Saturday soapbox
A dream or just a pipe dream?
An idea's being floated in Des Plaines to construct a new city hall to go with a new public safety complex. But Aldermen's reluctance to approve an engineering contract for the station suggests the dream may be slow to materialize.
Showing the power of the people
Congrats to residents of the Colonial subdivision in Wheeling for working with police to make their area safer for everyone. Their Neighborhood Watch effort is paying off, and a sense of community has returned.
Lifesaving construction
Quick now, is there a hospital in the suburbs that isn't under construction? They all seem to be starting or finishing major expansion projects. For the hard-pressed construction industry, those massive projects must seem like life-support transfusions as they wait for the economy to rebound.
Da '85 Bears battle in the suburbs
In 2005, Mike Ditka truly enjoyed the 20-year reunion of his Super Bowl championship Bears team. Today, however, he might wish they'd stay away. Ditka, part owner of the Chicago Rush, faces competition from upstart Chicago Slaughter, which is loading up with some of Ditka's ex-players. Along with head coach (Steve McMichael), the team has added Jim McMahon, Dan Hampton, Emory Moorehead, and Otis Wilson in various support roles.
By the way, why is it Chicago?
If the Rush play in Rosemont and the Slaughter play in Hoffman Estates, why do they claim to be from Chicago? Or should they go the route of the MLB Angels and call themselves the Chicago Rush of Rosemont and the Chicago Slaughter of Hoffman Estates?
Necessity and the power of ideas
It's been said necessity is the mother of invention, and the suburbs are facing a pretty necessary situation. With winter approaching, road salt is in scarce supply. Some towns are looking at alternatives, such as a mixture of salt brine, sugar beet juice and calcium chloride. It shows what creativity can do.
Is your library card current?
Business is booming at one place these days - your local library - typical of what happens in a tight economy. If you haven't been to the library lately, it's a good time to get back. September is National Library Card Sign-Up month.
An overdue thanks for saving lives
Thank you to all the lifeguards who kept watch over swimmers this summer. Their contributions often are overlooked, but these college and high school age swimmers make sure there are few, if any, mishaps in pools all over the suburbs. It's a huge responsibility.
Police operation that went unnoticed
When 511 convicts and suspects left the Kane County jail in Geneva around midnight recently, the public didn't even notice. And that's how it was supposed to work. Congratulations to the 150 sheriff's deputies and police officers who pulled of a huge operation - moving the inmates from Geneva to a new jail in St. Charles - without incident.
Summer's over, but not the festivals
Naperville had its Last Fling. Store aisles are already filling up with Christmas decorations. But that doesn't mean the festival season is over. Wheaton celebrates Autumn Fest this weekend. Oktoberfests will follow. Which goes to show outdoor fun doesn't have to stop just because kids are back in school.