Soapbox: Fighting heroin in Hoffman Estates, finding middle ground in Wheaton, good news for Rolling Meadows, discord in Wauconda and more.
Tasty times:
Best things about this time of year - trees start spreading their multicolor coats; the oompa-oompa fall festivals, and a great selection of apple cider and pumpkin doughnuts.
Better late than never:
Hoffman Estates may be slightly late to the party, but let's praise the village for its work to equip police officers by the end of the month with naloxone, the anti-opiate drug credited with saving numerous lives of heroin overdose victims across the suburbs. As Police Chief Terry Bos stated, "We look at the program as a way to save lives."
Garage sale guidelines:
There's a big chasm between Wheaton's problem - a rash of virtually continuous garage sales - and a proposed solution - a two-sale-per-year limit, each with a two-day maximum and a ban on Sundays. Surely there's a middle ground that sets limits in a less restrictive way.
That's more like it:
We've heard too much about businesses moving out of the suburbs lately, so it was good to hear that Verizon chose a Rolling Meadows site for its new call center expansion - adding 200 employees to the 900 already at work. "We looked at many options ... before selecting Rolling Meadows," said Verizon's Joan Bowyer. Good choice.
A howling success:
Lost among the hoopla surrounding the Cubs and the Blackhawks this week, the Chicago Wolves open another AHL season today at Allstate Arena. The Wolves have been a staple at the Rosemont facility, and a fine example of how other local sports franchises should be run. They know how to win and entertain fans at the same time.
Bragging rights, and more, on the line:
As the prep football season hits the home stretch, next week's games are what the Fox Valley calls "Rivalry Week." Elgin vs. Larkin, St. Charles East vs. St. Charles North, Batavia vs. Geneva, and Bartlett vs. Streamwood highlight the Friday schedule. The Batavia-Geneva game has the Upstate Eight Conference River Division title at stake.
Time for straight talk in 204:
There's trouble brewing in Indian Prairie Unit District 204 where, for the second time in five months, teachers have rejected a proposed contract. It's time for both sides to publicly explain their positions - in detail - before things start to escalate.
Honoring a 'good Marine':
It was moving, and appropriate, to see former and current Marines come together last Saturday to honor Bruce Capel, a Glenbard West grad who was killed nearly 50 years ago in Vietnam. They dedicated a plaque detailing Capel's football and military careers and remembered him as "a perfect example of a good Marine."
Memorial fallout:
A month after it was unveiled in Wauconda, the Heroes of Freedom Memorial is still the focus of squabbling. Wauconda trustees ordered story boards removed because they weren't reviewed in advance. In Gurnee, where the memorial was originally planned, a trustee criticized the mayor for a missed opportunity to have it in their town. Too much discord.
Remembering John Wredling:
John Wredling lived his long, long life to the fullest. He died last week at 101, and the former St. Charles District 303 superintendent's name lives on at the school named in his honor. But that's just the start of the impact he made on the community.
Hardly retired:
Well into his 90s, he'd greet students on opening day of classes each year. Same for marching in the city's St. Patrick's Day and Christmas parades. Groups he led or volunteered with include: Boy Scouts, Rotary Club, American Legion, VFW and many more. He tutored children, and won the 1997 Charlemagne Award, the city's highest honor.
His true legacy:
But John Wredling's true legacy might be his human touch. He knew his students, and remembered them long after they were gone. "I wouldn't be surprised if he remembered all of his students," said Steve Martin, lifelong resident and longtime friend. "He really took a genuine interest in kids," We honor his memory.