Highland Park, Community

2025 in Focus: The Record’s top photos of the year

We absorb a lot in any given year. Whether good, bad or in between, the moments affect us. Local news and reporting documents those moments.

And local news and reporting is nothing without the photojournalism — the images that at worst amplify and at best define the storytelling.

We went back through The Record’s year in reporting and pulled out some of the most impactful and captivating photography. Enjoy.


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Leela Chittajallu, 5, waves a flag in the air with the help of her father, Sumanth, during Wilmette’s Independence Day celebration. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Ryan Schmidt (right) chases a baserunner in a police-vs-fire softball game in Wilmette. | Photo by Rob Lange
Ruairi O’Connor and Stacey Oswald hold Star of David confetti that was dropped via drone on their Winnetka. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Federal border patrol agents operating in Wilmette in October. | Photo Submitted
A protestor with one of several clever signs at an October No Kings Rally in Wilmette. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Paul Dombrowski, a retired teacher, with a sign in support of a Deerfield High School teacher during a School Board meeting on Sept. 30. | Photo by Samuel Lisec
Supporters of a dismissed Jewel-Osco employee rally outside the Wilmette store. | Photo by Rob Lange
Chris Rintz with a gift given to him at his last council meeting as Winnetka Village president. | Photo by Peter Kaspari
Patrick Hanley with supporters as he announced a run for state office. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Mara Cotter has a laugh among dozens of fellow witches before the Wilmette Witches Ride. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Rafael Valencia (left) and Harry Vences react to a volunteer trying to scare them outside the Skokie Park District’s Scream Scene Haunted House. | Photo by Samuel Lisec
Highland Park officer Gregory Mendoza carries a swan out of harm’s way along Route 41 in October. | Photo Submitted
The Glencoe Golf clubhouse mid demolition in May. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
James Karabas (right) and Patrick Schultz push through a hot-wing challenge as part of a fundraiser for The Record in May at Pit & Tap. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
The making of a paczki at EvaDean’s Bakery and Cafe in Wilmette. | Photo by Joe Coughlin

SPORTS

New Trier girls hockey players go to meet their fans after the state-title win in March at the United Center in Chicago. | Photo by Rob Lange
The celebration is on after New Trier Green’s state championship victory at the United Center. | Photo by Rob Lange.
Kayla Chudgar (left) and Eloise Breen embrace after Breen’s game-tying goal in the Trevians’ field hockey team’s state championship. | Photo by Rob Lange
New Trier track and field athletes celebrate with a historic state championship, the program’s first in 80 years. | Photo by Clark Brooks
New Trier gymnast Clara Crossgrove, who eventually won a state championship in the event, performs her floor routine during the sectional. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Gymnast Sammy Mills on the floor in the state championships. | Photo by Rob Lange
Loyola’s Abby Murphy takes a secondary lead off third base as the pitch whizzes through her eyeline. | Photo by Joe Coughlin
Loyola sophomore running back Melo Maldonado dives through tackles in a victory against Merrillville. | Photo by Margo Grogan
Highland Park’s Jayden Corchado leaps over a would-be tackle. | Photo by Phil Bach
New Trier wide receiver Emmett Koshkarian stretches for more yards against Waubonsie Valley. | Photo by Rob Lange.

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Staff

This article was developed using publicly available information, such as press releases, municipal records and social media posts.

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