|
Get assistance completing the 2019 Senior Citizen Assessment Freeze Application for taxes payable in 2020 and learn about other homestead exemptions offered from 10 to 11 a.m. May 13 at Lakefront Park, 71 Nippersink Boulevard, Fox Lake.
The Chief County Assessment Office will work one on one to help you complete the necessary forms. The Senior Freeze provides seniors with limited income protection against real estate tax increases due to rising property values. Because this exemption provides for a base year frozen assessment, it will potentially provide increased savings each year a senior is eligible. You also can visit your local Township Assessor at any time to receive help.
A NEW feature this year is you may also complete your application for any homestead exemption online using the Smartfile E-Filing Portal.
In 2019, two Illinois State Troopers have been killed in crashes directly related to Scott’s Law violations. Scott’s Law requires all motorists to yield a full lane or, when unable to yield a full lane, reduce their speed upon approaching a vehicle with flashing lights. For everyone’s safety, if you see flashing lights, move over and slow down! Watch this video to learn more.
|
The County Board had a busy month acting on various measures that will directly impact transportation and sustainability in Lake County. The board reaffirmed the countywide State Highway Consensus Plan that identifies transportation projects to relieve traffic congestion and approved a contract to ensure all County-owned street lights use LED’s. Additionally, the board appropriated funds for a new court case management system that will make more court documents available electronically, cutting the need for paper. Watch this video to learn more.
|
Drop the phone, slow down, and drive safely! Through April, which is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, motorists will see increased patrols and enforcement zones. Sending or receiving a text takes a driver’s eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds, the equivalent of driving blind at 55 miles per hour for the length of an entire football field. Get tips on how to avoid distracted driving.
|
Celebrate Earth Day by checking out these family-friendly events across the county.
Earth Day Gathering
Come to the third annual Earth Day Gathering on April 28 at Millennium Park in Fox Lake. Visit with local environmental organizations, enjoy entertainment, refreshments, children's activities and more.
Earth Week at CLC
From conserving soil to reducing waste generated by plastic drinking straws, learn what you can do to help make our world a little more sustainable during the College of Lake County’s Earth Week events from April 20 to 27. Learn more
Earth Day Expo
Enjoy crafts, a performance by In the Green Productions, recycling opportunities and more from noon to 2 p.m. April 20 at Hawthorn Mall in Vernon Hills. Learn more.
Reuse-A-Shoe Drive
Bring in six or more unwanted pairs of shoes to the mall any day through April and receive a gift card as Hawthorn Mall supports SWALCO's Reuse-A-Shoe Program. Drop off shoes to the mall management office between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
SWALCO offers groups to be a part of the community-wide program to collect shoes. It's free! Learn more about SWALCO’s Reuse-A-Shoe Program.
Earth Day Family Event
Enjoy family activities from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. April 22 at the Century Park Pavilion in Vernon Hills. There will be music, a nature walk, and take home environmentally friendly items.
|
The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) is seeking public input as it conducts a wayfinding and signage study to make it easier for users to find their location on the trails and help them travel to connecting destinations.
Provide your feedback and get your questions answered by at an open house anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. May 1 at LCDOT’s building, 600 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. Watch this video to learn more about the study.
|
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) Bureau of Water will hold a public meeting at 1:30 p.m. May 14 at the Fox Waterway Agency in Fox Lake to provide information and receive feedback concerning the Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reports conducted on the Upper Fox River Chain O'Lakes and the Flint Creek watersheds.
These reports, which are implemented by the IEPA, calculate the amount of pollutants within a body of water to make sure it is meeting water quality standards. Drafts of both reports can be viewed online, and hard copies of the draft reports also are available during business hours at the following locations.
Last fall, the Lake County Adult Corrections Facility opened its newly remodeled kitchen and implemented a food scrap program that has led to much less garbage! Approximately 125 tons of material will be composted and recycled this year instead of thrown away. That is equal to 243.75 metric tons/month of avoided CO2 emission, or taking 631 cars off the road. The program is essentially paying for itself, as the cost previously needed to transport waste to the landfill is now being used to compost and recycle food scraps. Watch this video to learn more.
|
Parents are invited to join a workshop about vaping from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at Woodland Middle School in Gurnee. Learn to recognize if your teen is smoking e-cigarettes, long-term effects and more. Also, help protect teens against drug abuse and overdose by bringing in your unused and expired medications where the DEA will safely dispose of them. Learn more.
|
Based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Village of Gurnee, City of Waukegan, and Lake County Health Department officials have completed preliminary plans for outdoor air quality monitoring for ethylene oxide (EtO) near Vantage Specialty Chemicals in Gurnee and Medline Industries in Waukegan.
The preliminary plan includes one vendor being hired to collect air quality samples from four sites near Vantage and four sites near Medline. Samples will be collected at two additional remote sites to provide background levels of EtO. Learn more
The Lake County Health Department has openings for its Mental Health First Aid training class April 26 at the Zion Health Center. The eight-hour course teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Additional classes will be offered through May and June across Lake County. Classes are offered in English and Spanish. Register for the class.
|
The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center's Animal Care and Control program is offering a pet vaccination clinic from 9 a.m. to noon June 15 at the Grant Township Center as an affordable and convenient way to keep your pets up to date on their shots and rabies tags.
All animals must be at least four months old. Dogs must be leashed and cats placed in carriers. Only cash will be accepted on site. Learn more about the pet vaccination clinic.
|
Forest Preserve News
|
Concerts in the Plaza at Independence Grove
Music lovers, dance lovers, outdoor lovers, get ready for award-winning performers playing under the stars at the annual Concerts in the Plaza music series. Eight concerts will be held at Independence Grove in Libertyville at 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, June 18 through Aug. 6. From Beatles to the blues, from rock and bluegrass to swing and jazz, there's something for just about any musical taste in this season's entertainment lineup. This year's concerts are supported by North Shore Gas (Platinum sponsor), Blue Oak Financial Services (Gold sponsor), Libertyville Bank and Trust, A Wintrust Community Bank (Bronze sponsor), and Lake County Journal (Media sponsor). Learn more »
|
How to Stay Connected to the Lake County Forest Preserves
In this interview with Katherine Hamilton-Smith, Director of Public Affairs and Development at the Lake County Forest Preserves, she tells us more about her role, how she got started, how we can connect with the Forest Preserves and some new interesting facts you may not know. Learn more »
|
Spring Walks in Your Preserves
Enjoy this beautiful spring weather with a guided walk through a preserve.
- Spring Bird Walks: April 28, May 4, 5, 11, 12, 15, 18, 19, 22
Learn more »
|
Five Steps to Your Next Job
Are you transitioning careers? Attend “5 Steps to Your Next Job” to launch your next job search. The next session will meet from 10 a.m. to noon May 6 to 10 at the Warren-Newport Public Library 224 N. O’Plaine Road, Gurnee. To make reservations, call 847-377-3439 or send an email to mmueller@lakecountyil.gov.
Veteran/Military Job Fair
A Veteran/Military Job Fair will run from 2 to 6 p.m. May 14 at the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center in North Chicago. Veterans, active duty military, retirees, reservists, eligible family members and DoD employees are welcome to attend. Learn more
Look Who’s Hiring
There are many other job opportunities across Lake County! Visit the Job Center of Lake County's website to learn about upcoming recruitment events.
|
Come to Lake County’s largest gathering of business and civic leaders to focus on economic growth and innovation. Hosted by Lake County Partners, the Big Event will take place May 17 at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. Register today!
|
Keep informed about Lake County government! Watch County Board meetings live at 9 a.m. on the second Tuesday of each month. You can watch meetings live online or on Comcast channels 18 and 30, or AT&T channel 99. You can also view archived board meetings and standing committee meetings anytime.
|
|
