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The Soapbox

Playoff ready:

It’s been an exciting high school football season in the suburbs that has featured thrilling games and impressive individual performances. But the best is yet to come. The regular season ends this weekend, and then the playoff run will see which teams can get hot and take a shot at bringing home a state championship trophy Thanksgiving weekend. The best time of the year for fans.

Things that go boom in the night:

A semitrailer truck driver headed west on I-90 near Hampshire falls asleep at the wheel well before dawn Thursday and runs his truck into a ditch, spilling a good bit of his 30,000-pound payload of candy on the highway and snarling traffic for hours. Let’s hope this doesn’t ruin Halloween.

Red light, green light:

For those of us who drive late night/early morning, all traffic signals should work like the ones at Higgins and Roselle roads in Schaumburg. The lights truly pay attention to when a vehicle is waiting, even in the left-turn lane. Meanwhile, among the worst lights are at the intersection at Higgins and Meacham roads. No rhyme, no reason, no sense.

Is it just us?

Or have we seen an increase in strike votes taken recently? We wonder whether the Chicago teachers strike served as inspiration, or perhaps it’s the new process that requires a longer time between when teachers become dissatisfied and when they can actually walk.

Pursuing your dream:

A suburban businessman recently completed an odd yet compelling dream: to recite the Gettysburg Address on the steps of all 50 state Capitols in 50 days. Mickey Straub of Burr Ridge did it in 44, finishing his pilgrimage Wednesday in Springfield. His trek was inspirational. Is there a dream you’ve been putting off? Maybe now’s the time.

Thanks for the help and advice:

On behalf of the Cumberland, Cumberland Terrace and Northshire neighborhoods in Des Plaines — and car owners from all over the area — thanks to the Gleason family for sticking with us for 56 years, first as a gas/service station at Golf and Wolf roads, and later as an automotive center. Your family business has been part of the community for many, many years and we’ll miss you.

Speaking their piece:

The Grayslake Elementary District 46 school board got an earful this week from local business owners who are fed up with the rising tax burden. Whether the district finds any quick solutions remains to be seen, but allowing the business community to be heard is a good first step.

Kids won’t eat salads?

Don’t believe it. Students at Eastview Middle School in Bartlett are flocking to the salad cart offered at lunch for the first time this week. Elgin Area School District U-46 will be expanding the program, which features fresh fruits and vegetables, and we hope the idea, well, mushrooms to other districts as well.

Watch that language:

The Carol Stream library board decided not to censure board member Jim Bailey, who used an expletive when arguing with another trustee during an August meeting. We’re glad they can move forward, but may we remind all elected leaders that civility counts at every level of public service?

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