The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Collect the fare
Why should honest Metra riders keep compensating for those who don't pay? We're glad to see Metra's vow to tackle the nonpayment issue this year - and we trust solving the problem really will help stave off cost increases for riders.
Valentines for vets
Kudos to Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield who for four years has collected Valentines for veterans in the 10th Congressional District. You can mail or drop off your cards to his Lincolnshire office, 111 Barclay Blvd, Suite 200, Lincolnshire 60069.
Other options
If the Lincolnshire location doesn't work for you, you also could drop Valentine's for vets off at Schneider's satellite offices at 433 E Washington St., Round Lake Park, or 100 N. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan.
A clothes call in Schaumburg
Schaumburg has a convenient, eco-friendly new service: textile recycling. Every week, residents can fill a provided orange bag with unwanted clothes and set it out with their trash. The vast majority of the garments are sorted for international export or broken down for raw materials. Only 5 percent of the fabric ends up as landfill waste.
Bear down
Chicago Bears Jimbo Covert (1983-91) and Ed Sprinkle (1944-55) will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That's 30 Bears in Canton. They were named senior members of the special centennial class. Good news in an otherwise disappointing Bears season.
MLK tourney time
From Lake Zurich to Villa Park to Wheaton and DeKalb, this MLK holiday weekend provides high school basketball fans, both boys and girls, an opportunity to see some of the best midseason tournament play around. Get out and enjoy some games!
Parents, trust your gut
Flu season is here, and parents of infants should pay special attention to their child's symptoms. What may start as a cold can turn into RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, which is an infection of the lungs and respiratory tract that can cause serious complications and hospitalizations for young babies. If you notice problems, call your doctor or head to the nearest ER.
Put me in coach:
If you've always wanted to be a major league baseball manager, now's a good time to update your resume. With barely a month until spring training, three managers have lost their jobs in the sport's latest cheating scandal. Will there be more to come?
Remembering Pat Gerlach
Pat, who passed away this week at age 85, was a reporter and editor who worked with us for more than a quarter century - devoted to the community, to gardening, to animal welfare. We adored her and will miss her.