The Soapbox: A contrast of ideologies in Elgin, an impressive effort in Des Plaines, a Christmas tree in Grayslake and more.
According to Abe
"Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as he best can, the same cause - honor to him, only less than to him, who braves, for the common good, the storms of heaven and the storms of battle." ~ President Abraham Lincoln
Tip time
A sure sign that we're heading into winter: the high school basketball season begins Monday, as the girls teams get started with their first games. One week later, the boys season starts in earnest. Let the excitement begin.
This could be interesting
For the first time, Judson University will host not one but two speakers at its World Leaders Forum on April 19. And the guests couldn't be further apart politically than former GOP House Speaker Newt Gingrich and ex-Vermont governor and one-time Democratic presidential candidate Howard Dean. Tickets are $65 for Judson's main fundraising event.
Oh Christmas tree
Grayslake's Darlene Dorfler had a most special reason to donate the 62-foot Norway spruce chosen for Millennium Park. The 104th Chicago Christmas tree lighting on Nov. 17 would have been the 55th anniversary of Darlene and Frank, who died last September. "My husband would really enjoy this," she said. As will thousands of others, Darlene.
Sharing stage with Chenoweth
Fun to see Libertyville District 70 orchestra teacher Allison Zabelin get to sing a duet last weekend with Broadway's Kristin Chenoweth at the Paramount Theatre in Aurora. And great to see some West Aurora High School chorus members share the stage with Chenoweth, too. It was all music to our ears.
Generous hearts
In the Neighbor section, many of our pages this week were filled with opportunities for the community to help a neighbor in need - coat drives, bike drives, holiday food drives, township wish trees. Our towns have always been generous, and we're sure this year will be no different.
Pre-emptive permission
The Fox River & Countryside Fire/Rescue District is 0-for-2 when asking for a tax increase. Trustees encourage residents to attend Monday's meeting to ask how much of a tax hike they'd accept. It is virtually certain another referendum is coming, so the district is lining up support. A decent strategy.
Thinking about Algonquin Road work
Public meetings are beginning on what to do with the bucolic but busy stretch of Algonquin Road between routes 25 and 68. An obvious thought will be to widen the two-lane road. Already bicycling advocates are pushing for a path along the road. Not a bad idea considering bicyclists frequent the area and could use a clean, safe way to go east and west.
Impressive effort
Kudos to the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce and local businesses for investing in a jobs-focused boot camp for veterans. It offered 20 veterans a big leg up in converting to civilian jobs with an eight-week course and a package of career-orienteded gifts, such as a computer, valued at $8,000.