Parents of ‘Idol’s’ Haley visit Wheeling village board

When Harry and Patti Reinhart stopped by Wheeling’s village board meeting on Monday they stayed for the long haul, including a 30-minute discussion on whether a proposed Dunkin’ Donuts should have a speaker at its drive through window.

When the board finally voted to allow the speaker, Patti gave them a quick round of applause.

The Reinharts — parents of “American Idol” finalist Haley Reinhart — stayed for the almost two-hour meeting and chatted with audience members for a good while afterward.

“Thanks for all the incredible support,” Harry said before the meeting. “We’re so proud of her and we’re flabbergasted by everything the village is doing. Thanks for all the signs.”

Village President Judy Abruscato encouraged residents to vote for Haley this week. Signs all around Wheeling echo that sentiment.

The Reinharts are longtime Wheeling residents who play in a band that performs all over the suburbs. They flew to California to watch Haley perform live last week on Idol.

“It was great to see her again, but she’s pretty homesick,” Harry said.

Reinhart, 20, graduated from Wheeling High School in 2009. She went on to study at Harper College where she joined the Jazz Ensemble and Jazz Lab.