Going beyond the proclamation

                Village Board meetings are interesting occurrences.

                Last night’s Buffalo Grove Village Board meeting was, and this may be breaking news, a quiet affair.

                Aside from a lengthy discussion and vote about regulating residential rentals, it was a routine business meeting.  As in village business. 

                Among the routine agenda items was a proclamation for October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which I am delighted to say was approved.

                That’s because I, along with Buffalo Grove resident Maggie Osborne, wrote.  Osborne, it should be noted, is Senior Health Initiatives Representative for the Illinois Division of the American Cancer Society’s northwest suburban chapter based in Arlington Heights.  She and I began working together on an initiative that my student journalists support.  Originally it was the ACS’ “Plant it Pink” program, which the sale of pink tulip bulbs.  My students planted more than 300 bulbs in the three years the ACS offered that program. Additionally, they dedicate the October issue to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

                But enough about that.  The approval of the proclamation by the Buffalo Grove Village Board is significant not only because it calls attention to Breast Cancer, but because this year cancer awareness takes on an additional importance.

                Why?

                Because as the eyes of the nation begin to focus on tomorrow night’s debate between President Barack Obama and GOP challenger Mitt Romney, one thing is sure, millions of Americans will be focused on where the two candidates stand on various issues.

                The economy.

                Foreign policy.

                The national debt.

                And the war.

                Granted, the war has preoccupied the minds of Americans because we are bombarded with images and reports of dastardly attacks against Americans in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya.

                And the images these attacks permeate the media, and justifiably so, candidates needs to address funding and strategy for the war.  The funding needs to increase.  Not, however, for the war in the aforementioned countries, a war being waged right here at home.

                It is not just the war on terrorism, or the war on hungry – the war against cancer.

                With October being proclaimed by many cities, counties and states as Breast Cancer Awareness month, the attention focuses on Breast Cancer.  The American Cancer Society reports that so far in 2012, nearly 230,000 cases of new breast cancer were reported nationwide.  Think that’s high?  The ACS also reports the same number of new cases of lung and bronchus cancer for the same time period.

                Do the math – that’s almost a half a million new cases of cancer report.  Those are, however, second and third place tallies so far.  In first place in reported new cases of cancer is Prostate Cancer with nearly 242,000 new cases reported.  The total for new cases of all types of cancer is nearly 1.7 million.  And there are still three months left in the year.

                Is it a special interest vote?  Unfortunately, yes.  People whose lives have been turned upside down by a battle with cancer are more than likely to be at the forefront in the war and, in this case, the well orchestrated effort to put funding for the war on cancer front and center.  Breast Cancer seems to get the lion’s share of coverage.  Susan B. Komen walks attract thousands of women annually to raise awareness.  As mentioned, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.

                It is the “it doesn’t affect me” attitude that may be alarming.  You can’t avoid cancer as you can the flu.  There’s no vaccine against it, nor is there an age differentiation.  Adolescents and people in their 20s and 30s need to be aware of cancer risks and the importance of funding.

                Testicular Cancer and Skin Cancer are two cancers that can strike young people.  With Breast Cancer Awareness month abutting the Nov. 6 election, the timing seems ideal for candidates in all races, not just the presidential battle, to explain their position and, hopefully, support for a continued, if not increase in funding against the war on cancer.

                Locally, one congressional race that will attract a considerable amount of interest is in the 8^th congressional district where incumbent Joe Walsh is being challenged by Tammy Duckworth.  It’s a media dream – A right-wing Republican taking on a physically challenged female war veteran.  If anyone knows what it takes to overcome obstacles, it’s Duckworth.  Her dedication and injuries as a member of the military have, at times, become an issue, courtesy of Walsh.

                Which is too bad, because images of a physically challenged vet are over riding other key issues.  Like the war against cancer.  In the nearby 10^th district, incumbent Bob Dold is being challenged by Brad Schneider.  Again, it’s charges of tea party politics against the democrats.

                In the race for state rep between Sidney Mathias and Carol Sente, the mudslinging has focused on just about everything but what they stand for.

                Issues please?

                The need for funding the war on cancer is not a special interest vote.  Funds are not needed solely for research, although that is a primary concern.  Funding helps organizations like the American Cancer Society help people undergoing treatment by offering emotional support and resources to help them get through their battle.

                It’s not a small battle – not with 1.7 million people involved.

                It’s not a specialized battle – cancer affects men and women, blacks, whites and Hispanics. 

                It’s not an age battle – cancer strikes the young, the middle-aged, and elderly.

                It’s an ongoing war, which needs the support of the nation’s law makers.

                It’s the one time when Americans need to be remember three simple words.

                Support the war.

 (Additional information can be found at cancervotes.org).

Even Sybil would be confused

One of the popular movies back in 1976 was “Sybil” which imdb.com says was about “A young woman whose childhood was so harrowing to her that she developed at least 13 different personalities.”

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it.   I have never seen the movie, but I can’t help but wonder if they had made the movie today if the plot would be changed so Sybil would have an outlet for each of her personalities.

Comment sections on media websites.

The exchange between people is, to put it mildly, interesting.  If your favorite team loses, half want the coach or manager fired and the other half are from an arch rival laughing at the team.

If it’s a political topic, the barbs fly like flies around a trash can.

The challenge faced by many, if not most, media outlets, is they let anyone sign in and post what they want.  It is an issue that continues to be discussed in newsrooms.  Some, as I have previously noted, are beginning to call and verify each post, much in the same way they do letters to the editors for their print publications.

But with more and more non-print venues, it’s post early and often just to vent.

AOL’s Patch does not verify each post, but users are connected to an email so theoretically if AOL wanted to patch things up, they could trace those folks who anonymously post.

Some people are obsessed with wondering who is whom, possibly because they do not like what has been posted and they want to retaliate.  Nah, that would never happen.  Right.

The reality is that once a fire is ignited, every drop of gas just fuels it. 

Some people are convinced that I am among the legions or anonymous posters. 

Quite honestly, their allegations do not make any sense because, my views, like them or not, run under my name via my blogs.  Period.  There’s no alter ego lurking around the labyrinth of online comments.

While I personally prefer people standing behind their viewpoints, the unfortunate reality is there are some, well more than some, who probably prefer anonymity because of the potential for acrid and unfounded responses by folks who just see things one way – their way.  Not that something like that would ever happen in Buffalo Grove.

So what’s the answer?  Some folks run around wailing about their First Amendment rights and how they can say what they want. Close, but no cigar.  Freedom of speech does not mean freedom to incite or defame.

In its recent newsletter, the Illinois Press Association reports that two police officers sued a newspaper “alleging that the website had improperly allowed third parties to anonymously post defamatory statements about the officers...” 

According to the IPA report, the paper claimed protection under the federal Communications Decency Act.  Both the trial and appellate courts agreed.

An attorney cited in the IPA report noted that “no provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider.”  In other words, you don’t like it, don’t blame us.

There is one catch here – if the provider or operator of the site edits the content, it runs the risk of changing the intention of the poster, which would be problematic to say the least.

So what’s a media outlet to do?

One of three things.  The first is to require approval of a post before it is visible to the public.  I am not sure who approves what but at least there is an effort to verify who is posting, just like it is done in most print publications.

The other two options are simple.  Take it or leave it.

If media outlets “leave it” they let posts run as is.  If they “take it” – then it’s gone.  It never sees the light of day or anyone’s eyes.

What?  Not fair? Before you run and wave the First Amendment around, read the fine print – the terms of service.  Print publications call them editorial guidelines.  Quite simply, if what you want to submit or print is libelous, we’ll pull it.  Period.  If what you want to post is defamation, we’ll pull it.

It seems as though the Daily Herald is getting more aggressive with filtering online reader comments.  Other outlets, like Patch, let things fly.

What more media outlets need to do is post or provide a link to the federal Communications Decency Act so posters have some guidelines.

If media outlets decide to post the CDA, there’s one word that should be in bold – maybe even capitalized too.

Decency.

Taking issue with the issues -- or lack of

This is never a good time for candidates.  Accusations, campaigns, major statements and, for one candidate,  chicken soup.

Having announced his candidacy a few months ago, Chicken Little, along with FIDO have been finding themselves on the outside looking in.  "It's amazing how much coverage my opponents, Sid Mathias and Carol Sente, have received," Little said.  "And they're not even addressing the issues."

Candidate Little

So what's the problem?  "It's turned into to one smear after another," Little said.  "In fact," he clucked, "the biggest issue in the campaign seems to be former Buffalo Grove trustee Lisa Stone."

So how, I asked, does Stone become an issue?  "Because she claimed to be in the Mathias camp and then Mathias came out and said nope, she wasn't".

So this is an issue of great significance for a state representative?  Not really. as Little pointed out, the alignment, or perceived alignment, depending on to whom you speak, or which online media comments you read, is the issue.  Mathias added fuel to the fire by allegedly not addressing the issue at a campaign Town Hall meeting, which really bothered people.

So once again a Lisa Stone-fueled snowball began rolling. But is it relevant at this time?  If she wants to support Mathias, that's her business.  If he wants to align himself with her efforts, that's his business.

What's lost is the reason Sente and Mathias are running -- not to please Lisa Stone -- but to represent the people of the newly drawn 59th district and take their views to Springfield.

Remember Springfield?  It's the state capital and also the name of the Simpson's hometown.  The two parallel each other.  It seems that the state is being led by Homer or Ed Flanders or even Apu.

So while representatives from around the state ponder ways to improve the state fledgling credit rating, diminishing state pension program and a crumbling infrastructure -- residents of the 59th are hearing about Lisa Stone's support of Mathias.

"So who cares," Little asked.  A fair number of people who like to post on on-line media sites.  "They address the issues?" Little said.

Little may be on to something. There hasn't been much debate about the issues.  Only who supports whom.  I don't really care who Lisa Stone supports.  In fact, I don't really care who anyone supports.

What I want is to know where the candidates stand.  Period.

"So what do they do?" Little asked.

Send out more junk mail.  You've seen them, the ones with superimposed pictures of opponents with cash hanging out their pockets or hiding behind a mask.

"Sounds like a disservice to the voters," Little said.  "You'd think they would just simply state their positions and ideas."

You would, indeed.  Instead we're more infatuated about who supports whom.

"So what's the answer," Little asked.

I'm not sure. The state has about as much stability as the Bears offensive line, and the candidates seem to have their heads in the sand.

"Well," said Little, "my position is clear on one thing."

And that is?

"There won't be a chicken in every pot."

True.  They'll  all be in Springfield.

Now this really stinks....

The police reports include more than information about various police calls.  Recently, there seemed to be an increasing concern about critters in the village – and not those that attend Village Board meetings.

Here’s a sampling of problems and suggestions.

 

• It’s very true about the skunk problem in Strathmore between Arlington Heights Road and Ivy Hall School, and it’s been going on for a couple of years now. This year there seems to be three of them because the other night I saw two together and then a third one came along a couple of minutes later heading in the same direction as the other two (south between the houses on Aspen Drive and Penny Lane).

• Last year I saw a skunk digging around the base of a tree at night and also doing the same near a tree in our neighbor’s yard in the late afternoon around 5:00 pm. I think their source of food is the cicadas after the cicadas shed their shell, because I have found what’s left of the cicadas with their body gone but the wings and skull still in-tact. (Yes, gross!).  (By the way, skunks also like to dig for grubs….)

• Since everyone is complaining about the skunk problem in Strathmore, may I put in my 2 cents and talk about the chipmunk problem?  The chipmunks (who we've named Alvin, Simon and Theodore) made such a tunnel system under our brick porch that it buckled. We have holes all over the yard. We had to have the porch re-done and the sides were cemented and covered with decorative white stones. Well, the chipmunks got so upset that the kicked (or pushed) all the decorative stone away, but could not get back under the porch. Our backyard is being taken over by these (cute?) little monsters. We have used mothballs and poison peanuts, but they still love it at our house. Would anyone have a suggestion?(I had a similar problem.  All small trap baited with bird seed did the trick.  After a while Chip and Dale got the hint.  Check for bird seed and any open holes by a deck.)

• It’s very true about the skunk problem in Strathmore between Arlington Heights Road and Ivy Hall School, and it’s been going on for a couple of years now. This year there seems to be three of them because the other night I saw two together and then a third one came along a couple of minutes later heading in the same direction as the other two (south between the houses on Aspen Drive and Penny Lane).(Skunks seemed to dislike light.  Keep your lights on and that may detract them).

• Those d*&# skunks: We live in the same nuisance Skunk area of Strathmore in a ranch w/a porch. This is an ongoing problem alternating with Woodchucks + Chipmunks even after back filling the hole. Came home from 3 wk. vacation to find mama skunk + 5 adorable [ha ha ha] tiny babies parading across the porch from hole under porch [again]. We stuck a shop light in the hole, left it on for hours during day, used Fox Urine Granules then moth balls for good measure. Took 8-9 days -their holes cause undermining of cement which then causes cracks! They move elsewhere but obviously don't leave the area. This is an ongoing issue, even with preventative measures - may be due to our proximity to the creek or Forest Preserve. Animal removal guys are pricey + tell you there is no guarantee "your" skunks will be trapped [which makes sense] . We've smelled skunk every night for a couple weeks. As for Chipmunks- try a small rag soaked in Vanilla stuffed in hole. 

• The skunk problem is so widespread in Strathmore that one person hiring to trap them is not the fix. The suggestion for some type of group meeting with a firm is a good one as it is the only way to solve it is to work on the whole area. If who ever suggested it gets something going post it and lets see what we can do. They are a nuisance but I do think it is the cicadas which we seem to have year after year. It is hard to entertain on your patio/deck when your guests are watching skunks come closer and closer! 

• To the person with the chipmunk problem. Get a dog!! My dogs chase those little critters all over the place and now we have found that we have very few problems with them ! Now, if it were only that easy to get rid of the skunks!!!!!! 

• Great input on the skunk problems. I've got a slightly different question - I now have the cicadas burrowing under the edge of my patio, creating what I first thought were some monster ant hills alongside. Does anyone have any magic potions to stop them and get rid of the ones already there? (Leave the video of a Village Board meeting running…who knows what may scare them off.)

They serve and protect...highlights from August

And once again the dedicated officers of the Buffalo Grove Police Department finish another month of serving and protecting.

Here are some of the “highlights” from August.

Bedtime story needed?

Resident reported loud noises coming from her upstairs neighbor’s unit. Officer spoke with the upstairs neighbor who stated that her children had been playing loudly but she would put them to bed. 

Make sense…

Resident stated that someone has been damaging the tires to her vehicle, but she could not think of whom. Officer located a screw in one of the tires and told the resident that she may have driven over debris in the roadway.

Really now…

Resident stated that she has been having issues with a neighbor and believes that the cucumber slices she found near her patio were placed there by her neighbor. The resident will report the incident to the homeowner’s association. 

Just a reminder…

Resident reported that weeds and grass were in excess of ordinance maximum. Officer verified and attempted to contact the owner without success.   (The village takes lawn height seriously…)

Really now, part 2…

Complainant stated that his ex girlfriend would not return his car. He has asked her but she refuses to comply. Officer spoke with the ex girlfriend who stated that she would return the car if the complainant returned hers. The complainant will contact the ex and make the switch. 

Getting the bird..and then some…

Officer responded to a report of two birds in a cage, sitting on the parkway with a sign which stated “Free”. Officer spoke to the resident who stated that the birds belong to her son, he moved back to a foreign country, and she wants to get rid of the birds. The officer advised the resident of other means to get rid of the birds and to bring them back into the house. The resident complied, invited the officer to bible study, and then blessed him.

And finally….

Resident stated she awoke and emerged into the hallway where she was able to see a painting contractor working alone in another bedroom. The contractor was only wearing a tool belt, sox and shoes. The resident did not make contact with the painter, but called her mother who then called 911. The officers asked the contractor to get dressed and the mother requested he leave the residence, which he did.



Gaggin' in the Grove is also available at http://stanzoller.wordpress.com/2012/09/07/another-month-of-serving-and-protecting/

You can't beat fun at this ballgame...

It’s one of many events on the Buffalo Grove Days Schedule.

Saturday, 4 p.m. at Kendrigan Field at Twin Creeks Park – the Buddy Baseball game.

While many attendees to Buffalo Grove Days may crave the variety of food, the music, the parade, this event is one that shouldn’t be overlooked.

This is for residents who have special needs and not for those who have a need to be special.

It’s an even where children with special needs get a chance to shine on the baseball diamond aided by residents who volunteer to help them feel special.

Sponsored by the Commission for Resident’s with Disabilities, Joanne Johnson, of the Buffalo Grove committee wrote that the highlight of the event is that it is “..Another fine example of Buffalo Grove’s sense of community.”

Imagine that -- demonstrating a sense of community.  No me-first attitude, no one taking the spotlight.

Just volunteers helping special needs kids have a good time.

The way the game works is simple.  Young people with physical challenges get to play baseball aided by a buddy – a resident who volunteers his or her time.  Quite simply, Buddy Ball pairs children with special needs with able-bodied volunteers who help the players throw or run.

It’s not a one-time event, games are held throughout the spring and summer.  The Buffalo Grove Days event has a special importance because, like the rest of BG Days, it’s a community event and a chance to showcase how residents can team up to enhance life in the village.

Worth it?  Participants and parents from Buddy Baseball games around the country seem to think so: 

•        “I love the non-competitive nature. The coaches were amazing with all the kids…they could turn a melt-down around in a flash! 

•      “This was a wonderful experience for our whole family. Thank you so much!”  

So inbetween the music, food, art, rides and parade – don’t miss a baseball game that is not all about winning or losing – but bringing happiness to a group of ballplayers who love the game and relish the chance just to play.

You’re other option is watching the Cubs.

Seems like a no brainer to me.  And you don’t have to wait until next year.

It's time to give them the boot...

It’s time.

Amid the usual mudslinging by folks who label themselves as community activists, there’s a tendency to overlook other news in the village.

Yes, there is other news in the village.

As you look through the various board, commissions and departments that make up Buffalo Grove, there’s one that stands out.

The reality is this – It’s time to give them the boot.

Period.

There’s no sense in waiting – the action needs to start as soon as possible – say this Friday.

That’s when you’ll find members of the Buffalo Grove Fire Department at the intersection of Lake-Cook and Arlington Heights roads collecting money for MDA as part of its Fill the Boot campaign.  The fire fighters will be at Buffalo Grove and Dundee roads on Aug. 31.  They will be at the intersections from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days.

It’s another example of how we look past the obvious and the controversies, or alleged controversies, and take for granted our public servants. 

Which is too bad because most of the time we hear only about problems.  While some residents give up their time to complain, the fire fighters give up their time to raise money.

 

A lot of it, by the way.  Last year the fire fighters raised over $22,200.  Since 1994, they have raised $286,000.  The money goes to a variety of things including wheel chairs, summer camps, and home modifications for persons with MD.

And if you think it comes from big donations – think again.  A couple of years ago I stopped to talk with some of the fire fighters as they collected.  Interestingly enough, they said drivers in high-end cars zip right by while folks who drive older cars and appear to be more “every day” people – stop and donate.

Go figure.

The bottom line is the efforts by the Fire Department are unprecedented.  And don’t think it’s the only the fire fighters do.  They’re also sponsoring a blood drive at the main fire station, 1051 Highland Grove Drive.

The day before the MDA drive.

It’s activism at its best.