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OAK BROOK

Building on the Butler vision

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Publisher Letter

We Give Thanks We would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving, and to thank you for all of your support and loyalty to us.

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Get a jump on advertising this holiday season.

Virant, Vistro and Values In our November issue, we introduce need to consider before making an you to renowned chef and Hinsdale enrollment decision (p. 36). resident Paul Virant, and take you inside As part of our focus on early education of his new restaurant in town, Vistro. this November, we would also like to In this article (p. 22), you’ll learn what congratulate Oak Elementary School for differentiates Virant from others in his being nationally recognized as a “blue field, as well as what ribbon” school (p. motivated him to 38). open up a restaurant St. Isaac Jogues is in the town in which glad to welcome its he resides. new principal, Carol The Community Burlinski, who was House Holiday Ball named “Principal is scheduled for Dec. of the Year” by the 6, and your only local Illinois Principals magazine is proud Association earlier PAUL VIRANT Restaurateur opens Vistro in Hinsdale to be serving as the this year, as she OAK BROOK exclusive media prepared to retire Building on the Butler vision partner.

Co-chairs from her position COMMUNITY HOUSE Holiday Ball Preview Polly Ascher, Sue at Buffalo Grove Spotlight on Besio and Christie High School. In the LOCAL PRESCHOOLS Eddins are busy article (p. 42), you’ll preparing a great read what inspired evening that the Burlinski to continue entire community her career at St. Isaac will be sure to enjoy.

Jogues.

For a preview, be sure to check out our In this month’s techKNOW (p. 62), article on p. 24. columnist Errol Janusz explores the topic We also continue our three-part series of domain names, cyber-squatters and on Oak Brook (p. 10). In this second the rights businesses have to possess installment, print managing editor specific web addresses. This is a topic Mike Ellis examines the issues currently many businesses confront today. impacting the village, as well as the As always, thank you for making our challenges it may face in the future. community magazine your choice, and Choosing the right preschool is an please continue to share your comments important decision for local parents. with us at news@hinsdale60521.com.

Hinsdale Magazine’s Theresa Steinmeyer Your voice is heard by our staff, and we is your guide to examining all of the look forward to the dialogue. factors instructors and parents say you www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 1

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Sincerely, Scott Jonlich, Founder & Publisher Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. sjonlich@hinsdale60521.com

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NOV. 2014

10

Founder & Publisher

CONTENTS 10 Spotlight

Scott Jonlich

Oak Brook Part II: Building on the Butler vision

Print Managing Editor Mike Ellis

18 Inside 60521

22

Photographer Marcello Rodarte

Hinsdale woman publishes memoir

22 Cover Story

Paul Virant brings fine dining to the whole family at Vistro

Creative Director

Cheryl Chrzanowski

24 Community House Holiday Ball

Graphic Artist

Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

Julia Sinogeikina

Columnists Jim Doehring Jim Fannin Errol Janusz Dan Meyer

24

36

28 Dining & Entertainment Wine classics

36 Spotlight on Preschools The perfect preschool

Contributing Writers

42 Spotlight

Cydney Cape Emily Cudworth Paul Kelma Jill Russell Qualizza

“Principal of the year” extends career at St. Isaac Jogues

44 Hinsdale HOME

The new multi-purpose room

Feature Photographers

44

Emily Cudworth Kyle Hampson Karen Hood

48 Sports

Hinsdale Central two-sport standout Matt Rafferty

62 techKNOW

Advertising Sales

“ICANN or ICANN’t” by Errol Janusz

Sarah Chase Karen Hood Renee Lawrence

64 Peak Performance

“Upgrade your relationship in 90 seconds” by Jim Fannin

48

66 Spiritual Insight

“Thanks Giving” by Dan Meyer Cover photo by Kyle Hampson

Hinsdale Hinsdale60521.com

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38 Blaine Street | Downtown Hinsdale, IL 60521 phone: 630-655-3400 I fax: 630-622-1300 I e-mail: advertise@Hinsdale60521.com Hinsdale Magazine is mailed to 18,364 homes and businesses.

The advertisements, photographs, logos, and any other content inside this publication are not the opinions of Hinsdale Magazine, Inc., unless specified.

This magazine may not be reproduced in any way, including ads designed by our graphic staff, and remain the property of Hinsdale Magazine, Inc.

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Spotlight

OAK

PART II: BUILDING ON THE BUTLER VISION

W

BROOK

BY MIKE ELLIS

This month, Hinsdale Magazine continues its three-part spotlight series on Oak Brook with a look into recent developments affecting the village, as well as what issues may impact it in the years to come.

hen Oak Brook village president Gopal Lalmalani began his term in the spring of 2011, the village was facing several salient issues. At the top of the list was what Lalmalani described as low “morale” in the village’s police department.

Lalmalani said the turning point occurred later in 2011 when the village hired a new police chief, James Kruger.

“At that time, the morale in the police department was the lowest it had been in decades,” he said. “By bringing in a truly professional police chief...I think we brought back the reputation of our police department.”

One of the challenges the Oak Brook Police and Fire Departments face is that although the village’s population is about 8,000, its daytime population can multiply to upwards of 90,000 or 100,000 as a result of the retail and commercial districts.

“For that [number of people], you need to make sure that you have [a] superior police department, [a] superior fire department, so that we can provide the services that they need,” Lalmalani said.

Kruger came to Oak Brook after serving in the same position in northwest suburban Roselle and west suburban Winfield. He said he identified some “leadership challenges” when he started as police chief.

“When I came in, I wanted to change the culture of the organization to make sure that our employees felt like they were valued,” Photo provided by the Village of Oak Brook Kruger said.

Public safety improvements have been a major focus of Oak Brook Since becoming police chief almost three village president Gopal Lalmalani’s term in office. years ago, Kruger has brought back the citizens’ police academy and started the “HALO” (Homeowner’s Association Liaison Officer) program, whereby an officer is assigned to each of the 25-plus subdivisions in the village.

He also recently initiated a “vacation house watch” program for the many Oak Brook residents that travel frequently. With this program, by signing up online or at the police station, Kruger said residents can have their homes monitored by the department on a routine basis while they are away.

Continued on page 12

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Spotlight Continued from page 10

Oak Brook trustee John Baar said in his opinion, Kruger has “really done a great job of revitalizing that department.”

Baar, who is also president of the York Woods Community Association, said Kruger has also been working on signing agreements with the subdivisions so police can patrol and enforce laws on private roads.

“He’s really stepped up the communication between the police

department and the whole community,” Baar said.

Kruger said police can patrol private roads and enforce certain offenses like DUI and handicapped parking, but they can’t enforce other traffic codes without an ordinance. He said agreements are already in place with Briarwood Lakes, Midwest Chase, Heritage Oaks, Forest Gate, Hunter Trails and Midwest Club, and that he is hopeful the department will

receive “nearly unanimous compliance.”

This past spring, the village also brought a new fire chief on board, Barry Liss, who previously served as deputy fire chief in north suburban Skokie.

Liss said although Oak Brook’s daytime population is substantially larger, in the event of a massive event, the village can receive assistance from nearby fire departments through the cooperative MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm System).

“If we have situations that overwhelm our capabilities, we can call in outside resources from surrounding towns,” he said.

Liss is hoping to launch a citizens’ fire academy next fall to complement the police academy. He said this prospective ten-week program would provide “hands-on” experience for residents, who would have the opportunity to try on firemen’s gear, familiarize themselves with equipment and be introduced to CPR training.

“It’s our hope to bring the public inside, and see what it’s like to be in the fire department,” Liss said.

“One Oak Brook, one school district”

Early last year, as District 53 presented a pair of referenda to construct a new, consolidated K-8 school on Sports Core property to residents, a movement to unify the village under a single school surfaced, under the mantra: “one Oak Brook, one school district.”

While about 60 percent of Oak Brook residents attend District 53 schools, portions of the village are spread among a number of adjacent public school districts: No. 48 (Villa Park), No. 58 (Downers Grove) and No. 205 (Elmhurst).

Lalmalani said “one Oak Brook, one school district” is the “ultimate goal” for Oak Brook, but one that could take some time to achieve.

“It’s good for the children to grow up in a community where they all go to the same school,” he said.

Although both referenda were voted down by wide margins, Lalmalani said he doesn’t necessarily think that indicated that residents don’t want to see a new school constructed.

“I don’t think the residents are opposed to having a new school built

12 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

Spotlight

in Oak Brook,” he said. “They were not opposed to that; they were just opposed to the location—the Sports Core. If they do it somewhere else, I don’t think there would be that much of an opposition.”

But there will be no new school in District 53 in the immediate future, as Dr. Heidi Wennstrom, the district’s new superintendent, said the district has just started a four-year program to improve both school facilities.

These improvements include boiler replacements, paving, drainage, roofing and network infrastructure.

Dr. Wennstrom said if a new school were to be constructed, it would be done through private funding and not a referendum.

“The board does not intend to pursue another referendum to replace the two schools,” she said. “A group of Oak Brook residents is studying the possible use of private funding, called a charitable lead trust, to construct a new school. However, if successful, this would be a longer-term initiative.”

For those who support the “one Oak Brook, one school district” initiative, Dr. Wennstrom said although the district has no control over school boundaries, the movement could only be successful with a new school or schools. District 53 just introduced full-day kindergarten this fall, and Dr. Wennstrom said enrollment “exceeded expectations.”

“District 53 does not have the capacity to increase enrollment by another 40 percent in its current school buildings,” she said. “One of the reasons we were pursuing a new, consolidated structure was to have additional flexibility for growth. While the concept of ‘one Oak Brook’ is intriguing, it cannot be accomplished with the current facilities.”

The only substantial progress that has been made towards unifying Oak Brook under one school is a successful petition that de-annexed 16 homes in Ginger Creek from District 58 in 2013.

Schoolchildren from this small group of homes now attend District 53.

Ginger Creek resident Michael Wencel,

who was part of the de-annexation effort, described it as a challenging, three-year process, that cost each family involved about $10,000. Wencel said although Ginger Creek residents prevailed each time, District 58 filed multiple appeals in attempt to keep them within their school district and avoid setting the precedent of allowing houses to de-annex.

“It went all the way to top, and we prevailed,” he said.

Wencel, who grew up in Oak Brook and is running for village trustee, said the issue means a lot to him, because he also did not attend District 53 schools growing up, and thought that was “very strange,” because all of the activities he was involved in outside of school like Little League were held in Oak Brook and included Oak Brook kids.

Wencel said the challenge is not Oak Brook or its schools, but getting surrounding school districts to “let go” of students and tax revenue derived from those households. This is why for those interested in the concept of de-annexing, Continued on page 14

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Spotlight Continued from page 13

he recommended selecting a “minimal” number of households as he and his Ginger Creek neighbors did.

“My recommendation for anyone who is looking to do this is, do the minimal amount of homes as possible,” Wencel said. “Don’t go into it with 100 homes, because your fight is going to be that much more difficult.”

involved, and they were able to argue very successfully that their kids did everything in Oak Brook, and therefore, they should be in Oak Brook schools.”

Wencel agreed, adding that he believes the only way de-annexation could be achieved is “piece-by-piece.”

Restaurants and business development

Oak Brook has long been known for its topnotch shopping, and in order to adequately frequent the variety of stores the village has to offer, shoppers have to stop for a bite—or a meal—at some point.

Over the past couple of decades, Oak Brook has attracted a multitude of first-class restaurants, some of which also have locations in downtown Chicago.

Baar and Lalmalani said for those who live in and around Oak Brook, it’s no longer necessary to start (and stop) down the congested Eisenhower to downtown Chicago in order to experience fine dining on a regular basis.

“You don’t have to go downtown, because Oak Brook has all the restaurants you could ever want,” Baar said.

In the past few years, a number of the village’s restaurants have opened in Oakbrook Center, including Photo provided by the Village of Oak Brook Pinstripes, Old Town Top: The Cheesecake Factory, Oak Brook Pour House and Perry’s Bottom: Maggiano’s, Oak Brook Steakhouse.

Outside the mall, J. Alexander’s Baar, who taught science for 30 years and Chicago-based Gibsons Bar & at Butler Junior High, said this was a Steakhouse are but two of many Oak small step, but does not necessarily Brook dining attractions. spell success for the “one Oak Brook” Tracy Mulqueen, president and movement. He said while the concept is CEO, Greater Oak Brook Chamber of “desirable,” detaching and annexing is a Commerce and Economic Development difficult process.

Partnership, has been with the chamber “It’s not like [this was] 150 homes,” since 2004, and said she has noticed a Baar said. “There was very little money 14 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

considerable upswing in restaurants coming to Oak Brook. Mulqueen said Oak Brook’s corporate climate is a particular draw for restaurants that choose the village.

“All businesses are driven by markets,” she said. “This particular area has a very dense corporate community, so restaurants experience a flow of 100,000 people every day through this area— even though the nighttime population is smaller.”

Mulqueen said the comparatively affluent demographics that make up the Western Suburbs also make Oak Brook an appealing choice for upscale restaurants.

“There’s more wealth in the Western Suburbs, and more dollars for dining,” she said. “This particular area benefits from, it’s not in the city, but it’s still close to the city; and it’s close to the airports and expressways, and that allows for a constant flow of consumers into the area.”

Another factor, (which also contributes to the increased daytime population in Oak Brook,) is retail shopping at Oakbrook Center.

“It seems like high-end retail and restaurants go hand-in-hand,” said Bob Kallien, community development director for the Village of Oak Brook.

Outside of the hospitality and retail sectors, Elmhurst-based Duchossois Group, Inc. is planning an office development in Oak Brook of at least 200,000 square feet. Crain’s Chicago Business reported this project is currently scheduled to be completed in 2016.

Mulqueen said in recent years, Oak Brook has also experienced growth in the technology and banking and financial services industries. Carmel, Ind.-based ITT Technical Institute has an Oak Brook location, while information technology (IT) companies like BridgePoint Technologies and Meridian Technology Solutions have set up their offices within the village.

Mulqueen said she anticipates these industries will continue to develop more of a presence in Oak Brook in the future with the aid of companies that are already based there.

“This community has everything to look forward to,” she said. “There’s great synergy within the industries and within the individual companies. ... Oak Brook and Oakbrook Terrace are ideal locations.”

Spotlight

El Train extension?

In its August 2014 issue, Chicago magazine presaged some of the future transportation concepts we may see throughout the Chicago area. Among these concepts included extending the El Train lines to reach new destinations.

The southern half of the El Train’s “blue” line currently terminates along the Eisenhower at Des Plaines Ave. in Forest Park. But “Transit Future,” a collaboration between the Active Transportation Alliance and the Center for Neighborhood Technology, presented a proposal that showed this line extending beyond Des Plaines Ave. out west to Oak Brook, connecting the Western Suburbs to the city on the El. In its evaluation of the proposal, Chicago magazine forecasted it “unlikely,” as it would require an increase in Cook County’s already exorbitant sales tax (9.25 percent).

Lalmalani said he thinks the blue line extension to Oak Brook would be a

“tremendous” addition, but Art Osten, who served as interim village manager for roughly the past six months, said he doesn’t think it’s very realistic at this point.

“My understanding is...[in] the latest proposal that’s being recommended, the blue line extension would not extend out to Oak Brook,” Osten said.

Pension problem

Lalmalani said perhaps the most imminent challenge the village faces today is public safety pensions.

Villages throughout Illinois are dealing with the same issue, as pensions continue to become greater shares of residents’ property tax bills. According to the Illinois Policy Institute, an independent research non-profit, 17 of the state’s 20 largest cities were measured at a “critical risk” with regard to pensions in 2012, compared with only three in 2003.

Illinois’s unfunded pension liability is estimated at $100 billion, but Nobel Prize winner and economist Eugene Fama

told Chicago magazine it’s “much worse than people think” in an interview with editor Elizabeth Fenner last year.

“There comes a point where the obligations that we have towards covering the pension costs of our personnel in both police [and] fire become very difficult to meet,” Lalmalani said.

Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation late last year directed at reducing this liability over a three-decade period, which was supposed to take effect on June 1. But in January, the We Are One Illinois coalition—comprised of major public unions—responded by filing suit, contending that the law passed is unconstitutional. Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge John Belz suspended this legislation from taking effect until the suit is settled. Last month, Reuters reported that a decision is anticipated by the end of the year.

Chief Kruger said the Oak Brook Police Department is “doing the best it can” to keep operational costs down. Kruger said the department recently brought in Continued on page 16

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Spotlight Continued from page 15

a police auxiliary unit comprised of ten part-time as-needed officers, who are not eligible for any pensions. In addition, the police department has community service officers that handle non-criminal calls, traffic calls and some ordinance violations. Kruger said these officers fall under the IMRF (Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund) pension.

“That helps us reduce our pension liability without reducing service or public

safety,” he said.

As we explained in last month’s article, unlike most villages, Oak Brook does not have a municipal property tax, due primarily to the abundance of retail shopping scattered throughout the village.

While imposing a temporary municipal tax might sound like a potential remedy to palliate the pension issue, Lalmalani said this option is “off the table.”

“Oak Brook is one of the unique

communities where we [pride] having a quality of life, plus taxes that are low,” he said. “We have maintained that as one of the unique things about Oak Brook; so, as far as possible, we will never get into that arena.”

Lalmalani said the village could look into consolidation efforts with other communities or a “blending” of departments, but those ideas have “a long way to go.”

Serving the village

In the years to come, Oak Brook is set to be a commercial and retail destination, as it has been for upwards of five decades. Its primary school district, Butler 53, is in the process of upgrading facilities, but no new school is scheduled to be built, and the concept of “one Oak Brook, one school district” remains a visionary one today. Meanwhile, the village is confronting many of the same challenges others throughout the state face, the most notable of which is public safety pensions, in the state with the lowest credit score in the nation.

In our October issue, we surveyed the history of Oak Brook, and how its development has centered around the vision of founder Paul Butler, who sought to attract the “best and brightest” commercial lights to his community through a blend of large-lot subdivisions, “superior” schools and a plethora of open space.

Lalmalani said Butler also envisioned the same caliber of people serving in the village, and that he believes having quality public servants will be crucial to Oak Brook in the coming years.

“We are always looking for people who are looking to volunteer their services for the benefit of Oak Brook.”

Hinsdale Magazine will conclude its three-part Oak Brook series next month in its December issue.

16 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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Inside 60521

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BY EMILY CUDWORTH

Hinsdale resident Susan Blumberg-Kason stands outside of Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Oak Brook with her new memoir, Good Chinese Wife.

67 handwritten pages—that’s what Susan Blumberg-Kason came up with after five years in a testing cross-cultural marriage. Her lawyer advised her to write everything bad down, and this would become the start of her recently published memoir, Good Chinese Wife.

N

ow a resident of Hinsdale, Susan Blumberg-Kason grew up on the North Shore, but moved to Hong Kong for graduate school. She quickly fell for a man from central China studying for his Ph.D. The same day he asked her out on a date, they were engaged to be married, in accordance with a Chinese custom.

However, after the first few months spent around family and professors, her new Chinese husband began to show a different side.

In the sweltering, humid heat of China in summer, he told her to shower, and that all women are dirty.

“It came out of the blue—or so I thought,” Blumberg-Kason said. “It kind

18 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

of symbolized what he thought about women.”

For years, she navigated this relationship, trying to decipher which parts were simply a difference in culture, and which were a part of his personality.

“I tried to understand and think maybe I can change him,” Blumberg-Kason said. “I told him, ‘In America we don’t do this,’ but we went to America for two years, and it didn’t matter.”

In the end, she decided it was a mixture of both sides.

“I tried to do everything the Chinese way,” Blumberg-Kason said. “If involved in a cross-cultural marriage, it’s best not to give up your own identity. The bottom line is, if something doesn’t sit well with you, then it’s not acceptable, no matter what.”

The experience would lead her to write a relationship memoir that looks into in-law issues, cross cultural marriages, immigration, studying abroad, reverse culture shock and more.

Blumberg-Kason decided she wanted to go the traditional route to get Good Chinese Wife published. She began the process of seeking out an agent and sending it to publishers.

“I started with something really rough, and assumed that an agent would love the idea and not care what I had written and work with me,” she said. “Agents cannot take something on speculation, especially for a first-time author.”

Many revisions and several unsuccessful pitches later, Blumberg-Kason finally found an agent to take on her book. But the process didn’t end there. It took her another year for her to find a publisher, who took another 15 months before the release.

“Publishing it was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done, but if you’re really determined, anyone can do it—just do not give up,” she said.

“I hired people to help me. ... They told me to read, read, read in the genre to see different styles.

“A lot of people self-publish, because they don’t want to go through the rejection; but once I got like 50 rejections from agents, it was like, ‘Who cares?’ ” Good Chinese Wife is now available in Barnes & Noble bookstores, Anderson’s Book Shop, online and at several libraries, including in Chicago, New York and Boston.

She is working on a second book, which she said will be a Shanghai memoir about the Jews that sought refuge there during World War II, and her family’s connection to that history.

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Cover Story

Photos by Emily Cudworth

Chef Paul Virant, owner of Vistro

PA U L V I R A N T B R I N G S F I N E D I N I N G T O T H E W H O L E FA M I LY AT

VISTRO

BY EMILY CUDWORTH

W

ho says fine dining can’t be family friendly too?

Renowned Chef Paul Virant has opened a new restaurant in downtown Hinsdale that he said seeks to provide a place for everybody.

Vistro, located at 112 Washington Street, is what Virant calls a “global bistro.” What does that mean?

“We can kind of do whatever we want to do,” Virant said. “We want a lot of families and kids to come in. The idea is to be approachable enough that everybody will be jazzed up about things on the menu.”

This family-oriented concept is a change for Virant, who has worked amongst some of the top names in fine dining,

22 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

including Charlie Trotter’s, Ambria, Everest and Blackbird.

He runs three restaurants already, including Vie, which opened in 2004 in Western Springs, and Perennial Virant, which opened in Chicago in 2011. Two years ago, he helped launch The J. Parker rooftop lounge and bar at Hotel Lincoln in the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

A family man himself, Virant and his family moved to Hinsdale from the city in 2002 when his wife started working at Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove.

He said the schools were a big factor in their decision to move here, and he feels fortunate that his family ended up in Hinsdale.

Cover Story

In addition to the change in atmosphere, Virant said that Vistro will also be his first that serves lunch.

“It’s a traditional menu in some ways, with the starters, soup and salad and entrees,” he said, “but then there’s things like quesadillas, pizzas and a ‘snacks-and-munchies’ section with things that are quick and easy to eat.”

“Snacks” and “munchies” include fried kale, crispy chickpeas, spiced pecans and pea shoots. The lunch menu is on target to launch this month.

The menu at Vistro is in keeping with Virant’s philosophy of cooking with local and seasonal foods.

“If it’s grown or produced in the Midwest, and it’s as good if not better than something I can get from California, then I’ll wait until it’s in season and embrace it here,” he said.

The seasonal items don’t stop him from finding fresh food year-round, however.

“There’s a ton of farmers who do things in greenhouses, so they’ve extended their seasons,” Virant said. “We have access to some fresh greens and lettuces and cooking greens, babyroot vegetables, carrots, radishes, turnips and beets that you can find year-round.”

Virant developed his affection for cooking with local ingredients growing up on a farm outside of St. Louis.

Working with local and seasonal ingredients creates a lot of opportunities for experimentation.

While Virant is known for his original canning and preservation recipes, Vistro also has a wood oven, with which Virant said he is excited to experiment. Along with the seasonal dishes, he intends to have a core consistent menu.

Vistro also offers a full bar with a list of hand-crafted cocktails, making the transition to a great date spot at night.

“It shifts from families at the beginning [of the evening], to folks that are out on a date or want to hang out at the bar,” Virant said.

At his new Hinsdale restaurant, Virant brings with him pastry chef Elissa Narow, bar manager Bill Anderson, and sous chef Vince Gerace.

“With anything in life, you’ve got to have a good team,” he said.

Even with a new restaurant to run, Virant is still thinking towards the future.

He said one of the goals is to have a farm nearby that could support the restaurant and his line of pickled foods. To get started, he has been offered some land by Hinsdale resident Greg Hall, who is the former brewmaster at Goose Island and owner of Virtue Cider.

However, Virant said there is still a lot of work to be done before that happens.

With anything in life, you’ve got to have a good team.

Top to bottom: The Fall Kick cocktail is made with Old Overholt rye, a sweet potato oleo saccharum, fresh lemon juice, sweet vermouth, and Peychauds bitters; Wisconsin trout with roasted onion apple curry vinaigrette, served over a cabbage pancake; Mac and cheese comes fresh out of the wood oven in a hot iron skillet; Vahlrona dark chocolate layer cake with milk jam

www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 23

Inside 60521

Photo by Kyle Hampson

Community House Holiday Ball co-chairs Christie Eddins, Sue Besio and Polly Ascher

AROUND THE

CHRISTMAS TREE

BY MIKE ELLIS

Community House Holiday Ball co-chairs prepare for 74TH annual event next month

R

esidents of Hinsdale and surrounding communities are preparing to gather for the annual Community House Holiday Ball next month on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Held annually at The Community House (TCH) in Hinsdale on the first Saturday in December, the holiday ball carries a tradition of over seven decades.

“What I love about it is the tradition,” ball co-chair Polly Ascher said. “You sing ‘White Christmas’ every year during the dinner part of the evening. You have people that have literally been coming here since the ‘40s and ‘50s.”

At the ball, over 400 people from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Burr Ridge and other nearby towns gather together to raise money for the multitude of programs and services The Community House provides for people of all ages.

“The holiday ball is one of the most exciting times on our calendar at The Community House,” TCH executive director Jenifer Fabian said. “It really endears people to our space in a

different way. It’s always a new adventure every year, to see what our talented co-chairs will do to bring a different theme and a different way of getting people excited to come out for the holiday ball.”

This year’s holiday ball theme is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and is being co-chaired by Ascher, Sue Besio and Christie Eddins. Ascher said there will be a number of surprises in store that evening, including a “high-energy” band that will perform a variety of songs and genres.

“We wanted to try and give it a bit more energy this year, but yet still keep its traditions and formalities,” she said.

When guests enter The Community House at the corner of Madison and Eighth Streets, Ascher said they will be greeted by an ambient “festive” atmosphere.

Walking northward down the hallway, attendees can visit the wine auction inside Kettering Hall, where Ascher said most people will gather before dinner. Ascher said the auction Continued on page 26

24 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

Save the Date

Polly & Mike Ascher Sue & Greg Besio Christie & Sam Eddins

Julie & Jeff Akers Tracy & Ray Anderson Artemis & John Anos Betsy & David Bradley Donna & Andrew Brickman Mary Grace & Kevin Burke Andrea & Dick Burridge Jennifer & Doug Cherry Donna & John Coffey Meg & Clint Coghill Stacy & Mike Devine Nancy & Jim Dugan Barbara & Robert Early Dixie & Rick Erwin Barbara & Bill Feldman Erin & Trevor Ferguson Jeri & Victor Galati Liz & Jerry Gerami Eden Hill Molly & Jerry Hughes Abby & PJ Huizenga

Beth & Bill Kaczynski Ashley & Dave Killpack Tiffany & Kevin Knaul Lisa & Paul Lambert Dr. Bruce & Karen Larson Linda & Mark Lozier Mary & Tim Lyne Pam & Eric Malchow Becky & Phil Mavon Donna & Mike Mittelstadt Elaine & Scott Moore Jill & Mike Naimo Sarah & Eddie Opler Marni & Fred Paulman Joan Walsh Purcell & Gerard Purcell Linda & Michael Riordan Eileen & John Sachanda Kim & Mike Shean Loretta & Brad Summers Carol & Roy Thygesen

Saturday, December Sixth

The Community House

415 West Eighth Street, Hinsdale www.thecommunityhouse.org For more information, please call 630-323-7500

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Inside 60521 Continued from page 26

will feature 80 to 100 “lots,” or batches, of wine.

Proceeding to dinner, guests will enter the fieldhouse, which Ascher and Fabian said will be “completely transformed” from its regular constitution as a gymnasium encircled by a second-story walking track into a fine ballroom setting.

“It gets transformed into a beautiful event that could be in any of the best hotels or facilities in the area,” Fabian said. “It’s a really wonderful thing to see the building transform.”

“You would never know that you’re there every Saturday or Sunday watching your kid play basketball,” Ascher said.

Before dinner is served, TCH will present a video informing residents about its programs and services, which range from its Jodie Harrison basketball program in-house to its Charlie’s Gift Autism Center in Downers Grove and its Willowbrook Corner initiative.

“One of the reasons why I like this event is, because it’s an opportunity to educate people about what this place does,” Ascher said. “Nobody knows everything that they do.”

Appositely, a Christmas tree will be set up in the fieldhouse, decorated according to the theme. Ascher said the tree will be “lively,” and not decorated with “the traditional red, green and white.” Instead, Kristina Taheri, who will be styling and coordinating the event, said “a bright color palette of crimson, turquoise and silver birch will be the focal point in décor.”

“As always, this special annual event takes conscientious chairpersons, a dedicated Community House development staff, and lots of planning,” said Taheri, who is also owner of Kristina Taheri Special Events. “But I expect the 2014 event to be fun, fresh and hugely successful for all concerned.”

After dinner, attendees will transition to Kettering Hall, which Ascher said will be converted into a “nightclub” setting.

Bill Kaczynski, president of the board of trustees, said the only “drawback” of the event is that the gym is unable to support more than roughly 450 guests.

“It’s one of those events that’s really so special that you wish 1,000 people could come to it,” Kaczynski said.

place where our kids would come and play Jodie Harrison basketball, and come see plays that Stage Door [Fine Arts] puts on,” Ascher said.

“But very quickly, we realized they served pretty much every age group in the community; they served different communities besides Hinsdale.

“They did so much more than we realized, and that really appealed to us.”

In addition to its own initiatives, The Community House also assists other local organizations in achieving their missions. For example, Stage Door Fine Arts, an independent theatre company that features many area youth, holds many of its performances at TCH. The Community House is also home to Hinsdale Community Preschool and the Children’s Montessori Language Academy, and serves as a regular meeting place for the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Rotary Club and the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club.

“It truly is a ‘community’ house,” Ascher said.

Funds from this year’s holiday ball will not only benefit the aforementioned programs and services, but some new initiatives The Community House is developing as well.

This summer, TCH hosted its inaugural 3-on-3 basketball tournament, while recently launching a new adolescent development program within its counseling center, concentrating on the growth that occurs during teenage years.

Fabian said TCH is also focusing on providing more artistic and cultural offerings.

“We think of ourselves as the community’s place to gather and grow,” she said. “The community for us extends broadly.

We’re located in Hinsdale; we serve a lot of folks from Clarendon Hills and Burr Ridge and other surrounding towns.

“We want people to come here and use our services, get involved, volunteer, find a place for them, for their kids, for their parents. We really have something for everyone.”

“As always, this special annual event takes conscientious chairpersons, a dedicated Community House development staff, and lots of planning.”

Touching the whole community

Fabian said TCH is hoping to raise over $80,000 at this year’s holiday ball to support the plethora of programs and services that the non-profit organization offers. Outside of its main facility, TCH operates Charlie’s Gift, a Downers Grove-based center that provides an array of services to children with autism, sensory processing disorders, ADHD and related disorders, as well as Willowbrook Corner, which supports the needs of families in this neighborhood through an after-school program, a summer learning program and more.

In-house favorites include Jodie Harrison Basketball for aspiring young athletes and card groups geared toward older residents, which include multiple levels of bridge and a canasta group.

“Quite honestly, when we first joined, we thought it was a 26 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

The 2014 Community House Holiday Ball will start at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, at The Community House, 415 W. Eighth Street in Hinsdale. Tickets are $325 apiece. Last month, about 800 invitations were distributed throughout the community. The ball has sold out the past several years, so individuals interested in attending are encouraged to call The Community House, (630)-323-7500. Tickets are not available online. For more information about The Community House, visit www.thecommunityhouse.org.

Jeanna Shares...

Migraines, Life Pain and Beyond Written by A. Abdeljaber “Sometimes you feel like you just wanted to be dead,” said Jeanna Castellano, a Burr Ridge., IL resident , a long time sufferer of migraines. “I couldn’t socialize with people, I couldn’t be happy, If I laughed, the migraine comes back” This is a unique story of Jeanna Castellano who has been suffering from debilitating chronic migraines for over 20 years.

Migraine headaches are a very common and countless patients walk through ER doors and doctor’s offices only to be put on the standard pain management regimen for years with little or no relief per say.

Such is the story of Jeanna Castellano, who was a chronic migraine sufferer for over 20 years and mismanaged by many doctors like any other patient with pain as their chief complaint. Jeanna went from doctor to doctor being prescribed medication up on medication with barely any relief but more side effects as the medications kept piling on. Jeanna saw many bad days in her 20 years battling it out with migraines and many days worse than others. Like many patients suffering from chronic pain, the idea of a pain free morning or a pain free day in general was a far-fetched thought, left only in her imaginations.

Until on fateful day when she walked through Dr. Suwan’s clinic not for her migraines but accompanying her relative for his issue. Upon asking Dr. Suwan a simple innocent question “Do you deal with migraine patients”, Jeanna realized there was a whole different level of chronic pain management regimens that were untapped earlier in her treatment course. “She would ask me detailed questions about my migraines.”, “She

characterized me as an individual and not a symptom in writing” Jeanna stated in delight. Having suffered with debilitating, functionally limiting migraines for over two decades, meeting with Dr. Suwan to discuss her new treatment regimen was like a breath of fresh air for Jeanna. She further went on to describe how Dr. Suwan not only put her on perfectly tailored medications but would always be willing to switch to new treatments with the goal of not only limiting her migraines but eliminating them . Soon Jeanna’s attacks became less frequent, decreasing from four times a week to only once a week.

It has been 13 years since that life changing clinical encounter with Dr. Suwan and Jeanna has been a faithful committed patient. “I’m a totally new person today” Jeanna exclaimed in delight.

Dr. Suwan has been treating migraine patients for many years. As a specialist in both pain and headaches she has taken care of many patients similar to Mrs. Castellano and has remained one of the top neurologists for such conditions.

“We treat migraines with combination of medications, nerve blocks, Botox injection, laser therapy for pain, P-stim, after thorough neurological evaluation and history analysis” said Dr. Suwan, the American Boarded Neurologist, with further certification in Headache and Pain Medicine.

Dr. Suwan believes that Migraines could be very taxing, and may take a toll on its sufferers, and early diagnosis and treatment is important to prevent progression to chronic transformed daily migraines.

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 27

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT

WINE CLASSICS

W

BY JIM DOEHRING

With fall in full swing and Thanksgiving just around the corner, it’s time to check the cellar before we welcome a house full of guests and have a big turkey on the table.

Holidays call for bubbles, and Thanksgiving is a perfect meal to enjoy champagne. Often blended from a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, there is no better complement to a Thanksgiving feast.

Opening bottles from the moment guests arrive sets the tone for a fun and festive day. Champagne is versatile enough to work well with all of those family favorite appetizers while you watch the Bears play the Lions. Fortunately, it also has enough depth, richness and acidity to be enjoyable throughout dinner, and with a wide variety of sides.

I have always been partial to the big champagne houses—Roederer and Bollinger being two favorites—, but I find even more delight in opening a bottle of Ruinart Rose. Stunning, pale pink color and a beautiful, delicate flavor make this an instant hit with our family and friends.

If you only had one thing you could serve all day, champagne could do the job, and do it very well.

What about still wines for the nonbubbly folks? Checking the cellar, I find a few bottles of Pinot Blanc. A perfect

28 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

complement to so many foods, Pinot Blanc is an easy wine to enjoy this time of year. Although often overlooked for Chardonnay and the other white wines of the world, Pinot Blanc is a full-bodied, crisp white wine that is as enjoyable as it is flexible. Typically exhibiting apple and citrus on the nose, it carries a nice weight and minerality to the palate, and finishes with just enough bright acidity to leave one wanting another sip.

With Alsatian producers Domaines Schlumberger, Trimbach, ZindHumbrecht and Josmeyer sending fine examples to the U.S. market, Pinot Blanc is an easy “go-to” wine for many Thanksgiving tables.

Moving towards the red section of my cellar, I stop one shelf short to look at some Rose left over from a summer party.

Why not?—Rose is not a glass of white wine with a little red added to it, and it’s not the box of white zinfandel you used to see in the back of your mom’s fridge.

There are new players making some great Rose, and they are simply building on the legacy of wonderfully enjoyable wines made for years in France, but simply

not consumed all that often in the U.S. With Rose trending up, it might be time to take a look, and at least offer it this Thanksgiving. If I’m going down the Rose path, I need to recommend wines from Provence. They have been doing Rose right for longer than anyone, and it shows in the bottle. With the Mediterranean sun and a variety of grapes to work with— Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre and on occasion, a bit of Carignan or Cabernet—, Rose wines have a fresh red fruit and bright acidity held in a shimmering pale, pink color. Highly adaptable to many different foods, Rose is a fun, light take on wine that many people will enjoy.

Classic producer Domaines Ott is readily available, as is Brad Pitt’s and Angelina Jolie’s new creation: Miraval.

Another wine of note you might find locally would be Whispering Angel by Chateau d’Esclans.

At our home, it would be hard to think about a Thanksgiving table without a bottle of Pinot Noir. It would take an article or two—or perhaps even an entire book—for me to properly discuss Pinot Noir. Our personal favorites are wines from Burgundy and Russian River, so I can offer a quick take on these two areas. In doing so, I am by no means stepping over or putting down wines from Oregon, the central coast of California, New Zealand

or Australia. Great Pinots are grown worldwide, and which one you choose is truly a matter of personal preference.

Burgundy is what most wine folks consider the home of Pinot Noir, and many of the greatest examples of that varietal hail from Burgundy. Pinot Noirs from Burgundy are typically a bit drier, their color lighter, and their flavors more elegant than their cousins in the New World.

Many are simply out of this world, with prices to match. Vintage plays more of a role in France, as irrigating the vines is not allowed, and sunshine is not quite as abundant in Burgundy as in California; so, be aware when you buy, ask questions and read the shelf talkers at the wine store.

With Russian River Pinot Noir, you see a bit more of the California sunshine showing in the wine with brighter fruit, texture and tannins. These wines are flashy and fun, but there are many very serious examples of wine-making talent. The soil in Russian River is Goldridge Loam, a fine, sandy soil that promotes perfect drainage.

A beautiful fog comes up the Russian River Valley from the Pacific Ocean morning, cooling the vineyards and allowing long “hang time,” or fruit development on the vine.

Great Burgundian producers are found up and down store shelves, from Maison Louis Latour, Maison Louis Jadot, Bouchard Père & Fils and Dujac, all the way up to Domaine Romanée Conti (if available, it’s locked in the back somewhere).

As for Russian River, many fine examples can be found as well, with some of my favorites being, EnRoute Les Pommiers, Rochioli, DuMol, Williams Selyem and Merry Edwards.

Whichever of the wines you choose, I hope you enjoy a toast to the many blessings each of us is thankful for this year. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Cheers!

Jim Doehring of Hinsdale is a wine enthusiast with more than a decade of experience working in the wine industry.

www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 29

Community Scene

Wagon rides were a popular attraction at the annual Family Fall Festival.

Joe Adkins of Wheaton carves a giant pumpkin.

Clarendon Hills Park District

Family Fall

FESTIVAL

The festival also featured a petting zoo.

Erin Thorington with sons Jack and Davis, and Charlie and Jack Sutton

BY MIKE ELLIS

N

early 1,000 local residents came out for the Clarendon Hills Park District’s annual Family Fall Festival at Prospect Park on Sept. 20.

The festival afforded families an array of activities and entertainment opportunities, including inflatable pits, face-painting, a petting zoo, miniature golf and the always-popular wagon rides looping around the park.

Local businesses and organizations also took this opportunity to engage community members at booths stationed near the park pavilion. Coldwell Banker of Clarendon Hills and Holly’s Happy Hounds were among the event sponsors, while Daily Scoop and Domino’s served food and refreshments.

Trustees Ed Reid, Ken Hall and Don Knoll interacted with residents at the Village of Clarendon Hills’ booth.

Meanwhile, Citizens for Clarendon Hills (C4CH) and Cub Scout Pack 51 also had a presence at the festival.

C4CH’s costumed “Captain Obvious”

30 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

was a hit with many of the kids, as he high-fived and posed for pictures.

For the third straight year, Joe Adkins of Wheaton carved a giant pumpkin, which he grew in the patch he has in his yard. Many guests participated in a raffle for the 400-pound pumpkin, vying for the chance to take it home. Much to his astonishment, Daily Scoop owner Chuck Kauffman won the raffle, and posed for a photo beside his enormous prize.

Kauffman brought the giant pumpkin, which he named “HUGO,” back to his storefront in downtown Clarendon Hills, where he displayed it for passers-by.

Kelly Smith, superintendent of recreation for the Clarendon Hills Park District, said the park district “couldn’t have been more pleased with the turnout.”

“Our focus is families and community, so we’re just really pleased that we can work with our sponsors and park partners to provide a fun, family-friendly event,” Smith said. “This is what you want to see, is the families out at your parks.”

Captain Obvious with Eden and Griffin Purcell Photos by Mike Ellis

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Community Scene

Megan Mannor, Katie Crotty and Sarah Tims

Left to Right: Paulette Lloyd, Sarah Zielke, Hope Lloyd Brown, Timothy Corrigan and Susan Newman Photos by Emily Cudworth

Catie Knoebel, Alexis Braden and Megan Hickman

Left to Right: Stacy Lorin and Leslie Watson

Molly Haunty, Anna Fiascone, Christie Cuthbert and Katie Crotty

Hinsdale Historical Society Women’s Board Annual Luncheon and Lecture

34 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

THE WOMEN’S BOARD OF THE HINSDALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY held its annual Luncheon and Lecture at Hinsdale Golf Club on Oct. 8.

Featured speaker and renowned interior designer Timothy Corrigan talked about how to make the most of a home, as well as incorporating modern ideas into an historic building.

The board holds the luncheon and lecture every year to increase membership, but also to promote its mission of preserving Hinsdale’s architectural charm through the historic downtown area and other buildings.

Hinsdale’s history is unique, because the town resides on the original train line to Chicago, and famous architect R. Harold Zook has left his signature architectural style on a number of buildings in the area.

Hope Lloyd Brown, president of the Hinsdale Historical Society Women’s Board, said that on her husband’s first trip to Hinsdale from the city, he remarked, “You don’t live in a suburb; you live in a village.” She said that that kind of distinction is one of the reasons the women’s board and historical society work so hard to preserve the historic look and feel of Hinsdale.

The luncheon is the first event of the board’s season, leading up to the Kitchen Walk in May.

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 35

Spotlight on Education

the perfect preschool

BY THERESA STEINMEYER

I

It’s nearly pick-up time when Parents and I arrive for my meeting with educators advise Maple Grove Montessori on choosing the director Alexandra Kessler. best learning The classroom lights are off, and when I knock on the environment for your door, Kessler, a soft-spoken child woman with long, white hair, quietly invites me inside. Her five summer camp students are clustered around a television in the corner, helping each other through a video-guided yoga session. As the tape rolls into the credits, the students stow their mats and tie their shoes in a carefully-orchestrated routine that requires only a few gentle directions from Kessler.

Anticipating her instructions, they gather on a bench near the front door to wait for their parents to arrive.

For Kessler and these students and parents, this is only the end of another day of learning and play. But these preschool years are formative ones—a period of intensive social, emotional and academic growth critical to kindergarten readiness. In selecting a preschool, local parents choose the environment, philosophy and role models that will define their children’s educational foundations.

As registration time rolls around for the 2015–16 school year, Hinsdale Magazine has examined trends in the local preschool selection and admission processes by reaching out to parents and educators throughout the area to discuss school philosophies, admission cycles and family needs.

In the Hinsdale area, where a plenitude of preschool options are available to suit a variety of individual needs and family values, the best school for one child may not be the best fit for a neighbor, or even a sibling.

“I think you need to look at your kids themselves, and what your instinct is about where they’re going to thrive,” said Sarah Tims, a Hinsdale resident and mother of three.

For Tims, it was a question of finding the best fit school

Photo by Emily Cudworth

Children at the Union Church preschool program enjoy a variety of fun activities throughout the day.

for her twins, both of whom have different personalities and needs for their preschool environments;—one, she said, is very adaptable, while the other prefers routine and familiarity. The preschool program at Grace Episcopal Church appealed to her family, because it was a familiar setting for both of her twins, where they could thrive without the added stress of a new environment.

Other parents seek out preschools for learning philosophies geared toward their children’s developmental needs.

Wendi Macri of Hinsdale chose the Children’s Montessori Language Academy for its focus on independence for her oldest son. Hinsdale resident Amy Moody opted for Union Church Preschool for its play-based philosophy. At Union, Moody said, students learn foundational skills like sharing, tying shoes and transitioning between activities.

“You can always catch up on academics,” she said. “The lifeskills are what my sons are learning a lot about.”

When Hinsdale Magazine asked parents and educators for advice in choosing a preschool, the most frequently-heard guideline was to start early.

The time to start calling potential schools for the 2015–2016 school year is now—yes, November. During the fall, most preschools are happy to let parents tour their facilities and discuss their programs. Generally, parents who choose schools and register early should not have a problem getting into the preschool of their choice, parents and educators said. But those registration deadlines often fall in December for returning families, and in January or February for new families.

Spaces in morning classes are most competitive, as parents often seek out these times to accommodate their children’s nap schedules. Registering early helps parents to secure these slots.

Or, since most area preschools give preference to returning families, “starting early” may entail enrolling children a year ahead, into a “2’s” program. By enrolling children a year early, parents ensure their children’s priority for placement in their desired three-year-old class.

Continued on page 38

36 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 37

Spotlight on Education Continued from page 36

At Hinsdale Community Preschool, a parent-coop in which parents volunteer to shadow their children and participate in the class, director Ann Berlino said that parents may enroll two-year-old children partly to secure slots in the three-year-old program, where only five to ten of 30 slots in the class may be available for new families after preference is given for current students.

Berlino said that parents at her school may begin considering preschools for children as young as 18 months old.

But starting early doesn’t always have to be a competitive strategy.

Sometimes, it’s simply the best fit for families. Enrolling younger children in preschool may give parents more freedom during the day by serving a childcare function.

As parents explore preschools, administrators said they should investigate the learning resources available to suit their child’s individual needs.

Pupil services administrator Lisa Halverson said that parents may not have heard of District 181’s blended Early Childhood Education program, based at Oak Elementary School in Hinsdale, and best known for its learning resources for students with learning delays and specific learning needs; but she encourages all local families to consider the program for their children.

Even students without special needs who pay tuition into District 181’s blended preschool program may benefit from the extra resources and support provided by the district. The program now provides early childhood education to a student body in which two-thirds of students do not have learning delays. Next year, Halverson said the program will open its doors to 90 students, while continuing to offer walk-in speech services to 40 to 50 students.

Other parents may look for preschool programs that offer advanced academic resources to their pre-K students.

The Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove is known for its K-8 “gifted” program, but also offers an early childhood education program for three-year-olds, and a junior kindergarten for four-year-olds. These programs do not require students to be “gifted” for admission, but Rebecca MalotkeMeslin, director of admission and marketing, said that they are “geared towards the children who are very curious and motivated to learn.”

Malotke-Meslin added that parents who consider the program might have observed early signs of reading and math skills in their children. For children with advanced learning needs, she said Avery Coonley may offer welcome targeted

Photos by Emily Cudworth

Firefighters from the Hinsdale Fire Department interacted with Grace Episcopal preschoolers during our visit last month.

instruction.

But Avery Coonley’s admissions process is among the most intense in the area: parents may apply as early as August or September of the previous year, and student screenings begin in November. For parents who hope to enroll their children in the four-year-old pre-K program, “starting early” in the threeyear-old class is a must: typically there are six open spots in the four-year-old class, sought by 24 to 25 new applicants.

Finally, parents and educators alike stress the importance of play. At Hinsdale Covenant Preschool, the play-based approach is merged with a faith-based curriculum, director Mary Seiferth Continued on the next page

38 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

YOU ARE INVITED TO VISIT OUR SCHOOL

said. Students at Hinsdale Covenant are exposed to Bible stories, while learning empathy and mindfulness of others.

Choosing a preschool ultimately depends on the needs of individual children and families. As important as “starting early” is this second piece of advice: to keep an open mind. Even preschool admissions directors encouraged parents to visit multiple schools and to explore different environments and philosophies until they found the best fit for their children.

There is no perfect preschool, they said, only the best fit for the individual child.

“There’s so many choices out there,” Tims said, happy with her decision to enroll her twins together at Grace church. “Don’t be shy about saying, ‘This might be great for other families, but it isn’t right for mine.’ ”

BIRTH-3 YRS PROGRAM: Mondays 9:30-11:00 am Parent and child get to know each other in a new way 2 YEARS OLD PROGRAM: 3, 4 or 5 days a week 8:45-11:15 am Children learn to work with others as well as independently HALF DAY CLASSES: 3-6 yrs old 5 days a week 8:30-11:30 am, 3 to 4 days a week 1:30-4:00 pm Using Montessori method to help children learn a second language EXTENDED DAY SPANISH IMMERSION CLASS: Monday-Thursday 11:30 am-1:30 pm This class can either be added to morning or afternoon programs

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 39

Spotlight on Education

OAK ELEMENTARY EARNS

Blue Ribbon AWARD

Oak was one of 287 public schools in the nation to receive this honor in 2014, and one of only 13 public schools in Illinois.

Photo courtesy of Bridget McGuiggan

O

ak Elementary School has been honored with the esteemed 2014 National Blue Ribbon Schools Award from the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) for academic excellence.

In the process, Oak became the fifth of nine schools in District 181 to earn the Blue Ribbon Award, joining Clarendon Hills Middle School (2009), Hinsdale Middle School (2009), Madison School (2009) and The Lane School (2011).

The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program recognizes public and private elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels, or where significant improvements

Oak School students celebrate the school’s Blue Ribbon Award are being made in students’ with mascot ‘Hootie’ the owl. academic achievement.

“National Blue Ribbon “We are exceptionally proud to Schools are models of consistent excellence and a resource for other schools celebrate this recognition of the hard work, talent, dedication and enthusiasm and districts,” U.S. Secretary of Education of Oak School staff, students and Arne Duncan said. “We celebrate them for their tireless effort and boundless creativity families,” superintendent Dr. Don White in reaching and teaching every student.” said. “The honor of being selected as a Blue Ribbon School is a fitting tribute To share the news with students and to their commitment to excellence.” staff, principal Dr. Martha Henrikson This month, Walsh and an Oak staff and former principal Sean Walsh joined “Hootie,” the school’s owl mascot, to make member will join leaders from recognized a special surprise video announcement schools across the country in attending a ceremony in their honor in Washington, of their own, to the sound of cheers and applause throughout the building. D.C.

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40 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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Family • Faith • Future

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SIJ Principal Carol Burlinski with Second Grade Students

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For More Information: Contact: Diane Sullivan Vice-Principal 630-323-3244 Or Visit: www.SIJschool.org www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 41

Spotlight

“Principal of the year” EXTENDS CAREER AT ST. ISAAC JOGUES

S

BY CYDNEY CAPE

t. Isaac Jogues is pleased to welcome a new principal with a lot of experience this fall.

After receiving the “Illinois High School Principal of the Year” award from the Illinois Principals Association in February, Carol Burlinksi planned on ending her tenure in education at Buffalo Grove High School and entering her retirement while at the top of her career.

Photo by Mike Ellis

New St. Isaac Jogues principal Carol Burlinski was honored at an assembly in October.

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Spotlight

“I really felt like the same things these parents wanted for their kids were the same things I would want for my own.”

“Yes, I did retire at BGHS,” Burlinski said, “and during that time...my aunt Mary, who lives in Naperville, sent me an article saying one of the schools there was looking for a principal, and she thought, ‘Oh, my niece would be perfect!’

“I wasn’t quite sure at that moment, but it did get me thinking, and I realized I didn’t really feel done with going to school every day and being with the kids.”

Burlinski said she visited the Joliet Diocese Web site, and after St. Isaac Jogues appeared, she reached out to the school “out of curiosity.”

“Within minutes of sitting down with the committee, I was just blown away by the great conversation,” she said.

“I really felt like the same things these parents wanted for their kids were the same things I would want for my own.

“The common values, and a community that is so incredibly committed to their children and their education that they are willing to go so above and beyond the call of duty—I just thought, in this new world, where kids need new things and we need to keep changing to keep them safe and engaged, it really does take a village.”

Father William De Salvo then offered Burlinski the principal position, and she started at the beginning of the 2014-15 school-year.

For Burlinski, who attended Catholic schools growing up and began her teaching career in the Catholic education system, she said she knew she had come to the “right place.”

When asked if this is where she plans to cap off her almost 40-year career, Burlinski said she has no doubt that St. Isaac’s is the perfect final stop.

“This is exactly how I plan to finish,” she said. “I really can’t think of a better situation for someone who is a teacher at heart.

“I’m so lucky to be able to work hands-on with teachers every day and

being one-on-one with the staff in a smaller environment.”

Burlinski said she feels blessed to be returning to her Catholic roots, and doing it at a place that values putting its students first.

“Being surrounded by others who feel the same calling to give of themselves is truly inspiring,” she said “and for the children at this school, it’s such an extraordinary example.”

www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 43

Hinsdale HOME

The NEW Multi-Purpose Room

BY JILL RUSSELL QUALIZZA

T

oday’s kitchen designs do more than just help store and prepare food.

They are sleek, simple and sophisticated, incorporating a customized purpose of use and integrated smart appliances for added convenience.

The kitchen is now the new multi-purpose room for anything from cooking and dining to socializing and entertaining.

“Kitchens are still the heart of the home and the place that people gravitate to during a holiday or party, so Photo courtesy of Insignia Kitchen people are constantly asking us to make and Bath, Barrington the kitchen inviting and spacious,” said Mark Hickman, owner of Mark Hickman Homes, a home builder with offices in Hinsdale.

With the average kitchen remodel ringing in anywhere from $20,000 to more than $100,000, according to the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), it’s best to start at the drawing board to create a kitchen that works best for you and your family’s needs.

“After the Great Recession, homeowners opted to redesign kitchens in lieu of moving and worrying about the resell value of their home,” said Terry Kenney, president of the Chicago Mid West Chapter of the NKBA. “Kitchens remain a personal space with each generation impacting the specifics of what goes.”

The overarching theme, regardless of personal preference, is simplicity. According to the NKBA’s 2014 Design Trends Survey, kitchens are “trending more contemporary this year with clean, simple lines, less clutter and little ornamentation.”

Classic combos “Everybody wants simple lines and finishes,” Kenney

said. “In the ‘90s, we saw a lot of ornamented details, such as heavy and detailed crown-molding, with crackle glass and textured finishes. Now we’re simplifying things with integrated, seamless and classic looks that are modified to each homeowner’s personal use and preference.”

One way homeowners are simplifying things is the strategic use of color, or lack thereof, Kenney said.

White and black (and consequent shades of grays, blues and browns) add a contrast to the overall design, but do so in an updated, modern way while “feel-good” paint colors such as chocolate or espresso browns evoke warmth and comfort.

Hickman agreed.

“White kitchens always provide a timeless look, and we do not see this changing,” he said. “Although they have been very popular, we are also starting to see some colors pop up with the cabinetry.”

Personalized spaces (and places) While the open-concept layout still reigns supreme, more kitchen designs are personalizing the space, considering how the family will use the space day-today.

“This may be a modified open concept that still has a great room, but the kitchen is slightly segmented,” Kenney said. “The key is to discuss the pros and cons of the layout, and the lifestyle and entertaining impacts each hold before final plans are drawn and construction starts.”

In addition, homeowners are more in-tune with how they use the kitchen, and thus, are requesting designs with large islands to entertain and docking stations for their mobile devices.

Gone are the days of the built-in kitchen desk that eventually becomes a catch-all for bills, sports equipment and school projects. Today, according to Mark Hickman Homes, more people are incorporating docking and drop-off stations to charge phones and tablets during their busy day-to-day lives. Large kitchen islands provide additional seating and service space for entertaining.

Continued on page 46

44 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

MEGAN MCCLEARY PRESENTS

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 45

Hinsdale HOME Continued from page 44

One appliance fits all The working horses of the kitchen, appliances are a central core of the optimal kitchen design. Appliances help homeowners adapt to hosting large parties and gatherings, as well as different lifestyles, such as the onthe-go family. Today’s kitchens need to do both—and adapt on the whim.

The powerhouse answers come in the form of integrated, under-cabinet and builtin gadgets that aim to please in the name of convenience.

For instance, homeowners can now accommodate large catering trays and platters in column refrigerators. Available through a variety of manufacturers, including Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch, the refrigerators and freezers form custom configurations by combining various widths, ranging from 18 to 36 inches. They can fit platters of endless canapés for this weekend’s cocktail party, or the 36-count juice box for the soccer game this afternoon.

Entertaining also got a whole lot easier with Dacor’s wine station that keeps open bottles of wine preserved for up to 60 days.

The station automatically serves measured pours, uses argon gas to stop oxygenation, and can be built-in or used standalone on

the counter.

According to Mark Hickman Homes, other popular appliance requests include ice makers, wine coolers and beverage centers, plate and food warmers, and espresso makers. Under the cabinet, drawer-style microwaves, plate warmers and dishwashers are also popular.

Finishing touches After all is said and done, a kitchen’s look is completed with the finishes—from material selections, metal choices and hardware options.

Hickman said granite has become a “rare request.”

“The trend has really shifted to either quartz or man-made products such as Silestone,” he said. “These materials are more durable than marble, so homeowners are not worried about someone spilling something on their countertops and it staining.”

Besides durability, the relative maintenance-free use of quartz or quartzite, (which is made when quartz and sandstone are fused together under heat and pressure,) make them popular choices for busy homeowners. Unlike granite, they can be

cleaned with over-the-counter products, and do not require annual sealing.

Metal finishes are also seeing new trends.

While brushed nickel and stainless steel finishes remain the most popular, Hickman said polished metals including chrome and gold are experiencing a slight resurgence.

“Gold is starting to make a comeback in small amounts,” he said. “This gold is not the 1990s polished brass we saw before, but a livable gold that patinates over time.”

A lot of the time, homeowners are mixing finishes for a more eclectic approach, Kenney said.

“We’ve even used hardware with Swarovski crystals to highlight a specialty cabinet,” he said, “or space combined with the classic look of polished metal to create a classic look that will pass the test of time.”

Regardless of the choices made—finishes or otherwise—, the kitchen is not only changing from generation to generation but from family to family.

“At the end of the day,” Hickman said, “people simply want a kitchen that is functional and beautiful at the same time.”

Thomas Joseph 1508 W. 55th Street

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FURNITURE . ACCESSORIES . UPHOLSTERY . DRAPERY 46 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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SPORTS

KEEPING IT ALL IN PERSPECTIVE Hinsdale Central senior Matt Rafferty is the starting quarterback on the varsity football team, and is preparing for his fourth year as a starter on the boys’ varsity basketball team. But after spending some time with the 6’8” Division I basketball prospect, Hinsdale Magazine learned that it’s Rafferty’s quiet confidence and dedicated work ethic that really helps him stand apart.

BY MIKE ELLIS

E

xceptional athletes have come and gone at Hinsdale Central, but not many can say they played four years of varsity basketball and earned the starting quarterback job on the football team during their senior season.

Towering at 6’8” above the ground, senior Matt Rafferty has grown both physically and mentally over his four years at Hinsdale Central.

Growing up in Darien, Rafferty, who said he was always tall for his age, played basketball, football and baseball from about the time he was five years old. He said his two older brothers— one of whom starred for several years on Central’s varsity basketball team himself—helped round his skills into form at a young age.

“I give them a lot of credit—just pushing me,” Rafferty said. “I always tried playing with them to get better.”

Rafferty said he started playing organized sports within the Darien Youth Club (DYC) in about second Continued on page 50

48 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

Photo by Kyle Hampson

www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 49

SPORTS Continued from page 48

Rafferty credits his father, Brian, who coached him in [basketball, baseball and football] growing up, for pointing him in the right direction as an athlete.

grade. He credits his father, Brian, who coached him in all three sports growing up, for pointing him in the right direction as an athlete.

“I think that he was a great leader and mentor—always giving me to do better,” Rafferty said. “[He] showed me how to play with class, and how to win with style.”

Sticking with basketball, baseball and football until eighth grade, Rafferty began to hone in on basketball during middle school, when he starred at Westview Hills Middle School in Willowbrook, in addition to playing travel basketball. Playing with his eighthgrade team for two years, Rafferty helped lead Westview to the conference title in seventh grade and a runner-up finish in eighth grade.

Entering high school at Hinsdale Central, Rafferty began on the

sophomore basketball team, while starting at quarterback for the freshman football club. (By his freshman year, he had given up baseball.) After performing well during the Thanksgiving tournament, Rafferty said head coach Nick Latorre offered him a spot on the varsity team, and he “couldn’t deny the opportunity.”

“After his first couple of practices, it was obvious that he belonged on varsity,” Latorre said, adding that Rafferty’s “overall basketball IQ and his poise” made him stand out.

At first, Rafferty struggled slightly to adjust to playing with mainly juniors and seniors, who were “a lot stronger” and “a lot faster” than those he was accustomed to competing against. The “turning point,” he said, occurred on back-to-back nights in early 2012.

Playing in front of the home crowd at

Hinsdale, Rafferty connected on gamewinning baskets against Oak Park-River Forest and Metea Valley, lifting his team to victory as he elevated his personal confidence. “[Against] Oak Park, I hit the gamewinning layup, and then, [against] Metea Valley, I had two big free throws in overtime,” Rafferty said. “That was the turning point to get my confidence up.”

Latorre said that year, he remembers Rafferty making his presence felt against Glenbard West’s tall forwards.

“I remember his freshman year, him going up against big kids from Glenbard West,” he said. “I think he may have blocked four shots in a row. He was going up against kids four years older than him, and he was the best player on the court that night.”

After playing both basketball and

Continued on page 52

50 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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YIA YIA’S PANCAKE HOUSE AND RESTAURANT IN HINSDALE Theodore Maglaris has been in the food business since 1968, owning such restaurants as Prasino’s in La Grange. He brings all that experience to Yia Yia’s Pancake House and Restaurant in Hinsdale with the mission to provide healthy, quality food. At Yia Yia’s, you’ll find home cooked meals made with fresh ingredients. Many ingredients are preservative free, juices and coffee are organic, and the burgers, soups and salads are all made fresh in the kitchen. Serving dishes for breakfast and lunch, Yia Yia’s seeks to honor the grandmothers around the world who knew the importance of a good meal, regardless of what name you use for them.

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 51

SPORTS Continued from page 50

football as a sophomore, Rafferty took a year off of football to further develop his basketball game during his junior year.

He said despite his love for being on the gridiron, he doesn’t regret his decision.

“I think my basketball [game] improved significantly while I did that,” Rafferty said.

That winter, at the prestigious Proviso West Holiday Tournament, Rafferty showed signs of that improvement, dominating the interior with increased strength and an array of post-moves.

During his junior season, Rafferty averaged about 18 points and 12 rebounds per game, while leading the Red Devils to their second consecutive conference title and a regional championship.

“I think last year, you could just see his leadership blossomed,” Latorre said.

“It was really his team.”

At the same time, the versatile forward-center was beginning to attract attention from Division I schools.

Many high-school athletes on the cusp

of competing at a high level in college would simply commit to their specialty sport during their senior season, but Rafferty was determined to reprise his role of starting quarterback for the varsity football team.

“I wanted to come back, because I wanted to be a part of something bigger,” he said, “and I knew the guys were working hard in the offseason.”

Another enticing factor for Rafferty was the hiring of new head football coach Dan Hartman, who installed a fresh offense based on timing and precision.

For Rafferty, who looks up to Denver Broncos’ all-pro quarterback Peyton Manning, this type of offense was right up his alley. “[Coach Hartman] brought a lot of versatility in our offense—a lot of new formations,” Rafferty said. “I think he does a great job of getting me in a rhythm throughout the game.”

Later this month, Rafferty’s focus will shift back to basketball, as he embarks

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on his fourth and final season with the varsity squad. While some senior stars might envision setting school records and be distracted by taking the next step to the collegiate level, Rafferty said his individual goals are improving his leadership skills and helping his teammates get involved on offense.

When asked about where Rafferty ranks among the players he has coached, Latorre, who coached at Driscoll Catholic and Oswego East for about a decade before coming to Hinsdale Central five years ago, said he is a “once-in-a-career” kind of kid.

“Certainly, he is one of the best players I have ever coached—if not the best,” Latorre said.

Latorre said Rafferty’s intangibles and work ethic have made him a “complete player.”

“We have an efficiency chart that we track...and he’s off the charts in terms of his efficiency on the basketball court—and that’s because he does everything well,” he said.

In terms of colleges, Rafferty said he is looking at Brown, Dartmouth, Toledo and Valparaiso—all Ivy League or “mid-major” schools.

Latorre said major-conference Division I programs might consider him a “tweener”—that is, too small to play in the post, while not athletic enough to excel on the perimeter.

“The thing these guys are missing is his high basketball IQ,” Latorre said, adding that he believes Rafferty “could play at any level.”

Rafferty said he would like to make his decision by the end of the Hinsdale basketball season next spring.

Regardless of where he decides to go, the school he selects will not be admitting an athlete who considers himself the “big man on campus” when he arrives.

“I know when I get [to college], it’s going to be [different from] when I came here,” Rafferty said. “I’m going to have to work my way to the top again.”

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Community Scene

Rotary Run

CHARITY CLASSIC

BY MIKE ELLIS

H

undreds of local residents of all ages partook in the annual Rotary Run Charity Classic at The Community House on the morning of Sept. 21.

This annual event, organized by the Hinsdale-Clarendon Hills Rotary Club, benefits an assortment of local charities, including The Community House (TCH), the Hinsdale Humane Society (HHS), the District 181 Foundation, the Hinsdale Hospital Foundation and the Ray Graham Association. At the 2014 vintage, emcee Greg Donnelly announced that participants combined to raise almost $100,000.

“What I really like about the event is it’s really a community event, with all of the charities working together cooperatively,” HHS executive director Lori Halligan said.

As is customary, the Rotary Run offered participants a variety of race lengths—10K, 5K and 3K—, thereby opening up the event to both the hardiest distance runner and the grade-school novice. The morning also included a 5K walk, the “Mutt Strut” for pet owners and The Birches “Walk & Roll,” a 50-meter slow dash, incorporating wheelchair-bound participants.

“We try to make it a community event and get everyone involved,” Larson said.

In the always hotly-contested elementary school competition, Oak Elementary School took home the trophy with 34-percent student participation, followed by The Lane (second) and Prospect (third). Meanwhile, Hinsdale Middle School ousted Clarendon Hills Middle School for the “Mr. K” middle-school cup.

Event sponsors included The Birches Assisted Living, Adventist Hinsdale Hospital and Morgan Stanley.

TCH executive director Jeni Fabian said her organization was happy to host the Rotary Run, and help support the variety of charities benefiting from the proceeds raised.

“We’re delighted to serve as the location and host for the event,” Fabian said. “It’s fantastic to be in partnership with the Hinsdale Rotary, and to collaborate with so many local charities on a great community-building event.”

Jeff & Julie Akers with their children, Sydney, Kaylee and Maggie Danny Male win Hofmann ner, 3K run

Oak Elementary School Elementary-school winner

Participants at the Rotary Run Charity Classic

Deis with Greg & Anne Margaret d arlie, Jack an

n, Jane, Ch their childre

54 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

Hinsdale M Middle-s iddle School chool w inner Photos

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Community Scene

HINSDALE HUMANE SOCIETY

Mutts & Margaritas Over 100 area residents turned out for “Mutts & Margaritas,” the inaugural fundraising event held by the Hinsdale Humane Society (HHS) Ambassadors at CiNe restaurant in downtown Hinsdale on Sept. 24.

Attendees enjoyed an evening of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails as they conversed inside the restaurant and bid on an assortment of silent-auction items. Guest bartenders Amity Comiskey of Hinsdale and Kristi Gilbert of Clarendon Hills were joined by WMAQ-TV sports reporter

Back Row: Megan Mannor, Mistie Lucht, Christie Cuthbert, Jenifer Zeno, Michelle Beaulieu, Jill Tabachka, Megan Hickman and Jorie Parwani; Front Row: Allison Peters, Nicki Hutter, Kirsten Douglass, Katie Szafarczyk, Ali Rago and Dr. Jeanette Hoenig Photos by Marcello Rodarte

Rebecca Haarlow behind the counter.

HHS Ambassadors chair Mistie Lucht said the goal was to raise $10,000 for the humane society, plus community awareness for the ambassadors, through Mutts & Margaritas.

“I think it went great,” Lucht said.

“We had an amazing turnout; people were really excited to be here.”

Lucht said HHS board member Christie Cuthbert recently developed the concept of organizing a woman’s board, which evolved into HHS Ambassadors,

currently comprised of 22 local women.

“It’s a group of women that are charged with elevating the image of the humane society, throwing events and bringing in local donors and sponsors to raise money for an eventual expansion to the shelter,” she said.

Lucht said she and her fellow ambassadors are planning their calendar for next year, which is scheduled to include a “wine night” in January, as well as the “Black Cat Gala,” an adult costume ball for Halloween 2015.

Kirsten Douglass and Darlene Bingham

Guest bartenders Kristi Gilbert and Amity Comiskey

56 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

From left to right: Mistie Lucht, HHS executive director Lori Halligan, Christie Cuthbert and Robin Carroll

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 57

Community Scene Photos by Mke Ellis

HINSDALE CENTRAL

Homecoming Parade

H

undreds of community members gathered at the corner of First and Washington to watch the annual Hinsdale Central Homecoming Parade roll through downtown Hinsdale on the morning of Oct. 11.

The Classes of 1974 and 1964, celebrating their respective 40th and 50th anniversaries, joined today’s Hinsdale Central students in a parade that resounded in “red and white.”

The Hinsdale Central Marching Band performed spirited tunes, followed by the school’s cheerleading and poms squads. The parade also included the Latin club and the four class floats designed by students.

Lastly, the 2014 Homecoming Court rode through in an assortment of high-class automobiles.

This year’s king and queens were crowned at the dance later that evening, a tradition that began last year, with students voting for king and queen online before the dance. Students selected Grant Hutcherson as king, and for the first time in school history, Hinsdale Central had two queens, Toni Adeyemi and Emma Day, who received an identical number of votes.

Nathan & Mistie Lucht with children, Adeline, Lillian and Eleanor, and Lucy Arnold

Hinsdale Central marching band

Hinsdale Central poms

Gabrielle Rush and Grant Hutcherson

58 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 59

SALT CREEK BALLET KICKS OFF 30TH ANNIVERSARY WITH SPECIAL PRODUCTION OF

‘THE NUTCRACKER’

T

he highly-acclaimed Salt Creek Ballet is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special new production of the lovable holiday classic, The Nutcracker. This year, the production will feature all new sets, costumes, a 42-piece ensemble and internationally-recognized guest dancers Ilya Kozadayev and Yumelia Garcia.

The Nutcracker will return to the Hinsdale Central auditorium on Saturday, Nov. 29 at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 30 at 1 p.m. for a special benefit performance and “Sugar Plum party.”

An enchanting holiday tradition, this year’s production of The Nutcracker will feature a cast of 100 dancers, including local children and young adults ages 8 to 17 from the school of the Salt Creek Ballet, as well as the Salt Creek Ballet Orchestra.

Tickets for the Saturday 1 p.m. performance are $20 to $34 for adults, $20 to $29 for seniors (65 and older), and $20 to $29 for children (12 and under). A limited number of second balcony tickets are available for $15. Sunday’s performance also includes special admission to the “Sugar Plum party,” where audience members can meet characters from The Nutcracker, step onto the stage, and enjoy refreshments in an enchanted “winter wonderland.”

Tickets for the Sugar Plum party benefit performance on Sunday, Nov. 30 are $25 to $40 for

60 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

Photo courtesy of Salt Creek Ballet

adults, and $25 to $34 for seniors and children. A limited number of second balcony tickets are available for $20.

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by phone at (800)-514-ETIX (ext. 3849). Hinsdale Central High School is located at the corner of 55th and Grant Streets in Hinsdale.

Salt Creek Ballet is a not-for-profit Illinois corporation supported in part by the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation. For more information, visit www.saltcreekballet.org.

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id you know that seven people hold the “keys” to the Internet?—It’s true! This group of people who secretly meet in different parts of the world hold key cards to “reboot” the Internet in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Five of the seven are needed to group together and reboot the DNSSEC Internet Security system that is controlled by the Internet Errol Janusz Corporation for Assigned Names and Contributing Writer Numbers (ICANN). Once rebooted, the Internet can return back to a previous running state before the disaster.

ICANN is the worldwide company that controls all World Wide Web domain names. It controls what name points to each Web site. An ongoing issue since the company’s inception has been, who gets what name, and why? In many cases, it has been a first-come, first-serve type of domain name acquisition.

You could imagine that everyone in the world with the last name Smith would want to own “www.smith.com.” ICANN, on a daily basis, must deal with domain disputes on who gets what name and why. Usually, a business with the name “Smith” can prevail over an individual with the name “Smith,” because the business has a financial interest at stake. The business would need to prove its name is really “Smith,” and that it intends to use the name for business intentions—not to simply resell the name.

What if your name was stolen by “domain squatters,” or a business that is incorrectly using your name? If your name was stolen by a squatter, they usually want a hefty sum of money from you to buy it back. In almost all cases, you can speak with your lawyer and gain access to the name after they receive an infringement letter. The squatters would simply move on to the next name. If they don’t move on, they know you may be able to afford the ransom; in this case you would have to file a dispute with ICANN. If you are already in business and want to use your existing business name as your domain name, then you may have the upper hand in a dispute with someone who’s already using the name online. Under trademark law, the first person to use a trademark in commerce is considered the owner. If you were already marketing and producing your product before the other business, you would have a good chance from stopping the other party from using that name.

Again, this would be a dispute filed with ICANN. Your options of filing a hefty and expensive suit for you name with ICANN or a law office may or may not be worth the trouble. If you believe that your name should belong to you, because you offer a more precise product to that name, you may stand a good chance of owning what is rightfully yours. On the other hand, it just may be easier to try to find five of those seven people to reboot the Internet and grab your name from them!

Errol Janusz is President and Lead Technician at Edward Technology. For more information, contact Errol at (630) 333-9323, ext. 303, or email him at ejanusz@Hinsdale60521. com. Visit Errol’s website at www.edwardtechnology.com.

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Peak Performance

Jim Fannin

Upgrade your relationship in 90 seconds

Contributing Writer

B

y reading this, I know you are probably in a relationship.

More than likely, you would like to take your relationship to the next level. Even if you’re not in a relationship, there are techniques that will help you find what you want.

Recently, I was asked, “How do you get someone to like you?”

The short answer is to act like they already do.

Of course, it’s a little more complicated than that. But the short answer is a great place to begin.

All of your thoughts portray images or pictures. Many of these thoughts are in “mini-movies,” complete with visuals, sounds, smells, tastes and feels. Most people think and consequently see what they don’t want in their lives as opposed to what they do want.

How do you re-ignite your relationship? How do you become closer as a couple? How do you improve the foundation for a longterm, 1+1 = 3 partnership? There are many factors to consider, and many ways to accomplish this.

Shared vision brought you together.

Shared vision will keep you together.

If your relationship, for example, is not clicking on all cylinders or it’s non-existent, it’s easy to envision or play the mental minimovie of what you don’t want. One of you in the relationship must flip the script on the quality of the individual and the collective thoughts of the partnership. Research has proven that your thoughts are transmitted through intuition. These vibes are real; send out only what you want.

Remember: your relationship is only as good as what your partner thinks when you’re not there. You need to ignite the process by changing your thoughts.

Think about what you think about.

Here are some 90-second rule™ tips for upgrading your relationship.

At least twice daily, carve out 90 seconds to envision the love of your life. Remember when you were dating? Your mind was possessed with the images, smells and sounds of the other person in your life. Let’s rekindle some of these images on a regular basis.

Break away from the daily grind of what you do. Give focused energy in seeing and feeling happiness, laughter, confidence,

64 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

tranquility and passion radiating from your partner. At least twice daily while apart and within 90 seconds or less, do the following: • Mentally picture him or her happy.

• See them being successful.

• See them in a fun and exciting manner.

• See them overcoming their challenges in completed state.

• See their loving, smiling face.

• See and feel their warm embrace.

• See your relationship strong, vibrant and loving.

• Visualize as if it’s so.

• See him or her as they will be.

This positive imagery will eventually spill over into the time you spend together. Your “significant other” will pick up your positive vibe. He or she will be able to tell that there is a meaningful difference in the air. Keep the positivity flowing on a regular basis, and results will arrive (if it’s not too late).

Avoid thinking or speaking words to describe your situation.

Only think or speak words to change it.

Know that couples can be in the “zone.” The two of you can live, work and play in a “purposeful calm” feeling where nothing seems to go wrong. In this collective mindset, you meet life’s challenges head-on and together. You overcome all obstacles as one. You share all of your life experiences. You share a common, future vision of how life will be. More importantly, you enjoy life’s journey as best friends, confidants and intimate partners.

Act like your relationship is awesome. See only what you want; know that a couple in the “zone” is more together than apart.

Go for your best relationship possible. It’s time to upgrade.

Jim Fannin is a Burr Ridge resident, thought leader, professional speaker, life coach and strategist, executive coach, sports coach and business consultant. Throughout his 40-year professional career, Jim has coached numerous athletes from the MLB, NFL, NBA, MLS and NHL, as well as over 10,000 executives from hundreds of Fortune 500 companies.

www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 65

Spiritual Insight

Dan Meyer

Contributing Writer

Thanks Giving

Thanks through clenched teeth

Each November, we are invited again to reclaim for ourselves a spirit of Thanksgiving. For some of us, it can be hard to get there.

We want to feel grateful, we’re trying to be grateful, but there are so many things in our lives or that of our world that just seem so gray or grave. From ISIS and the stock market, to politics and our personal struggles, it can be hard to give thanks. Maybe that’s why it is especially important these days to remember how the first Thanksgiving began.

The 110 pilgrims who first crossed the Atlantic Ocean to this land were fleeing withering persecution for their beliefs. That first winter, they saw half of their loved ones die of cold, disease and malnutrition. Those who survived the winter immediately set about trying to construct better shelter and to cultivate the land, but the struggle to scratch out an existence was so hard that some of them actually boarded ship, preferring to return to persecution and imprisonment in England than to suffer through another season here. Had it not been for the sight of another ship making its way into the harbor with medical supplies and food, the colony would have dissolved, and the whole American experiment could have stopped right then and there.

But faith, hope and love somehow persevered. The colonists were aware that at least they still had breath and bodies. They still had evidence of God’s common grace in the form of a bit of food, a few native friends and the possibilities of tomorrow. They still had the promise of God’s saving grace, protecting those they had lost, and assuring them should they not live through another year. And so, as the second winter crept in, their governor, William Bradford, proclaimed that on Nov. 29, 1621, the colonists should cease their striving and gather as a community.

Even though they did not know how long their hard times might continue, they should give thanks to God for all of their present blessings.

The Seven Wonders

I wonder sometimes whether we’ve lost the capacity for this kind of clarity. A teacher recently asked her students to list what they thought were the Seven Wonders of the World. The items that got the most votes were: 1. Egypt’s Great Pyramids; 2. the Taj Mahal; 3. the Grand Canyon; 4. the Panama Canal; 5. the Empire State Building; 6. St. Peter’s Basilica; and 7. the Great Wall of China. While gathering the votes, the teacher saw that one student had not turned in her paper yet. “Are you having trouble with your list?” she asked. “Yes, a little,” the girl replied.

“There are so many, I couldn’t quite make up my mind.” “Well,” 66 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com

the teacher said, “tell us what you have; maybe we can help.” The girl hesitated, then read, “I think the Seven Wonders are: 1. to see; 2. to hear; 3. to touch; 4. to taste; 5. to feel; 6. to laugh; 7. to love.”

Most of us have been raised with such phenomenal freedoms, such lavish sanctuaries and houses, so many channels and choices, such a staggering array of possessions and privileges—far beyond what any generation across history or alive today has enjoyed.

It’s easy to lose our perspective. It’s easy to become discontented, critical, full of complaint, focused only on the bad news and the broken things and the inconveniences of our lives. But if we were not drunk on so much blessing, we would awake each day marveling with the wonder of little girls and sturdy pilgrims at the amazing grace we have been given.

Maybe that’s why God lets a certain amount of change, trial and adversity come into our lives. It wakes us up and grows us up. In his book, The Bible and the New York Times, Fleming Rutledge writes, “The life of thankfulness—biblically speaking—is lived in view of the hard things of existence. As the life of thanksgiving deepens, we discover that the more mature prayers of thanksgiving are not those offered for the obvious blessings, but those spoken in gratitude for obstacles overcome, for insights gained, for lessons learned, for increased humility, for help received in time of need, for strength to persevere, for opportunities to serve others.”

Counting our blessings

Perhaps it’s time again to recover this vision for ourselves. As you gather around the Thanksgiving table this month, what’s one gripe you might give up in view of something for which you are grateful? Together, let’s...

Count our blessings instead of our crosses; Count our gains instead of our losses.

Count our joys instead of our woes; Count our friends instead of our foes.

Count our smiles instead of our tears; Count our courage instead of our fears.

Count our full years instead of our lean; Count our kind deeds instead of our mean.

Count our health instead of our wealth; Count on God instead of ourself.

And thus may the grace of God Almighty fill all of us—even amidst difficult times—with a greater measure of gratitude, peace and joy.

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