COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS

BY LARRY ATSEFF

Peter Lipari, maestro for the ensemble, and Kathy Macal, one of the volunteer “My encouragement is to resolve to take with you into the new year something valuable from the last year. Most of us are eager to leave 2020 behind, but chances are, we learned in the midst of the mess some important lessons. Maybe it was a commitment to resting more frequently. Perhaps it was clarity about the value of investing in a few important people. It may have been a new constructive habit we formed. Take some seeds from 2020 and plant them in 2021, and see what greater fruit comes from them.” How performers are performing officers of the group. This past October, 16 symphony players and singers took part in the Lift Your Voice regional event, inspired by Neuqua Valley High School orchestra director Greg Schwegler, on a front-yard in Darien. Lipari led a no-rehearsal performance for the neighbors of “Simple Gifts,” an 1848 Shaker song used by Aaron Copland in his ballet Appalachian Spring and “America The Beautiful.” For health reasons, the group can’t gather for indoor performances. An audience can’t gather to see and hear them. They can’t even rehearse, because the schools and churches at which they would normally meet aren’t allowing outside rentals. Despite the fact that music is a welcome alternative to what all of us have been going through, about the best they can do as players and singers is to continue to practice on their own, stay in touch and work on plans for another outdoor pop-up ? performance when warm weather returns. And wait—and make plans for fundraising—and plan for when restrictions are lifted, and it is safe to get together to rehearse, and it is safe to perform as an ensemble and for audiences indoors.

West Suburban Symphony has a dilemma As the saying goes, you don’t realize how much something means to you until it is taken away. In the meantime, if you love

What do you do when a volunteer the music they offer, you might consider musical organization like the West sending a tax-deductible donation to the Suburban Symphony orchestra and West Suburban Symphony, P.O. Box 565, chorus get hit by the pandemic? We asked Hinsdale, IL 60522.

Drury Lane executive producer Kyle DeSantis shared this approach that goes back to when his grandfather Tony was just starting out.

“As an organization dedicated to creativity and live entertainment, we looked at the pandemic as a unique opportunity to find our way back to our roots,” DeSantis said. “Drury Lane started in a tent back in 1949, so we channeled our rich history and creative foundation to explore new ways of sharing art, whether that’s a live jazz trio during Sunday brunch or our Cabaret room under the canopy series, featuring Drury Lane performers and Drury Lane Orchestra members.

“As difficult as this time has been, it’ s challenged us to adapt and try new things— and ironically, we’ve found ourselves in a tent similar to where Drury Lane began. We are so grateful to our loyal patrons who continue to support us. Until we can safely reopen the theatre, we look forward to continuing to get creative under the canopy. ”

the day. I believe that we have learned process. Getting active is an important these lessons, and starting in 2021, we will part of feeling better, and benefits your build a more cheerful, prosperous society physical and emotional well-being. When asked for his thoughts on 2020 and 2021, Roy Spencer, founder of Permaupon this foundation.” “For decades, The Community House Seal in Burr Ridge, had these observations. Dennis Jones, chairman of has offered programs and services that “About the only thing I can add to Jim Fannin’s wise insights and advice is something that has helped me cope and Hinsdale Bank & Trust, had a shorter, but still pertinent observation about how to can help individuals achieve their physical and emotional goals as we all heal and plan our new priorities. With athletic and fitness activities for kids, adults and maintain hope throughout this ordeal. approach this year. seniors, in addition to a counseling center With the maelstrom of fear-mongering, governmental overstepping and the general gloom and doom prevalent in our community and across the world, it can be difficult to maintain positivity and hope for what’s to come in 2021 and beyond. “2021 promises to be a year of highs and lows, ups and downs—a ‘yo-yo’ of a year. Our plan and advice is to work to keep the string attached to both the axle and the index finger to remain in control of the game.” with licensed therapists, The Community House looks forward to being a partner in health in 2021.” Lesley Arnett, senior studio manager for CorePower Yoga Hinsdale, wants everyone considering a physical fitness facility to “I’ve made it my mindset to focus on all the many silver linings of 2020: all the heroic work done by parents, firstresponders and essential workers who have worked tirelessly to overcome the many obstacles that were put before them. The realizations that have come to people and organizations about what they really ‘need’ to get things done, and what's really important to them. Just as we’ve learned the importance of personal hygiene and attention to our physical health, we have also learned how important family and relationships at work are to our mental well-being. “We are social beings who need and crave interaction with others. Our liberties are precious, and are key to our economic and spiritual recovery; we cannot surrender them to any false Messiah or tyrant, no matter how dark Tips on physical fitness ?Dan Janowick, executive director, The Community House, Hinsdale “Whether you were diagnosed with COVID-19 or not, we all are in a recovery Dennis Jones, chairman of Hinsdale Bank & Trust know that CorePower Yoga is committed to positively impacting its students’ days and lives by building the powerful weekly habit of yoga. “We ensure the highest level of health and safety by limiting class-size, online booking for classes, six feet of space between each mat, temperature and health checks, and a sanitation system using hospital-grade EPA disinfectants,” Arnett said. Dr. Ronak Patel, orthopaedic surgeon at Hinsdale Orthopaedics, also encourages physical fitness for the potential it has to release energy and stay balanced internally. “Whether you are a dedicated runner, a high-school athlete, a weekend warrior who wants to get out of the house, if you haven’t been doing any kind of athletic activity recently, don’t overdo it,” Patel said. “Start slowly and build yourself up. ... “I have noted an increase in overuse injuries these past few months, since people who have been restricted, were thinking ‘go-go-go,’ with predictable results.” Patel also suggests cross-training or a variety of exercises so that all your muscles and joints get some exercise, and no one particular muscle or joint gets overused. 