Saturday Soapbox: Fox Valley
The problem with Randall Road
One of our Soapbox writers finds herself puzzled by complaints about speeders on Randall Road. In her opinion, the problem with traffic on Randall -- and we're talking about the stretch north of Interstate 90 to Crystal Lake -- isn't speeders. It's distracted drivers. How many times has this person swore under her breath -- OK, perhaps out loud -- while driving behind someone doing 40 in a 50 mph zone; someone with a cell phone pressed to their ear while fumbling to unwrap a doughnut. As we buckle up for Memorial Day weekend, let's all do our best to keep our eyes -- and minds -- on the road so we can get where we're going, safely.
New superintendent, new rules
Elgin Area School District U-46 board members Monday voted to destroy tapes of closed meeting sessions from 18 months ago. The actions are legal and the timing impeccable. June will be 18 months since ex-superintendent Connie Neale began negotiating an extensive contract deal, one that still riles taxpayers. June will also be time to approve a new contract for incoming superintendent Jose Torres. The public was kept in the dark too long with the Neale debacle, only inciting anger and mistrust. To start things off right, the board should seriously consider making the new superintendent's contract public information.
His love was always on display
Elgin lost an icon when World War II veteran Art Richoz died this week, seven days before the nation observes Memorial Day. Even after fighting that brutal war, the 85-year-old hometown hero was never afraid of showing his love to Elinor, his wife of 65 years. Their devotion to each other was always on display, as they rarely left each others' side. Three years ago at a VFW dance, Mr. Richoz serenaded his wife with the song, "When your old wedding ring was new." Recalls longtime friend George Rawlinson, "There's a longstanding joke around Elgin. When you cut Art, Elinor bleeds," he said. On Memorial Day, we remember all veterans, but we also think of Mr. Richoz and Elinor. He would have wanted it that way.
Geneva school board gets it right
Kudos to the Geneva school board for changing its mind Monday and agreeing to let school out a day early for Harrison Street and Coultrap elementary schools. The schools had asked for the extra day to ramp up the process of packing for their respective moves into other buildings. At first the board was worried the district could lose state per-day funding, and the plan would disrupt families' child-care arrangements. When the board learned otherwise, it quickly reversed itself. We're not in favor of children being in school less; but in this special case (and at the end of the year when students' attention spans have waned), this seems like a good idea.
Cowards at work
Vandalism has marred the opening of the 10th Annual Fine Art Show in St. Charles. Patricia Brutchin discovered her sculpture missing May 16 at Mount St. Mary Park. People work hard to create art that makes the landscape of a park and a city more aesthetically pleasing. The "Sculpture in the Park" series helps St. Charles appeal to its residents and visitors. A petty and cowardly thief or thieves chose to ruin this. That's pathetic.
A one-woman cleanup crew
Why does it take an elderly woman on a motorized scooter, carting around an oxygen tank, to clean up the east side of Carpentersville? Shouldn't all residents want a clean neighborhood? Don't let a 70-year-old woman do your dirty work when you are entirely able, but just too lazy, to clean up after yourselves.