The Soapbox
Sadness, hope:
Only one family member, an uncle, appeared at the funeral of starved baby Mya Edwards, whose Barrington parents are in jail facing manslaughter charges. Yet, more than 150 strangers cared enough to attend, and Wheeling's Rest in His Arms raised the money to pay for the service. It was a show of humanity in a heartbreaking story.
Collaboration at its best:
The village of Gurnee and its three school districts have launched their first issue of Keeping Posted+, a newsletter aimed at improving communication with taxpayers. The four entities will share expenses - and that's good for those taxpayers.
Not a good move:
Homeowners deeply value neighborhood trees, and it's understandable that Rolling Meadows residents are upset that a developer cleared a forested area to make way for new houses. Perhaps new regulations should be considered, but one thing is certain: Vandals who spray-painted their opinion all over the site didn't help. Shame on them.
Economy rebounding I:
A designer dress shop moved from prestigious downtown Naperville to a location the owner admits "needed a facelift." But Bri'Zan Couture is doubling its square footage and getting more parking by moving to a strip mall on Washington Street, just south of Ogden Avenue.
Economy rebounding II:
The iconic Country House restaurant, with three suburban locations, is leaving its almost 30-year home tucked back in a strip mall in Lisle to take over a closed restaurant in the Green Trails Shopping Center on Maple Avenue. The new location will be much more visible and bigger, providing a banquet room and outdoor seating.
Stay away from this road:
We add our voice to those of Warren Township High School officials, who are urging parents not to drive their freshmen or sophomores to the O'Plaine Road campus when school starts. At issue is the Des Plaines River bridge project that has reduced Grand Avenue to one lane in each direction. Leave the driving to school bus drivers.
A study to nowhere?
A state report this week laid out details about a practice of Metra employees falsifying work logs, but Metra insists that three years ago it abandoned the "shift swapping" that it says was once common in the rail industry. If that's true, we have to question, as Metra officials do, the point of the taxpayer-funded study.
Technology vocab:
The latest new word is "usie" (rhymes with fussy) and gives a name to a group "selfie." Language experts say usies are more about the relationship and less about the individuals. How about a big bipartisan usie, Congress?
Planning a bonfire?
If so, leave plenty of time for the ashes to cool before you dump them. A Wheaton garage fire this week is a good reminder of that. Firefighters believe that disposal of hot embers from a fire pit was the cause.
Common ground:
We always enjoy seeing two sports franchises come together to bond with fans, and that's what will take place today at Chicago Blackhawks Day at Arlington International Racecourse. The thoroughbred crowd will share space with two old war horses, hockey legends Stan Mikita and Tony Esposito. Sounds like a winner.