A Season for Gratitude and Community
Mayor Scott Wehrli & Publisher of Stroll East Highlands Magazine Julia Newton
As the twinkle of holiday lights begins to fill our streets and laughter drifts through the chill of December evenings, I’m reminded just how special it is to call East Highlands home.
This season, our hearts naturally turn toward gratitude—gratitude for family, for friends, and for the everyday moments that make our neighborhood such a cherished place to live.
This month, we had the honor of hearing from Mayor Scott Wehrli, whose own family roots run deep in Naperville—and right here in East Highlands. His reflections capture exactly what makes this community shine, not just at Christmas, but all year long:
“My wife, Lynda, grew up in East Highlands—a neighborhood Harold Moser helped shape when Naperville was still learning to dream big. Being a short walk from the Riverwalk, Centennial Beach, and North Central College gave her family the best of both worlds: a true downtown feel with small-town neighbors… That mix of walkability, schools, and community pride shaped her, and honestly, it’s part of what drew me even closer to her—and to the way we try to raise our family.”
He also shared how Naperville’s legacy of servant leadership inspired the way he approaches his role as mayor:
“I watched our past leaders lean into tough conversations and still put Naperville first—embracing bold ideas when they made sense and saying no when they didn’t. From vision to decision, I ask: Will this make Naperville stronger? Keep our economy vibrant? Improve daily life for our residents?”
And perhaps most moving of all, he reflected on a childhood memory that reminds us what community truly means:
“I’ll never forget the blizzard of ’79... Over the next few days, neighbors brought us food, dropped off thank-you notes, and checked in on one another. That’s when it clicked for me: when a neighborhood looks out for each other—especially in the tough moments—a house becomes a home, and a street becomes a community.”
That spirit—neighbors helping neighbors—is what Stroll East Highlands is all about. It’s what we celebrate in every story, every featured family, and every gathering we share together.
From my family to yours, I wish you a holiday season filled with warmth, laughter, and meaningful connection. May your homes be full of joy, and your hearts full of gratitude.
Merry Christmas, East Highlands!
Julia Newton
Publisher, Stroll East Highlands
Julia Newton
Publisher, Stroll East Highlands