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Marty Carlino interviews Major League Baseball player Jason Kipnis in June 2019 at the opening of the Northbrook Baseball Kipnis Center. Kipnis, who grew up in Northbrook, played last season with the Chicago Cubs. (Photo provided)
Editor's Note: This is part of a series of stories about young fast-risers in Illinois journalism.
By CHRISTOPHER HEIMERMAN For Illinois Press Association
WILMETTE – Marty Carlino admits he had a limited worldview before he co-founded a hyperlocal news outlet.
“I was 100 percent the sports guy in college,” the 25-year-old Dominican University graduate said. “I just didn’t have a variety in what I covered early on.”
His adviser at the Dominican Star, communications professor John Jenks, wasn’t about to let that continue.
“Of course, I wanted to volunteer on the sports beat, but he said, ‘Uh, uh, no way, you’re getting out of your comfort zone,’ ” Carlino said, laughing.
Jenks put him on the student government and politics beat, where he thrived.
“The thing about Marty is initially, he came in kind of cautious about things,” Jenks said. “But he’s really curious about things, and once he does get curious, he plans through what he needs to do to find out more about something and how to make it happen with coverage. He’s hard-working, and he follows through.”
Carlino, who graduated in spring 2017, co-founded The Record North Shore, a publication that covers five Chicago North Side suburbs, Winnetka, Wilmette, Glencoe, Kenilworth and part of Northfield.
He and his co-founders had to re-rack March 31, when 22nd Century Media folded under duress of the COVID-19 pandemic and left them unemployed. Joe Coughlin was the publisher of the media group, which published 14 weekly newspapers, and Megan Bernard was editor of two of those publications, the Winnetka Current and The Glencoe Anchor. Carlino was editor of The Northbrook Tower, where he “fell in love with hyper-local journalism.”
“I’m a huge believer in hyper-local news, and more so I believe in the model because it brings the community all the stories it cares about,” Carlino said.
They wasted no time planning the new media group, with Coughlin diving into the paperwork to get The Record North Shore certified as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. They launched a Kickstarter campaign and created a video with members of the community at the forefront.
The trio built an editorial board that includes Jenks and J.A. Adande, the director of sports journalism at Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism who’s better known as a longtime ESPN columnist. Sports buffs will recognize him after he spent 13 years on the popular sports banter program “Around the Horn”.
In addition to writing byline stories and editing content for The Record North Shore, Carlino hosts its podcast along with Coughlin. The topics, naturally, are laser-focused on what matters to their listeners.
“That’s not just being there when there’s breaking news or a big story, but having boots on the ground every day, and covering every aspect of the community,” Carlino said.
Losing his first job out of college was a gut-punch.
“I’m not gonna lie, it was tough,” Carlino said. “It was a crushing blow. The proverbial blood, sweat and tears had gone into that publication and making sure the paper came out each week – a lot of long hours and late nights.
“But I never questioned my intentions to stay in the news industry.”
Jenks said he saw Carlino’s dedication firsthand, and that he could always count on Carlino to do whatever it took to put out the Dominican Star on time, from reporting to editing and paginating in the wee hours of the morning.
“He’d be up in the Mac lab doing all the work from the very start to the very end,” Jenks said. “He didn’t just pop in. He’d really work the details.”
Carlino is a pro’s pro who defies stereotypes, however unfair, of millennials and members of Generation Z.
“When I’d tell him to talk to so-and-so, he’d do it; he always follows through,” Jenks said.
But Carlino also has a dry wit about him and a knack for wordplay.
“He’d come off very serious, and then he’d say something funny, something that made you say, ‘Huh?’ ” Jenks said.
He saw Carlino’s star truly rise when he covered the Berwyn community specifically as part of a journalism project his senior year of college. In addition to covering meetings and hard news, Carlino wrote about sports bars and interesting things community residents were doing.
“He really kind of got a good handle on what was going on there,” Jenks said. “He really got into it, and did some really good stories.”
Carlino said one story he covered in college that stands out in his mind is when the university banned tobacco use on campus.
“It was a big deal at the time. I believe there was a decent population at Domincan that were smokers,” he said.
He and another staffer at the Star got a tip from someone they’d worked with, and Carlino followed it like a hawk to the next student government meeting.
“We were able to announce the story before the university announced it,” he said. “It was my first scoop so to speak, and when I got that adrenaline rush, I’d never felt anything like it.
We were proud to be the ones who reported it first. It was a moment of pride, and people cared about it.”
That hyper-local focus helped Carlino get hired at 22nd Century Media before the ink had dried on his diploma, just weeks after graduation, and it’s front and center at The Record North Shore.
Carlino said he puts an emphasis on covering every corner of the community. For instance, when he satisfies his appetite for sports and covers events, he makes a conscious decision to cover often-overlooked sports such as cross country.
“It just builds trust in your news outlet and lets your community know you’re going to be there when news happens,” he said. “It helps you show your newsroom is able to produce stories they really care about.”
Marty Carlino works from the sidelines reporting on a football game between Glenbrook North High School and Grant High School in Fox Lake in 2017. (Photo provided)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 7, 2026 Media Contact Information: Aunt Millie's Bakeries Melissa Koeneman, director of marketing (260) 417-2581 mkoeneman@auntmillies.com
John F. Popp, President of Aunt Millie’s Bakeries
FORT WAYNE, Indiana — Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is deeply saddened to announce the passing of its President John F. Popp, who died on Friday, July 31, at the age of 94. A third-generation member of the family business, John’s leadership, optimism, faith, and unwavering commitment to people helped shape the company and its culture for more than four decades. John Franke Popp was born March 2, 1932, to Lucile and Les Sr. Popp. He grew up with his older brother, Les Jr., on Forest Park Boulevard in Fort Wayne and graduated from Northside High School in 1950. He went on to attend the University of Michigan, graduating in 1954, and entered the U.S. Army that same year. He served as a second lieutenant before returning home following his military service. John was offered an opportunity to begin a career as an analyst with T. Rowe Price, but his path ultimately led him back to Fort Wayne and the family bakery. At his mother’s urging, he returned home to join the business — a decision that would shape not only his own life, but the future of generations of the Popp family and Aunt Millie’s employees. Long before his career in baking, John developed a love for Lake Wawasee and water skiing, eventually becoming the Indiana state slalom water ski champion. It was at the lake that he met Esther Rolene, the love of his life. They married on June 19, 1960, and spent the next decades building a life together, raising two sons and creating countless memories with family and friends. Even with the demands of running a growing company, John made time for what mattered most, including cheering his sons on from the sidelines at their baseball and football games.
John F. Popp and his wife, Esther Rolene Popp
In 1967, John stepped away from the family bakery to pursue a career in real estate, where he developed the subdivisions of Devil’s Hollow, Manitou, Lakewood, West Hamilton Estates, White Loon, and Winding Brook. In 1980, he returned to Perfection Bakeries, where he helped guide the company through a period of significant growth and expansion. The company that would become known as Aunt Millie’s grew under his leadership into one of the largest family-owned baking companies in the United States. John viewed the people around him as an important part of that success. He loved being part of the team and was known for his optimism, encouragement, and genuine care for employees. His leadership was not simply about growing a business; it was about building an organization where people could grow, contribute, and feel that they were part of something bigger than themselves. A third-generation leader of the family-owned bakery founded in 1901, John was deeply committed to protecting and building upon the legacy established by his grandfather, John B. Franke. His influence also reached beyond Aunt Millie’s. He was a passionate advocate for independent bakeries across the country, working with industry organizations to strengthen and protect family-owned businesses. He believed in the importance of education and workforce development and encouraged lifelong learning within the company while supporting the next generation of leaders in the baking industry. In recognition of his contributions to the baking industry, John was inducted into the Baking Hall of Fame by the American Society of Bakers and Engineers in 2021. He also served the state of Indiana after being appointed by Governor Mike Pence to serve on the Indiana Commission for Higher Education. While John’s professional accomplishments were many, those closest to him knew that his faith and family were at the center of his life. He cherished Bible Study Fellowship and worshiped at The Chapel and Wawasee Lakeside Chapel. He was quietly generous and found joy in serving others through organizations including the Euell Wilson Center, Women’s Care Center, and Ratio Christi. John enjoyed spring breaks in Florida, trips to Maine, his ’61 Corvette, and working on projects at the lake. He appreciated the simple pleasures of life, but most of all, he loved his family. His greatest legacy will not be measured solely by the company he helped build, but by the family he loved, the people he encouraged, the lives he touched, and the values he carried with him throughout his life. “John Popp believed that success was built on people,” said Rick Brown, Chief Customer Officer. “He cared deeply about our employees, our customers, our communities, and the generations of families who have made Aunt Millie’s a trusted name. His leadership was defined by humility, kindness, and an unwavering commitment to doing what was right.” John’s passing leaves a tremendous loss for the Popp family, the Aunt Millie’s family, and the many people and organizations whose lives he touched. While the company mourns his loss, Aunt Millie’s leadership team remains committed to carrying forward the mission, values, and legacy John championed throughout his life. Daily operations will continue uninterrupted as the company moves forward under its established leadership plan. The Popp family extends its heartfelt appreciation for the many expressions of sympathy and support received during this difficult time. Memorial service information will be shared at a later date. About Aunt Millie’s Bakeries Founded in 1901 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Aunt Millie’s Bakeries is one of the largest family-owned bakeries in the Midwest, serving customers across six states with fresh bread, buns, rolls, bagels, and other baked goods. For more than a century, the company has remained committed to quality, innovation, and serving the communities it calls home.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 21, 2026 Media Contact Information: Michael Korman, highway commissioner North Township Road District (847) 728-7055 mike.korman@northfieldtownship.com
Northfield Township Road District’s Phase II project placed in Group 1, the top tier, of MWRD’s 2026 Stormwater Partnership Program; construction could begin as early as 2027
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