Saturday Soapbox: Cook County
All in all, an impressive building
Leaving the debate over the $31 million price tag aside for a moment, the new Arlington Heights village hall is really quite something. The public spaces are bright and airy, and the departments on the first floor are well marked and easily accessible to the public. The interior lines are clean and largely unadorned; because of panoramic windows and skylights, the floors and walls are patterned with natural light -- although we did wonder offhand what a heavy rainstorm will sound like from inside -- but it certainly is a friendly, warm design. Batten down your hatches if you head outside on the third-floor patio -- the wind was really whipping around during Thursday's dedication. Overheard: Someone complaining that the clock hands on the tower are too similar in length. The quote: "You can't tell if it's 5 o'clock, or 25 minutes after 12."
Zero dollars per mile, redux
It's National Bike Month again, and, as we mentioned last year about this time … have you noticed gas prices lately? Who hasn't? They're a whole lot worse than they were a year ago. So again we offer this: May brings a reminder to get some exercise, help the environment a little and even save the wallet a little stress. Dust off the wheels, fill those tires, grab that helmet and head out into the fresh air. If it serves a dual purpose of getting you where you were going anyway … all the better.
A sign of the times
In an effort to improve college campus safety, the Illinois House voted this week to let all university police officers carry guns while on duty. The idea, which makes sense, gained momentum after the deadly NIU shootings in February. It moves to the Senate for consideration. The proposal does include certain safeguards. For example, only sworn, trained officers -- not security guards -- may carry a weapon. If nothing else, the extra measure of safety may give students a sense of security and offenders pause before they target our campuses again.
A nice how-do-you-do
It was a pleasant surprise for one of our soapbox writers to get a voice mail at home Monday afternoon from Jose Torres, who was named superintendent of Elgin Area School District U-46 earlier in the day. He said all the things you'd expect a new superintendent to say (he's glad to be in the district, he'll work with parents and staff, do what he can to raise test scores). It was not only a nice touch to leave the voice mail, it was an even better touch to leave the greeting in English and Spanish. It never hurts to make a good first impression.
And while we're on the subject
Dare we suggest U-46 officials should have had a contract in place before trotting Jose Torres out before the public? The school board has only approved a letter of intent to have a contract drafted. If Torres is unhappy with what the district offers, he can walk and the district will have egg on its face, not to mention the stain left by former superintendent Connie Neale.
Just tell her -- better yet, go visit
Advertising everywhere reminds us Sunday is Mother's Day and we'd better hurry and buy jewelry, perfume and spa packages. But none of these offerings could ever be an adequate way to thank a mother for what she does best -- caring for her children with all her heart. It's sometimes hard to understand how important a mother is until you lose her. If you're lucky enough to still have a mother -- even if she drives you nuts half the time -- call her Sunday or get together in person. She doesn't need another pair of slippers; she wants to hear you appreciate all she's done for you.