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

The best advice I encountered for 2021 as 2020 came to a close was hilarious. And prophetic. "Nobody claim 2021 as 'your year,' " the Facebook post advised. "We're all going to... — Updated 1/13/2021

"Schadenfreude" is a term introduced to me by the very erudite musical, "Avenue Q." Its technical definition is taking pleasure ("freude") in another person's pain ("schaden"). Or,... — Updated 1/6/2021

Nine years ago I began an annual tradition that I have somehow managed to continue. In the issue before Ainsley’s birthday each year, I use this space to write a special letter... — Updated 12/29/2020

“Turn and face the strange ch-ch-changes.” — David Bowie One thing you learn as a parent is how much things change each holiday season as your kids (or kid, in my case) get... — Updated 12/16/2020

Several years ago I found a reprint of a vintage Betty Crocker cookie cookbook at Yankee Peddler - the very same one my mom had when I was a kid. I later regretted not purchasing... — Updated 12/9/2020

"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." - the 14th Dalai Lama Did you ever learn a new word and then start to see it everywhere? Or encounter the same message or theme... — Updated 12/2/2020

Last Monday I was supposed to start the week with a 90-minute gratitude walk at Mayslake Forest Preserve. Instead, I was home in quarantine while my COVID-19 positive husband was... — Updated 11/24/2020

"The world is round, and the place which may seem like the end may also be only the beginning." - Ivy Baker Priest I've used that quote many times since I first read it in a book... — Updated 11/11/2020

As the color guard marched into the gym to open the Veterans Day assembly at Madison School Monday, the students rose to their feet and one Boy Scout snapped his hand to his fore-he... — Updated 11/4/2020

Among the list of casualties of COVID-19 this year is my family's annual Spooky Dinner. For years, we've invited neighbors over to dine on dishes like mummy hot dogs, cheesy... — Updated 10/29/2020

If you're lucky, you have a great pic of your kids in their Halloween costumes taken by Jim Slonoff at one of Hinsdale's Fall Family Fests. My favorite one of Ainsley is from 2009,... — Updated 10/21/2020

I enjoy seeing the giant spider climbing up the American Eagle roller coaster at Six Flags Great America while driving up to Lake Geneva for a fall get-away each year. And taking... — Updated 10/14/2020

October is my favorite month of the year. I love everything associated with it - and fall. Pumpkin spice lattes and other pumpkin treats. Corduroy and cashmere (not necessarily... — Updated 10/7/2020

The headline caught my eye immediately. "Is pumpkin spice good for you?" Who cares? It's delicious. My level of caring also was low because I received this digital newsletter on Sep... — Updated 9/30/2020

Just before we sat down to watch the Illinois Press Association’s annual editorial awards lunch last Thursday, I asked Jim Slonoff a question. “Is there any chance we won the sw... — Updated 9/23/2020

When we announced this summer that we were looking for new contributing columnists, we didn't expect to have the largest applicant pool we've seen in years. (Perhaps being stuck at... — Updated 9/16/2020

Dan and I love to grill. We don't use a traditional charcoal grill (takes too long) or a Green Egg (too pricey) or one of those Weber wood pellet grills (too new). We have your... — Updated 9/9/2020

In the early days of the pandemic, I turned to Dan Brown. I mean, if the fate of the world rests on Robert Langdon's ability to decipher the next location where a killer will... — Updated 9/2/2020

I first met Ly Hotchkin some 30 years ago. If I remember correctly, I had just become managing editor of The Doings when I was sent to The Community House to meet her. Ly wanted... — Updated 8/26/2020

I've been a little obsessed with Brené Brown's "Unlocking Us" podcast since I first was introduced to her in February by Tim Ferris on his eponymous podcast (notice a theme... — Updated 8/19/2020

“I’ve been enjoying your crossword puzzle,” a friend mentioned to me at a party a couple of weeks ago. We tend to get a little insulted when people talk about what they love... — Updated 8/5/2020

I haven't laughed out loud while reading a book for a long time. I opened Dave Barry's "Lessons from Lucy" a few weeks ago and was reminded what it's like to read something so... — Updated 7/29/2020

I have a stack of travel journals in which I have documented the early days of many wonderful trips. Unfortunately, I’ve lacked the discipline to finish most of them. So when I... — Updated 7/22/2020

I'm often late to the party. I started listening to Steve and Garry on the Loop in August 1993, just about a month before the two ended their 15-year run. I became a fan of The... — Updated 7/15/2020

"Why do you print names in police beat?" a resident asked us recently, being of the opinion - as you might guess - that we should not. My initial reaction was to blurt out... — Updated 7/8/2020