Recalling more than the recall

Notes, tidbits, and other great thoughts from the Sept. 21 Village Board meeting - sans recall.

Kudos to three members of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department for patiently waiting until after midnight to present information about replacing a fire truck and fire engine. Chief Terrence M. Vavra told the board that the cost of replacing a fire tuck (which us mere mortals call a hook and ladder) is $1 million. Yes, million. Must be why the have the signs on the back urging you to stay back 500 feet.

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On a night when religion became part of a discussion, Village Board President Elliot Hartstein proclaimed Trick or Treat hours to be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31. He then said it was a holiday "we all celebrate." I'm not sure if he really celebrates it -- the visual of Hartstein going door to door begging for candy is not a pretty one. Maybe he thinks we all celebrate it because Village Board meetings have taken on a Pagan atmosphere lately.

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L'Shana Tova greetings. From Rob Sherman? Yep. That's what he said during the board meeting. Wonder if he's celebrating Halloween?

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Area food pantries are desperately short of food. A food drive in the village is upcoming. Hartstein and Village Clerk Jan Sirabian are urging residents to help out whenever they can. Both Wheeling and Vernon Township need help -- you can wait for the food drive or stop by either township's office to make a donation.

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$1 million?

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As comedian Larry Reeb would say, it's a sick world and I'm a happy guy. He'd probably be very happy if he saw the picture of the board on the village's web site. There tucked in between truestees Jeff Braiman and Jeff Berman is trustee Lisa Stone.

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The annual Boy Scout popcorn sale is coming up. Easy and tasty way to help the Scouts.

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Kudos to the Board for adopting an ordinance banning video gambling in the village. There is too much baggage associated with it that make an unattractive way to raise money. Off Track Betting, while not a panacea, is at least controlled and, in the case of Adam's Roadhouse, is at least housed in an attractive, well-maintained facility, much like the facility in Arlington Heights.

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And finally... on a night filled with irony I couldn't help by laugh a I walked to my car after the Sept. 21 board meeting. There walking away from the village hall, presumably toward its home -- was a skunk. Maybe it was wondering what the foul odor was. Hint -- it may not have been the skunk.