Saying Hello to Highland Park

Ten days ago my friend and colleague Jacob Nelson said goodbye after starting Highland Park Patch nearly three years ago and he will be missed.

After nearly a lifetime in town and taking on a number of Patch assignments over almost the same time span as Jacob was here, it’s my turn to say hello.

I am thrilled to be the new editor of Highland Park Patch in addition to continuing my duties as editor of Deerfield Patch. I must say goodbye to Lake Forest as Jacob did to Highland Park, but as you can see I’ve always been nearby.

In fact, my journalism career began covering freshman football for Shoreline, the Highland Park High School student newspaper, and eventually becoming its editor before graduating in 1968. Before HPHS, I was a Braeside and Edgewood kid.

I also had a stint at sports editor of Pioneer Press—including the Highland Park News—around that time.

I am so thrilled to be covering my hometown because there are so many good things about the community. We have some of the best schools in the nation, a vibrant downtown and one of the world’s foremost music venues in Ravinia to name just a few. I look forward to writing about all of them.

When things arise where members of the community are divided over an issue, I’ll be writing about that as well. When it comes to covering government, politics and other issues which can be divisive, my job will be to help all of us make the most informed decision possible.

Covering Taste of Highland Park and the Port Clinton Art Festival were a great way to begin. It is a weekend that highlights so much that is good about our town. But, watch out for my video camera when you're on your bicycle and approaching a stop sign.

As a journalist, my job is to report all newsworthy events in town. Unfortunately, there are often more events deserving coverage than there are hours in the day and Patch would love your help. Blog or post your events on our boards. They will all be on Patch because it is our site.

The strongest statement I can make about Highland Park is my parents raised me here and I chose to raise my children here. And, if that does not put me in a majority in Highland Park, it makes me part of a very large minority.

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