What's the clippable quote in today's Soapbox?
Take a chill pill
It's not just COVID-19 we need to worry about when we're in crowds. Judging by the recent confrontations we've seen at stores and restaurants, some people are just a little too unhinged to be in public. Instacart and takeout are looking like even better options.
Have we said this before?
Wear a mask. It's how you protect people you meet. It's how you protect yourself. And it's how we as a community that control the pandemic.
OK, then. And have we said this?
It's not about politics. It's about public health. It's about caring about people. Wear a mask.
Heating up
Suburban seniors have been isolated during the pandemic, but with temperatures climbing into the 90s, it's more important than ever to check in with loved ones. The combination of no air conditioning and sweltering heat is dangerous - especially for seniors.
Perhaps a more cautious approach?:
It was good and not so good to see Aurora Central Catholic and Wheaton Academy play baseball this week. The pandemic is wreaking havoc not too far from home. We're not certain kids are going back to school. Let's be careful out there.
New Carol Stream trail
Happy to see Carol Stream and DuPage County making progress on a 2.2-mile extension of a walking and biking path on the west side of Gary Avenue between Army Trail Road and the Great Western Trail. Other similar paths have been very popular in the village and this one almost certainly will be, too.
An example of trail's costs
Lake County, after several years, has installed a 0.4-mile trail connection between Gurnee subdivisions and the Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve. The simple gravel trail cost nearly $400,000. That includes a modification to a traffic signal and concrete ramps. We know how costly even a small trail can be; good thing a bridge wasn't needed here.
Speaking of trail bridges
The one along Roselle Road over Central Road and connecting to a bridge over the Addams Tollway in Schaumburg is seeing its share of use, showing the value of the multimillion-dollar project. Trail users still have to be careful at the crossing at the signal on the tollway ramp. Watch the timer and make sure it's really OK to go.
Shining more needed light
Some good work is being done by Donna Sack and colleagues at the Naper Settlement in Naperville who, along with five other museums, are researching suburban "sundown towns" where Black Americans were not permitted to sleep or stay after sundown. It's a history we all can still learn. And need to.
This week's clippable quote
Political parties "are likely in the course of time and things to become potent engines by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion": George Washington, Farewell Address, 1796.
And finally
Before we end this edition of the Soapbox, let's offer a hearty congratulations to Glenview native Andy Masur, the new voice of the White Sox. And his signature home-run call will be?????