And hey, let's be careful out there..

There are six million stories in the naked city – these are a few of them as reported in the Buffalo Grove Police report.

Playground is not an option

Officer was advised of a male subject sitting under the playground equipment. Officer located the youth who told the officer that he opted not to go to school today. The school and the boy’s mother were notified and the boy was given a ride home. 

The ex factor, part 1

Resident reported the he broke up a long standing relationship and has found that the ex girlfriend’s son has posted comments about the resident on the Internet. Officer reviewed the comments and did not find them threatening. 

The ex factor, part 2

Resident reported that her estranged husband is sending her text messages in violation of an order of protection. The order was verified and the officer contacted the husband. The husband admitted to sending the messages but would not meet with the officer. 

The rain is Tess, the fire’s Joe..and the call the wind chime Mariah.

Resident reported receiving a letter from her homeowner’s association requesting that she remove a wind chime from her patio. The following day, the resident found the wind chime lying on the ground. The officer suggested that the strong winds may have blown the chime to the ground. 

Huh?

Resident reported that his neighbor plays music too loud. Officer spoke with the neighbor who stated that he had been sleeping and the resident’s children woke him up so he turned his TV up louder than usual. The neighbor agreed that his actions were inappropriate and agreed to discuss the issues with the resident. 

Huh?  No. 2

Resident reported that a neighbor opened a door with such force that his right wrist was injured. When offered medical assistance from the paramedics, the resident refused stating that he will seek advice from his attorney first. 

Probably a good idea…

Resident reported that a male subject, with whom his wife is having an affair, came to the house and knocked on the door. The resident requested the officer contact the subject and advise him not to return to the house. Officer called and passed the message on. 

Some performance review…

Complainant stated that her work supervisor asked for her to meet him in the parking lot. There the supervisor asked the complainant to sit in his car which she did. The supervisor then pinned her down and kissed her without her consent. This occurred on one other occasion. Officer spoke with the supervisor who stated that the kissing was consensual and that he at no time forced or pinned her. No complaints to be signed. 

Huh?  No. 3

Motorist stated that he made a right turn on red and the vehicle that was then behind him changed lanes, passed the motorist and then cut in front of him. The motorist wanted the incident documented but did not want the offender cited. No phone number could be located for the registered owner of the offending vehicle.

Postage due?

Resident reported that someone unknown placed an empty vodka bottle into his mailbox. This is the second incident in the past week. 

But did he look in the mailbox?

Store manager stated that he believes a female subject concealed a bottle of vodka under her coat and left the store without paying. When the manager confronted her while she was sitting in a vehicle, the subject stated that she left the bottle in the store. The subject opened her coat to show the manager that there was no bottle. The manager feels the bottle may have been somewhere in the van. 

Must be opening a branch office..

Resident stated that her son observed their neighbor pick up tree branches in her yard and then throw them into the resident’s yard. Due to continued friction between the resident and her neighbor, she wanted the incident documented. Officer went to the neighbor’s home but no one answered the door. 

So much for a holiday bonus

Manager reported that he terminated an employee and that employee became upset and was yelling. Officer spoke with the employee and advised him not to return to the station. The employee stated that he would consult an attorney. 

Never had this problem when Ed McMahon handled the checks…

Resident received a call from a male subject claiming to be from the Publisher’s Clearing House and told the resident that she had won a large amount of money but needed to pay the caller $125.00 for the IRS processing fee. The resident hung up. Officer reminded the resident that legitimate companies do not make anyone pay fees before a prize is given. 

Jack LaLanne he’s not…

Officers responded to a male and female subject in a heated discussion. The female stated that the male was working out and stretching in an offensive manner, and she believed that he may be consuming alcohol from a green bottle. Officer spoke with the male who apologized for disturbing someone and stated that the green bottle was mineral water purchased in the Fitness Center. 

Well what do you expect, he had been at a Bears game..

Store official reported an intoxicated subject lying on the floor between the entrance doors. Officer spoke to the subject who stated that he had been to the Bears game with a friend, came back to the friend’s house and then decided to walk home to Wauconda

The ex factor, part 3

Employee stated that when she checked her voicemail at work, she found two voice messages from her boyfriend’s ex girlfriend. The messages were insulting and threatening. Officer attempted to contact the ex and left a message for her to stop contact and to call the officer to discuss the issue

Huh?  No. 4

Resident reported that she and her husband were awoken by someone ringing their doorbell at 1:30am. It was too dark outside to see anyone. 

Talk about the holiday spirit..

Resident stated that a neighbor threatened him while he was out walking his dog, because the dog had sniffed some miniature Christmas trees. The resident felt that threats of homicide were a bit excessive and requested officers speak with the neighbor. Officer spoke with the neighbor telling him that homicide was not an appropriate response at any time much less on Christmas day. The neighbor apologized and agreed to call the police the next time he has a problem with someone.

This is just wrong…

Resident reported that unknown subjects rang his doorbell and when he answered found two baby Jesus figures on his doorstep. Officer retrieved the figures and found contact information on the bottom. The owners will be contacted. 

The ex factor, part 4

Resident stated that her ex fiancé has been calling, texting and otherwise harassing her. The ex’s phone number has been blocked and the resident was given instructions on obtaining an order of protection. The resident did not want the officer to make contact with the ex at this time. 

Huh? No. 5

Resident reported a female subject that was having difficulty parking her vehicle. Officer located the car with the subject passed out in the front seat. Officer was able to get the subject’s attention and have her go inside to her apartment. The car was not running and the keys were not in the ignition. 

And finally…

A little boy asked his grandpa if raindeer(sic) really can fly?  Grandpa answered yes, but they have a difficult time making it through security. (Three notes – 1.  It’s reindeer, 2. Reindeer can get through security if they have premier exec.status and 3.  The writer of the police report has too much time on his/her hands…)

What a difference a year makes...

So here it is, the end of the year.

At this time last year we were looking back on a rather tumultuous year highlighted, for lack of a better word, of recalls, EPA hearings, clashes between board members and village staff, the resignation of a long-time, well-respected village manager, the hiring of a new village manager and the Cubs going nowhere.

What a difference a year makes.

Most of the above has ebbed -- with of course the fact the Cubs went nowhere.

The past year was highlighted by changes on the Village Board as Elliott Hartstein hung up the gavel with Jeff Braiman taking center seat. Three newcomers joined the Board, Andrew Stein by defeating Denise Bocek in the April election, Mike Terson by virtue of an unopposed race, and Lester Ottenheimer III by appointment.

But what would be a year in the history of Big Animal Grove without a little sabre-rattling.  

Two elections gave residents an opportunity to see some rather unusual campaign rhetoric. 

The race for District 125, which is Stevenson High School, the “125for125” slate of Kathy Powell, Kim Brady and Charles Cardella and the United4Stevenson slate that included incumbents Bruce Rubin, Merv Roberts, and Terry Moons along with newcomer David Weisberg.

At face value, it was the old-boy incumbents (along with Weisberg) who were spending the district to death, facing off against Don Quixote and his band of windmill fighters who were going to cut spending and save the district from financial ruin.  What they failed to say was how they were going to maintain the academic integrity of the Mecca on 22 while cutting funds.  Oops.  They also forgot to mention their hidden moral agenda and their alliance with the Illinois Family Institute.  Oops.

What was lost in their rhetoric was the impact on the students.  But wait, wasn’t that supposed to be the focus of a school board race?

Granted, the United4Stevenson candidates made some bonehead calls during its previous term, but at least, so it seemed, you had an idea which direction they were going in.  The 125for125 slate seemed to vacillate in its positions, so voters were not quite sure just exactly where they stood.

And on Election Day, the results seemed to back that up.  United4Stevenson came out on top.

While the campaign was heated, it was focused on the issues -- unlike the race for Buffalo Grove Village Clerk.

That contest had incumbent Jan Sirabian facing everyone’s favorite question mark, Rob Sherman.  Sherman whose sole intention appeared to (surprise) do little more than keep his name in the news, did little more than castigate Sirabian for being a long-serving village clerk – and for being a woman. 

Instead of addressing the needs of the village, Sherman, instead opted to spend time having his car washed by employees of Hooters, attending presentations on women’s underwear and showing up at public hearings, soliciting signatures – and then leaving.

Was it any surprise that Sirabian garnered 80 percent of the vote?  Not really – except when Sherman saw it as a moral victory.  Somehow Sherman and moral don’t fit in the same sentence together.

And to think that was in April.  After that things seemed to run their course on a fairly routine basis.

Routine?  Buffalo Grove?  It looks like 2011 has been that kind of a year.

One thing that did go unresolved, however.   The fate of the evil “Hipcheck16”.

Despite the efforts of deposed board member Lisa Stone, who claims the anonymous Daily Herald poster defamed her son, and wants to know Hipcheck 16’s true identity, the Cook County Appellate Court has ruled to the contrary.

So another year and another unsolved mystery.

However, I have a suspicion as to who may be behind the dastardly Hipcheck 16.

Kim Jong-il.

Law & Order BGPD: November edition

Another month and another collection of items from the police report that make me wonder what some people are thinking.

These are their stories.

You’re kidding, right?

Complainant stated that the driver of a vehicle behind her honked his horn for her to turn, then pulled next to her and gave her the middle finger. Officer spoke with the other driver who stated that his horn does not work and that he pulled next to her to let her know it was someone else. 

Put the kid to work…

Resident stated that he spoke with his upstairs neighbor about the excessive noise the two year old child makes. When the resident returned to his apartment, the upstairs neighbor stomped on the floor, causing the glass globe from the kitchen light to fall and break. Officer spoke with the neighbor who denied stomping on the floor and complained of the resident yelling at her through the walls. Both were referred to the home owner’s association. 

Well, so much for this friends list…

When the resident checked her son’s Facebook account, she found an inappropriate message from an unknown subject. The resident has canceled the account.

Help wanted:  Intelligent Human Resources Person

Company official reported that a terminated employee has not returned a company vehicle and miscellaneous office items, as requested. Officer contacted the terminated employee and she stated that the vehicle and items will be returned the following day. 

Bet it wasn’t Bert Weinman, Your TV Ford man…

Resident reported that he purchased a truck on eBay Motors. He wire transferred $24,000.00  to the seller, and has not seen the truck or seller since. 

The rain is Tess, the fire’s Joe, but They Call the Grill Mariah…

Resident reported that someone unknown pushed her gas grill over on her patio. After examining the grill, the officer found a broken wheel and believes that the high winds may have been the cause. 

Trash talking...

Driver stated that she stopped her car to pick up a bag of garbage that was lying in the roadway. When she placed the bag on the curb, a resident came out and threw the bag of garbage back at the driver, striking her in the chest with the bag. The resident was charged with disorderly conduct. 

Imagine that – they were not texting…

Resident reported two male subjects sitting in a car that has been parked on the street for the past ninety minutes. Officer spoke with the occupants, one being a resident on the street the other his girlfriend. They were talking. 

Love is a mighty confusing thing…

Resident reported receiving a text message stating “I want you back”. The resident sent a message back stating that you must have the wrong number. Since then, the resident has received three voice messages from a woman asking if the resident is cheating with her boyfriend. The resident has advised the caller to stop calling. 

With friends like this...

Resident reported that someone opened an account on Sexyjobs.com and used her picture and cell phone number. She has been getting calls and text messages from unknown persons. The resident will contact the web site and request the account be closed

Talk about the cold shoulder...

Resident paid an acquaintance $3,600.00 for the installation of a new furnace. The check was cashed but the acquaintance never showed to make the installation. The resident and his sons have been attempting to contact the acquaintance and when one of the sons spoke with him he threatened bodily harm if they did not stop calling. Officer spoke with the acquaintance who denied making a threat and stated that he cashed the check to order the furnace. 

Turkeys pardoned?  Oh, this was not about the Village Board...

President Obama pardoned two Turkeys last week and spared them from Thanksgiving dinner. No such pardon came at my home and dinner was great. Hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. (Yes, this was part of the Police Log)

The turkey reminded me...

I couldn’t help but think of the Village Board as I cooked the turkey on Thanksgiving.

It’s nothing personal, mind you, just a connection that during the recent past that thinking of a turkey often connects to some of the antics by Board Members – both past and present – but mostly past.

The irony of it is the fact that the annual stuff-cook-eat turkey celebration comes within a week of an appellate court’s ruling that the identity of the now infamous “Hipcheck16” does not have to be revealed.

Turkeys aside, and you can read into that as much as you want, it’s a continuation of the “look at me – I’m always right and everyone is wrong” campaign by former trustee Lisa Stone.  In the past year I have mentioned Stone’s name only a smattering of time.  Her reign as a Village Board member came to a halt with the recall vote last November.

However, she continues her pursuit of her pet projects – the Land & Lakes landfill issue and the ongoing about who Hipcheck16 is.  That’s fine.  Everyone has his or her own pet projects and we know that Stone is passionate – obsessive if you will about Land & Lakes – even though she ignored it when she lived near the site.

The Hipcheck 16 issue is a different story.  It is, in some ways, a classic example of how folks who put themselves in the public eye don’t get it. 

When someone runs for public offices, accepts a high profile position, such as a school administrator or coach, their lives become an open book, whether they like it or not.  Lisa Stone is not the first public figure whose family has been brought into the public eye.  Former governor Jim Thompson had to deal with issues related to his wife, Sarah Palin’s daughter was in the limelight and comments about the wife of the late Edmund Muskie ultimately led him to dropping out of the presidential race.  These are just a few examples.

Public figures are not perfect and while some think their status puts them on a pedestal and makes them immune to such comments – they wrong.  Several clichés come to mind – if you can’t stand the heat, get of the kitchen and you live by the sword, you die by the sword.

The sword can be a vicious weapon – especially the written, verbal, or now, the online sword.  Stone did what any parent would do – defend a child.  Where she has tripped over her public figure ego is by not realizing that she, in turn, is playing the same game.  She claims Hipcheck16 defamed her son, yet she sees nothing wrong with comments made about former Village Manager Bill Brimm and, more recently, false insinuations that Village Board member Jeff Berman is connected to Hipcheck16.

She has done this through the very forum that she is upset about --- online comments via a media website.

Comments posted in media online editions are, if nothing else, a source of entertainment.  They are also an increasing source of irritation for media outlets.  Why?  Unlike letters to the editors, which many publications verify by phone, online comments are, for the most part, an open forum.  Actually, because of terms of service agreements, they are a limited open forum, which gives the media outlet the opportunity to keep objectionable comments from appearing.

What is missing, however, is verification as to who is the real person.  As noted by one poster, ectrip8 noted in a recent Daily Herald comment,  “Your son was using a screenname, (sic) not his real name. Furthermore, just because he claimed to be your son before commenting does not mean that he revealed who he was. There is no way for someone to verify who anyone is on these boards. You may not be the real LS, just as if I claim on here to be Barack Obama or Mitt Romney doesn't automatically make it so.”

Former Bears coach Mike Ditka once said that only two kinds of people live in the past – losers and cowards.  We learn from the past, whether we like what happened or not.  This does not apply just to Stone, but to any and everyone. 

However, I am not sure Stone realizes this as she includes numerous links about her performance as a Village Board member in her comments on the Daily Herald’s online edition.

Yet she missed one. http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101102/news/711039808/

Law & Order: BGPD

 "In Buffalo Grove's war on crime, the worst criminal offenders are pursued by the men and women of the Buffalo Grove Police Department. These are their stories." 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resident reported finding smudges on the outside of her patio door as though someone may have been peering into the house. When the evidence technician went to the residence the son told him that the smudges were from him playing with the dog. 

-- Are we to think the kid is a pain in the glass?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Complainant approached a neighbor and asked if he was the one that swore and yelled at her son because he was riding a scooter in the street. The neighbor denied doing so but said the next time he would hit her son. Officer spoke with the neighbor who stated that he did yell because the boy was blocking him from getting out of his driveway. 

-- "Won't you be my neighbor..."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ex boyfriend showed up at the company to recover a vehicle given to the ex girlfriend as a loaner. Officer spoke with the ex girlfriend and found that the girlfriend’s name was on the title to the car. Officer advised the boyfriend that this is a civil matter and to leave

-- Details, details, details..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Human Resources Director requested that officers standby while an employee was terminated. The employee did not show up for work. 

-- Well, there goes that reference

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Conductor reported a suspicious suitcase on the train platform. Officer located a green bag containing a Halloween costume. The bag was placed into property at the police station. 

--  Must have made the old jailhouse rock

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Son met with an officer and stated that he was concerned about his mother’s well being. The son had been knocking on the door and calling without a response. Entry was gained into the unit and found mom to be OK. She stated that she was scared and did not realize it was her son knocking on the door. 

-- Hello, mom?  But he's such a nice boy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resident reported receiving text messages from a person whom she believes to be her ex husband’s girlfriend. Officer contacted the girlfriend who denied any involvement in sending the messages. 

-- So if she calms down, does that means she's ex lax?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resident reported that someone unknown removed two skeletons, one ghost, and a large monster from the yard Halloween display. Several other ghouls and goblins were damaged. 

-- At first glance I thought this was about a Village Board meeting.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Complainant reported a male subject looking into the windows of a residence. The subject and his vehicle were gone when officers arrived. The resident stated that she is renting the house and the landlord often times comes by unannounced. Officer attempted to contact the landlord and left a message. The resident stated that she has had numerous problems with the landlord and will be moving out. 

--  So that's what it meant when the ad said "custom window treatments."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resident reported that his estranged wife hacked into his personal computer, installed an external hard drive, and then copied the computer’s hard drive. The resident found the external hard drive by chance and is keeping possession of it. 

-- He probably needed tech support  more than child support.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resident from the 200 block of Hiawatha Drive stated that a large grey cat has been hanging around his back yard. The cat has no collar or chip and was taken to Kings Kennel. 

-- Another frolicking feline

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

And finally,

Complainant reported a subject in a white mask dancing at the intersection. Officers located a subject that was performing his pantomime. He was advised that some residents apparently find mimes disconcerting and he agreed to go home. 

-- Guess he should have mimed his own business...

Officers of the Buffalo Grove Police Department handled 1361 incidents and crimes and 129 crashes during the month of October 2011.

And the Oscar goes to....

Not long ago, I had dinner with some friends who spent time talking about, among other things, where they live.

During the course of the evening, one said that the problem with Buffalo Grove is that there are no good restaurants in the village, the village let Lincolnshire grab the cinemas and also let the car dealers get away.

 

As Yogi Berra would say, it's déjà vue all over again.

The fact that the village does not have any good restaurants is not the fault of the village.  Granted, it has tight standards for building appearance or signage, but there is not, as far as I know, a Village Culinary Commission.  If you look at the car dealers in question; the Saturn, Toyota and Chrysler dealerships on Dundee Road only one, Arlington Toyota, chose to move out of the village.  The other two were closed by the year respective corporations; Saturn by G.M. and Chrysler by Chrysler.

The mere fact that Lincolnshire incorporated much of the area b y Aptakisic Road and Milwaukee Avenue was the result of a voluntary annexation by the property owner who, my sources tell me, needed to annex to Lincolnshire to get utilities because of a previous action.

What my dining companion did not realize, of if he did, he chose to ignore it, is the fact that the village continues to be in seemingly excellent financial shape despite the struggling economy.  It has endured reduced sales taxes, shrinking property taxes and excessive legal bills to resolve frivolous lawsuits and actions by folks who want to do little more than make a name for themselves. Through it all, the village has Triple AAA credit ratings from both Standard and Poors and Moody's.

Not too shabby.

While the economy continues to flounder, there is a ray of optimism that the village fiscal solvency will continue. It's the things movies can be made of.

The Nov. 21 Village Board meeting was highlighted by a two-hour presentation of the 2012 budget. Let's face it, budget presentations rank right up there with watching paint dry, watching 2011 Cubs highlights or reruns of McHale's Navy. This one, however, was deserving of an Oscar.

That's not my opinion.  All you need to do is listen to Village Board member Beverly Sussman who said "it is the best budget I have ever read in 30 years..it is the Academy Awards of budgets."

She may be on to something.  Aside from klieg lights heralding the event, it seemed like every department brought out its key staff, most of who were in dress attire.  It's the first time that the Police Department had more officers in attendance wearing dress uniforms than the Fire Department.

Before cynics cry foul, all they need to do is review the budget, all 306 pages of it, from the village's web site.  It is, from my non fiscal eyes, well presented and clearly written.  It seems to make sense.

The focal point of the budget is the use of four domains for each department.  They are: Strategy, Efficiency  Culture and Technology.  Budget goals and objectives addressed each category.

And yes, economic development in key areas, specifically the Dundee Road and Milwaukee Avenue corridors.  While there may be some faults with the 2012 budget because nothing is nothing is perfect, it is well scripted.

Worthy of an Academy Award?  Only time will tell.

In the meantime, I like the Hollywood theme Sussman  has given to the process.

Who knows, maybe it will spur some creative new businesses -- for example, how about a movie-themed bicycle shop.

How about calling it "Gone with the Schwinn".

Look at the root of suburban

Back in the days when Pioneer Press hired more than one reporter to cover a village (they actually had news writers, school reporters, sports reporters, feature writers --- for each paper!) and not just a single overworked reporter or over-zealous soccer mom filling space, they had a publisher who wrote a series of  articles entitled, "The root of suburban is urban."

That was nearly 40 years ago and his prognostications were right on the money.

Changing times, demographics, attitudes, etc. have brought the boundaries of the nation's large cities to the doorsteps of our once tranquil villages.

I was reminded of this face by what was, by accounts, a simple headline.  "Urban-style apartment may not fly in Buffalo Grove."

The story was about yet another presentation by a developer to build an apartment complex at Deerfield Parkway and Busch Road.

So what.

What makes this proposal so strange is it's the second time representatives representing Marquette Companies, a real estate investment firm has tried to pull the wool, or maybe polyester, over the eyes of the Village Board.  Their proposal is for a 192-unit apartment complex in three buildings; two low rise and one nine stories tall.

So what.

The "what" is that they keep trying to railroad this past the Board as a development where people won't need cars and it will be great for the environment and put the village on the cutting edge of planning.

Right.

Go to Marquette's web and you'll be taken in by complexes with ponds, swimming pools and contemporary architecture.

Interestingly enough, the plan for Buffalo Grove is a high density property that overlooks the Metra tracks.  Sounds inviting.

But the pitch that the development would be the hub of a transit development zone -- where people would not need their cars and they could walk everywhere.

Really?  Like to where? While there are a couple of strip centers  (shopping centers, not a return to the Cheetah II and Roman House), there are not a whole heck of a lot of places to walk to.

So it's mind boggling to me that folks from "the outside" can come in an want to change the character of the village (as opposed to changing some of the characters of the village -- but that's another story).

In essence, they are "forcing" the urban into the suburban.  We're far from the white picket fences, Hazel and Father Knows Best, but the reality is, like it or not, one of the strong suits, if not occasionally to a fault, is the strict zoning and ordinances in place in Buffalo Grove.

Proposing a rental property under the ruse that it will be a transit development zone is, at best annoying.  The village has long fought to avoid land grabs and promises of seashells and balloons.

To come in and think village staff and officials are Opie and Aunt Bee is naive.  The character and environment of the village are suburban.  If the village wants urban, it will be on its own terms.

Not those of some land grabber.