No matter how you look at it, we appreciate all readers of Positively Naperville. We especially enjoyed handing a copy of the January issue to our one-year-old granddaughter, December’s “cover girl,” to see how she’d handle a newspaper. We used one of many photos we’d snapped, catching her first experience with PN, as our banner shot for social media all during January.
We also read The Wall Street Journal in print, especially on weekends. An essay in the Jan. 19-20, 2019, edition featured “The Secret Power of the Children’s Picture Book” by Meghan Cox Gordon. The timely story addresses the importance of reading aloud to children from printed pages. The subhead reads, “Even infants get profound cognitive and behavioral benefits from sharing a vivid story.” Remember Goldilocks? Remember her encounter with the three bears?
My husband and I are thrilled to see our granddaughter’s interest in turning the pages in little books and that she enjoys sitting with her parents while they read to her.
We also are pleased to be reminded of the importance of early childhood development that is featured monthly in “Raise Your Play IQ” columns from the DuPage Children’s Museum. From now through May 12, 2019, in the spirit of the late Fred Rogers, the Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood exhibit is happening at the Museum.
We are baffled that “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”, a documentary about the life, acceptance and guiding principles of Fred Rogers, was overlooked by the nominations for Academy Awards. When our three children were little, they regularly tuned into the kind and gentle ways of the Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood—and so did I. That daily respite in his world when he attracted all of our attention makes me wonder how we’ve allowed ourselves to get so caught up in what I’ve come to think is often unimportant and sometimes hateful.
Help curious youth be safe & responsible online
Recently Kamala Martinez, Executive Director for KidsMatter, presented an enlightening program to the Rotary Club of Naperville/Downtown about a partnership with School Districts 203 and 204. They’re working collaboratively to develop programming to help students better understand the importance of positive digital citizenship. In alignment with the KidsMatter mission to build resilient kids who say “no” to destructive choices and “yes” to endless opportunities, the new KidsMatter Digital Leader Summit scheduled for February was announced. This program is designed to empower students to realize their leadership possibilities, combat cyberbullying, and educate on creating a positive digital footprint.
The program also encourages students to be “UpStanders” within their schools and learn about how they can be a positive influence and take a stand in their community. They will learn the “7 Domains of the Illinois Internet Safety Act” that addresses online risks, including solicitations, harassment, illegal activity and copyright laws, for starters.
Longtime readers know we prefer print to electronic learning. In this high-tech world, we’ve learned to compromise. We also still prefer to use building blocks, one at a time, as we try to find balance with so many emails and online messages.
One more thing…
We take local elections seriously. We want our readers to know the candidates and how they plan to address local policy issues and budgets. We’ll never tell you how to vote. Yet, we sure do want you to be an informed voter by personally meeting the candidates up close.
Thanks to the interest and support of many candidates running in the Consolidated Election on April 2, we’ve allowed almost a full page to feature the upcoming public forums in February that welcome your attention, too.
This community’s success, in part, has been its attitude of acceptance and gratitude passed on by folks who long ago chose this dynamic place to live, work, play and run to serve for public office. Keep a clear head and stick to the facts and reliable sources, please.
Thanks for reading. Be safe. Local matters.
Editor’s Note, Feb. 7, 2019 / This commentary appears on page 2 of the February 2019 print edition of Positively Naperville that went to press on Jan. 29, 2019. Folks in the Midwest are well aware of the record sub-deep freeze that pretty much closed up activities, delayed deliveries when trucks didn’t start and encouraged everyone to stay inside.
The February issue is now available at 25 PN news stands throughout the city, Including independent businesses such as Oswald’s Pharmacy, Casey’s Foods, Dog Patch Pet & Feed, Anderson’s Bookshop, Dean’s Fine Clothing and Quigley’s Irish Pub. The publication is also distributed from news stand locations at the 95th Street Y and Kroehler Y as well as Caputo’s on 111th Street and Blooming Color / Minuteman Press at 1577 Naperville Wheaton Rd.
Many thanks to everyone who inquired about February delivery and, as always, we appreciate our supporting advertisers, contributing columnists, media contacts and dedicated readers. No matter what the weather, we aim to focus on the good things happening in this City that welcome everybody to participate in marking its rich history one event at a time.
Looking forward, cheers to the first 160 years of the Naperville Municipal Band and running commentary down Memory Lane with Ann Lord during the upcoming concert season, indoors and out. With 54 years of leadership, Conductor Ron Keller will direct the award-winning 90-member band during the NMB Winter Concert that begins at 3PM Sun., Feb. 17, on stage at the Wentz Concert Hall. No tickets needed. Admission is free of charge.