Elmhurst Magazine July 2023

CHERISH

Like the circle of a wedding band, there is no end to your happily ever after.

CELEBRATE

A love like yours deserves a diamond just as brilliant.

TUSCANY IN CHICAGO

Experience the award-winning Italian restaurant, serving a culinary voyage of classic proportions. The restaurant offers a menu of trend-setting fare, including fresh fish, veal, chicken, award winning steaks and of course, our delicious pastas. Roberto’s Ristorante radiates a Tuscan atmosphere, compliments of its warm decor and impeccable service.

Is Your Glass Half Empty or Full?

Chances are if you are reading this, it is because you are looking for something positive…a bit of an escape from the deluge of news and information from many media outlets.

Escape and positivity is what we strive to provide.

Fortunately, you live in an area where there are a lot of positives. Couple that with the good weather we’re having and everything that is being offered, and, all things considered, admit it: your glass is more than halffull.

Here’s a quick summary of the nearby happenings.

Summer concerts are here and we have put together a comprehensive list with details so you can make your plans.

If you are into golf, we’ve got choices galore… and you don’t even have to swing a club to have a good time, since many offer a pleasant setting for food and drink.

We have also taken time to recognize the effort that is made every year to honor those who have served our country. Elmhurst’s Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony is very thoughtful, comprehensive and fitting. Frankly, it is reassuring to see how the crowds continue to turn out.

In the end, your perspective is all about your attitude. A perfect example is what Coach Mike

Fitzgerald has brought to the football program at York High School. In just a few short years, he has promised that if the players and coaches put in the effort, and believe, the results will follow. Last year proved the point. And, our visit to the practice field in mid-June recently confirmed the effort is still there.

Speaking of York High School success, check out the story of graduate Dan Konopka. He relates how talent and hard work has paid off for him as the drummer for OK Go!, the big-time indie alternative rock band. He came back to town recently and told students, “Don’t be scared about a career in the arts.”

For additional inspiration, we share another success: the story of an organization called “Hearing A Child’s Voice”. This group, which started in Elmhurst at Mary Queen of Heaven church, has helped spur significant hearing improvement in young people who are born with hearing difficulties.

Yet another spotlight on young people: our cover story. For parents looking for a school that will challenge their children, Timothy Christian Schools, in Elmhurst, from pre-school through high school may be an excellent choice.

We even remind you that one of the best Farmer’s Markets around is right in your backyard every Wednesday at the York & Vallette business district.

Enjoy this issue and we welcome your comments!

Scott Jonlich, Publisher

Cover photo by Victor Hilitski Matt Davidson, Superintendent of Timothy Christian Schools

ELMHURST MAGAZINE

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

Jennifer Frencl

Rachel Pavlovich

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Adam Andrzejewski

Chuck Fieldman

Julie Janoski

Dave Noble

Kristina Taheri

FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

Victor Hilitski

Greg Kozlick

Laura Meyer

Marcello Rodarte

ADVERTISING SALES

Brian Ade

Gino Cosentino

Renee Lawrence

Cynthia Maquet

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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. Elmhurst 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 Elmhurst Magazine. Comments are welcome, but they should be on-topic and well-expressed. Copyright ©2023 Elmhurst Magazine. All rights reserved.

Fruitful Yield Roots started in Elmhurst

BY LARRY ATSEFF

Elmhurst Magazine likes to tell success stories. You will love this one.

Fruitful Yield health food stores were started at York and Third Street, right here in Elmhurst, in 1962 by Elwood Richard. The original name was “Health House”. It was changed to “Fruitful Yield” in 1971 and today there are 12 Fruitful Yields in the Chicagoland area.

In 1968, Elwood Richard also founded NOW® Foods. Today, under that brand name, the company offers various calcium, magnesium, minerals, and probiotics that you can find in health food sections of grocery stores all over the world. It is one of the industry’s most recognizable brands and has remained true to Elwood’s original vision – to meet consumer needs for healthy foods by offering affordable, high-quality natural products.

To learn about this amazing company, we visited with DJ Ryan, store manager for Fruitful Yield, and his staff at the Elmhurst store, which is now located at 135 N. Addison.

He said, “For the last 60+ years, we have been empowering people to lead healthier lives. We offer healthy products at honest prices from brands that you can trust. I invite your readers to come by and speak with any of our team members or myself. All of us have been exten-

sively trained and we are more than happy to answer any questions you may have as you start your journey to wellness. We have plenty of literature as well. We have a great loyalty rewards program, and samples. You can also shop online at fruitfulyield.com and pay for it online. We pull your order, and you can then pick it up in-store or curbside.”

As demand grew for healthier foods, in the stores, he started adding more plant-based dairy products like milk, cheeses, and meats. Today, you can even get plant-based ice cream and coffee. Fresh, all-organic natural, vegetables are delivered twice a week. There are gluten-free breads and other baked goods. Freezers are full of fresh frozen items, including healthy frozen pizzas. There are whole sections of health-oriented beverages.

All of it is healthy and getting better tasting. This includes other oxymorons like healthy chips and candies that you will find down the snack aisle.

How did all this happen? It seems that Elwood Richard was always ahead of others as the health food boom took off in the mid-60s. Back then, people were just starting to demand more transparent labeling of foods and beverages. He started with more natural and less processed foods. Then he began adding supplements like vitamins and minerals. Then he started the NOW® Foods line. (The entire company is still run by the Richard family.)

There are sections for health and beauty aids for men and women like collagens, soaps, amino acids, essential oils, and more. There are sections for pre-natal items, baby’s and children’s foods, beverages, and supplements. There is even a section for healthy pet foods and supplements.

With 14,000 items, all the Fruitful Yields are as complete a grocery store as you will need, from organic foods to homeopathy alternative medicines and herbal remedies.

You might even say, Fruitful Yield has become a truly fruitful yield for an increasingly health-conscious world, and it all started right here in Elmhurst. ■

“Fruitful Yield meets consumer needs for healthy foods by offering affordable, high-quality natural products.”

- FOUNDER ELWOOD RICHARD

READY, SET, OK GO!

Dan Konopka, OK Go drummer and former Elmhurst resident

For the past 25 years, Grammy-winning, indie alternative rock band OK Go has come to be known for their catchy melodies and extraordinarily creative videos. They combine bright colors and patterns with zero-gravity, optical illusions, well-trained animals, and perhaps the world’s longest Rube Goldberg machine. They’ve been called America’s most creative rock band for good reason. No other band takes this kind of time with their videos- an ingenious collaboration of art and physicsthat are addicting to watch.

Contributing Editor, Maureen Callahan, recently chatted with OK Go drummer Dan Konopka, via Skype, from his L.A. home. The pop drummer fondly reminisced about his time growing up in Elmhurst, especially York High, and the influence midwestern roots have over his life.

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN MUSICAL?

I’m from a musical family. I’ve been a drummer since I was 9. My mom played piano and organ. My oldest brother, a classical musician, paved the way for my career in music. He became the head violinist in a major metropolitan orchestra, so he helped me see music as a legitimate career path I could pursue. From fourth grade until now, this has been me.

WHAT DID YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT ELMHURST?

I was born in Elmhurst. I loved York High. I had great teachers and friends. I got along with the sporty people, the artsy people- pretty much everyone. I really enjoyed it. I’ve been back to work with the York students for Fine Arts Week. My overarching message to high schoolers is not to be scared to pursue art as a career.

I’ve been in L.A for the last 17 years. The L.A. community isn’t as tight knit as what I was used to in Elmhurst. Out here, it’s so packed with people and saturated with kids who aren’t really allowed to just be kids and play outside. Everyone must always have a parent with them at every moment. It’s just different than how I grew up. That said, I’m moving with my family to Nashville in July. We’ll be south of the city in a very Elmhurst-esque community!

WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE CITIES/THEATERS TO PLAY?

I loved playing Paris. And it was great to get down to New Zealand. These days, Chicago is our favorite, though. It’s where we’re from! The crowds are psyched, and my family comes out to the shows. It’s always a good time. I like playing the Metro because it’s small. The people there have been there forever, too, and it’s got a nice vibe to it. I also like Northerly Island. That venue is unique.

Ok Go: Konopka, drummer; Tim Norwind, bassist; Andy Ross, guitarist, keyboard and vocals; Damian Kulash, lead vocals and guitarist. Photo by Nikolay Ivanov

HOW WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE AT LOLLAPALOOZA?

We liked it a ton. When you play festivals, you usually play with bands that are bigger than you, and as a musician, when I get done playing a show, I’m just done. But if Draft Punk is playing on the next stage, I’m definitely going to listen. The last time we played Lolla, we performed at noon. Daylight and rock ‘n roll don’t always go together, but it was fun!

WHAT IS IT LIKE PLAYING FOR A CROWD THE SIZE OF LOLLA?

The smaller the crowd, the more interesting the show, I find. We played in front of 40,000 people at a show in Korea. You don’t form a great connection with the audience. It’s easier to do that with a small crowd. A big crowd is fun because there’s a lot of energy, but it’s a huge wall of people. Often, there’s a barricade between the stage and the audience that puts the crowd even further away. I liked the gigs we did when we first started, and people were right up against the monitors, 5 feet away. It’s fun to see the crowd’s reaction.

HOW DOES THE BAND DECIDE ON THEIR STAGE EFFECTS?

A lot of the stuff we do on stage is pretty standard. We might overdue the confetti, but people like it, and it’s not that expensive. Over the years, we kind of take notes of what we see other bands doing and what works best versus what we can afford.

HOW DOES OK GO COME UP WITH THEIR ICONICALLY ARTISTIC VIDEOS?

Our videos start out as simple thoughts at first. We bounce ideas off each other. We’re all pretty nerdy!

Two of the guys in the band are very mathematical. Damien [Kulash, lead singer and guitarist] has a degree in symbiotics, so the ideas are there. One of us says, ‘let’s do a video on tread-

mills.’ Full stop. Or ‘let’s do a video in microgravity.’ Next comes funding for the idea, so we can actually pull it off in the environment we have in our heads. Then we create a storyline to figure out what would have an emotional effect. We plan an entertaining arc of things to see so the audience doesn’t get bored. There’s a lot to manage during a three-minute song.

HOW DID YOU FILM THE UPSIDE DOWN & INSIDE OUT VIDEO IN ZERO GRAVITY?

It wasn’t perfect zero gravity; it was actually microgravity. We did two flights a day for 28 days, trying to get it right during filming. We got onto the plane and did the maneuver to get the feel of it. The airplane was fighting against turbulence, and weather played into it, too, so the experience inside the fuselage was different from flight to flight. Sometimes we ended up floating to the right or the left because the plane was changing angles! It was very hard, but it’s my favorite video.

That video was filmed in an airplane outside Moscow. It was much more economically feasible to shoot there. A privately owned airline, F7, paid for it. If we had shot it in the U.S., it would

have cost about $8 million. To fund our videos, we create relationships with corporate sponsors and their ad agencies. We get them to use one of our songs. Then we direct a commercial, which is actually our video, but we promote the sponsor in it. We always feel lucky when a company like Morton Salt works with us to make this happen. We always make sure they’re given props at the beginning and end of the videos so the audience knows they sponsored it. Their advertising clearly comes across.

WHAT IS OK GO SANDBOX?

OK Go Sandbox is a non-profit organization we started as a tool for teachers. We get messages from teachers all over the world telling us they use our videos in class as part of their curriculum. A professor from the University of St Thomas in Minnesota who was the head of a S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and math), department reached out to us. She wanted to figure out how our videos could be teaching tools. So we started making videos for teachers to help educate students. Never did I think we would be involved in educating kids through our music videos. We just wanted to be musicians and make the artwork we wanted to make. It’s been great!

WHAT’S NEXT?

We have some new music recorded. We’re just waiting for two or three more songs to release an album. Lead singer Damian Kulash and his wife made a movie that will be out on Apple TV+ at the end of July. Some of our music is in it. Aside from that, I’ve been doing a lot of session drumming and mixing and full production, so if people are interested in having me play drums or mix their solo work or help produce music, they can contact me, Dan Konopka, at dan@okgo.net. ■

The band is known for it’s outstandingly creative videos.

Photo by Gus Powell

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Hearing a Child’s Voice

Wood Dale school helps deaf children find their voices

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

Hearing a child’s first word is something a parent never forgets. For parents of students at Child’s Voice in west suburban Wood Dale, it’s a huge reason to celebrate. All students at this school are stricken with varying degrees of hearing loss. Some are completely deaf. Guided by a competent and compassionate staff, these students strive daily to overcome a lack of one of their most crucial senses.

Child’s Voice was founded in the mid-90s by six Chicagoland families of children with hearing loss. Previously, the group had traveled to St Louis for deaf educational services. They wanted their children to have the same opportunities as their hearing classmates. The families combined their efforts to start this school as a local educational option with one of the therapists from St Louis.

The school’s first location was in a classroom at Mary Queen of Heaven School in Elmhurst in 1996. The space was very quickly outgrown. The new school- Child’s Voice’s current location- opened in 2002.

Several families commute a long distance- sometimes driving in for the week and returning home on weekends- for the benefits offered by a Child’s Voice education. The very first teacher is still on staff, and the first child graduated in 1998.

To enter the school is to find a traditional center for learning committed to changing the lives of kids with hearing loss. Bright, airy classrooms with state-of-the-art furniture and equipment are all geared toward closing the educational gap created by hearing loss. The goal is to get each child through the program and ready to enter their local school.

Everything at Child’s Voice is about getting kids to listen and speak. In the past, sign language was the primary way the deaf communicated with the outside world. While signing is still a method of communication used by some families within this school community- particularly those with deaf parents- it is not part of the school program. The objective is clearly to have the students listening and talking as soon as possible. “Unfortunately, the world doesn’t come with closed-captioning,” said Kate Bousum, the school’s Director of Advancement.

The experience of living with hearing loss has come a long way. Early intervention has become much more prevalent with mandated hearing tests for newborns in the hospital in the state of Illinois. The sooner a child is diagnosed with hearing loss, the earlier they can be outfitted with

Each child speaks at graduation-a milestone in itself.

“Unfortunately, the world doesn’t come with closed captioning. We’re here to change the lives of kids with hearing loss.”

a hearing device. All data indicates that the child’s chances of achieving a positive academic outcome usually follows.

While some students wear hearing aids, which only amplify sound, most have cochlear implants. This more sophisticated sound processor captures sound signals and sends them to a receiver implanted under the skin behind the ear. The receiver

sends the signals to electrodes implanted in the inner ear.

An onsite, soundproof audiology laboratory -the same quality as that found at Lurie Children’s Hospitalcan detect the degree of hearing loss in a baby as young as six weeks old. The sooner a child is outfitted with a hearing device, the greater the outcome. Devices must be tested throughout life and need frequent

adjustment. Current students and alumni alike have lifetime access to the school audiology lab.

Classroom activities and playthings seem typical to any school, but everything here is about brain development. Babies aren’t born knowing how to talk. People with normal hearing spend the first year of their lives learning how to talk. When there’s hearing loss, that time is extended. “Hearing isn’t like vision,” said Bousum. “It’s not a light switch. The brain must hear and understand the language before it can turn it into speech.”

Child’s Voice is set up as two entitiesan early intervention program, for children from birth to 3 years old, followed by a school-age program for students aged 3 to 8 years old. Early intervention outreach happens in the home until a child is a year-anda-half old, at which point they are eligible to attend the Wood Dale campus. A satellite site in Roscoe Village hosts the same services for families closer to the city. Currently, about 70 zip codes are served through the combination of the two programs.

State-of-the-art classroom settings and equipment make learning fun.

Interactive play between preschool students encourages language exposure.

The goals are to offer help, hope, and support to both the child and their family before they are of age to attend the school. Weekly visits by therapists help empower parents to make language a part of their child’s day and be sure they’re comfortable with the tools they need to teach their kids.

The school-age program at the Wood Dale campus is available to students ages 3 to 8 years old. Like any other school, classes are set up as preschool through second grade. Students are grouped into cohorts based on their grade level, ability, and command of language. Every 30 minutes, an aide works with a group of 2 or 3 kids at a time, geared toward tactics and strategies for each individual child, before returning them to the larger group.

Academics are on par with national standards, with a strong focus on early language, ABCs, and mathematics. Students also have technology instruction. “The goal is for Child’s Voice kids to be almost over-prepared academically, as they will eventually be dealing with the social and emotional changes of joining a mainstream classroom,” said Bousum. Self-advocacy and teaching children not to be afraid to speak up for themselves or ask someone to repeat something are stressed daily.

Most students transition to their neighborhood schools around kindergarten, with a handful staying through the first or second-grade level. Each spring, a graduation ceremony sees Child’s Voice graduates ready to transition to their neighborhood schools. Every child uses their acquired skills to speak at commencement.

But it’s never really goodbye, as the students know they are always welcome back for hearing device adjustments or other resources, such as support in their transition to mainstreaming to their local schools. The alumni network is tight-knit and holds periodic meet-ups.

Hearing loss, while still an obstacle to overcome, is not the insurmountable hurdle it once was, thanks to programs like this one. Helen Keller once said she felt “the deaf are the loneliest people in the world.” Child’s Voice works daily to close the gap brought by hearing loss and give its students the same opportunities available to their hearing counterparts.

For more information, please visit Child’s Voice website at: childsvoice.org ■

Alumni have lifetime access to hearing device adjustments.

Graduation marks the bittersweet transition of students to their local schools.

DUKES GET READY AGAIN

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Last year, York High School Football came within one game of the state championship. This is the story of how they did it and how they are continuing to do it under Head Coach Mike Fitzgerald.

Elmhurst Magazine likes telling success stories. They are a nice change of pace from today’s headlines and can be uplifting. They are also worth telling because one can always learn from successful people.

One formula for success that works is finding the right person at the right time who fills a critical need. Five years ago, the York High School football program needed a change from top to bottom.

There were several candidates for running the entire football program, from the freshman teams up to the varsity. Mike Fitzgerald won the job. Elmhurst Magazine recently sat down with Fitzgerald to learn how he became an outstanding candidate and turned around

the program in just four years.

Fitzgerald’s background is different from most high school coaches. Instead of moving up the ranks in one high school, he took a different route, which worked well for him.

After playing high school football in Colorado at Kent Denver High School as a wide receiver, Mike was recruited to the Midwest to Lake Forest College in the northern suburbs of Chicago. He played all four years at that Divi-

Head Coach Mike Fitzgerald addresses the 2023 football squad.

sion 3 level. At that time, he decided to try coaching.

He said, “I started at the bottom of the totem pole. I broke down game film to show players and coaches what was being done wrong and right. I learned the basics of each position which was a great background for being a head coach, and I loved it. I also worked in various roles coaching receivers and quarterbacks and coordinating special teams and offensive units.”

“After four years coaching at the college level, I moved on to Marist High School, a private Catholic High School in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. It is known for its academics and high-ranking sports teams. When I joined, it needed a complete rebuild. I stayed there for six years as an offensive coordinator. In that time, we made the playoffs six times and had one State Championship appearance in 2009.”

“Next, it was on to St. Francis in Wheaton for two years as a Head Coach. I then joined larger Naperville

North HS as an offensive coordinator for two years. All the while, I got exposed to different styles of coaching, schemes, and philosophies, which was a great experience to run a big program from freshman up to varsity.”

“During that time coaching high school and college, you are constantly dealing with changes in talent levels with each new class. The experience of adjusting to your personnel every year and being exposed to various schemes has been extremely beneficial in building an offense around our personnel and talent.”

Coaching at smaller schools also helped, according to Mike. “In those situations, since you have to do more of everything, you learn to pay atten-

tion to all the details and stay organized.”

“At every school, I was learning more about football and the importance of building relationships and gaining trust among the players, their parents, and coaches. Trust is essential to build belief and influence winning behaviors. Without trust, players may be just going through the motions of ‘want to’ instead of ‘have to.’”

“In 2018, the job of running the football program at York opened. It was a great opportunity. It had a legacy, fan support, great facilities, and a strong feeder program for youngsters. Most of all, it wanted to restore the program.”

“I told them all we were going to train hard, we are going to play hard, and we are going to see results.”

- HEAD COACH MIKE FITZGERALD

Head Coach Fitzgerald in the weight room.

As it turns out, Fitzgerald was ready to meet the opportunity and change the culture.

“The first thing I saw that was needed was a buy-in…a belief that it would be worth the effort it was going to take to get back to York’s glory days,” said Fitzgerald. It was going to take sacrifice and character. That went for the players and the staff of 18 coaches, both returning and new.”

“I told them all we were going to train hard, we are going to play hard, and we are going to see results.”

“Our first two years, we went 8-10, and then 4-2, the third year, during the shortened Covid season. The seniors during the Covid year were tremendous leaders that kept the momentum going during that difficult time. During

that Covid year, we started a streak of winning 24 of our next 27 games, which included an 8-2 season in 2021 and a 12-1 season in 2022 which was one game away from the State Championship.

Our count of players overall has gone from 145 to 230 during that time.

“At the start of this, we talked about the power of belief and behaviors. We now have enthusiastic believers, from players to coaches to parents to the entire school community, and our behaviors have changed tremendously on and off the field. They now believe and understand the importance of hard work, commitment, character, positive attitude, and discipline.”

Fitzgerald exudes sincerity and enthusiasm for his job as head coach. It is

infectious in a good way. It certainly helped him clinch the job and has helped over the last four years. He quickly points out that the coaching staff buy-in has been extraordinary.

He said, “Believe me; they have made a huge difference in setting the tone and attitude.”

York has lost 40 seniors who were with Mike at the beginning.

“Fortunately,” he says, “These 40 learned how to win, and they have passed on the attitude and willingness it takes to win to their younger classmates. Because of that, I am looking forward to a long tradition of winning. Most important, I am proud that these student-athletes are learning what it takes to be successful in more than football.” ■

2023 York High School Football Schedule

Linemen and offensive players working out on June 14th.

CURTAIN CALL

Elmhurst Children’s Theatre encourages young actors to put themselves out there

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

For the past 85 years, Elmhurst Children’s Theatre (ECT) has supported young thespians in the community. ECT is a place where young theatrical residents can be themselves. ECT started as the brainchild of Elmhurst College and then morphed into part of the Elmhurst PTA Council. It broke off and became a non-profit organization a few years ago.

The group sustains itself through participation fees and ticket sales, and donations. “We’re a non-profit that supports kids and the broader community,” said new ECT President, Rachel Simonds.

ECT is a community of kids with a solid commitment to the arts. Students must either live in Elmhurst or attend school in town. All mainstage acting roles are gained through auditions open to fifth through eighth graders. For those who prefer the back of the house, opportunities on the stage and technical crew are available. “I have sixth graders running my spotlights and high schoolers overseeing my stage crew,” said Simonds. “And they

do a great job!”

Most kids participating in ECT shows are also involved in the performing arts at their schools. Many play an instrument or sing in the choir. Others have a passion for art or industrial technology. The organization serves as an outlet for them. “It’s also a community for kids who might have a tough time finding their place in other settings,” said Simonds. “The bond the kids form working and creating something together is palpable.”

It’s a worthwhile opportunity for them to put themselves out there in a bold way and see what they’re good at. It’s very powerful.

Various production types make up the ECT season, giving kids different experiences with all sorts of theatrical angles. The season mirrors the school year. In a typical year, there are two mainstage, full productions with an orchestra pit, offering students of musical ability the opportunity to perform. Recent shows include a classic

Top: Seussical, an entire production in song, November, 2022. Left: Disney’s Newsies, January, 2020

Right: ECT is all about having fun while supporting the arts in education.

Broadway production in  The Music Man, followed by  Descendants, with fun, upbeat music, and fairy tale characters. Seussical was a complete singthrough geared more toward younger kids.

Monty Python, the sketch comedy, had a very successful run. ECT’s sketch comedy troop- Unintentionally Hilarious- is celebrating its 15th anniversary. It was crafted and is presently curated by Tim Soszko, a Second City teacher of improv. Himself an ECT alum, his first role was the crocodile in  Peter Pan.

This summer, ECT offers an opportunity geared toward newer students to the theatrical scene. For some, it will be their first chance at a show, but they aren’t quite ready for a full-on mainstage production. It will be a double feature beginning with  The Lion King Kids, a 30-minute musical for students entering fifth through seventh grades. After a short intermission, the next group- sixth through ninth graders- will perform a 60-minute rendition

of  Legally Blond. The performance will run July 19-21 at Timothy Christian School.

Up to now, ECT’s biggest challenge has been the lack of permanent space to perform and rehearse. The recent acquisition of a dedicated rehearsal space at 121 West First St., in the place formerly occupied by Elmhurst Hospital’s Pink Elephant, will make things much easier. “To have our own space is going to be a game changer,” said Simonds.

For shows, ECT must work with schools in the area to contract theatre space. “For performances, we need to move into a space for about eight days,” said Simonds. “It’s a big ask, and we realize that. We’re so grateful to our local schools for working with us and letting us perform in their space.”

New directors, music directors, and choreographers come in with each show, bringing fresh ideas and styles that open the door for different kids to

be chosen for parts. Each director runs their auditions and has individual ideas of what they’re looking for in a character. That creates opportunities for all kinds of kids to shine and have big and little moments on stage. Individual styles of practice also prepare kids to adapt to varying forms of leadership, which benefit them later in life.

All parents work on committees for productions, which are necessary for the organization to run. While helping a production to proceed smoothly, this requirement also builds community among the adults.

Many ECT alums continue with performing arts in high school, whether through playing an instrument, being in the choir or on the speech team, or being part of the school theatrical programs. It’s a worthy cause that opens a door for them they might not have known existed. “You can only get there by doing it, and it’s a lot to put yourself out there,” Simonds stated. ■

ECT 2022-23 Volunteer Board

This cast of Monty Python’s Spamalot is always looking on the bright side of life!

Timothy Christian SCHOOLS

Where students are challenged to realize their full potential

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Parents certainly want their children to do well in school. In addition, for a large (and growing) number of families, one’s Christian faith is central – the virtues, the values, and the promises of the Bible.

When parents are serious about both, Timothy Christian Schools in Elmhurst is the perfect choice for preschool through high school, according to Superintendent Matt Davidson, in a recent interview with Elmhurst Magazine.

On our tour of the 24-acre school campus in south Elmhurst, Davidson said, “Starting with me, to every teacher, to every educational assistant, all 280 employees, we work hard to create a challenging and rewarding environment for our 1,250+ students. We partner with parents to help their children learn and grow in three areas: upholding Biblical truth, igniting academic growth, and inspiring courageous leadership – one student at a time.”

As the largest PS-12th grade Christian school in Illinois and one of the largest

in the country, Davidson admits that is a pretty ambitious set of goals. But he said, “By any measure, we are meeting them.”

“We are competitive academically with other top schools, public and private, with the added component of a strong connection rooted in the timeless values of the Bible,” Davidson said. “We have developed proven teaching/ learning strategies complemented with

Davidson surrounded by students on campus.

a perfect blend of innovation. Instead of teaching all the students in a given class the same material while giving the same assessments at the same pace, we look at data to determine how students are performing and then create a customized and appropriately challenging educational plan for each student. I know it sounds make-believe, but we’re doing it.”

The elementary school was recently only one of 6 in the state to win the “Whole Child Award” from the Illinois Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development

– thus recognizing Timothy’s commitment to student growth in every way. When Timothy Christian high school students enter scholastic competitions in Engineering, Science, and Robotics, they’re almost always on the medal stand. For example, the Timothy Christian High

School ACES Team (Academic Challenge in Engineering and Science) won the State Championship this year, a highly competitive academic battle of private and public school scholars across Illinois. VEI, a student-run virtual business plan, also captured the State title and placed 13th at Nationals.

Timothy Christian High School was

National Merit Scholarship program, and three were awarded the pinnacle status of National Merit Finalists; all coming from a high school of 420 students! Timothy Christian seniors average well above norms for SAT and ACT scores, and their seniors are often accepted at top-tier colleges and universities, often with college credits they already earned at Timothy Christian High School.

recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. In this year’s Class of 2023, 26 seniors were named State Scholars, two were named Commended Students in the 2022

Timothy is a full member of council with CESA (Council on Educational Standards and Accountability) –an organization of the top Christian Schools in the nation. Currently, there are only 50 full members of the council. Timothy is considered a flagship Christian school, often sharing best practices with other schools across the nation.

“We also emphasize athletics and the performing arts because they promote teamwork, conquering fears, overcoming adversity, learning lessons and motivation in failure, and realizing opportunity in victory,” Davidson said. “We have dramatically upgraded our sports facilities – including a firstclass basketball arena, a new stadium for soccer and lacrosse, a new running track, and new tennis courts. Other extracurricular activities on campus include over 24 clubs and opportunities in drama, fine arts, mock trial, student council, and several technology-focused organizations, among many others.”

“In other ways of helping students become leaders, as many as 30 of our high school students serve as interns in real-life settings in the marketplace and other career fields,” Davidson added.

“We also send groups of teens to countries and places in the US to serve. We call them Renew Service trips,” Davidson said. “This year, 37 students helped build two houses in Costa Rica, 26 worked at an orphanage in Honduras, and 16 helped minister to victims of

“We are competitive academically with other top schools, public and private, with the added component of a strong connection rooted in the timeless values of the Bible.”

– MATT DAVIDSON, SUPERINTENDENT

Davidson has been the Superintendent of Timothy Christian Schools since 2010.

human trafficking in Los Angeles. In these settings, our students come to understand how leadership starts with a willingness to help people.”

Another measure of success: record enrollment and record demand. The students come from nearly 700 church-going families from 20 miles in every direction. Timothy is a non-denominational Christian school with over 220 churches represented.

Overall, the school’s alumni, board of directors, and current families and students believe in the mission so much that they have invested over $60 million in the last ten years to improve and expand the facilities. And yet, tuition levels remain lower than other private schools in Chicagoland of similar size and programming.

Timothy’s success is not a happenstance. It comes from a well-thoughtout vision and an enduring commitment to fulfill it. Davidson was hired 13 years ago to lead the school because the board liked what he said he would bring; he has delivered. As Elmhurst Magazine staff walked through the buildings with Davidson, students updated him on progress in one activity or another made sure to say hello, and they smiled as

Davidson encouraged them. They know he supports them, and they respond. Every parent has his cell phone number. When he emails parents, he starts with the same phrase in his salutation: “Team Timothy.” And it’s clear this team is winning.

It’s obvious that Davidson loves his job. He certainly gets the love back in several ways. One big way is student results. “Our students are learning how hard work can pay off. One of

the keys to winning,” said Davidson, “is to get enough people to care… enough people willing to pay the price for success. Here at Timothy, it’s a community of people who care. We’ve locked arms together behind these simple truths for our youth: God loves you, and He has a purpose for your life. Nothing will be impossible for you as you live out that purpose for His glory.”

Timothy Christian Trojan Stadium

Back Jenny Lumkes, Philip Chen, David LaBarber, Jeremiah Anema, Jake Ellens, AJ Rakers, Clarissa Chen. Front Charles Millard, Josh Ellens, Grace Roland, Rebecca Nulty, Tommy Kunz, Zach Terpstra. Foreground ACES Coach Carlton Rink, High School Physics Teacher

MAKING HISTORY

BY VALERIE HARDY PHOTOS VICTOR HILITSKI

For many attending the soldout premiere of the documentary film “History Happens Here: The Tivoli Theatre” on May 2, it was a very meta experience. They were watching a film about the Tivoli Theatre in the Tivoli Theatre.

Produced by independent filmmaker Jim Toth in conjunction with the Downers Grove Historical Society, the documentary honors the 95-year history of one of Chicagoland’s oldest and best-preserved theaters. It also chronicles the storied lives of the Johnson family, the theater’s long-running proprietors.

The premiere began with an organ performance followed by Downers Grove Historical Society Director Rich Kulovany introducing the 2023 Historians of the Year, Willis and Shirley Johnson, who received a standing ovation.

Willis’s son, Chris Johnson, the current CEO of the family’s Classic Cinemas business, accompanied the couple on stage. Chris recalled how his father was using his walker that evening. “I told him he could accept the recognition from his seat, but he kept pointing up to the stage,” Chris said. “It was so much fun to see his reaction. It was a culmination of appreciation and acknowledgement that really meant a lot to him.”

Chris later shared how much the recognition and film (which he described as “a bit of a love letter” to Willis and Shirley for all the work they did) touched him as well. He said candidly, “My dad is getting up in age a bit, so this could not have

A new documentary captures the story of the Tivoli Theatre, Classic Cinemas, and the family behind the scenes

Shirley, Willis and Chris Johnson

happened at a better time.”

The documentary was so popular that advance tickets sold out just days after their release. To accommodate the demand, Chris offered to host an encore presentation of the film at the Tivoli Theatre the morning of May 13.

“History Happens Here: The Tivoli Theatre” received rave reviews from its early viewers. For those who may have missed it, the documentary is viewable on demand at downersgrovehistory.org.

THE HISTORIC TIVOLI THEATRES

The Tivoli Theatre opened in 1928 during the transitional period from silent films to “talkies.” In fact, the Tivoli was one of the first theaters in the nation built specifically for motion pictures with sound. It also boasted a stage that, while shallow, easily accommodated vaudeville and other small-scale productions.

In the mid-1950s, wider seats were installed with greater distance between rows, reducing seating capacity to 1,012. Over the next two decades, the theater remained relatively unchanged but experienced general wear and tear. In 1976, Willis Johnson purchased the Tivoli property and began extensive renovations.

Located in the heart of downtown Downers Grove, the Tivoli Theatre building occupies nearly half a block and contains a bowling alley, residential hotel, and storefront business and office spaces. Over the years, the Tivoli Theatre has featured performers like Sonny & Cher, Julie Andrews, and Poi Dog Pondering. Actors, comedians, and authors such as Anthony Michael Hall, Jim Flannigan, and Nicholas Sparks, respectively, have taken the stage at the theater.

The Tivoli is also home to the After Hours Film Society, a not-for-profit organization committed to bringing

foreign, art, and independent films to suburban audiences. The theater has also hosted numerous dance recitals and school variety shows and has even been the backdrop for weddings. The Johnsons drew the line at holding funerals there. However, they might rethink the “no funeral policy” when the time comes to hold a celebration of life to honor Willis, Chris said.

Nearing its hundredth anniversary, the Tivoli Theatre is one of the longest continually operating movie theaters in Chicagoland, no small feat given the numerous obstacles it has faced. It survived the Great Depression soon after opening, competition with shopping malls in the 1970s and 1980s, a storm blowing its roof off in the 1990s, and – more recently – the advent of streaming services and a global pandemic that shut it down. Chris attributes the Tivoli’s endurance to a willingness to evolve.

For example, for many years, the Tivoli operated as a fully restored single-screen movie theater showing second-run films, but it ultimately shifted to screening new releases. Then, in 2021, the Johnsons converted an adjacent storefront into an intimate second theater space, aptly named the Willis Theatre, which features over 30 heated recliners.

CLASSIC CINEMAS AND THE YORK THEATRE IN ELMHURST

After taking over the Tivoli Theatre’s operations by default when the film exhibition company that was leasing the theater abruptly closed for “remodeling,” Willis established the Classic Cinemas brand. Willis and his family quickly grew the business and currently operate 16 theaters with a collective 137 screens.

In 1982, Classic Cinemas acquired the York Theatre, the fourth in its portfolio. Built in Elmhurst’s City Centre in 1924, the York Theatre originally featured a Spanish motif, but to keep up with the times, in

1938, its exterior and interior were remodeled to an Art Deco style. The York originally featured a large, single-screen theater, but in 1991, Classic Cinemas completed an extensive renovation, creating three auditoriums while retaining many of the historic elements of the original space. There have been numerous additional expansions to the York Theatre since Classic Cinemas purchased it, and today it features 10 distinct auditoriums.

Classic Cinemas is the largest movie theater business in Illinois and is in the top 40 in the nation. Yet the Johnsons’ business savvy goes beyond the movie theater industry as well. Chris explained how they often acquire real estate near their theaters, perhaps most significantly in Elmhurst. “We seek a mix of regional, national, and local tenants that all lend to having a successful downtown,” he said. “Our goal is to drive foot traffic and create a complimentary night life to our theaters.” Classic Cinemas received the 2005-2006 Beautification Recognition Award for its commitment to making Elmhurst an ideal location for business, family, and life.

Beyond his work related to Classic Cinemas, Willis volunteered in various civic capacities over the years, and he was the founding president of the National Association of Theatre Owners of Illinois. Chris is the organization’s current president. “I’m turning into my dad, like those commercials,” Chris joked, but he acknowledged his pride in carrying his father’s work forward.

He also said “Shirley is an unsung hero,” always by Willis’s side, within and beyond their business ventures. This is one of the myriad reasons Chris is grateful to the Historical Society and Toth for recognizing Willis and Shirley and creating the corresponding documentary. He said, “They did an amazing job and should be applauded.” ■

FOCUS ON THE FILMMAKER

Jim Toth spent 20 years as a creative director in Chicago’s advertising industry. During the pandemic, however, he was laid off. While unfortunate, these circumstances afforded him the gift of time, and the self-proclaimed amateur filmmaker bought a camera and began experimenting, largely by filming his son and daughter.

Toth served on the Downers Grove Historical Society’s Board of Directors but stepped away in 2018 due to professional and familial commitments. However, he still wanted to “give back, but in a more interesting way,” he said. He initially paired his passion for local history with his newfound filmmaking talents by coproducing with the Historical Society a short documentary on Downers Grove’s Main Street Cemetery, one of the only cemeteries in the nation still operating in an active downtown area. Toth’s next film was the first in the “History Happens Here” docuseries: a nearly 40-minute mini-feature about the Mochel family and the hardware store they ran for multiple generations.

The Tivoli Theatre edition of “History Happens Here” was envisioned as

another short documentary, but early in the filming process, Toth knew a “leap to a full-length feature” would be the only way to do justice to the historical theater and Johnson family’s extensive stories.

The project took 10 months and included 10-15 hours of interviews with the Johnsons, through which Toth observed the family members “finishing each other’s sentences.” He quickly determined it necessary to shoot with two cameras to capture the Johnsons’ “reactions to each other.”

Toth said that beyond interviewing the Johnsons, he spent over 200 hours metaphorically “with them” through the editing process. He was still making edits the day before the premiere, and he recounted how – even as he sat next to Wendy, Chris Johnson’s sister, watching the final product the morning of the premiere – he still saw “100 things to change. These things are never done.”

However, Toth was extremely proud of the film and honored to help share “such a beautiful story.” He described viewing the documentary at the Tivoli along with the Johnsons as “almost a transcendental experience.”

Toth is taking a break from local historical filmmaking, but he has many future subjects in mind, including Downers Grove’s Moose Lodge and Denburn Woods. For now, however, he is pursuing his newly discovered passion for chronicling family histories by offering his services to help other families commit their “collective history into an artifact that can be passed down to the next generation.” For more information about Toth’s legacy family films, visit jimtoth. com. ■

Classic Cinemas acquired the York Theatre in 1982.

DERM CONSULT

Presented by CSC Dermatology Questions from the community answered by doctors

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Almost 20 years ago, Dr. Steil learned from the best, Danny Vleggar, MD. He was a trained Poly-L-Lactic Acid Specialist who taught her how to apply the filler like an expert. For aging facial skin, Poly-L-Lactic Acid can add volume, structure, balance and lift. For younger patients, it can be used to improve facial symmetry.

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Coming in

FROM OUTSIDE

DuPagePads’ new housing model offers a permanent path out of homelessness

BY MAUREEN CALLAHAN

For the last 35 years, many in this community remember assisting DuPagePads- formerly known by the acronym P.A.D.S.- Public Action to Deliver Shelter- in their church basements. Scout troops, youth groups and others, made up a cast of thousands of volunteers that cared for their neighbors’ most basic human needs. From organizing supply drives, to making dinner, to setting out the actual pads for guests to sleep on, the organization has brought DuPage County residents in from the cold. And cared for them. And made them feel wanted and welcome.

But what happened in the morning?

In the former congregate model, people would arrive in the evening, use the shower, have dinner, and go to sleep. Most had nowhere to go after breakfast the next morning. Often, they spent the day trying to get to the next shelter, on public transportation, often with children in tow.

It’s impossible to build a life in that situation, let alone manage the stress and anxiety that accompany it.

The pandemic forced the hand of an overdue solution. Congregate shelters,

deemed unsafe in March of 2020, were closed, leaving many homeless DuPage residents literally out in the cold. April Redzic, President & CEO of DuPagePads, was brand new to the organization at that moment. She assembled her team and took a hard look at the situation.

They decided to pivot the entire Pads shelter model from single nights at church locations to one of temporary residency. Their medical-respite location, a former Downers Grove hotel, became an interim-housing complex. The major change was one of the first under Redzik’s tenure.

Redzic is a hands-on leader, jumping in to help wherever needed.

DuPage is the first community in this state, and one of only three in the country, to utilize this residential prototype. “As we pioneer this model, I meet regularly with other shelter providers who are looking to set up a similar situation,” said Redzik. “The data shows how well this works for our clients, so while we’re the first, we certainly won’t be alone.”

So far, the new model has brought many positive changes. Data collected from residents who were surveyed showed a 75% decrease in mental and physical health incidents among clients, simply because people had a safe place to stay.

DuPagePads is now able to accommodate short term, emergency housing situations, as well as several-month stays. Unlike the former congregate model, clients now have their own space, similar to an apartment complex. “It’s amazing how life improves when people have

a front door and shower of their own,” Redzic commented. “While the goal is to have clients and families stay in interim housing for as few days as possible, they are welcome to stay until a suitable housing alternative becomes available.”

offers clients access to the skills necessary to find employment. Plans are in the works for College of DuPage to partner with the organization to offer GED classes, as well as IT certification, job coaching, and interview prep. Onsite computers are available to aid clients with job searching.

The shift in the housing model has brought DuPagePads’ ultimate goal more clearly into the light-to help clients find a permanent way out of homelessness and into a new life. Clients now have daytime hours to spend on resources to help better their situation. Time formerly spent moving to the next shelter during the day, is now freed up to spend with their case managers, social workers assigned to each client. The Empowerment Center- a career and vocational service,

From their interim-housing stop, DuPagePads works to connect clients with other options in the community for housing, whether that’s an apartment they are renting on their own after they’ve become employed, another housing provider in the community, or another social services program that will help them with their unique needs. Each client has their own situation, so case managers work to help them end their homelessness in the best way for their circumstances.

For Redzic, now in her third year at the helm of DuPagePads, ensuring shelter is a cause for which she has always had a particular passion. But

Redzic at A Taste of Hope, DuPagePads' yearly fundraiser

“I don’t think people appreciate the bravery it takes to walk into an unfamiliar space and tell strangers you have no home.”

-APRIL REDZIK, DUPAGEPADS PRESIDENT & CEO

it’s nothing new. Her mother led by example, encouraging Redzic as a child to bake cupcakes for a homeless shelter near Joliet, in hopes of making the guests smile. Her mother still works in a food bank. Caring for others is a quality tightly woven into the fabric of her family.

Clearly, it’s who she is.

Redzic began her career as the editor of Spirit, Catholic Charities’ donor magazine. She eventually worked up to the role of Director of Communications. During that time, she also helped found a literacy program at a homeless shelter in the city. She found herself at the crossroads of remaining in non-profit work and returning to school to pursue a Doctorate of English.

An unexpected detour presented itself one freezing cold Christmas morning as she watched two little boys squeal

Her experience helped her hone the skills she uses daily to promote DuPagePads’ feeling of home. She sees each client as an individual with a unique set of circumstances. They’re everyday people, needing some temporary assistance as they overcome a stumbling block on their journey.

The nature of the organization is one which sees the full circle of life. Of their approximately 300 clients, about a hundred are children. Since DuPagePads acquired the property last March, six clients have welcomed new babies.

A client in their care is currently in stage four cancer. “We want him to feel cared for, while also having as much independence and dignity as possible,” Redzic feels. “Him being with us, versus being unsheltered, or living in a car, for example, is just so much better. I’m glad he’s here.”

Designs with Dignity, a non-profit organization, is currently working to execute plans to make the former hotel rooms at the interim housing complex more family or roommate friendly. “While folks are here with us, we want them to feel as welcome and comfortable as possible on their journey out of homelessness,” said Redzik. “People come with belongings and need space.” Updates to the property are ongoing, including repairing the exterior stucco, building an outdoor play area, and creating a pleasant garden space for clients to enjoy.

with joy while dodging ice banks in a shelter parking lot as they rode new scooters. They had just received their first-ever Christmas gifts.

“That was it for me,” Redzic smiled, as she recalled the scene. “That moment changed my life. Those little kids stole my heart.”

She earned a Master of Non-Profit Administration from Notre Dame. Her first few years in the field were spent at United Way, before moving on to Kids Above All, a Chicagoland non-profit based on child welfare and early education.

A couple that came to DuPagePads last year were placed in supportive housing (subsidized housing for clients who have been homeless and meet eligibility requirements). They recently passed away, but it was with dignity, in their own space. While the community mourned them, they were also able to celebrate that their former clients were independent, with their own space, at the end of their lives.

While they’re there, every effort is made for clients to feel at home. A resource room, located onsite, is stocked with toiletries, clothing, food, and other sundries. A recent Mother’s

Every year, Taste of Hope, DuPagePads’ annual fundraiser, raises money for the organization’s current needs. Last year’s event raised the final dollars needed to purchase the hotel that has become the interim housing residence. This year’s proceeds will go toward the new kitchen, which is in the process of being built.

“I don’t think people appreciate the bravery it takes to walk into an unfamiliar space and tell strangers you have no home,” said Redzic, when asked to sum up her clearest observation thus far. “So often we have the head of a family walk in and tell us just that, for the sake of their children. It takes a ton of courage.” Come what may, DuPagePads will help. ■

Day brunch donated by several volunteer groups gave resident moms their first reason in a while to smile.

Volunteers organize donated resources in the interim housing complex

The front door at Pads is always open

JOIN OUR WAIT POOL EARLY FOR PRIORITY PLACEMENT. SELECT 6TH GRADE OPENINGS AVAILABLE.

Schedule your personal tour and learn why more and more families are choosing Timothy Christian Schools for a Biblically-rooted education.

PS-12TH GRADE NONDENOMINATIONAL BIBLICALLY-ROOTED TRADITIONAL VALUES

Timothy offers over 40 extracurriculars and co-curriculars, and over 20 Advanced Placement®, Dual Credit, and Honors classes.

2023–2024 OPEN HOUSES

High School Showcase Night, November 6

Elementary Open House, November 13 (Grades 1-6)

Middle School Open House, November 27 (Grades 6-8)

Preschool Information Night, December 4

Kindergarten Information Night, December 13

timothychristian.com/tour ACCREDITED

“Having a like-minded community of other parents who believe in the timeless virtues and values of the Bible has dramatically impacted my family’s life.”

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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Timothy Christian Schools

188 W. Butterfield Road Elmhurst, IL 630.782.4046

804 Bibles given to PS-8th grade students this year.

One of a Kind

Architectural Gems in the Western Suburbs

There is no shortage of unique architecture in the Chicagoland area. In this issue, a handful of homes nestled in the western suburbs are featured that either break away from typical design trends or embrace traditional aesthetics.

BLACKENED STEEL AND GLASS HOUSE

Located in Downers Grove

Built in 1974, the home was originally designed by local architect Richard Marker as his own family residence. Modeled after the Edith Farnsworth House in Plano, IL, built by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Marker's goal when designing and building the home was to create a sleek, modernist house inspired by nature's surrounding elements. Today, the steel structure retains its original glass facade and wood interior, along with some modern updates.

Photo courtesy of Elaine Pagels Group, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices

SPANISH REVIVAL

Located in Elmhurst

During the 1920s, Spanish Revival residences were built throughout the country. This type of architecture was born as a result of the Panama-California Exposition and became a style movement from 1915 to 1931, but examples in the Midwest were very rare. As one of the most recognized houses in Elmhurst, it is the only example of the Spanish Revival style based on an area survey by the City of Elmhurst. The stately house features the style, including ceramic red-tile roofs, rounded arches, and an asymmetrical façade.

CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Oak Brook

Designed by the internationally renowned cutting-edge architect and award-winning Douglas Garofalo, the home was built in 2011, the year before he passed away. This contemporary architecture implementing the Fibonacci Sequence produces visually appealing architecture based on the proportions, size, and placement of one element compared to another. Constructed of steel, glass, and concrete and featuring a three-story horn in the back makes this home a unique find in the western suburbs.

Photo courtesy Chris Pequet, Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

Photo courtesy of Lina Shah, Coldwell Banker Realty

THE ROBERT VIAL HOUSE

Located in Burr Ridge

Built in 1856 as the residence of Mr. Robert Vial, it is considered to be the oldest farmhouse in the community. Showcasing a mix of Italianate and Greek Revival styles of architecture, it is now operated as a museum by the Flagg Creek Heritage Society and open for public viewing. The house remained in its original location until 1989, when Roger Anderson, owner of the Timber Trails Golf Course, sold the building to the Flagg Creek Historical Society for $1 with the caveat that the building would be moved to another location. The house was moved from its original location to Wolf Road.

MIDCENTURY MODERN RESTORATION

Located in Hinsdale

Built and designed in 1958 by architects George Fred Keck and William Keck, it is believed to be the only Keck-designed home in Hinsdale. The U-shaped five bedroom six bathroom home was recently renovated with many of the original details saved, returning it to its midcentury modern glory. This spring, the village's Historic Preservation Commission unanimously recommended the Village Board approve landmark status for the house.

Photo by 726 Visuals

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Mama Maria’s

Restaurant & Pizzeria

is an Elmhurst eatery which has been serving quality pizzas & pastas since 1982. It was one of the first pizzerias in this area to offer a panzerotti.

They’ve also made a name for thincrust pizzas, specialty items such as a white pizza topped with artichokes & basil & a full line of Italian pastas. You can choose to takeout or have your food delivered.

211

Hours:

Elmhurst Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

BY ELMHURST MAGAZINE STAFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

On Monday, May 29, 2023, the community of Elmhurst once again honored the men and women of our nation’s armed services, both past and present. Some 68 entries made up the parade which concluded with a ceremony at the Veterans Memorial at Wilder Park. Russell Cafario, a United States Army combat veteran of the Vietnam War, was honored as Grand Marshall. The accompanying photos by Victor Hilitski captured the parade, the ceremony, and the residents who lined the streets and attended the ceremony. On a beautiful morning, all of it was a fitting remembrance. ■

THE SPRING INN

The oldest bar in Elmhurst

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY LAURA MEYER

The Spring Inn Proprietor Pete Harmon

Pete Harmon, and his wife, Becky, are the current proprietors of the Spring Inn. Pete recently sat down with Elmhurst Magazine to recount some of its colorful 90-year-old history on Spring Road in Elmhurst and how it is evolving.

A LITTLE HISTORY

“The Spring Inn, at 552 S. Spring Road, is the oldest bar in town at the same location since the early 1930s,” Pete said. “Before that, the building housed a Ball shoe store. The name, Spring Inn, dates back to the early 1960s.”

Dave Agnew owned the bar from 1983 until he sold it to Pete in 2017. The bar was well known for serving quality food until the kitchen closed ten years ago, although it still offers pizza which is quite popular.

Pete said, “I would love to serve food from a menu, but as a father with a growing family, I had to decide on serving food or spending more time with my growing family. I chose to be more active with my children.” (Pete enjoys coaching his son’s baseball team and the daily drop-offs for school and other activities.)

He adds, “Although it was a tough decision not serving food, it has led to many people deciding to come to Spring Inn for parties and fund raisers. The idea of not being obligated to a set menu allows customers to bring in food of their choice.”

As a result, without the regular grind of serving food, he has been able to concentrate on the bar and the atmosphere, working to keep regulars happy and welcoming new faces.

And, therein lies the secret of a neighborhood bar - a “dive bar” - where regulars like to congregate. In the early days, the Spring Inn fit the description of a “dive bar,” defined as “a comfortable but-basic-neighborhood pub” by the Urban Dictionary. Shawna Cory recently wrote in the Boston Eater, «A dive bar is a watering hole…a perfect place to cele-

brate a happy occasion, drown your sorrows, or just watch a game on a Sunday afternoon. There›s a certain level of comfort in knowing what to expect. A good dive bar will make you feel at home even if you›ve never been there. It can also be easy on the wallet.» According to sociologist Kathy Giuffre, «It serves as a ‹third place›… outside the home or work where you can build a little community.»

“Great tunes, nice crowd, and the bartender Pete is awesome!”

- Yelp.com

“This is a great neighborhood bar… they do not serve food as of now… great place to meet up with friends.”

-Tripadvisor

Pete said, “Since we bought the place six years ago, and during the pandemic, we have taken a ‘cozy, homey, nostalgic’ dive that needed some love and turned it into a clean and simple neighborhood tavern.”

“The regulars are the key, and so are my bartenders, several of whom have been here for over ten years,” Pete continued. “Over time, the regulars have come to know they can ask each other questions and who has the best advice on certain subjects. That’s just the way it is...people helping and looking out for each other.”

THE BAR AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS

The Spring Inn fits both descriptions perfectly. And guests agree.

“The Spring Inn is a guaranteed good time on Saturdays and Sundays when Evan bartends.”

- Yelp.com

One of the other most important features of the Spring Inn is the bar itself. The bar and back shelf are a classic 19th-century design believed to have been built in 1917. It was brought from a bar in Berwyn to Elmhurst in the 1930s. Over decades, as

“I felt that if I didn’t buy it, a lot of people would feel they would lose a place very special.”

- PETE HARMON

many as a half-dozen coats of lacquer were added to the previous layer. When the pandemic closed the bar down, with the help of his wife and in-laws, Pete completely stripped, sanded, and then it was polyurethaned. It was a pleasant surprise to find a bar top made of Honduran Mahogany, and the face of the bar was crotch Walnut. That size of Mahogany is simply not available anymore. When guests pass through the front door, they are greeted with the unique wood bar - a true piece of history.

Of course, the bar offers a solid array of Scotch, Bourbon, other liquor, and popular beers and seltzers.

With the help of Pete’s father, good friends Don Mulvey and Rick Gehr, and countless others, they completely cleaned up the inside and added a new exterior. “It was an example of the bar family coming together,” Pete said.

HOW PETE HARMON CAME TO BE A SPRING INN CUSTOMER, AND THEN THE OWNER

Pete grew up in Elmhurst at Third and Walnut, in the middle of what is

now Elmhurst Centre, and described growing up as a storybook childhood. He walked a mile each way through Elmhurst College and Wilder Park to Immaculate Conception Grammar School and then attended York High School, graduating in 1991.

One of the best ways a young man could make money in Elmhurst, and still is, was to caddy at a local country club. Pete caddied at Butterfield Country Club and described it as “the best job I ever had. I learned about a hard day’s work, the value of money, as well as a lot of things they don’t teach you in school. The whole experience for me was like the movie Caddyshack.”

“As it happened, one of the local caddies, Mike Leen, also bartended at the Spring Inn. After a long day on the course, we would gather at night for a few cold ones,” Pete said. “The first time I stopped in, I may have been a little young, but I instantly fell in love with the place.”

After putting in his time and gaining the respect of the regulars, he became a part of the bar family. Although he came from a great loving family, he was amazed by the camaraderie and

how almost any problem or issue in life could be solved or helped by someone in that bar family. Pete knew he wanted to buy it within a few years of being a patron. Years passed, and after a career in mortgage lending, Pete decided to work fulltime at the bar. Dave taught Pete the business, and the two devised a plan for Pete to take over.

Pete said, “I felt that if I didn’t buy the place, I and many others over many generations would feel they would lose a place very special to them. These places are torn down every day and that wasn’t going to happen with the Spring Inn.”

Pete is also proud to say the Spring Inn is where he met his wife, Becky. He adds, “It has become a meeting place for many couples.”

THE BEER GARDEN

The Spring Inn is also becoming known for its Beer Garden, in which Pete showcases almost 200 types of plants each summer. “The compilation of plants is impressive to even the most experienced gardeners. I’ve been an avid gardener with my Mom ever since I can remember,” Pete said. “Our Beer Garden isn’t the biggest, but you can enjoy a pleasant libation with one of the resident hummingbirds.”

To keep things going in the colder weather, Pete and his staff have created over-the-top Halloween decorations and first-class Thanksgiving and Christmas decor to put people in the holiday spirit. Even the St. Patrick’s Day Parade started as an idea among some Spring Inn regulars who also owned businesses up and down Spring Road. Today, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the second-largest parade in Chicagoland and draws 25,000+ attendees. The Spring Inn is also an active participant with Riley’s Gathering Place at the Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot each Thanksgiving.

As Elmhurst’s oldest bar, Pete Harmon loves the Spring Inn more than ever. And so do the regulars.  ■

The Spring Inn beer garden in Elmhurst

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Links & Drinks

plus post-round cuisine

You don’t have to join a country club to enjoy a round of golf on a beautifully manicured course followed beverages and bites at a quality clubhouse or onsite restaurant. Whether you’re a scratch golfer or still growing your game, this list of local courses is sure to provide a pick with the perfect level of challenge and a stunning setting for your “nine and wine” outing or well-earned meal after playing 18. Not a golfer? Skip the greens, and head straight to the 19th hole!

BY VALERIE HARDY

ARROWHEAD GOLF CLUB

Wheaton

With three nine-hole courses, yielding three separate 18-hole configurations, golfers will not get tired of golfing Arrowhead, a staple in the western suburbs for nearly a century. Arrowhead Restaurant & Bar features a comprehensive lunch and dinner menu, and its dining terrace overlooking the course offers breathtaking views, especially at sunset.

BELMONT GOLF CLUB

Downers Grove

Formerly titled Downers Grove Golf Club, this historic nine-hole course reopened this season as Belmont Golf Club, a throwback to the site’s name in the late 19th and early 20th century. Signage denotes the holes’ unique new names, each reminiscent of the course’s or golf’s origins or descriptive of the hole’s layout. For example, the third hole is “Tweedie” after the course’s early president, and the fourth hole is “Blind” since

Reserve 22 is located at Village Links in Glen Ellyn and recently won an award for best outdoor dining. Photo courtesy of Village Links Golf Course

it contains a blind tee shot. A historic clock tower will round out the course’s refreshed yet classic vibe. After golfing, grab a drink in the recently renovated clubhouse or new pergola area.

CANTIGNY GOLF Wheaton

The names – Woodside, Lakeside, and Hillside – of Cantigny’s three ninehole courses say it all. The picturesque, rolling terrain and 27 challenging holes have drawn golfers from near and far over the past three decades. Enjoy seasonal, house-made fare in Fareways Grill’s dining room, lounge, or covered patio, which overlook the course and Swan Lake.

COG HILL GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB

Lemont

This renowned club features four 18-hole courses. All are open to the public, including the nationally ranked Course No. 4, or “DUBSDREAD,” a long-standing stop on the PGA Tour. Cog Hill also offers 42 lighted and heated driving range bays with food and beverages available at the range. For a more leisurely drinking or dining experience, visit Cog Hill’s Bar & Grill for locally sourced menu items and a glass of Cog Hill Long Drive Ale, brewed by Lemont’s own Pollyana Brewing Company.

MISTWOOD GOLF CLUB

Romeoville

Mistwood Golf Club features 20 St. Andrews-style sod-wall bunkers, making the 18-hole course in suburban Chicago feel straight out of Scotland. To continue to experience a taste of Scotland, literally, visit McWethy’s Tavern for a hearty dinner or lighter lunch from the “Pick Two” menu. Seating is available in multiple dining areas and patios, and if you miss McWethy’s during the off-season, just join the Tavern’s SOUPscription service to receive four containers of the chef’s specialty soup each month.

Village Links in Glen Ellyn has both a nine-hole and 18-hole course. Photo courtesy of Village Links Golf Course

OAK BROOK GOLF CLUB

Oak Brook

This pristine 18-hole course beckons golfers of all levels. For those wanting to finesse their swing this season, driving range memberships ($1,000) allow for unlimited use of the club’s north range April-October. With indoor and outdoor seating and a range of refreshments, the Patio Bar is a perfect place to unwind.

SUGAR CREEK GOLF COURSE

Villa Park

A nine-hole course owned and operated by the Elmhurst Park District and Village of Villa Park, Sugar Creek challenges experienced players yet is short enough to be accessible for beginning golfers. A three-acre pond comes into play on four holes. The clubhouse, featuring a banquet room, bar, and deck area, is an ideal setting to refuel after a round.

VILLAGE LINKS

Glen Ellyn

Village Links boasts both a nine-hole and an 18-hole course and is both beautiful and functional. Owned by the village, it has a sophisticated stormwater detention system incorporated into the property. The course’s restaurant, Reserve 22 (named for the number lakes at the Links), was recently awarded the Diner’s Choice award for Best Outdoor Dining in the Chicago area, and with a bee apiary and greenhouse on site, the restaurant’s delectable dishes often feature its fresh honey and produce.

WILLOW CREST GOLF CLUB

Oak Brook

Located on the grounds of the Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort, this 18-hole course features multi-tiered tees, providing a challenging golf experience for any player. The property has two restaurants on site, including the Tin Cup Bar & Grille, serving classic American fare. Visit Willow Crest to feel like you are on a golf getaway just minutes from home!

A View from hole 8 tee box at Belmont Golf Club in Downers Grove.

Photo by 726 Visuals

Cog Hill Golf & Country Club in Lemont features four 18-hole courses and is open to the public.

Photo by Charles Cherney Photography

Cantigny Golf's Lakeside Course Hole #1.

Photo courtesy of Cantigny Golf

M. Sullivan and Brian D. Sullivan

CRAFTING A UNIQUE BUSINESS IN ELMHURST

Elevating the craft beer scene in Elmhurst

BY DAVE NOBLE

Elmhurst residents have been supporting craft beer for more than a decade. There’s a brewery in town, a yearly beer festival, and just about every local restaurant and bar has craft beer options. So it was not much of a surprise when a craft beer shop opened up in the heart of Elmhurst City Centre a few months ago.

Located at 105 N. York St., Beer on the Wall is both a retail store and a bar. Bottles and cans can be purchased either for consumption on-site or taken home. The walls, shelves, and refrigerator display hundreds of beers and dozens of beer styles. What separates a bottle shop from a traditional liquor store is the vast selection of limited distribution, hard-to-find beers, and the option to purchase single cans.

According to Corporate Buyer and Development Manager Adam Vavrick, Elmhurst was an easy choice for Beer on the Wall to open its third location. “Elmhurst had all the things we look for, said Vavrick, “A train line, a bustling downtown, and a commitment to transit-oriented density.”

There are 20 craft beers, ciders, and seltzers on tap, plus an additional “beer engine” tap handle with a rotating cask-conditioned beer. For those

interested in traditional big beers, customers will find that Beer on the Wall also sells common products like Miller Lite, Budweiser, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Modelo. In addition, they also have a small but thoughtfully curated collection of wine and spirits for on-premise consumption. While Beer on the Wall does not serve food other than some salty snacks like pretzels, customers are allowed – and encouraged – to bring in food or have it delivered to the store.

Inside Beer on the Wall is an inviting space for customers to hang out. Lower-seated tables, console video game systems, a weekly trivia night, and frequent beer tastings often hosted by brewery representatives are among the

Fest, Vavrick has worked with local restaurants to make ordering food easy for customers. “We want people to visit the nearby restaurants and bars to ensure that our neighbors are doing well.”

Connecting with people is also a top priority for Vavrick and his staff. “It’s been fun trying to create new regulars. People who came into our place on the first day are still coming in. We have a bit of a different vibe than other bars. We challenge you to try different things.”

Business hours for Beer on the Wall are 2:00-9:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, and 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. ■

reasons that people want to spend time at the bottle shop. Plentiful sidewalk seating, including a walk-up service window with bar stools make for a pleasant outdoor experience as well.

For Vavrick and his staff, fitting in with other bars and restaurants in the area is among his primary goals. “We’re really excited to be a part of Elmhurst. It’s been cool to get things up and running and see how we fit into the neighborhood.” In addition to collaborating with Elmhurst Brewing Company last year to create a special beer for the 2022 Elmhurst Craft Beer

Beer on the Wall recently opened its third location in Elmhurst.

Above Par

BY CHUCK FIELDMAN

The Oak Brook Golf Club remains a popular destination for golfers 40 years after opening.

The Golf Club, 2606 York Road, is part of the village-owned Oak Brook Sports Core, which is a 269-acre, open-space facility that also features the Bath & Tennis Cub and athletic fields.

Opened in 1982, the 18-hole, par 72 golf course is 6,541 yards long and features bent grass tees, fairways and greens, water hazards on nine of 18 holes, and multiple playing strategies throughout. The practice facilities at the Golf Club include an all-grass tee driving range and two practice putting and chipping greens.

“The Sports Core, including the Golf Club and Bath & Tennis Club, is the crown jewel of Oak Brook, which we were fortunate to be able to acquire from Oak Brook founder Paul Butler in 1977,” newly-election Village President Larry Herman said. “More than anything, it was important to both Butler and the village to protect

the open space of the Sports Core in perpetuity. The Golf Club is an exceptionally well-managed and profitable facility that enjoys broad utilization by our residents and business community, while also forever providing land for rain infiltration and storm water relief,” Herman added.

Jeff Kawucha, head golf professional/manager of the Golf Club, said approximately 40,000 rounds of golf are played each year. Of those, 15-20% are played by Oak Brook residents. “Past and current administration have been very supported of the golf club,” Kawucha said. “Village trustees and village staff continue to reinvest in the facility. Most noteworthy is the enhancement of the food and beverage operation. The addition of the restaurant and patio has been well received by the community.”

Kawucha said the biggest challenges of operating the Golf Club are the volume of rounds played, range usage, and restaurant activity on some days. “It can be stressful at

times,’ he said. “We strive to put out our best product and service daily. Overall, it’s a fun challenge.”

During his tenure at the Golf Club, Kawucha said he has most enjoyed working with his staff. “My team is filled with fun, hardworking and loyal individuals,” he said. “They make the culture and the facility what it is. I am proud to work with them daily.”

Oak Brook resident Harry Kallas said he’s been playing at the Oak Brook Golf Club for many years. “It’s only been the last five years that I have played on a regular basis,” he said, adding that he plays once or twice a week. “The course is in great shape, and I live close, but the bar and patio they added are great additions,” Kallas said. “I can’t say enough nice things about the staff.”

Kallas said he plays golf on many different courses and always enjoys a round in Oak Brook. “I play everywhere, and they all have their plus and minuses, but they do a nice job here,” he said.” Jeff really does a nice

Oak Brook Golf Club remains a favorite for many after 40 years

job staffing the facility. They are very friendly, and the service is excellent.”

Chris Marquez of River Forest has been playing at the Oak Brook Golf Club for six years and also is a fan of the facility. During the peak season, he uses the driving range twice a week and plays 18 holes twice a month. “I like the people and atmosphere, affable and attentive staff,” Marquez said. “They’re always hospitable and sincerely concerned with making sure each experience at Oak Brook is enjoyable. Everything runs smoothly — reception, bar, starter, carts, and patio.”

Marquez said he continues coming back to the Oak Brook Golf Club to play because of its easygoing, hardworking staff, well-maintained course and range, along with a convenient location and reasonable pricing. “I don’t really play other Chicagoland public courses, mainly because I think for the price, Oak Brook is hard to beat,” he said. “You won’t find better service.”

Bill Spartz of Western Springs said he’s been playing at the Oak Brook Golf Club for the past 39 years and now comes weekly for a round. “There are better golf courses and better facilities in the Chicago area, no doubt,” he said. “What the Oak Brook Golf Club does best is make you want to drive past the other courses because they have created a relationship between the staff and members/patrons.” Spartz listed the friendliness of the staff and patrons,

along with the quality of the golf and facilities, as strong points of the Oak Brook Golf Club. “The head pro and course superintendent set the tone for the golf course and facility,” he said. “It’s my sincere hope that Oak Brook residents realize the wonderful asset the Oak Brook Golf Club is to their neighbors in the sur-

rounding communities.”

Information about tee times, golf instruction, memberships, and daily fees may be found online at golfoakbrook.org. ■

“What the Oak Brook Golf Club does best is make you want to drive past the other courses because they have created a relationship between the staff and members/patrons.”

- BILL SPARTZ OF WESTERN SPRINGS

Hole 9

Elmhurst Farmers Market Growing the right way

BY LARRY ATSEFF | PHOTOS BY VICTOR HILITSKI

Every Wednesday from June to the end of October in the Vallette/York business district at 105 E. Vallette, dozens of honest-to-goodness small - - and some large - farmers offer their fresh-picked fruits, vegetables, baked goods, cheeses, and other homemade delights. Eager residents fill the parking lots from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and drive back home, knowing they have helped themselves to delicious ingredients, produce, and other goods - while helping hard-working entrepreneurs.

Behind the scenes, Adam Krzemkowski has slowly but surely, grown the Elmhurst Farmers Market from seven farmers to 37 over the last ten years. He said, "I screen all the farmers, using maps and coordinates to ensure they run real farms. One of my favorites is Spartan Gourmet Foods. This farmer grows his olives, processes them in Greece, and ships them here to the United States. He has a nice business going." He added, "Most farmers have just a few acres, but others, like Nichols Farm & Orchard in Marengo, have over 250 acres and do big business."

In addition to running the Elmhurst Farmers Market, Krzemkowski also operates South Town Hot Dogs, so he understands what it is like to operate a small business. It is next to the Farmers Market and has been a family business for thirty years. Local businesses like Gramex (Great American Exteriors) can also participate. "As far as I am concerned, this has turned out to be a win-win for everyone, including the local businesses, and I really enjoy it," he said. ■

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