Hello Neighbors
As alway, this newsletter is full of important, interesting and fun information. As you read the articles and open the links, you will find information from "I didn't know they did that in Lake County businesses" to video with budget discussions.
One article has tips for healthier holidays. I'd like to add this - if you want to exercise in the outdoor air, consider a bike ride or walk in a Forest Preserve. Several staff members have written about their favorites. You can also enjoy an outdoor scavenger hunt this Sunday afternoon.
At the last Forest Preserve Planning Committee meeting, the committee received an update on the study regarding consideration of a cell tower location on Forest Preserve land. 50 residents in attendance heard the report with mostly negative comments from a recent open house that the cell tower firm hosted. I am not a member of that committee. However, as in all board committee meetings, board members attending are invited to speak. I spoke against the cell tower and noted the importance of resident input into all Forest Preserve studies. Because I am in opposition to that project in our district, it will (most likely) be voted down in the next committee meeting.
I hope that you and your family enjoy a Happy Thanksgiving. Some refer to this as our "most American holiday." Our family members and I are thankful for every blessing including those special blessings we enjoy here in the USA.
Please continue to call or email me with your concerns, issues and suggestions. I am honored to serve you and thankful to have done so for the past three years.
Regards,
The County Board recently approved the 2018
budget that spends $437 million on core services, including transportation and
infrastructure, health services, courts and public safety. The budget is up
less than 2% from last year. The county board maintains a strong track record
of practicing fiscal responsibility, which means making prudent, data-driven
decisions, using resources efficiently and maintaining sustainable, financial
operations. As a result, this budget is balanced and Lake County is fiscally
stable. The County has been able to hold the line on its budget
because across the organization, departments are implementing operational
efficiencies, leveraging technology, and sharing services that are making a
difference to our bottom line.
Learn more by visiting our online Budget
Story, and watch the budget presentation and discussion from the board
meeting by going to lakecounty.tv and
clicking on items 60 & 61.
 Delivering Exceptional, Financially Sustainable
Services
Lake County works to
improve the quality of life in Lake County and provide services that benefit
more than 700,000 Lake County residents. Our mission is to deliver exceptional,
financially-sustainable services that promote a safe and healthy community
while enhancing economic vitality. Our core values of fiscal responsibility,
exceptional service, operational excellence, leadership and environmental
stewardship influence everything we do. Watch this
video to see how we are delivering on our mission and values
every day!
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 Homeowners and business owners impacted by the July 2017 flooding
in Lake County may be eligible for loan assistance from the U.S. Small Business
Administration (SBA). A Disaster Loan Outreach Center has opened at the Lake County Emergency Operations Center, 1303 Milwaukee Ave.,
Libertyville where SBA customer service representatives will issue loan
applications, answer questions and help individuals complete
applications. Find
out more by viewing this SBA news release.
FEMA Denies Governor’s Request for Federal
Disaster Declaration
In September, 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. Lake County has been notified
that FEMA has denied this request. For information on the July 2017
flood, including a breakdown of the Disaster Declaration Process, visit
the county’s
flood information page.
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This
Thanksgiving, you can get everything you need by shopping local! Lake County
has more than 30,000 businesses and you may be interested to learn how some
have a surprising connection to Thanksgiving and preparing a fabulous dinner! Watch video
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 Thanksgiving is time to think about all that we’re thankful
for and enjoy a home-cooked meal with family and friends. But sometimes the
meal can contain unhealthy amounts of calories and fat. You can enjoy the
holiday season and be healthy too! Here’s some tips from Elizabeth, a dietitian
from the Lake County Health Department.
- Find recipes which are carbohydrate controlled, low
sugar, low sodium, and low fat.
- Eat a light snack, such as raw vegetables or a piece of
fruit, and consume adequate water to help prevent overindulging at parties
and family gatherings.
- Find fun ways to incorporate physical activity with the
family both indoors and out. Go on a walk together, try lunges and chair
exercises, or play charades with the family.
- Go to the health department’s Healthy Eating Active
Living page
to find more tips to eat healthy and stay active all year long.
Here’s some healthy holiday recipes that you can make for
your Thanksgiving table.
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Experience an afternoon
discovering the gifts we receive from nature as you walk a designated trail
searching for clues on Nov. 19. Afterward, enjoy a hot beverage. This activity
is self-paced. Arrive anytime between 1 and 3 p.m. to begin. Learn
more
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 Making sure that Lake County roads, bridges and bike
paths are safe for the traveling public is the top priority of the Lake County
Division of Transportation (LCDOT), local government agencies and police
departments. Together, we have formed a multi-jurisdictional Safety Task Force
to look for opportunities to enhance safety for Lake County residents.
We can study the crash data and look for engineering
improvements or enforcement strategies to make roads safer, but we need your
help. As a road user, there are decisions you make and actions you take that
have an impact on the safety of everyone around you. Many serious injury or
fatal crashes are the result of driver behavior and can be prevented. Watch this video to learn ways you can help make our roads safer.
The Lake County Division of Transportation wants your
input too! Take
this survey to share your concerns about road safety.
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 Telephone
Scam
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is receiving reports of Lake
County residents getting fraudulent telephone calls from individuals
representing themselves to be from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Learn more
Join
Town Hall Meeting
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will discuss issues such as
the opioid crisis, “A Way Out” program and other programs offered by the
Sheriff’s Office at a town hall meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Nov. 28 at the Woodland
Elementary School West cafeteria, 17371 W Gages Lake Road, Grayslake. The event is free and open to the public. For information, send an email
to RepSamYingling@gmail.com or call 847-231-6262.
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The Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Service will be sending out new Medicare cards to
individuals with Medicare benefits beginning in April 2018 without Social
Security numbers. But scammers are taking advantage of this change, especially
during Medicare open enrollment. Medicare will never ask for your personal
information, and the new cards will be free. Visit
the Federal Trade Commission's website to
learn more. |
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To increase efficiency and make the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s Office
more accessible to the public, the office will now accept payments online for
certain criminal and traffic cases. Individuals who owe outstanding fines and
court costs may pay online by visiting the Circuit Clerk’s website.
The website offers instructions in over 50 languages, and the service is
available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more |
There’s no better way to support the election process than
by being an election judge. Election judges are responsible for administering
the proper and lawful conduct of all elections by serving in local voting
sites. Watch this
video as election judges share why they love the job, and learn how you can
join them. |
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 Forest Preserve News
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2017 Hike Lake County Challenge
Get active outdoors for your good health by taking our Hike
Lake County Challenge. Complete seven of the hikes through Nov. 30 to earn a
commemorative shield. View the 2017 hike location on our interactive trail map, or visit our website for more information.
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 Our
Favorite Fall Preserves
There’s still time to view fall color in Lake
County. While all of our forest preserves are beautiful and
unique, we asked staff to share their favorites.
Nan Buckardt, Director
of Education
Favorite Preserve: Van
Patten Woods, Wadsworth
Great Plant: “The colors on oak leaves are so saturated and rich.”
Fun Fall Fact: “Colors are brightest when the fall frost strikes early.”
Allison Frederick,
Assistant Public Affairs Manager
Favorite Preserve: Rollins
Savanna, Grayslake
Great Plant: “Virginia Creeper! This vine slowly morphs from green to deep
burgundy–and every color in between.”
April Vaos,
Environmental Educator
Favorite Preserve: McDonald
Woods, Lindenhurst
Great Plants: “Maple trees, Virginia creeper, and little bluestem.”
Ken Klick, Restoration
Ecologist
Favorite Preserve: Captain
Daniel Wright Woods, Mettawa
Great Plant: “Sugar maple.”
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 Documenting Species in
Lake County
To document the richness and diversity of species present
in the Lake County Forest Preserves, our wildlife biologists
began a formal wildlife monitoring
program. Since the late 2000s, the biologists with the
help of trained wildlife technicians have monitored the presence of reptiles,
amphibians, birds, and mammals. They have already collected more than
200,000 wildlife records. Visit the Forest Preserves’
blog to learn more!
Annual Fund Spotlight
Engaging volunteers at Greenbelt Forest Preserve is exactly
the kind of project the Preservation Foundation Annual Fund was created to
support. With limited staff, the District cannot reach into every Lake County
community to engage volunteers we need to help care for our preserves. With a
grant in 2016, Audubon Great Lakes got off to a great start in North Chicago.
To build on that success, the Foundation Board awarded a $20,000 grant so the
District can continue working with Audubon Great Lakes. The goal is to build a
self-sustaining volunteer corps to support our ongoing work at Greenbelt.
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Since 2006, the Stormwater Awards Program has
recognized outstanding efforts by organizations, communities, groups, and
individuals for projects and other proactive and innovative efforts to improve
water quality, reduce flooding, and help restore the natural drainage system.
If you know of something or someone who fits this description, please nominate
them for one of the award categories. The
deadline to submit nominations is Dec. 1. Learn
more |
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