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. On June 20, come hear Black
Masala, a high-energy brass band that plays a dance groove packed with funk,
gypsy punk and soul. 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 June 6, 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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Note to readers: There is a clarification
regarding the date of Grant Township's 5K walk and run. The event will be Aug.
13, not Aug. 20. See the story below for more information.
Save the date for Grant Township 5K
Join Grant Township's
20th annual 5K walk and run on Aug. 13. 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
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.
Enjoy concert by the lake
Enjoy live musical entertainment at the Village of Fox Lake's
Concert by the Lake at 7 p.m. Saturday, 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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