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It's an honor representing
District One on the Lake County Board, and I want to wish all of you a very happy and healthy New Year.
I am always available to hear
your concerns and look forward to serving as you County Board Member for
another year.
Linda Pedersen
Lake County Board
Commissioner District 1
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 The new year brings more than 200 new laws that have gone
into effect beginning Jan. 1. This includes lowering the organ donor registry
age, allowing motorists to pass bicyclists in a no-passing zone, and a new law
that protects consumers who leave negative online reviews. See the complete list.
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The Lake County
Commission on Government Reform and Accountability held its last meeting in
December 2017. The bipartisan commission was created by the County Board to
evaluate proposed government reform measures and will be reporting their key
findings to the County Board for consideration. Some of their proposed
recommendations include ideas for local government consolidation and
independent redistricting. Watch this video to learn more. |
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A Paratransit Market Study is underway in Lake
County to evaluate transportation options for seniors, people with
disabilities, and the general public. Please join us for the second round of
community meetings for the Paratransit Market Study. Lake County, in
conjunction with the Lake County Coordinated Transportation Services Committee (LCCTSC),
is conducting this study to evaluate transportation options for county
residents and to prepare an implementation plan to improve service. At the
community meetings, we will provide an overview of the draft analysis of
existing conditions and draft recommendations for service implementation. You
will have the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback and comments on
these findings to help shape public transportation in Lake County.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, 1 – 3 p.m.
Round Lake Beach Cultural and Civic Center, 2007 N. Civic Center
Way, Round Lake Beach
Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5 – 7 p.m.
Warren Township Senior Center, 17801 W. Washington St., Gurnee
The meetings will be conducted in an informal, open house format so feel free to attend at any time during a session. The same information will be provided at all meetings. Additional information can be found on LCDOT’s website.
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Stay Green after the Holidays
The holidays are over, but don’t
throw those decorations away! Recycle your old and unwanted strings of lights
for free! View the list of locations and what items are accepted.
Donate your holiday tree to the Lake County Forest
Preserves, and we’ll recycle it into wood chips for trails and landscaping at
forest preserves throughout Lake County. Bring your tree to a drop-off site now
through Feb. 1.
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Dispose Unwanted, Expired Prescriptions Safely
Dispose your unused, unwanted and
expired prescription drugs properly at disposal boxes across Lake County. The
service is free! Find a drug disposal
box near you, and learn what is not accepted.
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 Reuse-A-Shoe
Donate new and gently used shoes to
SWALCO’s Reuse-A-Shoe program. Individuals or families with a few pairs can
visit the drop-off locations. Groups or families who have a large number of shoes or who want to
collect them can contact Merleanne Rampale at SWALCO at 847-377-4954 to set up
a seasonal collection site or drive. View acceptable and unacceptable items.
Remember the R’s
Just as important as reusing or recycling is purchasing
eco-friendly items, including those that contain recycled content. There
are numerous markets out there, and even your local retailer offers
eco-friendly options. Visit SWALCO’s website
to learn more.
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Lake County is on the front lines of addressing the mental
health crisis impacting our country and our communities. Over the past
year, the Lake County Mental Health Coalition has been
working diligently to study this issue at the local level and make
recommendations on how to better serve this vulnerable population in order
to maintain their health and well-being. Watch this video to
learn more. |
The minimum legal sales age to
purchase tobacco products has increased to 21 years old in unincorporated
Lake County as of Jan. 1, following an ordinance approved by the County
Board. Lake County is the first county in Illinois to raise the minimum
legal sales age to 21 in unincorporated areas.
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
Lake County property
owners who sustained flood damage from the July 2017 flood may be eligible to
claim an income tax credit worth up to $750 under a new law recently approved
by the Illinois Legislature and signed by the governor. If eligible, the income
tax credit may be applied to the resident’s 2017 Illinois income taxes. Learn
more |
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 Forest Preserve News
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 Experience Winter’s Beauty
Hiking across the snow. Tracing figure eights on the ice.
Feeling the tug of a fish below the frozen water. Zooming downhill on a
snow-packed surface. These experiences and more await winter outdoor
enthusiasts at your Lake County Forest Preserves, where breathtaking scenery
goes hand-in-hand with exercise and fun. Before heading out, check online for current trail, snow and ice
conditions for sledding, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice skating, and
cross-country skiing.
Take an Evening Hike on Solar-Lit Trails
With small solar lights to guide the way, hikers, skiers and
snowshoers can get some evening exercise along the 1.3-mile fitness trail
at Old School Forest
Preserve in Libertyville, and along a 1.65-mile hilly section of
the Millennium Trail adjacent to the Winter Sports Area at Lakewood Forest Preserve in
Wauconda. Though regular preserve hours are 6:30 a.m. to sunset, the
illuminated trails and adjacent parking lots will remain open after sunset
until 9 p.m., daily, through March 11. Learn more
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Lake County History Symposium–Call for Papers
On April 29, the Dunn Museum (Libertyville)
will host the fourth Annual Lake County History Symposium. The Symposium is
open to the public and aims to bring together those interested in and actively
researching the history of Lake County. This year’s theme is History from
Objects. Proposals for presentations and posters are requested. Submissions are
due on or before Feb. 1. Submit yours today. |
Welcome to Reno
Join an afternoon of fun, food and more at a Lake Villa Township senior event at noon Jan. 13 at the township's West Campus Community Center, 37850 N. Route 59. To RSVP, call 847-356-2116.
Sign up to learn what's happening in Antioch and Lake Villa Townships
Thank you to all my readers for subscribing to receive my County Board Member newsletter and keeping informed about all that is happening in District 1 and Lake County. You also can find information about services available and upcoming events from Antioch and Lake Villa townships. Sign up to receive Antioch Township's e-newsletter. Sign up to receive Lake Villa Township's e-newsletter.
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