Buffalo Grove Village Hall’s 2015 budget is unique, carrying the on-the-surface appearance of a notable increase in spending.

The 2015 layout will include a one-time accounting re-arrangement, which has the appearance of $5.3 million in doubled costs. Anderson said the shifting of funds from an existing account into new accounts should allow the staff to better compare how they spend that money with how other municipalities handle the same funds.

“We want to make sure that we’re accounting for costs that our neighbors are,” he said.

Village Hall expects to spend $78.7 million next year, and should see a “nominal,” as Anderson put it, increase in sales tax revenue, mostly because of inflation.

During his Dec. 1 presentation to the Village Board, he said the new budget includes a full contribution to the reserve fund, which village manager Dane Bragg noted had not been done since before the recession began. As with most years, and most municipalities, the vast majority of revenue goes into payroll and benefits: 71 percent for Buffalo Grove in 2015, a decrease that reflects the 10 percent cut in total staff since 2009.

But then there is that $5.3 million.

That is the 2015 allocation for the central garage, information technology and building maintenance, and in the next budget, they will go through a process that will take them out of the main operations fund and into their own accounts. Anderson said the intent is to single each of them out for closer examination. Neighboring municipalities, and some private organizations with multiple buildings and fleets, keep those functions in their own accounts and doing the same will allow Buffalo Grove to parse through those expenses more easily, to see if competitors are doing something better.

But the switchover means that, in 2015, all of that income and expenditure shows up twice. And that creates an eyesore of seemingly redundant spending in an austere time. During the Dec. 1 meeting, Buffalo Grove jeweler Craig Horwitz lodged several concerns about what is, regardless of how it may boil down in accounting, an increase in payouts.

“This is a time to be conservative,” he told the board.

“What areas do you want us to cut?” trustee Les Ottenheimer asked.

“Everywhere,” Horwitz said.

Both during that meeting and later in the week, Anderson refuted Horwitz’s assertion, saying that the on-paper total expenditure increase will not be seen in reality, since the money simply transfers around Village Hall as they create three new accounts.

“It’s double accounting for revenues and expenses, but it’s the only way it can be done,” Anderson said during the meeting.

“Next year, that will be a non-issue,” he added.

The After-Thanksgiving holiday. OK, it’s not an actual holiday, but almost.

After-Thanksgiving is the day, or days, immediately following Thanksgiving. They are special and holiday-like because they are the
days we get to savor and devour Thanksgiving leftovers.

Our after-dinner vow on Thanksgiving never to eat again dissolves the day after into an irresistible craving to heat up the remaining
turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, rolls… And if we are lucky, for a day or two after that there may be enough left for turkey sandwiches on toast.

Ahhh, After-Thanksgiving.

Alas, though, the joys of the After-Thanksgiving holiday are denied to me, my family and to thousands of otherwise worthy Americans. We are the ones who – for a variety of reasons -– eat out on Thanksgiving.

My family ate at a Thanksgiving buffet this year. The food was plentiful and delicious. As did those of you who dined at home, we ate until we were so full we too vowed to never eat again.

Predictably, on the day after Thanksgiving we also had an irresistible craving to heat up the turkey, et al. But what we heated up was a box of frozen macaroni and cheese. We had no leftovers.

Those who dine out on Thanksgiving forgo one of that holiday’s great pleasures – the After-Thanksgiving feast(s).

Something should be done to rectify this situation. We Thanksgiving diner-outers are not bad people, just victims of circumstance,
I have a couple of suggestions, based on the single premise that restaurants that serve Thanksgiving buffets must have leftovers.

Here are two possible solutions:

1. For an additional fee to the dinner, provide diners with the opportunity (and a box)  to take home leftovers. Like a doggie bag.
But in this case a Turkey Bag.

2. Restaurants could heat up their leftovers on the day after Thanksgiving and serve them to diners at lesser charge than on
Thanksgiving day.

Lots of folks are off the day after Thanksgiving. And having a second nice turkey dinner with the family certainly beats
battling bargain-berserk shoppers over a 55-inch TV for $1.38.

Junior midfielder Olivia Pappalardo scored the opening goal just 6:17 into Colorado’s game against Brigham Young in the first round of the NCAA Division I women’s soccer tournament.

Colorado won the Nov. 15 game 2-0 in Boulder, Colorado, and Pappalardo, who hails from Maine South, played 76 minutes.

The Buffaloes fell to North Carolina in the second round, and finished the season 14-7-1.

Pappalardo finished the season with two goals and two assists. She played in 20 of the team’s 22 games.

•••

Another NCAA women’s soccer first-round game on Nov. 15 was filled with area athletes. Wisconsin, with Alexandra Heller of Deerfield and Sydney McGinnis of Maine South, earned a 2-0 home victory over DePaul, which featured Nina Kodros of Glenbrook South, Lucy Edwards of Lake Forest, Jessica Schmidt of Maine South and Jessica Weaver of New Trier. Heller, Kodros and Edwards each played all 90 minutes.

Heller, a redshirt senior defender, started and played in each of the Badgers’ 23 games, helping the team finish 19-2-2. Wisconsin lost to Central Florida 3-2 in the tournament’s second round on Nov. 21. McGinnis played in 15 games and recorded four shots on goal as a freshman forward.

Kodros, a senior defender, and Edwards, a freshman midfielder and defender, played in every game for DePaul (16-1-4). Kodros finished the season with three assists, and Edwards recorded three shots on goal. Weaver played in 19 games, tallying four shots on goal, and Schmidt played in six games, registering an assist.

•••

Lyons alumna Katie Dougherty and Hinsdale Central alumna Melissa Trofa helped their Swarthmore women’s soccer team win its first Centennial Conference championship on Nov. 9 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Swarthmore captured the title by beating Johns Hopkins in penalty kicks 5-4. Trofa, who missed her penalty kick, was the second of her team’s seven shooters.

The win gave the Garnet an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III tournament.

After falling in the first round of the tournament to Connecticut College, Swarthmore finished the season 13-7-1.

Dougherty, a freshman forward, finished the season ranked fourth on her team in points with 15. She collected six goals and three assists while playing in 19 games. Trofa, a junior midfielder and forward, finished the season ranked seventh on the team in points with eight. She recorded eight assists while starting in each of the team’s 21 games.

Have a suggestion for the College Roundup? Email Nick Bullock at bullockpioneerpress@gmail.com.

100 Women Who Care North Suburban Chicago raised over $12,000 for Highland Park-based Aspiritech, an organization that offers a path for high functioning individuals on the autism spectrum to realize their potential through gainful employment as software testers.

The idea behind 100 Women Who Care is to make a big impact on a local charity in just one hour.  The group assembled at Philly G’s restaurant in Vernon Hills on Nov. 12 to listen to three five-minute presentations about three local charities. After a short question and answer period for each presenter, the group voted for Aspiritech to be the seventh recipient of the group’s collective donation.

Group member Brenda Weitzberg of Highland Park made the presentation on behalf of Aspiritech.  She said:  “When presenting Aspiritech to 100 Women Who Care, I felt surrounded by a “village” of women who have a deep commitment to making a real difference and truly care about giving back to their communities.  Winning the award was absolutely thrilling! The award will go a long way to helping Aspiritech provide additional job coaching, training and support to enable adults with Asperger’s syndrome and other forms of high functioning autism to live fulfilling, independent lives by working at jobs that are commensurate with their skills.”

Group organizer Laurie Richter of Lincolnshire added: “Aspiritech is a perfect blend of bringing meaningful employment to an under-employed population, and filling a technical service need with a population that is well suited for its unique demands.”

The next meeting of 100 Women Who Care North Suburban Chicago will be on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at Philly G’s restaurant, 1252 Route 45, Vernon Hills.  Registration and social hour starting at 6 p.m., meeting 7-8 p.m.  New members are welcome.

More information at 100womenwhocarenorthsuburbanchicago.com.

The Village of Buffalo Grove has announced that CRM Properties Group, LLC has withdrawn its plan review petition. The possibility of including a referendum about downtown development on the April ballot was discussed at the Dec. 1 village board meeting.

Editor’s note: News of the development’s withdrawal came after press time for the Dec. 11 issue of the Buffalo Grove Countryside.

After consulting with Village officials, CRM Properties Group, LLC has withdrawn its concept plan review petition for the proposed Buffalo Grove downtown development project. The company notified the Village of its withdrawal decision on Tuesday, December 9, 2014.

In discussions with staff, CRM Properties Group President Charles Malk cited higher costs than initially projected for the proposed plan, and an inability to resolve related financial hurdles. The most recent cost estimates forecasted a significant funding gap; Mr. Malk indicated that without a Village commitment for public financing, the project would not be financially feasible. The nature and magnitude of the newly requested financial contributions were neither expected nor contemplated by the Village.

Village President Jeff Braiman stated, “The Village has reviewed the latest financial parameters, and while we appreciate Mr. Malk’s interest in Buffalo Grove and the time he and his team took to explore such a large investment in our community, the current concept does not make financial sense for Buffalo Grove. As I have said from the beginning, this would be a long and important process with a number of decision points along the way. I want to thank all of those who participated.”

In August of 2012, CRM Properties Group approached the Village and submitted a development concept which included utilizing portions of the Buffalo Grove Golf Course and municipal campus to create a 65- acre downtown area along Lake Cook Road. The initial concept was abandoned after a floodplain and soil suitability study was completed by the Village in September of 2014. The study revealed that the original concept could not be built as proposed. CRM then presented a revised preliminary concept plan which was assigned to the Village’s Planning and Zoning Commission for review in November of 2014.

Village Manager Dane Bragg said he anticipates the Village will evaluate future options and engage the community in a broader dialogue about economic development around the Lake Cook Road corridor. “We should take stock of where we are as a community, what goals we want to accomplish and the means necessary to get us there. Economic development is a complex endeavor, and one that needs broad engagement from all stakeholders, because everyone is impacted.”

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka died early Wednesday from complications of a stroke she suffered the day before.

Topinka, 70, was pronounced dead shortly after 2 a.m. at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, according to a statement from her office.

She had suffered a stroke less than 24 hours earlier and was being observed early Wednesday when she lost consciousness, according to the statement. Efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

A moderate Republican who supported gay marriage, Topinka was elected to the office of Illinois State Comptroller in 2010. In her reelection bid on Nov. 4, she edged out her challenger, Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, with 49.56 percent of the vote.

Born in Riverside, Topinka was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly in 1980 as a state representative for the western suburbs. She held that post until 1984, when she was elected to the state senate, where she served for ten years.

In 1994, she was the first woman elected as Illinois State Treasurer, an office she held until 2007. She was the 2006 Republican nominee for governor, but lost to incumbent Democrat Rod Blagojevich.

LINCOLNSHIRE — The date was Sept. 22. Another day filled with classes and basketball for Stevenson junior Jordan Newman. Call it normal. Until it wasn’t.

While participating in the Patriots’ open gym scrimmages, Newman stepped on an opponent’s foot.

“It twisted and I head a pop,” said Newman of his left leg.

Newman immediately left for an X-ray. There was a bone fracture in his left foot. Doctors said he’d be out of action for eight weeks while the bone healed. Newman was told he’d have to miss the beginning of Stevenson’s basketball season, scheduled for Nov. 10.

“Jordan’s a competitor. He wants to be in there,” Patriots coach Pat Ambrose said. “He was devastated with the injury early on.”

Newman added: “I’ve never had a major injury before. I was hoping to get back on the court as quickly as possible.”

The competitiveness Ambrose spoke of fueled Newman’s rehabilitation. After resting the foot for a few weeks, Newman rehabbed at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. Newman performed grueling sets of squats and lunges to build up leg strength.

“That was harder than getting the foot 100 percent,” he said.

Playing time was another catalyst driving Newman’s strenuous workouts. When official practices began, Stevenson’s roster was not yet fully formed.

“At one point, we had eight, nine kids in a practice,” Ambrose said.

One reason for the low numbers was the success of Stevenson’s football team. The Patriots’ long run to a Class 8A state championship prevented seniors Cameron Green, Nick Dillon and Jeremy Webb and junior Raymond Sullivan from attending basketball practices.

“He probably [knew] at the start without some of the football players, he’s going to get more of a chance,” Ambrose said. “It was important for him to come back.”

Newman added: “I was out eight [weeks] and ready for game day.”

A 6-foot, 160-pound guard, Newman returned during the season-opening Lyons-Hinsdale Central-Glenbard West Thanksgiving tournament. His best game came after the tournament in Stevenson’s 80-36 win over Mundelein on Dec. 3.

He entered the game after five minutes and didn’t look like a player coming off a foot injury. He was active on the defensive and offensive ends of the floor. He shot 3-of-5 from the field, tying junior Ryuji Aoki for most bench points on the night with eight.

“I have to be smart, play great defense, and make shots when I’m called upon,” Newman said. “Our whole team has to have great energy if we want to win a state championship this year.”

Roster depth will improve with the imminent return of Green, Dillon, Webb and Sullivan. But it’s Newman, along with the 5-10 Aoki, 6-4 senior Ryan Rosenbaum and 5-11 senior Jordan Hodes, who are responsible for what has been a productive bench for the Patriots.

“They are a group of guys that could play varsity at any other school,” senior guard Jalen Brunson said. “For them to come in and keep the same enthusiasm, it means a lot for us.”

While some shoppers believe good gifts come in the form of things, some mothers say the best gifts come in the form of food.

And there’s no other time of year when the food choices are more decadent, innovative and in-demand than during the holidays.

Luckily, there are a number of mother-owned businesses that give shoppers the opportunity to capitalize on two huge market trends right now: gourmet food and eating locally.

Whether it’s drizzled in chocolate, dipped in caramel or coated with peppermint, these sweet treats are sure to satisfy the most stubborn sweet tooth. Meanwhile, you’re gifting fresh ingredients that weren’t shipped cross-country.

And remember, when it comes to the holidays, mom does it best.

Perfect squares

Baking brownies since the third grade, Gail Eisenberg began her business 10 years ago after a friend asked her to bake for her restaurant.

But in the past two years, she’s been able to double down her efforts, working 12-hour days, six days a week. She expanded her product line into gifting and institutional accounts, selling to restaurants, country clubs and retail stores. She now finds herself shipping her product nationwide.

“I’ve doubled my business so far since last year,” said the Northbrook mom, who develops recipes in her own kitchen and uses a commercial space in Buffalo Grove to produce her product. “The holidays is my busiest time of year. They’re buying them for personal or even corporate gifting.”

Eisenberg said it’s not uncommon to get her flavor ideas from her daughter, Jenny, a senior at the University of Iowa. Altogether, there are eight flavors of brownies and four flavors of dessert bars in the product line.

Just this summer, Gail launched a Razzle Dazzle Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie, which now ranks among her most popular along with S’more Double Fudge Brownie and Cook Dough Caramel Crunch.

“I try to differentiate myself from other brownie companies so that they’re uniquely gourmet and I use the finest ingredients. … The flavors, the way I put them together, you can’t find them anywhere else,” she said.

Gail’s latest accomplishment is being chosen by Giordano’s pizza as one of several local dessert add-on items for online shoppers. She’s been featured on the website since early November and will be available through Valentine’s Day and perhaps even longer.

After tackling her business head-on these past few years and seeing progress to show for it, Gail said there’s two business practices on which she never compromises.

“No matter what, I always take care of my customers,” she said. “And quality is really, really important.”

A tin or box of Gail’s Brownies ranges from $10 to $36 with an array of gifting options at www.gailsbrownies.com. Or find them locally at Arriva Dolce coffee house in Highland Park and The Glenview Grind coffee house.

A Mom ‘n’ Pop business

You don’t get more family-run than Highland Pop in Highland Park.

Kimberly Silvestri Cohen makes small batches of her gourmet popcorn and fudge every day — just like her mother taught her.

In 2012, the HP resident opened a storefront in her hometown at 1822 2nd St. Unfortunately, shortly after opening, the Highland Park Theatre closed down across the street.

“It was terrible for business, and I said I have to look into other ways of making money,” she said.

With renewed energy, Cohen focused on catering and whole sale. She soon landed a contract with Levy Restaurants, Ravinia Festival and a number of specialty grocery stores. Today, she is represented by a national distributor.

“We just grew the business,” she said. “We’re small-town and we’re old-school. We love the people that come in here, and we want to feed them.”

The operation is truly a family effort, as husband Lyle, a criminal defense attorney, closes each day with her in the shop and kids Adam, Karaline and Alivia help out on weekends and summers.

Locally, you can find Highland Pop popcorn at Caputo’s or Sunset Foods. Or you can simply “pop by” the storefront.

“We have old-fashioned candy, Italian ice — you can spend 10 cents in my store if you wanted to,” said Cohen, noting that her products are nut-free, gluten-free and kosher. “We have buckets and tins for around $10; that’s where we start, and it goes up to $75.”

The unique range of popcorn flavors include birthday cake, peppermint, s’more, Cajun, garlic, pizza pie, sour apple, bubble gum and any combination thereof.

“It is the best popcorn you’ve ever tasted. It’s fresh every day, and we stand behind our quality,” said the Queen of Pop. “And we have the utmost respect and value for our customers.”

Visit www.highlandpop.com to view all the flavors and place an order.

Not your mother’s toffee

Robin Fields began her business with the mantra that toffee should be buttery, crunchy and loaded with toppings.

That sweet strategy landed Toffee Break Desserts as a featured gift on QVC during the holidays last year. Fields, a Buffalo Grove mother of four, sold her product herself on air — after passing the required “QVC school” — and said she had a lot of fun in the process.

“It was great; it was really, really great. We have customers now from all over the country,” she said.

Fields has been operating Toffee Break in Northbrook since 2004. Her gourmet flavors include mocha latte, streusel and pretzel. Her top-sellers are cookies ‘n’ cream and raspberry. Her current flavor of the month is Hot Cinnamon Toffee.

Gifts start at just $14.50 and can go as high as $300 for party trays.

“We also can fit anybody’s budget into a nice gift,” she said. “The best thing to do is to call ahead because we package everything fresh to order, which can be done via Internet or phone, and then they can pick up here.”

As for business, Fields said she has learned to take advantage of connections everywhere she goes.

“Just be open to meet everybody — you never know,” she advised her fellow entrepreneurs. “Sometimes there’s connections in front of your nose and you don’t realize it. A friend had a connection to someone who showed products to QVC. They showed it and loved it, and it aired.”

Visit www.toffeebreakdesserts.com to shop for gifts or call (847) 564-5131.

It is the real world manifestation of a once fictitious game, and whether it will move from the college and club team level to younger age groups is yet to be seen.

Quidditch is a contact-heavy, co-ed game, and Madeleine Lebovic is going to spend her winter break looking into how to spread it further in the northwest suburbs.

“At first, I did it as a joke,” the 2013 Barrington High School graduate said of joining the Tufts University Quidditch Club. “And then I was taken aback and pleasantly surprised by how serious it was.”

For those unfamiliar, Quidditch is a fictitious, magical sport from the “Harry Potter” books and movies. It involves players on flying brooms throwing balls into three circular goals to score points. It has migrated into the real world, and has been described as a combination of rugby, dodgeball and tag. Also, players are required to have a broomstick between their legs during play.

The NCAA is not involved in club sports, and the new game is governed by US Quidditch. In the “Harry Potter” world, the sport is co-ed. US Quidditch invented “Title 9 3/4,” which mandates no more than four players of a single gender can play on a team and a nod to the book’s famous train platform.

“I was thinking ‘Why is it only at the college level?’” Lebovic said.

Unable to find a good reason, Lebovic put together a summer camp for young Quidditch recruits this year, and is weighing the costs and benefits of putting another edition together for 2015. The game has spawned clubs in universities across the nation, but has yet to produce any high school interest.

During her freshman year in the Boston area, Lebovic saw nearby Boys & Girls Clubs put together non-contact “Kidditch” programs for their young participants.

“It was fascinating to watch, it was fun to play and it was co-ed, which was a little different,” she said. “I took that idea and decided to bring it to Barrington.”

Lebovic launched the Barrington Area Quidditch Club, a one-week, elementary school-level day camp followed by several one-day programs. She built her own hoops, did her own promotion and received an unimpressive turnout, she said.

Lebovic might be a forerunner of a sport that could become a high school sensation — or she might be trying to promote something that is not going to work for teens. At Districts 214 and 128, none of the athletics departments reported ever hearing of interest in Quidditch.

At Stevenson High School, the administration polls its students and recent graduates in a survey that ranges from academics to social life each year. Annually, the top answer for “What sport do you wish Stevenson offered?” is Quidditch. But that answer, said last year’s Student Council president, is half-joke.

“I think Quidditch being the sport people would most likely want is a bit of a prank and a bit of a real wish,” wrote Landon Somlo, now a University of Southern California freshman, in a tweet. “I know many in college actually play in serious leagues but I’m not sure whether or not the majority of casual, non-Potterheads, would actually want to play.”

Stevenson only considers creating a new club after students begin the process. Ted Goergen, SHS’s director of student activities, wrote in an email that no Patriot has picked up the application paperwork.

“It’s never been proposed as a club or intramural,” Goergen wrote. “I know that it shows up every year, and has recently shown up on some college campuses, but no student has ever approached me, formally or informally.”

Others who will want to play Quidditch may inhabit the northwest suburbs. Will many of them be interested in competing while in high school? The question is too new to be answered, and Lebovic is weighing whether to continue working toward the creation of a “yes.”

For more information on Quidditch, go to www.usquidditch.org.

A car fire at a Buffalo Grove gas station has drawn the attention of not only the firefighters, but the police as well.

A Buffalo Grove Police Department report indicates that someone set the interior of a woman’s car on fire sometime after 7 p.m. Dec. 9 while it was parked unlocked at a gas station at the intersection of McHenry and Arlington Heights roads. The woman noticed the fire at 8:53 p.m., and firefighters put it out immediately.

Police officials said Dec. 10 that they are investigating the incident, but declined further comment.

A Deerfield developer’s hope to create a built-from-scratch downtown in Buffalo Grove has hit a dead end for the second time.

On Dec. 9, CRM Properties Group, Ltd. withdrew its development application, which had been sitting on the planning and zoning commission’s agenda. Developer Chuck Malk was seeking roughly $100 million in public funding from a tax increment finance district, and when Village President Jeff Braiman told him that none of the Village Board members would support that request, he canceled the plan.

“He wanted an extraordinary amount of money,” Braiman said Dec. 10. “We said all along that, at any time, this could derail.”

Malk said Dec. 10 that he was in Puerto Rico celebrating his 40th wedding anniversary, and did not want to discuss the subject.

The downtown idea hit its first wall at the end of the summer, when the results of a flood plain survey forced CRM to reconfigure the layout. The company  spent more than two years of time and an undisclosed amount of money on the Buffalo Grove concept. Braiman doubted Malk would be interested in shrinking the plan and coming back with a third proposal.

“From my conversations with him, there’s no indication of that at all,” Braiman said. “To make it smaller, you make it less inviting, which makes it less profitable.”

CRM’s withdrawal has major ramifications for several Buffalo Grove-area interests, foremost of which might be Trustee Beverly Sussman’s decision to run for village president.

Sussman, who won her first election to the board in 2011, had never spoken against Malk’s plan, but called adamantly for Village Hall to open the process up to other developers, and decided to run against Braiman, who supported seeing Malk’s proposal through to its end.

In a Dec. 9 email, Sussman doubted that this is the end for the downtown idea. She credits the withdrawal to the actions of Save Buffalo Grove, a citizens group that became a political action committee with ideas of funding candidates who would vote against the plan.

“I plan on running for president of the Village of Buffalo Grove in the spring election,” Sussman wrote. “As far as I am concerned, this is a political decision and not an economic decision. They want to give the residents of Buffalo Grove a false sense of security. How convenient that this decision was made right before petitions are due at Village Hall.

“Everyone now realizes how powerful the Save Buffalo Grove group is. This grass roots group is organized, intelligent and up to speed on everything that is going on in the Village. Their membership keeps growing. As I said to [Village Manager Dane] Bragg and Braiman, this, meaning Malk’s Downtown Development, will probably be put back on the agenda on April 8th or thereabouts, after the election. Where does it say in this press release that CRM Properties or Malk will not try to lower the costs at some point or submit a new concept proposal in the future? I guess the village just wasn’t ready to ‘go through the whole dog and pony show and then some.’”

Braiman took issue with Sussman’s assessment.

“Her comments are way out of line, and disrespectful to me, to the other trustees and to the village staff,” he said. “I talked with her last week, telling her that the finances were not looking good, and that this could fall through. She obviously forgot about that.”

Besides the village president race, the spring elections will include village clerk and three trustee positions. Save Buffalo Grove President Leon Gopon said Dec. 10 that he expected a few group members to take trustee application packets from Village Hall before the Dec. 22 deadline, though none have done so yet.

“We’re not ready to say it’s all over,” Gopon said. “We’re not going to fold up our tents and go off into the sunset.”

There is a possibility that a referendum about the now-dormant downtown idea could be on the spring ballot as well. Gopon said his group would fill Village Hall again during the Monday Dec. 15 board meeting to push for such a measure.

The process began in August 2012, when Malk came to Village Hall to unveil a plan for an entirely new development — 65 acres of retail, restaurants, entertainment, office space, green space, residences and parking — built atop what is currently the municipal headquarters, police and public works stations and the Buffalo Grove Golf Course.

Technically, it was only an idea, as paperwork to begin the application process was not filed, but months of public study and meetings followed. In February, the board paid $79,000 for a comprehensive environmental-feasibility investigation of the proposed site. The results arrived in September, showing that the land would likely support the massive structures envisioned, but would require more than $20 million in earthmoving for flood control and such. Malk took a few weeks to design a new layout, returned with a 53.5-acre plan with similar attractions and made that his first official application.

The board sent the plan to the planning and zoning commission, which took its first look at it in November. Its second meeting had been scheduled for Dec. 3, but officials canceled the session after Malk announced he would not send any representatives.

Braiman said that Malk began examining the financial feasibility of his proposal after submission and as the planning and zoning began its process, he would want considerably more public money than first expected. Braiman said Buffalo Grove had no intentions of going after bonds to fund a private project, leaving them with the possibility of a TIF district, and a need for possibly $100 million.

“He wanted some kind of commitment from us on the financing aspect, or at least an agreement that we were in the same ballpark,” Braiman said.

But the two parties were not.

“Whenever you make a decision, you have to get all the facts,” Braiman said. “It shouldn’t be done based on shooting from the hip, or emotion.”

The trustees will discuss during the Dec. 15 meeting what, if anything, to do with the idea of a referendum on a project that no longer exists and Malk must decide if he will cut his losses or take a third swing at his idea.

Judy Baar Topinka’s passing Wednesday came six years almost to the day after the arrest of Rod Blagojevich and more than eight years after she more or less predicted for a Lake County audience what was to come of her opponent in the 2006 race for governor.

“[Illinois] is a national disgrace, a national embarrassment,” because of Blagojevich, Topinka said at an October 2006 event for local Republicans at Mickey Finn’s in Libertyville. “It’s got to stop. It’s cleanup time. … It starts at the top. A fish rots from the head.”

Though her bid for the state’s highest office would fall short, Topinka’s blunt, colorful language both on the stump and off was among the qualities she was remembered for after the Illinois comptroller died early Wednesday, Dec. 10, following a stroke.

Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor, who worked for Topinka in 2011-12, recalled her as “a trailblazing leader” in offering his thoughts and prayers to her family and staff.

“Comptroller Topinka was a role model, mentor and friend to me. It is hard to imagine Illinois government without Judy,” Lawlor said in a statement. “She built a strong reputation as a fiscal watchdog during her decades of public service. She earned Illinoisans’ trust by telling them not just what they wanted to hear, but what they needed to hear.

“During my brief time on Comptroller Topinka’s staff, I saw firsthand her love for Illinois and her passion for public service. She was a shining light in a state government that is all too often discouraging. I will personally miss her terribly.”

Also offering statements of condolence were state senators Melinda Bush of Grayslake and Terry Link of Waukegan, both of whom occupy the opposite side of the aisle from Topinka, the first woman to become a Republican nominee for governor in Illinois.

“Comptroller Topinka worked her whole life for the betterment of women and the betterment of Illinois,” Bush said. “She embodied what it means to be a public servant. She will be deeply missed.”

“I am saddened by the loss of a dedicated public servant and good friend,” Link said. “The state has suffered a tremendous loss, and my deepest sympathy goes to her family in this difficult time.”

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren, a Republican whose Congressional district includes west and northwest sections of Lake County, called Topinka “a towering figure in Illinois politics during her many years of service.”

“I was always impressed by her ability to build relationships across the aisle and get the job done. She leaves a lasting legacy of positive change in Illinois,” Hultgren said. “She helped lead our state through tumultuous times, and her leadership will be greatly missed.”

Lake County voters were generous to Topinka during her November 2014 comptroller reelection battle with outgoing Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, a race that saw the two candidates separated by 139,000 votes statewide and Topinka garnering less than 50 percent of the vote. Her countywide totals saw Topinka with 53.4 percent of 198,000 votes cast.

In her 2006 run for governor, Topinka’s Lake County results also outpaced her statewide appeal, as she earned 42.7 percent of the vote locally against Rod Blagojevich while taking 39.2 percent overall.

Though associated with her native Riverside, Topinka attended Ferry Hall School — a private all-girls prep school that merged with Lake Forest Academy in 1973 — and graduated in 1962. The one-time state legislator returned to the county frequently during her campaigns for treasurer, governor and comptroller, and one of her final local appearances came in February 2013 when she again delivered straight talk to the Lake County Chamber of Commerce.

“As the comptroller of a bankrupt state, for all intents and purposes, it’s kind of a suicidal death wish to hold this office,” Topinka told a crowd that included local elected officials at the 6th annual Forecast Lake County Luncheon in Vernon Hills. “All of you have tough jobs ahead of you. You’re going to have some awful votes you’ve got to take that are really going to test your backbone.

“So best of luck to you,” she added to laughter, “and I’m so glad I’m not in the Legislature now.”

Fur was flying at the Dec. 4 grand opening of Pets Are Worth Saving, Chicago’s newest satellite adoption center, located inside the Highland Park Petco.

More than 150 animal lovers came together to celebrate the new PAWS facility, touted as the largest boutique adoption center in the country. The hope is to facilitate the adoption of another 1000 homeless animals and, specifically, of larger dogs, something that is difficult with small city apartments.

PAWS has helped to reduce the number of homeless pets killed in the city by nearly 70 percent since its founding in 1997. Partnering with Petco was a natural extension of PAWS’s mission as the store, in conjunction with the Petco Foundation, helps to find homes for more than 400,000 animals every year.

See more at: pawschicago.org/northshore.

After winning its regional and finishing 15-16 last season, the Buffalo Grove girls basketball team has remained in high gear this year.

The undefeated Bison have started their season with a seven-game winning streak and will get a stiff road test from another unbeaten — Mid-Suburban East rival Prospect — at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday.

“We just kept on going from last year,” shooting guard Maddie Welter said. “There was a lot of excitement with people coming [to the regional], and there’s excitement this year.”

Buffalo Grove has not just been winning its games — it is taking them handily. The closest margin this year was a 14-point victory Nov. 25 over Mother McCauley (65-51). The average margin of victory is 18.6 points.

Though all league games are competitive, according to Kolodziej, his team has been paying special attention to Prospect (6-0) this week in practice.

“They’re a very balanced basketball team,” Kolodziej said. “They’re well coached and we’re expecting a real dog fight. Our conference is loaded.”

Balance has also been the key to Buffalo Grove’s success so far this year, according to Kolodziej. When one player is finding her range, her teammates recognize it and create opportunities for her.

“We’re playing team basketball,” Kolodziej said. “We’re making the extra pass and each player is doing their part to find the open [girl]. When someone is playing well, we’re getting her the basketball.”

When the Bison defeated league rival Hersey, 66-49, on Nov. 29 to win its own Thanksgiving tournament for the first time since 2007, Sammy Stejskal was the player on fire with perfect 10-for-10 shooting en route to 27 points, seven rebounds and a pair of steals.

“It was a big game for us,” Stejskal said. “Things were going well, they got the ball to me and I stepped it up. We were looking for the extra pass. Those are our team goals.”

Against Wheeling on Friday, she had a double-double with 22 points and 14 rebounds in a 68-52 win.

Welter is another Buffalo Grove player who has put exclamation points on games. She played a key role in Buffalo Grove’s opening 52-34 win over Maine South on Nov. 20 and then did the same thing against Wheeling.

Against the Hawks, Welter poured in 26 points, grabbed seven rebounds and stole the ball five times while contributing 18 points, six boards and three thefts against the Wildcats.

“If anyone is playing [well] we try to find them,” Welter said. “If it’s me, they take care to make the extra pass to get me the ball.”

LINCOLNSHIRE — The Stevenson boys basketball team’s national footprint has caused one casualty this season — the Patriots are scheduled to play on their home court just seven times.

The first of those seven games was Wednesday night. Hosting North Suburban Lake rival Libertyville in front of a charged, almost-capacity crowd, the Patriots cruised to a 78-55 victory.

“It’s always great to play in this gym. The fans are great, the atmosphere is great,” Stevenson senior guard Connor Cashaw said. “The seniors have to cherish this as it’s [one] of our last times.”

A performing arts concert at Stevenson made parking spots scarce around campus. A late arrival meant missing the best part of the Patriots’ basketball show — the first quarter. Senior Matt Johnson (game-high 18 points, four steals) started the game with a rare four-point play.

At the midway point of the first quarter, senior guard Jalen Brunson electrified fans with a left-handed slam. Then, with one minute remaining, Brunson missed a jump shot. Out of nowhere, sophomore Justin Smith (16 points) leaped in the air and dunked home the offensive rebound. The score was 28-11 after one quarter, swelling to 47-18 at one point in the second quarter. Stevenson (6-0, 2-0) simply overwhelmed Libertyville with its athleticism and home-court showmanship.

“I thought early we panicked. They are too good to panic,” said Wildcats coach Scott Bogumil, whose team fell to 3-3 and 0-2 in conference play. “We got shaken up.”

Libertyville’s roster features two big men who gave the Patriots trouble at times. When the Wildcats cut the deficit to 47-32 with 5:15 remaining in the third quarter, it was in large part due to the post play of 6-10 senior center Joe Borcia (17 points) and 6-6 junior forward Ben Kimpler. But a quick 7-0 run by Stevenson diffused the Wildcats’ momentum and put the game out of reach.

The return of 6-3 senior forward Jeremy Webb gives the Patriots another inside player. A starting safety on Stevenson’s Class 8A football state title team, Webb’s ability to body up in the paint helped prevent Borcia and Kimpler from having more of an impact on the game’s outcome.

“I give defense, rebounding, energy. Just trying to come off the bench and give my team as much help as they need,” Webb said.

Stevenson coach Pat Ambrose added: “Against bigger players, he gives us more inside presence. He’s coming along.”

An off shooting night by Brunson (3-of-10, 12 points, 11 assists) didn’t matter to the Patriots. Note to area basketball fans: If the six games remaining on Stevenson’s home schedule are anything like Wednesday night’s arrive early.

And don’t forget the popcorn.

“It was great to see the fans very loud,” Ambrose said. “We gave them some entertainment in the first half.”

The annual torrent of new cookbook titles to roll out in 2014 once again aims at feeding the hunger of food lovers of all stripes: armchair chefs, experienced cooks and newcomers to the kitchen.

Topics run the gamut from culinary essentials like baking, food preservation and scratch-made pasta, to ethnic specialties, chocolate, comfort food and gluten-free menus.

While building a cookbook library is a matter of personal taste, here are some noteworthy titles meriting a second look and consideration as a gift for the foodie in your life.

The Baking Bible (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

How to deal with a pie crust that shrinks during baking, what to do with a cake that has cracked on top and how to fix cookies that spread and flatten are a few of the problem-solving techniques addressed by Rose Levy Beranbaum in her most recent cookbook. The meticulously researched 560-page volume covers every baking category. Beranbaum has a methodical and easy-to-follow style, making her recipes within the reach of home bakers.

Done: A Cook’s Guide to Knowing When Food is Perfectly Cooked (Chronicle)

Determining “doneness” ranks as the Achilles’ heel of many otherwise-confident cooks, notes food writer/cooking instructor James Peterson. His handy guide aims to forestall worries whether a dish will turn out half-raw or overdone. Using sound, smell, appearance and feel, the author details how to make sure 85 of the most challenging-to-cook foods are done to perfection.

Downtown Italian (Andrews McMeel)

Many restaurateur-written cookbooks are more geared towards the coffee table than the home cook’s reference shelf. This one, however, is the exception. The food, drink and pastry recipes are drawn from principals involved with popular Manhattan eateries dell’anima, L’Artusi, L’Apicio and Anfora. Executive Chef Gabriel Thompson says he likes the simplicity and approachability of Italian cuisine “but I also like to break the rules —taking an Italian idea and pushing it in an American direction.”

Bar Tartine Techniques & Recipes (Chronicle)

Nick Bella and Courtney Burns, co-chefs at this hotspot San Francisco dining establishment, are dedicated locavores whose cooking background draws from cuisines of Central Europe, Japan and Scandinavia. The first half of their book deals with time-honored processes for stocking the larder: fermentation, curing and pickling. The second showcases recipes — some more involved than others — using those staples (i.e., Black Garlic and Lentil Soup). Check out Chad Robertson’s appetizing food photography.

Chocolate (Sterling Epicure)

Pastry chef, food stylist and cookbook author Elisabeth Johansson shares 90 recipes with chocoholics in mind — from spicy Aztec Pralines and Chocolate Souffle with Whiskey Ice Cream to Vegan Chocolate Mousse and Rye Bread with Cacao. Johansson, who lives in her native Sweden, also describes the steps involved in processing cacao beans and tempering and working with chocolate.

Flour + Water (Ten Speed Press)

During a sojourn in Bologna, Thomas McNaughton learned the time-tested secrets of making delectable, eye-popping artisan pasta from scratch. He took that knowledge back to San Francisco where he has served as chef-partner of the popular restaurant Flour + Water, since its opening in mid-2009. His first cookbook impresses with its clear-cut approach to pasta: from making of the dough to its final shaping and cooking. The Tagliatelle Bolognese recipe is a keeper.

Café Kitchen (Ryland Peters & Small)

Dedicated chef and food blogger Shelagh Ryan draws inspiration from her native Australia for what goes on the table at the thriving Kitchen Café she established in London in 2008. Ryan’s debut cookbook has chapters that go from breakfast and brunch to small bites, larger plates and cakes. Bircher Museli with fresh berries, for example, can provide a welcome morning treat.

French Comfort Food (Gibbs Smith)

The comfort food recipes Hillary Davis gathered while living in France encompass the country’s longstanding love affair with all things culinary. Among them are Alsatian two-crusted meat pie, a Nicoise onion, black olive and anchovy quiche; and Poulet Grand-Mere (Grandmother’s Chicken) — appealing dishes that a novice or veteran cook could recreate again and again.

Mexican Flavors (Andrews McMeel)

Recipes inspired by Hugh Carpenter’s cooking school in San Miguel de Allende near Mexico City give American dishes a contemporary Mexican twist. Carpenter and his wife Teri Sandison also have run a cooking school in Napa Valley for 22 years. Readers will find recipes for Banana Salsa, Coconut-Ancho Soup with Mushrooms and Mexican Chili with Lamb and Black Beans, among others.

Caribbean Potluck (Kyle Books)

Cooks with adventurous palates and a taste for exotic ingredients will find much to like in this revelatory volume that underscores the diversity of the Caribbean islands. Well-traveled sisters Suzanne and Michelle Rousseau include more than 100 recipes: classic and regional standards, family favorites and original creations.

Apparently, Santa Claus is even willing to venture into the woods to meet with good little boys and girls. You will find him in the main room at the Reed-Turner Woodland Nature Preserve, 3849 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14.

“Children are asked to bring their wish lists along so Santa can talk with them about it,” said Sue Ullrich, recreation coordinator for the Long Grove Park District. “Parents should bring their cameras.” There will be photo ops with Santa as well as by a fireplace and Christmas tree.

Kids can work on projects at a craft table and refreshments will be served.

“This event has been attended by the same families for years and years and years, and now the grandparents come. It’s really a nice afternoon,” Ullrich said. “The event is free but everyone is asked to bring an unwrapped toy for a boy or girl, which is donated to Toys for Tots.”

For details, call (847) 438-4743 or go to lgparks.org.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING

You and your children can get in touch with your technical side at Family Friday: Tech Open Lab, 6-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Barrington Area Library, 505 N. Northwest Hwy. You’ll have a chance to work with Lego robots, stop motion animation, iPads and more.

For details, call (847) 382-1300 or go to barringtonarealibrary.org.

SANTA’S WIFE WORKS, TOO

Mrs. Claus will be greeting kids at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Deer Park Town Center Barnes and Noble, 20600 N. Rand Road. She will read some of her favorite holiday stories and pose for photos.

For details, call (847) 438-7444 or go to www.barnesandnoble.com.

FOLKSY CELEBRATION

Folk singer Woody Guthrie wrote the children’s book, “Honeyky Hanukah.” Kids will hear that story as well as the book’s accompanying CD, which contains the song, at a special storytime, 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 18 at the Deer Park Town Center Barnes and Noble, 20600 N. Rand Road.

For details, call (847) 438-7444 or go to www.barnesandnoble.com.

ACTING NEIGHBORLY

Tiny house spirits occupy the old home where two young girls and their father move in the 75-minute Japanese animated fantasy film, “My Neighbor Totoro.” The family movie will be shown 6:30-8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19 at Indian Trails Library, 355 Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Tickets will be given out starting at 6 p.m. that day.

For details, call (847) 459-4100 or go to www.indiantrailslibrary.org.

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is alerting residents that any calls soliciting money for the local Fraternal Order of Police organization are not from the sheriff’s office.

Here is the full news release:

Lake County Sheriff’s Office Not Associated with FOP Telephone Solicitation Campaign

In recent days numerous Lake County residents have reported receiving telephone calls from individuals soliciting funds for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Fraternal Order of Police.

Sheriff Mark Curran Jr. wants to make the citizens of Lake County aware that the Fraternal Order of Police is in no way affiliated with the Office of the Lake County Sheriff. Any attempt made to solicit funds via telephone, mail or in person by anyone identifying themselves as a representative of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office should not be considered legitimate.

This appears to be one of several “telephone scams” using the name of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office in an attempt to gain access to the financial information of unsuspecting victims.

Somewhere out there is a new marketing survey that clearly shows shoppers buy more stuff in stores when Christmas songs and all types of holiday tunes are playing on speakers overhead. I haven’t seen the survey or the results, but I know it exists because it seems every supermarket, department store and retail outlet selling everything from cell phones to cat litter is featuring December classics.

Not trying to be “Holiday Debbie Downer” here. It’s certainly not unusual to hear Johnny Mathis or Bing Crosby greeting you this time of year after navigating from a slushy parking lot and through a foggy glass door and onto a slushy lobby carpet, but everywhere?

Since the last Tootsie Roll was handed out on Halloween, I have loaded microwave popcorn boxes into a shopping cart to, “Chestnuts… roasting on an open fire,” overhead and have sat in doctors’ office waiting rooms scrolling through Twitter feeds on my phone to “Fa-lah-lah-lah-lahs.”

It’s probably always been the case every year in all these places; it just seems more pronounced this year. Maybe following several weeks of turbulent street protests across the country over police-related violence, ongoing political conflicts in Washington, D.C. and regular reports from overseas of terrorists trying to scare the world by killing more innocent people — friendly and familiar sounds of the season are more noticeable because they cut through the media clutter.

Nothing against Johnny, Bing and other Christmas song crooners — but can we please add Bruce Springsteen’s version of “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” to the playlist? Any other requests?

Eric Scott is a Pioneer Press community contributor and former TV newscast producer now working in corporate communications. He serves on the Board of Directors for the the Stevenson High School Foundation and on the foundation’s communications committee. Eric is also a member of the Lincolnshire Lightning Travel Soccer Club’s Board of Directors. Interested in writing or blogging for the Pioneer Press? Submissions also can be made here.

If you aren’t in the festive spirit already, check out these fun weekend events with family and friends. For more event listings around the suburbs, visit the Pioneer Local events calendar.

Fair Trade Gift Market, 2 p.m. Friday

Trinity International University hosts a Fair Trade Gift Market on Friday until 8 p.m., and Saturday until 2 p.m. The event takes place in the Waybright Center on Trinity’s main campus in Deerfield. Many local vendors, such as The Mustard Seed (Lake Forest) and Ten Thousand Villages (Evanston), offer hand-made merchandise from a variety of countries in Africa, South America, Southeast Asia and Haiti. Trinity International University, 2065 Half Day Road, Deerfield.

Skokie Valley Astronomers: Stellar Evolution, 8 p.m. Friday

A night sky stargazing will follow a formal presentation about astronomy, weather permitting. Meets on the second Friday of each month. For more information, visit skokievalleyastronomers.org. Ryerson Conservation Area, 21950 N. Riverwoods Road, Riverwoods. Free.

Second Saturday Poetry Workshop, 9 a.m. Saturday

The Northwest Cultural Council announces a Second Saturday Poetry Workshop led by Angela Narcisco Torres and lasting until noon. Saturday’s topic will be How Does It All End? A Look at Poetic Closure. Angela Narciso Torres’s first book of poetry, Blood Orange, won the 2013 Willow Books Literature Award for Poetry. Participants are encouraged to bring 15 copies of their own work to share with the group. Please R.S.V.P. by phone. Palatine Public Library, 700 N. North Court, Palatine. $15.

Holiday Cards and Tags Craft, 11 a.m. Saturday

Grades 1-5. Bring ideas and use library supplies to make outstanding gift tags and cards for the upcoming holidays. Limit: 30. Tickets are required and given out 30 minutes prior to the program. Indian Trails Library District, 355 S. Schoenbeck Road, Wheeling. Free.

Holiday Concerts at Stevenson High School, 1 p.m. Saturday

The MYA Symphony Orchestra performs with Stevenson Choirs. Tickets can be purchased at the door or online at http://www.mya.org/store/tickets.php. Adlai E. Stevenson High School, 1 Stevenson Drive, Lincolnshire. $20 per family.

8th Annual Special Tribute Hockey Game, 9 p.m. Saturday

Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation and the Highland Park Giants will be holding their 8th Annual Special Tribute Hockey Game. This year’s game will be played against Maine High School. The Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation was founded in Highland Park by David and Gail Katz and their daughter, Melissa Katz Gold, following the death of David and Gail’s 25-year-old son and Melissa’s brother, Daniel, from an overdose of prescription drug medication in June, 2007. The Save A Star Drug Awareness Foundation was created to educate the public about the dangers and consequences of prescription drug abuse and addiction, and to provide tangible methods to remove unwanted and unused medications from America’s homes. Daniel was a member of the Highland Park Giants Hockey Team during his high school years. Call or visit the website for information and a list of the Police Departments that have drug disposal boxes. Centennial Park Ice Arena, 3100 Trailway St., Highland Park.

A Grand Hanukkah Celebration, noon Sunday

Congregation Beth Judea (Il. Rt. 83 at Hilltop Road) invites grandparents and their grandchildren age 7 or younger of members and non-members to come as they host a special afternoon program to create a family memory box for Hanukkah. All families attending should bring canned goods that will be donated to the local food pantry. RSVP is required by Nov. 30. Congregation Beth Judea, RFD 5304, Long Grove. Free.

Chicago Bronze English Handbell Choir, 3 p.m. Sunday

This annual holiday concert returns featuring sacred, secular, classical, jazz and old favorites. Registration is required. Call or visit the Library’s website to register or for more information. Ela Area Public Library, 275 Mohawk Trail, Lake Zurich. Free.