The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Busy superintendents
Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 is getting help with its search for its next superintendent from two current suburban superintendents. One is Villa Park-based District 48's leader. The other is Yorkville's district leader, who used to be an Arlington Heights District 25 administrator. They have time to do this consulting work on the side?
Business owner walking the walk
The owner of Thomas Engineering is taking his company to Elgin, as the tollway is buying his Hoffman Estates location, because he likes the city's diversity. Brian Casey pledges to be involved in the community, calling important the discussions of police officers in Elgin schools. It's impressive that he's already showing he's in tune with the city.
Striking a chord
Congrats and best of luck to Buffalo Grove High School teacher Elizabeth Bennett. Months after she was one of 10 nationwide finalists for the 2020 Grammy Music Educator Award, the school's director of orchestras, a resident of Libertyville, is now a semifinalist for the 2021 prize.
Sound advice
This week, DuPage County Clerk Jean Kaczmarek urged voters to apply and return their ballots early if they want to vote by mail in the Nov. 3 election. The deadline to submit a mail-in ballot application is Oct. 29, but election officials are recommending voters apply a lot earlier so clerk's offices have sufficient time to deliver the ballot. That's good advice. Don't procrastinate.
Start the debate here
The Elgin City Council is discussing the usefulness of school resource officers. Police Chief Ana Lalley said officers wear body cameras, have specialized training and develop relationships with students and parents that help keep kids out of the juvenile justice system. The comfort level of knowing there's a cop in the building doesn't hurt either.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." French author Albert Camus
A great 1-2 punch
Jose Abreu and general manager Rick Hahn were named MLB Player of the Year and Executive of the Year, respectively, by The Sporting News. The team earned a playoff spot for the first time since 2008. The three-game postseason series loss to Oakland took little of the luster off the team's outstanding season.
Service and then some
Our Veterans Helping Veterans feature this week highlighted Jen DeBouver of Schaumburg, who not only volunteers on behalf of her fellow Native American vets through the Trickster Cultural Center in the village, but also runs a foundation addressing medical issues that her children have faced. That's a lot of helping.
Yes, we're tired, but ...
Illinois' daily COVID-19 count hit records two days in a row this week, reaching 4,554 new cases and 38 deaths on Friday. "Unless we change our behavior as a community, we can expect to see more illness, death and economic hardship," Kane County Health Department Director Barbara Jeffers said. Obviously, we can't let up in the fight against the disease.
And that means ...
Among other things, the three W's: Wash your hands. Wait at least six feet from others. Wear a mask. Stay safe - and help others do the same.