I hope this message finds you well. The February weather is quite challenging as I write this. My dogs are huddled close and give me dirty looks when they have to go outside. 

I have been as busy as ever at the county. I am helping to lead our countywide broadband effort as vice chair of the Special Committee on Broadband. 

Did you know that help is available for those who can’t afford high-speed internet?  The FCC created the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help households struggling to pay for internet service. A qualifying household with adequate infrastructure can get up to 200 Mbps of high-speed internet connection, often for free.

You can connect through your internet service provider (i.e., Comcast, AT&T) or by visiting AffordableConnectivity.gov. I was able to help a community member get connected through Comcast right on their website.

Here are the qualifications to participate in the ACP:

• Has income at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines
• Participates in assistance programs (SNAP, Medicaid, Public housing assistance, SSI, WIC, or Lifeline)
• Tribal-specific aid program participation
• Participates in Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program
• Pell Grant recipients
• Meet eligibility for participating in an internet service provider’s low-income program.

Only 20.5% of eligible households in Gurnee and 27% of eligible households
in Waukegan are taking advantage of this program. We want to ensure our community is taking full advantage of these federal program dollars. Please help me spread the word. 

Thank you all for giving me the honor of serving you.

Election News

The Feb. 28 Consolidated Primary Voter Information Guide is available online. The guide includes a list of all offices being contested, the candidates, referenda, early voting sites, Election Day voting sites, and more. Remember, the Consolidated Primary is for voters in North Chicago Ward 2 and City of Waukegan Wards 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8.  

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC) invites the public to attend the Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan Public Information Meeting from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 9 at the Waukegan Public Library. Individuals may attend in person or register to attend virtually.

The watershed comprises approximately 54 square miles in Lake County, about 11 percent of the total area of the county. Projects that improve water quality and are identified in watershed-based plans are eligible for grant funding through the Clean Water Act and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

Public comment to provide feedback and questions about the Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan will be taken between March 6 and April 6, pending action by the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission at its March 2 meeting.

View the draft Lake Michigan Watershed-Based Plan

Lake County Government News

Applications for the Summer Youth Employment Program will be accepted beginning March 1 to April 15.  Funded by the Lake County Board, this program offers young people a meaningful work opportunity for six weeks beginning on June 20. Learn more

Job News

Learn about career opportunities across Lake County by attending these upcoming career events.

Meet With Pace Bus at Hire on the Spot Events

Get hired immediately for available bus operator and mechanic positions at Pace Bus Hire on the Spot and College Pre-Hire events on Feb. 27 and 28.

Prospective employees will learn more about Pace, complete applications, and interview for open positions. Future bus operators can take a pre-employment assessment. Applications for administrative positions will also be accepted. Learn more

Educator Job Fair
Attend an Educator Job Fair on March 11 at Lakes Community High School. The event will be open to veterans beginning at 7:30 a.m. and open to all from 8 to 11 a.m. School districts within Lake County will be there to talk to perspective employees about current openings and openings for the 2023-2024 school year. Register now

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

Health News

Mental Health First Aid is a free course that teaches you how to help someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis.

The Lake County Health Department’s Mental Health First Aid initiative is now offering classes virtually. This includes a two-hour self-paced course, followed by four hours of instructor-led training delivered virtually. The virtual course curriculum includes expanded content on trauma, addiction and self-care.

View upcoming classes

Sheriff's Office News

Drako and Zeus, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office newest K-9 officers, were sworn in by Lake County Clerk Anthony Vega. K-9 Drako with partner Deputy Roxana Stancioiu and Zeus with partner Deputy Kevin Harris met the Lake County students who suggested their names, and the K-9s also received their badges.

The Sheriff's Office canine teams patrol all of Lake County and provide services to the areas the Sheriff's Office is responsible to cover. They also regularly support countywide municipal law-enforcement.  

There are several exemptions available to provide tax relief to homeowners. As of tax year 2023, payable in 2024, several exemptions have been updated to provide further benefits to eligible homeowners. To learn more and see if you qualify, please visit the Chief County Assessment Office Tax Relief page.

Forest Preserves News

The Lake County Forest Preserves is hosting a job fair from 2 to 6 p.m., Thursday, March 16, at the Greenbelt Cultural Center, 1215 Green Bay Road in North Chicago. An array of full-time, part-time and temporary positions are available.

Organizers say participants should dress professionally and bring multiple copies of resumes. Interviews for temporary positions will be held on the spot at the job fair. No registration is required. For more information, call 847-367-6640.

"If you're looking to spend the summer outdoors in a beautiful, natural setting, we are in the process of hiring numerous temporary positions," said Laurel Diver, manager of human resources and risk. "We offer a wide variety of seasonal employment opportunities with openings available this spring." Learn more » 

The Forest Preserves recently hired a bi-lingual environmental educator as one strategy toward our objective to reach a broader audience. Requests from local schools and community members for programs delivered in Spanish emphasized the need for multilingual programming.

“We are proud to offer all of our environmental education programs in Spanish,” said Education Manager Alyssa Firkus. “Our goal is to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community and encourage them to visit and enjoy the forest preserves.” Beginning this spring, the educator will offer a series of guided forest preserve walks in Spanish. Read more » 

Maple Syrup Hikes have been taking place at the Forest Preserves for 40 years. The springtime tradition kicks off with a free Maple Syrup Festival from 9 to 11 a.m., Saturday, February 25 at the Ryerson Welcome Center. Families are encouraged to stop by educational stations outside on the trail and inside the Welcome Center to learn about the sweet science of trees and the maple syrup process. Daisy from WTTW Kids' Nature Cat will be there to visit and join the family fun. No registration is required, but adult supervision is.

In-person, public Maple Syrup Hikes are offered Saturdays and Sundays, March 4 to 19 at Ryerson Welcome Center. Led by Lake County Forest Preserves educators, the one-hour hikes run every half-hour from noon to 2 p.m. and are open to all ages. Read more » 

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 person in English or Spanish when you call. The 211 team will also interpret more than 150 other languages. Learn more 

Community Events and News

Free income tax return preparation is available to low-and-moderate-income taxpayers who qualify through April 15. Volunteers are trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to prepare basic returns for taxpayers earning less than $60,000. Find a provider near you

Lake County is renowned for its live theater community. The wait is over as the Lake County theaters have released their lineups this season. This season the venues feature a slew of exciting shows, thrilling dances, great storytelling and some of the most enchanting music ever written for the center stage. Check out Visit Lake County’s listing of the spring and summer theater schedules.

Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings