Downers Grove Magazine May/June 2024

A PAGE OUT OF HISTORY

The Downers Grove Plow Boys

Example services offered at or below $100 include: Most Ring Sizing (down), Jewelry or Watch Repair, Appraisals and so much more.

A Little Bit of Everything

I always bounce stories off people before we set our editorial stories for the issue. Whether an advertising partner, friend, or neighbor, I always want to see what they find interesting and what they want to read about. Enter the Plow Boys. This was the first I had heard about this grass-roots movement vintage baseball team and political group. Thanks to local sports historian Bruce Allardice, our readers can learn more about these “boys” and a page out of Downers Grove history.

The theme of history continues in this issue. The Downers Grove Historical Society, in partnership with filmmaker Jim Toth, once again produced a film focused on a piece of Downers Grove history, this time featuring the iconic Mochel’s Hardware store. The film inspired Maureen Callahan, Contributing Editor, who spoke to the family and highlighted their fond memories of “Mochie’s.”

families to join them. Meet Marnie Jamison, who has cared for foster children for the last three decades and sees each of the 89 children she has fostered as part of the family. This is an inspiring story for this month, especially with Mother’s Day on the horizon.

Have you heard of this new sport called pickleball? It’s all the rage? Assuming the answer is yes. Cynthia Maquet dishes out the details on the sport. Keep in mind yet another outdoor sport you should check out this summer. Valerie Hardy caught up with local photographer and disc golf competitor Lauren Lakeberg, who blends her two passions as a leading specialist in disc golf photography.

Featuring individuals with unique interests and experiences is always part of our publication. And this issue certainly proves that point. From Lucas Dul, a local 24-year-old who has a passion for everything typewriters, to Erin Portman, who has appeared twice on the quiz show Jeopardy, we showcase their stories and perspectives. Pasta Pappone founders Jon and Mary Beth Mulholland also dish out about all things gourmet flavored pasta business based here in Downers Grove.

May is National Foster Care Awareness Month, a time to honor and celebrate families who have made it their life’s mission to care for vulnerable children and encourage other

Rounding out this issue is a shout-out to the DG Gymnastics team, spring break photo submissions for our #InstaGROVE special section, and some local authors who prove that “writing what you know about” can pave the way to success.

As you can see, we feature a “little bit of everything” in this issue. Remember, our advertising partners make this magazine chock-full of original stories possible for our community. Be sure to mention that you saw them in Downers Grove Magazine!

Sincerely,

Anne Healy Associate Publisher anne@HinsdaleMag.com

DR. MIRA ALBERT

• Founded Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2011

• National Spokesperson and Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

• Board Examiner and Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry

• University of Michigan-BA and DDS

• University of IllinoisChicago MS and Diploma Pediatric Dentistry

• Northwestern University-MBA

DR. LYNNA GRIPENTROG

• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2014

• University of IllinoisChampaign Urbana-BS

• Southern Illinois University-DMD

• Ann and Robert H. Lurie

Children’s HospitalResidency in Pediatric Dentistry

• Diplomate ABPD

DR. MAGGIE RIZZO

• Partner, Downers Grove

• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2019

• University of Michigan- BS

• University of IllinoisChicago, DMD

• Ann and Robert H. Lurie

Children’s HospitalResidency in Pediatric Dentistry

• Diplomate ABPD

DR. ANDREINA KARMANCHANDI

• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2016

• University of Central Florida-BS

• Arizona School of Dentistry-DMD

• Ann and Robert H. Lurie

Children’s HospitalResidency in Pediatric Dentistry

• Diplomate ABPD

DR. STEPHANIE BOLLOW

• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2022

• University of Illinois- BS

• University of IllinoisChicago, DMD, MS, and Diploma Pediatric Dentistry

• Diplomate ABPD

COME HOME TO DINNER

Chicagoland’s KLEANEST Weekly Meal Service

Our meals are made from the highest quality ingredients, with no added preservatives. We use many organic ingredients & we never use modern American wheat or dairy from a bovine animal. We offer breakfast, snacks, soups, salads, entrees and of course our delicious gluten-free baked goods and pastas, in fact our lasagnas are legendary! Our menus change weekly, and we include many plant-based and vegetarian options along with pasture raised, 100% grassfed beef and wild-caught animal proteins. All meals are made fresh by Chef Beau and his professionally trained and educated chefs, catering to everyone who wants or needs to eat KLEAN!

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

Anna Hughes

GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Rachel Pavlovich

Jennifer Frencl

Katie Bolinger

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Adam Andrzejewski

Chuck Fieldman

Jeff Vorva

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Madeline Craig

Victor Hilitski

Greg Kozlick

Carolina Menapace

Laura Meyer

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Ade

Candice Kuhnen

Renee Lawrence

Cynthia Maquet

Magazine Group 3 Grant Square#201 Hinsdale, IL 60521 630-655-3400 www.DownersGroveMag.com

PHOTO BY GARRETT SWEET

IN FULL BLOOM

Summer is right around the corner, and we’ve rounded up the best events of the summer including live music, fresh food, and family fun.

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Paramount Theatre

April 24-June 16 paramountaurora.com

Enjoy an evening at one of Chicagoland’s most highly esteemed theatres for their production of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. This Tony and Grammy-award-winning show tells the true story of King’s rise to fame, starting from her days dreaming of stardom in Brooklyn. Set to the soundtrack of King’s work, this is a must-see jukebox musical. Showtimes vary by date.

Spring Road and Elmhurst Kiwanis Pet Parade

May 18, 11:30 AM-2 PM springroad.com

Pets and parades! What could be better than that? The Spring Road Business Association

and Elmhurt Kiwanis agree that this is a fan-favorite event in Elmhurst. Bring your furry friends - dogs, cats, bunnies, birds (you name it!) - on out for fun contests, cool costumes, arts and crafts, and an opportunity to spend time with other pet parents. Registration is open now.

Cori's Kids Triathlon

Oak Brook Park District

June 1, 8 AM obparks.org

Calling all kids who love to run, swim, and bike: it’s time to test your skills! This triathlon is a great way for kids 6-14 (split into different age groups) to experience some friendly competition while enjoying exercise in a fun and energetic way. Participants’ ages will determine distances for each portion of the race.

Hinsdale Fine Arts Festival

June 1-2, 10 AM-5 PM Burlington Park hinsdalechamber.com

The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce proudly presents the 51st annual Fine Arts Festival. This summer staple brings people from all over the Chicagoland area to Hinsdale. Walk through Burlington Park and enjoy a variety of booths featuring unique art, while enjoying new food truck additions!

Elmhurst Cycling Classic & Elmhurst

Twilight Mile

June 8

elmhurstcyclingclassic.com

DuPage Cycling Foundation presents this fantastic, free cycling event to anyone wanting to enjoy a full day of exciting bike racing around some of Elmhurst’s prime destinations: Elmhurst University, scenic Wilder Park, and the historic Wilder Mansion. The race serves as the Illinois State

ROTARY GROVEFEST l PHOTO BY ATTICUS FAIR

Local Car Shows

Check out some of the street fairs and car shows happening this summer! With so many local dealerships and a fantastic selection of vehicles, there’s always something new to see. Visit Westmont Cruisin’ Nights on Thursdays from 5-9 PM from June to August. On Friday nights starting May

31 from 4-8 PM, Moose Cruise Nights in Downers Grove always has a unique selection of hot rods and classic cars. Also, on May 26, Supercar Sunday returns to Hyatt Lodge Oak Brook sponsored by Chicago Motor Cars. See local listings for more shows.

Championship venue, meaning athletes from all over Illinois will make the trip to compete. The event’s goal is to raise money for local charities in the community.

Uniquely Thursdays

Thursdays, June 13-August 22

Burlington Park hinsdalechamber.com

One of Hinsdale’s most popular events is back and better than ever with new music groups, food trucks, and more. Presented by UChicagoMedicine/ AdventHealth Hinsdale & the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce, Uniquely Thursdays is a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy a summer concert right in your backyard.

Rotary GroveFest

June 20-23

Downtown Downers Grove rotarygrovefest.com

The heart of downtown Downers Grove will turn into a fullfledged carnival for four days to kick off the start of the summer. The event is fitting for all ages, from kiddie rides to musical performances and a beer garden. All proceeds from the event benefit 27 nonprofit organizations in and around Downers Grove. Presale carnival tickets are on sale now.

UNIQUELY THURSDAYS l PHOTO FROM HINSDALE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

WESTMONT CRUISIN’ NIGHTS

PHOTO COURTESY OF WESTMONT SPECIAL EVENTS

CHRISTINE SNOW, DMD

SHERIF ALBERT, DDS

AMY FELLER, DDS

JEOPARDY! HOST KEN JENNINGS AND ERIN PORTMAN

Daily Double:

A Downers Grove North alumna who has appeared twice on Jeopardy! Who is Erin Portman?

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN l PHOTOS COURTESY OF JEOPARDY!

Downers Grove North alumna and Plainfield High School teacher

Erin Portman has a lot of curiosity about life. Portman knows at least a little about a lot of topics. She recently put her acquired knowledge to good use, playing a game that focuses on inklings of vast categories. After appearing on two regular season Jeopardy! episodes in January 2023, she was invited to return for the Champions Wildcard Tournament this past January.

HOW DID YOU QUALIFY TO BE A CONTESTANT?

Contestants qualify by taking the test on Jeopardy!’s website. It’s up there all the time. If you score high enough, you go through the audition process. I waited in the contestant pool for about a year and a half, starting in 2020, before they called me. It’s very common for people to go through the

process once and not be called for the show. Hopefuls are encouraged to try out again if they don’t hear back after 18 months. So, I tried it again in spring 2022. I got the call after the second time. My first show was recorded in November 2022.

DID YOU DO ANYTHING TO PREPARE FOR THE SHOW?

I always half-jokingly say that preparing for Jeopardy! is the project of a lifetime. I’ve been accumulating facts, trivia, and interesting tidbits my whole life and sharing them with anyone who would listen. I did a lot of reviewing of things I already knew so that my recall would be as fast as possible. I know less about sports and pop culture than some other things, so I also spent some time with lists of trivia in those areas, such as Grammy and Oscar winners, names of sports teams, and player nicknames, etc., trying to commit them to memory. I’m not sure

if any of those things directly helped me answer questions on the show. The ultimate goal was to train my brain to recall facts quickly, over recalling any individual fact.

DID YOU FOLLOW A CERTAIN STRATEGY?

I’ve never been a very strategic or competitive person, but I did spend a little time studying betting strategies so that I had something to go on during my games. My main goal both times, though, was to have fun and enjoy the experience. It helped me play it more like a game than a competition.

WERE THERE ANY CATEGORIES YOU WERE PARTICULARLY EXCITED OR NERVOUS ABOUT?

Not really. As a lifelong fan of the game, I think all categories are fun and interesting in their own ways.

HOW WAS THE DAY YOU WERE TAPING?

Taping the show takes all day. On my original tape day, they were taping a whole week of episodes in one day. The order in which contestants appear on those episodes is randomized. So, there’s a lot of waiting around on set for your turn. For the tournament, they split our quarterfinal tapings into two groups. Each half was taped on one of two days. Then, the semifinals and finals were taped on the third day. So, we were all in Los Angeles for the tournament for five days, including travel days on either end.

HOW IS THE COMPETITION/ CAMARADERIE AMONG THE CONTESTANTS?

Without exception, the contestants are brilliant and interesting people who are curious about the world. This game attracts the type of person who likes sharing what they know. It makes for a fun group of people to be around! My group had very kind peo-

Tom Lupfer Owner & President Lupfer Landscaping

For more information, please contact:

Lupfer Landscaping

Ph: 708-442-2554

www.lupferlandscaping.com

“My main goal both times, though, was to have fun and enjoy the experience. It helped me play it more like a game than a competition.”

– ERIN PORTMAN ON HER JEOPARDY! EXPERIENCE

ple. I’m glad to have shared this wild, fun, uncanny experience with them.

There’s a nervous energy in the green room, but it’s great! The producers and staff who take care of the contestants are wonderful. They shepherded us from place to place for hair and makeup, wardrobe checks, lunch, etc. It was fun watching the episodes being taped from backstage while we waited

our turn. We shouted out answers since we were in a separate room.

DID YOU HAVE ANY STAGE FRIGHT?

Not really. My nerves and adrenaline were manageable during both of my taping days. It’s a lot of fun, which distracts from the fact that you’re  in  the Jeopardy! episode instead of watching it on TV.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU HAVE FOR WOULD-BE JEOPARDY! CONTESTANTS?

Anyone interested in trying out for Jeopardy! should take the online test at any time. It’s easy to do and you can keep trying out if you don’t do well the first time. I think being excited about curiosity helps, too. You can definitely study or prepare seriously for Jeopardy!, but in the end, it’s a great game that lets you live out that curiosity to the fullest. My main advice is to enjoy the experience. There’s nothing like it!

Drawbacks to the Wave of Mergers and Acquisitions Impacting Local Landscaping Companies

In recent years, the landscaping industry has seen a significant shift toward consolidation, with corporate-owned entities increasingly infiltrating the market. While these companies may offer wide service coverage, several drawbacks are increasingly evident.

1. Lack of Personalized Services: Corporate-owned landscaping companies tend to focus on profit margins over quality.

2. Lower Quality of Service: With a focus on maximizing profits and efficiency, corporate-owned companies may compromise on the quality of service, leading to hurried jobs, use of lower-quality materials, or less attention to detail.

3. Less Community Engagement: 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.

It’s important to note that some smaller, local companies are being bought out by larger corporate entities but are keeping their name. 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.

Tom and Gretchen Lupfer have been providing superior landscaping and maintenance services to residents throughout the western suburbs of Chicago for over 30 years. Growing relationships is their business. Creating award-winning landscape designs is their passion.

meet

Laura McGreal lives and loves local. She is heavily invested in the communityvolunteering her time with Blessings in a Backpack, an organization that strives to support local school children in need with food and resources. Laura has been ranked one of the Top 10 agents in Downers Grove. Her clients love her local expertise and experience.

Why do you love what you do?

It gives me the opportunity to help people in a meaningful way. I love getting to know my clients and truly understanding what is most important to them.

What sets you apart from your competition?

My career in real estate started in new construction. I was trained not only in sales but also in finance and land acquisition. For those buyers not finding what they are looking for in today’s market, I can guide them through the new construction or remodeling process.

What’s the best thing about living in Downers Grove?

I love the people here and the walkability of the town. Everyone is friendly and down to earth. In the summer we love walking into town, going to local restaurants and shops as well as the weekly farmers market and concerts in the park.

A RARE TYPE

A local 24-year-old’s expertise in typewriters led to a thriving business and book

BY VALERIE HARDY

Lucas Dul is a self-described simple person with a passion for complex machinery – specifically typewriters. Dul’s interest in typewriters may come as a surprise, however, given that he is only 24 years old.

Though a digital native, Dul loves “all things analog.” The lifelong Downers Grove resident first became aware of typewriters at a young age, because his grandmother had one. Then, 10 years ago, his mother gave him a typewriter of his own (a Royal 10), a gift which set his future career in typewriter maintenance, repair, restoration, and sales in motion.

As someone who always had “a penchant for repairing things and manipulating mechanics,” Dul said he spent a lot of time tinkering with his new acquisition. In fact, it

took him a year or two to “pull it apart and get it working again,” something he learned to do largely by himself.

Online resources were limited at the time, so, instead, Dul sought to connect with others in his community who had typewriters.

Over the next few years, he procured a couple more typewriters to deconstruct and rebuild. He also expanded his network, joining the larger online community of typewriter collectors and finding kindred spirits in many of them.

Around this same time, Dul was approached about fixing others’ typewriters. “I didn’t charge the first two people – they were friends or fellow students – but I began to recognize there was a need,” he recounted. He decided to make his typewriter repair and restoration a public business.

In 2019, Dul – then still a teenager –repaired dozens of typewriters, many for a local collector. He also added maintenance and sales to his repertoire. Dul had been successful selling typewriters and supplies, such as ribbons, but in 2020, “when people were locked up [due to the pandemic] and looking for new hobbies, business really started to explode,” he said.

Dul’s business is still steadily increasing, which he ascribes – at least in part – to the fact that “a lot of people are getting tired of digital technology

LUCAS DUL IN HIS SHOP IN 2021

PHOTO BY ELLIS NOEL

IN ADDITION TO HIS PASSION FOR TYPEWRITERS, DUL IS ALSO AN AVID ARTIST AND PHOTOGRAPHER.

and want something more hands on, more personally mediated.”

Many in the artistic community are also driving typewriter sales, Dul noted, but added that “there is not any particular demographic” using or collecting typewriters. “It’s a healthy mix of people from all walks of life.”

Dul has been running his business –Typewriter Chicago – out of his family’s Downers Grove home. However, as demand for his services continues to grow, he is looking to relocate to a nearby commercial space. Business has also boomed to the point it is more than Dul can handle on his own, so he is considering hiring friends to help with his business, contracting out some projects, or running an apprenticeship program.

What will remain the same, however, is the quality of Dul’s work. “I’m more concerned with giving people a

“Typewriters facilitate individual creativity but also bring people together.”

– LUCAS DUL

good product and quality service than with anything else,” he said.

Though Typewriter Chicago has kept Dul plenty busy, he managed to find time to write and publish a book about – what else? – typewriters. The book chronicles a specific typewriter, the Williams - produced in the late 1800s - and is aptly titled The Williams Typewriter: Everything There Is To Know And More. Dul explained that he even drafted part of the book on the model of typewriter the book was about.

Dul is an old soul who values old school items and practices; he primarily uses his typewriters for creative writing

or composing letters. Something he appreciates most about typewriters is that they “facilitate individual creativity but also bring people together.”

In addition to local typewriter connoisseurs, Dul’s work with and passion for typewriters has connected him with typewriter aficionados across the nation and around the world, with descendants of noteworthy typewriter inventors, and with avid typewriter collectors, including famed actor Tom Hanks.

Dul’s love of typewriters also fueled his decision to run an annual short story contest. The contest is open worldwide, but submissions must be in English. Dul identifies various writers/authors to serve as volunteer judges, and the winning writer receives a free typewriter.

To learn more about the contest and Dul’s business, visit TypewriterChicago.com

PHOTO BY EPHRAIM GUTIERREZ

LYNSE J BRINEY, DDS, MS

LEXI NASH, DMD

LICENSED PEDIATRIC DENTAL SPECIALISTS

We encourage every child to be their brightest self by teaching them to care for their smiles beginning at an early age. We offer a full range of pediatric dental services to help every one of our pediatric dental patients discover their healthiest smile.

—“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

The Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club Beckons

As the sun graces us with its warmth and thoughts turn to outdoor fun, make sure to include Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club in your plans!

The Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club stands strong, boasting modernized facilities and timeless amenities. We invite you to cannonball into the Dive Well, swim a lap in the Main Pool, or splash in the Wading Pool. Soak up the sun at the Beach area, do a little fishing, or take a kayak around the Pond. You can perfect your serve on one of our Har-Tru Clay Tennis Courts.

And the best part? We offer all this at a reasonable price! Experience premium recreation without breaking the bank.

Join the legacy, and let’s create new chapters of community and family fun together.

Membership

There are a range of membership packages tailored to the needs of any family or individual interested in participating in activities at the Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club. Visit our website at www.oakbrookbathandtennis.com for more information.

Swimming

A wide variety of swimming lessons are offered by British Swim School, from introducing your infant to the water to advanced swimming skills for older children. Their professional instruction is available for all ages and skill levels. The Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club also hosts a swim team. Managed by volunteer parents and headed by Lara Barber, who said, “We plan a balance of instruction and fun for about 125 participants each summer.” The Barracudas compete in the Inter-Suburban Swim Conference with six other similar Clubs.

Looking for a place where fun knows no limits? Look no further! We are thrilled to announce the latest additions to our facility:

Ӻ Obstacle Course: Get ready to challenge yourself on our brand new 50-foot inflatable obstacle course in the pool.

Ӻ Theme Nights: Experience something new with our themed

nights, from ‘80s throwbacks to superhero showdowns, there will always be something exciting happening.

Ӻ Movie Nights: Join us under the stars near the beach for family fun. Grab some popcorn and enjoy an evening with your friends and family watching the latest blockbusters.

Ӻ New Food Service Vendor: Say goodbye to boring snacks and hello to delicious eats. Fig Boz, our new food service operator, brings a fresh menu of tasty and nutritious options.

Ӻ Bags and Ping Pong: Show off your bean bag tossing skills or get your game on with our new ping pong table. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a beginner, these are perfect for some friendly competition.

Tennis

The Tennis Courts are set in a tranquil wooded area. The HarTru courts, which are easier on the body than other types of courts, are immaculately maintained and available to all members for no additional charge. The skilled Tennis Professionals offer drills, lessons, and programs for all ages and levels of play.

Whether you’re seeking a refreshing swim, a spirited match, or a memorable event venue, Oak Brook Bath & Tennis Club has something for everyone.

TOP Shelf

Pasta Pappone makes for a delicious dinnertime… anytime

BY VALERIE HARDY

Though neither is Italian, Jon and Mary Beth Mulholland created a lucrative pasta business lauded for its products’ authenticity, efficiency, and - most importantly - taste. The Naperville couple headquartered their gourmet flavored pasta business in Downers Grove, but over the past few years, the brand has made a name for itself nationwide. Mary Beth Mulholland joined Downers Grove Magazine’s contributing editor, Valerie Hardy, to dish about all things Pasta Pappone and its recipe for success.

Downers Grove Magazine: How did you decide to start a pasta business?

Mary Beth Mulholland: It was Jon’s brainchild when he was in grad school in 2011. He had seen flavored pasta at a farmers market one summer and thought it was something he could do and do really well. He was getting his MBA and decided to see if it had proof of concept. Jon had recently started the business when I met him, and I started going along to shows and markets, including the Downers Grove Farmers Market, which was our first one.

DGM: How did Pasta Pappone grow from local farmers markets to grocers throughout the midwest and beyond?

MBM: When we started selling flavored pasta, people said they hadn’t seen anything like it before and would come back for more. From the Downers Grove Farmers Market, we expanded to other suburban and Chicago farmers markets. We began to have interest

from stores, and it started our wheels turning. We started with some small, local boutiques and Casey’s in Naperville, and Mariano’s was our first major grocery partner.

Mariano’s started a program to carry local vendors. We had to pitch to their team, and they asked us to get six flavors into 44 of their locations in two months. Jon was like, “We’ve got this!” That launch three years ago was a game changer!

We actually visited all 44 stores to see how the product was merchandised. It was sitting sideways on the shelf, which wasn’t great. We bought 200 metal bookends we hot-glued together

PASTA PAPPONE’S BEST-SELLING LEMON PEPPER FETTUCCINI IS FLAVORFUL ENOUGH TO STAND ON ITS OWN BUT PAIRS PERFECTLY WITH SHRIMP. PHOTO BY HELLO LENO PHOTOGRAPHY

PASTA PAPPONE FOUNDERS MARY BETH AND JON MULHOLLAND

PHOTO BY GARRETT SWEET

to better showcase our product, then went back into the stores and put in our solution. Mariano’s Corporate Vice President of Grocery said that our “solution” was the best thing we could have done for our product: we became the top-selling brand on the rack featuring local products and were moved to the main pasta aisle. A benefit of staying scrappy!

DGM: Where else is Pasta Pappone carried?

MBM: Our pasta is available on our website and in various stores. After Mariano’s, Whole Foods (Illinois) picked us up and so did Jewel (Illinois and Indiana), which added 150 stores to our list. An east coast chain also picked us up, and we’re launching in all of the Whole Foods in the midwest. We went from a single farmers market stall to over 400 grocery store locations!

DGM: Do you and Jon both work for Pasta Pappone full time, and what’s it like working together?

MBM: I left my full-time job as the Marketing Director for Chicago Public Library five years ago to help scale Pasta Pappone. Two years ago, Jon

came over full time. We’ve been together 12 years and married nine (we gave out Pasta Pappone at the wedding), but it can be a challenge to work with a spouse. We made it work by leaning into each other’s strengths. We’re form (me) and function (him), so we’re well paired that way. I’m so proud to have built this with Jon.

“We’re loyal to local, because we wouldn’t have the success we’ve had if it wasn’t for local support.”

– MARY BETH MULHOLLAND, CO-OWNER OF PASTA PAPPONE

MBM: Pasta Pappone has herbs, vegetables, and spices already in the pasta, so all you need to do is boil water, add butter, extra virgin olive oil, or sauce, and dinner is ready. It makes mealtime simpler but still delicious. We say it’s effortlessly gourmet. Our pastas are certified organic, slow hang-dried for better texture, and bronze-cut to hold sauce.

DGM: What are your best-selling products?

MBM: Our best sellers compete with one another: Lemon Pepper Fettuccine, Garlic & Onion Fettuccini, and Spinach Basil Garlic Fettuccini. My favorite is the Thai Citrus Ginger Linguini, though. I like to add some orange zest, ginger, a touch of cayenne pepper, and butter.

For more information about Pasta Pappone, recipes, or to make an online pasta purchase, visit PastaPappone.com.

PASTA PAPPONE OWNERS MARY BETH AND JON MULHOLLAND WITH THEIR CHILDREN, HENRY AND WILLIAM

Acura

Alfa Romeo

Porsche

Running for a CAUSE

Ben’s Memorial Mile helps raise mental health awareness while remembering Ben Silver

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN I PHOTOS COURTESY OF BEN’S MEMORIAL MILE

May marks the 75th anniversary of Mental Health Awareness Month. It’s a time to consider the importance of mental health in our daily lives. Tragically, each year, thousands of people commit suicide while battling mental illness.

Every summer, Downers Grove pauses to remember Downers Grove North alum Ben Silver through Ben’s Memorial Mile, an annual running gala and community festival. Silver passed away from suicide in 2015.

Silver was a champion member of DGN’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams. He set and broke many records, sometimes in the face of physical limitations due to injury. He also made several appearances at state finals, sometimes on astonishingly little training. Silver truly was a natural runner with a level of strength and speed most don’t possess.

After he graduated from DGN with honors, Silver attended Miami University of Ohio on a running scholarship. However, past injuries began to beguile

his athletic performance. He was forced to end his collegiate running career after his first season. The loss of his scholarship, while on an ambiguous academic path, weighed on him. He drifted away from friends.

As time went on, Silver started to experience paranoid thoughts and delusions. Eventually, he was diagnosed with schizophrenia, a frequently misunderstood and misdiagnosed mental illness. It often surfaces when the patient reaches late adolescence or young adulthood.

Over the next few years, Silver struggled as he searched for answers in mental health facilities and fluctuating prescription drugs. Unable to escape the voices in his head, Silver ended his life in the summer of 2015.

“The DGN running community is pretty strong, so after Ben passed away, his family collaborated with that community to create an event in his memory,” said Michael Lifson, a teammate and longtime friend of the Silver family who serves as Race Director of Ben’s Memorial Mile. “We sought guidance from our coaches, along with the organizers of the former Bonfield Express, to plan a running event.”

The result is an annual fun-filled day to share memories and good times for attendees of all ages. “The goal is to keep it light and have fun while still raising awareness,” said Lifson. “Ben had a very whimsical side to him, so we have some silly events to honor that memory.”

While the topic of mental health is a serious one, the event is by no means a somber affair. There are many fun activities, such as a kids’ booth, dancing, and a cornhole tournament. A local gym lends its expertise for fitness tips, and a karate dojo teaches kids how to break boards. From kid races to adult races for runners of any abil-

A race, a walk, a party, a way to raise awareness of schizophrenia and help others beset by similar difficulties.

– BEN'S MEMORIAL MILE

ity, Ben’s Memorial Mile truly offers something for everyone.

There is also plenty of time and opportunity to share stories and memories of Silver. The event is emceed by Silver’s former DGN Track and Field Coach, Will Kupisch, along with Shor Costello, Silver’s third-grade teacher from Highland School.

Ben’s Memorial Mile is a 501(c)(3) organization. All event proceeds are split between the DuPage branch of NAMI – National Alliance on Mental Illness and the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, an organization that researches mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.

Author’s Note: Please be aware that this year’s venue was not yet determined at the time of publication. Both District 99 high school tracks are scheduled for construction this summer, so please check the website for location information. For more information, or to register for the event, please visit BensMemorialMile.com.

PROCEEDS FROM THE EVENT SUPPORT RESEARCH AND EDUCATION IN HONOR OF BEN SILVER’S STORY.

Thank You Downers Grove

We’ve had so much fun bringing our passion for hospitality to the town. Four years ago, when we first opened, seems like yesterday. It’s always great to see family and friends (old and new) at The Foxtail. We wouldn’t be here today without you. Cheers to the past four, and cheers to four more!

Much Love - The Foxtail Team Maya, Todd, Tim & Nate

Plowing Through

Downers Grove’s Baseball History

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN I PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNERS GROVE MUSEUM

Baseball. It’s the American game. Not only is it the country’s earliest seriously organized sport (there were cricket leagues before it), but, as Civil War and baseball historian Bruce Allardice points out, the game helped heal a fractured country after a war.

The Downers Grove Plow Boys, a political organization that enlisted in the Civil War, also had the first baseball team.

WHO WERE THE DOWNERS GROVE PLOW BOYS?

The Plow Boys were actually a political social club that occasionally played baseball. They were young Republicans. They actively campaigned for Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 victory. They went to rallies/parades

with a horse-drawn cart decked out as a float. They sang as they walked. These social clubs were common then. They had a primary focus, which in this case was politics. Most of these clubs played baseball to be physically active, but it wasn’t their principle purpose.

WHAT ROLE DID THE PLOW BOYS PLAY IN THE CIVIL WAR?

The Plow Boys were a close group of friends who enlisted together in the Civil War as a company. Walter Blanchard and Theodore Smith Rogers, two early Downers Grove founding figures, were leaders and captains of the company. Jordan James Cole (1833-1901), a Downers Grove merchant, was later captain of the Union Army and mayor of Downers Grove. The Cole House at 710 Maple Ave. is a town landmark

today. Theodore Smith Rogers (1831-1917), a prewar farmer and schoolteacher in Downers Grove and the postwar county sheriff, is also recorded as having played.

HOW DID BASEBALL TEAMS EVOLVE FROM CLUBS LIKE THIS?

These social clubs met for other purposes – in this case, politics – but they played baseball to keep in shape. They figured out, however, that it was a lot more fun if you won games! So, clubs started recruiting. If a member knew of a good player, they would offer to pay the club dues to get the guy into the club and, therefore, onto the team. Somehow, players from competing teams would get jobs in particular towns that had good teams. Eventually, clubs started hiring players from other teams who

A FRATERNITY DRESSING AS THE PLOW BOYS FOR THE DOWNERS GROVE CENTENNIAL IN 1932.

wanted to play for them. Often, they would ask a member of a newspaper staff to play on the team so that the game would get news coverage.

WHAT WAS THEIR RECORD?

Believe it or not, there are only four documented games we are sure the Plow Boys played: 1858 against the Union Club of Chicago, 1859 against the Club of Danby (Glen Ellyn), 1870

against the Red Stockings of Fullersburg (Hinsdale), and 1870 against Naperville. But that’s not to say they didn’t play more games. Newspapers at the time didn’t report much on sports; it wasn’t seen as newsworthy. It was considered a kids’ activity.

WAS THEIR VERSION OF BASEBALL THE ONE PLAYED TODAY?

Not really. Bat and ball games have been around for centuries. Much longer than the game of baseball we know today. It was more like softball at that point with all underhand pitching. Every town team had different rules. At the start of the game, teams agreed on how many runs they would play to, so if it was 70, games could last for days!

Before 1868, shoemakers made baseballs, mostly from cork or rubber. They varied in size. Each team brought their own ball, so if you had a team that wasn’t great at fielding, they probably brought a slower ball. The winning team often took the ball since they weren’t easy to come by. That was the prize.

Eventually, teams began to see uniforms of cotton or wool. No zippers or buttons. Shirts would sometimes have a team name but not the player’s name. After all, if the team was made up of ten local players, spectators would have known everyone who was playing. They wore spikes on everyday shoes.

WHAT EFFECT DID THE CIVIL WAR HAVE ON BASEBALL?

The war had a paradoxical effect on baseball. On the one hand, it wiped out a lot of the teams, especially most southern teams. Play was all but suspended during the war. The idea was that if you were young and strong enough to play baseball, you should either be enlisted or work in a factory toward the war effort. On the other hand, the war also increased baseball’s exposure. NY and IL soldiers suddenly played together during their leisure time in the camps, and they learned the NY rules, which largely became the rules that the MLB eventually adopted. After the war, northern and southern teams found a common identity in their love of baseball. So, the game contributed to a sort of reconciliation between the North and South.

HISTORIAN BRUCE ALLARDICE

Civil War and sports historian Bruce Allardice is a former South Suburban College professor of history and political science. He is also a sports historian with a special love for baseball. “I remember my grandfather quizzing me at eight years old on the batting averages of every player in the American League,” Allardice smiled. He’s a lifelong White Sox fan who has co-authored Scandal on the Southside: The 1919 Chicago White Sox, a book about the Black Sox scandal. He is involved in numerous historical organizations and serves as the Vice President of the Chicago Civil War Roundtable. For more information, or to check out the books Allardice has authored, visit CivilWarBruce.com.

DOWNERS GROVE PLOW BOYS BANNER FROM 1860

THEODORE SMITH ROGERS, EMERSON OTIS STANLEY, AND JORDAN JAMES COLE WERE REPORTEDLY ON THE TEAM, BUT ONLY STANLEY HAS BEEN CONFIRMED BY HISTORIAN BRUCE ALLARDICE.

Fostering LOVE

Two local families offer foster children a safe place to belong

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

The second Sunday in May is the day we honor Mom. Hers is the first love we know in this world.

There’s a special group of moms also recognized this month – foster moms. May is National Foster Care Awareness Month. Hinsdale Magazine Group takes its hat off to the foster moms (and dads) who open their hearts – and doors - to the realization that families come in all shapes and sizes.

Foster parents have the power to change a life when it’s most needed. Just ask West suburban resident, Marnie Jamison. For almost three decades, she has cared for foster children –two of whom she eventually adopted - as she raised her now-grown three biological children. Jamison sees each of the 89 children she has fostered as

part of her family. “I always decorate the child’s room before they arrive,” she said. “I put their name on their bedroom wall, so they feel part of the family, and they always have clothes and shoes waiting for them.”

When asked how she became interested in fostering, Jamison relayed that she learned the importance of a mother by not having one. “I didn’t have a mom, so I wanted to be a mom – to everyone!” she laughed. And she’s on track. Prior decades only allowed foster parents to have six or eight kids over several years. “But they always seemed to give me another one, because they knew I could handle it,” Jamison said with a smile. “The agencies always knew me as the ‘yes’ lady because I have almost never refused a child.”

Over the last few years, Jamison has been involved in the therapeutic foster-

ing program. It’s arguably the most challenging tier of the foster care system. These are kids who have been hospitalized, often multiple times. “I once got a baby boy who was born with addiction,” Jamison remembered. “He couldn’t sleep because his medicine made his stomach cramp. I was up all night, every night, singing to him. I worked with his doctor to get his meds adjusted to get him on the right track.”

The goal of the therapeutic foster program is to prepare the foster child for an adoptive family. The foster parents and child work with a life

MARNIE JAMISON

skills coach, a counselor, a psychiatrist, and a caseworker, to set behavioral goals. Charts and rewards are used to track and change negative behavior. “Therapeutic foster parents are the cheerleaders and enforcers of these changes,” said Jamison. “We try to help stabilize the child so they can move on to a permanent home.”

While the targeted length of stay for a foster child in a therapeutic home is six to nine months, a longer stay is often needed. And it’s something Jamison takes very seriously. “I always work with the agency to have the child stay longer if they’re not ready,” she said. “Behaviorally, they have to be ready to join a family.”

When asked if it’s hard to see a child move on, Jamison nodded thoughtfully. In her experience, the breadth of correspondence after a child leaves, varies greatly. Some kids stay in touch, and some just want to move on. She relayed anecdotes of a few kids she still sees, who are now in their late 20s.

A HINSDALE FAMILY FOSTERING TO ADOPT

Patrick McDonald and his wife, Jill, recently opened their Hinsdale home – as well as their hearts – to foster parenting. Not wanting their nine-year-old son, Will, to grow up alone, they decided to foster-to-adopt a brother and sister a few years younger than him. “Will loves them,” said Jill. “And he helps us figure things out.” The McDonalds admit it’s been an adjustment to go from raising one child to three children in the space of a single day. “Some days are easier than others,” said Patrick. “But after a tough day, when we see them smile and they tell us they’re glad to be here, it’s all worthwhile. Knowing they’re safe and happy keeps us going.”

“We have had some who still send me Mother’s Day cards and treat my family like their own. Others prefer to forget this component of their lives (foster care). So, I have to understand and accept that too,” she knows.

“My friends are always telling me I can’t save the world. And I say, ‘why not?”

-MARNIE JAMISON, FOSTER PARENT OF 89 CHILDREN

But as Jamison knows firsthand, that’s often easier said than done. There are a wide range of emotions from getting to know a child, to liking them, and then loving them, all the while preparing the child to leave. “I guess I’m somewhat ‘used to it,’” she feels, “but depending on the child, it still hurts when they leave.” Sometimes it’s hard on her family – which Jamison describes as the toughest part of this situation. “When one of our foster children moved on a few years back, my 13-year-old - one of the children I adopted – was heartbroken,” she said. “It’s been a while, but she is still very sad about it.”

But on the other hand, Jamison pointed out that when a child leaves, they go on to something good - either

to an adoptive family or back to a stable family member who has agreed to raise them.

Still, every step up is a step out. And each child leaves their mark on her family.

Although there are ups and downs to fostering, Jamison gets a lot of satisfaction from it. She’s glad to be a hand to hold onto. “I’m grateful to be able to make a difference in a child’s life who might not have had that chance otherwise,” she said. “To watch a child grow and eventually leave differently than when they arrive is a gift to that child.”

Jamison would eventually like to have a group home – a residence in which a staff of nurses, psychologists and others caregivers oversee a group of seven or eight kids at a time. She sees the power and opportunity to change lives. Jamison says, “we really need good foster parents. If I don’t do it, who will? That’s how I feel.”

Being a foster parent may be challenging, but the rewards are enormous. Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois  improves the well-being of people across the state by protecting children, strengthening families and building futures for those who have experienced trauma. To learn more, visit LCFS.org.

JILL AND PATRICK MCDONALD WITH THEIR NINE-YEAR-OLD SON, WILL

Downers Grove Home Seller

Discovering Paired

PASSIONS

Lauren Lakeberg blends a love of photography, nature, and disc golf to create a niche business

BY VALERIE HARDY

Lauren Lakeberg’s first word was “light” – fitting, given that she grew up to become a professional photographer. “Photography has been with me my whole life,” she said.

Lakeberg got her first camera from her mother, and said once she took it apart and understood how it worked “from the inside out,” she was hooked.

She further realized her passion when she took a darkroom photography class in high school (Lakeberg is a 2003 North High School graduate and lifelong Downers Grove resident). She ultimately got a degree in photography from Columbia College in 2018, but she practiced photography as both a hobby and a job for many years prior and since.

One of Lakeberg’s principal photography subjects is nature. She attributes this to having grown up near Belmont Prairie and with a father who was a fisherman and camper. Accordingly, she said, fusing nature and photography was – well – only natural.

When Lakeberg has a free day, she goes outside to take photos. “It’s a meditation for me,” she explained.

DISC GOLF PLAYER AND PHOTOGRAPHER LAUREN LAKEBERG AT THE PINE NURSERY COURSE IN BEND, OREGON

DISC GOLF COURSES

Looking to try the game? Lakeberg’s top recommendation is The Canyons at Dellwood Park in Lockport with 27 holes of varying difficulty. Other courses include:

 O’Brien Park in Downers Grove (9 holes)

 Lombard Common Park (9 holes and great for beginners)

 Madison Meadow Park in Lombard (18 holes)

 Central Park in Oak Brook (9 holes)

 Castaldo Park in Woodridge (9 holes)

 Katherine Legge Memorial Park in Hinsdale (18 holes)

 Knoch Knolls Park in Naperville (recently redesigned from 9 holes to 18 holes)

Lakeberg never has a shortage of visual inspiration. While most of her photography is from local settings, when she travels, she usually finds something environmental to capture on camera as well. “It is more a part of who I am than what I do,” she said of photography.

While Lakeberg described her love of nature and photography as innate, her other primary passion – disc golf – came later but is something she continues to cultivate. She played a bit of disc golf in high school, mainly at Downers Grove’s O’Brien Park, but the sport initially “didn’t really stick.”

Lakeberg still enjoyed spectating competitive disc golf, though - including from behind the camera lens. She realized disc golf photography was “a missing piece in the media world,” noting that she rarely saw photographers on the course in the aughts.

“It is more a part of who I am than what I do.”

– LAUREN LAKEBERG ON PHOTOGRAPHY

Once again, she blended two of her passions, becoming one of the first and leading specialists in disc golf photography. “My work is more valued when I’m photographing [disc golf] than when I’m playing it,” Lakeberg said.

However, when she met her boyfriend (now partner of 20 years), Chris Brenholtz, she rediscovered disc golf and began playing in tournaments. She played competitively “up to the pro level” in 2009 and 2010 before shifting back to recreational disc golf.

She took inspiration from the 2004 film Riding Giants, which documented the backstory and subculture of surfing, and committed to do the same for disc golf. In 2012, Lakeberg worked with Disc Golf Planet TV before becoming a freelancer.

She was asked to be the touring photographer for the 2016 Disc Golf Pro Tour.

THIS IMAGE OF DISC GOLFER BRIAN EARHART AT THE CLASH AT THE CANYONS TOURNAMENT IS AN EXAMPLE OF LAKEBERG’S WORK.

She savored the experience but explained the “grueling, across-the-nation, full-time, never-going-to-be-homeagain” nature of being a Pro Tour photographer.

Though not sustainable for her on a full-time basis, Lakeberg said she will sometimes still “hop on the Pro Tour.” For example, she photographed the U.S. Women’s Disc Golf Championships in Madison a couple years ago.

The majority of Lakeberg’s disc golf photography, however, is local. She enjoys photographing and reviewing new disc golf courses, then coming back years later to see how they have evolved. She also photographs disc golf events in the Chicagoland area, including those hosted by Lockport-based Dellwood Disc Golf, whose home course, The Canyons, is Illinois’ number one disc golf course, according to disc golf course directory UDisc.

Lakeberg explained disc golf’s growth over the past two decades, with an especially big boom in the last few years with the shift toward

more outdoor activities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She shared that in her early years as a disc golfer and photographer, she often had to explain to people what disc golf was. Today, she said, most people are familiar with the sport, even if they have not tried it. That said, she understands some are still unfamiliar with the sport; she has even seen people mistake the sport’s chain baskets for “a barbecue, hanging hotdogs from the chains.”

Lakeberg encourages novices to give disc golf a try, not just for the sport itself but for the community that comes with it. “It’s really neat, looking at it now, how many friends I’ve made through the disc golf community,” Lakeberg said.

As a guest on the Unstable Discourse podcast on a couple occasions, Lakeberg has spoken about her disc golf “why” and the ways in which being part of that community has enriched her life.

What else is part of Lakeberg’s life? When not playing disc golf, taking

FROM A MINIATURE KIT, LAKEBERG’S BOYFRIEND, CHRIS BRENHOLTZ, CREATED A MODEL OF HOLE 18 AT THE CANYONS DISC GOLF COURSE.

BY LAUREN LAKEBERG

FLOWERS AND OTHER ELEMENTS IN NATURE ARE AMONG LAKEBERG’S FAVORITE PHOTOGRAPHY SUBJECTS.

pictures, or taking pictures of people playing disc golf, Lakeberg joked that she is probably “going to bed at 8 p.m.”

This may be because - in addition to her photography, which typically runs spring through fall - Lakeberg also works full-time as a Communications Coordinator for a bankruptcy turnaround management firm in Chicago. She has also competed in the Chicago Triathlon twice, and she enjoys spending time with her “rock” – Brenholtz – an artist.

The couple merged their creative skills in homage to their beloved sport. Brenholtz constructed a miniature of the 18th hole at Dellwood Park, and Lakeberg photographed it.

For more information about Lakeberg and her work, visit DiscGolfPhotographer.com and LaurenLakeberg.com. Lakeberg also recommends watching the pros play live at the Clash at The Canyons tournament at Lockport’s Dellwood Park on July 27-28. Admission is free, and those interested can learn more at DellwoodDG.com.

PHOTO

MOCHEL'S ORIGINAL STOREFRONT FOUND ON MAIN STREET CIRCA 1880S. MERTZ SOLD HIS INTEREST IN 1922.

Anchor on Main Street

Remembering Mochel’s Hardware

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Sometimes, a community business becomes like a town’s anchor. For 111 years, that place was Mochel’s Hardware on Main St. Charles Mochel and business partner Levi Mertz initially opened the store as Mertz & Mochel in 1884. The pair quickly earned the trust of customers in need of hardware for home repairs or projects. In addition to quality merchandise, they also got the reliable, sound advice needed to complete the work.

From ice for their kitchen iceboxes to coal for their basement furnaces, they found it at Mochel’s. Screws and nails, individually sold, came in a plethora of sizes. As time passed, keys were cut, paint was mixed, and gardening and holiday items were added to front window displays. Mertz was

gone by 1922, and the name changed to Charles Mochel & Son.

97-year-old Downers Grove resident and third-generation business owner

John W. Mochel, Jr. recently reflected

on his career in the business started by his grandfather well over a century ago. “I started working there alongside my grandfather when I was ten,” said Mochel. “He could tell you what was in every drawer and cabinet with his eyes closed.”

John W. Mochel Jr. was born on May 4, 1926. He grew up across from Randall Park as the only child of John Sr. and Ollun Anderson Mochel. Mochel attended Whittier School, and later Downers Grove High School (now Lincoln Center). He graduated from Denison College in Ohio. Later, he saw much of the south pacific while serving in the Navy.

Soon after his tour, he returned to Downers Grove and married Doris Mae Hawk, a schoolmate from when he was growing up.

YOUNG FANS ENGAGE JOHN MOCHEL JR.AT A RECENT EVENT HIGHLIGHTING HIS LIFE.

Mochel went to work with his father and grandfather. “I never applied for any other job in my life. My job, from day one, was the store.” By this time, Mochel’s father had doubled the original size of the store. The family prospered, eventually having a son and three daughters while living in their Denburn Woods home.

“The store was like our second home,” said oldest daughter, Leslie Mochel Rueckert. “There was a breakroom in the basement with a sort of kitchen.

My dad often napped on a lawn chair down there,” she said as she laughed. “Their employees were like another family.” New hires went through a fun-loving initiation to feel part of the gang. They celebrated everyone’s birthday and attended each other’s weddings and christenings.

“Everyone who worked there felt they belonged,” said Leslie. Old-fashioned company picnics were memorable. “Kids had burlap sack races and played in the creek while the adults played cards. Everyone brought a dish to share,” she remembered, smiling.

Mochel’s was there for its neighbors, too. Like the time a fire broke out in the basement of the business next to the hardware store in the early morning hours a few days before Christmas. Before long, it had spread to the bank. The firefighters used the break room on the lower level of the hardware store as a check-in point as they took turns fighting the flames in the bitter cold. While Doris Mae kept the hot coffee coming, the Mochel kids helped unbutton the firefighters'slick ers as they came in briefly to warm up. “Their fingers were frozen,” said Linda Mochel Paulsen.

Work always came first to this fam ily. “My parents never closed the store for commitments like weddings or funerals,” Linda stressed. The exceptions were the few times John and Doris Mae went on vacation. “I remember my dad leaving me in charge of the store at 15 or 16 years old,” Leslie recalled with a chuckle. “He counted on me to run the store and make the decisions and bank deposits in his place – nobody would do that today.”

“Mochie’s,” as the children called it, was a family affair in which all four children worked. John empowered his children. “It was just ‘here it is, learn it, you need to know it,” said Linda. “He trusted us to get the right color when mixing paint the old-fashioned way when you fol lowed a recipe to get a certain color or to cut a key accurately.”

Of all the things entrusted to them, fire department calls were the most serious. For many decades, the Downers Grove Fire Department was largely a volun tary organization. During that time, fire emergency calls came through the store. “We knew when the phone rang in one long, continuous ring to pick it up and just listen,” said Linda, “because on the other end was someone calling to report a fire somewhere in town. We knew to say nothing, take down the

address, hang up, and call Chief Frank Wander right away. I think back on that responsibility as a 12-year-old, and I still can’t believe it.”

But it wasn’t always business. “The holidays were fun at the store,” Linda remembered. The Main Street business district closed early on

CHARLES MOCHEL, GRANDFATHER OF JOHN MOCHEL JR.

ICE DELIVERIES WERE LOADED FROM THE BARN BEHIND THE STORE.

Christmas Eve for company parties. Employees bounced up and down between storefronts, bringing holiday cheer to neighbors. “My parents would share drinks with other store owners, and some regular customers even came by for the odd Tom & Jerry,” said Linda. “Once, when I was about 14, Leslie and I snuck away on

an ‘errand.’ We went to several stores, having drinks at each one. My dad was fuming when we got back,” she recalled as she laughed.

Leslie will never forget the echo in the empty store the day her father pulled the door shut behind them for the last time. “I’m glad I was there for it,” she

said. “My mom, dad, and I just hugged each other and cried.” A historical marker written by Linda in honor of the store’s one-hundredth anniversary is all that remains of Mochel’s Hardware at 5122 Main St. But the lingering smell of sawdust and the ring of the cash register remains in the memories of generations of Downers Grovers.

Dr. Michael Halkias

Naper Grove Vision Care

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF.

I grew up here in the Western suburbs, and I have been an owner of Naper Grove Vision Care since 2008. Currently, I live in Hinsdale with my wife, Jessica, and three children.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

Above all else...attitude. In my work life, success requires persistence, discipline, and planning. Outside of work, success to me is work-life balance + family involvement/presence + constantly evolving into a more refined human being.

HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO PATIENT SUCCESS?

I first listen carefully, then I empathize with their concerns, and finally, I strive to overdeliver on their expectations. Happy patients come back, and they tell their friends and family.

WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING READERS SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OPTOMETRY CARE TODAY?

Your eyes can tell us a lot about your overall health. Don’t assume because you’re young or you can see okay that you don’t have to get checked annually.

IN THE TIME YOU’VE BEEN PRACTICING, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE FIELD CHANGE (LATEST ADVANCEMENTS LIKE AI, ETC.)?

AI will undoubtedly help augment the doctor-patient experience. It will offer doctors incredible insight to help minimize risks based on historical big data archives. Imagine a world where every private doctor-patient conversation can be analyzed in real-time to look for innovative treatments or solutions that otherwise may have been overlooked. Whoever isn’t using AI in their practices someday will fall behind. It will become the standard of care.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER HOBBIES AND INTERESTS OUTSIDE MEDICINE?

Taking one trip a year with family, going to Hawks/ Bulls/Cubs games, and spending time beefing up my knowledge of fine wines.

“IF I WASN’T A DOCTOR, I’D BE…

An owner of an exotic/luxury car dealer, or owner of a boating/yachting business. ■

Visit napergrove.com for more information.

Dr. Karen Wolowick & Dr. Susan Mitchell

This summer, Susan Mitchell, MD, is joining forces with Karen Wolowick, DO, to begin a new journey for Wolowick Women's Health. Although the practice's name will change, its focus on personalized healthcare for modern women will remain steadfast. Welcome, Dr. Mitchell, to Downers Grove.

TELL US WHY YOU STARTED YOUR OWN PRACTICE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH DR. WOLOWICK.

After more than 15 years as an OB-GYN, I knew I wanted to provide personal and meaningful care to patients. One of the best things about being a doctor is developing trusting, lasting relationships with patients, which today’s big-medicine environment sometimes hinders.

WHAT IS THE FORMULA FOR YOUR SUCCESS?

You are positioned to provide unparalleled service when you follow your passion and do what you love and are uniquely good at.

HOW DOES THAT TRANSLATE INTO PATIENT SUCCESS?

Patients want to see physicians who care and make an extra effort. When patients don't feel heard, they don't get the level of care they need.

IN THE TIME YOU'VE BEEN PRACTICING, HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THE FIELD CHANGE?

Women are owning their lives and their happiness more than ever. Women want to feel healthy and do what they can to minimize their risk of heart disease and cancer. They are taking control of their fertility and are more educated than ever on their health. Pap tests and mammograms are becoming more personalized to a patient's history. Women's health has historically been sidelined in medicine and medical research. Now, women are demanding, getting, and creating better solutions.

WHAT ARE YOUR OTHER HOBBIES AND INTERESTS OUTSIDE MEDICINE?

I love to travel and am a committed Francophile. I am an avid reader, and I am always curious to see what my patients are reading! One of my favorite things is to get together with close friends and enjoy a long dinner with delicious food, interesting conversation, and fantastic wine.

“IF I WASN’T A DOCTOR, I’D BE…” It's hard for me to imagine life not as a doctor; it's an integral part of who I am. I would love to write and travel more if I could expand other areas of my life. ■

Beaming ON THE BEAM

Three DG gymnasts finish in the top 10 in the state balance beam event

BY JEFF VORVA | PHOTOS COURTESY OF DOWNER GROVE SOUTH

Genevieve Herion became just the second gymnast in Downers Grove South history to win a state championship.

And to do that, she had to edge out one of her teammates for the honor.

The Downers Grove co-op team, based at South and nicknamed the Trostangs, were beaming on the beam as three of their gymnasts finished in the top 10 in the balance beam event at the Illinois High School Association state meet on Feb. 16-17 at Palatine High School.

Herion, a junior at South, finished with a 9.5250 score which barely beat out South freshman Edith Condon, who had a 9.4750.

Also making the top 10 was Downers Grove North sophomore Kaelyn Landry, who was ninth with an 8.9000.

All three are scheduled to be back for the Trostangs next year. Could they finish 1-2-3 in 2025?

While that sounds like a tall task, it might not be

impossible. DG coach Kristyn Campos said she thought it could happen this year. She wasn’t surprised to place three in the top 10 and to have a state champion on the team.

“You know the talent you have,” Campos said. “I told them ‘you guys can literally go 1-2-3. I thought we could take the top of the podium. I thought Gen or Edie could finish at No. 1 just because of the way they had been competing. Edie had a new

beam routine at state and we changed some things up to help her place better and it worked.”

Herion joins Stephanie Grygiel as the only DGS state champ as Grygiel took first in the vault in 1991. Grygiel is the most decorated gymnast in Mustangs history as she won five top-6 medals in her career. Herion already has four with a year to go.

THREE DOWNERS GROVE GYMNASTS WHO FINISHED IN THE TOP 10 IN THE STATE IN THE BALANCE BEAM EVENT HUG DURING THE STATE MEET.

DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH’S GENEVIEVE HERION IS THE SECOND STATE CHAMPION GYMNAST IN SCHOOL HISTORY.

Herion said. “All of us have worked so hard all season for the state meet.”

Herion also placed fifth in the allaround this year. In 2023, she placed third in the all-around and third in the uneven parallel bars as the co-op team won its first state championship. This year, it took second as they were squeezed out by Hersey 146.25-145.40.

She said she got her start at an early age as her older brothers, Brock and Bo, took up the sport when they were all young.

“I really looked up to them, and I got involved in the sport and have loved it ever since,” Herion said.

“She has repeatedly been on the top of the podium all season.”

DOWNERS GROVE CO-OP COACH KRISTYN CAMPOS ON THE IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE OF GENEVIEVE HERION

Campos has had fun watching Heri on’s progression. “She has changed a lot as far as becoming more of a con fident gymnast,” Campos said of her champion. “She has made some of her routines her own and has improved tremendously in the last two years. She has added difficulty to all of her routines. She has repeatedly been on the top of the podium all season. She was our conference champion, regional champion, and sectional champion. She was repeat edly pushing the limits, and it’s a new endeavor for her to realize just how

good she is. She is becoming a leader of our team as time goes on.”

Condon admits that when she hit the gym for her first state finals, it was intimidating.

“Going in, I was nervous,” she said, “It definitely is so much more overwhelming. It’s really unexplainable. It’s loud. It’s crowded. It’s the best of the best. But it’s a lot of fun. You just have to be confident and trust your training. You know what you are doing. You just have fun and do your best.”

She said before her routines, she would take a few seconds, talk to herself, and breathe.

Heroin is already looking forward to next year because she said she cant wait to be back with the team.

“I love being with all of my teammates and building bonds with everyone,” she said. “It’s a big family. I’ve met so many amazing people. My coaches are amazing. Every time I come to practice, I have so much fun. These girls are my favorites.”

FRESHMAN EDITH CONDON HAD A SUCCESSFUL DEBUT, FINISHING SECOND IN THE STATE ON THE BALANCE BEAM.

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Turning a New Page

Three local authors work themselves into three interesting and diverse book genres

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Kelly K. James –

Downers Grove

Ever wondered if you pushed the envelope too far at work? Worried you might get fired for saying what you think or for disagreeing with your boss? Not long ago, Downers Grove writer Kelly K. James found

herself in the same position. Her upcoming memoir, The Book That (Almost) Got Me Fired: How I (Barely) Survived a Year in Corporate America, gives the details. It’s the true account of a lawyer-cum-selfemployed-writer who returns to the corporate world after decades of working from home.

A seasoned freelance writer and author of a dozen books, most being service journalism – how to lose weight, how to make money freelancing, etc., The Book That (Almost) Got Me Fired is a departure from her usual beat. It’s part how-to guide for surviving re-entering corporate America

after being self-employed for 22 years, and part mid-life memoir.

The Book That (Almost) Got Me Fired is a candid look at switching gears mid-career while learning to adapt to a workplace in which you’re one of the oldest but not necessarily one of the wisest. To prepare for this new style of writing, James studied several best-selling memoirs. A journal that consisted of dozens of meticulously detailed entries - over a one-year span - helped her develop the workplace characters and keep track of the corporate shenanigans that morphed into the book’s narrative arc.

It’s an entertaining read, peppered by anecdotes - mostly humorous, sometimes poignant, but always honest – about what it takes to reshape oneself back into corporate America these days, as well as how to cope with single parenthood, middle-aged worries, and finding love again with a man who may or may not be the next “Mr. Right.”

James confessed that “letting go of worrying what people would think of me when they read the book” was the greatest challenge of this project. “I had to set aside the fear of what readers would think and focus on the story I wanted to tell,” she said.

“I wanted to write something I would enjoy reading.”

James hopes readers go along for an enjoyable ride and learn how to thrive in corporate America, as well as the rest of their lives. “Initially, I planned to write about the transition from being self-employed to becoming a corporate drone, but I ended up including a lot of other aspects of my life, too.

“The bonus was that when something crappy happened at work, I would kind of cackle silently to myself and think, ‘Well, that’s going in the book!’” James relayed, laughing. At least she warns us. This is

someone whose bumper sticker reads, “Careful, or you’ll end up in my novel.”

James will read from the book at the book launch at Frugal Muse Books, 7511 Lemont Road, Darien, on Tuesday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. You may order the book from any brick-andmortar or online bookstore.

Learn more about the author at KellyKJames.net.

Roger Day Bain –Clarendon Hills

Like every other Little Leaguer growing up in Clarendon Hills, Roger Day Bain aspired to pitch for the Cubs. As a Plan B, he enrolled at the University of Kansas, after which he embarked on an early retirement of sorts.

the fodder that would eventually fill the pages of his first book, Hardly Working.

Hardly Working is an autobiographical sketch of Bain’s life, filtered through the lens of work. The pages describe 40 different jobs he held over five decades in various destinations around the country in humorous detail. There’s even a brief jaunt to South America. Some jobs occupy an entire chapter. Others are a brief blurb. “I’ve had tons of jobs. Some as short as a day, a week, or a month, and I have lived in some pretty crazy places,” Bain said, laughing. “So, there was plenty to write about.”

“I thought my kids could read it and hopefully gain something from it,” Bain relayed.

“I wandered around and kind of did retirement before a career. I wanted to do it while I was young,” he said.

Bain didn’t realize it at the moment, but he was living

The story begins with his summer jobs caddying at Hinsdale Golf Club and working in an uncle’s car dealership. Readers go on a colorful employment journey over the next several years, detailing dozens of Bain’s dead-end jobs. Eventually, Bain talked himself into the cable TV system in Lawrence, Kansas. It was there that he finally found himself. “I discovered my creative side when I got into video,” said Bain.

After a long stint in ad sales, Bain and his wife moved back to the area, where he started his own advertising agency in the early 90s. Clients like Dairy Queen and United Auto Insurance hired Bain to use his creativity while writing product songs and jingles.

Hardly Working also invites readers into the social history of the years it covers. “The book talks about events like Vietnam and the draft and Nixon. Whatever was in the backdrop at that moment,” said Bain.

In honor of his hometown’s anniversary, he also self-published a manuscript entitled I Grew Up in Clarendon Hills. It’s an account of Bain’s childhood from 1949-1969. “Nobody has written anything like this about Clarendon Hills, so I think anyone who grew up here in that era would appreciate it,” he said. The piece is currently being reviewed by the Illinois Library Association’s ‘Soon to be Famous’ author project.

For more information about Roger Day Bain or to order your copy of Hardly Working, visit RogerDayBain.com. To listen to his catchy tune about Clarendon

Hills, “I Grew Up in Clarendon Hills,” please visit SoundCloud.

An entire soundtrack with the anecdotal stories of his book by the same name, “Hardly Working,” can also be found on SoundCloud.

Caryn Rivadeneira –Elmhurst

Caryn Rivadeneira is an Elmhurst resident and author of 25 books. Her career as a magazine writer and editor took a different turn when a friend invited her to rewrite an adaptation of Noah’s Ark as a work-for-hire project. “I loved it, and it opened the world of children’s book writing to me,” said Rivadeneira. She is the author of Helper Hounds , an eight-book series in which her past dogs have inspired the heroic main characters. Each one helps young readers find wisdom in themes such as bullying and making new friends, with the help of a canine protagonist.

As a mother of three, parenting has helped her flesh out stories in this

genre. “I tap into conversations I’ve had with my kids or little things they find funny or amusing,” Rivadeneira relayed.

Her latest series, FrankinSchool, is officially aimed at an audience of second through fifth graders, but “I’m always cautious to comment on a target reading level because every student is different,” Rivadeneira knows. The series, in which her son shares a name with the main character, evolved from inklings of reallife scenarios he experienced as a young child. “What-if” poems they wrote together when he was little evolved into plot events. His dilapidated grade school building with ‘roped-off twisty staircases, creepy, sneaky doors, and spooky spaces’ provided a perfect setting for the main character, Fred, and other characters inspired by classmates.

“The series uses the power of pretending because readers don’t necessarily know if a plot event is actually happening or if it’s all imagined,” Rivadeneira points out. “To me, it doesn’t really matter because readers are using their imagination. When we say ‘what if,’ we allow ourselves to wonder about the world!” The third of this four-book series is due out in August.

In addition to reading, Rivandeneira’s other love is helping students write and develop their own stories through mini-writer workshops. Currently, she is working on this endeavor with a school in the western suburbs. “Writing is its own sort of magic that happens when we allow ourselves to say, ‘What if?’”

For more information, follow Caryn Rivadeneira on Facebook.

THE THRILL of the Dill

The unexpected rise of Pickleball

BY CYNTHIA MAQUET

For the third year in a row, Pickleball has earned the title of the fastest-growing sport in the nation. Is the pickleball phenomenon all that it’s cracked up to be? The rapid growth and increase in popularity seems to point in the direction of “YES.” But let’s get to know a little more about pickle so you can decide for yourself if you want to be part of the craze.

THE HISTORY OF PICKLEBALL

In 1965, three fathers, Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum were looking for an activity to keep their bored children occupied during summer break and decided to combine elements of badminton, tennis and

table tennis to form a fun and easy game for all ages. What started as a simple game in their backyard would turn into a sport that is still spreading across the nation 60 years later.

THE NAME “PICKLEBALL”

There are two versions of the origins of the pickleball name involving pickle boats and a family dog. Pickle boats used in crew races were for the oarsmen, who were not quite good enough for the main team. The families found this similar to how their newly created game was a hodgepodge of different elements from other racquet sports. Alternatively, it is said that the game was named after the Pritchard family dog Pickles.

Either way, the sport is a household name today.

THE RISE OF PICKLEBALL

From backyards to retirement communities to school playgrounds, the popularity of Pickleball grew in the 1990s. But it was the pandemic of 2020 when Pickleball really took off. The socially- distanced and outdoor aspect made it a sport for all ages and abilities to connect during a time when people needed it most.

The pickleball boom is real. According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), more than 13.6 million people played Pickleball across the US in 2023. Pickleball par

ticipation rates are now right up there with traditional sports such as golf and basketball. Celebrities like LeBron James and Reese Witherspoon are bringing attention to the pickleball craze by investing in professional pickleball teams or actually being seen playing pickle themselves!

THE DILL WITH DELIGHT

There are many positive factors that contribute to why pickle is such a delight to play. First off, it is easy to learn and can be tailored to all skill levels. The pickleball community gives off the vibe that all are welcome, which makes it social and fun. Once people try, the addiction is real. There is always room for growth and to take it up a notch to the competitive levels. Pickleball is not only great exercise but also great for mental health. Plus, the inexpensive side of it makes it a huge draw.

THE PICKLE OF PICKLEBALL

While the hype is real, some people tend to think there is also a sour side of pickle. Some people think it is

“cult-like” taking over their communities. Pickleball is causing disputes over real estate and public places where courts are taking over. Tennis and basketball courts are being converted for pickleball use, and the noise level has not been appreciated by homes nearby. As Pickleball’s popularity has skyrocketed, so has the number of serious game-related injuries among players.

GETTING PICKLED RIGHT HERE IN THE BURBS

Local parks, swim clubs, and rec centers are just a few of the hundreds of places popping up to play in DuPage County. The newest facility, Net Game, has recently opened up in Westmont. Net Game is a one-stop shop for pickle enthusiasts, which has it all. It combines a vibrant atmosphere, a stocked bar, and delicious food for on-the-go.

“Net Game is the largest dedicated indoor pickleball facility in DuPage county boasting nine full-size regulation courts,” according to co-found-

ers Jill Livingston and Dorothy Foster. Net Game has its own pro, leagues, drills, party rooms and open play. An added bonus – you don’t have to worry about being kicked off the court!

STILL IN A PICKLE?

There is no talk of the pickle craze fading anytime soon. Rumor has it pickle might even be a sport in the 2032 Summer Olympics - definitely giving you some time to acquaint yourself with the game.

NET GAME IS A ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PICKLE ENTHUSIASTS NOW OPEN IN WESTMONT.

UNLIKE TENNIS OR BADMINTON, PLAYERS USE A SOLID PADDLE MADE OF GRAPHITE, CARBON FIBER, FIBERGLASS, OR WOOD. THE BALL USED IS SIMILAR TO A WIFFLE BALL WITH HOLES THROUGH IT.

Vacation

THE PARRILLO KIDS (AND A NEW FRIEND) AT WALT DISNEY WORLD

BELLA AND REILLY RENCHIN IN LUGANO, SWITZERLAND

MADDIE WILMOTH AND MAELEE JEFFERS ON THEIR SPRING STAYCATION

Mode

HAWAII

GRANT SCHRODER, JACK REICHERT, MAX KNUTSON, WESTON WAUGHOP IN SIESTA KEY, FLORIDA

THE MILES FAMILY AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

THE BARNISH FAMILY IN SUNNY FLORIDA

CENTER STAGE

Dan Aykroyd at Oakbrook Center’s Wonderverse

BY LARRY ATSEFF

There is absolutely no substitute for talent. And there is no substitute for being a genuinely nice guy. That is Dan Aykroyd in a nutshell.

His oeuvre as a comedian, actor, writer and director speaks for itself. Think about all the laughs you have had watching him on Saturday Night Live and in movies like Blues Brothers, Trading Places, Spies Like Us, as well as Ghostbusters I and II, among others. Aykroyd has even earned an Academy Award nomination for his supporting role as Boolie Werthan in the 1989 film, Driving Miss Daisy.

Many of the storylines, scenes and dialogue in skits and films are his. And, according to all reports, he is generous in his praise of his collaborators.

On Monday night, April 8, Hinsdale Magazine Group Publisher Scott Jonlich and I watched his nice-guy side, first- hand, for about an hour. He pleasantly enjoyed speaking with interviewers and dozens of fans. He

was signing autographs and taking pictures during a promotional stint for his new Crystal Head Vodka. Appropriately enough, it took place at the Ghost Trap, Ghostbusters-themed speakeasy.

“I don’t really think about legacy. I think about the future. I think about how I can impact people’s lives by maybe creating another piece of entertainment or two. And just living a happy, healthy life and everything in moderation.”

— DAN AKROYD

When asked about his legacy, Aykroyd said, “I don’t really think about legacy. I think about the future. I think about how I can impact people’s lives by maybe creating another piece of entertainment or

two. And just living a happy, healthy life and everything in moderation.”

Ghostbusters is part of Wonderverse, Sony Entertainment’s first “immersive entertainment” venue, which happens to be located in Oakbrook Center, in Oak Brook.

You can go to the Ghostbusters VR Academy and be a Ghostbuster with two reality experiences. In one

experience, you suit up and get armed with proton packs so you can outsmart spirits together with other visitors , to capture Ghosts. In another experience, you hop into the driver’s seat of Blitz, and Ecto Hovercraft, and you compete to see who is the fastest, most skilled driver in a high-speed race. For Aykroyd’s appearance, there was even an Ectomobile with several Ghostbusters on hand.

Another immersive theme is the Pacific Playland Arcade, the site of the final scene from the movie Zombieland. It comes complete with giant video classics like Pac-Man and Space Invaders, to customized claw machines and Skee Ball. You can also get into Zombie bumper cars. If you keep from getting bumped, you escape becoming “infected”.

Wonderverse is all part of a trend that seems to be taking hold at shopping centers around the country.

Last fall, Jeffrey Godsick of Sony Pictures put it this way, “We are in the midst of an explosion in the experiential economy. People today, especially millennials and Gen Z, are much more interested in spending their money on experiences than acquiring just material goods.”

Sony chose Oakbrook Center because it is extremely successful and draws big crowds daily and year-round, according to Serge Khalimsky, senior manager for the shopping center. He also points to Puttshack, Escape the Room, Immersive Game Box and Sandbox VR. ■

THE "GHOSTBUSTERS" MADE A SPECIAL APPEARANCE AT OAKBROOK CENTER'S WONDERVERSE. PHOTO BY OAK BROOK MAGAZINE STAFF

GUIDING DG KICK-OFF CELEBRATION

The Village of Downers Grove hosted a Kick-Off Celebration to launch the process of creating the Guiding DG Plans in early April. The free and family-friendly celebration featured interactive activities for all ages and interests.

Guiding DG is a combined planning effort that includes the Comprehensive Plan, the Bike and Pedestrian Plan, the Environmental Sustainability Plan, and the Downtown and Fairview Focus Area Streetscape Plan. It will serve as a roadmap for the Village to direct future growth and development, mobility, sustainability, and streetscapes over the next 20 years. Guiding DG offers a great opportunity for residents, businesses, and workers to communicate their vision for the Village of Downers Grove and identify what issues are most important for the Village to address in the near term and in the future.

Visit guidingdg.com to learn more about the planning process and how to get involved.

RICH AND DEBBIE BARKER

BILL

LIZ CHALBERG

DUPAGE PADS

At this year’s Taste of Hope event in late February, DuPagePads once again proved the power of a community that believes everyone deserves a safe place to sleep and a way to journey back to a home of their own. The organization continues to break records, raising more than $340,000 this year. Funds will be utilized to update client living spaces at DuPagePads’ Interim Housing Center. The center provides full meals with an on-site kitchen, clean and healthy rooms with wipeable floors and furniture, and beds that can accommodate guests of all ages—from newborns to seniors.

To learn more about DuPagePads, visit dupagepads.org.

A SPANISH FUSION WITH LATIN FARE