George Castle

George Castle is a freelance reporter for the Pioneer Press.

Bethany Lynn, a Park Ridge native and 2016 Maine South High School graduate, is an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile "hotdogger," or driver, and attracted attention when she drove it to Park Ridge's Uptown on March 15, 2023.

Park Ridge native drives Oscar Mayer Wienermobile home for a visit

March 20, 2023 at 2:55 a.m.

Work stopped for a few moments at Park Ridge's City Hall Wednesday morning as some employees flocked outside to take their "hot dog break." The employees were admiring the Oscar...

The IHSA has invalidated Maine South High School's entire 2022 season after it announced an investigation found that some players were ineligible because they did not live within school boundaries. In this photo from the 2022 season, South Elgin's Jake Sullivan (4) pitches the ball as Maine South's Sam Bartell (5) and Mike Taylor (42) defend during the Class 8A second round game against Maine South on Friday, Oct. 4, 2002. South Elgin ended the season with a 42-0 loss. Maine South had nine victories and two playoff victories; all now invalidated.

Maine South High School’s entire 2022 football season invalidated due to ineligible players: IHSA

March 9, 2023 at 1:22 a.m.

In a major development for high school football in the suburbs, powerhouse Maine South High School's robust 2022 season results were invalidated by the Illinois High School Association, which announced...

Chicago Bulls players Javonte Green (left) and Alex Caruso (right) chat with 10-year-old Ben Kreuger of Niles, a former Advocate Children's Hospital patient, and his Niles Park District team.
- Original Credit: Handout

Bulls players Alex Caruso, Javonte Green cheer 10-year-old Advocate patient with game, flight tickets

March 7, 2023 at 11:28 p.m.

The Chicago Bulls may be struggling to make a playoff berth, but the franchise came through in buzzer-beating fashion Monday for a Niles fifth-grader who was hospitalized not long ago...

Khaleel Musa, from left, Jose Luis Vinueza and Fabian Gonzalez outside their restaurant Cultura Steaks in Morton Grove.

Morton Grove steakhouse to reflect Brazilian, Argentinian flavors; expansion of Cultura

March 7, 2023 at 12:00 a.m.

North suburban gourmands searching for a top sirloin locally will have a choice of Brazilian and Argentinian steaks at a Morton Grove restaurant opening this week. Offering up the most-hyped...

The village of Skokie has made compost bins available in five locations, including this one behind the Skokie Fire Station 16 at 7424 Niles Center Road, in the parking lot off Fargo Avenue. They are available to accept produce, dairy, meat, bread products and more, for free, anytime. Other locations include Village Hall, Devonshire Park, Oakton Park and Skokie Public Works.

Skokie launches free food scrap drop-off to compost, aid environment, reduce greenhouse gas

February 27, 2023 at 10:09 p.m.

Skokie has introduced a drop-off composting program that helps the environment by avoiding the buildup of a greenhouse gas called methane in landfills, and it could be a trial balloon...

The Village of Morton Grove will break ground this spring on Gateway Garden, to be located at the intersection of Lincoln and Ferris Avenues and the railroad tracks.
- Original Credit:

Morton Grove offering commemorative bricks at Gateway Plaza, slated to break ground soon

February 13, 2023 at 9:51 p.m.

Morton Grove's planned $250,000 Gateway Plaza near the Metra Station will break ground in the spring with a projected opening by mid-summer, according to officials, and the village is offering...

Danielle DiMaria, a student at Niles Township High School District 219's Bridges Transition Center, attended the opening of the school's new retail lab in partnership with Target. DiMaria is considering a career in education.

Niles Township D219 partners with Target to set up job training lab for students with special needs

November 14, 2022 at 3:25 p.m.

A school for young people 18 to 22 with special needs now contains a section that looks like a Target store and will be used for vocational training. Target Corporation...

Mike and Vesna Glisovic stand beside their 53-year-old Colorado spruce tree in the 6600 block of Church Street in Morton Grove Friday. The tree had been cut and was ready for transport to Chicago as the city's official Christmas tree in Millennium Park.

Chicago’s official Christmas tree cut down from Morton Grove family’s front yard

November 4, 2022 at 11:22 p.m.

Mike and Vesna Glisovic gave up the majestic tree in front of their home Friday morning so it can be seen by many more people than pass by their corner...

Rosemarie Alioto, a customer of Morton Grove's former Maier's Bakery, tries out the pastries at Ganache Bakery, which recently opened at the former Maier's location at 9328 Waukegan Road, Morton Grove.

Ganache Bakery opens in Morton Grove, featuring French-trained baker

October 31, 2022 at 2:50 p.m.

Morton Grove's newest bakery owner learned his craft in a multilingual kitchen. "I worked under a French pastry chef at a French bakery in Glencoe," said Jorge Santizo. "His toughness...

Harwood Heights’ Union Ridge girls’ softball team brings home second championship in two years

October 10, 2022 at 11:49 p.m.

Union Ridge School's girls' softball team has made up for losing the 2020 season to COVID, and a previous 20-year title drought, by capturing its second straight Norwood-Leyden Athletic Conference...

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