The Soapbox
Thank you, Mayor:
A park district commissioner. Then, a village trustee and village president. Thirty-four years of public service Arlene Mulder has given to Arlington Heights. And before all of that, there was the service of her work as a teacher and coach for children in suburban communities. What a legacy. As you contemplate retirement, Mayor Mulder, we simply say: thank you.
Fallout from Chicago:
There’s little doubt the Chicago teachers’ strike and eventual agreement will have some influence on suburban school contract negotiations, but some around here say more close-knit environments will help stave off strikes. Let’s hope so.
Rejoice over Penny Road:
Patrons of the Penny Road Pub and the Penny Road Pond in far northwestern Cook County, rejoice! Penny Road is being repaved. If you’d driven or ridden a bike there, potholes were your nemesis. Now the road at last will be smooth as silk like Old Sutton Road nearby.
Class distinction:
With the Cubs moving their Class A affiliate from Peoria to Geneva, Cubs fans just doubled their fun. Given the Cubs’ dismal season, it might be fun to watch the Cougars play the Cubs.
Class distinction II:
OK, that last missive clearly comes from someone who knows humor but doesn’t know baseball. The Cubs are playing with a lot of Triple-A talent this year, but even so, we know no Class A team could challenge them. Die-hard Cougars fans will tell you it’s a lot of fun to watch young talent develop and take the next step to Double-A.
Beyond baseball:
A tip of the cap to White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy and Cubs outfielder David DeJesus, who are nominees for the Roberto Clemente Sportsmanship Award for community service. Check out all the finalists and vote for one at mlb.com.
Tears for Tiny:
It’s hard to believe, but Fright Fest will go on without “Tiny” the spider. As a perennial sign of fall since 1991, the inflatable spider could be seen clinging to Six Flags Great America’s iconic wooden coaster by tollway drivers passing through Gurnee. May she rest in peace.
Gab is no gift:
Tollway officials say some drivers are willing to pay extra for an I-PASS transponder that talks to them. Apparently GPSes with voices aren’t enough to fill the void since automakers stopped offering talking cars. (Remember, “The door is ajar”?) But is another distraction something we really need?
Happy 108th:
Imagine the amazing journey from a 1904 birth in Mississippi to blowing out candles on a 108th birthday cake in Round Lake Beach. We wish Pearlie Young well as Lake County’s oldest resident enters her 109th year.
Ryder Cup creed:
With the world watching golf fans at Medinah next week, the 13th Man Creed on sportsmanship bears repeating: “I am the 13th Man. I support, with pride, my Ryder Cup team. I value sportsmanship over partisanship. I do not cheer failure. At the Ryder Cup, putts are holed, arms go up, dreams are claimed. Men become legends. And we, the witnesses, take home memories we’ll share forever. I’ll be watching. I’ll be cheering. I am the 13th Man.”