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The Soapbox

Library on the move:

No fewer than six Chicago-centric entities are vying for the official Barack Obama presidential library, leaving the suburbs out in the cold again. Maybe they should make it a presidential bookmobile. Then they could hit all six sites with an occasional side trip to Rolling Meadows or Wheaton or even Woodfield Mall.

Mighty sweet:

After the building adjacent to the Continental Bakery in downtown Mount Prospect burned on Sunday, the bakery was allowed to sell its goods out of a room at the village hall. Good for you, Mount Prospect.

I (heart) snow:

Group snowball fights in the parks? Impromptu snowman-making in public spaces? Cities like Washington, D.C., have - like us - had a rough winter, but some citizens are delighted by the snow. Here in Illinois, maybe we should regard our snow piles with a more appreciative eye (while still hoping they'll be gone soon).

Dangerous intersections:

No surprise here, but of the 567 accidents at Naperville intersections last year, the majority occurred on Route 59, Ogden Avenue and 75th Street. No surprise, either, that these are among the most heavily traveled roads in the city.

Distracted drivers:

Once more, no surprise that Naperville police say a high number of the crashes can be attributed to distracted driving. So patrol officiers are going to be keeping an eye out for drivers violating a new state law that bans talking on hand-held phones. Good move.

The youth vote:

A new state law allows anyone who will be 18 by November's general election to register and vote in the March primary. But 17-year-olds who qualify better get moving - the deadline to register is Feb. 18. Parents, teachers, let's help get them in the game.

Help from Heimlich:

Joey Scianna, 8, of Island Lake is hailed as a hero for performing the Heimlich maneuver on his 5-year-old brother. Jacob was choking on a piece of pottery, but Joey said he knew what to do because of a poster in the school cafeteria. Kids do notice.

Local color:

Nothing like thoughts about July 4 fireworks to warm us in February. It looks like Elgin will bring back its display after seven years by partnering with Grand Victoria Casino. But Roselle is seeking donations to cover costs for its 2014 show. Will the community step up?

No vapor:

Huntley and Mount Prospect have taken steps to go one better than the state ban on the sale of e-cigarette products to minors. They forbid minors from even possessing them. In Huntley, violators face fines. Mount Prospect plans mandatory meetings with taverns to make sure everyone knows the rules. Wise response to an as-yet-uncertain risk.

She paved the way:

Every organization needs someone willing to go first - and in the Arlington Heights Police Department, it was Irene Louise Larson, who was not only the village's first female sworn officer but the first woman to make it a career. Thanks for paving the way, Irene, and thanks, too, to the steady stream of officers who visited her in her final days on the job.

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