Light Up the Night

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Clarendon Hills Infant Welfare

By Mike Ellis

The Clarendon Hills chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago auxiliary (CHIW) presented its annual benefit, “Light Up the Night,” at homes throughout the village on Jan. 23. The chapter sold approximately 160 tickets, which provided purchasers with access to a streaming video produced by CHIW members that featured both live and recorded content. Ticket purchasers had the option of hosting their own benefit parties in their homes, but most opted to simply enjoy the content with their families. CHIW president Jen Alsman, benefit co-chair Melissa Woodbury and chapter member Michelle Casini toiled on video production in Alsman’s basement throughout the evening. Alsman, Woodbury and benefit cochair Danielle Wheeler recorded a professionally-shot video at the new restaurant Walkers in downtown Clarendon Hills, introducing viewers to aspects of Infant Welfare, which operates the Angel Harvey Family Health Center in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago. Infant Welfare CEO Jerry Isikoff discussed the impact of Coronavirus on the Angel Harvey clinic, explaining that they have had a number of staff members test positive for the virus, but have been fortunate not to lose any patients to the disease thus far. In a recorded segment, Woodbury introduced Jasmine Flores, a former Infant Welfare patient who resides in the Gage Park neighborhood of the city roughly 45 minutes from the clinic. The video concluded with a comedy routine by Pat Tomasulo of WGN Ch. 9 that tackled a variety of subjects, ranging from politics to crime in Clarendon Hills. For more information about the Clarendon Hills chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago,

visit www.clarendonhillsinfantwelfare.org

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Kristina and Matthew Bailey began reading books to their son, Owen when he was six months old— they haven’t stopped.
Owen turned 4 in June and recently received an award from the Clarendon Hills Public Library for having had 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten.

The library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is one of a few reading challenge programs offered in Clarendon Hills, where the Bailey family has lived for the past 2 1/2 years.
Kristin Bailey said she saw an ad about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and decided it was a good fit for Owen.

“He’s always been really into books,” Bailey said. “He had a natural interest in books at nine months old. That’s when COVID started, and he didn’t get out much, so reading books to him worked out very well. He’s a naturally curious kid, and imagination-building is important. The reading allows him to learn and explore new things, and he really wants to learn to read now.”

Krista Devlin, the Clarendon Hills library’s youth services librarian, said there’s a specific reason The Friends of the Library-sponsored 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge was started in 2022.

“Reading aloud to a child is one of the best ways to help develop important early literacy skills, which will prepare them for kindergarten,” Devlin said. “It is also a great way to bond with your child and to encourage a love of reading.”

Devlin said Owen was the second child to reach the challenge of having 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten. He was awarded a certificate, a crown, and his picture was taken to recognize his accomplishment.

Bailey, who said she is “a big reader,” said her family usually goes to the library once a week. Reading three books each night to Owen, along with a book before nap time, is the household normal.

“Consistency in our routine has been good and is important,” she said, adding that Owen’s two sisters, ages 2 1/2 and 1

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