Maybe it's time to look ahead, not back...

So here it is – just a few days from the dreaded Packers-Bears showdown and I, a Packer backer, am going to open this blog with a quote from – gasp – a Bears coach.

               As it has been around the newsroom of the Tel Aviv Times – hold the back page.

               But it’s what former Bears coach Mike Ditka, the last Bears coach who made press conferences interesting, once said, the only people who live in the past are losers and cowards.

               This is why I subtly roll my eyes when newspapers, web sites, stained glass windows, TV news reports, and news magazines bombard us with “highlights of the past year”.

               We get the chance to set the way-back machine to recall the events that some peopled would prefer to forget.  Things like floods, gnats, hail, locusts, public hearings etc.  We’re also reminded of things, mostly bizarre, that some folks said or did.  Really?  Do we need to revisit people’s misfortunes and bonehead deeds?

               It’s also the time of year when we remember the famous people who died during the previous 12 months.  Maybe rather than regale in the faults and failures of people, companies etc, we should look at the lessons of those who died.

               Maybe there’s more to gain from Nelson Mandela than disgraced politicians.  Maybe instead of focusing on the acrimony surrounding projects like Weiland Road and the instant downtown there can be a focus on the positives that can come from compromise and rational thinking.  Well, OK, it’s not all seashells and balloons.

               But perhaps instead of reminding us of the heavy rains that hit the area, we recall the eight first responders who gave up their time to help folks in tornado-ravaged Washington, Illinois, or maybe the fire fighters who gave up their time to do their annual collection for MDA, or the Heart of Buffalo Grove winners.

               It seems to me that maybe the little things that happen throughout the year may actually be the big stories – the ones about everyday heroes. I can’t help but wonder why a death, catastrophe or arrest is what puts people in the spotlight.  It seems to fit the mantra often associated with broadcast journalism and social media – if it bleeds, it leads. 

               And if you’re looking for a New Year’s resolution, forget it.  The endless stream of pieces written about things people resolve to do little more than take up time and space.

               If you want a resolution, just look to Nike.

               Just do it. 

Grocery wars ahead?

What a difference a few months can make.

               Buffalo Grove grocery shoppers, which until recently had limited selection of grocery stores in the village, may soon have a wider variety thanks to the closing of the three Dominick’s stores in the village.

               With Mariano’s grabbing the Dominick’s at Half Day and Buffalo Grove roads there remains speculation and hope that the remaining two sites at Lake Cook and Arlington Heights roads and Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads, would attract new tenants.

               It looks as though the Dominick’s at Buffalo Grove and Dundee roads may become a Garden Fresh Market.  Village officials have confirmed that the Mundelein-based firm has applied for an “an application for Tenant & Use” for the site.

               It will be interesting to see how Jewel handles its new competition.  In addition to Mariano’s and Garden Fresh, the Sunset in Long Grove is a 9-iron shot from the village while the newly opened “The Fresh Market” in Lincolnshire is a par-five from the village.

               I am amazed that grocery stores flaunt “fresh” in their name. Maybe it’s me, but I’m not in the market for dated food. 

               As a friend of mine noted, it seems like more and more consumers are making multiple trips for groceries, almost like they go the butcher, the baker, and the candlestick maker.  If he’s right, then the Caputo’s at Rand and Hicks factors in because it strives to be a major player in the produce game – my guess it’s fresh as well.
             If Garden Fresh gets the green light and opens at Dundee and Buffalo Grove road, it could make things interesting for Jewel.  If Garden Fresh emulates its Northbrook store, it would bring a very active kosher operation to Buffalo Grove, something Jewel has been trying to do in recent years.  But not on the scale as Garden Fresh.  In addition to have a Chicago Rabbinical Council approved “Kosher Korner” and a dedicated kosher manager – not to mention an afternoon minyan (services).  Calls to Garden Fresh’s corporate office have not been returned.

              As for Mariano’s, they will likely sabre rattle with Sunset and The Fresh Market since the three tend to be a bit more “upscale”.  Despite what has been reported, the Mariano’s concept is not a Bob Mariano idea.  One Mariano’s official told me the store is modeled after Rochester, New York-based Wegman’s.  The chain, which has stores in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey. Massachusetts, Virginia and Maryland, features food courts with prepared foods and tables.  They thrive on community involvement and local ownership, similar to what Mariano’s aims to be.

               Other players?  Rumors have been flying about Kroger coming to the Chicago area.  It would not surprise me if Cleveland-based Heinen’s, which has a store in Barrington and one planned for Glenview, would make a bid for one of Chicago area Dominick’s.  Buffalo Grove would be a good fit since Heinen’s does well in suburban areas.   I have visited Heinen’s stores in Cleveland and Wegman’s in both Erie, Pennsylvania and Jamestown, New York, which should give you an idea as to the excitement that often reigns in my life.  Most visits include my mother-in-law, which concerns me because if either Wegman’s or Heinen’s opens nearby, she may be tempted to visit more often.   No further comment.

               In the meantime, the village’s grocery landscape is rapidly changing.  No more will it be two standard stores, but there will be a little variety and competition.

               And who knows, maybe even a minyan too.

              

               

Going the extra miles to help...

So what did you do last week?

               Chances are you rounded you the family for a long Thanksgiving weekend, maybe hung holiday decorations or did some holiday shopping.

               Sounds like a plan.

               Unless of course you were one of 14 members of the Buffalo Grove police or fire departments who gave up their time to help first responders in central Illinois whose lives were thrown into turmoil by the Nov. 17 tornadoes.

               More than just a fund-raising drive, eight took time off and went to Washington, Pekin and Coal City to help fellow cops and fire fighters with getting their lives back in order.

               Wait, is this another blog lauding the efforts of BG’s first responders for their charitable work?

               Damn right.  Deal with it.

               Most of the time their efforts go unheralded.   Fire Chief Terry Vavra will remind residents of the annual “Fill the Boot” drive for MDA.  Vavra and the fire department also were front and center in the war against Breast Cancer a few years ago by having pink fire trucks stop by BG Days.  The fire fighters also sold pink T-shirts and sweatshirts to raise funds to fight breast cancer.

               So it wasn’t a complete surprise when Vavra Police Chief Steven Casstevens told the Village Board Monday night about the efforts of the BG 14 who went with a truck supplied by high school district 214 to the storm ravaged, areas armed with supplies, clothing and $8,600 worth of gift cards.

               The eight who went? Dan Pasquarella, Frank Horbus, Roy Bethge, Hector De La Paz, Michael Rodriguez, Randy Smith, Ross Valstyn and Melessa Horbus. It was no picnic, two videos at this link, BG First Responders help tornado victims, document their efforts.

               They’re not household names as the Village Board or staff may be, but their efforts reflect well on the village.  These are the professionals who respond residents’ call for assistance.  Checking the police report every week, I can tell you their service is outstanding – not to mention their patience.

               The efforts to fund raise or help others are great examples of going above and beyond.  As Vavra told the Village Board Monday night, “They were Told stories by first responders that are Horrific ; the devastation is unbelievable;  I’m glad we can make difference  in their lives in a small way. It shows us this (Buffalo Grove) is a great place to live and work.”

               The accompanying pictures are worth more than a thousand words.  There are just four more needed.

               Great job; thank you.

Unloading supplies from trucks supplied by High School District 214

Buffalo Grove's  Melessa Horbus (far right) with officer Hector De La Paz and Officer Frank Horbus.

Second from left is Pekin police officer Nathan Ujinski.

They serve and protect.....

They serve and protect; the members of the Buffalo Grove Police Department.

Sometimes I wonder how they do with a straight face.

Really.  For example, these gems from the blotter:

Quieter brush needed?  A resident recently called police to complain about a neighbor who was making too much noise – closing a can of paint.  Apparently there is an ordinance about construction noise – but nothing governing paint cans.

Truth in advertising..A resident contact police expressing concern about someone holding sign which read “will work for food.” 

Ill-advised statement..A resident who was distraught because a man was holding a picture of President Obama dressed as Adolf Hitler at a busy intersection summoned police to complain.  The man holding the sign told police he had First Amendment rights to do so.  But at rush hour?

Mobile home in the truest sense…A resident called police to report a suspicious vehicle.  When police approached the vehicle, a van, the occupant allegedly told responding officers that he lived in the van so he does not have to pay rent and was looking for a level parking spot.  Make sense, don’t you just hate it when your home tilts?

Vicious dog? Police had a report of a run-away schnauzer.  Really.  Check your milk cartons – or maybe Alpo cans.

Vicious dog, part 2 -- Police responded to a complaint of an aggressive dog at the Happy Tails Dog Park.  The dog’s owner, from Wheeling, was asked to control her dog.  Guess Wheeling didn’t want her either.

Say cheese? Someone called police because a person was taking pictures of a parked truck.  Seriously.

Really? Buffalo Grove police were contacted because customers at a local business were upset by a patron’s odor.  Seriously.  He must have been at the dog park.

Some things just need common sense…

We’ll just be a moment.  It’s not unusual for police to get a call from a resident who has been a theft victim after letting a "vendor", who just happened to stop by, into their house. There’s a lesson here – if you haven’t asked someone to your house, don’t let them in.  If someone claims to be an inspector, have them wait outside while you verify their validity.  Odds are they won’t be there when you come back.

If it sounds too good… Seldom has a week gone by when police do not report complaints of suspicious phone calls.  Callers claim to be investigators, collection agencies, Publisher’s Clearing House and a litany of other strange operations.   

Sensible suggestion.  Police frequently respond to calls about thefts from motor vehicles.  More often than not, the owner reports that the vehicle was left unlocked.  There’s a hint here.  Leaving valuables in your car?  Leaving your car outside?  Lock it.

Is the test the pest?

Last week I was in Boston to attend a high school journalism conference.  Like, do I know a good time or what?

Boston -- great bars, great restaurants -- and 5,500 high school kids.

I've lost it.

As part of the conference is a "write off" -- a competition where students follow a prompt or hear a speaker and write or design in order to win an honor that their teacher can be proud of.  After all, that's what education has become -- perform well to please the administration so they can strut around citing numbers.  Forget what's good for the student, it's all about the education peacocks that like to put their feathers in full bloom and brag.

I know one teacher who is quick to remind you that she's been teaching for 35 years and, golly gee, we should kiss her ring.  Right.  And Richard Nixon was an attorney and look where that got him.

So the write offs have their specific purpose -- bragging rights.  Been there, done that.  Students and advisers have no idea what the topic is going to be or who the speaker will be.  Some times they're great and others, well, not so great.

As moderator for my specific group (news writing and editorial writing) I had the chance to see the information first. Cool.  I mean, how exciting is that?

At first glance, I probably rolled my eyes.  The speaker was from an organization called "Fair Test".  Great, I thought, someone associated with PETA making me feel guilty that my lunch was kept in a cage and tested for steroid use.  Yawn. Been there, heard that.

But I was wrong.

The speaker was is Lisa Guisbond of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, also known as FairTest.  Based in Boston, the organization vehemently opposed the excessive amount of testing students face today.

Whoa.  This has possibilities.  Big time as a matter of fact.

As a recently retired public school teacher, one thing that curls what little hair I have left is education has become one-size-fits-all and everyone must be groomed to take the almighty standardized test.  ACT, Advanced Placement -- you name it.  What ever can be done to quantify student success is worth it.

Until it comes to Fair & Open Testing.  Guisbond made it clear -- quite clear -- that the movement and acceleration toward more standardized testing is not doing students -- from K to 12 mind you -- a whole heck of a lot of good.

In fact, she said the reality is that I "concluded that one size fits all really means one size fits few."  Yep.  A few.  But that doesn't matter in education circles.  Guisbond asked the more than 200 students in attendance two questions:  What do you think school is for, or what do you think school should be about? What makes school worthwhile to you?

The answers were vague at best. That did not surprise Guisbond.  She told the students that "

It’s interesting to me that, after years of asking different groups of people that question, I’ve never had anyone say they think the purpose of school is to prepare students to take standardized exams in math and reading. So it’s pretty clear that there’s a disconnect between what most people think school should be about and what our schools are measuring with high-stakes standardized tests."

Quite simply, kids want to be in school to learn -- life skills, career skills, college preparedness skills -- not test taking skills.  But no, say the administrators, we know what's best.  Sure, we take a kid who has grown up in affluent white suburbs, but him or her next to a student who just moved her from abroad, and expect them to perform on the same level.

Acculturation, a department chair once told a group of teachers, is no excuse.  All students are expected to perform the same.  Basically, one size fits all -- like it or not.

The movement started during the first George Bush administration with the No Child Left Behind act.  The intent of NCLB was to get 100 percent compliance by 2014.  As if that's going to happen. NCLB mandated that math and reading tests be given to students  in grades 3-8 once a year and once in high school.  That's a lot of testing?

How much?  Guisbond said "I recently spoke to a principal in Boston who said that in her school, there will be required standardized testing going on for 90 out of 180 days of the school year. That’s half the year!"

So that's how we're educating kids -- spending half their time in school taking tests.  Cool, huh?

The testing load burdens not only students, but teachers as well.  That's because all their efforts, training and care for their students is being diminished to how well they do on standardized testing.

What about the arts and vocational courses?  Sorry, they're not testable.  What about electives to challenge our students' creativity?

Sorry, they're not testable.

But the ACT?  By gosh, if you do well, we'll put your name on a poster citing your accomplishment.  Afterall, it makes the administration looks good.

Over exaggerated, you say?

Guisbond cited another study by the folks in the twin cities that estimated that, "between kindergarten and 12^th grade, St. Paul students lose about a year to test preparation and testing."

One year.  365 Days.  8760 hours. 525,600 minutes.

A lot of time.  And now we're looking at the "common core".

As one friend of mine says -- the result will be a lot of common students.  A lot of time for a lot of test -- to please a lot of administrators.

Maybe they should spend that time thinking about what's good for the kids.

A novel idea.

Why Johnny still can't read...

I heard the news and I was not surprised.

               The academic ranking of the United States is slipping – which is putting it mildly.  The folks who spend their time measuring such things put the United States somewhere in middle of the pack.  The same pack that we, so they say, once led.

               Not anymore.  At the top of the heap are South Korea and Finland.  The U.S.?  According to the study, attributed to “education firm Pearson” ranks the United States 17th out of 20.  Several Asian educational systems, including those in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong, rank in the top 10.  Others that outrank the United States including New Zealand, Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada.

               While this news is seen as a “big story”, it is not.  Similar studies have found the same thing.

               And what has been done about it – and what can be done about it?

               Education has long been a pet project of the folks in the nation’s capital – No Child Left Behind and now the development of the “common core” proliferate educational initiatives.  Hillary Clinton wrote more than a few years ago that “It Takes a Village” – and it probably does.  But what has happened to that village?  More specifically, who are the village elders putting their trust in?

               Teachers?  School board members?  Administrators?  All of the aforementioned?

               How about U.S. News and World Reports.

               It could be a mixture of all of them, but it seems that more and more school district and building administrators are under the pressure, or putting themselves under pressure, to quantify everything they do in the classroom.  How many Ds and Fs are being issued, how many students are taking Advanced Placement Class, how many are take the AP test and how many are passing the AP test?

               Education has become locked into the quantitative and not the qualitative aspects of teaching.  If schools can boost their AP enrollment, bravo.  If the ACT score are higher, bravo.  But what about Johnny, why can’t he read?  Because too many administrators have become narcissistic and are worried more about their reputation and not the student’s future. They are so focused only on “teaching to the test”, that fundamental skills are fading away.  One teacher tells me that units focusing on literature are dropped in favor of more units on grammar.

               Don’t get me wrong, students need to understand grammar fundamentals.  However, students also need to be able to critically think by using strong reading and analytical skills.  Unfortunately, there’s no test for that. As mentioned, the focus has become black and white – it’s right or wrong.  For the student who wants to see things differently, he/she is just out of luck.  They’ll have to wait until college to think “outside the box”.

               Unless, of course, they take AP classes – the new measuring stick of success.  Sign up, take the class, pluck down $80-plus for a test, and you’re a hero.  A student may not be prepared for post high school life, but by gosh they’ll have the AP experience.

               As is the case with one student I know.  The student was failing three of five classes and had a D in the fourth.  But the student got to take AP art because he “liked art”. 

               Makes sense, right?  Life is all about doing only what we like.

               Reality, what a concept.  Let’s hope school administrators get a taste of reality.

               And it better be sooner rather than later.

Through it all, they serve and protect

It’s amazing what can miss when you can’t hit the local blog beat on a regular basis.

That does not, however, mean that the men and women of the Buffalo Grove Police Department have not been diligently serving and protecting the folks of Bisonville.

While are large urban neighbors deal with their issues, here are some of the recent critical cases coming across the police desk.

Less caffeine may help -- It seems as though one customer needs to order decaf.  He was escorted by police out of Panera and then five days later out of Starbucks.  He must like to battle baristas.

Not to make it a federal case – It seems as though a local resident was distraught with Craig’s List and called Buffalo Grove Police about his displeasure.  Not wishing to deal with customer service, the resident said he would call “the FBI and the local CIA.”  Local CIA?  Must be the result of the government shut down.  I wonder if the local CIA has a canine unit.

Probably not a good idea -- A resident informed police that a neighbor had a habit of putting food out for animals, a practice going back to 2011.  You would thing that given the infiltration of skunks, coyotes, possum and other creatures people would get the message.

Did he get fries with that?  -- A Burger King customer was whopping mad about his meal and demanded his money back, but not before a profanity-laced outburst which, police reports included a variety of “colorful metaphors”.

You’d think she would learn. -- A woman reported her iPad missing from her health club locker while she put her make up on.  Ah, the joy of the digital age.  Guess she’ll need to take two tablets and work out in the morning.

Excuse of the day – A motorist who was pulled over for suspected drunken driving told police what they smelled was not alcohol, but the often mistaken odor associated with refinishing furniture.  Oh, and just to play it safe, he was also drinking mouth wash so he could brighten his teeth.  Next case your honor.

A pressing situation – A resident called police because she was unhappy with her dry cleaning, specifically pressing on the skirt.  Really.  And what was the officer supposed to do – iron it for her?  Can you see a remake of “Dragnet” – the opening would be “My name’s Friday; I carry an iron.”

Are you surprised? -- A woman contacted police because she was getting inappropriate text messages after meeting someone on an online dating site. 

This is just wrong – A woman contact Buffalo Grove Police because of damage to headstones at a local cemetery by her ex-husband. 

Not puppy love – A woman contacted police because she was afraid of her neighbor’s dog.  A four-month old puppy.

A taxing situation – A resident contact police because his tax return, being prepared by H & R Block, was not ready on time.  Perhaps the fact that they waited to the last minute to have tax returns filed probably had nothing to do with this problem.  By the way, what were the police going to do?

A way with words -- Police report that a “rather arrogant male” was not happy with a complaint that police were investigating and asked them “.if they had something better to do.”

Keep the left arm straight – Police were called when an errant golf shot broke a window.  Seems as though the golfer let his son hit the ball.  This means he did not have his own clubs and probably did not pay a daily fee.  More revenue lost.

He fought the lawn, and the lawn won -- Police issued a citation to a resident whose grass – as in lawn – was more than 12 inches high.  Yes, there is an ordinance on the books about lawn length.

You knew this would happen -- Police received a complaint that two trash receptacles were missing.  Both were 32 gallon contains.  See, there is an advantage to the 92-gallon containers.  They are too hard to steal.

And at the bottom of that pile was... – A company complained that someone was dumping garbage into their dumpster.  Undaunted, Buffalo Grove Police located the perpetrator when they found several shipping labels with his name on them.  No word if he had to pay $50 and pick up the garbage.

Open wide -- In addition to receiving complaints about dry cleaning and tax returns, the Buffalo Grove Police are apparently dental experts.  A woman called to complain about the poor quality of the work done by a local dentist.  She said the work was sub standard.  And the police are to do what about this?

Along with long lawns – As one resident found out, the village has an ordinance prohibiting the flying of radio-controlled airplanes without a permit.  My guess is this is not a serious problem in the village.

And finally – Police received a call about a suspicious vehicle.  Upon investigation they found a young couple in the SUV with the back seats lowered.  They were just talking, police report.  Right.  Talking about what – where they were going to watch submarine races?

Still time to help Fill the Boot

Members and friends of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department helped the fight against MDA by walking the streets last Friday (Lake Cook and Arlington Heights roads) as part of its annual Fill the Boot campaign.

They will be on the road tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 30) at Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads.  If you are attending Buffalo Grove Days -- look for them there as well.

Be quick -- to help Fill the Boot

How quickly time flies by.

How quickly we get wrapped up in issues that we think impact only us.

How quickly we forget how fortunate we are if our kids are healthy and don’t suffer from any major medical issues.  Like Muscular Dystrophy.

Fortunately some folks take time to roll up their sleeves – or in this case take off their boots – to help.

The Buffalo Grove Fire Department will once again walk the streets on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30 as part of its annual Fill the Boot for MDA campaign.

According to Fire Chief Terrence M. Vavra, this year’s goal is $26,000.  It’s a two-day drive with fire fighters collecting at the intersection of Lake Cook and Arlington Heights roads on Friday, Aug. 23 and at Dundee and Buffalo Grove roads on Aug. 30.

MDA Fill the Boot Days are Aug. 23 and 30

It’s likely that there are some skeptics or cynics who are saying “yeah, great…my tax dollars are being spent so some fire fighter can get paid to play fund raiser.”

Not quite.

The fire fighters volunteer their time.  They do not volunteer during their scheduled shifts, but come in on their day off.  Cool.  How many residents would do – or even do – the same?  The MDA drive is just one of several charitable efforts done by the fire department.  In the past it has organized the presence of the pink fire trucks as part of a cancer awareness campaign.  It has also sold pink sweatshirts and T-shirt as part of the program.

But the MDA drive has the most visibility because when you see fire fighters, family members and other folks standing in a major intersection, flanked by a fire truck, you take notice.

I’ve been following this program for several years because I think we tend to overlook the work done by the police and fire departments.  They’re not perfect; nothing is – but at least they are giving back to the community.

I joined them last year, working both intersections (that doesn’t sound right…but you get the idea) and it is amazing to see the reactions of people when they’re approached with a boot.  Some try and hide, other grab the cell phone, but fortunately many roll down the window and donate.

Think about it.  The goal is $26,000 – which if you break it down comes out to .62 cents for each resident.

Sixty two cents.

That’s probably less than what some people tip their barista.

Maybe skipping the tip and filling the boot is a better idea.