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COVID brought, along with many things, an increased habit of driving to stay protected. As we settle back into post-COVID life, we still under-utilize the many walkable amenities. The village of Hinsdale is a unique walking community with many restaurants, stores and conveniently placed train stations. I believe swapping driving for walking may have unrecognized benefits. With spring upon us and summer around the corner, it’s a great opportunity to renew habits. Illinois averages 2.2 cars per household. Hinsdale’s nearly 6,00...
Every year for Lent, I try to challenge myself by giving up something that has too much of a hold on my life. This year, that was Tik-Tok. I anticipated that it would be difficult - that's why I gave it up - and that I would feel out of the loop on trends, new music and other people's lives. What I didn't expect was to not miss it at all. And after going over 40 days without Tik-Tok, I've happily decided not to re-download it. Although I have always preached my disdain for...
April is National Volunteer Month, and there’s a lot to celebrate. In 2021, more than 60.7 million Americans volunteered through an organization, contributing $122.9 billion in economic value. Volunteers are pulling their weight in Hinsdale, too. Just take a look at the list of ways they’re assisting these nonprofits in town. And for those interested in helping, each entry also includes one or more volunteer opportunities at that agency. Candor Health Education At Candor, formerly the Robert Crown Center for Health Edu...
As I have explained before, I am not a fan of the term "meteorological summer." I mean, there's an actual summer - which begins with the solstice on June 21. Changing the start date to June 1 just to make things easy seems lazy to me. But when I look at my calendar, June 1 - the day Ainsley will graduate from eighth grade - does mark the start of my summer. And it will be here before I know it. A quick look at my calendar shows I'll barely have time to breathe over the next...
We humans think a lot of ourselves. And rightly so. After all, unlike other species, we can contemplate the past and look forward to the future. We humans can talk in actual sentences with distinct and nuanced words. All you other species, what have you got? Quack, quack. Oink, oink. Bah, bah. Tweet, tweet. Come on, you, you — animals! And how about quantum physics? Any chimps or crows or dolphins thinking about that? Huh? Our greatest human minds can’t figure it out, of cou...
My senior year in college, as part of a January "short term" group trip to France and England, we traveled by bus to Wales to read William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" at Tintern Abbey. I'm not a huge fan of poetry in general or Wordsworth in particular, but the memory of that day has stayed with me. Last week I had a similar experience - this time, set to catchy tunes. Dan and I took Ainsley to Liverpool and London to see the stomping grounds of her favorite band, The...
In the decades we’ve been covering elections, we’ve rarely seen an election like this one. The worst had been the race for village president in 2009, when someone sent out a juvenile email about then candidate Tom Cauley. The stunt obviously didn’t do Cauley any harm, as he won that election — and three more since then. In 2023, smear campaigns seem to find their home on Facebook more than email inboxes, where people are free to say whatever they want about the candidates and the volunteers who are supporting them. We’ve c...
From attending almost every D86 board meeting since 1995, I’ve learned an important lesson: a school board is seven unique individuals, each one bringing to the table their own special background, knowledge, and skills. Three great candidates — Asma Akhras, Kay Gallo, and Catherine “Cat” Greenspon — will be even stronger in combination as they serve on the board. They share important commonalities — longtime volunteer work in our schools, other community service and a proven ability to collaborate and find the common grou...
As a District 86 parent, alum, retired state senator and the son of a longtime Hinsdale Central and South teacher, I applaud The Hinsdalean endorsement of Kay Gallo for its board. Kay previously served with distinction as District 86’s former board president. Importantly, she served one term on a feeder school’s board. Gallo is collaborative, approachable and respectful — traits sorely needed in these tumultuous times. Her dedication to our high school students, parents and taxpayers is unparalleled. My wife and I are impre...
Asma Akhras should be among those who guide D86 into the future. She brings compelling experience in the education field. She has taught in classrooms, has post graduate education-related schooling, has volunteered on local elementary and high school committees, and has worked in fields supporting school districts. This broad experience will help the board find commonality among the many stakeholders of D86. Parents want our students to thrive. Asma does too. She believes in meeting students where they are, providing...
I enthusiastically endorse Catherine Greenspon for the Hinsdale District 86 Board of Education. Her candidacy is refreshing and inspiring, especially considering the current state of our political climate. One of Catherine’s most admirable qualities is her independence. She is not beholden to any interest group or political broker. She has a clear and unbiased sense of what is best for our schools and refuses to be influenced by the whims of others. Catherine’s willingness to work with everyone has been crucial in her suc...
If a single mail-in or early-voting voter was swayed by the deceit involving an Asma Akhras campaign worker, that’s as harmful of an act as I can imagine. No matter what spin the campaign and the candidate are selling, ultimately, the candidate and her campaign are responsible for the actions of all people associated with the campaign. — Richard Morton, Hinsdale...
I have had the opportunity to work with Cat for several years as a volunteer for the Hinsdale Central PTO. During her tenure on the PTO executive board, she has prove that she is a compassionate leader who gets things done and will always put students first. Cat is an active volunteer within the district who is not afraid to dig in and get involved. She has held leadership positions in both the Hinsdale Central PTO and Music Parents Association and has spent countless additional hours volunteering for other clubs and...
Cat Greenspon is the candidate running for the BOE who consistently demonstrates her commitment to work tirelessly on the behalf of ALL students in D86. “It is time for our district to support all student growth and achievement through data-driven initiatives that maximize each student’s full potential,” said Cat at several forums. Her platform is fact-based, and she has the drive, the intelligence, and years of committee involvement with Hinsdale Central and Hinsdale South working toward this end goal. She is driven by pr...
When my mom passed away in 2016, her legacy included some prime Missouri farmland and a household inventory that ranged from English collectibles, coffee-table books on Great Britain and more plastic storage containers than one could use in a lifetime. Even one that stretched for 93 years. But as I blow through milestone birthdays at an impressive clip, I'm also channeling my London-born mom when it comes to assessing fashion choices. Do these ruffles look silly? Is this...
Kay has previously served on the school board from 2009-17. Her tenure during that often contentious time was exemplary. She is a proven and committed leader and always focused upon the best outcomes for all students, parents, faculty members and school employees. Her experience has demonstrated that she understands the big picture. Kay will lead D86 with fairness, integrity and honesty. Restore D86 to its former brilliance and end the time that has been lost. Vote for Kay Gallo. — Sally and Dennis Parsons...
Why should you vote in the Tuesday, April 4, election? The 2,450 students who attend Hinsdale Central High School, where they are taught by 215 certified faculty members and have the chance to participate on 31 athletic teams and more than 85 clubs. The 1,364 students at Hinsdale South High School, which has 134 certified faculty members, 31 athletic teams and more than 70 clubs. An annual budget of some $160 million. The three individuals voters elect to serve on the Hinsdale High School District Board will be responsible...
I first discovered Charles Mackesy in November 2020 when CBS Sunday Morning was doing a piece on him and his book, "The Boy, The Mole, The Fox and The Horse." We were enjoying our annual Thanksgiving weekend getaway in Saugatuck, so I had time to sit down with my coffee and enjoy the show. "In a quaint barn in the English countryside, there's a man, with a dog, documenting the human condition in its simplest form, through sketches about kindness and empathy, as we all...
I recently had the privilege of riding with Hinsdale police officers on an evening shift. I observed a high level of professionalism and supervisory competence. Officers displayed patience and restraint in difficult situations, efficient use of technology, excellent coordination of mutual operations involving other police departments and an enthusiasm and dedication to duty. Policing is a difficult and dangerous profession. Next time you see a squad give them a waive, next time you see an officer, thank them for their...
Kay Gallo has the right temperament, judgment and experience to represent our community on the D86 board of education. Kay is the only candidate with previous D86 board experience. She has served two terms, from 2009-17, and was board president from 2015-17. She is a known quantity and has proven herself. She is supportive of students and teachers, holds administrators accountable to high standards and is fiscally responsible. Kay has a deep understanding of the issues facing the district. She has a level-headed, pragmatic...
Catherine “Cat” Greenspon and I have crossed paths many times while advocating for students and our schools. As a D181 parent, as well as having served the last 10 years on a D181 PTO Board (three as a co-president), I have witnessed Cat working tirelessly to support all students and the schools. I got to know Cat more at a “meet and greet” where she shared her platform: choice for all students, accountability that D86 invest in student growth and true spirit of partnership with our community. When Cat took questio...
I am honored to support my friend, Catherine Greenspon, for D86 school board. Catherine deeply cares for all our D86 children, so much so that she tirelessly volunteers at both Hinsdale South and Central campuses. Catherine is laser focused on making sure each and every child in our community is given an opportunity to succeed, and I have no doubt she will do whatever it takes to get our kids the resources to grow and achieve success. I am impressed with Catherine’s willingness to listen, learn and strive for consensus. S...
Did you know that student math and English proficiency are down across the board over the last decade in D86? So why then did the D86 administration and board majority just approve a contract that will give students 18 fewer hours of instruction than they had in 2017-18, not more? Yes, it’s true. Students at our high schools will be released early, nearly every Wednesday, nearly every week, for the next four years. Twenty-eight Wednesdays, at minimum, each year, plus several more half-day releases, which will translate into w...
Voters in the Hinsdale Township school district need to be on the alert for a publication in their mailboxes that looks like a newspaper, the DuPage Policy Journal. It is not a member of the Illinois Press Association, nor is it eligible for membership in the association, according to that organization. It looks like right-wing propaganda by outsiders seeking to interfere in our local elections by touching on polarizing issues that distract us from the important issues facing the school district. Media/Bias Fact Check, which...
✔︎ Asma Akhras ✔︎ Kay Gallo ✔︎ Catherine “Cat” Greenspon Andrew Catton Deborah Willoughby A little more than two years ago, the newly seated board in Hinsdale High School District 86 spent two and a half hours taking 10 votes trying to choose a new board president. Since that time, the board has been regularly divided on a host of issues large and small, from curriculum issues to the approval of minutes. A segment of the board and the community also has lost confidence in the superintendent, making board meetings even m...
