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Bret Conway. Jack Fredrickson. Gabriela Garcia. Kelly Abate Kallas. Amy McCauley. Susan O'Byrne. Beth Smits. Alegra Waverly. Carol Wittemann. These fabulous writers served as our contributing columnists during 2020-21. Would you like to see your name added to the list? We have a handful of openings for new writers to join this pool in September. Every summer, the columnists who have spent the last two years writing for us retire, so to speak. This year we are losing Susan, Car...
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Growing up, I always believed that attaining higher education and possessing an above-average IQ were strong indicators of success. I believed that a class schedule full of AP classes would lead to a top-rated university, which in turn would lead to a life of prosperity and achievement. Study hard, work hard and all of your dreams will come true. The reality is that's not always the case. While it's true that some people with fancy degrees go on to live highly successful...
At a newspaper conference years ago, a speaker talked about the virtual circle of newspapers. Owners invest in the creating a good product. That quality product attracts readers. Readers attract advertisers. Advertisers spend money to buy ads, providing the owners funds to invest back in the product. That model has been the guiding philosophy of The Hinsdalean since the first issue in September 2006. Unfortunately, the same model has not been followed at the Chicago Tribune. And things have gotten even worse since hedge fund...
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I’ve been jettisoning stuff of late and have found it harrowing, liberating and, on this Fathers’ Day, very affirming. For too long, I avoided it: throw too much overboard, and too much of what aspired to make you “you” is lost. Toss too little, and too much of what clutters the “you” in you remains. Now, I’ve reached that stage in life where, in plumbing parlance, I’m circling the drain. I’m clinging to the porcelain with as much tenacity as I can muster, but I’ve learned that keeping too many old aspirations, withou...
My first Father's Day without my dad was almost 20 years ago. He died on a beautiful Sunday in June 2002, after decades of suffering from a severe case of diabetes and all the complications that come with it. But on that particular day, I had no expectation whatsoever it would be his last. Father's Day was two weeks later, and I'm ashamed to say I refused to invite my in-laws over, even though we had always hosted a barbecue that day. At the time I resented people who had fath...
Juneteenth is this Saturday, and the day commemorating African American emancipation from slavery has never had such a high profile locally and nationally. Cook County established June 19 as an official paid holiday last December, and Chicago recognized the day as an official city holiday on Monday. Yesterday, Gov. JB Pritzker signed legislation declaring Juneteenth an official state holiday to be called National Freedom Day. In remarks following the signing, Pritzker highlighted the state’s role. “Just as Illinois led the na...
“If the story you’re telling doesn’t serve you, tell a different story.” I typed that while taking my morning walk and listening to my current favorite podcast, “Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris.” I wanted to remember the quote to share it with someone, which I did. And I thought I might want to listen to the episode again. If only I had written down which episode I was listening to at the time! I can never remember where I’ve heard things. There I go. Telling a story about...
What’s the recipe for a perfect summer? Living in a great town like Hinsdale that no longer faces COVID-19 restrictions. As of tomorrow, that will be us. So today, even though summer doesn’t officially arrive until June 20, we’re celebrating the top 10 things that will make for a perfect summer in Hinsdale. 10. A dip in the pool Hinsdale is lucky to boast a community pool among its amenities. In addition to being a great place to cool off, the pool is home to swimming and diving lessons, a junior lifeguard program, swim...
Many who bring up wedge culture war issues do so because framing is the single most powerful tool for persuasion. Likewise, fear mongering, false equivalence and dog whistles are the weapons of those who want to reinforce a sense of white identity under attack. Let’s ask ourselves what is left out of the conversation when we allow public discourse to focus on hyped-up terms like cancel culture or backlash against calls for police accountability. One of our two major political parties has descended into authoritarianism. B...
Today is my husband's birthday (love you, hon!). He is a year older than me, but looks younger by virtue of his hair somehow remaining as golden as it was on our wedding day, whereas mine gets regularly shellacked with dye. It's rather annoying. My weight goes up and down (mostly up, honestly), my hair started graying before we even met, and yet my Sensible Husband has not changed one bit after almost 18 years of marriage. He hasn't even lost a single (non-gray) hair on his...
Our village has many friends. Those who seek to improve our sense of community, those who work to keep our village safe, those who work to beautify our parks and open spaces and those who strive every day to ensure Hinsdale’s heritage and history remain intact. Mr. Krehbiel — Fred to everyone — cared deeply about our village’s history and heritage. His work to help preserve R. Harold Zook’s brick and mortar legacy will live on in the countless Hinsdaleans who were inspired by Fred’s tremendous acts of service. On behalf of T...
Spending a few days in a small guest house on Knapp Creek Farm in Wisconsin provided just the break we needed a couple of weeks ago. We headed out on a Wednesday night after the paper was done, a little later than we had hoped, given the four-hour drive. We were heading toward Viroqua, Wis., a town my husband, Dan, had visited on a fly fishing trip with Joseph Meyer (who opened a shop called One More Cast in Countryside after spending years at Luv It! in Gateway Square). Dan...
Can you think of a summer activity that doesn’t require a mask or a vaccine to participate and can be done anywhere? Reading. The Summer Reading Program kicks off June 7 and runs through July 31 at the Hinsdale Public Library, which is reopening its in-person services just in time for the annual event. The library also has scheduled several programs to promote leaning in to literacy, with more information available at https://www.hinsdalelibrary.info. Check out a few of the offerings: • Teens can use an online log ava...
The May 20 headline, “Police restraint saves armed teen’s life,” was a poor editorial choice and instead should have read, “Hinsdale Police are heroes for averting an armed robbery.” The headline focused the attention on the teen who came to Hinsdale, with a loaded weapon, to intentionally rob two local businesses, therefore putting his life and the lives of the police officers at risk. The liberal politics of Cook County and the city of Chicago are increasing the crime in the suburbs because there are no consequen...
When I was 10 years old, I was the new girl at a small school. To feel better about myself, I was mean to another girl, a girl who'd been nice to me. I also kicked a boy named Jerry on the playground. I know these are little things but I'm sorry nonetheless. I also recognize that I was a scared little girl, and I temper my self-judgment with compassion. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could do the same with others? Adopt a "walk in their shoes" level of understanding when we re...
After reading about the burglaries on May 17 at Continental Motorsports and Land Rover/Jaguar in Hinsdale, I felt it important to let our police officers know how grateful Hinsdale residents are for their courage and professionalism. One of the offenders exited his car with his gun drawn. The officers exercised restraint and were able to catch two of the four men involved without a shot being fired. It was later determined these offenders had automatic weapons in their possession. The situation could easily have ended in...
Although Hinsdale residents have not yet seen cell antennas installed in our front yards, Verizon and other wireless carriers are still planning to flood Illinois towns with hundreds of new cell towers in the near future. Our state legislators are currently considering stripping local cell tower control for up to another 2 1/2 years with HB 2379, the replacement wireless streamlining bill. As it stands, HB 2379 will allow the unprecedented act of forcing the placement of hundreds of cell towers reaching up to 55 feet tall in...
In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky, The larks, still bravely singing, fly, Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie In Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not...
One of my favorite childhood memories is looking up at the night sky with my dad. After pulling into the garage/tool shed following an evening outing, my four siblings and I would follow Dad across the gravel drive toward the back door of our farmhouse. On clear, moonless nights, he would pause, tilt his head back and point out the Milky Way, the Big Dipper, the North Star. Now I find myself wondering what was going through Dad's mind as he stood there, surrounded by kids and...
Memorial Day: A tribute to those who gave everything in the line of duty. One such soldier was James W. Robinson Jr., born in 1940 in Hinsdale. He enlisted in the Marines in 1958, and gave his life in battle on April 11, 1966, in Vietnam. I came about Sgt. Robinson’s story when I encountered a framed photo of him at the Hines VA hospital. It spelled out a detailed description of his valor in the face of a fierce firefight with a Viet Cong battalion. Sgt. Robinson moved among the men of his fire team, instructing and i...
For three and a half years, plastic cups in the fence on the 47th Street bridge have reminded many of the courage young Brooks Tonn of Hinsdale displayed in his fight against cancer. The cups spell out two words: "Brooks Strong." Now Brooks, who passed away in December 2017 after a year-long battle with rhabdomyosarcoma, will be remembered in a more permanent way. The Illinois House of Representatives voted 118-0 May 12 to name the bridge the Brooks Edwin Tonn Memorial Bridge....
“We’re near the end.” Those were the words of Village President Tom Cauley at Tuesday’s night Hinsdale Village Board meeting — the first to be held in person since the pandemic hit in 2020. There’s a lot of good news when it comes to COVID-19. Illinois has entered the “Bridge” phase, and if current trends continue, authorities expect the state to open fully June 11. Here in town, eateries are welcoming diners to their establishments — with seating indoors and outdoors — for Hinsdale Restaurant Week. Instead of watching a virt...
