Main & Luxe Magazine - December 2022 / January 2023 - All the Little Things

Naperville

Did you know we have an astronomy club?

Hometown Hero Chief Arres

Norway’s Northern Lights 2022/23

FermiLab Physicist Dr Petra Merkle

Dec Jan

Contents & Credits Founder / Direction / Layout Ashley South, Bluehouse Publishing Inc. Senior Editor Christina Balsano Wichmann Cover Artist Megan Drane, Firefly Nights Photography Design Johnny Garcia | Urek Media Photo courtesy of International Dark-Sky Association

All rights reserved

06 All the Little Things 14 All Together Now 22 Final Frontier Message from Ashley

The Collectives

At the Library

08 See and Be Seen 16 Star Gazing Urban Dark Sky

24 Details Matter

10

Gastronomic Delights

18 A Grain of Sand

26 The Settlement

12

Experience Magic

20 Naper Astro

30 Particle Accelerator

Events, Eclipses, Arres

Small bits, big flavor

Northern Lights in Norway

The Human Pineal Gland

Our astronomy club

Shades and Drapery

A Collection of Pieces

Dr Petra Merkle

Visit Us in Downtown Naperville at 227 South Main Street www.tinkerboutique.shop

All the Little Things Message from the Editor

When I was six or seven years old, my mom bought my three siblings and me lightning bug

cages. They were wooden cylinders hollowed out on four sides with a tightly weave mesh stapled around the entire thing. The wooden top was fashioned by one nail that allowed it to swing open and closed. Rope was stapled to the top as a handle. It was basic but filled us with wonder about how we would fill each of our own!

We waited for night and let loose in the backyard. We lived directly on the woods only separated by an old chain-link fence with a gate that was rarely closed. The woods offered a lot of bugs, especially lightning bugs. We haphazardly placed branches and leaves for our future captives and counted each one we were able to successfully get into the cage.

We speculated about what made them light up and how they looked like they were actual stars falling from the sky. The night’s sky was magical via these little bugs, and we could take part of night’s sky with us for the next day! We always played in the backyard by the woods where it was dark because the streetlamps in the front of house made it difficult to see our new treasures.

The moonlight in the backyard was bright enough! The month was filled with nights like these.

I almost literally ran into Jim Hopkins (Past President of Naper Astro and member for 17 years) setting up his telescope right outside the Dandelion Fountain last year. He was setting up to stargaze, and I was walking to Water Street to meet friends for dinner. I asked him what he and his cohort were doing, and he told me about the astronomy club here in Naperville. The memories of me and my brothers and sister pulling the stars from the sky gave me a wonderful feeling of nostalgia, which of course I transferred to Jim in that moment. We exchanged information and this issue was born a little over a year later. This cover is my artist re-creation of our meeting!

I was inspired by those nights and how much we have here in Naperville that I did not realize.

Stargazing, thinking about the science behind how these little bugs lit up, and enjoying the darkness. All the Little Things. We bring that concept to life by showcasing gastronomy, Dark Sky, a particle physicist, the Northern Lights, and of course more about Naper Astro.

Ashley South

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Main & Luxe, December December 2022 2022//January January2023 2023

WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT LONG TERM CARE My family will take care of me, right?

They most likely will if needed; the question becomes is that the situation you want to put them in. Will your spouse be able to care for you at that age? What consequences will your children incur by having to care for you?

Rob Dalaskey CLU® , ChFC®

Financial Advisor at Northwestern Mutual Naperville Resident What is Long Term Care?

A policy personally owned that helps pay for the expenses of things like bathing, dressing, eating, continence, transportation or assisted living in general. Skilled care also falls under this umbrella.

Doesn’t Medicare pay for those types of expenses?

Programs like Medicare and Medicaid are fantastic but it’s a common misconception that they cover these types of expenses; they do not. They may cover some skilled care after a hospitalization for an injury or illness but it’s incredibly limited. When it comes to a true long term care event your options are to pay from savings or leverage a long-term care policy to cover the expenses.

Do I have to go to a nursing home to use this?

No- you can use the benefit to stay in your home which is actually what the majority of people prefer and where most end up receiving care.

This sounds important but I’m in great health and I probably won’t need this.

Another common misconception is that you’ll never get old and need assistance. The fact is that 70% of Americans who reach age 65 will need some sort of long-term care assistance. Some say “I’ll get it when I need it” but once you have a diagnosis or illness you can’t qualify to get coverage.

What is the cost for long term care event if I did want to pay from my savings?

The 2021 national median cost for a private nursing home room was $9,034 per month. The monthly cost of a home health aide was $5,148. The costs vary greatly based on where you decide to retire or receive care. Many websites offer cost calculators that show you the costs based on state, city or zip code.

When is the right time to apply for a long-term care plan?

The youngest most companies allow an applicant to be is 30 but to be honest most people don’t investigate this until their 50’s. The median age when people purchase this is 57 but most say the “sweet spot” is 50-64.

TEL: 630-458-7027 | CELL: 630-624-5342 rob.dalaskey@nm.com | robdalaskey.nm.com 377 E Butterfield Rd. Lombard IL 60148 Suite 400

Securities and Mutual Fund orders can only be placed by phone or in person. We will not process orders sent electronically, including but not limited to, communications sent via the Internet, mobile and cellular technologies, and electronic mail. Also, communications transmitted by you electronically represents your consent to two-way communication by electronic means. If you receive communications in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any electronic means on which it exists. © 2022 The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. All rights reserved. 720 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202-4797 - (414) 271-1444.

Northwestern Mutual is the marketing name for The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company (NM) (life and disability Insurance, annuities, and life insurance with long-term care benefits) and its subsidiaries, including Northwestern Long Term Care Insurance Company (NLTC) (long-term care insurance), Northwestern Mutual Investment Services, LLC (NMIS) (investment brokerage services), a registered investment adviser, broker-dealer, and member of FINRA and SIPC, and Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company® (NMWMC) (investment advisory and trust services), a federal savings bank. NM and its subsidiaries are in Milwaukee, WI. Robert Frank Dalaskey is an Insurance Agent of NM and NLTC. Investment brokerage services provided as a Registered Representative of NMIS. Investment advisory services provided as an Advisor of NMWMC. The products and services referenced are offered and sold only by appropriately appointed and licensed entities and financial advisors and representatives. Financial advisors and representatives and their staff might not represent all entities shown or provide all the products or services discussed on this website. Not all products and services are available in all states. Not all Northwestern Mutual representatives are advisors. Only those representatives with "Advisor" in their title or who otherwise disclose their status as an advisor of NMWMC are credentialed as NMWMC representatives to provide investment advisory services.

Depending on the products and/or services being recommended or considered, refer to the appropriate disclosure brochure for important information on the Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company, its services, fees and conflicts of interest before investing. To obtain a copy of one or more of these brochures, contact your representative.

Robert Frank Dalaskey is primarily licensed in IL and may be licensed in other states.

CA License: 0K94321

See & Be Seen

Meet & Read: Dec/Jan Issue Thursday, January 5th 5:30pm to 8:00pm Go Brewing 1665 Quincy Avenue

Free! Meet the features, writers, and fellow readers. We’re focused on weaving the community together.

Everyone is welcome - Join us! www.MainLuxe.com/events

Profiles in Action: Achieving Goals

Glimpse of Gourmet: LIVE!

$35. We profiled Dana Davenport in January 2022 for our issue on Goals.

We are bringing Dana’s profile to life via a small group workshop to talk about your goals for the new year.

Meet others focused on their own achievements as well! www.MainLuxe.com/events

$55. Chef Terrell demonstrates how to make the swordfish found within the pages of this magazine! He will engage you in the kitchen with a wine toast and full dinner. He will share techniques and modifications based on skill! www.MainLuxe.com/events

Thursday, January 12th 5:30pm to 8:00pm Liam Brex Kitchen 222 S Main Street

Submitted by readers, below are photos of the moon at different positions in the sky on November 7 through the early morning of November 8.

Tuesday, January 17th 6:00pm to 8:00pm Liam Brex Kitchen 222 S Main Street

Photo: Katie Braga

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The Night’s Sky Full Moon:

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

Photo: Michael A. Hubatch

11/7 at 10:41pm

Photo: Cathy Subber

11/8 at 5:21am

Photo: Erica Katz

11/8 at 5:49am

Photo: Michelle Furlow

Hometown

Hero: Chief Jason Arres Chief of Police as of November 2021 – with the department for 21 years!

History: Our chief grew up in Woodridge and holds his degree in Math from Northern Illinois University. He worked in finance for two years but realized that he wanted to be involved within the community. After seeing a post for a position within the Naperville Police Department, he took the test and never looked back.

Positions Held: Patrol Offer, Detective, Special response (SWAT), Sergeant, Patrol Watch Commander, Commander of Office of Professional Standards (Internal affairs), Deputy Chief, and of course Chief.

Loves about Naperville: “I love how engaged the community is and how much

they care about Naperville. Also, we have great shopping. Because I live close to the south end (in Plainfield), my family and I spend time at the shops at 95th and Route 59. We love the restaurants downtown as well!”

Loves about Department: The drive and passion all of the employees of the department have for their responsibility of protecting this community and keeping it safe. Truly an honor to see this day in and day out.

Hobbies: Chief is focused on his fitness, specifically CrossFit and running; he ran his first marathon in 2021. He is also a fan of grilling family meals in his backyard—a nice steak or smoked pork shoulder!

How community members can get involved: Interact with the police department; we need to continue a strong partnership with the community to keep it the town that it is. Let us know what is going on in and around your specific areas. Attend the next “Chat with the Chief,” a program offered four times a year in different parts of town. Look for it in Q1 of 2023. Also, the department provides a number of presentations that they will bring to HOAs, by request.

Follow via social media!

Facebook: @NapervillePD Twitter: @NapervillePD

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

9

Gastronomic Delights

By JD Hollyfield

With the weather bringing on a brisk

chill, it’s time to snuggle up into those warm oversized sweaters and search out the best way to our hearts. With food. Happy belly, happy life, right? The art of good eating is ever evolving. The consumption of food has changed, and its presentation has become just as important as the taste itself. The latest trends in gastronomic food pairing are taking flavors to the next level, and our hungry stomachs at Main & Luxe are here for it.

Local Although tapa’s originated in Spain, it’s eatery concept is very well known, locally.

Right in our backyard is a Spanish inspired gem, embodying the gastronomic style culture. Chef and owner John Borras’s vision for Macarena Tapas, located in Naperville, is to connect the relationship between food

Photo courtesy of Wine and Cheese Co

and culture. Starting with the cold Tapas, the Montaditos de Salmon is a must. It’s a wonderful pairing of smoked salmon accompanied by avocado puree, aioli, and red pepper placed on toasted bread. Moving on to their hot tapas, don’t pass up their most popular dish, the Bombas de la Barceloneta.

This delight is breaded and fried potato and beef, served with a delicious spicy sauce and an aioli accompaniment. Make sure to check out the Spanish wines to complete the experience.

Hop and a Skip Come enjoy the culinary art of preparing delicatessen and appetizing grazing boards at Wine and Cheese Co, located in the heart of downtown Plainfield. From their favorable combination of artisan cheeses to their specialty foods, the use of appealing color layout is a gastronomic way of serving up these trending treats.

Macarena Tapas 618 S Illinois Rte 59 Naperville, IL https://macarena-naperville.com/

Macarena Tapas 10

Photo: John Borras

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

Photo: John Borras

Photo courtesy of Wine and Cheese Co

Photo courtesy of Wine and Cheese Co

Photo courtesy of The Purple Pig

Beets with goat cheese and pistachios

Photo courtesy of Wine and Cheese Co

Owner Kacie Wadycki shares her passion in her boards. “The beauty about creating a charcuterie board isn’t just that you are creating a visually artistic piece, it’s that you are creating a memory and conversation.

It’s an exploration into different countries showcasing harmonious combinations of flavors.”

My top recommendation is the chef ’s choice of local and/or imported cheeses and charcuterie, alongside their fig jam, cream of balsamic, olives, and candied walnuts. Wine and Cheese also has a full food menu and wine and beer list. The stay-in type? No worries, ask about their catering boards!

Wine and Cheese Co 24104 Lockport St #2901 Plainfield, IL http://wineandcheese.co/

Octopus

Photo courtesy of The Purple Pig

Worth the Drive The Purple Pig, located on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago, brings us unique Mediterranean dishes with a gastronomic flare. This is the place to go when it’s time to treat the belly. Literally!

Their pork belly dish is splendidly executed, not to mention presented. Perfectly seared with just the right amount of crusty exterior, its juiciness simply melts in your mouth.

“In each of our dishes, there is passion and love for what we do every day,” Chef Effy says about his award-winning dishes.

From the flavorful tuna tartar presented on sesame cracker and complimented with a pistachio and fruit sauce giving the perfect mix of savory and sweet, to the salt-roasted beets presented over a light whipped goat cheese, pistachio butter and roasted pistachios.

Tuna tartare

Photo courtesy of The Purple Pig

Pork Belly

Photo courtesy of The Purple Pig

Ravioletto

Photo courtesy of The Purple Pig

My advice? Make the drive. Enjoy this lively and fun eatery, along with all the eccentric dishes. Of course, their drink menu is just as phenomenon.

The beauty about creating a charcuterie board is that you are creating a memory!

-Kacie Wadycki, Owner, Wine and Cheese Co

Author: JD Hollyfield

The Purple Pig 444 Michigan Ave Chicago, IL https://thepurplepigchicago.com/

JD is a USA Today best-selling author with over 60K reviews on Goodreads. Her father was Naperville’s Director of City Planning in the 70s. She lives in Plainfield. She has a BA in Advertising from Western Illinois University and an Event Planning Certification from Harper College.

From tapas to full course meals, the everevolving collaboration of specialty foods is on the rise. Happy eating!

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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Experience Magic: The Northern Lights in Norway

By Karthika Gupta

The Aurora Borealis is one of the most

beautiful and enigmatic sights on earth and has awed us through the centuries. There is something so magical about seeing the night sky explode in colors of green, yellow, amber and all the many shades in between.

For eons, many fantastical theories have been imagined explaining the sky’s shifting glow. While the scientific community talks about electrons from the sun interacting with gas particles in the atmosphere to produce light, the folklore from various cultures is much more mythical and magical.

Aurora Borealis, the lights of the northern hemisphere, means dawn of the north while Aurora Australis means dawn of the south. The Northern Lights are more intense during a solar maximum – the time when the Sun’s magnetic polarity flips and it is expected to be most active with solar storms and solar flares. The next solar maximum is said to happen in between 2023 to 2026 but smaller solar flares do still occur causing the lights to appear in the skies above the Arctic Circle.

Scientists have learned that in most instances northern and southern auroras are mirror-like images that occur at the same time, with similar shapes and colors.

Because the phenomena occurs near the magnetic poles, northern lights have been seen as far south as New Orleans in the western hemisphere, while similar locations in the east never experience the mysterious lights. As result of this, many cultural groups around the world have legends and folklore about the northern lights.

While there are several Nordic countries that promote Northern Lights tourism, Norway continues to be a hot spot for tourists, visitors and locals who want a glimpse of the “lights that dance in the sky.” In Norway, many legends exist explaining these lights. According to Norse mythology, female spirits called Valkyries chose who lived and died in battle. They Photo courtesy of Sorrisniva

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Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

escorted the most heroic warriors who fell to Valhalla, which is hall of the slain in Nordic culture and is overseen by Odin himself. The Vikings believed the lights were the reflection of the Valkyries’ armor and shields as they led their dead to their final resting place.

“It is just an incredible privilege to witness them. The reward at the end of a long wait in the dark and the cold to just get a glimpse is to see them grow in intensity and dance. It takes your breath away, it leaves you speechless and ecstatic,” says Sara Lupini, an Italian living in Norway for the past nine years, “It makes you feel Fairytale corner room, Hotel AX so small in front of the power and beauty of the universe. We Norwegians have a visual reminder of this, and it helps us live more in touch with nature and with what is important and meaningful.”

Some of the biggest factors in seeing northern lights are time of year, clear skies, and low light pollution. If you are looking to travel to Norway to see the lights, then you need to be strategic about when you go (time), where you go (location), and weather forecasts (sky conditions). Another thing you might want to investigate is whether the hotel or resort you want to visit offers a wake-up service or a guided tour by aurora spotters.

When to go

November to February is considered peak season to see the Northern Lights because the nights are the longest. But even September and March are fantastic — March has the best chance for clear skies based on typical weather in Norway.

Where to go

The city of Tromsø is one of the most popular places in Norway for northern lights tourism. Although you can see them from town, it is best to get away from the city’s light pollution. Lyngen North is a glass igloo hotel located about three hours from Tromsø. The igloos and houses offer uninterrupted 360-degree views of the Lyngen Alps and Lyngenfjord. The crystalclear glass in all windows makes it perfect for observing the northern lights at night.

Snowhotel Kirkeness in the town of Kirkeness is the only hotel in the world completely made of snow and ice. It is open all year around and the Gamme Northern Light Cabins are unique wooden

Photographing the Northern Lights

wilderness cabins that are perfect for viewing the Northern Lights. The cabins are inspired by traditional hunting and fishing huts. Kirkeness is two hours by air from Oslo and even has direct air connections via Tromsø.

Sorrisniva in Alta is a resort and hotel that is ideal for all kinds of wilderness exploration in the Arctic. The rooms in the main lodge have skylights and the main lobby in the lodge has floor to ceiling windows that offer a panoramic view of the landscape and night sky. It is ideally located away from urban lights thereby maximizing the chances of seeing the Aurora Borealis.

The resort also has guides who conduct pre-tour explanations of the Borealis, advise you on achieving the best photographs, and take you to find the location with the greatest chance of viewing the Northern Lights.

One of the best things you can do to maximize your chance of seeing the northern lights is quite simple — patience.

“The lights are a result of an incredibly complex chain of events, and we have absolutely no control. So just enjoy the process! On a clear night, there is so much else to look at in the sky. Stars, constellations, the moon. Just because they are often there does not make them less mesmerizing. So do not get too obsessed with taking pictures and just experience standing there in silence under the dance.

Take it all in and it will be a lifetime memory,” adds Sara.

For the best photos of the Northern Lights, you will need a camera that allows you to adjust to full manual mode. Ideally a DSLR should work but, in a pinch, smart phones can be used if you can control all the settings. Apps like Pro Camera by Moment, Northern Lights Photo Taker and NightCap Camera are some options for Northern Lights photography as they let you control/change all the setting.

Choose similar settings to those you would use on a camera with high ISO, large aperture, and slow shutter speed (Sara recommends 2 to 3 second exposure, ISO of 1600 or higher, and aperture of f3.5 or wider). Use a tripod or phone stand to get the shot so that you don’t have any camera shake. Absolutely No Flash and set a manual focus to infinite.

For many of us, seeing the Northern Lights is a bucket list item and whether you believe in folklore or not, we can all agree there is something quite special about seeing colorful rays of light dance across the sky!

What to wear

As with any winter outdoor adventure, layering up is your best bet. Some places in Norway that offer Northern Lights expeditions will provide appropriate artic clothing – outwear that is rated for temperatures 0 degree and below. While the actual nighttime temperatures vary based on the season and location, winter temperatures in Northern Norway range from -16 to -12 degree Celsius (3 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit). Conditions can also get windy and frigid when taking a boat trip out to see the lights, so be sure to add layers as needed. A woolen base layer, mid layer, bibs (overalls), insulated socks, insulated boots, jacket, gloves, and appropriate head covering are just some of the basics you would need.

Photo courtesy of Sorrisniva

Author: Karthika Gupta Contributing Writer. Karthika is a writer, photographer, and world traveler. She owns her own business and has been published nationally as well as internationally. She lives in the Tall Grass neighborhood.

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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All Together

By Hilary Decent

Light & Pine Collective,

222 E. Wilson Street, Batavia, Illinois Open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Childhood friends Jenni Zielke and Suzy Ray reconnected through their passion for small businesses. Together they’re the owners of a fresh and airy collective where all the goods are made with love by more than 20 female artisans. An excellent place for candles, reeds, greeting cards, wooden home décor and more.

Spots on the Fox

(an online collective) www.spotsonthefox.com

A Collective is a one-stop shop offering an eclectic range of gifts from different vendors that makes shopping easy and fun. Supporting small businesses owned by women while you shop means you can back your local community while finding the perfect little thing. We’ve put together a guide for nearby collectives offering a huge choice in delightful gifts and goodies!

Kiel and Ana Tredrea opened their online collective during the pandemic when everyone was shopping from home. They have dozens of vendors on their website, and the good news is you can buy from as many as you like with one easy checkout. From knitwear to custom dog portraits, shop everything from the comfort of your own home.

Cute canine caricatures are just some of the unique items available at Namma’s Spot, a vendor with Spots on the Fox. They’re the work of owner Deb Donnelly, who goes by the nickname Namma.

Email her at cariacturesbydeb@ aol.com.

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Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

Francis Rodriguez’s mother taught her how to crochet when she was just eight years old. Today she has a successful business called Classy Crafty Wife, where she’s taking the crochet world to another level.

Custom orders accepted at classycraftywife@ gmail.com.

Now! The Painted Tree Boutiques, 240 S IL-59, Naperville, Illinois Open daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Describing themselves as the place where Etsy meets Pinterest, The Painted Tree has multiple locations around the country. In Naperville you’ll find jewelry, clothes, soaps, home décor and toys; truly something for everyone. A relaxing spot to spend time searching for that ideal gift.

Wyckwood House

80 S River Street, Aurora, Illinois 126 N Hale St, Wheaton, Illinois Hours vary by location Looking for something uniquely local? They feature tea towels and wall art with city maps, but there are hundreds more ideas if you’re in the market for something different. Mugs, glassware, jewelry and clothing are just some of the items you’ll find in their beautiful stores, and at the Aurora location you can even try a hand-crafted cocktail from their bar.

Tower Dental Associates Trusted, Personalized, Compassionate Dental Care 5155 Mochel Drive Downers Grove, IL 60515 (630) 968-1544

Dr. Hanna Gruzynska D.D.S. Dr. William Kats D.D.S.

Dr. Michael Wince D.D.S. Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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Star Gazing

Photo courtesy of International Dark-Sky Association

By Hilary Decent

How light is obscuring our view of the night

Twinkle, twinkle little stars, how we wonder where you are. The answer is they are still here, filling the firmament just as they have since the beginning of time, but the difference, is as time goes by, it’s getting more difficult to see them.

Even on a clear night in an urban area, you’ll probably see 40 stars at best. Only 50 years ago, that figure would have been between 2,000 to 4,000 thousand. So if the stars are still there, just why are we losing sight of them? The answer is light pollution.

According to the Center for Biological Diversity, Chicago is 4.5 times brighter than the average global metropolitan area. That places it number four in the top ten, with Moscow taking the top spot at 8.1. The irony is that while the vast amount of electrical lighting makes it easier to see where we are going, it clouds one of the best views on Earth — the dazzling night sky above us.

Global Solutions Globally, environmentalists are working to address the problem. In Europe, the municipality of Hole, near Oslo, Norway fitted radar sensors to light poles. When the road is empty, they automatically reduced 16

their brightness by 20 per cent. In 2019, France adopted one of the world’s most progressive light pollution abatement policies.

The regulations affect both private and public property and include requirements such as light curfews, allowable illumination levels, restrictions on blue light use, and limits on light fixtures that point upward.

In North America, the research and education initiatives at the Mont-Megantic observatory in Quebec, Canada were being jeopardized from light pollution coming from cities on its periphery. After efforts and cooperation from surrounding cities to enact regulations limiting light pollution, the park was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky Reserve in 2007 and offers some of the best star gazing in the world. Guidance on responsible lighting principles from Mont-Megantic is provided at the end of the article.

In San Francisco, the Golden Gate Audubon Society’s Lights Out program encourages everyone to turn off all unnecessary lighting between February 15th and May 30th and August 15th and November 30th during bird migration. Most birds migrate at night and can be drawn off course by tall, lighted structures in their flight path. According to

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

the National Audubon Society, birds use the moon and stars as navigational cues to stay on course. Tucson and Flagstaff, Arizona have been attempting to reduce light pollution since 1958. All parking lot lights must be shielded and upward-facing billboard lighting has been banned altogether. In 2001, Flagstaff, Arizona, became the first International Dark Sky City because of its long-term commitment to reducing outdoor light pollution without compromising safety.

Help at Home Here in the western suburbs, the Chicago chapter of the International Dark-Sky Association’s mission is to promote win-win solutions that allow people to appreciate dark, star-filled skies while enjoying the benefits of responsible outdoor lighting.

Delegate Adam Kreuzer explained what has caused the problem. “One of the main causes of light pollution is LED lights,” he explained.

“We are now exposed to blue/ white lights.

It affects our circadian rhythm while we sleep inside our houses because of handheld devices, and outside the house we have LED lights that come into our bedrooms. That light inhibits what would be our natural release of melatonin that triggers a healthy sleep cycle.”

Photo courtesy of International Dark-Sky Association

An abundance of lights that are not dark-sky friendly cause sky glow, which is scattered through the atmosphere. This is what obscures our view even on a seemingly clear night, and it’s not only humans who are affected.

“Let’s remember we are not the only creatures on earth,” said Kreuzer. “We have the opportunity to use a flashlight or GPS, our animal friends don’t. They navigate the night sky. In the city of Chicago up to a billion birds are lost each year when they hit buildings that have lights on. We have less fireflies because they cannot see to mate.”

“When you go outside it’s an opportunity to forget about the rest of the day to enjoy the twinkling of the night sky,” he said. “Research has shown that getting outside in a forest can be meditative.” Kreuzer not only gives talks on behalf of the Dark-Sky Association but organizes an annual Dark-Skies fall night hike for the Morton Arboretum that takes place mid-September.

He suggests driving just an hour out of Naperville to the west or south to increase your chances of seeing a starrier night. Winter is the best time of year because less humidity means better vision.

Author: Hilary Decent Hilary Decent is a British freelance journalist who has embraced the Naperville community since relocating from London, England in 2007. Best known for her observational humor columns, she also enjoys sharing the stories of the people who call Naperville home.

What we can do: Carpe Noctem, a nonprofit focusing on light pollution, recommends the following: 1. Orientation: Choose a light that is directed entirely towards the ground. Reduces glare and is more efficient.

2. Color: Switch bulbs from white to amber. A dazzling white light causes more star-warping, and more negative impacts on the health of both humans and the environment.

3. Intensity: The eye adapts better and you can see better with less contrast via a less intense light.

4. Period: Use a timer to switch off electric lights when going to bed so you don’t forget! Only use lighting when you need it.

Following these simple tips will allow everyone to enjoy the beauty of the night sky because stars cannot shine without darkness!

Photo courtesy of International Dark-Sky Association

A Grain of Sand

By Dr Neha Shah

In honor of this science issue, let’s explore

the human body’s smallest organ, the pineal gland, commonly referred to as brain sand.

This tiny power player weighs in at 0.1 gram and is the supervisor for our sleep-wake cycle. The pineal gland is located in the deep center of the brain and receives information about our surroundings and directs our internal circadian clock. It is one of the least understood aspects of the endocrine system and was the last to be discovered by scientists.

Once the information is inputted, it is then translated in the secretion of melatonin, the main hormone of sleep.

Melatonin is produced rhythmically during darkness but actually starts in production two hours before bedtime. Much of the light from our computers, tablets and smart phones can neutralize melatonin’s natural effects. For ideal melatonin secretion, it is recommended to shut off devices two hours prior to bedtime.

About 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorder. Chronic lack of sleep is associated with metabolic issues, mood disorder, and decreases in quality of life and well-being. There is a huge demand for sleep supplements and sleep aids many of which center around this hormone. Melatonin supplements have been shown to assist in the treatment of jet lag and shift work disorder but are not the magic ingredient for sleep like many hope for.

Melatonin is now being developed as a treatment to help improve sleep and decrease restlessness for those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease.

Can you ever have too much of a good thing?

One of the unique aspects of melatonin is that this hormone is one of the most accessible supplements out there.

Recommended starting dosage for melatonin is 1–3 mg, but many products boast double and triple this dose. Too much melatonin can make you tired throughout the day and can also cause nightmares, vivid dreams, nausea, dizziness, headaches, irritability, anxiety, diarrhea, and joint pain. Melatonin supplements are considered safe for short-term use, but always discuss supplementation with your provider as it can interact with prescription medications.

Some of the more common interactions occur with blood thinners, seizure medications, oral contraceptives, and diabetes medications.

Outside of its physiological roles, it is intensely involved in the world of mysticism and spirituality. It has also been commonly called the third eye due to its location deep in the brain and connection to light and darkness.

The pineal gland is linked to the crown chakra and used in meditation practices to improve perception, awareness and spiritual

Less commonly known function of melatonin is its effects on female hormones and the menstrual cycle. Melatonin declines significantly after menopause by 30%. This correlation supports the overlap of menopausal and melatonin deficiency symptoms, e.g., poor sleep quality and mood changes.

More research is emerging to evaluate this relationship as it relates to the aging process.

Melatonin has also been found to facilitate the learning process, improve memory, and transfer short term to long term memory.

With this knowledge researchers are reviewing adequate melatonin to protection of progressive neurologic disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

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connection. Chakras are considered energy points in the body that need to be opened and aligned. Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, described it as the seat of the soul in his book, Treatise on Man, written in the 1630s.

Due to the mystery surrounding the pineal gland, scientists are still learning its various functions. As more is learned, there is one constant variable and that is that this small organ is not to be underestimated. Sleep is not a indulgent luxury, it is an essential function that helps us balance body and mind.

Whether you fall on the spectrum of medical to metaphysical, brain sand plays a large role in our health and well-being.

Author: Neha Shah, MD Our health and wellness contributor, Dr. Shah is a weight loss specialty physician, mom and wife by day and in her spare time is passionate about her online platform that works toward making evidenced-based healthcare accessible to all. @motherhood.md

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Naper Astro

By Bethanie Hestermann, Photos courtesy of Naperville Astronomical Association

“If people sat outside and looked at

the stars each night, I’ll bet they’d live a lot differently,” muses Calvin from Bill Watterson’s timeless Calvin and Hobbes comic strip. When Hobbes asks “How so?” Calvin explains, “Well, when you look into infinity, you realize that there are more important things than what people do all day.”

Since 1973, the Naperville Astronomical Association has been helping people in Naperville look into infinity. With around 200 current members, NAA has grown significantly from its origins as a high school student astronomy club.

When Naperville Central told a group of science enthusiasts they couldn’t build an observatory, they formed the Naperville Astronomical Association, convinced the City of Naperville to let them build one on unused city land, and opened membership up to the public.

Rick Gering, NAA’s current president, says from its inception, NAA has been uniquely focused on public outreach, and this is one of the reasons almost everything the organization does is open to the public and free of charge. NAA is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, and it shares its two large observatory telescopes with the public, giving those who take advantage of the opportunity the ability to gaze into the heavens in a way that most people can’t.

Two Saturdays a month, NAA hosts public nights at the observatory that 20

original club members built in a remote corner of the Springbrook Water Reclamation Center. And this is special.

“NAA is one of a handful of amateur clubs that operates its own observatory facilities, and part of our mission is using those facilities to provide others with observatory-class views of the sky’s many breathtaking sights,” says Gering. NAA and its members also support stargazing events sponsored by schools, troops, libraries, and other organizations, as well as STEM events at schools throughout the west and southwest Chicagoland suburbs.

NAA also brings star gazing to Naperville’s sidewalks. You can find these friendly astronomers doing “sidewalk astronomy” on the Riverwalk near the Dandelion Fountain twice a month— on the Thursday evening closest to the first quarter moon and the Saturday morning closest to the full moon (weather permitting). Each month, NAA also holds a general meeting and an Astronomy Fundamentals talk. At the end of NAA meetings, members make themselves available to anyone who needs help troubleshooting or learning how to use a telescope.

Members pay an annual fee of $24 for individuals or $36 for families, and the only requirement is an interest in astronomy. “While our members include some professional astronomers, we are an amateur club and the vast majority of our members join NAA because they want to

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

learn more about astronomy, not because they already know all about it,” Gering says.

Once they complete a training program, members can use the club’s observatory telescopes, which were designed and hand-built entirely by club members, whenever they want. Members can also use their personal telescopes at several private observing sites on farms in the countryside, far from the light pollution caused by city lights. NAA members also receive a monthly newsletter called The Focal Plane and gain access to NAA’s comprehensive library of astronomy books.

Why gaze into the cosmos in the first place? Gering says there’s a sense of connectedness that comes from exposure to the wonders of the sky—a sort of understanding that we humans and our tiny planet fit into a much, much bigger picture. And there’s a dose of humility that comes with that recognition.

It’s never too early or too late to get started as an amateur astronomer. Gering began his journey in his 40s. “Now,” he says, “more than 25 years and almost as many telescopes later, I’m still finding new and wonderful targets in the sky and relishing every ooh and aah I hear when I share them with others.”

You can support NAA by becoming a member using the form on its website: www.stargazing.net/naa/member.htm

Calling all star gazers!

Check out these upcoming NAA events: • • • • • • • • •

1973, Building the Glen D. Riley Observatory

December 6: General meeting, Grace United Methodist Church, 7:30 PM December 17: Public night, NAA observatories, 7:30 PM December 20: Astronomy Fundamentals, Naperville Municipal Center, 7:30 PM (No events December 24 or December 31 due to holidays) January 3: General meeting, Grace United Methodist Church, 7:30 PM January 13: Public night, NAA observatories, 7:30 PM January 17: Astronomy Fundamentals, Naperville Municipal Center, 7:30 PM January 20: Members’ night, NAA observatories, 7:30 PM January 27: Public night, NAA observatories, 7:30 PM

1977. Solar eclipse viewing

2022. Observation night

2022. On the Riverwalk

Author: Bethanie Hestermann

1973, article in The Sun Times

Bethanie Hestermann is a freelance writer and author. She’s written seven animal-science books for kids, with a seventh being published in 2023. When not writing, she loves camping and traveling with her family. She earned her M.A. in Writing and Publishing at DePaul University.

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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Final Frontier At the Library

By Bethanie Hestermann; all photos courtesy of the Naperville Public Library

Take a trip to the Naperville Public

Library and gain access to faraway lands— imaginary and real. You may even gain a ticket into outer space. It’s more than the books that transport you to new places at the library, it’s the diverse, exciting programming that integrates literacy with art, science, and technology. For those interested in space, there’s plenty at the Naperville Public Library to keep you absorbed and enthralled.

This past October, around 70 people attended an event put on by the library and the NAA (Naperville Astronomical Association) called “What Can I See in the Sky from My Backyard?” Rick Gering of the NAA led participants in a discussion about what was visible in the sky at that time of year, followed by stargazing outside using several telescopes set up by the NAA for the event. Attendees enjoyed seeing the rings of Saturn and talking astronomy with NAA members and each other.

worlds in galaxies far, far away, humans have been obsessed with the cosmos for centuries. Christy Palangattil, adult services librarian at the Naperville Public Library, says humans are fascinated by outer space because we are naturally curious, and we like to learn about the world around us.

“Space has an added element of mystery and romance,” she says. “That mystery allows us to imagine all kinds of things, and imagine our deepest fears, longings, and desires as elements of outer space. That provides a perfect canvas for authors—and readers—to explore (the) ideas of life, death, consciousness, morality, etc.”

Upcoming Events: If you’re looking to explore your own outer space or STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) related interests at the Naperville Public Library, here are some options:

Also in October, the library put on a series of Star Wars™ Reads events, featuring Star Wars–themed family story times and crafts, such as Chewbacca pencil holders. A Chicagoland group called Droid Builders brought characters, droids, and reproduction Star Wars props and costumes to the events. Attendees interacted with droids as they roamed the library and talked to makers about how they created the various items on display.

Humans’ Fascination with Space From learning about space through a telescope to interacting with fictional 22

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

Make Your Own Rocket Launcher The Make Your Own Rocket Launcher program is scheduled for February 2023.

Space enthusiasts in grades 4-6 will learn about Katherine Johnson and other Black women and men who work or worked at NASA. Attendees will learn about pressure, thrust, and force and then make their very own rocket launchers!

Girls Who Code Club Beginning in 2023, the library is launching a Girls Who Code Club for science and technology lovers. In 12 sessions, girls will have access to beginner-friendly tutorials in Scratch, Python, Swift, and JavaScript.

They’ll also learn about notable women in computer science, with themes including sisterhood, bravery, and community impact.

STEAM Storytimes STEAM Storytimes for 3 to 5-yearolds and an adult caregiver start back up in February. Each 30-minute program explores STEAM topics through stories, songs, and hands-on projects—a great option for some of the youngest future scientists in Naperville.

Visit the library’s website for the most updated information: www.naperville-lib.org.

Space-Themed Books for Kids The friendly librarians at the Naperville Public Library recommend the following titles for space-loving kids aged 3 to 7 and their families:

Fiction • Rocket Says Look Up! (Nathan Bryon, 2019) • Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me (Eric Carle, 1986) • Penguinaut! (Marcie Colleen, 2018) • Astronaut Training (Aneta Cruz, 2021) • The Way Back Home (Oliver Jeffers, 2008) • Regards to the Man in the Moon (Ezra Jack Keats, 2009) • Chicken in Space (Adam Lehrhaupt, 2016) • Zoom, Rocket, Zoom! (Margaret Mayo, 2012) • My Rainy Day Rocket Ship (Markette Sheppard, 2020) • Astro Girl (Ken Wilson-Max, 2019)

Non-Fiction • Many Moons (Rémi Courgeon, 2017) • Everything Awesome about Space and Other Galactic Facts! (Mike Lowery, 2021) • Moon!: Earth’s Best Friend (Stacey McAnulty, 2019) • The Sun Is Kind of a Big Deal (Nick Seluk, 2018) • Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race (Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, 2018

Author: Bethanie Hestermann Bethanie Hestermann is a freelance writer and author. She’s written seven animal-science books for kids, with a seventh being published in 2023 When not writing, she loves camping and traveling with her family. She earned her M.A. in Writing and Publishing at DePaul University.

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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Details Matter

By Stephanie Anderson, SA Interiors

It is that special time a year when we are so

busy buying gifts for family and friends, that it is easy to forget about an additional special someone: yourself.

After all, we all need to treat our desires every now and then with the little things that make the greater things beautiful. Is it a sparkly new diamond that makes you shine, or do you lavish in taking your home to the next level? In home design, sometimes the finishing touches are what really makes a statement.

While there are many directions one can go with their windows, for the purposes of this article, I’ll look to address some the more popular options and designs available within soft window fashions—namely, Roman shades and draperies. Either selection is sure to bring warmth, beauty, and perhaps, a little shade to your life.

The Roman Shade Roman shades are amongst my favorite way to dress up windows. If you’re thinking about using roller shades, perhaps consider Roman shades for a little more of a design flair.

They come in so many different styles to fit everyone’s design goals. These shades can range from light filtering, to room darkening, to full black out. They come in a variety of fabrics from luxe to natural woven.

When selecting the best Roman shade for your room, you can consider a hobbled shade for traditional design, or a classic shade for a more modern aesthetic. If you do not want to take away wall space with drapery, a roman shade is a great way to soften your space.

room elegant would be to add ripple fold sheers to the room. They soften the glare of the sun and offer some privacy, while still allowing the outdoors in. The sheer can be many different textures (such as webbed or soft) to meet your tastes and bring design into a room.

Drapery Drapery delivers elegance to a home. Thinking swags and tie backs? Not all drapery is traditional. Of course, I am not knocking traditional design as in some homes, a traditional drapery design is a bold statement that becomes the center of family photos for years to come. But some of the new drapery designs can bring a whole new personality to your room.

Euro Pleat The Euro pleat brings a more modern twist to a classic look. Pinched at the top and open on the bottom, this pleat can bring a beautiful design to a modern space to tie in a transitional look.

I love using a beautiful linen blend with the Euro pleat as it hangs so elegantly. This drapery is a great addition to the Naperville modern farmhouse design as it brings softness to the space.

When it comes to drapery, there are quite a few different types of pleats. However, I would like to shine a light on two of my favorites: ripple fold and Euro pleat. Both pleat designs can accent a traditional home or a modern space.

It is important when you are selecting your fabric to pay attention to the blend of the fabric, as this will change how your drapery is hung and its performance. A particular favorite fabric of mine comes from a vendor called Fabricut.

Introduced to me by a fellow drapery designer, Fabricut’s “Tuscan” fabric is a blend of 38% viscose and 62% polyester, and it comes in a wide array of colors. Ultimately, this fabric provides a linen look and texture, but with the performance of a wrinkle free fabric. It also upholds to UV rays.

Ripple Fold A ripple fold drapery provides a simple and elegant solution to your home. The outlining S shaped drape glides on a traversing track either on your ceiling or wall. For ripple fold drapery, you can use a range of fabric but finding one that holds the ripple will give you the best luxury hang. One way to make your dining

With an array of different types of hardware options and embellishments, these soft window fashions can be designed to meet your personal touch. Ready to add Roman shades or drapery to your home? Let’s get designing!

Author: Stephanie Anderson Stephanie is the owner of SA Interiors. She is a designer with a BFA in Interior design. She enjoys collaborating with clients, hearing their stories, and discovering their aspirations so a space can be designed that is not only timeless and functional but unique to her clients. www.sainteriors.com

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Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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The Settlement A Collection of Piees from Around the World

By Jeanne Schultz Angel

Antonia C. Harlan and her collection

Antonia C. Harlan started admiring

and learning from people of different cultures as a little girl. When her own children were growing up in Naperville, she transformed this admiration into an expansive collection of artifacts from around the world that traveled to area classrooms, community organizations, and multicultural fairs beginning in the 1990s. Her efforts are now being preserved by the Naperville Heritage Society in the Antonia C. Harlan Multicultural Collection.

Growing up in Detroit and traveling to visit family in the South during the summer, she saw the discrimination her father and her family faced. She also found the joy that came with living and working with a diverse group of people. Those early lessons set Antonia on a path that would be full of community service and many acts of individual kindness, including using CPR to save the life of someone in medical distress.

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During the 1980s, Antonia moved to Naperville with her young family.

As her children attended Naperville public schools, she started thinking about how the lack of diversity in the schools impacted her children and their classmates. She believed that it would be good to bring in more diverse voices, because, as she said in an oral history, now in the museum’s archives, “We can all learn from everyone.”

She founded a multicultural awareness committee that hosted galas to fund visiting performers from multiple cultures to share stories through dancing at local schools. They hosted children’s concerts with an international theme to showcase student’s talents and held multicultural fairs for the community at Fifth Avenue Station.

Antonia started collecting cultural materials from around the world to create a multicultural exhibit available to teachers and students. She went to resale stores

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

and encouraged friends traveling to bring items home for the exhibit. The collection, which includes a wide variety of material culture (dolls, books, art, maps, and cloth patterns) representing diverse ethnicities and folk traditions, grew to hundreds of objects, often stored on her dining room table when not in classrooms. Cultures represented in the exhibit include those from Sri Lanka, Haiti, China, France, India, Tanzania, Italy, Mexico, and many other countries.

Rabbi Michael Remson from Congregation Beth Shalom gave Antonia the original machine printed Torah that congregants used until they could acquire a handwritten Torah. It became part of the multicultural exhibit. She recounts receiving the Torah: “I know what that means to the congregation. And honestly, I was shocked that he gave it to me. It was a beautiful thing for me.”

Antonia went into schools to share the items in the exhibit and teach children

about the cultures they came from. She says that this was to give children the same sense that she had as a child: “There is beauty in other people and other cultures and that you can learn from them, and you can be friends with people. And you can find out that they are like you.”

As part of the museum’s efforts to reflect Naperville’s 20th century history, the Antonia C. Harlan Multicultural Collection provides a window into how residents addressed and celebrated demographic changes in the community.

This acquisition also provides historians researching education, suburbanization, and demographic change with a significant collection of artifacts, archival materials, and oral histories to study.

Author: Jeanne Schultz Angel Jeanne is the Associate Vice President of Naper Settlement and an Illinois Humanities Road Scholar. Jeanne is also the current President of the Illinois Association of Museums and the Coalition of State Museum Associations Foundation. napersettlement.org

Antonia C. Harlan

Glimpse of Gourmet

By Terrell Cole

Given the time of year most people would choose a stew or braised meat for dinner. The steak-like texture of swordfish definitely satisfies. With an accompaniment of seasonal root vegetables, this dish will leave you craving seafood again and again! Join me on January 17 when I’ll make this for you to enjoy - LIVE! www.mainluxe.com/events Does this look tasty to you?

This is just a glimpse!

See More! mainluxe.com/glimpse Chef: Terrell Cole Owner of Darkhorse Catering in Naperville, Chef Terrell brings his decades of experience to a new feature exclusively for Main & Luxe Magazine. He is known for his range and ability to manage effortlessly. He lives Downtown.

Grilled swordfish with vegetable slaw

Photo: Michael A. Hubatch

darkhorsegrillandcatering.com

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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Photo courtesy of Greg Mulvey

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Particle Accelerator

By Dawn Klavon; Photos courtesy of Dr Petra Merkel

How does a world-renowned particle

physicist blow off steam? She loads up the kids in the car, cruises around Naperville with the radio blasting, and sings at the top of her lungs. Such is the life of Petra Merkel, Naperville resident and senior scientist at Fermilab in Batavia, IL. The renowned physicist, who spends her days managing a brilliant team with an unquenchable thirst for knowledge, exhibits strength, balance, and intellect in every area of her life. “I really like the challenge,” Merkel said regarding her career as a physicist. “The way to find something new, potentially — while

data back and forth), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (created when building powerful magnets) and cloud computing (developed to handle the huge amounts of data the physicists produce).”

Particle accelerators, Merkel said, use very strong magnets to accelerate and guide particles, accelerating them almost to the speed of light. Then, scientists collide the particles to study the energy stored and now free — creating new particles.

“Basically recreating the beginning of the universe,” she said. “So we’re trying to recreate this in the laboratory at a very small scale and then measure and observe what actually happened.”

Physicists working on the study are scattered across the globe, and Merkel said her laboratory receives roughly $600 million annually from the U.S. Department of Energy to carry out the research. “It’s not a small operation,” Merkel said, but noted the international collaboration with thousands of scientists is intriguing. “It’s really quite amazing to see that happening — across borders, across religious beliefs, different cultures, different languages — everything is coming together for one common purpose.”

Dr Petra Merkel

working at the forefront of technology.”

Merkel always knew she wanted to be a scientist, and it was confirmed in high school when her class visited a lab. Today at Fermilab, she is engaged with an experiment at the world’s most powerful accelerator at CERN, near Geneva, Switzerland. To many, particle physics is a foreign concept. “The goal of physicists,” Merkel said, “is simply to increase knowledge, and that pursuit has led to many history-changing developments, including the world wide web (first established so scientists could transfer 30

A native of Germany, Merkel received her PhD in 1999 from the University of Hamburg. She lived in Europe and the United States working as a physicist, with expertise in the design, construction, and operation of large silicon detectors. In management at Fermilab, she coordinates detector research and development.

“She’s quite strong,” said Paytsar Muradyan, a climate scientist and close friend since 2005. Muradyan said colleagues respect Merkel. “She does not have to tell you that she’s strong; it comes across very naturally. Surrounding people just notice it and she gets the toughest managerial stuff just because of her presence of offering strength.”

Work-Life Balance Merkel’s friends pointed out her extraordinary work-life balance. As a single mother of two (Merkel’s husband died tragically in 2016 after an accident), she juggles motherhood, career, and still carves out time for friends and extracurriculars. Muradyan said during the pandemic when Merkel worked from

And don’t get Merkel started on the topic of the television program “The Big Bang Theory.” She said the show’s scientific advisor was a colleague of hers, and every now and then she would hear familiar stories from behind the scenes. “I think the show missed the mark a little bit,” Merkel said. “We’re not all weird.”

A Minority in Her Field Being a woman in a field dominated by men can pose challenges, she told us.

“Older men,” she said, “have interrupted her or discounted her opinions, but she sees that trend changing.” “With the younger generation, they are growing up in a different way and are more respectful and equally minded,” Merkel said.

Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

Fermilab, Batavia, IL

home and held Zoom meetings around the clock to collaborate with scientists from different time zones, she would take an hour here, an hour there between meetings to teach herself to play the piano.

“She started learning on virtual lessons,” Muradyan said. “She found that playing piano when she had ten minutes in between meetings calmed her down a lot when she played.” In regard to piano playing, Fermilab colleague Anadi Canepa said Merkel saw the big picture. “She said, ‘let’s put down work — one more email doesn’t change my life by one hour; a piano lesson can change my life.’” “She’s the type of person who can put on the brakes when needed,” said Canepa.

Authenticity is another area in which Merkel excels. Canepa said the two have been connected for 22 years and have weathered the ups and downs life often brings. “She’s shy as a person, and yet she’s very profound,” Canepa said. “When she connects to someone, she really wants to go deeper — she values those relationships she has.”

Inside the accelerator

Dr Petra and daughter Anna

Merkel’s children are carving out futures for themselves. Her son is a university student in Switzerland and her daughter plans to attend college in the United Kingdom. As for Merkel’s future, she’d consider working in Europe once again, but for now, she is content. “I’m pretty much where I want to be,” she said. “I really love my job.”

Author: Dawn Klavon Dawn Klavon works as a freelance writer, traveling the globe with her husband and writing from any coffee shop, hotel lobby, or boulangerie where she feels inspired. Having earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Boston University and a master’s degree in journalism from Harvard University, she is uniquely qualified to craft feature stories on compelling people, trendy foods, and fascinating lifestyles. Dawn authored a book during her first year in grad school, along with her professor and classmates, called “Journalism Today -- Profiles in Passion and Diversity.”

The Braintrust

Family time - Luca, Anna, Petra Main & Luxe, December 2022 / January 2023

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