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Music maker - Grace Blank was all in during her Tiny Toes Music class at The Community House earlier this month. With Roberta Wentling leading the children, they were quick to join in on both singing and dancing the morning away. The musical instrument part of the class was a big hit as well. (Jim Slonoff photo)...
I have been so inspired by the athletes competing in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Here are a few of my favorites: • Colby Stevenson, the silver medalist in the men's big air competition, who almost died in a 2016 car accident that left him with a broken skull in 30 places. He had been driving from Oregon to Utah to see a friend who broke his leg when Stevenson fell asleep at the wheel and rolled his car six times. Doctors weren't sure he'd walk again - or even live -...
How has cancer changed holiday celebrations? Like most things in Sara and Brendan Whelton's lives, Valentine's Day looked a little different this year. "We never really celebrated Valentine's Day," said Sara Whelton, who just weeks after Valentine's Day 2021 began her battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The next months were spent in surgeries, chemo treatments and rounds of radiation. The next years, Whelton said, will be spent making new memories and enjoying...
Daniel R. O’Hara, 94, of Hinsdale died Dec. 23, 2021. Six weeks later, his wife of 72 years, Rosemarie M. (Kessler) O’Hara, 91, died Feb. 7, 2022. They were former 35-year residents of Wheaton and active parishioners at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Winfield. They are survived by their daughters, Jeannine (William) Baltz, Karen (John) Bussan and Bridget (the late James) Wright of Hinsdale; and their sons, Kevin (Lee Whitacre) and Daniel (Teresa Paal); their grandchildren, Samuel Bussan, Melanie Bussan, Daniel J....
Marybeth Hanrahan Langan, 56, a former longtime Clarendon Hills resident, passed away Feb. 8, 2022, at her home in Deerfield. She was born in 1965 in Chicago and attended Walker School, Hinsdale Junior High School and Hinsdale Central High School. She graduated from Ripon College in Wisconsin and was a retired reading specialist. Betsy was preceded in death by her husband, Matthew Langan; and her parents, Michael and Adrianne Hanrahan. She is survived by her sons, Jack, Will...
Frank J. Merritt, 90, a former Hinsdale resident, died Feb. 12, 2022. Frank was born as John Franklin Merritt in 1931 in Wabash, Ind., to Bruce J. and Helen Fudge Merritt. At a very young age he chose Frank as his name instead of John. He attended Wabash High School, where he played basketball, ran track and was in the choir. He also held a Master Mason degree from the Indiana Freemasons in Wabash, Ind. He attended Purdue University in 1949 and graduated with a bachelor's...
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-47, Elmhurst) is hosting a webinar on COVID-19 and how to move beyond it at 6 tonight, Feb. 17. “COVID is going to become a part of everyday life,” Mazzochi said. “I want to arm people with knowledge to help people return to a sense of normalcy.” Mazzochi will be joined by immunologist Dr. Mia Taormina, CEO Kurt Jose of IndiviDx labs, DuPage County Public Health Emergency Response Supervisor Kristen Lundeen and Dr. Rashmi Chugh of the DuPage County Health Department. The panelists will discuss...
Hinsdale police distributed the following reports Feb. 16. Motorists arrested for DUI • Kathryn A. Kern, 59, 701 Gamble Drive, Lisle, was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, improper lane use and operating a motor vehicle while using an electronic communication device at 12:02 a.m. Feb. 12 in the 200 block of West 55th Street. She was charged and released to appear in court. • Elizabeth A. Cahall, 38, 1435 Bayshore Drive, Cocoa Beach, Fla., was arrested for driving under the influence of an intoxicating com...
A recent FOIA request revealed emails between D86 Superintendent Tammy Prentiss and Valda Valbrun, a consultant based in North Carolina. Ms. Prentiss and Ms. Valbrun were jointly revising language of the Jan. 13 letter in which Valbrun withdrew her firm from potential engagement by D86. In her email to Ms. Valbrun dated Jan. 13, 2022, Ms. Prentiss added the following to the letter: “I ... really think Hinsdale is a dangerous place and (I) would not be comfortable there.” Ms. Prentiss also wrote “It’s shameful and I feel so...
When I was young, my mom gifted me a beautiful red traditional Chinese dress, called a qipao. Qipaos are of Manchu origin and are typically slim-fitting with a high neckline and have intricate designs woven in. I wore mine everywhere: to formal dinners, holiday gatherings, other special occasions, and I even threw it on to strut down our long hallway (starting the trend of borrowing my mom's clothes from a young age). My dramatic walks down the runway were a weekly...
There is a debate in the editorial section of this paper about DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — at Hinsdale schools. My experience this past weekend in the Grant Square parking lot reminded me why equity training is necessary for Hinsdale residents. I grew up in Clarendon Hills, and was visiting this past weekend with my sister. We stopped at Kramer’s to pick up a fruit plate on a slow Sunday morning. I dropped her off at the entrance and idled outside with my blinkers on to prevent her from walking in the cold. After...
The Hinsdale High School District 86 Board meeting Feb. 10 prompted two responses: hope and disgust. We saw many things to appreciate — audience members who were brave enough to say they believe equity work is important work for the district to do, board member Peggy James’ call for her colleagues to be more willing to talk about issues and audience members who presented their comments thoughtfully and professionally. We are particularly inspired by the Hinsdale Central junior who had the courage to stand up and make an emo...
In the early part of the pandemic, the Hinsdale Humane Society and its then-business development director Jacki Rossi took extreme measures to meet the spiking demand for rescue pets from homebound residents. "I was literally, on the weekends, driving to Kentucky to meet our partners in the south to get animals," Rossi said. Finding forever families for so many animals was rewarding. But with veterinarian offices closed or limited during lockdown, the rate of spaying and...
Neil Thomas is a cardiac surgeon. His occupation was listed incorrectly at the top of the “Ask an expert” feature in the Feb. 10 issue....
Hinsdale Firefighters Pension Board 9 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 Memorial Building, 19 E. Chicago Ave. Hinsdale High School District 86 Board 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 Hinsdale South High School 7401 Clarendon Hills Road, Darien https://d86.hinsdale86.org...
Community Consolidated District 181 Board Among other business Monday, board members: • approved a $6.1 million abatement of bond and interest funds for the 2021 tax levy year to reduce the debt service portion of the community’s tax bills. The move follows the board’s abatement strategy that any amount in fund balances over 50 percent of operating expenses should either be restricted for district approval and/or be abated. • approved awarding contracts for summer projects totaling nearly $1.35 million, $304,000 of which w...
Forty-seven Hinsdale residents have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week. The DuPage County Health Department reported 47 new cases, and the Cook County Health Department reported no new cases. That brings the total number of reported cases in the village to 3,565, compared to 3,518 last week. Amita Hinsdale Hospital had six confirmed COVID-19 patients and no patients awaiting test results as of Wednesday, a spokeswoman said. Hinsdale Central High School reported two positive cases, 12 in isolation and no one in qu...
When Jackie Pyle of Hinsdale began searching for her birth mother in 1989, the only clue she had was her full maiden name. Resources like ancestry.com and 23andme were yet to be developed. She joined a west suburban chapter of ALMA, the Adoptees' Liberty Movement Association, and began to do the tedious work of piecing together her past. "We lived at the Newberry library," she said, noting her husband Ken, who died in 1995, was a huge help. "Any adoptee could be a private...
Mary Catalano still has "The Chosen Baby" book her parents gave her for Christmas in 1966 to help her understand adoption. "To our chosen baby, precious Mary Margaret. All our love, Mommy + Daddy," its inscription reads. "I've known ever since I was born," Catalano said. "I've always known I was adopted so it was nothing new. I was always open talking about it. It wasn't something I tried to hide." Growing up in Gwynedd Valley, Pa., Catalano didn't have a desire to find her bi...
Some three dozen speakers offered about 2 1/2 hours of public comment during the Feb. 10 Hinsdale High School District 86 Board meeting at which board members voted 5-2 to continue the COVID-19 mitigations approved in August. Many speakers offered impassioned pleas for the board to lift the mask mandate, including several Hinsdale Central students. "We are exhausted from being manipulated and exploited into wearing masks," Central student Sydney Pjesky said. "It's time to...
Members of the Hinsdale Central girls gymnastics team and wrestling team will represent Red Devil Nation at their respective IHSA state finals this week. Central senior gymnast Kelly Klobach will compete in the all-around, and junior teammate Charlotte French will compete in the uneven bars Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18-19, at Palatine High School. Central junior wrestler Cody Tavoso will compete at 132 pounds, and sophomore teammate Marko Ivanisevic will compete at 220 pounds Thursday to Saturday, Feb. 17-19, at the State...
Basketball, boys Feb. 15 vs. York V wins 50-46 Oosterbaan, 16 points Eck, 13 points Quast, 7 points Phillips, 5 points Yaeger, 5 points Collignon, 4 points Feb. 11 @ LT V loses 53-60 Feb. 10 vs. Glenbard West V loses 26-44 Basketball, girls Feb. 14 @ IHSA regional vs. Morton (semifinal) V wins 66-25 Monyek, 20 points Sheehan, 12 points Howe, 10 points Sarros. 9 points McLaughlin, 6 points Qiu, 5 points Dolan, 4 points Bowling, girls Feb. 12 @ IHSA sectional Andersen, 47th, 949 Hockey Feb. 15 vs. Notre Dame V wins 3-2 Devine,...
Ed is a black and white cat who is ready to meet his new family. He would do well with kids of any age. He's a super snuggly and sweet 3-year-old whose adoption fee is $75. The Hinsdale Humane Society Tuthill Family Pet Rescue & Resource Center has re-opened to the public. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and 1 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays. Capacity will be limited to about 20 visitors. Interested adopters are encouraged to fill...
Full-day kindergarten is poised to launch this fall in Community Consolidated Elementary District 181, at least for some. At Monday night’s meeting, board members were apprised of the proposed D181 Rising Stars Extended Day Kindergarten pilot program for students needing additional academic support. “(The program) is intended for any student in our seven elementary schools who has been identified as having additional needs in the academic areas of literacy or mathematics,” said Kathleen Robinson, assistant super...
Behind the lens - This photo in Sandy Williams' book, "Images of America - Hinsdale," captures L.C. Harner on the right. "For decades, the Harner Photography Shop operated at the rear of he Froscher Building. Harner created an extraordinary historic record of Hinsdale through his photographs of the village in the 1920s and 1930s." Many of the photos in Williams' book and several that have run in "Once upon a time" are from Harner....
