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Dear Neighbors,
Spring is a busy time for all of us. As you can see below, the County and the Forest Preserve are offering many opportunities for you to get out, get fit, recycle and more. Unfortunately, spring also brings trail closures and ticks. So read more about those too and stay safe.
At the April County Board meeting, we approved a number of contracts including: resurfacing of Aptakisic Road from Route 83 to Illinois Route 21, the resurfacing of Saunders Road from Lake Cook Road to Deerfield Road, planting, and maintenance of native landscape areas along County highways. In addition, we approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Buffalo Grove to share and streamline some sanitary flow. By paying to use part of the village’s infrastructure, the County will not need to make expensive repairs to part of its system.
The Forest Preserve will continue to have some capital projects this year, including the construction (already underway) of the long awaited Everett Road bike path connection and also the Middle Fork Savannah bridge over the railroad track.
The Stormwater Management Commission's
Watershed E-News is a collection of upcoming events, watershed news, and
helpful tips. View their
latest April/May edition to learn more, including how to be a better environmental steward!
I am
always looking for feedback on my newsletter as well as what's happening in
Lake County. If you have any comments or concerns, feel free to send me an email. If this newsletter was
forwarded to you, please sign
up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 21.
Also,
make sure to like my Facebook
page where you can get relevant and up-to-date information
important to District 21. Remember to hit "Like” at the top of the page!
Ann B. Maine
amaine@lakecountyil.gov
847-857-1732
Lake County Board, District 21
President, Lake County Forest Preserve District
Time to Watch Out for Ticks
It’s the time of year to take precautions against
ticks, which can be most active during the warmer weather and can carry
diseases such as Lyme disease. Once considered a rare illness in Lake
County, Lyme disease is becoming more common in the area. The Lake
County Health Department and Community Health Center provides tips to help
protect yourself from exposure to ticks:
- Clear leaf litter under trees, and keep the ground clean
under bird feeders
- Keep grass near playground equipment short.
- Install a wood chip or gravel barrier between lawns and
wooded and tall grass areas.
- Minimize wood piles as these are attractive to small mammals
such as mice, which can carry ticks.
 How to remove a tick
Whether it’s rubbing alcohol, nail polish, or a burnt
match, there’s a lot of misguided folklore when it comes to how to remove a
tick. Watch
this video as Lake County Health Department Senior Biologist
Mike Adam explains the proper techniques to remove a tick.
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The Chief County
Assessment Office and Lake County Township Assessors Association offer help to
senior citizens ages 65 and older who want to complete the 2017 Senior
Citizen Assessment Freeze Application for taxes payable in 2018, as well as
assistance to taxpayers who may qualify to apply for other homestead exemptions.
Attend an upcoming outreach session to work one-on-one with a staff member to
complete the necessary forms. The Senior Freeze Application is due by July 7. View Upcoming outreach sessions, which include sessions in Lake Forest and Deerfield.
 I recently joined Lake County Board
Members, judges in the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit, and others that have been a
part of the Lake County Courthouse Expansion Project to sign the last beam of
the new court tower before it was put into place. The expansion project in
Waukegan includes an approximately 200,000-square-foot court tower and a tunnel
connecting the jail and current courthouse. The project will increase the
efficiency of the justice system and support growth of the justice agencies for
many years to come. Watch this video
to learn more about the project.
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 Lake County Announces 2017
Construction Program
In 2017, Lake County will have roughly $94 million in road
projects under construction. About $56 million is carried over from 2016,
accounting for two of the big projects underway - the grade separation and
widening/reconstruction of Washington Street,
and the reconstruction of Deerfield
Road. Much of the remaining work planned in
2017 falls under the preservation category, which includes resurfacing
projects, culvert replacements and bridge repairs. In total, the Lake
County Division of Transportation will have 28 active construction projects
this year. View the 2017
Construction Program Map.
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We want to know about your travel needs!
A Paratransit Market Study is now underway in Lake County to evaluate transportation options for seniors, people with disabilities, and the general public. There are a variety of services currently available, such as Pace Dial-a-Ride or township programs, to assist you in your travels to and from medical appointments, places of employment and other daily activities.
We are asking you to help us understand your needs, identify gaps in service, and provide your recommendations for what you hope to see. Here are some examples of what we’ve heard so far:
Need: “I need the bus to get to work, to my doctor's office, and to see my family in Grayslake.”
Gaps: “I have service within my township, but I don’t have service beyond that”
Recommendation: “A county-wide transportation system could and should allow for online reservations, prepaid ride cards, expanded routes, and expanded hours that cover a typical business day.”
Please TAKE THE SURVEY today, and add your opinions and experiences to be part of this important study.
Transportation Links:
Tollway Construction
IDOT
Metra
Travel Midwest
Wisconsin Construction
 Forest Preserves News
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 Rx For Health:
Walking in Nature
The simple act of
walking, especially in nature, can improve your overall health, physically and
mentally. Join Rx for Health where naturalists and health care providers will lead
guided walking tours of Lake County’s forest preserves. Watch this video to learn more, and see when the next walk will be.
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 Marina Open Weekends at Independence Grove
The marina at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville is now
open weekends only through May 21 and will be open daily May 27 to Sept. 4. Before heading out to the preserve, check
here for
status updates on swimming, the marina, summer concerts, and more.
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 View Herons at Almond Marsh
Come to Almond Marsh in Grayslake to observe dozens of species of waterfowl and raptors. The preserve is open for observation from 8 a.m. and noon Saturdays through June 24. Volunteers provide viewing scopes, binoculars, and bird books to enhance your viewing experience. Learn more
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 Check Status of Trails and Preserves
Preserve improvements,
construction projects, controlled burns and weather-related events sometimes
result in temporary detours or closures of trails, preserves or facilities to
ensure public safety. Before heading out, check the
current status of trails and underpasses. Also find construction
alerts, preserve
improvement projects and controlled burn sites.
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Enjoy nature? Want to learn something new? Visit our Nature Blog, and if you enjoy history, be sure to read the History Blog by Diana Dreske. You'll be surprised at what you learn.
You can also view a full calendar of Forest Preserve events for more information.
 Recycle
First, Trash Last
Spring cleaning? Before you throw away, see if you can recycle it. The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County offers programs that include shoes, clothing, household chemical waste as well as prescription drugs and electronics.
Reuse-A-Shoe: Don't throw away your unwanted shoes! Make sure they get recycled
or reused! Drop off your shoes at one of several locations across Lake County. View Drop-Off
Locations
Clothing and textiles: Did you know 85 percent of clothing ends up in the landfill?
Instead, bring your new, gently used, and used clothing to be reused or
recycled. Even clothes with stains or holes will be taken. Learn more, including what is
acceptable and where to drop off your items.
Household chemical
waste: Get rid of unwanted pesticides, cleaners, batteries,
gasoline, fertilizer and other household chemical waste items at public
drop-off events at SWALCO’s Gurnee facility as well as mobile collection events
at locations across Lake County. These collections are for residential waste
only. Learn
more, including acceptable items and when the next collection will be.
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 Compost Bin, Rain Barrel and Native Plant Sale is
Coming
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, Stormwater
Management Commission and Lake County Forest Preserves will hold their annual
rain barrel, compost bin and native plant sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 13. The
compost bins and rain barrels both are made with recycled plastics. Learn about
the benefits of composting and harvesting rain water. Watch
demonstrations, and meet experts to answer your questions. Learn more
Also, don’t miss as
the native plant sale continues, just in time for Mother's Day from 10 a.m. to
2 p.m. May 14. Find all this at Independence Grove Forest Preserve's North Bay
Pavilion in Libertyville. Learn the value of planting native species and find a
variety of flowers, plants, shrubs and trees. View list of available plants.
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Discover Native Plants for Your Home at Upcoming Sales
Did you know that landscaping your yard with native plants is one of the best
things to do for the environment, and this can save you time and money? In
fact, native plants don’t require fertilizer, pesticides or herbicides and
eliminate the need for a lot of watering.
Citizens for
Conservation and Conserve Lake County are hosting their annual plant sales, a
great way to shop for native plants including perennials, grasses, trees and
shrubs. Conserve Lake County’s native plant sale will take place May 19 to
June 3 at Almond Marsh. Learn
more
Citizens for
Conservation will sell plants May 6 and 7 at Good Shepherd Hospital. Learn
more
 Save the Date for Recycle-O-Rama
Bring
your electronics, such as monitors, laptops, cell phones, televisions, and
small appliances to be recycled at Recycle-O-Rama from 9 a.m. to noon May 20 at
Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Bring documents (limit two boxes per vehicle) to
be shredded, and bring latex paint to be recycled for a small fee. There will
be no household chemical waste recycling at this event. Learn more
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 Caterpillar
has selected Deerfield as home to its new corporate headquarters. Caterpillar
initially plans to relocate approximately 100 employees to its new site
immediately, but that number is expected to triple in coming years. The move
adds high quality jobs and a new global brand to Lake County’s bustling
economy. Caterpillar, a Dow Jones 30 company, joins 11 other Fortune 500
companies that call Lake County home. Watch this video as
County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor speaks with Deerfield Mayor Harriet
Rosenthal and Lake County Partners
President Kevin Considine to welcome Caterpillar to Lake County and discusses
working together to ensure that the transition is smooth and successful.
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 Lake County's new integrated permit and inspection system is
now available to the public! This new technology will improve
inter-departmental efficiencies, enhance customer service, improve
communication, and reduce the amount of time it takes for permits and
inspections. Customers will be able to submit and pay for many permit
applications online and review the status of their applications and inspections
using their home computer. Watch this
video to learn more. Visit the new Permit
and Inspection Dashboard.
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Join First Friday May 5
Looking for a fun evening out? Go to First Friday on May 5, sponsored by MainStreet Libertyville.
Volunteer at the library
The Vernon Area Public Library is looking for some volunteers in a number of areas. Find out more!
Deerfield Park District plans fun this spring and summer
Check out the Deerfield Park District's spring and summer catalog. They offer programs for all ages.
See what Warren Township Center offers
The Warren Township Center tennis courts lights have been fixed. Find out what else is going on.
Join Green Oaks' spring clean up
The annual spring clean up in the Village of Green Oaks will be May 15 and 17.
Lake Forest hosts spring ward meetings
The City of Lake Forest is holding Spring Ward Meetings in May. Find out the date for your ward, and join the conversation.
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