some versatile accessories like a classic crossbody, cashmere scarf, or cool sunglasses are ways to add excitement to your outfit while taking up limited space.

Photo by Pexels Alexander

SUN SAFETY

As summer approaches, many are desperate to display their summer tan, but you shouldn't ditch sun protection in search of a beautiful glow. Pack a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 30 to shield your skin from harmful UV rays, especially if you're headed south. Additionally, sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat can provide extra protection and serve as a fashionable accessory. Even if your destination is chilly, slather on the sunscreen! A day on the slopes can be even more dangerous to your skin than the beach.

HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION!

It's easy to get dehydrated while traveling, whether you're in the sun all day or enjoying a few extra piña coladas. Consider bringing a reusable water bottle along for the trip, even if it seems obnoxious to travel with. Many options keep your water cold for hours and are perfect for a long car ride, a sporty day on the slopes, or a day at the beach. Additionally, pack electrolyte drink mixes to help replenish essential minerals and aid in hydration while you're away. Your body will thank you for the extra hydration!

DON'T MISS THE MEMORIES:

Whether you're venturing to the the Caribbean or the Bahamas, photo opportunities are guaranteed on every trip. Don't miss capturing a stunning sunset or starry night because your phone is dead! Bring a compact and lightweight charger with multiple USB ports to ensure you never miss a family photo, a right turn, or a late-night Uber.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS KIT:

While relying on hotel convenience stores or the local Walgreens for forgotten essentials is typical, take charge by packing your own "just in case" kit. Add some ibuprofen, antacids, and your daily vitamins to make sure you're feeling your best throughout your trip. Also, consider a small first aid kit, including Band-Aids, Neosporin, and bug bite cream, tailored to your destination. This one is crucial for college kids on spring break!

STAY ORGANIZED:

One of the best ways to have a smooth trip is by prioritizing organization. Whether you have a bonus toiletry bag or travel compact, keep passports, IDs, cards, and cash in a safe place. This includes all travel information, like plane tickets and bag tags. Most importantly, make sure all these things are stored in your personal carry-on item (for those flying).

Whether you're exploring a big city or unwinding on the beach, the right travel essentials can help you make the most of your adventures and create lasting memories. With diligent preparation and organization, the focus of your trip can be making lasting memories with the people you love.

Photo by Marissa Groote

DOWNTOWN DOWNERS GROVE ICE FESTIVAL

PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS

The Downtown Downers Grove Annual Ice Festival was held in early February. Despite the unseasonably mild weather, attendees enjoyed live ice carving demonstrations all weekend long. More than 50 creative ice sculptures lined the sidewalks in downtown Downers Grove. Thank you to the Downers Grove Downtown Management Corporation for bringing this annual event to our community year after year.

ROADRUNNERS SOCCER CLUB

PHOTOS BY MADELINE CRAIG

In January, the Roadrunners Soccer Club hosted their eighth annual “Kickin’ Up Some Laughs Comedy Show” at the Tivoli Theatre in downtown Downers Grover. Featuring hometown comedian Kevin Bozeman along with national headliners Chastity Washington and Joe Kilgallon, almost 900 packed the theatre for a night of laughs. All proceeds from the event support a variety of Roadrunners Soccer Club Assistance Programs ranging from financial and travel assistance to uniform and scholarship programs. This spring, nearly 800 players will participate in the Roadrunners Soccer Club program.

ROADRUNNERS SOCCER CLUB COACHES ATTENDED THE SHOW.

KEVIN BOZEMAN

JOE KILGALLON

CHASTITY WASHINGTON

ROADRUNNERS SOCCER CLUB BOARD MEMBERS DREW NASTAL, PRESIDENT, DON RENNER, TREASURER, AND PATTY ESSLINGER, V.P. OF OPERATIONS

TUSCANY IN CHICAGO

Experience the award-winning Italian restaurant, serving a culinary voyage of classic proportions. The restaurant offers a menu of trend-setting fare, including fresh fish, veal, chicken, award winning steaks and of course, our delicious pastas. Roberto’s Ristorante radiates a Tuscan atmosphere, compliments of its warm decor and impeccable service.

robertosristorante.com

630.279.8486

Mon