The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news

Again, we move on

With Buffalo Grove Days and Schaumburg Septemberfest behind us, so, alas, is summer. Maybe not officially just yet, but indeed in our mindsets. Daylight declines as football, the falling of leaves and Halloween plans take over along with that cool crispness in the air. As for wind chills and polar vortexes … that's for another day down the icy road.

Take a bow

Congrats to the Paramount Theatre in Aurora for receiving 16 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations this week, the second highest among all Chicago area theaters. Also receiving nods in various categories were Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace, First Folio Theatre in Oak Brook and Writers Theatre in Glencoe. Kudos to all.

Making beautiful music

Here's to two Stevenson High School seniors, Allen Beckwith and Kiran Mohan, who formed Crescendo for a Cause so they can share their musical gift with others. Recently, they played jazz for memory-impaired senior citizens and plan to present an education program for detained teens at Illinois Youth Center in St. Charles. Thank you!

Bicyclist-driver relations

Again a couple of us visited a city outside the Chicago area. Again we see bicycling integrated more nicely. This time it was Victoria, Canada, where drivers are implored to stop the second they see a bicyclist on the bike trail as it crosses a road. We were even shooed onward by locals as we on bikes slowed at a road. We're a long way from that here.

Meanwhile, e-scooters

Then we also visited Atlanta, where motorized scooters are all the rage. They're everywhere in town. Are they a bad thing? They seem to be getting on perhaps a little better than they're going in Chicago. Now Schaumburg is looking to allow them on paths and sidewalks. Probably won't be as busy as in the city, but let's be careful.

DuPage turtle release ...

Sometimes it's the small things that make the world a better place. Example: Teams from the Shedd Aquarium and the Forest Preserve District of DuPage tramped into some of the county's secluded marshes this week to release 23 Blanding's turtles. The Shedd had raised the creatures, which are endangered in Illinois, from tiny hatchlings.

... helping save endangered creatures

The turtle release was part of a new partnership between the Chicago-based Shedd and the forest preserve district's head-start program as they work to rebuild the reptile's vulnerable population. The good news is that such efforts have started to reverse a trend that saw Blandings turtles dying off faster than they could repopulate in DuPage.

Polo returns

After a rare rainout last year, polo returns to Barrington Hills today with the LeCompte/Kalaway Trailowners Cup, featuring horses and hounds. Sometimes called the sport of kings, it is exciting and colorful. The weather is forecast to be perfect. Admission at $20 (kids free) offers a chance to see a rare spectacle.

Bear down

Shockingly, the sun rose above Soldier Field Friday. Packers QB Aaron Rodgers broke the hearts of Bears fans again (shocking), but the latter can take solace. The new, 12-foot, bronze statues of "Papa Bear" and "Sweetness" are spectacular, the Lakefront is still beautiful, and the Bears defense remains stellar. Everyone, breathe.