The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
What's three years?
Alcohol.org reports that the average drinker in Illinois would give up three years of life rather than giving up booze. Yeah, true. Until there are about three years to go.
Deathbed regrets
We suspect that of all the regrets people have in their final hours, "I should have drunk more" is probably not one of them.
Pumpkin spice, anyone?
The crisp feel of fall is in the air, Halloween decorations are popping up on neighborhood lawns and pumpkin spice everything is everywhere - even pumpkin spice bologna spotted in a Facebook post. First, gross. Second, overkill. But bring on the pumpkin pie, doughnuts and coffees. 'Tis the season!
And then candy canes?
We may groan about the "Christmas creep," but it really isn't too early to think about charitable giving during the holidays. Schaumburg Township has started lining up donors for its annual "Adopt-a-Family" program. Some of your neighbors still are struggling with the financial hit from the pandemic.
Way to go, White Sox
Congratulations to the American League Central champion White Sox, who clinched Thursday in Cleveland with an impressive 7-2 win. They're on pace to open the playoffs Oct. 7 and 8 in Houston. The players play the game, but credit manager Tony La Russa for pushing the right buttons.
Summer tradition grounded:
Lisle's Eyes to the Skies hot air balloon festival is disbanding after two years of cancellations because of COVID-19. The pin that popped one of the largest summer celebrations in the suburbs was a "lack of interest and support from community members and a decreasing number of available volunteers." It's a disappointing end to an event that gave so many of us a reason to look up.
Delivering full disclosure?
Chicago is suing DoorDash and GrubHub, alleging, among other things, that the food delivery services have charged more on menu items than the restaurants do. If you haven't noticed, it seems like they do that even here in the suburbs and even if the restaurant has its own online ordering.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Winning never gets old. It gets better." - Tony La Russa, White Sox manager
Investing in the future
The school board in Park Ridge-Niles District 64 is moving ahead with a $26 million building plan that will result in each school offering full-day kindergarten. It's an expensive proposal, but it's also hard to imagine a better long-term investment in the children of this suburban district and many others.
Promising vaccine news for kids
As the number of children with COVID-19 steadily rises, there's good news from Pfizer, where trials on 5- to 11-year-olds have so far shown no severe side effects (think myocarditis). As well, trials show the vaccine is effective at preventing COVID-19. Could shots be available by early November? Stay tuned.
Remembering Arlington Park
Today may be the final running of the venerable racecourse, a 94-year-old institution in the suburbs now up for sale. Perhaps not; we hold out the thin hope that the track somehow will be saved. But either way, thanks for the memories.