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Dear Neighbors, |
I hope this improved weather finds you well and tending to your gardens and taking lots of walks.
Local nature constantly has me in awe: I am always amazed at the rarity of some of the plant and animal life that can be found a few miles from my Grayslake home. Lake County has precious resources that you may not know about. I'm continually surprised when I learn about the splendors of our area.
For example, St. Francis Woods, located within Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, hosts white oaks that date back between 1737 and 1801, long before Chicago was a city.
This 80-acre forest was recently inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network. It is the first forest in northern Illinois to gain this prestigious national recognition.
Restoration Ecologist Ken Klick (pictured) and others with the Forest Preserves gave tours at St. Francis Woods after the induction ceremony. I was thrilled to walk with other forest lovers and Ken, who pointed out "Dutchman's breeches," which are rare flowers that bloom on the floor of a healthy forest. (Please don't pick them or any other plants!)
Thanks to our staff and incredible Preservation Foundation, the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves, for organizing this event.
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Our knowledgable staff is working year-round to clear underbrush and invasive trees and shrubs, including buckthorn, so that endangered plants and animals can thrive in our county, the most biodiverse in our state. Better yet, Independence Grove was repurposed (and reborn) from a commercial gravel quarry to one of our most-popular hallmark forest preserves. Learn more
The wonderful thing about this preserve is it's within biking, hiking or walking distance of Grayslake and any community with access to the Des Plaines River Trail.
From the west, just take the Oak Openings/Casey Road Trail under Routes 45 and Milwaukee Avenue and you're not only in Independence Grove, you have access to the 31-mile Des Plaines River Trail. Learn more
Why is the biodiversity and health of our forests, prairies and wetlands important? A healthy ecosystem supports a broad variety of plants, animals and fungi. This symbiotic symphony of life also stores carbon, stormwater and gives us needed shade. We need more ecological restoration on every level to ensure our survival on our garden planet. All of our forest preserves are vanguards in the fight against climate change.
County Strategic Plan
I'll be at our in-person community visioning session for our strategic plan next Thursday, May 18 at the Central Permit Facility, 500 W. Winchester, Libertyville at 6 p.m.. Come by and tell us how we can make Lake County a better place to live.
As always, it's my honor to serve you. Please invite me to speak to your community group for an update on county and forest preserve activities.
Be Well,
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Lake County Government News
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County Needs Your Input As We Develop Long-Term Objectives
Lake County Government is reviewing its strategic plan, which will lay out its goals and objectives for the long term. The plan’s success depends on input from you.
Take a short survey or go to our Ideas Wall and provide your thoughts, ideas and suggestions. Please complete the survey by May 19.
You also are invited to attend a community visioning session to provide your input. There will be a virtual session May 17 and an in-person session May 18 at the Central Permit Facility in Libertyville.
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County Board Presents Numerous Special Recognitions
 The Lake County Board presented recognized numerous observances during its May 9 County Board Meeting. This included recognizing May 7 to 13 as Public Service Recognition Week and as National Correctional Officers Week, May 15 to 21 as National Police Week and May 13 as World Migratory Bird Day.
The Board also honored the Citizens Corps Council of Lake County for receiving the Community Partnership Award. In the final special recognition, the Board recognized the collaboration between the Christopher D. Redding Youth Asthma Foundation, Mobile Care Chicago and the Lake County Health Department to launch the Lake County Asthma Van.
Learn more about these observances by watching the May 9 County Board Meeting
Health News
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Meet Lake County’s Anti-Tick Team
Thank you to everyone who submitted their pets for consideration to represent Lake County’s Anti-Tick Team.
Check out the Lake County Health Department’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) to see more information about each pet and follow our social media pages to see what the mascots are up to this tick prevention season.
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May is Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. In Lake County, this is the time to focus on educating the public about mental illness, reducing the stigma associated with mental illness, and celebrating recovery from mental illness.
Because of misconceptions and stigma surrounding mental health issues, people may suffer in silence and do not seek treatment for their conditions.
The Lake County Health Department Crisis Care Program provides help to individuals who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. Crisis counselors can provide support and direction to other resources that can provide further assistance.
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Transportation News
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Construction Season Is Here! Let’s Be Safe, Lake County
The Lake County Division of Transportation is looking forward to a busy year, planning more than 20 projects, preserving and maintaining the County’s system for all who live, work and visit. As work gets underway, please drive safely through construction zones. Watch for construction signs, drive the posted speed limit, and avoid distracted driving.
Remember, workers are not the only ones injured or killed by work zone crashes. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, of the 144 work zone fatalities in Illinois between 2018 and 2022, six were worker fatalities. The rest were road users. Let’s be safe, Lake County.
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Know Before You Go! Use Lake County PASSAGE
Environmental News
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Household Chemical Waste Mobile Events Are Now By Appointment
The first Household Chemical Waste (HCW) mobile collection this year will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. May 20 at the Mundelein Metra Train Station, 205 N. Archer Ave.
The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County conducts household chemical waste collections, which divert HCW from the municipal waste stream by sending it to IEPA approved recycling and reuse facilities and reducing the volume and toxicity of our municipal waste stream.
The mobile collection is for residential waste only. No business waste will be accepted. All SWALCO HCW Collection Events are free for Illinois residents only.
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Compost Can Change the World. Learn How
This week is International Compost Awareness Week. To celebrate and bring awareness, the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County will participate in a virtual International Café where participants will share snippets and stories from around the globe, featuring composting, food and food waste diversion, hunger and related topics.
The virtual program will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday, May 11. Food waste is not wasted when we compost. Compost can make the soil and plants healthier.
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Public Works News |
Lake County Celebrates Drinking Water Week
 This week is Drinking Water Week. This annual celebration brings attention to the water professionals that keep our water clean and safe, but also recognizes the vital role water plays in our daily lives.
Clean water maintained by Lake County Public Works not only protects public health but also helps protect our environment and communities. Safe and clean drinking water that is easily accessible to all residents in our county is a cornerstone of Public Works' mission.
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Job News |
Job Seekers Grow Your Skills. Small Businesses Attract Talent
If you’re in Lake County and want to advance your career or you own a small business, now is a great time to work with Lake County Workforce Development as they actively work with job seekers to move into careers and help local businesses to find talent.
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Job Center of Lake County Is Your Career Solution
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.
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Get Help
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Use 211 to Get Connected to the Help You Need
Finding the help you need may be three numbers away. If you need help finding food, healthcare, shelter, or other 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. The service is free and confidential. Learn more
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Forest Preserves News
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St. Francis Woods Gains Recognition
St. Francis Woods, located within Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville, has gained prestigious national recognition.
St. Francis Woods is the first northern Illinois forest inducted into the Old-Growth Forest Network (OGFN). The network is a nonprofit organization working to connect people with nature by creating a national network of protected, publicly-accessible forests and a network of people to protect them. OGFN also educates about the extraordinary ecological and human wellness benefits of mature and old-growth forests and speaks out regarding immediate threats to specific forests.
The roughly 80-acre forest on the north end of Independence Grove is dominated by red and white oak. Other tree species present include hickories, basswood, black cherry and sugar maple. “Most of the trees there are under 200 years old,” said Ken Klick, restoration ecologist for the Forest Preserves; however, “there may be an ancient tree up to 400 years old. Generally, trees live to be about 150 years old in our region.” Learn more »
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Students Remove Buckthorn
When their Service Learning Day kicked off, the majority of the 65 participating Lake Forest Academy students did not know what buckthorn was or looked like.
The students knew after the three-hour workday that buckthorn is a non-native, invasive tree that harms native plants and wildlife. The group spent the morning cutting down buckthorn on their school campus and piling up the pesky species which would later be removed and burned. Other Academy students partnered with organizations throughout Lake and Cook counties to work on a variety of projects.
“Buckthorn is an invasive large shrub or small tree that grows up to 25 feet tall, often in dense thickets. Birds eat the plant’s fruit, which has little to no nutritional value and a laxative effect, causing widespread distribution of the seeds,” Environmental Educator Mark Hurley told students. Learn more »
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Wildflower Trivia Night Planned
Illinois Wildflowers Trivia Night, a free event, takes place virtually from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18.
Join us for an entertaining nature trivia evening. Questions will cover Illinois wildflowers. Learn about these local beauties and where to find them in your forest preserves. USG sponsors the program that is geared toward adults. Registration is required. Register here »
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Community Events & News
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Where To See A Lake County Sunrise and Sunset
Watch All County Board and Committee Meetings
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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.
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