During a second conversation with Lee Daniels, I asked him about growing up in Elmhurst.

What I love about Elmhurst is its community spirit that spills over into every neighborhood. What is it about the Midwest that fosters this kind of people-helping-people attitude?

Last week I wrote about all the get-togethers that occur this time of year and even mentioned a few. I’m not finished. I bumped into Barb Phelps recently, and she asked me to write something about the 50th anniversary on Monday, Dec. 1, of Snuggles, the stuffed pink elephants that members of the Elmhurst Hospital Guild make and give to the kids being treated at Elmhurst Hospital, Center for Health or one of its branches.

Though the month is still not over, there have been and continue to be many celebrations, ceremonies and open houses in November. It’s a month of Thanksgiving and reflection, after all, a month when we look for ways and reasons to come together to eat, laugh, discuss and hopefully learn something about the past year and the year to come.

Because there was once a second commuter railway line in Elmhurst — The Chicago, Aurora, and Elgin, with three stops including Spring and York roads — two secondary Elmhurst business districts were created to serve those who lived in these areas. Today, they continue to thrive and grow and have their own distinct personalities, and when a new business opens, it’s a cause for a celebration.

Although I could not attend the Elmhurst Art Museum’s fall gala benefit at the Westin Hotel in Lombard, which featured a performance by Bonnie Koloc, I did happen to be at the museum on two occasions when she was there. I knew who she was, a folk singer, right? I was not prepared for all her other artistic talents, nor her warmth, humor and charm.

Elmhurst is really a special place. Naturally I feel that way because I live here, but the more I learn about the town and its people, the more I appreciate it.

It occurs to me that our great town has no song to call its own, nothing distinct to play at Elm Fest, the Memorial Day Parade, or other festivities and with which to rally our community spirit and bring a tear to the eye.

The Beach Boys wrote a song called “I Can Hear Music,” which reminds me of Elmhurst. Ours is not a quiet town. We are surrounded by either tollways or expressways, so the gentle music of traffic is always an undercurrent. Two railroads bisect the town, so along with their often lonesome whistles blowing comes the inevitable chugging and crashing of cars on rails.

I spoke with Mayor Tom Marcucci one morning and came away with a better understanding of him as a private citizen as well as of his vision for Elmhurst during his years in office.

Mayor Tom Marcucci is in his City Hall office until 10 on most weekday mornings, and anyone can make an appointment to see him. I thought it was time for me to do just that in view of the fact that this term will be his last.

Jonathan Sebastian is an enthusiastic young man working on his master’s degree in history at Loyola. He volunteers at the Elmhurst Historical Museum and also works part time with the Bensenville Park District. His passion is history because, he said, “It’s a way we can connect our present to our past, a way we can better make sense of our everyday life.”

Ted Kross, George Vann and Ken Madsen are retired and volunteer every Tuesday at the Elmhurst Historical Museum.

I never had the privilege of meeting her, but I have heard from many people that Diana Nicholas was quite a lady.

We are all very aware by now that being green has taken hold of the American conscience. It is affecting different people in different ways. Some are planning errands to save gas while others are walking and biking more, using tote bags for groceries, or car pooling. We are combining the need to economize with a desire to preserve our environment.