The Soapbox: Suburban talent, Schaumburg treehouses, a special graduation and more
Yes, the suburbs have talent:
The contestants have been chosen and 20 acts will be competing in this year's edition of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent. Good luck to them all. Every year, we're amazed at the talent the suburbs produce, and this year will be no different.
A treehouse is a treehouse:
If you want to sleep out in a Schaumburg backyard tree, Dan Alexander's soon may be your sole option. After he completed his elaborate arbor edifice in hopes of attracting vacationers, the village is looking at new rules. They want to ensure, as one official said, that "a treehouse is a treehouse." Why not? Rules already ensure that a hotel is a hotel.
Above and beyond:
The extra mile award goes to Lake Zurich High School officials who staged a separate mini-graduation ceremony, complete with decorated stage and choir, for a senior who missed the scheduled field house ceremony because of a stomach virus. Talk about making a memory.
What next for airport?:
Clearly, the Chicago Executive Airport board saw Charlie Priester as a lightning rod for the airport study and possible expansion, so he likely is about to be demoted from CEO to consultant. We're not sure what this means for his influence on the project, but this story clearly isn't over.
So it shall be:
We always said that the appearance of a conflict, not a conflict outright, should prompt Judge Thomas Durkin to recuse himself from overseeing the Dennis Hastert trial. He did, but both the prosecution and defense say they're comfortable despite issues linking him to the defendant. It still doesn't look good, but neither side can complain.
No. 9 for hockey?
You're kidding, right, WalletHub? Tampa Bay ranks ahead of Chicago among best towns for hockey fans. Guess it depends on how you measure.
Maybe it's 'heart':
How else do you explain how the Blackhawks could stand 2-2 with a Tampa Bay team that has so thoroughly outgunned them in the first four games of the Stanley Cup Final. Yet, here they stand, a product of much grit and heart. They'll need it, and a lot of imported Chicago fan mojo, to pull it out tonight in Tampa. Go, Hawks
Keep calm and don't carry on:
In the constant battle for space on airplanes here comes a new plan. Smaller carry-on bags. It's a regulation under consideration by an airline trade group. If it comes to pass, fliers won't necessarily get any more leg or elbow room, but many will have to buy new bags. Fair deal?
Those crazy open mics:
We know Sen. Mark Kirk and we know he is neither racist nor sexist. But don't these politicians ever take a lesson from Ronald Reagan, the Great Communicator, and just cool it with the crass and unfunny jokes, especially around a microphone? Which, like a weapon, should always be presumed to be live.
Remembering Matt Skowronski:
Our condolences to the family and friends of Matt Skowronski, a 16-year-old Naperville Central athlete who died unexpectedly last week from a heart defect discovered when he was in sixth grade. He was described by his father Marc as an "always happy" person who lived life to the fullest.