Amid tragedy, lessons in goodness

We know all too well that some of the news in our towns has been much too disturbing lately.

There's the Streamwood mother who police say gunned her car and pinned a 17-year-old boy against a wall. Then, police say, he was attacked by her son and others, and he died. The motive? One of the woman's sons had fought with the victim over a girl.

Then there is this week's teen tragedy. A Glenview 16-year-old argues in an Internet chat room with another 16-year-old from the Des Plaines area. Police say the Glenview teen then runs his truck over the other boy, killing him.

It is too much to fathom. Too much. And so it is ever more important to shine a light on the good stories about teens or those who help them.

One is the story of Jacobs High School Principal Michael Bregy, who did something many probably thought was nutty months ago. He gave all 2,400 students at the Algonquin school his cell phone number and told them to use it.

We imagine there have been a few pranks in the 400 messages, but staff writer Jameel Naqvi reported this week that Bregy got a text at 10:45 p.m. one recent night about a suicidal student. One thing led to another, Bregy worked to get police to the troubled student's house and now she is getting help. Bregy's messages also helped him prevent two fights.

Bregy put himself out there, reached his students where they live, and one of them literally now is still living. Outstanding. We encourage others to follow his tremendous lead.

And then there is Zach Hirsch of St. Charles, whose story was beautifully told this week by staff writer Susan Sarkauskas. Zach, a senior star athlete last year at St. Charles North, kept seeing freshman Graham Jackson of St. Charles eating lunch by himself. Zach knew Graham has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism that makes it tough for Graham to make and keep friends. So Zach took it upon himself to say hello, sit down and eat lunch with Graham. Bit by bit, moment by moment, Graham opened up. And he and Zach built a lasting relationship. Zach now is a freshman at Nebraska, playing baseball and considering a career in finance. Graham now has friends on the baseball team he helps manage because of relationships Zach helped him forge. Graham and Zach call, e-mail and text each other several times a week. Their families also have bonded. Thursday, Graham, Zach and their moms told their story on NBC's "Today" show. It's clear the guys don't quite get what all the fuss is about. They're just friends. Zach says he really just enjoys talking sports with Graham.

One young man reaches out. And now families and baseball players all have embraced each other and Graham, who is no longer so alone.

Simple gestures. Lasting bonds. Truly, holiday stories for our times. Lessons in goodness for us all. What gifts we have to treasure. And to emulate.