Sorted by date Results 1086 - 1110 of 1148
Remember the “Hinsdale School News” some folks in town received right before the April 2 election? The eight-page publication — printed on newsprint to look like a local newspaper — was highly critical of the $140 million referendum Hinsdale High School District 86 had on the ballot, among other things. We reported on the publication, emphasizing to readers that it was not a product of District 86, even though it named both the district and included the District 86 logo. A...
Concerned taxpayers are circulating a petition to “Slow Down” the plan for substantial cuts and other changes to our highly successful science curricula at Hinsdale South and Hinsdale Central. Otherwise, these changes will be imposed in fall 2020 on all students at South and half the students at Central, where the changes are planned to be phased in over several years until all students will be subject to the new curriculum. Ninth-grade biology and earth science will be phased out entirely. All students will be placed on the...
Both legislative houses of Illinois voted overwhelmingly this past week to cap what diabetics pays for insulin to $100 a month. Majorities of both Democrats and Republicans voted yes, yet Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (IL-47) refused to support the bill. She spoke against it on the floor, suggesting that drug companies would shift costs around. They would continue to make huge windfall profits. It’s a remarkable admission from a representative who made a career of defending pharmaceutical companies in court. I learned I had d...
One year and one day ago, a 93-year-old woman ran down my wife, Susan, on the sidewalk on First Street, shattering her, shoulders to knees. Sue and I were out for our daily walk. Those were our times to share, argue about national news, talk about kids and families, and to hold hands. And yeah, more than once, I stopped to kiss her, still smitten like a high school boy even after 45 years of marriage. Coming onto First, we noticed westbound cars stopped all the way back to Gar...
In a recent community theater production, I portrayed a woman who has an affair. “Becky” loved her husband and son, endured a boring job with good humor and did not suffer in any way. Her husband, Joe, was kind, supportive and handsome. And yet Becky still strayed. This plot device became an issue for some people in the audience when the theater group conducted a post-performance Q and A. “It didn’t work for me,” one man said, “because Becky wasn’t miserable. Why would she...
I’ve always loved crafts. As a kid, I would ask for different kits as Christmas gifts and then spend the days of winter break burning wood (and often my finger) or modeling clay. Even as an adult, I am always attracted to an opportunity to create something (that doesn’t involve a keyboard!). So occasionally I will look on Pinterest to check out the ideas posted there. This is almost always a mistake, especially at this time of year. I will admit I have gotten some good ide...
Student journalists at Northwestern and Harvard universities have been taking a lot of heat lately for doing their jobs. At The Daily Northwestern, reporters were harshly criticized for the way they covered fellow students who protested U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ visit to campus. Reporters tweeted photos of the protesters and used the school directory to contact students to request interviews. Those students didn’t like it. Then, on Nov. 10, the paper ran an editorial, apologizing for its actions. That move earned t...
Do you remember where you were when you discovered who you could be? I do. I was at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Well, at least in my imagination. My favorite television character, Rory Gilmore, once said, "I live in two worlds: reality and books." I've related to that sentiment my whole life. As a kid, reading was my favorite activity, my preferred way to pass time. Books spoke to me on levels that no person could. I read in school, in between classes, on car...
What do you believe? I just finished reading the responses of 80 people to that question in “This I Believe,” a book released in 2007 (and discovered recently on my bookshelf). It’s based on an NPR series of the same name. I found the book — from the content of the individual essays to the variety of responses — fascinating. Contributors ranging from students to politicians to Einstein share their beliefs in everything from being kind to the pizza dude to always attending the...
With the approach of Veterans Day on Monday, our collective spirit of gratitude is directed to those who put on the uniform and, in many cases, put themselves in harm’s way to defend this nation from threats to freedom. Over the past year we’ve published a series of stories on a venerable Hinsdale organization dedicated to serving and advocating for the nation’s veterans, American Legion Post 250. The post is among the oldest in the country, formed shortly after the American Legion was chartered and incorporated by Congr...
When Ralphie wakes up to see the snow glistening on the ground, the ice-covered trees sparkling in the sunlight, he’s filled with wonder. Of course, in “A Christmas Story,” this scene happens on Dec. 25, not Oct. 30. Charlie Brown and Linus are definitely not wearing coats as they discuss whether the Great Pumpkin will appear in the Peanuts’ Halloween classic. Waking up yesterday morning to a blanket of white — with more wet, heavy snow falling from the sky — I felt no des...
My first glimpse of Hinsdale was of kids skating in Burns Field. It was an idyllic picture straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting. It was this serenity that made us move to Hinsdale. Now I feel this serenity is being threatened by the influx of 5G. Verizon has picked Hinsdale to roll out their 5G network. 5G is needed to run the “internet of things.” 5G, however, will lead to a significant increase in electromagnetic smog. It involves placing additional 100-150 antennas in Hinsdale. These antennas form hot spots of ele...
What’s your image of Hinsdale? I see a special place of tree-lined streets, manicured lawns, neighbors talking and children playing in the park. Unfortunately, we’ll soon need to add a 5G small cell tower to the background of these images. Drive around town and you’ll notice small stakes with white flags in front of our homes, schools and parks. These are the potential sites for Verizon’s 5G small cell towers. They will be placed roughly every 200 feet throughout the village. Don’t see any near your home? Don’t worry, AT&T...
No matter how much you prepare or plan for it, parenthood has a way of writing its own story. Its love has a strength that is greater than I could have ever known. My own journey to become a mother looks nothing like I thought it would, but looking back I am grateful for that. My struggle with infertility meant that having a family the way I had imagined needed to change. Determined that my diagnosis would not be the end of my dream for a family, we immediately began to think...
It’s Halloween in Hinsdale. A time of revelry for both young and old as children finally get to don those carefully chosen costumes, while parents make them put a jacket over because it’s 37 degrees. But lurking in the shadows, just beyond the glowing jack-o-lanterns and illuminated front yard water features, frightful events are stirring in our imagination that would cause anyone’s hair to stand up. Even without a visit to the blow bar. We turn our shielded eyes to the downtown parking deck now under construction, a shini...
The Hinsdale Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the village of Hinsdale for their partnership in the first annual Hinsdale Wine Walk on Oct. 17. The chamber and village brought 350 wine enthusiasts to downtown historic Hinsdale to tour 23 wine stops that included Hinsdale Wine Shop, Zazu Salon & Day Spa, Yankee Peddler, County Line A/V Solutions, Trumeau Design & Décor, Razny Jewelers, Stockholm Objects, My Eye Dr., King Keyser Specialty Sports, Phillip’s Flowers & Gifts, Browning & Son’s Fine Jewelry, My Sister Kate...
Our family moved to Hinsdale in 1976, buying a more spacious house on a wooded lot with an easy walk to the train. An especially appreciated feature was our much-needed, first-ever basement. We quickly took it for granted, never suspecting that, on three occasions, basements would rivet our attention in coming years. By 1999, we were building a new house on Third Street, an all-consuming, creative project. However, as work proceeded, I started stressing about our upcoming...
October is National Principals Month, a month-long recognition of school leaders to honor their endless commitment to the success and well-being of the students under their care. We asked the community’s principals — those serving in Districts 86 and 181 — what they most enjoy about their jobs. Here are their responses: • “My favorite thing about being a principal is greeting the children daily when they arrive. I also love working with the dedicated Elm teachers. Collaborating with them to provide powerful instructi...
If you were worried a friend or family member was suffering from domestic abuse, would you know the signs to look for? Would you know where she could turn for help? If you know Hinsdale’s Bana Atassi, the answer to those questions is probably yes. Atassi is a five-year member of the board of Pillars Community Health, a nonprofit organization that offers a variety of services, including shelter and other support for domestic violence survivors. Atassi said she tries to r...
They say that time flies. They say that these four years will go by in a flash. But I remember my first day of freshman year. It was a scorching hot day in August. A short-sleeved gray dress was not the best choice to hide those embarrassing sweat stains. Being crammed in a humid, sweaty gym for the first all-school assembly did not mix well with the anxiety of being at the bottom of the totem pole at a new school. Rumors of crazy science teachers, intense work loads and...
This spring a litter of kittens sought shelter in a window well on the south side of our house. Once our dog Lizzy discovered them, they decided to seek other accommodations. The kittens that took up residence at our house last week, however, were much more resolute. Ainsley and I first spotted them when Lizzy was raising a ruckus at one of our living room windows. A cute little black kitten sat outside, staring at Lizzy with a “You can’t get me!” look on its face. We went...
I have long been a fan of fall. While others are lamenting the end of sunny, 85-degree days, I long for the arrival of the autumn (but not so much that I acknowledge "meteorological fall" on Sept. 1 - I wait for the actual equinox!). Spring certainly has its merits. The day when winter coats, scarves, mittens and boots can be traded in for a sweatshirt and a pair of sneakers certainly is a happy day, especially if you're trying to get a kid to school on time. And it's not...
Two out of 10 high school seniors have used marijuana in the past month. Six percent reported daily use. About 36 percent have used it in the past year and 43 percent have used it during their lifetime, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, according to NIDA. We can’t imagine its use will drop when the drug becomes legal on Jan. 1. Some teens believe the drug is safe because it’s natural, but that’s not really true. Marijuana contains more tha...
"You have to be patient to live here," Patrick remarked with a wry smile. We were trapped in a narrow street in the small French town where we were spending the month. There was nowhere else to go, so we had to wait while the farmer unloaded her crates. It's easier to be patient when you're on holiday. Freed from our regular routines and locales, we take annoyances in stride, even finding them charming. Isn't it quaint that we have to get up early to buy the baguettes before...
Test your knowledge of the U.S. Constitution with this quiz question: What are the five freedoms enshrined in the First Amendment? If you need a hint ... “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” If you were able to name at least one, congratulations! The Annenberg Constitution Day Civics Survey in...
