The Soapbox: It's the Olympians' personal touch that will really count

Olympians visit

We'll be looking for Elk Grove Village's Makers Wanted brand on 2021 summer Olympic venues and ads as a result of a sponsorship announced this week, but the real boon for the area's youth might be in inspiration from the promised run, throw and jump event held locally by Olympic track and field athletes and a wrestling clinic hosted by that Olympic team.

This week's clippable quote

"It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great." -- Jimmy Dugan's character, as written by Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz in the screenplay for "A League of Their Own."

Hot, hot, hot

With the temperature expected to climb into the mid-90s this weekend, and a healthy dose of humidity, it could feel like 100 degrees or more. That's steamy. It also could be dangerous. Plenty of water and a cool place to pass the time are musts. Go the extra step to check on friends, relatives and neighbors to make sure all are coping with the heat.

DiCianni resignation

Pete DiCianni resigned his chairmanship of the DuPage County Board's health and human services committee this week after drawing fire for his actions at and following a pro-police rally in Elmhurst. OK, but here's a question: Outside of board members, does anyone know who chairs the county's other committees or what they do?

Community karma

Pete Panayiotou was understandably incredulous that someone would get up at 2 a.m. to steal $150 worth of flowers he'd posted upon reopening his Continental Restaurant in Buffalo Grove. But karma can be wonderful. Donations more than covered the popular Panayiotou's loss. "Something that was so horrible, it turned out to be so amazing," he said. Indeed.

Continue to think safety first

As high school sports teams continue to practice with restrictions in place, we stress the need to put safety as a priority. Teenagers will sway from the rules, so it's important for their adult coaches to be mindful of safety and following the state's guidelines at all times. Have fun, but do so safely.

Mom doesn't make idle threats

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's scolding of young people who flout coronavirus safety rules reminded many of us of our childhoods. "I won't just turn the car around," Lightfoot warned. "I'm gonna shut it off. I'm gonna kick you out. And I'm gonna make you walk home." The mayor threatened to tighten restrictions, and we believe her. Our moms were serious, too.

Decisions, decisions

Many suburban school districts have offered learning plans for the fall. The good news is that many plans offer choices. The hard part as a parent is hoping you make the right decision. Will my child fall behind with online-only instruction? Is in-person learning worth the health risks, even under strict safety protocols? There are no right answers.

Wishing Mayor Juracek well

We were disappointed to see the news that Mount Prospect Mayor Arlene Juracek will not seek a third term next spring. But after 25 years of devoted service in elected and appointed positions, she deserves the retirement. Best wishes, mayor.