Explore new places to dine or enjoy old favorites during Lake County Restaurant Week, which runs March 1 to 10. Participating restaurants will offer either a specially designed prix fixe menu or a special dining offer. View this year’s participating restaurants.
Starting this week, you can tune in to www.lakecounty.tv to watch all Lake County Board standing committee meetings. The Finance and Administrative (F&A) Committee recently approved filming these meetings to enhance transparency and increase access to local government. At the committee level, board members spend a significant amount of time discussing and evaluating significant financial and policy matters before these items are sent to the full board for final approval. Filming committee meetings will allow the public to see all the work that goes on at the committee level and have a deeper understanding of the issues.
The meetings will not be broadcast live but can be viewed anytime at www.lakecounty.tv. The meetings also will be replayed frequently on LCTV, which is available on Comcast Cable, either channel 18 or 30, depending on where you live in the county. AT&T Customers can view LCTV on channel 99.
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The Lake County Board recently acted to increase the County’s transparency and accountability. Learn about a new process where vendors that submit a proposal to Lake County will need to disclose the name of family members working for Lake County and campaign contributions to Lake County elected officials. Also, hear about a legislative initiative to allow counties to remove its board chair, and find out about a new task force that will prepare guidelines for those who want to use solar arrays and further the County’s efforts towards using environmentally sustainable practices. Watch Video.
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Metra has partnered with business and civic groups in Lake County to pilot a two-year project for expanded rush hour commuter service on the Milwaukee District North Line.
Beginning March 4, the morning and afternoon train schedule will be improved to accommodate rush hour riders at the western Lake Forest station on Telegraph Road. A new outbound express train will depart Union Station at 6:25 a.m. and arrive in Lake Forest at 7:15 a.m.
In the afternoon, express service will leave the Lake Forest station at 5:09 p.m. and 5:35 p.m. and arrive at Union Station in about 50 minutes or less.
The new train schedule will also benefit residents during the weekday morning rush hour by: 1) adding a new morning inbound train; and, 2) modifying an existing morning inbound train to provide express service. The expanded service will make it easier for local businesses to attract and retain talent and draw from the diverse workforce living in Chicago. Lake County residents will also be able to take advantage of the service to quickly get to Chicago during peak hours. As part of this groundbreaking partnership, stakeholders will also work on a definitive agreement to share the cost of installing a universal crossover near Lake Forest to create additional opportunities for enhanced service.
To learn more, visit: https://metrarail.com/MetraMore.
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On November 2, 2018, the Lake County Health Department learned of concerns surrounding ethylene oxide emissions from Medline Industries in Waukegan and Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee. The Health Department immediately initiated communication with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) to better understand the situation and express the public’s desire for appropriate air monitoring and timely and transparent communication. The Health Department has maintained regular communication with these agencies, which have sole jurisdiction for regulating emissions.
Lake County Health Department officials have since visited Medline and Vantage to gather information and convey the public’s concerns. Along with the Village of Gurnee and City of Waukegan, the Health Department is taking measures to assure air monitoring will occur and has urged the U.S. EPA to conduct a town hall meeting in Lake County. Learn more about Health Department activities related to ethylene oxide emissions.
Residents seeking information about ethylene oxide in Lake County can find the latest updates on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) web page. Questions and concerns can be sent via email to the U.S. EPA at eto@epa.gov.
The Midwest's premiere environmental film festival, the One Earth Film Festival is running March 1 through 10. See a series of powerful, solution-oriented environmental films in a variety of venues across the county. Learn more.
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Forest Preserve News
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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. Hikes run every half-hour from noon to 2 p.m. March 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 at Ryerson Woods in Riverwoods. Register today »
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Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross Opens March 9
The work of a renowned comic book artist is coming to the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. Marvelocity: The Art of Alex Ross will be on exhibit from March 9 through Sept. 8.
Considered one of the greatest artists in the field of comic books, Alex Ross has created some of the most iconic images known to fans today. For nearly 30 years, he has revitalized classic superheroes into works of fine art by illustrating characters including Spider-Man, Captain America, Iron Man, Storm from the X-Men, the Avengers, Black Panther and many more. Learn more »
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Grant Helps Songbirds, Monarchs and Students
Supported by funds from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, a $77,000 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Great Lakes Coastal Program grant will benefit habitat restoration efforts and environmental education outreach at Greenbelt Forest Preserve (North Chicago).
Grant funds will help restore 20 acres of wetland habitat and 20 acres of mesic prairie within the preserve, and be used to plant native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plant species in the restored areas. The project goal is to expand existing habitat for migratory songbirds and purple milkweed (Asclepias pupurascens), a regionally uncommon and favored host plant of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus), a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Coastal Program priority species. As part of the grant funding, Forest Preserve education staff will help connect over 1,000 students to this habitat restoration project through field trips and classroom programs.
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The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the community of an increase in thefts of motor vehicles. Since January, Sheriff’s deputies have responded to reports of 16 motor vehicle thefts, most occurring in the northeast quadrant of Lake County.
Most of the thefts involve running vehicles, which are left unoccupied in an effort to warm the car. Follow these tips to avoid being the victim of a vehicle theft.
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K9 Dax, who works for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office was recently voted the K9s of Valor Foundation “K9 of the Year!” K9 Dax and Deputy Forlenza were nominated for their many successful tracks locating dangerous criminals and citizens in need of help. Learn more
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Lake Zurich Loses a Local Leader
Former Mayor Henry Paulus, who passed away on Feb. 21, 2019, is being remembered as one of the most impactful mayors in Lake Zurich's 123-year history.
Henry (Hank) Paulus served as mayor for 20 years, guiding Lake Zurich from a small resort-style lake town to the vibrant suburban community it is today. Read more about Henry Paulus and his big influence on the growth and development in our area.
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Lake Zurich Shares "What's Happening With?..."
After sharing the evolution of Lake Zurich's downtown area between 1970 and 2000, this edition of the village's What's Happening With" series addresses the recent history of downtown development. This series, presented by the village, reviews the history, ownership, development activity and current conditions of various properties in the village that are often asked about. Learn more
Indoor Winter Farmer's Market
Welcome in March while you stay warm at the Lake County Indoor Winter Farmer's Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at the Paulus Park Barn 200 S. Rand Road in Lake Zurich. Learn more
Everything Expo
Visit the Everything Expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 16 at Concorde Banquets in Kildeer. New features this year include restaurant vendors who will be sharing their products and a blood drive! Learn more
Spring Wine Walk
Join a popular "Sipping Saturday" in downtown Barrington at the annual Barrington Spring Wine Walk from 2 to 6 p.m. April 27. Learn more
Hawthorn Woods Golf Outing
Enjoy 18 holes of golf at the Hawthorn Woods Country Club as the Village of Hawthorn Woods hosts a golf outing May 20. Learn more
BACT Announces Partnership in Chicago Region Tree Initiative
Barrington Area Conservation Trust (BACT) will partner with Morton Arboretum in the Chicago Region Tree Initiative (CRTI). The largest program of its type in the country, the CRTI is a coordinated response to key issues facing trees, including invasive species, death of ash trees, and lack of proper tree care. Learn more
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