Thanks to a Community Stewardship Challenge Grant from Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, every
dollar raised to restore Grassy Lake in
Lake Barrington will be matched with $3, giving your $100 gift a $400 impact!
This grant will supply volunteers with native woodland seeds and wetland plants
to replace the buckthorn thickets and other invasive species that have been
degrading this site for decades.
We have until October 2019 to hit
our $7,000 fundraising goal and reach 400 hours of volunteer service at Grassy
Lake. Help us get there!
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Learn life-saving skills such as CPR and first aid. Check your
insurance policies for hazards you may face. Know practical safety steps like
shutting off water and gas. As Lake County joins in observing National
Preparedness Month through September, work with your family and community to
develop an action plan, so you can be prepared if an emergency should
occur. Check out
these resources that can help you plan.
Learn How To Get Emergency Information
An emergency can happen in your community at any time. Prepare yourself and
your family for any emergency by seeking immediate and reliable information. Watch this video to
learn how.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency, in coordination with the
Federal Communications Commission, will issue a test of the Nationwide Wireless
Emergency Alert (WEA) which will be sent to all compatible cell phones on Sept.
20. Please note some older cell phones may not receive the test message. This
test will be followed by a test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), which is
scheduled to last about one minute and will be similar to regular monthly EAS
test messages. Learn
more
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The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is
reporting the first human case of West Nile virus in Lake County for 2018. A
Waukegan resident in her 60s became ill in mid-August. To date, 61 pools or batches of mosquitoes and two birds
have tested positive for West Nile virus in 2018. Learn
more, including the 4Ds of defense to protect yourself and your
family from mosquitoes.
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Lake County prides itself
as being a leader in public health, working to enhance access to mental and
behavioral health services through partnerships between the Health Department and law enforcement
agencies, the work of the Lake County Mental Health Coalition, and addressing
the rapidly increasing opiate problem through the Lake County Opioid Initiative. There are many services
available 24/7 to those experiencing problems related to emotional and mental
illness or drug and alcohol addiction.
In recognition of National Recovery Month, we ask that you help
spread the word of these life-saving services. We've all been impacted in some
way by mental health and substance disorders. Let's make it known that
prevention works, treatment is effective, and recovery is possible. Learn
more
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All collection fees and accrued interest will be waived on any past due
fines owed in criminal and traffic matters in Lake County as part of Lake
County Amnesty Week, which will run Sept. 24 to 28. Full or partial payment
will be accepted either over the phone or at any of our branch court
locations. Learn
more
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Looking for a job? The Job Center of Lake County will offer a variety of resources this month, including tips to succeed in your next job interview, how to start a small business, and much more. View this month’s schedule.
Sign Up to Receive Job News by Text
Lake County Workforce
Development is piloting a text-messaging service where you can opt in and
receive occasional text messages regarding employment events, paid internships
and more. You can opt out at any time. Sign
up now!
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The Stormwater Management Commission is currently looking for two
fall 2018 ravine interns who will spend most of their internship outside
collecting data for slope and channel erosion, locations of stormwater pipes
and discharges, and more. Applicants must be able to work primarily outdoors
within natural resource areas, (e.g., wetlands, ravines and streams),
occasionally be in the office, and be willing to engage in limited to
moderately strenuous physical activity. Apply today!
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is accepting applications for
Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputies. The Auxiliary Deputy Unit is
comprised of members who give back to Lake County through community service in
the area of law enforcement. The unit assists other Sheriff’s Office divisions
as well as municipal police departments in times of natural and man-made
emergencies or disasters.
Applications are available at the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, 25 S Martin
Luther King, Jr. Ave, Waukegan, or at the Lake County Sheriff’s Auxiliary Deputy website.
Applications are due by Sept. 30.
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Forest Preserve News
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Lakewood Forest
Preserve Master Plan
We
have initiated the master planning process for Lakewood Forest Preserve. The
master plan will evaluate the existing conditions and uses of the preserve and
will identify potential recreation, education and conservation improvements at
the preserve. Learn more
We want to hear from
you!
Please take our 10-minute survey below to answer
questions that will help us understand how you enjoy Lakewood and what
opportunities to explore for the preserve’s future. The survey will be open
until Sept. 24. Take our survey!
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Forest Preserve Education Hawk Turns 30
With a badly injured right wing, the future was uncertain for a
4-month-old red-tailed hawk found near Highland Park in the summer of 1988. The
hawk was taken to a wildlife rehabilitation facility, but after healing, it
could only glide short distances. It was unable to gain enough lift to soar and
hunt, and as a raptor both skills are necessary for survival in the wild. We
knew the hawk could touch many lives as an ambassador for Lake County birds of
prey, so we built a home for it at Ryerson Woods in
Riverwoods where it became an honorary Environmental Educator. Throughout her
long life, the hawk has served as an educational assistant to our staff during
school programs, summer camps and special events. Learn more
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Let’s
Start a Movement
The
spread of invasive species is recognized as one of the major factors
contributing to ecosystem change and instability in our county, region and
nation. These species have the ability to displace or eliminate native species,
alter fire regimes, damage infrastructure and threaten human livelihoods.
Invasive species are changing the iconic landscapes of our nation. To
effectively control invasive species, removal needs to extend beyond the
borders of natural areas. The invasive species European buckthorn is currently
the most common tree in Lake County, making up more than 40 percent of our
canopy, according to a 2010 tree census conducted by the U.S. Forest Service
and The Morton Arboretum. It will continue to be an issue until the community
is involved: from private landowners to homeowner associations, golf courses to
garden clubs, businesses to school districts.
Want to join the
movement? We invite all Lake County residents to help eradicate buckthorn.
Several homeowners have already volunteered to help. Whether they have removed
buckthorn from their yard or are simply considering it, every resident who
participates will benefit the community. In the coming months we will
distribute resources to help assess your yard, plus tips to remove buckthorn,
landscape with native plants, and get further involved with this effort toward
an even more beautiful, healthy Lake County. Join
the movement.
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