Saturday Soapbox: Inspirational youths, dangerous ramps

Their just reward:

Congratulations to the thousands of young people who attended We Day, a star-studded youth empowerment event, Thursday at Allstate Arena. Not for attending, but for what it took to get there: Doing important community service.

Positively inspiring:

Congratulations also to our own Stephanie Penick, whose “Positively Naperville” publication promotes all that is, well, positive, about Naperville. She's being honored May 16 as Woman of the Year by the Naperville branch of the American Association of University Women. Penick has written a column for our DuPage County editions since 1999.

Early Taste of Lombard:

Want a taste of Lombard, circa 1858? Tom and Margret Smith, new owners of the historic building at 101 W. St. Charles Road, are offering $10 tours from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 9. It will mark the first time since the 1970s the building has been open to the public.

What's there?:

The former hotel is loaded with artifacts: an original door from the mid-1800s, a push-button light switch, roof crests from the widow's walk. “We're at the tip of the iceberg,” Tom Smith said, noting there may be more treasures under the floorboards.

Yield to ramps' danger:

Some on-ramps on the expressways now, such as the Barrington Road ramp onto the Jane Addams Tollway, are shorter with signs telling us to “Yield” to the main traffic flow — and if you don't stop, you'll face a concrete barrier, as a result of construction going on. Are you used to these yet? They feel like a crash waiting to happen.

Speaking of danger, the Ahhhh-390:

Let's see, the westbound Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, aka the Illinois 390, just off Thorndale Avenue has narrower lanes, zigzagging lanes and a 45 mph speed limit that about half the drivers follow. It's like the Suburban Grand Prix. Farther west, the new pavement is nice, and then it's back to a dangerous road. We all need to be safer on it.

Truly something special:

More than 1,500 athletes took part in the Special Olympics Spring Games last Sunday at Prospect High School and North Central College. The images captured by our photographers revealed the hearts of these champions and reminded us of the joy that sports can provide. Our thanks to the volunteers and supporters who make it possible.

Salute:

Not many officials have built a park district from scratch, but Lindenhurst's Tom Lippert came close. In 1992, he took over a four-year-old district that had a few open fields and no facilities. Today, the district has 19 parks, various amenities and a 26,000-square-foot community center. Lippert retires May 15.

Memorial:

Then, there's Schaumburg's Jerry Handlon. In 26 years at the head of the Schaumburg Park District Handlon left his imprint with such local and suburban icons as Olympic Park, The Sport Center and Boomers Stadium. Handlon, who retired in 2004, died this week. Our condolences go out to his family and friends, as we reflect on his many accomplishments.