The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it." - George Halas
Bears headlines on our minds
For the big news about the Bears buying the Arlington Park property this week, want to know the headlines we were throwing around? "Bear migration." "Bearing down on the 'burbs." "Monsters of the Northwest Highway." "Come Halas or high water." Wait, we'd better not share them all; we may still be using these in coming weeks and months.
Walter O'Malleying the Bears
State Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago is outraged over the Bears' attempt to move to Arlington Heights and sees it as a betrayal to all those who've supported the team year after year. Sen. Peters, this isn't like the Dodgers moving from Brooklyn to Los Angeles. It's 34 miles.
The view from the city
A headline on a Chicago Tribune story about the Bears' interest in Arlington Park referred to the suburbs as "the land of Jiffy Lubes." We don't know whether to be offended because we don't know what that means.
By the way, before we forget
Jiffy Lube lists 18 locations in Chicago.
Never too old
What sweet uplifting news that the Tri-City Women's Golf League celebrated 80 years this past Tuesday. The league, based in Mount Prospect, has golfers ranging in age from their 40s to 93. Speaking of which, 93-year-old Toni Emanuele has declared this is her last year. Said another member, "She says that every year." That's the spirit!
Halloween on people's minds
Temperatures have been in the 70s and 80s most days recently, but Halloween decorations started appearing outside suburbanites' homes as soon as mid-September. Is it too early? Maybe people are just eager to get to the autumn season. Or maybe some people are just especially, um, spirited.
Fall in the air, but don't fall on trails
That pleasant weather - really rather perfect lately - has seemed to bring more people than usual to the bike trails in the suburbs. Really, they're multiuse trails, with walkers, runners and skaters, too. Everyone (not just the bicyclists) must be careful and cooperate with each other even as they look to relax and zone out a little bit.
This dog has a trick for that
Seen on the Busse Woods trail this week in the Northwest suburbs: a walker with a golden retriever that was carrying a big stick - really, a large, thick branch maybe 5 feet long. That's one way to make bicyclists and others slow down as they pass.
Doggone it
An attempt to break the world record for the largest dog wedding ceremony fell short last week in Villa Park. Still, it sounds like the Sept. 25 "Paws & Claws in the Park" event at Lions Park was a fun time. It also raised $4,000 to benefit animal rescue organizations. Woof!
So long, fest season
We are entering the final weeks of fall's suburban fests so get out and enjoy. And while you are there, take time to thank the volunteers who plan, staff and give their all to make sure residents have a good time.
It's a land of winners
The White Sox begin their World Series march next week, but first we congratulate the Schaumburg Boomers, who captured their fourth Frontier League championship last Sunday against the Washington Wild Things in Pennsylvania. Manager Jamie Bennett has been at the helm for all, including those in 2017, 2014 and 2013.