The Soapbox: Race congrats in Naperville, falling plane parts in Bensonville, help for the homeless in Elgin and more.
You can't be too careful:
Trust but verify is good advice for any of us working with volunteers to perform public service. While we all want to believe the best of such people, watchdog reporter Jake Griffin's detailed list last Sunday of thefts in recent years at local groups makes it clear they are all too common. Doublecount the money!
Naperville Marathon winner:
It's not often we use this space to congratulate someone from Grand Rapids, Michigan, but Scot Ursum deserves a tip of the running shoe for winning the third annual Healthy Driven Naperville Marathon with a time of 2:45:25. Congratulations also to the organizers of the race, which is becoming a highlight of Naperville's calendar.
Supporting Brittany's Trees:
It's never too early to get into the true spirit of the holidays and that's happening again in Carol Stream, where Jim Guthrie and others hope to deliver 1,500 blue spruce trees to raise money for the Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome Foundation.
Here's how to help:
The tree campaign is conducted in memory of Brittany Valene, a Carol Stream girl who died from Long QT. syndrome in February 2005 - just before her 9th birthday. It's called Brittany's Trees and last year it raised $31,000. Here's where you can go for information: http://brittanys-trees.com/.
Scary stuff:
News that a plane part splashed into a Bensenville pool in July of 2014 flew under the radar at the time. Marni Pyke's Intransit column Monday told how it happened. No kids were in the pool, but the incident is a scary reminder of the need for uncompromising aircraft safety checks.
Paws-ome idea:
With millions of shelter dogs and cats facing euthanasia, Naperville software developer Mark Wade took action. Woof Rescue, his app with nationwide reach, connects people with pets. The app is free, Wade's reward coming from all the smiles he has created.
Elgin-O'Hare is a lot better, but ...:
All the lanes are open from I-290 onto the westbound Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, and it's beautiful all the way up to the Springinsguth Road exit. What a relief after all that messy construction. But all those toll scanners, even if not yet active, are still intimidating.
Keep perspective on Union Station:
A resident speaking at a hearing on increasing Metra fares likened Union Station, with its switch failures, roof leaks and diesel fumes, to a "Third World experience." Let's keep things in perspective: Unpleasant as Union Station may be, people really living in the Third World have much larger problems than ours with our commute.
What can I do?
It's a common question when we see or read about the homeless. Al and Laura Cox of Elgin, two people who found themselves homeless a while back and now are back on their feet, knew they had to do something to help others. They started Street Level Ministries in Elgin. Al's advice for people who are hesitant? "There's nothing to be afraid of."
Football matinees
The high school football state quarterfinal playoff games all are on Saturday this weekend, making for high noon drama at a school near you, with most of the games featuring early afternoon starts. Libertyville hosts Normal University at 1 p.m., while Brother Rice visits Palatine for a 2 p.m. kickoff. Grab a seat and enjoy the show.
Any many more ...
Kay Harlow of Huntley turned 100 Nov. 10. She received a birthday card from President Obama and a proclamation from Mayor Charles Sass. At her party at the Huntley library, where she volunteers, she noted 16 years ago she moved to Sun City and got her first dishwasher. We can't wait to see her at 101.