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Light Up the Night to illuminate virtually this year
Working as a Chicago Public Schools speech pathologist, Clarendon Hills mother-of-two Jen Alsman saw first-hand the struggles low-income families faced while striving to provide... — Updated 1/13/2021
Three parenting hacks to help an anxious child
When anxious behavior and emotions show up in life it often feels all-encompassing. For a parent of an anxious child, having just the right tools to guide your child through their a... — Updated 1/6/2021
Spooky stories not just for Halloween in Victorian era
We usually associate ghost stories with Halloween, but Victorian England considered them to be an essential part of the celebration of Christmas. In fact, they were so integral that magazines often published serials in the weeks... — Updated 12/22/2020
Holiday Ball organizers gift ornaments to give thanks
A six point snowflake holiday ornament, which now adorns the trees of The Community House Holiday Ball's friends and supporters, has become a symbol of hope and thanksgiving during... — Updated 12/9/2020
Delve into discomfort, shift relationship to it
Two weeks ago, I wrote about focusing on tips for dealing with discomfort, something 2020 has provided us in spades. As we continue to experience the perfect storm of physical,... — Updated 12/2/2020
Library brings local author, more to your living room
Three years ago, the Hinsdale Public Library was thrilled to be selected as local author Cristina Henriquez’s favorite place. The New Yorker Radio Hour visited the library on a late October afternoon with Cristina to record a... — Updated 11/24/2020
Practical tips for contending with discomfort
How is everyone doing? This has officially been The Year of Discomfort. We've collectively experienced uncomfortable circumstances and events, lived our lives in uncomfortable ways... — Updated 11/18/2020
100 Women giving back quite a lot to area nonprofits
When Karen Vrdolyak attended last fall's 100 Women Who Give a Damn fundraiser in Western Springs, she was unsure that her organization, the Harvey-based Restoration Ministries'... — Updated 11/11/2020
Mindfulness tools for everyday life, especially during
The coronavirus has many people preoccupied with how to avoid getting sick and what the future holds. People are stressed. They’re stuck in a worry loop of anxious thoughts. They could use some mindfulness in their daily lives.... — Updated 11/4/2020
Looking for a new way to engage with library?
While my son was growing up, I was deeply involved in our local schools - as PTO president at Hinsdale Middle School and on different task forces and groups related to Districts... — Updated 10/21/2020
Parent List helps parents - and relies on them, too
Five years ago, Tara DeGeer's teenage son expressed concern about the well-being of his peers after the suicide of a local high school student. He worried about how others were... — Updated 10/14/2020
'Uncorked' goes virtual to benefit cancer research
Raising funds for cancer research continues to serve as a pillar for Scoreboard Charities as it prepares to host its fourth annual charity wine event. This year to stay one step... — Updated 10/7/2020
COVID-19 vs. flu: How to tell them apart
Influenza viruses become widespread each year beginning as early as mid-fall and running as late as mid-spring. This coming year's influenza season will also compete with COVID-19.... — Updated 9/30/2020
Fictional characters offer vicarious return to school
A friend of mine recently texted me a picture of the iconic children's book character Miss Viola Swamp with the message, "I can't go into it right now. But I need to know what book... — Updated 9/23/2020
Wellness House Ball ... At Your House goes virtual
While the pandemic has affected everyone, young and old, those living with cancer have been particularly impacted. Wellness House has provided a constant source of support for the... — Updated 9/17/2020
Preparation key to talking to teens about drugs
As a health educator, the most common question I am asked by adults is, "How do I talk to my teenager about drugs?" Some of the most important work around these conversations is... — Updated 9/9/2020
Positive self-talk is powerful during puberty
During puberty programs, Robert Crown Center’s Health Educators commonly break the ice with students by asking “Can anyone identify any puberty survivors in this room today?” After some giggles and a quick scan of the room, m... — Updated 6/17/2020
Classic books, film offer comfort in uncertain times
With so much uncertainty right now, it's a great time to take comfort in some classic books and movies. You can stream or download thousands of familiar eBooks, eAudiobooks and... — Updated 5/27/2020
Grieving our normal lives during the coronavirus
Coronavirus has flipped our lives upside down in the past few months. Most areas of our lives have changed dramatically, including our work, school and social lives. With all these... — Updated 5/20/2020
Hinsdale Juniors earn for Regional Rock Star Award
Hinsdale Junior Woman's Club recently stepped up to the plate to answer a call for help by those directly impacted by COVID-19 - the village's frontline heroes at AMITA Health... — Updated 5/13/2020
Get an immune system of steel with these three foods
As a kid, or maybe even as an adult, have you ever wished for a superpower? (My pick? Teleportation!) Nowadays, though, I suspect an increasing number of us would wish for an... — Updated 5/6/2020
Tips on staying centered despite COVID-19 anxiety
Overwhelming anxiety can have a marked impact on the quality of our lives - our overall functioning, our relationships, our work, our parenting abilities and our self-care. At the... — Updated 4/29/2020
COVID-19 not the first pandemic to hit the village
When the Hinsdale Public Library celebrated its 125th anniversary in 2018, we perused old newspapers for nostalgia and remember seeing that the library closed its doors during the... — Updated 4/22/2020
Manage screen time with these quarantine guidelines
Dear parents, I feel your pain. If you were ambivalent about your child's screen time pre-pandemic, now you might really be feeling that way. Our kids are exclusively learning... — Updated 4/15/2020
Wellness House walk goes virtual to raise funds
In the midst of social distancing, one quarantine-approved activity has brought so many of us out of our homes — walking. For Wellness House, the influx of pedestrians taking to... — Updated 4/8/2020
