Manager of the Year honors bittersweet

Bittersweet Lou?

If timing is everything, then Major League Baseball should rethink its postseason awards. You can't blame Lou Piniella for not being overly excited about winning the National League Manager of the Year award after his team was swept out of the playoffs. Either wait until the World Series is over, or give it out before the playoffs.

Why wait?

Ceremonies throughout the suburbs marking Veterans Day observances were poignant and heart-warming. Let's remember to hold onto that feeling and honor veterans every chance we get. We don't have to wait for a ceremony.

Powerful message:

More than 60 years after the end of World War II, Samuel Harris' vision for a Holocaust museum is about to be realized. The holocaust survivor's efforts to complete the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie are truly remarkable. He never gave up hope. Why? He wants us all to learn from the past and to give peace a chance. Thanks Samuel.

Campaign clutter:

It's been a week and a half since the election. C'mon, candidates. Even if you lost the election, you should show enough respect for your community to go collect your signs along the roadway.

Model of efficiency:

Speaking of elections, Cook County Clerk David Orr might try to learn a few things from Will County Clerk Nancy Schultz Voots before the next election. Sure, Will County is significantly smaller. But Voots consistently delivers election night results quickly and efficiently. This year, Voots' office had everything counted by about 9:30 p.m. A few Cook County precincts weren't counted until noon on Wednesday.

Thanks, we needed that:

It is Mount Prospect's time in the spotlight. The community was saluted by BusinessWeek magazine as the best affordable place to raise a family in the U.S. Good schools, great parks, cost of living and access to cultural centers were among the factors weighed. Many suburbs share those qualities and more - the good people who make those things happen. Congrats.

Three cheers for Taylor:

It is difficult to top Taylor Radtke's story for inspiration. It was just a year ago that this 8-year-old Johnsburg underwent surgery to remove a tumor lodged between the base of her brain and spinal cord, a tumor thought to be inoperable. But the tumor is gone, replaced by a smile to light up any room.

Fitting memorial:

Until this week, Lexi Porreca was memorialized by a roadside shrine. Officials at Central School, wanting a more fitting tribute to the 11-year-old nature lover killed last summer while crossing River Road in Des Plaines, worked with others to dedicate a tree and a bench in Central Park across from the school. Now, her memorial is surrounded by things she loved, far from the rush of River Road traffic.

Ever heard of a crosswalk?

There are two stop lights two-tenths of a mile apart on Algonquin Road in between Dempster Street and Briarwood Drive in Mount Prospect. Why, then, do people insist on crossing Algonquin Road in the middle of the block? Why not walk half a block north or south to a crosswalk and keep children (and drivers) safe?