The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
Will you be my Valentine?
It's been a lonely year of isolation. And the pandemic restrictions - along with subzero temperatures! - will make Valentine's Day celebrations more complicated Sunday. But the year we've shared also will make them more special.
Show them some love
Speaking of Valentine's Day, restaurants across the suburbs are offering special dinners, cocktails, virtual cooking classes, meal deals to-go and more over the weekend. What better way to celebrate your love than to support local restaurants during the pandemic?
Winter surprise
The Blackhawks were supposed to be awful this season - no dependable goalie, a bunch of unproven rookies and Jonathan Toews out indefinitely. But after 15 games, the Hawks have a winning record and this week completed a two-game sweep over the Dallas Stars, a 2020 Stanley Cup finalist. And, they're kind of fun to watch.
Winter embrace
Yup, it's very cold and it snowed a lot, but you have to admit it's beautiful outside. Winters like this are scarce and might be more so in the future, so try to give the season a little love.
Don't forget about sidewalks
While you're at it, have you shoveled your sidewalk? A snow-free sidewalk is important to your neighbors. Kids, dog-walkers, the elderly and people in wheelchairs rely on these cleared paths to get around safely. So, please be neighborly and help make them passable and safe.
And watch that ice
A Lombard Park District pickup broke through a pond at Four Season Park and sank, proving that ice can have unsafe weak spots even after below normal temps all week. The driver is safe, and fire departments used the truck for cold-water training before it was pulled out. All we can say is - that's cool.
Stay safe, please
In this, the first full week of the high school basketball season, we've seen a handful of games postponed as teams and schools navigate the guidelines allowing a return to sports. We suggest everyone - student-athletes especially - show extra caution in being safe and following the rules. You've waited too long for this to have it taken away now.
Tough choice
A divided Schaumburg village board this week approved plans for a financial services office at Golf and Meacham, a high visibility corner near Woodfield Mall. Opponents argued that, though other restaurants have failed at that location, a restaurant there would produce more tax revenue. Point taken. Maybe the office will at least offer some stability.
This week's Clippable Quote
"Keep love in your heart; a life without it is like a sunless garden." - 19th century poet Oscar Wilde
Helping the hungry
The Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry needs volunteers to make noncontact deliveries of food boxes to those in need. Register to volunteer at https//app.helpaction.org/volunteer/register.
Give Schweikher House a look
We're happy to see that the historic Schweikher House in Schaumburg is reopening for tours this month, wisely with COVID-19 precautions. Built in 1938 by a young Paul Schweikher, this architectural jewel needs to be seen and experienced, especially since much of Schweikher's work in the region has been demolished.