Friday, May 17, 2013
Why doesn’t Metra have wireless internet on its trains yet? Mostly because it would be enormously expensive and a technological challenge, too. But should they?
Should Metra get Wi-Fi? Even if it’s expensive and hard to implement and maintain? The commuter-rail network is considering the possibility, the Chicago Tribune and other news agencies report, but price and technology continue to be two major barriers, despite that a DePaul University report shows 48 percent of Metra riders use personal electronic devices during their commutes. According to the paper, it could cost over $70 million to install wireless internet on all 11 Metra lines over five years—though some of that could perhaps be recouped by paid plans or sponsorships—and there’s a fear that the technology might quickly become obsolete or go unused by customers who prefer other connectivity, like smart-phone hotspots or air-cards. "(…
Thursday, May 16, 2013
It's been a long week. You need a pick-me-up.
Friday's here. Thank goodness. One more day of work, and that's it. Here's a little inspiration to get you through to Saturday. For more than a month now, Patch and Grape-Nuts have teamed up to present stories about your neighbors, neighbors who have faced challenges that would seem insurmountable to many of us. But not to the people we've featured in this series, Journeys. Not surprisingly, the stories have generated dozens of comments on Patch and on Facebook: "Great story..." "Thanks for sharing..." "So wonderfully inspiring..." And, so, here they are again. Great stories shared to inspire. Take a look at what these people have faced. Then click on the story to see their responses. And feel better about your tough week. Pit Bull …
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Jolie announced Tuesday she underwent a double mastectomy to prevent her chances of breast cancer. Her likelihood of developing the cancer was at 87 percent. Tell us what you think about Jolie's decision and announcement in the comments section.
Actress and director Angelina Jolie announced today in a New York Times op-ed piece that she recently underwent a double mastectomy to cut her chances of developing breast cancer. Jolie wrote she decided to take a blood test since she was at a higher risk of breast cancer — her mother fought the disease for almost a decade before dying at age 56 — and because she wanted to make sure she would be there for her children, according to her New York Times column. Jolie said she carries a "faulty" gene, BRCA1, which raised her risk of developing breast cancer to 87 percent, according to the Associated Press. After having the double mastectomy, her chances of developing breast cancer dropped to five percent, according to the Associated Press. …
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Today is the one day in all the year where Moms should truly be recognized for all the great things they are, and do.
When I became a Mom, my world, and life, as I knew it simply halted-as I’m sure was the experience for many Moms out there as well. I remember that moment so clearly I looked into my son’s eyes for the first time in the hospital. I whispered to him, and myself, that I was forever to be his protector, his confidant, his tour guide in this crazy thing called life. His Mom. Since becoming a Mom, I have developed a deep appreciation for Moms-everywhere. It really is such a balancing act. Whether you work, or you stay home, or you do a little of both-the demands aren’t any less whichever arrangement you have. A Mom’s time fills up-quickly-with what needs to be done. She is the one who wears any and all hats that need to be worn. Because that is…
Friday, May 3, 2013
Do you think it should be mandatory for Jewel-Osco employees to follow you — and your cart — out to your vehicle? Let us know in the comments section.
Palatine residents voiced strong opinions this week on a new policy at Jewel-Osco, which requires its employees to follow customers — and their carts — out to their vehicles. The service is mandatory, according to couponsinthenews.com, and whether you want the help or not, your bagger is expected to follow you out to your vehicle. The service has nothing to do with keeping track of carts, according to Coupons in the News. "We understand that this is a very different service and it might take our customers some time to understand that we want this to be the norm," said a Jewel customer service representative in the article. Local Patch readers sounded off on the new policy on the Palatine Patch Facebook page. Here is what they had to say…
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Since December, District 15 parent Lisa Szczupaj has led the charge, in addition to creating a Change.org petition to urge the board of education to choose 'early release' to make time for teacher development.
Editor's note: Letters to the Editor are presented as they are originally submitted by our readers. Palatine Patch neither agrees nor disagrees with the opinions presented. Last weekend, I was speaking with a D15 teacher. She indicated to me that she had been told that her CTC intended to threaten legal action in order to ensure that they got their way in regard to the Late Start / Early Release topic. She further indicated to me that the CTC was confident the threat of litigation would back the Board of Education and Superintendent's Office into a position where they would chose to simply give the union officials their way rather than fight back for what is right for our community of elementary and middle school children and their …
Saturday, April 13, 2013
State legislature may consider whether to move to a graduated income tax rate, meaning those who earn more would pay more.
Did the tax man take a big bite out of your wallet this month? With tax season almost behind us, let's take a look at an issue before the state legislature — should Illinois switch from a flat income tax rate to a graduated rate? The last year Illinoisans escaped paying income tax to the state was 1969. Just seven states still collect no income tax. Thirty-four states use the graduated income tax system, while eight others join Illinois in imposing one rate on all. Our friends at Reboot Illinois put together a graphic look at various aspects of the flat tax vs. graduated tax debate, excerpted here on Patch. Check out the full graphic at RebootIllinois.com. Want to know more? This article is posted throughout the Chicago-area Patch network…
Friday, April 12, 2013
Looking for a new place to dine this weekend? Check out what Palatine restaurants received the best reviews on Yelp.com.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Check out the top 5 rated spas and hair and nail salons in Palatine based on Yelp! reviews.
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Wednesday, April 10
Websites like Yelp! have empowered residents to become critics of local businesses, praising and damning behind the anonymity of a computer screen. Have you ever wondered if a spa or salon in Palatine is any good? Are you searching for a new place to go to get your hair or nails done? Yelp.com can be a good indicator of whether that spa or salon is worth your time and money. Based on Yelp!'s highest-rated star ranking, here are the top 5 spas and salons in Palatine: Do you agree or disagree with the Yelp! top 10 list? Comment below and let us know which business you think is the best in Palatine.
Monday, April 8, 2013
Palatine resident Steve Bramer discusses the safety records, and compares them between District 15 and Durham School Services.
Recent articles in the Daily Herald and the Patch have presented information about District 15 transportation safety. The articles include numbers, but little detail. Interestingly, the two articles report from the same source but actually show different numbers. Even worse, neither article provides significant information on safety for Durham School Services. This is important because District 15 is considering outsourcing transportation, and Durham’s is the only bid still under consideration. The following compares D15 vs Durham transportation safety records. The Durham information is publicly available, and the D15 numbers are from an FOIA request. All information covers the same time frame as reported in the papers (1 Jan 2013 through…
Tom Lunde
2:41 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013
Wouldn't bar cars be cheaper? more ›