Libertyville artist designs Clinton's campaign trail jewelry
In her wildest dreams, Bonnie Ward Klehr says she never would have imagined a scenario where her high school pal was running for president and wearing jewelry on the campaign trail that Klehr designed.
But the pieces fell quite literally into place when Klehr, originally an artist who concentrated on three-dimensional installation art and mixed media, was wearing a necklace she'd made at a gathering of Maine South High School classmates that included Hillary Clinton.
"She said, 'I like that, where'd you get it?' And I told her I'd made it," Klehr, of Libertyville, tells me. "From then on, she'd ask what I was working on, and she'd purchase different designs."
After Clinton finished her tenure as secretary of state, Klehr designed a necklace of large pearls separated by gold crosses to be given to the former first lady as a thank you "from all of us girls." As a tribute, Clinton also wore earrings that belonged to Klehr's late mother during a book tour in England. "My mom believed (Clinton) was going to be president," Klehr said. "My whole family in England noticed them."
<h3 class="leadin">That pastor
Meanwhile, you've likely heard Clinton mention on the campaign trail that her commitment to social justice began when she got to know a pastor at First United Methodist Church in Park Ridge. That spiritual mentor to young Clinton, then Hillary Rodham, was the Rev. Don Jones, who focused on exposing teens to wider horizons than they were getting in their suburb. Jones' methods proved controversial, and he resigned his minister's post after two years, but Clinton stayed in touch. He died in 2009 at age 78.
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Sportscaster by day
Wondering just who was the impersonator of presidential bidder Bernie Sanders at John Kasich's town hall in Palatine last week?
It was WGN-TV sportscaster Pat Tomasulo, who, clad in wig, glasses and rumpled suit, had the crowd roaring as he thanked the Ohio governor for "bringing a little class to the Republican debates," which have been dominated by mudslinging. Kasich was completely undeterred by the impersonator's appearance, inviting him up on stage and even posing for a selfie with a flip phone. Tomasulo, who moonlights as a comic, performed at Zanies in St. Charles over the weekend and heads to Rockford's Coronado Performing Arts Center on Friday.
<h3 class="leadin">Lovie effect
Will the University of Illinois' hiring of former Bears coach Lovie Smith help the state's flagship university bring in more top in-state recruits than it has in past years? "Edgy" Tim O'Halloran, a veteran local preps football expert, says it'll take a lot more than Smith's solid reputation.
Last year, O'Halloran says, the team only signed two players in-state as part of its recruiting class. This year, the Illini had made inroads getting to know top area players and offering them scholarships, but the school's firing of coach Bill Cubit wipes out most of that work. "Now they have to start all over again," O'Halloran said. Smith and his assistant coaches "are going to have to make that kind of contact and reach out."
<h3 class="leadin">Set your DVRs
Arlington Heights resident and proud older brother Chris McCarthy called me this week to tip me off to sister and Cook County Assistant State's Attorney Maria McCarthy's upcoming appearance on Dateline, scheduled to air at 9 p.m. Friday. McCarthy was interviewed for her work convicting Reginald Potts, who prosecutors say killed his ex-girlfriend, Nailah Franklin, when she broke up with him. McCarthy, of Mount Prospect, is a 1981 Prospect High School graduate.
<h3 class="leadin">Golf, then vote!
Because of unusually high temperatures, Kemper Lakes Golf Course in Kildeer is opening for the season at 9 a.m. Tuesday, with plenty of time to squeeze in a round before the polls close. It's the earliest opening day in three years, officials say.
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Another notch for Perryman
For the second time this season, Streamwood native and University of Missouri, St. Louis senior Hannah Perryman has been named the Louisville Slugger/National Fast Pitch Coaches Association player of the week. Perryman went 4-0 with 45 strikeouts in 27 innings, recorded a no hitter and held her opposition to just one run at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Florida.
You might also remember Hannah as the force behind the state's Stalking No Contact Act, signed into law by former Gov. Pat Quinn in 2010. Perryman successfully pushed to strengthen state laws after finding she could not get a court order to keep a teenage neighbor from stalking her.