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Published in the Northwest herald on June 26, 2025
By MICHELLE MEYER
mmeyer@shawmedia.com
Recent actions by the Crystal Lake Park District board, with three newly elected members, have caused tension in the community, with many residents speaking out against a series of swift changes.
Dozens of residents attended a park board meeting last week, with the crowd overflowing into two other rooms to view the meeting on TV screens. Some spoke in favor of the recent board actions, but many more criticized how the board speedily passed agenda items such as the removal of the diversity, equity and inclusion policy, claiming the board violated the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Other issues prompting criticism include the hiring of a previous board member as the new park district attorney for a substantially higher price than the previous attorney and replacing the members of a volunteer lake advisory committee with a lakeside homeowners association.
Earlier this month, the board voted to end the park district's DEI policy in a 4-3 vote, which left many residents upset with the change that came during a Committee of the Whole meeting - a meeting usually reserved for discussion items and no votes.
But Crystal Lake resident Fred Wickham read resolutions of support for the recent board action made by the Grafton Township Republican Central Committee and the McHenry County Republican Executive Committee.
Since the new board members took office in May, many of the board's actions were made in 4-3 votes, with the majority being newcomers Frederick Tiesenga, Keith Nisenson and Richard Hickey, along with Jason Heisler.
Tiesenga - whom the new board majority chose as board president at their first meeting - declined to comment on questions asked by the Northwest Herald on Friday, but said the other side of the story should be shared too.
Lakewood resident Jim Rocheford showed support for the board at last week's meeting, saying the new members need time to show their actions will be a positive change.
"Put down your pitchforks and your torches and relax," he said.
Open Meetings Act criticisms
Crystal Lake resident David Bradburn asserted that violations of the Open Meetings Act occurred during the June 5 meeting that included limited ability for commissioners to speak, limited dialogue on agenda items, the addition of agenda items without proper public notice, and "gross overstep of policy changes and procedure." He said if violations were made, they were done to push an agenda.
"If this proves to be the case, it means that the must-have attorney is either incompetent or complicit, and therefore the board's legal counsel should step down immediately and return all compensation to the park district's general fund," Bradburn said.
Others called for the board to reverse last meeting's votes.
Crystal Lake Mayor Haig Haleblian shared his own concerns during a City Council meeting about being denied a chance to speak during the public comment period at the June 5 park board meeting. He urged anyone who feels as though the Open Meetings Act was violated to report a complaint to the Illinois Attorney General's Office.
"That meeting was anything but a meeting," the mayor said. "I was really disappointed. We as elected officials are serving the residents of Crystal Lake. We are entrusted with the responsibility of representing the entire community, and not just a few select individuals or any special interest group."
Park board hires former member as its attorney at rate almost 60% higher
A former board president who served two terms on the park board, Eric Anderson, did not seek reelection this spring. But he still serves the board, as he took over as the district's new attorney the same day his parks commissioner seat expired.
The quick decision happened during the first board meeting with the newly elected members, again in a 4-3 vote, and again with board members Cathy Cagle, Michael Jacobson and Karen Johnson in the minority.
In a letter sent by Anderson to the board in May, he said that his services do not have a term agreement nor a retainer, but that he will charge the district a rate of $425 an hour, which he called "a reduced rate."
Previous attorney Scott Puma of Ancel Glink had a rate of $270 an hour, according to Crystal Lake Park District Executive Director Jason Herbster.
"The mere act of nominating one of your friends who just left the board to serve as law firm kind of reeks of old boys school club," Cagle said at the May 15 meeting.
Crystal Lake resident Michelle Thimios said she was concerned that Anderson was voted in as the attorney without discussion or information on his rates.
"It's shameful to commit taxpayer dollars to something without knowing the full cost," she said. "It's even more shameful that the rate ended up being twice the cost of the last attorney's hourly rate."
New board boots Lake Ecology Committee
Another contentious move by the highly divided new board was its swift decision June 5 to replace the park district's Lake Ecology Committee volunteer members with the Shoreline Property Owners Association, a homeowners association of people who live along the lake. Anderson also serves as the HOA's attorney, according to Illinois Secretary of State records.
Cagle said Anderson's dual representation is a conflict of interest and called for Anderson to "resign immediately." Anderson told the Northwest Herald on Friday that he will resign if a majority of the board seeks his removal.
"The board is ruled by majority," he said. "If the board wants me to step down, I will."
Tiesenga said at the June 5 meeting that the main people doing the work on the ecology committee were already association members, and they are the ones with "intel" on the lake.
Cagle took issue with that, saying "the lake belongs to all of the residents," not merely those who live on the lake, and should be representative of all residents in the park district. The district includes Crystal Lake, Lakewood, parts of Lake in the Hills and some unincorporated area.
Gregg Kobelinski already was chairman of the Crystal Lake Ecology Committee and is president of the homeowners association that's taking it over. He said that "combining forces" is his aim, and he sought to reassure detractors that the all-volunteer ecology committee is not being dissolved.
Kobelinski also addressed another controversial decision of the new board, which was a vote to exit the Lake Ecology Intergovernmental Agreement with the village of Lakewood and the city of Crystal Lake that put the responsibility of boat sticker sales on the park district that included a tiered system based on horsepower.
A portion from boat stickers income goes into an ecology fund to pay for the weed harvester, weed treatment and other lake maintenance costs. How these costs will be paid is now unclear given the park district's exit from the intergovernmental agreement.
Addressing the board last week, Kobelinski said: "I think that it's very important that the boaters are the ones paying for the maintenance of the lake. I hope whatever the objection was that you guys had with that, I hope you can resolve it. We're here to help."
Changes in the agenda policy give more power to president
In another 4-3 vote at the previous Committee of the Whole meeting, the board enacted an agenda preparation policy reversing the roles of the president and executive director.
"It feels like it's an attempt by the three new board members and Mr. Heisler to control what can be added to the agenda," Cagle said.
Now, the policy reads that the board president will prepare all meeting agendas with the assistance of the executive director. Another change added is that now two commissioners, rather than one, are required to request additional agenda items.
Anderson, the freshly appointed park board attorney, said that the board "can't get things done" unless the items are on agenda.
"To have a nonelected person preparing your agenda - that doesn't make sense to me at all," Anderson said.
Board appoints member to secretary position
Last month during the first board meeting with the newly elected members, the board voted on the role of board secretary. The role typically was given to a nonelected staff member and was previously held by Herbster for 15 years.
Hickey, one of the newly elected commissioners, now holds the position after a 4-3 vote. Commissioners updated the language to say that some responsibilities could be delegated to the executive director.
Some secretary responsibilities include distributing election materials and certifying to the county clerk the list of candidates who have fulfilled the legal requirements to be placed on the ballot.
"What we're now doing is now asking an elected official to oversee the election process. That is so unclean," Cagle said. "It reeks of a power grab, and it reeks of disrespect for staff."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 26, 2026 Media Contact Information: Cartwheel Emily Paisner (888) 500-2067 emily.paisner@cartwheelcare.org
$1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois will help Cartwheel scale access to care in rural and underserved communities through 2028
CHICAGO — August 26, 2026 — Cartwheel Care, a telehealth mental health provider for K-12 schools, today announced plans to expand access to care for up to 100,000 students across Illinois, supported by a $1 million grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL). The additional funding builds on an existing partnership between Cartwheel and BCBSIL, following a year of strong engagement and clinical outcomes. Cartwheel currently serves 40 Illinois school districts, and the grant will help expand services further into rural and underserved communities across the state through 2028. Mental health needs among Illinois students remain high. According to data from Lurie Children’s Hospital, approximately 50% of Illinois youth (ages 2–17) have experienced worsening mental health symptoms in recent years. At the same time, access to care has not kept pace: more than 80 of Illinois’ 102 counties have no practicing child psychiatrist, and the shortage is most acute in rural areas, where families often wait months for an appointment or travel significant distances for care. Cartwheel’s telehealth model is designed to remove the access barriers rural families face, like long waitlists and the need to travel to see a provider. By partnering with schools, Cartwheel provides licensed, Illinois-based clinicians with no waitlist, accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid, and reaches kids and families where they already are, without requiring them to find or travel to an outside provider. “Every student experiences mental health challenges differently, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to supporting them,” said Dr. Juliana Chen, chief medical officer at Cartwheel. “Our goal is to meet students and families where they are, with practical support that helps them build skills, strengthen relationships, and feel more confident navigating challenges at school and at home. BCBSIL’s support is what allows us to bring that care to more Illinois communities.” “Supporting the health and well-being of Illinois youth is critical to building stronger communities,” said Brian Snell, president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. “The results we’ve seen through our partnership with Cartwheel demonstrate the impact that timely, accessible mental health services can have for students and families. This investment will help bring those services to even more communities across our state.” To date, four Illinois districts have received Cartwheel’s services through this grant: Steger SD 194 in Cook County and Will County, Troy CCSD 30-C in Will County, Mattoon CUSD 2 in Coles County, and Wolf Branch SD #113 in St. Clair County. In the first year of the program, more than 200 students were referred for care and completed more than 1,000 telehealth sessions. Appointments were scheduled in the same week with no waitlist. Sixty-eight percent of students served were covered by Medicaid or uninsured. Overall, 73% of students showed meaningful improvement in anxiety and depression symptoms on standard clinical screeners (GAD-7/PHQ-9). Additional districts where Cartwheel services are launching this fall include Litchfield CUSD #12, Panhandle CUSD #2, Leyden High School District #212, and Regional Office of Education #40. With the support of this grant, Cartwheel expects to expand into another 30 to 50 school districts, bringing access to care to a total of 100,000 students across Illinois. “Before this partnership, getting a student connected to care could take months,” said Jeffrey Peterson, director of student services & records at Troy CCSD 30-C. “Now our counselors can refer a student, know they’ll be seen within days, and are seeing real improvements as a result.” Through the grant, Cartwheel provides individual and family therapy, parent guidance, psychiatric evaluation and medication management, and specialized care programs for challenges like school avoidance, social media use, and intense emotions and behavior challenges. As reported in Illinois Policy, in 2025 about 25% of Illinois students missed at least 10% of the school year and this was more severe among low-income students, with 35.1% in that group chronically absent. Cartwheel’s school avoidance program delivers evidence-based care designed specifically for students struggling with school avoidance. In partnership with Cartwheel, Peoria Public Schools saw a 62% reduction in absences per student, along with decreases in suspensions and symptoms of depression and anxiety. Illinois school districts that want to learn more about this opportunity for the upcoming school year should visit: www.cartwheel.org/illinois. About Cartwheel Cartwheel is the nation’s largest and most trusted telehealth provider for K-12 schools, students, and families. Cartwheel partners with 350 school districts across 15 states to deliver comprehensive mental health services to students, families, and school staff. Founded in 2022 by educators and clinicians, Cartwheel combines evidence-based clinical care with technology to ensure every child has access to high-quality mental health support. Cartwheel accepts all major insurance plans including Medicaid and provides care at no cost to uninsured families. For more information visit: www.cartwheel.org. About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois is the largest health insurer in Illinois, serving nine million members and operating in all 102 Illinois counties. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 24, 2026 Media Contact Information: Mather Institute Cindy Droog, president, Sabo PR (616) 717-8654 cindy@sabo-pr.com
Free online tool by Mather Institute supports local planning, partnership and investments
EVANSTON, Illinois – Chicago has a new tool to help understand where neighborhood conditions support social wellness among older adults – and where thoughtful investment and partnership may expand opportunities. Mather Institute launched a first-of-its-kind free Social Wellness Map, which scores the 77 community areas in Chicago on social wellness – a measure of feeling connected with others and with a community – for adults 55 and better. Previous research shows strong social ties are one of the most important predictors of a happy and long life, and that neighborhoods and communities shape how people interact, support one another and build shared identity. Mather Institute developed the map in partnership with NORC at the University of Chicago. Designed as a planning and advocacy resource, the interactive map can help policymakers, community organizations, funders, planners and service providers explore local patterns, identify assets and consider where new investments may have the greatest benefit for older adults. “Social wellness is a crucial, yet often overlooked, part of healthy aging,” said Cate O’Brien, MPH, Ph.D., chief transformation officer at Mather Institute. “Because every community contains diverse histories, people and experiences, the map is intended to inform – not replace – local knowledge. The most useful next step is conversation. When organizations bring this data together with resident voices, they can better understand what is already working and what could be most beneficial to older adults and their communities.” The map is based on a new survey of more than 4,000 Chicago residents age 55 and better, combined with public data on community conditions, including walkability, economic factors and access to gathering places such as libraries, churches and community centers. Factors such as crime, lack of local businesses and poverty can hinder social wellness, but don’t tell the whole story. Users can view a side-by-side comparison of communities to explore how social wellness relates to health, happiness, income and other factors. Key findings include:
“Community leaders often have deep local knowledge, but need data to support the case for programs, funding and partnerships,” said Jennifer L. Smith, Ph.D., vice president of Mather Institute. “The Social Wellness Map offers another lens for understanding older adults’ experiences and for turning local insight into action.” High social wellness scores were not confined to one part of Chicago or to its wealthiest areas, suggesting that other factors such as neighborhood identity, belonging and longstanding social ties are also important to connection. Chatham emerged as a notable example, with a social wellness score of 8.14 out of 10, illustrating social wellness reflects aspects of community life beyond economic and safety indicators alone. Beverly received the highest community connectability score: 100 out of 100. Beverly is notable for its low crime rates, a strong family culture and several longstanding community gathering places. Jefferson Park stood out for having community conditions that support connection such as accessible transit, retail activity and established cultural gathering places. The map is free to use and does not require user registration. It can be explored at: https://www.matherinstitute.com/social-wellness-map/
About Mather and Mather Institute
Based in Evanston, Illinois, Mather is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1941 that is dedicated to a vision of changing the way society views aging. Mather creates Ways to Age Well℠ through programs, places and residences for today’s older adults. These include developing and operating communities that support older adults in pursuing wellness and fulfillment; sparking creativity and connections for older adults in Chicagoland and beyond; and through Mather Institute, conducting research and incubating innovation to help all live and age well.
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