Soapbox: A Mount Prospect fitness center, basketball success in Lisle, all-day kindergarten in Elgin and more.

The right call:

A fitness center for village employees is an excellent perk in robust times. It might even be a deciding factor in recruiting some employees. But it's a luxury in lean times, and these are lean times. Mount Prospect made the right call when it abandoned building an employee gym into the basement of village hall.

Wise study:

The DuPage County Board also is doing the right thing by taking a closer look at the operation of its convalescent center to find ways to find a "financially sustainable model" for the 368-bed facility. Concerns about declining Medicaid reimbursement rates have DuPage officials properly concerned. Their proactive response is welcome.

A great hockey assist:

While hockey can be a brutal game, it's a sport that embraces teamwork and honors sportsmanship. With their fundraising efforts to benefit paralyzed Chicago Cougars junior player Matt Olson, the Blackhawks and Minnesota Wild are carrying on those traditions. You can join their online auctions or Matt's GoFundMe campaign. #MO3.

Full-day kindergarten:

Elgin-area school leaders are rolling out a framework for full-day kindergarten and say they'll decide later whether to implement it districtwide. The outlook is promising. Study after study confirms students exposed to full-day kindergarten transition more smoothly into first-grade and beyond.

Cooperation pays:

Elk Grove Village Mayor Craig Johnson may be right that the new dam at Busse Woods "is not going to solve every flood issue," but it's still a monument to cooperation, not only among governments but also with business as ComEd expedited design work to enable completion before recent rains.

Lending a hand:

Lake County elected officials got a chance to meet constituents they might not normally see while delivering meals to seniors as part of the Meals on Wheels program run by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. The effort was designed to bring public attention to the many seniors who suffer from hunger and isolation. An important gesture.

Consolidation and Prospect Heights:

It's possible that as a matter of political reality, the consolidation proposal for Prospect Heights may be doomed from the start, but even if it is, the discussion itself is worthwhile. How many local governments does Illinois need?

Hoops celebrations in Lisle:

On the heels of the Benet Academy girls basketball team's state championship, the school's boys team advanced to the state title game last week before falling to Chicago Curie. And Benedictine University's men's basketball team, suffered just one loss this season - in the NCAA Division III championship game. Truly a special hoops season for three Lisle teams.

Personal feelings aside:

Schaumburg Trustee George Dunham was unhappy with IDOT's plan to limit access to his neighborhood as part of Higgins Road improvements. But recognizing that his opposition might cost the village financially, Dunham backed the project to "do what's right for the community." Imagine if all our public servants thought this way.

Can it be true?

Spring is here and the return of major league baseball is just a week away.