The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.

That's the spirits!

Last year, it was the blizzard. Now it's the pandemic howling at us again, turning Halloween into an altered state. But clever revelers do find ways to make it as fun and safe as possible. Said Buffalo Grove's Debbie Gross, who will feed candy through a 6-foot decorated tube: "The most important thing is to bring some normalcy to the lives of our kids."

This week's Clippable Quote

"Halloween is not only about putting on a costume, but it's about finding the imagination and costume within ourselves." - New York radio host Elvis Duran

Safety before sweets

Little ghosts and goblins who are trick-or-treating today need to be extra careful in light of the pandemic. They should mask up, keep their distance from other groups and homeowners and wash their hands well before biting into their bounty. Have fun, kids, but be safe - and don't eat all your candy in one sitting.

The suburbs' mysteries

Former Hawthorn Woods resident Patrick Canning wrote a novel called "Hawthorn Woods," in which he weaves mysteries into the bucolic suburb he loved in his childhood. Hawthorn Woods is one of those Lake County suburbs with subdivisions nearly hidden behind trees lining big roads. They're peaceful, yet maybe it's fun to imagine mysteries there.

Display with a message

From the scary to the whimsical, a variety of Halloween house displays decorate the suburbs. Kristyn Jo Benedyk posted a large, black banner across her garage door with the words "Donate your blood." The reminder is in memory of her sister, Kim Sandford of Naperville, who died from cancer earlier this year. It's a great way to spread the message.

The Spirit of 76

Tony La Russa is four birthdays shy of 80. That scares a lot of Sox fans but it doesn't scare owner Jerry Reinsdorf who grins, while general manager Rick Hahn - who put this team together - bears it. The deal is done, there is no Door No. 2. Get great coaches, Tony, and good luck.

And seriously ...

For context, consider this: Tens of millions of Americans are clamoring over which of two septuagenarians should run the country for the next four years. We really don't think one can run a baseball team for nine months?

Leadership, Phase 2

We've often praised Gov. J.B. Pritzker for his decisive leadership in the early days of the coronavirus. But as court cases mount over lockdown rules and even the IHSA shows defiance, it increasingly appears we need something more than the decisiveness of one person. To repeat a theme raised by local school leaders caught in the middle: Work together.

Vote

Vote like your country and your state and your community depend upon it. Because they do. Vote like your children and your grandchildren and you depend upon it. Because they do.

And if you still need help

Don't forget Election Central, www.dailyherald.com/news/politics/election/, where you can find information on every candidate on your ballot from local judges to the race for president.