Oak Brook Magazine March 2023

GOING THE EXTRA MILE FROM LESS THAN A MILE AWAY

Our e orts come in a variety of forms, from financial investments to support economic growth to traditional philanthropy and volunteer hours contributed by our team members. We strive to provide community banking as it should be.

Oak Brook History Comes To Life

The Oak Brook Historical Society, which manages the Oak Brook Heritage Center, invites everyone to see the many relics and artifacts that are now out on display. According to President Lisa Griffith, they have moved from organizing and cataloging the many items that have come their way over the past 50 years to the current phase of bringing them out of the archives so they can be shared. It is an excellent reminder of the varied history of the area we now call Oak Brook.

Speaking of history, because March is National Women’s History Month, we honor one of Oak Brook’s most important women: Dorothy Dean. She ensured that the property she and her husband, Sam Dean owned, would be held in perpetuity as a nature sanctuary. Today it is managed by the Oak Brook Park District, and we all owe a debt of gratitude to Dorothy Dean for her foresight and willingness to give the 40-acre estate to the village.

One of the legacies of the Paul Butler era is what is called the Sports Core. It comprises 269 acres and features the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club, the Oak Brook Golf Club, soccer fields, a regulation polo field, and additional outdoor space for other village-wide activities.

The village’s Sports Core is a 269acre open-space area purchased in 1977 from Oak Brook founder Paul Butler that features the Bath & Ten-

nis Club, Golf Club, soccer field, polo field, and additional outdoor open space.

The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, Oak Brook Auxiliary Chapter reports that their Annual Fashion Show raised $175,000 as they celebrate 50 years of raising over $5 million for needy families in Chicago.

dale Humane Society is celebrating its 70th year. It is happy to report that pet lovers in 12 nearby communities must come to the rescue by responding to the S.O.S. (Save Our Shelter) effort. There is more to be done, but the shelter is able to continue helping pets and their owners.

Other topics covered in our March/ April issue include tips on getting a good start on your garden from the Morton Arboretum, and solid advice from home remodelers and builders on how to make good decisions on your housing needs.

Last but not least, after many delays due to the pandemic, couples are making up for lost time and getting married. Contributing Editor Kristina Taheri reports on the trends.

Moreover, since March features St. Patrick’s Day, we give you a grand tour of Ireland, in case you’re in the mood for a beautiful vacation.

Another worthy cause in the spotlight is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and how organizations in the area are helping people of all ages cope. Autism is a condition that can impede communication and social interaction, and it occurs in various degrees of severity. Local organizations such as Giant Steps in Lisle are of great help. One major donor, Jerry Rich, of Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, has generously donated some of his lands so that Giant Steps can enhance their services.

Speaking of celebrations, the Hins-

Remember to visit us at www.OakBrookMagazine.com and let us know how we are doing. We would love to hear from you!

Sincerely,

Scott Jonlich, Publisher Oak Brook Magazine

Photo

FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

Scott Jonlich sjonlich@HinsdaleMag.com

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & EDITOR

Anne Healy anne@HinsdaleMag.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Larry Atseff larry@HinsdaleMag.com

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Maureen Callahan

Valerie Hardy

Julie Jonlich

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Jennifer Frencl

Rachel Pavlovich

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Adam Andrzejewski

Chuck Fieldman

Julie Janoski

Kristina Taheri

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Victor Hilitski

Greg Kozlick

Marcello Rodarte

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Ade

Gino Cosentino

Renee Lawrence

Maquet

In full

BLOOM

Make your garden grow this spring

BY JULIE JANOSKI, PLANT CLINIC MANAGER AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM

Gone are the days of using a calendar to decide when to provide care for your trees and plants. A month-by-month gardening checklist is no longer recommended – or even necessary. Unpredictable weather due to climate change has rendered the calendar an unreliable resource. For example, in some years, the last frost date is in May; in some years, it’s in February. Sometimes the area gets lots of moisture in the spring; sometimes, it’s droughty.

Instead, The Morton Arboretum’s Plant Clinic encourages gardeners to observe what is happening in their own yards.

For example, check soil temperatures for good times to plant and mulch; keep your eye on the amount of rainfall your yard gets or use a rain gauge to know when to water your plants. Observe indicator plants, which will let you know there is a problem (the canaries in the coal mine), to understand when certain pests and diseases pop up; and start monitoring Growing Degree days, which measures the accumulation of heat that can be used to predict plant and insect development rates during the growing season.

If that all seems like too much work, take a shortcut by subscribing to the Plant Clinic’s northern Illinois Plant

Health Care Report, published bi-weekly from April through September on the Arboretum’s website, mortonarb.org.

Now that you have a foundation for yard monitoring, here’s a list of the Plant Clinic’s Top 10 things to do in your garden in the spring and summer.

OBSERVE AND EVALUATE

Spring is a perfect time to see what’s going on in your yard. This needn’t be tedious. Pick a nice day and stroll around. (Tip: enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of wine during the process.) Every time you look at your garden critically, you learn something and understand how to make it better. Take notes or photos and ask yourself questions, like, did some plants not return after the winter? Are there areas that are flooded for days at a time? Is that shrub beyond saving?

You may save yourself a lot of time, effort, and money by observing your garden and only doing what is needed when it is required. For instance, most plants in northern Illinois only need annual fertilization if they are particularly heavy feeders or your soil has been tested and lacks specific nutrients. Many newer cultivars are pest or disease resistant and don’t need regular pesticide applications. Annual pruning may not be required if you have selected plants that will only get as big as the space you have.

GARDEN CLEAN-UP

Waiting until spring to clean up the garden has several advantages. Unraked leaves left over from winter have several benefits. They protect the root zones of plants during cold periods, provide good insects with debris for overwintering, or birds may eat the seeds or fruit from uncut plants. Resist the urge to work in the garden if the soil is wet, as that can damage the structure of the soil, leaving it compacted. Like humans, plants need air and water, which are absorbed through their root systems. Compacted soil doesn’t have the porosity – or air holes – needed for that process to take place.

START A COMPOST PILE

Composting allows you to keep garden waste on your property and – when used properly – can supply your garden with a steady supply of nutrients. It doesn’t have to be complicated or even put in a pre-made bin. Use chicken wire and stakes, an old garbage can with holes punched in it, or stacks of bricks to corral your compost pile. To learn more about composting, visit the Arboretum’s website and search “composting.”

CREATE NEW GARDEN BEDS

Planting more gardens can benefit your health, enjoyment of your yard, and the environment. By creating new garden beds in the spring or early summer, you will have all season to enjoy them. Start a small vegetable bed

to encourage healthy eating at your house. Create shade and eliminate some lawn space by planting a tree with a garden around it. Eliminating lawn space will save you money and time, as it requires water, fertilizer, and regular maintenance. Encourage pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and other insects, by planting a garden that provides needed food sources, like the nectar from flowers.

PUT DOWN A LAYER OF MULCH (or don’t!). Mulching provides numerous benefits for your plants, such as providing an insulation layer, conserving soil moisture, improving soil fertility, preventing erosion, and reducing root competition. However, mulching doesn’t necessarily have to be done every year. Check to see how much of the old mulch is still there. If there is still a three- to four-inch layer around trees and shrubs and a one- to two-inch layer in perennial or groundcover beds, put off mulching until the fall or next spring.

Do the Weeding Early. Small weeds are so much easier to control than fullgrown weeds. Being somewhat vigilant about pulling weeds early in the season will lessen the overall amount of effort required to keep the garden clear of invaders throughout the year.

PLANT AND TRANSPLANT Spring has traditionally been considered the time to plant, but as long as temperatures have warmed, it’s not too hot, and you will be available to water them, you can plant throughout the growing season in this area.

Plant or transplant trees and shrubs once the soil temperatures reach about 45 degrees to allow their root systems to start growing immediately. Divide perennial plants at this time as well, but wait to divide spring-blooming perennials until after they bloom. Warm-season vegetables, annuals, and containers should wait until the last threat of frost has passed. The AVERAGE frost date in northern Illinois is

around Mother’s Day, but it has ranged from March to early June.

WATER WHEN NEEDED

Watering on a schedule can sometimes create more problems than it solves. Overwatering plants can leave the roots gasping for air and encourage diseases. Watering frequently but lightly may not supply trees and shrubs with adequate moisture. The best schedule for watering plants is need-based. Check the soil regularly by inserting a hand trowel or your finger a few inches into the soil to see if it’s dry. If the soil is still moist, you don’t need to water them yet. Watering deeply and less frequently will allow it to reach the root zone, giving you better results.

PRUNE EVERGREENS, AND SPRING FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS

Most plants are best pruned when dormant – during winter or early spring. Evergreens put on new growth in the spring and are best pruned after winter is over. For trees and shrubs that bloom in the spring, waiting to prune until soon after they bloom will eliminate the risk of pruning off the flower buds.

RELAX! No garden is perfect. Bugs chew holes in leaves; plants don’t always grow the way you expect; new trees and shrubs can take some time to reach their full potential. Having a little tolerance for imperfection can lead to a garden that requires fewer inputs and lower maintenance, giving you more time to relax and enjoy it.

Julie Janoski is the manager of the Plant Clinic, a leading source of science-based advice about trees, plants and landscapes at The Morton Arboretum. Call or email your tree and plant questions at 630-7192424 or plantclinic@ mortonarb.org. ■

Women’s History Month Honoring Dorothy Dean

BY LARRY ATSEFF

Since March is National Women’s History Month, and spring is approaching, we thought we would honor one of Oak Brook’s most important women from the early days, Dorothy Dean, for her contributions to nature, and in turn, all of us.

She and her husband Sam Dean were very active in both the social and political life of early Oak Brook. The Deans were involved in the creation of the village and Mr. Dean held a number of official positions, including village president, and he was very helpful to Paul Butler in creating what ultimately became Oak Brook. Not so incidentally, he also became President of Dean Foods.

Dorothy Dean was co-founder of the Oak Brook Woman’s Republican Club and the Cultural Guild of the College of DuPage.  She was also a member of the Oak Brook Historical Society and Civic Association.

However, her most lasting legacy is the Samuel and Dorothy Dean Sanctuary, which is now part of the Oak Brook Park District. In 1939, Dorothy and Sam purchased a 40-acre property just a few hundred yards north of Graue Mill, at the intersection of York Road and east onto Canterberry Lane. In an interview, Mrs. Dean once said that the name “Canterberry Lane”, was chosen because people used to ride their horses and pick berries that grew at the end of the lane.

Though Dorothy was active in both politics and the arts, her passion was the environment, and that is where she left her most enduring mark, family members say. “She had all kinds of troughs in her back yard filled with

feed for the wildlife,” said her nephew, Howard Dean.  You’d look out her kitchen window and see deer, geese, raccoons, and sometimes, even a fox come together at the same time to feast.  It was an exciting thing to watch.”

After her husband’s death in 1976, Mrs. Dean chose to remain on the property that she thoroughly loved. She used to comment that she had no desire to travel in that she had everything she would want to see on her property. The Village of Oak Brook continued to be developed through the years until there was no more property available to build upon. Noting the size and beauty of Mrs. Dean’s home and estate, she began to be approached by developers looking to purchase it. The number of inquiries continued to increase every year.

Not wanting to see the property developed and wishing to keep it for wildlife and open, natural spaces, Mrs.

Dorothy Dean is pictured with her cat at The Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary, a 40-acre property at 405 Canterberry Lane in Oak Brook, IL.

Dean took steps in 1995 to set up a living trust for her property with the assistance of the Conservation Foundation in which the Park District purchased the property. The Conservation Foundation’s Life Trust is a legal process for landowners to determine and assure that their property will always remain as open space. The property was transferred in January 2005 to the Oak Brook Park District.

Dorothy Dean died Friday, December 28, 2007.  “Dorothy was a beautiful person both inside and out,” said Brook McDonald, president, and chief executive officer of the Conservation Foundation.  “She was warm and caring, with a smile that could just light up the earth.”

The Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary is dedicated to the preservation of the natural flora and fauna of the Oak Brook area.  The beautiful 40 acres of this property will remain in a natural state.   An abundance of wildlife can be viewed including deer, foxes, raccoons, possums, and turtles.  The variety of ecosystems is especially unique; wetlands, forests, and prairies

exist in close proximity.

In 2009, the Oak Brook Park District completed the ecological restoration of the 40 acres through a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).  In recognition of the uniqueness of the Dean Nature Sanctuary and the variety of ecosystems living in very close proximity on the property (oak savannah, wetland, pond, and prairie), the IDNR awarded the Oak Brook Park District an OSLAD Grant, (Open Space Land Acquisition and Development,) for the Dean Nature Sanctuary improvements project.  The Project entailed the ecological restoration of the prairie and the development of recreational amenities that include the construction of rock fishing platforms, ADA accessible fishing pier on the pond, installation of a canoe launch on the Salt Creek, an education meeting pavilion, walking trails, and an eco-friendly parking lot.

The Dean Nature Sanctuary walking trails connect with the DuPage County Regional Bikeway trails and also to the Cook County Trails at the Bemis Woods Trails underpass of the

IL Toll Road 294, near the eastern property line of the Dean Nature Sanctuary.

In short, the Dean Nature Sanctuary is an important recreational and ecological component in this region. And will forever be a “passive park” meaning the property will not house athletic fields, traditional playgrounds or recreational facilities.

“This is an opportunity that not many communities have,” said Tom Truedson, Oak Brook Park District Board Commissioner and personal friend of the Dean family. “Mrs. Dean had the wisdom and the foresight to see that open land is just as important, if not more important, than having it developed. Open space is a finite resource in Oak Brook, so Mrs. Dean’s gift has great value in maintaining the natural beauty of the area. In a number of ways, it’s the end of an era. The Deans are one of the last of the village’s founding families. They were instrumental in the creation of the village as well as creating the mystique of Oak Brook.” “We can assure the community that the charm and natural beauty of the property will remain as Mrs. Dean envisioned it,” said Commissioner Truedson, “We are all beneficiaries of the wonderful foresight of Dorothy Dean.” ■

The Dorothy and Sam Dean Nature Sanctuary’s serene pond gracing the property.

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Rich Support

Giant Steps and the Canopy Adult Day Program provide services for individuals with autism spectrum disorder

BY VALERIE HARDY

Based in Lisle, Giant Steps is a therapeutic day school certified to exclusively serve students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) as their primary diagnosis. Since its inception in 1996, Giant Steps has upheld its commitment, as noted in its vision statement, to “providing individuals with autism spectrum disorders, and their families, superior educational and therapeutic services focused on improving the quality of daily life from early childhood through adulthood.”

The Giant Steps day school offers elementary, junior high, and high school programming, with the central goal of enhancing students’ ability to interact, communicate, and develop both aca-

demic and daily living skills. Giant Steps takes an individualized and integrated approach, incorporating five key components: autism education, various therapies, recreational activities, life skills training, and other guidance and support for individuals and families touched by ASD, as well as training for schools and other community organizations that support individuals with autism.

These programs at Giant Steps are available to students up to the age of 22; per federal law, public school students with special needs who have an individualized education program (IEP) are entitled to special education services until they reach the age of 22. However, that does not mean individuals’ need for educational and transi-

tional supports ends when they turn 22 years old.

Theresa McClear, a Hinsdale resident, described the challenges that face young adults with autism and their families after the students age out of programs like the ones at Giant Steps. McClear’s 23-year-old daughter with autism lives at home, and McClear explained the difficulty her family had trying to find work opportunities and adult day programs for individuals beyond age 22 that were appropriate for her daughter’s needs. Many programs “have long waiting lists,” she said, and “many parents have to stop working to support their adults with disabilities.”

McClear praised Giant Steps for

Canopy program participants take part in specialized equine therapy through Christine's Dream Equine Program. The program is led by an experienced PATH International-certified instructor and supported by caring volunteers.

extending services to adults with ASD through the Canopy Adult Day Program held at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. Founded in 2012, the Canopy program was largely possible thanks to the donation of space at the world-renowned Rich Harvest Farms golf course and estate courtesy of the property’s owner, Jerry Rich.

Dr. Sylvia Smith, Giant Steps

Executive Director, expressed deep gratitude for Rich’s generosity. “I still have a hard time believing he is so selfless,” Smith said. “A remarkable thing about Jerry is that he doesn’t have anyone in his family that has special needs or autism. He is just doing it because he sees a need.”

Rich, a self-made entrepreneur who developed an integrated computer system for Wall Street traders, is a golf enthusiast. When he initially learned about the adult day program through Giant Steps and that its participants were learning golf skills on asphalt, he wondered why. When he met some of the participants, “he just kind of fell in love with [them, and wanted them to have greater access to natural space

for golf and other activities],” Smith said.

Most programs for adults with autism are in “industrial areas with very little green space around,” Smith said. “What Jerry has given us is green space.”

Not only did Rich donate land and building space for the Canopy program’s use, but he also donated four golf carts. “Our guys would do anything to ride in those golf carts,” Smith said about the joy the Canopy partici-

pants get from riding in the carts.

The Canopy program affords adults with autism a vast variety of leisure and occupational experiences on the Rich Harvest Farms grounds. One of the most notable elements of the program is participants’ access to horses at the Christine’s Dream Equine Center, an equine therapy program offered through Giant Steps in partnership with Rich Harvest Farms. Through this program, participants engage in a variety of activities appropriate for their interests and readiness. They can

“Patterning and layering of skills is really important.”

–DR. SYLVIA SMITH, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF GIANT STEPS

The Rich Harvest Farms ponds provide a beautiful backdrop for leisure and learning.

Canopy participants and staff Enjoy fishing on the rich Harvest farms property.

One of Canopy participants’ favorite activities during the summer is riding the golf carts along the paths at Rich Harvest Farms.

learn grooming and other non-riding horsemanship skills, horseback riding, and other targeted educational and vocational skills at the Equine Center.

Canopy participants also spend time in the community – for example, going to eateries and learning to order from the menu – in order to continue cultivating their life skills. Smith articulated the importance of accessible programming for adults with ASD in order to avoid gaps in service. “Patterning and layering of skills is really important,” Smith said. “Without reinforcement, their learning regresses rapidly.”

The Canopy program serves participants ranging in age from 22 to 37. “We do not take anyone 8-10 years older than our oldest participant,” Smith said, adding that after their time in programs like Canopy, many individuals with ASD “will go into a residential program, because as they age, their parents are aging too.”

Currently, the Canopy program can only support 60 individuals. “Because the need is so great, and the waiting list is long, Canopy is raising money to build an activities center that will help them grow their Adult Day Program with the capacity of servicing 150 adults per day,” McClear said.

The Canopy Capital Campaign is in place to raise funds for a new and expanded program. The fundraising goal is approximately $7 million.

To help with the Canopy program’s fundraising efforts and to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Giant Steps organization, the Silver Jubilee Gala is being held on April 22 at 6 p.m. at the Embassy Suites in Naperville, “just a skip and a hop from our school,” Smith said. At the Gala, guests will be able to take pictures in front of a car from Rich’s extensive collection.

Visit mygiantsteps.org to learn more or make a donation. ■

A quick Q & A with Canopy program benefactor Jerry Rich

OAK BROOK MAGAZINE: How did you come to connect with Giant Steps and the Canopy Adult Service Program?

Jerry Rich: I connected with Giant Steps on the recommendation of two longstanding Members at the golf course I own, Rich Harvest Farms. They worked for Navistar, whose worldwide headquarters is located very close to Giant Steps. Through this connection, I learned that there were an incredible number of individuals living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who were going to age out of state and federal support. As soon as they turned 22, they often had nowhere to go except back home, where they would lose the social, vocational, and personal skills they developed at places like Giant Steps.

I heard of Giant Steps’ plan to combat such an issue in the form of their Canopy Adult Services Program, but, at the time, they didn’t have a dedicated space for it. I own 1,820 acres out in Sugar Grove though, so I was more than happy to offer it up for the advancement and expansion of Canopy. Currently, they utilize the building I own at 264 S. Main St. in Sugar Grove. In the future though, I have put aside land behind St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church in Sugar Grove for Giant Steps to build an ASD-specific community to serve the long-term needs of adults impacted by autism.

OAK BROOK MAGAZINE: Why was it important to you to support this program and its participants?

Jerry Rich: When I was just 10 years old, I sought work at a local golf course where I met a man who welcomed me onto the course and taught me about caddying. This man could have easily dismissed me, but instead gave me a pull cart and a chance to learn the game. That day, I made $1.10 in tip money, but, more importantly, I fell in love with golf, fueling a life-long passion for the sport. I credit that man with changing the entire course of my life. I see my partnership with Giant Steps as offering these individuals living with ASD the same opportunity I was given in my youth — a chance to grow and thrive.

FINANCIAL FIX Sports Core turnaround helps bottom line

Many Oak Brook residents, past and present, have fond memories of time spent at the village’s Sports Core, a 269-acre open-space area purchased in 1977 from Oak Brook founder Paul Butler that features the Bath & Tennis Club, Golf Club, soccer field, polo field, and additional outdoor open space.

Village Board member Larry Herman, a liaison to the village’s Sports Core Committee, has memories of spending time at the Sports Core as a child. And now, he is involved in leading a charge to make the entire operation financially independent.

“The village is striving for financial independence at each element of the

BY CHUCK FIELDMAN

Sports Core, as required by a village ordinance, which mandates self-sufficiency of the Sports Core,” Village Manager Greg Summers said. “In the past, there were years in which the Sports Core did not cover its expenses, even in the aggregate, much less on a function by function basis.”

Summers said, “with a new directive of each functional area of the Sports Core sustaining itself, even more attention to detail is required to reevaluate each and every operational unit, including its challenges and opportunities.”

Herman said the Sports Core cannot continue to violate the clear directive of the village’s long‐standing enterprise fund balanced budget ordinance. “Some in town have long

argued that the club is an amenity and therefore does not need to be financially self-sufficient,” he said. “Not only does that fly in the face of the ordinance, but it makes no sense. Less than 3% of our resident households are members. I assure you the other 97% don’t want to subsidize the 3%.”

Herman said the history of the Sports Core has been subject to local myths that are often at odds with reality. “Accounting for the Sports Core operations has historically been opaque at best and misleading at worst,” he said. “Capital improvements can’t be excluded from profitability analyses.”

Herman said the self-sustaining ordinance for the Sports Core was first

The Oak Brook Polo Club is a prominent feature of the Oak Brook Sports Core and has been a tradition in Oak Brook since 1922.

signed into law in 1995 by then Village President Karen Bushy. “And yet, until this past year, the village has continually violated its own ordinance by operating the Sports Core in the red,” Herman said.

He said the five-year budget forecast at the time he was elected in 2021 showed a fund deficit of about $6.9 million for Dec. 31. 2025. “Of course, you can’t have a negative balance, which means those deficits would have been funded from the General Fund, as has happened repeatedly in past years,” Herman said.

He said that some of the reasons the fund was going negative were poorly negotiated leases and management contracts, which largely have now been fixed, unjustifiable planned capital projects, such as $2.5 million for an expanded paved soccer parking lot while soccer is currently generating about $100,000 a year in profit, and several hundred thousand dollars for a golf course fertilizer storage shed. The village now plans to expand soccer parking by adding a gravel lot for about $100,000, Herman said.

Summers said that over the last several years, golf and food operations at the Golf Club clubhouse have been cash flow positive, allowing for funding of capital reserves to cover reinvestment for course maintenance and improvements. These improvements in the past included the repair of the cart paths, pond edge stabilization, and renovation of the clubhouse restaurant. This season, improvements will include renovation of the clubhouse locker rooms, sand trap revitalization, additional cart path repairs, and more pond edge stabilization. “Unfortunately, too often in the past, golf revenues were used to subsidize losses at the Bath & Tennis Club and banquet clubhouse instead of

reinvesting in the course that generated the revenues in the first place,” Summers said.

He said that historically, the village has tried many arrangements at the Bath & Tennis Club and with the soccer fields, including operating them with village staff, contracting with the Oak Brook Park District to provide staffing, and turning the full operation over to the park district on a contract operation model.

“Unfortunately, these contracts turned over not only operational expenses but all membership revenues, leaving the village paying for the maintenance and capital

The swimming pool at the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club located at 800 Brook Rd. in Oak Brook.

improvements, with no associated revenue source; thereby ensuring an annual loss,” Summers said.

In 2022, the Village Board contracted with Premier Athletic Management to operate the soccer fields. Under this contract, that company reimburses the village for all soccer field maintenance costs as well as paying a minimum of $100,000 from 2023 onward — after $94,000 in 2022 — for use of the fields.

“This contract guarantees the village a net positive revenue stream to fund a capital reserve for the fields with zero annual operating expenses,” Summers said, adding that as a result, Premier Athletic Management also leases the soccer offices for an additional $18,000 of revenue in 2023, with an annual escalator built in each year.

For the Bath and Tennis operations, Summers said, the village took back control of the pool management, staffing it through a contract with a third-party pool management company, but keeping all membership revenues.

In 2022, this amounted to $457,000 in membership revenues at the pool and $171,000 in contractual operating expenses, generating $286,000 to be used to offset capital investment in renovating and improving the Bath and Tennis Club, Summers said. The same is true for the contractual operation of the tennis program, with an arrangement that guarantees 10% of the tennis operating revenue to be collected by the village, with all operational costs covered by the remaining 90%.

“Collectively, the Bath & Tennis Club, plus soccer field, turnaround amounts to a net positive $380,000 in 2022 and is projected to be a $450,000 in 2023,” Summers said.

Another significant financial improvement for the village is the new Polo/Butler National lease, something that Herman got involved with after being elected to the Board.

“Though initial negotiations had been ongoing prior to the election, I realized that the village was going to be responsible for field maintenance, and the average increase over the 12-year term was less than 2%,” he

said. “We changed it to have Polo/ Butler do their own maintenance, saving us at least $60,000 a year, and I changed the escalation clause to track Consumer Price Index. Those two changes should net the village over $1 million more over the lease term.”

As for the Bath & Tennis Club clubhouse banquet operation, the village’s Sports Core Committee and Village Board have spent considerable time analyzing alternatives for an operation that has lost an average of $202,000 per year over the last five years.

“At the same time, a facility study shows that over $2.8 million of investment will be required in that facility over the next ten years,” Summers said.

The Village Board put an advisory referendum on the November 2022 ballot, resulting in 68% of voters indicating they did not want the Board to invest this money into the property for the purpose of sustaining the banquet operation.

“Having heard the voters, the Village Board is now considering options for the property, including a soon to-be-issued Request for Proposals, seeking alternate proposed users to lease the facility as a turnkey operation,” Summers said. He said all banquet event agreements already booked through the end of 2023 will be honored.

Michael Manzo, the Village Board’s other Sports Core Committee liaison, gave major kudos to Herman and Summers for the financial turnaround of the Sports Core. “We eliminated the park district agreement to run the Bath & Tennis Club and started working with our Sports Core Committee, which recommended to the previous Village Board and village manager to not sign the park district agreement,” Manzo said. “The new Village Board, village manager, and Sports Core Committee now have a spirit of cooperation, which has produced incredible results.” ■

The Oak Brook Golf Club located at 2606 York Road in Oak Brook.

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Big Table Podcast

Books and conversations with their authors are the subject of a new podcast

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

The written word has been under threat since the onset of the digital age. For former Oak Brook resident and Downers Grove North alumnus, JC Gabel, it doesn’t have to be. He promotes books through conversations with their authors on his new podcast, Big Table.

While a student at Columbia in the mid-90s, Gabel hand-made the first issue of Stop Smiling, an arts and culture magazine. For the next 15 years, it was reminiscent of the heyday of magazine publishing- think 1960s Esquire and early editions of Rolling Stone. It evolved into a full-on, glossy covered publication featuring interesting stories that lined up under eclectic umbrella themes. Stop Smiling published original stories about timeless themesthings that couldn’t be found elsewhere. It also featured some of the last comprehensive interviews with writer Kurt Vonnegut, film director Robert Altman, and singer/ songwriter Lee Hazelwood.

Over the past two decades, Gabel has contributed to the Wall Street Journal, The Paris Review, LA Times, and NY Times, among others. Ten years ago, Gabel and his wife, Sybil, moved to LA to work for Hollywood-based Taschen Publishing Company. Now Editorial Director and Publisher of Hat & Beard Press, he has edited (with Sybil’s copy-editing help) and published more than 50 books. As an article in the Books section of the LA Times pointed out

a few years ago, he is committed to bringing back the small press. Despite the rough sport publishing has become, Gabel and his committed force are doing it.

Three years ago, he founded Invisible Republic, a non-profit arts organization that he currently co-chairs with a friend. Big Table Podcast is the first digital enterprise of Invisible Republic. The 45 episodes available thus far explore art and culture across different genres via conversations with authors. Each episode features Gabel interviewing a writer about their recent book, followed by an excerpt from the book, usually read by the author.

Topics are niche subjects of varied categories. In episode 39, Ben Shattuck reflects on how the walks he took near his New England home during the lockdown inspired Six Walks, in which he traced several of the routes of American literary legend Henry David Thoreau. The Steve Keene Art Book, episode 35, chronicles the work of a Virginia-based artist that has produced over 300,000 original works of art-likely more than any other American artist. Alexandra Lange, author of Meet Me by the Fountain, delves into the history and purpose of a post-war slice of Americana, the shopping mall, in episode 40.

To tune in, visit https://www.bigtablepodcast.org/

Contributing Editor, Maureen Callahan, chatted over Skype with Gabel from his suburban LA home and studio.

HOW DID HAT & BEARD EVOLVE?

Hat & Beard was founded, and grew from, the remnants of Stop Smiling, my magazine, as a West Coast publisher and print collective. It focuses on books instead of magazines, which are nearly impossible to make profitable in our post-post digital age.

The goal was to create something with an international aesthetic editorially, something visually stunning but hard to define or pigeonhole. I’m eternally grateful, every day, for the opportunities that crop up serendipi-

JC Gabel, co-founder of Invisible Republic, strives to promote visual literacy.

tously. And for the tens of thousands of folks who have bought our books directly from us, which is the only way to make money with books these days. Retail and Amazon sales leave nothing for the author and publisher to split.

So many of our books have been catalogs to art exhibitions we have staged at galleries, museums, and alternative art spaces. That said, up until recently, we were only doing illustrated books or “art books,” per se, and have only just started to publish what one might call a trade book, or literature- words-driven titles.

WHY HAT & BEARD FOR A NAME?

The name of the company is an homage to Los Angeles-born jazz musician Eric Dolphy. I first discovered jazz music in my late teenage years. He was a personal favorite. We wanted an LA reference without it being explicit. “Hat and Beard” is the first song on his famous 1964 record, Out to Lunch , which was released

months before Dolphy’s untimely death at age 36.

The song itself, thematically, is about Thelonious Monk. Just the words “hat” and “beard” conjure up a vision of the hat-and-beard-loving Monk at the piano, cigarette-in-hand, pounding away at the keys, one bebop masterpiece after the other, in his own improvisational style.

HOW DO YOU CHOOSE WHICH BOOKS TO PROFILE FOR THE PODCAST?

I am confident that whatever interests my friends, as well as myself, will also interest other like-minded individuals. We trust our instincts. Music, art, and film (usually in that order) have always driven my worldview. Most of our books reflect the tastes of my friends- and their friends- collectively. If we would want to buy it, then we’re pretty sure others will as well. We go with whatever immediately grabs us. We don’t do a ton of research.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST DIFFICULTY WITH A VENTURE LIKE THIS?

The struggle has always been how to scale things without access to proper operating capital. Everything we have done with Hat & Beard has been a scrappy, boot-strapping affair. It’s exhilarating, but also unsustainable, if it can’t grow into a thriving business. We’re trying to reinvent the book-selling model through our forthcoming book clubs, which cut out the punishing margins we are forced to deal with in a post-Amazon, monopoly-as-new-normal business environment. We’re trying to avoid, as British novelist Martin Amis puts it, a “moronic inferno” of loss.

Since we are a small operation, we work closely with the authors to make their books successful. There isn’t a lot of hierarchy. We’re all selling books at events, side by side. We’re all hustling to get media exposure for the work, through word-ofmouth, etc. More succinctly, “We’re all in this together,” as George Orwell famously said.

WHICH OF YOUR PROJECTS BRING YOU PARTICULAR PRIDE?

I am extremely proud of the legacy of long-form storytelling we perfected over 15 years with Stop Smiling, “The Magazine for High-Minded Lowlifes.” Subsequently, what I was able to create with a tight-knit team with The Chicagoan and the Pitchfork Review, expanded the long-form tradition of journalism and creative non-fiction in an age of lowest-common-denominator listicles and blurb culture. I spent two decades working as a magazine editor and publisher. Then, one day, it was time to move on to books full-time.  ■

Big Table podcast keeps books and their authors relevant in a digital world.

“When

Bringing History TO LIFE

The Oak Brook Heritage Center offers a glimpse into the past

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY MARCELLO RODARTE

From a charming 1920s old schoolhouse at Spring Road and 31st Street in Oak Brook, the Village’s rich history has flowered into what it is today: The Oak Brook Heritage Center. The brick Revival Georgian Style building stands next to the modern Oak Brook Village Hall, Police Department, and Fire Station. The entire complex is an example of an American town envied throughout the United States as an evolutionary community grounded in tradition while remaining forward-thinking.

Oak Brook Magazine Publisher Scott Jonlich and Managing Editor Larry Atseff walked through the storied schoolhouse, initially named the Butler School. The hardwood floors creaked as we walked past the tiny student desks, clad with iron rails firmly wrapping the wooden chairs facing the classic blackboard that captivated generations of learners. One can almost hear the distant voices of the past echoing throughout the structure.

Our tour was led by Historical Society President and Board Member, Oak Brook resident Lisa Griffith. She was elected in 2021. As she explained, “I’ve always loved history and feel it is very important to learn about our

past and share it with our community so that we can grow, learn and have a deeper connection to the area in which we live.” Griffith has been a professional opera singer, a music director, and a voice teacher for young people. Her background has come in handy for the current phase of volunteer work, presenting what has been collected.

mation, artifacts, and relics from the archives.”

Griffith said it all began in 1975 when the Oak Brook Historical Society was founded. Through the efforts of countless volunteers, donors, and the support of the Village, we have endured and are continuing to grow and evolve.” Griffith added, “Butler School is known as the Oak Brook Heritage Center, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places.”

She continued, “At the outset, making sense of all the collected information and donations was daunting. Dozens of volunteers spent hundreds of hours sorting and organizing. One person, Ray Paice, in particular, has been organizing and labeling files for at least 35 years. He started out accompanying his wife Esther to the building when she was an early Treasurer. He got interested and has become our curator extraordinaire. Even at 90, he still regularly comes to the Center.”

As we walked through the building with her, she explained, “For today’s volunteers, our mission is to acquaint visitors with what has been organized and collected. Together, we have collaborated on the most thoughtful ways to present and stage the infor-

Paice told us, “I love history, and Oak Brook has an amazing history. I have learned a lot!”

Griffith added, “Thanks to our committed board of directors, we are making great strides in preserving and sharing our Village’s history. We

Together, we have collaborated on the most thoughtful ways to present and stage the information, artifacts, and relics from the archives.”

LISA GRIFFITH

Lisa Griffith welcomes visitors to The Oak Brook Heritage Center located at 1112 Oak Brook Road in Oak Brook, IL.

are now bringing the information and items out of the archives so everyone can actually see Oak Brook’s history.”

Board Member and Preservation Chair, Elizabeth Arts, is another long-time volunteer. She says, “My role is to build awareness and educate the public about preservation topics. In Oak Brook, there is the Oak Brook Heritage Center, the York Tavern, Mayslake, the Church on the Hill behind Graue Mill, and Graue Mill itself. For example, last year, the fifthgrade Brook Forest students were taken on a tour of the five historic buildings. We had a lecture at the library about the history of the Potawatomi Indians in the area.” (The National Trust for Historic Preservation designates the month of May to call attention to preservation efforts. The Oak Brook Historical

Society will have some activities planned for this May.)

Arts added, “We admire the vision and enthusiasm Lisa brings. We enjoy working with her and sharing ideas.”

During the holidays this past December, residents were invited to an open house to see the progress that has been made to recreate the past. They had their picture taken sitting in an authentic sleigh from the day. They saw the replica staging of the original classrooms, complete with small desks with inkwells, the teacher’s desk up front, with blackboard and globe. On the desks are the actual workbooks students used to practice penmanship.

Trustee Larry Herman donated tall glass cases full of pictures of village staff as the building evolved into the

Village Hall, Police Department, and Library. Library books are also on display. Over the years, the building also became a “hub” for community activities, and pictures of those activities are on display as well. There are also mannequins showing off uniforms of the day.

On sturdy easels built by Paice, there is a section devoted to many of the fine companies that have located in Oak Brook. Griffith showed us an easel of maps that trace how and when the land was acquired over the years, which finally led to the incorporation of the Village of Oak Brook in 1958.

Another easel shows a photograph collection of notable buildings and locations like the Graue Mill, the York Tavern, the Saddle Club, and the Torode quarry, among others.

Ray Paice, Oak Brook history curator extraordinaire

As we walked to another room, she explained, “Here is a collection of memorabilia donated by several families to show everyday items that were used in the late 1800s and early 1900s, from dolls and dollhouses to clothing, to diaries, to postcards.”

Another display is a collection of arrowheads used by Potawatomi Indians, neatly presented on tables to give a glimpse of ancient history before settlers arrived. Griffith is working to improve and grow this display with the help of historian Sue Devick.

The display of the history of Oak Brook is complete with the impact Paul Butler and his family have had over the years. There is a Polo Room with photos of the players, their ponies, and the international crowd they attracted, including Prince Charles (now King of England) playing on a team from England. Actual polo riding gear and uniforms are also on display. There is even a collection of Christmas cards that Mr. Butler would send to every resident in the area every year of beautiful scenes of Oak Brook he photographed himself. There is also a full-length picture of Butler in full polo regalia.

From native Indians to settlers, to a schoolhouse to business giants, Oak Brook has a very eclectic history.

As Chair of Development for Marci Spingola remarked, “Our Oak Brook Heritage Center not only brings you the past, but we are also sharing the future. We recently invited Tim Geiges, Senior Property Manager at Oakbrook Center, to explain how his upscale shopping center is evolving not only as a destination for shopping but also as a destination for dining and entertainment.”

Griffith concluded our tour by saying, “We need more volunteers so that the Heritage

Center can be open more days of the week, and we can have more events and activities.

We also need more financial support to carry on our collection, display, and restoration efforts. So, if you love history and living in Oak Brook, we invite your readers to join, learn our remarkable history and future and help share it with others.”

For more information, contact the Oak Brook Heritage Center at 630-368- 7750 or visit  www.oakbrookhistory.com ■

Lisa Griffith in the Polo Room at The Oak Brook Heritage Center

Middle: The Oak Brook Polo Memorial Trophy 1963 The Oak Brook Polo Memorial Trophy. Glass display of the Oak Brook Polo Club International Programme in 1986 featuring Prince Charles.

Left: Postcards from late 1800s from Harger family. Children’s toy furniture from the late 1800s.

Wedding TRENDS

BY KRISTINA TAHERI

There are ever-changing trends for a lifetime event that has remained fundamentally the same. A couple meets, love happens, and a proposal is forthcoming. Excitement ensues as dates are set for engagement soirees, showers, ceremonies, and receptions; all celebrating a new life together for the bride and groom-to-be. The wedding planning begins! But where to start?

Let’s look at some specific trends for 2023.

SIZE:

Micro weddings are not necessarily going away after trending due to the pandemic. These charming events are not always about saving money, but about the intimacy which can be created by a ceremony shared with those closest to you.

That being said, after the wedding boom year of 2022, we are now seeing a trend toward maximalism in décor, lighting, music, food, and guest count in response to the pent-up demand and shortage of options of the past three years. Let’s go bold is on the mind of many!

VENUES:

2023 is about reinventing the wedding rush of the recent past. There is now slightly more time to lock in a choice of venue and available dates. The more relaxed process of seeking a location and personalization should enhance the experience. For those desiring a destination wedding, the dollar is presently strong and travel restrictions are easing substan-

PHOTO BY KRISTIN LA VOIE

tially. A villa in Italy surrounded by vineyards, a historic Spanish Parador with mountain views, or a tropical beach in Costa Rica are all, more than ever, within reach. Scatter the event with local cultural touches, and your guests are sure to be delighted.

DATES:

Couples have recently had to realize that flexibility of dates, days of the week, and timeframes could be a plus in planning. More venue choices are available on a Friday or Sunday. Late morning or early afternoon ceremonies allow guests to rest up for a festive nighttime reception. A sophisticated champagne brunch in a chic setting with jazz playing or a rustic Ralph Lauren-inspired outdoor lunch with interactive entertainment can be memorable and

unexpected settings following the ceremony.

DÉCOR:

Mirrored or artistic dance floors with dramatic overhead ceiling décor are in vogue. Large ceiling fixtures in brass, crystal, or drum shades draw the eye up. Swaths of lush mixed florals hanging over the bridal table or other clustered areas define the spaces for added dimension. And while classic soft bridal pallets of white mixed with organic green foliage or textured neutral tone-on-tone decor are timeless, vivid colors are coming on strong for 2023. Flowers in sophisticated but seasonal shades of deep purple, hot pink, sunny gold, or vivid orange are adding excitement. And, if patterned linens, custom lounge seating, espresso martini bars, and rockstar bands sound like a night of disco;

that may well be the appeal for some party-on clients. Whimsical designs and esthetics are taking center stage as this year progresses.

And let’s not neglect the importance of many bridal couples’ thoughts toward more stainability. Eliminating items of single use, preferring large potted plants placed around the room for refreshing décor, and donating floral arrangements after the reception to note a few.

INVITATIONS:

No longer just a destination wedding concept, guests today may receive a suite of invitations. Formal requests to attend events such as themed icebreaker welcome parties, rehearsals, the main draw, or a day of golf or spa activities for those with spare time may be extended. Many recent invitations are showing high-touch personalities like custom water-color crests, witty wording, and vibrant hues for 2023, yet online response tracking is a-ok with our tech-savvy couples.

FASHION AND JEWELRY:

Brides are starting to go all out in whimsical gowns with an emphasis on their personalities. From classic Kate Middleton to chiffon ball gowns with full sleeves to flowing florals. Silk pastels are everywhere in flattering baby blue, pink, and ivory. Veils are going longer and edgy slits are showing up in full gathered skirts. The attire change to a chic white cocktail-length dress with feathers or the satin pantsuit adds unexpected sophistication. And brides may be curating their outfits in white to complement each special event ranging from the engagement party to the big day.

The wedding party is more frequently encouraged to show their own personality. Given general guidelines for individual selection of attire based on color, fabric, or pattern, bridal attendants’ own style can be more clearly appreciated. For men at the party, more velvet, dark blue, and even dark green is becoming more popular this year.

CATERING:

The oversized wedding cake is back

PHOTO BY OLIVIA LEIGH

PHOTO BY STUDIO THIS IS

and heavily decorated. Multiple tiers are showing up with texture, décor, sentimental toppers, and swirls of cascading flowers. Ethnic food trucks for snacks toward the tail end of an outdoor tented wedding are catching on and vegan and vegetarian dinner options at receptions are more popular than ever. Brown bars, carts of specialty drinks rolled between guests, and interactive food presentations will be big this year.

BEAUTY:

Brides are leaning toward a more natural look in skin, make-up, and hair. A more sophisticated version of their typical hairstyle is being buffed up for the day. The same is being done with makeup as it is being professionally applied. Makeup that is too unnatural or a heavily sprayed and pinned up hairstyle does not offer today’s brides the feeling of wanting to look like themselves…but just a little more glamorous!

PHOTOGRAPHY:

Many bridal couples now want to capture this magical time more naturally. They want fewer interruptions for posed groups and formal photos. The bride walking solo prior to joining her parents halfway down the aisle, friends bent over with laughter, the young ring bearer nearly dropping the rings, or an elegantly dressed guest looking suspiciously at her ten-year-old in his first suit as he sidles dangerously close to the wedding cake. Candid shots more realistically capture the day. And don’t forget the couple’s pet pooch which has become a big part of the festivities. In Blur Motion style or vivid realistic photos, time is lovingly preserved.

Kristina Taheri, of Kristina Taheri Special Events, is located in Hinsdale, Illinois. With over twenty years of planning and executing elevated wedding, social and business events, Kristina is equally comfortable working with clients hosting intimate gatherings or hundreds of guests in a luxury hotel or trendy setting. Educated at Cornell University in hospitality management and having lived and worked in France, New York, San Francisco, and now Chicago for a decade, Kristina incorporates sophisticated trends in her work and pairs with some of the hottest venues and talents in the area. Her personalized service takes each client’s unique inspiration into account to present flawless events.

GIFT REGISTRY:

Gifts of fine China, crystal, and candlesticks are taking somewhat of a backseat. Couples now seem to be opting for more casual household pottery and goods as well as items such as camping gear, funded experi-

ences, or donations to personally meaningful organizations.

In summary, we advise our couples to always consider fresh, current ideas but balance choices so that your wedding tips towards timeless vs. trendy. ■

EXPERTS' INPUT from local industry expert Magnificent Milestones

"It's fun to be fun! While I prefer traditional text for the main invitation, I enjoy weaving whimsical wording into the accompanying pieces such as reply cards and additional inserts. It provides an extra touch of personality from the couple to their special guests."

– Kara Gordon, Owner + Designer, Magnificent

Milestones

www.magnificentmilestones.com │ @mag.milestones

PHOTO BY OLIVIA LEIGH

HOUSE & HOME

Finding a house is a significant undertaking and a major milestone. As a long-term investment, house hunters are faced with a myriad of decisions to fulfill their dream home vision.

Luckily, the western suburbs offer a variety of neighborhoods to choose from that fit a range of lifestyles. Thankfully, it is also home to many local expert resources, including realtors who advise their clients through the buying or selling

process and interior designers who help create a harmonious and functional space. If looking to modify a current home, architects may map out a new layout and design, or professionals that remodel, renovate and restore are available to assist.

Hinsdale Magazine Group proudly features some noteworthy real estate industry leaders in this edition that help guide prospective buyers and sellers through the process.

Nikki Ricci immigrated to America with her parents, who were seeking a better life for their family in the land of opportunity. Fast forward fifteen years later, she met her husband Jon, an ideal match, and decided to start their family. Like many couples, Nikki and Jon began a search for the ideal location to raise their daughters. With a wish list for their dream home to be built, after serious consideration, they determined Oak Brook was the perfect location for their family.

The process had a profound effect on Nikki. With the energy she enjoyed and the experience of building their first home, Jon suggested that she might enjoy pursuing a career in real estate. A new beginning for Nikki in 1986 with Coldwell Banker Realty proved to be an excellent decision.  She offers in-depth knowledge of Oak Brook, and the Western Suburbs with global and national networking a benefit to her clients.

Passionate about the business, her commitment and production have kept her consistently in the TOP tier of agents in the Coldwell Banker Oak Brook Office. She believes it takes hands to build a house, but hearts to build a home. Guiding buyers and sellers with their real estate needs is priority.

A first impression is a lasting impression and is a belief she stands by. In her world, it takes on a double meaning. She suggests to sellers that they have one chance to impress the buyer, so from the moment they drive up to the front door, the buyer needs to say, “wow.” On a personal level, her mission is to be acknowledged by my clients as a professional who creates trust by

delivering real estate service with the highest degree of quality, value, and integrity.

Nikki never forgets her roots. Being raised by immigrant parents, she

exemplifies how love, heritage, and family can create a success story in America to secure a better life. Her background has given Nikki a true appreciation of the discipline and the benefits of hard work. ■

Coldwell Banker Realty

her diverse background, she is able to truly connect and tailor the real estate needs of people of all ages, cultures, and demographics. Raised in London, England, her upbringing and connections (local and worldwide) combined with her professional background – including a legal degree in contracts and land law, sales, and innovative marketing – have resulted in her thriving business as a full-service real estate broker.

Apart from her strong ties to Oak Brook, where she has resided for the last 20 years, Lina’s network is vast, having worked and lived throughout Chicagoland. With more overseas investment in the Chicagoland area, her referral network allows her to ensure real estate needs can be serviced anywhere in Chicagoland and across the globe. Shah has guided hundreds of clients through the buying and selling process.

Lina’s passion for her community extends beyond her professional accomplishments. As a past president of the Oak Brook Women’s Club, Lina is involved in local and national charitable organizations and committees in the Village of Oak Brook. She prides herself on being a resource to her clients.

LINA SHAH

Coldwell Banker Realty

Lina Shah, a top-producing agent in the Chicagoland area, brings extensive local expertise with a global network. Lina has an impressive track record of success. She consistently ranks as the top-selling agent in Oak Brook and in the top 1% in the Western suburbs. Lina has been named in Crain’s Most Notable Residential Brokers, among oth-

ers. She has also been recognized in the top 1% in the Realogy Brokerage Group nationally and named in Coldwell Banker’s International Society of Excellence, an honor reserved for the top 1% of agents worldwide.

Lina provides a modern approach as a real estate professional and delivers unparalleled service to her clients. With

Lina remains committed to her clients every step of the process and is a call, text, or email away. She always works from the heart to provide the best service to her clients through dedication, honesty, and enthusiasm. She considers it an honor to assist clients with one of the most important decisions of their lives and is grateful for the opportunities that allow her to follow her passion – her work. ■

than sales and purchases. It’s taking into account the well-being and needs of family members to ensure clients are emotionally happy and financially secure.”

Vukajlovic started her career in private and corporate banking before moving to commercial real estate. The first generation of Eastern European descent and first college educated from her family, she has always been fascinated by people, languages, culture, and history. As a “lifelong learner,” she is able to successfully blend her love of meeting new people from a variety of different backgrounds with her ability to successfully navigate the dynamic industry of real estate to meet their needs.

Helping new homeowners, from corporate relocation clients to Boomers who are downsizing, Stana’s goal is to find her clients a house where the family feels best - a personal definition of Home Sweet Home. “Working with such diverse clientele is phenomenal. Everybody has their own wants and needs,” she said.

STANA VUKAJLOVIC

Not only dedicated to her profession, Stana finds balance through friends, family, and personal devel-

Real estate is more than just transactional. Stana Vukajlovic knows that first-hand as she guides her clients through the selling and buying process by listening and asking questions to those she serves to broaden

her role to an advisor and consultant. Understanding that people come from different cultures and backgrounds and are impacted philosophically by age, family needs, employment, and economic factors, Stana understands that her profession is relational. To her, “It’s more

opment as well. With a daughter on the Autism-Ausbergers Spectrum, “giving back to my community, especially special needs children and adults,” plays an essential role in her lifelong learning journey. “Recognizing all people of different backgrounds and abilities and providing innovative answers to help those in need, personal or professional, is simply part of my DNA,” she said. ■

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago

can recommend the most effective pricing and competitive strategies to help close the sale. She will market your real estate with an aggressive advertising and marketing program to reach the most likely prospects.

Elaine is a 35-year resident of Oak Brook and can effectively represent not only your home, but the community. She has been involved with the Oak Brook Park District, Oak Brook Historical Society, and has been a PTO president. She knows the insides of registering children for schools in Oak Brook. When it comes to moving, after the sale, she can help with the best connections, not only for you as a seller, but for your buyers. This includes those who are moving internationally. She is happy to take them on personalized tours of community facilities, such as the Sports Core and Recreation Center.

Because of her extensive knowledge, she is the only broker who hosts seminars for the community on the real estate market in Oak Brook. With experience managing her own company, Elaine is committed to a unique level of professionalism, having been a business planner for Fortune 500 companies.

ELAINE ZANNIS

Coldwell Banker Realty

For sellers who haven’t been in the real estate market for a long time, you will find Elaine Zannis’ unique approach in offering a full service Experience is exceptional.

Elaine will market your home to highly qualified prospects in every important way. Starting with staging your home, she will provide the best people available. Elaine will work with them to accentuate the assets of your home. In addition, because she knows the market, she

Her team’s proprietary marketing techniques are client-specific, offering a competitive advantage over other brokers. Inspired, committed, and motivated, she is at the top of her game in communications, negotiations and closing transactions. From start to finish, the needs of the client are exceeded. ■

Infant Welfare Fashion Show Raises $175,000

Oak Brook Chapter Thanks Supporters For Success

BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE STAFF | PHOTOS BY MARCELLO RODARTE

Expectations were high for the Oak Brook Chapter’s 50th Anniversary Mistletoe Medley benefit, “Hearts of Gold” on November 29 at Drury Lane. The Chapter reported that it raised $175,000, enabling it to reach an astounding $5 million in donations to the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago in 50 years.

Chapter Co-Presidents Marge Tresley and Linda Layland thank members, guests, donors, sponsors, advertisers, exhibitors, raffle contributors, and friends for their support. Members are already hard at work on Mistletoe Medley 2023, scheduled for November 28.

Behind the scenes: just a few of many who made the Infant Welfare Fashion Show a success. Left to right, Cherie King, Tracey Tarantino DiBuono of ZZAZZ Productions, Candace Jordan, Jeanie Porter, Margo Mathews, Peach Carr and Mary Ann Sartor.

EXPÉRIENCE the

Catching up with .Jon Court, Executive Chef, Davanti Enoteca and Fiore Pizzeria & Bakery

REGION

What inspired you to become a chef?

I grew up cooking at home with my grandmother and father, and they inspired me to pursue a career in culinary arts. From a young age, I loved the feeling of being able to provide people with a delicious meal and an unforgettable experience.

What are your favorite foods to make?

Pasta and pizza because of the endless combinations of ingredients and flavors you can create. It is a never-ending learning process to create new dishes. Even the various types of dough that you can use to make it keeps it interesting.

What sets Davanti Enoteca apart from other restaurants?

From the minute you step through the doors you feel like you have been transported into a family-owned restaurant in the countryside of Italy. Our menu – inspired by regional dishes throughout Italy - constantly rotates and offers various dishes you won't find anywhere else. Our creamy mascarpone polenta and ragu, which we serve tableside on a wooden board, is just one of the many unique experiences.

What is your favorite dish on the menu?

My favorite is the Focaccia Di Recco, our Ligurian-style flatbread. It has a nice crispy texture of the focaccia paired with the sweet honeycomb and a creamy cow's milk cheese filling. It is a customer favorite as well!

What can customers expect when they visit Davanti Enoteca?

When customers visit Davanti Enoteca, they can expect excellent service and knowledgeable staff. It is lively and upbeat with a welcoming atmosphere and perfect for a casual night out or a great spot to celebrate any special occasion.

How would you describe your day-to-day as a professional chef?

My day-to-day as a chef with Scott Harris Hospitality consists of balancing my time between multiple restaurants and offering support where it is needed to my teams. It is incredibly important to me that I'm always in close communication to ensure my team is set up for success each day to provide the best service possible for our customers. ■

We offer personal service, so that you are always informed of progress made and results achieved.

HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY TURNS 70

BY HINSDALE MAGAZINE STAFF

Hinsdale Humane Society (HHS) is proud to announce that after a challenging fourth quarter and an S.O.S. (Save Our Shelter) call for help, the organization is on more solid footing thanks to our supporter’s generosity. We are poised to celebrate the 70th anniversary with a series of events, culminating in a gala on September 22 at The Community House.

“While we are by no means out of the woods financially yet,” said Jacki Rossi, Executive Director, HHS, “thanks to the support of so many wonderful adopters, donors and businesses, we are in a position to start building a bridge to the future. Our goal is to be here for the next 70 years and beyond.”

Kathy Hanley, Development Director, HHS said “We’re planning a Pet Parade event, a golf outing and our big September gala. Plus we’ll have special naming opportunities to commemorate our milestone and much more!”

the spokescat for 9Lives.

In 1982, HHS expanded to help people through a new program: Pet Therapy. The Therapaws Pet Therapy program continues today helping children with reading, students with anxiety, patients, healthcare providers and the elderly.

The move to a larger facility allowed for the adoption of more than 1900 pets annually, which is well over double the number in the original, smaller shelter. Additionally, HHS supports other rescue organizations throughout Chicagoland, as well as pet families in surrounding communities with programs, services and resources like medical care and pet food.

hinsdalehumanesociety.org

“If you don’t help them, they can’t help us.

If you have given, Thanks.”

In September 1959, a new shelter was built for $25K and became the first Humane Society in DuPage County. Morris the Cat, previously named Lucky, was adopted from that facility in 1968 and went on to national fame as

“With an exciting year of celebrations ahead to honor our 70-year milestone, we are thrilled to be able to reconnect in person with everyone who has helped us get here, as we usher in a new decade of hope, healing and love,” said Rossi. “But, we can’t do what we do without the financial support of our communities. We are an independent nonprofit and rely on donations, so fundraising will be forefront in the year ahead as we shore up our foundation for the decades to come.” ■

The Hinsdale Humane Society seeks support from local communities.

HIGH EXPECTATIONS Le Meridien Hotel, Oak Brook

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Marriott is known worldwide for its quality of hotels and service, especially among seasoned corporate business travelers as well as leisure travelers. The 104 Le Meridien hotels within the Marriott portfolio are yet another step up.

As Dick Turner, Le Meridien’s Oak Brook General Manager likes to say, “For travelers looking for a better travel experience, we have the right hotel, the right people, and the right location.”

“We have the right hotel, the right people, and the right location.”

DICK TURNER, LE MERIDIEN OAK BROOK GENERAL MANAGER

Mural by Chicago artist Justus Roe greets guests as they enter the main lobby

Easy access to airports, the Chicago area itself, a location right next to Oakbrook Center, over 170 luxury rooms and suites, a knowledgeable staff, two restaurants with fine food and hand-crafted beverages, a spa studio for massage, and an upscale workout room, all combine to make heavy travel schedules much more bearable.

When you enter the lobby, you immediately notice differences. A large mural by Chicago artist Justus Roe catches your eye depicting the metropolitan feel of Chicago. On purpose, furnishings recall the bygone era of international luxury travel when Air France founded the hotel chain in 1972 in Paris. El Tapeo, on the top floor, specializes in Spanish cuisine. When you work out, it is on a Peloton bike. If you wish, you can make an appointment with a professional massage therapist. Each hotel has a restaurant that is named for the exact longitude of the hotel’s location, recalling the origins of the chain. In Oak Brook, it is Longitude 87.

The photographs tell the story.

Aside from taking care of business and leisure travelers coming to the Chicago area, Le Meridien is also gaining popularity among local residents. “More and more locals come to our hotel for a weekend, our cuisine, and for our spa massage experience,” said Turner. “We have regulars stopping by on a monthly basis.”

Turner said his hotel gives special attention to wedding celebrations with his experienced staff. “We book weddings of up to 150 guests, and only one at a time for the ultimate in a memorable occasion.”

He is proud of his entire staff. Of the 23 Le Meridien hotels in North America, the guest satisfaction experience of the Oak Brook location continually ranks in the top 5. Turner personally replies to comments on guest satisfaction forms from travelers. He smiles when he says, “Guests are a little surprised when they get a response from me. It is one of many

ways we say to our guests that you are important to us.”

For more information, please call 630-368-9900. The website address is www.lemeridien.com/oakbrook

The restaurant website is  www.eltapeooakbrook.com ■

Executive Chef Billy Bothwell specializes in Spanish cuisine.

Paella de Mariscos: mussels, clams, shrimp, and vegetables, accompanied by a Mallorca Melon Sangria.

Ensalada de Pera: poached pear, cranberry cheese, candied walnuts, dried cherries, accompanied by a Honey Nut Old Fashioned.

Mama Maria’s

Restaurant & Pizzeria

is an Elmhurst eatery which has been serving quality pizzas & pastas since 1982. It was one of the first pizzerias in this area to offer a panzerotti.

They’ve also made a name for thincrust pizzas, specialty items such as a white pizza topped with artichokes & basil & a full line of Italian pastas. You can choose to dine in, takeout or have your food delivered.

SINCE 1905 ITALY HASN’T BEEN

It all started with a very special spumoni created and lovingly produced by Lezza Spumoni & Desserts, Inc. The origin of this spumoni is Naples, Italy and the recipe came to Chicago’s West Side with Salvatore Lezza in 1905. The recipe has remained with the family for over 100 years!

Terrence M. Sullivan and Brian D. Sullivan

VISIT IRELAND

Rugged coastlines, windswept landscapes and legendary hospitality

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

For a relatively small island, Ireland’s influence is far-reaching. Scores of immensely talented dancers, musicians, and artists either call this island-nation home, or have descended from it. The chill in the air is not for the faint of heart, but there’s plenty of wool for sale, and the world-renowned warmth of new friends understates it.

Read on for a few suggestions of places to visit in this land of celebrated poets, playwrights, storytellers, saints, and sinners. These are the people who discovered-or invented-humor, so relax and don’t plan to take much seriously- the Irish certainly don’t!

OUTDOOR SITES

The Burren, County Clare

You’ll come away with an understanding of why “burren” evolved from a Gaelic word meaning “rocky

place.” Walk on the giant limestone slabs, pick some of the wildflowers growing between them, and take photos of the giant dolmen (stone, megalith monuments) that dot this moon-like landscape. You’ll likely visit the Cliffs of Moher and The Burren is only 40 minutes inland.

Giant’s Causeway, Country Antrim Drive to the area, then get out and walk some of Europe’s most rugged coastline. This 33-mile stretch consists of thousands of tightly-packed hexag-

onal shaped columns that slope down into the sea. It feels like the edge of the earth. Walk 30 meters above the water across the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge, that binds the mainland to a tiny island of the same name.

Rock of Cashel, County Tipperary

AKA “St Patrick’s Rock,” it’s among Ireland’s most significant historic sites. Here, St Patrick converted King Aengus to Christianity in the fifth century, although most of the remaining structure dates to the 1200s. Surprisingly, many of the walls are still intact and worth a wander. Sunset is a great time to explore the castle-like cathedral structure and ancient graveyard.

LIBATION TOURS

Guinness Brewery, Dublin

Start thinking of the toast you’ll offer as you raise a pint of the freshest Guinness on earth. By the end of the 250-year-old stout’s 7-story museum

PHOTO BY JASON-MURPHY

tour, you’ll understand why it’s the world’s highest-selling libation.

Old Bushmills Distillery, Country Antrim

The word “whiskey” evolved from a Scottish-Gaelic phrase meaning “water of life.” After 400 years, Bushmills takes triple-distilling whiskey as an art. Take in a tour of Northern Ireland’s scenic, jagged cliffs, then stop in to warm up with a glencairn of Northern Ireland’s smoothest whiskey.

Vintage Tea Trips, Dublin & Cork

Although tea is not a libation, it’s Ireland’s most available beverage. Therefore, it’s worthy of an entire afternoon. Sip your favorite kind as you tour either Dublin or Cork on a vintage, two-story bus. Sit back in time while you nibble local pastries and listen to jazz.

ISLANDS

Blasket Islands, Dingle Peninsula

The ideal place to escape the modern world, with plenty of unspoiled nature. Visit on a sunny day, via the ferry ride from Dunquin, West Kerry. It is a good place to bird watch and catch glimpses of dolphins and whales. Visit the abandoned stone houses.

Aran Islands, County Galway

The ancient forts on top of these islands’ cliffs are some of Ireland’s oldest archeological remains. The islands first became populated when Oliver Cromwell’s decrees made the mainland dangerous for the Irish people. Listen to hear traces of Ireland’s native tongue as you visit the 38 national monuments found here.

Skellig Michael, County Kerry

Home to the ancient St Fionan’s Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this archeological settlement is definitely worth the trek. Climb the 600-plus steep, uneven steps to the top to understand how this community of monks lived a cloistered- but likely fitexistence until their departure 800 years ago.

EXPERIENCES

The Quiet Man Cottage & Museum, County Mayo

It’s almost possible to hear the banter of John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara while visiting an exact replica of White O’Morn, The Duke’s cottage from this country’s most iconic film. Walk back into 1950s Ireland as you visit this “Graceland” of sorts. Hop on a walking tour of filming locations from here. Locals tell tales of how the whole town (and virtually all of Ireland!) was included- one way or another- in John Ford’s Hollywood masterpiece.

National Famine Memorial, County Mayo

On the banks of Clew Bay, pause for a moment at this somber, bronze memorial to the “coffin ships,”- vessels which earned their names from the number of people buried at sea while attempting to flee Ireland during the potato famine. Human skeletons depicted as the ship’s rigging are a stark reminder of food insecurity and those desperately seeking passage to

the United States.

Titanic Belfast Museum, Belfast

This museum showcases the world’s most recognizable ship from the exact spot from which it was designed, built and launched in the Belfast shipyards, now known as Maritime Mile.

MERRY-MAKING

Doolin, County Clare

Doolin is renowned as the unofficial capital of traditional Irish music and dance. Music sessions- informal, often unplanned meet-ups of random musicians- happen every evening in the area. Though they often look like groups of musicians huddled together, very informally, locals love when Americans show interest, so bring your fiddle, bodhrán (Irish drum), or tin whistle and join in.

Piper’s Corner Pub, Dublin

This place is the real deal, as Gaelic is actually spoken here. The pints and tunes are always flowing. Uillean pipers (Irish version of the bagpipes) use this as a home base. ■

KILEANY AND THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE OF INIS MÓR ISLAND IRELAND

Friday, April 14th - Sunday, April 16th

CHICAGOLAND’S MOST ANTICIPATED BRIDAL JEWELRY EVENT

S hop the area’s largest collection of women’s and men’s wedding bands from the bridal industry’s top designers.

Appointments encouraged.

Visit razny.com for more details.