Saturday Soapbox

Anniversary wish:Winfield native Kevin Streelman came up just short of winning his first PGA Tour event last Sunday. But we want to give him a special shout out for something else. In an on-course interview, Streelman skipped the usual golf patter and told the nation it was his parents' 46th wedding anniversary. Nice.Applause, applause:Congratulations to Drury Lane Oak Brook, honored this week with 26 total Jeff Award nominations - more than any other theater in Chicago or the suburbs. The recognition is well-earned as this musical theater has staged a number of impressive recent revivals, including the rousing, riveting "Ragtime."Accommodating technology:What's a school district to do when technology just can't be tamed? Why adapt, of course. For Northwest Suburban High School District 214, a relaxed and realistic policy means spending less time tracking down rogue cell-phone users and more time educating kids. Sounds like a good call to us.Senseless speeding:A Naperville 17-year-old was charged with driving 95 mph in a construction zone. And if that's not bad enough, there were three other teens in the car. Be grateful all of you are alive, not to mention those you could have hurt, and either grow up or get off the road.Boo-hoo, bad guys:It's amazing to hear big bad gang leaders whine that Chicago police are being too tough. Hmmm . . . the cops are threatening to use any laws they can to stop the bangers who poison the streets with drugs and kill innocents in drive-by shootings. And the bangers think that's unfair? Clearly, a reality check isn't a gang's entry requirement.Frightful state of affairs: Illinois has been stiffing a lot of creditors lately. Now, the Libertyville driver's license facility faces eviction, and state Rep. Sandy Cole of Grayslake had to close her legislative office because the state won't pay rent. Maybe landlords should try bringing in one of those seasonal Halloween stores. It's less scary than having the state for a tenant.Didn't pass by: It's easy to drive on past an accident, especially after dark. Holly Swaim of Oak Lawn didn't. Arriving at a Reagan Tollway crash before emergency workers, Swaim cut a seat belt that was choking Beth Wallace, of Des Moines, and reassured her until paramedics arrived. "I am so thankful," Wallace said. We're grateful, too, for people like Swaim.'Exotic' snack attacks:It may take a little something extra, but some local schools are serving fruits and vegetables that kids won't turnip their noses at (sorry). Using federal funds, 10 elementary schools in Elgin, Wheeling and Carpentersville are finding that, given time and encouragement, kids will go for even rutabaga and Brussels sprouts. Who'd have known?Can we bear to watch?OK, Lovie, for now, we'll take you at your word that everything's really fine. But, we're still a little nervous when it's a quarterback just fighting for a spot on the team who finally gets the Bears into the end zone. How 'bout you guys make short work of Detroit next week and give us a reason to pay attention, at least for a little while?