Dear Neighbors,
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, or give me a call at 847-513-1736. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 8.
 Forest Preserve News
|
 Independence
Grove Beach
Grab
your swimsuit, towel and sunscreen, and head to the beach at Independence Grove, open only on weekends May
27 to June 4. The beach will open daily beginning June 5. The beach offers
400 feet of sand along the lake's South Bay. Learn more
|
 Summer Camps
Select openings are still
available. Our day camps are designed for summer fun and learning. Browse
available camps and enroll online.
New
Middlefork Savanna Trail Connection
The Lake
County Forest Preserve District is partnering with the City of Lake Forest and
Lake Forest Academy to build a trail connection, which will link Middlefork
Savanna Forest Preserve in Lake Forest to other local trails and
parks. Project elements include a 221-foot steel pedestrian bridge over
the Metra Railway with a scenic overlook, new 10-foot-wide paved trails,
and a revised crosswalk at IL Route 60 to improve access to Townline Community
Park. View map. Construction started this spring and
should be complete by late fall 2017. Learn more
|
 Wildlife in
the Preserves
By early June, coyote pups
begin to venture out of the den that has sheltered them since birth. In
early summer, we often receive reports of sightings due to increased daytime
activity. When dens are located near trails, staff will install signs to inform
trail users about coyote behavior and how to safely respond if you see a
coyote. Learn more
|
Join breakfast, networking, and a presentation by Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor as he discusses the newly formed Mental Health Coalition pertaining to community change as it relates to mental health, development of systems to share data, and the need to address stigmas associated with mental health. The Wake Up with Waukegan breakfast will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. May 23 at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Waukegan. Learn more
 The City of Waukegan will hold its Memorial Day parade at 10:30 a.m. May 29. The parade will kick off at the corner of Genesee and Grand Avenue in downtown Waukegan. A short ceremony will follow the parade. Learn more
|
 Waukegan
High School students had an opportunity to meet with manufacturing professionals from over 20 companies and
learn about career opportunities at a recent manufacturing career expo at the
high school. Lake County continues to actively promote the Build Local,
Work Local, Buy Local program to increase opportunities for local businesses
and workers. Watch
this video as Kevin Considine, president and CEO of Lake County Partners and company
representatives share advice and what students learned at this event.
|
Protect your wallet and identity by ordering certified or genealogical
copies of Lake County birth, death, marriage, or civil union records directly
from the County Clerk’s Office. Residents are warned against using online
vendors, who sometimes charge higher fees, and they ultimately send the
order to the County Clerk’s Office to be fulfilled. To protect the integrity of
these records, access is restricted by state statute, and applicants are
required to complete a written application and provide valid identification.
For those who cannot visit the Clerk’s office, downloadable application forms
are available. Learn more
 Get an inside look at what it’s
like to work in the Lake County Jail as County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor explores some of its
"tough" jobs. Watch this video and see him do some of the daily tasks at the jail like
laundry and food preparation, and learn how the jail keeps clean.
|
The County Board works for all residents to deliver services and
solve problems that impact their daily lives, from property taxes to roads to
jobs. The Lake County Board recently updated its strategic plan, which serves
as a road map for county government and influences how we prioritize and invest
our resources. Residents and local leaders provided input on their
priorities through a variety of channels, including two telephone town hall
meetings, a survey of Lake County residents, and a series of Leaders Round
Table meetings. View
a summary of the input as well as highlights from the plan, and the entire plan.
 Did you know the Lake County
Division of Transportation (LCDOT) has about 60 miles of bike paths and bike
lanes as part of the Lake County highway system? This is part of the over
550 total miles of trails and bikeways, connecting forest preserves and
communities throughout the county! Plan your next trip by using the Bike Lake County
application, where you can find all the trails,
paths, and lanes you can use in Lake County.
Dan Krill from Lake County’s
Planning, Building & Development Department has been using these bike paths
and bike lanes while riding his bike to work every day (even in the winter) for
the past seven years. Watch this video to hear his story,
and learn how LCDOT continues to consider non-motorized travel a high priority.
|
 Are you planning to go boating over the Memorial Day weekend?
Boating is one of the most popular activities in Lake County, and it’s no
surprise as the county offers so many lakes to visit as we enjoy the warmer
weather. Check out BoatingLakeCounty.com as your boating resource including
maps of all the county’s public boat ramps, lakefront dining and more.
|
Live Green at Waukegan Park District Event
Enjoy nature walks, crafts, a campfire and much more as the
Waukegan Park District hosts a Live Green Family Festival from 1 to 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 20 at Bowen Park. Make a gnome garden, watch an archery
demonstration and bring eyeglasses, shoes and small batteries to be
recycled. Learn more about the festival.
The park district also is taking applications for various
employment opportunities. Visit
the park district website to learn more and to apply.
| 
