Glen Ellyn's Web guru

Ted Eselgroth started a Web site for Glen Ellyn more than a decade ago, initially using it as an experimental tool while building similar sites for other clients.

Now the site gets about 800,000 views monthly, has more than 1,000 registered members and provides information about the village's school districts, government bodies, businesses and happenings.

The most popular feature is the bulletin board, where residents can blog and discuss local issues and news.

That's also the portion the 64-year-old Eselgroth monitors around the clock to make sure posts are appropriate.

Amy Thompson, a frequent user of the site at www.glen-ellyn.com, says Eselgroth cares deeply about the community.

"I can't imagine the number of hours that he must have to put in to keep the board running, and running well," the 15-year Glen Ellyn resident said. "Clearly, he has a love for it and a passion for people getting to the bottom of issues and working for the community."

Over the years, the site has turned into the community go-to spot to find information or tell others what's going on - whether it's police activity on a resident's street, an important high school football game's score or a sensitive issue being discussed by village leaders.

The site also has turned into a catalyst for people getting together as a group and volunteering. Some recent activities include cleaning up downtown Glen Ellyn and Ackerman Park.

"These bulletin board people are coming up with things we didn't even know were problems until they bring voluntary solutions," Eselgroth said. "I'm awfully proud of people, because 99 percent of the stuff online is productive and useful. Most days it makes me feel very, very, very good."

The site is completely voluntary and brings in virtually no revenue - except about $100 a month through a Google Ad service that covers Eselgroth's out-of-pocket costs.

And he wants to keep it that way.

"I am very happy with it just as it is, as a hobby," Eselgroth said. "Frankly, if it turned into something bigger and better, I'd wind up devoting time to things I don't choose to, like sales and marketing."

As a teen, Eselgroth loved the radio and volunteered at Glen Ellyn's local radio station. He majored in communication arts and worked for a couple different radio stations.

"I totally focused on local news and information and sports, and loved it dimensionally," he said. "It's sad that kind of thing went away, but when the Web came along, it was like it was reincarnated on the Internet."

So Eselgroth got started with the local site for Glen Ellyn, which for years was the village's official site, too. In 2005 the village created its own.

Throughout the years, Eselgroth also has volunteered as a Glen Ellyn Public Library trustee and served on various boards, including Glen Ellyn's technology commission, economic development commission, chamber of commerce and media foundation.

Eselgroth is retired, but his love and appreciation of local news, weather and sports keep him busy with his brainchild.

"It's an avocation that I not only find interesting and worthwhile," he said, "but lots of the time a great deal of fun to carry on with as well."

Without the board, Thompson said she'd be less informed about what's going on in town.

"He's really helped us come together as a community," she said. "It's been a great service."

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