Road projects, mental health services, government consolidation, and
shared services with municipalities are just a few of the key priorities Lake
County will focus on this year. Watch this
video as Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor outlines Lake County’s top
priorities for 2017 and what they mean to you. |
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Lake County, we appreciate the dedication and commitment of the men and women
who have served in the United States Military. To honor their service, we offer
resources to help veterans and their families. To learn more, visit the
Veterans Assistance Commission website,
check out their latest brochure,
and sign
up for their monthly newsletter.
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Dispose
your unused, unwanted and expired prescription drugs properly at disposal boxes
across Lake County. And the service is
free! In 2016, Lake County disposed of nearly 15,000 pounds. Find a drug disposal box near
you, and learn what the program cannot accept. |
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 Forest Preserve News
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Profiles
in Excellence
Join us for an inspiring afternoon in honor of black history at Profiles in Excellence,
Feb. 5 from 3 to 5 p.m. at the Greenbelt Cultural
Center.
This year’s theme is “Celebrating Champions––A Tribute to African-American
Athletes.” This is an educational, entertaining and family-friendly event,
featuring presentations, choir performances, a sports photography exhibit of
Walter Payton and more. Admission is free. Learn more |
 Summer camp early bird registration ends Feb. 15
Camps
are designed for summer fun and learning, and include topics such as nature,
recreation, art and history. Week-long sessions at locations throughout the
county make it easy to find camps that are convenient for you. Browse our
schedule of camps online, and register by Feb. 15 to receive an early bird
discount. Learn more
Cultural
items to be transferred to Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians
The
remains of a minimum of 13 individuals and associated funerary objects
belonging to the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians will
soon be transferred from the Lake County Discovery Museum's collections to the tribe under the federal Native
American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA). Ownership
of the remains was transferred to the District in 1989 from the County of Lake,
which had previously acquired the collections from the privately-owned Lake
County Museum of History in 1965. Items
will be transferred in a manner that is consistent with the NAGPRA. Learn more about the Museum.
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 In observance of January as National Radon Action
Month by the Environmental Protection Agency, you are encouraged to check radon
levels in your home or apartment during the winter months.
Radon
is an odorless and colorless gas that naturally occurs in rock and soil. It can
seep into homes from the soil through cracks in the basement floors and
foundations, crawl spaces, poorly sealed sump pumps, porous cinder block walls
and other foundation floor and wall penetrations.
Short-term test kits are available through the Lake County Health
Department for $10. Watch this
video to learn more about radon and the test kits.
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 Crisis intervention officers are receiving specialized
training to help them evaluate various mental health crisis incidents thanks to
the Lake County Sheriff’s Office receiving the Federal Justice and Mental
Health Collaboration Program Grant. Topics covered in their training include
mental health signs and symptoms, geriatric issues, returning combat veterans
with traumatic brain injury and PTSD, child and adolescent disorders, autism
spectrum disorder, excited delirium, medical conditions and psychotropic
medications, risk assessment and law enforcement response. Watch this video to
learn more about the training.
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 A total of 79 lives were saved by law enforcement officers in 2016
as part of the Lake County Opioid Initiative's Police Naloxone Program. A total
of 125 lives have been saved since the program began on Christmas Day 2014. The
Lake County Opioid Initiative's mission is to develop, implement, evaluate
and sustain a multi-strategy county-wide effort to prevent opioid abuse,
addiction, overdose, and death. Learn more about the Opioid
Initiative.
Also, 56 individuals have accessed treatment as part of A Way Out
Program that launched last June. A Way Out is a Lake County Law Enforcement
Assisted Diversion pilot program designed to fast-track users to substance
abuse programs and services. This program is available 24 hours a day, seven days
a week at participating
police departments. It ensures no criminal charges will be sought
for those that may be in possession of narcotics or paraphernalia as long as
assistance is sought out by the prospective program participant. Learn more about the A Way Out program.
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Meet with North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham
In an effort to enhance communications between the City of North Chicago and its residents, Mayor Leon Rockingham will host its first Fifth Monday meeting of 2017 at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at North Chicago City Hall Council Chambers, 1850 Lewis Ave. Learn more
Be Prepared for Frigid Temperatures. Utilize These Warming Centers
The Waukegan Park District reminds residents to stay safe during
the winter frigid temperatures. Check out a list of
warming centers available in Waukegan. Please remember to check on
the elderly, young and pets whenever possible. If medical attention is needed,
call 911.
Join next ArtWauk
Come to ArtWauk, a monthly celebration of all arts from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday,
Jan. 21 in downtown Waukegan. Each month is a unique experience as the art exhibits,
musicians and featured performances vary from one month to the next.
 If you have any questions or concerns, please call me at 847-721-1563 (cell) or email me at mcunningham@lakecountyil.gov.
I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be
interested in Lake County news. Residents who wish to automatically receive my
bi-weekly newsletter can email me, or click the “Sign up for my mailing list
here” button at the top of the newsletter.
Thank you,
Mary Ross Cunningham
Ms. Cunningham, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 9th District:
Diversity and Inclusion Committee, (Ad-Hoc), Chair
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee, Vice Chair
Lake County Health and Community Services
Lake County Rules Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 9th District:
Operations Committee, Vice Chair
Diversity and Cultural Awareness Committee
Other appointed positions:
National Association of Counties (NACo) Community and Economic Development Committee
Lake County Community Health Center Governing Council, Vice Chair
Lake County Board of Health Personnel Committee, Chair
Community Action Partnership of Lake County, Board Member
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