I am so excited to announce some new parking created just outside of Buffalo Creek to alleviate cars scattered around the neighborhood. The parking is just behind the Long Grove Soccer Park lot. The new parking spots are accessible from the intersection of Old Hicks and Checker Road. No parking is allowed in the soccer lot.

I want to thank Randy Seebach from the Forest Preserve and his amazing staff for moving so quickly on the project and completing it within about four months. As the area begins to thaw, we will again have a plethora of residents visiting our beautiful nature preserve. Attendance has soared, and the Forest Preserve is working hard to keep this gem extremely accessible. 

For those interested in major improvements planned for Arlington Heights Road, I encourage you to attend an upcoming meeting on January 27 to learn more about the project. The county will also offer opportunities for feedback. I, along with the County Board, and our wonderful Division of Transportation staff have worked hard to bring large sums of money to our area for important infrastructure improvements that keep traffic moving better and safer. See below for additional meeting details.

With Covid spreading in extremely high numbers, I also want to remind everyone that the county continues to offer locations for vaccinations and testing. Please look at the health department website to learn where these services are being offered. Your local Walgreens and CVS, along with Jewel and Marianos also continue to offer these services. If you have not gotten a vaccination, please consider it. Omicron is extremely contagious, and everyone at this point knows someone who has had it or has it now. Please protect yourself and your loved ones. 

I wish for everyone to stay safe and warm during these winter months. Always feel free to reach out with any questions. 

Best,

Transportation News

The Illinois Department of Transportation is hosting a virtual public hearing through January as part of an ongoing study assessing the state’s rail system to help identify potential improvements and solutions. The event will provide an update on input collected throughout the year on current conditions, capacity concerns and safety challenges. 

Lake County Government News  

The Lake County Board voted at its January 11 meeting to enact permanent open burning restrictions within unincorporated Lake County. Franchise waste hauler agreements to provide consolidated waste hauling services in unincorporated areas within certain townships were also approved. The new open burning restrictions and waste hauling agreements go into effect on June 1, 2022. To learn more about open burning restrictions and franchise waste hauler agreements, please read the news release. 

Lake County is seeking volunteers to join the fight to help end homelessness. Make an impact by joining our yearly Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count. On the night of January 26, teams will search throughout Lake County to interview and offer assistance to unsheltered people. This year, we ask volunteers to create their own teams of two to eight people. Learn more and register  

Want to make a difference but are not able to attend? Visit the LCCH website to learn more.

Lake County COVID-19 Update   

Getting tested for COVID-19 and quarantining if you’re positive is a proven method of slowing the spread.  If you think you’ve been exposed or are experiencing symptoms, find a testing site near you. The Lake County Health Department recommends going to a site run by the Illinois Department of Public Health or a local pharmacy. Find a testing site near you

Get Help  

If you need help finding food, shelter, rent or utility assistance, or other essential services, call 211 or text your zip code to 898211 to speak with someone who can help 24/7. Speak to a live person in English or Spanish when you call. The 211 team will also interpret more than 150 other languages. Learn more 

The Job Center of Lake County has partnered with local employers to help connect jobseekers with local companies that are hiring. View the full Job Center calendar to learn about various upcoming events and resources.

Environmental News 

Start your new year and do something to help the environment. It’s simple to implement a couple of new things into your routine and mindset. Check this list of 11 Great Things You Can Do in ’22. These will help the health of your family and the planet as well as save time, money and energy.

Health News 

Radon gas builds up in homes over time and can’t be seen, tasted, or smelled—making it easy for radon problems to go unnoticed. The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center recommends that all residents test the radon levels in their homes and apartments during the winter season, when indoor radon levels are highest. Learn more

It's a new year and that means it's time to get fiscally fit. Join the first session, “Increasing Endurance: Borrowing Basics” at noon Jan. 26. Learn about various options of borrowing money from financial institutions and what they really cost. Register.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has secured a $124,000 U.S. Department of Justice grant to upgrade its Cyber Lab, enabling the office to escalate its fight against violent crime, sex crimes, and financial exploitation.

The Cyber Lab provides critical support to Lake County’s law enforcement agencies by using software and human expertise to retrieve and analyze text messages, video files, and geo-data from phones, laptops, and other digital devices. Learn more

Lake County judges will be participating in a judicial reading project focused on kindergarten through fourth grade classrooms across our state. The stories serve as a perfect launch to discuss the law and history with a judge from the local community. A principal or teacher may reach out to host a judge as a guest reader in February. Learn more

Forest Preserves News

A new underpass and trail extension safely connecting Raven Glen and Ethel's Woods forest preserves in Antioch are now open! It's the longest of nine tunnels in the extensive 209-mile trail system.

The project includes a 145-foot concrete pedestrian tunnel under Route 45 just north of Miller Road, and 0.8 mile of new paved and gravel trails joining the two preserves via the Millennium Trail and Greenway. Learn more »
 

Ever wonder how animals make it through winter? Cold temperatures, a lack of food, and snow and ice can be challenges for wildlife. Luckily, native species have evolved ways to weather the weather.

“Each animal employs different survival strategies that help it adapt and even thrive in winter,” writes Environmental Educator April Vaos in the Forest Preserves nature blog. “I like to say animals have MAD strategies: migrate, active and dormant.” Read more on the Lake County Nature blog.

Community Events & News

January features Lake County's cuisine makers and libation creators, playtime in the snow, an outdoor movie, a show, a cabaret, virtual angling, a rekindling with nature in a land of lakes winter wonderland and more. Welcome 2022 with open arms and check out Visit Lake County’s top 10 things to do in January in Lake County.

Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings 

All Lake County board and committee meetings can be viewed on lakecounty.tv and on cable television (Comcast channels 18 or 30, depending on where you live, and AT&T U-Verse Channel 99).

The public also is welcome to attend all meetings in person at the Lake County Administrative Tower, 18 N. County Street, Waukegan or may attend meetings remotely using the registration link on the front page of each meeting’s agenda.

Individuals attending meetings in person or remotely may present their public comments during the meeting. Those not in attendance may provide written public comment via email or by mail. View the current meeting schedule. All meetings are recorded and are posted on the Lake County website.

Here are links to the most recent board and committee meetings, including the video recordings and agendas: