All County offices will be closed in observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 26. To recognize those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service to this country, Lake County has created a website for family, friends and those who have served with fallen heroes to honor individuals who fought and died for our freedom.  

Visit the website and submit an Honor Post, which can include a photo, written tribute and the hometown of the fallen hero. We encourage members of the public to continue this growing tribute by sharing stories of our nation’s fallen heroes. All new tributes received will be added to the site on Monday, Memorial Day. 
 

Lake County Recognizes Our Veterans  

Lake County will join the nation in observing Memorial Day, honoring the members of our U.S. Military who gave the ultimate sacrifice to help protect our country. We appreciate the dedication and commitment of these men and women.

To honor their service, we offer resources to help veterans and their families.  

On Memorial Day, we remember and commemorate the brave soldiers who have fallen in battle to uphold our freedoms. As we commemorate our military members and pay tribute to their lives, we also celebrate having a Monday off during the peak of spring.  

Check Visit Lake County’s Memorial Day weekend guide to learn about parades, ceremonies, live music performances and more to make the most out of your three-day weekend.  

The Pekara Water System, which includes the Pekara, Inverrary and Horatio Gardens neighborhoods in the Buffalo Grove area, will begin receiving Lake Michigan water in the coming weeks as the system transitions away from well water.

While the current well system meets all Illinois EPA standards, residents have long raised concerns about taste, smell and water hardness. The wells are also not a sustainable long-term solution and would be costly to upgrade. The project to connect the Pekara system to Lake Michigan water was made possible by $1.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated by the Lake County Board.

Through a new 20-year agreement between Lake County and the Village of Buffalo Grove, water will be provided via the Northwest Water Commission. Learn more  

After leading the way with groundbreaking bird-friendly building design policies last year, the Lake County Board has taken another major step to protect local and migratory bird populations.

At its May meeting, the Board approved a new ordinance requiring bird-friendly design for residential developments in unincorporated Lake County. The ordinance goes into effect on July 12, 2025, and applies to new residential building construction. 

The County’s action to expand its bird-friendly building standards coincides with the Board's recent recognition of World Migratory Bird Day. Learn more 

The first installment of the Lake County property tax bill is due June 4. There are various ways to pay your bill, including in person and free via an e-check. Visit the Lake County Treasurer’s Office website to view your tax bill and read about all payment options.  

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Want to receive your property tax bills by email? Sign up for eBilling to go paperless and stay informed.
 

It’s that time of year again where we spend more time outside enjoying the weather. Unfortunately, ticks also become more active during warmer months. Ticks may be small, but we still need to protect ourselves, our families and pets against the diseases they can carry, especially Lyme disease.  

Learn more about protecting yourself and loved ones from tick-borne diseases and what to do if you are bitten by a tick at FighttheBiteNow.com.  

K9 Dax was honored in Washington, D.C., as a fallen K9 hero. His name is now etched into the National Law Enforcement K9 Memorial, a lasting tribute to his bravery and dedication.   

K9 Dax courageously served the Lake County Sheriff’s Office alongside his handler, Deputy John Forlenza, for almost a decade. During his distinguished career, Dax was responsible for hundreds of successful tracks, apprehensions, and evidence recoveries all while protecting his partner and community with unwavering loyalty.  

Sheriff John D. Idleburg was in attendance to pay tribute, along with Deputy Forlenza and K9 Lux, Dax’s direct offspring, who now continues his legacy in service. 

Some of the most powerful images ever captured of the animal kingdom are part of a special exhibition at the Dunn Museum in Libertyville. National Geographic: The Greatest Wildlife Photographs reveals rare and dramatic moments in nature through the lenses of the world’s top photographers. The exhibit runs from Saturday, May 24 through September 21.

The exhibition features approximately 60 photographs, accompanied by audio-video elements and interpretive panels that provide context through text and graphics. Learn more » 

Got a curious middle schooler who loves science? If you have a student in sixth through eighth grades (including homeschoolers) within Beach Park, Diamond Lake, Fox Lake, Gavin, North Chicago, Round Lake, Waukegan or Zion school districts, we’ve got something exciting for you.

Science Explorers in Nature is a FREE program split into two sessions in-between June 16 to July 11 at various preserves. Students will dive into hands-on science fun with this year’s theme: Environmental Forensics. Think field trips, real-world experiments and a collaborative research project–all led by expert educators. Supplies, busing, materials and lunches are covered.

Register Now » 

The Dunn Museum is unveiling a new gallery space this summer with Alex Ross: Heroes & Villains, a special exhibition spotlighting one of the most celebrated artists in comics. Known for using gouache paints to create lifelike portraits of Marvel and DC characters, Ross has helped elevate the comic book world to the realm of fine art. The exhibition runs June 29, 2025 through February 16, 2026.

The Dunn Museum will host a ticketed preview event, “A Night with Alex Ross,” on Saturday, June 28 from 5 to 8 p.m. Guests will have the rare opportunity to mingle with Ross and enjoy a private preview of the new special exhibition before it opens to the public. Tickets are available at LCFPD.org/AlexRoss.

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