The changing of the leaves and the cooler nights are a nice reminder that we are well into the fall season.  Halloween is just around the corner. The official Trick or Treat time for Libertyville, Mundelein and Vernon Hills is from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.

If your household is participating in handing out candy for your neighbors, please turn on your porch light if possible. If you are not going to be participating this year, just leave the porch light off. Please respect the wishes of all your neighbors about their participation in Halloween this year. I love seeing all the children in their costumes and getting to chat with my neighbors on Halloween night.  Let’s hope for some beautiful weather!

For our young trick or treaters, Trick or Treat on Main Street Libertyville takes place on Friday, Oct. 28 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in downtown Libertyville. Participating stores will have a bright orange pumpkin sign on their door or window. 

Pumpkinfest 2022 is being held Saturday, Oct. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon in Cook Memorial Park in downtown Libertyville to benefit the Libertyville Township food pantry. Bring food and other donations for the pantry. Visit our local first responders, enjoy a tractor ride and pick a pumpkin.

The Libertyville Township food pantry services our local community members and is especially in need of pasta, macaroni and cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, canned soups and paper bags. The pantry is open on Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for any Libertyville Township resident with financial need. Proof of residency in Libertyville Township is required.

The pantry is located at 359 Merrill Court in Libertyville.  Food and/or monetary donations are accepted at the pantry during regular business hours from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Our local food pantry is a vital resource for so many of our residents. 

I hope to see you at Pumpkinfest!

Lake County Government News  

The Lake County Board will hold its annual hearings on the County’s proposed Fiscal Year 2023 recommended budget on Oct. 18, 19 and 20. During these hearings, board members carefully examine the proposed budget and make recommendations prior to adopting the final budget in November.   

The proposed $597.7 million budget is flat compared to last year and the operating funds budgets are up only 1.6%. The budget incorporates the County Board’s guidelines, which included strategic review of personnel, limited new or expanded programming, environmentally sustainable alternatives, and ensuring the ability to move forward with a new regional operations and communications facility project.  The proposed budget also includes a significant increase in funding toward capital projects, including facilities and technology. 

After the budget hearings, further revisions will likely be made to the budget, and the board is anticipated to vote on the final budget at its Nov. 15 meeting. 

The public may attend these meetings virtually and in person at the Lake County Administrative Building, 18 N. County St., 10th Floor, Waukegan. View the schedule of all Board and committee meetings and agendas on the County website.  

Lake County is accepting program, service, and other funding requests from nonprofit and not-for-profit organizations, and local units of government other than municipalities (who have previously received ARPA funding from the federal government) to aid in the response and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lake County is hosting an informational webinar at 10:30 a.m. today to review the application process and to answer questions. Organizations interested in submitting a service or program request are encouraged to attend. 

Register to join today's Zoom webinar

Learn more

Lake County renters who faced financial hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic may now apply for the new Lake County Rental Assistance (LCRA) Program, which provides help for individuals paying rent. The application period will run through Nov. 15. 

While cybersecurity may seem like a complex subject, it’s really all about people. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, so take time to learn smart decisions you can make, whether on the job, at home or at school, to stay safe online. Learn more

Environmental News 

With Halloween around the corner, the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County wants to share some ways to turn your Halloween a little greener this year. There are loads of ways to celebrate the holiday in a more sustainable and Eek-O-Friendly fashion. 

Try some of these inventive and green ideas/ways to celebrate.

Bring your personal confidential documents to shred and shed your clothing and textiles at the Shred and Shed event from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 15 at First Baptist Church parking lot in Waukegan. Collected items will be reused, recycled and donated. This event is free and open to all Lake County residents. 

View the full list of accepted items

Election News

Want to vote by mail in the Nov. 8 General Election? Applications must be received by the Lake County Clerk's Office by 5 p.m. Nov. 3. Applications can be downloaded from the County Clerk’s website and submitted electronically, mailed or hand-delivered to our office.

Your mailed ballot must be postmarked by Nov. 8 or deposited into one of the Lake County drop boxes or hand-delivered to the County Clerk’s Office by 7 p.m. on Election Day. For your convenience, Lake County has drop boxes at 18 early voting sites as well as six 24-hour drop boxes.

View the drop box locations and hours

Health News 

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone ages 12 years and older receive the updated bivalent booster if it has been at least two months since your last COVID-19 vaccine dose.  

Both Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna release an updated booster in early September. Pfizer-BioNTech’s updated booster shot is recommended for individuals 12 and older, and Moderna’s updated booster shot is recommended for adults 18 and older.

Visit Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters for more information. Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any questions regarding the new booster. 

Visit Vaccines.gov to find a COVID-19 vaccination location near you.

Lake County COVID-19 Update   

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 languages. Learn more 

The Job Center of Lake County can help you to transition careers, identify job opportunities and connect with employers.

Watch this video to learn more about the virtual and onsite resources that are available to all job seekers through the Job Center partners. And view the full Job Center calendar to learn about various upcoming events and resources.  

Check Hire Lake County
Check Hire Lake County for information about job opportunities and businesses vetted by the Job Center’s business service team.

Forest Preserves News

Lake County's forest preserves are clean, safe and popular places to relax and enjoy nature, as rated by local residents in a countywide attitude and interest survey. Results are based on a survey of 698 households conducted earlier this summer by aQity Research & Insights. 

Through the countywide survey, 77% of residents rated the Forest Preserves positively, with 40% holding us in the highest regard. Residents believe our top priorities should be to care for the trails and preserves and to restore and manage natural lands for native plants and wildlife and for the services that nature provides, such as flood mitigation, cleaner air and water, and carbon storage. Learn more » 

"Ethel Untermyer Conservation Forum: Helping Pollinators" program takes place from 1 to 2 p.m., Sunday, October 16 online and at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville.  

Pollinator Ecologist Alma Schrage and Environmental Educator Eileen Davis will discuss current research about native bees in the preserves. Attendees will discover important ways home gardeners can support native bees and other pollinators. The free program is designed for adults. Get a ticket »

The much-loved Halloween Hikes event is back. Capturing the hearts of children and adults since 1986, this two-night production in the woods leads families along trails aglow with luminaria, intricately carved jack-o-lanterns and nature-themed skits. 

The program features fun, donuts and cider on Friday, October 21 or Saturday, October 22 at Ryerson Conservation Area in Riverwoods. Get a ticket »

Community Events & News

Fall is officially here! So, break out the fleece blankets, rock some flannel and get yourself a pumpkin spice latte. These are Visit Lake County’s Top 10 things to do in October 2022.

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.