Soapbox: A nice tradition
The Geneva Park District hit a home run by dedicating ballfields after former park district commissioners and former landowners. Sam Hill, John Burns Sr. and George and Erdine Peck are sure to enjoy seeing their names on these fields in honor of what they've given to the district, instead of just a paper proclamation or a plaque. And it lets the public know that your contributions do matter -- and make the city the great community it is.
Good questions
North Aurora village trustees took the right approach when it was suggested that a new position be created in the wake of the retirement of the building commissioner. They didn't support the idea or dismiss it out of hand, but asked for proof that this move would make financial sense. That's good to see.
No children's hour in baseball
Baseball fans are feeling sleep-deprived because the Cubs games began at 9 p.m. when the Cubs were in Arizona. But most playoff games and all World Series games are broadcast in prime time, when networks can capture the biggest ad revenues, and often go late into the night. Adults will have to function on less sleep, but what about the children? If they can't stay up to watch games, even on the weekend, will they will be fans as adults? And the high price of tickets even for regular season games is keeping many working families from seeing a game in person. Major League Baseball needs to develop a better vision for the future and get the children involved.
Seasonal depression
Finally, it's that time of year when the gardening-challenged can enjoy a respite from the repetitive lawn-mowing, watering and replacing dead flowers to avoid neighborhood scorn. Wait! What's that across the street? Is that a scarecrow coyly perched on a hay bale? And up the block -- is that a Halloween display complete with sound effects? If erecting holiday lights in freezing conditions at the risk of electrocuting oneself isn't bad enough, now here comes autumn with new decorating demands. It's enough to make one welcome January where snow shoveling is required but not a course in Martha Stewart.
Disrespect and respect
We often bemoan the high salaries that baseball players and other athletes earn these days. The financial separation between them and their fans has never been wider. But at least one thing has not changed -- the need for respect. Arizona's players feel like they didn't get enough of it before the series against the Cubs; Chicago fans feel like the broadcasters are biased against their team. We've all heard about the need for respecting your opponent -- whether it's on the high school football level or during weekly games of park district softball. And somewhere today there is a grade-school soccer team motivated by something said on a playground during the week. It shows you that the more things change in sports, at least one thing remains the same.
Topping off jail
Kane County officials celebrated a construction industry tradition called "topping off" by putting their names to the concrete of the $55.8 million jail in St. Charles Township this week. The moment marked the finish of exterior work, excluding paint and cosmetics, and it also indicated the project remains on-time and on-budget for an opening near the middle of next year.
'Z' could have gone another three
Hey, Lou Piniella. It's not youth baseball. You can use the same pitcher for an entire game!