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Whenever I talk about my Uncle Bob, my kids always say, "Is he the one who hated cats?" This is actually not something he is particularly known for. But, one of my dad's favorite stories to tell about his older brother was how Bob hated Lucy, a particularly spoiled and clever cat my grandparents had taken in one summer. When the rest of the family would troop down to the ice cream shop where Bob worked in high school, they'd buy an extra scoop of vanilla to take home for the...
The first glimmers of the holiday season are here. So let the festivities and planning begin. I love the thought of twinkly lights, celebrations and time with family and friends. However, this abundantly splendid season can sometimes leave me with little time to cook. So, a few years ago, when my holiday calendar was over flowing, I had an epiphany. What if I had a cheese and charcuterie night instead of the traditional meal I had planned? I could make it ahead and it would...
Flu season is upon us, and that means getting a flu shot should be at the top of your to-do list. Influenza is a highly contagious illness that can occur in children or adults of any age. But have you ever wondered whether a nasty bout of the flu needs a trip to the emergency room? If you have, you're not alone. Every flu season, thousands of people flood ERs seeking treatment for their flu symptoms. But most of the time, an ER visit isn't necessary. From symptoms and when to...
I don't know about you, but this (slightly) colder weather makes me want to curl up with a good book in front of a fire. And when I'm all snuggled in with my trusty (if somewhat worn) blanket, my thoughts inevitably turn to holiday shopping. Luckily for me, Assistance League Chicagoland West is hosting the 27th annual Books & Brunch on Nov. 14 at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests can bid on silent auction items, participate in multiple raffles -...
I love a good cooking challenge. So, I had no reservations when I agreed to write a 150th village anniversary column featuring a historic Hinsdale recipe. That was until I found myself in the basement of Immanuel Hall - in the archives of the historical society - talking about hospital food. As it turns out, the oldest known cookbook in Hinsdale is a collection of vegetarian recipes from Hinsdale Hospital called "The Sanitarium Cook Book." The book dates back to 1921 and was...
At this very moment, someone in your community is thinking about ending their life. In Illinois, suicide is the 11th leading cause of death, and the third leading cause of death for young adults aged 15 to 34. Thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts are even more common. Nobody is immune to suicide — it affects all ages, genders, races and ethnicities. And in many cases, it be prevented. Who is most at risk? Knowing this can save a life. While there is no single cause for suicide, a combination of factors may increase the c...
Finding and building community can be a challenge when you are somewhere new - or even somewhere you've lived for some time. As life changes, the communities you need shift, too. But thankfully, when you are fortunate enough to live in Hinsdale, your needs are met with enthusiastic support and options. As a new resident to Hinsdale last year, the first place I turned was the library. There was something special about getting a library card with my name on it from my new home...
As kids, we learn to associate fall with changes. We change our routine, meet new classmates and learn new things about the world. That tradition doesn't need to end when we graduate (or, for those of us still in school, after that last bell rings). This year, your library is embracing the spirit of change that autumn brings with new opportunities to meet your neighbors and new twists on classic offerings. Everyone should set aside time this fall to make new friends before...
Could the month of May be busier than December? With a flurry of end-of-school-year activities and attempting to plan for long summer days, it sure seems possible. Ask a librarian and the answer is a definitive yes. While we were busy preparing for our inaugural HPL Con earlier this month, we were also juggling school visits, planning our Summer Reading Club and booking summer entertainment. No vacation for us - we are ready for the busy summer season at the library! Starting...
Homemade cake is one of life's great joys - something that should be enjoyed on more than just special occasions. Making time to bake is a wonderful way to celebrate the everyday. Cake in my mind is a gift to be shared. This is one of the reasons that I love cupcakes. They are every bit as delicious as a large frosted cake and much easier to decorate and share. Mention the word cupcake and my daughters will run to the kitchen. All the measuring and mixing is worth it for a...
Watching "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" at Northbrook Court in 2002, I did not understand why the line, "I'm going to the Jewel," drew howls of laugher from the rest of the theater. It wasn't funny. None of the characters on screen laughed. But, the people around me roared. They were laughing because it was real. That insignificant little article in front of the grocery chain was how people in Chicago talked. They got it right! All those laughs were little "That's us!" high fives...
If you're doing more and more of your reading and watching online, you're not alone. Digital sales and streaming services continue to grow. But before you give your credit card number to one more service, check out the thousands of books, ebooks, magazines, TV shows and movies you can borrow from your local library. Getting started is easy. Just open the "Digital Library" tab on our website. For most of the resources listed here, there's a "Show Me How" video link right below...
Patty Burke has worn many hats over her nearly two decades of service to the Misericordia Women's League, including serving as benefit chair and league president. However, this year might just be her greatest role, as she and husband Ed have been selected as the nonprofit's 2023 Heart of Gold recipients. Burke's devotion to Misericordia started as a way to give back to the organization that she says "takes care of God's most vulnerable children" including her husband's...
I know a good biscuit when I taste one, but baking them at home was always disappointing. That is, until the pandemic flour shortage changed everything. Suddenly, like a great silver lining to my empty shelf sadness, Pete's Fresh Market miraculously had a bag of White Lily flour. White Lily is the unicorn of flours. It's often talked about as being the key ingredient to the quintessential southern biscuit, but it's scarcely seen outside a small pocket of the South. Alas,...
Many of us set an intention, select a word to focus on, or resolve to do something at the start of a brand new year. In other words, we make a resolution; a firm decision to do (or not do) something. By this point in January though, it is estimated that two-thirds have already dropped their resolutions (some studies even cite specific days, with Jan. 17 and 19 being THE days to give up the goal). And speaking of specific, one reason resolutions fail is that they are too...
When Clarendon Hills mother Bridget O'Meara was pregnant with her son Liam, doctors learned the left side of her baby's heart wasn't developing. It was a condition called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or HLHS. At 1 week old, Liam underwent his first open heart surgery to repair the ventricle in his heart, followed by another surgery one month later and his third at 2 years of age. Now, 16 years later, Liam is a thriving sophomore at Nazareth Academy. To celebrate this...
Food is a fleeting experience. Yet, the taste and the thrill of its discovery captures our hearts. A cherished dish or restaurant can uniquely become a part of the fabric of our family's celebrations and who we are. A few years ago, when my daughters were in first grade, they each had an assignment called "pieces of my heart." The project was a large construction paper heart whose interior was divided into squiggly boxes. Inside each box my daughters wrote what they loved....
The title of this article might prompt the reader to think it would have been more appropriate for the Halloween season, but the timing of it is actually more apt in this current season of good will toward all and making resolutions for the better. The topic is humans and the relationships we create with our families, friends, neighbors, colleagues and romantic partners. These relationships help us thrive when they are supportive and loving, and we suffer when they are not....
One thing unites people of any age, with different backgrounds and from all walks of life: food! Each November, many of us come together with those we love to celebrate our bonds over a delicious meal. Every family has their own traditions that are passed on to the new generation, and with the addition of young, smiling faces comes the birth of bright new ideas. As they say, the way to win a heart is through the stomach, and cooking something new for someone you cherish is...
Merry and Bright is the mindset The Community House is hoping to convey at this year's Holiday Ball to raise funds to support the vital mental health services offered by the nonprofit's counseling center. TCH's Kettering Hall and the fieldhouse will be transformed for the gala, which year after year unofficially ushers Hinsdale into the holiday season. "Guests will enter a merry Kettering Hall, draped in deep jewel-tones, for cocktails (before entering) the fieldhouse for a...
I have a thing for books. Always have. Maybe it began with "Pat the Bunny," "The Story of Ferdinand" or "The Snowy Day." Perhaps it was when I attended my first library storytime. Afterward, I was encouraged to choose a few books to bring home from what seemed like endless shelves of possibilities. Now that I work at a library, I see my coworkers smiling as they pick a new set of books to share when storytime sessions restart June 15. The summer session for all ages will be...
Walk a mile in my shoes. This phrase from days gone by encourages the practice of empathy. It fosters an understanding, awareness and sensitivity to others in need. It offers a place to start a conversation and begin to develop empathy. The Community House is kick starting its conversation on mental health with the nonprofit's 15th annual Walk the Walk fundraising event on Sunday, May 15. "A simple 1-mile walk outdoors benefits your mental health, but can also start a...
Understanding of adolescent decision making has moved beyond simple "age differences in risk perception and reasoning" to include relevant social and emotional factors that directly inform when and how adolescents make decisions about everything from substance use to condom use. Adolescence is defined as the period between which "physiologically normal puberty" initiates and adulthood begins. Though adulthood is often culturally defined in legal terms, the World Health...
The Hinsdale Auxiliary of the Children's Home + Aid Society has made America's run for the roses synonymous with empowerment through its trifecta of commitment to provide care and support to children and families in need at home, in the classroom and in the community. Now in its 67th year, the Hinsdale Auxiliary's Derby Day Party raises vital funds to help the 30,000 who turn to the more than a century-old nonprofit each year. For Natalie Ryan, who is co-chairing the event...
Every year, all 645 public libraries in Illinois submit an annual report to the state library. We answer questions about how many people attended programs (2,724), the number of books checked out (194,144) and total number of cardholders (8,794). This report helps legislators understand the scale and scope of the work that is funded by state grants and provides a resource for libraries to use in benchmarking their services against other libraries. Questions are added or...
