Natural, Healthy Foods in the Neighborhood

Here are some places to find and learn about lean cooking.

Opinion--Excerpt from Patch.com, May 14, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"The weather is erratically becoming warmer and sunnier. This creates prime opportunities for grilling outdoors, and might create the motivation to go the extra mile, ironically, to buy locally." (read more)

Burr Rige Continues Protecting Trees From Emerald Ash Borer

Read on for what's happening locally in the fight against EAB.

Excerpt from Patch.com, May 7, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"The Emerald Ash Borer is a problem in Burr Ridge.

The EAB beetle is infesting ash trees in the area, essentially starving them. When enough of these one-half-inch long insects are living within an ash tree, they destroy the system that moves nutrients throughout the tree. When enough of them are living within a tree, the bark pulls away from the wood. There may be thousands of bores in one tree.

“It’s like a traffic jam,” said Gary Gatlin, Burr Ridge Village arborist." (read more)

Local Responses to Osama bin Laden's Demise

Burr Ridge residents react to killing of al Qaeda leader.

Excerpt from Patch.com, May 3, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"President Barack Obama revealed late Sunday night that Osama bin Laden was captured and killed by U.S. armed forces in Pakistan.

Reactions from Burr Ridge residents were largely positive." (read more)

Dozens attend raucous hearing about Oak Forest Hospital

Excerpt from the SouthtownStar, from April 18, 2011,
updated May 20, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"Charges of class bias erupted Monday at a raucous public hearing on the planned closure of Oak Forest Hospital as Cook County’s strategic health plan continued to hit snags." (read more)

Gower, Village Celebrate Arbor Day

As Part of Arbor Day celebrations, three new shrubs were planted at Gower Middle School Friday.

Excerpt from Patch.com, May 2, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"On Friday the Village of Burr Ridge celebrated Arbor Day for the fifteenth year in a row with shrub plantings at Gower Middle School." (read more)

On Mom's Day, Celebrate All Mothers — Including the Earth

Do you know the history of Mother's Day? Read on to learn which ancient cultures celebrated mothers and for some ways to honor the mother figures in your life.

Opinion--Excerpt from Patch.com,
May 1, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"Mother’s Day is coming up on May 8 and it’s a great chance to celebrate the mother figures in your life, including, you guessed it, Mother Earth.

Here’s some history on the holiday." (read more)

Celebrate Earth Day by Remembering its History, Participating in Local Events

This Earth Day, make the holiday your own through any number of activities.

Excerpt from Patch.com, April 16, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"With Earth Day coming up April 22, this is a prime chance to celebrate the earth and to care for it.

Earth Day partly grew out of the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring." (read more)

Salon Staff Become "Water Warriors" in Fight for Clean Water

Stylists will volunteer their time for Cut-a-Thon from noon to 8 p.m. Monday for cash donations to clean water projects.

Excerpt from Patch.com, April 11, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"Besides beauty, one thing a day spa and salon knows is water. It uses a lot of it every day in the service of its clients. The staff of Salon Efthimia is participating in Earth Month 2011 by becoming "water warriors" and asking their clients and the general public to join them." (read more)

A Fishy Beginning to April

Learn about the reasons to enjoy, or avoid, the fish below us.

Opinion--Excerpt from Patch.com, April 2, 2011

By Jessica Tobacman

"Friday was the first day of April, which is often called April Fools’ Day and is known for practical jokes. What is not as well-known in the United States is that it’s called Poisson d’Avril in French, meaning “April Fish.” French children sometimes celebrate by taping pictures of fish onto their classmates’ backs, and yelling 'Poisson d’Avril' when this trick is discovered." (read more)