#HASHTAG: DIANE WELNHOFER

DIANE WELNHOFER has lived in Wilmette for almost 43 years and volunteered for many organizations in various capacities. Most recently, she has been actively involved in fundraising for the Northwestern University Settlement House (NUSH). She has been a member of its Winnetka Auxiliary Board for 15 years, including two years as Board President to supporting Northwestern Settlement’s mission to disrupt generational poverty by supporting, preparing, and empowering young people to break down barriers on their path to success in adulthood. Through all of her volunteering activities, Welnhofer loves seeing the impact the Settlement is making in the lives of the families it serves and finds it to be an honor to do work to help others. The upcoming fundraising event “Uncorked! A Stock-the-Cellar Event” will be held on Friday, April 19, at the Glen View Club in Golf from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. The fun evening includes tasting 16 wines curated by Fine Vines and available for purchase through Schaefer’s Wine, Foods & Spirits with delicious hearty appetizers. The funds raised will support various programs for Northwestern Settlement Rowe Elementary/Middle School. For more information, visit winnetkaboard.com.

#ON MY NIGHTSTAND

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. This is an interesting interaction between a woman working at an aquarium and the octopus that she cares for. After reading the book and seeing the documentary My Octopus Teacher I think differently about our relationship with our fellow creatures on this earth. I am also reading The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai. This novel is based in Chicago and is the story of friends at the beginning of the AIDS epidemic and their relationship to each other and those around them. It contains horrifying accounting of how ignorance and prejudice can hurt so many people.

#ON MY MOBILE

I went to French cooking school before I had my family and love to cook and bake. I follow several food bloggers, chefs, and restaurants. Some of my biggest influences are David Lebovitz, an American chef living in Paris and an expert on French cocktails; Aboyer and George Trois Chef Michael Lachowicz; French chef and Wilmette native Daniel Rose; local chef Grant Achatz; and of course José Andrés, founder of the World Central Kitchen. I also love to travel and follow many travel sites.

#IN MY EARBUDS

Embarrassed to say but I don’t spend a lot of time listening to as much music as I would like. I have always been a huge Beatles fan and was fortunate to see them in person when I was 11 years old! I love Phil Collins, Genesis, and Coldplay, and listen to them while driving. I get most of my new music from my daily Peloton rides, which is my way to escape for 45 minutes a day. I do listen to meditations through my Peloton app from Kristin McGee and Ross Rayburn which help me unwind at the end of the day or after an event.