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CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF PUBLISHING
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READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
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TRIBUTE TO LINDA KUNZE RUDY RUETTIGER
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LETTER from THE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Ringing in the Holidays How soon is too soon to listen to holiday music? Asking for a friend. As I sit here composing this letter as we head into production of our November holiday issue - our final edition of the year - I would like to know when 93.9 LITE FM will fire up the holiday music. And I may have just entered their contest to guess the exact date and time the holiday music will start. Wish me luck. But I digress. In this latest edition of Downers Grove Magazine, we feature the Transition 99 Center. This center’s recent building renovation added classrooms, common space, and more. As the third campus within the district, T99 offers continued educational services to hundreds of students with special needs. An additional four years through the program enables students to master independence and life skills after graduation. Congratulations to District 99, the Board of Education, families, and students on the new and updated learning environment. We have once again asked our community to respond to a short survey on their favorite places in and around town. Thank you to the hundreds of readers who voted for our "2023 Readers' Choice Awards" this year. Congratulations to these businesses on an award that celebrates you! Be sure to check out some new additions to the list and visit them this holiday season. Downtown Downers Grove is pretty magical this time of year, between the town tree lighting ceremony, Santa visits, and carriage rides. Linda Kunze, who served as the Executive Director of the Downtown Downers Grove Manage-
ment Corporation for over two decades, was influential in making our downtown festive during this season. We pay tribute to Linda and her contributions to shaping our community during the holidays and year round. Have you ever heard the joke, "How do you know somebody went to Notre Dame?" The response, of course, is, "They will tell you." So here it goes. I went to Notre Dame. Therefore, you now understand why I was a big fan of Contributing Editor Maureen Callahan's recent interview with Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger. He shares a little insight into making the film classic Rudy based on his life—great timing, as it is the perfect holiday movie to watch on Thanksgiving Day. For any history buffs, check out the "Lost Chicagoland Department Stores" display at Elmhurst History Museum. The nostalgic exhibit tells the story of the evolution of brick-and-mortar stores beginning in the late 1800s. We connected with the museum's collaborator on the project, Leslie Goddard, author of Remembering Marshall Fields and Lost Chicago Department Stores, to discuss her living history portrayals of iconic women throughout the time. Enjoy the edition, and we will see you in the New Year. And, of course, Go Irish! Sincerely,
Anne Healy
Associate Publisher anne@HinsdaleMag.com
DON'T MISS AN ISSUE! Guarantee delivery of each issue to your home! Subscribe at www.downersgrovemag.com.
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DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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Michael A Dote (NMLS ID #223546 FL, IL, IN, WI) is an agent of Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. (NMLS ID #2551 www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org) an Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee located at 1431 Opus Place, Suite 200, Downers Grove, IL 60515, 630-376-2100.. IL: Illinois Residential Mortgage Licensee No. MB.0004263 - Licensed by the Department of Financial Professional Regulations, Mortgage Banking Division, 100 W. Randolph, 9th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601, (888) 473-4858.© 2021 Draper and Kramer Mortgage Corp. All Rights Reserved. www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org
Robert V. Borla Attorney 630.969.3903
rborla@borlanorth.com
Mike Dote
Draper & Kramer Mortgage Company Vice President of Residential Lending 630.268.5573 dkmortgage.com/dote
FOUNDER & PUBLISHER Scott Jonlich sjonlich@HinsdaleMag.com
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & EDITOR Anne Healy anne@HinsdaleMag.com
MANAGING EDITOR Larry Atseff larry@HinsdaleMag.com
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Maureen Callahan Valerie Hardy Julie Jonlich
GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Rachel Pavlovich Jennifer Frencl
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Adam Andrzejewski Chuck Fieldman Anna Hughes Julie Janoski Jeff Vorva
FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS Madeline Craig Victor Hilitski Greg Kozlick Carolina Menapace Laura Meyer
ADVERTISING SALES Brian Ade Renee Lawrence Cynthia Maquet
Hinsdale Magazine Group 3 Grant Square#201 Hinsdale, IL 60521 630-655-3400 www.DownersGroveMag.com No person, organization or publication can copy or re-produce the content in this magazine or any part of this publication without a written consent from the publisher. The publisher, authors, contributors and designers reserve their rights with regards to copyright of their work. Downers Grove Magazine assumes no liability or responsibility for any inaccurate, delayed or incomplete information. The information contained about each individual, event or organization has been provided by such individual, event organizers or organization. The opinion expressed in each article is the opinion of its author and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Downers Grove Magazine. Comments are welcome, but they should be on-topic and well-expressed. Copyright ©2022 Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved.
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DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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November/December 2023
Contents
16 TO-DOS Winter Events
19 #WEAREDG Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
24 TRIBUTE Linda Kunze
27 SPECIAL FEATURE Readers’ Choice Awards
32 COVER Transition 99 Center
36 PROFILE
27
Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger
41 HISTORY VAULT Leslie Goddard
46 ARTS & THEATRE
Photo by Regan Baroni
The Agape Ringers
THE FOXTAIL READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
50 SPORTS Benet Red Wings
52 SNAPSHOT Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club
55 NEIGHBOR NEWS The Drake Oak Brook
59 COMMUNITY SCENE Around Town
36
GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH #WEAREDG
DANIEL "RUDY" RUETTIGER PROFILE
19
ON THE COVER: TRANSITION 99 STUDENT TREVOR GASPAR PHOTO BY CAROLINA MENAPACE
STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR COMMUNITY! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
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DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
Gratitude in every home. A heartfelt thank you to our cherished clients.
I want to extend my deepest gratitude for allowing me to be part of your real estate journey. Your trust and support enable me to pursue my passion and provide for my family—the driving force behind my love for this business. Wishing you a holiday season filled with warmth and joy.
-Laura
For your real estate needs and beyond.
224.374.9408 lmcgreal@atproperties.com
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TO-DOS | DOWNERSGROVEMAG.COM
LET IT SNOW The holidays are here, and we’ve curated a list of local events guaranteed to spread the season’s cheer! From light shows to stage performances, we’ve got you and your family covered for a festive and fun-filled end to 2023. BY ANNA HUGHES
Grove Express 5K
IllumiBrew at the Morton Arboretum
11/16/23 - 11/17/23 www.mortonarb.org Be one of the first to enjoy 50 acres of lights, colors and sounds at the 11th annual edition of Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum at IllumiBrew. This 21-and-up event allows tasting ticketholders to try a variety of beers, ciders and meads from popular Chicagoland breweries stationed along the Illumination trail.
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DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
11/23/23 @ 8:30 AM www.groveexpress.com There’s no better way to start the day of thanks than by giving back to the community. Bring your family, friends and pets to the annual Thanksgiving Day 5K to get some exercise and fresh air before enjoying an evening of turkey and football. The race benefits local education and youth programs across the Downers Grove community.
Winter Lights at Central Park
11/23/23 - 1/7/24 @ 4:309:30 PM www.obparks.org If you dream of walking in a winter wonderland this holiday season, Oak Brook Park District has just the thing for you. Each night, the half-mile path through Central Park will be filled with decorative lights and the holiday spirit – a perfect free outing for all ages
and accessibility levels. Donations benefiting the People's Resource Center and The Oak Brook Park District Foundation will be accepted.
“A Christmas Carol”
Drury Lane Theatre 11/24/23-12/30/23 www.drurylanetheatre.com “A Christmas Carol” is a Christmas classic. Enjoy this holiday staple during its 30th-anniversary run at the beautiful Drury Lane Theatre in Oak Brook. Watch the journey of Ebenezer Scrooge unfold, reminding everyone of the importance of Christmas joy. Showtimes vary by date.
GROVE EXPRESS IN DOWNERS GROVE
JOFFREY BALLET’S “THE NUTCRACKER” PHOTO BY TODD ROSENBERG
Clarendon Hills Chamber Holiday Walk
12/1/2023 @ 5-9 PM www.clarendonhillschamber.com Get ready to kick off the holiday season with the Clarendon Hills Chamber Holiday Walk. Bring the whole family to meet Santa, enjoy the Christmas tree lighting, and shop!
Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker”
12/2/23-12/27/23 www.joffrey.org The Joffrey Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” is a two-hour extravaganza of music and dance. Two-time Tony Award-winning choreographer Christopher Wheeldon reimagines the Christmas classic, bringing this holiday tradition to life at the historic Lyric Opera in Chicago. Showtimes vary by date.
Hinsdale’s Winter Wonderland
Katherine Legge Memorial Park 12/3/23 @ 9 AM - 1 PM www.villageofhinsdale.org It’s the most wonderful time of the year at Katherine Legge Memorial Park. Hinsdale’s “Winter Wonderland” event will have pictures with Santa and Mrs. Claus, live reindeer, visits with Frozen’s Anna, Elsa, Olaf and Kristoff, and so much more! The Village of Hinsdale and Hinsdale Police Department will be collecting toys for a Toys for Tots Drive; attendees are encour-
aged to bring a donation for the drive. Preregistration is required for this event.
Elmhurst Tree Lighting
12/7/23 @ 5:30 PM www.epd.org Join Elmhurst Park District in Wilder Park to ring in the holiday season with the lighting of community trees. Families, businesses and organizations are invited to decorate one of the 60 trees along the park
pathway. The “People’s Choice Award” returns after Dec. 3, and community members can vote for their favorite of these trees on Facebook.
ILLUMIBREW AT THE MORTON ARBORETUM PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MORTON ARBORETUM DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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#WEAREDG | DOWNERSGROVEMAG.COM
QUILTS MADE BY MEMBERS OF THE GLORIA DEI CONGREGATION ADORN PEWS DURING A WORSHIP SERVICE BEFORE THEY ARE DONATED FOR DISTRIBUTION ACROSS THE WORLD. PHOTO COURTESY OF GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH
a cornerstone of the
COMMUNITY Gloria Dei Lutheran Church celebrates 75 glorious years of faith and service in Downers Grove
F
BY VALERIE HARDY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY MADELINE CRAIG
ounded in 1948, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church initially operated out of Downers Grove’s Masonic Temple. Carl Otterness, a septuagenarian who has been a member of the church since birth, recalls how during sermons, “all you could hear was a strike, because there was a bowling alley downstairs.” For another charter member, Maren Huber, née Kjeldsen, the annual
church picnic at Gilbert Park was a “main attraction,” especially because a member of the congregation would bring his pony over for rides.
THE CHANCEL WINDOW, LOCATED BEHIND THE ALTAR IN THE CHURCH'S SANCTUARY, WAS DESIGNED, ASSEMBLED, AND INSTALLED IN 1962 BY ADOLPHUS VALESKA OF VALESKA ART STUDIOS, CHICAGO.
Otterness, Huber, and other founding members were grateful for worship space at the Masonic Temple but wanted a place of their own. In 1951, the congregation placed a sign at the corner of Main and Grant Streets, announcing the “Future Building Site of Gloria Dei.” The DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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first services in the Gloria Dei building were in November 1955. The current church reflects a series of additions, most notably stained glass windows throughout the sanctuary and chapel, all contributing to the building’s ambiance in symbolic and storytelling ways. While structurally breathtaking, Gloria Dei’s truest beauty emanates through its leaders and members. Joyce Pauly, a longtime member, highlighted fellowship and a supportive community among the church’s greatest assets. The congregation’s community is cultivated, in part, through monthly brunches held between the 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services, church council member Tim Tlusty explained.
“This place also serves… A LOT.” - PASTOR TIM ROBERTSON
“This place also serves… A LOT,” said the church’s senior pastor of over a decade, Tim Robertson. For example, the congregation provides meals to the Tivoli Hotel residents on a monthly basis and participates in the community’s annual CROP Hunger Walk to end hunger and poverty. Members also make quilts throughout the year to donate. Robertson is an exemplar when it comes to philanthropy. He does an
AMONG THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AT GLORIA DEI LUTHERAN CHURCH ARE 75TH ANNIVERSARY COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON MARY RAKOWSKI, CHARTER MEMBER MAREN HUBER, COUNCIL PRESIDENT JIM GUNNER, SENIOR PASTOR TIM ROBERTSON, CHARTER MEMBER CARL OTTERNESS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER TIM TLUSTY.
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DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
annual 500-mile bike ride and hands-on building projects for Habitat for Humanity. To date, he has raised over $200,000 for the nonprofit. Gloria Dei functions as an overflow space for Downers Grove North High School programs as needed, and it provides meeting space for various groups within the community. It also houses a Community Adult Day Care Center. To commemorate and celebrate the “75 glorious years of Gloria Dei,” the church is holding a special service on Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. followed by a luncheon. Mary Rakowski, Gloria Dei’s 75th Anniversary Committee chairperson, said, “All are welcome to attend, including former pastors and members and members of the community.”
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REMEMBERING
Linda Kunze A special resident who had Downers Grove first in her heart BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
KUNZE WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DOWNTOWN MANAGEMENT CORPORATION FROM 1999 TO 2018.
THE KUNZE FAMILY AT DAUGHTER JENNIFER'S WEDDING.
L
inda Kunze was the kind of person every town needs. The connector of people she knew should meet. The organizer of festivals and community building activities. The welcoming recruiter who constantly looked for ways to improve the look and feel of Downers Grove. “Downers Grove was kind of like our third child,” laughed Mike Kunze, husband of Linda Kunze. “The kids came first, then Downers Grove, then the dog. And I fit in there somewhere, too.”
A PLAQUE COMMEMORATES LINDA KUNZE PLAZA OUTSIDE THE MAIN STREET TRAIN STATION. 24
DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
She was the definition of a good friend and neighbor. “We always knew that but didn’t fully realize the extent of it until her wake,” said Mike. “Almost every person that came through the line that day had a story about how she had helped them with one thing or another.”
DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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“Downers Grove was kind of like our third child.” – MIKE KUNZE, HUSBAND OF LATE DOWNERS GROVE RESIDENT LINDA KUNZE
“My mom was one in a million,” said son Bryan. “She was the kindest person anyone ever met. She would go out of her way for anyone.” Linda served as Executive Director of the Downtown Downers Grove Management Corporation. Prior to that, she held a post with the Chamber of Commerce. When the downtown renovation began in 1998, Kunze was at the center of the effort. She worked with building owners to recruit businesses that fit into the up-and-coming theme of improvement. Whenever the Kunze family took a vacation or day trip, Linda took notes on other towns she liked. “If a place caught her eye, we would always stop and talk to people,” said Mike. “When we went to restaurants we liked, Linda always spoke to the manager to try to get them to open another location in Downers Grove.” She cared a lot about Downers Grove and was proud of how the town had changed in the decades since she and her family first moved here. She was instrumental in working with the business owners and village in promoting the town and getting it to be a place where people who had grown up here would want to come back to raise their children. And it worked. Like so many other families, Linda and Mike were thrilled when daughter Jennifer Schwendener and her family returned to Downers Grove to build their lives. So many of the fun, festive activities that now draw people in and have become Downers Grove traditions were at least partly her idea. “When Linda had an idea, you might as well just get on board,” Mike laughed.
“She worked the edges to get everyone into the fold.” Linda talked the Downtown Management Corporation into taking over the Friday night car show from Herbert’s Men's Store. “Before long, people were coming from out of state to show their cars,” said Mike. She did the same for the Fine Arts Festival, which she also helped to expand, drawing talent from out of the area. The Christmas parade and town tree lighting also came about under Linda’s influence. She commissioned a crew to build the Santa house, which included Mike and her son Bryan. She always went to great lengths to source an authentic St Nick. She did all of this with love because she cared. “There was hardly a night or weekend she wasn’t at something for Downers Grove,” said Jennifer. “She could get along with everyone, so she was in charge of a lot.” Linda fought leukemia for nearly two decades. “She fought hard and with a smile,” said Mike. “The staff at Loyola loved her. She was honored at a well attended banquet as Patient of the Year one year.” Despite the exhaustive efforts of stem cell marrow transplants, Linda passed away in 2018.
Annual Pagels Group Food Drive honoring Linda Kunze One of the best ways to remember someone is to make a donation in their honor. Right before Linda Kunze passed away, she was in the process of organizing a food drive for FISH Pantry, alongside Downers Grove Berkshire Hathaway realtors, Elaine and Brita Pagels. “Linda suggested this time of year as she knew fall is the leanest season for FISH Pantry,” said co-organizer and longtime friend, Elaine Pagels. “Also, she didn’t want to compete with the Girl Scouts who hold a food drive in September. She was always thinking of someone else.” This year marked the 6th anniversary of the event. Each year, Berkshire Hathaway Downers Grove, 5150 Main St., serves as a drop off point for nonperishable items which are then turned over to FISH Pantry to assist local families experiencing food insecurity. Rocco & Rocco Salon and Day Spa got on board as well, with drop off bins in their lobby. Boerman Movers donates the boxes and moves the food to FISH Pantry.
But she will never be forgotten. Her imprint is everywhere on a beautifully updated downtown that has turned Downers Grove into a west suburban destination. Her memory is around every corner, especially in her memorial plaza outside the train station. Certain people are synonymous with a community. Downers Grove will always remember Linda Kunze for her big heart, generous spirit, and ‘I Will’ attitude.
FOOD DRIVE VOLUNTEERS ELAINE PAGELS, LYNN HILL, TAMY BOBBITT, AND DAN WOOD OF THE PAGELS GROUP WITH KELLY BENNETT OF BOERMAN MOVING & STORAGE
DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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SPECIAL FEATURE | DOWNERSGROVEMAG.COM CADENCE KITCHEN & CO PHOTO BY REGAN BARONI
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READERS’CHOICE
AWARDS 2023
DOW NE R S G R OV E MA G .C OM
Best
OF 2023
Readers’ Choice Awards
2023 Winners
W
e asked, you responded. For the fourth year in a row, we have completed our annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. With hundreds of responses, we wanted to share with you your favorites as voted on by our readers. From restaurants to boutiques, many in our community frequent these places as first time guests to “regulars.” Join us in congratulating these businesses on a year well done with more to come in 2024.
AMERICAN RESTAURANT: Cadence Kitchen & Co. Pierce Tavern Carnivore & The Queen BARBECUE RESTAURANT: Chuck’s Southern Comforts Café City BBQ Mission BBQ CHINESE RESTAURANT: Wasabi Restaurant & Bar Lao Sze Chuan Katy’s Dumplings INDIAN RESTAURANT: Bowl O Biryani Shikara Restaurant Cuisine of India ITALIAN RESTAURANT: Gia Mia Gatto’s Italian Restaurant & Bar Antico Posto JAPANESE/SUSHI RESTAURANT: Sushi House Wasabi Restaurant & Bar Aodake Sushi and Hibachi MEDITERRANEAN/ MIDDLE EASTERN RESTAURANT: The Foxtail Cedar Grill Fill-A-Pita MEXICAN/LATIN RESTAURANT: Los Dos The Outpost Mexican Eatery Bar Chido DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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THAI RESTAURANT: Thai First Mai Thai Thai Café BREAKFAST/BRUNCH RESTAURANT: Egg Harbor Cafe The Baked Apple Breakfast Co. The Foxtail DATE NIGHT RESTAURANT: Carnivore & The Queen Cadence Kitchen & Co. Parkers’ Restaurant & Bar
cadence/fox tail photo to come
KID-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT: Gatto’s Italian Restaurant & Bar Another Round Bar & Grill Egg Harbor Cafe OUTDOOR DINING: Cadence Kitchen & Co. Carnivore & The Queen Cellar Door BURGERS: Pierce Tavern Carnivore & The Queen Neat Kitchen & Bar GIA MIA
HOT DOGS: Cozzi Corner Scooby’s Hot Dogs Teddy’s Red Hots PIZZA: Gia Mia Angelo’s Pizza Mrs. T’s Pizza SEAFOOD: Parkers’ Restaurant and Bar Carnivore & The Queen The Foxtail STEAK: Carnivore & The Queen Parkers’ Restaurant & Bar Gibson’s Bar & Steakhouse DONUTS: Stan’s Donuts Donut Experiment ICE CREAM: Every Day’s A Sundae Eiffel Waffle Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy
MICHELLE GENTILE INTERIORS
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COFFEE: Mud & Char Peet’s Starbucks
SPENGA
COCKTAIL BAR: The Foxtail Cadence Kitchen & Co. Carnivore & The Queen WINE BAR: Cellar Door Cooper’s Hawk MICROBREWERY/ BREWPUB/BEER BAR: Alter Brewing Company Goldfinger Brewing Company Skeleton Key SPORTS BAR: Pierce Tavern Orange & Brew Another Round LIVE MUSIC VENUE: Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant Wasabi Restaurant & Bar Shanahan’s Food & Spirits
HEALTH: SPENGA MAR Health & Performance 4500 Fitness
FAVORITE BEAUTY TREATMENT: Rybell’s Blow Dry Bar Sterling Lash & Beauty Bar Simply Beautiful Day Spa
FAVORITE SALON: Rocco & Rocco Alia Rose Salon Rybell’s Blow Dry Bar
FAVORITE SPA: Simply Beautiful Day Spa Skin Med Spa Rocco & Rocco
GREAT ADDITION TO THE RESTAURANT SCENE: Bonita Bowls Mrs. T’s WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE: Evelyn Jane Boutique ADORN512 Style Studio MEN’S STORE: Louis for Men Enzo’s Tailor Shop HOME DÉCOR STORE: Maple Home Market Core Interior Design & Boutique Style Studio UNIQUE GIFTS: Evelyn Jane Boutique Greenstar Paperie ADORN512 EVELYN JANE
RYBELL'S BLOW DRY BAR DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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N CO
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VOTED BEST STEAK AND DATE NIGHT BY DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE READERS
Honorable Mentions: SEAFOOD, BURGER, COCKTAIL BAR, OUTDOOR DINING
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We are honored to receive two Readers’ Choice Awards this year! A big thank you to our community that we have proudly served for over 10 years! Thoughtfully curated merchandise and fresh displays make us your favorite place to shop for holiday gifts.
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Did you know we have a baby boutique across the street? Cute as a button and full of seasonal gifts for mom and baby.
1008 Curtiss Street, DG 331.777.5263 @shopevelynjane
Evelynjaneboutique.com
933B Curtiss Street, DG 630.442.7167 @sweetjanedg
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CELEBRATING FOUR YEARS OF PUBLISHING $5 US VOLUME 4 ISSUE 4 SEPTEMBER 2022
FOLLOW US THE BURDI BROTHERS REMEMBERING B.J. BOYD DENTAL AND ORTHODONTIC PROFILES CELEBRATING FIVE YEARS OF PUBLISHING $5 US VOLUME 5 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 2023
DYNAMIC DUO OF DISTRICT 99 Arwen Lyp and Courtney DeMent
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SHIFTING GEARS
Peggy O'Flaherty Forges a Path of Purpose NEW BEGINNINGS: ADOPTIVE FAMILIES
THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF DISTRICT 58
HOME 2 HOME PROJECT
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BIGGER & BETTER Transition 99 Program Continues to Grow
BY VALERIE HARDY PHOTOS BY CAROLINA MENAPACE
D
istrict 99 students, educators, and community members celebrated the expansion of the Transition 99 Center (4232 Venard Road) at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Oct. 23. Construction began in the spring in order to provide space to accommodate the Transition 99 Program’s growing enrollment of students ages 18-22 who receive special education services. District 99 Director of Special Services Lisa Bollow further explained the need for the expansion. “Within the District 99 Transition Program, we’re teaching life skills, not just subjects,” she said. “A lot is happening in this building every day, all day, and we need spaces to accommodate that.” The expansion and renovation added 6,000 square feet to the building, includ-
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STEVEN LEON PARTICIPATES IN TRANSITION 99’S JOB PROGRAM, WHICH PARTNERS WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS SHARING CONNECTIONS TO PREPARE STUDENTS TO BE INDEPENDENT AFTER GRADUATING FROM DISTRICT 99.
ing two new classrooms, a large gross motor and sensory room, and a multi-purpose area/kitchen with pantry. Two student single-use bathrooms (one wheelchair-accessible with an adult-sized changing table) and one
staff single-use bathroom were also part of the construction, along with offices for the program’s social worker, psychologist, and occupational, physical, and speech/language therapists. The previous social work office space was
repurposed to accommodate a new District 99 Outplacement Coordinator, and an administrative office was added to allow Bollow to be on site daily. A main office with a secure vestibule entrance, dedicated staff break room, and outdoor basketball hoops and picnic tables were also added. The building’s exterior was redesigned and updated, and a large overhang was built to increase the efficiency of bus loading and unloading.
The recent Transition 99 Center expansion followed a 2021 one through which the District “built out 2,500 square feet of unused warehouse space at the back of the building” to increase instructional and therapeutic space, Bollow said.
sition 99 Program,” Bollow said. The District procured the current Transition 99 building, and students began attending in fall 2013.
Today, Transition 99 serves approximately 70 young adults with special needs, providing not only life skills eduThe District 99 Transition Program cation but also vocational training, originated in 1998, initially operating competitive job placement, and other out of a rented space in Westmont transition supports for students and before moving into the District’s high their families. “Our goal is to make [the students] as independent as possible for life after school A new parking lot ends,” said Transition 99 affords all staff onsite Coordinator Carolina parking. Previously, Schoenbeck. “When the stuTransition 99 employdents leave District 99, we ees relied on overflow don’t want them at home -CAROLINA SCHOENBECK, TRANSITION 99 COORDINATOR parking at the nearby isolated; we want them in the Omega Restaurant. community.” “Big shout-out of thanks and major school buildings in 2012. “Knowing the kudos to the Omega and its owner, program was going to grow, and need- To prepare them to navigate and Telly Andrianopoulos,” Bollow said. ing the space in the buildings for our contribute within the community, “The District repaved the Omega’s student in grades 9-12, the District saw Transition 99 students participate in parking lot as a small thank you for a need for expansion, but this time to grocery shopping trips, visits to the purchase a building to house the Tran- public library, and other outings to accommodating us all those years.”
“Our goal is to make [the students] as independent as possible for life after school ends.”
THE TRANSITION 99 CENTER HELD A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY AND OPEN HOUSE IN LATE OCTOBER TO CELEBRATE THE 6,000-SQUARE-FOOT ADDITION AND RENOVATION TO THE FACILITY. PHOTO COURTESY OF DISTRICT 99
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T99WORKS HAND-MAKES DOG TREATS THAT ARE SOLD AND DELIVERED TO STAFF AT EACH DISTRICT 99 BUILDING AND FEATURES A DOCUMENT SHREDDING SERVICE AVAILABLE TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS .
destinations like Lost Mountain Adventure Golf. Transition 99 also partners with local businesses and organizations to provide job training and/or competitive employment opportunities for students. Additionally, Transition 99 employs job coaches to support students’ development of specific vocational skills and to teach them “to do the job to the satisfaction of the employer,” Bollow said. “We’re always looking for vocational partners,” added Jill Browning, District 99 Chief Communications Officer, highlighting the “value and reward employers find in the experience.” While many Transition 99 students work in the community, others assist with T99Works, the Transition Program’s in-house document shredding and dog treat microbusinesses. To become a vocational partner or learn more about Transition 99’s microbusinesses or other programs, visit www.csd99.org/schools/transition-99-center.
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STUDENTS ENGAGE IN LIFE SKILLS LEARNING IN THE TRANSITION 99 CENTER’S RECENTLY EXPANDED AND RENOVATED BUILDING.
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RUDY!
30 years later, Rudy walks on with a new generation
BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
E
verybody loves an underdog. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger is one of the most memorable in the history of film. Thirty years ago, audiences watched him muscle his way into one of the country’s most selective institutions, the University of Notre Dame (UND). This nonscholar of less athletic ability than his teammates worked harder than anyone around him. Coach Ara Parseghian was able to see beyond Rudy’s 5-and-a-half-foot, 165 lb. stature to see the oversized heart of this walk-on football hopeful, ready to give his all at every turn. Ruettiger graduated third from the bottom of his high school class. “I got into Notre Dame because I forged a path other than the traditional route,” said Ruettiger. “I didn’t have SAT scores and high grades. I found people at Holy Cross College who helped me. I had to work very hard, but I also managed to
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build relationships which ultimately opened the golden door for me.” “Eventually, they let me in to Notre Dame,” Ruettiger relayed, “because at some point, people don’t care what you know when they know how much you care. When they see that, you’ll succeed, because others will help you get where you want to go.” Since Rudy’s release in the fall of 1993, we’ve watched him chase down his dream. According to Ruettiger, we’ll be able to share new moments as the director’s cut of Rudy will soon be released. “They just called me the other day to let me know,” he said, smiling. On the eve of this classic sports film’s 30th anniversary, Hinsdale Magazine Group Contributing Editor, Maureen Callahan, interviewed the most loveable underdog in the history of college athletics.
For anyone who ever thought their dream was out of their reach, there’s Rudy.
How close is the movie to real life?
The takeaway message of Rudy is hope. That was crystal clear. We had to change some things to make the movie work, however. I did grow up in Joliet. I attended Joliet Catholic. We were a huge family- 14 kids. My family was more behind my ambitions than was depicted in the movie, however. My mom always understood the importance of dreams. She told us to think big. The idea of me going to UND wasn’t realistic to my father, though, so he couldn’t really get behind it. My brothers and sisters supported me, though.
Were the characters accurate?
It would have been impossible to fit everyone that impacted Rudy’s story
into the movie- for better or for worse. Some of the characters were amalgamations of people. For example, Rev. John Cavanaugh, CSC, the priest who helped Rudy figure out how to get into the university, represented several priests who watched out for Rudy. D-Bob, the tutor Rudy met early on at Holy Cross, is a real guy. The two became lifelong friends. He represented the people who helped Rudy. Rudy's brother, Frank Ruettiger's character, was written as the nemesis. He
actually supported Rudy in real life. The writers needed a representation of the people who criticized Rudy, however, so that was assigned to Frank. Fortunately, we found very credible actors that carried the story. Sean Astin, who played the title role, was perfect because he wasn’t the greatest athlete as a kid but tried the hardest for his coaches. His childhood wasn’t easy as the son of Patty Duke, who struggled with mental illness. He didn’t have a perfect life.
“People don’t care how much you know when they know how much you care.” - DANIEL “RUDY” RUETTIGER
Ned Beatty, who played Rudy's father, started out in real life as a struggling actor with 8 kids. Finally, he made it in Hollywood. It made him plausible, as my real father was a man who lived under much stress. Charles Dutton, who played Fortune, the stadium groundskeeper, had spent time in prison before getting paroled and becoming an actor. He was kind of a tough guy, beat up by life, so that edge he showed was real. But like his character, he didn’t let life get him down.
Was there any pivotal part of your story that was left out?
Yes. After high school, I was in the Navy for a while. It gave me a mindset of complete structure and discipline. My Lieutenant Commander was a UND graduate. One day I noticed his class ring. I asked him how I could get one. He said, ‘study hard and you can do it.’ He also called me a leader among midshipmen, which built up my confidence. And that’s when I started dreaming. When you believe in yourself, you dream big.
Whose idea was Rudy?
Mine. A sports writer was in the locker room after the final game of the season when I was carried off the field. After
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hearing some of my story, he said, “this only happens in Hollywood.” That’s how I first got the idea.
How did you go about getting the movie made?
It almost didn’t happen. At first, I couldn’t get UND to agree to let us film on campus. They didn’t understand my vision. The only movie ever filmed on the university’s campus was Knute Rockne, All American that starred Ronald Reagan in 1940. They weren’t interested in another football movie, particularly one that starred a walk-on. It didn’t fit with their brand of All Americans. So, I did what I always do. I found another way. I went out to Hollywood to try to sell the script. I told a lot of people my story. Ironically, the manager of the hotel where I was staying was the brother of Angelo Pizzo, who wrote Hoosiers. He told Pizzo about the script.
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Eventually I met with Pizzo. I had to convince him. He said he didn’t want to get pigeonholed as a writer of Indiana sports films. Also, he didn’t like Notre Dame. I knew he liked my story, though, so I built a relationship with him over the next two years. One day I came home to a message from Pizzo on my answering machine that the movie was greenlighted. He onboarded David Anspaugh, who directed Hoosiers, and we went from there.
What advice do you have for underdogs?
At that point, the producers gave me 48 hours to get UND on board. After two days, they were going to scrap the project. I had to convince the priests to let the film crews onto campus. It took some tall talking, but eventually they came around. We had to get things right in a short time. The entire last scene at the football game was shot in one take during halftime of the 1992 UND vs. Boston College game.
We’re all successful in one way or another. Some of us just don’t see it because we’re comparing ourselves to other people. Don’t judge yourself by other people’s successes. Do your best, figure out a way to overcome the obstacles and collaborate with others. And have hope. That’s what Rudy is all about.
In the end, it went well and UND is happy about it now!
Life is about leaping out on faith and going for our dreams. Don’t ask permission for your dream, reach out and grab it. And if the obvious path doesn’t work, find another one. I had to work very hard, but I got into UND because of the relationships I built. I made the football team because Coach Parseghian and the others saw that I was willing to give my all at every turn.
Cape Coral, Florida Laura Thon Glen Ellyn
Make Room.
To live and dream. To play and rest. To connect and grow. To welcome bigger, better things.
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GODDARD AS ENTREPRENEUR AND FASHION DESIGNER LILLY PULITZER
BACK in TIME Leslie Goddard brings history to life
M
BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
ost of us dream of finding an occupation we love- something for which we have a heartfelt passion while still making a living. Leslie Goddard has managed to do just that. This home-grown historian brings the past back to life - in a fun and entertaining way - through character impersonations and lectures. History has always been special to Goddard. After earning a BA from Stamford, this Hinsdale Central graduate earned two master’s degrees- one in Theatre History and Literature from the University of Illinois and a second in Museum Studies from the University of Leicester, UK.
“I knew, however, if I ever wanted to teach, it would be history,” said Goddard. That led to the final stop on her educational journey - the Interdisciplinary PhD program at Northwestern, where she graduated with a doctorate in U.S. History, Women’s History, American Studies, and Theatre. Time spent as the Director of Oak Brook Graue Mill confirmed her path. “I used to imagine how great it would be to live there,” Goddard laughed. “I really loved it.”
GODDARD AS BETTY THE PAN AM STEWARDESS
Stints at other suburban history museums helped her hone her curatorial skills. One day at Evanston
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A SEARS DEPARTMENT STORE IN DOWNTOWN ELMHURST
History Museum, co-workers learned she had studied theater. She was asked to portray a local woman who had been active in the temperance movement for an upcoming exhibit. Goddard was fascinated by the 19th-century fashions that accompanied the role and made compelling arguments for the temperance movement to the audience rather than just presenting it as a lecture. The presentation turned out to be Goddard’s aha moment. “I learned there was a market for living history,” she said. “I started getting offers from women’s clubs and book clubs to deliver portrayals of historical characters.”
THE WALNUT ROOM AT MARSHALL FIELD’S IN 1945
In the beginning, Goddard chose the characters she portrayed and historical lecture topics based on her own interests. A few years in, however, she realized the value of specialization.
“I learned there was a market for living history.” – LESLIE GODDARD ON HER CHARACTER IMPERSONATIONS OF HISTORICAL FIGURES THROUGH TIME
While some of her historic characters go back as far as Louisa May Alcott and Amelia Earhart, Goddard has come to find a niche in mid-century American history. She keeps a steady rotation of historical characters in her repertoire. At any given moment, about a dozen or so significant women from the past can be met through Goddard’s performances. “It takes me about a year to get another personality researched and cued up to present,” she said. “I find my costumes and accessories on eBay and in vintage stores. I have an entire garage full of props, too,” she laughed.
AMELIA EARHART IS JUST ONE OF THE FIRST-PERSON PORTRAYALS PERFORMED BY GODDARD.
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Among the current characters on the docket is Pan Am Betty, a stewardess who can tell you about the strict height and weight requirements of 1960s flight attendants, along with the hijinks that ensued while transporting celebrity passengers. Julia Child is happy to relay her misadventures of learning to cook in Paris in an almost entirely male industry. Have you ever wondered how the huge collection of Tupperware stuffed into a kitchen drawer in virtually every American home got there? Shrewd saleslady Brownie Wise can provide that answer, along with the story of her rise from single mother to head of Tupperware Home Parties. Jacqueline Kennedy, Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird Johnson, and Georgia O’Keefe are also available for hire. Fashion mogul Lilly Pulitzer is the most recent leading lady to have found her way into the lineup. When asked her favorite character to impersonate, Goddard laughed as she replied, “I can’t choose. It would be like picking a favorite child.” In addition to her mid-century characters, Goddard also lectures on historic
pop culture, such as Riverview Amusement Park, Chicago candy companies, and historical retail stores. Elmhurst History Museum will host "Lost Chicagoland Department Stores" from October through January. This nostalgic exhibit will bring visitors back to the era of in-person shopping in Chicago department stores. Through photos, memorabilia, and artifacts, visitors will be whisked back in time to Marshall Field’s, Sears, Carson Pirie Scott, and the other usual suspects that were part and parcel to seven legendary blocks of shopping in the Loop. The exhibit promises to be a fun stroll down memory lane for visitors, and one which Goddard enjoyed creating. It evolved from research performed during the pandemic. Like many others, Goddard found herself with time to finally delve into a project. “My grandfather worked at Marshall Field’s for most of his career, so I had his stories to work with,” said Goddard, “but I needed more.” With historical archives shuttered, she began reaching out to people of that era to hear their personal stories. She found that in addition to the merchandise people took away from the store, they acquired just as many memories. “Everyone seemed to have a story about Marshall Field’s at Christmastime-dressing up and taking the train into the city, admiring the windows and, if they were lucky, having lunch under the Christmas tree in the Walnut Room,” said Goddard. “I realized that these department stores provided the backdrop for memories made by thousands of Chicago families. They’re a sort of thread that binds Chicagoans together.” Enough research was gathered about Marshall Field’s alone to create Goddard’s first book, Remembering Marshall Field’s. Readers are offered an up-close look into the gone-but-not-
GODDARD AS ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST RACHEL CARSON, CIRCA 1960S.
forgotten era of the city’s retail icons in "Lost Chicago Department Stores." Chicago’s sweeter past can be relivedfrom Frango Mints to Lemonheads and everything in between- through the pages of Chicago’s Sweet Candy History, a book dedicated to the Windy City’s chief confectioners.
The Elmhurst History Museum’s exhibit, “Lost Chicagoland Department Stores,” in collaboration with Goddard, will be on display at the museum through Jan. 28, 2024. Visit elmhursthistory.org for more information. For more information on Goddard and her list of engagements, visit lesliegoddard.info. DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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T
he ceremonial sound of bells elevates any event to a special occasion, especially the particular elegance of a handbell choir. It’s truly an art form that requires a high level of dedication from each ringer, not only to their individual bells but to the group. The Agape Ringers, Chicago’s premier community handbell choir, was founded more than three decades ago by David Weck, editor of Hope Publishing, a sheet music publishing company. Weck needed a recording choir for new musical demos. He invited a group of local directors who regularly played his music to form the group. Enthusiastically, they agreed.
Ringing in the SEASON The Agape Ringers: Performing a musical art form BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
LIFELONG MUSICIAN, KC CONGDON, HAS DIRECTED THE AGAPE RINGERS FOR FOUR YEARS.
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The group has since been incorporated as a non-profit organization. They hold performances and workshops regularly. Each year, the group tours to a different domestic or international destination to perform. Anyone with a love of music and appreciation for the camaraderie of a small group is welcome to audition. KC Congdon has had the Agape Ringers under her baton for the last four years. Her appreciation of the nuances of the bells is a big reason this group’s well-earned reputation of excellence, started under Weck, is
play them, she was asked to conduct the choir as a high school senior.
THE CAMARADERIE OF A HANDBELL CHOIR IS PALPABLE.
intact. “Directing a handbell choir works best if you’ve been on the other side of the table, so you know what the ringers are experiencing,” Congdon knows. She knows because she’s been there. Having been a founding member, Congdon has firsthand knowledge of her ringers’ experience. She knows what each ringer can handle. She acknowledges their challenges and shares their joy in perfecting pieces. It’s how she gets the elegant sound for which the Agape Ringers have come to be known.
If you’re not there to play, you’re missed because nobody else can cover your part; they have their own bells.” There’s a great sense of accountability to playing in a handbell choir.
She has been directing ever since. Congdon now directs six handbell choirs of various ages and stages of life. She literally teaches students from kindergarten through retirement. Her favorite age group is high school and college students. “They want to learn things, and they’re not afraid to try new things,” Congdon observes. But she also appreciates watching older adults learn from their much younger fellow ringers. “It’s fun to watch a 10-year-old teach the senior citizen standing next to them what a symbol in the sheet music means,” she smiled. “I love to watch the interaction.”
“The bonding is different in handbells than anywhere else I have seen.” – AGAPE RINGERS DIRECTOR, KC CONGDON, ON THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY OF A HANDBELL CHOIR
A handbell is exactly what the name implies - a bronze bell designed to be rung by hand. To get the sound, the ringer grasps the bell by its flexible handle and moves his or her arm to make the hinged clapper strike the inside of the bell. Each bell produces a single note. With only two hands and one or two bells for each, a ringer can usually play up to two to four notes and their sharps and flats. To be successful requires focus. If a ringer is responsible for more than two notes, they must be coordinated enough to put one bell down and pick up another before the previous note appears again in the music.
Congdon is a lifelong musician. She began studying piano at five years old. In middle school, her teacher asked her to join her handbell choir. “I didn’t know what it was, but it sounded fun,” Congdon recalled. A few years later, Congdon’s church was gifted a memorial of handbells. As the only person who knew how to
Congdon loves what she does. “I give the music director at my church credit for seeing the potential in me to direct that first church choir when I was so young,” said Congdon. “He could have gone to an adult. I’m always grateful he took a chance on me.”
The Agape Ringers will perform their annual Christmas Show on Dec. 9 at 4:00 p.m. at Elmhurst Christian Reform Church. For tickets, more information, or recordings, please visit their website at agaperingers.org
THE GROUP PERFORMS REGULARLY, BOTH LOCALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY.
That’s one of the things that makes this type of music so community-building. Congdon loves the bells because “there’s only one of each bell.
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Checking into the
HALL OF FAME Jon Grzbek earns a spot in hockey history
I
BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
f you’re looking for a local hockey team to follow, the Benet Red Wings are your ticket to an exciting game! And it’s no mystery why. Coach Jon Grzbek, recently inducted into the Illinois Hockey Hall of Fame, has a lot to do with this team’s success.
Grzbek is a member of Amateur Hockey Association Illinois- the sport’s governing body. He is also a long-time volunteer for inclusion-promoting groups like Hockey is for Everyone (formerly Diversity Hockey).
COACHES DREW TIERNEY, ANDREW SCHLIE AND JON GRZBEK
Andrew Schlie and Drew Tierney are the other two legs of the well-balanced trio that lead the Red Wing squad. Each brings something valuable to the ice. Tierney met Grzbek and Schile when the duo joined in 2008. Tierney’s father, Jack, founded Benet’s hockey program in 1999. Grzbek and Schlie met while playing at the pee-wee level for the Downers Grove Huskies. They went on to play as opponents for Marist and St. Rita in the Chicago Catholic Hockey League (CCHL), into which they later brought Benet. When Grzbek’s path to the US junior hockey league after high school wasn’t what he had expected, he and Schlie met up again at DePaul. As college roommates, they played with DePaul’s inaugural hockey club in 1992. The team placed third in the nation in the American Collegiate Hockey Association their first year! With a friendship that has spanned most of their lives, “We’re like an old married couple at this point,” Grzbek relayed, as he laughed. “We can predict the other’s next move. Sometimes we say stupid things and have to go back and apologize!” 50
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GRZBEK AND SCHLIE PLAYED WITH DEPAUL'S FIRST HOCKEY CLUB, CIRCA 1997.
Now, at 685 games co-coached, (and every play of every practice documented), the collective and varied experiences of Grzbek, Schlie, and Tierney are a large part of the success that fuels Benet’s well-oiled machine.
Drew and I were playing, hockey was a lot more bump and grind.” Part of building such a successful team starts with recognizing players as people. Each season kicks off with Ignition-a process of going over goals for the season and resolving to frequently revisit them. The coaches meet
They’re grateful for the unique opportunities that have come their way, from participating in events with the Blackhawks, to playing between college games, to winning the first Kennedy Cup in 2013- the holy grail of Illinois hockey. Their biggest moment in coaching thus far, however, came a few years ago in the form of an invitation from the USA Women’s National Team. Team USA was in Chicago training for the Four Nations Cup and needed to play a practice game. Unsure how to react to the invitation, Grzbek and Schlie reached back to their Husky roots and sought the advice of Downers Grove native and former Team USA Olympic Gold Medalist, Cammi Granato. The hometown first lady of hockey advised them to “Go for it!” And they did! The game was epic! “Team USA owned the puck,” Grzbek admitted. “They outshot us 4-1, but we still managed to get goals,” he said. “Ultimately, although we were shorthanded, we scored in overtime and won 4-3!” he smiled, the memory still fresh. Schlie credits the win to the shots on goal being harder than Team USA players were likely used to. Oddly, the historical, landmark event in the world of high school hockey, played in front of 4,000 spectators on Benet’s home ice- Seven Bridges- went completely unacknowledged by the press. It was never covered by USA Hockey or any other news outlets. Although disappointed that the press went silent at their historic win, Grz-
THE BENET RED WINGS VS TEAM USA AND THE NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN SCORE CARD FROM 2015
“I’d like to think Benet had a hand in Team USA going undefeated in the next two years after our game.” BENET ACADEMY HOCKEY COACH JON GRZBEK, ON BEATING TEAM USA IN 2015
bek, Schlie and Tierney manage to see with team members one-on-one to the silver lining in the situation. learn what motivates them and help them set personal goals. “Team USA went undefeated for a while after playing us,” said Grzbek. The trio of coaches see- and appreci“We’re grateful for the experience.” ate- the team, as a group of individuTeam USA not only won their tour- als. They realize players might have nament the day after losing to the Red other interests besides hockey. GrzWings, but also went undefeated over bek, Schlie, and Tierney see the value the next two years. Obviously, the loss of varied high school activities. “If to Benet left a lasting impression. players want to participate in another sport, band or something else, they While these exciting events make the should,” Schlie opines. “It’s their high job interesting, it’s the day-to-day school experience. We’ll adjust.” coaching that keeps these guys going. All three hockey dads themselves, they This season marks the 60th year of the incorporate their own experiences with Chicago Catholic Hockey League the students. The trio have evolved (CCHL), which Grzbek, Schlie and over the past two decades. They recog- Tierney helped bring to the western nize the importance of reinventing and suburbs. “We had a passion for CCHL evolving with the game, as well as the growing up,” said Grzbek, “and wanted students they coach. “As time goes on, Benet to have the same memorable we’ve adapted and grown with the experience.” At 7 games played in a players,” said Schlie. “Today, it’s more 24-game season, the Red Wings Varsity puck control and finesse. When Jon, stood at 6-1 at time of publication. ■ DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club
eacher grants. High School Senior Scholarships. Junior High Art Awards. Safety Town. These are just a few examples of how the Downers Grove Junior Woman’s Club (DGJWC) gives back to the community every year. The organization – comprised of women in Downers Grove and surrounding areas – embodies the volunteer spirit. Established in 1959, DGJWC currently has over 150 members and continues to grow every year, increasing its footprint of giving. “We value the amazing women who contribute to our Club with their time and service,” said Allison McNulty, DGJWC President. “Our doors are always open to women looking to make a difference in our
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community and give back to our wonderful town through volunteer and fundraising efforts.” DGJWC members donate hundreds of volunteer hours to dozens of local charities throughout the year, and fundraising plays a fundamental role in helping those not as fortunate in the community. Last year, the Club made the largest single donation in its history on Giving Tuesday in November. DGJWC presented three local charities with grant funding totaling $35,000, including The Kids Equipment Network, NAMI DuPage, and Family Shelter Service Metropolitan Family Services DuPage. As the selected Charity Partner in 2023, DuPage Habitat for Humanity received $20,000 in funding to sup-
port their vision of “a world where everyone has a decent place to live.” What does the future hold for DGJWC as the 2023 year kicks off? “We are moving full steam ahead with service and fundraising opportunities for our members and are honored and humbled to support so many groups that do incredible work to make our community a better place,” said McNulty. DGJWC’s annual spring fundraiser will be held on March 2, 2024, and is open to the public, with more details released shortly. DGJWC meets monthly and is open to all prospective members. Please visit dgjwc.org for more information regarding membership or business sponsorships.
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Tely Nagle, Drake Hotel Proprietor, in the TELY NAGLE, gardens DRAKE HOTEL Romanesque PROPRIETOR, IN THE ROMANESQUE GARDENS PHOTO BY VICTOR HILITSKI
WELCOME IN! The Drake Oak Brook’s elegance and charm are back to stay BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN
O
ne of the best things about luxury travel is the accommodation. What makes a hotel memorable? Décor? Amazing cuisine? Unparalleled hospitality? To get a local look at all three in the same place, check into The Drake Oak Brook, Marriott Autograph Collection. You’ll feel like you’re at home.
And among family- specifically the Nagle family. It’s likely you’ll see Jim and Tely Nagle, proprietors of The Drake, personally overseeing the details of daily operations. They’re in plain sight at any moment, most days. For Jim, an Elmhurst native, it’s special to be living and working there, so close to where he grew up. “Elmhurst
is a great community,” Jim believes. “I have great memories of York High School and lots of friends from that community. I love running into people I know from there, from time to time.” The Nagles have brought this Oak Brook landmark back from oblivion. And made it stunning! DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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WORLD-CLASS ELEGANCE CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE IN OAK BROOK.
Built in 1962, the hotel had several successful decades before falling into derelict condition. It eventually closed in 2009. Four years later, the Nagles bought the property. “Every investor and hotel company that initially looked at it said this couldn’t be done,” said Jim. “It’s probably a good thing Tely and I weren’t hoteliers to start with,” he laughed. “We didn’t realize all that could have gone wrong!” At 6 a.m. the day after they signed the papers, the Nagles were at the hotelsleeves rolled up - alongside their workers. Everybody grabbed a hammer, saw, or paint brush and went to work. Having previously owned multiple-unit properties in the city, Jim and Tely had some restoration experience. What they didn’t know, they learned from their helpful crew. They spent a long time formulating a clear vision of what the property would look like. And little by little, it began to happen, thanks to their laser focus and that of their team. Board by board and wall by wall, it’s always been about teamwork. “I 56
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really believe we’re all equal here,” said Tely. “We all have a role to play.” Fast forward to the pandemic several years later, when they found themselves with a workforce of 120 people and an empty hotel. “We have an amazing staff,” Tely relayed. “We always feel that we’re all in this together. The pandemic was no different.” Rather than furlough everyone, the Nagles tapped into their retirement fund to employ the team for a massive remodel. Everyone was able to stay employed and keep their health insurance. “We had two team members undergoing cancer treatment at the time,” said Tely. “It would have been devastating for them to lose their health insurance.” Cooks, waitstaff, and housekeepers began plastering walls and doing other various construction tasks. The result is the hotel’s current state- gorgeous! The lack of turnover from their loyal staff is no surprise. The positive morale on display at this hotel is a study of the trickle-down effect. “The
people who work for us love working here,” said Tely. “We’re lucky to have them.” Every day, the staff is in the presence of Jim and Tely on the job. But more as co-workers than supervisors. The result is a staff that would do anything for their employers. “Our staff has as much pride in The Drake as Jim and I do,” Tely believes. From the beginning, the couple has made no small plans. Once one vision is achieved, the next one is on the horizon. You’ll feel it in big and small ways. Each of the hotel’s rooms, in both the main building and annex, has been remodeled to the nines with the inspiration of either a woman’s scarlet ball gown or a man’s gray, flannel suit. All have hardwood floors partially covered in tight-weaved rugs, appointed with luxuriously comfortable furniture. The work of a local Hinsdale artist adorns the walls of the guest rooms and hallways. Guests find a skeleton key waiting in the room when they check in. “It’s the key to your escape,” said Jim.
“Whatever escape you need- worry, reality, escape into the past.” The guest is invited either to keep the key and use it as a keychain or redeem it throughout the hotel to ‘unlock’ their ‘escape’ at the bar or the spa and get something in exchange, such as an appetizer or drink. “People love it,” Tely said. Sophisticated indoor and outdoor options make dining at the hotel a memorable experience. Menus of varied cuisine, planned by awardwinning chefs, offer something for every palate, all day long, with afternoon tea on weekends. The Colonial Room offers a creative take on American favorites. Dine alfresco on The Patio in warm months, with a view of the gardens. Beautifully garnished craft cocktails and a wide selection of whiskies make the Polo Lounge the perfect place to relax. Try the organic tequila with freshly squeezed sweet and sour to make any visit feel festive. Let the aroma of coffee lead you downstairs to Aroma de Café, on the hotel’s ground floor. Where else in the area can you pick up a Starbucks
crafted coffee drink, or snack, while you admire the work of artists such as Marc Chagall or Salvador Dali? This is also the country’s first point of sale for Oregon’s award-winning Tillamook ice cream by the scoop. And despite all the amazing amenities, there are many more coming. The Nagles are not people of narrow vision. The property consists of ten acres. A new building is in the works. Residences, similar to those of the Ritz Carlton or St Regis, will be available on the third through sixth floors. The lower level will contain a world-class Roman-inspired spa by Jacuzzi Brand. While Jacuzzi has several world-class European spas, this will be the first spa of its kind the company has embarked on in North America. While the Drake’s outdoor space is already amazing, plans for many more gardens are drawn. Jim has done much of the landscaping alongside his crew, building Romanesque waterfalls and columns. Several more are on the way. Guests will soon be able to stroll through a Vatican Garden-inspired garden. Pools are in the not-so-distant future.
Their newest venture, COA, (the tool used to harvest the blue agave), will be a Spanish/Mexican fusion restaurant- a nod to Tely’s mixed heritage. It will open at the end of September and will be located on the ground floor, featuring a walkout space. The menu will be tapas, with high-end Mexican cuisine, planned by Executive Chef Esequiel Dominguez whom Chicagoans will remember from Café Iburico. The vision is a masculine, bar-centric restaurant featuring both indoor and outdoor seating, where customers will relax on sixty-some bar stools designed by Tely. Private dining will also be available. “There aren’t a lot of places nearby that are open past 10 p.m., so we’ll be happy to be able to offer that to our guests and people in the area,” said Jim. And it’s not just the hotel property that’s expanding. The Drake brand is embarking on some new endeavors, having recently signed a licensing agreement with the largest luxury-charting yacht company in Latin America. “The Drake is like our baby that will never grow up,” Jim laughed. ■
LATER THIS YEAR, THE DRAKE OAK BROOK WILL WELCOME GUESTS TO THEIR LATEST OFFERING, COA, BLENDING MEXICAN AND SPANISH INFLUENCES FOR A TRULY AUTHENTIC MENU.
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Business, Done.
“When companies traveling to Chicagoland want to get down to business, they have seven Oak Brook member hotels to choose from.”
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WEST SUBURBAN HUMANE SOCIETY
BARKAPALOOZA BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS
For three decades, the West Suburban Humane Society has been hosting the Barkapalooza: a fundraiser to help bring homes to animals in need throughout the Chicagoland area. Over 500 people gather yearly for the 5K, the Waggin’ Tails Walk, the pet costume parade, and more. The event is a chance for both pups and their humans to socialize, support a good cause, and help some furry friends find their forever homes. Other rescue groups and nonprofits joined the fun to help microchip pets in need, provide necessary grooming, and share resources for any current or future dog parents.
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DOWNERS GROVE
OKTOBERFEST BY ANNA HUGHES | PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS
The Education Foundation of Downers Grove District 58 presented the village’s 10th annual Oktoberfest, where residents got to experience a traditional German atmosphere right in their hometown. While enjoying beer and brats, music groups spanning genres from classic rock to traditional German polka serenaded attendees. The event also included some celebrity sightings, including Jason Scheff (Chicago), Jay DeMarcus (Rascal Flatts), Steve Augeri (Journey), and more. The younger crowd enjoyed the Family Fun Zone with face painting, temporary tattoos, a dunk tank, and crafts. Proceeds from the event benefit District 58 Schools in Downers Grove.
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Timothy Christian Schools is a PS–12th grade Biblically-Rooted, college preparatory school located in south Elmhurst. Attend an open house and learn why more families are choosing a Christ-centered education for their child.
timothychristian.com/open-house
FALL OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE High School Showcase Night Monday, November 6 Elementary Open House (Grades 1-6) Monday, November 13 Middle School Open House (Grades 6-8) Monday, November 27 Preschool Information Night Monday, December 4 Kindergarten Information Night Wednesday, December 13 Save your spot and register at timothychristian.com/open-house All open houses start at 7pm.
As a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, Timothy Christian Schools is a college preparatory school that is committed to an excellence-driven program of academics that is fostered by the eternally relevant morals, virtues, and values found in the Bible. Whatever your child’s goals are — they can get there from here!
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In 1948, John Alan Macnider started Alan Heating & Air Conditioning in Elmhurst. He said, “If you provide courteous, honest, professional service so a family can have more comfort, you can have a life-long friend.” The family business has grown steadily following that belief. Today, Eric Weech, Vice-President of Operations, says, “We pride ourselves on customizing different options to fit each family’s unique needs so they enjoy optimum comfort.” Family is a priority at Alan. Eric, his wife Tammy, three children and six grandkids, and Hope, their rescue dog, are all near and dear. Eric also believes in community. Alan is an active member of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and the Spring Road Business Association. The whole family pitches in for Spring Road events like the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Pet Parade, and Christmas at the Gazebo.
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AFTER 50 YEARS, I AM RETIRING. I HAVE LOVED BEING A PART OF YOUR LIVES AND AM HONORED TO HAVE BEEN YOUR HOMETOWN ORTHODONTIST. I AM GRATEFUL FOR A LEGACY OF DOWNERS GROVE SMILES. KEEP SMILING!
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LEGO ART INSTALLATION PHOTOS BY 726 VISUALS
If driving down Belmont Road the last few months, you may have wondered about the life size lego building just north of the train tracks. Thanks to one of Downers Grove’s newest businesses, The Lytle Auditorium, the construction of the building turned into a temporary Lego Art Installation visible to many in the community. Using insulated concrete forms (ICFs),which is the most energy efficient building method on the market, the classically colored Lego pieces were stacked to frame the exterior walls of The Lytle Auditorium. Michelle and Robyn Lytle are the couple behind the small event space offering natural light photography and a production studio opening in the near future.
Museum Shop Hours Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Closed Monday Closed Christmas Eve Visit the Museum Shop online at www.lizzadromuseum.org
1220 Kensington Road,Oak Brook, IL 630- 833-1616 info@lizzadromuseum.org And don’t miss “The Artful Soul of Faust” cameo exhibit through January 7, 2024! DOWNERS GROVE MAGAZINE
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Destination Your Staycation
7 Great Places to Stay, Play, Shop, Dine and More
Oak Brook Hotel, Convention and Visitors Committee
www.OnlyInOakBrook.com
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