 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 reading this news
release and by watching the video of Chairman Lawlor outlining his position
on the new legislation at our 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.
 Applications are now
available for the Lake County Board’s Summer Youth Employment Program, which
offers youth, age 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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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.
 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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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 |
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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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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Lake Zurich to hold public hearing Feb. 15 on Route 22 and Quentin Road proposal
Developers have presented a proposal to the Village of Lake Zurich to develop the southwest corner of Route 22 and Quentin Road. The public hearing of this plan will continue at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting at 7 p.m. Feb. 15 at the Lake Zurich Village Hall.
Developers from Central One LLC and MBI Development have proposed to build 48 single-family residence's and five acres of commercial retail space. The commercial component will front Route 22 and Quentin Road and contain a bank, gas station with convenience store, a multi-tenant retail building, and a drive-through fast food restaurant. Learn more about this project and other proposed developments in the village.
Join the Great Backyard Bird Count
Join the 20th annual Great Backyard Bird Count, a free, fun
event that engages bird watchers in counting birds to create a real-time
snapshot of bird populations from Feb. 17 to 20. Participants are
asked to count birds for as little as 15 minutes or longer on one or more days
of the event and report their sightings online. Learn more about this year's event.
Lake Zurich to hold third annual craft beer festival
Save the dates as Lake Zurich hosts its third annual Craft Beer Festival from 5 to 10 p.m. May 12 and 13 at Paulus Park, 200 S. Rand Road. Enjoy local live music entertainment and beer tastings. Learn more
Barrington Chamber seeks part-time marketing assistant
The Barrington Area
Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new part-time marketing assistant. This position is responsible for the chamber's social media, press releases, and website administration. For information, send an email to suzanne@barringtonchamber.com.
Volunteer at Oak Openings
Volunteer this Saturday, Feb. 11 and help beautify Oak Openings Nature Preserve in Grayslake. Help cut and burn a large pile of invasive brush, and sow prairie seeds. On the second Saturday of each month, Conserve Lake County provides tools and instruction and invites volunteers to help steward one of two sites owned by Libertyville Township. For information, call 847-548-5989.
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