A crowd of elected officials, village staff members and community volunteers packed into Village Hall Wednesday night at a reception for Deputy Village Manager Ghida Neukirch, who is leaving after 13 years with the village.

Previously: Community Farewell Planned for Neukirch

Neukirch was honored by the Chamber of Commerce and in a short speech she thanked village officials for the opportunity to work in Buffalo Grove before her well-wishers lined up to hug her goodbye.

The room was decorated in a hot air balloon theme, and a sign on a refreshment table displayed a quote about soaring to new heights. A basket of lemons sat beside a lemonade pitcher. The beverage was appropriate, former Village President Elliott Hartstein said, because "Ghida could make anything into lemonade."