DR. DON WHITE
District 181’s new superintendent
+
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS ANNA FIASCONE
2014-2015 HJWC president talks new club year, beneficiary
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Publisher Letter
Heading back to school As kids from throughout the greater Hinsdale community are back in school this month, we take a look inside District 181. Print managing editor Mike Ellis spoke with new District 181 superintendent Dr. Don White, as well as several other administrators in the department of learning. Dr. White, who spent the past few years as superintendent of a southwest suburban school district, is entering 181 during a transitional year that includes the implementation of a new standardized assessment and the second year of the “Learning For All” plan. In our cover story (p.10), you’ll learn why Dr. White is so excited about getting started. With teenagers creating mobile applications and Chicago-area schools integrating app design in their classrooms, entrepreneurship is on the rise. In the classroom or in the office, five college students from Hinsdale and Oak Brook have taken up the challenge of running their own companies. In this issue (p. 18), you’ll be introduced to local entrepreneurs Pat Foley, Jeremy Cai, Derek Tu, Peter Bernardi and Kaeya Majmundar. Fresh off a record-breaking club year, the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club is kicking off a new year this fall. Hinsdale Magazine recently met with 2014-15 HJWC president Anna Fiascone (p. 34) to discuss the upcoming year, as well as the club’s
new beneficiary, Bridge Communities. The HJWC annual benefit will be held on Feb. 7, 2015 at a location to be announced. I hope to see you there. While some local parents sent their kids off to school for the first time at the end of last month, many Hinsdale area residents are the parents of
DR. DON WHITE
District 181’s new superintendent
+
LOCAL ENTREPRENEURS ANNE FIASCONE
2014-2015 HJWC president talks new club year, beneficiary
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 1
college graduates, and are looking to downsize. In this issue (p. 26), you’ll learn how an increased number of townhomes and condominiums in the Western Suburbs are making downsizing locally a more appealing option for empty nesters. In July, Burr Ridge hosted the inaugural Run for Veterans 5K around its downtown (p. 30). Jim Peterik of the Ides of March, a Burr
Ridge resident, was in attendance at this first-year event, which will benefit Volunteers of America Illinois, an organization that provides housing, counseling and job services to homeless veterans suffering from mental illness. In Sports (p. 40), ten-year-old Jackson Haag of Hinsdale recently competed in a tournament in Canada as a member of the Chicago Blackhawks junior team. Hinsdale Magazine’s Tanner Makris explains how in five years on the ice, Haag has blossomed into an exceptional hockey player with a lot of potential. We also continue our look at the many neighborhoods that make up the greater Hinsdale area this September, exploring southeast Hinsdale and Brook Forest in Oak Brook. Although these two neighborhoods are different in many ways, they both feature outstanding elementary schools consistently ranked among the top ones in the state. Last but not least, Hinsdale Magazine is proud to annouce that your only locally-based magazine will serve as the official media sponsor for the annual Community House Holiday Ball this December. As always, please continue to share your comments with us at news@ hinsdale60521.com. Your voice is heard by our staff, and we look forward to the dialogue.
Sincerely, *Cover photo by Marcello Rodarte
6 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Scott Jonlich, Founder & Publisher Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. sjonlich@hinsdale60521.com
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SEPT. 2014
10
Founder & Publisher
CONTENTS 10 Cover Story
Scott Jonlich
District 181’s new superintendent
Print Managing Editor
18 Inside 60521
Mike Ellis
Local residents dive into entrepreneurial waters
18
Photographer
Marcello Rodarte
26 Hinsdale HOME
Real estate solutions for empty nesters
Creative Director
30 Community Scene
Cheryl Chrzanowski
Run for Veterans
Graphic Artist Julia Sinogeikina
34 Hinsdale WOMAN
HJWC president Anna Fiascone
Columnists
William Egbert Jr. Jim Fannin Errol Janusz Dan Meyer
34
30
38 Spotlight
Growing a healthy community environment
40 Sports
Contributing Writers
Gymnastics in Action at Hinsdale South Hinsdale 10-year-old stars on the ice Community House basketball camps
Paul Kelma Tanner Makris Jill Russell Qualizza Theresa Steinmeyer
48 Neighborhoods
Feature Photographer
54
William Egbert Jr.
Advertising Sales Sarah Chase Karen Hood Renee Lawrence
Southeast Hinsdale and Brook Forest
54 The Great Outdoors
“Expedition-inspired, backyard-fired” by William Egbert Jr.
56 Spiritual Insight
“These things now” by Dan Meyer
58 Peak Performance
“12 ways to eliminate your problems” by Jim Fannin
44
Hinsdale H60521.com
M
A
G
A
Z
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38 Blaine Street | Downtown Hinsdale, IL 60521 phone: 630-655-3400 I fax: 630-622-1300 e-mail: news@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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Cover Story
Ready FOR A CHALLENGE As Illinois public schools prepare to implement a new assessment, superintendent Dr. Don White takes the reins at District 181.
D
BY MIKE ELLIS
istrict 181 is welcoming a new superintendent to its Burr Ridge office as Illinois public schools continue the transition to the Common Core in the 2014-15 schoolyear. Dr. Don White was introduced to the District 181 community at a Board of Education meeting this past May, and began his
role as superintendent at the end of the same month. Dr. White assumed the position vacated by Dr. Renée Schuster, who announced her resignation on Feb. 10 after four years as superintendent. Dr. Schuster is now an assistant professor of education at Maryville University in St. Louis. Dr. White brings over two decades of experience in education, which includes 13 years of superintending experience at three schools in central Illinois and the Southwest Suburbs. He said he was initially drawn to the field of education at a young age, after the birth of his nephew. “My sister ended up in a situation with a child at a young age, and so my parents were raising my nephew,” Dr. White said. “I knew right away, when I saw that ‘miracle’ of a baby, for some reason, it started clicking with me—working with kids. “I knew at a young age—probably middle school—that I wanted to be in education.” Dr. White studied elementary education at Western Illinois University, but initially followed his identical twin brother, a business major, into work at Walgreens. He stayed with the company for a couple of years, but said he “didn’t enjoy it.” “They were starting to move me up the chain in management, and I told them, ‘You’re investing in District 181 Superintendent, Dr. Don White me, and I’m not invested in you,’” Dr. White said. Drifting away from
10 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
corporate America, Dr. White began his educational career as a fourth-grade teacher at Lincoln Trail Elementary School in Mahomet, Ill., northwest of Champaign. As he obtained a Master’s in education at the University of Illinois and a doctorate from Illinois State University with a superintendent’s endorsement, Dr. White worked his way up the positional ladder, serving as an assistant principal, principal and deputy superintendent, before becoming superintendent of District 8 in Pleasant Plains, Ill., near Springfield. From here, he went on to serve as superintendent of Pekin Public Schools District 108, and Troy Community Consolidated School District 30-C in southwest suburban Plainfield. Dr. White spent the past seven years at District 30-C, where he spearheaded the transition from the current Illinois state standards to the Common Core at a time he said most schools were not prepared to abandon using the ISAT metric. Earlier this year, when he received a call from BWP & Associates, the search firm contracted by the District 181 board, Dr. White said he wasn’t looking to leave his post in Plainfield. “I wasn’t looking for a job,” he said. “I actually got a call from the search firm, and they said, ‘You might want to look at this job;’ and I said, ‘No, thank you.’” But Dr. White said the search firm was persistent, and after he engaged in the conversation, he began to realize that a high-achieving district like 181 was an ideal fit for him. “I’ve always aspired to be in a very high-achieving district,” he said. “I love the challenge of doing what’s well even better... It was really just that personal connection once I did get engaged. “I can’t say that [my reason for accepting the job] was anything other than that relationship-building that occurred over a short period of time.” Dr. White emerged from a field of 43 candidates, which was subsequently Continued on page 12
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which formerly had two assistant superintendents, was consolidated under the head of Dr. Kurt Schneider. Under Dr. Schneider are directors of learning Dawn Benaitis (a former Monroe School principal who is beginning her second year in this department) and Sean Walsh, who spent the past eight years at Oak School, as well as new director of technology Eric Danley. Dr. White said he believes Walsh’s experience at Oak will be “critical” to the department of learning this year. “Having him on the team is a huge asset for us,” he said. “What Sean brings to the table is not only the background in curriculum...but he brings voice to the table that we really need to have an understanding of. Theory is one thing, but implementation is a different thing.” Dr. White with assistant superintendent of learning Dr. Kurt Schnei To fill Eccarius’ der (center) and directors of learning Dawn Benaitis and Sean Walsh human resources vacancy, the board approved John Munch, a colleague of Organizational shifts When Dr. White took over as District Dr. White’s at District 30-C, who went 181 superintendent this past spring, he through the hiring process. Then, with did not exactly slide into a commodious the second assistant superintendent of chair. Not only is the district in the learning position removed, Dr. White process of transitioning to the Common created a new position, an assistant Core, but it is also preparing to embark superintendent of information services on the second year of the “Learning For and operations, selecting another former All” plan—without two administrators colleague, Ken Surma, to occupy it. that played crucial roles in formulating “I’ve never done this in my career, the plan, Dr. Kevin Russell and Christine where I tapped somebody on the shoulder Igoe. In addition to the departures of and [said], ‘This is the job I know you Igoe and Dr. Russell, the district also lost can be successful at, and you can serve superintendent of human resources Doug the kids and the organization well,’” Dr. Eccarius to Indian Prairie School District White said of selecting Surma. 204. “[These administrators] were doing SALC great work, and I completely respect In addition to changes at the what they did to leave the district,” Dr. administrative level, parents will be White said. “Both of them gained growth receiving a greater voice in instruction with in their careers, and it makes complete the formation of the Superintendent’s sense what they were attempting to do.— Advisory Learning Committee (SALC). But certainly, when you have that kind Dr. White said SALC is designed to of turnover, it’s a difficult thing for a bring more voices to the table regarding district.” the classroom learning experience. Ultimately, Dr. White decided to “Moving forward, I envision this restructure the district office—something being not only a sounding board for us, he said he initially did not intend but advocates for us—people that can to do. The department of learning, push back for us,” he said. “We have a narrowed to six semifinalists and three finalists. At the special board meeting in May, board president Marty Turek said his work in aligning curriculum with Common Core standards early on helped Dr. White stand out. “The final candidates were all superstars, but it was clear that [Dr. White] was our choice,” Turek said. “He’s really got operational excellence, and we’ve seen that already.”
facilities committee, we have a finance committee; but we don’t have a group that’s really invested in the whole learning and teaching aspect.” This committee, scheduled to meet on a monthly basis, is comprised of Dr. White, Dr. Schneider, a couple of board members, an elementary-school principal, a middle-school principal, nine teachers and nine district parents, with each of the nine District 181 schools represented. Twenty-nine individuals applied for SALC—26 district parents and three community members. Four males applied, but none were selected. Five of the nine individuals selected have backgrounds in either psychology or law; and only one of seven applicants with some background in education was selected (Victoria Blay, a school psychologist). “The selection process, frankly, was bumpy at the beginning,” Dr. White said. Several of the committee members selected have been critical of the Learning For All plan in the past, which Dr. White believes will add value to the discussion. “It’s going to be huge to have [dissenters] at the table,” Dr. White said. “I’m not suggesting that the people we have at the table are naysayers in any regard, but some of them certainly have an alternate view, and I want to hear those views; I really want to wrestle with the issues. “Let’s put the ‘tall-people’ issues aside, though; let’s treat each other with dignity and respect in our journey.” Implementing the Common Core Adopted by 43 out of 50 states, the Common Core has generated considerable discussion over the past few years. This year, it is supposed to supplant the Illinois state standards, as the ISAT is replaced with the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) assessment statewide. According to administrators, whereas the former Illinois state standards covered an extensive array of topics and materials, the Common Core strives to go deeper. While a less extensive breadth of material may be taught, more focus will be placed on developing students’ reasoning and understanding skills. For example, in math, instead of summarily introducing a formula and asking students to utilize it for specific problems, administrators said they want students to seek out why that particular formula works, and how they might be able to apply it outside of the Continued on page 14
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Continued from page 12
classroom. “Math hasn’t changed,” director of learning Sean Walsh said. “Two plus two is still four, but the way that we want students to understand it at a deeper level requires a shift in our instruction.” Administrators said the main goal of these instructional shifts is to help make students more college- and career-ready, by equipping them with skills that will be useful in any profession. “I think the most important thing with the Common Core is the real-life application,” director of learning Dawn Benaitis said. “We want to make sure everything we’re doing is meaningful for our students... There needs to be the ‘why’—why are we doing it. “We want students to be able to be active parts in their learning, and that they know why they’re learning something, and how they’re going to be able to apply that in everyday life.” Although 2014-15 is the official year of implementation in terms of standardized testing, the Common Core is not new to either District 181 or its new superintendent. While Dr. White
made the decision to shift standards at District 30-C, District 181 developed its own plan to transition to the Common Core in a gradual manner. In language arts, the district is already aligned with the Common Core, and students will continue using the same textbooks and curriculum that were employed last year. In other subjects, administrators said more still needs to be done to complete the transition. Walsh said two pairs of math textbooks are being piloted at the elementary and middle schools this year. The elementary schools will pilot Math in Focus® and Investigations, while the middle schools will try out Agile Mind and Big Ideas. Walsh said the district would like to make a decision on textbooks by about the middle of the school-year for the purposes of professional development and ordering the requisite materials for next year. Benaitis said new world languages textbooks will be used this year (fifth through eighth grades), and the district is working on new standards for physical education. Administrators said science and social
studies appear to be somewhat further from being fully aligned. The science curriculum renewal process is starting this year, while the social studies curriculum renewal process will begin next year, in 2015-16. Learning For All In addition to the Common Core, much discussion among District 181 parents and staff members has occurred around its Learning For All plan, first implemented last year. During the 2012-13 school-year, a group of district administrators, classroom teachers and staff members known as the Advanced Learning Task Force developed a detailed, long-range plan to modify some aspects of classroom instruction, in conjunction with the transition to the Common Core. This plan, originally billed and approved by the board as the “Advanced Learning” plan in early 2013, has come to be called the “Learning For All” plan. Administrators are quick to point out that the Common Core and Learning For All are not identical terms. The Common Continued on page 16
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 15
Continued from page 14
Core is a set of curricular standards that outline what a student should know and be able to do at the end of each gradelevel; Learning For All is the district’s specific plan for utilizing best teaching practices to incorporate those standards into its curriculum. Assistant superintendent of learning Dr. Kurt Schneider defined Learning For All as “a collection of what we know is best in how kids learn.” Dr. White said the idea of applying best practices to teaching is something with which many school districts—not just 181—around the state are currently wrestling. “As I started doing research, I was struck by the label of ‘Learning For All’ plan,” he said. “It’s best practices; it’s standards, assessments and instruction;— that’s all it is. It’s focused on the core aspects of what teaching and learning is all about.” Benaitis said the belief that all students have something to contribute is one of the plan’s central tenets. “I think the core belief that all students can learn at high levels is the foundation of the start of this whole plan,” she said. “As teachers, as practitioners, it’s really important that we work to meet the needs of those learners. “Previously, the teacher would just teach and hope to get to 80 percent of the students. It’s now important that
that teacher really has an understanding of every student, because everyone has something to contribute.” One element of the Learning For All plan is “flexible grouping,” or differentiating instruction within the classroom by varying groups of students to work collaboratively, as opposed to merely grouping students based on the single factor of ability or proficiency. Dr. Schneider said one misconception of this plan is that it’s all about the location of where students learn. “I think that sometimes people think the Learning for All plan is about a location,” he said. “It’s not about a location; it’s about what it means to deliver high-quality instruction to the kids. “What we know is that as we’ve developed the capacity of the teacher to reach a wide range of learners, that everyone can achieve at a high level.— And it doesn’t matter if you’re working in room 22 or room 42.” In order for the Learning For All plan to be successful, the classroom teachers must be able to deliver instruction adequately. It’s this component of building teacher capacity, and not the curriculum shift the Common Core calls for, that Dr. White said will be most difficult for teachers. “It’s more than Common Core; it has to do with instructional practices
Superintendent’s Advisory Learning Committee Member Name
School(s) represented
Background
Victoria Blay
CHMS/Prospect
School psychologist, counselor
Leslie Gray
Monroe
Law
Nancy Hamp
HMS
Psychologist
Cara Hurley
The Lane
Clinical psychologist
Tracy Korbus
Walker
Sales process manager
Susan Owens
HMS/Oak
Law
Elizabeth Speziale
CHMS/Monroe
Human resources
Mary Walsh
Elm
Communication/marketing
Suzanne Wychocki
HMS/Madison
Business
Source: www.hold181accountable.com These nine district moms will serve on the Superintendent’s Advisory Learning Committee this year. All nine schools are represented in some capacity.
inside the classroom,” he said. “That’s the key. Any standard will work; we’ve been doing standards in education long enough these days; you just tell me the standard, and these gifted teachers will make this work—any standard. “It’s the instructional practices that have shifted.” Last year, Benaitis said grade-level teams met on a regular basis, but in a manner that was not disruptive to instruction. At these meetings, teachers discuss practices and experiences that help to standardize instruction and best practices across grade levels. Dr. Schneider said continuing to systematize the instruction throughout the district is an area in which the plan can still improve. This, he said, can be accomplished through the further development of the district and individual building leadership teams that the Learning For All plan calls for. Evaluating Year No. 1 Administrators said they believe the first year of the Learning For All plan was a success, but it must continue to improve in the years to come; and there is some data to corroborate that conclusion. In the 2012-13 school-year, many parents criticized the district when third-graders achieved the lowest fall to spring growth on the MAP® (Measures of Academic Progress) assessment in math in the sevenyear history of 181 students taking this test. Only 47.2 percent of students met or exceeded their growth targets districtwide. But after returning to the Everyday Math curriculum in the first year of the Learning For All plan, 73.6 percent of third-grade students met or exceeded their fall to spring growth targets on the same assessment. In addition, 59.4 percent of fourth-graders (i.e., the previous year’s third-grade class) met or exceeded their growth targets in 2013-14. “I think when you look at the areas that have been touched, that’s actually where the most positive outcomes have [happened],” Dr. Schneider said. This past spring, 703 district parents responded to a survey, and one of the questions asked was whether their child’s needs were “appropriately met” in each subject. In each of the four core subjects (i.e., math, language arts, science and social studies), at least 76 percent of parents “strongly agreed” or “agreed” that their child’s needs were adequately met. Upon his review of the first year, Dr. Continued on page 52
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Inside 60521
College students dive into entrepreneurial waters BY MEDHA IMAM
reviously pegged shoots videos ranging from country to hip- priority, and this was only my plan B,” he as the “flyover hop to heavy metal, while also producing said. “The more they’ve seen this progress, city” by venture beats and creative design. Shooting his and that there’s a clear industry for this capital funds, first videos for free, he made a name for stuff, they’ve actually started to take Chicago has himself on YouTube, and began receiving it seriously. And at one point, we were transformed itself more inquiries from Chicago and cities considering what was more important, into a growing entrepreneurial such as New York City and Miami as well. this or college?” In response to ecosystem with skepticism from friends, successful startPhoto by Medha Imam Foley initially agreed ups such as Groupon and with them. Though, tech incubators like 1871. after seeing his business Closer to home, young expand exponentially residents of Hinsdale and each year, he began Oak Brook have been taking his company tapping into the pool seriously as well. of talent, mentors and “It’s definitely what I additional resources of may do for the rest of my Chicago and coastal cities life,” Foley said. “As long to develop their very own as there is hip-hop, the companies. Whether they built business will succeed. As a company that produces long as music is thriving, videos and beats, creates the business will be environmentally friendly fine.” Patrick Foley edits videos and beats for With each payment he products, or provides Hued Productions in a home office. receives, Foley puts it all inventions that solve back into the business. everyday problems, these At this age, he says he entrepreneurs found their After working with a Chicago rapper can afford to buy new equipment instead passions, and are determined to remain named Brooski, the manager of Matti of worrying about things like rent. Foley on the risky course of entrepreneurship. Baybee was on the search for a young and advises aspiring videographers not to lights, camera, action! talented director. He called Foley and worry about money at first. “Literally at the end of the day, get a What started solely as a hobby became a landed him his first music video on MTV, portfolio down because that’s ultimately money-making production company, and which was released on July 30. “Since, then he’s hooked me up with what companies want to see,” Foley said. in turn, a viable career path for recent more jobs in Atlanta,” Foley said. “And “Once you get a portfolio, you can back Hinsdale Central graduate Patrick Foley. up your statement with your work.—And A big fan of hip-hop and rap, Foley it’s all kind of falling into place now.” In the fall, he will be moving to get business cards; just hand them out started out viewing music videos directed Atlanta, or as he calls it, “the hip-hop one by one.” by Director X, known for working with With an ambitious agenda in mind, mega,” to pursue a visual effects major music stars such as Alicia Keys, Usher and Foley said he hopes his business will and entrepreneurship minor at Savannah Drake. After taking digital imaging classes at Hinsdale Central, Foley picked up a College of Art and Design in order to help succeed in Atlanta, which he thinks is DSLR camera and began experimenting his business grow. Despite a few initial becoming the next Hollywood for music with photography. Soon after, he steered doubts, Foley said his parents and friends videos. “One goal is to become a really wellhis interests towards video editing, have been supportive throughout the known video director of a company who whole journey. founding his own video production “At the beginning, my parents would people know off the top of their head,” he company during his sophomore year. always tell me that school is my No. 1 said. “Another goal was for a video to be As CEO of Hued Productions, Foley 18 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Continued on page 20
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from the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Brown completed residency training at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Brown also previously served as the CoDirector of the Dermatologic Surgery Program at RUSH. STAMATIS (TOM) DIMITROPOULOS, MD is a triple board-certified cardiovascular specialist who has been practicing as a physician for eight years. Dr. Tom Dimitropoulos completed his medical training, internal medicine residency and cardiovascular disease fellowship at RUSH University Medical Center in Chicago, and a fellowship in Interventional Cardiology in Royal Oak, MI. Dr. Tom Dimitropoulos specializes in advanced techniques for treating varicose and leg veins, including endovenous ablation and sclerotherapy. These treatments are performed in the office without sedation, require no down-time and most are covered by insurance. Dr. Dimitropoulos is enrolled and participating in all major insurances and Medicare JOSHUA O. PODJASEK, MD is double board certified in dermatology as well as dermatopathology. Dr. Podjasek is a graduate of RUSH Medical College and he completed his dermatology training at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota where he also completed a dermatopathology fellowship and served as a Clinical Instructor. Dr. Podjasek brings the innovation and knowledge of the Mayo Clinic to University Dermatology.
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Continued from page 18
on MTV, and a real long-term goal is to win a “Moonman,” which is an Oscar for music videos. Eventually, I also want to be able to own my own studio one day.” His ultimate goal, though: “to shoot videos with Drake.”
and Bernardi found a faster and more inexpensive way to turn one’s trash into an environmental treasure. An ecoconscious product, Sprout converts waste into rich dirt through fermentation, decreasing greenhouse gas production in the process. Due to its size and design, Sprout can also be used conjointly as a flower or plant pot, using the naturally produced dirt as fertilizer. “ W e ’ r e branding ourselves as one of the best green products you can buy,” Cai said. After conducting a successful campaign on global fundraising Web site Indiegogo, the Sprout co-founders began to expand their business, hiring a recent Hinsdale Central graduate, Derek Tu, as a new member of their team. Tu, the head of operations at Sprout, works
at the warehouse, manually assembling the Sprout shipments and managing the delivery orders. “They did a really good job of selling the vision of Sprout to me, and I really bought into it” Tu said. rooted in community B e s i d e s acquiring a new With a lawnmower, a weedwacker and team player, a wagon full of materials in tow, Peter Sprout is Bernardi took the matter of finding work p a r t n e r i n g one summer into his own hands. After his up with dad advised him to get a job, he began companies running his own lawn-mowing business at that share the age of 11. Since then, Bernardi has their vision upheld a sense of entrepreneurial spirit, of green creating a start-up company called Sprout, living such along with co-founder Jeremy Cai. as Trees for Sprout, a modern compost bin, the Future, started in January 2013, when Cai a Marylandand Bernardi collaborated on trying to based non-profit improve the environment in Hinsdale. organization. Sprout “We really brainstormed a lot of also envisions creating a ways to help the community,” Cai said. line of products for Sprout in “We noticed that there was a trend hopes of crafting a “whole dream band.” in sustainability. We actually thought “Sprout for me started as a means of composting was a method to solving that. testing the entrepreneurial waters.” Cai “So, we contracted out the industrial said. “We never thought it would become design work and essentially put together a full-fledged company.” a campaign, successfully running it in Running a company can be stressful, November.” but Cai, Tu and Bernardi chose to Using “bokashi” composting, Cai continue with this endeavor, while also focusing on their education at Babson College and Indiana University, respectively. Majoring in entrepreneurship or business, they hope they can utilize their college education not only as a credited degree, but also as an avenue to network and acquire advice for building Sprout. Even more, they said the benefits of college have included the countless competitions, conferences and 24-hour “hack-a-thons” that have essentially become recruiting events for entrepreneuriallyoriented students. “At these conferences, they are moving more towards a physical product,” Bernardi said. “For example, Jeremy Cai, Derek Tu and Peter Bernardi of Sprout work at their Burr Ridge warehouse before going here’s what we did in 24 off to college. The Sprout team presents their compost bin’s sleek design that doubles as a flower pot. hours. Imagine if you gave us 24 weeks.” 20 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Continued on page 22
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Kaeya Majmundar delivers her business pitch of BZBox to multi-millionaire Robert Herjavec and a table of investors on the ABC TV show, Shark Tank. Photo courtesy of ABC Network
Continued from page 20
Fresh out of high school, Tu hopes teachers and schools can promote this sense of entrepreneurship even before college. “Schools need to do better job of encouraging that,” Tu said. “We have our core curriculum with math and science, but there’s really nothing right now that pushes kids to go out there and build something.” Joining the “green” movement early on, Cai and Bernardi firmly believe that engaging with any entrepreneurial endeavor not only helped them find their own start-up, but will help them grow into driven individuals. “The most employable person is a highly-motivated 20-something-year-old who has demonstrated commitment to building something, rather than someone who is trained by the books,” Cai said. “It’s in the actual process of building something awesome, and seeing it fail or succeed and learning from it, is where I think the future of education is.” Bernardi agrees, believing entrepreneurship can train an individual 22 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
to translate passion into work. With help from his mentors, Bernardi said he decided to take a year off to put everything towards Sprout, and advises others to try it as well. “Just do it; give yourself one year,” he said. “A year can be easily made up. When you’re 21, it doesn’t matter. You would be really surprised what you can do with that one year when you dedicate all the time you want to build your own dream, rather than someone else’s.”
Lori Greiner of QVC. Receiving a 40 percent stake in her company, she is now working on retail for her product.
“I was really, really nervous, but I was also very prepared. I had that pitch down cold.”
Shark, paper, scissors Growing up, Kaeya Majmundar was surrounded by the field of medicine. With parents as doctors and on the premed track herself, the thought of running her own business never occurred to her, until she combined cardboard boxes and origami to create her very own invention: the “BZbox.” Recently featured on ABC’s reality television show Shark Tank, Majumundar’s BZbox landed her a $50,000 investment from shark investor
Majmundar conceptualized BZbox after her freshman year of college. While assisting her friend move out of their dorm, she noticed the difficulty in assembling a typical cardboard box. After going home for the summer, Majmundar found the solution as a collapsible storage box. In November 2012, she applied to Shark Tank with BZbox as her product, but didn’t get to pitch her idea until June 2013. “They flew me out in June, prepped me a little bit and helped me with my
pitch for a couple of months,” Majmundar said. “Then, I pretty much walked in, and I had one shot to try to get a deal with them.” Ever since her appearance on Shark Tank, which aired on May 16 of this year, she has received messages of encouragement, as well as inquiries from manufacturers and retailers. Majmundar said she beat crazy odds, as she estimates she was one of 114 applicants chosen out of hundreds of thousands of applications submitted to the show. “I was really, really nervous, but I was also very prepared,” Majmundar said. “I had that pitch down cold. I had spent many months preparing for it. “As nervous as I was, I was very excited that it was actually happening.” From the very beginning, she had her eye on a deal with Lori. However, the producers warned her that the investors would find the proverbial Achilles’ heel of any product that walks through the door, and they found it with BZbox. While on-air, Majmundar constantly reminded herself that she came all this way, and wasn’t going to leave until she did everything she could. “They saw that I was pretty passionate and persistent, and ultimately that’s what made Lori’s decision in the end,” Majmundar said. “I’m really proud of the experience, and I watch it every now and then. “I am pretty nostalgic of what happened; I still can’t believe it really happened.” Majmundar is grateful for going on the show, since she knows most entrepreneurs don’t get their starts with a large-sum investment. Due to this, she said she hopes to become a resource to people who want to pursue a similar path to hers. “If you’re really passionate about it, I would do everything that you would need to do to get your product on the shelf,” she said. “Be resourceful and ask a lot of questions.” Majmundar said pursuing this venture while on a college campus has been beneficial, due to the amount of resources and mentors available. Since the field is fairly new at Emory University, she hopes the school can expand its entrepreneurship scene by building a physical center to meet the needs of college entrepreneurs. “Entrepreneurship defies the whole education system,” she said. “In the U.S. or in general, you would first go to school and then figure out a job. College entrepreneurs are kind of doing
it simultaneously.” Before being featured on Shark Tank, Majmundar entered BZbox in the Collegiate Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s elevator-pitch competition in 2012 and won. According to Majmundar, around 1,300 people attend the conference every year, from mentors and students, to advisers and faculty. “It seems like it became this fad,” she said. “I actually started my project two years ago when that wasn’t really the case. Now, entrepreneurship is like a trend. “Maybe it’s because of the idea that you don’t necessarily have to work under
anyone, which is basically the premise of entrepreneurship. You are your own boss.” Besides BZbox, Majmundar has patented two other products: Ringlee, customizable rings and Handykap, a physical therapy product. She wishes to continue making more products in the future to expand her scope in the entrepreneurial sector. “I was passionate about entrepreneurship more than anything, and I wanted to pursue that,” Majmundar said. “So, I did.” n
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 23
realtorprofile2014
REALTOR PROFILE
SPECIAL ADVERTISING FEATURE
Megan McCleary (630) 780-1913 meganmcclearyhomes@gmail.com
35 S. Washington Street Hinsdale, IL 60521 meganmccleary.koenigrubloff.com
MEGAN McCLEARY is a realtor in Hinsdale for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, KoenigRubloff Realty Group. A long-time Hinsdale resident and actively involved in the Hinsdale community, Megan McCleary has been in the Chicagoland area for over 20 years and is a topproducing real estate broker. With a background in print and interactive advertising sales, Megan knows how to market successfully to get results for her clients. Her business sense and extensive knowledge of the local market provide insight to her clients that assure a smooth transaction. Passionate about real estate, Megan brings her unique style and innovative strategies to her clients to help them achieve their goals. She is absolutely committed to her clients needs in every way and dedicated to providing them with high-quality personal service. “I’ve been involved in real estate for over 15 years, including a loft renovation in the city and building two homes in Hinsdale,” Megan said. “I thoroughly enjoy the whole process of buying and selling homes. Going into real estate was the obvious choice for me, as it best suits my interest and experience.” Understanding that every client is unique, Megan works hard to find the perfect fit in a new home. She works with all types of real estate clients including first time home buyers, relocation, change of family dynamics and “right sizing” their home. Equally enjoyable is working with clients to sell their home. For most people, their home is their biggest financial investment and Megan takes this very seriously.
24 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Much effort goes into effectively preparing a home for the market. Megan draws upon her experience both professionally and personally to achieve maximum results. “She is a consummate professional and was a terrific partner for our family. She listened to our needs, targeted properties that appealed to our interests, and approached listing our home in a strategic manner. Today, we’re in a great new home because of her efforts. And what could’ve been a stressful and emotional process turned out to be a lot of fun,” said Carol, a previous client from Hinsdale. “Visual presentation is a high priority when selling your home. Most all home buyers begin their search online to determine which homes they want to visit. Presenting yours in it’s best light creates a strong first impression to attract buyers. I work with my clients to prepare their property for the market, employing various resources such as design, landscaping, and sometimes making significant changes in the home all with the goal of minimizing days on the market and maximizing return.” Coupled with the support of her company which provides comprehensive marketing tools and relocation services, Megan maximizes your exposure and continually strives to exceed the client’s expectations. “My focus is my clients,” she said. “My network of professionals and my personal connections makes for the easiest and smoothest transitions for my clients.” The communities Megan serves include Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, La Grange, Burr Ridge, Oak Brook, Elmhurst and Downers Grove.
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 25
Hinsdale HOME
With kids off to college, parents make the move
H
BY THERESA STEINMEYER
insdale real-estate agent Terri Doney received a call from a client who said she hadn’t been on the third floor of her home in two years. Although it might seem a bit extreme, the call represented a common dilemma for Hinsdalearea families. As parents watch their college graduates launch into their own futures and homes, households that once needed room to roam find themselves with space to spare. The solution seems straightforward: downsize. But today’s empty nesters face new challenges in an uncertain economy, as well as new opportunities to relocate both within their communities and to downtown Chicago. As they balance these factors, they’re also placing an increased value on the importance of community in their real-estate decisions. Doney said that the definition of the “empty nesters” itself is changing. Traditionally, the term referred to parents that have seen all of their children leave home. These were parents who often
26 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
allowed their careers to wind down before looking to downsize or relocate. But Doney said that today’s empty nesters may be looking to adjust their real-estate situations with one child still left at home and careers still flourishing. She advised interested parents to relocate “sooner rather than later.” “You don’t have to wait until all your kids are out to downsize,” she said. Real-estate solutions that minimize exterior maintenance are optimal. Doney said that many empty nesters prefer a “turn-key lifestyle”—that is, they want to lock up their homes and pursue other interests, worry-free. “These empty nesters are so active,” she said, recognizing that many of them want the freedom to pursue travel and hobbies. However, Doney said that empty nesters want to remain connected to the vibrant downtowns in which they raised their families. “People are choosing to remain part of the community,” she said. For today’s empty nesters, townhomes offer a welcome Continued on page 28
The McCarthy GROUP
RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE
The McCarthy Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices is a proven, experienced and results driven husband and wife residential real estate team based out of Hinsdale serving the western suburbs of Chicago.
What do you look for in a Realtor? Market knowledge? Nellie’s market knowledge began to develop at a young age. Not only did she graduate from the district 181 and district 86 schools, her entire family is a legacy in residential real estate. Moving back to Hinsdale just over 12 years ago, Nellie doesn’t just know the residential market; she has lived it. Sales Expertise? Nellie has been a full time Realtor since 1997. For the majority of those years she was a top producer and has been included in either the Presidents or Chairman’s Circle for the last 8 years. This puts her in a small group of the most elite Realtors in our marketplace. Ed has negotiated over 100 deals in the commercial market, and knows deal terms, contracts and how to close. Combined, The McCarthy Group offers 29 years of real estate experience and are uniquely qualified to guide you through the process of buying or selling a home.
Business Experience? Ed worked on the commercial side of the real estate business since 2002. Upon finishing his MBA in Real Estate Finance he worked for NAI Hiffman and Jones Lang LaSalle, serving clients like HSBC Bank and the BNSF Railway. Nellie graduated from Boston College and worked 5 years at The Northern Trust in home loans and private banking. After studying her MBA in Entrepreneurship she followed in her parent’s footsteps and started her own Residential Real Estate company. Nellie and Ed have also built spec homes and remodeled homes in the area, drawing on their market expertise. Nellie and Ed’s collective business experience is clearly a differentiator relative to their competitors. Personalized service? Nellie and Ed don’t have the highest closed volume nor the largest staff. As a result, when you hire us, you get us.
PLEASE CONTACT US FOR PERSONAL TESTIMONIALS Ed McCarthy 312-520-3339 edwardcmccarthy@gmail.com
Nellie McCarthy 630-745-8999 nelliemccarthy@gmail.com
www.koenigrubloff.com www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 27
Continued from page 26
it’s slowing down, because now the prices in the city have risen.” Doney also attributed the decrease in Chicago relocations to the increased availability of downsized housing in the Hinsdale area, including townhomes and condominiums. Empty nesters may opt to downsize into a Chicago or suburban home, while also maintaining a second home as a vacation destination elsewhere in the country, Proctor said. The popularity of real estate with a strong community focus yields what Proctor referred to as the biggest challenge he’s seen for empty nesters looking to relocate: that those moving from sprawl-type housing may have a more difficult time selling their homes in order to downsize, as buyers look for real estate centralized around vibrant downtowns. Proctor said today’s popular destinations for buyers include Hinsdale, Oak Park, River Forest and Elmhurst, all of which have prominent downtown areas. Whether parents are traditional empty nesters or still have a child at home, downsizing options throughout the Chicago area are plentiful. Experts said families considering relocating should contact agents familiar with areas of interest, and balance cost and community factors as they choose new homes.
LIVE LARGE
solution: lower-maintenance turn-key homes, often situated in vibrant suburban communities like Hinsdale. These homes may also offer amenities that they enjoyed in their previous homes: upscale kitchens and bathrooms, twocar garages and home offices—especially useful for those still invested in their careers. Or, empty nesters may seek community in downtown Chicago’s real-estate market. Broker Jeff Proctor, who works with customers and properties throughout the Chicago area, said that the city has become more attractive to empty nesters in recent years. “Parents are now moving to the city, because the city has changed so much,” Proctor said, noting that Chicago offers more entertainment, restaurants and nightlife options to residents than it did 25 to 30 years ago. Proctor said he sees many of his clients from suburban communities across the Chicago area looking to relocate into the city. Correspondingly, a recent report from the Research Institute for Housing America concluded that suburban empty nesters nationwide are as likely to move to a metropolitan area as a non-metropolitan one. However, as the city becomes a more appealing place to relocate, it also becomes a more expensive choice. Doney said that cost is an inhibiting factor for some of her empty-nester clients considering Chicago real estate. “We did see [the urban trend] for awhile,” she said. “I think
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28 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
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JULIE SUTTON R E A L E S TAT E | B R O K E R
RESIDENTIAL BROKERAGE
©2014 Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC. All Rights Reserved. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Operated by a subsidiary of NRT LLC. Coldwell Banker and the Coldwell Banker Logo are registered service marks owned by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC. Real estate agents affiliated with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage are independent contractor sales associates and are not employees of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 29
Community Scene
Burr Ridge hosts inaugural
Run for Veterans 5K BY: MIKE ELLIS
Photos by Mike Ellis
Participants turn a corner in Burr Ridge.
ver 150 people from Burr Ridge and surrounding suburbs came out to support our nation’s veterans at the inaugural Run for Veterans 5K in downtown Burr Ridge on the morning of July 27. The first-year event was aided by Ides of March co-founder and Burr Ridge resident Jim Peterik, who performed “Eye of the Tiger,” which he wrote for Rocky III at the behest of Sylvester Stallone, before the run commenced. “Jim Peterik is one of the greatest patriots in our village,” Burr Ridge mayor Mickey Straub said. “To have him here for the first half-hour was just awesome, and it really set the tone for a great day.” After Peterik warmed up the crowd, participants darted around the outskirts of downtown Burr Ridge, some running and some walking. At the end of nearly five kilometers, runners made a sharp turn to the finish line at the village green in the heart of the village center. Pauline Ozols, founder and executive director of Run for Veterans, developed and organized this 5K run and walk, which was the first major run her company has led. Based in Oakbrook Terrace, Run for Veterans is a new organization that was created to support veterans’ mental healthcare needs. “Basically, we put together different events, and then we give all the funds to charities that support veterans mental healthcare issues,” Ozols said. Ozols knew mayor Straub through business, and when she discussed the concept of Run for Veterans with him, he encouraged her to consider Burr Ridge. “When I was telling [Straub] about this idea, he said, ‘You’ve got to check out Burr Ridge,’” she said. “And then I learned about their veterans memorial and the armed forces day, and I met so many residents in the community who were so passionate about helping veterans, I thought there [would be] no better place...
We’re really thrilled to be here, and hope we can continue to be here in the future.” Straub said the Burr Ridge Veterans Memorial Committee and its chairman, Len Ruzak, “spearheaded” the effort after being introduced to the concept. “They jumped on it on the merits,” he said. “They fell in love with the concept; they fell in love with Pauline and her commitment to making this work... The village really deserves a lot of credit for having the foresight to do this.” Ozols said planning for the event began in January, and that she and her colleagues attended various local events to raise awareness for it. Keeping with the theme, several military vehicles were on-site, and participants received commemorative dog-tags after crossing the finish line. “For a first year event, it’s gone really well,” said Janet Kowal, communications and public relations coordinator for the Village of Burr Ridge. Ozols and her colleagues selected Volunteers of America - Illinois as its beneficiary for the inaugural event. This organization, which Ozols said has been serving veterans since World War I, provides housing, counseling and job services to homeless veterans suffering from mental illness. When Hinsdale Magazine spoke with Ozols, she said through runners and sponsors, which included the Village of Burr Ridge and Burr Ridge Village Center, Run for Veterans raised over $9,000 for Volunteers of America - Illinois—a total she expected to increase. “We wanted to do at least $10,000,” she said, “and I definitely think we’re going to hit that and exceed it.” As for next year, Ozols said Run for Veterans is hoping to do the same event in Burr Ridge, and encouraged local residents to come out next summer. “We’d love to grow it,” she said. “I think, next year, we’ll host again in Burr Ridge. “Where we’ll be afterwards, I’m not quite sure yet; but we would love to see it expand to different cities.”
“For a first year event, it’s gone really well.”
Burr Ridge mayor Mickey Straub, John Gervace, Eileen Skisak and Carlton Evans
Runners cross the finish line at the village green.
30 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
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www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 31
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High Tech Dentistry Boosts Comfort for Children & Adults The family-focused practice strives to provide its patients with the most minimally invasive, high quality care possible. Hinsdale Dentistry’s Biolase lasers, the WaterLase iPlus and the Epic, help the team achieve these goals – and set the practice apart. After 22 years at the same location, Dr. Peter Harnois and the Hinsdale Dentistry team decided they needed a new space, one where they could really showcase their technology and enhance the patient experience. Between the relaxing atmosphere and the engaging learning process, Hinsdale Dentistry makes patients active partners in their care. Dr. Harnois, Drs. Chirban and Kowalczyk, and their 14 team members made the move one year ago. Today, patients are pleasantly surprised when they walk through the office doors. The practice rests in the woods, overlooking a beautiful pond that patients can see from inside the window-filled rooms. Each of the eight operatories provides a private space where patients can unwind from their stressful days. The rooms are equipped with large, patient-facing monitors, giving all an opportunity to learn more about recommended procedures and engage with treatment possibilities. When properly informed, patients are better able to make the right decisions about their oral health, and to communicate the ideal end result. “The key to this is to properly educate them and to give them all their options,” says Dr. Harnois. “With our practice’s
‘look, listen, and learn’ philosophy, we’re able to find out what they want. We’re really geared toward understanding patient goals.”
The right technology
Because Hinsdale Dentistry has a strong family focus, each team member aims to offer patients the most minimally invasive treatment possible. Technology allows them to make this a reality. From digital x-rays to digital impressions to laser dentistry, the practice stays on the cutting edge. This has been the practice’s philosophy since the opening of its original downtown Hinsdale location in 1969. Dr. Harnois can’t help but remember his interview with now-retired partner Dr. Donald Thorne in 1982, and how impressed he was with the practice’s level of technology. Keeping up with that innovation standard remains a priority for the entire team at Hinsdale Dentistry. Says Dr. Harnois, “That’s exactly what we’re doing with the practice now: always keeping technology at the forefront of what we’re offering to take better care of our patients.” Laser dentistry meshes perfectly with the practice’s philosophy of care, and Biolase’s WaterLase technology
has been part of Hinsdale Dentistry’s armamentarium since it was first released.
The move to laser dentistry
When the first version of the WaterLase was released in the late 1990s, Dr. Harnois and current partner Dr. Thorne were among the first in the country to bring it into a practice. When they saw it at the Chicago Mid-Winter Meeting, it just made sense. Instead of damaging patients’ teeth with a drill, they could use laser energy paired with a water spray to perform precise work. There was nothing holding them back from the switch. “We had a demo the day after MidWinter and we purchased it on the spot,” said Dr. Harnois. “You could see where things were going. Dr. Thorne taught me that if it’s good technology and working for the benefit of the patients, we get it.” They began using that first version immediately, and patients loved it. They appreciated the fact that they didn’t have to use anesthetic and that procedures were so much simpler and pain-free. Back then, Dr. Harnois didn’t anticipate how much the technology would evolve in the coming years. In 2005, he upgraded to the WaterLase MD, which offered tooth-cutting speed that was roughly half the rate of a high-speed drill. Now, in 2013, he has upgraded to the latest version, the WaterLase iPlus, which cuts as fast as a drill and offers features that impress patients and dentists alike. All the pain associated with hard tissue procedures stems from friction created by a metal drill bit. With the iPlus laser, all tooth cutting is performed
The team at Hinsdale Dentistry is dedicated to providing patients with the best possible care. That means offering cutting-edge technology in a relaxing, comfortable setting. DR. PETER HARNOIS graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1982 and has been with what is now known as Hinsdale Dentistry ever since. The practice first opened in downtown Hinsdale in 1969 and has changed locations twice, the last move happening about a year ago. The high tech, family-focused practice serves about 5,000 patients and has a staff of 14.
DR. ZIVILE Z. CHIRBAN graduated from the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in 1982, and is currently a member of the Illinois State Dental Society and American Dental Association. Dr. Chirban’s goal is to assist her patients in acquiring and maintaining beautiful smiles. She is passionate about keeping apprised of the latest developments in her field to ensure that her patients receive the best possible care.
DR. MICHAEL KOWALCZYK graduated with honors from Emory University in Atlanta and obtained his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Kowalczyk completed a post-graduate residency at the University of Florida where he gained skills in wisdom teeth extractions, surgical implant placement and sedation dentistry. In 2013, he received his Fellowship in the International Congress of Oral Implantologists.
911 N. Elm, Suite 230 | Hinsdale, IL | 630-323-4468 | HinsdaleDentistry.com
32 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
with frictionless water. What does that mean for patients at Hinsdale Dentistry? First (and most excitingly): no pain. Second: often, no anesthetic shots at all. “We have a huge pediatric following and have treated all the kids in our practice’s families for over 40 years,” says Dr. Harnois. At the current forefront of that pediatric care is no shots, no pain, and metal-free fillings for almost every pediatric patient at the practice. “Why traumatize any child with a needle injection if it’s not necessary?” Another significant advantage of laser dentistry is that it preserves as much of your child’s tooth structure as possible. With the iPlus laser, the decayed portion of the tooth is removed without grinding away any healthy tooth structure (which can happen with drilling). The same concepts apply to adult teeth, and to anxious patients of any age.
Pain-free, shot-free laser dentistry for child and adult patients at Hinsdale Dentistry The right products make all the difference! Patients love that Dr. Harnois and the Hinsdale Dentistry team offer the latest and greatest products (like the WaterLase iPlus) to help make their experiences pleasant and keep their time in the dental chair brief.
WaterLase iPlus
Dr. Chirban describes the comfortable, injection-free procedure to her pediatric patient before getting started.
The latest in laser technology
Laser dentistry is continually a major draw for Hinsdale Dentistry’s patients. On the practice website, Drs. Harnois and Chirban demonstrate the difference between a drill and the WaterLase, letting patients hear how they both sound. For patients seeking a high tech practice—especially those with children—experiencing the difference firsthand helps them understand the benefits of laser dentistry. No matter what technology is being used, Dr. Harnois finds it is key to educate current and potential patients on the resulting benefits. Visit the site at www. hinsdaledentistry.com to see powerful examples of laser capability, and to learn more.
Dr. Chirban and Jackie treat their relaxed, calm patient without requiring local anesthetic. She receives 3 metal-free fillings.
Introducing: The Epic
In addition to the WaterLase iPlus, Hinsdale Dentistry has incorporated Biolase’s newly released Epic laser into treatment. This soft-tissue diode laser has been a huge asset, especially when it comes to whitening. Dr. Harnois finds that “It is the home run of the century for whitening. The laser cuts a 1+-hour procedure down to about 20 minutes. Laser energy cures and activates whitening gel, kicking it into gear. Each quadrant cures for 3 minutes, the procedure is repeated twice, and the patient is done in less than 30 minutes. You get the patient out of the chair quicker, with less sensitivity, and you get great results. It’s the best system to date for how well it works.”
Another happy patient! The typical response from Hinsdale Dentistry’s young patients after laser treatment with the WaterLaser iPlus is a thrilled one: “Look, mom! My fillings are done and I didn’t need any shots!” With this, children move forward feeling great about dentistry. www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 33
Hinsdale WOMAN
HJWC president ready to lead BY: CYDNEY CAPE
A
Photos by Marcello Rodarte
HJWC president Anna Fiascone stands outside of Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn.
34 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
nna Fiascone is no stranger to being the new kid on the block. The Little Rock, Ark., native met her Chicago-bred husband at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, before moving to the Windy City to pursue law school. Soon thereafter, she found herself living in Hinsdale, where she knew almost no one. “We moved to Hinsdale pretty young, before we had any kids,” Fiascone said, “which is pretty unusual, and I pretty much knew no one here.” Fiascone credits the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club (HJWC) for quickly changing all of that, and welcoming her with open arms. She said she initially joined as a way to meet other women, and get her footing in the community—something she has come to realize is a common thread for many of its new members. “We had about 100 new members last year alone, and most of them were from other areas,” Fiascone said. “They didn’t grow up in Hinsdale necessarily, so that really helps you form a quick bond with other women trying to get involved, and also meet others in their new community.” And as the incoming president, Fiascone has some insight, having seen the club’s evolution over the past six years. “My first year involved was just meeting new people and getting a feel for the area,” she said. “The second and third years, I was a newmember [chairperson], so I really tried to help the new members have the same wonderful experience I had. “By my fourth year, I became involved in the annual benefit, and got to know the philanthropy side, which was huge. This year, being president, I get to do a little of all those things, and that’s the really exciting part for me.” And who wouldn’t be excited? With Fiascone at the helm of the rapidly-burgeoning club, there are plenty of signs pointing to its continued success, including an annual benefit that raised a record-setting amount last year. Fiascone said she believes having the club’s primary beneficiary change every other year Continued on page 36
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Continued from page 34
is among the reasons the HJWC has continued to grow in recent years. “I think that really helps the club maintain its interest with prospective members,” she said. “We have nine surrounding communities that are represented in this club, so that also shows how much we have grown.
to empower low-income families that are working towards finding employment, or are deemed homeless due to issues such as divorce, job loss or health issues. With additional services, such as career counseling, life-skills mentoring and educational tutoring, the focus at Bridge is to create long-term solutions and better futures for their families. “The process for even choosing an organization is pretty lengthy,” Fiascone said, referencing the manner in which the HJWC selects its beneficiary. “About a year out, our philanthropy committee collects applications and takes in ideas. “From there, those suggestions are narrowed down to about five or six, and then the board brings those down to a final three. Those remaining three are presented at a regular club meeting, and are voted on that night.” Fiascone said the club also does months of behindthe-scenes work to meet with the various organizations, garner information on their missions, and project the level of compatibility the charity will have with its goal of advocating women’s and children’s causes. The HJWC then sets a calendar-year’s worth of events and service projects into motion to highlight its charity and raise needed money for it. “I don’t think people realize [that] it’s not just our one big benefit that raises money, but really it’s about HJWC president Anna Fiascone is looking forthe members going above and beyond all year long, doing ward to working with a new beneficiary this year. small events and service projects,” Fiascone said. Some of the past agendas have included projects such as Thanksgiving dinners, toy drives and making frozen meals for families in need. “I think the social aspect draws many women in, and then you see how much more the club has to offer, and people really want to “This year, we are already talking about getting together with be a part of that.” families and making Christmas ornaments and Christmas cookies,” Fiascone said. “We also want to go And the numbers don’t lie. The around to Bridge Communities, and club reached record membership do Christmas carols and hand out last year, and the new president baked goods. anticipates the same level of “Things like that make a big enthusiasm going into this year for difference to people.” new members. And the lasting imprint of just how “People actually ask me, are you much of a impact the HJWC’s work going to cap the numbers because can make on not just an organization, things got so big last year?” Fiascone but on individual lives, isn’t lost on said. “And I say, ‘We shouldn’t cap Fiascone. the number of members, but we “Of course, they appreciate the should evolve instead to accommodate money we raise, but at the end of the the larger numbers. Right now, we are day, it really is about the impact you in the process of figuring out how to can make on someone’s life,” she said. do that.” “I really am just truly humbled to be One way the HJWC has in this position, and I think that being addressed its growth is through the a part of this club in general, our creation of new committees this year. members will tell you is an extremely “We have an international affairs uplifting and humbling experience. committee that [will educate] our “Trust me, I don’t take for granted women on the issues abroad affecting the time commitment everyone women and children, and how we makes—they have kids and jobs, and they take time away from can get involved in those causes,” Fiascone said. “We also have that to come be a part of this. a committee that is going to get involved in 5K and 10K races throughout the area to have more visibility at those events.” “But I think what we all get back from it is even greater than In years past, the club has supported charities like Ronald what we could have imagined.” McDonald House and Hephzibah House. For the next two years, For more information on the HJWC, visit www.hjwc.us. its main philanthropy will be Bridge Communities, which has And to learn more about Bridge Communities, go to www. the mission of connecting homeless families with housing and bridgecommunities.org. supportive services with the goal of becoming self-sufficient. Bridge Communities is based in DuPage County, and serves
“I don’t think people realize [that] it’s not just our one big benefit that raises money, but really it’s about the members going above and beyond all year long, doing small events and service projects.”
36 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
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Growing a Healthy Community Environment BY PAUL KELMA
Community growth” has a whole crop of definitions, but the one Vacant to Vegetables applies is literal. This group of civicminded ladies who make up its core actually grow crops, everything from tomatoes to zucchini. The crops—more than a ton per year—go into the pots and onto the plates of people really in need, who rely on the services of the People’s Resource Center (PRC) in Westmont. This effort goes way beyond tilling, planting, weeding and harvesting. Vacant to Vegetables volunteers teach monthly classes at PRC, 649 N. Blackhawk Drive, helping center clients learn to prepare healthy meals on a budget. A cookbook is in the works, and “Vacant to Vegetables”— now a trademarked name—has become a focal point for many others in the greater Hinsdale area who want to help. “Everything is donated,” said Chris Cordin Blitstein of Burr Ridge, whom everyone connected with Vacant to Vegetables cites as the “brain” behind this brainchild. More than four years ago, Cordin Blitstein was looking out a window of her Burr Ridge home at a neighboring vacant lot when inspiration struck. At that time, she said “there were massive layoffs everywhere.” Food is expensive to a family in need, especially healthy food like fresh perishables. So, she figured, why not turn that unused piece of ground into a cornucopia of aid that could deliver something useful directly to people in need? The landowner cooperated, and the garden was launched. Sometime later, however, real-estate issues intervened, and the garden needed a new home. Rector Robert Wyatt of St. Helena’s Episcopal Church in Burr Ridge read of the group’s need, and offered a piece of the church’s five acres on Wolf Road north of 79th Street. “We are a small congregation, but one great asset we have is land,” said Rector Wyatt, whose church is dedicated to a
38 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Photos courtesy of Chris Cordin Blitstein
Spotlight
Susie Zuver weighs in the green peppers while Sue Oleman and Leslie Forbes look on.
number of community efforts, including hosting a Scout troop and holding services for the Hispanic community. “This is a wonderful thing for us and for the food bank.” The group that became Vacant to Vegetables hooked up with the food bank at PRC through the Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB). Members bought and sold “shares” at $125 Ann Radcke holds a bucket full of yellow each to raise (literally) squash, with Vacant to Vegetables “guardian” “seed money.” Skill Sheri Tomayta and Judi Dziura. at fundraising and charities was a given. Cordin Blitstein and the Vacant to Vegetables team of more than a dozen friends and neighbors have years of experience. Planting “charity” in more fertile soil was an attractive alternative to organizing formal events. “We’ve done a lot of charity work, but you get tired of just writing checks,” partner Heather Concklin of Hinsdale said. Anyway, all of the money raised in formal events doesn’t always get directly to those in need. With the garden, every tomato, pepper, carrot and turnip goes to PRC. That amounts to about a ton per year, Cordin Blitstein said. Depending on time of year, crops include tomatoes, zucchini,
turnips, cucumbers, eating pumpkins, summer squash, jalapenos, broccoli, gypsy peppers, dill, radishes, green peppers, lettuce and other “staples,” she said. “They’re a godsend,” said Hank Anzelone, supervisor of PRC’s Westmont center. “The problem is that food banks have to rely on so much non-perishable food, and perishables are expensive. This means a lot to the people.” Anzelone said the center serves 900 to 1,000 client families, and distributes about 8,000 pounds of food a week. Donations come from places like area grocery stores, restaurants, other NIFB sources and a handful of community gardens. The largest is Vacant to Vegetables. The ladies also expended their efforts to teaching cooking classes at PRC, so clients would know how to get the most out of everything the food bank provides, including the garden’s fresh produce. Anzelone said the monthly gatherings, which include actual meal preparation, draw an average of 20 families. Fundraising experience and desire to make a real difference have attracted many. Seed, fencing, irrigation, landscaping, trellis and other materials, tomato cages, cash and other supplies are donated. A sign that greets visitors using the church driveway lists the church, Hinsdale Nurseries, Tameling Grading, Muellermist Inc., Harbour Contractors Inc., Vern Goers Greenhouse, Vehicle Valuation Services and Davey Tree Service. But there is a host of others, drawn by the effort and the ladies’ enthusiasm. Ross Forbes of Burr Ridge, whose daughter Sarah Salmen helps teach cooking with Gretchen Wasniewski, said he enjoys lending a hand. Among other things, he has roto-tilled the ground for planting, and built trellises for the tomatoes and cucumbers. “[Cordin Blitstein] is so good at getting people to donate and volunteer.”
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 39
SPORTS
Gymnastics in action at Hinsdale South
A
ction Gymnastics is a Darien-based gymnastics academy, headed by coach Jody Raymond. Last month, Hinsdale Magazine sat down with coach Erica Wolf and local gymnasts Maddie Nowak and Olivia McGann to discuss Action Gymnastics. HM Erica, what do you like best about coaching here with Jody and the rest of the kids in this facility?
EW Probably [that] we are teaching more than gymnastics— we teach the kids to have a sense of community. And because we have kids from all over the Continued on page 42
40 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
Action Gymnastics coach Jody Raymond works with a student at his Darien-based academy. Photo by Hinsdale Magazine
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Continued from page 40
state coming to Hinsdale South to train, they feel a sense of community within themselves, and then the gymnastics community kind of benefits from that, too, because when you go to a competition, the kids know each other more than acquaintances. Otherwise, you’re going to see kids from Naperville or Worth or Addison Trail, and kind of wave to them, but [these kids] actually know each other. And we do community things, like the Harvest Fest with Burr Ridge, and we’re volunteering for the U.S. Classic, so we try and get them involved in more than gymnastics so they can contribute to society.
HM Maddie, what is a “Level 10,” and how did you come to this point? MN Level 10 is the highest level before you start training
“Elite,” and I started at Action Gymnastics when I was ten years old, which is pretty old if you want to be training as much as I do. Throughout the years, Jodi just pushed me, and he didn’t discourage me because I was too old or anything for gymnastics. And over the years, I just progressed to Level 10.
MN It’s different because it’s all positive. It’s built off of self-
motivation, so if you want to get better you will, and Jodi will be there each step of the way to help you get better. There’s no yelling involved or anything.
HM Olivia, what is your gymnastics experience at school, how long have you been a gymnast, and how long have you been with Jodi at Action Gymnastics? OM So, I’ve been doing gymnastics since I was about
four years old, and I started out at club at Balance Institute Gymnastics, and when I was a freshman I moved here, so I’ve been here for about three years. It’s really nice because I’m able to do high school gymnastics and club gymnastics, so I’m allowed to be part of my team for high school, and I’m allowed to compete club. For more information on Action Gymnastics, please contact Jody Raymond at 630-251-5506.
HM Tell me how this environment here with Jody and Action Gymnastics is different from some other classroom instructions?
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Welcome Our New Physician! Dr. Riddhi Patel was born in Chicago and spent her childhood in the southwest suburbs. She studied Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Ilinois at Urbana Champaign, and returned to Chicago to attend medical school at the University of Chicago’s Prtizker School of Medicine, where she was involved in many community outreach projects and received multiple honors. She continued her residency training in Otolaryngology at the University of Chicago, where she learned from the leading experts in her field. Dr. Patel has recently moved to the western suburbs with her husband and daughter. She is looking forward to being part of this wonderful community and providing her patients the best possible care. Dr. Patel is a specialist in Otolaryngology – Ear, Nose and Throat, Head and Neck Surgery and will be joining York ENT, Drs. Richard Bulger, James Rejowski, and Christian Soneru, with offices in Hinsdale and Bolingbrook.
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SPORTS
Jackson Haag of Hinsdale handles the puck while playing for the Chicago Blackhawks junior team.
HINSDALE 10-YEAR-OLD
stars on the ice BY TANNER MAKRIS
hen JACKSON HAAG stepped foot on the ice for the first time five years ago, his ambitions were high. He knew what he wanted, and was not going to give that up for anything. Most moms would be worried about their son playing the very physical sport of hockey, but Kristen Haag was in full support, even introducing Jackson to the game. Growing up in a Minnesota town where hockey was their “Friday night lights,” Kristen knew that she was going to have Jackson try hockey. What she didn’t know was the success that would come for her now ten-year-old son. A student at The Lane Elementary, Jackson is not only one of a few peers who play hockey at the school, but was the only Hinsdale kid who played for the Chicago Blackhawks junior team. Jackson was a member of the Chicago Blackhawks Brick Hockey Club, traveling to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada for the Brick Invitational Hockey Tournament in which Jonathan Toews competed at the same age. The tournament was hosted at the West Edmonton Mall, essentially an 44 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
older version of the Mall of America. “It was a strange rink,” Kristen Haag said. “People shopping could watch the tournament directly from the store. With the skylight, the players had to wear eyeblack to avoid the glare off of the ice.” With over 200 kids from Illinois and surrounding states trying out for the team, Jackson made it through the first cut to continue his tryout on Blackhawk ice at the United Center. When he was selected as one of nine forwards to play for the team in Canada, Jackson said he knew that his hard work was paying off. “I would always be going 100 percent in hockey, going to camps, doing drills and playing as much as I can,” he said. Jackson plays his travel hockey as a center with the Chicago Fury, one of four AAA hockey teams in the state. AAA is the highest level of travel hockey in Illinois.
“The best part about the team [is] my teammates,” Jackson said. “They are really cool.” The Fury practice out of Orland Park, and feature kids from throughout Chicagoland. With the hockey season running from September to March for Jackson, he spends his summers training, traveling to an array of camps and getting some personal drills in as well. Jackson participated in the Bauer Select Camp at the Seven Bridges Ice Arena in July. This camp is an invite-only camp designed for exceptionally-talented hockey players. Jackson’s mom said his hard work on the ice has also translated in the classroom. “Hockey has definitely helped his work ethic in life,” Kristen Haag said. And with travel hockey teams more than doubling in the last five years, Jackson needs that work ethic to stay competitive. When asked what keeps him motivated, Jackson said, “I just love hockey.”
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SPORTS
HONING THEIR SKILLS Bulls-Sox Academy leads basketball camps at The Community House Photo by Mike Ellis
BY: MIKE ELLIS
ozens of young local athletes developed their basketball skills at the Bulls/Sox Academy camps at The Community House during the weeks of July 28 and Aug. 11. Aspiring basketball players received expert instruction during two camps designed for nine- to 12-year-olds and sixto eight-year-olds, respectively. “The Community House has offered basketball camps for years, and this is the second year of working with the Bulls-Sox Academy,” said Dan Janowick, director of programs and facilities at The Community House. “We were drawn to a great reputation and, obviously, the great name that they bring to camps. “We’ve had a great response from the kids.” When Hinsdale Magazine visited the nine- to 12-year-old camp, about 35 boys and girls warmed up by shooting around and playing “knockout.” Then, instructor Vince Kmiec, who played guard at North Central College in Naperville last year, led a brief discussion about “mental toughness,” and how this attribute applies both on the basketball court and in the classroom. Participants performed a variety of drills, as Kmiec worked on developing and improving the kids’ fundamental basketball skills. The Bulls/Sox Academy also held a camp for six- to eight-year-olds two weeks later. Janowick said with the younger kids, the focus is on “basic instruction” and “really learning the game” of basketball, while instructors “get a little more strategic” with the older kids.
In addition to the instruction, kids received complementary Bulls/Sox Academy bags, balls and T-shirts. “Not only do they get that top-notch instruction,” Janowick said, “but I think any time the kids get to go home with some goodies, they like it.” Janowick said the camp also included the “United Center experience,” in which children received the opportunity to go to the United Center and visit with a Bulls player or broadcaster with a guest of their choice. This experience was separate from the weeklong instructional portion of the camp.
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“There’s not a lot of other ways to get that kind of access to a professional sports organization,” he said. Janowick said he hopes the kids will build on their instruction, and develop a long-lasting love of basketball. “Basketball can be a lifelong game,” he said, “so hopefully 25-30-40 years from now, they’ll look back and remember doing the Bulls-[Sox] Academy camp at The Community House, just as the first time they really [got] exposed to it.”
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Neighborhoods
SOUTHEAST HINSDALE/WOODLANDS
Oak Elementary School BROOK FOREST
Brook Forest Elementary BY: TANNER MAKRIS
SOUTHEAST HINSDALE/WOODLANDS
streets, offer a taste of historical Hinsdale with its original brick roads dating back to when the Fuller family originally settled in Nestled just off of County Line Road, this area the area. of Hinsdale has perhaps the most gorgeous The Cook County side of southeast landscape in the area. The DuPage side of Hinsdale (east of County Line), also known southeast Hinsdale (west of County Line) as the Woodlands, is arguably the most scenic offers beautiful homes with the traditional area in town. Breaking the tradition of a grid Hinsdale feel. First and Sixth Streets of layout, the winding roads of the Woodlands Southeast Hinsdale, noted for its cobblestone weave through old, tall maples with larger homes laid out on large properties. The Woodlands contain everything from mansions to quaint ranch homes, either variety sitting on more land than your traditional Hinsdale lot. The neighborhood’s main park is located in the Woodlands, adjacent to Interstate 294 and separated by a tall sound barrier. Though sound is audible from the tollway, it does not overpower or disturb the neighborhood. Southeast Hinsdale Brook Park is a smallto medium-sized area that encompasses a baseball diamond, tennis courts, a basketball court, a playground and a football field. Brook is the home field for the Hinsdale Falcons, the junior football program that competes in the Bill George Youth Football League, traveling anywhere from Elmhurst to Glen Ellyn to Bartlett. The baseball field at Brook Park is host to the Hinsdale Little League Pony division, which offers Oak Elementary School community baseball to the older kids after they finish at Pierce Park at age 12. The other park located on 48 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
the outskirts of the neighborhood is Veeck Park. Named after ex-Chicago White Sox owner Bill Veeck, (who grew up in Hinsdale,) the park fittingly features a baseball diamond. This field serves as home to the Hinsdale Men’s Softball League, which runs during the summer. In addition to the newlyrenovated park and field, there are three fullsize soccer fields, with some extra space for other recreational activities. Travel and AYSO soccer teams take advantage of the fields. On the southeast corner of Veeck, the Hinsdale Skateboarding Park gives extreme-sport enthusiasts an opportunity to hit the halfpipe. Oak Elementary School is the area’s grade school. As with all other grade schools in the greater Hinsdale area, Oak School offers safe surroundings and quality education to prepare the young ones for Hinsdale Middle School and beyond. The Oak School property also houses Safety Village, a summer program that teaches young kids safety essentials, such as fire safety, stopping at the train tracks and more. The southeast Hinsdale and Woodlands area are great places for young families and older, empty nesters alike. The parks are top-notch, the school is exemplary, and being a short walk from downtown Hinsdale gives residents in this neighborhood endless opportunities. Lastly worth noting, this neighborhood has its own train stop, the Hinsdale Highlands, on the BNSF line, offering rides straight down to Chicago for work or leisure.
BROOK FOREST OAK BROOK In Oak Brook, a town composed primarily of subdivisions, Brook Forest supplies residents with an intimate, community feel. Brook Forest is located on the north-side of 31st Street in Oak Brook. Centrally placed within Continued on page 50
Ask the the Expert Expert Ask
BACK TO SCHOOL TIPS FOR YOU!
Dr. Michelle Pipitone
Dr. Christina Steil
Steil Dermatology 907 N. Elm Street Suite 203 Hinsdale, IL 60521 630-455-0045
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Now that the kids are back at school, it’s time to treat myself and my skin. What do you recommend?
Dr. Steil: The kids are back in school, fall and the holidays
are fast approaching, so take advantage of September and early October – before things get even busier – to help your skin be its best! Start by repairing sun damage from the summer. If you haven’t used a retinoid like Retin-A before, now may be the time to start. Retin-A speeds up the turnover of dead skin cells, and can help to repair skin from the damaging rays of the sun. But don’t think you can make up for a lack of sun-block by using retinoids either. It’s so important to not allow your skin to be on the receiving end of sun damage to begin with. That means you need to use, or continue using sun-blocks in fall and winter. In fact, the sun is no less damaging this time of year; it’s just that with cooler temperatures you think it is, and you can be deceived into leaving your sun-block out of your skin-care routine. Don’t– and don’t forget the backs of your hands in the mix. The skin is thinner there, so your hands often show age, including sun spots and wrinkles, first. Here’s a tip: an anti-oxidant, like coffeeberry or green tea polyphenols, dramatically helps protect your skin from the damaging rays of the sun. Use it underneath sunblock, but consider changing the formula for fall. Maybe you were using an anti-oxidant serum for the summer? Now it may be time to change to a richer cream. Should my skin-care regimen change with the upcoming cooler months?
Dr. Steil: Yes; changing the formula for your antioxidant is just
one good option to consider. In fact, you will likely notice with the advent of cooler air that your skin, even if it was oily over the summer, becomes drier. Never mind how it looks and plays havoc with your makeup, it feels awful! Do you keep wearing flip-flops and t-shirts in a Chicago fall? No? Then your skin care “wardrobe” should change too. First, consider switching cleansers to one that has a hydrating component. Then, you may want to find a richer moisturizer, and
one that includes a humectant, which pulls moisture from the atmosphere into your skin. Also, think about using your alphahydroxy product or your retinoid a little less frequently. The point is to maintain a protective barrier for your skin. Don’t let it get stripped away by treatments that were great in summer when oil was your problem, but might be more drying in the fall when summer humidity is gone. But don’t make the mistake of thinking you can’t exfoliate in dryer months. Just the opposite is true. Without some exfoliation, dead, dry skin can build up and actually keep your moisturizers from getting where they are needed. “Balance” is key., and experimenting early in the season to help you find the right mix of products and frequency will help you find yours. One tip I share with all my clients: Get a humidifier, or get it out of the attic now. Dry air will pull moisture from your skin, simple humidifier puts it right back in. And if you have a “whole house” humidifier on your furnace, don’t forget to change the filter and turn it on before the first frost. But still consider supplementing your whole house unit with a separate one in your bedroom for those long cold winter nights. Your skin will be more moist, supple, and grateful! This is great information, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed. How can I get help this fall and winter to make my skin, with its particular issues, look its best?
Dr. Steil: In addition to the great lines of targeted products we
have in our office, we are known for our unique touch when it comes to microdermabrasion, glycolic peels and facials, and more. We at Steil Dermatology would be happy to meet with you and talk about your unique skin-care needs. We’ll do a personalized assessment, and even create a plan that works just for you and your sin care goals. You’ll be amazed at the more beautiful, healthy you that we can help you discover at Steil Dermatology. You do so much for others; why not give your skin a fabulous fall? Call our office today to schedule your consultation.
www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 49
Continued from page 48
NEW ROOMS NEW LOUNGE NEW VIBE NEWLY RENOVATED PARTIES MEETINGS WEDDINGS INDOOR HEATED POOL 123 GUEST ROOMS & SUITES HOT BUFFET BREAKFAST WI FI FREE PARKING ARIA LOUNGE
the community, Brook Forest Elementary offers residents of this neighborhood and surrounding subdivisions a great educational opportunity for the K-5 age group. Alongside the elementary school, there is a small park, giving families a nice area to spend for enjoying the beautiful Chicago summers. Other activities in the Brook Forest area include good fishing. Oak Brook as a whole contains an abundance of large ponds, offering great fishing and even some boating opportunities. Just a mile or so down the road is a mecca of restaurants, shopping and any other necessities needed. To the northwest, Yorktown Center offers indoor shopping, several restaurants, both fancy and casual, and a large movie theater. To the northeast, Oakbrook Center gives shoppers a beautiful outdoor shopping experience. The shopping opportunity at this mall is rivaled by none in the Brook Forest area, as it features one of few Apple and Tesla stores in Chicagoland. Oakbrook Center recently went through a huge makeover, making it more attractive than ever to residents from throughout the area. South of 31st Street, there is a dog park that offers a vast amount of space for you and your best friend to play fetch and run around. This park is located next to historic Mayslake Peabody Estate, which becomes a haunted house during Halloween. Legend has it Oak Brook even had a stop along the Underground Railroad at Graue Mill, located on York Road near McDonald’s and York Tavern. For those active folks looking to exercise and lift weights, Oak Brook Park District is just east of Brook Forest on the other side of Ill. Rte. 83. The park district sits on a massive piece of land, offering countless soccer fields, baseball fields, outdoor pavilions, bike trails, a Frisbee golf course and a centrally-placed workout center with basketball courts, among other amenities. With Oak Brook containing much more undeveloped land, bike paths, golf courses and other outdoor activities are abundant. Butterfield Country Club sits adjacent to Brook Forest, on the west side of Midwest Road. Offering over 18 holes of golf, a pool and more, Butterfield is a country club of choice in the area. Its golf course went through a total renovation recently, challenging even some of the best golfers in the area. A couple miles down the road along York Road, Oak Brook has its own public, 18-hole golf course, as well as the prestigious Butler National Golf Club, Aria Banquet ranked No. 97 on Golf magazine’s annual Hotel & Conference Center list of the nation’s top 100 golf courses. Butler is an extremely private club offering golf for veteran players. Brook Forest is a great neighborhood for any family. With McDonald’s corporate headquarters, Oak Brook mall and hundreds of other commercial structures in Oak Brook, taxes are relatively low.
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Imagine for a moment not being able to move your body as you choose. You cannot turn your head to look at something you hear in the distance. You cannot scratch the itch on your leg. You cannot get a drink when you are thirsty. Because you cannot speak, when you are uncomfortable, you cannot ask for assistance. You know what you want, but you are unable to access it. You are dependent on others for all of your mobility and self care. You are trapped in a body that does not match your mind. This is Nathan’s reality. Nathan is a happy, funny, smart, loving 7 year old boy. Due to complications from prematurity, Nathan has severe spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. He has chewing and swallowing difficulties, a feeding tube, asthma, acid reflux, dystonia, and muscle spasms which cause him much discomfort, especially when trying to sleep. He has already undergone many surgeries and countless hospital and doctor visits. He has poor head control, he cannot sit independently, and he does not walk or talk. Despite these difficulties, Nathan has an amazing personality. He wakes each morning happy and ready to tackle another day. He has a joyous smile and an infectious laugh. He adores his little sister and being silly with his cousins. Nathan LOVES music and playing RockBand video games. He enjoys horseback riding at a therapeutic riding center, and while trotting on his favorite horse, Merlin, he gets some relief as his muscles begin to relax. Nathan is quick to learn new things, and he works hard at school and during therapies. He is beginning to read and spell, which will allow him to eventually communicate using a computerized system. Nathan has a zest for life, a drive to succeed, and an amazing ability to make this world a better place by touching the hearts of the people he meets. Insurance leaves huge gaps in funding Nathan’s medical care, therapies, and specialized equipment. To help ease the financial burden, friends and family are holding a benefit at Gaelic Park in Oak Forest. Please consider helping us make this benefit a success. We are seeking donations for our raffles and silent auction as well as t-shirt and beverage sponsors. Monetary donations can also be made to Uniting for Nathan at North Community Bank (formerly Archer Bank), 3435 W. 111th Street, Chicago, IL 60655. Thank you!
Please visit WWW.unitinG4nathan.Com www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 51
Continued from page 16
White said he was extremely impressed with what he has heard from conversations with teachers, but that there is still room for improvement. “As I look at how the organization has done in year one, I would say marvelously,” Dr. White said. “When you are shifting a huge organization and making those changes in a very emotional [profession] like teaching...it’s nothing short of miraculous. “Does that mean that we’re there?— Absolutely not; we’re not there; and that’s where I hope to contribute to the conversation.” Lots of testing With the Common Core comes a new state-wide test for third- to eighthgrade students. For the first time since 1999, District 181 students will not take the ISAT, which has been replaced by the PARCC assessment. This test, one of two options for states implementing the Common Core, will be taken twice between the start of 2015 and the end of the schoolyear. Dr. White said having to wait till winter for the PARCC assessment would have left the district without a critical fall metric, so 181 will retain the MAP assessment in 2014-15. Students will take the MAP three
times—in fall, winter and spring. Dr. White said he is concerned with the disruption taking four tests over the course of a few months could cause students, but without the MAP test, the district would be without a standardized measure for fall to spring growth. The PARCC assessment will only test students on the subjects of math and reading. Benaitis said while ISAT was focused on student achievement, PARCC will concentrate more on growth. Dr. Schneider cautioned parents against comparing the numbers PARCC yields to past ISAT data, as PARCC is a new assessment. “It’s really important for parents to understand, as we transition to the PARCC assessment, we’re not going to be able to compare results from last year to the year before to this current year,” he said. “When you see the number, you can’t necessarily draw the same conclusion, because it’s a different assessment.” Dr. White said one potential pitfall PARCC could entail is that it will be administered electronically in some schools, like District 181, but by paper and pencil in schools that are not technologically equipped for computerized testing. This, he said, introduces a variable outside of the test questions that could affect scores,
and could put students that are not as proficient on computers at a competitive disadvantage. “Blessed” to be here With the Common Core and a new complementary assessment being implemented, and the Learning For All plan starting its second year, Dr. White knows he is beginning his tenure as superintendent in a critical year at District 181. Despite this, he said he feels “blessed” to be here, and is excited about the challenge that awaits him in this new community. “It’s really exciting to be in education, even though all of these shifts are happening, and all of the changes and the expectations are just crazy,” Dr. White said. “With that said, we have so many people that care about the very best and brightest, and making sure that we’re providing our best for kids. “When you don’t have to argue those things...we’re light-years ahead just by the very nature of where we’re at [in this community]. I personally feel blessed to be here as superintendent, and to work with people like [Dr. Schneider, Benaitis and Walsh]. “My odds are on the people and the organization, and I’m really excited about what the future brings in this district.”
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Expedition Inspired,
BACKYARD FIRED Photos by William Egbert Jr.
In this month’s adventure article, I switch gears a bit and talk about one of my favorite meals to prepare while out exploring. While this dish is primarily cooked trail-side on a open fire, that backyard fire pit can be a great substitute for a unique, exotic meal sure to amaze. Sometimes, just a little change like this reminds us of how special dining al-fresco should be, and serves not only a hunger pain, but also that need we all have to get out William Egbert, Jr. of the house from time to time. Contributing Writer Yet how do I start? I start to tell the tale of why such an elaborate set-up. I have to admit to a subtle personality flaw, I am a snob--not as an individual, but rather regarding many aspects in my life. For those of you that know me, this may seem a bit hypocritical, seeing how I routinely find myself spending nights either hot, cold, damp or just plain muddy. This combined with a few little pleasures (like a trail-side hot shower) keeps me from going native streaking through the forest under a full moon. First vice: coffee. I don’t mean a cup of coffee from a donut shop, with perhaps a pump from some plastic-housed, chemically-infused simple syrup. I’m talking about real, topshelf, fresh-ground, steeped perfectly and strained through all-
CAST-IRON DUTCH OVEN OVER COALS
54 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
CORN CHOWDER INGREDIENTS
natural-fiber coffee. My second vice is meals, and as with coffee, I enjoy simple items brought to a higher level than just plain campfire food. Anyone can bring a pack of weenies, but only the truly sick and obsessed will source hand-crafted sausages, pair them with a full-bodied chianti, and bake bread in the fire. I’m that person, classically, yet gently trained by my amazing mother. Many of my adventures are centered around multiple days of overland, off-the-grid travel, so to speak. At times, I have found myself two days’ distance from a main road, with no way to seek help. (You can imagine that when I say you have to be self-sustaining, I mean both personally and mechanically. Most wouldn’t enjoy such rough travel as their form of relaxation, but to me it’s pure nirvana. At night, covered in bug bites after an exhausting day of breaking trails, this recipe can brighten your spirits and send you to bed with a satisfied soul. I wouldn’t be telling you the whole story if I didn’t inform you about the fire you need. At home, you can use a chimney starter with some natural lump charcoal to make your bed, instead of spending an hour building it from burning down logs. But cooking over indirect heat is safer, and always yields the most consistent results for the beginner. You also need to vary the height of your pot over the coals to produce the desired heat, but with a little trial, you’ll get it spot on. A fire teepee with a chain and hook is always fun to have around. First, start by chopping up all the vegetables into small pieces, as well as portioning your meat selection to cover
CORN CHOWDER WITH ROAST PORK
Feeds 4-6
1 red and orange bell pepper 1 yellow onion (Vidalia if available) 2 pork chops (firm white fish also works well) 2 tablespoons of canola oil 1 stick of butter 2 bags of frozen corn (or five ears) Salt and pepper 1/2 teaspoon of cumin 1/2 teaspoon of smoked paprika 3 cups of chicken stock 1-2 cups of half & half 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour 2 cups of grated Monterey cheese 2 diced scallions (garnish) 1 loaf of rustic-style bread (biscuits)
everyone in the group. With a searing-hot, cast-iron Dutch oven middle, and sprinkle a bit of extra smoked paprika around it, (I prefer these as they retain more heat), put in one tablespoon before dusting it with sea salt, coarse black pepper and a couple of butter, along with canola oil. Once at temperature, drop in of slices of sourdough. This dish is so versatile, you can rethink it on a cold winter the pork pieces, and season them with salt and pepper to your day. Just substitute the pork for large chunks of a firm, white liking. Cook these, stirring frequently to avoid overcooking. fish, and add garlic served on top of fresh biscuit halves with a After the pork is cooked, remove it from the pot, and set it aside great chardonnay. covered to rest. Place the remaining butter in the pot with the For many years, I’ve enjoyed wowing my friends and trailpork drippings, as well as the onion and bell peppers. Unlike most chefs, I don’t continually salt my dish while mates with dishes like this, but I now find myself sharing these cooking, as I feel it only increases the overall sodium content. I experiences with my children, and creating new memories during also prefer a cleaner finish that can be seasoned to taste later. the next stage in my life. Hopefully, they’ll remember their times At this point, you could add a crushed clove of garlic or two with dad, and realize that not all meals need to come from a for a more European taste, but my kids don’t like it, so it gets kitchen. No matter where you are, you can have a truly amazing left out of my recipe. Continue to stir the onions and peppers meal that can immediately transport you back to a wonderful till they are cooked through, before adding smoked paprika and memory long since past. cumin, and stirring them until they are incorporated. Next, you need to create a rue, so sprinkle in the flour little by little to avoid clumping. Make sure that it is completely William Egbert Jr. is an Oak Brook resident, outdoor enthusiast mixed into the butter mixture. All of the chicken stock is added, and president of Vulture Equipment Works. then brought to a slight simmer. Once the mixture is brought together, you can add the corn. While over-landing, we carry ears of corn on the husk for ease, which need to be cooked and shaved off prior to being applied. Creamed corn in the can is also a great ingredient--just remember to CORN CHOWDER WITH ROAST PORK back off the half and half amount later. Once the corn is in, you can add the half and half until you reach a color that best describes your taste in creamy soups. Start to add small handfuls of the cheese, stirring constantly until you have all of the cheese incorporated. Remove that pot off the fire, and don’t waste time doing it, as the cheese and cream will start to curdle if they become too hot. Portion out your pork on skewers, and hold it over the hot coals of the fire to put that last crisp on them. Finally, ladle out your chowder into bowls, dress it with a small pile of scallions in the www.hinsdale60521.com |Hinsdale Magazine 55
Spiritual Insight
Dan Meyer
THESE THINGS NOW
Contributing Writer
Untapped potential? In Luc Besson’s film, Lucy, Scarlett Johansson plays a woman who absorbs a drug that suddenly endows her with the capacity to tap the full potential of every neuron in her previously little-used brain. In the space of a few hours, Lucy transforms from a person to whom life just happens into a force of nature able to change and then transcend life itself. While I found the movie a yawner, at the core of its story is an intriguing idea (voiced by no less than Morgan Freeman) that a human being normally uses only ten percent of his or her brain’s full capacity. My science-star son tells me that this notion is hooey; but it still has a hook to it, doesn’t it? What if you and I really do have a whole lot of capacity of one kind or another that we could suddenly unlock? Roman Catholic priest and therapist John Powell once contended: “Very few of us even approach the realization of our full potential. I accept the estimate that the average person accomplishes only ten percent of his promise...sees only ten percent of the beauty around him, hears only ten percent of the music and poetry of the universe, smells only a tenth of the world’s fragrance, and tastes only a tenth of the deliciousness of being alive. She is only open to ten percent of her emotions, tenderness, wonder and awe. Her mind embraces only a small part of the thoughts, reflections and understanding of which she is capable... To me, this is the most frightening of all possibilities...to think that you or I might die without ever having really loved or lived.”
Living to the Max None of us want to go that way, do we? None of us want to leave this life having missed out on fulfilling much of the potential for which we were created. I suppose that’s one of the reasons why even those of us who are not very religious find Jesus somewhat intriguing. We see in his character and conduct a picture of what a good life lived “to the max” might look like. We hear him saying that it’s possible for us to have a life “more abundant” than the one we now have (John 10:10). But then Christ sort of ruins everything. He tells us that finding this life won’t be as simple as just absorbing a miracle drug. It will require that we start to do a lot of things differently (Mark 8:34-36). These things could involve risk, sweat and cost. Author Lois Cheney tells of a man who once set out to live a better life, but was put off by what that life involved. “He saw people love each other...and he saw that all love made strenuous demands upon the lovers,” Cheney relates. “He saw love require sacrifice and self-denial. He saw love produce arguments and anguish. And he decided that it cost too much. And he decided not to diminish his life with love. “He saw people strive for distant and hazy goals. He saw men 56 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
strive for success, women striving for high, high ideals. And he saw that the striving was frequently mixed with disappointment. He saw the strong men fail. He saw that those who succeeded were sometimes those who had not earned their success. And he decided that it cost too much. He decided not to mar his life with striving. “He saw people serving others. He saw men give money to the poor and helpless. And he saw that the more they served, the faster the need grew. He saw ungrateful receivers turn on their servants. He decided not to soil his life with serving. “And when he died, he walked up to God and presented Him with his life. Undiminished, unmarred, and unsoiled, his life was clean from the filth of the world, and he presented it proudly... saying, ‘This is my life.’ “And the great God said: ‘What life?’”
The professor’s question As the season begins its shift from summer to fall, even nature reminds us that time is marching on. We don’t have forever to fulfill our untapped potential. On this theme, Leo Buscaglia, the famed professor at the University of Southern California, often assigned his students each September the task of writing a paper on this simple query: “What would you do if you found out that you only had five more days to live?” Some of the students came back with the predictable answers: “I’d run away with my boyfriend for a few final days of conjugal bliss... I’d fly to Hawaii for a wild week in the sun... I’d tear this assignment up, and go out and get drunk!” The majority of the class, however, came up with answers that say a great deal more about the ultimate priorities that live beneath the surface for most of us. “I’d go to the people that I love and tell them what they mean to me,” one student wrote. “I’d seek out a person I’ve wronged in the past and ask their forgiveness,” wrote another. “I’d find someone in desperate need and give them a helping hand... I’d thank my parents and my mentors for all that they’ve done for me... I’d sell my car and give the money to an agency that cares for third-world children... I’d go to a hospital and visit with someone who never gets visitors... I’d find a poor family and give them my extra clothes... I’d talk to a friend about faith... I’d spend time with someone dying... I’d love... I’d strive... I’d serve...”—and the answers go on and on. But Professor Buscaglia never graded or corrected these papers. He simply handed them back to his students, with this question scrawled across the top in great red letters: “Why don’t you do these things now?!” Imagine the Ultimate Teacher giving you and me the same assignment. What’s on the list of your untapped potential? What’s really stopping you from going after at least one or two of these priorities in this month ahead? Why don’t you do these things now?
We’re not a north shore magazine. We’re your community magazine based right here in Hinsdale on Blaine Street. Hinsdale Magazine, Inc. is not affiliated in any way with Hinsdale Living, a JWC Media publication based on the north shore. We are located at 38 Blaine Street in Hinsdale. You will find our in-depth local articles in this issue and online at www.hinsdale60521.com.
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Peak Performance
Jim Fannin
12 Ways To Eliminate Your Problems
Contributing Writer
truggling finances—sagging sales—past-due bills. Teenagers—relationship on rocky ground—home repairs. In-laws—bed-ridden parents—poor health. Crazy boss—bad job—no job. Poor grades—faulty golf swing. Most people have a problem, and many people have more than one. Problems are kept on the top shelf of the mind, so they can be reviewed, pondered and obsessed. They typically revolve around a personal or professional situation, circumstance or condition that is unwelcome, undesirable, annoying or harmful. They linger and constantly bombard our thoughts. If left unchecked, problems eventually produce stressful feelings that need to be dealt with and overcome immediately. They could also be unsolicited questions to be considered, solved and answered, such as, “When are you going to get a job?” or “How can we afford these college tuitions?” When you interact with other people on a typical day, you will readily see, hear and feel that the world is full of problems. Problems are cumbersome, unwieldy and burdensome. They drag you down. They literally lower your head and slump your shoulders. If repeated over and over in your mind, problems will turn into worry, and eventually spawn anxiety and negative stress. Problems close the mind to possibility by forcing you into seeing what’s wrong, instead of what might be. Unfortunately, many people have a lifetime of problems. It is the champion, however, that has eliminated the word problem, or the “p” word, from his or her vocabulary. In fact, no one at Jim Fannin Brands Inc. or any of my clients are allowed to utter this negative word. The word “challenge” has replaced the “p” word. We have challenges, not problems. The word “challenge” inspires, motivates and encourages the champion. A challenge that confronts a champion immediately conjures up the passion to meet it head-on, while only thinking about solutions. The “p” word, on the other hand, acts as a barrier, an obstacle and sometimes a formidable roadblock to what you want. It can cause you to quit, give up or curl up in a fetal position on the couch. What keeps you up at night? What problems are in your way? Lofty goals typically have great risks, and this creates problems. Unfortunately, many people lower their dreams and goals, because the problems seem too daunting. Here are 12 ways to eliminate your problems: 1. First, eliminate the word problem from your vocabulary. Replace it with the word challenge. 2. Get fired up to meet the challenge. Welcome this challenging intruder with an arsenal of positive weapons. Keep your head up at all times. No challenge drops your head. See the challenge as a mental test of your awesome ability. 3. Identify the exact nature of the challenge. Is the challenge another person, the economy, the situation, condition or the circumstance? Or is the challenge your own thoughts, beliefs and expectancies? Is the challenge a combination of these? 4. Look at the challenge from different angles. It may not be 58 Hinsdale Magazine | www.hinsdale60521.com
what it appears. When you’ve walked around it 360 degrees, make your decision with intuition, just in case you missed something. 5. Make a “control” list. What can you control when the challenge arrives? What is beyond your control? Know that you can control how you react to a challenge; know that you can control your own thoughts and consequently, your actions. Make this “control” list swiftly. 6. How much time do you have to meet the challenge? What is the challenge timeline? Is it something that needs an immediate solution? 7. Prepare yourself for surprise situations, conditions and circumstances with tools that take less than 90 seconds. Obviously, when confronted with a challenge within a meeting, presentation, speech or sporting event where time is of the essence, you will need a swift resolution. Dress-rehearse meeting all potential challenges with a swift 90-Second Rule™ response. 8. Use the B to A Principle™ within the S.C.O.R.E.® success system. Create a reverse-engineered timeline from what you want (point B) to where you are (point A). This illuminates a pathway that you can walk on with confidence and optimism. The more you’re prepared, the better you’ll manage challenges. 9. Identify the risks that come with the challenge. If you do nothing, will the challenge evaporate and go away. Sometimes, it will. What is at stake for not meeting this challenge? Know that every risk has an offset to that risk. Identifying the goal and understanding the risk and offset involved will help you counter any challenge. Write down the risks and corresponding counters or offsets to those risks. 10. What resources are needed to navigate through, under, over or around the challenge? Some challenges need money, equipment, repairs and/or other people to assist you. Make a list of the possible resources needed. 11. Relax when confronting a challenge. Relaxation is needed to think clearly and fully engage in the moment. Learning to breathe at six to eight breaths per minute within 90 seconds of a stressful challenge will help you meet it with clarity, simplicity and decisiveness. 12. Sell “you on you.” The lack of confidence is the biggest threat and challenge for accomplishing most lofty endeavors. Mentally envision your solutions. See the challenge being overcome. Repetitive, positive “I” statements directed toward the challenge will bolster your optimism. Examples are, “I’m awesome.” “I’m accurate.” “I can do this.” “I close.” The world is full of the “p” word. It is the champion that is inspired, enthused and motivated when confronted with situations, conditions and circumstances that they do not want. Champions love challenges and have a passion for overcoming them. Think like a champion. Drop the “p” word. Pick up the challenge.
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