when you buy something through our retail links Great temperature control.TIREDLimited app Somewhat awkward interface.As someone who enjoys a lot of good food there's something about smoked meat that’s always enchanting and the scale required often means bringing friends and communities together to eat Photograph: Brad BourqueWe also have a unique spot in the world of smoking appliances: Traeger and modern pellet smokers as we know them were invented in Oregon in the early 1980s though the brand is now based in Salt Lake City When the opportunity came along to review Traeger’s Woodridge Pro I decided it was my civic duty to put on the black pitmaster gloves and get started but one made easier by the Traeger’s dead-simple usage and consistent temperature control even if the app and interface leave me wanting something a little more well done Photograph: Brad BourqueSetting up something this large and complex can be daunting Each phase of the process has an animal associated with it so you can easily separate the boxes and find what you’re looking for based on which section you’re currently in The largest part of the box forms a mat with a diagram of where everything goes All products featured on Wired are independently selected by our editors we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links It took about three hours by myself to get it up and running and the only awkward part of solo setup was having to flip the smoker halfway through plus a cool-down period before you can start smoking The bottom line here is: If you plan on having friends over to smoke on Saturday and try to do the burn-off that evening so it will be ready for go time All the grease and ash drops into a single The shield underneath pops right out for cleaning and you can drop the extra pellets out the back of the hopper through a hatch which means they never have to stay outside too long and get mushy Photograph: Brad BourqueApp and InterfaceHaving spent time with both the Woodridge and the Timberline (7/10, WIRED Recommends) which uses a straightforward knob and LCD screen The Woodridge has capacitive touch buttons and a colorful dot matrix display that looks nice but requires a bit of deciphering the first few times The app itself is fine for checking on your temps or keeping an eye on the pellet level but basically just replicates the controls on the front of the smoker I’d love to see a brief temperature history or a mode that can respond to probe readings The pieces are all here in terms of hardware and Traeger is in a unique place to capitalize on them The built-in pellet tracker is mounted at the front edge of the hopper so it can be a little dramatic about how low it's getting it starts to pile up at the back and will warn you it's low but often just needs to be shifted around I also wanted to call out one oddity I noticed in testing which is that dogs seem very attracted to the big knob on the Woodridge’s control panel Three different dogs who came over to my house during smoking sessions pressed it with their noses probably due to the combination of meat smell and seeing other people touching it They wouldn't be able to turn on the grill but they can mess with you while you're setting the temperature if they're mischievous or curious like mine the size of the Woodridge Pro really struck me You could easily smoke two full-sized pork bellies at the same time my usual Costco pork belly loads up half the smoker which is more than enough to feed some friends and have leftovers for myself and everything else is managed automatically Instead of worrying about vents or fan speeds or fuel Photograph: Brad BourqueI’ve found myself more willing to do all the extra steps that really make a meal great making pickled onions instead of buying them Stuff that sounds simple but can be easy to skip if you’re feeling lazy Knowing I have a delicious chunk of meat on the smoker motivates me to go the extra mile I've made or contributed to some of my best meals ever over the last couple of months and brought my friends together to enjoy them We've eaten tender pork belly tacos coated in a savory and spiced rub carefully refined by my neighbor coppa sandwiches on a friend's homemade focaccia I've enjoyed luxurious leftovers like fried rice the Woodridge has become a part of my kitchen and cooking routine more quickly and seamlessly than I would've imagined Photograph: Brad BourqueTemperature RangeThe Woodridge Pro only gets down to 180 degrees Fahrenheit so there’s no option for a true cold smoke which you can use below 225 degrees to produce more smoke It’s meant for the early stages of larger meats but I found stuff gets more than smoky enough without it so it’s probably more likely you’ll do this for pizza than for burgers but there are more efficient ways to get the job done if you just want to grill While I’d still recommend upgrading to something like the Combustion (9/10, WIRED Review) for really detailed info, I was impressed with the accuracy of the included probe, which was a classic metal stick on a wire. At one point I sent a photo of pork chops to friends, showing that I had nailed the temperature within a degree of my goal. Photograph: Brad BourqueI still have hundreds of Friday afternoons and thousands of hours spraying down pork belly with vinegar before I can even dream of making barbecue like my favorite spots in town, but knowing the Woodridge is consistent and straightforward means I can focus on everything else. I can see why Joe Traeger designed the first one in 1985. I’m impressed with how quickly I went from smoker novice to producing meat that I can really be proud to share with friends and family, with basically only one bad smoke along the way. I owe a lot of that to pellet smokers in general and the Woodridge in particular, which is easy to get up and running and produces consistent results with minimal fuss. The cooking aspects of the Woodridge are well done, and the rarer bits have more to do with tech and software than they do with perfect pork shoulder. All products featured on Wired are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links. It is the essential source of information and ideas that make sense of a world in constant transformation The WIRED conversation illuminates how technology is changing every aspect of our lives—from culture to business The breakthroughs and innovations that we uncover lead to new ways of thinking Businesses in Downers Grove and Woodridge were targeted during a string of overnight break-ins early Sunday morning Four Downers Grove businesses in two locations were hit Downers Grove police said the affected businesses were La Michoacana Ice Cream and Fruits and Illusion Musical Officers responded to a report of a commercial burglar alarm at approximately 4:34 a.m a second alarm was triggered at the 75th Street property A check of surrounding businesses revealed burglars had broken into businesses at each location the offenders forced entry through glass doors Woodridge police responded to a commercial burglar alarm at about 4:57 a.m Officers discovered multiple businesses appeared to have been broken into Woodridge officers located additional apparent burglaries on the 1900 block of West 75th Street The businesses targeted were New Chinese Kitchen and FMB Grocery An attempted break-in was also discovered at Shanahan's Both Downers Grove and Woodridge police reported that no one is in custody Police are investigating and request anyone with information to call Downers Grove police at (630) 434-5600 and Woodridge police at (630) 719-4740 Downers Grove and Woodridge police are investigating several commercial burglaries that occurred in both communities in the early morning hours Sunday, authorities said. About 4:57 a.m., Woodridge police responded to a commercial burglar alarm at 1001 W. 75th St. Police located several businesses that had been burglarirized. The businesses are: About 15 minutes later, police located additional commercial burglaries at 1999 W. 75th St. The businesses burglarized are: About 4:34 a.m., Downers Grove police responded to a commercial burglar alarm in the 6300 block of Woodward Avenue. Ten minutes later, a commercial burglar alarm was received in the 1600 block of 75th Street, police said. Two commercial burglaries took place at each location. Offenders forced entry through the glass doors of the businesses, police said. Downers Grove police are asking anyone with information about the incidents to contact 630-434-5600. Anyone with information about the Woodridge burglaries can contact Woodridge police at 630-719-4740. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network “Noticed yesterday that Soul Kitchen has recently re-opened as Felicia’s Woodridge Kitchen. It seems to still be a nice, straight-forward soul food spot – just with a bit of a refresh. Glad to see it and looking forward to trying them soon!” A post shared by Felicia’s Woodridge Kitchen (@feliciaswoodridgekitchen) The Woodridge Elite has a large cooking area of nearly 1,000 square inches and includes a side burner so it can handle full meal prep and While the Elite is the most expensive in the line That's an incredible value for a WiFi-connected and Super Smoke-enabled Traeger grill that can fit eight racks of ribs After spending weeks cooking with the Woodridge Elite the Elite is the only one with an electric cooktop The grill insulation allows you to cook year-round it keeps the temperature more consistent when smoking over several hours I did notice that the cabinet doors on my grill are misaligned latching onto the magnets and swinging open without any squeaks I triple-checked all the screws and even switched the spacers on each door to see if that would address the problem but I did consider the connection between a budget-friendly price and minor design flaws I only noticed the door alignment because of another design peculiarity the grease and ash keg is offset just enough that you need to pen both doors to pull it out We still love the keg and the cabinet enclosure that hides it Traeger does a very good job of packaging parts in a way that sets people up for success There are two well-documented instruction books in English and Spanish From start to finish the Woodridge Elite took me about three dedicated hours to fully assemble including flipping it from upside down to right side up halfway through the assembly It took me two hours to fully assemble the entry-level Woodridge grill — the cabinet and side burner added more time to the Elite's job Feeding pellets into an auger isn't always the most consistent because temperatures can vary during a long smoke but I had minimal fluctuation cooking on the Elite I've only noticed a plus or minus of five degrees This consistent performance is likely thanks to the better insulation on this model I saw more variance in raising and holding temperatures on the entry-level grill but anyone in cooler climates should think about splurging for maximum insulation The 970-square-inch cooking area was large for my family of four like a single rack of ribs and a small turkey breast Traeger says the Elite can do up to eight racks of ribs or eight pork butts at once The Elite's side burner is a standard electric burner so there are no restrictions on what pots and pans you can use It did take five or six minutes for the pan to reach medium heat which is a little slower than I would have liked The more annoying aspects were the touch-sensitive temperature buttons and the indicator lights Utilizing the burner to make meat in combination with the smoker means no more running back and forth to a kitchen stove One advantage of a modern smoker grill like the Woodridge Elite is its WiFi connectivity but you will need a decent wireless router at home that reaches wherever you plan on grilling the hopper has a sensor that shows in the app the amount of fuel left The app's background changes color from grey to bright orange to reflect the grill's temperature even before your eyes find the exact number There's an Apple Watch app that will show temperature I would love to see Traeger adopt Apple's Live Activities so it can show a live timer countdown right on your Lock Screen or Dynamic Island Another thing that keeps the cost of this grill down is using single-purpose buttons to select different modes instead of a touchscreen I ended up liking the big blocky text used to show the temperature because it's easy to see from a distance the controller is responsive: when you twist it The Timberline touchscreen might be more interactive but I always found it to be a little sluggish when jabbing at the screen The EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg system is making its way to all Traeger smokers and continues to be a thing of beauty It's a single location for both those by-products; tucked underneath the grill it remains hidden and safe from accidental bumps The handle grip makes it easy to remove and slot back into place it's the aluminum liners that you'll want to buy; it's annoying I saw some cosmetic issues like misaligned cabinet doors which tells me there might be some variance in construction I would have preferred the side burner lid to be bolted on and hinged the pellet sensor works as advertised but isn't always 100% accurate since the pellets siphon off unevenly The Woodridge Elite features a 970-square-inch cooking area It's a good mix of usable space and physical size but it's still not small and might feel too bulky for city dwellers or those with small patios and it cooks just as consistently as the Elite it only has two wheels and doesn't have Super Smoke abilities The Pro has the same dimensions and cooking area as the Elite it has less insulation and doesn't have a side burner or cabinet enclosure the Traeger Woodridge Elite was dependable and consistent through all its cooks The Elite is a compelling value: you get almost a full outdoor kitchen for $1,600 including an electric side burner and access to the Traeger app and library of recipes It was so easy to navigate the controls and cook on that I'd recommend it to newcomers and experienced smokers “We understand the disappointment this may cause to our student-athletes and community members who were looking forward to this game,” Woodridge athletic director Nick Mayer said in a statement "We are always focused on student well-being and will continue to make decisions that are consistent with the values and standards of conduct we expect within the Woodridge Local School District.”  According to the statement released by Woodridge the "decision was made in coordination with school officials Streetsboro athletic administrator Randy Tevepaugh said he received the news Tuesday afternoon "What's disappointing for both communities this would have been an incredibly competitive game a lot of excitement going into it and there's a lot at stake going to the district final," Tevepaugh said "The OHSAA will be refunding tickets throughout the next day or so," Tevepaugh said "They began that process at about 3:30 this afternoon so a lot of people should have already received refunds for their tickets." The game will technically go down as a 2-0 win for the Rockets seventh-seeded Streetsboro advanced to face No 6 Glenville in a district championship game 4 p.m Saturday at Wooster Triway's Miller Family Arena The Bulldogs and Rockets had split their Metro Athletic Conference regular-season games Woodridge finished with a record of 16-8 overall and 12-2 in the MAC The Bulldogs finished one game behind the league champion Rockets (21-3) This story has been updated with new information was arrested Tuesday on charges connected with sending messages to several Woodridge Middle and High School students threatening a school shooting The teen was charged with inducing panic and making terrorist threats Chad Lengel with the Cuyahoga Falls police department said the police received a couple of 911 calls from concerned parents after their children received the threatening texts Police went to the schools to provide extra security and for about 20 minutes all of the school buildings went into a place and secure the students and teachers continue with the lessons Woodridge Superintendent N'ecole Ast stated in a post on the school district's website that some students at Woodridge High School and Woodridge Middle School received text messages from an unknown number stating there would be a school shooting at Woodridge High School at 8:20 a.m According to a Cuyahoga Falls police report Among DuPage County’s fraternity of past mayors few had as long and as influential a career as Bill Murphy first as a village trustee and then as mayor and visionary for some 40 fruitful years — an era that saw the development of Seven Bridges and much of the town itself “I think because of Bill that Woodridge is who we are and where we are today,” current Mayor Gina Cunningham said who led Woodridge as mayor from 1981 to 2013 “Everything you see in Woodridge for the last 45 Bill’s fingerprints are on it,” former Lisle Mayor Joe Broda said Cunningham remembers first meeting Murphy — he also was a longtime educator in Woodridge School District 68 — when she was a student “He had great strength and character and personality and heart,” Cunningham said “He was very driven to do what is right and make the best decisions and really bring people together.” So when a nighttime tornado struck Woodridge neighborhoods in June 2021 “He was one of my first calls … ‘What can I do to help you I know you're there to help our neighbors,’ but also offering his help Broda also uses that word — mentor — to describe Murphy and his passion was for Woodridge,” Broda said Murphy attended Immaculate Conception grade school in Elmhurst He earned a master’s degree from Roosevelt University he was a principal and assistant superintendent in District 68 “Bill Murphy’s contributions to our school district and community are immeasurable,” said school board President Stuart Vanorny in a district tribute and a true public servant whose impact will continue to be felt for generations.” Murphy also was president of the DuPage Mayor and Managers Conference and the Illinois Municipal League Cunningham called him a deep thinker and a great listener who sometimes would reserve opinion till the end “He devoted countless and tireless hours and years to the betterment of the community There’s already an elementary school named after him and soon Woodridge officials will hold a dedication ceremony on April 25 to christen village hall after William F “Woodridge was blessed in general to have a person like Bill that really cared for his community,” Broda said The village’s “Building on Our Dream Award,” an honor recognizing neighbors who go above and beyond in service to Woodridge and I know he is going to be around us and still inspiring because he's very inspirational,” Cunningham said “He's going to kind of help nudge us to do more with great purpose and heart and care,” she added “He helped me to rise above a lot of things and I think that's what he did for our community He helped us to rise and look forward and keep building.” A memorial Mass will be held on Monday at 11 a.m Instead of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to St. Bede Academy Traeger’s new Woodridge line of pellet grills creates easy CUYAHOGA FALLS — In Woodridge's first game of the week against one of the better teams in the Metro Athletic Conference veteran coach Dennis Dever went with a sophomore on the mound to pinch hit in the bottom of the sixth of a tie game against Streetsboro "It's awesome," Pumper said of Dever's faith in him Dever also put freshman Jack Sweatt and sophomore Noah Lancy in for an inning apiece of relief against the Rockets who darted home to score the winning run on a pitch to the backstop in the seventh With four sophomores and two freshmen in Woodridge's starting lineup April 22 this is Dever's youngest team since the 2005 season It's about trust and the fact that Dever continues to put his young players in big spots "We've been together now for quite some time," Dever said "And I can kind of see what they're good at and what they're not good at and [I'm] trying to put them in positions to be as successful as they possibly can." Pumper started last season where most freshmen begin their high school baseball careers — on the junior varsity Pumper got a call-up to the varsity and impressed in his first start against Jackson you give your team a chance to win ball games." Pumper also showed tremendous composure against Streetsboro The Rockets had consecutive hitters reach in three of Pumper's five innings Yet Pumper managed to hold them to a single run "I usually just catch my breath," Pumper said "[I] realize I'm having fun out here and know I got my guys behind me that are going to make plays for me." has been a rising star wherever he has played earning the chance to hit leadoff and play centerfield along with his work on the mound "I'm very grateful for the opportunities he's given me but he's shown faith and I've been able to come through in some spots like tonight." Lancy didn't just come through against Streetsboro The sophomore also tossed a no-hitter in his prior start against Ravenna "[It was] just keeping them off-balance," Lancy said "Having more than just a fastball to throw continues to improveNot that it was simply the Bulldogs' Class of 2027 wreaking havoc against the Rockets Sweatt and Carter Maxa — both freshmen — came up with back-to-back Dever was quick to note his older players stepped up While four of the first six hitters in Woodridge's order were freshmen and sophomores junior Rory Johnston and senior Tyrus Hartman bring experience to the three- and four-hole And both delivered big plays to push the winning run across in the seventh as Johnston dropped down a sacrifice bunt to get DeVito to second and Hartman lashed a single to left to get DeVito to third "There's no doubt our young guys really came to play today and in big moments they came through," Dever said "But so did our junior returning starter Rory Johnston with a big sac bunt and Tyrus Hartman my senior four-hole hitter who had a big hit to get him to third which gave us the chance to win that game on that wild pitch." this is a remarkably young team — including sophomores at catcher second base and centerfield and a freshman at short — and the Bulldogs have suffered youth moments at times like a number of fielding miscues that set up Field's four-run first April 9 "You live with the physical errors," Dever said "It's the mental ones that we want to really clean up so we don't make those again as time goes on I think with a lot of playing time for these guys I think that the physical ones are starting to go away Our team's defense has been improving in the last two weeks tremendously." As Dever demonstrated time and again against the Rockets but I think especially just the coaching staff here they have so much faith in us and it really just shows," Lancy said "And I think we just absorbed that and we just want to play hard [and] do it for him." A Woodridge man accused of killing a bicyclist while driving drunk and fleeing the scene was sentenced Monday to 10 years in prison Salil Chander, 35, of the 4100 block of Nelson Court, entered a plea of guilty but mentally ill to one count of aggravated DUI resulting in the death of another person in front of Judge Joseph Bugos, who handed down the sentence, according to a DuPage County State’s Attorney’s Office news release. Chander’s bond was set at $1 million in August 2023. In October 2024, following a pre-trial detention hearing under the new Pre-Trial Fairness Act, Chander was granted pre-trial release. About 5:05 p.m. Aug. 6, 2023, Woodridge police responded to a 911 call for assistance on the 4100 block of Nelson Court. Chander had left home in a silver Kia. About one minute later, he struck a light pole on Nelson Court. He continued driving westbound on Green Trails Drive where he veered into the eastbound lane and struck and killed 64-year-old Michael Norton of Naperville, who was riding a bicycle, according to the release. After striking Norton with his vehicle, Chander drove away. An eyewitness to the crash called 911, authorities said. Woodridge police found Chander near Green Trails Drive and Ridgewood Road where he was arrested. At the time of the crash, Chander’s blood alcohol content was 0.222, authorities said. “With a BAC of nearly three times the legal limit, Mr. Chander had no business behind the wheel of a car,” DuPage County State’s Attorney Robert Berlin said in the release. “The sad truth is, like all drunk driving fatalities, the tragic death of an innocent person was completely avoidable had Mr. Chander simply not operated a vehicle after he had been drinking.” Chander must serve 85% of his sentence before being eligible for parole. He will begin serving his sentence immediately. The Traeger Woodridge Pro is the ideal hybrid grill for those who love true set-it-and-forget-it smoking but don't want to completely lose out on the versatility of grilling capabilities It's clear why Traeger has built such a strong reputation in the market: this grill offers a luxe feel and experience from start to finish As close to a set-it-and-forget-it setup as you can get You’re tied to buying a lot of consumables It's designed more for smoking than high-heat grilling Price: $999Cooking area size: 970 sq inMax temp: 500°FMin temp: 165°FHopper capacity: 24 lbs It’s almost a little embarrassing how excited I was to get my hands on Traeger’s Woodrige Pro Grill I have spent decades using manual wood smokers with great results but having to babysit a fire for eight hours to get the perfect brisket is an investment of time that I often can’t make these days This is the top of the mountain for so many grill consumers and I had never had the privilege of trying one out the Woodridge Pro was the perfect introduction to the Traeger ecosystem but it’s also a very different experience than an offset wood smoker style that I’m used to I like the Woodridge Pro a lot for convenience and the upgraded grilling space (which is almost double that of its predecessor) The app is easy to use and the smoking results are quite good But there are a couple of small drawbacks to this grill most notably the lack of true smokiness in the meats I smoked and limitations regarding high-temperature cooking The Woodridge Pro is available for purchase now through Traeger’s website It costs $999 and includes a 10-year warranty You can add accessories for the Woodridge Pro at checkout You can also purchase the Woodbridge Pro through select retailers like Home Depot Traeger includes a dealer locator on its website if you’d prefer to go pick up your new Woodridge Pro in person The premium experience starts as soon as you open the box for the Woodridge Pro Traeger has included clever packaging that not only sorts out all the parts and labels them but also makes it fun to identify what goes where Most of the packaging is recyclable cardboard it took me about 90 minutes to unbox and build the Woodridge Pro by myself The instructions are very clear and easy to follow Traeger includes a screwdriver you can use to secure all the bolts but I opted for an electric screwdriver just to speed things up a bit The materials that comprise the Woodridge Pro look and feel stout It’s clear as the build process progresses that this is going to end up being a stable My only complaint came when I got to the steps to attach the large wheels Both of those are secured with rather wimpy cotter pins that almost certainly won’t stand the test of time but given the stout build throughout the rest of the unit I was surprised to find Traeger using cotter pins here Before using the Woodridge Pro for actual cooking This has always been something of a vague command from grill manufacturers but Traeger makes the process simple and clear in its instruction manual I didn’t even have to be present while this process took place (well I followed the instructions to basically heat up the grill and get pellets flowing into the auger and ran it at various heats to burn off any residues from the factory and shipping and you’ll burn through a decent amount of pellets The Woodridge Pro has a ton of cooking space — 970 square inches which is 110 square inches bigger than the entry-level Woodridge That real estate is split between the main grates and a shelf above the main cooking grate Traeger has devised a clever system for collecting fat and other byproducts and forcing them down into a chute that eventually drops all the waste into a removable grease and ash keg That makes cleanup a lot easier once the cooking’s done The drip tray is of course removable so you can clean it after a few uses; there are even hooks on the back of the grill where you can hang grates or the drip tray to keep everything close at hand during the cleaning process one on each side of the main cooking chamber And the prep surface on the lefthand side folds down for storage primarily because this is also where the electronic control panel is located and beneath that prep service is where the hopper lives which automatically feeds the heat source at the right levels to maintain your set temperature There are two ways to get your Woodridge Pro set and ready to cook: by using the dial and buttons on the front of the grill The control panel features a large digital readout so you know what temperature you’re set at This is also where you’ll see other relevant messages The dial is a push-button selector as well Starting the grill is as easy as choosing your temperature and hitting the starter button Traeger’s quick attachment system rails are mounted across the front of the grill This gives you plenty of versatility for mounting Traeger accessories or hanging other cooking tools Traeger included a front Pop and Lock (P.A.L.) shelf with my test unit rail is as simple as pulling in the mount levers The bottom of the grill offers a lot of storage space This is where I stacked my bags of pellets This could be a good place to tuck your cooking gear one of the downsides of the Woodridge Pro — and any pellet smoker really — is that you’re married to buying bags of pellets I’m a bit old-school and have largely cut my own wood for use in my smokers so it’s a bit of a bummer to have to head to Home Depot to grab more pellets But that’s all part of the pellet smoker game pellets are readily available at many retailers Having spent much of my smoking experience with an old moving over to a pellet smoker is sort of like going from driving stickshift to a self-driving car Both have their advantages and disadvantages and there’s a learning curve for each is this what I’ve been missing?” Usually smoking a brisket means spending the day tending a fire and compulsively feeding the fire or finding clever ways to crack open the lid just the right amount to vent heat It’s worth it for the finished product so I was hesitant to try a set-it-and-forget-it option like the Woodridge My first smoking session was two racks of ribs I usually try to keep the temperature around 180 degrees So that’s what I set for the Woodridge if you like to spray your meats throughout the cooking process with something to add moisture or bark and come back when it’s time to pull the meat off the grill I could use Traeger’s super smoke settings This setting ensures smoke is more or less constantly flowing over the food to give it the smokiest flavor possible and while the flavors were wonderful — very smoky indeed — I learned that I need to readjust my expectations for cooking speeds Another hour on the smoker would have made these ribs just about perfect I did it again on my second experience smoking with the Woodridge Pro the meat itself needed about another hour on the Woodridge Pro My suspicion is perhaps the Woodridge’s thermometer is actually accurate whereas my old wood smoker’s thermometer was probably reading inaccurately Traeger does include meat probes that plug directly into the Woodridge Pro My only complaint during that first smoking experience was that the pellets have a tendency to get caught up in the smoker which creates a “low pellets” reading in the app Swishing the pellets around with my hand corrected that I may end up removing the small grate that’s screwed into the hopper to allow the pellets to flow more smoothly The Woodridge Pro heats up to higher temperatures (500 degrees max) quickly and easily So you can definitely use the Woodbridge Pro as a standard grill for weeknight meals you’re able to get a sear on your meats too comes from the heat of the cooking grates rather than from any direct flames but I sure do love a little singe from flames licking at the meat on the grill since there’s no direct flames beneath the cooking grates I was able to cook chicken thighs on high heat with no problem It’s not quite the same as having the meat get those flame-licked brown and black accents If you’re using accessories like a searing plate or griddle While it’s easy to get the grill up to 500 degrees the searing plate probably doesn’t get that hot That means searing on such plates leaves a bit to be desired you’re cooking burgers on a searing plate the Woodridge Pro just can’t compete with a live-fire grill that will help the plate get up to a searing temperature Things you wouldn’t find with my old apps are a disappointing experience and I’d rather do without because it really transforms the cooking experience into something fun and easy I was able to control temperatures and monitor everything from the other side of my house with no problems at all It’s easily the best grill app I’ve used so far The WiFire app lets you set the temperature and even change it at any time I was able to see the entire seasoning and cleaning processes on videos within the app before I executed either one My test unit arrived with two accessories: a grill cover and front shelf that works with the P.A.L The front shelf attaches quickly and easily and it’s easy to take it off and put it aside when not in use I requested a few more accessories from Traeger including a couple of spatulas and some butcher paper all available for purchase on the Traeger website One interesting accessory that just landed on my doorstep as I’m writing this review is the Meater SE wireless meat thermometer. It's wonderful to be able to insert the meat probe without having a wire running from the grilling surface out to the control panel And tracking the temperature via the Meater app will also be a new and hopefully convenient experience The Woodridge Pro sits within a crowded segment of pellet smoker/grill combos and many other brands offer pellet units that function as both a smoker and a grill Traeger certainly has the advantage of name recognition here and the build quality of the Woodridge Pro is a good example as to why Traeger has built such a strong name Weber is also making excellent smokers; one notable unit is the SmokeFire EX4 which costs $849 and includes similar features like easy cleaning The Weber does get hotter — up to 600 degrees — which makes it a better choice for grilling But users have reported some failures and inconsistency holding temperatures The Woodridge Pro offers an excellent smoking experience It’s while smoking that you’ll get the most from your Woodridge Pro; the Super Smoke feature is excellent and adds lots of flavor to your meats Grilling capabilities here are decent enough but the Woodridge Pro does struggle where many pellet grills like this struggle: high-heat searing I was able to make some delicious meals at higher temperatures but temper your expectations for true high-heat searing the Woodridge Pro offers true set-it-and-forget-it smoking Lots of cooking space top off this backyard beast It’s a top choice if you’re smoking frequently after-work meals that don’t require high-temp searing and other bike accessories for Tom's Guide his work has appeared in Triathlete Magazine Slow Guy on the Fast Ride: One is about cycling and other outdoor activities while the other looks at mental health issues you will then be prompted to enter your display name 2025 at 3:21 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Here's our roundup of the best Easter brunch options in and around Woodridge IL — If you want Easter brunch and don’t want to cook it several Woodridge restaurants will open Sunday Here's where to enjoy Easter brunch in and around Woodridge Cadence Kitchen The Easter Brunch at Cadence Kitchen offers seatings until 3 p.m The Easter menu will feature special that include short ribs eggs benedict roasted leg of lamb and hand-carved glazed ham The Capital Grille The Capital Grille is serving up a two-course Easter brunch that starts with freshly baked blueberry bread and your choice of field greens New England clam chowder and cold-smoked salmon on avocado toast Guests 21 and older can enjoy mimosas and bloody marys Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe $55 for adults; $20 for kids ages five to 12; no charge for kids four and under Chuck's Southern Comfort Café will serve up a brimming buffet that features breakfast The breakfast selection includes bananas foster french toast There will be a carving station offering peppercorn pork tenderloin smoked salmon with mango salsa and smoked ham with pineapple glaze.To make a 90-minute reservation Lucille Restaurant at Drury Lane Oakbrook TerraceApril 20 at 10:30 a.m.$115 per adult; $40 for kids ages five to 12 years old Diners can indulge in a brunch buffet at Lucille Restaurant that features nine stations Head to the appetizer station for smoked salmon before loading up on prime rib leg of lamb and other meats at the carving station.Top it all off with pastries and cookies from the dessert station Call 630-530-8300 or click the link to reserve a spot for Easter brunch at Lucille Restaurant it’s a good idea to call ahead to make sure the chain locations near you are open Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. 2025 at 10:45 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}The identity of two people killed in a fiery crash on Kildeer Avenue may require additional research DuPage County Coroner Judith Lukas told Patch IL — Two people who were killed when their car hit a home in Woodridge and burst into flames have not yet been identified according to DuPage County Coroner Judith Lukas Lukas told Patch dental records or DNA may be required to positively identify the decedents their identities still had not been released The fatal crash took place around 8:45 p.m after an electric vehicle veered off Janes Avenue and struck a house in the 2400 block of Kildeer Avenue Both people inside the car were pronounced dead at the scene Traeger's Timberline grill is currently listed as the top pellet grill in our guide to the best grills but with its modern looks and smart functionality The Woodridge is a good-looking pellet grill with the brand's signature WiFIRE technology but when you upgrade to the Pro model you'll benefit from a new "Super Smoke Mode" which is designed to improve smoke flow for a deeper wood-fired flavor Iconic grilling brand Weber also announced 3 new grills for 2025 just last week making this an exciting year for outdoor cooking We'll be testing these grills to see if they can oust the competition from our grill buying guide here's what's new with Traeger's new Woodridge line the Woodridge line's base model is competitively priced in the pellet grill market It's got a generous 860 square inches of cooking space and features a smart hopper clean out button that allows you to flush out un-used pellets to allow you to switch up your flavor The upgraded Woodridge Pro and the Elite model are both designed for feasting They also feature built-in pellet sensor technology meaning it can remind you when it's time for a top up and make sure you never run out mid-way through cooking We've seen this same tech in the Traeger Ironwood Pro but it's a little more accessible for the Woodridge Pro's $999 You'll also benefit from improved insulation across the Woodridge line designed to offer an enhanced experience when grilling and smoking in the winter you can remotely monitor your grill via an app and adjust temperature as and when needed Traeger's got a new Pop And Lock Accessory line This means you can now have extra attachments for your Traeger grill including an added shelf for more prep space and even a roll rack for keeping aluminum foil close to hand so Traeger's added a new EZ-Clean Grease & Ash Keg which collects drippings and ash in a single-use container that slots into place directly underneath your grill allowing you to throw waste directly in the trash instead of sweeping out the base of your grill We'll be testing the Woodridge line ahead of Summer 2025 this is one of the most exciting pellet grill releases I've seen in a while She's been reviewing home tech for over five years testing everything from coffee makers to the latest vacuum cleaners Starting out in 2019 as a Staff Writer at TopTenReviews Millie then moved on to Future's Homes portfolio where she eventually oversaw all product testing as Head of Reviews With particular expertise in cookware and kitchen appliances you'll struggle to find an air fryer Millie's not tested She's traveled the world reporting on the latest home innovations and product launches learning how to use pizza ovens from Pizzaiolos in Naples and touring the De'Longhi factory in Venice When she's not reporting on home and appliance trends She's currently learning the guitar - naturally Bring the Adventure Home | 1871 Club Print Membership Now Only $35 - Delivered Right to Your Door, Subscribe Today Designed to be more affordable for the everyday pitmaster the Woodridge has all the brand's beloved features and stellar performance at a less shocking price point this grill is just as good as any you'd expect from Traeger Dimensions: 50" x 27" x 46" Cooks food evenly with plenty of smoky flavor "cool," as any other Traeger grill It has a streamlined design with a matte black coating that I just love Setting it up took a little while (and a few choice words from my husband) but it wasn't any more difficult than other grills we've put together we smoked a pork tenderloin and a whole chicken with all of that bold smokiness you want from a pellet grill The meat cooked evenly throughout without really any work or tending to on our part That's the beauty of the Woodridge (and any Traeger for that matter)—you can set it and forget it A big highlight of the Woodridge is the built-in WiFi connectivity (called WiFire) which allows you to connect your grill via Bluetooth to your phone you can monitor the progress of your cooking especially when you live in northern Maryland and are trying to smoke pork in the middle of a polar vortex in January we had a great experience grilling with the Woodridge There was ample cooking space—easily enough for a family of four—and it was easy to use and to clean up afterward I truly can't find anything to complain about with this one (and believe me If you've been looking to invest in a Traeger, the new Woodridge is a great option. And, even if you already own a pellet grill but want to upgrade your existing setup, you can invest in the more deluxe Woodridge Pro or Woodridge Elite which are packed with even more features and add-ons It does exactly what you want a pellet grill and smoker to do (and then some) and it doesn't cost as much as some of the legacy models You can currently purchase the Woodridge series grills directly at Traeger.com or in Traeger stores across the country Field & Stream has been providing readers with honest and authentic coverage of outdoor gear and that passion comes through in our product reviews You can count on F&S to keep you up to date on the best new gear And when we write about a product—whether it’s a bass lure or a backpack—we cover the good and the bad so you know exactly what to expect before you decide to make a purchase © 2024 Field & Stream All rights reserved I’ve been smoking meat on a Traeger for about 8 years and I’ve cooked some delicious meals But technology has changed vastly since I received my old-school pellet grill I jumped at the opportunity to do a Traeger Woodridge review the Woodridge line packs modern technology into a pellet grill that starts at $799 the new Woodridge costs less than my non-Wi-Fi Traeger Pro Series 34 did in 2017 Could it replace my grill that’s cooked hundreds of fantastic meals In short: The Traeger Woodridge is a cook’s pellet grill at a value price The Woodridge line (including the Woodridge and Woodridge Elite) maintains many of the capabilities of Traeger’s premium models but costs $1,000 less Wi-Fi control allows cooks to control long smokes from anywhere Looking for something smaller? Check out the best portable grills The pre-release Traeger Woodridge arrived on a pallet the day after New Year’s Day and I had to enlist the help of an office mate to load it into my truck But I got it home in one piece and got to work on assembly this is where you’ll begin your journey Traeger says you can assemble the Woodridge in about 90 minutes I used a power drill dialed way down on its power to speed the process the grill was ready to fire up for seasoning here is a little context about my grilling and smoking I use the Traeger mostly for slow cooking and smoking meat — think brisket I cook a lot of wild game and often braise meats like elk shanks for many hours to tenderize tough cuts the Traeger is one of several tools in my cooking arsenal I also have a small Green Egg komodo grill And this brings me to one of the first tests for the Woodridge: Could it get hot enough My old Traeger really struggled to get above 400 degrees I fired up the Woodridge and set the temp to 500 degrees Let’s see what this shiny new contraption could do That is plenty hot enough to sear a steak or cook burgers quickly And it’s vastly hotter than my old Traeger ever reached It’s also worth noting that the ambient temperature was only about 20 degrees Fahrenheit when I did this test I dropped the temp down to 375 for my first cook and threw on some buffalo wings No surprise here; they turned out delicious I decided to lean into the smoke and low-slow cooking of a pot roast I cooked a venison round steak left over from the 2023 season I brought it to 180 degrees and got some smoke rolling it would have been nice to upgrade to the Woodridge Pro for its “super smoke” mode but I made do with the base model at low temp to see what would happen I had a nice deep red smoked appearance on the outside of the meat I pushed the temperature to 275 degrees and loaded the meat into a Dutch oven with potatoes I could monitor the temperature while I took meetings for a couple of hours I even pulled up my Ring camera a couple of times to make sure everything was safe and sound in my yard while the grill was cooking I think the Traeger Woodridge is a success I love the intuitive settings and ability to use a Wi-Fi-based app to monitor my cooking from anywhere I haven’t used it enough yet to need to give it a full cleaning but I will update this review after another dozen or so cooks to provide the best information I can for those shopping for grills My old Traeger Pro Series 34 had a bucket that hung on the side to collect grease I accidentally dumped it and its contents no fewer than five times since I’ve owned it It also required me to vacuum out the internal combustion area every couple of months I hope the Woodridge is an improvement and suspect it will be The Woodridge has one other neat capability which the brand calls its “Pop-And-Lock,” or P.A.L. This allows you to very easily add accessories like shelving the Traeger Woodridge is relatively affordable and the Pro model — adding more space and a Super Smoke mode — costs $999 The Elite model comes at a more premium price of $1,599 but adds insulation to the body and a 1,100W infrared side burner An educated guess says the base Woodridge and Woodridge Pro models will dominate sales catering to those who want premium capabilities at a reasonable price but I already like the Woodridge’s performance more than my old model and simplified cleaning are major improvements that will make this a much more versatile and user-friendly grill For those looking for a pellet grill capable of everything from long the Traeger Woodridge offers a compelling choice It has most of the features of higher-end models at a price that leaves room for groceries We tested the best portable grills from Weber and more to help you find the right grill for your next adventure Sean McCoy is the Editorial Director of GearJunkie he was the chief photographer for the Virgin Islands Daily News and former editor-in-chief for GearJunkie 2025 at 9:18 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A complaint alleges that Woodridge police surrounded Derrick House and threatened to shoot him after mistaking his car for a suspect car in an Oswego shooting IL — A Downers Grove man is suing the Woodridge Police Department drew their guns and threatened to "end him" during a false arrest last January The complaint alleges that "other than being a black male driving a Volkswagen with a license plate starting with CN," Derrick House had nothing else in common with the suspect police had sought Videos shared on the law firm's website appear to show body cam footage of the Jan a gray Volkswagen with Illinois license plates CN 49263 has been pulled over by officers in Woodridge Police Department squad cars The video appears to show police with their guns drawn "I'm going to shoot you in the head if you come up with anything other than that," an officer can be heard saying appearing to comply with officers and is put into handcuffs walks around the vehicle and checks its license plate while holding a memo pad that reads "CN 78394." Kielbasa then beckons two other officers toward him and says "That's not the right car," appears to check something in his cellphone and says it's not." To which the officer wearing the body cam says Additional footage from Harvey's body cam shows Murray telling Harvey Harvey then goes to the squad car House is in and telling him to Police then take House out of the handcuffs Car plates...car's same as yours...The plates match with...the plates match...two of them are off The suit alleges the arrest was "unconstitutional and illegal" and adds that House "has nightmares and that volatility has affected his family and social life and these injuries and damages are certain to continue for the rest of Derrick’s life because he will never be free of seeing police out in the world and will never be free of the dread and terror he experienced." House is seeking $500,000 "for compensatory and punitive damages." alleging false arrest intentional infliction of emotional distress and municipal indemnity Click the links to view the body cam footage of House's arrest and read the complaint against Woodridge police In a statement Woodridge went to Akron to find its new football coach Former Ellet coach John Daraio was named Woodridge's coach Tuesday by the Board of Education. He takes over after Phil Martter resigned in November "We just felt he was a great blend of experience," said Woodridge athletic director Nick Mayer "With his head coaching experience at Ellet and his experience in other programs we felt he had the leadership and the culture-building piece down we felt like he kind of fits in with what we try to do here." Woodridge finished 3-7 and Ellet 1-9 in 2024 The Bulldogs will open the 2025 season at home against Revere After serving as Ellet's head coach the last two seasons he said he considered Woodridge "a gold mine." I remember getting over there and playing Woodridge and they were on one of their streaks where they won a lot of games and league titles," Daraio said I learned Woodridge was a great place to be." While acknowledging Woodridge has slipped from its heights in the 2010s Daraio said he believes the Bulldogs can return to that level "I know what they went through is tough the last couple years," Daraio said that Woodridge has all the pieces to be dominant in football again." Daraio came to the University of Akron to play baseball He has been coaching high school football on both sides of the ball since he was 19 Daraio said his staff at Woodridge will be a mix of coaches joining him from Ellet and "Woodridge lifers." the goal should always be to get the best 11 on the field Daraio said the decision to leave Ellet was "a hard situation." "The hardest piece is we did build a great culture there and I thought we were going to be a good football team this year," he said It's one of those places where you could be there for 20 years." Daraio earned a degree in education from Akron Mayer said Daraio will not be offered a teaching job at Woodridge Mayer said Daraio was one of 37 applicants for the job "We just wanted the best candidate," Mayer said "We had a really strong pool of candidates and we were able to pick one we thought was the best." 2025 at 3:19 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}Trinity Irish Dancers will perform at Woodridge Public Library Saturday the Woodridge Public Library will once again welcome a fast-stepping festive stylings of the Trinity Irish Dancers The event will be held March 15 from 10 a.m and kids ages three to 10 will have a chance to join the dancers for their own Irish jig lesson Founded in 1982, Trinity Irish Dance Academy has shared the tradition of Irish dance with some 10,000 students Their dancers have performed on Good Morning America The Trinity Irish dancers first performed their annual St. Patrick's Day event at Woodridge Public Library in 2017. No registration is required for Saturday's event, which has drawn over 200 attendees in the past A Woodridge resident will appear on the television game show “Wheel of Fortune.” Patty Spano says she will be in the episode scheduled to air at 6:30 p.m “I've watched ‘Wheel of Fortune’ with my family for as long as I can remember,” Spano said in a news release “My mother used to watch the show every night and it became a cherished family tradition.” her dream of spinning the wheel and solving puzzles came true when Spano was selected as a contestant earlier this year Family and friends say they are proud of Spano and what she accomplished IL — It's that time of year again: time to indulge in the deep-fried sweet tooth-sating Polish pastries known as paczki and bakeries in and around Woodridge are taking orders to help satisfy paczki cravings throughout the area Here's where to find paczki in Wheaton for Paczki Day 2024 Keep in mind that some bakeries will require pre-orders for you to pin down your preferred paczki Others may have a limited amount on hand for walk-ins on March 4 Sylvia's 8117 Cass Ave., DarienThe Paczki Day festivities at Sylvia's last nearly a week, with bakers whipping up the sweet treats daily starting Feb. 27 and ending March 3. Their scrumptious flavors run the gamut from pineapple and poppyseed to butter kreme and peanut butter and jelly.Sylvia's will be open from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. on March 4. Click the link to download Sylvia's paczki pre-order form Vanilla Sugar Bakery Vanilla Sugar Bakery is taking paczki pre-orders and accepting walk-ins in 2024 until they run out of the sugary The bakery's creative paczki flavors include banana cream pie and Nutella cream-filled Kirsten's Danish Bakery The inventive paczki flavors at Kirsten's include chocolate DeEtta's Bakery428 W NapervilleDeEtta's is taking pre-orders of six or more paczki until March 2 at 12 p.m. but they also plan to have plenty of paczki in store on Paczki Day apricot and whipped cream with fresh strawberries Woodridge and Revere open their 2024 high school football seasons against each other in a Week 1 game at Joseph F Woodridge won 28-0 at home against Revere in Week 1 last season Woodridge and Revere were playoff teams last season in Division IV and Division III The Bulldogs return eight starters. The Minutemen return 23 lettermen with eight starters apiece back on offense and defense Minutemen senior Rowan Klein had runs of 25 and 7 yards and four 1-yard runs during the drive that sealed the victory Junior Miles Hunter added a 9-yard run during the drive and senior Luke Farris had two 1-yard runs a 6-yard run and completed an 11-yard pass to senior AJ Hall and a 13-yard pass to junior James Perry Woodridge drives stalls against Revere in fourth quarter of Week 1 football gameWoodridge senior Gavin Lynch had a first-down run and caught a first-down pass from junior quarterback Rory Johnston but a promosing drive stalled with the Bulldogs turning the ball over on downs to Revere on the 20-yard line with 6:37 to go in the fourth quarter Revere attempted a 26-yard field goal with 1:06 to go in the thrid quarter but the ball sailed to the left of the goal post and the kick resulted in no points The drive included a Rowan Klein first-down run a Luke Farris first-down run and a Farris first-down pass to Aaron French The third quarter ends and Revere leads 7-6 Woodridge junior quarterback Rory Johnston completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior Nassir Abdullah with 7:54 to go in the third quarter The Bulldogs were whistled for a taunting penalty after the TD Instead of attempting a long extra point kick Woodridge went for two points and after another penalty Revere junior Jack Simpson caught a pass in the end zone to prevent the Bulldogs from scoring The drive also included a Johnston 32-yard pass to Abdullah and a Johnston 11-yard pass to freshman Andrew Stull Halftime at Revere High School and the Minutemen lead the Bulldogs 7-0 Junior James Perry ran for a 3-yard touchdown with 1:33 remaining in the second quarter and sophomore kicker David Kennedy added the extra point to give Revere a 7-0 lead Senior quarterback Luke Farris connected with senior Aaron French on a nice pass play and senior Rowan Klein contributed some rushing yards before the TD The drive was setup by a Woodridge turnover when Revere junior Miles Hunter forced a fumble and Minutemen senior Lucas Weinert recovered the ball Woodridge and Revere scoreless through one quarter of playThe defenses for Woodridge and Revere were the story during the first quarter as neither team scored The Revere girls and boys basketball teams retired No and Pete Nance between the first and second quarters All three Nance siblings were in attendance along with their father What time is the Woodridge at Revere football game today?Revere will host Woodridge at 7 p.m Watch Ohio High School Football Live on the NFHS Network all season Woodridge features senior running back-safety Gavin Lynch senior linebacker-wide receiver Braden Mottice and junior tight end-defensive end Everitt Norton Woodridge's other returning starters are senior right guard Vincent Adams junior left guard/defensive tackle Jacob Igleheart sophomore wide receiver-safety Kellen Morr junior left tackle-defensive end Nick Mull and junior two-way lineman Collin Pietrowski junior Toby Mullen and junior Michael McCauley Revere's other returning starters on offense are senior tight end AJ Hall senior wide receiver Aaron French and fullbacks James Perry Revere's returning starters on defense are senior Brody Bard Perry and AJ Hall at linebacker and junior cornerback Tyler Frate Revere basketball teams will retire No. 22 to honor Casey Nance, Larry Nance, Pete NanceThe Revere High School basketball teams are set to retire No Larry Nance and Pete Nance during tonight's season-opening football game at home against Woodridge The Nance siblings will be recognized between the first and second quarters of the football game Larry Nance graduated from Revere in 2011 and Pete Nance graduated from Revere in 2018 All three players earned All-Suburban League All-Northeast Ohio Inland District and All-Ohio honors More Revere athletics: Revere basketball teams will retire No. 22 to honor Casey Nance, Larry Nance, Pete Nance 1,113 rebounds and 281 blocks in her four-year career at Revere and was a McDonald’s All-America nominee as a senior She played basketball at the University of Dayton for four seasons was an Atlantic 10 All-Rookie Team selection an Atlantic 10 All-Defensive team selection and a three-time recipient of the Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete Award She helped Dayton make three NCAA Tournament appearances and win the program's first A-10 tournament title in 2012 Larry Nance helped Revere compile a record of 40-6 overall and 28-0 in Suburban League games during his final two seasons and advance to two Division I district finals He played four seasons at the University of Wyoming and was named to the All-Mountain West first team and the All-Mountain West Defensive Team twice each Nance led the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament he was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 The Los Angeles Lakers drafted Larry Nance in the 2015 NBA Draft with the 27th pick in the first round He currently plays for the Atlanta Hawks after stints with the Lakers Portland Trailblazers and New Orleans Pelicans Pete Nance led Revere to its first district championship in boys basketball in 2018 and ended his four-year career with 1,347 points He was named the Ohio Division II Player of the Year and was afinalist for the Ohio Mr He played four seasons at Northwestern and a graduate season at North Carolina 138 3-pointers and 122 blocks in 137 games (105 starts) Pete split last season between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Cleveland Charge Phil Heyn of the Revere Athletic Hall of Fame Committee said Revere is inducting nine members into its athletic hall of fame before the game The nine inductees will be joined by Revere's 2013 state championship boys soccer team that featured standout players Brandon Taylor Joel Gerberich and Daniel Branch and coach Sandor Jakab The nine individual Revere hall of fame honorees are: Bobby Nickol is entering his third season at Revere with an 8-13 record This is his seventh season overall as a head coach following four seasons as St He has a 32-29 record in six seasons following a successful run as a Barberton assistant coach Michael Beaven can be reached by email at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal.com and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ We occasionally recommend interesting products and services If you make a purchase by clicking one of the links USA TODAY Network newsrooms operate independently The All-New Woodridge® Series Combines Cutting-Edge Technology and Unmatched Versatility at Approachable Price Points SALT LAKE CITY, Jan. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Traeger, Inc. ("Traeger") (NYSE: COOK) the creator and category leaders of wood-pellet grills is once again raising the bar with the next wave of innovation in outdoor cooking by launching the all-new Woodridge Series Traeger's state-of-the-art Woodridge series celebrates innovation while redefining the capabilities of its grills The Woodridge series features three distinct models:  Woodridge Dating back to the initial Traeger grill prototype in 1985 Traeger has been at the forefront of revolutionizing grilling by using wood pellets to create a unique cooking experience that delivers unparalleled flavor only produced on a Traeger With the introduction of groundbreaking features at a more affordable price point this innovative lineup of Woodridge grills continues cementing Traeger's legacy of providing outdoor enthusiasts with the tools necessary to take the guesswork out of grilling the advanced line of all-new Woodridge grills delivers a pellet grilling experience that continues redefining outdoor cooking and empowers home chefs to create bold wood-fired flavor built to bring friends and family together "When we set out to develop the Woodridge series our goal was to bring as much quality and innovation as possible to price points accessible for every outdoor cook,' said Jeremy Andrus "We're proud to announce that we are launching the most important product platform since the first wood pellet grill was introduced to the market by Joe Traeger 40 years ago we've packed groundbreaking design and cutting-edge technology into three models delivering unmatched quality and innovation at price points that bring the Traeger experience to every backyard these grills make it easy to produce the best-tasting food on the planet The all-new Woodridge Series transforms outdoor grilling into an art form utilizing the following new features The Woodridge Pro offers several upgrades over the base Woodridge model making it an excellent choice for those seeking enhanced functionality and capacity Woodridge Pro comes equipped with 970 square inches of cooking capacity to accommodate everything from appetizers and main entrees to delicious desserts providing hosts with the ability to deliver a variety of meal sizes at gatherings Added convenience features include a folding side shelf for food prep and dedicated second-grate storage to keep the grilling area organized The Woodridge Pro also boasts an upgraded controller with a Pellet Sensor to monitor fuel levels making the Woodridge Pro a standout option for serious grillers The Woodridge Elite takes grilling to the next level with premium upgrades that build on the features of the Woodridge Pro While maintaining the same expansive 970 square inch cooking space the Woodridge Elite introduces insulated construction for superior heat retention and enhanced fuel efficiency ensuring consistent grilling results in even the coldest of climates Exclusive to the Woodridge Elite is the addition of a 1100-watt infrared side burner perfect for high-heat cooking techniques like searing An enclosed cabinet replaces the open bottom storage offering secure and weather-resistant space for tools and accessories paired with its advanced design and functionality position the Woodridge Elite as the ultimate choice for grillers seeking top-tier performance and versatility is the creator and category leader of the wood pellet grill an outdoor cooking system that ignites all-natural hardwoods to grill Traeger entered the griddle category further establishing its leadership position in the outdoor cooking space by introducing innovative alternatives to griddle empowering cooks of all skill sets to create delicious meals with flavor that cannot be replicated Grills are at the core of Traeger's platform and are complemented by Traeger wood pellets the innovators and category leaders in wood-pellet grills today announced another addition to its popular.. Retail Food & Beverages Household Products Household, Consumer & Cosmetics Do not sell or share my personal information: 2025 at 10:02 am CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}An electric car caught fire after it hit a home in the 2400 block of Kildeer Street around 9 p.m IL — Two people are dead after an electric car slammed into a home in the 2400 block of Kildeer Ave The fiery crash took place around 8:45 p.m ABC7 reports that the car involved in the fatal crash was a Tesla and speeding may have been a factor Police say the car veered off Janes Avenue hit the home and became engulfed in flames Both people in the car were pronounced dead at the scene firefighters from the Lisle-Woodridge Fire District had removed the car from the home The identity of the decedents was not available as of Monday afternoon Win the turnover battle and you win football games Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy has proven that adage correct the last two weeks "It was definitely a focus throughout the week," said CVCA quarterback Charley Levak I knew we had to make some changes after committing so many turnovers I just came in with the mindset that it's going to be different this week." High school football: Akron area live score updates from OHSAA Week 3 as he led CVCA with 117 yards rushing and two touchdowns He ran a 6-yard bootleg for a score at the end of the first quarter and 51-yard sweep for a TD in the second CVCA played from a three-man T formation most of the game The result was 327 yards rushing from eight different Royals "It's something we have and we'll go back to it when we need it We use the phrase with our guys in these conditions of "positive ball control.'" CVCA got a big night from running back Ryan Wiehe who piled up 81 yards on just eight carries Wiehe opened the fourth quarter with 44-yard TD run CVCA led 21-0 at halftime following a 1-yard touchdown plunge from Nick Schober with 28 seconds left in the half The Royals' defense didn't allow Woodridge a first down in the first half It was a miserable night for Woodridge quarterbacks Rory Johnston and Gavin Lynch Johnston went 2-of-8 for 5 yards with three interceptions while Lynch was 2-of-6 for 50 yards and one pick Woodridge also was held to minus-4 yards rushing due to bad snaps and fumbles Even Woodridge's best drive was foiled by a turnover thanks to a pair of long passes to Andrew Stull a high snap was recovered by CVCA's Nathan Cook to end the threat Here's how the game went down in live update forcing five turnovers Friday at Lahoski Field Quarterback Charley Levak ran for a pair of touchdowns CVCA made it 28-0 thanks to its ground game Ryan Wiehe shed a tackler at the line and ran in a 40-yard TD Calvin Warren hit the PAT to make 28-0 Royals with 11:51 left in the game CVCA had gone to its three-man T and is grinding out the clock on the ground CVCA will start the fourth quarter with 2nd and 11 from the Woodridge 40 Woodridge's best drive ends with bad snap, fourth turnoverWoodridge had a promising drive going but it ended with the Bulldogs' fourth turnover After Gavin Lynch hit Andrew Stull with a 20-yard pass to the CVCA 5 a high snap over Lynch's head was recovered by CVCA's Luke Keeler up 21-0 with 7:02 left in the third quarter CVCA football leads Woodridge 21-0 at the halfCVCA takes advantage of three Woodridge turnovers to take a 21-0 halftime lead at Lahoski Field Woodridge will receive the second-half kickoff After a couple of long runs by Charley Levak running back Nick Schober plunged in a 1-yard TD run Calvin Warren's PAT makes it 21-0 Royals with 28 seconds left in the half Three straight turnovers between Woodridge and CVCACVCA's defense gets its second turnover as Ky'Ron Fikes picked off a long pass from Rory Johnston at the CVCA 35 After Charley Levak completed a 40-yard pass to Joey Kopec Woodridge's Naseer Williams-Clay recovers it at the Woodridge 25 Nick Schober picks off Johnston on long ball A nice return is negated by an illegal block penalty CVCA quarterback Charley Levak ran in his second rushing TD of the game Levak ran a quarterback sweep 51 yards down the left sideline for the TD Calvin Warren hits the PAT to make 14-0 CVCA with 5:48 left in the first half CVCA football leads Woodridge 7-0 after one quarterCVCA's defense has dominated the first quarter CVCA starts the second quarter with first and 20 at its own 29 CVCA intercepts Woodridge, turns it into the game's first touchdownIt's a defensive game so far as CVCA's Joey Kopec picks off Woodridge quarterback Rory Johnston and returns it to the Bulldog 24 as quarterback Charley Levak runs in a 6-yard bootleg for the TD Calvin Warren this the PAT to make 7-0 Royals with 59 seconds left in the first quarter High schoof football: Akron-area Week 3 breakdowns, predictions Woodridge will look to get running back Gavin Lynch going as the Bulldogs have scored just 13 points in their two games CVCA head coach Nick Cook is in fourth year leading the Royals and has led them to the playoffs each year Woodridge coach Phil Martter is his second second leading his alma mater Contact Michael Leonard at mleonard@recordpub.com and follow him on Twitter at @MLeonard_ABJ Two teenagers are accused of robbing a person at a Woodridge park after arranging to buy AirPods and other items from them is charged with armed robbery and fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer DuPage County Judge Joshua Dieden Tuesday ordered Jones be detained while awaiting trial A 16-year-old boy is charged with armed robbery and aggravated robbery Judge Demetrios Panoushis ordered he be detained until at least his next court appearance Woodridge police were called just after 5 p.m Sunday for a report of a robbery at Castaldo Park A person said they had arranged over social media to meet buyers and sell them Apple AirPods and two hooded Spider sweatshirts for $495 one of he men pressed a gun — now believed to be a BB gun — to his ribcage the complainant followed the men to 71st and Janeswood Drive while talking to police Officers located the suspect vehicle but lost sight of it after its driver fled at a high speed Police later located the SUV and placed Jones under arrest The juvenile is scheduled back in court Dec 2025 at 2:38 pm CT.css-79elbk{position:relative;}A man was found dead inside Nonnie's Pizza Friday morning IL — A death investigation is underway after a man was found dead inside Nonnie's Pizza in Woodridge Police and firefighters were called to the pizzeria at 1565 75th St they found the man dead inside the restaurant Police say there does not seem to be evidence of foul play and there is no apparent danger to the public Woodridge police are working with DuPage County Coroner on the ongoing investigation The man's identity is being withheld pending "further investigation," the news release said