Petrak: Thanksgiving dish recipes have distinct family traditions
There’s an up side to having a disorganized recipe system in my house. A couple of days before Thanksgiving, I rummage through old cookbooks to pull out index cards and...
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Petrak: Remembering aunt who fought off Nazis during the London blitz
When scrolling through Netflix over the weekend, I was weighing what type of genre I was in the mood for that particular day. A rom-com? Not really. A horror movie,...
Petrak: Lamenting the drop in Christmas cards and other personal interactions
I’m not exactly pining for a horse-drawn carriage or, for that matter, life before Google. But there are times when I worry that some elements of life that I’ve come...
Petrak: Ghosts and other spirits known in La Grange area
The only things that unexpectedly move in my house are knickknacks in the windowsill, which rattle and rumble about 1 p.m. every day, thanks to nearby quarry blasts. I don’t...
Petrak: Tips and tricks to keep pumpkins safe through Halloween
Halloween is still a couple of weeks away, but I’m in full Pumpkin Protection Mode. Yes, I’m one of those people who you might look at twice at when you...
Petrak: Guide program continues to teach youth to work for benefit of greater community
It’s the month of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples Day, which are designed to recognize the roots and transformation of the country that would become America. As kids, we learn...
Petrak: How to avoid a conversation about politics
For those feeling fatigued by political discourse, which has been building to a cacophonic frenzy over the past couple of years, having a conversation that even veers towards a politically...
Petrak: The Studio Uptown provides outlet for adults, kids to rediscover creativity
In the stressful and tension-filled times, it’s no wonder coloring books for grown-ups have become popular in stores, as people look for ways to connect to their young selves or...
Petrak: From 9/11 to Hurricane Florence, disasters past and present remind us of our common humanity
The dawn of Sept. 11 any year is a jolt, but especially this time around, when the day began with the same kind of gorgeous azure sky and near-perfect temperature....
Petrak: Keeping faith after learning of abuse in my childhood parish
“Faith.” That simple inscription, on a rustic piece of wood, hangs in the center of a photo display on a wall in my home. I walk by it at least...