The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 107

DaiLv Herald dailyherald.com BUFFALO GROVE Wrra tews OF LONG GROVE Wednesday, March "L4. Good monring, Buffalo Grove and Wheeling! Register soon for next session of police's citizen academy The next session of the Buffalo Grove Police Citizen Academy is scheduled to begin on Thursday and will run through June l. Classes will be held once a week at the police department from 6:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. and consist of discussions and hands-on training.

The classes are designed to provide an overview of the various aspects of law enforcement and to give residents a better understanding of how the police work in their community. Class size is limited to 25 participants and there is no cost to those who enroll Applicants must be 21 years of age or older and either live or work in Buffalo Grove. Applications are available at the front desk of the police department, 46 Raupp Boulevard. Applicants are subject to a background check and will be informed in writing if they have been accepted for the class. For information, contact the Crime Relations Unit at (847)459-2560.

Video about street projects to air Wednesdays on Channel 6 An informational meeting about Buffalo Grove's Year 2000 Street Improvement Program will air on Channel 6 at 6 p.m. Wednesday evenings through May. Copies of the video are now available for check put at the reference desks of both the Indian Trails Public Library District and Vernon Area Public Library. Village offers 'Village Newslisf subscription e-mail updates Online Buffalo Grove residents can now receive village news through the "Village electronic news delivery system. Via e-mail, this service provides information on meetings, reminders, press releases, and other activities relating to village services, and boards, commissions and departments.

Since being unveiled in December, the Village Newslist has been used primarily to forward agendas of the village board and plan commission to those interested in keeping up to date on events in those arenas. The electronic mailing was also useful in providing information on snow plans and laws as well as news of family events sponsored by the village.To subscribe visit the village's Web site at www.vbg.org and chck on the sign-up option. You'll need only to enter your first and last name and your e-mail address. You can unsubscribe at any time "If I can make a difference in someone's life, it's well worth it." Buffalo Grove Police Officer Robert Heer, on his recognition as the department's officer of the year. The cover on Long Grove's famous covered bridge was patterned after a bridge in New Hampshire, according to the Long Grove Historical Society.

Reports received from area police departments: Buffalo Grove Dmitriy Dich Yankelevich, 21, of Waukegan was arrested Sunday and charged with retail theft after an employee for Wherehouse Music 1204 W. Dundee Road, saw him take seven CDs valued at $86 without paying, police said. His court date was set for April 26. Pedro Chavez Contreras, 21, of Des Plaines was arrested Sunday and charged with retail theft after an employee for Aisle 3,1030 E. Lake- Cook Road, saw him take a watch valued at $50 without paying, police said.

His court date was set for April 5. Thieves stole $600 worth of bills Sunday or Monday from International House of Pancakes, 51N. McHenry Road, police said The manager put the cash in a money bag and placed it in the safe on Sunday, according to reports. There was no sign of forced entry police said. Wheeling a Enrique Sandoval, 28, of Palatine, was arrested March 15 and charged with battery after he threw a can of soda and hit a customer in the back at La Rosita Restaurant, 1902 S.

Wolf Road police said. His court date was set for April 7 Burglars stole $250 and a credit card March 14 or 15 from 88 Chop Suey, 341 E. Dundee Road police said. Someone broke the front door glass to gam entry and removed the cash drawer, police said. Damage was estimated at $300.

At the same time, burglars tried to enter Sasha Hair Salon 361 E. Dundee Road, police said. Someone threw chunks of asphalt at the front door, chipping the glass, but apparently no one entered the store, police said. Officer of the Year BY AURORA AGUHAR Daily Herald Staff Writer Robert J. Heer is a busy man.

In the past year, Heer, a Buffalo Grove police two vandals and a child abuser, helped raise funds for an ill colleague, continued serving as a Wheeling village trustee and earned his bachelor's Robert J. Heer degree. All this made for his nomination by his peers for recognition as Officer of the Year, an honor he officially was selected for earlier this month. A 21-year veteran of the police department, Heer served as corporal in the investigative youth division for the past three years. He has also been the president of Lodge 74, Fraternal Order of Police since 1995.

His past efforts earned him the police department's employee of the quarter in 1998. Sgt. Anthony Gallagher, Heer's supervisor, said what earned Heer the Officer of the Year award was a result of "a lot of hard work in the past year." During the past 12 months, Heer took vacation time to assist in the prosecution of Karl Schmidt, a Buffalo Grove man who was charged with sexual abuse. As a result, in part, of Heer's efforts, Schmidt was charged with seven counts of criminal sexual assault and two counts of criminal sexual abuse. "If I can make a difference in someone's life, it's well worth it," Heer said Yoshiko Kawaibf Arlington Heights looks over some of the calligraphy created by Japanese women living in the Northwest suburbs during a recent show at Oakton Community College in DesPlaines.

'Daily Herald Chwedyk Heer also was instrumental in the case of.the two youths who were charged with vandalizing Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire. But that's not all. During his time away from work, he earned a bachelor's degree from Northeastern Illinois University and won a second term as village trustee of Wheeling, where he's lived for the past 16 years. "He's truly dedicated to the police department and not only to the vU- See HEER on Page 2 Lake Barringtbn restricts times for leaf burning BYALEXJANCO Daily Herald Staff Writer Different strokes for differMfdlks Exhibit Contrasts in calligraphy style BY EILEEN O.DADAY DapyHeraW Correspondent Delicate brushstrokes spanned two continents Friday. East met West at a exhibition of Western-style calligraphy done by Japanese women who live hi the Northwest suburbs.

Megumi Miyata of Mount Prospect has a hard time speaking English. But she learned a little more about the culture when she.wrote out the Pledge of Allegiance in calligraphy and etched it over a print of the American flag. "My daughter goes to an American school, and every morning she says the Pledge of Allegiance," Miyata said. "I wanted to do this for her." Likewise, Toshimi Hashimoto of Arlington Heights carefully wrote the names of all the presidents of the United States across an American flag. She chose the design, she says, because her fourth-grade daughter, Marina, is studying the presidents in social studies at in ArHiigtbn'Heights.

The unusual blending of cultures took place at Oakton'Community College during its Cultures Week! The women's private calligraphy, teacher, Susan Gavin of Glenview, is a.stu- dent at Oakton and a member of the. Japanese Club. Club members sponsored the exhibit. "The Japanese Club aims to convey some of the Japanese culture to the college and to the surrounding community," said Hiroko Jesse of Evanston, a former club president. Gavin started out teaching English as a Second Language to the wives of Japanese businessmen 11 years ago.

soon added calligraphy lessons, drawing on her own interest in it as a hobby and the growing fascination with Western calligraphy in Japan. Gavin has 40 students whose husbands have been transferred temporarily to the Chicago branches of their Japanese companies for four to seven years. The wives do not have work visas, so many pursue craft classes. "Studying calligraphy has proven to be a small door they can step through to learn about American culture," Gavin said. The displays featured calligraphy 1 Some Wpmea'chose to write out "The Star-Spafigled and "the 50 United States.

Many decorated their works with flag bunting and Decorative-notecards'and an- noun cements peppered the display. Nearby tables showcased'the age- old Eastern style of calligraphy, or shotio. The Eastern method uses-' Chinese letters, or kanji, and the basic Japanese alphabet, hiragana. While.the connection between calligraphy and the ornate style of. Japanese and Chinese characters would seem fitting, the Japanese women on hand begged to differ.

"The two are very said. "The Japan-ise style uses very soft brushes. The American style uses'3 hard brush or pen tip." -i "It's hard to make the change from soft to hard," said Kaon Ito of Pala- tine. Working on the art form while gathering in one another's homes has an added bonus, Miyata said. "It's a good way to practice our i English," she said.

"Susan teaches id It's a good chance for us to speak using our English." Lake Barrington has passed a new ordinance that regulates, but does not entirely prohibit, burning of leaves at certain times of the year. To avoid being handcuffed by a pending statewide law that would ban leaf burning altogether, the village acted promptly but left the law open to changes. The statewide law, which is on the house floor right now, would ban leaf burning in any town or village that doesn't have a current statute saying it is legal or regulated. "I do feel we can pass this ordinance prior to the state and we can go back and make changes," Village President Dorothy "Connie" Schofield said. There are two different kinds of burning that are discussed in the village's law leaves and bonfires.

Bonfires, which include sticks, twigs and wood, will not be regulated. Leaf burning, however is another story. Between October 1 and May 31, it will be permissible to burn leaves', but with a time restriction, likely between.9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Between June 1 and September 30, however, it is recommended not to burn leaves because of health hazards.

Schofield said, and added that people who have trouble breathing shouldn't have to put up with the added toxins in the air. Schofield said the time restriction "will provide a warning" for She said parents who are against leaf burning would know in advance when to keep their children inside. Village Attorney James Bateman said the fires should also be regulated in size, with the largest being five feet wide and the time a fire could burn limited to either three or five hours. would hate to say to people with large lots 'you can't Trustee Lauren DeJesu said in response to finding out other area villages such as Lake Zurich, Antioch and Buffalo Grove have a no-burn ban. Trustee Jean VonderHaar said she worries allowing people to light fires may result hi many false alarms when it comes to residents calling the fire department.

DeJesu said the Barrington Fire Department gets called regularly from people reporting fires outside. The village will also lift its requirement to have a permit for bonfires. It does state the wood used in the bonfire must be a dry, hard wood, however. Little Qty artists hit it big in Arlington library showcase BY ERIN HOLMES Daily Herald Staff Writer A favorite work of Little City Foundation artist Mike Lyon is one he did himself; a piece in charcoal depicting many black circles that he calls "A Little Bit of Sun." He picked that piece to be part of a monthlong display at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. "This is my favorite," he said.

The March display features 20 pieces by 12 artists from the Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center at the Little City Foundation in Palatine, a residential facility for adults and children with special needs. The artwork, hung just across from the library's checkout desk, will be available for viewing during library hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. And like any art show, the works are for sale. Prices will range from £40 to $200. "It's really a cool concept," said Jennifer Stauffacher, Little City's studio arts coordinator.

"It boosts self- esteem." Most of the money goes directly to the artist. The rest goes to Little City's art studio to supplement materials it supplies to artists. The display's chalk, watercolor and tempera pieces are the fruits of Little City's 6-year-old Studio Art Program that allows artists to drop in weekly for morning or afternoon sessions. The program also employs four full- time artists, such as Lyon, who spend their days drawing, sculpting or painting. "It's something to do to keep us busy all day long," Lyon said.

Little City's other full-time artists are Harold Jefferies, who has watercolor, colored pencil and pastel pieces on display; John King, whose piece "Circles" Works by artists from the Little City Foundation Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center in Palatine are on display through March at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. The artwork is for sale. Daily Herald M. ScottMahaskey is part of the display; and Brian Kaplan. "One of the reasons we want to have a show at the library is to provide an educational opportunity for the public Stauffacher said.

"This artwork can be just as exciting as that by any other artist.".