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Its that time again! If you have the opportunity please stop out this Saturday in Lindenhurst to celebrate Earth Day. Myself and many others will be there with tons of great information and activities. I look forward to seeing you there.
Have a
great week and please contact me with any county or forest preserve concerns or
suggestions. I enjoy keeping you informed on things happening around the county
and around District 3.
Together we can make sure that Lake
County remains a wonderful place to call home.
Sincerely,
Tom Weber
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An extremely dangerous tornado caused widespread
damage in northwest Illinois this month. Be ready before the next storm
strikes. The majority of Illinois tornadoes have occurred between April 1 and
June 30. Take steps now to make sure you
and your family are prepared for severe weather, like knowing the safest place
to shelter in your home, having an emergency kit, and a family communication
plan. Visit the
State of Illinois Emergency Management Agency and visit Alert Lake County
for live-saving information. |
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 The Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO),
the Stormwater Management Commission and Lake County Forest Preserves will hold
a compost bin and rain barrel sale and native plant sale. The compost bin and
rain barrel sale will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9. The native plant sale
will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 10. Both events
will take place at Independence Grove Forest Preserve’s North Bay Pavilion,
16400 W. Route 137, Libertyville. Rain barrels cost $60, and compost bins cost
$50. Rain barrels, compost bins, and accessories will be sold on Saturday
only. More
details
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 Think Recycle First
and Trash Last
If you’re starting your spring cleaning, think recycle first, trash last.
There are many options to recycle your household chemicals, old shoes, clothing
and electronics.
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A household chemical waste collection event will
run from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, April 25 at the Round Lake Beach Metra
station, 630 Hook Drive. Find out about accepted
materials and materials that are not accepted.
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The Reuse-A-Shoe Program is designed to keep old
shoes out of landfills or disposed in other ways. Schools, scout troops and
community groups can participate. Details.
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Bring clothing, textiles and fabrics to a
drop-off location to be recycled. It is estimated about 85 percent of all
clothing and textiles end in U.S. landfills. Drop Off
Locations
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Electronic items such as televisions, monitors,
computers and printers are some of the most common items that are not
allowed in the regular trash. Find a residential recycling drop off
location. Details
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Electronics Recycling
and Document Event Open to Businesses, Schools
Businesses, schools and government are invited to take part in an
electronics recycling and document destruction event from 8 a.m. to noon
Tuesday, April 28 at the Lake County Division of Transportation, 600 W.
Winchester Road, Libertyville. Sponsored by the Solid Waste Agency of Lake
County, the collection is free. Attendees must bring a business card or Federal
Tax ID. Accepted
items
Watch the
Concert to Celebrate the Earth
In celebration of Earth Month, SWALCO is hosting a free family concert
called the “Concert to Celebrate the Earth” on Saturday, April 25. The concert
will be from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Village of Lindenhurst, 2301 East Sand
Lake Road; and 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St. Details
Participate
in the discussion by providing your input on identifying state and local
infrastructure challenges at this Illinois Division of Transportation (IDOT)
Infrastructure Listening Tour meeting. The discussions at this public
meeting will establish priorities for future investments in the IDOT
transportation system. For more information about the statewide listening
sessions planned visit IDOT’s website.
8 a.m., Friday, May 1
University Center of Lake County, 1200 University Center Drive, Grayslake
Health
Report Card: We’re Healthy!
Lake
County ranks among the healthiest counties in Illinois (and the U.S.) – ranking
sixth on Health Factors and 15th for Health Outcome out of 102 counties
–according to a new County Health Rankings report card. The health
department will use the findings to help identify areas for
improvement and develop strategies that promote the health of our communities. Learn
more.
Your Rx for Health: A Walk in the Park
Join naturalists and healthcare providers for free
guided tours in our forest preserves as part of the “Rx for Health” walking in
nature program, which aims to improve your health and your knowledge of nature.
For information and to view the schedule, visit the website.
Did
You Know – 1,000 Pets are Lost Each Year in Lake County? Website Helps Reunite
Owners and Lost Pets
The
Lake County Health Department’s Animal Care and Control program has a new Lost
and Found Pet Service web page to help reunite the more than 1,000 pets lost
every year with their owners. Watch this edition of Healthy Lake County and
learn more about this service, as well spring flooding risk and expanded hours
for the Midlakes Health Center in Round Lake Beach. |
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Kids Give Names to New K-9s
Meet
the newest members of the Lake County Sheriff’s Office – “Duke”, “Diesel”, and
“Dax.” These dogs have new names thanks
to several Lake County middle school students who participated in the Rookie
K-9 Naming Contest held last month. Watch
video |
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Join Safety Forum on Technology and Pornography
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month. To address increases in the
sexual exploitation of youth, the Lake County Sheriff's Office is hosting
a public safety forum titled, “Technology and Pornography - Keeping Youth
Safe” from 8 a.m. to noon Friday, April 24 at the College of Lake County’s C-005 Auditorium in Grayslake. The forum is
structured to help parents and professionals who work with kids understand the
increasing risks in cyberspace. The forum is free. Register
Stay Safe on the Road! Do Not Use Electronic Devices While
Driving
April is National Distracted
Driving Awareness Month. Illinois passed laws banning the use of electronic
devices while driving, and deputies from the Lake County
Sheriff’s Office will be conducting patrols to make
sure these laws are obeyed. Unless a device is hands-free, it cannot be used
while driving.
Hosted by Conserve Lake County, shoppers can find over 160 different species
of native trees, shrubs, grasses and perennials online through May 3. The
on-site sale will run May 14 to 16 when online orders can be picked up.
Proceeds support Conserve Lake County, a non-profit organization focused on
conservation and its programs including Conservation@Home.
May
14-15, noon to 8 p.m. (members only)
May 16-17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
May 18-22, noon-3 p.m.
May 23-24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Conserve Lake County, 32492 N. Almond Road, Grayslake
 Lake
County Announces 2015 Construction Program
This year, the Lake
County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) will have $137 million in road
projects under construction making for another busy construction season! While about
$60 million of that is carried over from projects that were started last year,
there will be about $77 million in new projects, which are expected to be awarded during the
first six months of 2015. The plan includes 24 projects, 11 of which
contain non-motorized travel improvements, such as bike paths, or adding bike
friendly lanes. Learn More
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National Work Zone Awareness Week
Recently, the Lake County Department of
Transportation recognized National Work Zone Awareness Week. Each year as the
weather warms up, work zones pop up along your daily commute. Accidents in
construction zones are preventable if you slow down, pay attention and EXPECT
THE UNEXPECTED! Take a few minutes to learn about the LCDOT road projects planned for your area so you can plan your route
accordingly, and give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. Being
prepared will give you time to put safety first while navigating our roadways
throughout the construction season.
IDOT
Resurfacing Projects
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) has several big
resurfacing projects in Lake County this summer. The projects listed below are
expected to start in the next few weeks, but there may be additional work later
in the year. When resurfacing projects occur on major roadways, motorists can
expect delays. State routes fall under the jurisdiction of IDOT and all questions and
comments regarding these projects should be submitted through
IDOT. To find out where you will encounter delays, please monitor local,
real-time traffic information through Lake County PASSAGE.
IL 21 – Church Street (in Libertyville) to IL Route 60, IL Route 60 to Lake
Cook Road
IL 137 – Butterfield Road to IL 21, IL 21 to O’Plaine Road
IL 134 – west of Fairfield to IL 120
IL 176 – Hilltop Terrace to US Hwy 12
US 12 – Ela Road to Lake Cook Road
 As the weather begins to warm up and flowers begin to bloom, come see all the
outdoor fun that Lake County communities have to offer. Discover a farmer’s
market, a trail to go hiking or biking or a new event to bring the family to
make some memories by viewing Visit Lake County’s spring page and Calendar of
Events. Learn more about family fun and
things to do this spring in Lake County by checking out www.lakecountylife.org and this video.
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 Learn about Free Programs to Celebrate
Earth Day
Join
Lake County Forest Preserve educators for free nature programs on Thursday, April 23 and Friday, April 24 in
honor of Earth Day. All ages are welcome. No registration is required. View calendar of Earth
Week programs.
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A Picture is Worth a
Thousand Yards: Sports Photography of Walter Payton
Celebrate the 30th
Anniversary of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl victory with photography by some of
the nation's top sports photographers, featuring some of the best images of
Walter Payton on and off the field. The exhibition is on display at the Lake County
Discovery Museum. |
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Spring Burn Season
April is a busy month for Lake County Forest Preserve burn crews as they conduct controlled fires to revive natural areas. Fire is the most efficient and economical tool for managing Lake County’s natural communities, improving habitat by decreasing invasive plants, removing dead leaves and exposing the seedbed to the sun. Daily updates
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Connect with the Forest Preserves!
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In this County Update, Lake County Clerk Carla
Wyckoff discusses the work done in the clerk’s office that goes beyond the
election activity every year, and learn how the County Clerk’s Office handles
vital records and property tax extensions. Wyckoff also addresses her hope that
more county residents will vote considering the advances made to make
registering and voting easier. Watch |
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In honor of Child Abuse Prevention Month, the
Blue Kids Lake County campaign is promoting awareness of child abuse and
prevention by displaying 3-foot signs of children around the county at
businesses, schools, agencies and homes. The signs are blue, the color chosen
to represent Child Abuse Awareness month. Learn more and find out how you can
get involved at bluekidslakecounty.org. Watch video.
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