Saturday Soapbox: Standing up for tolerance:
Standing up for tolerance:
Students at Stevenson High School and other campuses joined a national campaign Wednesday to fight bullying of gay teens. Their message of tolerance and civility might have been the most important lesson taught that day.
It's 911, not the fairy godmother:
That should be the message to the Buffalo Grove boy who called 911 to say he didn't like the dinner his dad prepared, coming a year behind a similar call to Buffalo Grove police from a teen upset he was grounded from his video games. Kids, those are not emergencies.
Dreaming in blue:
Yes, it's in the sad tradition of Cubs fans' endless dreams of elusive glory, but just think about it: A suburban native, a Prospect High School grad, leads the Boys in Blue to a World Series berth in 2011. It could happen, Mike Quade; it could happen. It's not like it's never been done before. Well, maybe it almost is, but we still have faith in you.
We back the ultimatum:
Frustrated by delays in their downtown redevelopment plan, Lake Zurich officials issued an ultimatum to the project developer this week. David Smith of Equity Service Group has until Jan. 1, to show proof of the financing he claims he has. It's a necessary step in a project too important to waste any more time on.
Debt indicator?
We don't know if you're paying much attention to candidates' required financial reports, but we watch them. And it's scary to think we're counting on some of these people to bring us out of fiscal ruin when they're racking up tens of thousands of dollars in campaign debt.
Look cool, stay alive:
Police say a man who crashed his motorcycle into the side of a pickup truck near Hampshire is probably alive today because his helmet and leathers cushioned his fall. Now if only he hadn't tried to pass several vehicles at once...
Don't let it get you down:
Consider, too, that the campaign money seems to be going to pay for gutter-level advertising designed to ensure we don't vote for “the other guy.” At the rate the candidates and, especially, their PACs are going, you'd think they're all trying to make people think there's no reason to vote at all. Don't let them succeed.
Know your crosswalk law:
Drivers might want to pay more attention now when they see a pedestrian entering a crosswalk. Many probably aren't aware a new law went into effect July 1 requiring drivers to stop, not just yield, when a pedestrian steps off the curb. That will be valuable knowledge, if you know what we mean.
You are here:
There might have been some controversy over the illuminated street signs hanging above some of the busiest intersections in Cook County, but one thing should not be an issue: They sure make things safer at night when approaching those crossways. Especially when driving in an unfamiliar area, the quick recognition is helpful.
Still not talking?
Perhaps the most disappointing thing to come out of an editorial board meeting with gambling opponents this week was the appearance that they, Arlington Heights and lawmakers still aren't talking to each other about slots at Arlington Park. There's a community meeting 7:30 p.m. Monday at the local historical museum. Maybe then ...