The Soapbox: Caring in Sugar Grove, resolve in Schaumburg, charity in Naperville and more

Lights, please!

With less daylight these days, it's time to remind drivers: Turn your headlights on when you're driving at dawn or dusk. Seems simple, but we see people failing to do that often at this time of year. Also, whenever you have your wipers on, you're obligated by law to have your lights on.

Steps in right direction

A big thank you to all those participating in today's sixth annual 5K Walk for Autism at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove. This is one of the largest fundraisers for Giant Steps, a school whose mission is to improve autistic children's communication skills while developing academic and daily living skills. Today's walk communicates a message of caring.

Preserving history

A historic pump house slated for demolition in West Dundee could get new life thanks in part to 12-year-old Ben Dombrowski. The sixth-grader researched the building and pushed trustees to save it. While the structure is in poor condition, its bricks, windows and limestone windowsills could be used for a reconstructed pump house-like space. Nice going, Ben.

Good for the soul, and soles

Allison Grady, a Naperville North junior, is a great example of turning something bad - in her case, a track injury - into something good. After she injured her hip, she launched a drive that collected 2,568 pairs of shoes for Chicago's Share Your Soles, which provides gently used shoes for those in need. Allison, it seems, is a winner both on and off the track.

Why keep stirring the pot?

Kane County Board Chairman Chris Lauzen asked board members for the OK to hire a Chicago law firm to advise him on various matters. This, after State's Attorney Joe McMahon told him only he can approve outside counsel. Lauzen calls McMahon's actions "political retaliation." This is probably not going to end well.

Not just cute

We often run impressive stories about people in their mid-80s or older who still paint, write, do research, serve others, act and find other ways to be active. But our Neighbor story on Schaumburg Park District's Silver Games had an added dimension Standing on the bocce ball court, Barb Homler, 76, said, "My strategy is to win." Gotta love resolve, too.

While we're on the subject ...

Overheard: A teen boy, explaining to several video-gaming friends the circumstances that allowed him to unlock a widely sought achievement: "It might look like luck, but really I'm just highly skilled at life."

Pokemon storm the trail

The "Pokemon Go" craze this summer hit the Cook County forest preserves, including the one around Bode Lakes north of Streamwood. Hundreds of game players have done the zombie walk - sometimes across the trail without seeing if any cyclists or runners were coming. We're thankful the craze has subsided somewhat.

Tougher job than it appears

Des Plaines aldermen looking under the hood of the city's ethics ordinance, which places strict rules on campaign contributions by those doing city business, are finding it tricky in terms of where to draw lines on time periods, who's covered, and dollar amounts. Still, they deserve credit for trying to limit the influences on who is elected.