The Soapbox: Why Krumstok walked the plank, and other issues

Barry Krumstok walks the plank

Is the ouster of the Rolling Meadows city manager retaliation for the internal investigation he conducted on Joe Gallo before Gallo was elected mayor? We all can only speculate. But it was unfair of the city council to put Krumstok in that position in the first place. In the future, let somebody else investigate; keep the city manager out of politics.

Ice cream fit for a president

If you are a fan of Mount Prospect's Capannari Ice Cream, you have something in common with President Biden who enjoyed some of the shop's ice cream on Air Force One after visiting the suburbs last week. That's a pretty sweet claim to fame. Congrats, Capannari.

Let's toast with a glass of lemonade

So good to hear that the state of Illinois has enacted a law protecting the rights of kids to operate lemonade stands without a permit.

Jeopardy! Jen

It was a memorable week for Jen Jazwinski of Algonquin, who made a three-day appearance on Jeopardy! that netted her more than $60,000. Jazwinski, the Algonquin Area Public Library's youth services librarian, said the experience was "so stinking fun. She made Algonquin proud.

Emmy love

Congratulations to former suburban residents Phillipa Soo, Kathryn Hahn, Cecily Strong and Brian Stack on their Emmy nominations Tuesday. Their acting - and in Stack's case writing - helped entertain us through a tough year. Good luck to all.

PNC Park beckons

Not only did Quinn Priester's appearance Sunday in the MLB Future's Game speak well of his progress in the Pittsburgh Pirates system, but the 2019 Cary-Grove High School graduate further turned heads while he was there by striking out White Sox superphenom Yoelqui Cespedes.

It's just a sprinkling

Thank you, Mother Nature, for the long string of days with just enough rain to perk up our withered lawns without causing widespread flooding. We've also saved a few bucks on watering in the process.

This Week's Clippable Quote

"If you are curious, you'll find the puzzles around you. If you are determined, you will solve them." - Rubik's Cube inventor Erno Rubik, who celebrated his 77th birthday Tuesday.

Wisconsin's traffic advice

Seen on traffic signs on I-94 on a recent trip into Wisconsin: "Camp in the woods, not in the left lane." Now that's a fun reminder to move to the right if you're driving slower than everyone else - which is actually the law in Wisconsin and Illinois.

The Millennium Park of the suburbs

Schaumburg has plenty of reason to be excited about its new 90 North District Park. Groundbreaking on what should be a centerpiece of the former Motorola campus' rebirth took place Wednesday and work is underway on features including an outdoor performance venue, a sculpture garden, a dog park and a winter ice rink.

Reach for the stars

To the young people reading this: Beth Moses' journey from Glenbrook North High School to a Virgin Galactic rocket ship cresting into outer space is evidence that your dreams should be limited only by your imagination. The future offers boundless possibility!