The Soapbox: Kudos and thanks to Tanya Katovich and Joanna Angelopoulos
The Daily Herald editors sound off with short opinions in the Saturday Soapbox.
Such good chemistry
Hoffman Estates High School chemistry teacher Tanya Katovich recently won a 2019 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. We love the ring of truth in her response: "When you're surrounded by hardworking people, it becomes the norm to expect more of yourself."
The art of teaching
Congratulations to Joanna Angelopoulos of Gray M. Sanborn Elementary School in Palatine on her selection as art educator of the year by the Illinois Art Education Association.
Wheaton College abides
It was a shame to see an iconic steeple at Wheaton College broken during the Aug. 10 derecho, but much like a church is not its building, a college is not its architecture. Wheaton is one of the nation's premier Christian liberal arts schools and no storm will change that.
Smoothing things out
It looks like the local road budgets were in place before the pandemic hit, as many side streets are being repaved in the suburbs. Or are we just noticing it more now that we're home and walking or riding bikes around the neighborhoods? In any case, it's nice to see.
The fittest of them all?
Seen on the trails and around the neighborhoods: Parents performing amazing feats. In the toughest cases, they may be running while pushing strollers. In the super tough cases, maybe pushing two kids in the stroller. And also walking a dog. It's the suburban 2020 Olympics.
This year's Crosstown Classic
At last, we relish the Cubs-Sox games for what they mean in the standings rather than for what they mean for the rivalry.
The message to make sure you vote
One recurring theme occupied the Democratic National Convention: Voting is essential and no one should sit the election out. That's true regardless of whom you support. If you are not registered to vote, do it. If you want a mail-in ballot, sign up. And don't wait.
And if you don't think a vote matters
Ask James Stoltman and Lori Parthimos. They tied last year in races for the Bensenville Elementary District 2 school board. One fewer vote, and Stoltman would have finished out of the running; instead, he won the seat in a runoff lottery. One more vote and Parthimos would have won the seat and never would have ended up in the lottery.
Speaking of the convention
Didn't this year's viral version drive home the reality that our national political conventions are simply giant outdated infomercials?
A bridge too far?
What a hard luck story: Bridge gets taken out by truck. Years pass until new bridge reopens. Then within a week of reopening, bridge gets hit TWICE. Is the Long Grove bridge snakebit? Come on, people, read the signs. Were it not an important town entry point, we would recommend it be pedestrian only.
This week's Clippable quote:
"It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the most responsive to change." - naturalist Charles Darwin
Thom Brennaman
Why is it that whenever prominent people are caught saying something stupid and hurtful, their subsequent apology always seems to include a claim that "That is not who I am?" Actually, it is.
The pandemic is still here
Wash hands. Wear a mask. Stay well.