The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
The Longest Day
Yesterday - the summer solstice - was the longest day of 2019 and also the day when people across the world participated in fundraising for the Alzheimer's Association to #ENDALZ. The fight to end Alzheimer's continues every day. And for those of us with loved ones dealing with the disease, let's not forgot that we can help out the rest of the year too.
Good play, White Sox
A young girl was struck by a foul ball in Houston in May. A month later, a foul ball in Chicago struck a woman. Finally, the White Sox and their home field's owner say they've had enough. They're making Guaranteed Rate Field the first MLB stadium to install netting from foul pole to foul pole. Now, MLB, when will you say, "Enough" and order all other teams to follow suit?
Driving stoned
We're not sure which nugget of information from a AAA study this week is scarier: thousands of Americas are driving while stoned or more than 13 percent of the respondents to the survey thought driving while on a marijuana high was "only slightly dangerous" or "not dangerous at all" compared to driving while drunk or drowsy. How about just drive sober?
We're not all couch potatoes
A scene in Schaumburg on Monday evening: Post-work running clubs, youth baseball teams, walkers, cyclists and pedal boaters were out in force on the village streets and in the parks. The breeze carried hints of fresh-cut grass and backyard barbecue. That's how June is supposed to be.
Like 'Wow'
Gavin South Middle School in Ingleside is getting roof repairs, a STEM lab and more in a $6 million voter-approved renovation, but as good as that may feel, it won't compare to the spirit generated when 500 volunteers with Chicago Cares descended on the school this week with a 52-task list of painting, planting and building jobs. Said one worker, "It was like 'Wow.'" Like, yeah.
Pick one
Rosemont Mayor Brad Stephens should step down if appointed to the state legislature. Yes, Bridgeview Mayor Steve Landek is also a state senator, but he's the outlier. Marty Moylan, Sid Mathias and Tom Rooney all bowed out of local leadership once they won state office. They knew it would be hard to serve two masters and do both jobs well.
Helping hand
We've had a lousy, wet spring, but fortunately nothing like some of our fellow Illinoisans living downstate. Kudos to three Arlington Heights first responders who traveled down to Hardin, Illinois, earlier this month to assist residents whose lives have been turned upside down by devastating floods. Their spirit of service is felt well beyond the suburbs.
Pensions and property taxes
If you saw Jake Griffin's column Thursday, you read that one of the reasons so many public pensioners are taking their pensions and moving out of state is the high cost of property taxes here. How ironic, since it could be argued that the pensions are one of the reasons our tax burdens are so high.
An excellent finish
The final exclamation point was put on the high school sports season last week at the Sears Centre when we held our annual Daily Herald Prep Sports Excellence Awards program. What an inspiring night. We wish the senior student-athletes well as they continue to be great as they move on to college. We're confident they'll do themselves, their parents and their schools proud.