About this column:
Cristel Mohrman is the editor of Buffalo Grove Patch.Cake, anyone? Ice cream? There's a good excuse to celebrate — Buffalo Grove Patch is 2 years old today! This site, which I affectionately refer to as my baby, has experienced much growth since Sept. 7, 2010, in both its design and in the number of community members who come here to find local news and share their own announcements, photos and opinions. And, like any other 2-year-old, it will continue to grow and change as we strive to make information available to you and offer a platform for you to discuss all things Buffalo Grove. Thank you to all who visit Patch to find local news and to …
Five days of Buffalo Grove Days festivities came to an end Monday. Since then, the village’s festival has remained on community members’ minds, as evidenced by the photos they’ve shared on this site, continued interest in event coverage and shouts out on social media to the volunteers who made the whole thing possible. Complete event coverage: Buffalo Grove Days 2012 Some have told me that it’s the carnival they enjoy the most, while others say it’s the musical entertainment, which this year included performances by Casey Abrams, Jamie Lono and Little River Band, along with shows by more …
Two thousand eleven what a great year! A man went to heaven found a truck full of beer DeLuca's opened for pizza owners served more than pies When inflation hit cookies these teens nearly cried Throughout the year the law sure was tested GQ Spa was shuttered though its owners protested The Hipcheck16 case became toast An atheist balked at church’s pig roast Months after an arson the park again worked Traffic was snarled roads made us berserk The Melting Pot left And snow, oh, it came Our power went out it was such a pain We voted for Encore! the group got acclaim On American …
Many families will express gratitude today, vocalizing their blessings at the dinner table before they dig in. Mine will be no different. But it’s one thing to rattle off the things for which we know we should be thankful, and quite another to truly understand how fortunate we are. Last week, I attended the Buffalo Grove Rotary Club’s gathering with students at Wheeling High School and Cooper Middle School, who collected thousands of items for some of our less fortunate neighbors. A few days later, I volunteered with an organization that delivered turkeys and all the trimmings to nearby …
As the recent conversation on Patch indicates, bullying is an area of high concern in this community. Comments have been posted from the perspectives of people involved with both football teams as well as by those not directly affected. In all cases, your passion on this topic is clear. Thank you for sharing your thoughts on this forum. Only those who have witnessed or participated in a youth football game know for certain what happens on the field. That is true in any situation. While I have not observed youth bullying since I was a child myself, I think most would agree that it continues to…
One year ago today, Buffalo Grove Patch hit the Web. And what a year it’s been. To say the least, there has been no shortage of news in Buffalo Grove. And, making my job as editor even easier, members of the community eagerly have embraced Patch, sharing their stories, opinions, photos and lives with us. Coming into this role, which required me to not only learn about the community, but introduce Buffalo Grove to a brand-new media platform, I wasn’t sure how hard it would be or how long it would take to make Patch a go-to place for local news. The reception from Buffalo Grove was warmer and …
Are you going to Buffalo Grove Days? Buffalo Grove Patch will be there each day of the festival, and we’d love to meet you! We’ll be the ones wearing the green Patch T-shirts. You can’t miss us. Look for Patch representatives at the following times and places: 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 1: Selling tickets at the beer tent 8 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2: Pouring and serving beverages at the beer tent (Read about last year's adventure!) 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 3: Business Fair 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4: Business Fair noon to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 5: Business Fair Visit us at …
Have you noticed an abundance of wildlife in Buffalo Grove this summer? After a couple of close encounters with skunks — one crossed his wife’s path, and another scurried into their garage when the opened the door to take out the trash — Scott Simon, who has thus far managed to avoid getting sprayed, asked Buffalo Grove Patch for help. “Is there something the city of BG can do or call animal control to maybe put some traps up or something to get them out of the area before someone gets sprayed or attacked?” he asked on the Buffalo Grove Patch Facebook fan page. I didn’t have the answer, so I …
Have you ever noticed a Buffalo Grove police car parked on an easement, with no officer or crime scene in sight? After coming across such a car multiple times this summer in front of the Walgreens at the intersection of Lake-Cook and Buffalo Grove roads, I decided it was time to find out what was going on. Buffalo Grove police Cmdr. Steve Husak explained that such cars are placed at various locations throughout the village to help prevent traffic violations. “Many times if motorists see a marked squad car, they follow traffic laws,” he said. The intersection of Lake-Cook and Buffalo Grove …
I went head-to-head with nature on Saturday. Those who know me won’t be surprised to learn that nature won. But, actually, that was the plan all along. Upon realizing that it had been awhile since my last “Give 5” effort for Patch, I jumped at the chance to help out at “Park Clean-up Day,” a joint effort between the Buffalo Grove Park District and the Environmental Action Team. About two dozen park district employees, EAT volunteers and general community members arrived at the site, on the grounds of the Buffalo Grove Fitness Center, at 9 a.m. to pick up litter, clear brush and combat …
April Fools Day was created with people like me in mind. As a kid, I took great delight in sneaking plastic ice cubes containing dead bugs into my parents’ glasses. (I still have one of those ice cubes. Mom, Dad … you’ve been warned.) As a high school student, I convinced a group of friends that I had adopted a pet duck after he flew into a window and was revived by me via mouth-to-beak resuscitation. Today, that imaginary orange-lipped bird, which I called “Quackers,” is legendary in certain circles. Most kids probably outgrow such behavior. Maybe one day I’ll be one of them. I don’t know …
One of the great parts about working for Patch is the ability to set up my computer and phone basically anywhere in town — coffee shops, sandwich shops or the library — as I communicate with residents, field phone calls and write and edit the stories you find on this site. During the past few months, I've made stops at various locations around Buffalo Grove, but can most often be found at one of the village's Starbucks locations, with a cup of green tea — or, if I'm feeling indulgent, my favorite Frappuccino — beside me. Given the amount of time I've spent there, it was particularly exciting …
Whether I'm separating the recycling from the rest of the trash, trying to map out the most time- and fuel-efficient routes for my endless errands and interviews around town or stashing gift bags for re-use, I'm trying hard to be environmentally responsible. Yes, that's me you see carrying dressing-coated salad bowls home from Portillo's and toting empty beverage cups home from Panera. I just can't stand to throw plastic in the trash when I can just as easily recycle it from my curbside can. As Megan Hatch acknowledged, it's not easy being green. But I do believe that all of our small efforts…
I've spent 10 years as a suburban journalist, so I know there is never a shortage of stories to be told, even in what seems like a quiet town. When I was hired by Patch last summer, I wasn't sure what I'd find in Buffalo Grove, though I have lived in the area all of my life. I was certain, however, that there were plenty of stories just waiting to be written. Others weren't so sure. "What's going on in Buffalo Grove?" one friend, who lives in the village, asked me in a tone that implied I'd be in the unemployment line by week's end. Well, I'm happy to report that Patch is thriving. Word of …
It's our 13-week anniversary this week and a lot has already happened on Buffalo Grove Patch. We've gotten to know the community and have created a large following. It's been fantastic so far, and this is just the start! We wanted to take the time to remind you why we're here and what this site is all about. Simply put, it's about you. We've built Patch so that you have plenty of opportunities to comment on stories, share your opinions, post photos and announcements and add events to the community calendar. We hope that our site will strengthen the community, but we can't do it without you. …
Happy Thanksgiving! Sometimes, in the rush of food preparation, travel arrangements and the shot-gun start of the shopping season, it's all too easy to forget the meaning of the holiday. But I have no cooking responsibilities this year. I offered to bring a dish to dinner at my parents' house. (My mom, who had just read my cooking column — which revealed nothing new to her — gave me a skeptical look and hesitantly asked, "What do you want to bring?") I usually end up in charge of the foolproof, no-time-required green bean casserole and Jell-O. This year, I was ordered — twice — to stay out of…
I admit it. I'm a Harry Potter geek. I have read all seven of the books — more than once — and enjoy the movies nearly as much. While I've yet to dress up in a wizard costume and wait in line for a ticket to a late-night premiere, I do make a point of seeing each movie soon after it is released. I'm grateful to have a friend, my Potter partner-in-crime, who eagerly accompanies me each time. Over the weekend, we headed to the theater to see "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1." After hearing about people reserving advance tickets for midnight shows the previous day, and not wanting to…
Like most people, I love a good home-cooked meal. Unfortunately, like many others, I tend to over-commit myself to a slew of other activities, leaving very little time for me to hone my cooking skills. I use the word "skills" lightly, too. Oh sure, I can follow a recipe just fine. I've successfully prepared dinner for guests who are still standing — and, allegedly, even enjoyed it. But, partly due to my willingness to take a risk every now and then, it seems as though I have a disastrous culinary experience for each one that comes out right. The irony is that I have a pretty nice kitchen. It …
2012 update: Holiday music began on Nov. 9 this year, four weeks before Hanukkah begins and more than six weeks before Christmas. What do you think? 2010: After weeks of teasers about the upcoming non-stop Christmas music played on 93.9 each holiday season, the station followed through on its promise this morning. Meanwhile, it's 51 degrees outside, where puffy white clouds dot the blue sky. Buffalo Grove golfers took advantage of this week's unseasonably warm temperatures, yet radio listeners are singing along to songs about sleigh bells and snowmen. Buffalo Grove Patch columnist Megan Hatch…
I love Halloween. The decorations, the candy, the creative costumes. Did I mention the candy? I can't get enough. Then there are the scary movies. I love many of those, too. I've indulged in back-to-back horror films with friends, and occasionally I see a promotion for a new one that I just have to see. Still, there is one movie that I just can't stand to watch. When I was about 6, a babysitter made the mistake of turning on "Poltergeist" while I was in the room. Images of empty chairs moving across the floor, cabinets opening by themselves, and — worst of all — kids getting sucked into a …
