Manker: The traditions of life give us reasons to celebrate — and reflect
Monday morning, the boy got his braces off. From that first heavy-metal moment in April 2016, he’d known he’d get his smile back — a new and improved one in...
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Manker: When it comes to youth football, more choices a good thing
If you thought there was even a small chance you could spare your child irreparable lifetime health effects — possibly even brain damage — would you take it? To some,...
Manker: Cruel Mother Nature reminds us the ‘rites’ of spring aren’t necessarily a ‘right’
Oh, Mother Nature. You fickle mistress. Though the calendar tells us spring supposedly began more than three weeks ago, and Easter is now nearly two weeks behind us, in these...
Manker: Make-believe fantasy baseball can lead to real-life family connections
Any chance you have to stay connected with your teenage child is a chance worth taking. That's what I told myself as the time came this spring to finally invite...
Manker: Props to school officials for ensuring voices of all ages heard on school safety issue
The days leading up to this week's high school student walkouts brought some moments of deep conversation and consideration at our house. Almost immediately after 17 people were killed and...
Manker: If ‘pedal pubs’ get you going, consider these novel ideas for new Naperville businesses
With the calendar now reading March, thoughts turn back to the prospect of outdoor activities and the warmth in which to enjoy them. Parks and playgrounds, ball fields and beer...
Manker: Snow brings out the best and the worst of humanity — especially online
Nine consecutive days of measurable snowfall offers a large enough sample to prove at least one basic human quality to be true — as the snow piles in our driveways...
Manker: Flotsam and jetsam from the mind of Rob Manker
Random Robservations piling up at the bottom of the notebook ... *Have you seen the Facebook posts and other ads for the new Black Rock Bar and Grill soon to...
Manker: Perfect storm — no school, fresh snow and a day made for sledding
Rare is the convergence of a day off school, a 5-inch snowfall, and adequate time and inclination to take advantage of it all. That's exactly what many Naperville families got...
Rob Manker: As parent of incoming freshman, time flies but cars still don’t
Few moments will stop you in your tracks as quickly and show you how fast your children are growing up than registering the first of them for high school. The...