Milwaukee college student Lacey Green discovered by accident - by Google actually - that there's a village in southern England named Lacey Green.

So the 24-year-old decided to pay a visit. And her British hosts are rolling out the red carpet. Well, no parades are planned just yet. But the locals kindly have offered her a place to sleep while she's there.

The collision of Laceys is a first for both.
"They've never been visited by a Lacey Green. I'm the first ever!" Lacey told me Friday.
"There's actually a sign that says welcome to Lacey Green. It could be my Christmas card next year," she said. "Maybe they have a village anthem. I'd be interested to hear it."

Lacey, who grew up in Oklahoma, will graduate in May from Alverno College with a degree in community leadership and development. She lives on campus. Her dream is to work on foreign policy and run for the U.S. Senate.

She typed her name into Google recently to see where she appeared online. Up popped a Wikipedia entry for a village in Buckinghamshire County. Population: 2,413.

A place that matched her name? Too weird.
"Just to be sure, I contacted the Parish Council and one of the parish councillors responded. She's been very kind. She was very excited right away," Lacey said.
Lacey told that village official, Miv Hughes, that she was interested in working with school children. Several schools in the village and beyond are expecting her.
"Lacey Green is very small, only one voluntary shop/post office, a few pubs, some farms, a church, a school, a windmill and that's about it," Miv wrote to her.

Traveling alone, Lacey will leave on Thursday and be abroad nine days during her spring break from school. She has been to Mexico, South Africa and Romania, but never to the United Kingdom. Her own ethnicity is a Euro blend, and her first name came from the character in a book her grandmother had read.

Word spread that Lacey would be visiting the village. The local paper, the Bucks Free Press, wrote an article about her.

Wouldn't you know it? There's even a small Wisconsin connection there. Some land that's now part of the Methodist churchyard was deeded over by one William Mawby Tomkins of Ashland, according to an e-mail Lacey received.

Liz Stanley lives in Lacey Green and has a spare room. After reading the article, she sent an e-mail to Lacey and offered it.
I reached Liz by telephone. She joked that the locals would be happy to give Lacey the proverbial key to the city, but they're too small to have one.
"It's a nice little English village," said Liz, an occupational therapist. "There's not a lot of shops, but there's some lovely countryside and really lovely pubs."

Lacey Green is known for its well-preserved windmill, and Liz mentioned a rest home for retired horses, including some that belonged to the queen.

Lacey was also contacted by a Brit named Frances Alexander, who founded a group called 5W (women welcome women world-wide) that connects traveling women with host families. A 5W member named Cynthia Chan is meeting Lacey at Heathrow Airport and putting her up for the weekend in London before she heads for Lacey Green.

Money is tight for Lacey, who lost her part-time job recently at a local restoration and remodeling company where she was a Web content developer. She charged the $640 airline ticket on a credit card. She has $300, which translates to a little over half that many English pounds. So she's not planning a lavish getaway.
"It's really geared about connecting with the village, with the children. They asked me to tell a little bit about Wisconsin," she said. "I hope to establish a relationship with the village of Lacey Green that hopefully will be lifelong."

Lacey thinks we should all Google our names to match up with unpredictable destinations.
"Maybe there's a Jim Street or a Jim building, and you can go and stand there and take a picture. Everyone could do that and make a video montage. That would be the next YouTube hit," she said.

I don't know about streets or buildings, but Googling my last name turns up a Stingl switch that quickly turns off the pump of your pool or spa to keep you from getting sucked into the drain. I suppose I could visit the plant in Sterling, Va., but that's no match for a charming English town.

I asked Lacey if she's always this impulsive.
"I like to use the word adventurous," she said. "I mean, why not?"

Call Jim Stingl at (414) 224-2017 or e-mail at jstingl@journalsentinel.com

Free safety checks to help reduce the risk of a fire or other emergency in your home are available from Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service.

Free smoke alarms are fitted where required, and firefighters will also help you find out more about other useful local services if you are interested.

The checks take about 30 minutes each, depending on the size of the house, and are usually carried out by firefighters. The householder needs to be present to answer a few questions.

Firefighters will offer fire safety advice, based on any potential fire risks that they may have identified during the check, and answer questions.

They will then fit as many smoke alarms as they think necessary. Buckinghamshire Fire & Rescue Service currently fits British Standard smoke alarms with a sealed battery that should last 10 years in normal use.

To book one of these free checks, ring 01296 744477 or email cs@bucksfire.gov.uk
Community safety manager Terry Ridgley said: "When fires break out, smoke alarms provide a vital early warning sign. If the fire happens at night, they are often your only warning."

Here are Terry's top tips to ensure you and your family stay safe from fire:
Fit and maintain a smoke alarm: You should have one on each level of your home and test it weekly. The ideal position is on the ceiling, in the middle of a room, or in the hallway and landing. Test it weekly.

Plan your escape route: Make sure you and your family know the quickest way out in the event of fire. Consider an alternative route in case your usual one is blocked.

In the event of a fire, get out, stay out and call 999: Don't delay for valuables, and don't investigate or try to tackle the fire. Use a mobile, a neighbour's phone or a phone box to call 999. If someone needs to be rescued wait safely outside for the firefighters who have the equipment and training to do it. Never go back in.

Check on others: When you visit relatives or friends, look out for safety hazards in the home. Offer to help test their alarm and plan escape routes together.
Keep internal doors shut: This will slow down the spread of fire.
Picture caption

Four key safety messages - Fit smoke alarms; Test them every week; Plan an escape route; Get out, stay out and call 999.

PC 4755 Andy Ralph gives this month's update for Princes Risborough rural neighbourhood team.

Progress on priority 1, Speeding: On January the 28th a speed enforcement operation was carried out by PC's Ralph and Logan at Chinnor Road, Bledlow Ridge at school pick up time. Eight motorists were cautioned or dealt with by way of fixed penalty notice with the fastest recorded at 39mph.

The speeds recorded were slower than on previous occasions but support the continued use of speed enforcement in the coming months.

The use of speed indication devices is being looked into by the neighbourhood action group as a possible way to impact on speeding motorists.

Community speedwatch volunteers are sought for the following areas; Lacey Green/Loosley Row, Gt/Lt Kimble and Ellesborough/Butlers Cross in order that evidence of speeding in these villages can be used accordingly by the Police to support speed enforcement operations accordingly. To register your interest email; lisa.roberts@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk

Progress on priority 2, Parking: We are continuing to monitor the parking near the schools in the area where it can be problematic. The commendable attitude of most residents is that this problem is inevitable at certain times of the day and can even lead to positive factors such as reducing speeding cars near the schools. A travel plan group, including PCSO Lisa Roberts, meets in Longwick periodically to assess the problem and seek ways to improve the situation for the local residents. A poster competition to highlight the problem involving the school pupils is being set up by Lisa.

The parking of a van on a pavement in Longwick has been reported by local residents. It transpires that this is a specially converted transit to carry a disabled lady and that this is the only viable place to park. I am happy that there is room to walk a pram past the van and concluded that in these circumstances this is acceptable.

Progress on priority3, Anti social behaviour: Please let us know if you have noticed a location in the area where you feel our presence could be used to prevent any ASB affecting your quality of life.

In general the area is very low on ASB and this is a credit to the local schools and parents.

Area crime information: 9 Crimes have been reported in the area during January;
- A garage break in Bledlow Ridge where nothing was stolen.
- Damage was caused to a car at Saunderton Lodge
- An assault occurred at Saunderton Lodge
- A house burglary in Bledlow whereby shotguns were stolen
- Two thefts from cars in Bradenham Wood Lane during the snowy period whereby a chain saw and a satellite navigation system were stolen
- A quad bike was stolen from a farm outbuilding in Gt Hampden
- Theft of fuel from a vehicle in Chestnut Way, Longwick
- Gardening equipment was stolen from a shed in Gt Kimble

Offenders dealt with: A suspect has been dealt with by way of a conditional caution for making off without paying for petrol from Total garage, Longwick. This means that the offender now has a Police record but as long as he pays for the fuel by a given deadline the matter will not go to court.

Partnership activity: A speed enforcement operation took place involving Thames Valley safer roads partnership and Bucks county council speed education officers.

I visited Longwick School on the 27th of January to look at some evidential statements the pupils had been working on relating to a staged crime that took place at the School. Thanks to their statements I was able to identify a suspect in the class and arrest him!

We have been working closely with staff at Saunderton Lodge to hold beat surgeries with vulnerable families that are currently staying there in order to help them understand our work.

Future meetings: The next NAG meeting has been arranged for Wednesday the 18th of March 2010 at 730pm to be held at Longwick school.

"Have your say" meeting dates for February are as follows:

Thursday the11th of February at Tesco's, Princes Risborough between 11am and 1pm.

Thursday the 25th of February at Tesco's, Princes Risborough between 5pm and 7pm.

We are always looking for ways to improve our service to the people in our neighbourhood. If you have any concerns or comments on how we can improve your neighbourhood, or to find out more about the team, please contact us at Princes Risborough police station or via the non-emergency number on 0845 8 505 505 or visit www.thamesvalley.police.uk

As you know we've had a functioning Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in Loosley Row for several years. It's members seem to think that it is of use/benefit to them and, as it's run electronically (via email communications) it does not involve me - or whoever takes over from me in due course - in too much effort.

It permits Thames Valley Police (TVP) to communicate directly with people in our area - via the Scheme - and, when an appropriate issue raises its head (e.g. Potholes, recently), it allows the members to represent themselves as a body of residents.

Currently we have 4 Lacey Green residents (and 5 Speen residents) who are members of our Scheme and it would seem to be appropriate - in the absence of a Lacey Green Neighbourhood Watch Scheme - that Lacey Green residents be offered the opportunity to join our scheme.

Membership is a no cost activity and all that is required for folk to join the scheme is that they supply me with some basic data:
- Name(s)
- Address (including postcode)
- Telehone No. (preferably a landline no. but a Mobile no. will suffice)
- Email Address at which they can be contacted about NW issues.

All of this information is held confidentially and no data is supplied to Third Parties. Members are only communicated with about matters which are germane to Neighbourhood Watch, i.e. the contact data is not used to promote anything other than Neighbourhood Watch related matters.

The Department of Health has recently started a public consultation on their proposal to introduce generic substitution for prescriptions in primary care. This will enable pharmacists and other dispensers to fulfil a prescription for a branded medicine by dispensing an equivalent generic medicine.

Hemley Hill - Date announced for Planning Appeal

31 December 2009
The Planning Inspectorate has now given a date of 27th April 2010 for a Public Inquiry to be held at the Council Offices, Queen Victoria Road, High Wycombe. It is anticipated that the Inquiry will last for two days. It will consider the appeals against the refusal of planning permission for 9 Gypsy and Traveller Pitches and against the serving of an enforcement notice against the current use of the site.

Youths - Do you need transport to work?

Buckinghamshire Community Action have a scheme to provide subsidised mopeds to young people to enable them to get to work.

"Wheels to Work" is a moped loan scheme for young people (aged 16-19, or up to 25 in some circumstances) who find it difficult to access work or training opportunities because of a lack of transport. Eligible candidates will receive a 50cc moped for a period of up to 9 months, in return for a small monthly wear and tear fee. Call Sally on 01296 421036

Hand made
patchwork quilt -
See picture.
Hundreds of individual pieces, all hand stitched have gone into the making of this quilt by Jill Baker. The hours probably exceed those of a painting masterpiece and some of our so called modern art does not come close.

Jill now wants to sell it for charity and will accept offers of or over £190.

Use 'General Enquiries' on the 'Contact Us' page.