Elm Leaves

A Spanish delight

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 09:53:23 -0500

My husband had the good fortune of hosting Luis, a Spanish exchange student, during high school, and his family had the good sense to preserve their relationship for decades. As a result, I found myself in the kitchen years ago with Luis’s mother, Carmen Lucy. Clad in an American flag apron, she taught me how to make Tortilla Española; working together we sliced potatoes and simmered them gently in olive oil. While I had never cooked anything in such copious amounts of oil, I was delighted to discover the resulting dish is not at all greasy. Ever since Carmen Lucy …

Keep records of vital information for elderly parents

Mon, 13 May 2013 16:26:23 -0500

Sometimes we make assumptions about the information that we have or don’t have when it comes to our parents, grandparents or other seniors in our lives. Unfortunately the moment we realize that the information we need is not available is usually during a crisis.

Taking stigma off incontinence

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 13:14:03 -0500

Watching daytime TV, and all of the commercials for incontinence products, one might think that incontinence is a normal part of life and aging.

This Apple has sour taste

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:42:03 -0500

Dear Fixer: I cannot download any apps on my iPhone. It says my account is disabled. After I sent a request to the Apple support email address, I received a response from an iTunes adviser who said it appeared that my account had been disabled due to “chargeback orders” they had received from my credit card issuer.

Art of compromise is what’s needed now

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:42:03 -0500

In the aftermath of last week’s election, I’ve been listening to my friends on the right and the left. They are saying the same thing, and that’s what worries me.

Christmas shopping, philosophically speaking

Thu, 15 Nov 2012 07:42:03 -0500

Now that that pesky presidential election is over, it’s time to concentrate on what’s really important. Christmas shopping. But before you can shop, you have to decide what to get friends and family, collectively known as loved ones.

Guest Essay: Library not a political pawn

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 06:44:09 -0500

As a current Library Board Trustee in the village of Elmwood Park, I was disappointed but somehow not surprised when a political candidate addressed the Elmwood Park Village Board at the Oct. 15 board meeting. During the public comment portion of the meeting, it was erroneously stated that the village “cut” funding to the library, which supposedly adversely affected the library’s ability to offer programs to the youth of our community, a claim that was apparently not only politically motivated, but also untrue. When the library submitted its 2013 budget for approval earlier this year to the village of Elmwood …

Stop ‘straw buyers’ of guns

Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:10:01 -0500

For years Chicago and Cook County officials have been pushing a law that would help close the spigot of guns flowing illegally into the city. So far, the National Rifle Association has blocked the law in Springfield, but officials here should keep pushing. The so-called “lost or stolen” law would require gun owners to report a lost or stolen gun within 72 hours of noticing it is missing. It would help discourage “straw buyers” who purchase numerous guns legally in the suburbs and then sell them to felons in Chicago. Straw buyers often say their weapons were lost or stolen …

How about veggie McDonald’s here?

Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:16:04 -0500

McDonald’s is opening two vegetarian-only restaurants. Not, unfortunately, in one of the hipper neighborhoods of Chicago, or even somewhere in California. But in India — in Amritsar and Katra. This makes sense. For reasons of religion and tradition, Indian diets tend to be low in meat, with about 30 percent of Indians eating no meat at all. But vegetarians are growing in number in this country, too, and we’re pretty sure a veggie McDonald’s would fare well in or around Chicago. Our first reaction when we read the news about a vegetarian-only McDonald’s was to laugh. Aren’t these the folks …

River Grove Public Library gears up for fall

Sun, 07 Oct 2012 06:16:37 -0500

RIVER GROVE — With summer officially over, all of us at the River Grove Library are gearing up for fall programs. Starting the week of Sept. 24, we will once again offer 1-on-1 computer, e-reader and device classes. We are also happy to announce 1-on-1 Job Search Skills workshops starting on Sept. 12, focusing on topics such as résumés, interviews and the online job search and job applications. When registering, please indicate the workshop topic. All programs are free of charge, but require registration. Register by calling the library at (708) 453-4484. The library is excited to announce that we …

Guest Essay: River Grove police crackdown on drivers through Labor Day

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 06:13:28 -0500

RIVER GROVE As long as I have been a police officer, I’ve never gotten used to the sorrow I feel when I’m called to the scene of a crash where someone has died. Making matters worse is, all too often, those in the crash were not buckled up or alcohol was involved. This senseless loss of human life is a daily reality here in River Grove and all over Illinois — year after year. It is illegal in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08 grams per deciliter. …

Tiger Tear 5K raises $4,400

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 11:29:00 -0500

The Elmwood Park High School Athletic Booster Club held its 3rd annual Tiger Tear 5K on May 20. It was a beautiful day, we had over 250 participants and raised over $4,400 for the EPHS Athletic Booster Club. Through our fundraisers we are able to provide some of the extras that the school district may need help with at this time. In the past four years we have helped the school with the following: New Scoreboards for the main gym, a light weight wrestling matt, poles and a pit for track, raincoats for soccer, a grill for the football games …

A ‘Moneyball’ lesson in life: ‘Get on base’

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:54:00 -0500

I’ve decided that the correct answer for just about any question this spring is: “He gets on base.” That answer comes from one of last year’s best movies, “Moneyball.” That simple phrase answers the questions put to Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s, about why he wants certain players over other players on his team. Because, Billy’s assistant answers every question, “He gets on base.” If only every move were that simple. But it is spring, and with spring comes a new baseball season. Here in Chicago, every baseball fan must be full of hope. It is clear …

Shimkus: Senator Kirk is coming back

Tue, 20 Mar 2012 11:42:30 -0500

Editor’s note: The following article is an op-ed piece submitted by U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, regarding the status of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Highland Park, who is in recovery from a stroke he suffered in January. As a member of the Illinois congressional delegation, I have been besieged by questions on the status of U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk. These well-intended queries come from colleagues from around the country, congressional staffers, the professional employees of the government, local Republican leaders, and the general public. When I went to visit Senator Kirk, he was clearly very happy to see me. Family …

Leyden Township property values fall

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 16:06:58 -0500

As we pay the first installment of the 2011 tax bill, many of us wonder why our bill was higher. The Illinois Legislature passed a law ordering that the first installment tax bill be calculated at 55 percent of the previous year’s total tax obligation. The tax bill, which was due March 1, is 55 percent of the 2010 total tax bill. Because of the complexity of the property-tax system in Cook County, there are several reasons our property-tax bills increase. One of the reasons is that when the total equalized assessed value goes down, the tax rate must go …

BBB advises to avoid payday loans

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 08:38:43 -0500

Distressed consumers, worried about paying bills or buying food for their families, are turning to payday loans for fast cash. While many borrowers believe they can pay off the loans quickly, the Better Business Bureau serving Chicago and northern Illinois warns payday loans may have long-lasting and devastating effects. Obtaining a payday loan can be very expensive. Driven by the need for quick cash the borrower will generally write a personal check for the amount they want to borrow plus a fee charged by the lender. The fee may vary, but as a rule of thumb it is a percentage …