Saturday Soapbox

Getting involved with the cure

Volley for the Cure, a breast cancer awareness and fundraising initiative for home high school girls volleyball matches, has become a popular service project throughout the country and Illinois has joined the effort. We hope schools get involved and benefit the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

Some real community service, part 1

Tom Adams of Arlington Heights provides a reminder to all of us to show courtesy to those in need of assistance. His requests for help were blown off when he tried to get clerks at two major stores to call Pace to check on a late bus for a blind woman who had been waiting for 20 minutes.

Some real community service, part 2

Thanks to the many store clerks at home improvement stories last weekend who had a smile and a helpful set of directions for every weary flood fighter who came in looking for a sump pump, generator or other cleanup supplies.

Some real community service, part 3

Thanks also to the family, friends and neighbors who joined forces to battle the nonstop rain and floodwaters that caused so much harm in their wake... And to the emergency crews that rescued so many people and pets from their troubles and prevented even more disasters... And to the plumbers and professionals who worked around the clock to repair or replace pumps and power for those in desperate need... And to the schools, churches and community centers that opened their doors to care for anyone stranded by the flooding.

Some real community service, part 4

To anyone who picked up a sandbag to protect someone else's property. That kind of humanity never goes unnoticed and never goes out of style.

And now that it's dry...

Let's do everyone a favor and start preparing for the next time. Get that backup sump pump or battery if you can afford it. Have a professional check your system or fix that foundation crack before it's too late. Get those boxes and pictures and whatever else is important off the floor or out of the garage and in a safer place if their that important. Talk to your insurer about coverage. Don't put it on a list of things to do. Do it.

Which is more worrisome?

Are you more worried about what's happening on Wall Street, or what's wrong with Devin Hester's ribs? More worried about the upcoming presidential debates or which team the Cubs will face in the first-round of the playoffs? More worried about the settling the state's budget crisis or the magic number for the White Sox?

No logic to assessment system

The Cook County property tax bills arrived last week, and it gives us a chance again to question how assessed values throughout the suburbs can increase when market values are decreasing.

A suggestion for the General Assembly

If any of our legislators are trying to think of something worthwhile to do, we suggest introducing a bill that provides a temporary, across-the-board reduction in residential assessments to reflect the decline in home values.

Remembering Lenny Gulczynski

May we all pause this morning to remember Leonard Gulczynski of Carol Stream who gave his life for his country while serving in Iraq Wednesday, only a year out of Bartlett High School.