The Soapbox
A reminder to double-check:
Wednesday’s tragic fire in Arlington Heights that killed three women is a reminder to us all to test our smoke detectors. Theirs was missing the battery, officials say, and first word of the fire didn’t come until officers at police headquarters a couple of blocks away smelled smoke.
Kids museum leader’s legacy:
Best wishes to Susan Broad, retiring CEO of the DuPage Children’s Museum. When she started 22 years ago, the museum was run by two part-timers from a 5,000-square-foot space in Wheaton. It now takes up 46,000 square feet, sees an annual attendance of 300,000 and has won national acclaim.
Suddenly, a new overpass:
If you’ve driven recently on Higgins Road east of Route 53/I-290 bordering Schaumburg, you’ve seen suddenly there’s a new bridge. Crews have been working on the much-needed bridge for Busse Woods cyclists and pedestrians this summer after one more cyclist’s death crossing Higgins. It’s exciting to see the bridge getting done.
Sweet deal for all:
Two teachers at Woodview School in Grayslake collected 305 pounds of Halloween candy from students this week to send to U.S. troops overseas. The effort was a win-win-win — healthier kids, fewer sugar highs for the staff to deal with and a morale boost for soldiers.
Cold reality:
So you say, even though you know it’s dangerous and against the law, it’s just too difficult to give up your texting while driving? Well, don’t relocate to Alaska, where first-time offenders face the stiffest penalty in all of the states: a fine of up to $10,000 and also a possible sentence of up to a year in prison. Talk about a real deterrent.
Lesson for the young:
Flag displays outside Culver’s restaurants in Huntley and Carpentersville to honor Illinois soldiers who have died since 9/11 are a fitting tribute for Veterans Day. But there’s another excellent reason for the effort, as told by assistant manager Richard Myers: “For the kids that work for us, it’s a real learning experience, very meaningful.”
Really bugged:
A light infestation of bedbugs was discovered in classrooms at Hadley Junior High in Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41. Earlier this year, a portable classroom at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School was infested with gnats. Glad to see the schools taking quick action to fix these icky problems.
Here’s a problem for you, kid:
Our Suburban Standout this week, James Tao of Hoffman Estates, is a young high school whiz who likes not the competition part of high-end math but the creativity in coming up with solutions to problems. Can he and his peers be employed to solve Illinois’ pension problem?
On your mark:
What’s this world coming to when a call for people to get up early on a fall Sunday morning to run more than 26 miles sells out in just 14 hours? Whatever it is, it must be healthy. About 3,000 runners will step off at 7 a.m. Sunday for Naperville’s “world class” first marathon. Congratulations to all — organizers and runners alike.
Don’t rush it, Jay:
Those pesky groin injuries can be slow to heal. You wouldn’t want to jump back in it against the Lions prematurely and reinjure yourself. Don’t be a hero, Jay. Josh has your back.