Labor Day just passed. The political season is upon us. For those of us who pay attention during the political season it is good news. For those of us who do not enjoy the political season it may be dismaying that the political season has been in effect a long time.
The comments of two political pundits earlier this week elicited laughter with the comments that the with Labor Day here, “politics is in a sprint to the finish.” That sentiment is directly opposite to what it was more than a generation ago when politics did not start until after Labor Day. Now, too many candidates and office-holders see politics in nearly everything, only to seek to gain an advantage, and instead we lose the true value of our functioning democracy.
There are many important items to consider:
• Alvin Skyles, 96, whose picture was on the front page of The Voice July 30 issue (thevoice.us/surprise-96th-birthday-wishes-for-wwii-veteran-alvin-skyles) in a birthday tribute from his family, died recently. His daughter, Dawn Johnson, and representatives of the VFW Post 7452 in Montgomery, helped to set up the salute in a drive-by for family members and friends outside of the Jennings Terrace in Aurora. Al Skyles was known as the oldest member of the VFW Post 7452. He went into the U.S. Navy in 1946 two weeks prior to high school graduation and served until 1943. He was on a destroyer escort and crossed the Atlantic Ocean 16 times, eight each way.
• The Aurora Area Retired Teachers Association (AARTA) will come out of its forced hiatus because of COVID-19. The group will sponsor To go Luncheon Fundraisers. Reservations are being accepted for estimated pick-up times, 11:30 a.m., noon, 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26. The cost of each of three dinners is $20. for fried chicken dinner, roast beef dinner, or, a combo dinner. Pick up will be at Gaslite Manor, 2485 Church Road in Aurora. A portion of the purchase price will go to the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and the Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry on behalf of AARTA and the Gaslite Manor. Donations would be appreciated. Sides will include mashed potatoes with gravy, mini-corn on the cob, bread, cookie. Check or money order can be paid to AARTA and sent to Dick Schindel, 784 Morningside Avenue, Aurora, IL 60505. Questions can be answered at 630-921-1307.
• West Aurora High School’s three Air Force ROTC instructors were selected for the Outstanding Instructor Award for the 2019-2020 school year. The national award went to Lt. Col. Pettyjohn, MSgt Hellinger, and SMSgt Pierzchala.
• Wednesday of this week the Aurora government was set to sponsor a conversation on Facebook with four county clerks which are part of Aurora. The noon topic, “A Conversation With the County Clerks about voting in Aurora’s focus: Mail-in voting, early voting, in-person voting, and making certain your vote counts. The county clerks who will become increasingly busy: John Cunningham, Kane County; Jean Kaczmarek, DuPage County, Debbie Gillette, Kendall County, Lauren Staley Ferry, Will County. The procedure should be available after the event on Facebook.
• The League of Women Voters Wednesday, Sept. 9 and Thursday, Sept. 10, are involved in candidates forums in Batavia, sponsored by the Batavia Chamber of Commerce. The forum will be captured by BATV and streamed live on YouTube channel BAV1017. Replays should be available. Kane Board contested candidates will be on Districts 10, 12, 14, 18. There will be Kane Recorder of Deeds, County State’s Attorney, Auditor, County Circuit Clerk, County Board Chair, and 16th Judicial District. The LWV will be busy until November 3 election in Kane, Kendall, DuPage, and Will Counties. We can be informed in the non-partisan debates and discussions. Stay tuned.
• Mark Gaffino, North Aurora resident and four-term alderman is running for North Aurora Village president. He has been involved in the Village for 25 years: Coach, Lions Club, government official.
Clear and Concise, Week 36:
• Choose the most important word to reflect an essence of life? Some might suggest love, or, empathy, or compassion, or, strength, or, learning. All are good qualities. The word could be understanding. If one understands, then an emphasis of the above qualities, and additional important qualities, would be realized and with goals to achieve.
• If one listens to campaign talk, understanding begins with knowing balanced and honest information about the speaker. That can be difficult for those who tune out listening to candidates because it can be time-consuming to pay attention. An enlightened voter is a part of our democracy. We owe it to ourselves.
• We understand that the situation is half-won when we start with the approach that, in general, our glass is half-full and not half-empty.