The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
McCrae's got talent
Congratulations to rock band McCrae, which was named the winner of Suburban Chicago's Got Talent for 2019 last Saturday. The Sauk Valley-based band wowed the judges with their original song "Lonely Place." If you want to see them in person, the band will play Schaumburg's Septemberfest on Saturday, Aug. 31.
End dog ban
We're with Lake Zurich Mayor Thomas Poynton on allowing leashed dogs in parks. Some people can't imagine going on a walk without their pets. Some want them along for safety. Of course, all need to clean up after them.
Rally to help
Boy Scouts have built a reputation for being there to help and now their community is returning the gesture. More than $81,000 has been collected online to fund repairs to a storm-ravaged Ma-Ka-Ja-Wan Scout Reservation in northern Wisconsin run by a Vernon Hills-based council. It's a nice start toward a project that is expected to cost $1 million.
Prepare for the preps
The first official day of high school football practice is Monday, Aug. 12. That means the first Friday Night Lights of 2019 isn't far off, nor is the fall high school sports season for myriad other sports. We encourage everyone to get out and support our high school student athletes this school year.
Thank you, Peggy
It's never easy to air your heartache in public, but popular sports broadcaster Peggy Kusinski opened up this week to our Barry Rozner about the loss of her oldest sister six years ago. The result was a report with lessons for everyone about the impact of grief and how to deal with it.
Good luck, Ben
And heartache comes in many forms. Family issues related to his divorce have kept Cubs star Ben Zobrist out of the lineup since May. He's expected to start a comeback this weekend with three games in South Bend. We wish him the best.
Love for Palatine, each other
Today's the big day for Palatine residents Michelle Buttner and P.J. Munagain Jr., who will marry in the village's Town Square gazebo, then lead a local pub crawl immediately afterward. The finale of what's envisioned as a "mini Palatine fest" will be an evening pig roast at the Community Park amphitheater. Best wishes to the happy couple.
Make reading a family event
The 2019-2020 Suburban Mosaic reading list is out, and personally we can't wait to dig into "The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen Age 83ΒΌ Years Old." But that's just us. Make it a family project this fall to read the age-appropriate books on the list, and then find book discussions and other events. Talking about them always adds to the joy of reading.
What if ...?
A recount is under way in the November - that's right, November - race for Lake County sheriff. Democrat John Idleburg was declared winner and took the oath on Dec. 1. We can't help wondering about the impact if Mark Curran's appeal succeeds. Of course, the voters' will must be respected, but must it really take nine months to know it for certain?
Remembering George Randazzo
George Randazzo is celebrated locally for starting the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame. But what really made the Bloomingdale man a "neverendingly energizing guy," friends say, were his kindness, generosity and love for family and heritage. What a wonderfully full legacy.