The Soapbox: Bike lanes in Palatine, Narcan in Kane County, health help in Naperville and more.

Read and heed:

The new electronic Schaumburg municipal message board is easier to read and makes it more efficient to display important reminders like this week's: Arrive Alive! Don't text ... just drive. It's just too bad drivers who most need that one may not notice because they'll be busy with their phones as they pass by.

Can you help?:

Believe it or not, school is just around the corner. To help kids get off to a good start, groups such as Elk Grove Township's Back-To-School Blast Off and Elgin Community College's Project Backpack are collecting new supplies for students in need, Plug "school supplies donation" in the search space on dailyherald.com, to find a supply drive near you.

Taking a bow:

The opening of the world premiere musical "War Paint" at Chicago's Goodman Theatre reminds us how lucky we are to have a vibrant theater scene. Chicago has launched many world premieres, while others have debuted at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace and Lincolnshire's Marriott Theatre. So take advantage of the chance to see new works before they hit Broadway.

On the road:

Well-marked bike lanes in Palatine along several secondary streets are a nice upgrade this summer. While cars are still allowed to park along these lanes, we hope automobile owners will make an effort to keep the bike lanes clear, thus encouraging safe, clean localized travel to the fullest extent.

For cyclists' part:

Seen on trails and sidewalks recently: People on bicycles texting or talking on their smartphones. We don't know yet if they're also playing "Pokemon Go" while riding, but in any case, we need bicyclists to keep their eyes on the trail, sidewalk or road, too, riding in a straight line.

Cool endurance athletes?

It didn't entirely surprise us to see runners and bicyclists outside during the hottest, most dangerous hours of the day during this week's heat wave. Some were obviously serious athletes, and salute to them for their strength. Some did not seem so serious and we wonder if it was worth the risk. In all cases, don't push your luck out there.

Money well spent:

A Kane County Board committee this week approved the purchase of another 2,300 doses of Narcan, the overdose reversal drug. The nearly $61,000 buy comes on the heels of Coroner Rob Russell forecasting a record number of heroin deaths this year. All major local police departments and three local colleges are on board for usage.

And then some:

The Naperville Fire Department has become the first Illinois agency to seek residents' help responding to cardiac emergencies. The PulsePoint Respond smartphone app alerts registered, certified participants of a crisis within 12 blocks. Paramedics respond to 90 percent of calls within six minutes, but the new app can help when even that's too long.

From lemons to lemonade:

We join in accolades for departing Deer Park trustee Joel Thomason, who started coming to meetings seven years ago because of complaints about roads and parks, but ended up joining the board and finding solutions to the problems aggravating him. He sets a good example for how to improve local government.