Flu season is approaching. Make sure to protect yourself and your family members by getting a flu shot, as I already did. Read the story below to learn more about the flu vaccine as well as locations where you can get vaccinated. 

Fall is here in Lake County, and there is so much to do from visiting pumpkin patches and festivals to taking a walk or going for a bike ride along the Forest Preserves' trails. Read the stories below to see all there is to do in Lake County.

Protect yourself and fight the flu by getting a flu shot. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone ages 6 months and older receive an annual flu shot by the end of October before influenza activity increases as it takes about two weeks after the vaccination for the body’s immune system to fully respond and for you to be protected. 

It is particularly important for seniors age 65 and older to get vaccinated as well as children younger than age 5, pregnant women and those who live in nursing homes or long-term care facilities as these groups are all at a high risk for developing flu-related complications. Visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website to learn more.

The Lake County Health Department offers the flu vaccine by appointment at the Immunizations Clinic, 2303 Dodge Ave., Waukegan. Learn more, including cost. Retail clinics, pharmacies, and individual healthcare providers also provide flu shots. Visit the Flu Vaccine Finder to find a convenient location.

Lake County is committed to promoting a sustainable environment, and we have several initiatives and projects underway to make progress toward this strategic goal and core value. Recently, the Lake County Board approved a contract with a professional consulting firm that provides expertise in sustainability that will help advance specific tasks over the next year. They include: grant opportunities, energy audits for selected County facilities, a waste reduction program/food scrap collection (composting) pilot program at the Lake County Jail, and completion of a baseline carbon footprint for Lake County. Visit our Sustainable Lake County website to find out ways you can help promote sustainability!  

Lake County Update - Pace Bus Services
Improving transportation is a top strategic goal for the Lake County Board, which includes working with our transit partners like Pace suburban bus service to provide services that meet the needs of our residents and our workforce. In this edition of Lake County Update, Linda Soto, Lake County’s representative on the Pace Board of Directors, talks about the fixed Pace routes in Lake County, Paratransit, the Shuttle Bug program, and new programs being rolled out elsewhere in the region that may make their way to Lake County, including Park-n-Ride and new Flex Lanes where express buses can move onto the shoulder of the Tollway when traffic is congested.

This summer, Lake County experienced record flooding resulting in flood damage to many homes. The Stormwater Management Commission is hosting a Floodproofing Expo and Workshop for homeowners and property owners to learn about products, services, and solutions to minimize flood damages to your properties. The event will take place from 3 to 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at the Libertyville Sports Complex. Explore exhibitor tables, and listen to presentations, where you can learn about how drainage systems work and ask questions about anything from flood insurance to best practices for flood damage protection. The event is free. Learn more

College students and their parents can get help applying for college financial aid by attending a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) workshop offered now through February 2018 at locations across Lake County. View the full schedule in English and Spanish. At these free workshops, staff will help you complete and file your FAFSA online. The FAFSA must be filled out for students to be considered for state and federal financial aid, and many colleges and universities rely on FAFSA data to determine eligibility for the institution’s own financial aid funds.  Learn more, including what documents to bring to the session.

Join Lake County Sheriff’s Office Reserve Deputy Unit The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for reserve deputies. The Reserve Deputy Unit members assist other Lake County Sheriff’s Office Divisions and municipal police departments in times of natural and man-made emergencies or disasters. The unit also provides traffic and crowd control, searches for missing persons, aids in crime scene evidence searches, DUI checkpoints, and participates in many other Lake County events. Applicants must be at least 21 years old, a U.S. citizen and a high school graduate or equivalent. Applications are available online and at the Lake County Sheriff's Office in Waukegan. Applications are due by Oct. 20.  

Lake County is Hiring!
Lake County government offers career opportunities that cover a wide spectrum of fields including law, law enforcement, corrections, nursing, finance and budgeting, highway maintenance, and more. View the current job opportunities available. 

From connecting with friends on social networks to managing finances, there is a convenience to going online, but these benefits can come with risks. There are simple steps that everyone can take to stay safe online. Below are some tips from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

• Use complex passwords with a combination of numbers, symbols and letters.
• Keep a clean machine by updating security software, your operating system and web browser on all Internet-connected devices.
• When in doubt, throw it out. Links in emails and online posts can help cyber criminals compromise your computer.
• Limit the amount of personal information you share online, and use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely
• More Tips

There is so much to do this fall in Lake County! Find haunted houses, pumpkin patches, festivals and much more by checking out Visit Lake County’s top 10 things to do in October.

Join Long Grove's Scarecrow Day
Scarecrow engineers young and old are invited to stuff and dress their own custom scarecrow at the annual Do-It-Yourself Scarecrow Day from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 14 at Towner Green in in downtown Long Grove.  There is no admission. The scarecrows will be displayed through October, and visitors will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite. Learn more

Forest Preserves News

New Interactive Trail Map
Did you hear that? The preserves are calling your name. Find your next adventure with the new Interactive Trail Map. This easy-to-use map will help you locate trails, preserves, activities and amenities from your phone, tablet or computer. Start exploring today.

Unclaimed Property Auction
At 9 a.m. Oct. 28, Obenauf Auction Service, Inc., will auction off a variety of unclaimed property found in forest preserves throughout Lake County. The auction will be held at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Grayslake.

Bicycles, clothing, electronics, and other assorted items in the possession of the Lake County Forest Preserve Ranger Police Department will be sold at the auction. All property is sold "as is." Check the Obenauf Auction Service, Inc. website for photos and details of auction items. For information, contact our Ranger Police Department at 847-968-3404.

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