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

"Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Healthy lake fish

Great news for anglers and people who might rely on Lake Michigan for subsistence fishing that Waukegan Harbor finally is close to being rid of harmful chemicals. Scientists soon could determine area fish and wildlife once again are safe for eating and remove it off the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes Areas of Concern list.

April snow brings May flowers

Was anyone surprised by last weekend's snow? By the end of March, we're done with winter. So when April starts with cold temperatures and lawns covered in white, denial sets in. But if you've lived in Chicago long enough, you know that snow in April is almost a given. Luckily, the warm sun melts it quickly, and warmer days aren't too far off.

Star power

Congratulations to Wheaton's Brian Welch, a 27-year-old astrophysicist who discovered the oldest and most distant star known to man. Welch named the star Earendel, and it dates back about 13 billion years. It's an impressive discovery, one hailed by NASA as an "extraordinary new benchmark." Truly incredible.

Guard your wallet and your heart

The Lake County sheriff's office has issued a warning about "romance scams." Con artists find their targets on dating apps and then swindle them through a fraudulent cryptocurrency exchange. It's a despicable ruse that preys on victims not only financially, but also emotionally.

Fitting honor for Helmer

Long before he was elected Prospect Heights' mayor, Nick Helmer made his mark on his hometown as a 14-year member of Chicago Executive Airport's board of directors. So, it's only fitting that airport leaders this month will honor Helmer posthumously by naming their board room in his honor. It's a deserving tribute to one of the airport's biggest backers.

Congrats to the Patriots

High school hockey is one of those sports that flies under the radar. It's not sanctioned by the IHSA and very few schools support their hockey teams. But it's different at Stevenson High School, where the Patriots' boys team recently became not only state champs but also finished second at the USA Hockey National Championships in Dallas. Nice job Pats!

Here comes Scheyer

Cue up Kaskade and learn the ways of the Cameron Crazies: The suburbs now have a reason to cheer for Duke men's basketball. The legendary Coach K has retired, and handpicked successor Jon Scheyer - who, along with Kaskade, is a Glenbrook North grad and Northbrook native - has officially taken over as the Blue Devils' head coach. We want six!

We know how to do this

Illinois cases of COVID-19 surpassed 2,000 this week for the first time since Feb. 26, and statewide hospitalizations are up. We don't know whether Omicron subvariant BA.2 will hit us hard, but by now we know the drill: Get fully vaccinated and boosted; get tested; and isolate when sick. If we have to do this again, let's make it easier on ourselves.

Easter dining and you

Easter may be more than a week away, but brunch reservations at suburban restaurants are already filling up and selling out. With so many people heading back to restaurants, it's still wise to exercise caution: If you're sick, don't go. Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer. Keep your distance. It's better to be safe than sorry.