Neighbors acting neighborly Hanover Park

Hanover Park’s Public Works Department remains out in full force working to clear the streets, but crews currently are concentrating on the village’s main thoroughfares.

Officials announced this morning that village hall will be closed Wednesday.

“The safety of our staff is of utmost concern, so we decided it was in our best interest to close village hall so that staff does not have to drive in these dangerous conditions,” Village Manager Ron Moser said.

Meanwhile, resident Barb Insidioso said that despite the frigid conditions, her heart was warmed when she witnessed her neighbors come together this morning to shovel each other’s driveways on the 1600 block of Oak Street.

“The lady across the street is by herself after losing her husband on New Year’s Eve, and my son (C.J. Malchow) went out at 7 a.m. to help,” Insidioso said. “All of a sudden, all the neighbors had their shovels and snowblowers.”

By noon, a group of about 10, including four teenage boys home from school, had cleared eight driveways, and the thankful widow had brought out hot chocolate and snacks for everyone.

Insidioso, 70, said the blizzard easily rivals the 1967 storm when she lived in Schiller Park. She recalls kids climbing out of windows to clear front doors and neighbors sharing bread and milk because access to stores was so limited.

“It’s a little better now because people have snowblowers, but this has the same feel because of the way everyone is helping each other out,” she said. “You don’t see that anymore.”