Dear Neighbors,
I'm
very proud of our County Board. On Tuesday, we became the first County in
Illinois to ban the sale of cigarettes, e-cigarettes and tobacco products to
anyone under the age of 21. I have the unique honor of having voted to
enact this law twice, The City of Highland Park was the second City to pass this
ban when I was a Highland Park City Councilman. Restricting access to tobacco
by teenagers is a significant public health goal. I congratulate the leadership
of the Lake County Health Department for working with the County Board to move
us forward.
I
want to also share a comment from Joel Africk, president and CEO of the
Respiratory Health Association.
"Thank you to Paul and
the Lake County Board for protecting the youth of the community by increasing
the tobacco purchase age to 21. We are excited that the Lake County Board
continues to be a public health leader and applaud its commitment to protect
its young people from the burden of tobacco use.
The County Board has approved an ordinance to increase the minimum legal
sales age to purchase tobacco products to 21 in unincorporated
Lake County, effective January 1, 2018. Lake County joins five
other municipalities in Lake County, Deerfield, Highland Park, Lincolnshire,
Vernon Hills, and Buffalo Grove to approve ‘Tobacco 21’ ordinances. Read full news release.
Tobacco use continues to be the leading preventable cause of
disease and death in the United States and is
responsible for 480,000 deaths annually. In Illinois, 6,300 youth become new
daily smokers each year. The Lake County Health
Department provides FREE one-on-one and group counseling
with a certified tobacco treatment specialist for adults looking to quit smoking
or other their tobacco use. Learn more
Suicide is the third leading cause of death among youth ages 15 to
24 nationwide. By understanding and knowing the warning signs, we can bring
hope to those affected by suicide and change the conversation. As the nation observes
National Suicide Prevention Week Sept. 10 to 16, find out how you can play a role in
preventing suicide.
Lake County is
committed to helping its residents maintain their mental health and
well-being, creating the Mental Health
Coalition in 2016 to address the mental health crisis. Those needing crisis
care and mental health assistance can use the following services 24/7.
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Individuals can speak anonymously to counselors 24 hours a day and
get help by contacting the crisis call center at 847-377-8088.
Information and referrals to Lake County Health Department programs are
available.
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Text-A-Tip is a 24/7 anonymous text-communication
system for youth needing immediate mental health assistance for themselves
or a friend. Download the Lake County Help app, available at the Google
Play Store and the Apple App Store. Within the app, select the 24-7
Text-A-Tip hotline where you will send a message to a dedicated number and
receive an immediate response from a licensed clinician while remaining
anonymous.
 The first two human cases of West Nile virus in Lake County
for 2017 have been confirmed. Since 2002, there have been 60 confirmed human
cases of West Nile virus in Lake County, as well as two confirmed deaths. Residents
are encouraged to stay active outdoors but to remember to wear insect repellent
and take other precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Learn more
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 On
Sept. 1, Governor Bruce Rauner sent a request to the president of the United
States asking that he approve federal assistance to help people in the northern
Illinois region, including Lake County, recover from record flooding and severe
storms in July.
Recently,
joint assessment teams from the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA),
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA) reviewed damage in the four counties. If Gov. Rauner's
request for Individual Assistance (IA) is approved, people in the approved
counties would be eligible to apply for grants and low-interest SBA loans.
Affected businesses also would be able to apply for low-interest SBA loans. Find out more.
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 The recent Lake County flooding and hurricanes impacting many
parts of the country all remind us of the importance of coming together as a
family and community to prepare. As we observe National Preparedness Month
this month, learn tips to help
you prepare.
Lake County also has a variety of resources to help you
prepare for an emergency. Alert Lake County is your emergency
preparedness resource, and watch this video for tips to get
emergency alerts.
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 Veterans
are invited to share their stories of wartime experiences on Nov. 10 at the
Lake County Courthouse. The veterans’ interviews will be recorded and
transcribed by official court reporters and then archived at the Library of
Congress as part of the Veterans History Project. Civilians who were actively
involved in supporting war efforts are also invited to share their stories. Learn more
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 The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is partnering with the Veteran’s
Assistance Commission, several local law enforcement agencies and many local
high schools to collect coats and outerwear for the Lake County Law Enforcement
Veteran's Coat Drive. Donations will be taken now through Nov. 8 at County
offices and at police departments throughout Lake County. View
donation locations. The donated items will be delivered to Midwest Veterans Closet.
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 Do you still have the glasses you used to view the solar eclipse?
Don’t throw them away! Bring glasses to one of four locations across Lake
County now through Nov. 11 as the Solid Waste Agency of
Lake County is working with Astronomers Without Borders to bring these glasses
and provide a first-hand science experience for schools in developing
countries. Please do not donate scratched, broken or torn glasses.
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 Bring
your household cleaners, fluorescent light bulbs and other household chemical
waste products to be recycled as the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County holds
its next mobile household chemical waste collection from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sept. 30 at the Lake Forest Municipal Services Center. SWALCO also offers
year-round collections by appointment only at its Gurnee facility. Learn
more about the collection, including items that will be accepted.
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 Forest Preserve News
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 Strategic Plan Update
In 2015, the Chiwaukee Prairie Illinois Beach Lake Plain (Lake
Plain) was designated a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar
Convention, an intergovernmental treaty for protection of exemplary wetland
systems around the world. In June, the Lake Plain received added recognition by
the Society of Wetland Scientists as a Wetland of Distinction. This publicly
and privately protected ecosystem connects 14 different community types along
Lake Michigan in southeast Wisconsin and northeast Illinois. Our partnership in
this restoration project supports two of five strategic directions to help us
achieve our 100-year Vision for Lake County. Learn more
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 Connecting Trails: Nippersink Forest Preserve
Previously a seasonal retreat for camping and recreational
vehicles, this preserve is now a year-round haven for people and wildlife.
Visitors enjoy trails, picnicking, birdwatching, and nature observation. Century-old
oak trees that rise above two scenic lakes, woodlands, wetlands and marshes
offer plentiful habitat for wildlife. Extensive shoreline restoration efforts
and improved fish habitats make Nippersink a great place to fish. Anglers can
fish from shore or from two wheelchair accessible fishing piers.
The Lake County Division of Transportation is constructing a new
multi-use path along Cedar Lake Road that will connect existing trails
at Nippersink to the new path. This trail connection is part of LCDOT's
project to reconstruct Cedar Lake Road from Route 120 to Nippersink Road.
Completion of the entire project is expected by the end of 2018. View closure map. Learn more
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If you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at pfrank@lakecountyil.gov or visit
my Facebook page.
I encourage you to forward this update to others who may be interested in Lake County news. Residents who wish to automatically receive my bi-weekly newsletter can email me, or click the “Sign up for my mailing list here” button at the top of the newsletter.
Thank you,
Paul Frank
Mr. Frank, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 11th District:
Lake County Law and Judicial Committee
Lake County Health and Community Services Committee
Lake County Ad Hoc Diversity and Inclusion Committee
Lake County Ad-Hoc Legislative Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 11th District:
Planning Committee
Ethics Committee
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