You know how people comment that a duck moves so smoothly, like gliding on the surface of the water yet underneath it is paddling madly?  That is how I feel about the forest preserve district.  So much serenity and beauty when out on the trails but there is so much going on under the surface and Forest Preserve District of Dupage County president, Daniel Hebreard covers so many particulars of thesuccesses and plans for Green Energy and Sustainability Intitiatives.  Want to hear about local endangered speciesand medical care for injured wildlife?  Done!  Do you want to hear about renewable electricity, solar hot water,  a green fleet and the net zero Wildlife Conservation Center?  Got that covered too!  We have river restoration and landfill sustainability with a suggestion of what to order at the Greenway Table and Tap!

Links:

https://www.dupageforest.org/

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast. On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

Villagers, have I got something for you!  Spilling the VillageTea is thrilled to have Matthew Topic (President of the Downers Grove Public Library Board) tell us all about his new podcast “Disclosure”.  Outside of his service to the community, Matt is a lawyer specializing in AI and FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) and he has partnered with journalist Jason Leopold exploring the world of FOIA for all of us listeners.  I know we are going to learn a LOT and am excited to hear the fascinating stories of what they have encountered through the years.  Please be sure to listen to “Disclosure” on your podcast platform of choice!

Links:

https://open.spotify.com/show/3EJCObpztK6octVEsxGx2W?si=ab6dcb7ee31e4b63https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/disclosure/id1847986591
Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know youenjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

You know what, Villagers? It happens. It happens much more than you think. People have strange, unexplained things happen to them. This collection of stories are from people in my social circles, all but one from Downers Grove specifically. No Amityville Horrors by any means, but if you haven't heard stories like this in person, take a listen and consider.....are things happening to you too and you dismissed? Or thought you were crazy? All these happened to people just like you and you probably don't even realize it since they aren't dressed like Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice. Lululemon hides this but not much else!

Enjoy some spooky tales and my cosmic thoughts about it all!

Links:

https://dgnomega.org/14190/arts/the-downers-ghosts-in-the-groveyard/

https://illuminatingthefoolsmirror.wordpress.com/2019/11/09/when-the-veil-thins-why-halloween-falls-on-october-31st/

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

Hey Villagers! Do you have things that go bump in the night in your house? Are you seeing things when you pass by the cemetery? Why is that doll you placed on the shelf looking at the wall now?! Who you gonna call to help? Paul Schmidt of The Illinois Paranormalist (TIP) of course! You may have watched Ghostbusters or Ghosthunters but TIP is Glen Ellyn's very own "go to" if you want to gather evidence of a haunting. Take a listen to Paul's story and how paranormal investigations work!

Links:

www.theillinoisparanormalists.com

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by RobinRutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

It’s spooky season, Villagers!  Halloween is days away as well as the Day of the Dead and then the time change!  Spilling the Village Tea is bringing on the paranormal of it all with guest Deidre Como.  Deidre is a psychic medium and we will bring light to what some deem dark subjects when really it is about those who have passed before us who still have connections with us from the beyond! 

Please take a listen and join her live event on October 29, 2025 (Wednesday) at Flapjack Brewery in Berwyn. See the links for more information!

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/17UjjT3Dy2/

www.soulscapesreadings.com

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea andInstagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

I know you want to know, Villagers....I wanted to know! Board President Matt Topic joined Spilling the Village Tea to give us the summary on the conclusions of the ad hoc board studying whether the Downers Grove Public Library should remain as is or convert to a library district. In addition, Topic illuminates other undertakings the board is working on and as always, more enlightenment on AI as that blends his professional life with his service to his community life and is now part of all our lives too!

Links:

https://dglibrary.org/board/

https://www.downers.us/joint-ad-hoc-committee-of-the-village-council-and-library-board-of-trustees

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove PublicLibrary.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by RobinRutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea andInstagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know youenjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

Hello Villagers! This episode we continue exploring the Downers Grove Township with Highway Commissioner Tom Chlysek! The Downers Grove Township Highway Commission serves unincorporated roads and more throughout Downers Grove, Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Woodridge, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Willowbrook, and parts of Oakbrook, Lisle and the Dupage sections of Lemont. Commissioner Chlysek brings to life an important service we may take for granted and introduces us to the changes he is working on to improve an already hardworking department!

Links:

https://www.dgtownship.com/highway/

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove PublicLibrary.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by RobinRutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea andInstagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know youenjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

Hello Villagers! I know the Downers Grove Public Library is beloved by many and last spring Amanda Recupido from the Downers Grove Library Foundation introduced how it supports our library in an abundant number of ways which you can go back to find out those tasty details in the episode linked below! In this episode, Amanda is back with us along with the library’s Graphic Design and Gallery Coordinator, Grace Goodwyn. Grace tells us all about the art collection at the library as a teaser for you to come out and see it for yourself while helping raise money for the Downers Grove Library Foundation at the “Art after Dark” event on October 4, 2025 (link below).

Links:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/66ZoOc4Dw0UyGkiS92o1vh?si=2JbmRpypRTu1lT0W_hK2Vw

Art After Dark - Downers Grove Public Library Foundation https://share.google/cFWmBVHGqa6olLKCP

Art Collection - Downers Grove Public Library https://share.google/gsCxT6YrH0aM8DxIM

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast. On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

Hello Villagers! This episode takes a deep dive into the the myriad of services offered through the Downers Grove Township, serving not only Downers Grove but also Darien, Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Woodridge, Clarendon Hills, Westmont, Willowbrook, parts of Oakbrook, Lisle and the Dupage sections of Lemont. Did you know that? Sworn into office this 2025 spring, Kim Savage is the Supervisor and covers all the amazing programs and partnerships offered!

Links:

https://www.dgtownship.com/

https://www.dgtownship.com/supervisor/

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by Robin Rutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea andInstagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!

In this episode we come to the intersection of law and cannabis in action! Maureen Surin is the mom of Ashley of Ashley's Law that allows students who depend on medical marijuana to use it on school grounds. Maureen's story will bring tears to your eyes then empowerment to your heart of what parents do for their kids.

Links:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SBRn02inv8 

https://news.wttw.com/2018/11/08/promise-and-pitfalls-cbd-oil-medicine 

https://www.today.com/health/dad-fights-his-daughter-s-right-use-medical-cannabis-school-t122942

Remember to stay tuned past the credits to hear original music from a local artist.

Thanks to the media lab at the Downers Grove Public Library.

Our logo was designed by Qwurk Communications.

Spilling the Village Tea is hosted and created by RobinRutkowski and edited by Jay Wadhwa.

You can email us at [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook at Spilling the Village Tea and Instagram at SpillingTheVillageTea_podcast.  On whatever platform you listen, please let that platform know you enjoyed our podcast with likes or stars, and follow us officially through that platform!

Thank you for listening!