Buffalo Grove Days turns political

Buffalo Grove Days, over the Labor Day weekend, is usually a time for the community to come together. Yet not even the festival was immune from political infighting.

Michael Terson, marketing chief for the Buffalo Grove Park District and former candidate for village trustee, played with his band at the fest, but under his own name, not the band's usual name, Hipcheck16.

The band name is a reference to an online poster who is currently involved in litigation with Trustee Lisa Stone over comments made on the Daily Herald's online comment board.

Terson, who not only performed but gave commentary for local cable during the BG Days parade, said he was urged to drop the name by the festival committee.

An Aug. 9 e-mail to the village board has come to light. The writer's name has been redacted, but the e-mailer is identified as a longtime resident "writing in anonymity because the current charged political climate in town makes me very uncomfortable revealing my real name."

In the e-mail, addressed to Village President Elliott Hartstein and trustees, the writer says the actual Hipcheck16's comments are filled with questionable language and insinuations.

It also says some of the trustees are Facebook friends with the band. "(It) looks like the village is endorsing this band," and "taunting another trustee," the e-mail says.

The writer urges Terson be removed from the performance roster and be banned from official Buffalo Grove Days duties including his parade commentary, neither of which occurred.

The e-mail also recommends a re-examination of the leadership of the BG Days Committee.