Manker: Sharing Guns N' Roses for son's first concert — and love of classic...
I think it started on car rides to youth baseball tournament games. Or maybe it was while I was working in the yard, music blaring from the Bluetooth speakers nearby. Somewhere along the line the boy...
View ArticleDecent: Putting down Naperville roots means absorbing its history as your own
Who remembers Tasty Bakery? Stopping by on a Sunday morning to pick up a selection of Danish pastries and gooey pecan rolls; being welcomed by the always-jovial Mrs. Murr, whose grin was only usurped...
View ArticleColumn: Giving thanks for family tradition
When we moved to Naperville nearly 14 years ago, my husband and I began hosting the family's annual Thanksgiving feast. We were adults, and should have known better: Once you demonstrate you can...
View ArticleDecent: High tea to celebrate Masonic honor seemed a good idea at the time
If the Riverwalk is Naperville's crown jewel, so our Masonic lodge is its hidden gem. Chartered in 1849, today Euclid Lodge No. 65 can be found tucked away up a flight of stairs above Naperville...
View ArticleReaders Respond: School pressure, shootings in houses of worship
Naperville Sun readers have plenty of opinions when it comes to the news of the day. Here are some of the comments left on stories posted on our website — www.napersun.com — and on our Facebook page....
View ArticleIf Thursday's the day for thanks, Black Friday's all about regrets
Whoever was the first to say we should live life without regrets obviously never experienced the horrors of Black Friday holiday shopping. Whether you're reading this just before or just after your...
View ArticleLetters to the editor: A veteran's thanks, Hollywood victims, property tax...
Thank you, from a veteran I would like to thank the anonymous diner who paid the lunch tab for me and my fellow veterans at Colonial Cafe on Veterans Day. We were enjoying lunch after participating in...
View ArticleDecent: Thanksgiving traditions a confusing mess for British expat
I love American holidays, especially those that don't celebrate your independence from the British. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Fourth of July, but it's always surrounded by an air of awkwardness,...
View ArticleColumn: Hilary Decent puts Santa on hot seat, and comes close to being on...
I've been fortunate enough to mingle with a fair few celebrities in my time, but this interview was going to be something special. Maybe not as scary as the time I spoke to Prime Minister Margaret...
View ArticleManker: Death of friend reminds us to embrace reason for the holiday season
By this point, the decorations are likely out. Lights have been strung and gift buying is well under way. That can only mean that the holidays are once again upon us. Perhaps you've heard something...
View ArticleDecent: Royal wedding excitement depends on your side of the pond
Once upon a time there was a red-headed prince. Sadly, the prince had a difficult childhood after his mother died in a terrible accident. As the years went by, he did the best he could to overcome the...
View ArticleNaperville letters to the editor: Foolish tax vote, cherish traditions
Vote for tax bill was foolish To all the elected Republican senators and representatives who voted for the Republican tax bill, your action has prompted me to paraphrase Mark Twain's quote: It would...
View ArticleKeaton: Guardian angel in a tollway truck saves day for stranded columnist
I recognized the tell-tale signs immediately. My car suddenly seemed to lose power, hiccuping once and then coasting to a stop as I steered to safety on the side of Interstate 88. I tried to start it...
View ArticleDecent: Let's respect Jewish, Christian traditions - and keep them separate
Before writing this, I took a minute to look around my house. There are tiny lights wrapped around the banisters while others flicker across the mantelpiece. The family room is dotted with candles....
View ArticleManker: School volunteer experience a great way to bond with your son
Of all the things that make Naperville schools so great – high test scores, outstanding personnel, their proximity to a Starbucks in any direction – I recently experienced another fine aspect of...
View ArticleDecent: Merry Christmas to you, even if your life's not as amazing as ours
Christmas letters are ubiquitous at this time of year, often offering a review of the year eyed through rose-colored glasses. Here's one from the fictitious Clooney family, of Naperville, for whom...
View ArticleLetters to the editor
Polls matter We live in odd times when our Republican office-holders in Congress seem more out of touch not only with Americans in general, but even among members of their own party. Many national...
View ArticleKeaton: So many resolutions, and only a year to accomplish them all
It's that time of the year again, when we reflect on the year ending and the ways we can improve in the new year before us. What are our goals, and what can we do in the new year to achieve them? Do...
View ArticleDecent: No need to miss England with so many vestiges of Britannia here
The things I miss most about London are my friends and family but if I do find myself feeling a little homesick, there are always a few things here in Naperville to remind me of home. One of the most...
View ArticleRob 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 literal part of that exercise begins in...
View Article