Paul Eisenberg

Paul Eisenberg is a lifelong resident of the south suburbs, aside from a 10-year stint in other areas of Illinois, who loves telling interesting stories about people and places.

Bob Zeni, of La Grange Park, displays some of the thousands of heirloom tomato plants he grew in this 2019 photo. Zeni, who calls the operation Chicago Tomato Man, said he will distribute about 15,000 tomato seedlings this year. (Diane Dachota/Pioneer Press)

Landmarks: Chicago Tomato Man shares love of ‘real’ produce thousands of plants at a time

May 5, 2025 at 3:37 p.m.

La Grange Park resident Bob Zeni's alter ego, Chicago Tomato Man distributes, 15,000 heirloom tomato plants annually.

Nehir and her buddy Emme Barnes stop for an official FISH Prom for Teens with Disabilities portrait at Nazareth Academy in La Grange Park. (Nazareth Academy)

Community news: Nazareth Academy hosts FISH Prom, Leyden teachers lauded, and more

April 14, 2025 at 12:05 p.m.

News from around the west suburbs includes items from Nazareth Academy, Leyden High School, Hinsdale Central and Oak Park.

The Manhattan Round Barn in Will County March 5, 2025. Said to have been constructed in the 1890s from wood salvaged from Chicago's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Round Barn will be refurbished this year as part of a $2.5 million project by the Manhattan Park District. (Paul Eisenberg/Daily Southtown)

Landmarks: Likely a White City artifact, Manhattan’s Round Barn set for $2.5 million facelift

March 14, 2025 at 5:10 a.m.

Manhattan's historic Round Barn's significance stretches even beyond its links to Chicago's Columbian Exhibition.

A Burr Ridge Police Department vehicle is pictured in 2019. (Kimberly Fornek/Pioneer Press)

Burr Ridge man faces murder charges in sledgehammer death of his mother

February 24, 2025 at 4:52 p.m.

Oscar Rodriguez, 37, was charged in the death of his mother, Virna Rodriguez, who died two days after being attacked with a sledgehammer.

Jane Nicoll, director of the Park Forest 1950s House Museum, examines a photograph Friday inside the museum’s historical archive housed in a former classroom at St. Mary Church. The museum and archive face an uncertain future. (John Smierciak / Daily Southtown)

Landmarks: Potential church closure could put Park Forest history at risk

February 13, 2025 at 1:06 p.m.

A decision by the Diocese of Joliet about church closures in Will County could force the closure of Park Forest's history museum.

Snow covers ground near flagpoles Feb. 9, 2021, outside the welcome center at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie in Will County. (Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown)

Welcome center, offices at Midewin Tallgrass Prairie to close for two months

December 7, 2024 at 5:05 a.m.

Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie supervisor offices and welcome center in Wilmington will close through January for HVAC work.

A Hinsdale South High School student has been accused of bringing a loaded gun to the school in Darien. (Pioneer Press file)

Hinsdale South student accused of bringing loaded gun to school

November 22, 2024 at 2:39 p.m.

A student at Hinsdale South High School faces two felony charges after police said he brought a loaded gun to school on Nov. 21.

Christine Randall, of Other Side Investigations, speaks at a paranormal investigation hosted by Other Side Investigations Oct. 25, 2024, at the Pleasant Home mansion in Oak Park. (Vincent Alban/for the Chicago Tribune)

Landmarks: Ghost hunters seek signs of supernatural, find friendship

October 29, 2024 at 10:44 p.m.

Will County-based Other Side Investigations travels throughout the Midwest to look into reports of hauntings and other phenomena.

A sign on the Crawford Avenue bridge over the Cal-Sag Channel on the Alsip/Robbins border was placed when the bridge was built in 1932. The bridge, pictured in 2019, is part of a Cook County effort to revitalize Pulaski Road between 127th and 159th streets. (Ted Slowik/Daily Southtown)

Landmarks: Pulaski Road cousin of Golden Gate Bridge earns historical status

September 22, 2024 at 5:11 a.m.

The Crawford Avenue span over the Cal-Sag Channel was built by the same company as the Golden Gate Bridge and NYC's Washington Bridge.

The Forest Preserves of Cook County recently opened its newest site at 6101 Oak Forest Ave. in Tinley Park. (Forest Preserves of Cook County)

Around the Southland: New forest preserve in Tinley Park, more

September 6, 2024 at 11:42 a.m.

Southland news includes a new forest preserve in Tinley Park, park refurbished in Hickory Hills and a marching band competition.

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