Saturday Soapbox: Just in time for spring
Naperville residents have complained for years about unkempt vacant lots in developing neighborhoods. The city got around to what appears to be a resolution this week with guidelines on maintaining empty residential parcels. Teardowns and new construction are treated differently. When a vacant lot results from a teardown, it must be graded for drainage and have turf on the site within 30 days of being razed unless construction has already begun. But the new rules allow one year for developers in new subdivisions to take care of such issues as grading and grass, which is too long. An eyesore is an eyesore, whether a teardown or new construction created it.
A step in the right direction
The public anger that arose after a scourge of clergy sex abuse across the country is justified, especially in light of how poorly the Catholic Church has handled the scandal. But, locally, we thought it important to recognize one Roselle pastor's response when faced with a difficult situation. After a parent told him their son alleged an elderly church volunteer molested him, police said, the pastor at St. Walter's Catholic Church contacted them to launch an official investigation. An 87-year-old local man was charged this week with the predatory criminal sexual assault of two boys in his home last summer during a pool party. He is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but the church in this case acted appropriately on behalf of the community's children.
A touch of class
DuPage Associate Judge John Panegasser lost a short but courageous battle with lung cancer this week. He was just 62. In court, he was known for being fair and diligent. One friend remarked he represents all that is good and decent in the law. Another colleague said those who crossed his path were the better for knowing him. On a personal note, Panegasser is remembered as a dedicated family man who couldn't tell a joke with a straight face. He loved life and lived it to the fullest -- a good lesson for us all. Panegasser will be missed. Our condolences to his wife, Leslie; their three adult children, and six grandchildren.
Parents having to wait to be heard
Wheaton Warrenville Unit District 200 school board members have agreed to push comments about non-agenda items to near the end of their meetings. Only remarks on agenda items will happen near the start of meetings. While breaking public comment into two parts might make District 200's meetings move along quicker, it doesn't seem entirely fair. When parents come out to voice opinions, they shouldn't have to sit through a two-hour meeting to get the opportunity.
Huskies for Hokies
United by chilling tragedy, the Huskies of Northern Illinois University reached out to the also-mourning Hokies of Virginia Tech on the one-year anniversary of their mass campus shooting with a "Huskies for Hokies" candlelight vigil. "We are here tonight to express by our physical presence an intangible bond between two broken hearts," NIU president John Peters said And, with that bond, may there be the start of healing for Huskies and Hokies alike.
Baseball with benevolence
Speaking of the Huskies, it was a nice touch by the White Sox to host a college baseball game between Northern Illinois University and Notre Dame on Wednesday night at U.S. Cellular Field. The game was played to raise funds for NIU's Feb. 14 Scholarship Fund established in the memory of the five students who were fatally shot in Cole Hall.