Joan Cary

Peter Lowther, of Homewood, left, and Glenn Gabanksi, of Darien, "rough" birds to get them ready for the next step in cleaning at the Field Museum on July 27, 2016.

Field Museum volunteers help do ‘gross’ but critical work for bird collection

June 12, 2018 at 1:37 a.m.

Dave Willard arrives at the Field Museum of Natural History every weekday morning by 4:30, even though he retired from there four years ago. On Wednesdays, the bird collection manager-turned-volunteer...

Building bamboo bikes in Alabama

August 23, 2019 at 7:16 p.m.

Many cyclists can brag about the miles they've ridden. But how many can say they built their own bike out of bamboo? In the tiny town of Greensboro, Ala., Pam...

A Sunday stroll through local gardens

May 22, 2019 at 5:14 p.m.

Sunday is the day to stop pulling weeds and put the shovel in the shed. More importantly in the south suburbs, this Sunday is the day to rest, to get...

July 30, 1967: Guests gather on the terrace outside Baker Hotel in St. Charles, which overlooks the river.

Tri-Cities: 3 times the fun

May 23, 2019 at 11:34 a.m.

When it comes to having fun in the far west suburbs, go with the flow. Let the Fox River be your guide. The Fox is the thread that weaves through...

Group for dads with special needs kids fills void, offers release

May 22, 2019 at 7:23 a.m.

In a back room at Naperville's Tommy Nevin's Pub, a group of dads recently gathered around the table with their cold beers and dinner, a few inquiring with the "lottery...

Plants come to life at Tall Grass art exhibit

May 22, 2019 at 12:02 a.m.

Finally our world is green again. And while we obsess over the chance to get out in nature, Tall Grass Arts Association in Park Forest is bringing the beauty of...

Children’s museum gala set for Friday

May 22, 2019 at 5:13 p.m.

Friday's the night the tables turn at KidsWork Children's Museum in Frankfort. That's when parents can put the cell phones and to-do lists away. They are invited to come in...

Don’t let the name fool you – Sahil Batra’s all country

May 16, 2019 at 10:40 a.m.

Sahil Batra grew up in a warm Naperville family with parents who came from India about 30 years ago. He chose tennis and other activities over music at Naperville North...

The nature of pastels

May 10, 2019 at 12:16 p.m.

Coloring is not just for kids anymore. Donna J. O'Donnell discovered that a long time ago. She loved to draw and color as a child growing up in the Burbank...

After-school Charity Club teaches school kids about empathy, helping others

May 16, 2019 at 10:37 a.m.

Third-grader Sean Dalton was quick to point out why he recently raced to the Elmwood Elementary School library at the end of the day instead of going home. "We (he...

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