The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
A safe call
A hot topic for Major League Baseball is making protective netting mandatory at all ballparks from the outside of one dugout to the other. To repeat what we said in a recent editorial, that's not going far enough. Fans sitting well down the foul lines and far from the playing field dodge baseballs on a regular basis. Baseball can't go only part way in protecting fans.
Icebox Derby winners
Congrats to five area girls - Aditi Gurudutt, Hanover Park; Deepika Ramchandain, Roselle; Sahaja Danthurthy, Aurora; Lugano Mwakatapanya, Aurora; and Francesca Rogozinski, Indian Head Park - who transformed old refrigerators into solar-powered electric race cars to capture the ComEd-sponsored Icebox Derby STEM Cup. Way to go!
Lighting up Schaumburg crossing
Just weeks after a hit-and-run driver injured a 13-year-old girl at the often-busy neighborhood crossing of Springinsguth Road and Weathersfield Way in Schaumburg, the stop signs now also sport blinking red lights. It's too bad this is needed to keep kids safe at the intersection, but kudos to the village for trying something.
Can we just cross peacefully?
Despite the new lighted signs, we still hear drivers yelling at each other for one reason or another. It's a somewhat tough intersection because Springinsguth is two lanes in each direction, but really, everyone, calm down.
Second seasons
Two high school football teams who haven't sniffed the playoffs in recent years are closing in on achieving that honor with big finishes. Here's hoping the players, coaches and everyone associated with the programs at Maine West and Buffalo Grove thoroughly enjoy their journeys.
Brave souls
Thank you to those who are raising money for Habitat for Humanity of Northern Fox Valley by rappelling down a 21-story Schaumburg office building today. To support a team, go to nfvrappel.org.
Live from New York
Congrats to comedian Chris Redd, a new "Saturday Night Live" cast member who grew up in Naperville. He's a great addition to a show that has seen a ratings surge over the last year. Bring on the laughs, Chris.
Food fun
Hundreds of people attended Wheeling's 17th Taste of the Town Thursday, sampling food and drink from 20 of the area's most popular restaurants, wineries and breweries, many located on "Restaurant Row." It was the perfect excuse to eat too much while benefiting the local chamber of commerce and library literacy programs.
Super superintendent
Congratulations to Floyd E. Williams Jr., superintendent of Des Plaines Elementary School District 62. He was one of 21 school leaders recognized by a national organization as a Superintendent to Watch for 2017-18. We're watching!
Will we ever have an answer?
The murders of seven people - via tainted Tylenol capsules - looks less and less likely to be solved because of the march of time. After 35 years, witnessess and potential suspects are getting on in years. But police say they are still working the case. Fingers crossed they find their perpetrator, for the sake of the families.