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After more than a year of virtual performances, the Nazareth Academy theater program returns to the stage Oct. 28-30 with "Clue." Inspired by the well-known board game, "Clue" is a murder mystery with a funny side. The 15-member cast of "Clue" includes a pair of juniors from Hinsdale who are excited to be back on the stage. Emma Francis and Harrison Gianares shared with The Hinsdalean some details about the show and their love of the stage. Emma Francis What do you have in...
Why is earth science important? Years ago Hinsdale Middle School science teacher Katie Garvey was at her childhood Orland Park home when she felt the structure sway from a passing train. Except there was no train. "I didn't think it was an earthquake at the time. It was really little," she said. As denizens of the Midwest, Hinsdaleans can be thankful that major seismic activity and tsunamis do not rank among natural disaster threats. But the unpredictable nature of the...
How do support groups help those on the cancer journey? Every year, hundreds of thousands of Americans are told they have cancer. Yet when the diagnosis hits close to home, it can leave the patient and their loved ones feeling isolated and alone. Support for patients and families dealing with cancer comes in many forms at Hinsdale's Wellness House. Along with classes about topics relevant to navigating the journey through cancer, Wellness House offers dozens of ways for...
How can we stay healthy this flu season? The 2020-21 seasonal flu season was among the most mild ever thanks to COVID-19 safety protocols and a population primed to get flu shots. But as people's defenses slip after 18 months of pandemic prevention, medical professionals like Dr. Nishi Sahgal, director for infectious disease at AMITA Health Adventist Medical Center Hinsdale, warn this flu season, with COVID-19 still circulating, could be much worse. "It can certainly happen,"...
While her mother was building a career helping people buy and sell houses in and around Hinsdale, Suzy Marcus was helping owners turn those houses into homes. Five years ago, the two came together to offer buyers and sellers the best they both have to offer. “I’ve been in the design business for over 25 years,” said Marcus, daughter of real estate agent Suzy Styfer. Styfer has been selling homes for 25 years. “She’s the seasoned professional,” Marcus said. Combined wi...
What does the American Legion do for vets? Last weekend's 20th anniversary 9/11 commemorations reminded Americans both of the tremendous loss suffered and the stirring acts of heroism exhibited in the face of unimaginable terror, an occasion now observed as Patriots Day. Today, Sept. 16, is also a tribute to patriots. American Legion Day marks the 1919 birth of the oldest veterans organization in the U.S. Hinsdale American Legion Post 250 was among the first chapters, then...
The best thing about John Giannelli's job as Hinsdale fire chief is the opportunity to help someone in need. The worst part, Giannelli said, is witnessing that need for help. Inspired by a cousin who worked as a firefighter in Pennsylvania, Giannelli became a cadet with his hometown department in LaGrange Park when he was 18 years old and started as a firefighter/paramedic in Hinsdale in 1991. Working his way up through the ranks of the department, he was named chief five...
Why is weather fascinating? With New Orleans and the Louisiana coast picking up the pieces after Hurricane Ida's devastating blow, severe weather events are top of mind for many. September is National Preparedness Month, a federal government designation to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time. To mark the occasion, Paul Sirvatka, meteorology professor at College of DuPage, will present the virtual...
If there's a new pergola, patio or pool being built anywhere in Hinsdale, Lourdes Garcia knows all about it. As the village's building inspector and code enforcement officer, it's Garcia's job to see that every project is being done properly and with as little inconvenience to neighbors as possible. An employee of the village for about eight years, Garcia said she never dreamed that a job managing a large apartment building in Woodridge would lead to where she is today. "It...
Anyone who has attended Hinsdale's Fourth of July celebration, sifted through the parks brochure or clicked on the village's website has witnessed firsthand the work of Sammy Hanzel. As recreation and marketing communications manager for the village, Hanzel not only plans a host of special events but also lets people know about them through banners, website posts, brochures and flyers. "If it's printed, I probably worked on it," said Hanzel, who joined Hinsdale's staff five...
As Hinsdale's village planner, Bethany Salmon is helping the village prepare for the future while keeping one eye solidly focused on the past. Salmon's job is to protect the buildings that make Hinsdale special while exploring opportunities for expansion and improvement. Developers and business owners with hopes of bringing projects to the village must first pass their ideas past Salmon. "We're not interested in growth for the sake of growth," said Salmon, who was drawn to...
At the time of the infamous Brown's Chicken Massacre in Palatine in early 1993, Hinsdale Police Chief Brian King was a detective with the Wilmette Police Department. The horrific incident, in which seven restaurant employees were killed by two robbers, led to groundbreaking interjursidictional collaboration to solving murder cases - and a new opportunity for King. "I was lucky enough to get on a start-up task force that supervised homicide investigations for the towns just nor...
When Mark Pelkowski began his career with the Hinsdale water and sewer department, he knew nothing about the village and not much more about water and sewer. But 20 years later, there's not much Pelkowski doesn't know about the system that keeps water flowing in and out of Hinsdale's homes, businesses and public buildings. Pelkowski is part of a five-member team charged with maintaining the village's water mains, storm sewers and sanitary sewers. The community pool also falls...
Dan Deeter was working as an engineering consultant on private construction projects in 2008 when the Great Recession took a wrecking ball to the market. "I was designing and developing subdivisions for a variety of different home builders," he said. "When the bottom dropped out, there was a whole bunch of civil engineers who were out of jobs." Deeter decided to explore the municipal sector, applying for the village engineer position in Hinsdale. He was asked if he planned to...
Hinsdale has been a Tree City USA community for nearly 30 years, due in no small part to John Finnell. As superintendent of parks and forestry for the village of Hinsdale, Finnell leads an eight-member team that is charged with the care of almost 15,000 village-owned trees. "The village is like living in a park," said Finnell, who is in his 15th year as a part of the Hinsdale village staff. Having long admired Hinsdale, its trees and the village's commitment to caring for its...
Directing a municipality's development requires keen negotiating skills, according to Robb McGinnis. "You're trying to thread the needle between helping to protect the status quo in a neighborhood and helping the builder and homeowner get the home built," he explained. McGinnis joined Hinsdale's staff as building commissioner in 2006 and added community development director to his portfolio in 2009. He said his department is responsible for regulating development within the...
The year a teenage Brad Bloom reported to his first day of work at the village of Hinsdale, the country was celebrating its bicentennial, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak formed the Apple Computer Co. and folks were flocking to theaters to see the first film in what would become the "Rocky" franchise. Forty-five years later, Bloom is still coming to work in Hinsdale every day, and he wouldn't have it any other way. "The days are full and the pace is fast, but I like it," said...
Andrea Lamberg remembers the exact moment that set her on the path toward her new job as Hinsdale's finance director. Lamberg said she was about 10 years old when she became enthralled with the paper that her older sister was using for her homework. The ledger was filled with lines and boxes just waiting to be filled with numbers - numbers about which Lamberg was eager to learn. "I was fascinated. I wanted to do whatever that was," Lamberg said. That early version of a modern...
When you're working for nearly 18,000 people, it's difficult to know what any given day might bring. Whether it's filling a pothole, trimming a parkway tree or clearing an icy street, George Peluso said his goal every day is to provide excellent customer service to everyone who calls Hinsdale home. As director of public services and engineering, Peluso oversees the staff responsible for the village's roads, water system, parks and more. Everything from road repairs to...
In fearful times, look for the helpers. Growing up, Heather Bereckis heard that Mister Rogers-issued maxim often from her mom. And internalized it. "Knowing that I've helped someone in some way," Bereckis said, "that's a good day." Before becoming superintendent of parks and recreation in Hinsdale, Bereckis was aquatics director for the YMCA of Greater Cleveland. The village forester there, in partnership with the Y, was leading a plant identification kayak tour along the...
When village manager Kathleen Gargano shows up for work at village hall each morning, she's never quite sure what her day will hold. And that's her favorite part of the job. "No day is the same, and it is very uncommon that the day I plan actually turns out that way," she said. As village manager, Gargano oversees village operations, including fire, police, public works, parks and recreation, community development and finance. She also must pursue the objectives of village...
How did your Naval career intersect with Hinsdale Rotary? A year ago in March, Sophie Lekas needed money. $32,000 to be precise. She was finishing her fourth and final year as a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis and was eager to pursue graduate studies, if the Navy would support it. The master's program in engineering at Oxford University accepted her, but she would need to raise half of the two-year program's $64,000 tuition herself. "I thought it would be a...
Years before she would earn the title of doctor, Kristin Tvrdik found the career she was looking for at the Hinsdale Humane Society. While working at the shelter as a summer intern, Tvrdik discovered her professional path. "After that experience, I knew for sure I wanted to go to veterinary school," said Tvrdik. More specifically, the experience convinced her to focus on shelter medicine. As medical director at Hinsdale Humane Society, she's seen that plan come to fruition....
What are your thoughts as graduation nears? Hinsdale Central student Gianna Dugan will soon shed that identifier. The senior is graduating on Monday. And as student body president, she'll also serve as host for the proceedings. "I'll be leading the whole ceremony. I'll introduce the different speakers, (principal) Mr. Walsh," she said. "I'll also introduce all the students going to military service academies." Looking back on a most unusual finale for the class of 2021, Dugan...
What does it mean to be recognized by Forbes? When Carrie French entered the world of wealth management, she was in a field dominated by men. "When I started, I didn't even know any female financial advisors," French said. Times have changed. Twenty years later, French has a female boss whose boss is also a woman. Earlier this year, French became one of 29 J.P. Morgan Wealth Management advisors to be named among Forbes' 1,000 Top Women Wealth Advisors for 2021. Seeing how far...
