The Hinsdalean - Community journalism the way it was meant to be

Today I have the privilege of introducing you to our new contributing columnists. We have quite a big group this year, so I will keep my opening comments brief. Before I jump in,... — Updated 9/15/2021

We passed our neighbor, affectionately known as "Farmer Tom" (for the fresh garlic and tomatoes he's always passing out) on a walk last week. We stopped so our dog, Lizzy, could... — Updated 9/8/2021

The time will come, people would tell me. When I would complain about constant interruptions from a 3- or 4- or 5-year-old Ainsley while I was trying to cook dinner or do some work... — Updated 9/1/2021

One of my mom's signature phrases was, "Too much weekend." She would pull it out on a Sunday evening when I was anxious to get to bed early or a Monday morning when I was less than... — Updated 8/27/2021

Getting ready to go to Michigan in August has become almost as much of a ritual as the trip itself. We've fine-tuned our packing list over the years and start gathering our... — Updated 8/18/2021

I walked into a meeting last week, grabbed a chair and settled in. At some point, I noticed I couldn't quite recognize the person sitting next to me because she was wearing a mask.... — Updated 8/11/2021

Pat Kenny made a list of promises to his wife, Eileen, before she died in 2016. The final one was to write a book about their son Sean's struggles with mental illness and death by... — Updated 8/4/2021

What would people think of you if they judged you at your most difficult moment? That’s not a question I like to ponder. I’ve made plenty of mistakes and would like to believe... — Updated 7/28/2021

Sticky toffee pudding eluded me for most of my life. A lover of cakes and cheesecakes, I didn't discover this amazing dessert until I was almost 40. Dan and I were on my dream "Jane... — Updated 7/21/2021

I have friends who went to summer camp - out-of-state camps in beautiful locations like Colorado and North Carolina and New Hampshire. My own summer camp experience was limited to... — Updated 7/14/2021

Dan and I absolutely hated the first road trip we took, to visit Boston some 984 miles away. We split the 15-hour drive into two, complaint-filled days. Looking back, I see two... — Updated 7/7/2021

I'm not very skilled at saying no. I have such a hard time, in fact, that one of my friends/co-workers once suggested a simple remedy if I find myself unable to respond in the... — Updated 6/30/2021

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 co... — Updated 6/23/2021

“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 Perce... — Updated 6/9/2021

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... — Updated 6/2/2021

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... — Updated 5/20/2021

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... — Updated 5/12/2021

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... — Updated 5/5/2021

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... — Updated 4/29/2021

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... — Updated 4/21/2021

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... — Updated 4/7/2021

How will women be remembered in history? Clearly it depends on whom you ask. Esquire magazine identified the 75 greatest women of all time a couple of years ago. The headline popped... — Updated 3/24/2021

I remember when my mom first uttered the words. "The doctors are all kids!" she told me. My father, who was a brittle diabetic, had been hospitalized again. My mom - younger at the... — Updated 3/3/2021

The Muppets are back. And they are offensive. That's the message attached to 18 of the 120 episodes of the family variety show, which Disney Plus launched Friday. You remember... — Updated 2/24/2021