The Soapbox
Some opinions require lots of words and elaboration. Some don't. This is Saturday Soapbox, briefly stated commentary from the Daily Herald's editors.
Involvement via clicking:
We were heartened to see so many people clicking into our online election guide and endorsement summary Web page this week. It was a good sign for democracy and participation in the suburbs.
Don't stop now:
Whether or not your favorite candidate won Tuesday, your responsibility as a citizen doesn't end at the ballot box. Stay involved. Share your views with elected officials, watch their voting and practices closely, and share your views with others. Elected officials can't represent us if they don't hear from us.
Hard to understand:
People complain about government inefficiency. But the tiny Elk Grove Rural Fire Protection District twice now has offered up the question for public vote of cutting the board size from seven to five to save $6,000 a year, and both times it's been rejected. Go figure.
Like father, like son:
The Chicago Wolves have a few players on their roster with Blackhawks connections. Saturday night, Hall of Famer Chris Chelios was in the stands to watch son Jake pick up 2 assists. The next night, Jake showed another side of his game and threw down the gloves in his first fight in pro hockey. If he's anything like his dad, he'll get very good at both.
A tree's life:
Her front yard is now treeless, but Elgin homeowner Donna Atkinson is OK with that. Her 57-foot-tall blue spruce was chosen as Chicago's official Christmas tree and will be set up for thousands to enjoy at Daley Plaza starting on Nov. 25.
Setting the pace:
There are scores of interesting stories leading up to Sunday's Edward Hospital Naperville Marathon, several of them documented this past week by staff writer Marie Wilson. One we particularly like involves Naperville Running Company, which organized 21 pace runners to help other runners accomplish personal goals and such.
Running for others:
Altruism. Not much more to the pace-setting runs in Naperville's marathon than a desire to help other runners. "I'm running for someone else," Tricia Ruby of Grayslake said. "We can do plenty of other ones throughout the year for ourselves. I'm hopefully helping someone else and still getting some miles in."
Layups for Lauren:
That's the name of the cancer-fighting campaign led by Division III basketball player Lauren Hill, who has an inoperable brain tumor. Two local stars delivered slam-dunk performances on Sunday at Hill's first and final college game. Former Stevenson star Tamika Catchings and Chicago Sky star Elena Delle Donne paid tribute to her courageous fight..
A bad sign for government:
John Lapinski, hired by the DuPage County forest board in three separate votes to replace ousted Executive Director Arnie Biondo, is withdrawing from the position because of medical problems. "We're two years into this thing (replacing Brent Manning) and still don't have an executive director," Commissioner Tim Whelan said. "It's a little bit disappointing." Well, yes.
Cemetery sprucing:
Thanks to a group of teens from St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libertyville, a small cemetery that had become overgrown now has a new look. More than a dozen volunteers raked, trimmed and planted at the Poor Farm Cemetery, where about 18 people were buried between 1923 and 1939. The work returned it to a respectful place.