Buffalo Grove honors two

Two people were recognized this week in Buffalo Grove for their contributions to the village.

Kildeer police Chief Steve Balinski, formerly police chief in Buffalo Grove, is this year's recipient of the Bill Reid Community Service Award, given by the Buffalo Grove Rotary in honor of the late Buffalo Grove trustee.

In addition to serving as police chief for 10 years, Balinski was an active member of the Rotary and at one time was its president. He returned to the village board room this week to receive his honor.

"It's good to be back. This is my home," Balinski told the audience.

Bev Hansen was honored by the village board after retiring as a steward of the Buffalo Grove Prairie.

Located on land owned by the village and ComEd, the prairie is a very rare unplowed black soil remnant prairie. Hansen has kept watch over the prairie since 1989 when ComEd's installation of an underground power line disturbed an area five feet wide and hundreds of feet long. She organized and led a volunteer event to repair the soil, replace the sod and rescue prairie plants.