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.

It's time for a change...

It was, for all intensive purposes, a big news week last week.

Item 1:  Buffalo Grove was ranked one of the top 50 places to live in the United States.  Reb Mordechai, drinks for everyone.

Item 2:  The Smithsonian announces that a new mammal, the Olinguito, which CNN reported is “..A small mammal with fluffy red-orange fur, a short bushy tail, and an adorable rounded face…”  Now, this is big news.

It’s also a no brainer.

According to Money magazine, the village had all the right tools (schools, finances, government, bloggers…well three of the four) making it attractive.  However, it reported that it did not have a traditional downtown district.

The village does, however, have a traditional name.  Too traditional.

If the village’s fathers and mother want to make a statement, change could be in the air.

It’s time to say good bye to the buffalo.

If Money magazine wants the village to break with tradition, it needs to do so beyond its rather

An olinguito offers a calmer image of the village

traditional name. 

So rather than Buffalo Grove, how about Olinguito Falls?  Or Olingutio Grove? Or Olingutio Shores?

Cynics, no doubt, would say “There’s never been a olinguito here.”

But has there ever been a Buffalo? Didn’t think so.

Granted, it would require getting used to – replacing Buffalo with olinguitos on the village’s letterhead and public service vehicles will be a change, but it’s one that would project a softer side of the village. 

First and foremost, however, is the replacement of those Fiberglass buffalos that adorn parts of the village.  And that stuffed buffalo head in the council chambers?  That has to go.  Warm, cuddly olinguitos would add a subtle change.

I know the sports programs around the village may need to change, especially at Buffalo Grove High School where the teams are known as the Bison.  Really.  Bison?  Just how many teams are known as the Bison compared to the “Fighting Olinguitos”?  It should not upset folks at the school as long as it doesn’t affect enrollment in AP classes.

The bottom line, is it’s all about uniqueness, friends, uniqueness.

So if the village wants to move up the list, it needs to add to the charm.  Growling, gruffly looking buffalo replaced by warm, cuddly olingutios may help.

As for a traditional downtown -- the founding fathers and mothers apparently opted against it.  And my guess is a plan by the developers in expensive suits and high-priced cars probably isn’t the answer.

But just think, if the village adopts the olinguito, guess where the buffaloing will come from?

A dog-gone good idea?

Chicken Little looked a little fried – which for a chicken is not good.

               “Where have you been”?

               I explained to him that July is when I find myself around the country at workshops, and this year was no exception.

               “My gosh, you’ve missed all the excitement.”

               Having removed the urge to be cynical, I asked what was so earth shattering that the sky was falling.

               “OMG,” he clucked.  “Assault weapon bans, smoking bans – but that’s not the biggest news.”

               Really?  What is?

               “I may now have a place in the village”, he said.

               Do I dare ask how this came into being? 

               “Well, according to the Associated Press, and I quote, ‘pigs, chickens and cows may be as smart and sociable as dogs…’ ‘’

Chicken Little

               And who is behind this movement? 

               Little was quick to point out that it was, in fact, animal rights groups who are hoping this will boost the number of vegetarians. 

               “And talk about timing,” Little said.  “With the village looking to cut funds to lower the debt in the capital reserve funds by dropping its canine program, a chicken on patrol would be ideal.”

               Self interest, no doubt.

               “I’ve started developing promotional ideas,” he said.  “For example, how about “A chicken with every cop.”

               I reminded Little not to quit his day job.

               “Seriously, since we’re just a friendly and smart as a dog, it’s a natural.  Besides, we don’t east as much, take up space or require as much maintenance as a dog.”

               But, I asked him, what about the other animals – like pigs and cows?

               Little was quick with his retort.  “I think having pigs with police officer would send the wrong message and having a bovine on patrol would be udderly ridiculous.”

               That’s two, I warned him.

               My concern would be Chicken Little chase down criminals, especially those with assault weapons.  “We’re fleet of foot,” he said. “And I can always chase them down in my chicken coupe.  Besides, with my size I can get around easily and smoke out criminals who may be lurking at Buffalo Grove Days.”

               I was beginning to think Chicken Little had come across a bad batch of feed when I asked him if he was going to have a special crime fighting name, especially since Super Chicken was already taken.

               “Already been thinking about that,” he said. 

               Why was I not surprised.  Of course, I had to ask him if he had any ideas.

               “Actually, I do.  It’s a tribute to my favorite character from West Side Story.”

               You’re going to call yourself Bernardo or Riff? 

               “No.  While on patrol, I will be known as Officer Cluckey.”