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How did you start making jewelry? Amy Smetana admits she didn't know much about jewelry when a neighbor asked her to repair a broken bracelet years ago. But rather than say no, Smetana, a lifelong learner, set out to teach herself how to fix her friend's treasured piece of jewelry. Little did Smetana know that years later, jewelry would become her full-time job and artistic passion. Working from her studio in her Downers Grove home, Smetana not only repairs jewelry but...
How can people help the Ukrainian people? When COVID-19 forced Americans to embrace home entertainment like never before, U.S. soldiers serving overseas didn't have the luxury of such a retreat. Hinsdale's Bob Barr, hearing of the need from military chaplain contacts made through his Operation Deployed nonprofit, knew just the ticket. "We announced our Movie Night kits," Barr said. "We sent a portable Bluetooth projector, indoor/outdoor movie screen, a popcorn machine - I'm...
As a real estate broker, Tracy Anderson's job isn't only to help clients buy and sell their houses. She's also an emotional navigator, creating a clear and steady path for buyers and sellers alike. "My job is to take out some of the highs and lows," Anderson said of the emotional journey that often comes with buying or selling a home. A real estate agent since 2006, Anderson became a founding broker at Compass Real Estate in Hinsdale in 2018. Anderson was an attorney before...
What is teaching first grade like? First grade is a time of immense learning and growth for most children - a fact that has been both the greatest joy and the biggest challenge of the job Susan Meyer has enjoyed for nearly 30 years. When children enter Meyers' first-grade classroom at Oak School for the first time, they're basically kindergartners, Meyer said. But when they leave the following June, they are readers ready to tackle second grade. Readjusting to a fresh group...
What inspired you to launch Vitaminis? Much was lost during the pandemic that began in March 2020, including Leslie Danford's job in the hospitality field. Laid off early in the pandemic, Danford quickly went from working full time to staying home full time with her three children. Soon after that, she went from stay-at-home mom to entrepreneur. As the family sheltered in place, Danford began to think ahead to her children's return to school and how she could protect them and...
Much is made of the search for work/life balance. But what about body balance? Hinsdale's Nourished wants to be your guide. "That's what we're about - trying to get people to a state of homeostasis, which the body likes being in," said Nourished founder and wellness chef Kathy Napleton. From hosting Wellness Workshops to serving up a selection of organic, nonprocessed foods, her business, Napleton asserted, promotes a positive alternative to settling for S.A.D - the Standard...
How does a video game help protect kids? As a former middle school teacher and principal, Katie Gallagher is familiar with the challenges faced by teens and pre-teens. As education director at Candor Health Education in Hinsdale, she's helping students to prepare for those challenges. The newest tool in Candor's efforts to protect kids from the dangers of drugs and alcohol comes in a form familiar to today's teenagers. "Pixelton Adventures" is a video game that presents...
Why did you write your latest book? Karen Schultz is a licensed clinical social worker, spiritual teacher, medium and healer with almost four decades of experience specializing in psychotherapy and spiritual development. She's also the author of five books, the most recent of which tells the story of a little girl and her relationship with a beautiful priestess who guides her through life. Little Karen, the main character in "Little Karen and the Egyptian Priestess: How My Hig...
What is your teaching philosophy? In a press release announcing the third edition of Christopher Freiler's AP European history exam prep guide, publisher Sherpa Learning calls the book "the pinnacle of excellence in AP Euro test prep resources." Students, according to the publisher, refer to the book as the "Freible". Yet despite these and countless other accolades, Freiler resists being called an expert. "I try to avoid the use of the word expert," said Freiler, who has...
What do athletic trainers do? The state runner-up trophy was on the line for Hinsdale Central's boys swim and dive program late last month. But injuries threatened to undermine a key relay team's performance. Athletic trainers Sam Bell and Alex Kennedy came through, and so did the relay, helping the Red Devils bring home the hardware. "One kid came over to me and was like, 'Thank you so much!' and just gives me the biggest hug, because he wouldn't have been able to swim the ra...
A fondness for your great grandmother's crystal candlesticks doesn't mean your entire room has to resemble a 1920s parlor. Treasured family heirlooms, one-of-a-kind antiques and even kitchy vintage finds can all fit into a modern home design that fits the owner's needs and style, said Mimi Collins, co-owner of Anecdote in downtown La Grange. A Hinsdale resident, homeowner and real estate agent, Collins owns the building at 8 W. Burlington Ave. where she opened her first...
What does an assistant stage manager do? Theater was Sharon Sobotka's passion from a young age, as she longed for moments in the limelight. But a lack of roles while pursuing a performing arts degree at Loyola University flipped her script from acting to stage management. "I wasn't on stage as much as I had hoped," Hinsdale's Sobotka related. "You need an army of people to do all the tech work. So I learned tech, and I loved it." Those backstage skills will get a workout as...
Is it too late to plan a spring break trip? The mention of spring break often conjures images of rowdy, hard-partying college students. But the annual weeklong hiatus from school also serves as a way for families to get away. Prior to COVID-19, spring break destinations required bookings several months ahead of time. "Now, there are spots available here and there. It isn't as important to book early," said Sharon Hand, of Hinsdale Travel Service. But it is important to know...
How has cancer changed holiday celebrations? Like most things in Sara and Brendan Whelton's lives, Valentine's Day looked a little different this year. "We never really celebrated Valentine's Day," said Sara Whelton, who just weeks after Valentine's Day 2021 began her battle with an aggressive form of breast cancer. The next months were spent in surgeries, chemo treatments and rounds of radiation. The next years, Whelton said, will be spent making new memories and enjoying...
Why did you invent the Rheoxygenator? Too much of anything can be a bad thing. That fact is what drove cardiac surgeon and entrepreneur Neil Thomas of Hinsdale to pursue a safer way to treat heart patients. "Our device is basically a blood pump," said Thomas, founder, principal inventor and chief medical officer of Chicago-based Rheoxtech. Since forming the company 15 years ago, Thomas and his team have worked to develop a device that will allow doctors to control the rate at...
What have you learned about performing improv? Improv actors have to be quick on their feet and possess at least a working knowledge across a broad range of topics. But occasionally they're stumped, like Hinsdale Central junior Hayley Cashman was while rehearsing for the school's ComedySportz Improv Show that runs tonight through Feb. 5 (see Page 18 for details). "We had to make puns about something, and the suggestion we had to make puns about was 'disc jockey,' " Cashman...
Kerry Turgeon's real estate clients tend to fall into one of two categories. And whether they're young adults planning a move from the city or empty-nesters looking for a warm retreat, Turgeon has been in their shoes. As a young mother herself, Turgeon made the difficult decision to leave the city for the suburbs. She said she understands the doubts that buyers might have, but she also knows the many things that make Hinsdale the right choice for her and so many homeowners....
How should families approach the college search? New York Times financial columnist Ron Lieber and his wife had set aside money for their daughters' college education, and he'd used his platform to provide college saving and spending guidance. But feedback from readers revealed they were seeking criteria by which to justify the level of outlay. "I realized I had missed the question of 'What to pay for college?' and that was a question about value," Lieber said in a phone...
You won't find any cubicles or stuffy conference rooms at Hilary Poshek's place of work. Tucked inside a nearly 100-year-old home designed by a famous local architect, Poshek's office is surrounded by 52 acres of trees and parkland known as Katherine Legge Memorial Park. As sales and events manager at The Lodge at KLM Park, Poshek spends her days showing potential event hosts what the venue has to offer and helping them to imagine how they will temporarily transform the rustic...
How should people approach home organization? 2022 is the year, right? The year to get organized, declutter and find peace through purging. Nice dream, but slow that reduction roll, advised professional organizer Jamie Novak. "We start out with the best of intentions and strong energy, right about the turn of the calendar," Novak said. "Then two to three weeks into January we're already putting it off to next year." Novak will share her tips on effective organizing in her...
How can women be their best selves? Like so many women, Kelly Cox Watkins was engaged in a battle between the person she was expected to be and the person she was meant to be. As a working mom raising children in Hinsdale, hers were among the few whose mothers didn't meet them each day to walk home for lunch. She found herself worrying about how others saw her. Yet she knew she was happier when she balanced motherhood with the job she loved. "I thrived, and I was a better...
When and where are Christmas worship services? Christmas Eve and Christmas Day worship services are back in person for 2021 after many went virtual last year because of COVID-19 safety protocols. Hinsdale faith communities offer a range of opportunities, activities and times for fellowship, from family-friendly gatherings to candlelight services for people who want to step outside just as the clock strikes Christmas. In addition to the in-person services listed below, many chu...
What is the goal of Mental Health month at Central? Students and faculty at Hinsdale Central and South high schools are seeing green this month, and it has nothing to do with jealousy. Throughout the month of December, teachers, staff and students at both schools are being encouraged to wear green to show support of those struggling with mental health. Led by the Hinsdale High School District 86 Operation Snowball chapter and club sponsors Jennifer Cave of Hinsdale Central...
Why have Christmas cards endured as a holiday tradition? In 1943, according to London's Victoria and Albert Museum, an artist was commissioned to create 1,000 engraved holiday cards by Sir Henry Cole, who would later become the museum's first director. Recipients saw a joyful family toasting the holidays and flanked by images of charitable acts. A caption read, "A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You." The gesture is believed to have launched the practice of exchanging...
Jamie Quinn got her start in real estate seven years ago, but selling Hinsdale to homebuyers is something she's been preparing for her whole life. "There's probably no one who would know Hinsdale better," said Quinn, who was raised in Hinsdale and returned to her hometown two years ago to raise her family and grow her career in real estate. She and husband Thomas brought their two daughters to Hinsdale in 2019. Among other things, Quinn said she enjoys walks to downtown,...
