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Dear Neighbor,
I hope you will consider joining me at one of two upcoming events focused on reducing the stigma of mental illness. Approximately one in five adults and adolescents are affected every year, but mental illness is rarely discussed. Due to the stigma, people and their loved ones suffer in silence. At these events will hear from those directly affected, discuss challenges and resources with local service providers, and find out what our community can do to help.
My goal is to stamp out stigma, support caregivers, and let people know they are not alone.
When: Thursday, March 15, 7pm-9pm
Where: Lake Bluff Park District Community Room, 355 W. Washington Ave., Lake Bluff
SECOND SESSION
When: Saturday, April 7, 10am-12pm
Where: Warren Newport Public Library, 224 O'Plaine Rd., Gurnee
 Crisis Care
and Mental Health in Lake County
The mental health
crisis facing our nation and our communities affects everyone - individuals,
families, employers, schools, hospitals, the criminal justice system, and more.
Lake County is working with health and public safety partners and community
members to better understand the problem, strengthen and connect services, and
build a continuum of care. Learn more by viewing
this interactive story map.
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 Lake County Recognizes kaleo for Donation of
Naloxone Auto-Injector Kits
The Lake County Health Department recently hosted a press conference to recognize kaléo for its substantial contribution of EVZIO Naloxone auto-injector kits to help save lives in Lake County. In 2016 and 2017 there have been 354 saves by law enforcement alone. Recent reports show that the number of opioid overdoses in emergency rooms were up 66% in Illinois and 109% in Wisconsin for 2017. Naloxone is an opioid overdose antidote that counteracts the effects of heroin and other opioids in the brain and essentially “brings back” an individual from an overdose. Thank you to the Lake County Opioid Initiative and Live4Lali for their leadership on this important issue.
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 Working
Through the Night at Point-in-Time Homeless Count
A record number of volunteers went out on a cold January night to find unsheltered homeless people as part of the Point-in-Time Homeless Count. This yearly event documents the number of unsheltered people and directly connects them to services. Information gathered will help us develop housing solutions for the future. Lake County residents can make a difference by supporting the Lake County Coalition for the Homeless and the various member organizations. Each organization has different needs, or ways to get involved. For example, The Lake County Haven shares volunteer opportunities on their Facebook page, and individuals can sign up to volunteer with PADS.
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 If You See Something, Say Something!
Did you know you can anonymously submit a tip online to the Lake
County Sheriff’s Office? Tips and information from the community often
aid law enforcement in identifying potential threats, problems, concerns, or
issues. Report a tip online. Individuals can call the Sheriff’s
Office at 847-549-5200, leave a message on our tip line at 847-377-4424
or send an email.
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March
20 Primary Election News
The March 20
Primary Election is fast approaching. View the voter information guide to see a complete list of
candidates, public questions, early voting sites, and more. You can preview your ballot before heading to t he polls by visiting LakeVoterPower.info and confirming your registration. Here are three ways to vote in the upcoming election:
 Vote from the
Comfort of Your Home
Registered voters can request a vote by mail application from the County Clerk's Office until noon March
15. Voted ballots must be postmarked by midnight on Election
Day.
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 Vote Early
Vote and register at any early voting site regardless of
where you live in Lake County. Early voting will be available until March 19.
Hours and dates vary at the 15 different locations. Find your closest early
voting site.
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 Election Day
Those choosing to vote on Election Day must go to their precinct’s
polling location. To find your site, use our Polling Place Locator. Voter registration also
will be available in all precinct polling locations on Election Day and at the
County Clerk’s Office in Waukegan.
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 Beware of Utility Scam
Be on alert for scam artists claiming to be a ComEd representative
seeking payment. The company has seen a significant increase in reports from
small businesses and residential customers who were victimized by these types
of scam incidents. Take
these precautions to avoid being scammed.
If you’ve been victimized by fraud, the Consumer Protection
Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s office may be able to help.
Visit www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/consumers.
IRS Urges Taxpayers to Watch Out
for Erroneous Refunds
The
Internal Revenue Service is warning taxpayers of a quickly growing scam
involving erroneous tax refunds being deposited into their bank accounts. After
stealing client data from tax professionals and filing fraudulent tax returns,
criminals use the taxpayers' real bank accounts for the deposit. Thieves are
then using various tactics to reclaim the refund from the taxpayers. Find out more.
Be A Careful Consumer!
Protect Yourself
Criminals use schemes to defraud millions of people. They combine technology and
tricks to get you to give money or personal information, pressuring you to make
important decisions on the spot. Stay a step ahead and protect yourself with
the latest information as well as practical tips from the Federal Trade
Commission. Sign up to get
scam alerts right to your email.
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Free
Filing for Federal and State Taxes
Individuals who earned $66,000 or less in 2017 can self-file their federal and
state taxes for free and save an average of $200 in fees by using My Free
Taxes. English and Spanish support via telephone (1-855-MY-TX-HELP) is
available, along with email and online chat support from IRS-certified
specialists. Learn more about
My Free Taxes. |
 Paratransit Market Study for the Lake County Region
A Paratransit Market Study is underway in Lake County to
evaluate transportation options for seniors, people with disabilities, and the
general public. The public was recently invited to learn more about the study
at the second round of community meetings held in January 2018. Meeting
attendees had the opportunity to provide input on the analysis of existing
conditions and draft recommendations for service implementation. If you weren’t
able to attend one of the meetings, please provide your feedback by taking the
online survey.
Learn More: Watch VIDEO, Visit
Project WEBSITE,
Take SURVEY
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 New Dunn Museum in Libertyville Opens March 24
Arrive curious and leave inspired when you visit the new Bess
Bower Dunn Museum in Libertyville. Come to the free grand opening from 10 a.m.
to 5 p.m. March 24 to meet our Dryptosaurus dinosaur and paleoartist Tyler Keillor who created her.
Explore exhibitions on your own or take a guided tour, enjoy drop-in
activities, and stroll through the gift shop. The Dunn Museum is on Winchester
Road between Route 45 and Butterfield Road in Libertyville. Learn more
Celebrate the new Dunn Museum with
a week of special events, free with general admission. Event details
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 Apply for Sheriff’s Association Scholarship
Lake County students who plan to pursue a higher education during the
2018-19 academic year can now apply for a $500 college scholarship to be
awarded by the Illinois Sheriff’s Association. Applicants must be permanent
Illinois residents and be enrolled full time at a certified institution of
higher learning within Illinois. Find out more
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Maple Syrup Hikes
Learn how trees work and about the sweet sap of sugar maples.
Ryerson Woods is one of the few places in Lake County where conditions are
right for maple syrup production, and where trees grow to a diameter and height
that allows for tapping. Everyone gets a taste. The program also is available
as a school or scout field trip. Call 847-968-3321. Hikes start every half-hour
from noon to 2 p.m. March 17 and 18 and 24 and 25 at Ryerson Woods. Learn more |
 Lake County Offers Summer Internships
Looking
to kick start a new career? Learn more about these Lake County departments who
are now accepting applicants for their summer internship programs.
Division of Transportation
LCDOT has two exciting summer internship opportunities in the fields of GIS and Engineering. The GIS intern will perform beginning technical GIS work such as inventory gathering along county bikeways and highways, maintaining spatial data, and map creation. The engineering intern will gain experience in beginning level engineering work such as surveying, performing basic construction inspections, conducting field and laboratory tests on construction materials, and collecting traffic data for traffic studies. Find Out More.
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 Join the Youth Conservation Corps
This summer jobs program is designed to employ high school
youth in natural resources, construction, and park maintenance related projects. Recruitment
is underway now for the 2018 season. View the application for
details. Crew members work together in teams to build trails and boardwalks,
restore natural areas and waterways, and complete basic preserve maintenance
projects. Additionally, crew members receive training in first aid, basic work
and life skills, construction skills and environmental awareness. The
program runs for eight weeks each summer from mid-June through early
August. Learn more
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Preserve Trail Repair
How does the Lake County Forest Preserves maintain 205 miles of trails in forest preserves around the county? Through the hard work and heavy equipment of our Operations and Infrastructure department. Watch this video as Forest Preserve crews took care of a section of the Millennium Trail at Singing Hills Forest Preserve in Volo last fall.
 Strategic
Plan Update
Promoting public access and trail connections is the central focus of one of
our strategic directions. Last fall, a new pedestrian bridge was installed over
the Metra Railway in the wee hours of the morning when train traffic was light.
The new bridge now connects 4.5 miles of trails at Middlefork Savanna Forest
Preserve (Lake Forest) to the Lake Forest Academy and Townline
Community Park. Crosswalk improvements at Route 60 and Academy Drive provide
safe access. This project is part of a larger effort to connect Middlefork
Savanna and the Middlefork Trail and Greenway to the Des Plaines River Trail at MacArthur
Woods Forest Preserve (Mettawa). Several local partners and donors made this
trail connection possible. Learn
more
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Book Your Event at a
Forest Preserve Picnic Shelter
Reservations for
2018 picnic permits are now available. Choose from 31 picnic shelters
located in scenic forest preserves throughout the county. Picnic shelter
permits ensure exclusive use of a shelter for your family reunion, company
picnic or other group gathering. Plan early to help ensure your first
choice of shelter and date. Learn more
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