Craftsman or not?

My copy of “Mental Floss” – yes it’s a magazine – arrived in the mail the other day.  Mental Floss features unusual stories.  For example, the recent issue includes in-depth writing on the 25 most powerful TV shows, Salvador Dali, and the original Dear Abby.  Seriously.

               The article, however, which caught my eye the most, outside of the one about purchasing homing pigeons, was one on comedian Bill Cosby.  Yes, that Bill Cosby. And while the article cites Cosby’s signature routine, “To Russell, My Brother, Whom I Slept With” as his best, the one I always associate Cosby with is Noah.  It’s not only a great routine, it’s a great story – one which might have been different had it taken place in Buffalo Grove.

               I am not sure just what the village regulations are for arks, but I image Noah would have to go before the ZBA (Zoological Board of Animals) before coming to the Village Board.  No doubt he’d be drilled about his association with L & L (Lions and Llamas) and the number of bathrooms on board the ark.

               But what would set Noah apart from some people in the village is that he was a craftsman.  He wasn’t a craftsman because he built things, it is because he did it right.  I have never built an ark, because I don’t know what a cubid is, let alone I have no space for an ark.

               I do, however, admire those craftsmen who use skill and master techniques in their projects.  There are, in my mind, two types of craftsmen.  The first is a 'butcher' who swings a hammer, tears things down and then rather than rebuild, bellows to people that they don’t have a plan.  The other type of craftsman has a plan – perhaps not always perfect -- but rather than swing the hammer, they use screw drivers, drills and a collection of files, rasps and awls.  Rather than swing aimlessly, the fine craftsman, more of an artisan, gains input and shares it with his or her peers so the final project, whenever it’s completed, is a work of art, or close to it.

               Municipalities, such as Buffalo Grove, are loaded with craftsmen.  And while the finished projects are not always works of arts, there has been, in most cases, collaboration in the design and implementation.

               No village board, school board, city council, plan commission or park board is going to have a perfect pallet in front of them.  So when the wrecking crews show up yielding hammers and crow bars, they do so just tear done without any plan.  They just swing the hammer and say “look at me, look at I did” instead of saying what they can do.  But when you swing only for attention there is nothing to show for it but a pile of rubble.  Fortunately, there are enough folks with screw drivers, drills, files, rasps and awls to keep building.

               And look past the rubble.

Far from being a field of dreams...

I love baseball.

And being a Cubs fan I did not see much this season.  Like none.

So as a way to enjoy America’s pastime, I decided to watch one of my favorite movies, “Field of Dreams.”

So stretched out in the old Lazy Boy, I was hoping to see Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones, Amy Madigan and a litany of actors playing some of baseball immortals.

But darn it all, just like the Cubs, the movie wasn’t performing.

Every time I turned it on, I ended up at crmproperties.com.  Instead of cornstalks, I saw glistening strip centers.

I was mystified.

And then, even without the help of permanent or replacement officials, after further review, I finally figured it out.  The fine folks at CRM Properties are the ones who want to leave their indelible mark on Buffalo Grove.  Like Costner, they must believe that “if you build it, they will come.”

And so, what do they do?  They put together a plan for a massive downtown for Buffalo Grove, which they presented at the Aug. 6 Village Board meeting.  So why blog about it now? A couple of reasons.  For one, on Aug. 6 I was enjoying the fine shopping and dining of Paris.  Secondly, I wanted to take a better look at what was being proposed.  And finally, after two months, some folks are voicing their concern.

And who can blame them?  There’s no doubt that the village lacks a strong retail climate.  A smattering of strip centers makes up the village’s retail climate.  There are, not just in Town Center, but other strip centers, waves of empty stores.

A 65-acre complex with eight- and 10-story buildings may glisten, but will it really solve the problem?  Don’t count on it.  CRM Properties has several high-end developments.  Most, however, are built over or near existing infrastructure with strong proximity to public transportation.

They’re crowning example is the revitalization of downtown Deerfield.  That had nowhere to go but up.  It’s hard to miss when you are showcasing a retail development at a major intersection (Waukegan and Deerfield roads) a place Deerfield residents and shoppers from the area have been familiar with for decades.

Aside from the redevelopment of downtown Deerfield, other area downtowns have gone through attempted metamorphisms – with varying degrees of success.  Highland Park’s Port Clinton Square and Renaissance place have worked well within the existing framework of its retail district.

Arlington Heights has done a beautiful job of incorporating arts, residential and retail – but there too is a case where it’s within the framework of a retail area, which, like Highland Park, has mass transit in proximity to the district.  It is far from perfect.  In fact, Arlington Heights is seeing more and more “for lease” signs in its downtown.  Think theaters are the answers?  Think again.  The movie theaters in downtown Arlington Heights are now shuttered.  In fact, it was reported in the Oct. 4 Trib Local, that the Arlington Economic Alliance is planning to survey residents about their shopping patterns.  Wonder why?  Probably to draw more folks to a somewhat struggling Camelot.

                It’s interesting that Buffalo Grove village officials did not seek out CRM Properties.  They approached the village.  That should tell you something right there.  No doubt they surveyed and researched the village’s land use, zoning, socioeconomics and other statistical information that they wanted to put in their fuel tank.

                But did they talk to the residents who would be impacted by their plan?  Probably not.  That is because they know a buzz saw when they see one.  My sources, none of which are on the village board, tell me that some thought was given to enhancing the Lake-Cook Road / Rt. 83 intersection, but costs and site limitations kept them from pursuing that.  Translation – they could not make enough money.

                So what’s next?  Hello, Robin Hood – is it OK if we take your concept and twist it a bit?  Instead of taking from the rich and give to the poor, if you look at CRM’s plan, it takes from the poor to give to the rich – or maybe it’s to take from the poor to make them rich.

                The panacea they presented in August (and this is all on the village’s web site) calls for such amenities as an up-scale grocery store, drug store, children’s museum movie theater and live theater.  My goodness, how original are they?

                Buffalo Grove had a gourmet grocery which had about as much luck as the White Sox did in September, there are two, count ‘em two, outstanding children’s museum within 45 minutes of Buffalo Grove and we have more drug stores than the Cubs had losses this year.

                So what’s the attraction?  Live theater.  This, of course, comes at the same time the Buffalo Grove Park District is looking to create a performing arts center on the site of Congregation Beth Am.

                So what do we have here?  Everything CRM proposes.  So let’s say, for the sake of argument, that this “downtown” becomes reality, what happens next?  With such duplication either the folks who have been in business at Lake-Cook and Rt. 83 die and the new downtown thrives, or it fails and the existing commerce continues.  Either way, we stand to be stuck with more retail vacancies.

                Despite what pundits say, there has to be a way to cohesively develop a plan that intertwines the existing retail with those along Buffalo Grove Road.  You have drug stores, movie theaters, performing arts (in the near future), doctor offices, condominiums, and, of course, sushi restaurants and a Starbucks.

                I find it interesting that CRM also calls for a new village hall, police station and public works building.  Why? And how about eight- and 10-story buildings?  They just blend in so well abutting against residential neighborhoods.  The location is about as conducive to Buffalo Grove as a Packers bar would be at Soldiers Field.

                It’s no wonder a group of residents, marketing themselves under “Save Buffalo Grove” have formed.  Most seem to be from nearby neighborhoods and are concerned about the quality of life near their homes.  Understandable.  However, they need to convey a message of concern and not use threats toward elected officials.

The proposal was made not even two months ago and there has not been any discussion on the development of Camelot.  Reaction to something as glistening and shiny as CRM’s proposal is like looking at that ultimate sports car – your eyes become as big as saucers.  Then what?  You look at the price tag, the insurance costs, and the gas mileage, and then the sports car -- like CRM’s plan -- would be described in words often used Marquette University’s late basketball coach, Al Maguire.

                Seashells and balloons.

Post Labor Day syndrome?

Maybe it’s a post Labor Day syndrome that brought an end to strangeness.  The September police logs lack the usual number of somewhat unusual complaints.

But not totally…

Let’s hope it’s not Margaret Hamilton

Resident reported finding a note under her door that stated “Bad wicked ugly neighbor, move out!” The note was written in capital letters with a black marker. The resident has not had any issues with anyone. 

This is suspicious?

Resident reported a tan Kia SUV driving through the neighborhood. Officer checked the area with negative results.

Gotta be careful on social media..

Resident stated that a former high school acquaintance used to call her constantly and he was told not to do so. During the past week, the resident received three letters from the acquaintance addressed to her parent’s address. Officer attempted to contact the acquaintance and left a message that further contact by him would lead to an arrest. 

Talk about trashing the place..

Complex manager reported that a contractor, hired by a bank for the foreclosed property, is throwing garbage from the third story balcony, putting residents and their property at risk. Officer spoke to the contractor and advised him of the error of his way. He agreed to stop throwing things off the balcony. 

Just a reminder about scams..

Resident stated that she has received a number of calls from a male caller that stated the resident won a large sum of money and needs to first send $500 for fees. The resident suspects that this is a scam and she was advised that it is. The officer told the resident that if the subject calls again, tell him that the police have been notified and hang up.

From the “you are kidding, right?” department…

Employee reported a male subject in a blue/green mini van that kept changing parking spots and looking into the store. The employee believed that the subject was wearing lingerie. Officer located the van and spoke with the driver who stated that he was going into the store to purchase a present for his wife. The Officer noted that the driver was wearing a tee shirt and a slip trimmed in lace. The officer requested that the driver put his pants back on and not to return to the store. 

Other news from the blotter…

In addition to the myriad of summaries posted by the Buffalo Grove Police, there is other news.  Hats off to Officer Jim Harris.  As posted in the blotter…

Officer Harris awarded for tornado relief efforts

Buffalo Grove Police Officer Jim Harris received the department's first quarter 2012 Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award.

Harris was honored Sept. 10 for leading a relief effort to benefit tornado victims in Kentucky earlier this year.

Officer Jim Harris was given a plaque after Village Manager Dane Bragg spoke of his efforts to provide assistance to residents of West Liberty, Ky., following the March 2 tornado.

Harris was nominated to receive the Buffalo Grove Police Department’s Above and Beyond the Call of Duty award by Deputy Chief Steve Husak, Commander Tom Reed and Officer Danielle Baron.

“After seeing the newspaper coverage of the damage, Jim began to think about what he could do to help the people in the area,” said Bragg, reading from the nomination letter from Harris’ colleagues. “He decided that he would travel south with needed supplies, as requested in various newspaper articles he read.”

Harris turned to fellow village employees for help, and donations were provided by staff, The Connie Sizer Foundation, Critter Stuff Pet Supplies, and two local Brownie troops.

“His truck was packed so tight, he almost didn’t have room for a change of clothes,” Bragg read from the nomination letter. “Jim told us it made him proud to work in such a fine village.”

Harris quietly accepted the award before receiving congratulatory handshakes from members of the Village Board.

Think about this the next time you get mad at a cop.  They do a lot more than just issue tickets.

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.)