The Soapbox
Roselle’s special Fifth:
The village of Roselle should give itself a hand. Thanks to efforts by individuals, businesses and a $9,000 donation from a church-affiliated nonprofit, the village raised $18,300 — enough to sponsor a July 5 concert by American English followed by a fireworks show, the village’s first in three years.
Well deserved, Cheli:
Former Blackhawk Chris Chelios got his call from the Hall this week, and it couldn’t have happened to a tougher, more tell-it-like-it-is competitor. Though he also played with Detroit, he gave Hawks fans a lot to crow about. He left it all out on the ice every night. Until he was 48. That’s commitment.
Split decision:
Eight years after a group of families sued Elgin Area School District U-46, claiming new boundaries put a disproportionate number of minority students in crowded schools and mobile classrooms, a judge offered a split ruling: The school did not discriminate in its 2004 boundary redraw, but its gifted program does. Will this case ever be resolved?
Red light, red light:
It’s bad enough in the wee hours that traffic lights and turn arrows are so out of sync. So let’s not even talk about the early morning intersections in quiet construction zones. Sitting and waiting ... and waiting and sitting ... for a left-turn arrow to change with no cars around for miles? Really?
Do good, but be careful:
It’s nice to see a good Samaritan at work like the one who retrieved a woman’s purse from a robber outside an Arlington Heights grocery store. But considering the dangers of confronting a criminal unprotected, we’re glad he wasn’t hurt too.
Block Fermi cuts:
We question funding cuts that could hurt Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia and Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont. Kudos to Congressmen Bill Foster of Naperville and Randy Hultgren of Winfield for their bipartisan spirit in fighting them.
As the tracks turn:
Metra hearings this week revealed a tale worthy of daytime television. A massive severance package for former CEO Alex Clifford. Accusations that he was fired for political reasons. Charges and denials of “hush money.” And the revelation that House Speaker Michael Madigan sought a raise for someone he knew. Isn’t it time Metra got back on track?
Ahead of the curve:
He’d love to coach the Bears someday, but for now Tom Kudyba of Des Plaines is thrilled to be one of the first head coaches in Brazil’s new professional football league. That’s quite a start for the Elk Grove High School graduate, who’s only 28.
Check your trees:
Batavia and ComEd are checking utility poles for rot. Property owners would be wise to inspect their mature trees for weakness too. It takes only one good gust of wind for a lot of damage to occur.
Don’t get left behind:
If you’d like to brush up on your technology skills, how about signing up for a free class on navigating the Internet? The Daily Herald is partnering with the Microsoft store at Woodfield Mall to offer seven-day subscribers instruction on Skype, Facebook, Outlook and other topics. Go to http://events.dailyherald.com.