Saturday Soapbox
Barb's all that:
This ought to set the bar higher in the Best Landlord contest. Barbara Thomas learns that James Love, the man who is renting her Sleepy Hollow house, has sickle cell anemia and needs a new kidney. So she gives him hers. Just like that. And she'll use her time of recuperation to set up a nonprofit to help others willing to donate organs. You are a special kind of woman, Barb.
Where's the transparency?
You'd think the Illinois State Board of Elections, the agency that handles complaints about campaign disclosure statements, would be more transparent. A hearing officer met with the parties on a complaint out of Buffalo Grove and compiled a report. Secret, except one of the parties gave us a copy. The board reviewed the complaint in private. Then issued a terse announcement the complaint had been dismissed. This is supposed to encourage faith in the process?
Marching into greatness at Hersey:
What a great feat (or should we say feet?) for Hersey High to march away with the Governor's Cup trophy in the prestigious Illini Marching Band Festival. For Prospect High, placing second to such a close neighbor may or may not have made it easier to end what's got to be one of the longest streaks in marching history - 26 years as festival champs! But both schools, and all of District 214, should be extremely proud.
Bank on this:
They'll likely not be wearing their trademark pinstripe suits, but about 100 bankers in the area for a national convention will be doing good in Glendale Heights today. They're working with DuPage Habitat for Humanity fixing up a foreclosed home. It's a different tack for Habitat, but in this housing market it makes a lot of sense to work with existing properties.
Tough road to hoe:
Sigh. Once again, no one's especially happy with the latest in the saga of relocating gardeners from community plots in Naperville. The latest twist finds the park district approving the athletic fields; when replacement gardens will come is less certain, as costs have risen. Good for the park board for keeping an eye out for taxpayers, but we want to see a final solution to this mess. Soon.
A tribute to Rita Mullins:
For all of her jet-setting around the world while she was mayor, Rita Mullins' heart was always in Palatine. Twenty years as mayor and eight years as clerk demonstrate her commitment, but it's the dozen or so organizations that she was a part of that illustrate her true devotion: the Palatine Opportunity Center; American Legion Auxiliary; Palatine Township Senior Center; WINGS, and more. At 2 p.m. today, Volunteer Plaza at Northwest Highway and North Hicks Road will become the "Rita L. Mullins Volunteer Plaza." Congratulations, Rita, and thank you.
Making us feel young:
Chris Chelios is playing hockey with the Chicago Wolves at age 47. Go, Chris, go! You make the rest of us feel like there's no reason to quit anything no matter what age.
Oh, Eola and Diehl:
The intersection of Eola and Diehl roads in Aurora is good and torn up in the effort to make new ramps to and from the East-West Tollway nearby. Someday soon, we hope, it'll be worth all the navigating around construction markers and the delays. What a mess.
Mother knows best:
Rolling Meadows mother Melinda Flood's practical advice on protecting your family from H1N1 is worth repeating. Don't panic, but be careful. We hope Flood's son Dylan and other early victims of the swine flu around the suburbs a speedy recovery.
Setting the record straight:
Those who have visited the endorsement section on DuPage County Board chairman hopeful Debra Olson's campaign Web site might be under the impression that we have endorsed a candidate in that race. We haven't. Olson has posted an excerpt from an editorial we ran Jan. 22, 2008, when she was a candidate for county board. We believe a clarification is in order.
Still time to Make a Difference:
Today is Make a Difference Day. If you're like most of us and haven't signed up for something, don't fret. You can still do your part by supporting other projects, such as Pritchett School's collection, letter drive and book sale. The Buffalo Grove school's effort, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will benefit Elgin's Little Angels.