Soapbox: Brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Welcome, Caterpillar
The heavy-equipment manufacturer's selection of Deerfield as its new corporate home is a boost to suburbs tired of hearing Chicago gloat about luring companies away. We're confident the 100 Caterpillar families expected by the end of the year, and eventually 300, will find it's the right choice.
Recycling Elgin I
In a perfect world, everyone would donate their unwanted clothes and household items to charity. But an estimated 85 percent of clothes end up in landfills. So, kudos to Elgin, poised to become perhaps first in the state to hire a company to pick up such items as jewelry, toys, silverware, plates and microwaves on garbage collection day.
Recycling Elgin II
In addition to keeping more items out of landfills, it's a modest revenue source for the city. With the typical person throwing away 68 pounds of clothing per year and Simple Recycling paying the city a penny per pound, the net revenue would come to $22,400, authorities say. Not a lot, but every bit counts.
A voice for victims
Lake County Undersheriff Ray Rose is giving up his badge at the end of the month after an accomplished 50-year career, but he won't be giving up his fight to keep Patty Columbo and Frank DeLuca behind bars. His commitment to block parole for the pair convicted of killing Columbo's parents and brother in Elk Grove Village in 1976 takes a stand for the victims.
Kid power
A pair of Lake County eighth-graders are stepping up to protect endangered Blandings turtles during egg-laying season. Grayson Becker and Ben Grassmick, students at Prairie Crossing Charter School in Grayslake, have persuaded officials to install "turtle crossing" signs near turtle habitats, as part of a graduation project. That's an "A" in our book.
Your vote really does count
You've heard this a thousand times: Your vote really does count. You can see it, too. The latest example comes from Glen Ellyn Elementary District 41, where a $24.2 million construction plan was approved by a margin of just 10 votes - 2.666 to 2,656. Voter turnout in the district? Just 26 percent.
Kicking off a new season
Good luck to the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women's Soccer League in their home opener today at Toyota Park. Naperville's Vanessa DiBernardo is one of team's suburban stars, and the roster also features several national team players. For the first time, the 10-team league has a TV deal with Lifetime carrying a game of the week. Check it out.
A ring of generosity
There's a lot of bling in those rings the Cubs have been doling out. While fans have been debating a decision by Cubs officials to require non-players to sign a do-not-sell agreement for the gift, the generosity of Cubs owners has been somewhat lost in the discussion. Giving out 1,908 pieces of jewelry (taxes included) is quite a generous act.
Another NCAA champion
The suburbs can lay claim to another NCAA champion. We've had quite a few over the years in basketball, volleyball, golf, track and other sports. McKendree University in southern Illinois (Lebanon) captured the NCAA Women's Bowling Championship over Nebraska. Sarah Willie, a Hoffman Estates grad, was a key player this season. Congrats!
Making a difference
At a high school where the challenges are many, the East Aurora girls soccer team focuses on providing some joy to the elderly. The Tomcats recently visited the Sunnymere retirement home in Aurora, where they played games and sang songs. Kudos to coach Obed Mendoza and his girls for brightening the day of Sunnymere's residents.