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
"Liberty, once lost, is lost forever." - John Adams
Fall high school playoff season is here
The first round of the IHSA football playoffs kicked off with a full slate of games on Friday night. The postseason runs through Thanksgiving weekend, but football isn't the only high school sport with playoff action. Boys soccer, girls volleyball and boys and girls cross country finish their seasons in November. It's a great time to get out there and support our local athletes.
Closure on this closere
Hart Road between Northwest Highway and Lake-Cook Road in Barrington reopened this week, giving the Barrington High School community a key entrance back. We ran this news with a picture from June of a sign announcing the "road closere" - the irony, in front of a school. We hope that got corrected sometime in the past few months.
Get your COVID-19 booster shot
With the holidays coming up, it's important to get your COVID-19 booster shot if you haven't already. There's no need to put family members at risk as you gather for Thanksgiving and the holidays. Getting your booster now will keep your loved ones safe and lessen the burden on our health professionals.
More land to preserve?
One of the goals of a tax increase referendum put forth by the Forest Preserves of Cook County is to acquire more land to preserve. One might think old Cook County has been all filled up with something or another - we think of how Schaumburg in recent years got its last open parcel developed - but the district is eyeing land in the South suburbs.
Giving taxpayers a break
DuPage County Board members deserve kudos for approving a $5 million property tax abatement this week. The one-time reduction in what property owners pay to the county government will save the owner of a $365,000 home - the median in DuPage - $13.86 on average. While that might not seem like a lot, it's nice to see the taxpayers getting to keep more of their money.
Report card trends
The 2022 Illinois School Report Card data might have parents scratching their heads about how well their students truly are performing. The answer isn't quite as simple as passing or failing to meet grade-level standards. The picture is much more nuanced, as our reporting uncovered the lingering effects of pandemic disruptions. Yet, some scores trending upward is encouraging.
No 'rainbow' connection
It's one thing to hear local law enforcement downplay "rainbow fentanyl" candy lookalikes as potential Halloween candy. But it's especially comforting to realize why: there's no money in it for dealers. "Giving fentanyl to 8-year-olds is insane, because 8-year-olds don't have disposable income," notes a drug researcher from University of Buffalo.
Still, safety first
Maybe disguised fentanyl isn't a worry, but other things could be, so it's wise for parents not to be too cavalier. "It's always important to remain vigilant and for parents to inspect their kids' haul," Arlington Heights Police Chief Nicholas Pecora told our Cops & Crime columnists.
But speaking of drugs
Legal ones can also be a problem when people ignore unused prescription medications, allowing them to get diverted to illicit use. So, on National Take Back Day today, you can bring expired or unwanted drugs to your local police department for proper disposal. It's free, no questions asked - and can help close one so-called "gateway to addiction."