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As someone who spent her childhood in Hinsdale and returned after college to live and work in the area, Laura Liss has watched her hometown grow and change. Now, she's helping to keep that growth and change going, both as a business attorney and as chair of the Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. "It's both a personal and a professional sense of pride to be involved," said Liss, who joined the chamber as a member in 2019 and served as a board member and vice chair...
For decades, fans of college sports could only support their favorite players through cheers and applause. But adoption of the NCAA Name Image Likeness policy in 2021 opened up a new world of opportunity for fans to support players, and for players to profit from their work as athletes. It also opened up opportunities for entrepreneurs like father-son team Steve and Ryan Thayer. Steve, a longtime former Hinsdale resident, and Ryan, a current resident of Chicago and a graduate...
Those who attend the Stage Door Fine Arts production of "Matilda the Musical" should come prepared for an evening that includes a little bit of everything. From tender songs that evoke tears to outlandish characters that are sure to make people laugh, Stage Door co-founder and artistic director Don Smith said the musical version of Roald Dahl's story has it all, including a little bit of theater magic. Through a soundtrack that goes from softly sung ballads to boisterous...
Whether as a student in its classrooms, a worshiper in its pews or an employee in its offices, St. Isaac Jogues Church has always been part of Lara Krupicka's life. Now a resident of Naperville, Krupicka makes the drive to Hinsdale four days a week to work in the church office. Every Monday through Thursday she takes phone calls, answers parishioners' questions, completes payroll, composes the weekly church bulletin and takes on special projects, including the creation of the...
What are some choices for NYE toasts? For centuries, the sparkling wine known as Champagne has been used to celebrate birthdays, promotions, marriages and of course, the arrival of a new year. And according to Angel Rangel, assistant manager at Il Poggiolo in Hinsdale, it's not something to be messed with. "Champagne you want to keep the way it is," said Rangel. While Rangel believes Champagne is best enjoyed on its own, it is not the only way to mark a special occasion....
Like many teenagers, Grant Glowiak didn't consider himself the smartest, most athletic or most talented of his peers at Lyons Township High School. But at his church's youth group, none of that mattered. "Standard cliques didn't necessarily apply in that space," said Glowiak, who grew up attending First Congregational Church in his hometown of Western Springs. Now, as associate pastor and director of youth ministries at Union Church in Hinsdale, Glowiak said he wants to create...
How does music enhance worship this time of year? As minister of music at Grace Episcopal Church, Andrew Fredel's primary job isn't to make music, but to encourage music making from others. "It's very important that the congregation sings," Fredel said, and that's never more true than during the celebration of Christmas. Christmas draws a collection of those who frequent church, as well as those who come only for the holidays. Fredel said he's careful to include music that...
Kristin Sweis discovered her knack for fundraising as a member, treasurer and eventually president of the Elm School Parent Teacher Organization. It didn't take long for others in the village to discover it, too. With two daughters enrolled at Hinsdale Middle School, members of the school's PTO approached Sweis with an invitation to step in as president this year. The invitation likely was a result of her success at Elm, Sweis said, where during her two years as president the...
What's next after Caffray closes? Caffray Jewellers in Hinsdale's Grant Square has never been just about making and selling jewelry. The store's tagline is "making fine jewelry and friends," and owner CJ Grad said that during these last days in business, she's constantly reminded of just how many of both she has created. Some are happy and some are sad, Grad said of the customers visiting the store in its final weeks. Others are panicked about where they'll take their watches...
Jaclyn McNamara rose to the ranks of president of the Hinsdale Junior Woman's Club quickly. She said that's partially due to her inability to say no, but mostly because of her commitment to the good that's accomplished by the organization's 271 members. McNamara was new to the community when she joined the 73-year-old organization in 2017. She said she joined as a way to meet her neighbors and stayed to make a difference in the lives of neighbors in need. "You don't think the...
Ideas for a news story can come from just about anywhere, including the walls of Hinsdale Central High School. For Taylor Levin, editor-in-chief of the Devils' Advocate student magazine, fliers and posters are no longer just announcements or decorations on a wall. Each announcement of a club meeting, school dance or after-school event is a potential article for the monthly publication. Levin, a member of Cherise Lopez's journalism II honors class, is one of nine students on...
When Chris Black finished high school at age 17, the Carbondale resident said he didn't think twice about what would come next. "It was natural for me to go on to SIU (Southern Illinois University)," Black said. But it didn't take long for Black to realize that while he wasn't quite ready for academia, he also didn't want to stick around town. That's when he made the decision to "see the world" as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. Over the next several years Black did see...
What is the best way to fight winter viruses? COVID no longer makes the daily headlines, but like the flu and other common viruses, it hasn't gone away. "I'm seeing a lot of COVID," said Dr. Zoheb Osman, DO, of AdventHealth Medical Group Family Medicine in Hinsdale. He said patients are presenting with a wide variety of symptoms, including sore throat, earaches and loss of taste and smell. Thankfully, Osman said, the symptoms tend to be mild in most people. That's because as...
Tom Kloster's life hasn't always followed his intended path. But despite some unexpected curves in the road, Kloster isn't complaining about where the detours have taken him. Kloster left Hinsdale Central High School with ambitions to become a veterinarian, but Kloster said one particular class was the final nail in the coffin of his veterinary career. "I was a victim of organic chemistry," Kloster said. With two years of college under his belt, Kloster spent the next two...
How does exercise help cancer patients? Jeri Lau had several certifications and a successful personal training business when she added cancer exercise to her fitness arsenal. Encouraged by a friend, Lau approached Wellness House with the idea of a class for women with breast cancer. Seventeen years later, Lau is the oncology exercise specialist at Wellness House, where she leads 22 classes a week, each designed to help people with cancer gain physical and emotional strength for their cancer journey. Three of those 22 classes...
Hinsdaleans don't have to look far to find plenty of good, off-screen entertainment for the entire family this weekend. The annual Fall Fest at Hinsdale Middle School, downtown trick-or-treating and an open house at the fire and police departments all take place Saturday, Oct. 15, and all are completely free and open to everyone. "There's lots to do on the 15th," said Hilary Poshek, the village's recreation supervisor. After a few years of changes and limitations due to...
Kathleen Hanley's transition from working professional to mom also marked the start of her journey into a brand new career. "After my third child, I worked part time," said Hanley, who spent 15 years researching and developing hospital products after earning a degree in biomedical engineering from Marquette University. As she stepped away from full-time work, Hanley said she found herself getting more involved with her community. A resident of Glen Ellyn at the time, she...
Lisa Mussman Steele isn't about to let a few hundred miles stand between her and the chance to reconnect with her classmates from the Hinsdale Central High School Class of 1982. A resident of Asheville, N.C., Steele said she's never missed a reunion, and she won't miss the one planned for this weekend, either. "I haven't lived back in Hinsdale since I graduated from high school," Steele said. But she's remained in touch with her Central friends, and thanks to regular...
The American Girl website describes their newest doll, Claudie Wells, as "most likely to have five college majors." That's just one thing that Claudie has in common with Rio Lewis, the Hinsdale girl chosen as Claudie's real-life model. The ambitious 11-year-old said she plans to attend Julliard before embarking on a career that will involve movies, television and Broadway. She also wants to be an animal rights activist, and one day open her own school to teach others about...
A sermon delivered in church one Sunday stuck with Mark Wanless for years. The message was about the importance of volunteering one's time, when and if that time becomes available. As the father of four saw his children begin to make their way through high school and on to college, he found himself with time to give to his community through his involvement in the Rotary Club of Hinsdale. "Rotary is an organization I've always been intrigued with," said Wanless, a resident of...
Every member of Hinsdale's three Little League All-Star teams had winning on their mind as they traveled to the state tournament in Moline. Chances are none of them expected to also make history. Even Hinsdale Little League President Robert Tonn said he was surprised when all three Hinsdale teams - 10U, 11U and 12U - won their respective state titles, sweeping the tournament for the first time in Illinois history. 10U Jimmy Macri, a member of the 10U team, was chosen by the...
What inspired your new suitcase design? Hinsdale resident Maggie Gerth spent several years as an investment banker, but no one needs to be good at math to know that six people, six suitcases, one luggage rack and one hotel room add up to one big mess. "I was always looking for ways to organize the girls better," said Gerth, whose trips with her husband and four daughters seemed to always involve luggage on the floor, the beds and every other available surface. That's when she...
For many people, the Hinsdale pool is a place to cool off and hang out during the hottest days of summer. For Kayleigh Hester, Luke Leddy and the rest of the staff at the local pool, it's that and so much more. Although he enjoyed visiting the pool as a child, Leddy said he never thought of himself as much of a swimmer. So when the opportunity arose several summers ago to become a lifeguard at the Hinsdale pool, he initially questioned whether it would be a good fit. It was....
When preparing to venture outside the house, people will often remind one another that "it's not a fashion show." That statement doesn't apply to Donovan Laux of Hinsdale. For this budding fashion designer, every location is a runway, and every person is a model. Laux said her fascination with fashion began long ago as she watched her mother and three older sisters purchase clothing and put together outfits. She said her home was full of creative energy and confidence, both...
The benefits of serving one's community are many, said Hinsdale Hospital Foundation Junior Board President Maddie Molis, and some of them are delicious. Molis and others on the 150-member board are looking forward to the 68th ice cream social event from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28. People of all ages from throughout the area are invited to Burlington Park in downtown Hinsdale for ice cream, a cake walk, games, an art project and a chance to support the work of the junior...
