KOSEY CORNER
And how did you spend your summer vacation, Chris Halline? From one whose summer vacation as a kid consisted of going to my godparents’ farm in Berrien Springs, Mich., Halline’s summer had more miles and exciting times than going to the chicken coop to pick up fresh eggs, which were still warm and not always the cleanest.

Anyway, for Halline, a recent graduate of Riverside-Brookfield High School, it is a summer to write about.

A member of the Riverside Presbyterian Church Youth Group, Chris, along with his brother, Connor, joined 21 youths and four adults a boys juvenile detention camp to upstate New York to help make some repairs and spend some quality time with camp residents.

Chris Halline stated that much of their time was spent with the residents, which he referred to as almost a type of social work. In conversations with the residents, the Riversiders were able to listen to stories about lives quite different from theirs.

Halline continued that none of the residents was proud of what they had done but were glad to have the Youth Group there. The group, said the residents, “treated them so much differently than other groups.” They did not feel like “outcasts.”

Summing it up, Halline says “it was a neat experience.” Another good job done by the Youth Group at Riverside Presbyterian Church.

His summer continued with a trip to Spain with approximately 25 other teens members of a Western Springs violin group. With a repertoire prepared, the group performed concerts at several “cool venues,” which included Barcelona and Madrid. The trip was not all performing, and Halline was able to take advantage of many of the lovely sights in Spain.

An accomplished violinist, Halline was an integral part of the RBHS music department, not only for his violin but his voice as well. He has performed at many local events as a solo violinist or with choral groups from the high school.

Now it’s off to college. For Chris, that means Washington University in St. Louis. And though he hasn’t made any definite plans for a major, he does say that music will fit into his schedule.

And for the first time the brothers Halline will not be attending the same school, since Connor Halline has chosen to attend Emory University in Atlanta. I have a feeling, though, they may be apart distance wise they will still be close.

It may not have been as exciting as Chris Halline’s summer vacation, but I admit I did have fun on the farm!