Small price to avoid big problem
Yes, $90,000 is a lot of money, as Aurora Ald. Rick Lawrence notes. But it pales in comparison with, say, a potential $9 million lawsuit, as Mayor Tom Weisner also notes. The lower sum is what the city voted to spend on mandatory cultural awareness training for its 400 sworn police officers and civilians. Especially in a town as diverse as Aurora, and in our litigation-happy society, it seems a worthwhile investment to ensure officers don't make any poor judgment calls, based on innocent ignorance of cultural norms, that could land the city in court.
Avoid appearance of conflict
The Lisle Unit District 202 school board has hired a search firm that employs Superintendent Phil Lueck to find his successor. The board has laid down guidelines to avoid any appearance that Lueck would try to influence the search decision or profit from it. Of course, the best way to have shed any skepticism over this deal was to have not hired this search firm at all.
Mean thieves
Once again items being displayed for public enjoyment and for eventual sale to benefit charity, have been stolen by thieves who make no room for decency in their small minds. Through the years, statues displayed along the Riverwalk in Naperville have been stolen or vandalized. Now thieves have stolen two benches -- one painted for the Cubs and the other for the White Sox -- from the "Benches of Lisle" fundraiser. Hopefully the thieves will be caught and the benches returned in one piece. And part of their sentence should include matching the amount the benches, if recovered, would be sold for at a Sept. 15 charity auction.
Keeping benches safe
But perhaps one sure way to avoid theft of these sports-themed benches in the future is to paint a Blackhawks bench.
A good time for reading
It's September, which means back-to-school time and leaves that'll soon be changing to brilliant shades of red, yellow and orange. September means crisp air and football tailgates and apple cider and pumpkins. September also means reading. This month is National Library Card Sign-Up Month, so make sure you visit your local library. The Naperville Library and the city's business community have found a unique way of encouraging signing up for a library card -- more than 80 local merchants are offering discounts to customers who show their library cards. Great idea.
Topnotch teacher
Congratulations to Naperville Central High School teacher Patricia Adamatis, who is one of eight finalists for the Illinois Teacher of the Year award given by the Illinois State Board of Education. We wish the adapted physical education teacher good luck on Oct. 13, when a winner will be named.
Up to the challenge
Congratulations, too, to the Naperville Police Department for its second-place finish in the national Law Enforcement Challenge sponsored by the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The challenge is a competition between similar law enforcement agencies, with the top finishers being recognized for excellence in traffic safety programs in the United States.
One Last Fling
Summer will soon give way to fall, and there's no better way to say goodbye to the season in the sun than to give it one Last Fling. The Labor Day weekend festival in Naperville has another great lineup of concerts, including Cheap Trick and The BoDeans, to go along with the great food and carnival rides for the kids. Enjoy yourself, but not at the risk of making a fool of yourself in the Beer Garden or rudely pushing your way into what is likely to be a very crowded Main Stage concert area.