Mow 'em down?

Ever go to the village's web site?

It proclaims that "Everyone here is family...everyone here is welcome!"

Admit it, there may have been times when you wanted to put yourself up for adoption or wanted to run away from the family.

Yep, stuff happens.

I'm not sure how I came across this link on the web site, but it's one of those tidbits of information that there can be some community in community service.

If you look under the “residents” tab, there’s a link to the “Shovel and Lawn Care Referral” program.

The what?

According to the village:

“..this program is for residents who need assistance with shoveling and/or lawn care and those individuals in the community who are willing to offer an extra hand. Volunteers for this program can sign up by filling out the form designated for them below. The information on the form will be used to notify residents of the availability of volunteers and their contact information. Residents who are interested in this program must fill out a form as well and return it to the Office of the Village Manager. The information residents provide will be used as a contact reference to interested volunteers looking for work…”

I’m thinking – how cool is that?  My guess is it’s for persons with disabilities or the elderly – not for someone whose kid doesn’t want to tear himself away from the plasma TV.

The village is not only for people who need assistance, but volunteers – have a bored student at home this summer?  This could be a perfect opportunity for him or her to do some community service as well as get some exercise.

I’m also thinking, a dangerous thing I know, that maybe the Village Board could get involved.  Who knows, given some of the Board meetings I’ve attended they’d be great at dealing with crab grass.

There is one problem, however.  In the event we hit a dry spell, don’t pray for rain.  You’d only rile up Rob Sherman.

For details on this program, call 847-459-2525.

A bounce on the wild side?

At first glance, I thought it would be routine.  

I mean, really, how much discussion could there be about a place with a lot of trampolines?

Answer?  A lot.

Remember, folks, this is Buffalo Grove where nothing is left unturned.  I recall covering a village board meeting a number of years ago when the Board drilled representatives from Baker’s Square about their sign.  In the long run, they got their sign – it just didn’t help their food at all.

So imagine the concern the Village Board had when it was revealed that an operation specializing in trampolines wants to open in the village.  We’re not talking a trampoline or two; we’re talking about a facility with more than 121,000 square feet of space.  That’s a lot of bounce.  In fact, according to Xtreme trampoline’s web site, it offers “Xtreme Trampolines is large warehouse filled with commercial grade trampolines.   There are 5 separate trampoline courts, including a dodgeball court and a giant foam pit.  Customers pay by the hour to have a ton of fun!” 

I’m not sure the board is worried about Dodgeball (yes, it’s upper case and a trademark) or the highly popular “giant foam pit”, the Board’s main concern appears to be the way Xtreme Trampoline administers its specialty – jumping and flipping by generally untrained participants.  To no surprise, the village, as it generally does, had the public service agencies check on police and fire activity at Xtreme Trampolines’ current Carol Stream location.

Rest assured, it does not seem to be attracting undesirables as there does not seem to be much, if any, police activity.  The Fire Department found, however, that Xtreme Trampolines averages 3.4 ambulance calls a month, of which 75 percent (2.5) require advanced life support.  Fire Department representatives expressed concern about excessive time being used responding to emergency medical calls at Xtreme Trampolines.  Each call, it as noted, takes an average of two hours.  The Fire Department’s report also noted that the 3.4 ambulance calls in Carol Stream are by that village’s fire department.  There are additional medical calls handled by private ambulance companies based on the need by Xtreme Trampoline staff.

The ever-popular foam pit

At issue here is the nature of the injuries, which can range from sprained ankles to head injuries.  Granted, Xtreme Trampolines requires participants to sign a waiver (legal papers that absolve the business from anything when someone acts like a duck head), but that does not reduce the possibility of someone untrained in trampoline use trying some that they should not be trying.

Unreasonable?  A colleague of mine, who happens to be a gymnastics coach, says the danger of people injuring themselves on trampolines is very real – especially when they try to do flips.

So once again, the village is faced with scrutinizing a business that wants to enter the village.  To no surprise, there were a lot of questions at the June 6 Board meeting.  That is the nature of the village of Buffalo Grove, which has for years, not let any business in for the sake of generating tax dollars.

Which, if you think about it, may be a good thing because imagine what would happen if the Board approved Xtreme Trampolines and its owners put in a hockey rink?

Bounced checks