Saturday Soapbox: Heroism in Wheaton and Waukegan, cooperation in Cook and DuPage counties, the 'Cake Boss' in Rosemont, Chicago baseball in October and more

That was fast:

The new school year's already under way in several towns and soon will begin in others. Watch out for school buses and students and give yourself a little extra drive time.

Cool under fire ...:

When Justin Bellanfonte saw smoke pouring from a third-floor window in his Wheaton apartment building, the 16-year-old acted quickly. He found the source of the fire, sounded the fire alarm, yelled “Fire!” to alert residents, called 911 and his mom, and even opened the door for people scrambling to leave the building. Great work, Justin!

... and water:

It's hard to say why a car with two men in it drove into Lake Michigan in Waukegan, but it's lucky Dave Shaw was at work at the Waukegan Yacht Club. Shaw, of Barrington, saw the car and dove into the water to help the men escape. His selfless action helped ensure a happy ending.

Good start:

The spring election started with a surprising bang in Lake County this week when Sheriff Mark Curran announced he'll take on incumbent Michael Nerheim in the Republican primary for Lake County state's attorney. The race between two local GOP heavyweights will be one to watch.

Route 31 is primed:

A new study shows Lake in the Hills' Route 31 corridor is primed for retail development. Three sites of 22 to 77 acres were cited as having wide potential for a variety of uses. Village leaders already have contacted auto dealers to gauge interest. Now it's incumbent on them to follow up. Let's get our local economies rolling.

The perfect pitch:

Chicago Bandits star Monica Abbott has been making headlines this season. And as a story by Andres Martinez illustrated, she's great off the Rosemont softball field as well, raising thousands of dollars in contributions toward food drives and scholarships. That's worth as much applause as her no-hitters.

Not-so-happy hours:

Naperville's liquor commission did the right thing by keeping its prohibition on happy hour deals in place, at least for now. The city has been combating alcohol-fueled problems in its downtown for years and, with signs of recent progress, this is not the time to abandon those efforts.

India Day celebration:

Naperville is hosting a new event this weekend that will be worth a peek — its inaugural India Day Parade and Festival, both designed to celebrate the culture of India and the contributions of its residents to American life. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. downtown and the festival begins at 3 p.m. in Central Park.

Body cameras for DuPage deputies:

The $1.1 million price tag is a little scary for the county board, but DuPage Sheriff John Zaruba's request for body cameras for all his deputies — along with new cameras in squad cars — is a good idea whose time has come. Such cameras have become an essential device for both cops and the public they serve.

Water on, questions remain:

Now that the water is back on at the Plum Creek Condominiums in Wheeling — where residents went five days without showers, toilets or any form of running water after a well pump broke — it's time for the village to demand some answers. Like why was one of the complex's wells left unrepaired for months amid warnings another could fail?

Getting it together:

For an example of how government can work for good, look to the Busse Woods Dam in Elk Grove Village, where on Wednesday officials from two counties, several towns and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District gathered to proclaim a new era of flood control. The $4.6 million project has been a poster child for intergovernmental cooperation.

Welcome, Cake Boss:

Celebrity-themed restaurants generally have a bad track record, but “The Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro just might have better luck in Rosemont, his next venture. Valastro is not just a reality TV star; he's in the restaurant business, so he automatically has a leg up. Good luck, Buddy.

Baseball fever:

The Cubs have been streaking through August. The Sox, well, not so much. Nonetheless, Part II of the 2015 Crosstown Cup series brings lots of excitement to the city this weekend. Dare we let ourselves ponder October baseball in Chicago?

A mayor takes the plunge:

Was that Arlington Heights Village President Tom Hayes sky diving Thursday to promote the Chicago Air and Water Show? He's given new meaning to the phrase “political courage.”