Daily Herald columnist Jim Slusher: A Thanksgiving reminder that virtue also makes news
Elon Musk. Nancy Pelosi. Jan. 6. Hunter Biden. Ticketmaster. Taylor Swift. Joe Biden. Ukraine. Russia. Justin Fields. Colorado Springs.
Donald Trump.
There's an endless list of proper nouns in the news whose mere mention will cause your Fitbit to overheat. So many, in fact, that it can often seem that what we call news is just an endless stream of provocative people, events and topics.
So, every Thanksgiving, I like to remind readers that there's something in the newspaper every day - and numerous stories and items in the news throughout the week - to give us reason to feel blessed and grateful.
Consider names and topics like these:
• Dan Buhrmester: Russell Lissau described a ceremony honoring firefighter-paramedic Dan Buhrmester for his actions on Sept. 11 when, while off duty, he came upon a three-vehicle accident and sprang into action. His quick action, helped by other Good Samaritans who also stopped, not only helped crash victims who were in shock but also was credited with saving the life of a 3-year-old girl who had gone into cardiac arrest.
• "At Ease: Healing in Nature": Our Mick Zawislak described a project of artwork by active-duty service members and their families. Brushwood Executive Director Catherine Game described the project this way: "The power to heal, the power to share, the power to reflect, too."
• Saturn, Jupiter and Harper: They're three of 33 dogs rescued from a South Korean dog meat farm and brought to the suburbs for a new chance at a true "dog's life." Rick West told their story with a front-page report and photos on Saturday.
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: Steve Zalusky's front-page report on Sunday emphasized a topic that will be a repeated theme throughout this weekend and the entire holiday season. People helping people in need.
• Jen Milinki: In our "Good News Sunday" column Susan Klovstad reprised the heart of Alicia Fabbre's Nov. 9 profile of one of the suburbs' top teachers. "She makes my life good," said one student of the Lisle High School Learning for Life program instructor.
• Midcentury Llama: It may be extreme to think of Thanksgiving as a holiday that needs to be saved, but Northfield native Frank O'Meara and his bandmates feared this important day gets lost in the middle of Halloween excitement and the Christmas glut. Dave Olberhelman told how Midcentury Llama hoped to keep the Thanksgiving spirit alive with the release of their new single "November."
And there's so much more. In government, we reported this week on economic development in Hoffman Estates and tax-levy reduction in Palatine. In Sports, we've followed the excitement of local teams vying for a state championship football title. Today, you'll notice the first of our front-page stories on People to be Thankful For, a feature you'll see more of throughout the weekend and coming week - speaking of which you can also look forward in the days ahead to stories on the survivor of a rare lung and liver transplant, a Fox River Grove man celebrating his 103rd birthday and countless other stories that will lift your spirits and remind you that, sure, there's much happening in the world to cause worry and tension, but there's also much happening to relieve it and to remind us, in the words of poet Max Ehrmann, "what virtue there is."
Happy Thanksgiving.
jimslusher@dailyherald.com