Was on way back from Red Hen (mug of regular, a twist, looking out the window at the bus stop and Scoville Park) to St. Edmund’s, my usual port of call in matters of worship, when passing the Green Line station I had an Episcopal vision.

It was the ashes-to-go priest in long stole, hands free, and two burly fellows standing with back against the stone wall on the left as you enter, ready with ashes. ?Ashes to go,? she said with a smile, and the two ashes-holders echoed that. I had to stop. Fellow Christians were honoring the day.

A moment of greeting with smile, then my inspired retort, pointing: ?Remember, thou art dust.? And they got it, Mother Whoever especially, smiling agreement, recognizing the ages-old recommendation to the ashes-receiver, ?Remember Man, thou art dust and unto dust thou shalt return.?

Aswith Thomas Gray’s ?The paths of glory lead…

Richard Boykin,the former chief of staff toU.S. Rep. Danny Davis D-Ill., has a 20-point lead in the race for the Cook County Board’s 1st District seat, according to a poll his campaign released first to the Sun-Times’ Early&Often.

The numbers, posted below, show an incredible surge by Boykin since January and a steep drop by former Chicago Ald.Ike Carothers.

The poll also shows that despiteBlake Sercye’shigh-profile endorsements? including from Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Illinois Secretary Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle ? he is in fourth place, behind Carothers and activist Brenda Smith. Ron Lawless is also running in the crowded March 18th primary.

In a survey of 400 likely general election voters taken by GBA StrategiesFeb. 25-27 ? after the Emanuel, Preckwinkle endorsement — the poll shows Boykin with 34 percent, Carothers with 15, Smith with 13 and Sercye with 10…

From Ill. GOP Chairman Chairman Jack Dorgan:

For a sitting governor, it doesn’t get much worse than the week Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn just had.

• On Tuesday, a state audit slammed Gov. Quinn for his $54.5 million program, launched just one month before the 2010 election. The brutal audit led to calls for a criminal investigation into what Republicans called a political “slush fund.”

Chicago Sun-Times
Chicago Tribune
Quincy Journal

• On Wednesday, Quinn’s head of the Illinois Department of Chidren and Family Services abruptly resigned after multiple scandals came to light in the past month, including a theft conviction and past paternity case.Associated Press
  Chicago Tribune
  Chicago Sun-Times
• Then on Thursday, Quinn’s campaign got caught accepting $5,000 from an IDNR official and Democratic county party head. Shamed by the ILGOP, Quinn announced he would donate the tainted cash to charity (more about this below). And initial reports are that Quinn has…

Being an avid supporter of toxicology centers, I can hardly object to Sen. Don Harmon’s latest in a flurry of legislative initiatives geared also, if tangentially, to keep him in the public eye in this election season.

A state senator’s effort to keep the Illinois Poison Center open has cleared a key hurdle.
Oak Park Democrat Don Harmon’s legislation passed from a state government committee Wednesday and now heads to the full chamber for consideration.
Harmon’s office says the Chicago-based toxicology call center handles about 82,000 cases each year.
The center has [suffered] a number of recent budget cuts. Harmon says it could close for good at the end of June without more funding.
Lawmakers face a tight budget year due in part to the expiration of the state’s income tax increase next January. [italics added]

Harmon’s plan would direct a small portion of the fee charged by cellphone companies…

From our dear village authorities :

Sidewalk shoveling required

Village ordinance requires property owners to remove snow and ice from the public sidewalk within 24 hours following any snow, sleet or freezing rain. Being a good neighbor is important, too, so property owners are urged to help those who may need help clearing a sidewalk. For more information on the shoveling requirement or help resources, call 708.358.5700 or email publicworks.

Being an inveterate walker, I have a dog in this fight. Do it!

Was most impressed the other night, Feb. 25 ? at the county board candidates forum ? oddly enough by Ike Carothers, who got caught, took a plea, and at the forum defended himself plausibly (news accounts not reliable, ?I paid the price?) and lessrelevantly (?I have been contrite . . . I believe in a God that believes in forgiveness?). If elected, he will demonstrate Democratic Party honesty about itself.

Was least impressed by Blake Sercye ? Fenwick Fresh Face, Rahmfather’s pick, a glib fellow whose unbridled confidence oozes from every pore.

Only 27 years old? No problem: He withstood Rahm to his face, he implied. About what? Where? When? Publicly? Was it reported? Who else knows about it? He’s ?young, not new,? has been involved in ? what? politics? the community? ? his ?entire life.? He brings ?new energy to the table.?

He’s master of the talking…

Oak Park’s new econ development creature to be headed for now by John Hedges :

Wes Venteicher of Chi Trib:

“My expectation for the next months is I don’t want to miss a heartbeat,” Abu-Taleb said. . . .

Phil Rockrohr of Oak L:

Hedges was the unanimous selection of the EDC’s executive committee, [its] release said. He will assume the position on Feb. 24, but only serve until the agency appoints a permanent executive director in a few months, it said.

Hedges was one of nearly 12 candidates reviewed by the board and the executive committee, the release said.

Like Holiday Inn, no surprises here. Businesslike boiler-plate report as befits business-development people.

Phil Rockrohr of Oak L at Sat. 2/22 Anan forum: Nice video coverage here.

Oak Park Newspapers (me) at same session:

Anan, asked by woman who hesitated to put it but finally asked why Hedges, whom…