$600.00 off purchase of Oticon Intent 1 and Starkey Edge 24 or signiture series hearing aids.
hearing
and a great time to schedule your annual hearing evaluation.
business monthly
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra Welcomes New Personnel Manager
Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra is pleased to announce that Thomas Stark, who also plays trombone in the orchestra, has taken over as Personnel Manager. Thomas can be reached by email at personnel@ipomusic.org. They wish their former colleague Savanna Cardenas well as she has taken on the Orchestra Personnel Manager for the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra in Fort Worth, TX.
Hearing and Balance Specialists of IL Rebrands
Hearing and Balance Specialists of Illinois is excited to announce its rebranding to Freedom Hearing and Speech. While the name has changed, they remain committed to providing the same expert care and comprehensive services, including hearing and balance evaluations, hearing aid fittings, and more. The new name reflects their mission to help patients achieve greater freedom in their hearing and communication.
Dowling Financial Moves to Frankfort
Dowling Financial Services & Wealth Management is excited to announce their office move from Mokena to Abbey Woods in Frankfort. The new location will provide a more convenient and modern space for clients, while continuing to offer the same personalized financial services and wealth management expertise. The team looks forward to welcoming clients to their new office and continuing to support their financial goals.
Photography by Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra
Photography by Freedom Hearing and Speech
Photography by Dowling Financial Services & Wealth Management
DIY VANILLA ORANGE SUGAR SCRUB
Create your own DIY sugar scrub for a perfect gift for a special person in your life.
To make one 8 ounce mason jar of vanilla orange sugar scrub, you need:
• 1/4 cup of coconut oil
• 3/4 cup of sugar
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 10 drops of orange essential oil
Soften the coconut oil in the microwave for a few seconds. Next add the vanilla extract and the orange essential oil. Then, stir in the sugar, a little at a time. Print off a fun label or attach a ribbon to the jar, and your gift is ready. Enjoy!
Enrico's Celebrates 50 Years of Flavor and Tradition
Four years ago, the Illinois High School Association (IHSA) officially sanctioned girls’ wrestling as an independent sport. Since then, participation has surged across the state, and Lincoln-Way has quickly emerged as a powerhouse. Under the leadership
ensuring the program had the necessary support. “We spent the first few years functioning out of the boys’ side of the sport, slowly building numbers. When we finally became an official team, we set high expectations from day one,” Josh explains.
"WE DON’T COACH EFFORT—THAT HAS TO COME FROM WITHIN."
of Coach Josh Napier, the inaugural Lincoln-Way girls wrestling team has not only established itself but has dominated in competition, setting the stage for a promising future.
The journey to creating a standalone girls’ wrestling team at Lincoln-Way started with just a handful of female athletes training alongside the boys.
Coach Napier recalls, “That first season, we had about five girls wrestling with the boys’ team across the district. After that year, I was sold on the idea of growing this side of the sport.”
Recruitment efforts ramped up quickly. Josh and his team promoted a summer camp, engaged with spring sports athletes, and leveraged social media to spread the word. The response was overwhelmingly positive. “We knew we wanted a separate team, and we ran a tough preseason to set the tone. The girls who showed up embraced the challenge,” he says.
Transitioning from a few scattered athletes to a full-fledged team required overcoming logistical hurdles and
The results have been nothing short of remarkable. The team ended its inaugural season with an undefeated 19-0 record, secured three major varsity tournament victories, won the IHSA Regional Championship, and clinched the IWCOA Dual Team State Championship, the first of its kind.
“We are tough and gritty. We always look undersized on the mat, but we have the heart to beat the best,” Josh says, emphasizing the team’s fighting spirit.
The evolution from the first practice to the final match of the season was evident in every wrestler. With over half the team made up of first-year athletes, Josh has seen remarkable personal growth. “I love wrestling because you can see true development in an athlete. These girls have embraced the grind and formed an unbreakable bond in just one season.”
That camaraderie has been essential to their success. He notes that despite many athletes meeting for the first time last June, they have developed deep friendships. “It would seem like
CONTINUED >
Beyond the Glass Slipper
How Cinder Ella and Ballet 5:8 Empower Women Through Dance
For centuries, Cinderella has been a story of transformation, typically focused on a young woman whose fate changes through magic and a prince’s affection. But in Cinder Ella , Ballet 5:8’s latest production, the transformation is her own—a journey of self-discovery, resilience, and empowerment.
Ballet 5:8’s Artistic Director, Julianna Slager, describes Cinder Ella as more than a retelling—it’s a reimagining. “Instead of a heroine waiting to be rescued, we see a young woman discovering her voice, strength, and purpose in adversity,” she says. “This version celebrates courage, integrity, and authenticity—qualities that transcend beauty or status.”
Slager believes the production of Cinder Ella will speak directly to the audience’s soul. “When dancers step into these roles, they internalize strength, empathy, and perseverance,” she says. “For audiences, seeing these stories unfold through ballet offers healing and hope.”
In Cinder Ella , the traditional passive princess trope is flipped. Ella’s journey is one of self-realization, rising through courage and integrity rather than external validation. Slager hopes women and girls will see themselves in Ella—not as someone waiting for change, but as someone capable of creating it.
“I hope the audience leaves feeling empowered to rewrite their own narratives,” Slager says. “To step fully into who they were created to be, and to know that even in the ashes, beauty and purpose can rise.”
This spirit of empowerment extends far beyond Cinder Ella . Ballet requires persistence. “We teach our dancers that every challenge is an invitation to grow,” Slager explains. Progress in ballet takes years of dedication. The lessons learned in the studio—discipline, resilience, and creativity—extend far beyond the barre.
Perfectionism is a common struggle for dancers, especially in an art form that demands technical excellence. At Ballet 5:8, instructors counteract this pressure. “We focus on excellence over perfection—on the process over the product,” Slager says. “Our instructors create a safe space where students can try, fail, and try again without shame. We celebrate curiosity, creativity, and courage.”
This approach fosters an environment of support rather than pressure. The studio culture prioritizes collaboration over comparison, promoting a mindset where setbacks are stepping stones rather than failures. “Growth isn’t linear, and that’s okay,” Slager emphasizes. “What matters most is the character being forged in the process.”
Ballet 5:8’s mission goes beyond technical training—it’s about shaping leaders. As a female-led organization, the company’s leadership team brings both expertise and empathy to their roles. “As women leaders, we bring our whole selves to the table—our compassion, our fire, our lived experience,” Slager says. “Our leadership
is rooted in a desire to elevate the next generation of women—not just as dancers, but as visionaries, advocates, and creators.”
Slager believes ballet’s lessons extend far beyond the studio. “Ballet teaches us that the hard things are worth doing. Showing up, again and again, builds more than muscle—it builds character,” she says. “The lessons learned in the studio will shape them into someone who leads with strength, humility, and grace.”
With Cinder Ella , Ballet 5:8 is proving that ballet is not just about tradition—it’s about transformation. This fresh take on a beloved story invites audiences to reconsider what it means to be strong, to persevere, and to reclaim one’s own narrative.
“Dance gives women a voice,” Slager says. “On stage, they can embody courage, defiance, tenderness, and transformation—all in a single performance. Off stage, the confidence gained from training shows up in boardrooms, classrooms, and communities.”
Through movement, mentorship, and empowerment, Ballet 5:8 is shaping confident, resilient women ready to take center stage in their own lives.
Her advice to women entrepreneurs: "Connect with others who share your ambitions" and build a plan. Looking ahead, Margie has big dreams—creating a third book in her series, producing audiobooks, and even writing a children’s series. She hopes her books bring enjoyment to readers and inspire others to chase their dreams, proving that everyone has something valuable to share.
Dr. Lauren Mansell's decision to open Chez Therese Specialty Therapies stemmed from a desire to bring high-quality, specialized care closer to her community. "I worked at academic centers downtown, paying for parking just to treat patients from the south and west suburbs," she explains. Realizing there was a need for accessible specialty care closer to home, she made the bold decision to leave hospital care and open her own clinic, a move she’s grateful for every day.
One of the biggest challenges Dr. Mansell faced was navigating the business side of things. "I love being a clinician, but a business person I am not," she admits. Learning the ins and outs of running a practice, from legal matters to accounting and finding the best team, was a steep learning curve, but she tackled each obstacle head-on.
Chez Therese is making a significant impact on the local community by providing affordable, high-quality specialty care. Patients can access the same treatments they would get at an academic center but at a fraction of the cost. "It’s three times more expensive to receive the same treatment at a downtown academic center than it is at my clinic," she shares, making healthcare more accessible to everyone.
Dr. Lauren Mansell poses outside her Frankfort office.
Margie Janes celebrates the release of her second novel at the Book Bar in Mokena
After a fresh coat on the walls, homeowners may find themselves inspired to add new area rugs, furniture, or even reupholster existing pieces. “New paint gets the ball rolling,” she adds.
This season, color and pattern trends are shifting away from the grays of the past decade. “I am finally seeing the emergence of green, so refreshing after a decade of gray!” says Diane. Alongside this, floral prints are reemerging as a favorite. Decorative details, such as trim tapes for draperies and pillows, are also gaining popularity, adding a stylish and whimsical touch.
When it comes to small decor changes, Diane suggests several impactful updates. Wallpapering a focal wall, such as the bed wall in a bedroom, can add depth and personality. “A new area rug or fresh pillows on your sofa or bed can instantly transform a room,” she notes. Other simple updates include reupholstering dining chair seats, adding a bed scarf, or switching out old window treatments for more minimalist options, like simple side panels on a decorative rod. “Less is more when it comes to window treatments,” she advises.
If you’re a DIY warrior, Diane recommends painting old furniture with chalk paint, a simple weekend project that can transform a tired piece into something fresh and new.
Spring is also a great time to declutter. Diane recommends hiring a professional organizer to help clear out and donate unwanted items, making the process easier. “It’s a great service that makes the process less daunting,” she notes.
These straightforward changes can give any space a fresh, spring-inspired makeover without the need for a full renovation.
"I am finally seeing the emergence of green, so refreshing after a decade of gray!"
LOVE YOUR LAZY LAWN
An easy way to help the ecosystem
Give some thought to this. Almost all US fruit and grain crops depend on pollination, yet our insect population has declined by 75% in the last 25 years - and most pollinators are insects. Fortunately, keeping pollinators (and our local farms) alive couldn’t be easier. Just get lazy about your lawn!
Lawns mowed every two weeks offer more food for pollinators than lawns mowed weekly. So, while you’re lounging on the couch every other Saturday, your longer grass will be supporting American food systems. As a bonus, longer lawns also need less water, so being lazy saves you money, too.
Perfect lawns are literally the empty calories of the ecosystem. By letting go of that green-carpet ideal, you’ll add color to your landscape by allowing dandelions, violets, and white clover to decorate your grass. More important, these “weeds” feed pollinators which, in turn, feed us.
Here’s one more way being lazy can save the world: skip the pesticides. Pesticides kill pollinators, and they’re hardly health food for humans, birds, and pets, either. In fact, research shows that when bees visit plants treated with neonicotinoids (a chemical in most pesticides), even small amounts can build up over time and kill the hive. Neonicotinoids disorient bees and disrupt their fertility. Worse, they can linger in plants and pollen for 2-4 years.
So be a hero. Stay in bed this weekend and stop fussing over your lawn.
For more information, visit www.fs.usda.gov/ treesearch/pubs/55816
ARTICLE BY ANDREA BUGBEE
Therese SPECIALTY THERAPIES
Struggling with leakage, pelvic pain, or lymphatic issues? You're not alone—and you don't have to live with it.
At Chez Therese Specialty Therapies, we specialize in evidence-based pelvic physical therapy for all genders and life stages. Whether you're recovering from childbirth, managing chronic pain, or preparing for surgery, we're here with compassionate, expert care.
Urinary or Fecal Incontinence · Pelvic Organ Prolapse · Diastasis Recti Constipation or Bowel Dysfunction · Endometriosis, PCOS, or IC
Postpartum & Menopause Wellness · Pre/Post-Op Pelvic Surgery Rehab
JUNE 2ND
CPR Class Presented by Mokena Fire Department
Mokena Fire Department Station #1 | 5:00 PM
Students enrolled in this training will be instructed in adult and infant CPR, proper use of an Epipen and AED, and basic life support training. There must be a minimum of six students enrolled to hold the class. For more information and to register, visit www.mokenafire.org/content/cpr .
JUNE 14TH
GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge 5K Donut Run
Centennial Park in Orland Park
Raise awareness and funds for life-changing programs for GiGi's Playhouse in Tinley Park by participating in their annual GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge! The Glazin' a Trail 5K steps off at 8:00 am. Other family friendly events include a Kids Donut Dash at 9:00 am and a 1 Mile Munchkin walk at 9:15 am. For more information and to register, visit www.gigisplayhouse.org/tinleypark/5k.
JUNE 24TH
Trinity Triumph Race and Walk 5K
New Lenox Village Commons | 7:00 PM
Run or walk for great cause at the Trinity Triumph 5K Walk and Run on Tuesday, June 24. The race begins promptly at 7:00 pm at the Village Commons in New Lenox. For more information and to register, visit www.trinityservices.org
