The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.

Spring cold snap

Did you and your plants survive the winterlike temperatures earlier this week? Ah, April in Chicago. Weather like this is not uncommon for spring, but after beautiful weather a couple weeks ago, it feels like a shock to our systems. Here's to warmer days ahead!

But not too warm

Batten down for Tuesday, when temperatures might be in the 80s - 40 degrees higher than this week. That kind of swing means storms are a-coming, AccuWeather predicts.

Winning isn't everything

As the Glenbrook South Titans fell to the Evanston Wildkits last week, South's varsity football coach Dave Schoenwetter more or less shrugged it off Before the season even started, he made it clear kids getting to play - win or lose - was what mattered. "We all would like to win," he said. "But most importantly, the kids got to have this experience."

It's about helping others

Twenty-year Northbrook resident Kathryn Ciesla places a high value on public service In her work as a lawyer for children, in her three terms as a village trustee and now as incoming village president. "In my mind is always, 'How can I serve?' In addition to my job, I want to be of service to people, I enjoy that," Ciesla said. It's a view shared by many leaders in the suburbs.

Light the way

The city of Elgin and ComEd will embark on a light bulb-changing project of epic proportion. Starting in September, crews will convert more than 9,400 streetlights in the city - nearly 6,700 to be handled by Elgin public works - to energy-conserving LED over the next couple of years. Saving on energy and maintenance costs are the top goals. We're all for saving money.

Students deserve praise

The countdown is on to the last day of school. Whether parents and kids are ready for a much-needed summer break or they are choosing summer school, students of all ages deserve a round of applause for getting through this challenging academic year. Way to go, kids.

Football teams, coaches, too

As the spring high school football season comes to a close this weekend, we can't help but give kudos to all the teams that made it through the six-week season without COVID-related issues. Yes, some games were canceled, and yes, some teams did not get to play a full season. But the large majority did and for that, they should be proud.

The buffet is closed

Palatine has banned feeding wildlife in an attempt to keep coyotes away. Only elevated birdfeeders will be allowed, and residents should clean up seeds that fall to the ground. Two small dogs were killed in attacks over the winter, and a specialist has found an unusually high number of diseased coyotes in town, so the ban is understandable.

This week's Clippable Quote

"If you are sure you understand everything that is going on, you are hopelessly confused." - Walter Mondale

Walk-in vaccinations welcome

Cook County opened two mass vaccination sites this week, specifically for walk-ins. In Tinley Park and Matteson, neither one is particularly close to our suburbs. But they are welcome nonetheless, especially if you are - or know someone - 65 or older who is still in need of shots.

Making it right

It's never easy admitting when you've been mistaken. So Mount Prospect Police Chief John Koziol deserves credit for changing the department's policy regarding temporary visas for crime victims, after learning the previous approach may have violated state law. Besides the change, Koziol went back and approved visa forms in four cases that previously may have been denied wrongly under the former policy.

And the winner is ...

Viola Davis? Frances McDormand? Carey Mulligan? The Best Actress race may be the hardest to predict for Sunday's Oscars, film critic Dann Gire says. One thing we know for sure The Oscars telecast at 7 p.m. Sunday on ABC is going to look and feel a lot different - and that's probably a good thing.

Remembering Chris Mau

Such a tragedy last week when the co-owner of the Doctor Who-themed Blue Box Café in Elgin succumbed to cancer, doubly tragic as his wife, café co-owner Kathleen Kenney-Mau, died two months ago. We join the community in mourning their passings.