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.
Find your next adventure with our interactive trail map, built on GIS
technology. This easy-to-use map will help you locate trails, preserves,
activities and amenities within your Lake County Forest Preserves from your
phone, tablet or computer. The 2017 Hike Lake County trails are also included
on the map. Exercise, relax and spend quality time outdoors along nearly 204
miles of trails in peaceful, natural settings. Learn
more and start exploring
today!
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Hike Lake County
It’s back! Earn your yearly
commemorative shield while exploring designated “Hike Lake
County” trails and enjoying fall breezes and autumn colors. Complete just
seven of the hikes between Aug. 15 and Nov. 30 to earn the custom designed
shield. Learn more
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Lake County attractions are drawing crowds as visitors flock to check
off their summer bucket lists. In addition to festivals, entertainment venues
and a growing restaurant scene, Lake County’s 31,000 acres of forest preserve,
550 miles of trails and bikeways, 650 local parks, six state parks, 46 golf courses,
and more than 100 beaches make it a top Illinois travel destination. View the latest Lake County Economic Update as
Lake County Partners President Kevin Considine notes new developments and the
region’s position as a hub for corporate travelers.
The top 70 PGA Tour players and golf enthusiasts will again come to Lake
County as the BMW Championship takes place Sept. 12 to 17 at Conway Farms Golf
Club in Lake Forest. Learn
more about the 2017 BMW Championship, including opportunities to volunteer
at the event. The tournament is expected to bring more traffic to the area, so
make sure to go to Lake County PASSAGE for updated traffic conditions.
Following the devastating floods, Lake County government and
its partners have been working nonstop to respond to the disaster and provide
needed resources and assistance. In this video, Chairman Aaron Lawlor visits
the Red Cross Disaster Resource Center, which has helped hundreds of families
impacted by the floods. He talks about the response efforts, including what a
local disaster declaration means, clean-up, and what all residents should know
about mosquitoes. Watch
now.
Flood Information Website Make sure to view the county’s flood information
page, which contains
updated, valuable information, including steps to follow if your home or
personal property was damaged by the flooding, free water testing provided by
the health department, and additional local resources that may be available for
those affected by the flooding.
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A mosquito pool sampled earlier
this summer in Zion has tested positive for West Nile virus and is the first
confirmed indicator of West Nile presence in Lake County this year. While floodwater mosquitoes are reaching nuisance
population levels in the county, the Lake County Health Department reports they
do not carry the West Nile virus. The concern is that standing water in items like
buckets, gutters, plant containers and debris from flood cleanup will become
breeding sites for the species of mosquito that is the primary carrier of West
Nile virus.
Remember to practice the 4 D’s to protect yourself and your family
from mosquitoes: Drain, Defend,
Dawn to Dusk, and Dress. Visit the health department’s Fight
the Bite Now website to learn more prevention tips and additional
information about West Nile virus.
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Did you use Lake County PASSAGE as a resource for local road
information during the flood? The widespread flooding that hit Lake County in
July caused major roads to close, and commutes were disrupted for several days
in a row. Throughout the disaster, LCDOT had a team of traffic operators and
engineers updating Lake County PASSAGE around the clock, and remotely observing
traffic conditions to adjust signal timings as flooding events unfolded. This
was done in real time to help traffic adjust to road closures and backups.
Whether you are a regular PASSAGE
user or if this was your first time - you may be wondering how it works? Here
is a video tour of the PASSAGE
operation so you can see what
happens behind the scenes.
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Work, Earn and Learn with Division of
Transportation
Gain paid work experience with the Lake County
Division of Transportation as part of its WEL Program. Attend one of the
following information sessions to learn how you can work, earn and learn with
the Division of Transportation for six months. Learn more about
the WEL Program.
When: 10 a.m. Aug. 11 or 2 p.m. Aug. 18
Where: Job Center of Lake County, 1 N. Genesee St., Waukegan
Paid internships available
Youth ages 18 to 24 who live in Lake County and are
currently unemployed may be eligible for a paid internship. Internships expose
youth to viable careers while expanding their skill sets and connecting them to
training resources to secure long-term employment. Learn more by attending an information
session. Learn more
Job Center of Lake County Waukegan: 3 p.m. Tuesdays
and 11 a.m. Thursdays
Job Center Satellite Office Grayslake: 3 p.m.
Wednesdays
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The
Nineteenth Judicial Circuit recently celebrated the expansion of the Robert W.
Depke Juvenile Complex Center in Vernon Hills. The building now features new
courtrooms and hearing rooms and more space for the State's Attorney's Office
and Public Defender's Office to privately interview clients and witnesses. Watch this video to learn more about
the center.
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The Chicago Metropolitan
Agency for Planning continues to develop northeastern Illinois' next
long-range comprehensive plan, On to 2050. Provide your input by attending a
public forum from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Libertyville Civic Center, 135
W. Church St. The forum's topic will be "Doing More with Less in
2050." Learn
more about the forum.
Set in the midst of bustling suburbs, this emerald island offers a
quiet place to relax and recreate with nature. Its wide-open spaces are safe,
clean and easy to explore. Four miles of gravel trails are open to hikers,
bicyclists and cross-country skiers. Please keep dogs leashed and on trails at
all times, and pick up after them. The trails run through open areas within the
preserve, crossing several creeks, skirting the reservoir and traversing
restored prairie.
Within the next year, Buffalo Creek Forest Preserve will
be undergoing reservoir expansion, preserve improvements, wetland mitigation and
new trail construction. Visitors will enjoy 1.2 miles of additional trails that
will provide two new loops east of Schaeffer Road, seven new boardwalks, two
scenic overlooks and a 30-car expansion of the existing parking lot.
Approximately a half-mile of the existing trail in a flood prone area will be
relocated to higher ground to increase accessibility for longer periods and
reduce long-term maintenance costs. Nineteen acres of new wetlands and 35 acres
of prairie/savanna will be added as part of the restoration of the basin.
As part of a wetland mitigation bank, additional restoration
work on the preserve’s western 65
acres will reestablish and rehabilitate native wetland habitat
by returning the former farm fields to a sustainable natural condition. When
complete, visitors of the preserve will be able to enjoy an
additional 1.1 miles of new trails connecting an adjacent residential area and
the Village of Long Grove’s soccer fields to the extensive network of existing
trails within the preserve. View concept plans and project details.
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Waukegan Public Library's Courtyard Concert Series continues
Join the next courtyard concert at the Waukegan Public Library from noon to 1
p.m. Friday, Aug. 4. Admission is free, and refreshments will be available. Learn more
Join annual Wine and Art Stroll Waukegan Main Street's 10th annual Wine and Art Stroll will take place Aug. 26 and will include wine tasting, food demonstrations, entertainment, and more. Learn more
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