FEATURES
Members of the 1952 championship team recently returned to Hebron High School to visit their old stomping grounds. Left to right: Ken Spooner, Bill Schulz and Phil Judson. (Rebecca O'Malley photo)
The Mighty Giants

Sixty years ago, the boys basketball team at Hebron High School captured the state championship and became the smallest school ever to win. Learn how this remarkable achievement impacted the lives of the winning players and their hometown.

FEATURES
Olson chose to visit the wild bears in August, when they would be feasting on the fresh salmon which come here to spawn and die.  Brown bears and grizzly bears are the same species. Brown bears are somewhat larger, because they live on coastal areas where protein-rich fish is plentiful. Their snouts have developed, over time, to be slightly more elongated than the grizzlies’. The bear’s sense of smell is so keen, it can detect a scent from 10 miles away. (David C. Olson photo)
The Bears of Legends

Rockford photographer David C. Olson is no stranger to danger, when it comes to photographing wildlife. Follow him on his latest adventure, photographing wild bears in Alaska, and see his breathtaking images.

FEATURES
Local Girl Scout Megan Kalafut (far right), with Scouting pals (clockwise), Lissa Ayers, Erin Guarisco, Erin Guarisco, Nina Guarisco, Meg Basco, Katelyn Phillips
Girl Scouts at 100: Making a Better World, One Girl at a Time

As girls around the world prepare to kick off Scouting’s second century, discover what’s new, and what remains the same, in the organization that was founded eight years before U.S. women got the right to vote.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Artist Tom Trausch and wife Gale inside the Woodstock gallery, with some of their works. The alpaca on the easel behind them is Gale’s, while the vibrant fall scene on the back wall to the right is Tom’s.
Woodstock Plein Air Artist Enjoys the Journey

He braves most any kind of weather and attempts many styles of art, all in the pursuit of his artistic muse. Discover why Tom Trausch turned a sink-or-swim experiment into a lifetime adventure.

REGIONAL DINING
Steve Weaver is the managing partner of Seasons 52 in Schaumburg.
Seasons 52: A Fresh Menu that Evolves With the Seasons

Restaurant Profile: Discover a Schaumburg-area restaurant where the menu changes with the seasons, and everything is less than 475 calories. It’s unlike anything this restaurant manager has seen.

HOME & GARDEN
Your yard can reflect your personal taste and lifestyle, when planned by expert landscape designers. Here, a path across a small creek leads from a formal patio to this more casual space. Another flagstone path from here leads to a more isolated firepit. Designed and built by Grant & Power of West Dundee. (Grant & Power photo)
Landscaping Designs That Reflect Your Style and Interests

Now is a great time to tailor out outdoor landscapes. Learn from our local experts how to achieve a top-notch backyard landscape, so you can enjoy it all year long.

HEALTH & FITNESS
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Specialty Medicine: Treating Those Little Pains That Steal Your Joy

Those little nuisances that we all suffer from — headaches, runny nose, sore joints — may be nothing, or they could be the signals of bigger troubles. Learn about some common pains and how they affect you.

NORTHWEST WOMAN
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Spring Fashion at Garfield Conservatory

Step inside the beautiful Garfield Park Conservatory, in Chicago’s West Side, for Northwest Quarterly’s spring fashion photo shoot. Includes photos and exclusive video.

MIND & SPIRIT
The new LEED Gold-certified Harm A. Weber Academic Center houses Judson’s Benjamin P. Browne Library and School of Art, Design and Architecture.
Judson University: Higher Education and a Higher Calling

Fifty years after its founding along the Fox River in Elgin, this dynamic, Christian college is reflecting on its successes and sowing the seeds for another half-century. Discover how this small school is accomplishing big things.

RECREATION & DESTINATIONS
Pottawotamie Golf Course pictured in full spring glory.  It’s the only public course in the St. Charles area.
Great Venues for Your Golf Play Day

Whether it’s a small gathering or a sold-out event, golf courses can custom-tailor their services for a variety of fun golf play days. Find out how these local courses inspire un-fore-gettable events.

PERSONAL & FINANCE
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Why Refinance Your First Mortgage Now, and What is HARP?

Thanks to historically low interest rates, it’s never been easier to save money on your mortgage. Nick Sisto, from STC Capital Bank, offers advice for homeowners looking to take advantage of these unusual times.

NW BUSINESS MAGAZINE
Jim Stocker, a St. Charles-area mortgage lender, relies on electronic banking from STC Capital Bank to manage his personal and business accounts. (Rebecca O'Malley photo)
Community Banks: Risks and Rewards of Online Banking

Nearly 60 percent of Americans are accessing their finances online, and they love the convenience. But, as with all activities online, security is a concern. Learn how locally owned and operated banks hold an advantage in safeguarding customers.