The Soapbox: Honoring lifesavers in Elgin, an emergency response deal in Wauconda, training for a new school superintendent in Des Plaines, and more.
Now that's just cold:
As if road construction work isn't hard enough, consider this assignment: Just past midnight on a Sunday morning in subzero conditions at the expressway over Golf Road in Rolling Meadows. Hard hats off to those hardy souls and all who toil on our roadways.
Condolences:
The death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has spurred much sniping about whether President Barack Obama should pick his successor. Setting aside politics, we heed the president's call to honor Scalia's service and extend our condolences to his family, including daughter Ann Scalia Banaszewski of Wheaton.
Good work honored:
The Elgin Fire Department, which responds to up to 12,000 calls a year, honored its own and community members this week for lifesaving and other heroic performances. Organizers said they sifted through "hundreds, if not thousands" of pages documenting actions from plenty of brave people. Bravo to all.
Top teen volunteer ...
Congrats to Jungin Angie Lee of Naperville, a 17-year-old junior at Metea Valley named the top high school volunteer in the state by the Prudential Spirit of Community Awards. Angie and friend Kyra Scadden founded a group to help raise awareness of a rare neuromuscular disease that Angie was diagnosed with when she was 15 months old.
... shows amazing spirit
Here's an example of Jungin Angie Lee's spirit in the face of spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA: "I want to use this opportunity to show other parents of kids with SMA basically how life isn't going to be horrible, how you can still make a difference. Because I've been blessed to be one of the stronger patients, I have a calling to be that role model." Indeed.
Transportation options collide:
Oh, the irony: Metra advises taking public transit to a car show. The Chicago Auto Show runs through this weekend, and indeed it's hard to argue with advice to take the train to McCormick Place rather than drive and pay to park there. This auto show isn't meant for test drives, or testing-your-patience drives.
Not-so-well-kept secret:
Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 didn't reveal at its Feb. 8 meeting which township was interested in the district's administration building because that township's trustees hadn't been told yet. It turns out the building is a few blocks down from (drum roll, please) Elk Grove Township headquarters. Yes, you didn't quite say it, but ...
Let's work together:
As painful as it may be in the short run, Wauconda inking a deal with Lake Zurich to handle its emergency dispatch calls is sound public policy. In many of our smaller towns, joining forces is a great way to keep spending and, thereby, taxes in check. We encourage other towns to consider similar arrangements.
Sticking the landing:
The girls gymnastics high school state meet will crown its team champion and event winners tonight at Palatine High School with a finals session that begins at 5:45 p.m. In the team race, expect a who's who of schools from the area as Barrington, Fremd, Prairie Ridge co-op, Carmel Catholic, Lake Park and Glenbard West battle for state trophies.
Good investment?
At first it sounds a little strange. Des Plaines Elementary District 62 is paying $12,500 to provide outside mentors for its new $198,000-a-year superintendent. Then again, most new managers need transition help and well-run organizations have training at all levels. Plus, one can understand wanting to ensure the success of such an investment.
Something in the air:
This rush of warm air reminds us of the excitement of newness every spring delivers. Here at the Daily Herald another new beginning is Fittest Loser, bringing hope of better health to hundreds of participants. It's uplifting to see people taking steps to make their lives better, backed by a community of support. Here's to new beginnings!