TOURNEY RAISES ALMOST $9,000
The Hinsdale Professional Firefighter’s Association raised almost $9,000 in its annual Big’s Bare Knuckle Softball Tournament Sept. 15 at Veeck Park in Hinsdale.
The event was created to honor Hinsdale Deputy Fire Chief Mark Johnson, affectionately known as Big, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty while working at the Hinsdale Fire Department in September 2010. It was a great day for softball, as several fire departments fielded teams in the tournament, including Westmont, Western Springs and LaGrange Park, along with the Lisle-Woodridge and Pleasantview fire protection districts.
Year to date, the fire department has raised almost $100,000 for local charities in honor of Johnson. The money raised this year will provide the financial support for children who were hurt or burned in a fire by sending them to Illinois’ Burn Camp, Camp I am Me. It will also help families who have lost a loved one in the line of duty in Illinois attend the Illinois Survivors Conference. Additionally, the department will donate money toward making improvements to the Hinsdale Safety Village, which is a two-week summer program that teaches good safety practices to children who live in Community Consolidated Elementary District 181.
The Hinsdale Fire Department made it to the semi-finals, but fell to the Westmont Fire Department in a spirited match-up. The team from Lisle-Woodridge Fire Protection District won the championship game against Westmont for its second straight tournament championship.
“On behalf of Mark Johnson’s family and the many family members of the Hinsdale Fire Department, thank you to everyone who took time out of the their day to honor Mark Johnson and help raise money in his name,” said Steve Tullis, the fire department’s public information officer.
For more information on the tournament or to make a donation, call Hinsdale firefighter Jim Nichols at (630) 789-7060.
A photo appears online at facebook.com/thehinsdalean.
COLLEGE STUDENTS MAKE DEAN’S LISTS
These Hinsdale students were named to the dean’s list or equivalent at their respective college or university for the spring 2019 semester.
• Anna Brown, Colgate University
• Carly Jones, University of Kentucky
• Selin Turkyilmaz, Colgate University
SCREENING INITIATIVE SIGNED
State Rep. Deanne Mazzochi (R-47, Elmhurst) championed legislation this year to provide greater access to enhanced breast screenings for all Illinois residents.
“Regular mammograms are key to early breast cancer detection,” said Mazzochi, who was one of the bill’s sponsors in the House. “But traditional mammogram technology sometimes cannot handle dense breast tissue. This new law obligates insurance companies to cover more advanced technology, comprehensive ultrasound screenings, when that occurs.
“When ultrasound technology is available to patients, diagnoses can be made quicker, and if needed, treatment can begin sooner.”
Mazzochi pointed to a Mayo Clinic study that indicated 50 percent of women have either partially or extremely dense breast tissue, rendering traditional mammograms more difficult to read.
“Insurers will now cover comprehensive ultrasound screenings when a doctor determines that a mammogram demonstrates dense breast tissue,” she said. “Insurance companies can no longer deny or delay approval of ultrasound use. Half of all women undergoing screening can benefit from this law.”
Mazzochi thanked the Susan G. Komen Foundation for its incredible work and support to bring the law to fruition, noting that “this bill would not be possible without their advocacy.”
Sen. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-24, Western Springs) was one of the bill’s sponsors in the Senate.
The new law, Public Act 101-0580, takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.
MIDWIFERY OFFICE OPENS IN HINSDALE
Midwifery & Women’s Health of Elmhurst Clinic has expanded to include an office in the Edward-Elmhurst Health Center — Hinsdale.
Mary Saracco, APN, CNM is accepting patients at the new location.
Saracco and the other certified nurse midwives at Elmhurst Clinic are advanced practice nurses, licensed by the state of Illinois, who specialize in low-risk pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum care, and provide alternative comfort measures for birth, such as warm water immersion for labor and birth (water birth), and the use of nitrous oxide for pain relief (the only hospital in DuPage County offering that option).
Elmhurst Clinic midwives deliver babies exclusively at Elmhurst Hospital, where they provide individualized care, blend traditional and alternative therapies and support patient choices, cultural preferences and unique needs.
In addition, the midwives provide women’s health services such as annual exams (Pap smears, HPV screenings, infection testing/treatment), breast exams and mammography referrals, and menopausal care. Midwives see women of all ages and life stages — adolescence through menopause and beyond.
