The Soapbox: Daily Herald editors offer brief thoughts on suburban topics in the news.
This week's clippable quote
"Success isn't determined by how many times you win, but by how you play the week after you lose." - Pele
And on that subject ...
Good luck to Kevin Warren, the former Big Ten Conference commissioner named Bears team president this week. Taking over a team that went 3 and 14 this season, success awaits in the form of overseeing a rebuild on the field. And, with the Arlington Heights prospects looming, maybe he can start by moving the field.
Winning by losing?
Meanwhile, last weekend the Chicago Bears won by securing the top pick in the next NFL draft because they lost their final game and the Houston Texans shockingly won their final game and therefore lost the top draft pick. If you have to wonder if a team, let's say, didn't care so much about winning their final games, then maybe it's a bad way to determine draft picks.
Representation matters
Congrats to Esha Patel, who this week was sworn in as a Schaumburg village trustee. Patel, appointed to fill a vacancy created by the death of Frank Kozak, is the first Indian-American woman on the panel. Municipal boards should be as diverse as the communities they serve, and more than a quarter of Schaumburg residents are of Asian descent.
Good news, bad news
We were disappointed to learn Thursday that the expected announcement of a deal keeping Park Ridge's historic Pickwick Theatre open had been postponed amid ongoing negotiations. But on the upside, theater operators said that they would in the meantime postpone its closing - also scheduled for Thursday - until at least March while talks continue.
Just good news
The COVID crisis may not be entirely behind us, but some retail recovery seems to showing. In Schaumburg, improved consumer taxes mean an $18.4 million budget surplus this year, so village leaders are sharing the good fortune with taxpayers - approving $150 rebates to the village's approximately 18,500 owner-occupied residences. Classy move.
Just bad news
A data analyst this week declared traffic congestion in Chicago the worst in the nation this year - and the second-worst in the world. Maybe it's time to start getting back on the train or the bus.
Mega what?
You may have noticed that the Mega Millions lottery jackpot got up to around a billion and a half dollars this week. That's pretty huge, but doesn't it also feel like billion-dollar lotteries are becoming frequent enough that we're not quite blown away by them as we used to be? Not that we're not trying to win it, to be sure.
Welcome Pink's to Palatine
Welcome to Palatine, Pink's Shrimp and Oysters! The owners, who also run Chicago Culinary Kitchen, have quite a following for their barbecue meats. Bringing a taste of Key West and seafood to town sounds like a good move, and people are excited. Pink's opens Jan. 25, and we wish them all the best!
Here's to your health
New year, new you, right? If you're focus is on healthy living, maybe you've decided to try Dry January. Lucky for you, suburban restaurants and bars are paying attention by offering creative nonalcoholic libations. Find out what they have in store in our roundup at dailyherald.com/entlife/.