Needed transparency in Vernon Hills, revitalizing Wheaton's downtown, a TV genius in Barrington and more.
Transparency needed
Why was former Vernon Hills Village Manager John Kalmar asked to resign and what are the terms of a financial settlement? As we've said in many similar cases elsewhere, Mayor Roger Byrne and the board owe some answers to taxpayers, who shouldn't have to cover the costs unless they know the reason for the split.
Just the ticket
The Cubs have come up with a plan to make 60 seats at home games available for $10 per ticket to fans who enter their online lottery. They want to reach young fans who can't afford to go to a baseball game at Wrigley. Like the Cubs, we hope those tickets don't end up on the resale market. That would be a shame.
Who needs two?
Meanwhile, there are plenty of tickets available at Guaranteed Rate Field, the home of the White Sox. Hours before Thursday's home opener, online vendors were offering tickets for just $7. That price will rise if the Sox complete their rebuild and become contenders by 2020. Until then, enjoy the discounted prices to watch the young stars develop.
Revitalizing downtown Wheaton
We hope Wheaton residents are excited as the city embarks on a $30 million project to revitalize downtown and turn it into a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly destination with rebuilt streets, wider sidewalks, reconfigured parking and new amenities. We also hope the city makes sure the end result is worth the time, effort and cost.
Good luck, Matt
Barrington's boy genius, 11-year-old Matt Louis, competes Sunday at 8 p.m. on a new NBC game show celebrating some of the brightest children in the United States. Matt, a fifth-grader at Hough Elementary School, appears on "Genius Junior" hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. Matt says he's really good at math and loves a challenge.
Safety first, please
We understand the unusually cold weather has been frustrating to athletic directors and coaches who have had to cancel some high school athletic events. As tempting as it may be to send young student athletes out to compete, we implore the decision makers to always think of safety first. One game is not worth an athlete's physical well being.
There is joy in hot dog land
A lot of people were bummed by the closing of Photo's Hot Dogs in Mount Prospect last February but what's this? The Libertyville restaurateur behind Slott's Hots is planning to remodel the location and have it reopened by August. Hey, we don't care what it looks like, just bring back the dogs.
Faith in action
Parishioners at Holy Family Catholic Community in Inverness raised $50,000 during Lent to support anti-violence efforts in Chicago's most troubled neighborhoods. And look at what's happening next - church members are reaching beyond their checkbooks to volunteer with the inner-city programs. It's a praiseworthy example of faith in action.
A special tribute
We'll raise our sticks and salute the Chicago Blackhawks for their "One More Shift" campaign, which honored Hall of Famer Stan Mikita on Friday night.