Lynn Petrak

Flames from a controlled fire burn around trees as firefighters work at building a containment line at a wildfire near Bodalla, Australia, Sunday, Jan. 12, 2020.

Column: Caring for our environment is a global issue, but there are ways to help locally

January 17, 2020 at 5:57 p.m.

Watching Australia burn through videos of people who have been driven to beaches for safety as embers rain down and animals run for their lives was a disturbing disconnect in...

A pile of snow sits outside the Western Springs Metra tracks in this 2018 file photo.

Column: Feeling cramped during these cold winter days? Get moving at a local indoor spot.

January 10, 2020 at 10:07 p.m.

At some point during those lost December days spent filling up on cookies and cheese comes the acknowledgement that there are only so many episodes you can stream before you...

The class of 1970 marches in the parade Lyons Township High Schoo homecoming parade on Sept. 28, 2019.

Petrak: The local ties that connect us often show up in unusual ways

December 31, 2019 at 10:45 p.m.

Between having admittedly unrealistic small-town envy during Hallmark Christmas movie season and noting the continuing large numbers of people leaving Illinois, I've mulled over a future in some other area....

New Year's Eve fireworks illuminate the sky near Navy Pier Monday Jan. 1, 2018, in Chicago.

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December 27, 2019 at 7:10 a.m.

2019. There it goes. Part of me wishes it good riddance. Part of me will look back fondly on the last year of the 2010s. My son likened this past...

Petrak: When it comes to the holiday season, it’s all about the lights

December 19, 2019 at 3:52 p.m.

I have nothing against holly and mistletoe, but for me, the sentiment and beauty of the season are best wrapped up — literally and figuratively — in lights. From that...

Petrak: Lyons Township runner with visual impairment maintains drive to compete

December 12, 2019 at 5:08 p.m.

As someone who only runs when late for the train or if the dog is off leash and barreling after a squirrel, I have real respect for runners, especially distance...

Crowds of shoppers wander along stores on Harris Avenue in La Grange.

Jesse Wright/for Pioneer Press, Hometown Holiday, La Grange, Nov. 30 2018

Column: Trying to find the positives in the cold, dark days of winter

December 5, 2019 at 10:23 p.m.

Driving home after picking my daughter up from school, I looked at the clock. It was 3:36 p.m., but the way the sun was slanting and the shadows were falling,...

A display honors John Bullio, an employee for more than 20 years at Walgreens on Willow Springs Road and 47th Street in Western Springs.

Petrak: Sudden death of Walgreens’ employee saddens community

November 21, 2019 at 1:24 a.m.

A display honors John Bullio, an employee for more than 20 years at Walgreens on Willow Springs Road and 47th Street in Western Springs. "Who are the people in your...

Petrak: Friendsgiving for me takes place in the grocery store aisles

November 14, 2019 at 7:16 p.m.

In my early 20s, we used to call it Thanksgiving Eve — shutting down the bars the night before Turkey Day. It was a fun, albeit, brief time in my...

Petrak: Don’t skip Thanksgiving for Christmas, there’s too much to celebrate

November 7, 2019 at 4:41 p.m.

You wouldn't think it would be hard finding turkey napkins while you still had snack-sized Smarties wrappers in your coat pocket from the previous week's Halloween bucket, but it is....

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