The Soapbox

Lessons learned?

Gasoline prices are at their lowest levels in many years. Great news, of course, but when prices were over $4 a gallon, Americans kept aware of their driving habits and embraced more efficient electric and hybrid vehicles. Will cheaper gas make us go back to our old gas-guzzling ways? Hang on to those newer habits.

Join computer age on elections:

Candidates filing for local school and municipal boards are required to provide only their names and mailing addresses. Wouldn't it make sense to secure a campaign phone number and email address, too? You know, to help local media and others contact them about their campaigns?

All the pieces in place?

Picking up some high-caliber talent. Signing a big-name arm to a long-term contract. Naming an offensive-minded veteran to direct the team. What could possibly go wrong? Oh, you thought we were talking about the Cubs?

How it's supposed to work:

People opposed to the big Buffalo Grove downtown redevelopment got their say. The developer got ample opportunity to put on his case. The village board asked questions. And then the project died. Hey, the process works after all.

Get well ... at home:

While we so far have had a mild early winter (fingers crossed) with the good news comes the bad. A harsh flu season has sent more people to the hospital than at this time last year. We can only emphasize what health officials tell us: If sick, stay home. It's better for you and healthier for all of us.

Admiring fan:

David Ellison of Grayslake recently read a Daily Herald story about Glenn Timmermann, the self-proclaimed biggest Bears fan and knew what he had to do. Ellison, who was impressed with the Round Lake Beach man's fanaticism, gave his tickets to Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions to Timmermann so he could be there in person. A nice holiday-season gesture.

Views from the bench:

Posting a video can get you in trouble, but it also can open doors. Take Jack Lenihan, a Barrington High School senior who shared a montage of his mostly bench-warming, sideline cheering football season. So far, more than 800,000 views. One college has already offered him a team equipment manager job.

Begin healing:

The anti-gay comments made by Warren Township High School District 121 board member Liz Biondi are the kind that can wound a school board and a community. The school board chastised Biondi, and she has apologized. The whole affair is a lesson on the damage such comments can do.

Almost over:

There's a bright side to the Bears scoring fewer touchdowns and not setting any team records for sacks this season — it lowers the chances of a player injuring himself during the ensuing celebration. Let's hope we don't see that again next season.

A tip of our cap, Richard:

You may not know Richard Battin, but behind the scenes here, he was one of the early architects of dailyherald.com and helped it grow from infancy into the vibrant news site that it is today. We wish him well on his retirement. We're going to miss him.