Living Wheaton magazine launches this week

A new publication that will tout what Wheaton has to offer is coming to local mailboxes this week.

Living Wheaton, a free magazine launched by the Downtown Wheaton Association, is making its debut as an insert in West Suburban Living magazine.

Downtown Wheaton Association Executive Director Paula Barrington said her staff and some freelancers have been working on the 20-page magazine since June.

"We're quite anxious to see the magazine and get it in hand," she said.

An informal launch party will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Suzette's Creperie, 211 W. Front St., in downtown Wheaton.

In April, representatives from the association asked the Wheaton City Council to earmark $36,000 for the magazine in its 2015-16 fiscal year budget. The council was supportive of the magazine idea, but rejected the funding request, encouraging the association to find support from local businesses instead.

However, the council did approve a second request from the association for $40,000 to expand its advertising and social media reach.

In the weeks that followed, the organization took a close look at its budget and "we were able to carve out some dollars to actually get the magazine published," Barrington said. Support from businesses also was garnered through the sale of magazine ads.

"We felt very strongly that downtown Wheaton and Wheaton in general, as a community, needed a piece that was tangible, that could be used as a branding piece," Barrington said.

Some articles in the first issue include a visit to the home of Wheaton co-founder Jesse Wheaton, a story about an abolitionist buried on Wheaton College's campus and pieces about offerings at Cantigny Park, Cosley Zoo and several restaurants and boutiques.

Ideally, Barrington said, the magazine would be published four times a year, but it will depend on the success of this first issue.

"Ultimately, it needs to be self-sustaining," she said.