The Record News and Sports

We celebrate New Trier's water polo teams advancing to state, as well as a few league champions crowned this week. The Trevs Alex Calarco tells us the baseball team's postseason goal, and to finish things off, we try to figure out what the heck went wrong in the Illinois HS Coaches All-State selections, which include just two Ramblers, Vaughn Pemberton as honorable mention and no Brody Roth.

Wilmette residents and village officials were outraged this week by a resident's front-window display. We break it down, including what the resident had to say. In business news, a scoop on a new restaurant possibly coming to town nearly broke our website! And how about a duckling rescue for good measure

Loyola's home turf, known as The Hill, played host to a pair of thrilling Trevians-Ramblers lacrosse matchups. We talk about the wild finishes and hear from hero Johnny Hackett. We also work through playoff scenarios and what we think may happen as we get there.

We break down the latest in relation to COVID-19, which includes vaccines available to 12 and up and New Trier's numbers and mask update. We also talk go-karts, a golf outing and firefighting in Colombia.

(Note: This podcast was recorded before the IHSA officially added the state championships for boys volleyball and lacrosse.) With the state's restrictions loosening, state championships should be added for two big sports. Meanwhile, we check in on New Trier water polo and soccer and Ramblers volleyball.

The Wilmette Village Board met in person for the first time in a year-plus to mark its important occasion, while the Park Board ceremony featured some contention during the officer election. All of that plus, a performance in a parking garage.

Football is over and we have to get over it. Good thing spring sports are out in force, and we run through plenty of them: baseball, volleyball, soccer and wrestling. But we toss in one more football story involving a Loyola alumnus and a spectacular college-football play.

Thousands of residents lost power after a piece of ComEd equipment burst into flames, plus three stories relevant to the entire Township, including one committee's concern over a board's recent actions.

It was delayed, shortened and chaotic, but boy, what a football season. We recap the best moments and players and answer the big questions, like was this the best Ramblers team of all time? Is Vaughn Pemberton Loyola's best offensive player of all time? What does New Trier do in a full season? Why did the Trevs need a big year? And more. Listen up.

It's that time of year again: Leaf blowers are out and continuing to defy local ordinances. We talk about what advocacy groups are doing about it. Plus, we look at a mystery concert in Glencoe, low vaccine demand in the area and a new brewery in Evanston before explaining how August's legacy carries on.

The CSL South clash lived up to the hype and came down to the final quarter, but the Trevians could not claw all the way back. Meanwhile, Loyola dominated once again to set up a Week 6 clash with 4-1 Marist with the league crown at stake.

Of the 13 individuals elected in Wilmette elections, 10 were women. Joe discusses how women now have the majority on every board and how we talked with many of the leaders. Plus, Marty breaks down New Trier's plans for next year and the status of the local vaccine clinic, before we wrap up with profiling two local vaccine hunters.

New Trier High School made national headlines two weeks ago, but not for reasons it enjoys. We broke down the article, which centers on an issue Marty has been covering for months. Joe tosses numbers your way about local election turnout.

New Trier and Maine South football each has taken care of business to set up a Week 5 conference-title bout in Park Ridge. We talk about how they got here and what we can expect. We also talk the Ramblers path to 4-0 and "Wow," Vaughn Pemberton

Loyola made a statement over Mount Carmel, while New Trier ran roughshod over Niles West as each moved to 2-0 on the young season. Can they keep it up? Plus, New Trier tops Loyola on the pitch and we hear from Ramblers basketball alumnus Jordan Kwiecinski on his March Madness.

New Trier picks up a huge victory that came down to the wire at Naughton Field on Saturday, while Loyola picked up another dominant CCL win on the road. We break it all down and look ahead, specifically at a new Ramblers opponent in Week 4: the Hawks of Hillcrest

We continue our election previews by talking the New Trier School Board and Wilmette Park Board, maybe the two most contentious races in our coverage area. We then go Up and Down The Shore before talking about an equipment drive that should help dozens of youth hockey players.

We break down all the results from April 6's election, including Wilmette voters knocking out multiple board veterans. There are also four new village presidents in New Trier Township, while the caucus slate lands on the NTHS board. But wait, there's more: We have to tell you about the 3-ton meat smoker that rolled into town.

We break down the arrest of the director of a popular tutoring center in Glencoe before presenting our latest election previews and updates. But stay for the ending when we share the story of a reunion 18 years in the making.

Finally, the football season has kicked off, and the local boys brought home victories in Week 1. We talk how they did it and what it means going into big Week 2 matchups, including a Loyola-Mount Carmel showdown. We also heard from New Trier's Brody Roth, talk Trevian and Rambler volleyball, and ask if anyone is going to topple New Trier soccer or field hockey.

We are firmly amid election season in New Trier Township. We detail what we've previewed so far and what is yet to come before going Up and Down The Shore and profiling a Community Caretakers program in Wilmette.

Fall, spring, winter — none of that matters under the Friday night lights! High school football is back, and we are VERY here for it (note the length of the episode). After summing up the end of the winter season, we dive deep into our New Trier and Loyola Academy 2021 previews and hear from coaches Doll and Holecek about the squads this year.

New information on the rollout of the coronavirus vaccines breaks daily. We break down the latest for our community. Then, we share some top stories on our site, including surging businesses, before we look at our plans to cover the upcoming election.

Local basketball teams set up quite the final week of the season, as New Trier boys came back to earn a share of the league title and Loyola girls will play for it all this weekend. And in big news, the state will allow hundreds of fans to attend football games and spring sports to play in championship tournaments.

Diners will see a brand new look at a popular Winnetka intersection this spring with the debut of two new options, but what happened to the old favorites? We'll break down the demise of Little Ricky's and Cafe Aroma. We also visit Moose in Glencoe, a rescue dog who has a talent and passion for climbing trees.

New Trier boys basketball has won seven straight and will roll into Evanston with momentum this weekend. Will they get a win or two and mess with the league standings. Plus, Regina Dominican is moving to the ISL and we talk name some things we want to see this spring on and off the gridiron.

We detail a vaccination site for frontline workers that opened on the North Shore this week and could mean much more to the community. Then, we take you Up and Down The Shore before telling the story of Olympic hopeful Grace Joyce.

New Trier and Loyola basketball squads keep piling on the wins, but Ramblers girls do finally lose one. We break it all down before hearing from Loyola boys senior Jalen Axibal on his defensive ways and the compact season. And snow or no snow, we are pumped for spring football and review the Trevs and Ramblers schedules and make our predictions.

Loyola girls basketball did something we may not see again — 7 wins in 8 days — to start its condensed season. We talk about how they did it, and check it with New Trier girls, which started the season after a second delay. PLUS! We bring back Way/No Way as a step closer to normalcy.

We explore two breaking COVID-related stories this week: the approval of New Trier facilities for vaccinations (public employees) and the expansion of indoor dining. Marty also reports the board approval of a renovation plan for Gates Gymnasium.

We give you the latest about a rise in COVID cases at New Trier High that has quarantined more than 160 people, the latest offerings at the Chicago Botanic Garden and a new downtown Wilmette business for fll you hobbyists out there.

Sports have returned, and we talk what it's all been like under COVID restrictions. We also break down some news of canceled games here, there and everywhere and listen to Ramblers coach Tom Livatino talk of the joys of being back at it.

Are you readddddddy for some sports? We are. High school sports return to the North Shore this week and we feed you what we know about basketball, football, swimming, field hockey and more.

We explore what it means to advance to Phase 4 of the state's mitigation plan, before breaking down how a historic home avoided the wrecking ball — for now. To finish, we discuss our profile of local reporter Mike Lowe and his viral "Chicagoese" segement.

It was a big news week in COVID-19 consequences on the local level. Lessening restrictions have opened indoor dining, gyms, sports and more, while vaccine complications have put local leaders into action.

The moment we all have been waiting for arrived Wednesday, when the IHSA announced season schedules for all 17 remaining sports, including basketball and football. We take it apart piece by piece for what you should know on the pending restart.

Thanks to a change at the state level, low-risk winter sports have started their seasons and we talk what that means now and later for high school sports this year, focusing on what the future may hold for basketball and football. We also take a closer look at New Trier's Gates Gym overhaul after seeing the renderings.

New Trier area welcomes looser COVID-19 mitigations amid positive data trends. We talk about what that means and what may come next. Then, we go up and down the north with a town OK'ing cannabis facilities and another making it to the small screen. Then, we wish a happy birthday to a local woman, who celebrated the big 1.0.4 in an igloo!

The IHSA hopes to have a sports schedule out by Jan. 27, while major sports voices apply pressure. We also hear from Max Rosenthal, the New Trier football alumnus who is coming home for his final two years, and we spend time remembering and celebrating the life of Glenbrook North student-athlete Dylan Buckner, while condemning those using his death as leverage.

In our first show with Managing Editor Megan Bernard, we recap the latest local COVID-19 data, which is not showing a post-holiday surge and could lead to reduced mitigations soon. Megan also talks about how students brought a taco shop to town.

The guys start by trying to explain the continued lack of information on the preps sports season, before summarizing host Michal Dwojak's look at the experiences of four local football stars during the unprecedented college football season. We wrap things up talking about Loyola Academy's slick new football field.

The first episode of 2021 features maybe the last community event of 2020: a candlelight vigil for COVID-19 victims. Martin also explains the complicated case of 740 Ardsley Road, and Joe profiles a reality TV star in our midst. *This podcast was recorded before the events at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6*

In our final 2020 episode, we give you the news first, and then we retell our story: from the fall of 22nd Century Media to the rise of The Record and why we work for you. We then tell you our favorite stories of the year and we hope for in 2021. Happy New Year!

Before we reminisce, we discuss the latest on the return of sports, which once again is not much as state officials again turned down a meeting with the IHSA. We wonder why the IHSA keeps asking. Then, we explore the chaotic year in high school sports and highlight some happy moments before offering our resolutions for 2021.

The IHSA is facing another lawsuit related to its handling of the COVID pandemic (first reported by the Sun-Times). Then, we explore the century of history at Gates Gym at New Trier as a teardown is considered. We finish by giving gifts to our athletics programs, like something to keep warm at the Munz campus!

Official election filings are in, and we talk about the biggest surprises and biggest local races coming up in April. Marty also reports on major facelifts planned for facilities at both New Trier and Joseph Sears schools. We wrap things up with a deep dive into the storied past of disc golf in Wilmette.

Our hosts discuss the latest news from the IHSA, which announced it still plans to play all sports this school year. Is it possible? How? What are the roadblocks? We then shift to Signing Day and some local football players ready for the next level and tell you what our major signing would be like — if we had one!

Local elections are months away, but there is plenty we already know. We feed you inside information on the upcoming leadership turnover and contentious races in your community. Plus, we talk about the latest COVID-related school decisions and remember community pillar Pat Doherty.

Michal, Mart and Joe talk about what they've been missing most during this sports shutdown, leading to interesting weather stories. We also hear from former pro Tommy Wingels, who is back helping local hockey youth.

Two of the area's top holiday light shows return for what may well be their final year, breaking down how locals voted in the election, the latest from Wilmette and Glencoe schools, and the Wilmette guy who has all the jokes.