Saturday Soapbox
A really good show:
Sherman Hospital put on an amazing spread for its black tie-optional shindig recently to herald the impending opening of its new hospital on Randall Road in Elgin. And it gave the royal welcome Tuesday to the patients it transferred from the old facility to mark its first day of operation. First-class treatment befitting a beautiful new facility.
Move to the center, please:
Ever wonder why people who always get there first insist on taking the aisle seats? Wouldn't it make more sense if they got there last? And wouldn't it make things a lot easier?
A smoother, gentler Prairie Path:
There were some complaints that the redesigned portion of the Illinois Prairie Path's Batavia Spur near the new Eola Road/Reagan Tollway ramps was too soft and slippery. But the limestone always manages to flatten out - and the recent snow and ice is helping. Don't have to worry about riding the trail now.
Speaking of DuPage trails:
The DuPage County Board isn't getting anywhere with ComEd over the company's removal of trees from the trail system, so it's appealing to state legislators to require ComEd to restore the vegetation it takes away. ComEd says it's simply providing safe and reliable electricity. Whoever's right, one thing is true: The county sure is dedicated to its trails, always fighting for them.
Aging gracefully:
Happy 50th birthday to Northwest Community Hospital in Arlington Heights. A huge building block in the foundation of our suburbs just completed its yearlong celebration, and as important as the last half-century has been for the hospital, Northwest always seems to be building for the future. So again, happy birthday to you ... and many more.
Give us all a brake:
This is a public service reminder that traffic this holiday season is expected to rise nearly 4 percent. If all of us obeyed speed laws 100 percent, and tempered our road rage 50 percent, imagine the number of lives we might save this time around.
Help for the techno-challenged?
Congrats to the students from Rolling Meadows, Wheeling and Prospect high schools for winning the FIRST Technical Challenge Robotics Competition for the third straight year. That's amazing. What would be more amazing is if they could rewrite the instruction manuals for all those gifts that we struggle to put together on Christmas Eve.
Reasons to watch the Bears:
The Bears are not appointment TV these days, but there are a couple of good reasons to watch Sunday's game. First, former Buffalo Grove standout Tom Zbikowski will likely start at safety for the Baltimore Ravens. And watch for Michael Oher, the Ravens' offensive tackle who is the subject of the hit film "The Blind Side."
Get in the game:
Elk Grove Village is having some fun and generating goodwill by selling a board game version of Elk GroveOpoly to support the Lioness Club's community programs. Perhaps other communities should roll the dice and jump on board. A "Candy Land" version for Long Grove or "Chutes and Ladders" for Schaumburg or "Family Feud" for Buffalo Grove might draw some attention.