Glancer Magazine, December 2022 : simplebooklet.com

15 FASCINATING FACES Celebrating Area Residents & their 2022 Achievements As we continue to celebrate the season, this month we are also celebrating 15 Fascinating Faces of 2022. Our cover story high-lights residents who have made a difference in the western sub-urbs this past year, making the world around them a better place. In addition to celebrating these area residents, our pages feature 5 Things to Do– spotlighting 5 local events that are extra festive and extra fun! We also feature 10 Trends in Celebrating the New Year inviting you and yours to ring in the new year at a local fa-vorite, and you’ll love our 7 Spectacular Places that Made a Dif-ference In 2022 highlighting featurettes on giving back and helping the community. Stay connected to www.GlancerMagazine.com all season long for daily posts, photos features, event highlights and more. Happy Holidays to you and yours! We can’t wait to celebreat with you. ! Lindy Kleivo Founder/Publishing Director Lindy Is Pictured Celebrating Her 50th with Friends at Hugo’s In NapervilleDECEMBER 2022TABLE OF CONTENTST E A M G L A N C E R PUBLISHER Glancer Magazine, Inc. PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Lindy Kleivo EDITORIAL | Print + Digital Kristen Kucharski Columnist / Writer Mindy Kyle Columnist / Writer Brianna Bartemeyer Features Writer SALES / MARKETING Lindy Kleivo Publishing Director PHOTOGRAPHY Mike Catuara Features Photographer P U B L I C A T I O N S GLANCER MAGAZINE A West Suburban Chicago Lifestyle Magazine Featuring the Best of West Suburban Chicago for Communities In DuPage, Kane & Kendall GLANCERMAGAZINE.COM A Hyper-Local Daily Features Site Highlighting On Trend Stories for Communities In DuPage, Kane & Kendall GLANCER GO-TO GUIDE Highlighting Local On Trend Events + Deals for For Communities In DuPage, Kane & Kendall C O N T A C T U S EDITORIAL Press Releases, Local Events, Community News editorial@glancermagazine.com ADVERTISING Digital Advertising + Local Marketing Solutions advertising@glancermagazine.com SUBSCRIPTIONS Monthly Download + Daily Digital www.glancermagazine.comGlancer® Magazine, highlighting the best of DuPage, Kane & Kendall Counties, is produced by Glancer® Magazine, Inc. Glancer Magazine, GlancerMagazine.com. You’ve Been Glanced® and the Glancer® logo are registered trademarks of Glancer Magazine, Inc. All rights reserved. Maga-zine reproduction in whole or in part is strictly prohibited. DECEMBER 2022 | Vol 16, Issue 204 15 FASCINATING FACES OF THE YEAR Celebrating 15 area residents who have made a difference in the western suburbs this past year. We are honored to share each of their captivating stories with our readers and we thank the community for another beautiful year in local publishing. Subscribe for daily, weekly and monthly updates at www.GlancerMagazine.com ©Copyright 2022 All Rights Reserved Glancer Magazine, Inc. DDEECCEEMMBBEERR 22002222®Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 55 Hello From Glancer Magazine 7 5 Things to Do 8 10 Trends: Celebraing New Years Locally 11 On Stage: Luminare 12 Sparkle: 2022 Local Holiday Lights List 14 Dining & Cocktails: London House & More 16 Chicago Style: 18 15 Fascinating Faces of 2022 49 Christmas In the Community: A Holiday Guide 64 Trendy Traveler: Tiny Cabins at Starved Rock 67 Shop Gallery Featuring the Hottest Shops 78 Women Inspired: Crystal from Simply Crystal 80 To Give, To Inspire: A.D.O.P.T 82 Unique In Suburbia: Barber Haus 85 Anti-Aging Local Expert Katie McManigal 90 New In Town: Chicken Salad Chick 92 Literary Local: Vincent M. Miceli 93 Wedding Guide, Fall 2022 100 Mom’s Little Black Book: Immersive Game Box 104 Million Dollar Listing: A Naperville Beauty 106 Kid Stuff: Breakfast with Santa & More! 110 7 Spectacular Places that Made a Difference www.glancermagazine.com

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3. The Area’s First Holiday Pop-Up All Season Long! GLEN ELLYN–Announcing the return of this holiday pop-up restaurantt and bar. Running through January 2nd during the restau-rant’s regular business hours. The festive décor includes tens of thou-sands of holiday lights throughout the bar area, four Christmas trees, over 400 snowflakes and an “Instagram-worthy” selfie photo booth with Buddy the Elf. All new for 2022 is the Winter Wonderland themed Dining Room bursting with lights, snowflakes and a 12-foot Christmas tree. www.reserve22.com 4. Eat, Drink & Be Murray Booksigning • Dec 16, 7pm NAPERVILLE–Join this in-person event and signing line to celebrate the release of Eat, Drink, and Be Murray: A Feast of Family Fun and Favorites. www.andersonsbookshop.com DECEMBER 20225 Things to Do1. Jingle Bell Ruckus Saturday, December 10 • 5pm & 8pm GLEN ELLYN–The Second City’s Jingle Bell Ruckus delivers a heaping serving of seasonal satire that’s the perfect al-ternative to those same old holiday shows. Nothing’s sacred: holiday film classics, family gatherings, be-loved Christmas carols, and even Rudolph gets a wicked holiday slant in this fast-paced, interactive comedy revue filled with style, wit, and plenty of that famous Second City improv! www.atthemac.org 2. The " All Ages" Improv Heist Every Sunday at The Comedy Vault BATAVIA–Are you ready for a whole new comedy experience? Enjoy this completely IM-PROVISED comedy show with LIVE music. Fea-turing your favorites from BABS Comedy Club! So don't get held up, get your tickets today and join the HEIST! www.comedyvaultbatavia.comGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 75. Christkindlmarket Through December 24 • Free Admission AURORA–The Christkindlmarket is the most authentic traditional holiday market of its kind outside of Europe, offering a unique shopping experience, family-friendly events & intercultural activities. Lo-cated at RiverEdge Park in Aurora, the event offers free admission. www.christkindlmarket.com

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8 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine10TRENDSIn Celebrating the New Year Locally Celebrating 2023! Celebrate the successes of 2022 and ring in the hope and joys of 2023 locally with these fun and exciting west suburban New Year celebrations. #1 | Superfly Symphony at La Mesa! ST. CHARLES–Celebrate in style with a New Years Eve’s Disco Party at La Mesa Mexican Grill in downtown St.Charles. Enjoy live music by SuperFly Symphony Band with a live DJ in between sets. Two complimentary signature cocktails and an unlimited taco bar all night long are included in your ticket. Cocktail attire. www.vargosdance.com/covid-19-safety-procedures/ #2 | Happy Noon Year! OSWEGO–Ring in the NOON year with this family friendly event where kids of all ages can enjoy New Year’s Eve! Burn off some energy playing in the gym, make a party favor, or grab a snack. This NOON year will be complete with a countdown and balloon drop at noon. www.oswegolandparkdistrict.org/event/happy-noon-year-5/

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#3 | Beach Ball Drop Pool Party AURORA–Let the countdown begin – Ring in the New Year with a cere-monial New Year’s Beach Ball drop countdown. Enjoy a night of water slides, an inflatable obstacle course, splash zones, a zero entry pool, music, and more at the Vaughn Athletic Center. www.foxvalleyparkdistrict.org/event/new-years-beach-ball-drop/ #4 | Rat Pack & The Big Band Dinner/Dance OAK BROOK–The world-renowned Las Vegas-based show, composed of the world’s best Rat Pack impersonators and a 15-piece Big Band, will bring Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dean Martin straight from the Vegas strip. Enjoy premium open bar, savor gourmet bites such as crab cakes, shrimp cocktail, sushi, smoked salmon, and more, desserts, and spacious dance floor at the Hilton. www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/chibhhh-nyepty-25978ec4-dd06-4a52-a389-c7da2f009e13/ #5 | NYE at the Abbington GLEN ELLYN–Celebrate New Years Eve with Abbington Distinctive Ban-quets with a Three Course Gourmet Dinner, Hot & Cold Hors d’ Oeuvres including The Ultimate Seafood Bar, 5 Hour Premium Open Bar, Unlimited Varietal Wine with Dinner, Party Favors, Balloon Drop & Midnight Cham-pagne Toast, and a Late Night Buffet & Sweet Table. www.abbingtonbanquets.com/upcoming-events #6 | Bubble Bash NAPERVILLE–Spend time together creating lasting memories, taking part in special activities, grooving to good music, exploring the DuPage Chil-dren’s Museum’s hands-on exhibits, and counting down with confetti, bub-bles, and more on December 31st from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities include wearable art, bubble wands, firework art, Sensory Snow Bins & Snow Globes, Confetti Poppers & Ribbon Rings, Party Rocket Launchers, Mun-chie Mosaics, and a Noon Countdown. www.dupagechildrens.org/family-fun/bubble-bash/ #7 | Electro Retro DOWNERS GROVE–Ring in the New Year with Electro Retro and your fa-vorite classics from the 70's to today! Keep Dancin' all night long from 9 p.m. till well after midnight at Ballydoyle Irish Pub & Restaurant. www.ballydoylepub.com/ #8 | New Year’s Eve with Joanna Connor AURORA–The Venue in Aurora is host to Joanna Connor on December 31st opening doors at 8 p.m. With National and International accolades in press and radio media resulting into decades of world tours, a dozen re-cordings on Ruf Records, MC Records and others, a documentary on Ger-many’s WDR Television, and a multitude of TV appearances and radio features. Joanna has shared stages with Blues, Rock and Jazz greats, in-cluding Buddy Guy, Luther Allison, BB King, Screaming Jay Hawkins, Robben Ford, Danny Gatton, Robert Cray, Jimmy Page, ZZ Top, Joe Cocker, Etta James, and others and has signed endorsements with Gibson Guitars, Victoria Amps and Orange Amps. www.themusicvenue.org #9 | NYE Date Night YORKVILLE–Enjoy a special date night style menu at the The Persimmon Room at White Tail Ridge Golf Club in Yorkville to bring in the New Year in elegance and class, full of flavor and decadence. www.whitetailridgegc.com #10 | Hilton Chicago NYE 2022 CHICAGO–Ring in NYE 2023 at the Hilton Chicago where Top Media Out-lets Unite For An Annual New Year's Eve Party! Enjoy and All Inclusive Event: Food, Drinks, Entertainment of over 3500 Attendees | 3 Events In-cluded | 1 NYE Ticket for 4 Hour All Inclusive Top Shelf Package, 5.5 Hour VIP All Inclusive Super Top Shelf Package, 12 Party Acts | 7 Party Areas | Massive Ballrooms, Kiss FM’s Hottest DJs and Host, and a Midnight Confetti Storm. www.chicagonye.comGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 910 TRENDS

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Naper Lights Downtown Naperville NAPERVILLE–Enjoy this free dazzling display of holiday lights and sound as you stroll down Water Street, Foyo Plaza, Jaycees Park and the Riverwalk in Downtown Naperville! Visit Naper Lights to get your 3D Viewing glasses! On select Fridays and Saturday evenings, you can also grab a holiday photo with Santa alongside the Great Tree; plus, enjoy music from Bach to Rock on the evenings of December 17th and 18th. Lincoln Park Zoo Lights CHICAGO–Celebrate the holidays with ZooLights Presented by ComEd and Invesco QQQ. This festive, one-of-a-kind holi-day experience offers a merry, family-oriented tradition in the heart of the city. Event runs from November 19th through January 1st. Admission is $5. Check calendar for Sensory-Friendly Nights. Sparkle Light Festival at Impact Field ROSEMONT–The Sparkle Light Festival will be held No-vember 18th through January 1st. Don’t miss this premier holiday light festival in Chicagoland and that will come alive with more magic than ever before. Impact Field in Rosemont will be transformed into five illuminated villages with millions of sparkling lights, custom 3D holiday features, ice tube slide, holiday train adventure, mouth-watering food and drink and much, much more. Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo BROOKFIELD–Now in their 41st year, Brookfield Zoo is Chi-cagoland’s longest-running lights festival featuring over two million twinkling LED lights throughout the Zoo. Bright lights, magical nights and holiday magic can be seen Friday through Sunday, November 25-27; Wednesday through Sunday, No-vember 30, December 1-4, 7-11, 14-18; Monday through Sat-urday, December 26-31. 12 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineEnjoy these Holiday Light Displays throughout the Western Suburbs and Beyond 'Tis the season for festive unique light displays that will sparkle and twinkle all season long. From illuminated walking paths to mesmerizing rows and rows of trees, there are many lighting events happening throughout the Chicagoland area–including award-winning displays that are close to home. Get your twinkle on this holiday season and plan a night to take in the lights!by Kristen Kucharski

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 13Illumination: Tree Lights at The Morton Arboretum LISLE–Explore 50 acres of the Arboretum’s majestic trees during this one-of-a-kind spectacle of color, light, and sound featuring six dazzling new displays as well as returning fa-vorites. During Illumination, you’ll journey along a one-mile paved walking path amid festive music and lighting effects that highlight the beauty of trees in winter from November 19th through January 7, 2023. New this year is Electric Illu-mination, a late-night experience for adults 18 and older with a curated mix of trance and progressive house music, syn-chronized to the breathtaking light displays on December 16, 23, and 30th. Lightscape at Chicago Botannical Garden GLENCOE–Our acclaimed holiday event returns, with a new path and new light-filled installations created just for the Chi-cago Botanic Garden. Explore the whimsy of nature in winter through music, light, fire, and color. Featured artistic works will include favorites such as the luminous Winter Cathedral and a reimagined fire garden. Celebrate outside with friends and family at Lightscape, the brightest spot for holiday cheer. Festival of Lights at Cosley Zoo WHEATON–November 25th through December 30th marks the time Cosley Zoo is transformed into a winter wonderland with thousands of twinkling lights, an amazing selection of Christmas trees, wreaths and greenery, hot chocolate, and a unique assortment of holiday gifts in the Wild Side Gift Shop. All proceeds from this event benefit Cosley Zoo.F Festival of Lights at Phillips Park Zoo AURORA–The Aurora's Festival of Lights is one of the largest free outdoor drive-through holiday light displays in Northern Illinois featuring thousands of twinkling lights, shimmering snowflakes high above the trees, a 20’ singing, dancing Christmas tree, and so much more. This is what the season is all about…making and sharing memories with all. The fes-tival will be open from November 25th through December 26th from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Winterlights in the Fabyan Japanese Garden BATAVIA– Step into an ethereal winter landscape with an evening light display at the Fabyan Japanese Garden this season. Located at Fabyan Japanese Garden 1925 S. Bata-via Avenue in Geneva. The Believe HouseVIEW & SHARESPARKLE: HOLIDAY LIGHT LIST 2022

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RUDOLPH’S HOLIDAY ROOFTOP How amazing is this! Enjoy beautiful skyline views and endless holi-day cheer at Rudolph’s Holiday Rooftop. Located atop the London-House Chicago, this seasonal pop-up includes sparkly features, festive menu items, private igloos, holiday décor, and photo back-drops. Contact rsvp@londonhouse.com to book your table. LondonHouse Chicago is also hosting LH 21 New Year's Eve cele-bration. Whether you're looking to jam out with special guest DJ Nabbs in the 21st floor lounge or dance the night away to DJ Rahm B in the Etoile terrace. LondonHouse offers you a front row seat to the city's annual fireworks display along with it's sweeping views. Your ticket grants you access to the 4-hour premium bar, Chicago's hottest DJ's, passed hors d'oeuvres, photo booth a complimentary Cham-pagne toast to ring in the new year. www.londonhousechicago.com/rooftop/ NEXT STOP: CHICAGOSKYLINE DININGDININGDINING + COCKTAILS14 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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DINING + COCKTAILSKris Kringle Market at Obscurity Brewing ELBURN–Obscurity's Kris Kringle Market held in The Warehouse on North (just west of Obscurity Brewing) will feature dozens of ven-dors for you to shop and support local businesses! Stop in for lunch, enjoy some holiday brews and stay to shop around. You’ll love this festive and fun local event. The American Legion will be out in the-parking lot with their Christmas Tree Farm. www.drinkobscurity.com/ CCoocckkttaaiillssToast the Season at the New Classic Christmas Bar Inside Two Brothers Roundhouse AURORA–Get ready for a memorable holiday experience in the exclusive classic Christmas Bar at the Two Brothers Round-house. The popular restaurant has converted their ever-so-spec-tacular Zephyr Room into the place to be this holiday season. There will only be a few event dates and seating is limited so be sure to purchase tickets early. www.twobrothersbrewing.com/restaurants/roundhouse/Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 15An Amazingly Over-the-Top, 21+, Christmas Experience CHICAGO–Frosty’s Bar is back for the 2022 Holiday season better than ever! They have decked the halls across 4 bars, 3 levels for infinite possibilities and Christmas fun! You’ll love their sensational seasonal cocktails, wonderfully interactive holiday photo experiences, lights & music and the party always goes late! Enjoy a Holiday Bar experience that will knock your Christmas stockings off with Frosty’s! www.welovefrostys.com

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CHICAGO STYLE16 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineAt Lyric Opera House December 3-27 Magic is on the horizon for young Marie and the Nutcracker Prince, thanks to a visit from the charming but mysterious Great Impresario. At the stroke of midnight on a snowy Christ-mas Eve when the lines between fantasy and reality blur to-gether, Marie sets out on an unforgettable journey through Chicago’s 1893 World’s Fair, a marvel of sights, sounds, and enchantment. This annual holiday tradition celebrates the magic of the season and the rich cultural heritage of Chi-cago.Chicago's iconic landmarks, the harbor and more One of Chicago's hottest DJs making sure you enjoy every minute 3 floors of fun with 2 of them being indoor and climate-controlled. Fully stocked bars serving up your favorite drinks Dance floor ready for you to take a spin! This production is recommended for children ages 5 and up. www.joffrey.orgCHICAGO STYLEThe Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker Chicago Style

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 19 Saul Cabrera NAPERVILLE–He is ambitious and passionate with an entrepreneurial spirit. He is happily married to his partner Jose Martinez and loves what he does as the owner of Sugar Milk Cafe in Naperville. ”I've always dreamt of owning my own cafe shop that provided something different by combining my creative ideas and my culture to produce delicious coffee, teas, and colorful milkshakes,” Saul shares. “I opened the cafe during the midst of COVID, so there was a lot of uncertainty; but thankfully, the community embraced Sugar Milk Cafe and we've been able to continue to serve the community.” His family has been his biggest supporter and his pride of his Hispanic heritage and culture shine throughout the cafe. A wall devoted to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo is among the features that Saul displays proudly, along with serving chilaquiles and churros among common staples such as crepes, paninis, French Toast, Latte’s, Cappuccino’s, Chai’s, Matcha, Frappe’s, and over the top decorative Milk-shakes. “I love everything but if I had to pick my favorite item, I would say the Chicken Pesto and the Special Nutella Frappe,” he says. Saul enjoys supporting Naperville by providing gift certificates to local charities, a 50% discount to local police and fire-fighters, and a 10% military discount. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara Each December we feature 15 Fascinating Faces of the Year, highlighting suburban residents who are making a difference in the lives around them. Each story is inspiring in its own unique way. We are honored to announce this feature for 2022. We thanks each featured resident for this opportunity to share their story.

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 21Officer Alexis Hammer NAPERVILLE–Alexis always wanted to be a K9 officer. They have always been her superheroes. Once she began her own career in law enforcement, she gained even more respect for the K9 position and made it her ultimate goal. “I studied, researched, and attended multiple training sessions to gain as much knowledge as I could,” Alexis says “Needless to say, I am thrilled and honored to be Dax’s partner, and I look forward to an incredible journey together with the Naper-ville Police Department.” Officer Alexis Hammer and her partner Dax (German Shep-herd) are assigned to patrol. This is a uniformed position, and she drives a specially marked K-9 vehicle. Along with general patrol duties, as a patrol K-9 officer, she and Dax conduct building, evidence and suspect searches; track missing per-sons and suspects; and detect illegal narcotics. Her biggest support systems are her personal and police fam-ilies. Alexis has always served the community, even as a young Plainfield Juniorette, a group she continues to support through speaking engagements. Alexis is very busy as a wife and mother of four young boys. Her determination, work ethic, and genuine concern for others provides the opportunity to continually create the best version of herself. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 23K.C. Gulbro WEST CHICAGO/GENEVA–Chef and Restaurant owner K.C. (Kristopher) Gulbro’s passion for food came at an early age, working in the restaurant industry since he was sixteen and holding every position from dishwasher to line cook. After years of mastering his skills in the restaurant and hospitality industry, K.C. and his father Curt, opened the doors to FoxFire restaurant in 2003. He is grateful for the mentors along the way who taught him about pricing, interactions with customers, and how to be humble. “Working with my dad is the biggest highlight of my career. He taught me how to be a good businessman and more im-portantly, how to be a good person,” K.C. says. “Having been chosen to be Chef Ambassador for Certified Angus Beef® is certainly the “icing on the steak”, I mean cake [laughs].” Constantly inspired by the Geneva community, K.C. and his team opened his second venture, Copper Fox Pub and Ban-quet Hall and he takes every opportunity to make everyday the best it can be, sponsoring Geneva youth baseball and Special Olympics. He also volunteers at church, and rides with his Motorcycle Club to support charities. K.C. tries to hold steadfast to the words, Wherever God puts me, I try to be.. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 25Ashlie Anderson BATAVIA/MONTGOMERY–As the founder of the Fox Valley Ballet, a 501c3 organization, Ashlie enjoys bringing the joy and artistry of dance to the Fox Valley region through pre-pro-fessional ballet training and performances, including The Fox Valley Nutcracker recently performed at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre. Andersen continues to utilize her family’s background and skills in technical theater with her husband’s business being a production company, and throws in special effects, moving sets and scenery and other magic! “Audience members saw a new flying effect we added this year which is always fun to watch and see.” Ashlie is also a big supporter of giving back to the community. Fox Valley Ballet reopened its scholarship funding this past season benefitting individual scholarships totalling more than $5000 to help support the artistic excellence of pre-profes-sional dancers. In that same spirit, characters from the show visited the pediatric department at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, IL annually, showering the children there with gifts. Nutcracker dancers also perform and cook meals for the fam-ilies at the Ronald McDonald House. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 27Cheryl Sorenson WEST CHICAGO/WHEATON/GLEN ELLYN–As a Christian, Cheryl’s faith directs her work and she is inspired by Micah 6:8: And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. After learning of a Kenyan girl who was unable to attend school during her monthly menses, Cheryl was motivated by this gender inequality to help form Dignity4Girls and hold sew-ins to make washable pads and send 2,000 feminine hygiene kits to Kenya; so today, the girl who once missed school dur-ing her period, is currently attending nursing college on a Dig-nity4Girls scholarship. As Cheryl became more aware that females faced challenges in the form of bias, discrimination, and inequality, she pursued a M.A. in Humanitarian and Disaster Leadership at Wheaton College while also earning her Trauma Certificate. “My graduate-level coursework and experiences through Dig-nity4Girls prepared me to work with refugee women at my cur-rent job at Re:new Project in Glen Ellyn where Artisans sew exceptional handcrafted bags available for sale,” she says. “Re:new Project is where my passion for empowering women and post-traumatic growth intersect.” Cheryl receives support from her husband and three children while living out her passion to respond to the needs of at-risk women worldwide. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 29Dr. Fariha Querishi DOWNERS GROVE/WOODRIDGE–When Fariha was in dental school she had visions of heated/massage seats, Blue-tooth sunglasses, and televisions on the ceiling when she imagined her own future practice that focused on the patient experience while also offering the most advanced treatment options like veneers, implants, and clear aligners. “My mother, Habeeba, taught me from a young age that any-thing I aspire to achieve is possible with hard work and perse-verance,” Fariha shares. “My husband, Akif was my sounding board throughout the process, helping me balance my per-sonal and professional goals while raising our three beautiful girls, Haniya (6), Hafsa (3) and Zara (8 months).” She built her dream practice, Seven Bridges Dental Studio from scratch while keeping her passion for oral health and community at the forefront. “For every new patient that joins my practice I work with Bless-ings in a Backpack to provide three weekends worth of meals to a child facing food insecurity locally,” she adds. Fariha is passionate, artistic, and driven, striving to be the best in all aspects of her life. She lives by the mantra, Don't limit your aspirations to others' expectations. Believe in yourself, envision your success and work towards your goals because your dream can become reality! -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 31Amy Johnson KANE COUNTY–Amy was born in Kane County and still lives here with her husband while also staying actively involved in coaching soccer, volunteering at school, and teaching at Elgin Community College and Aurora University. “I find that engaging positively with students helps them not only grow academically but also have further trust in what law enforcement is doing in order to better our relationships with the community,” Amy says. “I am also actively involved in the Citizens Police Academy (CPA) hosted by the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.” Trusting local law enforcement is important to her because Amy has recently been appointed as the first female Under-sheriff at the Kane County Sheriff’s Office. During her almost 20-year career, she has worked as a Patrol Deputy, Officer in Charge, Recruitment Officer, Investigator/Detective, Crime Scene Evidence Technician, Grant Writer, Field Training Of-ficer and Juvenile Officer. She was also a member of the Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team and is an active member of the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force as a Lead Crime Scene Investigator. “I was lucky to have amazing mentors within the Kane County Sheriff’s Office and surrounding local agencies,” she says. “My mentors taught me leadership is not about titles, positions or work hours. It’s about relationships.” -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 33Jill Wijangco NAPERVILLE–Jill’s son Max was a spirited, fun loving, smart, quick, incredibly athletic boy who could fill up an entire room with his presence. Although he seemingly had everything going for him, he took his life on March 10, 2022 at 15 years old. Within a week of his loss Jill knew they had to help to spread mental health awareness and carry on Max’s legacy. “By forming this nonprofit and being open about our journey, we are helping to erase the stigma and bring about more open conversations about therapy, mental heath and suicide,” Jill shares. “Mental health is as important as physical health. I recently posted on the @maxs.mission Instagram about another suicide loss survivor mom who talked about mental health and dental health. It takes the average person 11 years to get help for their mental health from the onset of an issue. Imagine if we waited 11 years to get a cavity worked on after it started. Think about that.” Jill is grateful for Amy Toepper of AMT Law, LLC who created their 501(c)(3) and Claire Krzyzewski who designed their logo that highlights Max’s love for skateboarding and also conveys infinite hope and love. She has made it her mission to carry on Max’s Mission. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 35Lora Vitek ST. CHARLES–Her friends think she has an unbelievable amount of energy and have no idea how she does it all. Lora is energetic, outgoing, and passionate and brings invaluable experience from her previous role as the 4th Ward Alderper-son for the City of St. Charles to her current role as Mayor, leading with the city’s best interests in mind. She is also the Executive Director of Delta Dental of Illinois Foundation in Naperville and Former President of the West Suburban Phil-anthropic Network. Lora is constantly encouraged by her partner Matt Hubbard, and her two children, Grace (15) and Quinn (12). “My daugh-ter was a big inspiration for me to run for Mayor, she says. “She encouraged me by saying, Mom, not many people have this opportunity. You do. You should at least try.” Although Lora holds a Master of Business Administration and Master of Management from North Park University, as well as a Bachelors of Science in Marketing from Millikin University, she depends on other strong female leaders, such as her campaign manager and friend, Colleen Wiese to share their positivity, guidance, and direct feedback. “Words I always try to live by and teach my children: Be a good human; and do not judge people – everyone has a story.” -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 37Nicole Waite NAPERVILLE–Naperville resident and member of Our Sav-iour's Lutheran Church in Naperville, Nicole Waite has vol-unteered as a choir teacher, children’s summer camp instructor, and more. She married her high school sweetheart, started her career as a teacher, and then raised her three chil-dren. During that time, she opened a piano studio, a photog-raphy studio, worked as a Learning Behavior Specialist Assistant, and is currently dedicating her time to the non-profit organization, Haiti Scholars. Combining a strong work ethic with a kind heart, Nicole pas-sionately led a team to Centre D'Etudes Lumiere School in Mariani, Haiti, in 2018, and they continue to empower families through educational assistance. “At Haiti Scholars, we aim to serve the whole child with schol-arships, school supplies, tutoring, physicals, deworming and vitamin A programs, food kits, and clean water systems,” Nic-ole says. “We are proud of our scholarship program, which has grown from 20 students in 2018 to 60 students in 2022.” Nicole prays a lot. She knows that this mission has been placed in her heart for a reason even though at times it is hard, challenging, and heartbreaking, yet miracles keep happening. “Our lives are richer because of our beautiful friends in Haiti,” she says. “They have taught us the gifts of perseverance, strength, and faith.” -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 39William Wong NAPERVILLE–After losing his sister to cancer in 2011, William realized that he needed to do something he loved, so he took his passions for technology, kids, and teaching and founded the U.S. Engineering League (USEL) – Midwest, where he coaches students for robotics competitions leading them to national and international competitions. “My mom and her mom were teachers, and my great-grand-father started a college in China,” he says. “I had pursued an engineering degree, worked 20 years in technology consult-ing, working my way up to vice president of technology and CIO roles in major corporations. I followed the corporate ca-reer path, only to fall back into what my family has always done.” William pursues grants to get robotics programming into un-derserved schools; and currently runs programs in East Au-rora, Barrington, and Bolingbrook. He enjoys seeing his students move on to engineering degrees and careers, and educating student teachers at Naperville Central College with STEM specialties. Generous, genuine, and laid back, William serves as vice president of the Aurora Public Library Foundation Board of Di-rectors and has aided in raising millions for the bookmobile program. The new children’s section of the library will be named in honor of his daughter, Madison (13). -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 41Jenny Latham NAPERVILLE/AURORA–Celidan Florist is a family owned flo-ral business that has been invested in the local Naperville community for over 25 years. Jenny began working with her mom from day one, even laying the tile floor at their first loca-tion. Jenny helped while in college, earned her Elementary Education degree, got married, had three kids, immersed her-self in PTA, Scouts, Waubonsie Valley High School Show Choir, and Marching Band; however, still always managed to work at the shop each week, now taking over after her mother passed away recently. “My mom and I spent almost every day together. Even if I was-n't at the flower shop, we would walk the dogs or talk every day,” Jenny says. “She taught me how to be a good mom, be a good person and be a good business woman.” Jenny works hard to please others and make use of every hour of every day, living by the words of Travis Tritt's song "It's a Great Day to be Alive". She views all strangers as friends that she hasn’t met yet, and values getting to know her cus-tomers personally, and supporting charitable organizations in the community. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos by Mike Catuara

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 43Clare Doran GLEN ELLYN–Ever since Clare had children (now 20 and 21 years old), she volunteered in the community as a way to get involved while still putting her family first. She volunteered at Treasure House resale shop, Glen Ellyn Food Pantry, Friends of Glen Ellyn Library, and Glenbard Parent Series to name a few; and then came across the Glen Ellyn Fire Department. “When I realized that they were wanting firefighters rather than people to help in the office, I had second thoughts, doubting my strength and experience; but they taught me everything I needed to know to become a state trained firefighter,” Clare says. “So many times during training I looked at a task and thought I don’t think I’ll be able to do this, but I’ll give it a go. I now tell my children and friends to just give it a go, you may be surprised at the outcome.” Glen Ellyn Volunteer Fire Company has volunteers from all backgrounds and a variety of jobs bringing a vast amount of skills and viewpoints to the calls, which makes the department so great. This stay-at-home mom, in her mid-40s was willing and flex-ible to try something different and has loved every minute of serving her community. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 45Digvijay Roal NAPERVILLE–There’s a reason that patients love Naperville resident Digvijay Raol, Pharm.D., the pharmacy manager at Walgreens #4874 in La Grange Highlands, Illinois. Regard-less of how busy he is, Dr. Raol—known as V.J.—ensures his customers’ needs are met, whether they’re regular patients of his or not. His dedication to patient care is what led him to receive cus-tomer nominations in the 2022 Best of the Best Pharmacy Awards by SingleCare, but it’s his focus on leading the next generation that led him to be named Best Pharmacy Mentor. Loyal, empathetic and hardworking are the qualities he brings every day to assisting patients, mentoring students, and being fully present for his wife and two young kids. “Pharmacists have a unique opportunity to build long-term re-lationships with their patients,” he says. “You have to be car-ing and a good listener. A lot of times, people are frustrated or they’re sick and just don’t have anyone at home.” He stays involved with the community as a preceptor for Mid-western College of Pharmacy and UIC College of Pharmacy, as well as by administering immunizations at local companies, churches and schools, such as the teachers of Chicago public schools and Brookfield Zoo employees. -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 47Anthony Elkareh NAPERVILLE–Being brought up in a Lebanese household, Anthony’s dad always said, “Dream with your eyes open” in Arabic. He watched his dad come to America with empty pockets and a dream and succeeding. This inspired Anthony to take his passion for the arts and pursue fashion, modeling, acting, and singing while simultaneously obtaining a market-ing degree at Loyola University. “I’m using my education to learn to market myself,” he shares. “I exercise the tools I’ve acquired from school throughout the content I create, as well as modeling jobs.” Sharing his feelings via songwriting prompted the release of his first single, “STAY” which has reached 12,000 streams on Spotify. Working as a waiter at a local pub funds his music production, including his second single, “Make Some Space”. Tik Tok followers are inspired by his recognizable physical changes of losing 100 pounds with the added bonus of a total mental transformation and spiritual growth shared via his pod-cast “E&E With Anth”. “I want kids to understand that happiness starts from within,” Anthony says. “Forming relationships with other people can be one of the greatest experiences in life; however, none of us can excel in that aspect until we have a harmonious rela-tionship with ourselves. linktr.ee/anthonyelkareh -Kristen Kucharski, Photos Submitted

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52 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineGIFT CARDS & MORE Give the Gift of Relaxation ABOUT ELEMENTS MASSAGE GENEVA At Elements Massage™, we do one thing: massage, and we are proud of our high client satisfaction scores. Experience the difference with our month-to-month membership program, the Elements Wellness Program™, and our guarantee, The Elements Promise™ — all built around our therapeutic, handcrafted, and personalized approach to massage that we call The Ele-ments Way®. Massages include: The Elements massage therapists in Geneva, IL listen to your needs and employ the proper techniques to deliver a truly therapeutic experience. We invite you to experience the rejuvenating benefits of massage therapy today and discover the positive effect it can have on your body and your well-being. Therapeutic massage is a medically proven method for supporting your health and wellness. You’ll enjoy benefits of… Relief from back and neck pain Reduced stress Increased circulation Improved range of motion We have hundreds of weekly massage appointments available. Contact us to schedule a massage session, or visit us today - walk-ins welcome! www.elementsmassage.com/geneva CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022

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CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022BG HOSPITALITY GROUP Gift Card Special Gia Mia • Moto Imoto • Livia Italian Eatery BG Hospiotality Group has an amazing holiday special hap-pening all month long! When you buy a gift card for $100 you’ll receive a $120 Loyalty Bonus Punch Card* *When you dine-in at any of the locations in 2023, you’ll re-ceive a $10 punch off of each month with your loyalty bonus card. One redemption per month ($120 yearly total value). No cash value. not valid with gratuity or gift card purchases. Not responsible if lost or stolen. Cannot be combined with any other offers. www.giamiapizzabar.com www.motoimoto.com www.liviaitalianeatery.com 54 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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GROW WELL YOGA Find Peace, Growth & Personal Wellness this Season NAPERVILLE–Grow Well Yoga, Barre and Fitness seeks to share the integration of body and mind that invites balance, peace and wellness. You will find various styles of yoga, including gentle Hatha Yoga with meditation, Vinyasa Flow, strengthening Barre Yoga and re-laxing Restorative Yoga as well as traditional Barre classes for all fitness levels. Visit their website to meet their professional instructors and dis-cover what might help you in your journey to peace, growth and personal wellness. Studio manager Mary Ellen Taylor is a certified yoga instructor and yoga therapist, clinical hypnotist and Reiki Master who also offers Yoga Therapy through Grow Wellness Group Therapy & Counseling. The new studio is at 200 E 5th Avenue, Naperville. Learn more online today! www.growwellyoga.com CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 202256 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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NAPERVILLE Plan Your Holiday Outing & Make Your Reservation Today! NAPERVILLE- From friendly competition and entertainment to awesome holiday packages, WhirlyBall Naperville provides the perfect venue for your holiday get-together. The two-story “ea-tertainment” complex features a variety of activities including WhirlyBall, LaserTag, HyperBowling, and bowling plus private event spaces for groups of up to 250. Round out your holiday party with customized menus featuring The Pivot Room’s selec-tion of elevated American fare and 24 rotating craft beer taps. Book your holiday party today! Whirlyball Naperville 3103 Oddyssey, Naperville (630) 932-4800 • www.whirlyball.com celebrate!CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 57

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58 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineDOWNTOWN DOWNERS GROVE A Fun Season Ahead DOWNERS GROVE–While shopping and dining, don’t miss out on the festive fun downtown Downers Grove! The Gingerbread House Contest voting runs through December 4th, but houses will be on display through December 11th. Grab the family and head to find the nearly 50 Gingerbread Men hiding in the windows of participating businesses. Kids can pickup a prize upon completion & adults can be entered in to a drawing for downtown Downers Grove Gift Certif-icates. Strolling Holiday Carolers will spread holiday cheer downtown Downers Grove on Saturday & Sunday afternoons. Santa will be in his house Saturdays and Sundays 1-4 pm, for complimentary visits. Don’t miss Merry Madness, which will be held on December 15th from 5-8 pm. New this year! First 200 receive a swag bag, & you may be one of the lucky ones with a downtown DG gift certificate or one to a participating business. Take a picture under the ornament arch. Post it on Facebook or In-stagram & include #HolidaysInDTDG. You are then entered into a weekly drawing for a $25 Downtown Downers Grove Gift Certificate. All the festive details can be found at downtowndg.org. www.downtowndg.orgCHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 59HOLIDAY FUN IN AURORA Holiday Express at Blackberry Farm Holiday Express at Blackberry Farm 100 S. Barnes Road, Aurora, Illinois ● 630-892-1550 AURORA–Bring the family for a magical and memorable ex-perience – just like visiting the North Pole! Blackberry Farm is a winter wonderland amid thousands of twinkling lights, festive holiday decorations and happy holiday music. Take a ride on the Holiday Express train – a charming tour around scenic Lake Gregory – and enjoy a hay wagon ride, too. Back in the historic pioneer village, you’ll enjoy crafts, a reindeer food bar, story readings of holiday classics at the one-room schoolhouse and…a special visit with Santa. Tickets go on sale November 10 at 9am. www.blackberryfarm.info/ holiday-express/CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 63CHRISTMAS IN THE COMMUNITY 2022GIFT CARDS & MORE Give the Gift of Downtown Naperville NAPERVILLE–There is so much to do in Downtown Naperville this holiday season! With a wide variety of shops (national names to one-of-a-kind boutiques) and 50+ restaurants (world-class fine dining to casual quick eats), along with family-friendly events like our Santa Mailbox (leave your return address and he’ll send you a note back), Holiday Scavenger Hunts, Snowman Holiday Window Paintings, and more… you’re sure to get in the holiday spirit in Downtown Naperville! Don’t forget you can also stay in Downtown Naperville at the beautiful Hotel Indigo! Stuck looking for the perfect gift? Downtown Naperville gift cards are accepted at 150+ merchants, so let your loved one choose their own treasure with a Downtown Naperville gift card! Come shop, dine, explore, and be merry in Downtown Nap-erville! www.downtownnaperville.com

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64 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineTrendY New Outposts for Trending Tiny Cabins Include Starved Rock 10 NEW OUTPOSTS OPENING WITH 28 OUTPOSTS NATIONWIDE Nestled among mature trees, rolling hills and ridges, is Get-away's newest outpost in Ottawa, IL- just 1.5 hours from Chi-cago. These tiny cabins give guests the opportunity to be at one with nature with a scenic pond onsite and picturesque views from the majestic Illinois River just a short walk away. These tiny cabins have everything you need and nothing you don't. Each cabin includes a queen bed, a hot shower and a two-burner stove, plus other necessities. Adding to the experi-ence, guests can purchase S'mores,Trending Tiny Cabins In the Heart of Starved Rock TravelerTRENDY TRAVELER

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 65Coffee + Tea, Firewood + Firestarte. There's even amenities for your pets. Outposts are designed to be more than a destination, but a way to create distance from the relentless demands of work, schedules, and technology. Getaway wants their guests to experience unscheduled, unstructured, and uninterrupted free time — not just for rest and re-juvenation, but to foster inspiration, creativity, and connection. Getaway’s founder, Jon Staff, grew up in rural Minnesota with most of his childhood spent outdoors. On the heels of a demanding startup job, Jon found himself burned out and longing for the role nature played in his youth. He quit and left the city behind in a 26’ Airstream trailer to take time to reflect. While traveling, Jon discovered that being in nature was critical to his well-being, productivity, and happiness. So much so that in the summer of 2015, Jon and his college buddy Pete Davis launched Getaway. With 15 Outposts and counting, Getaway offers simple escapes to nature within two hours of major cities across the country — inviting guests to savor their free time, find balance through disconnection, and enjoy the company of those who matter most. TRENDY TRAVELER

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68 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineHOME DESIGN IT’S TIME TO “PEP’ THE HALLS ST. CHARLES–Have you ever stared at photos of beautifully designed homes and wished you could shop everything pictured? A curated line of “designer-approved” goods hand selected by a pro and placed in one accessible shop? The Pep Line in downtown St. Charles by Peppeard Design designer and owner, Shannon Peppeard, offers just that! Shannon has been working with clients to create amazing spaces in their homes for over 15 years. Her work has been featured in numerous magazines including HGTV, House of Markor, and Modern Luxury Interiors. The Pep Line features a line of curated goods hand selected by Shannon that she herself uses in many of her client’s homes. The shoppe carries a wide variety of goods for the home including furniture, artwork, lighting, rugs, drapery, pillows and accessories. The Pep Line Holiday Collection is also available in-store and online now! Recently crowned “Finest Furniture Store” & “One of the Finest Home Decor Stores” by Kane County Magazine’s Finest Reader’s Choice Awards, The Pep Line also was featured on the CBS series, Destination TV: Chicago, as one of the area’s hottest businesses. Both The Pep Line shoppe and Peppeard Design studio are located under one roof inside The Collins House giving visitors a taste of how the products look inside a real home. The Pep Line also hosts frequent after-hours events in their space - evenings to sip and shop with friends and get design tips from Shannon. For more information on the The Pep Line visit thepepline.com. The Pep Line & Peppeard Design 201 Cedar Ave, St. Charles | 630-549-7088 www.thepepline.com | www.peppearddesign.com Photography by Kelly VanderploegShop Gallery

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70 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineTWO LOCAL BOUTIQUES FEATURING LIVERPOOL’S HOTTEST STYLES WHEATON & ST. CHARLES–Jill Card opened Jeans and a Cute Top after years of working in retail and corporate sales jobs, wearing boring suits, un-comfortable panty hose, and predictable white dress shirts. The name was in-spired by her first date with her husband when she asked, “What should I wear?” and her husband replied: “Jeans and a cute top.” When Jill was getting ready for that first date, she didn’t have a great pair of jeans or a cute top in her closet and had to borrow an outfit from her sister, a flight attendant with a much more fun wardrobe. As she got older, Jill couldn’t find any great jeans for women in their 30s and 40s. Stores catered to teenagers or grandmas. The unflattering ‘Mom’ jeans filled in that age gap. Now, in Jill’s closet, you’ll find about 40 pairs of jeans. She has 8-10 pairs in regular rotation. Her go-to, favorite pair is the Gia from Liverpool—the denim is super soft and keeps its shape. Jeans & A Cute Top is the solution for women who don’t want to look ridiculous trying to dress like their daughters but also refuse to settle for shapeless lounge wear. Jill hand selects every item in the store, going to trade shows looking for style over trend, and finding affordable, beautiful clothes that work for all women, not just size 0 models. You will find Jill working the floor of one of her shops every day—she is committed to changing the world for women one great fitting pair of jeans at a time. www.jeansandacutetop.com Expires 12-31-22Shop Gallery

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ON TREND ESSENTIALS VISIT ONLINE OR IN NORTH AURORA NORTH AURORA–Urban Echo Shop features on trend essentials for the stylish at heart– from clothing and acces-sories, to home decor, unique furniture, gifts and seasonal trends. Owned by local mom and her daughter in Sugar Grove, Illinois, Urban Echo Shop was created to be an adored virtual home-town boutique where only the latest styles and trends are fea-tured. Residents are invited to sit back and relax while browsing the shop’s simplified trend collections online or shop at The Rustic Fox, where you will find over 120+ unique vendors. Each day is a new day at Urban Echo Shop. ON TREND ESSENTIALS FOR THE STYLISH AT HEART Located Inside The Rustic Fox 1790 Town Centre Dr., North Aurora • Vendor #3 At the Entrance to the LeftShop Gallery72 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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74 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineHOLIDAY BEAUTIFUL LIFE IS A PARTY.... DRESS FOR IT BATAVIA–Special Occasions has been charming area residents throughout Chicagoland since 2009 as a premiere destination loca-tion for beautiful gowns, dresses and evening wear. Guests travel from near and far to experience the selection of their dream dress in person, not just online. Visit this shop for all of your holiday party dress. Upon entry into this beautiful downtown Batavia shop, you are welcomed by an array of unique dresses that you can touch and feel, offering you endless pos-sibilities as you search for your dream dress, along with a knowledge-able stylist who is there to guide you. Here, you will find each season’s most sought after styles and must-have dresses. Founded by Mary Marconi-Popiel in 2009, the shop’s attention to de-tail makes the ordinary more extraordinary, giving you a shopping ex-perience that you will not forget. Special Occasions does not simply sell dresses– this local dress boutique sell dreams! Visit today for your next Special Occasion. Special Occasions 2 N Batavia Ave., Batavia, Illinois (630) 406-1515 www.specialoccasionsontheavenue.com Shop Gallery

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OVER 45 VENDORS HOLIDAY CHEER LADIES NIGHT DECEMBER 9 • 6-9pm ST. CHARLES–trend + relic is an experience that shoppers remember, as this unique multi-vendor marketplace has carefully selected experienced merchants who are artisans, builders, refinishers and painters, boutique owners and more each offering the most special items to adorn your home and make you feel beautiful. The talented merchants work hard to create and curate unique items, both vin-tage and new. Many of the treasures that you will find at trend + relic have been handcrafted including jewelry, candles, furniture & art and they have a variety of clothing & accessories, too. Each of the wonderfully talented merchants have created beautiful spaces in the shop as well as local markets so you will find some of your very favorites here. Owned by Karri and Heather, together they bring years of retail, decorating, de-sign, staging and painting experience to the shop. Their vision was to bring a unique shopping experience to Saint Charles like no other– creating a space that felt inspired, comfortable, friendly and passionate. At trend + relic, we are confident that you will experience all that and more. You will also find monthly paint classes which include ‘How To’ and ‘Make and Take’ workshops. Call the shop or visit to learn about upcoming classes, includ-ing girls night out boutique events SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOPPING EVENT December 9 – Fun Holiday Happenings All Evening Long! trend + relic, 1501 Indiana Avenue, St. Charles, Illinois • (630) 803-5253 www.trendandrelic.comShop Gallery76 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 79Simply Crystal Electrolysis and Skin Care ST. CHARLES–Growing up in a challenging household, Crystal always felt blessed to be surrounded by a strong circle of friends that provided her a place to sleep at times. She started working at 13, becoming a waitress at 18, and subsequently working in the corporate world, even-tually putting herself through trade school. As a Licensed Electrologist, Crystal received a lot of client inquiries about their skin, so she returned to school and also became a Licensed Esthetician. Education is first and foremost for Crystal, and her em-ployees. Crystal brought her business into St. Charles and is personally vested in the lives of her clients ensuring to meet their every need, including pro bono electrolysis clients to help them become hair free, per-manently if the situation deems necessary, which has amounted to $40,000.00 in complimentary electrolysis treatments over the years. She also prides herself on using quality products. “Since we started using FarmHouse Fresh products, it’s been hard keeping them on the shelves! Amazing facials that only use 100% nat-ural ingredients, full of potent botanicals grown on the farm daily, all made in the USA, and cruelty free.” Crystal and her husband have been married for 28 years, and have a son, and a daughter. One of Crystal’s favorite inspirations is Maya Angelou, Continue to be who and how you are, to astonish a mean world with your acts of kindness. Continue to allow humor to lighten the burden of your tender hearts. Simply Crystal Skin Care has been/is affiliated with The LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, Random Acts Matter, and OCH Kids. She was also named one of Glancer Magazines 15 Most Charitable Women of the year. Watch for upcoming holiday specials and call today for a complimentary consultation! Simply Crystal Electrolysis and Skin Care Courtyards of St. Charles 457 Dunham Road Inside “InStyle Salon Suites” Suites 117 & 118 www.simplycrystalskincare.com WOMEN INSIREDPictured is Victoria (Top Left), Crystal (Front Left) and Barbara (Top Right) Photos by Mike Catuara

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A.D.O.P.T Pet Shelter NAPERVILLE–With the holidays around the cor-ner, some families may be considering bringing in a new furry member to their home, and let’s face it, what’s cuter than a new pet wearing a big red bow. If you are considering adopting your pet, you need to trust the facility you are adopting from. Consider Naperville’s independent, privately funded, nonprofit no-kill animal shelter, Animals Deserving Of Proper Treatment, other-wise known as A.D.O.P.T Pet Shelter. The shelter cares for and conducts adoptions, has been facilitating good health care and good homes for more than 30 years. In 2009, A.D.O.P.T. started providing in-house medical services to animals in their care and gradually grew the program to include rescue partners and low-income fam-ilies. Currently, the facility runs a weekly vaccine clinic open to the public and performs surgeries four days a week helping thousands of animals yearly. A.D.O.P.T. also serves its community by providing temporary foster care for pets whose family is facing a crisis, like an unex-pected illness or homelessness for example. In recent years, needs have drastically increased as a consequence of the pandemic. Millions of homes got pets in 2020 as work from home became prevalent, unfor-tunately just as kennels, veterinarians and trainers were scaling back services or even closing altogether. This year, those pets are being surrendered to shelters or abandoned at an alarming rate due to those services be-coming less available plus the return to in-person work-places and rising costs. To help facilitate the need, this year, A.D.O.P.T. was able to complete major ren-ovations and improve-ments to its facility and is thrilled to announce as well, the construction of a brand new, standalone medical and surgical center. The 2,000-square-foot Medical Center Clinic will have two exam rooms, an x-ray room, a surgical suite for multiple concur-rent surgeries, a recovery area, a work area for staff, a reception area, and office space for personnel. “The lack of available veterinary care has influenced our desire to open this Medical Center Clinic,” says Chirs Stirn-Yelle, A.D.O.P.T. Executive Director. “We hope to assist families and rescue groups as well as lighten the load for local vet-erinarians who are already overwhelmed by the demand for pet care.” Full completion is expected to be celebrated with a Ribbon Cutting in January. A.D.O.P.T. welcomes resumes and referrals, as they are beginning the process of hiring vet techs, surgeons and additional staff. As well, naming opportunities for the Medical Center Clinic are open for a limited time. To learn more about these opportunities, volunteering, fostering or donating to the organization, contact Executive Director Chris Yelle at chris@adoptpetshelter.org or visit www.adoptpetshelter.org ABOUT THE WRITER Mindy Kyle is passionate about helping people discover what brings them joy and to live a full, healthy and happy life. She has her Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from DePaul University and is a vet-eran of Chicago’s theater and commercial world as well as a graduate of the Second City Improv School. Mindy lives in Naperville with her husband, three children and the cutest dogs in the land. VIEW MINDY’S MONTHLY COLUMN AT www.GlancerMagazine.com/to-give-to-inspireAn Independent, Privately Funded, Nonprofit No-Kill Animal Shelter, Animals Deserving Of Proper Treatment (A.D.O.P.T)CARING + SHARINGGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 81

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BARBER HAUS What do Hugh Jackman, Idris Elba, Jason Momoa and Santa Claus all have in common? They all have a strong beard game. Throughout history, beards were a sign of power and virility. Today it's a form of self expression (and yes, masculinity too!). Trend or not, it's here to stay. And generally speaking, there is a strong resurgence in men’s grooming. Men, just like women, want to feel confident, clean and attractive. Today’s modern man is looking for experiences, high-qual-ity cuts and authenticity. They take pride in their appearance, as it defines their personal style. Amidst all the holiday hustle and bustle - don’t forget about you! Introducing: Barber Haus. Barber Haus, a four-chair barbershop in downtown Naperville, opened its doors in September 2022. Everything they do is signature - specialities include: custom haircuts, beard trims, straight-razor shaves, men’s coloring and grey-color blending. This newly remod-eled space has a modern-classic feel. It’s James Bond meets John Wick … suave, refined, masculine - yet, badass. It’s a vibe. BH takes great pride in educating its clients, too. Whether it’s haircuts (long hair, short hair or fades) or beard trims (long, short or goatee), it doesn’t matter. Its consultative approach allows clients to under-stand styles that will work best for their unique needs and lifestyle. It's about feeling good (and looking good) every day … not just when you leave the shop. In a brick-and-mortar world that’s plagued with e-commerce compe-tition, barbering has the upper hand. After all, there is no way to get a haircut online! And with ‘Movember’ in the rearview mirror, it's time to spruce up this holiday season. UNIQUEby Brianna Bartemeyer Photo Submitted by Barber Hausin Suburbia82 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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Blood Sugar Stability Weight, Aging, and Health Optimization Chronically elevated blood glucose (sugar) increases resistance to in-sulin in your body. This is associated with many negative health out-comes and a shorter overall lifespan. It is well known that elevated blood sugar over time causes type 2 diabetes. Additionally, added sugar in-creases the rate of biological aging. Elevated sugar triggers systemic inflammation, this leads to DNA damage which then causes altered ge-netic expression. With altered genetic expression, risk for diseases such as alzheimers and cancer also increase. Balancing your blood sugar on a consistent basis is an excellent strategy for aging well and lowering your long term risk factors. In 2015, the CDC reported that over 30 million Americans have diabetes and 84 million Americans have pre-diabetes. While the typical education from one’s doctor sounds like “you need to eat better and exercise”, this ad-vice is full of little context or actionable tools. If you’re looking to take your health into your own hands and decrease your long term risk factors, there are a variety of lifestyle habits and strategies to help you do so. First and foremost, focus on a diet high in high-quality protein. Animal products that are well sourced offer a rich abundance of nutrients and the high protein content helps to stabilize internal blood sugar levels. Stress is another thing that can elevate blood sugar levels on a consistent basis. Implementing a daily meditation prac-tice will help to keep stress hormones lower which will help support healthy blood sugar levels. Lastly, moving your body regularly is an ex-cellent approach to teaching your body how to properly utilize and burn up glucose as fuel. This does not need to mean strenuous activity, but meeting your daily 10,000 steps can make a world of difference to your longevity and wellness. The most important takeaway here is understanding that you have con-trol over your ability to regulate your blood sugar levels, which means you have an element of control over your long term health and wellness. ABOUT THE WRITER Katie McManigal is a board-certified nurse practitioner who specializes in functional and regenerative medicine. Her mission and passion are in bringing optimal health to each individual she serves. Katie completed her nurse practitioner degree at Purdue University and went on to open Peak Health Institute in Warrenville, IL. Peak Health Institute is a functional medicine and lifestyle clinic devoted to providing residents with the tools needed to optimize their health. Learn more at www.peakhealthinstitute.com HEALTH + WELLNESSLO CALlndustryEXPERTⓇⓇAnti-Aging LOCAL INDUSTRY EXPERTGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 85

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 87Managing Your Weight through the Holiday Season The holiday season is an exciting time of the year. Family, holiday events, delicious food, gift giving, and the excitement of the little people in our lives. But for many, the holidays also bring on an element of stress. Particularly for those whose health concern is managing their weight. Is it possible to both enjoy the holiday season and not ‘de-prive’ yourself, but also avoid holiday weight gain? Luckily, the answer is yes! At Peak Health Institute we are passionate about creating a lifestyle that is based in nutritionally dense foods. This is what gives you the fuel to be actively engaged and accomplish all of the things you desire. We also believe that community, stress relief, and life enjoyment are high on the list of importance. Our metabolism boost is an excellent way to keep your body processing fatty acids, detoxifying the added element of toxins. This is a great option for maintaining through the sea-son. If you’re looking for solutions to jumpstart your weight loss journey, we also offer customized lab testing, advanced weight loss protocols, and full hormone analysis. At Peak we offer solutions to help you achieve the health you deserve. Peak Health Institute 3S517 Winfield Rd, Warrenville (630)791-9335 www.peakhealthinstitute.com HEALTH + WELLNESSHEALTH SPOTLIGHT

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Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 91Chicken Salad Chick, the Nation’s Only Fast Casual Chicken Salad Restaurant Expands to Batavia BATAVIA–Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced today the grand opening of its first-ever location in the Chicago metro area and the fourth in Illinois. Located at 220 North Randall Road, Chicken Salad Chick Batavia is opening in the former Crabby Boil building in front of Menards and features a drive-thru as well as a private event space. The new restaurant celebrates its grand opening on Tuesday, De-cember 13, and will offer free chicken salad for a year to the first 100 guests. During grand opening week, Batavia guests can expect to experi-ence the Southern hospitality that Chicken Salad Chick is known for with specials and giveaways that include: Tuesday, December 13 – Free Chicken Salad for a Year – The first 100 guests will receive one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month for an entire year, with one of those lucky guests randomly selected to win one large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week. *Guests may arrive starting at 7 a.m. for grand opening day only. Wednesday, December 14 - The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Tumbler** Thursday, December 15 – The first 50 guests to purchase two Quick Chicks of any size will receive a free Chick Cooler** Friday, December 16 – The first 50 guests to purchase a Chick Trio will receive a free Chick Water Bottle** Saturday, December 17 - Buy 2 Quick Chicks and receive 1 free Quick Chick all day long.** www.chickensaladchick.com FALL SHOPPING

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92 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazineby Mindy Kyle Photos SubmittedVincent M. Miceli The Last Triceracorn (Book One) For the last 27 years, Bartlett resident Vincent Miceli has worked as a criminal attorney and never had any plans to author a book. However, as he read to his young daughters as they were growing up, he became bored with reading the same stories over and over again. “I just couldn’t do it anymore,” says Vincent, “so, I made up a story on the spot about a magical bear named Zucco, whose magical fur would shine according to his moods.” From then on, his daughters went to bed excited to hear the next story Vincent would make up for them. His book, The Last Triceracorn (Book One) includes all those made-up stories. After trying to get it pub-lished traditionally for over a year, he decided to self-publish, earn-ing five stars from critics and ranking #1 in sales for the last 4 months through Ingram Sparks Printing under Young Adult Fiction Adventure! The Last Triceracorn is a modern-day fantasy about two strong-willed and gifted sisters who unexpectedly find themselves drawn into this epic tale of worldly destruction, adventure, magic and un-usual settings. The race is on to save a mystical creature, and the earth itself, from the evil clutches of both known and unknown enemies. The book is part of a two-book series with Book 2 being published in the next few months. Currently, The Last Triceracorn (Book One) can be purchased on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and on Vincent’s website, www.vmmbooks.com LITERAARRYYlocalKNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR? We’d Love to Meet Them! Introduce Us at editorial@glancermagazine.com

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AURORA The Blackberry Farm wedding team is excited to create an ex-perience which delivers a lifetime of memories for you and your guests. Our one-of-a-kind setting features country elegance and personalized service that caters to your needs – all at a value that can’t be matched. Planning the big day is a piece of cake. We’ll remove any stress, answer all your questions, and anticipate and communicate every detail in advance of your event. Our space is flexible and beautifully appointed, featuring rustic touches and country charm amidst Blackberry Farm’s historic backdrop. With a convenient location and ample parking, The Barn at Blackberry Farm is the perfect showcase for your big day. As you browse information regarding your wedding, please note that ALL packages include table and chairs at no extra cost. We hope to extend every hospitality to you along your decision-mak-ing process and are here to answer any questions or schedule a tour at your request. SPECIAL FEATURES Picturesque locations throughout Blackberry Farm, Outdoor Ceremony Options, Whiskey Barrel Cocktail Tables, Rustic Bar, Outdoor Patio and Lawn Space The Barn at Blackberry Farm Aurora www.blackberryfarm.com/wine-food/dinner/barnGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 97

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ST. CHARLES The Hotel Baker has established a tradition of elegance and personal service for our many married couples. No matter the season, our professional wedding specialists can assist you in creating a beautiful wedding with memories you will cherish for a lifetime. Dreaming of a beautiful outdoor ceremony? With the scenic Fox River as your backdrop, recite your wedding vows on our Water-front Patio or in our lovely Rose Garden. Then move inside to either our newly-renovated Waterfront Ball-room or our spectacular, two-tiered Rainbow Room where you’ll share your first dance as a married couple amidst the multi-col-ored lights. Your guests will be enchanted with our historic splendor, pol-ished service, and spectacular cuisine. For your rehearsal dinner, ceremony, or reception, the expertise of our wedding staff will ensure that everything, from setting to decor, is abso-lutely perfect. Our wedding menus, from traditional to unique, are designed to provide elegant dining on your special day. Let Hotel Baker turn your fantasy wedding into reality! Our dedicated wedding con-sultants are ready to assist in planning every detail of your wed-ding… Hotel Baker, St. Charles www.hotelbaker.comGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 99

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Immersive Gaming for All Ages! This adventure was like nothing I had ever done before. It was as if we were real live action figures in a video game without the clumsiness of hand controls or virtual reality gear. With the simple use of an adjustable color coded visor on our heads, our team of six entered into a room with four interactive walls that responded to touch and movement. The space was immediately filled with our pre-selected choice, Squid Game, based on the hit Netflix series. The music in the background was intense. The stakes felt high. Our life was not on the line, but our internal competitive spirit sparked our survival mode instincts to endure all six chal-lenges, while maintaining our players’ lives and earning “money” in our piggy bank. In this 60-minute immersive, digital adventure, we were real life contenders in the Squid Games and had to use our 3D mo-tion tracking visors and touch screens to complete Red Light Green Light; Dalgona/Ppopgi (Sugar Honeycombs), Tug of War, Marbles, The Glass Tile Game, and the Final Round (Squid Game). MOM’S little black book100 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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It took a few minutes for us to understand how to use our bodies to accomplish each task. This was a great bonding experience as work-ing as a team was a necessity to beat the clock. We encouraged each other to move for-ward, back, “run”, shuffle, tilt; while helping each other remember images to maintain as many points as possible overall. Cheers, laughter, excitement, and high-fives rooted this adventure. Immersive Gamebox is great for anyone over five (5) years old in groups of up to six (6) per-sons in a room. There are many games to se-lect from to meet your personal interest and abilities, although no experience or athleticism is required. Social adventures include· Squid Game, Angry Birds Bundle, Angry Birds, Alien Aptitude Test, Junior Bundle, Shaun the Sheep, Block Smash Mania, James Bunny, Psychedelic Mansion, Tip Tap Memory Chal-lenge, Temple of Coins Junior, Ticket to Mars, Trivia Mashup, and Championsheeps. This a must-do on your list this holiday season and beyond! OVERVIEW Gameboxes are fully-private, interactive digital rooms featuring projection mapping, touch screens, motion tracking and surround sound, all designed to help you enjoy a hyper-immer-sive gaming experience. Immersive GameBox 545 Oakbrook Center #545 Oak Brook, IL 60523 (630) 320-2503 www.immersivegamebox.com Hours: See website for select times Price $: Varies Depending on Selection ABOUT THE WRITER Kristen Kucharski’s days are never dull, her kids are never bored! Over the years #MomsLittleBlackBook has explored hundreds of kid friendly things to do in our surrounding community and on the road. As her girls have grown and gone away to college, she continues to enjoy unique activities, excursions, day trips, weekend get-a-aways, and road trips while rediscovering my own passion for adventure with friends, girls nights outs, and date nights. In her words “Life is a journey–might as well have fun along the way. Go, fly, roam, travel, voyage, explore, discover!”MOM’S LITTLE BLACK BOOKGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 101

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PERSONABLE, ENERGETIC & CREATIVE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SUSAN COLELLA OF BAIRD & WARNER This proud Naperville resident shares that helping local sellers and buyers doesn’t feel like work making it easy to be dedicated and results oriented When she is hired to list a home she gains much of the mar-keting inspiration from her sellers when she asks “ what do you love about your home?” From there she designs high end customs booklets with professional photography & drone shots, descriptions of updates, & develops unique ways to target the right buyers on the internet. Re-styling her listings with professional staging , 3D tours great for out of state buyers and constant follow up with all parties are all included for her recipe of success! Susan is currently meeting with sellers & buyers now in anticipation of a thriving Spring market~ Call luxury listing agent Susan Colella anytime to discuss your real estate goals for 2022. Susan Colella, Baird & Warner, (630) 946-3813Susan Colella102 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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DDRREEAAMM KKIITTCCHHEENNHOMEWERKS Home Remodeling Gallery Online NAPERVILLE– Recognized as a premiere remodeling company, with a 10,000 square foot showroom in Naperville, HomeWerks has a beautiful online gallery of photos and ideas to help you plan your next remodeling dream come true. Now’s a great time to start planning your next kitchen, bath or basement project! Family owned and operated since 1996, HomeWerks special-izes in full service remodeling. The kitchen and bath displays are interactive, allowing visitors to experience many product features first hand. With the focus of providing high quality products, pro-fessional installation and exceptional customer service HomeWerks Kitchen and Bath • www.myhomewerks.com Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 103Susan Colella

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Kid Stuff106 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer MagazineSundays with Santa BATAVIA BOARDWALK SHOPS • DECEMBER 4, 11 & 18 BATAVIA–The BEST of the holiday season can be found on the Boardwalk...particularly on Sundays in December! Join in on the fun with a free visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus from 12pm to 2pm on Sundays through December 18th. Shop 10 small businesses as well as enjoy other popups throughout the season along the Boardwalk too! RSVP on facebook. www.downtownbatavia.com/batavia-boardwalk-shops/Breakfast with Santa POTTAWATOMIE COMMUNITY CENTER MONDAY, DECEMBER 12 ST. CHARLES–Enjoy a delicious pancake breakfast, provided by Alexander’s Café. Play festive reindeer games and create a special craft. Santa’s visit entails interaction at each table and photo opportunities. For 6 and under. www.stcparks.org/eventsLunch with the Grinch DECEMBER20 • CHUCK'S CAFE DARIEN DARIEN–Everybody's favorite is on his way from Whoville & making his way to Chuck's for their an-nual holiday event: Lunch with the Grinch! This year's dates & times: Tues 12/20 - Fri 12/23, 2pm-6pm. This event requires reservations! Dates & spots will go quickly.

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KID STUFFFUN IN NAPERVILLE Fun for Everyone! NAPERVILLE–Explore, create, build, wonder, discover, think, play, and more! Whether coming for a day of play or attending a special event, kids and their adults will laugh, learn, and love spending time together at the Museum. This holiday season, give the Gift of DuPage Children’s Museum Membership. One year of membership adds up to a lifetime of memories and unlimited opportunities. It’s the gift that won’t get broken, no batteries are needed – and it’s sooo EASY! Saturday, December 31 join us for a countdown to Noon celebration at Bubble Bash: A Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve with live entertainment, special activities, and four countdowns to choose from. Plan your play today! www.dupagechildrens.org adventure awaitsGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 107

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FITNESSCAREER VISION APTITUDE TESTING CAN HELP STUDENTS CHOOSE MAJORS AND CAREERS What are you doing after high school? You know further edu-cation is important. Do you need help finding the right career choice? The Career Vision Aptitude Advantage can help. Aptitudes identify your strongest talents, the jobs you would enjoy and be good at doing. Combining your aptitudes with your interests, Career Vision reveals your career choices. You also receive resources about college majors, job outlook, and preparation needed for those careers. If you have asked “What should I study?”, “What will I do after college?” and want to learn how Career Vision can help, give them a call. Their assessment process is a positive and an objective way to give you confidence to make good career choices. And your Personal Career Consultant will take time to discuss the test results with you and go over all your choices. If you are going to college and want to know what to study, reach out to Career Vision today. If you have graduated col-lege and still haven’t found your best fit, the professional con-sultants at Career Vision can help you, too. For over 30 years they have been helping students and adults find their best ca-reer choices. Career Vision • www.careervision.org • (630) 469-6270CCOOLLLLEEGGEE TTIIMMEEGlancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 109

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4.4. The Partnership for Education Purposes (PEP) GLEN ELLYN–The Partnership for Educational Pur-poses (PEP) promotes academic excellence in the Glenbard high schools and its elementary feeder schools to provide learning opportunities to students. The scholarships are funded by gifts from alumni, friends and families in the Glenbard community. This past year, scholarships totalling more than $62,950 were awarded to students in the Glenbard Class of 2022. www.pepglenbard.org 2. Random Acts Matter St. CHARLES–This organization is ded-icated to sharing care and compassion in the community through individual nominations and community out-reach. Since 2017, they have granted 320+ acts of kindness im-pacting 3900+ lives. In 2022, they provided support for someone bat-tling cancer, and encouragement for a nurse feeling overwhelmed. They also created “Welcome Home” baskets for folks moving out of Lazarus House. To nominate someone for an act of kindness, be-come a volunteer or learn more about Random Acts of Kindness Week, Feb-ruary 12-19, 2023 visit www.randomactsmatter.com3. 100+ Women Who Care OMY OSWEGO/MONTGOMERY/YORKVILLE–This local giving circle of women is committed to impacting area non-profits in a BIG way! They meet quarterly for one-hour. In the last year, they have collectively given over $50K to the following organizations: Called to Care, My Daughter’s Dress Boutique, Community Cares Group, Veteran’s Smile Program and Mutual Ground. They welcome new members looking for a way to make a differ-ence locally. Meeting attendance is not required for membership. www.100wwc-omy.org/join-us 1. Naperville Responds for Veterans NAPERVILLE–Helping Veterans and their families in need with crit-ical home repair and modifica-tion, NRFV is a 100% volunteer Board of Directors composed of Veterans and non Veterans. Since 2010, NRFV has served 101 communities within 20 miles of downtown Naperville, directing over $1.2million in do-nation dollars to projects for Vet-erans. Just this past year, they did 30 projects, totalling $180,000. In addition, NRFV supported the for-mation of the David R Metcalf Invisi-ble Wounds Foundation; and is instrumental in The Naperville Salute Fourth of July Festival. www.nrfov.org CELEBRATING THESE GENEROUS LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS They say it’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference. These local organizations have impacted the community in a great way in 2022. From supporting Veterans who served our country to granting acts of kindness to thosed in need throughout the community, and so many more unique ways of giving back. Here are 7 Spectacular Places that Made a Difference In 2022..... PLACES THAT MADE A DIFFERENCE IN 20222.1.3.110 • WESTERN SUBURBS • DECEMBER 2022 • Glancer Magazine

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6. STARS Family Services WHEATON–STARS Family Services provides private community-based homes (supportive living arrangements) and related services for adults with developmental disabilities in Wheaton, Illinois. At present there are two homes for men and one for women. The homes allow for these individuals to continue to live in their own communities, close to their family, friends, and church. All residents are involved in the STARS Disability Ministry at College Church. www.starsfamilyservices.org/ 5. Flying for Hope GENEVA–Flying For Hope provides trans-portation to persons who are financially chal-lenged to reach their loved ones in a crisis situation. For example, in 2022, a flight from Baton Rouge to San Diego for a woman’s sister in the final stages of cancer; a flight for a man from Texas to his PTSD treatment in South Dakota; a young man’s flight from Milwaukee to his mother at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance to learn how to care for her and bring her home; two sisters’ flight from Georgia to Florida to attend their fathers funeral; and a woman from Mis-sissippi to California to pick up her son's ashes after he was in a fatal car accident. www.flying4hope.com/about-us/ 5.7. The Mulliganeers DOWNERS GROVE–The Mulliganeers is dedicated to raising funds for children and families in need. The recipients, however, are AL-WAYS children. To date, they have donated over $7,000,000 and have consistently distributed 90% of every dollar raised directly to recipient families. Don’t miss the 2nd Annual *WishMas* Party on December 11, 2022 to help spread Christmas Cheer while raising funds to benefit The Mulliganeers. www.mulliganeers.org/about 7.6.Glancer Magazine • DECEMBER 2022 • WESTERN SUBURBS • 111