The Soapbox: Spruced-up fest in Elgin, finishing early in Glen Ellyn, organic fast food in Rolling Meadows and more.
Art, Soul and a beer tent
Give the city of Elgin points for adding some punch to the Art & Soul on the Fox festival with an internationally themed concert, food trucks and a beer tent. The August festival replaces iFest, which the city plans to revamp for next year.
Mother Nature lends a hand
A doff of the chapeau to Mother Nature. Our unusually mild winter has meant good news in Glen Ellyn, where work on a $13.5 million police station is expected to wrap up at least a month ahead of schedule. The project originally was scheduled for completion in August, but officials now say it should be finished in July.
Landmark vote
When Antioch Township residents vote April 4, they'll find a new race on the ballot. They'll select the first elected members of the First Fire Protection District of Antioch board. The previous three-person appointed board is being replaced by a five-member elected board. The race has attracted 14 candidates. Now, voters must do their homework.
A lesson from nature
Batavia Alderman Susan Stark offered insight on government efficiency upon learning beavers again are wreaking havoc on drainage through the city's Braeburn Marsh. An official said the city dismantled a "huge" dam in the fall but already the beavers have returned. How did they do it so fast? "They don't have to go through committees," quipped Stark.
Can we move on now?
Without the usual fanfare this case has attracted, Des Plaines aldermen last week let stand a mayor's veto of spending another $10,000 for polygraphs to try to find who leaked information to the Daily Herald. The city has already spend $30,000 on this questionable, political effort. It's time to move on.
Lawlor's message
When 200 Lake County leaders gathered Tuesday to celebrate the counties diversity, County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor publicly stated for the first time that he is gay. Although Lawlor didn't previously hide his sexuality, his openness put a human face - an important and influential one - on the message of inclusiveness.
The puck stops here
The rise of the Blackhawks as a franchise also makes an impact in other areas, including local charities. This season, Blackhawks Charities, assisted by the McCormick Foundation, has given $2.47 million in grants. About $1.6 million went to 16 area groups to support youth education, health and wellness and homelessness. That's a big win.
Soccer milestone
Sunday is the final regular-season Hoffman Estates home game for the Chicago Mustangs of the Major Arena Soccer League. Although Armando Gamboa has supported soccer for many years, Sunday completes the fifth full season of pro play for his team. That's quite an accomplishment. We hope the Sears Centre Arena crowd matches his enthusiasm.
May the sprouts be with them
Leave it to Rolling Meadows, home to every conceivable fast food eatery and some pretty nice un-fast food options as well, to be home of the area's first all-organic drive-through restaurant. The place, Nic's Organic Fast Food (for Nicolette Brittsan, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Benjamin) will open next week at 2101 Plum Grove Road.
Somewhere, Coach Kipp is smiling
An inspired Maine West girls basketball team won a convincing victory Thursday to take the Class 4A Sectional title at Niles West and advance to the supersectional at Addison Trail. Under new Coach Kim deMarigny, the team has dedicated this season to Derril Kipp, the legendary Maine West girls basketball coach who died last year.