The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
This editorial represents the consensus opinion of The Daily Herald Editorial Board.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Spring is God's way of saying, 'One more time.'" - comedic writer Robert Orben
The gift of life
After more than a year of searching, longtime Lake County leader and public servant Bonnie Thomson Carter received a new kidney - from a stranger. Rob Kesler donated a kidney after seeing a sign about her plight. His generosity and courage are inspiring. We wish them both the very best as they recover.
Stay safe, friends
We well remember sitting with Zoya Krasovska and a diverse group of Ukrainian journalists at our Arlington Heights office in 2019. Their outspoken candor about government issues in their home country was remarkable and reassuring. After our Wednesday story on them, it is painfully eerie to hear the sacrifices they are enduring and the dangers they face.
Helping Ukrainians
If you want to support Ukrainians, there are ways to help. They include donating to organizations such as Lviv Media Forum, which is helping journalists survive and do their jobs, UNICEF Ukraine, which is supporting roughly 1.5 million displaced children, or Grant Township, which is collecting medical supplies from noon to 3 p.m. today at 26725 W. Molidor Road, Ingleside.
Alternate transportation
We're seeing alternate transportation options in the works across the suburbs, such as a trail on Butterfield Road in Vernon Hills to link to a Libertyville Township system - which all hooks up to Millennium Trail - and a trail on Kautz Road in Geneva. They're not huge trails, but they do just a little bit more to help people get around without cars.
Paths aren't cheap
There are a lot of community paths across the suburbs, but a lot more are needed to give people a way to get around on bike or otherwise, especially suburb to suburb. One reason progress is slow is paths don't come cheap. That 0.7-mile path in Geneva comes only after a $780,000 grant. That 1.1-mile link in Lake County will cost about $643,000.
Watch out for more people out
Thank goodness more grant money is out there to create paths. As it gets warmer, you may see more people out walking, biking, skating, scootering, otherwise getting around. Drivers must be cautious around them, and they must be cautious around drivers. That includes staying on paths, or sidewalks and quieter streets with bike lanes or shoulders.
Daylight-saving time forever?
The U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation to make daylight-saving time permanent. It sounds great as we now enjoy sunset around 7 p.m. But many say it should be standard time that's permanent, because it's more natural, plus think of winter mornings. How late would you like to wait for the sun to come up as you go to work or school?
Teen role models
Congratulations to Zaniya Wright, Abigail Dunn and Michelle Olsen. Last week, they were named the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin's Youth of the Year winners. It's inspiring to hear about young people like these three students.
It's about time
It was good to hear the snap of leather and crack of the bat in Arizona and Florida this week as Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association found common ground. Opening Day will only be delayed a week for the Cubs and Sox. Looking forward to the games.