The Soap Box

He who giveth ...

... Can't taketh away, at least not once it's listed as an employee benefit. That's the tollway authority's explanation for why it's not putting an end to tollway employees' toll-free commutes to and from work, which cost about $229,000 a year. It sure ought to make governments think twice about granting such perks in the future.

Way to man up:

Three cheers for the 232 players of the West Chicago Wildcat Youth Football Organization, who aren't letting any macho male pride stop them from wearing pink socks on the gridiron during Breast Cancer Awareness month. The family of a coach, Doug Lazzerini, has been hit hard by breast cancer, so the effort is especially poignant.

And this, too:

Good for Mayors Mike Gresk of Wheaton and George Pradel of Naperville, who likewise are doing their part. The mayor of the losing city's team in a high school charity volleyball match will wear the rival school's hat at a city council meeting. Like the West Chicago effort, proceeds go to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Good fun, good cause.

Good advice on labels:

The family of Mirdza Robeznieks, 82, who drowned in an Itasca pond last week in a driving accident, touted her years of world travel and community involvement. “I'm looking at a photo of her 50 feet from a lion on safari. ... Newspapers and TV keep referring to her as ‘elderly,' but we never think of her that way,” son John said. A good reminder about labels.

Greatness from the start:

Tamika Catchings played basketball two years at Stevenson High School (one state title) before moving to Texas and winning there. National titles followed at Tennessee, along with two golds in the Olympics. Now the Indiana Fever star is the 2011 MVP of the WNBA. She's even more terrific off the court with her charity work at www.catchin24.com.

Know your reps:

Suburban Cook County residents have one less excuse for not contacting elected officials. By just typing their address on the clerk's website, they can get the name, address, phone number and email of every official who represents them, from the president to park district commissioners. Log on to cookcountyclerk.com and click on “Directory of Elected Officials.”

Tiny warrior:

The suburbs may have a new ally in the battle against the emerald ash borer — predator wasps. Officials will be watching to see if 1,000 wasps no bigger than an ant released near Wadsworth can be a natural check against the pest, which has killed 25 million ash trees in North America. We say, go get 'em.

Not really a hall of fame:

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this week announced its 2012 nominees. A decent group, the Beastie Boys and Guns ‘N Roses notwithstanding. But until Chicago and the Moody Blues get in, it's not a hall of fame.

Maybe they need a message:

Lora Hunt, convicted of killing a motorcyclist while painting her nails and driving in Lake Zurich, tried to get her jail sentence reduced. “So many people on the streets today are doing hideous acts in their cars,” Hunt said. “The only difference between me and them is that they haven't killed someone.” Hopefully, her sentence will deter some of those others.