Street racing rattles residents / Branding workshop set / 'Fall Fest' on tap
Street racing irks residents
High-speed driving on area roadways has raised the
ire of residents on social media.
The focus
of the angst has been “drag racing” on several stretches of heavily traveled
streets including Lake-Cook Road, Buffalo Grove Road, Old Checker Road and Ill.
Rt. 83.
Posters say the abusive driving occurs on a regular
basis and at all hours. Some posters claimed that calls to Buffalo Grove Police
have not produced positive results. “police are patrolling, they can certainly
drive around the area,” one poster noted.
However, police officials note, it’s more than just
being called.
“This issue is nothing new and has resulted in
horrific crashes,” Sgt. Tony Turano said in an email. “The crashes often result
in the serious injury of the participants and innocent bystanders, or ending in
the tragic loss of life,” he said. Turano heads up the Buffalo Grove Police
Department’s traffic unit.
Posters cited a 2008 accident that killed Daniel
Contini, 20, of Buffalo Grove. According to media reports about the crash,
Contini was drag racing with a Mount Prospect man along Aptakisic Road.
Marco L. Rosero, who was 20 at the time of the
crash and lived in Mt. Prospect, was racing Contini. He was found guilty of
four charges related to the crash in Lake County Circuit Court in 2009.
Posters
say the racing is a regular occurrence, with one saying “It’s like clockwork
the same time daily,” while another posted that “we hear it every night at the
same time. It happens around 12:30 a.m.”
Turano added that “Sporadically, we do receive
complaints of cars racing one another. Generally, when they are received, it is
after the incident has taken place with little detail of the offending
vehicles, so it becomes difficult to conduct an investigation.” A poster echoed
Turano’s comment posting that it’s “hard to report something if you don’t know
where it’s happening.
Turano noted that the BGPD participates in
grant-funded traffic enforcement through the Illinois Department of
Transportation (IDOT) to proactively identify offenders. He said the grant not
only focuses on speeders, but also drunken drivers, and drivers who don’t use
seatbelts and talk on cell phones while driving.
“The police department is also working on obtaining
and implementing new technologies within the next year. This technology will
assist us in identifying offenders who partake in dangerous driving. These
efforts are in addition to our patrol units immediately responding to any calls
of such activity,” Turano said.
Residents who suspect or see drag racing or other
excessive motor vehicle operation should call 9-1-1.
Pedestrian bridge closing set
The pedestrian bridge over Route 83
located just south of the Golf Dome will close for routine maintenance starting
Monday Sept. 11 and lasting through the end of the month. The work will require
temporary lane closures on Route 83.
Park parking lot construction set
Construction on the parking
lot on the south end of Willow Stream Park, 651 Old Checker Road in Buffalo
Grove, will begin Monday, Sept. 11. The parking lots is being completely
rebuilt.
The project is expected to be completed by the
end of the year.
Alternative parking
will be available on the north end of the park near the pool, located at 600
Farrington Drive in Buffalo Grove.
More information, as well as
updates once the project begins, are available on the Construction Projects
page of the Park District’s website at bgparks.org.
Branding focus of workshop
Residents can attend
a special community creative workshop focusing on branding efforts for the
village at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 13in the Cook Room at Indian Trails
Public Library, 355 Schoenbeck Road in Wheeling.
North Star Branding
& Marketing will share data collected from community surveys and other
research methods. Attendees will have the opportunity to provide input for the
creative process of the community branding initiative.
Additional information about the
village’s branding initiative is available here.
Singers fundraiser helps sick kids
The BG Singers, known
for their concerts, have found a way to help sick kids without raising their
voices.
According to the Daily
Herald, a month-long display and sale of ukuleles will raise funds for the
Florida-based Ukulele
Kids Club Inc. The ukuleles, notes the Herald, are on display at the Buffalo Grove
Community Arts Center, 225 N. McHenry Rd. If you want to buy a ukulele, you’ll
need to pluck over $100. The full story can be found here.
Cops plan trivia night benefit
The Buffalo Grove
Police Department is hosting a trivia night to raise money for Illinois Special
Olympics. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6 at the Community
Arts Center, 225 McHenry Road. Cost is $40 per person. Tables of eight are
$300. For additional information, including sponsorship opportunities, email Melessa
Horbus at MHorbus@VBG.org.
Program helps birds and senior citizens
Three
Stevenson High School students have found a way to help North American birds
while bringing some smiles to residents at Sunrise Senior Living.
The
Daily Herald reports that the students are working with Sanctuary for the Skies
by building a bird sanctuary at the facility on Rt. 22 in Buffalo Grove. The
complete story can be found here.
JCC
Chicago hosting ‘Fall Fest’ Sunday
The Jewish Community
Centers of Chicago are hosting a Fall Fest from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lake County
JCC, at Elaine Frank Apachi Day Camp, 23280 North Old McHenry Road.
Attendees can explore Garoon Gateway
to Science and enjoy endless activities from arts & crafts, climbing wall,
gaga, lawn games, snacks.
The JCC is also
inviting teens to explore the campus, learn about leadership opportunities at
Apachi Day Camp and Sunrise Day Camp Chicago and participate in a variety of
activities including archery tag, disc golf, climbing wall and live music.
This program is free
and registration requested. All families who register will go home with a
complimentary JCC Chicago swag bag.
Full
information and a registration form can be found here.
Free shredding event Sept. 18
The Vernon Township Highway
Department will host a free shredding event from 11:30 a.m. to 2 :30 p.m. Sept.
18 at the Township Administrative Building, 3050 N. Main St. in Buffalo Grove.
Residents can bring their canceled
or unused checks, old insurance policies, bills, medical records and invoices
to be shredded.
Please note that there is a limit
of three medium sized boxes or bags, and no metal or plastics are allowed. For
questions, call 847-634-4600 and ask for Tracy.
Theft from Building – Police report that a siding machine was stolen from a
house in the 1200 block of Ranchview Court. Police did not list the value of
the unit.
Theft of auto part – Police report officers were summoned to the Woodman’s
gas station to a report of a theft in progress. According to reports, a person
told police they observed a group of subjects around a vehicle removing a part.
All subjects fled in a vehicle in an unknown location. This investigation is
ongoing.
Retail
Theft – An employee at Ricky Rockets told police two Hispanic
males were walking around and one left with a bag of chips without paying.
Residential burglary -- Police
responded to the 1200 block of Sheridan Road for a residential burglary. Upon
arrival police met with a complainant, who discovered when they entered their
home they noticed items out of place, cabinet doors and closet were ransacked.
This investigation is ongoing.
Fleeing / Attempting to Elude – A
30-year-old man, Christopher Larson of Buffalo Grove, was charged with
fleeing or attempting to elude a peace officer, speeding and driving with a
suspended or revoked license after police say he fled officers who had initiated a
traffic stop near Strathmore Court and Arlington Heights Road. Police say he
was later found at his residence and was arrested.
Retail theft -- Police
responded to Woodman’s Market, 1550 E. Deerfield Parkway, for a theft report.
Police met with store officials told them a man placed merchandise in a
shopping cart and left the last point of sale without paying. But wait, all’s
well that ends well -- the man later came back to Woodman’s and paid for the
items that were originally taken. Nonetheless, the man was charged with,
according to police reports, Retail theft – Removal of [a] shopping cart with
intent to deprive merchant of possession. Joe Friday would be proud. Kids, ask
your parents who Joe Friday is.
Need
A Reason To Celebrate?
Sept. 8
National Dog Walker Appreciation Day
Sept. 9
Care Bears Share Your Care Day
Sept. 10
Sept. 11
National Boss/Employee Exchange Day
Sept. 12
National Chocolate Milkshake Day
Sept. 13
National Bald is Beautiful Day
National Kids Take Over the Kitchen Day
Sept. 14
National Cream Filled Donut Day
Sept. 15
Sept. 16
International Eat An Apple Day
From
NationalToday.com
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