By Amy Lohmolder

One hundred years ago, On November 22, 1913 our Ravinia predecessors proudly “lit a fire” dedicating a civic center that would become a wellspring of creativity, service and Ravinia community for decades to come. On Friday, November 22, 2013, exactly 100 years to the date, Ravinia Neighbors Association, in cooperation with the Highland Park Historical Society and the Highland Park Woman’s Club, will host the “Ravinia Village House Centennial Celebration” in commemoration of the christening of the village house and the remarkable era it ushered in.  Read More

By Amy Lohmolder

Gerry Field of Field Violin Workshop was featured on WCIU's You and Me This Morning program (The U) on Monday August 27th. As promised by the producer's intoduction to the segment, it was indeed a peek at a "fascinating" business located right here in Ravinia! If you didn't catch the original program, you can view the recorded video of the show by clicking here. Congratulations Gerry and Jutta on a wonderful showing for one of the Ravinia business district's wonderful businesses! Read More

By Amy Lohmolder

As a person who moved too often as a child, I’ve tended to romanticize small towns where one’s neighbors are well known. In my mind, they are the settings of Norman Rockwell paintings, places where children like Opie in the “The Andy Griffith Show” grow up happy and well adjusted and where quiet heroes like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life are made. You can tell me your discouraging stories of real-life small towns from which you come (and college friends from across Iowa did). I will acknowledge it all and agree that sometimes people certainly can fall short. Still, I am lured back by artists of the Rockwell ilk, compassionate humorists who see the best in us. And I hold to the notion that the best in us grows in smaller communities where people know and care about one another.  Read More