 Lake County has so much to offer for outdoor family fun this summer, including
75 lakes, over 100 beaches, 500 miles of trails and bikeways, our beautiful
forest preserves, community festivals, and farmers markets! Watch this video as I explain why tourism is important to Lake County, and get an update from Maureen
Riedy, president of the Lake County Visitor's Bureau, as she talks about all
the exciting things happening in Lake County this summer.
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 Warm weather means it’s time to visit the farmers markets!
Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats and more while supporting local
businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers markets. Check out our Farmers
Market Finder to find a farmers market near you, including days and hours.
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 Forest Preserve News
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 Summer Concerts at
Independence Grove
Bring chairs and
blankets for Tuesday outdoor musical performances, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The first concert of the season will be June 13. Flash back to the 1960s
as the New Invaders time travel to the unforgettable musical period
carved out by British rock and roll. Learn more
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 Take a Hike
We’ve teamed up with
the Lake County Health Department and NorthShore University HealthSystem to
bring you Rx for Health: Walking in Nature, a free walking
program that brings together naturalists and physicians for guided tours of some
of our most scenic preserves. Learn more
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 Help
Restore Nature
Spend
a weekend morning restoring wildlife habitat. Gather with other
preservation-minded volunteers, and help make a difference in the health and habitat
of your forest preserves. No experience is required, and families and groups
are welcome. Please RSVP so we can bring enough equipment for everyone. Learn more
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 Before going to the beach, make sure your favorite spot is
open by checking our beach advisory page. The Lake
County Health Department monitors lake water in over 100 Lake Michigan and
inland beaches and provides updates daily now through Labor Day to let beachgoers
know if high bacteria is present in the water. Learn more, including
the health department’s tips to avoid hazards when swimming in our lakes this
summer.
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Remember all boats on the Chain
O’Lakes must display a Fox
Waterway Agency sticker. The
sticker is required
by law, and the purchase contributes to maintaining the lakes and
rivers of the Fox Waterway. Stickers can be
purchased online at the Fox Waterway
Agency’s website. The sticker is valid a calendar year beginning March 31. Besides the Fox Waterway Agency sticker, all boats also
must display a current Illinois Department of
Natural Resources sticker. Learn more by visiting the IDNR website.
And, remember a fishing license also is required by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. These licenses also can be
purchased online. Visit the
IDNR website to learn more.
The first installment of Lake County property taxes was due earlier this week, and the second installment is due Sept. 6. The Treasurer sends out tax bills and collects and distributes funds for all Lake County taxing districts, which includes: schools, municipalities, fire protection districts, park districts, library districts, and Lake County government. Keep in mind, Lake County only receives a small portion of your property tax payment (about 7%).
There are lots of factors that determine your tax bill. It may help to think of it like a pie. Taxing bodies, including school districts, villages, the County (and many other taxing districts) determine how much they need to collect in taxes. That determines the size of the pie and the property assessment determines how the pie is cut up. This process ensures property taxes are fairly distributed. The property tax process is mandated by State law (and not at the local level).
The bottom line is that the only way property taxes will decline is if taxing districts reduce the amount of funds they levy. Another contributing factor to the overall tax burden is the number of governmental entities that have the power to levy property taxes.
Taxpayers can visit Lake County’s Property Tax Information web page to understand more about property taxes and link to various resources.
 Road construction can cause delays, but don’t try to hurry
through a work zone. Even if workers aren’t on site, work zone speed limits are
in place AT ALL TIMES by state law. This is for the safety of drivers as well
as the workers. Work zones have changing conditions, shifting or narrowing
lanes, equipment and other potential hazards to motorists that are going too
fast or not paying attention. Watch this
video as Lake County Division of Transportation workers share a few safety
tips and ask for your help to make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of
the day.
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 Make an impact on homelessness in Lake County. The Lake
County Coalition for the Homeless is seeking an individual to help plan the
2018 Homeless Point-in-Time Count, and work on initiatives to increase the
income of disabled homeless individuals. Learn more and apply
today.
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 Turning food scraps into compost is just one part of Lake County’s
critical strategy to increase recycling across the county and achieve a 60%
recycling goal. One way the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County is helping work
toward that goal is through food scrap programs like the ones recently launched
in Highwood and Lake Bluff, the first municipalities in Illinois to include
year-round food-scrap collection programs in hauling contracts. Watch this video to
learn more about this new program.
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Join Adopt-a-Road Volunteer Days
Help keep Brandenburg Road beautiful! Adults and kids age 10 and older with a responsible adult can join the team. Adopt-a-Road volunteer days will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m. June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18 and Nov. 15. All equipment is provided. Registration is requested at 815-344-1294.
Save the date for Grant Township 5K
Join Grant Township's 20th annual 5K walk and run on Aug. 20. Registration will begin at 7 a.m., and the walk will kick off at 8 a m. Awards will be given to the top male and female walkers and runners, and all participants will receive a ribbon. Learn more
Enjoy concert by the lake
Enjoy live musical entertainment at the Village of Fox Lake's Concert by the Lake at 7 p.m. June 17 at Lakefront Park. Food and drinks will be available to purchase. Details
Lakemoor hosts community garage sale
Join the Village of Lakemoor community garage sale June 23 to 25. Learn more information or join the sale by sending an email to villagehall@lakemoor.net,
Grant Township offers Rules of the Road review
The Rules of the Road Review Course is
designed to give drivers the knowledge and confidence needed to renew or
obtain a drivers license. The review course combines an explanation of the
driving exam with a practice written exam. Grant Township will offer this course on July 7 and again Oct. 6. Learn more
Volo Bog hosts 10th annual Bogs in Art
Artists are invited to capture the beauty of bogs and submit their entry now through June 30 as part of Volo Bog State Natural Area's 10th annual Bogs in Art display. For information, call 815-344-1294.
Enjoy summer concerts in Antioch
The Village of Antioch's popular summer concerts are
back. Concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays from mid-June through
mid-August. All concerts will be held at the William E. Brook
Memorial Entertainment Center, 902 Skidmore Drive. Learn
more
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