Above / This great blue heron let out a bunch of screeching squawks to greet us from the banks of the DuPage River as we briskly walked along the Riverwalk Extension on the way to Hillside Road. Our city’s natural treasure provides pride and joy, focused on can-do community spirit 365 days a year in the heart of downtown Naperville.
To Daily Herald Staff (and other local journalists)
The First Amendment enshrines our sacred right to a free press. That right came under assault this week, when a sophisticated cyberattack threatened to prevent the publication of the Daily Herald for the first time in 148 years. Thanks to the herculean overtime efforts of journalists, editors, printers, and other staff, the paper’s publication streak barely survived on Wednesday morning.
Unfortunately, we’ve grown so used to brazen attacks on the Constitution that they no longer shock the conscience or even surprise us. Whether this week’s attack was carried out by a lone wolf, organized crime, or a foreign state actor, the target was all of us – Americans who depend on a free exchange of ideas.
Having journalists in my family and sitting on the board of a nonprofit community news station, I’m familiar with reporters’ early mornings of vetting potential stories, long days of sometimes dangerous work, and late nights of revising stories and beating deadlines. Often, they do so without recognition or thanks, day in and day out.
Today, please take a minute to recognize local journalists, editors, and staff, wherever they are. And let us stay eternally vigilant — without a local free press, we would not have a free civil society.
—Ian Holzhauer, Naperville
Editor’s Note / First Amendment to the United States Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
To PN Publisher: Stephanie Penick
I went into Casey’s Foods today and picked up a copy of PN. I’ve been to your website a few times to catch up. I live in Aurora so I some sometimes get distracted; yet, with the times we live in now, “home grown” news I find has been comforting. Our times are dangerous and challenging, but I find myself listening to 60s, 70s music on the radio and most recently Glen Miller and the wonderful “Girl Singers” of the ’40s.
When I picked up your paper and read Ron Keller’s article, it brought a big smile to my face. Now I grew up on Chicago’s Southwest side, but I also remember “Decoration Day.” It was a big deal even in the city. It brought back some really good stuff. Ron looked so cute in his little “Buster Brown’s (shoes). Your “Publisher’s Notes” brought back some memories, too! Let’s pray that those memories will pull us through the darker times and we’ll emerge stronger and more respectful of each other.
—Madelene Bernar, Aurora
To PN (Regarding Remembering Friends of the Riverwalk since 1981):
Read the Square Scoop and choked back tears. So many of the people in those photos are gone too soon. Thanks for posting.
—Rick Hitchcock, Naperville
Editor’s Note: Rick Hitchcock, recently retired, is founder and former president of Hitchcock Design Group, Landscape Planning & Landscape Architecture, in Naperville. He’s known for his dedication to the planning and development of the early phases of the Riverwalk as well as the Riverwalk Commission, even now.
To PN and Friends:
As friends and members of the Naperville Woman’s Club, we are keenly aware that art, education and community service are everything to us. Covid 19 has temporarily put a crimp in our plans to carry out our mission. However, it has not deterred us from thinking about ways and means to serve our community.
You have to play to win so click on the above link and purchase your ticket to paradise today. Share with your friends too. Stay strong!
—Dawn Dau, Ways and Means, Naperville Woman’s Club
Updated, Aug. 1, 2020
