Park vandalism continues / Farmers Market opens / Bow Wow Expo set

 Man charged after eluding cops -- A 28-year-old Chicago man was charged with aggravated fleeing and attempting to elude a peace officer and driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license following a May 27 incident. Reports say officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jonathan Rudd as it headed north on Buffalo Grove Road at Checker Road.

       Rudd reportedly did not stop and, according to police, was again spotted by police traveling westbound on Farrington Diver where it failed to stop at a stop sign at Woodhollow Lane. Rudd was eventually pulled over at Farrington Drive and Checker Road.

 

Hitch swiped -- A trailer hitch was reportedly stolen off a truck parked in the 0-100 block of Oak Creek Lane. Nothing else was reported stolen from the vehicle.

 

Vandals hit park -- Police report that the pavement, trash cans, and portable restroom were spray painted with graffiti at Churchill Park. The damage was discovered on May 27.

 

Package stolen – A package delivered to a residence in the 600 block of Hapsfield Drive was taken from the front door.

 

BBs damage siding – A resident reported to police that the siding of their residence in the 600 block of Rose Bud Place was damaged by what appeared to be BBs. No damage estimates were reported.

In Other Community News

Farmers Market opens Sunday

The Buffalo Grove Farmers Market opens its 2022 season this Sunday, June 12. Hours are from 8 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. at Mike Rylko Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road. The market, located in the west side of Rylko Park, is open Sundays through Oct. 16.

The market features locally grown fruits, vegetables and specialty items. There are also sponsored and non-profit booths. Learn more here.

 

Early voting starts Monday

Early voting for the June 28 primary election begins on Monday, June 13. Residents can register at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd., on Mondays from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., and Tuesdays - Fridays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For additional information, call (847) 459-2500.

 

Flag Day observance Tuesday

The village will hold a Flag Day event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. June 14 at Veteran's Park, 1300 N. Weiland Road.

The Police and Fire Departments' Honor Guards will present the colors. The guest speaker will be Colonel Paul Mazure.

Free hot dogs and chips will be served. There is no rain date for this event.

Pride flag flies at two sites

            The Pride flag is now flying at two sites in the village. On Tuesday, June 7, ceremonies were held to raise the flag at Ernie Karge Rotary Park with a second flag raising held Thursday, June 9 at the Vernon Township offices.

 

Safety measures increased at substation

Have you ever noticed the Com Ed substation on Aptakisic Road? Don’t feel bad if you haven’t, not many people do. But you can rest easy now because a security fence has been approved.

 

Doggone good event

Looking for a way to make your walk with your little pooch more exciting? The Park District is holding “Bow Wow Dog Expo” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16 at the Happy Tails Dog Park, 865 Commerce.

The event will include a variety of vendors, including dog groomers, an adoption program, pet suppliers and veterinarians. Your dog will also have a chance to meet and mingle with other dogs that, and this according to the Park District, “speak their own language”.

All dogs must have current shots. This free event will be held outside; so, call the Rainout Line app, or call (847) 235.6857, in case of inclement weather. For more information, or to inquire about being a vendor, contact Brian O’Malley at 847.850.2146 or brian@bgparks.org.

 

106 nabbed during enforcement campaign

The Police Department issued 106 citations during the recent Memorial Day 'Click It or Ticket' enforcement period. During that time, 51 citations for seat belt violations were issued, in addition to one child car seat, 19 speeding, 14 distracted driving, and 19 other traffic citations. There were also two DUI arrests.

The Illinois 'Click It or Ticket' campaign is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds.

 

Need a Reason to Celebrate?

June 11 

King Kamehameha Day

National Corn on the Cob Day

National German Chocolate Cake Day

National Making Life Beautiful Day

National Rosé Day

World Gin Day

June 12

International Falafel Day

National Jerky Day

National Loving Day

June 13

Eat Flexitarian Day

National Kitchen Klutzes of America Day

National Weed Your Garden Day

June 14

Flag Day

International Bath Day

Monkey Around Day

National Bourbon Day

National Call Your Doctor Day

June 15

National Bug Busting Day

National Megalodon Day

National Prune Day

June 16

Arborist Appreciation Day

Fresh Veggies Day

National Fudge Day

June 17

Global Garbage Man Day

National Dump the Pump Day

National Take Back the Lunch Break Day

June 18

International Panic Day

International Picnic Day

International Sushi Day

National Go Fishing Day

World Juggling Day

 

Got News?

If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or other community organization, please submit news, information and story ideas 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.

Questions about B.G. News & Info. should be sent to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

Subscribe by email

If you want to receive Buffalo Grove News & Information by email, send your email address to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

 

In case you didn’t know…

Buffalo Grove News and Info, is 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. Buffalo Grove News and Information is not affiliated with any municipal body.

Police Chief Casstevens retiring

Buffalo Grove Police Chief Steve Casstevens will retire in November.

Casstevens has been Buffalo Grove’s top cop for nine years and has been in law enforcement for 46 years working in law enforcement. His retirement takes effect Nov.11.

            During his time in Buffalo Grove Casstevens’ accomplishments include the creation of the Community Relations Unit (CRU), which is aimed at building trust between the police and the community. The CRU utilizes dedicated police officers and a police social worker to actively engage with community members for safety education and programming. He also implemented a department-wide Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) to provide personnel with the tools needed to intervene and/or prevent crisis incidents whenever possible. 

            “I want to thank Steve for his years of service to Buffalo Grove. He has served the community well and his work has been outstanding.  Steve will be missed in the Village of Buffalo Grove,” Village President Beverly Sussman said.

            Casstevens served as president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) (2019-2020) and president of the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police (ILACP) (2016-2017). He adopted 10 Core Principles from ILACP and NAACP for Buffalo Grove and was one of the first departments to complete the IACP ‘One Mind’ campaign, which prioritizes mental health first aid for law enforcement professionals, along with CIT training.

            State Senator Adriane Johnson worked directly with Casstevens while previously serving as a member of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

            "Chief Casstevens has been at the forefront of innovation in policing for years, demonstrated by the programs and initiatives he implemented in Buffalo Grove,” she said. “I witnessed first-hand his dedication to giving back to the profession through his leadership roles on the State, national and international levels.”

            Casstevens began his law enforcement career in the Military Police with the U.S. Army’s 101st Airborne. He later spent 30 years with the Hoffman Estates Police Department, retiring as assistant police chief. He then served as police chief in Cary from 2011 – 2013, prior to being hired as police chief in Buffalo Grove. Additionally, he served as an adjunct instructor at Northwestern University’s Center for Public Safety for 17 years.  

“Steve’s leadership has made the Police Department and our community a better place,” Village Manager Dane Bragg said. “His creativity, passion for law enforcement, and commitment to the highest standards are second to none.”

            The village will conduct an extensive search and recruitment this summer to find Casstevens’ successor. Internal and external candidates will be encouraged to apply. 

            “I have been honored to serve this noble profession for four-and-a-half decades and I have been truly blessed to serve as police chief in Buffalo Grove,” Casstevens said. “As a team, we have accomplished so much in advancing professionalism in the department with training, technology, and making certain we hire the best of the best to serve this great community.”

Man charged for child porn possession / Pride Parade set for Sunday / Farmers market returns June 12

 Man faces felony charges in porn case -- An 18-year-old Buffalo Grove man faces three felony counts of possession of child pornography after an investigation by the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Cybercrimes Unit. According to information by the Sheriff’s office and multiple media report, Jordan L. Curtis of the 2500 block of Waterbury Lane had “dozens of videos of girls under the age of 13 engaged in sexual acts with adult males.” According to information from the Sheriff’s Department, Curtis, who was arrested June 1, may face additional charges.

Cops probe burglary -- Police are continuing their investigation into a burglary at a home in the 100 block of Old Oak Ct. Preliminary police reports say the home was broken into between noon and 12:45 p.m. on May 25. Reports say the home was ransacked and numerous personal items were taken from the home. The value of items taken was not reported.

Park hit by vandalism -- Police report that playground equipment at Green Knolls Park, 1101 Green Knolls Drive, was damaged by vandals who reportedly started a small fire on the upper deck of the slide tower and damaged the finish. There was also damage to a xylophone mallet for the xylophone located in the newly opened serenity center of the park. Reports say the plastic-coated mallet and the plastic-coated braided steel cable that secures the mallet to the xylophone were also set on fire and that the melted plastic from the mallet and cable accumulated on the xylophone.

Vandals hit home, sewer covers -- Police report that vandals spray painted homes and sewer covers in the 1100 block of Lockwood Court, Lockwood Drive as well as the 1100 block of Larraway Drive.

Catalytic converter stolen -- Police say a vehicle parked in 1200 block of Deerfield Parkway had its catalytic converter stolen while it was parked overnight on May 29.

In Other Community News

Pride Parade set for Sunday

The Buffalo Grove Pride Parade is Sunday, June 5 starting at 11 a.m. The parade, sponsored by Pinta Pride Project will be on Checker Drive beginning at Carry Lane and ending at Ridgefield Lane. To coincide with the parade, the Buffalo Grove Park District will be hosting a Pride Picnic immediately following the parade as part of its new Uniquely Us series of event that celebrate diversity in Buffalo Grove. Information on the Pride Picnic can be found here.

There will be some street closures along the route beginning at 5 a.m. Sunday.

Costs for the parade are covered by the Pinta Pride Project, 501-c-3 foundation. In a social media post, Carolyn Pinta wrote that “my family raises every penny to put on this parade- nothing comes from the village.”

The first Pride Parade was in 2019, however, due to COVID-19 the parade was not held in 2020 or 2021. Car parades were held instead. 

Detour set for Brandywyn, Thompson

A construction detour for the Thompson/Brandywyn roadway construction project will be in effect starting Wednesday, June 8, through the project completion.

Traffic on Thompson Boulevard will be limited to the eastbound direction only between Arlington Heights Road and Brandywyn Lane. Brandywyn Lane will be closed to through traffic between Thompson Boulevard and Deerfield Road (local traffic will still have access through the work zone).

Visit the project webpage for additional information. 

Blood drive Saturday

The June 4 community blood drive will be held at the Community Arts Center, 225 N. McHenry Rd., instead of the Alcott Center, as previously scheduled. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. To schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org and use code ORD0BD98. To learn more, click here. 

Early voting starts June 13

Early voting begins Monday, June 13, for the Illinois Primary Election, which is Tuesday, June 28. This year's general election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

Residents can register at Village Hall on Mondays from 8 a.m. - 6:30 p.m., and Tuesdays - Fridays from 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For questions, call 847-459-2500. 

Flag Day event on tap

The village will hold a Flag Day event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. June 14 at Veteran's Park, 1300 N. Weiland Road.

The Police and Fire Departments' Honor Guards will present the colors. The guest speaker will be Colonel Paul Mazure.

Free hot dogs and chips will be served. There is no rain date for this event.
 

Farmers Market opens June 12

The Buffalo Grove Farmers Market officially opens at 8 a.m. Sunday, June 12 at Mike Rylko Park, 1000 N. Buffalo Grove Road. The Farmers Market, which operates on the west side of Rylko Park, is open Sundays through Oct. 16. It is open from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The market features locally grown fruits, vegetables and specialty items. There are also sponsored and non-profit booths. Learn more here. 

Holy COW, Board meeting set

            The Buffalo Grove Village Board will hold a Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting at 7:30, Monday, June 6 at Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd. The agenda can be found here. 

Free concert June 14

The Park District kicks off its Summer Concert Series at Willow Spring Park, 651 Old Checker Rd., on June 14 with a free performance by Pet Rock. The concert is scheduled from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Attendees can order dinner Gracie’s Kitchen & Catering ahead of the event, and have it delivered to the concert. For weather related updates on the day of concerts, use the Rainout Line app, or call (847) 235-6857. 

Library offers summer reading program

The Indian Trails Public Library District’s Summer Library Adventure is now open to all ages, and a library card is not needed to participate. This year the reading/activity log is an adventure map, available at the main library and Branch. There are camping-themed programs and activities for all ages. Follow the instructions on the map to finish the Summer Library Adventure.

There are 3 ways to register:

• Beanstack website or app (Apple or Android)

• Visit the Main Library or Branch

• Call the Library at 847.459.4100

Complete the log on the adventure map to receive a completion prize and chances to win a grand prize (for high school, adult and Launch Pad). 

Variety of DIY projects available at Library

In celebration of the Summer Library Adventure kickoff week, visit the Indian Trails Public Library District’s Launch Pad for a new DIY project every day the week of June 6-10. Registration not required. 

• Monday, June 6: Friendship Bracelets

• Tuesday, June 7: Make Your Own Button

• Wednesday, June 8: Painted Rocks

• Thursday, June 9: Keychains

• Friday, June 10: Postcards

            The Library is at 355 Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. 

Need a Reason to Celebrate?

June 4

International Corgi Day

International Tabletop Day

National Bubbly Day

National Cognac Day

National Hug Your Cat Day

National Old Maids Day

June 5

Constitution Day

National Cancer Survivors Day

National Veggie Burger Day

June 6

D-Day

National Applesauce Cake Day

National Drive-In Movie Day

National Eyewear Day

National Gardening Exercise Day

June 7

World Caring Day

Daniel Boone Day

National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

National VCR Day

June 8

International Day of Action for Elephants in Zoos

National Best Friends Day

National Name Your Poison Day

National Upsy Daisy Day

June 9

National Sex Day

International Dark 'n Stormy® Day

National Donald Duck Day

National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day

June 10

National Ballpoint Pen Day

National Black Cow Day

National Egg Roll Day

National Herbs and Spices Day

June 11

King Kamehameha Day

National Corn on the Cob Day

National German Chocolate Cake Day

National Making Life Beautiful Day

National Rosé Day

World Gin Day

 

Got News?

If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or other community organization, please submit news, information and story ideas 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.

Questions about B.G. News & Info. should be sent to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

Subscribe by email

If you want to receive Buffalo Grove News & Information by email, send your email address to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

 

In case you didn’t know…

Buffalo Grove News and Info, is 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. Buffalo Grove News and Information is not affiliated with any municipal body.

Ceremony honors those who served

             Nearly 100 people took an hour out of their Memorial Day to honor members of the armed forces who died during battle.

Sponsored by Kingswood United Methodist Church, the ceremony was held at Knopf Cemetery. The cemetery is operated by the Church.

The program included comments by Rev. James Preston, lead pastor at Kingswood, and by Lt. Jamieson Prevoznak, chaplain at Great Lakes Naval Station. Also participating were members of Boy Scout Troop 401 which is sponsored by Kingswood. The event also included replacing the flag at Knopf Cemetery and a flag retirement ceremony, all done by members of Troop 401.

In addition to remembering those who have fallen during combat, Rev. Preston remembered the 21 victims of the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas.

The overall focus, however, was on the meaning of Memorial Day, started 1868 as a way to remember troops that died during the Civil War, following an order by John Logan then commander in chief of the Army.

In his remarks, Lt. Prevoznak said that while Memorial Day weekend signifies the start of the summer with a focus on family fun and sales, he urged attendees to overlook the primary meeting of the holiday. “The spirit (of the holiday) needs to be renewed and refreshed,” he said.

“While it is a great day to go to the beach and have a barbecue, it’s because of all the brave souls who paid the ultimate sacrifice,” he said. “We can’t let the souls of those who went before us go unforgotten.”

Members of Troop 401 raise a new flag.

Members of Troop 401

    Nearly 100 people attended

Members of Troop 401 prepare a flag for retirement (above) and

 then retire the flag by burning it (below).

Man busted for DUI, drugs / Memorial Day observances set / 11 named Eagle Scouts

Motorist eludes police -- Buffalo Grove police are continuing their investigation into an incident that involved a motorists who, police say, was driving a vehicle while not wearing a seatbelt. Reports say police pulled the vehicle over in the area of Bernard and Regent drives, but as the officer approached the vehicle, the driver drove off, almost hitting another vehicle. Reports say the vehicle made a U-turn and drove towards the officer, almost striking him. The vehicle was last seen southbound on Arlington Heights Road.

Traffic stop leads to drug charges -- A 35year old Mundelein man was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and driving under the influence of alcohol following a May 22 traffic stop. Police say Joseph Baruffi was also cited with driving with an expired driver’s license, improper lane usage and driving with an expired vehicle registration.

            Reports say Baruffi was originally stopped for improper lane usage. During the course of the initial investigation, officers noted that Baruffi was showing signs of alcohol impairment. Following standard field sobriety tests, Baruffi was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol. Officers also found Baruffi to be in possession of a controlled substance, believed to be cocaine.

Bike stolen – A resident reported his bike was stolen from outside of Seong Hea's Martial Arts Studio, 460 W. Half Day Road The bike was valued at $270.

In Other Community News

Memorial Day Observance set

A Memorial Day Service is scheduled from 11 to noon on Monday, May 30 at the Knopf Cemetery, 525 Arlington Heights Road.

The ceremony will include music, historic readings, a guest speaker, and prayers for the country. Attendees may also bring aged and torn flags to be retired honorably. The event is coordinated by Kingwood United Methodist Church. The church has been coordinating the event for more than 30 years.

Kingswood United Methodist Church is trustee of historic Knopf Cemetery. Founded in 1853, Knopf was the final resting place for some of the first settlers of Buffalo Grove. Today, it is open to Kingswood members and the wider community for burials and purchase of plots. The cemetery is located on the east side of Arlington Heights Road, north of Lake Cook Road.

For information about the history of the cemetery, see this link.

Legion post to honor vets

Vernon American Legion Post 1247 will have a ceremony honoring veterans at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 30 at the Vernon Cemetery, 15215 Cemetery Road in Lincolnshire. The ceremony is open to the public.

June 4 blood drive switches location

The June 4 community blood drive will be held at the Community Arts Center, 225 N. McHenry Rd.,  instead of the Alcott Center, as previously scheduled. The event will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. To schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org and use code ORD0BD98. To learn more, click here.

Troop honors 11 as Eagle Scouts

Think Scouting has lost its appeal?  Check with Troop 140 at St. Mary’s Church. On May 22 it honored 11 members as Eagle Scouts, which according to the Daily Herald, is a record for the troop.

Road project officially done

Removing any doubt, officials from Lake County, Cook County and Buffalo Grove participated in a ribbon cutting signifying the official completion of the Lake-Cook and Weiland Road project.

New contract gives pay boosts to D21 staff

Unionized employees in School District 21 will see pay increases of 4.5 percent starting in August, thanks to a new contract.

Beth Am food pantry open Sunday

The food pantry at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove, 1370 Abbott Court, will be open this Sunday, May 29 from noon to 2 p.m. The pantry is open to everyone regardless of religious or financial background. Donations are accepted at the same time.

Village Hall closed

Village Hall will be closed Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. Normal business hours from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. will resume Tuesday, May 31.

Need a reason to celebrate?

May 27

National Road Trip Day

National Grape Popsicle Day

National Cellophane Tape Day

MAY 28

National Brisket Day

National Hamburger Day

May 29

Learn About Composting Day

Put a Pillow on your Fridge Day

National Paperclip Day

May 30

National Creativity Day

National Hole in My Bucket Day

National Mint Julep Day

National Water a Flower Day

May31

Autonomous Vehicle Day
National Macaroon Day

National Save Your Hearing Day

Necrotizing Fasciitis Awareness Day

June 1

World Narcissistic Abuse Day

Flip A Coin Day

National Olive Day
National Go Barefoot Day

June 2

National Rotisserie Chicken Day

American Indian Citizenship Day

National Bubba Day

National I Love My Dentist Day

National Moonshine Day

 

Got News?

If you have news about your club, school, church, synagogue or other community organization, please submit news, information and story ideas 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.

Questions about B.G. News & Info. should be sent to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

Subscribe by email

If you want to receive Buffalo Grove News & Information by email, send your email address to BuffaloGroveNews@Gmail.com.

 

In case you didn’t know…

Buffalo Grove News and Info, is 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. Buffalo Grove News and Information is not affiliated with any municipal body.