A short time to remember a long time...

Strange how time flies when you’re having fun -- or traveling with high school journalists to national conferences.

But, as Linda Ellerbee used to say – and so it goes.

As the village will learn its financial plans for 2013, something that can’t be overlooked were some of the highlights of the snappy 65-minute Nov. 12 Board meeting

Every so often it happens.

Cynics will say when meetings run short, there’s a problem.  The BG Board is not the only entity that has short meetings.  Many school boards and even other village boards and city councils rely on their staffs to run things smoothly and do not require a lot of Board or Council input.

It happens.

Police Chief Steve Balinski honors the retiring
Timothy McGinn at the Nov. 12 Board Meeting.

Perhaps the highlight of the meeting were tributes to outgoing village employees – most noticeably a couple of retirees – police officer Timothy McGinn and Carmen Molinaro, who served as director of golf operations for the village since 1987, but served the village since 1973 – yes, 1973.

Village Board President Jeff Braiman and retiring
director of Golf Operations Carmen Molinaro

Retirement resolutions are not unusual – but 39 years of service is.  And let’s not overlook McGinn’s 26 years of service – so between he and Molinaro – we’re talking 65 years of service.

Not too shabby.

So while, as I’ve written before – every so often there can be a highlights at a Village Board meeting without accusations, conflict and heated debate.

And it’s always a nice change of pace.

Getting to the "root" of the issue...

Take a look at the word “suburban”.

Now deconstruct it.

As an ad campaign for a local newspaper chain years ago proclaimed – “The root of suburban is urban”.

As journalist Linda Ellerbee would say, “And so it goes.”

And it has.  Look around the village, watch the Village Board meetings and you can easily see how “the urban” has consumed not only Buffalo Grove, but the northwest suburbs.  Once was a time when a trip to Chicago was a big event, not it’s a rarity.  Crime was in a city thing -- and street gangs – they was a problem for the cities to deal with “those people.”

The two-lane roads are now four-lane highways ringed by interstates with plans to extend them even further.

What people once considered a bedroom community is now just part of the urban sprawl that brings with it new challenges and changes, which are a both welcomed and despised.

Take for example, the proposed of the 65-acre instant downtown.  The high-priced planners’ rendering make it seem as though the wizard has brought us oz.  He hasn’t.  And he’s not the first one to try.

At issue, as noted before, is the character of the village – we’re not talking visitors to a Village Board meeting – we’re talking character, as in atmosphere.  It’s not the first time a major plan has rocked the village.

In the 1980s, Buffalo Grove was pretty dormant north of Lake-Cook.  It truly was a bedroom community.  But the folks who owned the Charles Fiore Nursery decided it was time to unload 867 acres.  According to a report in the Chicago Tribune in April of 1986,   Alfred Fiore said``A farm is a thing of the past in this area” This was, noted the Tribune, in 1979 when he was running the nursery with brother Charles and brother-in-law Frank Zenzola.

Aside from the Didier Farm, Buffalo Grove is pretty devoid of farm land – in fact open space.  Aside from the two golf courses, and its park system the village has lost a lot of its green space.  There’s nothing wrong with our parks, but the once valued “bedroom community” is a thing of the past.

The annexation of Fiore changed the fabric of the village.  The development of the Woodland of Fiore added a new dimension to the village.  It impacted the infrastructure, schools and business in the village.

The arguments against Fiore were similar to the preliminary to the ones we’ve heard about the instant downtown.  Schools, traffic, hail, locust, etc.

But here’s a difference.  The development of Fiore was growth and carefully planned.  Granted it was not perfect and the folks in Long Grove and Lincolnshire wanted to stop it. But it was not a Robin Hood coming in to promise the village the downtown of our dreams.  No doubt, the financial implications are staggering and I’m sure there is a plan for a return on the village’s investment.  My guess is the Cubs will win the World Series before the instant downtown become a financial success.

No matter how you feel about the plans for Buffalo Grove’s Central Business District (BG CBD), the reality is this – it’s not the first time the village has had to deal with a master-plan altering decision.  However, unlike the Fiore annexation, the impact of residents is far greater.

Is there opportunity for compromise?  Absolutely. 

And while, as noted at the start, the root of suburban is urban, the root of disagreement is agreement.  It may be a contentious route, but at least there is a route.

And both sides need to take it.

Gaggin' in the Grove can also be found at http://stanzoller.wordpress.com.   Zoller also blogs at http://www.chicagonow.com/suburban-scene

Another month of serving and protecting...

And so it goes...another month of generally unusual items off the chronicles of the Buffalo Grove police log.  As Sgt. Phil would say.. "let's be careful out there..."

Talk about copter parents...
Resident stated that her son’s ex girlfriend returned a jacket to him. The ex girlfriend also stated that it was her mother who wrote disparaging remarks on the jacket. Officer contacted the mother of the ex who denied causing the damage stating that she was out of town. 

At least she didn't have to pay $50 and pick up the garbage...
Resident reported a female subject that placed garbage into the park’s dumpster. Officer checked and could not locate the female. The resident gave the officer the address of the offender. The offender confirmed that she has been placing her garbage into the dumpsters for some time. She will stop. 

Gone HOG wild...Part 1
Agent for a recovery service registered to repossess a 2005 Harley-Davidson FLH motorcycle. The repossession was reported unsuccessful and with incident. See the following report. 

Gone HOG wild..Part 2
Resident stated that two subjects came to his home to repossess a motorcycle. When the resident told the subjects that he does not own a motorcycle and that the name on the order is not him, they wanted to see the resident’s ID and look into the garage for a motorcycle. The resident refused to give two unknown subjects his ID and access to his garage. The officer verified the resident’s ID and found no motorcycle in the garage. The agent agreed to remove the resident’s address from the file.

What the police report noted -- Excellent job by the resident for calling 911 immediately. No resident is required to show their ID or allow someone unknown into their garage. That is one reason we ask that agents for recovery companies register with us before they make their attempt. This way, if an incident occurs, we can address it immediately. 

So much for employee of the month...
Employer requested officers stand by while the employer terminated an employee and have him escorted off the premises. 

Walk on the wild side...
Resident reported two subjects walking on the shoulder of the road with the male subject trying to catch up to the female. Officer located the subjects who were calm and talking. They stated that they were just out for a walk. 

We serve and inspect?
Resident reported that she believes that someone hacked into her computer and deposited a virus. Officer ran the Norton virus program on the resident’s computer and it indicated no viruses. Officer spoke with the resident’s son who stated that he would check his mother’s computer and report anything that he may find. 

Maybe they should have called PETA..
Resident reported that someone may be breaking into her house. The resident stated that she heard noises from downstairs possibly the garage. Officers checked and found the exterior doors and windows secure. The resident had placed her sick dog into the garage and that is who may have been making the noises. All secure.

So much for employee of the month -- Part 2..
Owner reported that a terminated employee calls once each day and uses profanities whenever another employee answers the phone. The owner did not have a current address or phone number for the terminated employee. The owner was instructed to contact his phone provider to have the number trapped or blocked.

Love is a many expensive thing..
Resident reported that his ex fiancé failed to return her engagement ring to him after they broke up this evening. The resident was advised that this would be a civil matter.

iPhone update...
The joys of being an iPhone fanatic -- Four reported stolen, two to middle school students, one to a high schooler, one to a shopper who set it down on a checkout. 

In other news off the blotter....

Congratulations to..
Corporal Anthony “Tony” Goldstein who was promoted to the rank of Sergeant of Police.

Perhaps the best news off the blotter...
Please join the Buffalo Grove Park District as they proudly honor past and present military heroes. The event takes place:

• Sunday, Nov. 11
• Buffalo Grove High School - 1100 West Dundee Rd.
• Refreshments 2 - 2:45 p.m. 
• Program 3 p.m. 

Please park in the lot west of the football field and enter the high school through the theatre entrance. All ages are invited and encouraged to attend.