FEATURE

she arrived in America with her family as an 11 year old girl.

Hsu, Who is father is a grandmaster of Tai Chu, a form of Chinese martial arts, said her family immigrated to Chicago so that he could continue teaching. They originally lived in Chinatown, where Hsu attended Chicago public schools, before moving to Rogers Park and later north suburban Morton Grove, where she attended junior high and high school.

Performing Tai Chi demonstrations with her family around the area, Hsu improved her English speaking proficiency, while honing her public speaking skills.

Imet with Mike Ditka at his Oak Brook restaurant for an exclusive interview for a two-part series in Hinsdale Magazine, in which the legendary coach and hallof-famer talked candidly about his exit from ESPN, his political picks, business ventures, the ‘85 Bears, his favorite quarterbacks and how he got to where he is today. The 76-year-old legend revealed a personal side, as he spoke about growing up in Aliquippa, Penn., and his relationships with former players, coaches and owners.

Ditka was the 1961 UPI NFL Rookie of the Year, a five-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time All-Pro tight end with the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. He is perhaps most famous after his playing days as the outspoken Bears head coach who, despite his toe-totoe standoffs with players such as Jim McMahon, was hoisted upon the shoulders of his victorious Super Bowl team. His tough persona as a player and coach was revealed, as he openly expressed his personal views, despite public backlash. In March, ESPN removed Ditka from “Sunday NFL Countdown,” and placed him into an “unspecified emeritus-type NFL role.’’ Throughout 2016, Ditka has given interviews in support of Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, and recently criticized President Barack Obama.

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of the man nicknamed “Iron Mike” is his straight-talk and appreciation and loyalty to the people that helped

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World history is rife with figures that have shaped and unfolded the destiny of mankind. In consulting the history books, the pages are filled with names of individuals distinguished for their genius and sagacity, or for their avarice and conceit—and for the most part, these names are male.

But while they are often forgotten by historical authors, nevertheless, women have been present every step of the way in cultivating historical advancements as well, whether in official capacities like Queen Elizabeth I, or as silent influencers such as Martha Washington and Abigail Adams.

On a local level, where history is often more personal and grassroots in nature, women are vital to preservation efforts, record-keeping and other tasks of historical societies and museums.

The Hinsdale Historical Society (HHS) is primarily comprised of women, who make up 15 of its 18 trustees, its current president, vice president, and of course, the women’s board, which is the driving force behind the Hinsdale Cooks! Kitchen Walk around town each May.

“Typically, women seem to be the worker-bees,” historical society executive director Lynne Smaczny said.

Smaczny, who joined the HHS in this capacity last November, said she has observed this trend at previous historical societies and museums for which she worked.

History is a longstanding passion in Smaczny that she traces to her childhood. She considers herself an “amateur genealogist,” having identified four of her ancestors that ventured with the Puritans to America aboard the Mayflower, and discovered that another of her relatives perished during the

Laugh and the world laughs with you. It’s the beginning of many famous quotes from writers, authors and stage actors, and it’s the ultimate goal of the Community Revue theater group comprised of about 40 members that will take their satirical talents to poke fun at themselves and their neighbors in the 11th “Community Revue.”

For two weekends in mid-March, the crew will sing, dance and barb their audience to the point of belly-aching laughs to the theme of “Hinsdamilton.”

Following a politically-charged year, about 1,000 seats will be sold to Hinsdale area residents, who will be entertained and “profiled,” according to Norm Chimenti, one of the original actors.

“We’re going to make the joke, and it will offend somebody,” Chimenti said. “In satirical humor, we are measured by how many people we offend. I think our audience is more forgiving than most audiences—they appreciate humor.”

Chimenti and his wife BJ are the only couple who have performed together since the Community Revue’s inception. They found out in their first act in 1997 that Hinsdaleans can take a joke. Jokes are aimed to hitting a funny-bone rather than a nerve, and the unapologetic actors and singers have covered the topic of affluence and the perception of stuffy personalities, superiority complexes and “outsiders” taking up the town’s parking spaces, and penetrating the protective “bubble” commonly referred to in social circles through light-hearted conversations with friends.

Past shows have included brassy but memorable topics, referring to Clarendon Hills as the “buffer” between Hinsdale and Westmont.

Chimenti said he was forced to move to the further western suburb when he found out his Hinsdale home was