 Lake
County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor is proposing a package of groundbreaking
reforms to county government that would give voters the opportunity to decide
on the leadership structure and management of their county government.
Illinois Senator Terry Link (Dist. 30) recently filed legislation that requires
the county board chairman be elected countywide starting in 2020. Currently,
the Lake County Board Chairman is selected by county board members every two
years. Learn more by visiting the Lake
County website and by watching
the video as he outlines his position on the new
legislation at a recent Financial and Administrative Committee meeting.
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Senior citizens may defer part or all of
their property taxes on their personal residence if they qualify for the Senior Citizen Tax
Deferral program.
Applications
are available at the Lake County Treasurer’s Office, 18 N. County St.,
Waukegan, and must be notarized and submitted to the Treasurer’s Office by
March 1. To learn more about the program, please contact the Treasurer’s Office
at 847-377-2323, or visit the Treasurer’s Office website.
As we begin a new year, tax season will be right
around the corner. Individuals who earn $64,000 or less can self-file their
federal and state taxes for free through a secure mobile-optimized website
called MyFree
Taxes. The website is provided in partnership with
United Way and H&R Block. Individuals also can utilize a helpline at 855-MY-TX-HELP
and online chat support with services available in English and Spanish by
IRS-certified specialists.
 Applications are now
available for the Lake County Board’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which
offers youth, ages 14 to 18 (or ages 14 to 22 with an Individualized Education
Plan) the opportunity for a paid, part-time work experience over the summer.
Youth are matched with local worksites and gain valuable experience while
earning a paycheck. Apply online,
or pick up an application at the Lake County Job Center in Waukegan and at many
local township offices and schools. Applications will be accepted until Feb.
28. Learn more
about the Summer Youth Employment program.
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 A Paratransit Market Study is now
underway in Lake County to evaluate transportation options for seniors, people
with disabilities, and the general public. We are looking for people to participate
in an upcoming focus group or provide feedback online.
Are you able to get to and from medical
appointments, places of employment and other daily activities? We want to hear
about your experiences, identify gaps in service, understand your needs, and
hear your recommendations for improvements. Take the online survey or sign up for the focus group.
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 In
2016, the Lake County Division of Transportation studied four travel corridors
to look at signal timings during peak travel times in the morning, mid-day, and
in the evening. The overall results of the study show that technology
enhancements, adjusting the signal timings, and coordinating the signals
through the Lake County PASSAGE system led to a reduction in vehicle delays
(477.8 hours) and a reduction in fuel consumption (318.2 gallons) per day. Not
only does this save money, approximately $3.1 million a year, but this also
means less time stuck in the car and more time doing the things you want to do.
An added benefit of the study was a reduction in CO2 emissions by 566 metric
tons per year. Learn
more about the study.
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The Illinois Department of Transportation wants
your input in developing its Long Range Transportation Plan. This plan will
identify policies to provide Illinois residents and businesses with innovative,
sustainable and multimodal transportation solutions that support local goals
and grow the economy. Provide your feedback through March 8, and learn more
about IDOT's long-range planning process.
 75 volunteers. 17
teams. 26 people sleeping outside.
This year’s Point-In-Time Count yielded the
highest numbers on record, going back to 2005, as volunteers found 26 people
sleeping outside. This event is
one of many initiatives bringing people together to work toward ending chronic
homelessness in Lake County. Help make a difference by connecting with the
member organizations of the Lake County Homeless Coalition.
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 See firsthand how the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
maintains law and order for county residents by joining the next Citizen Police
Academy beginning March 9. The 10-week program will meet from 6:30 to 9:30
p.m. Thursdays and is offered free to Lake County residents. Participants
must be 21 years of age or older, be of good moral character, and have no
felony convictions.
Applications are available at the Lake County
Sheriff’s Office, 25 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Waukegan and the Sheriff’s
Office website. Submit your application by Feb. 24. For
information, contact Deputy Roman Buchberger at 847-377-4211.
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Lake County will be one of 20 additional jurisdictions that will
join the Safety
and Justice Challenge, a national $100 million initiative. Lake
County and the other jurisdictions will design and test innovative local
justice reforms designed to safely drive down jail usage and reduce racial and
ethnic disparities in their local justice systems. Lake County was chosen
following a highly competitive selection process that drew applications from
across the country.
Lake County and other jurisdictions will receive short-term
support of $50,000 each, are eligible for future funding opportunities, and will
have access to resources, peer learning opportunities, and expertise of the Safety
and Justice Challenge Network. Learn more
about the Safety and Justice Challenge.
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Knowledge is Power!
Students from Neal Math & Science Academy recently came to the Lake County
Courthouse in Waukegan to get a firsthand look at what it's like working in the
criminal justice system. Watch
this video to find out what the students learned.
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Don’t stay cooped up when it’s cold outside. There’s
no room to be bored when there’s so much to do in Lake County. Go to Visit Lake County,
and check out so many family-friendly indoor activities. |
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 Forest Preserve News
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Maple Syrup Hikes
Stroll
through a maple woodland while learning about the sweet sap of sugar
maples. Ryerson Woods in
Riverwoods is one of few places in Lake County where conditions are right
for maple syrup production and where trees grow to a diameter and height that
allows for tapping. Hikes will be offered from noon to 2 p.m. every half hour
the last three weekends in March. Registration is required. Learn more |
 Pop-Up
Museum: Shelf Indulgence
Share a book from your prized collection at a Pop-Up Museum hosted by our
Museum staff from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 4 at the Wauconda Area
Library. Our Pop-Up
Museums are
temporary exhibits created by you to share objects and stories. This Pop-Up
Museum's theme is Shelf Indulgence, centered around your favorite books.
Bring a treasured book, such as the one you have read a thousand times, a
cookbook from your grandmother, or a children's book with the best
illustrations. The program is free, open to all ages, and no registration is
required. Learn more
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Book your event at a
Forest Preserve picnic shelter
Reservations for 2017
picnic permits are now available. Choose from 31 picnic shelters located
in scenic forest preserves throughout the county. Picnic shelter permits
ensure exclusive use of a shelter for your family reunion, company picnic or
other group gathering. Plan early to help ensure your first choice of
shelter and date. Learn more |
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Volunteer at the Native Seed Nursery
Volunteers,
including individuals, school, corporate and scout groups, donated more than
2,974 hours, equivalent to 1.5 full-time employees, last year at the Native Seed Nursery in
Rollins Savanna in Grayslake. Many of the native grasses and wildflowers used
in forest preserve restoration projects get their start at the nursery.
Volunteers may propagate plants, plant plugs, maintain plant beds, and collect
and process seed. Learn how
you can get involved. |
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Enjoy a great time at
Winthrop Harbor’s annual Fun Fair
The Village of Winthrop Harbor will hold its annual Fun Fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Schlader
Recreation Center. Enjoy games, a moonwalk, raffles, and refreshments.
The Winthrop Harbor Police and Fire departments will offer fun
activities and educational exhibits, including vehicles to check out. Admission
is free.
Wadsworth hosts lecture on Landscaping for Wildlife
An environmental educator from the Lake County Forest Preserves will present a lecture entitled "Landscaping for Wildlife" at 7 p.m. April 12 at the Wadsworth Village Hall. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served. Space is limited. To RSVP, send an email to mamidei@villageofwadsworth.org or call 847-336-7771.
Save the date for identity theft workshop
The Village of Beach
Park will host a workshop on how to avoid becoming a victim of identity
theft at 6 p.m. March 22 at the Beach Park Village Hall. A representative from
the Illinois Comptroller's Office will present this.
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