Dear Neighbors

I joined representatives from a number of organizations at a forum on the connection between health and the environment. There’s now a lot of evidence, for what many of us already knew -- access to green space improves our lives. We can all help (and reduce our air conditioning bills!) –- by planting native trees. Oak trees are part of a food web of over 300 species. Learn more about which species to plant in our area. 

While the spring wildflowers have passed, there is still so much to see in the Forest Preserves.  On a recent walk in Daniel Wright Woods, this colorful combination of flowers and bulblets caught my eye.

This month’s job spotlight from the Workforce Development Board is Computer User Support Specialist. A high school education is needed, and job growth over the next 10 years is expected to be 6%. Learn about the training available in Lake County. 

In addition to the County road projects, the railroads and the State are also working on projects. Don’t be caught off guard by a road closure. Be sure to visit Lake County Passage for real-time traffic updates (get the app for your phone). 

I know the change in waste haulers has caused a lot of concern for those in the unincorporated area.  I have worked with a number of you to resolve issues. Please contact me if you are still experiencing problems. You can get updates here. If you have more questions, let me know.

Election Day is Tuesday, June 28, and all voting sites will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned neighborhood voting site.

If you need to register for the first time or update your name or address on a current record, grace period registration is available at your assigned Election Day voting site.  You are required to meet all age, citizenship, and residency requirements; present two forms of valid identification; and vote at the time of registration.

Visit LakeCountyClerk.info and click on the “June 2022 Primary ” icon to review the candidate list, a Voter Information Guide, your personalized sample ballot and more.

Forest Preserves News

Construction has started on the first phase of a new environmental education facility that aims to achieve net-zero energy. The building at Edward L. Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods is designed to replace and expand Lake County Forest Preserves education programming that has been offered in two 1940s-era cabins.

A net-zero energy building produces enough renewable energy to meet its own annual energy consumption requirements, reducing the use of nonrenewable energy. The building uses cost-effective measures to reduce energy spent.

Forest Preserve commissioners, staff and funding partners in the project recently gathered for a ceremonial groundbreaking and look at some of the materials and systems that will be employed in the new building. "As stewards of healthy landscapes and proponents of climate resiliency, the Lake County Forest Preserves is leading the way in sustainable building technologies," said Executive Director Alex Ty Kovach. Learn more » 

The spring-summer issue of Horizons magazine is now available. Horizons is a quarterly publication of your Lake County Forest Preserves, featuring articles on Lake County wildlife, nature and history, Forest Preserve news, and programs and events.

This issue covers what's happening in your preserves, including a research project at Grant Woods in Ingleside, Concerts in the Plaza at Independence Grove in Libertyville, the Bill Sienkiewicz art exhibition at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville and more. You can subscribe to receive the free magazine in print form. Read it online.

Lake County Forest Preserves environmental educators are offering several paddling programs this summer. Participants are able to experience nature from the water and learn about aquatic ecosystems and paddling in the preserves. The sessions include:

• “Canoeing for Clues,” at 3 p.m., July 6 at Hastings Lake in Lake Villa
• “Guided Nature Paddle” at 6:30 p.m., July 31 at Independence Grove in Libertyville
• “Canoe with your Kids” at 10 a.m., August 8 at Hastings Lake
• “Paddle the Adlai Way,” at 9 a.m., August 20 at the Wright Woods Canoe Launch in Mettawa
• “Walk and Paddle” at 1 p.m., August 28 at Lake Carina in Gurnee

Registration and tickets are required. Learn more »

The Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County in Libertyville is joining museums across the country in offering free admission to military personnel and their families.

The free admission program runs through September 5, Labor Day. The Blue Star Museums program is a partnership between the National Endowment for the Arts and Blue Star Families, working with the Department of Defense and museums across the U.S. Learn more »

A 1,300-pound bison that escaped from a Wauconda farm late last year was safely and humanely removed from Lakewood Forest Preserve in Wauconda. Officials believe it settled at Lakewood in early April.

Lake County Forest Preserve officials worked with a professional livestock specialist from Illinois to capture the bison. "We are thankful the animal has been removed from the forest preserve safely," said Mike Tully, chief operations officer for the Lake County Forest Preserves. "The safety of our users and the animal has been our No. 1 priority throughout this process. Bison are considered domestic livestock in Illinois, therefore roaming free in a public forest preserve is not an appropriate place for it to call home." Learn more

The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Lake County Forest Preserves. The award recognizes the annual comprehensive financial report for the fiscal year that ended December 31, 2020.

"The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in government accounting and financial reporting," GFOA Director Michele Mark Levine said. "Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management." Learn more »

Environmental News

The staff at the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County receives calls and emails daily from residents and businesses asking how to properly recycle or dispose of common household materials. Sometimes they also receive calls from concerned residents alerting that they observed their waste collector throwing the contents of their recycling cart into the trash truck.

Lake County recognizes the success of recycling is reliant on our willingness to do more to reduce, reuse and recycle but also recognize success is possible if we all follow the recycling guidelines within our communities.  Learn more

Lake County Government News  

Celebrating Lake County’s great diversity and bringing focus to the county’s commitment to public safety, the Lake County Board recognized several June observances at its June 14 meeting. This includes Gun Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ+ Pride Month and National Caribbean American Heritage Month. Watch the full presentations

There is much more done behind the scenes at Lake County than you realize. Learn more about our Print Shop, whose work impacts every resident throughout the county.

Transportation News

The Lake County Division of Transportation will be applying pavement rejuvenator, a glue-type substance that can extend the life of a road by five years, to several newly completed road surfaces in Lake County over the next few weeks. Learn more

Health News

The days of sunshine and beach time are here! When you’re visiting the beach or the pool, we want you to be as safe as possible while swimming. There are tips you can follow to help avoid recreational water illnesses this summer.

The Lake County Health Department monitors lake water for E.coli bacteria in over 100 Lake Michigan and inland lake beaches to ensure that the water is acceptable for swimming. Now through Labor Day, beach closure information can be found on the Health Department’s Beach Advisory web page, which is updated daily. Learn more  

Fight the Bite this summer and protect yourself and your family from West Nile virus, an illness spread by mosquitoes. Follow the 4 Ds of Defense to help prevent mosquitoes from breeding and to protect yourself from bites.

The Lake County Health Department’s Mosquito Surveillance Program collects mosquitoes in traps around the county and tests them weekly for West Nile virus. Visit the Fight the Bite website to find more prevention tips and information on West Nile virus. 

While Lake County is seeing a reprieve from the extreme temperatures, this summer demonstrates that our temperatures and humidity will vary, and sometimes those temperatures can be quite dangerous. It’s important that everyone should take steps to prevent heat-related illnesses during hot weather. Practice these heat safety tips to help keep yourself healthy. Remember there are cooling centers throughout Lake County if you need to seek relief from the heat.

The Lake County State's Attorney's Office, with a substantial investment by the County Board through ARPA funds and the State of Illinois through budget allocation, announces the leadership team of the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative.

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative will partner with community and law enforcement to address the root causes of gun violence and implement proven short-term and long-term strategies, to immediately interrupt cycles of gun violence. Learn more

Sheriff's Office News

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office and 19th Judicial Circuit have become aware of a scam, which involves con artists calling Lake County residents and introducing themselves as a member of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.  Learn how to protect yourself

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will have a stepped-up July Fourth traffic enforcement campaign with a focus on impaired and unbuckled drivers. The safety campaign will run from June 16 through the early-morning hours of July 5 to encompass three summer weekends leading up to and after Independence Day.  Follow these tips to ensure a safe, happy holiday.

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 11 water systems they own and operate. Visit the water quality reports webpage to read your report.

If you’re looking for a way to give back to your community, consider volunteering with the Lake County Emergency Management Agency. Watch this video to learn more about volunteer opportunities, and if you think it might be right for you, complete the volunteer interest survey.

Lake County COVID-19 Update  

Get Help 

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.

Check Get Hired Illinois
Get Hired Illinois is designed to connect workers with available job and career training opportunities across the state.

Community Events and News

The summer festival season always brings the heat in Lake County. Across the county, this summer promises to be a good time as families and neighbors gather for food, good music and fun. Check out Visit Lake County’s Guide to Summer Festivals.

Shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, baked treats and more while supporting local businesses at one of Lake County’s farmers markets. Check out our Farmers Market Finder to find a farmers market near you.

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 St., 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.