The Soapbox: From prom to playoffs
Daily Herald Editorial Board
Missing the boat
All 400 tickets for West Chicago Community High School’s chaperoned post-prom party, a midnight cruise on Lake Michigan, were snapped up in a heartbeat, leaving some students out of luck. The demand was more than school officials anticipated. Next year, why not find a venue where demand can’t outpace capacity?
Calling Stephen King:
Those of you who live on rivers and lakes will have to excuse the rest of us who found Wednesday’s story about the floating bog in Antioch, well, a bit funny. We know the floating mass of muck is gobbling up piers, but even those who are dealing with it talk about it with a chuckle.
A good sign:
There it was on a garden center south of Lake Zurich: “Help wanted.” Haven’t seen one of those signs in a while, but we sure hope we see more.
Is that why it’s vintage?
No cursing, no spitting and no arguing with the umpire? We’ll take the 1858 rules that come along with the Bucks, a vintage baseball team that will make its home in Bloomingdale.
Hang in there, Haley:
Wheeling’s Haley Reinhart may be spending a lot of time in American Idol’s bottom three, but she keeps coming back harder every week. You’re a great representative of suburban talent and spirit, Haley. Keep it up!
Agreements are always nice:
We don’t yet know the particulars of the tentative agreement between Elgin Community College and its faculty union — such as whether teachers agreed to a pay freeze — but what we do know is the angst any students were feeling about missing classes and extending their school year into the summer has been erased. That’s a start.
No-cost transparency:
The Mundelein-based Diamond Lake Elementary District 76’s website now includes links to meeting agendas and minutes and the board packet of supporting information. The new software costs $2,000 a year but is expected to be recouped by reduced paper and assembly costs. Other districts have started doing this as well. Even more should.
Being heard:
A Cook County Democrat smiling to applause at a SRO gathering in the suburbs? Yes, you saw it in the Daily Herald. County President Toni Preckwinkle’s visit to Palatine showed yet again the value of sincere listening — and the pluck that may quell the once-understandable but still ill-advised talk of secession.
Naptime needs:
The U.S. air traffic controllers chief resigned this week after allegations of employees napping. A troubling, dangerous trend and one that can’t be allowed. Still, with increasing evidence that unsanctioned catnaps at work are common, maybe businesses should start looking for ways to accommodate — and benefit from — naptime.
Sweet home:
OK, the Hawks are off to a slow start, but they’re in the hunt. And the Bulls -- dare we dream? -- enter the playoffs with the best record in the NBA. Two teams fighting it out in the playoffs at the same time. It’s great to be a sports fan in Chicago.