Find out what’s happening in your neighborhood with our weekly calendar of events
6 north shore sports
Late Lake Bluff resident and former Cubs star second baseman Ryne Sandberg was second to none on and off the field
LIFESTYLE & ARTS
8 hashtag
After two decades advocating for artists, Jennifer Armetta is tapped to lead the Chicago Architectural Biennial
12 north shore foodie
Honor late-summer sunshine with our sweet and salty Watermelon Salad with a Twist recipe
12 happy hour
A refreshing blend of vodka, pomegranate, and grapefruit juice, The Blushing Lady cocktail is perfect for any occasion
16 man about film
Our critic’s review of the horror film, Weapons, comes with a viewer’s advisory due to its unsettling nature
16 weekend poem
Poet Ryan Jacobs reflects on “Where Are Summers Were” with this weekend’s entry
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
18 sunday breakfast
Desire to do something more meaningful ignited Winnetkan Mary McLaughlin to form the Trees That Feed Foundation
NORTH SHORE DOINGS
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
AUGUST 9
HISTORY LOVER’S GUIDE
TO CHICAGO
From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., award-winning writer Greg Borzo will share Chicago’s unique history at Northfield Public Library. Hear about all of the city’s fascinating nooks and crannies. Registration is required. wnpld.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 18
"MARCIA’S ART"
Work by North Shore Art League (NSAL) Member Marcia Maltz will be on display in NSAL’s first-floor gallery space in Winnetka through August 18. Artwork is available for purchase, and a portion of the sales will benefit the NSAL, Meher Spiritual Center, Paws, The Cancer Wellness Center, and St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. northshoreartleague.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 25
FOOD TRUCK MONDAYS
Enjoy food trucks and live music at Kenilworth Assembly Hall every Monday from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. kenilworthparkdistrict.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 26
“VISUAL RHYMESDIPTYCHS, TRIPTYCHS AND MORE”
The Chicago Photographic Arts Society’s latest exhibit is now on display in the second floor gallery space at the North Shore Art League. Artwork is available for purchase, and a portion of the sales will be donated to the North Shore Art League. northshoreartleague.org
NOW THROUGH AUGUST 31
FLOW: PAINTINGS ABOUT WATER
“Flow: Paintings About
Water” is on display this month at Grove Gallery in Evanston. Forty percent of all sales from this exhibit will be donated to Alliance for the Great Lakes. grovegallery.shop
NOW THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21
PATTERNED BY NATURE
Celebrate our universal attraction to patterns through playfully planted gardens and nature-inspired artistic installations that stretch the imagination at the Chicago Botanic Garden’s “Patterned by Nature” event. Visitors are invited to explore garden beds and installations throughout the garden that feature dynamic patterns, transformational art, and upcycled fashion. chicagobotanic.org
AUGUST 11 TO 24
OUT OF OFFICE: ON THE TRAIL
Join coach Dave O’Connor at Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve’s George Beach Trail from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. for a private, smallgroup coaching experience designed for senior-level leaders who are navigating tradition, burnout, or big decisions. lfola.org
AUGUST 12 TO SEPTEMBER 23
SUNSET YOGA
From 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Tuesday, immerse yourself in the beauty of Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s Mellody Farm Nature Preserve while relaxing into a gentle, restorative yoga session that will incorporate breathwork and mindfulness. All abilities welcome! lfola.org
AUGUST 13
GARLIC FEST
Highwood’s 14th annual Garlic Fest returns. Sample a variety of sweet and savory dishes while you partake in
garlic trivia, live music, and family friendly activities. celebratehighwood.org
AUGUST 13 TO SEPTEMBER 21
RACHMANINOFF AND THE TSAR
The Writers Theatre 2025/2026 season begins with Rachmaninoff and the Tsar, a tale of Sergei Rachmaninoff, who escaped R ussia in 1917. This new musical from Hershey Felder features him as the pianist and main role accompanied by Jonathan Silvestri. writerstheatre.org
AUGUST 14
FOOD TRUCK
THURSDAYS
Food Truck Thursdays continue in Highland Park’s Ravinia District from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. More than a dozen food trucks will service food accompanied by live music and a familyfriendly atmosphere. cityhpil.com
AUGUST 15 TO 17
47TH ANNUAL BONSAI EXHIBITION
The Midwest Bonsai Society returns to the Chicago Botanic Garden to showcase its bonsai across the Midwest. Vendors will sell trees, tools, pots, stands, and more. midwestbonsai.org
AUGUST 16 TO 17
EVANSTON ART AND BIG FORK FESTIVAL
Join fellow art lovers in browsing wares from over 150 vendors at the Evanston Art and Big Fork Festival. Enjoy tasty foods, live music, and a Kids Art Zone. amdurproductions.com
AUGUST 17
BLOODY MARY FEST
Highwood’s Bloody Mary Fest returns from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Everts Park. Peruse more than a dozen vendors from near and far who share their unique concoctions and
compete for the Proud Mary award. celebratehighwood.org
AUGUST 17
MOLLY SHANAHAN
At 1 p.m., 2010 Meier Award-winning choreographer Molly Shanahan will per form Spiral Body Techniques with the Mad Shak ensemble. All proceeds will benefit the Women Club of Wilmette and the performers. w omansclubofwilmette.org
AUGUST 28 TO 31
CHICAGO JAZZ FESTIVAL
Enjoy all forms of jazz through free, high-quality music programming at Chicago Cultural Center and Millennium Park. The festival showcases local talent alongside national and international artists to raise awareness and appreciation for one of the city’s most beloved art forms. chicago.gov
SEPTEMBER 4
LIBRARY QUIZTACULAR
Come to Lake Bluff Library for a family friendly quiz night from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Put together teams of four and test your knowledge. Registration is required. lakeblufflibrary.com
SEPTEMBER 6
CHLOE JENSEN PERFORMANCE
Dancer and choreographer Chloe Jensen joins Aerial Dance Chicago at noon. Jensen’s troupe of eight aerial dancers will perform original dance-in-flight choreography outside on the lawn of the Woman’s Club of Wilmette as part of the Wilmette block party. womansclubofwilmette.org
SEPTEMBER 6
THE LOVING FARM
SUMMERTIME GALA
Enjoy a memorable night of celebration, community, and compassion to support the lifelong care of rescued, retired, and unwanted horses. From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., there will be dinner, drinks, a silent auction, and live music. T ickets are available now.
thelovingfarm.org
SEPTEMBER 6
VINTAGE CAR SHOW
Step back in time and experience the elegance, craftsmanship, and nostalgia of a bygone era with the Vintage Car Show from noon to 4 p.m. Spend the day in Highland Park’s vast St.
John’s Parking Lot, perusing an eclectic display of vintage, antique, and classic vehicles, pop culture icons, hot rods, muscle cars, and more—all while enjoying a live radio broadcast, food and libations from local vendors, and kidfriendly activities. enjoyhighlandpark.com
SEPTEMBER 25
CHICAGO’S BEER WARS
Join Lake Bluff Library for this adult program from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Learn about prohibition and Al Capone. lakeblufflibrary.com
OCTOBER 15
JOSSELYN’S COCKTAILS FOR A CAUSE
On October 15, Josselyn invites you to an evening of celebration and impact at its signature fundraising event, with all proceeds benefiting Josselyn programming. This e vent will be held at the Glen View Club. josselyn.org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com
Vintage Car Show
BY BILL MCLEAN
NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
REMEMBERING ‘RYNO’
Chicago Cubs icon and Lake Bluff resident Ryne Sandberg, who died last month, left a legacy of class, professionalism, and playing the game the right way.
Ryne Sandberg must have either winced or frowned each time he watched a batter execute a bat flip after crushing a home run.
The act represents everything the Chicago Cubs great wasn’t—disrespectful (to the game and to the pitcher), egotistical, flashy.
Sandberg, dubbed “Ryno” by legendary broadcaster Harry Caray, simply let go of his bat as part of his follow-through before the start of his understated home run trot. Good ol’ No. 23 would circle the bases with his head down at times, partly to make sure he touched them all and partly because that’s what unpretentious baseball superstars do.
Center fielder Bobby Dernier—half of the Cubs’ “Daily Double” with Sandberg at the top of the batting order in the 1980s—recalled the two dramatic homers Sandberg hit off St. Louis Cardinals closer and future Major League Baseball (MLB) Hall of Famer Bruce Sutter in a nationally televised game at Wrigley Field on June 23, 1984. It later became known as “The Sandberg Game.”
“He couldn’t wait to return to the dugout as he rounded the bases after each home run,” Dernier said of the (MLB) Hall of Famer and nine-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman in a WSCR (670 AM) radio segment last month.
“That’s where Ryne,” Dernier continued, “got to celebrate with his teammates.”
Family, friends, and baseball fans mourned the death of Ryne Dee Sandberg on July 28. A resident of Lake Bluff for nearly 10 years, Sandberg died of cancer at the age of 65. The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff named him its Local Legend in 2016—none other than the year the Cubs won their first World Series championship since 1908.
Sandberg, Red Sox great Wade Boggs, and print/broadcast journalist Peter Gammons were inducted into MLB’s Hall of Fame in 2005. Gammons, now 80, marveled at Sandberg’s potent mix of power and speed in his speech in Cooperstown, New York—citing seasons in which the 1984 National League Most Valuable Player finished with 200 hits, 40 home runs, and 50 stolen bases.
Gammons then described Sandberg as having the “ego of a clubhouse kid” despite his sensational statistics.
Young guys wanted to play like Sandberg, act like Sandberg, and look like Sandberg. Many of those same guys later raised sons named Ryne.
Ryne Sandberg, shy and quiet ballplayer, became Ryne Sandberg, Cubs ambassador/ part-time broadcaster, after resigning as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. Fans got to see and hear another side of the five-tool—hitting for average, hitting for power, speed, throwing, and fielding ability—player who grew up as a three-sport star athlete in Spokane, Washington, and got drafted by the Phillies in the 20th round of the 1978 MLB Draft.
The man was insightful and sneaky funny and quick to share all kinds of anecdotes from his playing days.
An Arizona resident for many years, Sandberg and his second wife, Margaret, moved to a house near a golf course in Lake Bluff nine years ago. He threw ceremonial first pitches at Lake Bluff Youth Baseball Association games and wanted nothing more than to blend in whenever he entered a restaurant or other place of business in the village.
But what he truly cherished while calling Lake Bluff home was being a grandpa of 11. That was ten times more thrilling to him— maybe more—than what he achieved in “The Sandberg Game.”
I first met Mr. Sandberg, my sports hero, at a book signing held at a Schaumburg
sporting goods store in the 1990s. He and former Daily Herald sports writer/columnist
Barry Rozner had written Second to Home: Ryne Sandberg Opens Up. I wanted to say something as Sandberg handed a book to me but froze instead as a star-struck 32-yearold, later mumbling a garbled “Thank you” and a few unintelligible words.
Nearly two decades later, I was given my dream assignment—write a Forest & Bluff magazine feature about Ryne Sandberg. The interview and photo shoot were scheduled
to take place at the Sandberg home in Lake Bluff.
Notebook in hand, with my heart entrenched in my throat, I rang the doorbell. The door opened.
A man from the inside cracked a smile I’d seen many times on television, extended his right hand, and said, “Hi, I’m Ryne.”
Sandberg is survived by his wife, Margaret, five children, and 11 grandchildren.
Ryne Sandberg
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
Ryne Sandberg ("Ryno"), during batting practice before a game, circa early 1990s.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY WJMUMMERT, CC BY-SA 3.0
EXTRAORDINARY LIVING
SUSAN MAMAN
Privately nestled on a beautifully landscaped half-acre just moments from the lake, this striking home designed by renowned architect Tony Grunsfeld seamlessly blends architectural pedigree with modern elegance.
#HASHTAG
EDITED
BY
REDDING WORTH ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Currently, I am reading Your Brain on Art by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. Outside of my lifelong interest in art, I am also a science nerd. I am interested in the impact of art on our brain, emotions, and overall wellbeing. We work with some of the largest health care organizations, curating important spaces for patients with the goal of positively affecting not only their experience but also their overall health. Architecture and design are also integral parts of the program. I will say though, that when I want a real escape, I am not above a good salacious Vanity Fair article!
#IN MY EARBUDS
I have a very broad spectrum of music that I like and listen to including EDM, alternative, jazz, and of course, I love a good ‘80s throwback! I like music that has an ethereal quality to it; Cocteau Twins are always on my list. Lately, I have been really moved by Ludovico Einaudi’s “Primavera.” Classical music is an escape for me. One of my sisters plays violin for the Cleveland Symphony, “Primavera” is a beautiful piece with a wonderful and calming violin component.
#ON MY MOBILE
Can I say the Chicago Architecture Biennial? Seriously though, I am a minimalist by nature, not just in art and architecture, but also how I try to live. Beauty and serenity are at the heart of the objects I choose to surround myself with; they are what I am naturally drawn to. I have recently been following @ioscapes, Ios Gkinis. It is minimal, futuristic design without feeling cold, often situated in a beautiful natural setting.
JENNIFER ARMETTA has been a steadfast advocate for artists for more than two decades. In 1996, she founded Jennifer Armetta Fine Art in Chicago to provide a space for educating collectors and advocating for artists. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 2000, Armetta continued her work as an art advisor, educating clients on how to build meaningful collections by supporting emerging and mid-career artists. In 2004, she co-founded MCA Chicago’s acquisition board, Emerge, which integrates emerging artists into the museum’s permanent collection. As programming chair on the Executive Committee of Emerge, Armetta worked to bring opportunities to both artists and collectors that encouraged engagement and curiosity in the arts. In 2020, she took the helm at Aspect/Ratio Projects, adapting the programming to include emerging and midcareer interdisciplinary artists with diverse practices. Aspect/Ratio Projects was rebranded as ENGAGE Projects in 2021, attesting Armetta’s commitment to accessibility and community-driven artistic engagement. Earlier this year, she was appointed Executive Director of the Chicago Architectural Biennial (CAB). Drawing upon her expertise in the fine arts and corporate sectors, she will spearhead fundraising and programming initiatives, strengthening CAB’s global influence while deepening its cultural impact within Chicago.
BY JOE ROSENTHAL THE
Back in the early aughts, The Wall Street Journal dubbed Chicago native Cheryl Berman “The Determined Ms. Berman,” running a fullpage ad to recognize her stratospheric success in the advertising world. She had become the first woman to ascend to the roles of chairman and chief creative officer of Leo Burnett USA and the first woman to serve on the agency’s board of directors.
It was a flattering and catchy nickname, but it paid a subtle disservice to Berman, whose determination is matched by her creative firepower, leadership ability, social insight, and knack for creating communications that resonate across generations. Her story doesn’t fit neatly into the magazine format; in fact, there’s a book forthcoming. But merely touching on the highlights should inspire anyone seeking to make their mark in branding, advertising, music, or business. Or, frankly, for anyone looking to make a mark in life.
After graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Berman spent three weeks working in journalism for her uncle before he fired her and told her to find another line of work. “If you wanna make things up,” he said, “don’t do it in my paper. You should be in advertising.”
With those fateful words, she followed the guidance of another relative who introduced her to an opportunity at Leo Burnett. She showed up for her interview and was asked for her “book.” Without skipping a beat, she replied, “Yeah, I’m reading The Other Side of Midnight.” The interviewer politely explained that a “book” was a portfolio, and she needed to have one to work at an agency. Armed with a weekend and a hazy concept of what a portfolio was, Berman returned the following week with her book, talked her way into a second
interview, and the rest is advertising history.
She soon found herself part of the team that landed the agency-defining McDonald’s account, which put her on a fast track to advertising immortality, and found herself a mentor in Paul Schrage, the fast-food giant’s chief marketing officer.
“People don’t raise the bar unless somebody makes you do that,” she says. “So that’s what I learned from him. He would say, ‘Hey, this is good, but maybe it could be better.’ He was there when Ray Kroc was around, and he’s still a friend. He was probably the best mentor I ever had.”
All the mentoring and on-the-job lessons clearly took hold, as Berman moved up the ranks and became the youngest copy supervisor
tions that touch people’s hearts and minds,” she says. “You can’t feel or touch a brand, but it must touch you and make you feel something. A brand is first and foremost a promise. And if you keep true to your promise, loyalty grows. And if you don’t, it erodes, then people look for something else.”
It’s that belief in the power of brand that Berman channeled into the company she founded after leaving Burnett in 2008. A low-overhead creative company unbundled specializes in high-quality strategic and creative
and vice president in Leo Burnett’s history.
As a copywriter, she wrote award-winning ads for United, McDonald’s, Disney, Hallmark, and 7UP. She won the first advertising award the Leo Burnett agency ever received (for a Nestlé Crunch commercial), Chicago Ad Woman of the Year, the Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in journalism, Ad Age’s 100 Most Influential Women, and Adweek’s 11 Most Inspiring Women.
In her spare time, she wrote songs that were performed at the Super Bowl halftime show and are still heard at Disney theme parks around the world, founded Miss Understood at Cannes, and launched Women on the Rise at Rise Interactive Ad Agency.
Berman’s pride in her career achievements is clear (her home office in Wilmette features furniture, framed art, and trophies from her last office at Leo Burnett), but she’s always mindful of what made her successes possible—the ability to forge a human connection.
“I am all about making emotional connec-
possible, too.
“I’m hoping to help humanize AI,” she says. Coming from someone who broke through the boys’ club of advertising to rise to the very top, penned songs sung by Christina Aguilera and Gloria Estefan, and challenged the status quo for decades, it’s not difficult to believe she’ll do just that.
On the topic of future plans, in the early
expertise. The company has successfully shaped brands including American Greetings, Sky Zone, SKATIE, the Joffrey Ballet, Start Early, and Pharmacyclics. At the core of the agency’s process is a unique branding workshop that Berman leads at her beachside home, allowing the environment to soak into the creative process.
As much as Berman is a traditionalist when it comes to branding, she’s energized to find herself in the midst of an industry being turned upside down by AI. She’s part of the world’s first AI advertising agency, Ad Legends, which has a mission to pair brilliant technology with legendary human talent to create world-class work. Clients can interact with AI trained by ad business icons, and if clients wish to collaborate live with a real legend, that will be
2000s, the Wall Street Journal hired her to review a few seasons of Mad Men and encouraged her to write her life story. After doing several rewrites over the years, she’s planning to get the book published this year.
The book will be a testament to Berman’s energy, passion, and wisdom—all of which are contagious. It’s no accident that Berman followed so effectively in Burnett’s footsteps, only to step off the beaten path, making a beeline to her own brand of success.
For more information about unbundled, visit unbundledcreative.com. For more information about Ad Legends, visit adlegends.ai.
NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Cheryl Berman in her office PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGGIE RIFE
Cheryl Berman's Mobius Awards for excellence in television advertising. PHOTOGRAPHY BY MAGGIE RIFE
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ENGEL & VÖLKERS CHICAGO NORTH SHORE
566 Chestnut Street | 2nd Floor | Winnetka | IL 60093
There’s no better way to honor late-summer sunshine than with a bowl of chilled watermelon salad—and this isn’t the version you’ve had at every picnic since 2009. This one brings a bright, unexpected balance of sweet, salty, tangy, and herbal notes that will have your guests asking for the recipe before the forks hit the bottom of the bowl.
INGREDIENTS
• 6 cups seedless watermelon, cut into cubes
• 1 cup English cucumber, thinly sliced
• ½ cup crumbled feta cheese
• ¼ cup fresh mint leaves, torn
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
• 1 small shallot, thinly sliced
• Juice of 1 lime
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon white balsamic vinegar
• Sea salt and cracked black pepper, to taste
Optional: sprinkle of Aleppo pepper or toasted pine nuts for finish
INSTRUCTIONS
In a large mixing bowl, combine the watermelon, cucumber, shallot, mint, and basil.
In a small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, and white balsamic vinegar.
Drizzle dressing over the salad and gently toss to combine.
Top with crumbled feta, a light sprinkle of sea salt and pepper, and optional Aleppo or pine nuts for a little kick or crunch.
PRO TIP
Chill your watermelon cubes in the fridge for at least 2 hours before mixing—this salad is best served icy cold, especially on a warm evening with a glass of rosé nearby. Whether served as a side dish or a standalone refresher, this watermelon salad redefines what a simple summer salad can be.
HAPPY HOUR
THE BLUSHING LADY
A refreshing blend of smooth vodka, tart pomegranate, and zesty grapefruit juice, balanced with a hint of simple syrup. Garnished with a dried citrus wheel, The Blushing Lady is as elegant as it is delicious—perfect for any occasion.
INGREDIENTS
• 2oz Vodka
• 1oz Twisted Alchemy Cold-Pressed Pomegranate juice
• 1oz Twisted Alchemy Cold-Pressed Grapefruit juice
• 0.5oz
• Simple Syrup
• Dried citrus wheel to garnish
METHOD
Pour all ingredients into a shaker tin. Fill with ice. Shake and strain into glass.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY DRONG
•
WEAPONS
This horror film directed by Zach Cregger was difficult to watch, even for our critic.
BY FELIX MCMILLAN,
VIEWER ADVISORY:
This film is intensely unsettling and emotionally harrowing—likely not for most audiences.
WEEKEND POEM
WHERE OUR SUMMERS WERE
BY RYAN JACOBS
They folded up the beach chairs slow, The seagulls circling soft and wide. The grill smoke hung like memory, Then scattered with the evening tide.
Gillson held it all like glass: Kites above and feet below, The Sunday snacks, the sunburned naps, The games, the grudges we let go.
VERDICT:
Zach Creqger has delivered what might be the most disturbing and insightful horror film of the year. Weapons isn’t a crowd-pleaser. It’s a cry in the dark—painful, unforgettable, necessary for those willing to watch.
Zach Cregger’s Weapons isn’t merely unsettling—it’s a plunge into collective dread. The film begins with a serene suburban nightmare—17 third-grade students vanish from their bedrooms at exactly 2:17 a.m., leaving behind only grainy doorbell cam footage and frayed nerves in the town of Maybrook. From that chilling moment, Weapons unfurls as a fragmented fairytale—dark, relentless, and emotionally corrosive.
Cregger structures the story in six interwoven chapters, each offering a different perspective—from the hesitantly sympathetic teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) to a grieving father, Archer (Josh Brolin), and a beleaguered local cop (Alden Ehrenreich). The narrative’s mosaic form mirrors the community’s collective fracture—suspicion, grief, and moral ambiguity pulse through every scene.
This film succeeds not through spectacle, but through texture. Benedict Wong’s portrayal of the furtive school principal and Amy Madigan’s haunting antagonist
performance add layers of emotional weight. There’s a grotesque precision here—not gratuitous gore, but suspense that lingers in silence, in stillness, in the spaces between shots.
Reviewers have likened Weapons to a genre-bending cousin of Magnolia—a sprawling ensemble drama draped in horror. Cregger’s film critiques our communal hysteria, how we weaponize grief, and how institutions abdicate responsibility in rebuke of plausible culpability.
If Barbarian was Cregger’s chaotic surprise hit, Weapons is an uncompromising evolution. Exposition is artfully withheld, trusting audiences to fill in the blanks. The result is a visceral horror that’s as unsettling in its intelligence as it is in its emotional brutality.
That said: this is not entertainment—it’s confrontation. Several reviewers have cautioned that this film is not a casual viewing—it stays with you, and it’s not easy to forget.
We rinsed the sand off one last time, The cooler light, the towels worn thin.
The echoes of our children's laughs Still clung to where their feet had been.
The shoreline pulled in summer’s hem, As if to tuck the season in.
The lifeguard stand stood empty now, A watchtower where the days had been.
I watched my wife brush off the sand, The same way she did years ago.
The only difference now was time—
The kids grown taller, faces slow.
The picnic bench we always claimed Had splinters where our names once carved,
But still it caught the August sun And wrapped the year in softened stars.
I took one last look toward the lake, Where once we chased the waves for fun. Now we just stand and say, “It’s late,” Then blink and see another’s done.
So, here’s to summer’s fading light, To growing up in grains of shore, To dampened towels, and one last night At Gillson, where our summers wore.
MAN ABOUT FILM ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
WEEKEND CARTOON BY MURRAY RYERSON
It may be the dog days of summer, but now is the time to consider selling your home this fall or winter. Selling a home during the fall or winter might seem counterintuitive, but there are several advantages that could make it a smart decision.
Here are several key benefits of selling a home in the fall or winter:
Less competition • Serious buyers • Potential for higher offers • Faster transaction process • Year-end relocation
Year-end bonuses • Flexible moving timeline • Standing out in a niche market • Easier scheduling for showings
Give me a call to discuss the benefits of selling in the fall or winter market and how to get your home ready.
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BY BILL MCLEAN
TREE-MENDOUS
Mary McLaughlin’s Northfield-based Trees That Feed Foundation took root in 2008, benefiting food security and economic development in underdeveloped countries.
ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
Mary McLaughlin created hand-painted enamel boxes for the State Department during the Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama administrations.
They served as distinctive gifts for dignitaries around the world.
Since selling her local customized-gift business, McLaughlin Glazeware, 17 years ago, the Winnetkan has had a hand in planting more than 400,000 fruit trees—breadfruit, in particular—around the world as co-founder and president of Northfield-based Trees That Feed Foundation (TTFF).
McLaughlin’s motivation for going from decorative coating to covering underdeveloped countries with food forests was an admirable one.
“I wanted to do something more meaningful,” says the former teacher, geologist, and stay-at-home mom who was born, educated, and married in Jamaica.
Launched in 2008 with the help of her husband, Mike McLaughlin, and late brother, Paul Virtue, TTFF benefits food security and economic development in more than 20 countries in the Caribbean, Central America, and Africa. It is dedicated to planting fruit trees to combat hunger, support livelihoods, and restore the environment.
“The thought of a child anywhere in the world going to bed or to school hungry breaks my heart,” says McLaughlin.
The nonprofit also backs school feeding, entrepreneurship, and education initiatives.
More meaningful indeed.
The versatile breadfruit—it’s nutritious and climate-resilient— can be baked, fried, boiled, or roasted. The staple food in many tropical regions can taste like a potato or have a sweetness akin to that of fresh-baked bread.
In Jamaica, a savory dish featuring breadfruit is called rundown.
“A breadfruit tree,” McLaughlin says, “is like a living pantry, with each capable of growing more than 200 fruits annually. A typical
Mary McLaughlin
A breadfruit tree is like a living pantry, with each capable of growing more than 200 fruit annually.
fruit on our flagship tree weighs four pounds. Think about a tree—most last 100 years.
“That’s food for four generations,” she adds. “But our foundation isn’t just feeding people and testing and developing breadfruit-based recipes; it’s also lifting them out of poverty by creating jobs. People ‘graduate’ from our program in all these countries and then work on their own as entrepreneurs in microbusinesses. That allows us to go where we’re needed.”
Mike McLaughlin collaborated with the engineering department at Northwestern University to develop a breadfruit drying process via a solar dehydrator. The hybrid solar dryer is used to dehydrate and preserve excess fruit. The machine typically yields one pound a flour from each breadfruit, notes
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
superfruit, a superfood. People are no longer hungry because of it. People have jobs because of it.”
TTFF has another invaluable connection with Northwestern University: Nyree Zerega. The botanist and director of the Plant Biology and Conservation Program at NU is also a Negaunee Institute for Plant Conservation Science and Action staffer at Chicago Botanic Garden and a breadfruit expert who became a member of TTFF’s board shortly after the nonprofit’s inception.
Mary and Mike McLaughlin, an actuary, raised two children. Their six grandchildren live nearby. Mary loves to bake with the youngsters.
How McLaughlin met her future husband in Jamaica more than 50 years ago has all the ingredients of a sweet Hallmark movie.
They attended an event on a February 29, but not together. They wound up dancing and smiling together for hours, and shortly before midnight, Mary asked Mike to marry her. There’s a Leap Day tradition in Jamaica and other countries by which women propose marriage to men.
“The problem with traditional breadfruit was its short shelf life, a week or so,” she says. “Now, with flour serving as part of gluten-free products, a breadfruit’s shelf life last years.”
The World Food Programme (WFP), a key part of the United Nations system, is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, tasked with fighting hunger and promoting food security. WFP delivered 50 solar hydrators for breadfruit to Haiti during a time of crisis.
“It’s underutilized, but it can change the world for the better,” McLaughlin says of the availability of breadfruit, which she consumed practically every day as a child in Jamaica when the food source was in season. “It’s a
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“My heart exploded as I got to know Mike on that wonderful night,” Mary recalls. “I knew, right away, Mike was the one. I just had to ask him to marry me before March 1. He’s kind and generous and the most brilliant person.”
They got married in Jamaica some four years later, on July 22, 1972.
“Mike is also the best father, the best grandfather,” Mary adds.
Mary McLaughlin is in the best spot. She gets to engage in her labor of love alongside the love of her life.
“My husband,” she says, “is a full-time Trees That Feed Foundation volunteer.”
Trees That Feed Foundation’s office is located at 1750 Harding Road in Northfield. Visit treesthatfeed.org for more information.
