SEPTEMBER 2010
WHEATON/GLEN ELLYN
Arrival Week of September 1, 2010

AUTUMN LIVING
Fall is all about tradition. For years, residents have been participating in annual events and taking advantage of all the great fall festivities their city has to offer. This month, meet 10 community neighbors and find out what their Autumn traditions are, plus take a tour of their home online! Additionally, this fantastic fall issue will include useful information on outdoor parks and recreation the whole family will enjoy; local experts will share on how to make your holiday table top décor just right and the kids will jump with excitement when they hear about the pumpkin patches, hayrides and other fabulous fun fall activities highlighted in this month’s issue.

THE BIG STORY: Friendship Flourishes in the Fall
"Who are the people in your neighborhood" is more than a Sesame Street tune. It is the question explored by homeowners associations and community groups. With today's busy lifestyle, getting to know the neighbors can be challenging. These groups have scheduled intentional encounters to make it easier for neighbors to become friends.

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7 SPECTACULAR: Home Services You'll Need this Fall
We all know to change the (smoke detector) batteries when we change the clocks; twice per year. However, early fall is also a great time to perform maintenance on other areas of your home that could benefit from some pre-winter preparation. Homeowners, now's the time to book these 7 SPECTACULAR HOME SERVICES YOU'LL NEED THIS FALL:
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WHO’S WHO IN NON PROFIT: Preserving the Past for the Future
When Peggy Frank took over as Executive Director of Naper Settlement in 1979, she was apprehensive. "I wondered if had bitten off more than I could chew," she recalls, "but it was such a warm, positive environment, that I soon knew I had come to the right place. I thought I would stay three to five years but after five years, I realized that I could grow with the organization and didn't need to leave."
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LOVABLE LOCALS: Two Naperville Residents Share a Delicious Television Debut
Naperville area residents Scott Fischer and Kristina Svec were among the hundreds of hopefuls who stood in line for hours in the winter cold outside of Sur La Table in Naperville on January 24 to audition for MasterChef. The Fox show starring Gordon Ramsey offers amateur chefs a chance to become a master chef with an ultimate prize of $250,000 and the opportunity to publish a cookbook. Auditions were held in eleven US locations, including Naperville. Here are Kristina and Scott's stories of their moment in the spotlight.> Full Story

NEIGHBOR OF THE MONTH: AwesomeAlumnus
ON-AIR FOX REPORTER SANDRA SMITH
Wheaton Graduate Is On The Air at FOX Business Network
Sandra Smith might be reporting on the floor of the Chicago Board of Trade one day and in a New York studio the next. Some days she is at makeup at 4 a.m. and does not finish her day until after a 9 p.m. news segment. As an on-air reporter for the FOX Business Network, Sandra's life is very different from her predictable days growing up in Wheaton when her grade school, Madison Elementary, was right behind her house. She moved through her school years with a group of close friends. > Full Story

HOMEMADE BUSINESS: Business Focuses on Curb Appeal
In a frenzy to find the right shade of blue curtains to go with the new sofa and the numerous other decisions to be made for decorating a home's interior, many homeowners forget about the exterior of their home. Even the finest wood floors and stainless steel appliances won't help a home look appealing from the outside. Fortunately, there is someone like Kate Hipp to help. > Full Story

DINING CRITIQUES: Barone's & Alfie's Inn
This month there are two amazing places that Laura & Stephen Price of Glen Ellyn critique –Barone's Pizza of Glen Ellyn & Alfie's Inn. Find out what they reccommend from appetizers all the way through to dessert.
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PORTRAITS: 10 Pieces of Hidden Art Around Town
Art pops up everywhere in Wheaton & Glen Ellyn, both towns that love beauty. Here is the story behind ten "hidden" pieces around the community. Look for these treasures as you journey about town this summer.
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SPLENDID CHEF: Carrying on the Family Restaurant Tradition
Childhood for Eric Garber wasn't all playgrounds and ball fields. Since his grandfather owned a five-star rated restaurant in Bloomingdale, Eric would often "spend time messing around in the restaurant kitchen." he explains. "The chefs would make things for me and as I got older, the head chef took time to show me how to do a few things." Eric took several cooking classes during his high school years at Glenbard West and then entered the culinary program at College of DuPage.
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RESIDENT RECIPE SHARE: Local Mom is a Food Expert
Amy Raczka knows her flavors. As a consumer foods culinary consultant with a bachelor's degree in food science, she has done everything from lettuce research to product testing for new brands. Currently the Glen Ellyn mother of three is updating recipes for the website of a major food company. "Some recipes have been on websites for a long time and a product used in the recipe gets discontinued or cooking times need adjustment or there are just simply changes in taste.
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HAPPY WITH GRUMPY, MONTHLY HUMOR COLUMN BY HILARY DECENT: Box of Tricks We were looking for a whip in Lover's Lane, W. Ogden. Before you jump to any conclusions, let me explain. We needed one as a prop for a show I was directing and since Halloween had long gone, it was the only place I could think of that would have one.> Full Story

BOUTIQUE OF THE MONTH : Bella Caley Something New Daily at Bella Caley Two months ago, Naperville couple Cindy and Chris Meals proudly opened the doors to Bella Caley, a one-stop shopping experience designed for the style-conscious woman. Their goal was to create a fun retail environment with unique merchandise including clothing, gifts and home decor. Women can find a great outfit to wear to the neighbor's party, pick up a stunning Posada lantern for a hostess gift and rejoice over finding the perfect piece of Ambrato art glass for the living room, all at this trendy boutique. The shop even caters to men with a dedicated shopping respite area outfitted with a television and seats comfy enough to enjoy waiting for fashion decisions to be made. > Full Story

TERRIFIC TEACHER: Wheaton Drama Teacher Plays Many Roles
Wheaton mom, Cindy Bolds has been a nurse, a military agent, an anchor women and dozens of other roles during her years of television, radio and theater work. "I started being interested in theater while I was a student at Glenbard South and then got a degree in theatre in college," she explains. "I worked at a radio station, made some connections and started going to auditions." She has worked with Big Idea Productions, Tower Productions and other production companies filling various roles and doing voice-overs.
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