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Having the Art Institute of Chicago nearby was a definite bonus of growing up in Hinsdale. Thanks to a steady cadence of visits that included Oak School class trips and the obligatory tour for out-of-town visitors, the Art Institute provided me with a world-class early education in the visual arts. "Nighthawks," "A Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte" and all the Monets entranced me, every time. It has been such a joy to encounter "Water Lilies" not just in my "home town" but...
For 18 years I have witnessed Hinsdale Central High School students walking to school in weeds and through an uneven and muddy path along the north side of 55th Street between Monroe Street and Madison Street. Julie Renehan, our DuPage County Board member, shared my concern about student safety and got the new sidewalk funded and included in the county highway construction program. The construction of the walk was completed this past week. I appreciate everything Julie did to get this work done for the safety and welfare of...
Growing up in The Region, my Dad had a sub-30-minute stretch goal from our driveway to Comiskey Park. Depending on the Dan Ryan traffic and his risk-taking appetite, this was sometimes achievable with us having lived in Munster (not the case for some clodhopper down in Griffith, Ind.). My love for the White Sox was cemented in the '70s, even though the Sox failed to make the playoffs throughout my childhood fandom. To me, the characters associated with the Sox (Bill Veeck,...
I wouldn't call Jim Slonoff a liar. After all, he's my friend of more than 30 years and business partner here at The Hinsdalean. But he does, at times, play fast and loose with the truth. Someone called The Doings once with a question about a tree, which none of us could answer. I can't remember the specifics. But I know when Jim heard about it, he offered us a lengthy explanation about squirrels and nuts and the acidity of the soil. He sounded very convincing. And then I...
You know the quote about insanity? Last week’s Hinsdale High School District 86 board meeting was a prime example, as the seven-member board did the same thing over and over trying to elect a new president. They took nine — yes, nine — identical votes before incumbent Kathleen Hirsman withdrew from the race and Terri Walker finally received a majority vote. After Hirsman took the high road and pulled her name from consideration, it looked like another stalemate would ensue until Peggy James changed her allegiance — after her...
Charlie Harley stopped in Monday to let us know about the Armistice Day celebration in Burr Ridge May 15 — at which he will receive the Jack Schaus Patriot Award. I told him I wished I could come, but we are having a small memorial service for my mom, who died in November. “Of course you have to go to that,” Charlie said. “After all, you only ever have one mother.” “Well,” I responded. “I’ve got an interesting story for you.” And so I told him about being adopted and taking...
Save the past. Enrich the future. That’s the motto guiding the work of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which helps sponsor Preservation Month each May, in partnership with local organizations like the Hinsdale Historical Society. Those of us who live or work in the village perhaps take for granted at times the stunning specimens of architectural heritage we encounter on a regular basis, whether on residential streets or in the central business district. First-time visitors are certainly struck by the homes and b...
It's never too late to write a new beginning A few years ago, in a strange turn of events, my law school mistakenly published that I had died. I had not seen that edition of the alumni magazine. So, I was surprised when I suddenly began receiving urgent text messages from thoughtful colleagues and friends. Yikes! I moved and suddenly others thought the worst had happened. I was grateful to everyone who looked into the matter and found me alive and well. Nevertheless, it was...
I had great dreams for myself as a parent before I became one. I was going to spend each and every day laughing with and enjoying my children (back when I thought I would have more than one). I remember thinking once that my best friend, who at the time was experiencing a trying moment with her 7- or 8-year-old twins, should just have a better sense of humor. Then things would go so much more smoothly. I now find that hilarious. Just last night I told Ainsley I don't have a...
Two weeks ago, we extolled the virtues of volunteering in honor of National Volunteer Month. Today, we offer some specifics for those interested in acting on our call to service. Five nonprofit agencies in town as well as the village’s public library offer a variety of volunteer opportunities. Teens interested in getting involved can join one of the seven junior boards that serve Hinsdale agencies. The opportunities are plentiful. We hope you will pursue them. HCS Family Services HCS Family Services relies on almost 100 v...
I don't remember the last movie I saw in a theater. Do you? Ooh, wait - I do. I saw "Frozen 2" on March 8 of last year - the day after I was out much too late at the cast party for "Hinsdolopy," the 2020 Community Revue. (I discovered after the previous revue that watching a movie in a reclined seat with some snacks helps with post-show/post-party recovery.) Since then, I've seen "Troop Zero," "Onward" and "Soul" from the comfort of my family room, where the seats don't...
I opened my car windows on a recent warm spring day, and, as I drove, the fresh air hit my cheeks and whipped my hair into happy knots. U2's song "40" played on the radio, and Bono's voice led the concert audience as they sang in unison, "How long to sing this song?" As I sang along, I thought about how the song fits what we're all experiencing right now - it's about a person who is suffering and praying repeatedly to be rescued. These past months, I've found myself looking...
April is National Donate Life Month, established in 2003 as annual occasion to encourage Americans to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and to honor those who have saved lives through the gift of donation. In Illinois, Secretary of State Jesse White’s office has been running an ad campaign featuring former White Sox pitcher and longtime radio voice of the team, Ed Farmer, who passed away last year from kidney disease. In the public service announcement, Farmer makes his pitch for donating organs. “I always say, ‘He...
On Jan. 6, 2021, a mob stormed the chamber of the United States Congress. They intended to stop the counting of electoral votes, overthrow the election and seat their candidate. Their candidate was the president of the United States. He had asked them to come to Washington DC. “Big protest in D.C. on Jan. 6. Be there, will be wild!”, he tweeted. He set the stage for this by claiming that the election had been stolen but offered no valid evidence to support his claim. He refused to make the concession speech that is the tra...
Everybody knew her. She was an icon, a mainstay, a beloved figure zipping down the street in her sleek little car with the personalized license plate, "BEEJ." You'd see her chatting with her friends at Mani-Pedi. You recognized her from the checkout line in Kramer's. You may have even spoken with her, briefly and cheerfully. When she departed, you'd smile, and your step acquired a little spring, just because of this brief interaction. She was BJ Chimenti, a longtime resident...
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” — Winston Churchill One of our favorite initiatives at The Hinsdalean has been our Making a Difference partnerships with the nonprofit agencies in Hinsdale. And one of the projects we enjoyed most was a spring 2010 photo shoot at The Community House. It resulted in a photo montage of 74 volunteers who supported a Community Memorial Foundation partner agency. Many individuals volunteered for more than one. The two-page spread remains a wonderful remin...
“Let be be finale of seem. The only emperor is the emperor of ice-cream.” I used those lines from Wallace Stevens in the first round of a grad school party game. Recite a quote or drink a shot. Or it might have been recite a quote and drink a shot — I’m not sure. Either way, I wouldn’t recommend the game. First, because games that involve drinking shots typically are not a good idea. Second, because this one makes me sound like a real nerd. I thought of the quote — and the game — because April is National Poetry Month....
Congratulations to Grace Shin, a fellow community member and mother of three children in the district who was elected to the D181 School Board Tuesday. Grace has a background in education with a master’s in education from the University of Michigan as well as seven years of teaching experience. Grace has served on multiple steering committees working with curriculum framework development and was lead writer of the first grade Language Arts curriculum in her previous district. Grace’s involvement with D181 over the past six...
I ride my bicycle to downtown Hinsdale during nice weather (around 80 degrees). More people should take it from me. Have a nice day. — Charles Crawford, Hinsdale...
It started out like an ordinary Thursday. Although now that I think of it, I actually remember feeling like it was a particularly peaceful weekday morning. The boys got up and to school on time, well fed and happy; I remembered to pack my daughter's show-and-tell treasures before dropping her at preschool. The beds were made, teeth brushed, dishes put away. I patted myself on the back for doing such a good job with the morning routine as I stopped for coffee before I headed...
My memories of taking Ainsley to Disney World when she was 5 are magical. We rode many wonderful rides, met many princesses and ate dinner at Cinderella's castle, with Ainsley dressed as a perfect miniature of the palace owner. We picked a week when attendance was historically low and never waited more than 40 minutes in line. We had a slightly different experience over spring break when we visited a crowded Universal Studios and its Islands of Adventure. I usually don't...
A good idea is a good idea. So we don’t mind that the “Battle of the Boards” food drive — launching this week to benefit HCS Family Services — originally was suggested by one of our Reader Advisory Board members, Rich Ciccarone. Nor do we mind that the initial concept was improved upon with input first from HCS Executive Director Amy Wickstrom and then from the adults who work with the participating junior boards in town. This collaboration has resulted in an exciting initiative — a seven-week food drive that officially...
I believe that Mark Pinnow would be a valuable asset to the District 86 Board of Education. He would bring collaboration and an evidence based approach to the board and he is a much needed voice of reason. Mark has a strong business background, and he knows that goals need to be measured against benchmarks to make sure that we reach them. The district is facing a lot of change right now, from getting the back in school to major curriculum changes. We need someone who can work with the administration to come up with...
Seventeen candidates are running for nine open seats on the library and school boards in Tuesday’s election. Add in the uncontested candidates — one for village president, three for village board and three for four-year terms on the D181 school board — and you’re up to two dozen candidates on the ballot in just the most local races. Many other individuals are running for seats in township government, on the regional school board and on the College of DuPage Board. Why this tally of open positions? To stress the importa...
The Hinsdalean offered its endorsements for library and school board candidates in the March 11 and 18 issues. The races for Hinsdale village president and village board and the four-year terms on the Community Consolidated District 181 Board are uncontested. Our recommendations, recapped below, and all election coverage is available on our website at https://www.thehinsdalean.com. Click on the Decision 2021 logo. Hinsdale Public Library Board ✔︎ Mary Bock ✔︎ Amy Glynn ✔︎ Kristin McDaniel ✔︎ Richard Munson Ryan Trombly Di...
