What is a Newsmaker?

I'm not sure I look forward to New Year celebrations.

Amid the revelry, resolutions and optimism for a coming year, we're bombarded by what happened in the previous year -- the end of 2009 was worse because we had to look at the entire decade, one which was called the "Decade From Hell."

In looking back at 2009 we not only took a look at those notables who died (Ted Kennedy, Michael Jackson, Mary Travers, Walter Cronkite to mention a few), but publications and media outlets take great pride in identifying people of the year and people who are labeled as newsmakers -- for better or worse.

The Daily Herald did such a list and noted scholarship winners, long-serving public officials, dog-saving employees, and fifth graders who were honored for the cinematic creativity.

The list also include Lisa Stone. Surprised? Don't be. Stone has made herself a newsmaker not because of her accomplishments, but through her sometimes eccentric behavior and ability to sidetrack village business with incessant "me first" conversation.

I think it's safe to say that it's not an honor to have a newspaper describe a newsmaker as someone who "chafes" well-established Board members. As I've written here before, there's no questioning Stone's passion and interest in public service, but it seems apparent that it's turning into a circus -- or early campaign for the next village election. It's likely that Stoney will turn the newsmaker tag into a campaign flyer when the time comes.

So she has called attention to herself. Bravo. She's called attention to the village in a somewhat less than positive light. Stone, along with some administrators at Stevenson High School did little in 2009 to enhance the image of Buffalo Grove.

But rather than wail on those newsmakers who made news by speaking rather than doing, here's my list for newsmakers who made a difference (well, most of them did) in 2009.

1. The student journalists at Stevenson High School. The staff of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 Statesman have endured censorship and prior review. The administration put these kids under a lot of scruitny and pressure by their actions and subsequent comments. The students, however, handled the situation with dignity and class -- the kind you expect to see associated with Stevenson High School.

2. Stevenson teacher Barb Thill -- who was the Statesman adviser until the end of last year. Why is she on the list? For all the same reasons in No. 1. Also, I've known Barb for a long time and admire and respect what she did with the Statesman. The fact that she is a Packer fan helps.

3. The Buffalo Grove Police Department. Why, what does the department do? Just read the police reports and you'll know why. It's a job I would not want and admire the professionalism and class with which the Department operates. BTW, I still don't think I was going 53 down Arlington Heights Road, but that's another story.

4. The Buffalo Grove Fire Department. Why? For all the reasons above. BTW, special tip of the helmet to the guys who stand at the intersections in September to collect money for MDA.

5. The Village Manager's office. Why? Just attend a Village Board Meeting and you'll know why.

6. The Public Works Department. Why? Most people don't even shovel their own driveway, let alone miles of village streets.

7. Elliott Hartstein. Why? Whether you agree with him or not, he's put a lot of time into public service in the village. I covered Hartstein when he was a Dist. 125 Board Member and he was responsible for my earning a lot of overtime.

8. Synagogue Presidents. I'll never know what motivates them.

9. Condo Assn. Presidents -- Been there, done that. Hat's off to them.

10. Buffalo Grove Days Committee -- Amazing what it does.

11. Lake County Board -- Not sure why, but I don't want David Stolman to feel left out. Besides, what other government body can fix Arlington Heights Road piece by piece.

12. The guys from Comcast who record the Village Board meetings. Talk about patience. Of course, given the overtime they probably get, they probably own homes on 2-acre sites in Kildeer.

And finally...

12. Pioneer Press "Mega Bites" Writer Ira Leavitt. Why? He single handily keeps cardiologists and Dr. Gautam Gupta in business.