It has been
nearly 30 years since Buffalo Grove unveiled its Farmers Market. Like the
village, the market has changed.
While fresh
produce from farmers around the tri-state area are still the core of the crops,
the array of more than 45 vendors that participate during the season has
provided more than fresh produce.
Unlike other
area markets, the Buffalo Grove market offers almost exclusively food items.
While some vendors offer items for pets, and others offer services, there are
no siding salespeople, insurance agents or company representatives hawking
products.
The market
has reflected the change in Buffalo Grove’s population with a variety of
diverse vendors.
Census data
from 2025 bears out the change. While the village is 58.2 percent white, the
Asian population is 29 percent of the population, while Hispanic or Latino
residents make up 5.8 percent and Black or African American 3.4 percent.
According to
the Pew Research Center, “The U.S. Census Bureau defines an Asian person as
having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia,
or the Indian subcontinent, or Central Asia. This includes national origin
groups such as China, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands,
Vietnam, and Central Asian countries like Afghanistan.”
The village
is adamant about diversifying its workforce, noting on its website that
“Buffalo Grove has a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our
Affirmative Action Recruiting Plan, in place since 1986 and updated every three
years, aims to hire minorities and women to ensure an equitable workforce
distribution.”
It’s
something that is a passion with Village Board President Eric Smith. “Buffalo
Grove’s diversity is one of our greatest strengths. Our residents bring a rich
range of cultures, experiences and perspectives that make our community more
welcoming, vibrant and resilient. By celebrating what makes each of us unique
while working together toward shared goals, we continue building a Village
where everyone can feel at home.”
While
residents may see the greater diversity in restaurants and grocery stores, a
trip to the Farmers Market offers residents a taste of the village’s changing
cultural scene.
On any given
Sunday, residents can find Hispanic, Indian, French, and even Liberian foods.
While
Hispanic, French and Indian flavors may be more common, a taste of Liberia is
found at one of the newer vendors, Nuts to Go, which touts its offerings as
“the fresh, rich taste of hand-roasted nuts, rooted in our founder Garcon
Morweh’s Liberian heritage, where nuts like almonds and cashews are a beloved
snack.” (Pictured at left)
In addition
to food vendors, a non-profit organization and “business of the week” are part
of the weekly event.
The Market
was started in 1998 and was held from 3 to 7 p.m. on Fridays in the parking lot
by the old Public Works building. The season ran seven weeks. The move to
Sundays at Mike Rylko Park started in 2009.
The Market
is in Rylko Park, 951 McHenry Rd. It is open from 8 to 12:30 p.m. every Sunday,
except during Buffalo Grove Days, until Oct. 11.
Prevention, protection, safety, focus of Fire Department
programs
When it
comes to thinking about a fire department, many people may think of fighting
fires and providing emergency rescue and medical services.
At left, Public Educator/Fire Inspector Peter Gripper installs
a smoke alarm But in
Buffalo Grove, that’s just part of what the Fire Department does. Despite the
work and rigorous lifestyle firefighters and paramedics endure, there are some
folks who don’t look past the obvious. For example, one village official
questioned the need for Fire Station 27 at 100 W. Half Day Road because, as he
told the Buffalo Grove Report “All the firemen (sic) do is sit around and wait
for a call.”
Pundits
will tell you that’s hardly the case. In addition to a variety of classes, such
as monthly CPR classes, the Buffalo Grove Fire Department offers several
programs to safeguard the safety of residents.
While the
village recently touted a program that offers free smoke alarms to residents,
it’s a program that has been offered by the Fire Department for several years.
Following the guidelines of the Illinois
Fire Safety Alliance, the initiative is spearheaded by Public Educator/Fire
Inspector Peter Gripper. The program does more than just give residents smoke
detectors. Under Gripper’s guidance, the department surveys a resident’s home
and makes recommendations for and, if the resident desires, installs
complimentary smoke detectors. The initiative has been highly successful and is
scheduled to be cited by the Illinois State Fire Marshal’s office in the near
future.
Residents
who want fire safety tips, can request a copy of the Fire Department’s Home
Fire Safety Checklist. It can also be found here.
A
Knox Box fits securely on a front door
In addition
to handling the smoke alarm program, Gripper also administers the Knox Box
program administered by the Fire Department. A Knox Box is a lock box that
contains a resident’s house key. The box can only be opened by the Fire
Department in the event of an emergency. Knox Boxes are generally in homes
which, notes Knox Box, “Homes with seniors or residents with mobility
challenges, individuals with medical conditions, properties requiring frequent
emergency access, and homeowners seeking greater emergency preparedness and
peace of mind.”
A Knox
Box holds a key that can only be accessed by the Fire Department
Responding
units have a key to a resident’s Knox Box and can quickly gain access to a
dwelling without causing major damage. Because of the proprietary nature of
each fire department’s participation, when a resident orders a box, it is sent
directly to the Fire Department which then notifies the resident of its arrival
and schedules installation. Buffalo Grove uses the Knox “Home Box” which
installs on the top of a door without being permanently installed.
While the
Fire Department administers the program at no charge, residents must purchase a
box from Knox Box.
Details
about both programs are available by emailing Gripper at firesafety@vbg.org.
Long Grove approves day care center
The Long
Grove Village Board approved a plan Aug. for a day center despite concerns
voiced by nearby residents and some Board members.
The
Children’s Lighthouse is planned for 0 Fremont Way at the intersection of Hicks
Road (Illinois Rt. 53) and Fremont Way.
In addition
to concerns about traffic through The Crossings subdivision, at issue is a plan
that calls for the entrance and exit to be on Fremont Way, which is a Buffalo
Grove street. Long Grove officials have maintained that an entrance and exit on
Hicks Road have been ruled out by the Illinois Department of Transportation
(IDOT).
At the July
7 meeting of Long Grove’s Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals, Long
Grove Village Manager Chris Sparkman said IDOT has mandated that the entrance
be on Fremont, something Buffalo Grove officials say is not the case.
In a letter dated July 7,
Buffalo Grove officials indicated that “To date, despite relying on access to
the Village right of way, no application to the Village has been filed as
required by Title 12 of the Municipal Code. Accordingly, the Village cannot
issue access permit(s) for the proposed development.”
According
to reporting in The Daily Herald, the question now is how will Buffalo
Grove respond. The Herald cites comments by Buffalo Grove Village President
Eric Smith who told the Herald ““Long Grove can approve everything they want.
It doesn’t matter…They need access to it. They need to get that from us.”
The
approval of the plan followed a special use permit for the site, which is zoned
for Office and Research facilities.
In
Other Community News
Thefts keep cops busy in July
Thefts
continue to be the incidents that kept Buffalo Grove police busy during July. According
to the Department’s monthly incident map, officers responded to 142 calls from
July 1 to July 1.
In addition
to the 11 thefts, officers also investigated:
** One report of arson.
** Two reports of battery.
** One report of burglary to a
business.
** Three reports of criminal damage
to property.
** One report of criminal trespass.
** Three reports of disorderly
conduct – all by phone or electronic device.
** Nine reports of driving
violations that were not moving violations.
** Five DUIs.
** Two reports of fraud listed as online
theft by deception
** One weapons violation for an aggravated
discharge of a firearm
To no
surprise, items listed as “Local Code”, which are generally noncriminal
occurrences, led the list with 100 contacts with the department. These calls
include assisting other village departments, well-being checks, customer /
manager complaints, employee / manager issues, suspicious vehicles, people,
lost/found, intoxicated people, landlord / tenant disputes and stray animals.
Recent police reports
** Five vehicles in the 100 block of
Steeple were broken into. Police report that all contained bags left inside in
plain view.
** A resident in the 400 block of
Towne Place reported that their vehicle was driven out of the driveway and
parked down the street. A credit and debit card were taken.
** A resident in the 600 block of
east Deerfield Parkway reported that their vehicle was entered and a bag
containing a wallet and two watches both valued at $1,000 were taken.
** There were two reports of an
unknown person throwing trash in a business dumpster without permission.
** A bicycle was taken from an
apartment building’s bike room.
** An Apple iPad was stolen from
inside the vehicle in the 1100 block of Windbrooke.
** Four tires that were for sale on
a resident’s property in the 800 block of Trace Drive were stolen.
Remodeled fire station about finished
The
rebuilding of Fire Station 25, 505 W. Dundee is about finished. According
to reporting in the Daily Herald, the new facility will be unveiled Sept.
16 with an open house Sept. 19.
Cops plan Labor Day traffic crackdown
The Buffalo
Grove Police Department will be among more than 200 Illinois law
enforcement agencies in “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over,” “Drive High Get a
DUI” and “Click It or Ticket” campaigns this Labor Day. From Aug. 15 through
Sept. 2, officers will be focused on stopping impaired driving, enforcing seat
belt laws and reducing other dangerous driving behaviors.
This local
effort is part of a statewide campaign supported by the Illinois Department of
Transportation, which administers the programs with federal highway safety
funds.
Community services, health fair Aug. 23
The Buffalo Grove Community Foundation will
host a Community Services and Wellness Fair on Sunday, Aug. 23, 2026, from 8
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mike Rylko Community Park, adjacent to the Buffalo Grove
Farmers Market at 951 McHenry Rd.
The event
will feature information about and participation by local services, nonprofit
organizations, health and wellness providers, schools, service clubs and community
groups.
Resource tables,
information booths, health screenings, children’s activities, safety demonstrations,
games and giveaways will be available.
Vitalant
will host a blood drive. Donors may make appointments by calling Vitalant at
(877) 258- 4825 or visiting donors.vitalant.org with code ORD0BG98. Walk-ins
are welcome.
Swim school plans “grand reopening”
Big Blue Swim School, 101 N. McHenry
Rd. Buffalo Grove is hosting a “Grand Reopening Celebration” from noon to 4
p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 12 to 4 p.m.
Free for enrolled families,
prospective members and the local community, the celebration will feature a DJ,
face painting, balloon artists, snacks and beverages, along with tours of the
newly renovated facility and opportunities to meet the local team and learn
more about Big Blue's curriculum.
Families can learn more about Big
Blue Swim School or schedule a free trial lesson at this link.
You
May Be Interested In…
** Park
catalog available – The Buffalo Grove Park District’s fall program
guide is now available here.
** BG
Days ‘Megaband’ available – Want to save money on carnival rides at BG
Days, Sept. 3 – 7? Cost-saving Megabands are available here.
** BG Days
activities listed -- There’s more to BG Days than the carnival. A schedule of
activities, including a new “Paint and Sip” can be found here.
** Buddy
Baseball Game Sept. 5 – The annual Buddy Baseball Game, sponsored by the Rick
Kahen Commission for Residents with Disabilities, is from 4 to 7 p.m. on
Saturday, Sept. 5 as part of Buffalo Grove Days. Details are here.
** If
you’re keeping track – The BGPD issued 124 citations as part of a
focused traffic safety campaign throughout the month of July reminding
motorists to slow down to save lives.
During
this enforcement period, the BGPD made one traffic arrest and issued
124 tickets including: 105 speeding citations, four seat belt
citations and 15 other citations
** New
registration schedule at ITPLD— If you’re planning to attend a program at
the Indian Trails Public Library District, it has a new registration schedule. Details
are here.
Need
a Reason to Celebrate?
Aug. 14
Love
Your Bookshop Day
National
Creamsicle Day
World
Lizard Day
Aug. 15
Chant
at the Moon Day
National
Lemon Meringue Pie Day
National Shoe
Donation Day
Aug. 16
National Independent
Worker Day
National Roller
Coaster Day
National
Tell A Joke Day
Aug. 17
Baby Boomers
Recognition Day
Black Cat
Appreciation Day
National I Love
My Feet Day
Aug. 18
National
Couples Day
National Ice Cream
Pie Day
Pinot
Noir Day
Aug. 19
International
Bow Day
International
Orangutan Day
National Soft Ice
Cream Day
Aug. 20
National
Chocolate Pecan Pie Day
National
Radio Day
World
Mosquito Day
The usual stuff…
·
Got News?-- If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or
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to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.Articles should include a contact name, email and phone number.
Commentary articles are also welcome. They should be limited to 350 words and
should include contact information as noted above. All submissions may be
edited for style, spelling, and libelous content.
·
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News & Information) by email, send your email address to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.
·
If you didn’t know -- The Buffalo Grove Report (Buffalo Grove News and Info), is
locally and independently produced by Buffalo Grove resident Stan Zoller. A
longtime journalist and journalism educator, Zoller covers Buffalo Grove and
monitors news and information about the village, its schools, park district and
community events. The Buffalo Grove Report is not affiliated with any municipal
body. Zoller is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the
Chicago Headline Club.
