Saturday Soapbox: DuPage County
Government going too far
Addison leaders are attempting to make the village prettier by banning window-mounted air-conditioning units from the fronts of buildings. So that's how you make a village prettier. Naperville should be really mad that they spent all that money on a Riverwalk. Lombard can make a parking lot out of Lilacia Park now. Glen Ellyn and Wheaton should shutter their downtowns because Addison has finally figured it all out.
She paved the way for others
Most DuPage County folks probably never heard of Giddy Dyer before this week, but she'll always hold an important footnote in our local history. Dyer died a couple of months ago at her home in North Carolina. A memorial service will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Hinsdale Golf Club to recognize Dyer, the first woman to serve on the DuPage County Board. Dyer, a Republican, served from 1960 to 1968 and then went on to six terms as a state representative. She served during the dawn of the women's movement and, in Springfield, championed the Equal Rights Amendment. Dyer also was behind DuPage County's first air pollution control ordinance. She was a trailblazer, but did so with grace and charm, even in the rough-and-tumble world of politics. She liked to say: "A woman's place is in the house -- the statehouse." Dyer was 88. Our condolences to her family.
Here's to teachers
Did you catch "American Idol" on Wednesday? Perhaps the best moment came in the second half when David Cook went to his hometown and surprised his elementary school music teacher with an on-camera visit. He wanted to thank her for inspiring him to get into music. She responded to his honor sweetly: "It just thrills my heart. … It makes my heart sing." Not every teacher who has left lasting inspirations in their students will get such a public honor. But they all deserve it. Why not take a moment, consider the teacher or teachers you consider influential, track them down and let them know? It might make their heart sing.
It's a dogs' world
Some days, it seems the world's going to the dogs. At many local parks and forest preserves, it's literally true. As Nadia Malik's report showed, in increasing numbers, they're setting aside special areas for pets to roam off the leash and even installing special equipment so they can get the needed exercise. This is one case where the world going to the dogs is a positive, not a negative. Go, Spot, run!
Lombard's new village manager
Congratulations to David Hulseberg, Lombard's next village manager. He will replace longtime village manager Bill Lichter, who retires June 1 after 23 years. There have been many positive changes in Lombard since Hulseberg started as the director of community development in 1997. The flood of restaurants, shops and hotels along Butterfield Road can be attributed, in part, to Hulseberg's hard work. We wish him good luck in his new role, and wish Lichter well in retirement.
Why all the Cub anniversary talk?
Last week (May 6 to be exact) marked the 10th anniversary of Chicago Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game. The week before that it was the 25th anniversary of manager Lee Elia's infamous post-game profanity-laced explosion. So why all the reminiscing about Cubbie moments? Because championship-starved Cub fans have had little else to look at but these anniversaries, especially the big one coming up this October.