The Soapbox: Helping horses in Bartlett, dog flu everywhere and more.
Be careful out there:
You might not have thought about dog flu in awhile, but it's still a threat, suburban vets say. They urge pet owners to consider getting their dogs vaccinated, especially if they frequent doggy day care or kennels. If your pooch shows symptoms, keep him away from other pups.
Need a hand?
If someone needs a light bulb changed or a handicapped ramp installed, volunteers from Home Assistance Volunteer Effort Inc. in the Batavia-Geneva-St. Charles area will be there to assist. As featured in Sammi King's column, this group helps those who don't have the money or ability to take care of minor home repairs. It's caring in action.
Give him an A-plus:
Patrick Thorburn, who began teaching at Rolling Meadows High School in 1996, believes in bringing history to life by going well beyond the textbook. For this dedication to students, Thorburn is the recipient of the Illinois Outstanding Teacher of American History Award. His passion for his work tells his story.
Painful development:
Kudos to the horse community for reacting quickly to an outbreak of equine herpes virus in Bartlett. But we have to feel for the owners who will be hurt financially by self-imposed quarantines. And especially for the longtime Bartlett farm that has lost horses and now works to eradicate the disease.
Yes, thinking of biking:
Say what you will about what the Longmeadow Parkway project will do to the landscape in northern Kane County, but it's good to see a bike path is being planned along Route 25 as part of it. Similar plans were made for the Stearns Road project about five years ago.
On the plus side of Meacham:
Meacham Road going through industrial Schaumburg north of Golf Road and over the tollway is all a mess with construction, but we notice cement dividers creating a bike lane through the worst of it. Even in the winter, bike commuters are appreciating that.
Good marriage example:
Joe and Marian Good celebrated 70 years of marriage this week - keeping focused on each other despite some opposing passions - he, 96, a Democrat Sox fan, she, 93, a Republican lover of the Cubs. Thanks, Joe and Marian, for showing us how it's done.
Getting rolling:
Stevenson High School's boys bowling team provided quite a beginning to the winter sports state championship sequence by setting a state record on its way to winning the program's first state title. The standard has been set. Next up: Cheer and girls bowling, then wrestling and girls gymnastics, boys swimming and diving, and finally basketball.
Remembering Lauren Gordon:
Lauren Gordon, a longtime volunteer in Buffalo Grove and Kildeer-Countryside Elementary District 96 school board member, died this week, close on the heels of her husband David's death last June. Lauren built a long resume of service and both Gordons were active in the community. They leave a strong legacy.
Remembering Jim Bailey:
Friends are organizing a memorial for one-time Carol Stream "Citizen of the Year" Jim Bailey. Bailey, a longtime fixture in the village and a fighter for the library as a board member and president, moved to Alabama to be close to his daughter as she battled cancer. He died Jan. 20 from lung disease. He'll long be remembered.