Veterans are once again invited to
share their stories of wartime experiences on Nov. 10 at the Lake County
Courthouse as part of the Veterans History Project. These
stories will be recorded and archived at the Library of Congress. Civilians who
were actively involved in the war effort also are invited to take part. Read
the story below to learn more.
The recent flooding in Lake
County as well as the hurricanes that have impacted many in this country remind
us how important it can be to prepare for an emergency. Learn about the
resources Lake County provides to help you stay safe, and check out our video
to see tips on how to get emergency alerts.
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 is the first county in Illinois to raise the minimum
legal sales age to 21 in unincorporated areas. To date, five Lake County
communities including Deerfield, Highland Park, Lincolnshire, Vernon Hills, and
Buffalo Grove are among 11 municipalities in the state of Illinois to adopt
Tobacco 21 ordinances. Read 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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The Village of Buffalo Grove will host a document destruction and electronics recycling event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 16 in the parking lot behind Banner Plumbing, 151 Hastings Drive. Buffalo Grove residents are eligible to participate.
Donate Your Eclipse
Glasses 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.
Save the date for Recycle-O-Rama Bring
household electronics, clothing, eyeglasses and hearing aids, bicycles and more
to be recycled at Recycle-O-Rama from 9 a.m. to noon Sept. 30 at Fremont
Township. Learn more, including what items
you can bring to recycle.
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Lake County is delivering on its mission and values of operational
excellence and transparency, and toward that goal, the County is being
recognized for its outstanding communications achievements with three national
awards. The County’s website (www.lakecountyil.gov) received a first place Savvy
Award from the City, County Communications and Marketing Association (known as
3CMA) — the top award for overall website among local governments in the U.S. The “Meet Mitch and
Hitch” video also took home the first-place Savvy award for promotional
video. This video features the State’s Attorney’s Office’s two facility dogs
and showcases the meaningful work they do. Finally, for the “Most Creative
Activity with Least Dollars Spent” category, the “Vote Like A Couch Potato”
marketing campaign won a first place Savvy. 3CMA received nearly 700
entries in various categories, and 3CMA volunteer judges from across the country
reviewed entries and selected winners.
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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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A Way Out The Lake County Sheriff’s Office has become a participating agency in the A Way Out program, working to reduce the number of fatal and non-fatal overdoses by connecting individuals ready for rehabilitation to addiction treatment services. Deputies are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Watch this video to learn about this program.
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Lock It or Lose It As Lake County sees a spike in vehicle burglaries and vehicle thefts, the
Lake County Sheriff’s
Office reminds residents to lock your cars and keep spare keys/fobs
indoors. In fact, 90 percent of cars burglarized this summer had unlocked
car doors. Remember to report suspicious activity by calling 847-549-5200 or
911.
Boating Safety Tips Remember the following safety tips before enjoying the
waterways during the final days of summer.
- Wear a life jacket. It's the law (for youth 12 and
under).
- Boat operators born after January 1, 1998 must take and
pass a boating safety course validated by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and
hold a valid boating safety certificate before they can operate a
motorboat with an engine over 10 horsepower.
- Check all required safety equipment and make sure
it is in good working order.
- Learn
more about boating safety.
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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.
Residents May Be
Eligible for Building Permit Fee Waiver Unincorporated residents who were impacted by the July 2017 flood
are eligible for building permit fee waivers for any flood-related repairs, for
example, electrical service, furnace or water heater replacements.
Residents in unincorporated Lake County can contact the Lake County Planning,
Building and Development Department at 847-377-2600 for questions and
application requirements.
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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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Forest Preserves News
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Bridge
Connects Middlefork Savanna to Local Trails, Parks At around 1:30 am
on Sept. 9, the Lake County Forest Preserves began
installing a 221-foot steel pedestrian bridge over the Metra
Railway to connect trails at Middlefork Savanna Forest Preserve
to Lake Forest Academy and Townline Community Park. Watch video of installation. Other
project elements include a scenic overlook, 10-foot-wide paved trails, and
crosswalk improvements at the intersection of IL Route 60 and Academy
Drive. View project map. This
project is part of a larger effort to connect Middlefork Savanna Forest
Preserve and the Middlefork Trail and Greenway to the Des Plaines River Trail
at MacArthur Woods Forest Preserve in Mettawa.
The Lake County Forest Preserves is
pleased to be working with the following partners and donors to make this
project possible: City of Lake Forest, Lake Forest Academy, Lake Forest
Bank & Trust, Lake Forest Open Lands Association, and Richard and Elizabeth
Uihlein. The Forest Preserve is the lead agency responsible for
administration and coordination of the project and 60 percent of the local
funding for construction costs. The Forest Preserve also secured federal
funding for the project through a grant from the Illinois Transportation
Enhancement Program, administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation. Learn
more
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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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Lake County Public Works has begun its semi-annual water
hydrant flushing program. After hydrant flushing, customers may notice a slight
discoloration of the water. Residents are urged not to do laundry during
periods of flushing to avoid clothes to be stained. This is not harmful and
will dissipate after a short time. It is recommended to run cold water for
several minutes to clear your pipes. View the schedule
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As always, I welcome your feedback. If this newsletter was forwarded to you, please sign up to continue to receive news about Lake County and District 20.
Thank you, Sidney Mathias
Mr. Mathias, County Board member and Forest Preserve Commissioner, serves on:
Lake County Board, 20th District: Ad Hoc Legislative Committee, Co-Chair Ethics and Oversight Committee, Vice Chair Planning, Building and Zoning Committee Public Works and Transportation Committee
Lake County Forest Preserves, 20th District: Diversity
and Cultural Awareness Committee, Chair Planning Committee, Vice Chair Rules Committee
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