The Soapbox
Time's almost up:
Sure, it's nice to be able to get out early to turn in your ballot, but still, there's something magical about Election Day. The state and nation are near a defining moment. County governments face critical questions, too. If you haven't voted already, you have until 5 p.m. today to vote early. If you can't make that, take part in the magic Tuesday.
The best medicine:
If laughter is the best medicine, then the kids at Advocate Children's Hospital-Park Ridge are receiving all the help they can get. Members of the Funny Bone Improv troupe provided some comic relief to what can be a very serious environment. We have to wonder who benefited from the show the most - the kids or the comics?
Some party!
Talk about building joy out of sorrow. Bill Schumann of Wheaton transformed his angst over turning 65 into a gift of giving, asking his friends to replace presents with donations for the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans. He matched their $30,000, and additional giving led to a $150,000 windfall for the shelter. Happy birthday, indeed.
Community college spirit:
It takes a village and then some to support a community college, but it's a mission that directly touches lives. John and Rita Canning of Inverness provided a big boost to Harper College in Palatine this week with the college's first seven-figure donation. The gift will help the college help women in need.
The pain of picking a logo:
Mundelein trustees this week debated a draft of a new village logo, with a five-pointed star composed of capital M's. "We are a rising star in Lake County," the village's communication director said. "I'm just not getting 'vibrant,'" one trustee countered. As many know, choosing a logo can be painful. Good luck with the revisions, Mundelein.
Music to our ears:
It has been great to hear students singing our national anthem before tournament basketball games. With so much talent at our local high schools, officials should never need to use a tape recording before any game, even during the regular season. The teens deserve the spotlight - and they're singing a song that's not easy to perform.
A costly mistake:
We've all done it - pushed the "send" button too hastily and then regretted it. Kane County Deputy Clerk Jeff Ward most certainly is regretting the email he wrote from his work computer to a state official giving information about County Clerk Jack Cunningham's campaign. Ward was suspended sans pay for a week. Rules are rules for a reason.
This is madness:
It's NCAA Tournament time, and turning around a basketball program isn't easy. Two former suburban stars now coaching in college feel the heat. Brian Gregory (Hersey) at Georgia Tech had a big win over Syracuse, yet alums are grumbling. Jeff Bzdelik (Prospect) of Wake Forest beat Duke this season but may lose his job. Where's the patience?
Farewell to a tollway icon:
For 55 years, the gleam overhead from the Des Plaines Oasis was bright for tollway travelers day and night. Empty stomachs and empty gas tanks alike got renewal there. Now, the oasis as we know it is falling victim to the O'Hare Airport modernization. Ah, progress.