Saturday Soapbox: Neighbors helping neghbors
Neighbors helping neighbors:
Rarely do you see the level of community spirit we've seen lately exhibited by Elgin's downtown merchants. When Pat Keeney was hospitalized, folks came to her aid and have been running her century-old sporting goods store in shifts to keep money coming in. It's the quintessential Elgin story of neighbors helping neighbors. Bravo, Elgin.
You are in our hearts:
A somber moment to learn on Veterans Day that we'd lost another young man in Afghanistan. Marine Lance Cpl. James Bray of Arlington Heights, thank you for your bravery and service. You and your family remain in our thoughts and prayers.
Memo to Gov. Quinn:
Governor, you won three counties and less than half the vote. That is not a mandate.
Addendum to memo to Gov. Quinn:
We'd recommend you start detailing budget cuts. Those already made and more to be trimmed. Then, meet with both parties and work out more cuts and sacrifices. And then, maybe, we can consider a tax increase.
How cool is that?:
Students at Dundee-Crown may not have known how good they had it until this week. Social studies teacher Bruce Taylor has a knack for attracting high-powered speakers: Noam Chomsky, Peter Singer, Howard Zinn. But on Thursday, Tom Morello, guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, talked to kids via webcam about fair labor practices. Some kids were clearly star struck.
Helping Jenny play:
Kudos to the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association for stepping in to see if a way can be found to allow 17-year-old Jenny Youngwith to keep playing her beloved basketball with a Special Olympics team. Youngwith has a respiratory disorder and needs oxygen tanks that have been carried by her service dog, Simba. Now a backpack might solve a legal dispute. Play ball, Jenny!
Back from the deep
Wasn't it wonderful to see a crew recover a piece of World War II-era history from the waters of Lake Michigan this week? An old F4U-1 Corsair fighter plane that crashed during training 67 years ago was brought to the surface. Next stop the National Naval Aviation Museum in Florida to be restored.
Quite a run:
With the girls and boys state cross country championships complete, another season has come and gone. At Schaumburg High School, a coaching era closed as well, as girls coach Jon Macnider (31 years) and his brother Jim (37 years) hit the finish line together. Thanks, and well done, gentlemen.
Timing is everything
The day the Blackhawks announced details of their upcoming championship tribute book, “One Goal Achieved,” the team lost again at home and boos erupted. How quickly things change. Fans have a right to express themselves, but it is only 18 games into the season. Enjoy the book, and the season. It will take time to digest both.
Bye bye, phone book:
“The new phone book's here!” Steve Martin was pretty excited in 1979's “The Jerk,” but these days, the book mostly sits unused or goes straight to recycling. Now that regulators are agreeing to the white pages' demise, will you save the last book with your name in it?