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.

A sign of and for the times

If you thought all the technological innovation in this country is coming out of the Silicon Valley, think again. Arlington Heights-based Optimal Design is catching the eye of cities across the globe with its latest product, a digital street sign described as the "most advanced wayfinding sign in the world." It's a true suburban success story.

Keep plastics out of the parks

By 2023, food services doing business inside Illinois' 184 state parks and natural areas will be banned from using disposable plastic utensils and single-use disposable containers. Visitors can still bring those things into the parks with them, but, come on, we can do better. "Carry in and carry out" should be the new motto.

New grocery store on horizon

By the end of the year, a new Tony's Fresh Market could open in the Schaumburg space Dominick's left in 2013. That's good news for shoppers and for the village, which stands to gain 200 jobs and more than $300,000 in additional revenue from sales taxes and food and beverage taxes each year. Schaumburg is providing $3 million to help with renovation.

And a new Cooper's Hawk too!

Nothing gets people excited like a new restaurant, and readers are buzzing about the possibility of Cooper's Hawk coming to Bloomingdale. Our Facebook post had many tagging friends and hoping for a restaurant like this in town. Right now, it's only a consideration and needs village approval, but residents hope the eatery takes flight soon.

Speaking of buzz

Officials from ComEd, the Alveole beekeeping company and Prospect Heights celebrated this week the installation of two beehives in a prairie along a half-mile stretch of right of way for power lines. Pollinators are critical to our ecosystem. This is a welcome and innovative way to protect them.

Don't delay; act now

An editorial headline last week had merit beyond its specific topic. "Caution: Delays may be habit forming," it read. The editorial was about the Cook County assessor's difficulty in sending out tax bills in a timely manner, but the headline is a good reminder for us all. Don't wait until tomorrow to start a big project or make a big change.

Blockbusters are back,

If you haven't been to a movie in a theater recently, there are tons of blockbuster summer movies to choose from again. This week alone, at least five new releases open, including the highly anticipated "Where the Crawdads Sing." The Thor, Minions, Jurassic Park and Top Gun franchises also have been finally getting film fans back in theaters.

Welcome, Dr. Vohra

This week, Dr. Sameer Vohra was named to succeed Dr. Ngozi Ezike as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. He has impressive government, legal and education experience. We wish him well- but we hope that doesn't mean we'll ever be seeing him at daily press conferences chronicling the progress of a pandemic.

This week's Clippable Quote

"If the power to do hard work is not a skill, it's the best possible substitute for it. " - James A. Garfield