This section is here to give our readers easier access when searching for a trusted neighborhood partner to use. Get to know the businesses that make this magazine possible. Please support them in return and thank them if you get the chance!
ATTORNEY
Attorney - Lisa Bernstein (847) 577-2227 dkmolaw.com
AUTO BODY & PAINT
Julian Auto Body (847) 670-4446
BAKE SHOP
The Bakester Patisserie (224) 310-9192 thebakester.com
BEAUTY
Glam Skin by Jeannie (630) 607-2372
LTH Beauty Esthetic & Wellness Co (224) 425-4109 www.lthbeauty.com
Illinois Helpline for Opioids and Other Substances
PUBLISHER / EDITOR / ADVERTISING
Shelley McCarthy (630) 779-7582
Shelley.McCarthy@n2co.com
Many thanks to the Scarsdale community for your contributions! We are always looking for residents to find great stories and send us ideas.
Let’s celebrate the great things happening in our community! No contribution is too small. Please email StrollScarsdale@gmail.com with your pictures, suggestions, or requests.
DISCLAIMER: This publication is owned by The N2 Company and is not affiliated with or sponsored by any club, developer, or homeowners association. Articles and advertisements in this publication and opinions expressed therein do not necessarily reflect the views of N2 but remain solely those of the author(s) or advertiser(s). The paid advertisements contained within this magazine are not endorsed or recommended by N2.
We’re proud to showcase businesses that share our commitment to fostering local connections. When perusing our pages, keep an eye out for the “Local Sponsor” icon to identify articles highlighting these valuable partners. Please note that businesses profiled may have provided free products and / or services for the review.
APRIL
Here Comes the Sun
Each April arrives with a sense of renewal — and with it, a chance to embrace the awakening energy of the season. From the sweet warmth in the air to the intoxicating scent of flowers in bloom, nature is signaling a fresh start. It’s a moment to reflect, reconnect and consider how we can grow, both personally and in our relationship with the environment.
This month, we look forward to celebrating Earth Day on April 22 — a day to honor and protect the planet that sustains us. Earth Day’s roots trace back to 1970, inspired by protests during the Vietnam War. It was born out of nationwide shock over the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill and a desire to raise awareness about the environmental issues of the time.
As Earth Day has evolved, it has inspired millions worldwide to take meaningful actions to protect our environment. Let’s each consider small but significant ways to care for the Earth this April. Maybe you’ll choose to reduce your waste with reusable bags and containers, start composting, or plant a tree or garden to help create a greener world. Every action counts; in these moments of individual contribution, we come together to make a lasting impact.
At Stroll Scarsdale, we are grateful for our dedicated business partners, whose generosity ensures every issue reaches your home. Their commitment helps make this publication possible, and we encourage you to support them as they continue to support us. We look forward to sharing more stories and inspiration with you this month and hope you find ways to celebrate both the season and our beautiful planet.
If you are interested in being featured, nominating a friend, or have a fun idea for the magazine, please reach out to me at StrollScarsdale@gmail.com.
Claim your FREE Stroll Scarsdale Burlap Tote Bags! Email StrollScarsdale@gmail.com or dm us on Instagram @StrollScarsdale to request a free tote bag.
Stay up to date on the latest news from Stroll Scarsdale by checking the monthly magazine and our emails. If you wish to receive Stroll Scarsdale emails, please email StrollScarsdale@gmail.com, fill out the form that can be found in our Instagram bio @StrollScarsdale or scan the QR code. Here’s to spring, to renewal and to the Earth that gives us so much.
Shelley McCarthy, Publisher
Say Hello to the RODRIGUEZ Family
BY MAGGIE RODRIGUEZ ARTICLE SPONSORED BY DROST KIVLAHAN MCMAHON & O’CONNOR LAW
Hi! We are the Rodriguez Family; Maggie and Jose- we have three kiddos – Mateo (4 years old), Camila (3 years old) and Evelyn (5 months).
Do you have any pets? We have one super friendly big dog! Cooper is 5 years old.
How long have you lived here? We have lived in Arlington Heights since 2015, but bought our current home in 2019 when we knew we wanted to raise a family in this area.
Why did you choose to live here? When we were looking at neighborhoods, what stood out to us the most was how many families with little kids lived here!
We got very lucky and have awesome neighborhoods who we became close friends with and our kids all get along and play together. In the summer, I love when the neighbors and kids are outside and playing/hanging out in our front yards.
Where are you originally from? Jose is originally from Ecuador and Maggie is from Poland. Our kid’s are first generation in the United States! We are excited to bring them to our hometowns when they’re a little older.
How did you and your spouse meet? We have known each other since high school!
What are your professions? We both work in healthcare and have since we graduated college.
What do your kids like to do for fun? The kids love to be outside as much as possible. In the warmer months, you will probably see us outside a majority of the time, and hear some protesting from the little ones when it’s time to come back in the house for bedtime
What do you like to do together as a family? We love to travel, life permitting. We’ve been on a few vacations with the kids, and will be taking our first vacation as a family of 5 this summer. We are excited for our kids to explore other
cultures and can’t wait to bring them to Ecuador and Poland.
The kids have a great great grandmother in Poland (103 years old) and we hope they can meet her in the next year or so!
Do you have a favorite vacation destination? San Diego and Colorado are some of our favorite vacation spots in the US.
What is unique about your
Drost Kivlahan McMahon & O’Connor LLC
kids love sitting in the bike trailer and eating their snacks while we take them on a fun “adventure” around town.
What are your favorite things to do around town? We really love Arlington Alfresco! Also, some of our favorite places to visit are Passero and CoCo & Blu Cafe.
Are you involved in the community at all? Not very involved at this time but hope to get more involved as the kids are getting older and starting school.
What do you like to do to relax? We try to get out for date nights once a month if possible to stay connected and talk about our goals for our family. We also love sitting in the backyard with the kids on a warm day or having a bonfire with a cocktail once the kids are in bed!
Sami Lobacz
BY SAMI LOBACZ
How old are you? I’m 14 years old.
What high school do you attend? I am a freshman at Prospect High School.
What sport are you involved in? Cross Country and Track. I am a long distance runner.
When did you first start running? I started running in third grade but I really started taking it serious in 6th grade.
What inspired you to get started in your sport? I joined a running club in elementary school for fun and it made me realize how much I like running.
Who is your favorite mentor? My coach - Pete Wintermute.
Who do you idolize in the sport? Nikki Hiltz.
What do you like most about the sport? How much it pushes me and how much time I get to spend with my teammates.
What is your favorite moment? When my coach came up to me after a race and told me how proud of me he is.
What is your proudest moment? Finding out I was on varsity as a freshman.
Who do you have to thank for helping you get where you are today? My coach, Pete Wintermute. He always knows how to get me to never give up.
What advice do you have for others looking to get started? Try to only have positive thoughts, negative thoughts just bring you down.
What local athletes do you admire most in their sport? Veronica ZnajdaCross Country
Outside of running, what do you like to do? I used to play lacrosse.
If you were to continue running, what do you hope to accomplish someday? Be good enough to get noticed by colleges.
What do you plan on doing after graduation? I plan to run cross country or long distance track in college.
Ocean Prime Travel
You Dream it, Ocean Prime Travel will Plan It!
BY AMY DIMAIO, PROUD OWNER OF OCEAN PRIME TRAVEL
HI! I AM AMY DIMAIO, proud owner of Ocean Prime Travel. I grew up in the Northeast but have lived in the Chicago northwest suburbs for more than 30 years. As a child, I developed a love for travel. My family went on several extended vacations to Europe, where I had the opportunity to go sightseeing and experience different cuisines and cultures. As a family we took several other trips a year. Some of my favorite memories are spending time in Hilton Head, Hawaii and the Caribbean. In high school, I lived in France for a summer which allowed me to create even more travel memories.
For most of my career, I worked in HR and Sales. I always enjoyed helping others and servicing the customers. During my career, I still had the opportunity to travel but not as much as I wanted. When my children went to college, I decided to leave the corporate world and follow my passion for travel. Not wanting to stop working, I decided to buy a travel franchise. This decision allows me to still service customers but provides me with the opportunity to work wherever & whenever I wanted. You will often find me working while on a cruise ship, at the beach or in front of a fire place.
Ocean Prime Travel is part of the Cruise Planners franchise. The benefit of owning a franchise is that immediately I had all the relationships with vendors & support systems in place, allowing us to source the best pricing for clients & help them create amazing travel memories. Ocean Prime Travel plans all types of trips, including all-inclusive resorts, cruises, destination weddings & honeymoons, multi-generational, meeting & incentives trips and excursions. Some of our recent trips in the last year include:
• Girls Trip on Virgin Voyages – Western Caribbean (Roatan Honduras, Costa Maya, MX, Bimini)
• Nassau, Bahamas – Rosewood Baha Mar, Rui Palace Paradise Island, Sandals Royal Bahamian
I take pride in ensuring that my clients are happy and we are able to deliver the best service. I pride myself on curating amazing trips and experiences for my clients but I really attribute my success to the amazing vendor partners and great associates that work with me. Thank you all for helping create beautiful vacations and memories for our guests. There are even some trips that I have been able to join my clients. I have enjoyed traveling together!
I truly recommend everyone use a travel agent because of the many benefits it offers. Ocean Prime Travel will help get you the best value. Save time & money – allow us to do the work for you! Not to mention how much more of an enriching experience
we can offer due to our expertise in the industry. Now it’s time to book your next trip!
Sign up for one of our upcoming trips!
July 4-11, 2025 - Alaska
May 6-13, 2026 - Rhine River. A Scenic Luxury Cruise – my husband & I will be accompanying – Travel with a Scenic Luxury Cruise Expert.
TYPES OF ARTICLES YOU WILL SEE IN STROLL SCARSDALE
We
Join us! We want to hear from you...
Since this magazine is all about you and your neighbors, we want and encourage your involvement! We are looking for several types of articles to be submitted each month. Celebrate your family and all that is good in our community. Please take a few minutes to get acquainted with the types of articles we normally include. If you have any other article or story suggestions, I’d love to hear from you!
If you, a friend or a family member would like to be featured in any of the stories, please email StrollScarsdale@gmail.com for more information.
Pictures — We love pictures! Parties, graduations, family events, kids playing, holiday gatherings, vacations and more! One of the best parts of your community magazine is the involvement of neighbors. Pictures are an easy way to help support the look of the magazine, as well as bring smiles to your neighbors and friends.
Neighborhood News — Any activity going on in the neighborhood or the surrounding area, such as parades, block parties, book clubs, social events, fundraisers, pool parties, or golf events. We want to let you know what events are coming up and highlight events that have taken place!
Meet Your Neighbors — Each month, we feature a local family. Every family is unique and has a story!
Precious Pets — If you have a pet and want them to be famous, nominate them for our “Precious Pets” article. Pets are our pride and joy, so let us feature yours!
Resident Recipe — Let some of your cooking secrets out to the neighborhood! Share the ingredients and preparation advice, plus a photo is always nice, too!
Athlete Spotlight — Whether you are 1 or 101, a ballerina or a football player, this section is for you!
New Arrivals — Welcome new babies into the neighborhood, as well as congratulate proud parents and grandparents. Please include basic birth information along with those precious baby photos!
Making a Difference — Let others know about your passion for a charitable organization and bring awareness to the cause. Giving back to the community is a big deal, and we want to spread the word!
