From luxury apartments to groundbreaking health care, today’s seniors are living their best life
One family’s journey with T1D and plans for JDRF’s upcoming One Dream Gala
SWEATER WEATHER
Cozy up to the fire in chic fall favorites
Pamela Pontikis seizes the best of everything Country and Town have to offer
The pandemic—and its economic fallout—has increased financial concerns for many women. According to UBS Research, eight in 10 want to protect themselves and their families more than before. Women have identified a number of financial priorities for themselves, ranging from short-term “liquidity” needs—such as adequate emergency funds, budgeting and cashflow—to “longevity” needs—such as retirement and long-term care planning. They may also want to leave a legacy, ensuring the well-being of family members and cherished causes long after they are gone.
Many women may not realize the consequences of not participating in long-term decisions until it‘s too late. As both life expectancy and divorce increase, women are more likely to end up alone. Having a proper financial plan in place can help ensure a woman‘s financial security and alleviate concerns.
Working together, The Barry Wealth Consulting Group can create a plan that helps you feel confident during a pandemic or any other economic turmoil that arises. Call us today to start the conversation.
Laurie P. Barry, CFP® Senior Vice President–Wealth Management Wealth Advisor 312-525-4393 laurie.barry@ubs.comdistinct, differ in material ways and are governed by different laws and
read the agreements and disclosures that we provide to them about the products or services we offer.
© UBS 2020. All rights reserved.
5 Beds | 5.1 Baths • $5,800,000 1300nStatePkwy1202.info
Outstanding 2-level penthouse at the famed Ambassador! This fabulously appointed home was a collaboration with top architect Wheeler Kearns and Chicago’s Mark Frazier Construction. The massive entry showcases a curved Venetian plaster-wrapped stairway, and leads into the formal living and dining room through custom Rimadesio 9’ glass and iron doors! The 1st level boasts two fabulous wings, one with 3 bedrooms and a study that could easily be converted into a 4th bedroom. The 2nd wing hosts the entire owner’s suite. The 2nd floor is the beautiful light-filled penthouse suite with access to a fabulous city view terrace! This home also includes 3 parking spaces and is close to the city’s best shopping, dining & entertainment!
7 Beds | 7.1 Baths • $5,500,000 2118NHudsonAve.info
Double lot! Custom home & coach house in the best East Lincoln Park locale! Originally 2 separate homes, the owners completely rebuilt for a one-of-a-kind single-family. This home is perfect for entertaining with gracious living & a grand dining room featuring hand-painted wallpaper and solid wood pocket doors. The French farmhouse kitchen has cerused oak cabinetry, a butler’s pantry and a breakfast room overlooking the backyard. 4 beds, including the luxe primary, are all on the 2nd level. The primary spans the rear of the home with a wonderful sunroom & dual baths. Giant mudroom in lower level and beautiful outdoor living space!
4 Beds | 3.4 Baths • $7,990,000 199ELakeShoreDr10-11E.info
Absolute elegance throughout! This premier luxury building was originally designed by Benjamin Marshall and reimagined as a fabulous co-op. The unbelievable penthouse combines the east side of both the 10th and 11th floors. Flooded with light and lake views on both levels, you will feel as though you are in your own private oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city! Designed originally as a 7-bedroom home, this home has been reconfigured to offer more gathering spaces, but could easily revert to the original plan. This exceptional home also includes roof rights which could easily be one of the most magnificent roof decks on The Drive!
3 Beds | 3.1 Baths • $4,450,000 4EElmSt21S.info
Outstanding lake views from this incredibly desirable high-floor home at 4 E Elm in Gold Coast! Direct elevator entry into what feels like your own floor in this 3,500 sf southfacing home. Dramatic, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout, 10’ ceilings and sensational views! This unit has been upgraded with no detail spared. There are two lounging areas, a spacious dining space and an additional formal living area. Designed with entertaining in mind, the optimal floor plan maximizes the lake views and the wonderful details throughout! Close to the city’s best shopping and dining, the lakefront and plenty of entertainment!
Dr. Michael Morgan, a world-renowned cosmetic dentist who studied at the University of Geneva, Switzerland with some of the world’s most talented dental artists, is pleased to announce the addition of virtual consultations to our practice. Now you can create the smile of your dreams from the comfort of your home or anywhere you have an internet connection.
• Invisalign® and 6 Month Smiles®
• Implants
• Botox
• Juvederm Collection of Fillers
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 Illinois ChicagoResidency in Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Maggie Rizzo
• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2019
• University of Michigan- BS
• University of Illinois-Chicago, DMD
• Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s HospitalResidency in Pediatric Dentistry
Dr. Lynna Gripentrog
• Joined Brush Pediatric Dentistry in 2014
• University of Illinois-Champaign Urbana-BS
• Southern Illinois University-DMD
• Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital-Residency in Pediatric Dentistry
• Diplomate ABPD
Dr. Andreina Ramones
• 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
With several new Coming Soon listings on the market this fall, we are looking forward to showing you some of the most beautiful homes in the Western Suburbs. If you have any questions about the market, if you’re ready to list your home or ready to buy, reach out to us today!
Founder & Publisher J.W. CONATSER
Associate Publisher GRETCHEN BARNARD
Editor-in-Chief KEMMIE RYAN
Style Director THERESA DEMARIA
Style Editor LAUREN DEMARIA
Contributing Editors WENDY FRANZEN
DUSTIN O’REGAN
SHERRY THOMAS
Contributing Writers TRICIA DESPRES
MITCH HURST
BILL MCLEAN
MONICA KASS ROGERS
ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER
Production Manager / Graphic Designer LINDA LEWIS
Advertising Coordinator / Graphic Designer AMANDA ALVARADO
Graphic Designer AMEEN QUTTEINEH
Contributing Photographers DAVID LESLIE ANTHONY
FRANK ISHMAN
IAN MCLEOD
MONICA KASS ROGERS
ROBIN SUBAR
Assistant to the Publisher MINDY KOVCO
Advertising Sales JENNIFER STURGEON
Illustrator BARRY BLITT
HOW TO REACH Hinsdale Living Magazine
Advertising inquiries: INFO@JWCMEDIA.COM
630-200-9027
General inquiries: 847-926-0911
Editorial inquiries: 847-651-8558
Editorial email: KEMMIE@JWCMEDIA.COM
On the web: HINSDALELIVINGMAG.COM
Mailing Address: 445 SHERIDAN ROAD, PENTHOUSE HIGHWOOD, ILLINOIS 60040
CLOSET
RT-2-ORG (866-278-2674)
ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674)
C RT-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for a -home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com ©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved.
Ca ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com
Avoid the Holiday Rush... Call 630-360-3140 , visit us online at closetfactory.com or scan this code to schedule your free in-home or virtual design consultation
©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved
-home design consultation timate or visit us online at closetfactory.com ©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved
in-home design consultation estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com ©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved
The holidays are knocking at our door as we move into November. Typically, fall is a very busy time for me. From celebrating some of the amazing organizations in our community at their annual galas, to preparing for large family dinners—Thanksgiving in particular. But, 2020 is a year of surprises and changes which has allowed me to slow down and enjoy the time with my small family. And while some organizations have chosen to cancel their galas or postpone them until 2021, many have made the move online, hosting virtual fundraisers packed with entertainment and inspiration.
In our November issue, we feature two of those organizations—JDRF and Salt Creek Ballet. Meet Steve and Megan Dragich from Western Springs in our first feature. The Dragichs are not only a couple in love, but also in the fight to find a cure for type 1 diabetes. Together they have raised nearly $1 million for JDRF. Our Giving Back story this month features the talented
dancers of Salt Creek Ballet in Westmont as they prepare for a holiday performance of The Nutcracker. With the help of the newly appointed Ballet Master, Kyle Seguin, the nonprofit is taking its holiday ballet to film.
Our second feature this month highlights some of the community’s leading partners in the aging community. And, as families prepare to gather for the holidays, our premiere Senior Living special feature is the perfect resource to start the conversation between generations while gathering. From luxury housing and the best insurance to award-winning home health care, we spotlight some of the businesses that put our seniors first.
Hinsdale’s Pamela Pontikis spills her favorites in the country and on the town this month. Hoping to inspire you in the kitchen before Thanksgiving, Monica Kass Rogers shares her take on the hearty Classic Veal Stroganoff in our Recipe. And in our Publisher’s Profiles, DeSitter Flooring turns 100 years old, Linly Designs presents its 2020 holiday décor, and Ryan D’Aprile shares his inspiration for starting d’aprile properties.
In the season of thanks, I would like to personally thank you, the readers, for allowing me to highlight so many remarkable members of the community and the organizations that they support. I hope that you enjoy celebrating Thanksgiving with friends and family whether in person or in true 2020 fashion— virtually. We’d love to see what you’re making this year, so be sure to send us a photo on Instagram with all of your culinary creations—@hinsdale_living
Warmest wishes,
NOVEMBER 5
MRF’S 6TH ANNUAL CHICAGO GALA
WHERE: Virtually
WHEN: 6 to 10 p.m.
TICKETS: Starting at $150. Join the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF) in cocktail attire, pajamas, or your favorite Coolibar UPF gear during its annual fundraising gala, this year held virtually. givergy.us/mrfchicago
NOVEMBER 10
BOOKS & BRUNCH –EVENING EDITION
WHERE: Virtually
WHEN: 7 to 9 p.m.
TICKETS: $50 individual; $75 couple
The Assistance League of Chicagoland West hosts its premier fundraising event—this year being livestreamed right to your home. Author Andrea Thome will moderate an insightful conversation between authors Sonali Dev, Gloria Chao, and Chris Jones. The evening will also feature a silent auction, raffles, and more. books2020.givesmart.com
GIVING THANKS GALA 2020
WHERE: Drury Lane Theatre & Events, Oakbrook Terrace
WHEN: 6 p.m.
TICKETS: $100
Join the party of the year where 100 percent of proceeds will be donated directly to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The evening will include a cocktail hour, exquisite dinner and drinks, and dancing into the night. eventbrite.com/e/ giving-thanks-gala-2020-tickets82053565423?aff=ebdssbdestse arch
WHERE: Burr Ridge Village Center and Village Green
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Community groups, local fire districts and business owners, and more will kick off a parade through Village Center in celebration of the holidays. The family-friendly event will feature children’s giveaways, crafts, treats, and a visit from holiday characters. The parade steps off at 6:30 p.m. followed by the tree lighting at 7 p.m. and festivities. burr-ridge.gov/ events/jingle-mingle
NOVEMBER 20 –JANUARY 3
WHERE: Morton Arboretum, Lisle
TICKETS: Starting at $29 for members; $39 for guests. The lights are back at The Morton Arboretum this year. Enjoy thousands of twinkling holiday lights and displays from the comfort of your car during this reimagined drive-through experience. mortonarb.org/events
WHERE: Brookfield Zoo Brookfield Zoo hosts its 39th annual holiday spectacular presented by ComEd and Meijer. More than one million twinkling lights, a 41-foottall tree, and larger-than-life animal sculptures fill the zoo. czs.org/holidaymagic
WHERE: Virtually WHEN: 7 p.m.
Join Hinsdale Public Library for a virtual discussion with local author Susan O’Bryne. She will discuss her newest novel, Kansas, She Said. Registration is required. hinsdale.libnet.info/ event/4580591
WHERE: Village Hall Main Building, Clarendon Hills WHEN: 6 to 9 p.m.
The holiday spirit is alive in
downtown Clarendon Hills. Join the Chamber of Commerce for an evening filled with carolers, a visit with Santa, and the annual tree lighting. clarendonhills.us
WHERE: Virtually WHEN: 6 p.m.
JDRF’s annual gala is going virtual this year. After raising a record-breaking $7.1 million for T1D research in 2019, the nonprofit is keeping the momentum. This year supporters can opt for perfectly catered meals and more brought right to their home. jdrf.org/illinois/ events/one-dream-gala
As we go to press, some of the events listed may have changed or been postponed. With that in mind, we urge you to check the organization’s website to find out whether an event is still taking place, or has been canceled or rescheduled, before attending.
Try your hand at The Tuthill Family Pet Rescue and Resource Center (PRRC) and Hinsdale Humane Society’s (HHS) newest fundraiser—THE QUEEN OF HEARTS Raffle. Tune into HHS’s Instagram (@ hinsdalehumanesociety) and Facebook ( facebook.com/hinsdalehumanesociety) every Tuesday at 4:05 p.m. to see a live drawing of the winner. Participants are able to purchase tickets for $5 each and they are good for one week of the raffle. “The goal of our Queen of Hearts Raffle is to provide some weekly fun for HHS supporters during these crazy times,” says Dee Downs, event coordinator for PRRC. For more information or to view the rules and regulations for the raffle, visit hinsdalehumanesociety. org/events/queen-of-hearts.
There’s a chill in the air, but your TIFFANY & CO.’S new fall 2020 home and accessories collections will brighten your home this fall. The Tiffany Brushstroke collection features stunning color block vases, elegant bone china tableware, and more—all reimagined with an artsy brushstroke of the iconic Tiffany Blue hue. tiffany.com
London-based creative director ALEX EAGLE’S new tome is a stylish collection of interiors from some of the world’s most creative contemporaries, including adventurer David de Rothschild and heiress Marie Louise Scio. Providing insight into how these personal spaces cultivate unique ways of living, working, and socializing. Find a quiet spot to sit back and be inspired. rizzoli.com
grew up in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago before moving to the West Loop with her husband, Dr. George Pontikis, after college. The couple eventually found their way to Hinsdale after a two-year stay in Dallas, for Dr. Pontikis’s surgical fellowship. Pamela has a degree in Civil Engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and works as a Project Manager for Talman Consultants, a woman-owned utility engineering firm based in Chicago. When this self-proclaimed “awful cook” isn’t consulting with clients like the City of Chicago, she enjoys working out with her husband and two children—Christopher (4) and Angela (2). “My husband and kids are my best friends and support system in everything that I do in life.” The family’s love of Hinsdale began during a weekend trip to the area while still living in Dallas. “We had a free afternoon one weekend and decided to drive through the areas we were considering and immediately fell in love with Hinsdale,” she says. “The downtown was picturesque, and we loved the character of the neighborhood.” She has certainly made her footprint on the local community, supporting nonprofits like Simply From the Heart, Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club, and an organization near to her heart and in memory of her father, the Lung Cancer Research Foundation. Pamela shares some of her favorites in the country and around town with Hinsdale Living this month:
EDITED BY KEMMIE RYAN / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR HAIR, MAKEUP & STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA
Mantra? Carpe diem. Best grooming tip? Nothing makes me feel better than a great blowout. Guilty pleasure? Eating my kid’s snacks. Favorite foods? Greek Tiropitas made by my mom. I am an awful cook, so I love any time she makes a childhood meal. Music you love? I love anything upbeat, especially top hits, musicals, and Britney Spears. Best advice ever given to you? Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it. Best advice you’ve given? Always try to see things from someone else’s perspective. Earliest memory? Running to the train to pick up my dad from work. We lived a few
Your style is? Almost always athleisure. I will glam it up for a meeting or event. Can’t leave the house without? My cellphone and a coffee. Transportation? My SUV. I’m short, so I love to feel taller in my big car. Driving music? Top pop—I’m almost always singing along out of tune and off-key. Place to eat? Fuller House—I feel like we can go there no matter who we’re with. Whether date night or with energetic toddlers, we feel right at home. Shop? Marcus. Best thing about country? The people. We found such a wonderful tribe of people to surround ourselves with and share so many fun experiences. Worst thing about country? The bugs. The perfect day is? A morning family walk downtown for coffee, hanging out with our friends and their kids in someone’s backyard, followed by a dinner date in downtown Hinsdale.
blocks from the Metra and it was a nightly summertime ritual to meet him at the end of the block and walk home together. When you wake up, you? Beg my kids to let us sleep just five more minutes. Before bed, you? Chat with my husband. He’s always so busy during the day that nights have become our quiet time to catch up on life. What’s on your bookshelf? The Home Edit organization books. You can’t live without? My family and of course, my phone. How else would I take 1,000 pictures a day of them?! Love to escape to? London with my husband. Advice you would give to your younger self? Everything happens for a reason.
Your style is? Jeans and a top or a cute dress. Always with a heel and I love a great coat in the winter. Can’t leave the house without? Lipstick. Transportation? Walking or Uber. Driving music? I love to use my city walks to catch up on my phone calls for work or with friends. Place to eat? Maple and Ash for a fancy night out or Jefferson Tap near our old neighborhood for a more casual evening. Shop? Bloomingdale’s. Best thing about town? The atmosphere. I love the busy streets and all of the interesting neighborhoods to visit. Worst thing about town? The traffic and parking. The perfect day is? Walking the River Walk and Michigan Avenue to shop and pop in restaurants to eat. I love not having a plan when we’re downtown and just going with the flow.
participating dealers in the U.S. only. A qualifying purchase is defined as a purchase of a PowerView® Hub and any of the product models set forth above with PowerView Automation in the quantities set forth above. If you purchase less than the specified quantity, you will not be entitled to a rebate. Offer excludes HDOrigins™ and Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card and mailed within 4 weeks of rebate claim approval. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 6 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. See complete terms distributed with reward card. Additional limitations may apply. Ask participating dealer for details and rebate form. **PowerView® App and Hub required. ©2020 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas or their respective owners.
GEMS BEYOND OUR CROWN A TOUR OF GLOBAL ARCHITECTURAL STONES
The residences of the Tribune Tower are part of one of the world’s most fascinating historical exhibits. Colonel McCormick, in his worldwide travels, collected stones to display in the face of the tower. Chicago Tribune correspondents continued the tradition for nearly one hundred years, creating the stone-studded exterior.
All floor plans shown are for illustrative purposes only. Floor plans may not depict final design of units as constructed and may not be drawn to scale. All sketches, renderings, architectural models, materials, plans, specifications, terms, prices, conditions and statements, including estimated timeframes and dates, contained herein are proposed only and are not intended to constitute representations. Developer reserves the right to make modifications in its sole discretion and without prior notice. All photographs and renderings are merely intended as illustrations of the activities and concepts depicted therein as interpreted by the artists. Developer makes no representations regarding any view and/or exposure to light at any time including any existing or future construction by either owner or a third party. Square footage and ceiling heights are approximate and may be based on various measurement methodologies, subject to construction variances and tolerances, as well as redesign, and vary from unit to unit (and may vary from floor to floor). This brochure shall not constitute a valid offer in any jurisdiction where prior registration is required and not yet fulfilled. Where used, developer shall mean Tribune Tower West (Chicago) Owner, LLC and its affiliated entities and their respective managers, members, directors, shareholders, partners, agents, affiliates and employees.
Beauty and detail result from thoughtfulness and planning. Our designers are here to help you coordinate furnishings, drapery, floor and wall coverings, lighting and accessories to create a space that is truly your own filled with American-made, hand-crafted furniture. Find your designer at TOMSPRICE.COM.
If ever there was a year that we could all us some holiday cheer, it’s 2020.
Luckily, each year, Linly Designs in Clarendon Hills has provided an abundance of cheer no matter the circumstances, thanks to a bountiful selection of furniture and accessories perfect for your home sweet holiday home.
And 2020 will be no exception.
“Our clients seem to be slowing down a bit more this year and making sure to take the time to enjoy each season, unlike years prior when it felt everyone was in a rush,” explains Janet Linly, founder of Linly Designs. “We have had an increase in requests for crystals and color. Clients are seeking not only functionality in their home, but also pieces that bring them joy and happiness.”
That joy and happiness that Linly speaks of can often be found in the presence of loved ones, whether near or far.
“We suggest incorporating framed family photos into your décor, order a pillow with your pet’s photo on the front, or add sentimental handmade ornaments and pieces from children and loved ones,” explains Linly. “We create stunning décor and seasonal items but we always encourage our clients to finish their space with personal, meaningful touches.”
And while the world may be in a tailspin outside, the inside of Linly Designs during the holiday season is always quite inviting. From feathered centerpieces and custom figurines to handcrafted silk floral arrangements, Linly Designs offers more than enough inspiration to create the holiday home you have always dreamed of.
“Every year as we are designing our showroom for the holidays, we make sure that each of our Christmas trees is not only color-coordinated with our furniture vignettes, but also has its own theme,” explains Linly.
“This year one of our trees
will be inspired by MacKenzieChilds. I love the bold look and the dramatic yet timeless feel of that black, white, and red combination.”
And while Linly Designs’ series of Holiday Open Houses might feel a little different this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it will still serve up just as much magic as before.
“This year, our Christmas Open House will cover four days versus the usual three, and an RSVP will be preferred,” remarks Linly of the 13-year tradition. “Our showroom will be nothing short of magnificent as it has been in years past.”
And once the holidays are through, Linly Designs will continue to be the one-stop-shop for all of those projects that homeowners plan to tackle in the new year.
“The goal with each project that we complete is that the end result will become a sanctuary for our clients,” Linly concludes. “Because of this, our remodeling and renovation services have been booming this year as clients are spending more time at home and looking to create a haven for themselves. And those clients that are moving into new homes are contracting us to help with renovation and furnishing selections as well.”
Linly Designs gets in the spirit of the season with an exquisite array of décor.
$2,499,000
BRYAN BOMBA SELLS AT AN AVERAGE OF 96.8% OF ASKING PRICE *
ORDINARY REALTORS SELL AT AN AVERAGE 92.8% OF ASKING PRICE *
New construction to-be-built by Greenside. Less than a block to downtown from this extremely convenient block in the Oak neighborhood.
13 S ELM STREET, HINSDALE
Bryan Bomba & Bryan Bomba Group are synonymous. *MRED, LLC, based on closed sales data for HInsdale homes, 1/1/2020-10/15/2020.
Even in the year of a pandemic, Westmont’s Salt Creek Ballet brings The Nutcracker to audiences to celebrate the holidays.
Salt Creek Ballet has staged the longest running production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker in the Chicago area—and nothing—not even a pandemic, will interrupt this achievement.
“At Salt Creek Ballet, the love of the art form of dance is present in all of our students, and that love has transferred from generation to generation and culture to culture,” says Kathy Hamilton, a Salt Creek Ballet board member since 2012, as well as a classically trained violinist. “In this tumultuous year, Salt Creek Ballet has rededicated itself to training its students in the classical ballet tradition. It’s because of the continued support of our community that we’ve been able to flourish and make productions like The Nutcracker accessible to families throughout the region and make it their holiday tradition.”
Eddy Ocampo is Salt Creek Ballet’s new Interim School Director, after being a part of Salt Creek Ballet first as a guest artist, and then joining the faculty in 2015. Salt Creek Ballet offers classes for students of all levels, from ages 2 1/2 through adult. By taking the proper and necessary precautions for COVID-19, they are offering socially distanced in-studio classes, as well as virtual classes for students who are more comfortable learning from home.
“I take pride in knowing that I am partially responsible for moving Salt Creek Ballet in a new direction,” Ocampo explains. “As we navigate through this ever-changing time, I’m confident that Salt Creek Ballet will continue to flourish and grow as we look to a time when we can return to enjoying live performances and dance training without restriction.”
Salt Creek Ballet has been a premier pre-professional training ground for the young and aspiring ballet dancer in Chicago for 35 years. “I feel a huge sense of pride to have been charged with moving an already well-established program into a new direction,” says Ocampo. “As we navigate through this pandemic, we’ve created two innovative programs that will allow us to stay in line with our mission.”
First, Salt Creek Ballet’s adaptive and responsive learning program creates an environment in which everyone can feel safe to dance. Whether they choose to train from home or in-studio, all the necessary precautions and online platform upgrades have been implemented to ensure that a student’s love of dance can still be nurtured during the current pandemic.
And second, with no live theater performances expected in the near future, Salt Creek Ballet has created a virtual performance season to encourage the appreciation and awareness of dance in our communities and families. With Salt Creek Ballet’s upcoming virtual performance of The Nutcracker in December and a contemporary ballet program to be presented in March, Salt Creek Ballet is innovating and adapting to allow audiences to experience
professional quality dance programming and provide high-level training opportunities for its dancers.
“This year’s production of The Nutcracker will definitely be a new experience for both the dancers and the audience,” says Kyle Seguin, Salt Creek Ballet’s Ballet Master. “The format is different. We will be presenting a filmed version of Act II of the ballet rather than our usual live full-length production. Dancing for film is both challenging and exciting for the dancers, and audiences will be able to experience the film in a variety of formats, from online streaming and viewing parties to drive-in movie theater showings.”
But the health and safety of all involved is center stage of this year’s performance. “Our class sizes have been reduced to 20 percent in-studio capacity, with a hybrid learning platform implemented for those who choose to learn at home,” Ocampo says. “We’ve separated the spaces in the classrooms to be at least 8-feet apart at both the ballet barres and the center of the classrooms. Rest assured that we are taking every precaution.”
Seguin often hears from parents about the positive impact all the work they’re doing in the studios has had on their dancers’ overall energy and mood. “While our daily operations have adapted to ensure dancer and staff safety, our foundation has remained the same—providing high-quality dance training to students of all ages,” he says. “Being in the studio provides dancers with a sense of normalcy and the opportunity to focus on technique and artistry, which can be therapeutic during tough times.”
Although this year’s version of The Nutcracker will be unlike any other, audiences can still look forward to an up-close view of the dancers. “Sets, costumes, and the storyline will remain the same,” Seguin says. “The film will be elegant, traditional, and a reflection of the rich history of Salt Creek Ballet’s beloved production of The Nutcracker.”
If you would like to sponsor or attend—virtually or in person—SCB’s Act II production of The Nutcracker on December 5, visit saltcreekballet.org, follow them on Facebook (Salt Creek Ballet) and Instagram (@ saltcreekballet), or call 630-769-1199 for more information.
Salt Creek Ballet, 98 E. Chicago Avenue, Westmont
“The film will be elegant, traditional, and a reflection of the rich history of Salt Creek Ballet’s beloved production of The Nutcracker.”Dancers at a ballet barre
Western Springs resident Megan Dragich has been living with type 1 diabetes since she was 21. She and husband Steve share their story of not only thriving and raising a family in spite of the daily challenges the disease presents but how they have gone on to raise nearly $1 million for JDRF, which will hold its winter fundraiser virtually on December 12.
WORDS BY SHERRY THOMAS PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR EDITORIAL STYLING BY THERESA DEMARIA HAIR AND MAKEUP BY CAMMY KELLY FOR DISTINCT ARTISTSMegan Dragich remembers it like it was yesterday. The year was 1978. She was 19 and living in the all-girls dormitory at University of Illinois. One day a group of fraternity brothers came through collecting money for their philanthropy, including Steve—the man who would become her husband six years later.
“He knocked on my door and it sounds ridiculous, but I had two quarters in my pocket to do my laundry and I gave him my last two quarters,” says Dragich, adding that they immediately felt as if they recognized each other from somewhere. “U of I was a big school, but we never figured it out.”
What they did figure out was that they were in the same tennis class—the random elective that Megan had tried to drop but couldn’t. Fate apparently had other plans. By the second class, he asked her out and a romance quickly blossomed.
Two years later, when Megan was in her fall semester of her senior year, she began to not feel well. “Going down to school, I started having all the classic symptoms … frequent urination … I was down to 95 pounds and I wasn’t quite aware that all these symptoms were diabetes,” she says, explaining that with a history of the disease among family members, it was always on her radar, but not something she thought she’d be facing at this point in her life.
But all it took was an appointment at Carle Clinic in Champaign and some blood work for the diagnosis that would change her life forever.
“They said ‘you have diabetes and we want you to go downstairs and meet with the nurse practitioner and dietician and start taking your shots’,” she remembers. “I was like ‘wait, wait a minute … how about I come back in the afternoon?’”
As anyone who understands the urgency of T1D can attest, treatment should start as soon as possible, so that’s what Megan did. She also made a call to her boyfriend, Steve.
“I said ‘my worst fear has come true’,” she recalls.
“I would have been just six months older, so I was 22,” says Steve, a partner at Schiff Hardin who currently serves as JDRF Illinois Board President. “I was in my first year of law school. We were very young and very much in love, probably a little bit naïve,
which is always a good thing. But we made a pact that we were going to take life as it comes, that this was our new normal, and we just have to push forward.”
That’s exactly what they did, sticking together through the early treatments—as Megan began taking shots that were dramatically different from modern treatments available now. The couple got married in 1984, had two children, and today stand as a testament to what is possible with love, faith, and hope.
“He’s been my best support since; he’s been there since day one,” says Megan, now an avid equestrian, role model, and constant advocate for those who are newly diagnosed and facing the same challenges she did nearly 40 years ago. “I never worried about Steve’s support. We were solid. My biggest concern was telling my parents.”
Megan’s dad was one of 12 and had two siblings who had battled the disease in a time when treatments were more challenging, and outcomes were not as positive. Instead of going home, she invited her father to visit her on campus, broke the news, and let him know that she would be OK.
“When we think back, she just dug in and took it upon herself to manage her disease and not let it define her,” says Steve. “It’s a very individualized disease because only you can help yourself. Back then, this was called Juvenile Diabetes because most people who were diagnosed were quite young. Over time that’s changed. I think it was just last year, of all the newly diagnosed, 50 percent were adults and 50 percent were children. It’s no longer a child’s illness.”
As such, he explains, what was formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation changed its name to JDRF. “This better reflects our commitment to work for all of those with T1D,” Steve adds.
While Megan and Steve are actively involved in the nonprofit’s mission—serving as its Fund A Cure family in 2015—most of their married life was spent raising their two children, Lauren and David, in Western Springs and taking one day at a time.
“When the children were too young to really understand the medical side of the disease, I was always fearful that I would have low blood sugar in front of them. I tried to explain to them what would happen, and taught them how to call 911,” says Megan.
“When David was in first grade, I got on the insulin pump and I didn’t want them to be fearful because fear breeds worry. Now I wear a sensor for my blood glucose but back then I would show them how I would stick my finger. I would do that in front of them all the time, and every once in a while, I would test them.”
She made sure to empower them with knowledge, replacing fear with information. Today, as Lauren is married and living in Chicago with a 19-month-old, and David who is also newly married, Megan continues to stay vigilant in making sure they stay aware of their risks they may have inherited. Meanwhile, she serves as an example to others in the new role she and Steve have taken on with JDRF.
“We’re doing everything we can,” she says, explaining that one of Steve’s colleagues got them involved by inviting them to a gala about 10 years ago. “When we were first engaged with the
fundraising aspect of it, it’s not something we’re super comfortable with—putting ourselves out there, reaching out to everyone we know to raise money. But JDRF is fantastic at what it does and we’re proud to do it.”
Or as Steve put it in his speech to 2,000 gala attendees at McCormick Place when they were the Fund A Cure family five years ago: “It’s Megan’s disease, but it’s our story. Our family has a long past with type 1 diabetes and now we’re helping to write our future. We are proof that it is never too late to get involved with JDRF. There is a place for everyone here tonight. Parents, children, husbands, colleagues, siblings, cousins, friends, neighbors—this disease affects all of us.”
In addition to their ongoing advocacy work and Steve’s service on the board, the couple is thrilled to be involved in this year’s gala, held virtually on December 12.
“When we first started going, it was such a fun night. Not your typical fundraiser,” Megan says. “It drew between 1,800 and 2,000 people, and even at that size, just felt like such a closeknit community. What I love about JDRF is its focus on the cure but also on the treatment in the meantime—before a cure is successful, and that’s what’s made all the difference in my life. I was once urinating on a stick. Now I’m wearing a sensor and I can look on my phone to see the results. The difference is night and day.”
Steve says T1D is hard for others to understand. While on the outside, Megan looks active and healthy and happy, every day continues to be a struggle—a struggle she has taken on, without complaint, for 40 years.
“It’s such an aggressive disease,” he explains. “It lives with you 24/7. There’s no vacation, no day off, but the sense of community and hope provided by JDRF and this event is just really inspiring.”
Even more inspiring, perhaps, is the story of how the Dragich family has stepped up to give other families access to information, resources, and support—often inviting friends and relatives of the newly diagnosed to be their guests at the annual fundraiser.
The same philanthropic mindset that inspired Megan to hand over her two of her coveted laundry quarters for a worthy cause 40 years ago has resulted in the couple raising nearly $1 million on behalf of JDRF, so far.
“Truthfully, when we started coming to the gala … I didn’t see myself in JDRF,” Megan told the crowd at McCormick Place that evening back in 2015. “I thought it was an organization for children living with the disease—and it is. But it is also about our futures, our children’s future, and for families like ours who have seen the disease change from generation to generation. I don’t want any more generations of my family to face this disease. And I know that with JDRF’s involvement, they won’t.”
For more information about JDRF, visit jdrf.org.
This year’s December 12 fundraiser includes four catering options and an evening of interactive virtual entertainment.
Like most nonprofits around Chicago and the Western Suburbs, JDRF is faced with the challenge of how to maintain its annual fundraising goals during a pandemic.
Megan and Steve Dragich say they are impressed with how creative organizers of this year’s “One Dream Gala” at on December 12 have been in orchestrating a virtual fundraiser that is as enticing as it is engaging.
While the nonprofit’s annual event at McCormick Place (complete with big name headline bands, raising $7 million last year alone) will be a hard act to follow, the newly imagined vision is equally captivating.
“Virtually, the concept is to have individual dinners at people’s homes, trying to limit it to 10 people,” explains Megan. “You have a dinner and you get to view what you would otherwise see in person on a big screen TV and they’ll have music and musicians that will play. So instead of being together with 2,000 people, you’ll be connected through the technology.”
Those who buy tickets to the virtual event will have the option of four different catering packages, the popular live auction portion (done virtually), and the same quality of live entertainment (past acts have included rock bands Foreigner and Third Eye Blind).
“We may actually have some live video feeds from some of the parties to check in,” says Steve. “It’s going to be an amazing and impressive night.”
One of the Dragich’s favorite parts of any JDRF gala?
Bringing in guests with a newly diagnosed family member and showing them a vast army of advocates that they already have fighting on their behalf.
“We are all one in the fight for the cure,” he adds.
JDRF’s “One Dream Gala” will be held virtually at 6 p.m. on December 12. For tickets and more information, visit jdrf.org/ illinois/gala.
“I don’t want any more generations of my family to face this disease. And I know that with JDRF’s involvement, they won’t.”
As the 2015 One Dream Gala Fund A Cure family, the Dragichs celebrated the generosity of JDRF supporters and their impact on the type 1 diabetes (T1D) community
JUNE 5 & 6, 2021
Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days, in Burlington Park. More than 100 juried artists take to the park for this wonderful, eclectic art show—music, children’s activities, giveaways, and more.
OCTOBER 14, 2021
Thursday, 5 to 7:30 p.m., in the downtown Hinsdale Business District. Sip wine and visit participating businesses. Co-sponsored by the Village of Hinsdale.
JUNE 10, 2021 - AUGUST 12, 2021
Thursday evenings, 6 to 9 p.m., in Burlington Park, located between Garfield and Washington streets on Chicago Avenue. Live music by some of the Midwest’s top bands. Enjoy food vendors, sponsor giveaways, and family fun each Thursday night in Hinsdale.
JUNE 7, 2021OCTOBER 25, 2021
Mondays only, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., in Burlington Park, located between Garfield and Washington streets on Chicago Avenue. More than 25 vendors displaying the area’s finest homegrown and homespun products.
JULY 23 & 24, 2021
Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., both days, on sidewalks in front of participating businesses.
OCTOBER 16, 2021
Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In conjunction with the Village of Hinsdale, enjoy Halloween fun in downtown Hinsdale.
DECEMBER 3, 2021
Friday, 5 to 7:30 p.m. in all business districts— downtown, Grant Square, and Gateway Square. Merchant’s stores open to celebrate the holiday season with customers and visitors to Hinsdale. Live music, 30-foot carousel, trackless train, costume characters, giveaways, and more. Visit Santa on December 11 and 18, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in Burlington Park.
*Events and/or scheduled dates subject to change upon approval of the Chamber Board of Directors.
Chicago’s Western Suburbs are filled with quality living options for seniors looking to live out their retirement in style. Whether they want to receive assistance in their homes or move to a retirement community, Hinsdale and the surrounding suburbs have much to offer. From luxury apartments and homes with hardwood floors, granite countertops, and stainless-steel appliances, to amenities such as full-service restaurants, workout rooms and yoga classes, happy hours, and planned social activities, retirees may be surprised by the sophisticated lifestyle that is awaiting them. Many retirement communities offer a “continuum of care” including Independent Living, Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, or Memory Care options. The continuum provides continuity throughout the aging process. And, while many retirees choose a retirement community, some choose to stay at home and receive personal care from a licensed practitioner.
In addition to finding the right living environment, it’s important to find an expert who specializes in financial planning and Long-Term Insurance to ensure families prepare for the future. In our premiere Senior Living feature, we highlight some of the best retirement communities, as well as experts in personal home care and insurance, located right here in Hinsdale.
While some seniors choose to live out their later years in a retirement home or community, most prefer to stay in the comfort of their own homes and receive care through a personal care services company. Sixty-one percent in fact, according to a survey by The Pew Research Center.
And while many personal care companies have been established in recent years, Hinsdale-based Independence-4-Seniors has been in operation since 2002, and offers high quality, in-home personal care services throughout the region.
“We help with what are called ‘essential services,’ getting dressed, taking a shower, walking, or preparing meals,” says Mike O’Brien, who owns Independence-4-Seniors in Hinsdale with his wife Joan. “As one ages or develops diseases, it will impair their ability to do all of those things safely, so we are hired to help clients throughout the day.”
As Mike tends to the business side of things at Independence4-Seniors, his wife, Joan, a registered nurse who holds a Masters of Science in Nursing, handles the day-to-day care for clients.
Personal care companies like Independence-4-Seniors do not offer medical care, but its employees must complete regular training and personal care companies in the state must be licensed by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
“We require that all of our caregivers have at least two years of experience, preferably in a home-like setting where they can’t always rely on others to be present to assist and must think on their own,” Joan says. “When you’re providing care at home, you’ve got to really make it on your own two feet, and our caregivers have a lot of experience. They all go through competency evaluations and screenings.”
In addition to Joan, Independence-4-Seniors Home Care employs one additional registered nurse and a number of staff members who have medical qualifications. While medical care is not included in the company’s service offerings, having staff with medical backgrounds gives it a distinct advantage, and it has been particularly helpful as the company continues to serve clients during the COVID-19 outbreak.
“We couldn’t take our clients out of their homes, so we had to be really creative in their homes. We did a lot of teaching with our caregivers and clients, like how to use Zoom and FaceTime, so they could connect with their family and friends,” says Joan. “It’s amazing that some of our clients, in their nineties, were Zooming every day, and continue every day to talk to their families.”
For more information, visit independence4seniors.com or call 630-3234665.
art deco theme, but we have updated the technology to offer our residents the level of services and amenities they deserve.”
PHOTOGRAPHY BY KING-BRUWAERT HOUSENot many retirement communities can trace their history back to the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
It was there that Suzanne King, a well-known Chicago socialite, met Francois Edmond Bruwaert, who served as the French Consul General to Chicago and the United States.
The Frenchman and the Chicagoan soon fell in love and were married six months later. While traveling throughout Europe, the two developed an interest in medical facilities and how outdoor, landscaped spaces could be used to promote calm and tranquility.
Both Bruwaert and his wife passed away in the late 1920s, and Suzanne King Bruwaert left a substantial sum in her will to establish a retirement home for women in the Chicagoland area. The result was King-Bruwaert House (KBH), a nonprofit organization which opened its doors for women in 1933. In 1979, King-Bruwaert merged with the historic Godair Home to expand its scope, and the community has been serving women, men, and couples ever since.
“Our Manor Home has the historic charm of the 1930s, including original hardwood floors, beautiful chandeliers, and grand fireplaces. For example, the library has all the original built-in bookshelves but also offers high-speed wireless internet access,” says Andy Beltz, Senior Director of Development, Marketing and Communications. “Our movie theater has its original
Beltz says King-Bruwaert House’s programming for residents operates on multiple levels. There are programs designed to tailor to the needs of individuals, particularly important in its support of residents with memory care needs, and group activitiess that are designed for socialization and other dimensions of wellness.
“For some of our memory care residents, we look at what they did in their employed years and try to shape activities that fall in line with what they did professionally,” Beltz says. “Daily calendars drive group activities, such as morning exercises, brain games, trivia games, and bingo.”
King-Bruwaert House is currently going through a planned expansion. The Gardens of King-Bruwaert will offer opportunities for seniors 60 years or better, with 49 brand new apartment home residences.
“The Gardens will expand our independent living options,” says Beltz. “The expansion plans also include the addition to, and renovation of our current skilled-nursing wing.” KBH has also remodeled part of its Manor Home creating Carrington Hall—luxury assisted living suites with additional amenities and support services.
Other amenities and activities include Bistro ‘33, an indoor restaurant for residents and families which also hosts TED talks and Wine Wednesday, a chapel, multiple dining rooms, putting green, and 1-1/2 miles of paved walking paths.
It’s all part of King-Bruwaert House’s mission, with its panoramic setting, to be a place where residents can come together to celebrate an active lifestyle, surrounded by compassionate, caring staff, engaging activities, delicious food, and personalized care.
King-Bruwaert House in Burr Ridge has been providing care for seniors for nearly nine decades.PROVIDED King-Bruwaert House is located at 6101 S. County Line Road in Burr Ridge, 630-323-2250, kingbruwaert.com.
Thirty years ago, Senior Lifestyle founder Bill Kaplan discovered there were few good housing options for Chicago-area seniors where they could live comfortable, enriching lives, and socialize with friends and family. So, Kaplan founded Senior Lifestyle and built The Breakers in Edgewater on Sheridan Road in Chicago. A revolution in how seniors retire began.
Senior Lifestyle’s properties now dot the Chicago landscape, and its communities can be found nationwide.
The company’s newest Signature Collection community, The Sheridan at Oak Brook is the pinnacle of sophistication. And although it won’t be move-in ready until spring of 2021, that doesn’t mean those looking at their retirement options need to wait. The Sheridan at Oak Brook is open for business. Seniors and their families can join the Diamond Charter Membership. Benefits include priority pricing and first selection of apartment homes, exclusive monthly events, and a grand opening preview prior to the community being open to the public.
Nestled in the highly desirable community of Oak Brook, The Sheridan offers upscale living along with all that Oak Brook has to offer, including top restaurants, entertainment options, and shopping.
Among the top-tier ameni-
ties offered are a full-service salon, the communities’ pristine Be Fit exercise space, The Reel movie theater, and the opulent Fireside Terrace.
This luxury, best-in-class community also offers a choice dining program, featuring sumptuous chef-prepared meals at a variety of dining venues which are sure to delight even the most refined palate. Adding to The Sheridan’s vibrant social lifestyle, chefs will host tasting parties and cooking demonstrations in The Epicurean room.
At the center of Senior Lifestyle’s approach to serving its residents is family. The company remains family owned, and it makes a point to include families in the day-to-day life of its communities, including The Sheridan at Oak Brook. Families are encouraged to stay connected with their loved ones, and despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the community has made innovative changes to keep residents in touch with their loved ones. Programming is focused on helping residents to connect, contribute, feel, grow, move, and reflect.
The Sheridan at Oak Brook offers three living options, including Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care. Independent Living allows residents to come and go as they please and take advantage of staff and community services when they need to.
The Sheridan’s Assisted Living focuses on helping residents maintain a vibrant, active lifestyle. The community offers a wide array of opportunities for residents to socialize, and spaces where they can rest and relax.
At Senior Lifestyle’s network of communities, residents live life to the fullest each day. The company’s goal is to create better lifestyles through innovation, compassion, and a love for the people it serves.
The Sheridan at Oak Brook offers upscale senior retirement living in one of the Chicago area’s most sought after towns. Are you on the list?The Sheridan at Oak Brook is located at 2055 Clearwater Drive in Oak Brook, 630-394-5055, sheridanoakbrook.com. Clearwater’s bar and bistro Fireside Terrace
Tom Walsh tells potential clients and their families that long-term care is not a place, such as an assisted living facility or nursing home. It is also not insurance. It’s a disabling event that happens as we age, and if we don’t plan for it, the results can be catastrophic.
“A long-term care event is a longevity risk,” Walsh says. “If you live into your 80s, 90s, or even to 100, it’s reasonable to assume that due to the ‘fragility of aging’ you might need some stand-by assistance for a period of years.”
The consequences of not being prepared for such an event impacts not just the individual requiring care but also family members who might be called upon to step in and provide care.
“The issue is not the risk of someone needing care,” says Walsh. “The issue is the severe consequences—emotionally, physically, and financially—to families if there is no plan.”
Walsh says providing care for a chronically ill individual often makes healthy caregivers chronically ill themselves, and if a child has to step in, it may require them to change the way they conduct their own life, limit time with their own families, and alter their careers.
Paying for care is often the answer, but families need to be prepared.
“I want to create a ‘Plan of Care’ for clients that allows them to remain safe in the comfort of their own homes, protects the wellbeing of their spouses and children, and protects their financial commitments that have been established to help them maintain their lifestyle,” Walsh says.
While Medicaid is a viable solution for clients with limited financial means, it is limited to care in a skilled nursing facility, not in the home. And Walsh points out that self-paying for care creates a monthly cash flow issue.
“The only way you can consider self-paying is if you can come up with an additional $4,000 to $8,000 a month, sometimes more, without disrupting your previous financial commitments,” he says. “Even if you can cash flow the new monthly expense, do you really want to pay the full retail cost for care?”
The solution is Long Term Care Insurance, which entails transferring some funds and some or all of the long-term care risk to an insurance company. The insurance is not the plan, Walsh says, but helps pay for it.
“A reasonable person should realize that Long Term Care Insurance is a very viable solution to help pay for their ‘Plan of Care’,” Walsh says. “It should at least be considered.” Contact Tom Walsh
Tom Walsh and TW Group offer insurance plans to help clients and their families alleviate the emotional and financial stress when they require long-term care.
PROVIDED BY TW GROUP, INC.
A SENSE OF COMMUNITY HAS MADE US SOMETHING MORE.
As residents of Hinsdale, we take endless pride in maintaining the level of character and integrity that have become synonymous with this village and its people. As real estate professionals, our desire to provide our clients with the highest level of concierge service is matched only by our enthusiasm for introducing others to the only place we could ever call home.
Our knowledge and understanding of this market are unmatched. Our grasp of its history and its culture even more so. It is the kind of intimacy that can only be felt by individuals who have lived on its streets, played in its parks, and put their faith in its schools.
At d’aprile properties, we are always honored to represent a member of the Hinsdale community in the sale of their home. The transaction we handle professionally. The partnership we take personally.
We’re your neighbor. We’re your REALTOR®. And we’re here for you, every step of the way.
OUR HINSDALE AGENTS
SPECIAL THANKS TO Stephanie
Front row: Tracy Fussaro, Melissa Lively, Jamie Quinn, Paula Ciardelli, Andrea Walsh
Back row: Tony Klonowski, Emily Casey, Kathy Brent, Ken Schroeder
Freels — 114 E. Walnut St. and DeAnda Photography
When Count Pavel Alexandrovich Stroganov wasn’t busy commanding the Russian infantry in Napoleonic Wars, he feasted at home. Historians suggest that an early version of the stroganoff the world came to love was served in Stroganov’s family kitchens for many years before it was published in a Russian cookbook in 1871. Early stroganoffs featured beef cooked in sour cream, with a little mustard, flour, butter, and not much else. However by 1927, when the dish was first published in America (in The Congressional Club Cook Book: Favorite National and International Recipes), it had evolved to include onions, mushrooms, stock, Worcestershire sauce, and even a little pureed tomato. Our version builds on a recipe that Gourmet magazine published in 1963. Like the early versions of the dish, it’s made with tiny cubes of meat (we chose veal) simmered in butter. But we’ve included a full pound of Cremini mushrooms, a cup of medium-dry sherry, and just a little bit of sour cream. Try it over pappardelle egg noodles, with shaved parmesan and a sprinkling of parsley. If you can’t get veal, this is also good with finely cubed pork loin. For a fully vegetarian version, just double up the Cremini mushrooms and leave out the meat entirely, switching to vegetable stock instead of chicken or veal stock.
Serves 8
Ingredients:
• 1 pound Cremini (baby Portabella) mushrooms, sliced thin
• 1 /2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, divided
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 2 pounds veal blade steak (thin-sliced veal shoulder) bones removed and discarded, meat cut into tiny cubes
• 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 c up medium-dry sherry
• 1 c up good-quality chicken or veal stock
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• f reshly-ground salt and pepper to taste
• 3/4 pound pappardelle egg noodles
• 1 /2 cup sour cream
• Shaved parmesan & fresh snipped parsley, to garnish
Method:
• In a heavy sauté pan over medium heat, melt 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) of butter. Sauté the mushrooms. Drain and reserve the liquid—there won’t be very much. Set cooked mushrooms aside. Melt the remaining 1/2 stick of butter and sauté the onion until it begins to soften. Add cubed veal and sauté until the veal no longer shows any pink. Reduce heat to low. Sprinkle flour over the veal; whisk in stock, sherry, and the reserved mushroom liquid. Whisk and continue simmering until the mixture thickens. Add Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper. Adjust seasonings as needed. Keep warm while you cook noodles.
• Cook noodles in boiling salted water until just tender and drain.
• Stir reserved mushrooms and 1/2 cup of sour cream into stroganoff sauce mixture.
• S erve sauce over noodles, garnished with shaved parmesan and snipped parsley.
A hearty dish, perfect for a cozy fireside evening.
A little more than 40 women gathered at Fuller House Bar, which served as the sponsoring host, for the nonprofit Simply From The Heart’s second annual fundraising brunch. Supporters sipped on champagne while shopping local vendors: Lepa Boutique, Marcus, Hinsdale Wine Shop, Altamura Pizza, Toni Patisserie Café, RedE Mas, Café La Fortuna, Browning and Sons Fine Jewelry, and Northwestern Plastic Surgery and Med Spa. A portion of the proceeds from shopping at the vendors were donated to the organization, which provides a glam squad and glam boxes to help lift the spirits and self-esteem of children and adults undergoing treatment and extended stays in the hospital. More than $5,000 was raised at this year’s annual Bruncheon. sftheart.org
Photography by Robin Subar
A core value of the CHT Orthodontics philosophy is to do everything we can to make our local community a better place. The people who come to our office are more than just patients; they are our fa mily, friends, and neighbors. We love our little village and are thankful for our incredibly supportive community.
A core value of the CHT Orthodontics philosophy is to do everything we can to make our local community a better place. The people who come to our office are more than just patients; they are our family, friends, and neighbors. We love our little village and are thankful for ou r incredibly supportive community. specializing
A core value of the CHT Orthodontics philosophy is to do everything we can to make our local community a better place. The people who come to our office are more than just patients; they are our fa mily, friends, and neighbors. We love our little village and are thankful for our incredibly supportive community. specializing
Each and every day, Ryan D’Aprile walks through the office doors of d’aprile properties with one simple goal— to make the people around him better. From how they conduct business and how they converse with clients to how they react to the ever-changing conditions a pandemic may cause, D’Aprile takes the collective success of the 500 real estate agents that make up the agency quite personally.
Because yes, his name is on the door.
“d’aprile properties was basically born and raised in the Western Suburbs,” explains D’Aprile, who moved from Chicago back to the Western Suburbs that he grew up in shortly after the birth of his second daughter. “Our brokerage has grown into being a major player, and that is something I’m very proud of.”
Indeed, in a world filled with big words and empty promises, the atmosphere at d’aprile properties is nothing short of refreshing. Since its founding in 2010, the real estate brokerage has undergone monumental growth, expanding throughout greater Chicago area and into the much-desired lake communities of Wisconsin, Indiana, and Michigan, all while keeping that small-town feel that
comes via a boutique agency.
“We know all of our agents and our culture is very important to us,” explains D’Aprile, who can often be found spending time with his wife Lindsay and his three daughters, Samantha, Emily, and Brooke, when he is not in the office. “We all get involved to help our agents out when they need it.”
Granted, 2020 has been filled with a seesaw of conditions facing the business. For example, while there is an inventory shortage in the lake markets of places like Long Beach, Indiana and Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, there is an increasing abundance of property available within the city limits of Chicago. And while D’Aprile admits to wading cautiously into the future, he remains steadfast in his determination to ride the tide right alongside his treasured clients.
“Our business is a unique business because it is rooted in high emotion,” he says. “We’re dealing with the largest financial and emotional transactions of our clients’ lives. We focus on the highest level of emotional intelligence we can give them. During these times where you have a pandemic, elections, and general uncertainty, our goal is to try to keep everyone calm, to help them focus on the big picture, and assist people to make the most logical decisions they can by balancing out the emotion.”
And Chicagoans can certainly be a tough bunch.
D’Aprile should know.
“We live in one of the greatest cities in the world in my opinion,” he says enthusiastically. “I’ve been around the world to all of the best cities that are out there, from London to New York, and Chicago is such a beautiful, clean, and wonderful city. Without a doubt, we have some work to do, but I do believe our city will thrive.”
Ryan
brings a small-town feel to a big-time agency.
“Our brokerage has grown into being a major player, and that is something I’m very proud of.”
Caring for a loved one—young or senior—can become a full-time job. Syndromes like caregiver fatigue are real and growing. Many of us worry about the medical care provided to our aging population like parents, especially when transitioning from their home to a senior living community.
Caregiver fatigue is a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion due to caring for a patient. This often occurs when caregivers, often sons and daughters, don’t receive the help they need or they are doing more than they can on a consistent basis. This can change attitudes from positive and caring to negative and unconcerned. Guilt can also be a large factor when someone is pushed to the limit and unable to continue the care. Factors that lead to this fatigue include role confusion, unrealistic expectations, lack of control, and unreasonable demands.
Selecting a caregiver is important. Matching the personality with your family member will only enhance their experience, create a caring bond, and reduce caregiver turnover. Change is always hard for seniors, especially when they are set in their ways and have habits created over decades. Make sure a caregiver has the ability to communicate well, understand the patient’s limitations, and adjusts the care according to those limitations.
During this COVID era, it is also important caregivers are following the rules of medical care and prevention. Things like social distancing, frequent testing, reporting of any symptoms, and wearing a mask with their clients are all questions families should ask caregiving agencies. If possible, not sharing a caregiver with another patient would especially be important during COVID-19 containment concerns.
We recommend families interview a few caregivers, to gain a perspective, assess personalities, and understand any limitations. As a medical group, our patients’ families often include us in this process, as it’s another team member that would be affecting patient care. The quality of the caregiver directly affects medical care and comfort for a senior patient.
As seniors are living longer, family expectations are also growing, to keep a high quality of life for as long as possible. This requires a team effort and approach that includes the caregiver, senior facility staff, and doctors. At our practice, we provide any caregiver with our physician’s cell phone number, as they are noticing a change in condition with the patient first. The faster we have that information, the quicker we can implement advice and a treatment plan directly to the family and/or the staff at the building.
Integrity.
It’s a word that is often thrown around in this day and age, but it’s also a word that DeSitter Flooring has built its 100-year success story on. And yes, integrity has allowed this beloved business to not only survive the ongoing pandemic slowdown but thrive.
Indeed, it was just one year ago that DeSitter Flooring was preparing for its 100th anniversary, looking forward to a year filled with accolades and celebrations to recognize company founder Louis DeSitter. The entrepreneur moved from Belgium in 1920 and founded the flooring company with hopes to provide the best quality flooring for homeowners and business owners throughout Chicago.
“Our slogan was going to be ‘a year to remember,’” chuckles DeSitter Flooring’s Director of Sales and Marketing Ken Holthaus. “And yes, it certainly ended up being a year to remember.”
But instead of caving to the challenges that the pandemic and 2020 as a whole presented, DeSitter’s two grandsons and third generation business owners Tom Cunningham and Steve DeSitter, along with their devoted team of employees went to work. Building on the company’s already superior reputation, they reinvested in their business and the communities in which it serves.
“We have survived pandemics and depressions and wars through our 100-year history,” states Holthaus of the company who has been named Retail Flooring Dealer of the Year by the Chicago Floorcovering Association on four separate occasions. “We have always looked long-term and through it all, we have continued to focus on our core value to enhance the lives of people where they live, work, and play.”
Just a year after a $700,000 remodeling of its showrooms, DeSitter Flooring adjusted its business plan to establish a new ‘Shop at Home’ option, which essentially gives its customers a firsthand look at DeSitter’s selection of flooring. From carpeting, hardwood, and laminate to luxury vinyl, waterproof luxury vinyl, area rugs, stair runners, and commercial flooring, customers can safely shop from their own home.
“It’s from our store to your door,” he says of the service which utilizes vehicles set up as mobile showrooms. “It gives our customers the DeSitter experience while making it convenient for everyone.”
Indeed, DeSitter Flooring’s ‘Shop at Home’ is yet another new and exciting expansion that builds on the already successful residential showrooms in both Glen Ellyn and La Grange, and a commercial showroom at its 30,000 square-foot headquarters in Bolingbrook.
DeSitter Flooring has showrooms at 444 Roosevelt Road in Glen Ellyn, 630-517-2697, and 1 North Kensington Avenue in La Grange, 708-813-2933, desitterflooring.com .
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 2:45pm with convenient
Monday - Friday 8:30am - 2:45pm with convenient carpool drop-off and pick-up
Research shows children who attend Kindergarten have:
• Higher long-term achievement.
• Higher reading scores in early grades.
• Higher test scores.
• Greater creativity.
• Higher self esteem and independence.
Come discover how UCECP’s small class sizes, and highly-educated teachers can give your child the head start he deserves. We excel at providing a fun, engaging, and nurturing learning environment with academic accountability that aligns with Nationwide Common Core standards and ensures your child is well prepared for the future.
Come discover how UCECP’s small class sizes and highly-educated teachers can give your child the head start they deserve. We excel at providing a fun, engaging, and nurturing learning environment with academic accountability that aligns with Nationwide Common Core standards and ensures your child is well prepared for the future.
Research shows children who attend FULL-DAY Kindergarten have:
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION & TOURS
• Higher long-term achievement.
• Higher reading scores in early grades.
• Higher test scores.
DON’T MISS OUT - REGISTER EARLY!
• Greater creativity.
Accepting Applications in December 2020 through January 25, 2021.
• Higher self esteem and independence.
BY JANUARY 25 TH AND WE’LL WAIVE THE REGISTRATION FEES.
Research shows children who attend FULL-DAY Kindergarten have:
•
•
Union Church of Hinsdale Early Childhood Programs
137 South Garfield Street, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 | 630-323-3314 x 6696
•
Contact: Jennifer Keldahl at: JKeldahl@uchinsdale.org
Come discover how UCECP’s small class sizes, and highly-educated teachers can give your child the head start he deserves. We excel at providing a fun, engaging, and nurturing learning environment with academic accountability that aligns with Nationwide Common Core standards and ensures your child is well prepared for the future.
AND WE’LL WAIVE THE REGISTRATION FEES.
Progressive Preschool Since 1955!
Come discover how UCECP’s small class sizes, and highly-educated teachers can give your child the head
Diverse Program
Portfolio: Nurturing Programs for children 6 weeks to 6 years.
Preschool Curriculum aligned with Common Core Standards.
Don’t Miss OutRegister EARLY!
Registration Deadline
Quickly Approaching! Monday Jan. 25th
Accepting Applications in December 2020 through January 2021.
REGISTER BY JULY 31ST AND WE’LL WAIVE THE REGISTRATION FEES.
REGISTRATION & TOURS START DECEMBER 2020
THE UCECP’S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE A LOVE OF LEARNING BY NURTURING RESPECT AND COMPASSION, CHALLENGING CHILDREN TO THINK DEEPLY AND PURPOSEFULLY, AND MOTIVATING CHILDREN TO WORK TOWARD A BETTER WORLD.
Union Church of Hinsdale Early Childhood Programs
137 South Garfield Street, Hinsdale, Illinois 60521 | 630-323-3314 x 6696
Contact: Jennifer Keldahl at: JKeldahl@uchinsdale.org
Tours Offered Daily. Preschool slots fill FAST!
Emphasizing complex problem solving skills, critical thinking and creativity
IL 60521
UCECP Growing Mathematicians and Readers
x 6696
FOR
When William Yates’ grades slipped his freshman year at Kenwood Academy in Chicago, his parents made him quit basketball.
Yates’ grades rocketed after the subtraction of the extracurricular activity.
And, his immediate reaction to the abrupt benching by Mom and Dad?
“Relief,” says Yates, now the Northwestern University-educated Dr. William Yates, who transitioned seamlessly from 15-year intensive care trauma surgeon to owner of Yates Hair Science Group, LLC, in 2013. “Basketball practices were time-consuming.
“I didn’t mind moving sports off my plate.”
Dr. Yates—“The Hair Loss Medical Doctor,” a leader in his field, and active in orgs like the Alzheimer’s Association and Ex-Cons for Community and Social Change—somehow found room on his heaping, crowded career/ philanthropic platter to open Chicagobased Yates Enterprises (YE) in 2018. He used his medical experience and business acumen to create YE, which markets products for the safety of the United States and its people.
“I created Yates Enterprises because of the prevalence of gun violence, school shootings in particular,” says Dr. Yates, who lives in Chicago’s South Loop with his wife, Isaure.
A year later YE would find itself at the forefront of our country’s response to the burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic.
“I saw what was going on in China and other countries,” Dr. Yates says. “I saw the use of non-contact thermal devices at airports. The world is so small; we don’t live in isolation. We knew non-contact temperature detectors, at some point, would likely be needed in this country, so we did some research. And then researched some more. We paid attention to what was going on in the world and reacted quickly.
“We looked at a thermal device as an extension of our metal detector.”
YE produced a range of COVID-19 protection products— walk-through, wall-mounted, and handheld thermal detectors, among others— by the end of March and sold them to more than 100 entities.
“Our aim was to do what we could to help the economy reopen as safely as possible during the pandemic,” says Dr. Yates, the
father of four sons.
Yates Enterprises is believed to be the first Black-owned business to focus on public safety measures related to COVID-19.
Dr. Yates earned a BS in medical science at Northwestern University and earned his MD after completing NU’s Honors Program in medical education. He started his career as a surgeon for BJC HealthCare in St. Louis and shifted one-and-a-half decades later to the field of hair restoration. Bosley, an industry leader in hair transplant and restoration services, had flown Dr. Yates to Beverly Hills, California, and recruited him to practice at its Chicago location in 2005. Yates underwent a hair transplant in Oak Brook in 2000, a surgical transfer “that pleasantly shocked and overwhelmingly thrilled me,” he says.
He then worked with Ziering Medical Hair Restoration in Oak Brook from 2011-13 before his eponymous hair science group took root. The group has two locations in Chicago and Oak Brook that offer state-of-the-art options for all hair loss sufferers. Yates was the first transplant surgeon in the Midwest to offer Follicle Unit Extraction (FUE).
“No scarring; no plugs,” Dr. Yates says. “We take what we do seriously. It’s not a factory atmosphere; ours is one that seeks a genuine bond with each patient, and we limit the number of surgeries to one or two per day.”
Seeing his four sons become smarter, more independent thinkers elates him. Fatherhood has been rewarding. Pieces of advice he relayed to the quartet still stick, none more than the counsel he has adhered to for decades. It’s an ideal approach to social interaction in contentious times—in any time, really—and it involves grades.
“I’ve told my kids to give everyone the benefit of the doubt until they prove you wrong,” Dr. Yates says. “Everybody I meet for the first time; I give them an ‘A’ right away. I then listen closely and get to know that person. Sometimes my grade remains an ‘A’ at the end of the conversation; sometimes it drops.
“I’m always hopeful the grade stays an ‘A’.”
For more information about Dr. Yates Hair Science, call 312-2739025 or visit dryateshairscience.com. For more information about Yates Enterprises and its COVID-19 protection products, call 312882-5431 or visit yatesenterprise.com.
CoolSculpting is the world’s #1 non-invasive fat reduction treatment!
CoolSculpting technology uses controlled cooling to target and freeze away fat cells. In the weeks to follow, your body naturally processes the fat and removes dead cells.
CoolSculpting is an FDA-cleared treatment that freezes away stubborn fat without surgery and with little to no downtime.
Dr. Hanna has specialized EXCLUSIVELY IN FACIAL COSMETIC SURGERY for over 30 years. He is a board certified Fellow of the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is board-certified with the American Board of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery.
