Editorial: Remembering how much there is to give thanks for

Imagine a world in which Republicans and Democrats work together for the common good, in which government programs actually serve people in need, in which neighbors help neighbors — or, for that matter, total strangers — in a time of crisis.

That world exists. And inundated as we all are by a news cycle swelling with disappointments and crises, we sometimes may not appreciate that we’re living in it.

Today is the day for remembering that, for counting the blessings that help make up for the strife that too often stares back at us from the front page or the home page. To help you get started, here are some events of the past year worth remembering and celebrating:

Putting the ‘works’ in public works: The city of Elgin, as we reported last winter, is using federal stimulus money for a revolving-fund loan program that helps people make their homes more energy-efficient.How it#146;s supposed to work: While unions and politicians fought in neighboring states, all sides got involved in groundbreaking legislation in Illinois last spring that put performance back at the top of the priority list for determining teacher layoffs and establishing tenure.And there#146;s more: Lawmakers also passed laws making high school athletes safer from concussions and improving conditions for young offenders. State officials are doing more than ever to combat distracted driving. Just in time for summer, the state came through with money to put hundreds of teens in jobs at community park facilities.Working things out: Following months of emotional wrangling over approval of religious centers, DuPage County Board members found a middle-ground path of working with both neighbors and religious groups to create a series of amendments that set parameters for parking, traffic, density and other specific concerns.Getting it together: Republican state Sen. John Millner of Carol Stream and Democratic freshman state Rep. Michelle Mussman of Schaumburg hosted joint town hall meetings in Schaumburg and Roselle. U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin, a Democrat, and Mark Kirk, a Republican, worked together on a host of federal projects of interest to Illinois. DuPage County#146;s Republican board Chairman Dan Cronin and his board made huge strides toward streamlining operations, as did Cook County#146;s Democratic President Toni Preckwinkle and her board. Island Lake#146;s village president and board buried the hatchet.Getting creative: Hanover Park turned over property for bee keeping. Harper College created a remedial program that#146;s helping incoming freshmen be better prepared for higher education. Palatine Township Elementary District 15 turned an unused plot of land into a learning farm. Carpentersville-based Community Unit District 300 moved forward on a cooperative plan with two other suburban districts to generate energy from a wind farm. DuPage PADS added a 12-step training programs for shelter clients. Lake County added a court that#146;s helping veterans avoid repeat criminal offenses.Time of need: During January#146;s historic blizzard, our pages were filled with stories of neighbors helping neighbors. Later, when a deadly tornado struck hundreds of miles away in Joplin, Mo., suburbanites pitched in there, too.Honors: Stevenson High School was the only school in the nation to win a Students in Action prize in the 2011 Jefferson Awards, a recognition dubbed the Nobel Prize for public service, Wheeling High grad Haley Reinhart#146;s music career took off as she reached the finals of American Idol.Phew: Need we say more? We could. But you get the idea. There#146;s much to be thankful for in the suburbs today and every day. Keep counting.