Whether you’re looking for a parade, live music and delicious food or a spot to set down your blanket and watch the fireworks, Lake County has lots of ways to enjoy the Fourth of July. Check out Visit Lake County’s Guide to the Fourth of July to discover ways to celebrate.

Here are some local celebrations to check out:

• Join Wauconda's Independence Day fireworks celebration at dusk July 3 at Cook Park. 
• Hawthorn Woods' festivities, which includes the parade, music and fireworks will be July 3 and 4. Learn more
• The Round Lake Area Park District has a full evening of music, activities and fireworks on July 4. Learn more
• Several Home Owners Associations (HOAs) events: fireworks at Ivanhoe July 3 at dusk; and Countryside Lake Bike Parade at 10:30 a.m. July 4.

The 90th annual Lake County Fair returns July 25 through 29 at the Lake County Fairgrounds and Event Center in Grayslake. Check out new attractions including the Timberworks Lumberjack Show and family activities presented by the Illinois National Guard. Returning favorites include truck-and-tractor pulls, demolition derby, 4-H exhibitions, and more. Visit www.lcfair.com for more information. 

In August, the Lake County Board will be considering a proposal to install antenna equipment on the Countryside Lake Water Tower.  This is a routine proposal to install antenna equipment similar in size and scope to equipment mounted on other Lake County Public Works water towers. The partnership allows Verizon Wireless the opportunity to enhance cellular service in the area, with minimal visual impact.  Additionally, revenue generated through the proposed lease agreement with Verizon Wireless would be used toward the maintenance of water and sewage systems maintained by the Lake County Public Works Department.  Please contact the project manager, Daniel Salgado, at 847-377-7152 if you would like additional information.  

Lake County Public Works is committed to providing safe water throughout the County. As strong supporters of the Safe Drinking Water Act, Public Works releases annual water quality Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) for the 12 water systems they own and operate. These reports describe the sources, treatment, and chemical analysis of each water distribution system. All Lake County systems passed testing requirements for the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Visit the water quality reports web page to read your report. 

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is launching a data-sharing partnership with Waze, the free, crowdsourced traffic and navigation app powered by the world’s largest community of drivers. Partnering with the Waze Connected Citizens Program gives LCDOT traffic engineers access to real-time road activity as reported by Waze users. Using the data from motorist insights, with information already generated through the Lake County PASSAGE system, operators can make well-informed decisions and act to reduce congestion and help keep traffic moving. Learn more

Anatomy of a Safe Driver
Driving safely requires your attention from head to toe. It may seem obvious, but time and time again we see traffic crashes that would have been prevented if drivers were paying attention and/or following the speed limit. You have the power to make roads safer. Learn more

The 19th Judicial Circuit Court’s Jury Commission received notification of several occurrences where a male identifying himself by phone as a Lake County Deputy Sheriff tells residents they had failed to appear for jury duty and need to proceed to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan immediately. Residents were told that they had failed to appear for Jury Duty and needed to proceed to the Lake County Courthouse in Waukegan immediately. Once at the Courthouse, they were instructed to call the Deputy Sheriff stating that they had left their residence. Remember these precautions to protect yourself.

Lake County recently held two Telephone Town Hall Meetings. County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor discussed the County’s current priorities and residents participated by asking questions and sharing what’s important to them.  Listen to the recordings from the June 6 and June 20 meetings.

Make sure not to miss upcoming Telephone Town Halls the County hosts! Sign up today.

Forest Preserve News

Lunchtime Tours: Civil War Stories
Tour the exhibition galleries of the Dunn Museum in Libertyville and hear stories of how men and women from Lake County were involved in the American Civil War: The tours will be offered at noon July 11 and 20. Learn more

Green Youth Farm Thrives, Thanks to Donors
Early summer lettuces and kale, beans and squash are ripening at the Green Youth Farm in Lake County, thanks to donors to the Preservation Foundation. Among the farm’s supporters in 2018, we are pleased to thank Lake Forest Bank & Trust and Libertyville Bank & Trust. The company’s $10,000 grant helped provide a paid summer job for North Chicago and Waukegan high school students, who sow, tend and harvest fresh, healthful food as they gain valuable work experience. Learn more

Wine and Nine
Enjoy a 30-minute golf clinic and a round of 9 holes, followed by hors d’oeuvres and wine tasting at ThunderHawk Golf Club in Beach Park at 4 p.m. July 20. Learn more

The Baldies are Back in Town
You’ll find bald eagles soaring high in the sky, slowly flapping over water, perched in trees, or even on the ground. Look for them near rivers, lakes, marshes and shorelines. Bald eagles mainly eat fish, but also hunt mammals, waterfowl and carrion. Young eagles attain their white head feathers after about five years, so don’t rule out the possibility that giant brown bird overhead is a baldy. Look for a bright yellow, hooked bill and mottled white feathers on the body.

Nests are built near the trunk, high in the tree but below the crown. The diameter of a nest is typically 5 to 6 feet; height ranges from 2 to 4 feet. The nest may be reused (and added to) for years. We’ve confirmed a few local nests in recent years, including this one photographed in April in southwestern Lake County. Send us an email and let us know if you see an active nest while out exploring your preserves.