OPINION
GUEST COMMENTARY
Heating things
up for fall
I’m back! With
the summer hiatus,
I’ve missed my out-
let to unload. So
hold on tight.
Summer was a
bust. It just never
materialized.
Instead, we had a
drawn-out spring.
Good thing the
community pool Mike Neiman
sells summer pass-
es early or we’d need the
stimulus package to pay the
bills. Speaking of bills, I’m
sure our friends at ComEd
are looking for ways to
squeeze extra cash out of us
to make up for what we did-
n’t spend on air condition-
ing.
And now fall is upon us.
Just like you can count on a
new mysterious neighbor
moving to Wisteria Lane,
you can smell the drama
brewing on the streets of
Hinsdale. Potential budget
cuts in District 181 seem to
have everyone in a tizzy.
There are lots of ideas float-
ing around, some good,
some not. So before the hys- up to get in. And the Fuller
teria begins, let’s wait for a
plan and in good ole
Hinsdale fashion, debate it,
debate it again, make a deci- soft-serve frozen yogurt
sion and then sue.
On a positive note, con-
grats to our Blue Ribbon
winners: Madison, HMS and son that never was. Many
CHMS. Truly impressive!
The circus is also coming
to town. Not only is Central
getting new artificial turf, but skeptic that I am, I’d recom-
a tent to practice in to boot.
And under the big top in
center ring, we have the
District 86 Board vs. the
Hinsdale Village Board.
Good to see the new village
board stirring the pot a bit,
as they have been somewhat
boring. No raucous battles or
undercover intrigue.
Channel 6 has been a big
Requirements
• 250 words or fewer
• include writer’s name, address and day-
time phone number
• documentation must be provided for num-
yawn. Maybe this
will spike the rat-
ings.
Campaign signs
are already start-
ing to sprout in
front yards. Isn’t it
a tad early since
the election isn’t
until February?
And for those
posting signs, take
note. Placing more
than one sign in your yard
doesn’t increase the chances
of your candidate. It only
annoys your neighbors who
have to look at them daily.
And one last political note;
is there anybody from
Hinsdale not running for
senator or governor. Fill the
potholes and find me a
decent cell signal and you’ll
get my vote. Heck, maybe I’ll
run myself.
Wow, all this spewing is
warming me up from my
summer chill and making
me hungry. Good thing
there’s life downtown! Il
Poggiolo finally opened its
doors and people are lined
empire will soon expand
with Dips & Dogs. Hopefully
my wife Nancy’s prayers for
downtown will be answered.
As the leaves fall, I’m try-
ing to forget about the sea-
feel since we missed sum-
mer, Mother Nature owes us
a mild winter. But being the
mend you get your snow
blower tuned up as soon as
possible.
— Mike Neiman of Hinsdale
is a contributing columnist.
Readers can e-mail him at
news@thehinsdalean.com.
bers, statistics and other facts mentioned in
the letter
• no form letters
Submission
• e-mail to news@thehinsdalean.com
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Board president invites District 181 residents to get involved
Recently there has been
much discussion regarding
the future of our schools. In
the last year, the economy
has affected many organiza-
tions worldwide. District 181
is a large organization, with
4,000 students, nine schools,
600 employees and a $55
million budget, and we con-
stantly face new issues.
However, our mission “To be
a school district where all
children experience success
and exhibit excellence”
never changes.
Your board is working to
ensure outstanding educa-
tion of our children. We are
proud of recent achieve-
ments: three district schools
Hinsdalean has accomplished much in its first three years
Congratulations to Pamela
Lannom, Jim Slonoff, and
the entire staff of The
Hinsdalean at the beginning
of your fourth year of publi-
cation. Yours is a singular
accomplishment, for three
reasons at the least.
1. The paper started with
the intent to take a local
focus, and you have sus-
tained this. Depth and
nuanced understanding of
our community flows from
your decision, and your
LETTERS POLICY
named Blue Ribbon Schools,
all schools on the Illinois
Honor Roll and the accom-
plishments we see in our
children daily. These are
consistent with our legacy
and our plans for the future.
The board has recently
discussed goals and values.
In the coming months, we
will engage in long-term
planning, including the eval-
uation of changes to manage
our resources. All of these
discussions have occurred in
open meetings, where
we welcome community
participation. As an outcome
of these early discussions,
our administration is
researching a variety of alter-
readers benefit.
2. The content of the sto-
ries is sensible, and the edi-
torial views are propor-
tioned. This provides a tonic
during times when such
commodities can be in short
supply.
3. You love what you do. It
is evident throughout the
paper, and perhaps most
especially in the cover pho-
tographs that most often cel-
ebrate that which is impor-
tant above all: the children
• fax to (630) 323-4220
• mail to The Hinsdalean, Letters to the edi-
tor, 7 W. First St., Hinsdale Il 60521
Questions?
Call (630) 323-4422
The Hinsdalean • October 8, 2009 • Page 11
natives. We will not make
any decisions until we com-
plete the research.
In the comments we have
received from residents and
through the superintendent
search process, it is hearten-
ing to hear that so many res-
idents are pleased with their
children’s education and our
schools’ performance. I
encourage you to be
involved as we plan for the
future of our district. Our
next meeting is 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Oct. 13 at Oak
School. — Marc Monyek,
president, Community
Consolidated Elementary
District 181 Board
of our community, their
healthy development, our
mutual responsibilities to
them all.
Thank you. May we all
continue to wake up
Thursday mornings to the
welcome sight of The
Hinsdalean on our driveway
for many more years to
come. — J. Richard
Spatafora and Catherine A.
Kinney, Hinsdale