“We’re near the end.”
Those were the words of Village President Tom Cauley at Tuesday’s night Hinsdale Village Board meeting — the first to be held in person since the pandemic hit in 2020.
There’s a lot of good news when it comes to COVID-19. Illinois has entered the “Bridge” phase, and if current trends continue, authorities expect the state to open fully June 11.
Here in town, eateries are welcoming diners to their establishments — with seating indoors and outdoors — for Hinsdale Restaurant Week.
Instead of watching a virtual graduation ceremony online, Hinsdale Central graduates gathered Monday night to celebrate their commencement in person on Dickinson Field.
Residents now can spend more time at the Hinsdale Public Library or take care of business at Hinsdale Village Hall during expanded hours at both locations.
Yes, things seem to be getting back to normal.
But we have not fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
DuPage County has yet to reach the halfway mark of having all residents fully vaccinated (it’s close at 45 percent!). The seven-day rolling average test positivity rate has dropped from 4.5 percent at the beginning of the month, but it’s still at 3.6 percent. And one expert said it could take up to two years for a full recovery — financially, educationally and emotionally.
So we must be patient.
But as we enjoy the looser restrictions of the Bridge phase, we encourage Hinsdaleans to get out and take advantage of all the village has to offer.
• Make a reservation
There’s still three more days to enjoy one of the Restaurant Week specials being offered. Pick up breakfast to enjoy on the back patio, invite a few friends to a three-course lunch or take the family out for a four-course dinner. This has been a tough 14 months for Hinsdale restaurants, and this is a great time to show them support.
• Buy a pool membership
Early bird season pass rates are in effect through May 28. The pool is a great place to get some exercise swimming laps or entertain toddlers or let tweens burn off some energy. Many towns don’t aren’t lucky enough to have a community pool, and the one here relies on attendance fees — whether through memberships or daily admission charges — to survive.
• Shop at the farmers market
The market will return to Burlington Park on Monday, May 31. A number of favorite vendors are returning — and looser restrictions mean food once again can be prepared on site.
• Sign up for a program
The Hinsdale Parks and Recreation Department and The Community House are offering a host of summer camps and classes in June, July and August — and almost all of them are in-person. These are great opportunities to get kids out of the house and to provide a revenue boost to the nonprofit agencies that offer them.
• Keep your Thursdays open
Uniquely Thursday is set to return June 24, with a great lineup of summer entertainment. Local favorite The Millennials will kick off the concert series.
It’s impossible to list everything going on in town this summer, with the chamber’s Fine Arts Festival and Sidewalk Sale coming up, along with Lunch on the Lawn programs and Movies in the Park from the parks and recreation department.
Getting out and supporting establishments in town, to the extent that we are comfortable, is good for us. It’s also good for those establishments.
We’ll look forward to seeing you around.
