Earlier this year, veteran Glenbard South boys cross country and track coach Andy Preuss was induced into the Illinois Track and Cross Country Coaches Association (ITCCCA) Hall of Fame. Preuss, one of seven inductees out of a field of 60 who were nominated, is in his 29th year. His cross country teams have qualified for the state meet nine times, and finished in the top six a total of six times. His 2001 squad, led by individual state champion Micah VanDenend, captured the state team title. A year later, the Raiders placed third. Meanwhile, Preuss’ track teams also have earned state and …

It’s easy to tell that Katie, Chris and Kevin Watt of Glen Ellyn are siblings. For one thing, they’re all redheads. But here are a few more tidbits unique to the Watt kids: Chris and Kevin are linemen for major NCAA Division I college football programs. Last fall, Kevin, a redshirt junior, started 12 of 13 games as a defensive lineman for Northwestern. Chris, a redshirt freshman, was a reserve left guard with Notre Dame and could move into the Fighting Irish’s starting lineup in 2011. Later this fall, Katie—the youngest of Richard and Mary Pat Watt’s three children—will become a Division I …

Meet Alex Diab, one of the top gymnasts in Glen Ellyn and on everyone’s radar across the nation. Alex is the son of Mark and Jennifer Diab, owners of Premier Gymnastics Academy. The oldest of five children, Alex has been doing gymnastics since he was 2 years old. Because of his early start, he is in level 9 in competitive gymnastics.Alex has been fortunate enough to travel for many of his competitions. Some of the coolest locations he has been to include Las Vegas and Orlando. His favorite thing about gymnastics is learning new tricks and going to meets. He says that he enjoys the entire …

Glen Ellyn Patch: Please state your name and position at the Village. Randy Parker: Randy Parker, Chairman–Glen Ellyn Finance Commission. Patch: How many people contributed to this project? Parker: All seven volunteer members of the Finance Commission contributed to the project. Patch: When was this project started and why did you feel it was important to do? Parker: This project was initiated at our very first Finance Commission meeting in Sep. 2009.  As we were being briefed by village management regarding Glen Ellyn’s past financial results, we asked how Glen Ellyn compares to other …

I know we’ve done this a lot lately, but let me introduce to you, our newest village employee, Interim Village Manager Terrance Burghard. Burghard made his first village appearance at the Jan. 10 Village Board meeting. Patch sat down with Burghard to ask him some questions a say a quick hello to Glen Ellyn residents.   Glen Ellyn Patch: What is your name and current position at the Village of Glen Ellyn? Terrance Burghard: Terry Burghard, interim village manager. Patch: What has your prior experience been working with city administrations? Burghard: Eight years in Homewood, IL; eight years in…

Glen Ellyn Patch: What is your name and what is your role in the village? Matt Pekarek: Matt Pekarek. As recreation director, I manage the Village Links golf course and the other small parks situated on the village storm water detention system south of Roosevelt Road. Patch: How long have you been a resident of Glen Ellyn?  Pekarek: I have lived in the immediate Glen Ellyn area since 1965 when I was in high school. I have lived in my current home on the north side of town since 1998. Patch: How were you selected to be the temporary village manager for Glen Ellyn? Did you offer to help, or did…

Glen Ellyn Patch: How has your position in Glen Ellyn been different from the work you've done at other municipalities? Steve Jones: Each community has its own special mix of history, culture, demographics, needs, resources and personality.  Two characteristics that stand out in Glen Ellyn relate to the high expectations regarding the services we provide as a village government, and the high level of civic involvement of our residents.  Glen Ellynites care deeply about their community and they keep us on our toes.  Our village organization provides the highest level of customer service I have…

Glen Ellyn resident Serena Harnack comes from a musical family. Her mom is a longtime piano teacher, musician and member of the 7DEEZ; a disco, funk, Motown tribute band that she plays in with her husband. But their 12-year-old daughter Serena is no stranger to performance as well. Serena is a scholarship recipiant of the Music Institute of Chicago Academy and has a full schedule of performances this season. Tonight Serena will be preforming a solo—'Haydn's Concerto No. 2 in G Major, 1st movement'—at the Musichorale Christmas Concerta at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights. Patch …

This week for Person You Should Know, we chose to spotlight a Glenbard West student who recently achieved a perfect score of 36 on his ACT. Glen Ellyn resident Cole Batty did just that this year, along with three other Glenbard West students; Daniel Motel, Philip Woods (who actually got a perfect score twice) and Andrew Smith. Patch sat down with Cole Batty to talk about preparing the ACT and his advice for students who will be taking the test in the future, a well as his own plans down the road. Glen Ellyn Patch: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Cole Batty: My name is Cole Batty, I'm…

This week's Person You Should Know is actually two people. Jim and Cam Page are members of Citizens for Glen Ellyn Preservation and attend every village board meeting and workshop. After seeing the couple week after week at meetings, I thought Glen Ellyn Patch should get to know the Pages and find out what brings them out to so many meetings. The Pages told me they like to stay anonymous at the meetings (they sit on the right side of the room away from the video camera's eye), so I thank them for sharing their thoughts with us. A round of applauds, please; Patch presents Glen Ellyn's village …

Last season, former Glenbard West basketball star John Shurna helped Northwestern University chalk up a school-best 20 victories and make it to the National Invitation Tournament for the second consecutive year. He averaged 18.2 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, leading the Wildcats in both categories. In Big Ten play, he carried a 20.1-point average, second only to Ohio State and former St. Joseph (Westchester) High School star Evan Turner—the second player chosen in this year's NBA draft (by Philadelphia). This past off-season, accolades rolled in for the 6-8 forward. Shurna gained second-…

Glen Ellyn Patch: What's your name? Ted Eselgroth: Ted Eselgroth. It confuses a few old-timers in town who still remember my Dad — also Ted — and Mom, Anne. They were quite active locally in the 50s and 60s. I married my Glenbard High School sweetheart, née Merrie O'Donnell, in 1966. Patch: What is your occupation? Eselgroth: Happily retired. Former Writer/Producer of video and audiovisual materials for business, industry, education and broadcast—mostly sales presentations, training programs, documentaries—that sort of thing. I think I'm obligated by my craft rules to place "Award-Winning" in…

Glen Ellyn Patch: What's your full name, Dr. Dieter? Rober Dieter: Robert S. Dieter Patch: What's your profession? Dieter: I am currently:  Director of Vascular Medicine and Peripheral Vascular Interventions, Associate Chief of Cardiology at Hines VA and Assistant Professor of Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, Loyola University Medical Center. Patch: How long have you lived in Glen Ellyn? Dieter: I was born and raised in Glen Ellyn—I attended Park View, Glen Crest, and Glenbard South. I went away for a little over a decade during my medical training. I returned in 2005 when I became …

Glen Ellyn Patch: How long have you been a police officer? Brad Booton: Five years. Patch: Why did you decide you wanted to become a police officer? Was it something you've always wanted to do? Booton: I decided to become a Police Officer because of the variety of work within the field.  Every day is something different.  I never wanted a desk job, and I have a sincere desire to help others.  I've wanted to be a police officer since I was in high school. Patch: After working with the Village of Glen Ellyn for five years, what have you learned about Glen Ellyn and the job of being a police …