The Soapbox
Filling the food void:
An upside to Dominick's pulling out of the Chicago market? Stores that offer new options for local palates are filling the vacuum. Examples are Joe Caputo & Sons Fruit Market expanding into Arlington Heights, Des Plaines, Elk Grove Village and Northbrook, and the Fresh Thyme Farmers Market chain announcing its first Illinois store in Mount Prospect.
Let there be music:
We're thrilled the Chicago Symphony Orchestra wants to expand on its successful performances of last summer at Morton Arboretum. The CSO wants to build an outdoor facility somewhere in DuPage County. But there's a catch ...
Preserve this:
Two of the CSO potential sites are on forest preserve property, and the forest district's attorney says a lease-back arrangement would require a change in state law to make it legal. Here's hoping the other two sites, so far undisclosed, don't face the same obstacles.
Not even amusing:
Now a Kane County judge needs more information before ruling on St. Charles resident Cliff McIlvaine's home improvement project, which has languished since 1975. We've long passed the “embarrassment” stage for all involved and are now into the “ridiculous” stage.
Driving in snow, Part I:
Ah, for the days when we can return to the right lane being the safe lane as we travel wintry suburban roads. Not much chance of that these days with snow always removed last from the right lane. Or snow piled so high at entrance areas that going by any parking lot is a scary road hazard. Be careful out there.
Driving in snow, Part II:
We try to understand how some drivers do not clean snow off car roofs, hoods and trunks, only to have that snow blow off in sheets at the rest of us. But what's with all these people not clearing off their license plates? Good luck with that if an officer happens to be the one who notices.
Budget overtime?
Come on, Governor, another delay of the budget message? Again until just after the primary? This moves a message that should appear near the beginning of session to more than midway through. And all for politics. Bad form.
The glory years:
While there has been some hand-wringing over the demise of the Elgin Holiday Tournament after 39 years, it's clear this boys basketball tournament lost its luster as other events expanded. On the positive side, it's worth remembering the glory years and the positive impact the tourney once had. It sure was fun while it lasted.
Taking one for the team:
Jack Bessey, a freshman for the Huntley boys basketball team, had a ticket to the Super Bowl courtesy of his uncle, the general manager of the Seattle Seahawks. A trip to New York, however, would have caused Bessey to miss two varsity games. You have to be impressed that the young man chose his teammates and gave up his tickets.
The giving spirit:
Equally impressive was the work of Joe Ranallo and his Conant High School friends in raising $15,000 for tornado-ravaged Washington High School with the help of families and businesses. That's an incredible act of kindness and a great example of young leadership.