Saturday soapbox: We want more flashing crosswalks
The crosswalk going from the Metropolis parking lot to the other side of Dunton Avenue in downtown Arlington Heights lights up with flashing yellow lights when the pedestrian walk button is pressed. It's very cool. Plus, it makes sense for safety reasons, especially if they can do it all over town, especially at school crossings.
There's too many games, anyway
Of the high school athletic directors who have been at their jobs a long time, not one of them can remember canceling so many spring events. Dan Kallenbach of Bartlett High School, who has worked in District U-46 his entire life, can't recall a spring with so many rainouts. Many area baseball and softball teams won't get in the 35 games they are allowed -- heck, some might not get in 20. But schools are spoiled today with being allowed to schedule so many games. Not so long ago a 20-game schedule was commonplace. The 1976 state softball champions from Rich South played 23 games, including the post-season. The next year Cahokia won the state title with a 19-0 record. We suspect fewer games would increase student-athletes' study time and even test scores.
Our churches lead charge vs. hunger
With global food prices rising, the efforts by local churches -- including Willow Creek Community and St. Mark Lutheran --to feed hungry children is commendable and timely. This month and next month, Willow Creek and the Minneapolis-based charity Feed My Starving Children have organized about 15,000 Chicago-area volunteers with the goal of packing 3.5 million meals for children in Zimbabwe. Over one week in mid-April, St. Mark in Mount Prospect massed nearly 2,000 volunteers who put together more than 400,000 meals. With Zimbabwe's rampant inflation making the food crisis in the country even more acute, the gesture should be much appreciated.
Have mouse, will answer
Oh, to be a youngster these days, when you no longer have to bug Dad to help with the calculus. Instead, head to the nearest public library that is connected to Live Homework Help (19 in the Northwest and West suburbs). Fourth- through 12th-graders can log on to Tutor.com and consult with expert tutors in math, science, social studies and English -- not for the answers, mind you, but directions on how to find them. Direct, simple … and there's no better use of the Internet.
Fremd brings home the title
The best teenage journalists in Illinois are apparently at Fremd High School, who took the overall state journalism title last week at the IHSA championships. Fremd newspaper adviser Jennifer Meils said her team loves the hard work associated with journalism. We like knowing there's a new generation of news hounds on the rise.
Undeserved pay hike
State lawmakers and the governor are in line for a pay hike. There ought to be an amendment to recall these pay raises if they go through.