Letters to the editor
'Enchanting' performance at North Central We are the luckiest people to live in one of the best cities in Illinois, if not in the entire country. Our shopping and restaurants are superb. What can be...
View ArticleMcGrath: Neeson's story of overcoming racial hatred should instigate...
Actor Liam Neeson should be thanked, not reviled, for his candidness in revealing a vengeful and racist episode in his past life. The 66-year-old actor and Oscar nominee, during an interview with The...
View ArticleDecent: Who doesn't love a Thin Mint or Samoa? But there's so much more to...
When I looked at American culture from across the pond before moving here, I’ll admit I had a few misconceptions. Using mostly movies and TV as resources, I thought that all phone numbers began with...
View ArticleMcGrath: No surprise there are so many teacher strikes — most still making...
Full disclosure: Our home is an education “stronghold.” My wife, my two daughters and I are all teachers. When we recently had some company, one of the guests provocatively asked if teachers who end...
View ArticleNaperville Letters to the Editor
Doctors make less than government officials In the Feb. 20 edition of the Naperville Sun, I noted the article about Ray McGury's compensation as the executive director of the Naperville Park District....
View ArticleDecent: Helping someone make peace with death — and working with families...
Katherine Coutrakon finds inspiration in the darkest of places. You might even say death becomes her. As a licensed clinical social worker with almost 40 years’ experience, she helps the terminally...
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Metra needs to be held accountable It has become clear after the events of Feb. 28's nightmare commute that Metra is in trouble. How is it even remotely acceptable to strand close to 60,000 commuters...
View ArticleDecent: 'Hamilton' lovers, don't hate me, but I wasn't that impressed by the...
As a proud musical theater nerd, I don’t know why it took me so long to see “Hamilton.” Actually, I do know one reason. It’s because as regular theater-goers, Grumpy and I were appalled by the price...
View ArticleManker: When everyone's an 'icon' these days, what word do we use for someone...
In this age of media fragmentation and information saturation, the word “iconic” stands at grave risk of losing any true, shared meaning. Who and what clears the bar as meeting that “iconic” standard...
View ArticleColumn: Yes, my name's McGrath, but I don't celebrate St. Patrick's Day...
I was 13 when my mother sent me across the street to see if my grandparents needed something from the store. Rose and Joe, originally from Poland, lived and worked in Chicago most of their lives. They...
View ArticleWife forgave city council candidate for horrific assault in 1995. But will...
It’s a tough one … trying to reconcile the familiar face of a community leader to his arrest record for a horrific act of domestic violence committed more than 20 years ago. Making it even tougher,...
View ArticleDecent: Gift of the gab helps this Naperville-based Irishman connect with his...
What’s the first thing you think of when you think of the Irish? Shamrocks? Leprechauns? Little girls dancing in curly wigs? The Irish certainly have a rich culture with plenty of traditions. We’re...
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Column on judging celebrities raises questions Jerry Davich wrote a recent column in the Naperville Sun relating to celebrities doing poorly in the court of public opinion. I agree regarding the...
View ArticleLetters to the editor
Vote on invocation issue and end the silliness A front-page headline in the Naperville Sun on Dec. 14, 2018, highlights one of the first issues raised by three newly elected DuPage County Board...
View ArticleMcGrath: Nothing like a dose of Mother Nature in the stunning vistas of...
After landing in Phoenix, my wife, Marianne, and I drove a rental car 119 miles north to spend three days in Sedona. We took Interstate 17 most of the way, an excellent highway through desert and...
View ArticleDecent: Alive Center helps teens find their passion
“Teens have so much potential, yet rarely do they get to use it,” says Jatin Mathur, a Naperville North High School senior. “Unlike other institutions and organizations, the Alive Center enables teens...
View ArticleNaperville mother with nerve disorder enlists healthcare advocate, state...
When I met earlier this year with Tamar Friedman, her discomfort was obvious, not just in her face but in the constant motion of her hands as she gently rubbed fingers together in an effort to ease...
View ArticleDecent: Special Olympics basketball all in the family
The scene was like something out of a movie. In the final moments of the basketball game, one player had a chance to throw the winning hoop. The pressure was on. A win would mean the team would make...
View ArticleMcGrath: Mueller report could have sent Trump directly to prison, and his...
After almost two years of Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Trump’s campaign actions, Russian collusion and possible obstruction of justice, I am now philosophical about...
View ArticleLetter to the Editor
Leave alcohol out of 'innocent' ice cream treats Do you want your kids to go into an ice cream shop that serves liquor-infused ice cream in downtown Naperville? I agree with the Naperville Liquor...
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