Arlington Hts. finally OKs store's second sign.(News)

Byline: Sheila Ahern Daily Herald Staff Writer 

Michael Shahwan knows his customers "buzz in and buzz out" of his Arlington Heights convenience store - after all, that's what he named the store back in 1999.
But lately, customers have just been buzzing past. 

For the past five years, Shahwan has been trying to convince village trustees to let him build another, larger sign advertising his business. On Monday, the Arlington Heights village board granted Shahwan his second sign with a 6-3 vote. The new Buzz in, Buzz Out sign will be no larger than 16 feet tall and stand in front of his store at 229 W. Rand Road. Currently, Shahwan only has a smaller sign that reads "convenience." 

"I'm here for six years looking for your assistance," Shahwan said before the vote. "Where are you?" 

Before Monday's meeting, village trustees said they had been flooded with letters, phone calls and e-mails from Arlington Heights residents backing the new Buzz In, Buzz Out sign. On Monday, about 10 residents waited two hours to speak up in favor of Shahwan's sign. Several sat in the audience wearing yellow and white Buzz In, Buzz Out T-shirts. 

"He needs the sign and he needs the curb appeal," said resident Jim Andersen. "Show some compassion. Show some wisdom and vote for the sign." 

Pam Horwath said Shahwan lets customers pay later if they forget their wallets and sponsors local sports teams. 

"I asked him to sponsor my softball team and all he said was 'Sure, how much?'" Horwath said. 

Along with Mayor Arlene Mulder, village trustees Norman Breyer, Joseph Farwell, Helen Jensen, Thomas Stengren and Virginia Kucera voted in favor of the sign. Village trustees Bert Rosenberg, Mark Toljanic and Thomas Hayes voted against the idea. 

Stengren said he "drove right by" Buzz In, Buzz Out when he recently stopped by for a visit.
"It comes down to common sense," Stengren said. "(Shahwan) needs some help and it wouldn't take much for us to give it to him." 

Trustees who voted against the sign voiced concerns about being flooded with similar requests from businesses also wanting a second sign. 

"If we give you a second ground sign, I don't know how we could say no to other businesses," Toljanic said. "I'm not comfortable with that." 

"We can't govern based on the number of e-mails we receive in support of a petition," Hayes added.