The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
This week's Clippable Quote
"You never lose by loving. You always lose by holding back." - relationship consultant Barbara De Angelis
Cooking with class, and a cooking class
Grace Goudie was not the champion of the "Casino Royale" series of "Chopped," but she stayed positive, still proud to have won an episode. Soon she'll do something different for the Valentine's Day customers at her Arlington Heights restaurant She'll lead a virtual couples cooking class. It's not free, but she still gives a feeling of paying it forward.
Black mark for Blackhawks
If the Blackhawks and owner Rocky Wirtz were hoping to win back the trust of fans with a town hall this week, they failed. Wirtz's outbursts at reporters' reasonable questions are inexcusable. A three-sentence apology statement issued after the event doesn't come anywhere close to undoing the damage he did.
Polar expression
We editors always enjoy puns and other clever wordplay. So the name of a new Barrington event - the Brr-ington Winter Fest - made us chuckle. We hope everyone has (ahem) an ice time on Feb. 26.
Speaking of polar and expression
Quite a few parents of students who attend schools that did not close because of Wednesday's weather weren't agreeable with the result. Superintendents have a tough job, and the decision to close or open is not made in a vacuum. There are countless variables in a situation like this. But parents remain the ultimate decision-makers.
End of an era
After four decades of concerts, indoor sports, and trade shows, the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park has been sold and will close at the end of May. The Odeum and the events held there provided happy memories for many of us. It will be sad to see it go.
Sensitive to wildlife
After a beaver dam caused Poplar Creek to overflow into nearby residents' yards, South Barrington is considering hiring experts to prevent a repeat. Wisely, the village is looking into nonlethal methods for managing beaver activity. Let's try to live and let live so these critters can enjoy nature as we do.
Going for gold
Good luck to our local Olympians, competing now in a variety of sports at the Winter Games in Beijing. Whether growing up on the ski jumps at Norge in Fox River Grove or training for hours on end at ice rinks, you've worked long and hard for your moment on the world stage. Take time to savor it. We are all rooting for you.
Remembering Rev. Milton
The Rev. John Milton, who died this week at 92, was a scientist, engineer and cleric whose numerous accomplishments included a distinguished career at DePaul University and bringing computers to St. Viator High School. We're especially touched by one memorial noting that he "represented a certain stability in an unstable world." We join in mourning his loss.