Free historic home tours for Adlai Stevenson Day

Celebrate Adlai Stevenson Day in Illinois on Saturday, February 5, with free guided tours of the Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home in Mettawa, Illinois. Presented by the Lake County Forest Preserves, the tours are offered at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The one-hour tours will focus on information about Adlai E. Stevenson II and anecdotes about his family's use of the home. Tour visitors will see the home itself, including the study where Stevenson met with dignitaries such as John F. Kennedy and Eleanor Roosevelt, as well as the service building and grounds.

In 2009 Illinois passed a law designating February 5 of every calendar year as Adlai Stevenson Day. Tours are open to visitors ages eight and up. They are free, but registration is required. Register online at www.LCFPD.org or by phone at 847-968-3321.

Adlai E. Stevenson Historic Home is located on St. Mary's Road, one mile south of Route 60, in Mettawa. Parking is available on site. The grounds are open to visitors daily, 6:30 a.m. to sunset. For more information on the home call 847-968-3400.

Summer Youth Employment Program accepting applications during the month of February

Even in these tough economic times, Lake County will be putting young people to work through the Summer Youth Employment Program. This is an excellent opportunity for approximately 150 youth to make money and gain meaningful work experience during summer break. This summer changes are coming to the annual program. For the first time, interested youth must fill out an application and participants will be selected by random lottery.

The applications will be available February 1 and accepted February 1 through February 28. There is also an expansion to the age group and Lake County residents 14-18 who meet the programs low-income criteria may be eligible. For more information visit the Job Center website or call 847.377.3443.

Family Spaces

Welcome to Lake County

You'll the find the perfect space to reconnect with your family in Lake County, Illinois.

The fresh snow powder creates excellent conditions for skiing, sledding, snowmobiling or snowshoeing on many Lake County Forest Preserve trails. Take the kids on a chocolate factory tour at Long Grove Confectionery or a train ride at the Jelly Belly Factory. The Lake County Discovery Museum offers hands-on interactive exhibits to educate and entertain the entire family. They are also home to the world's largest collection of picture postcards. You can also warm up this winter by learning about our nations Navy at the Great Lakes Naval Museum.

Lake County Forest Preserve Achievements 2010

Your Lake County Forest Preserves achieved much in 2010. Thanks to the continued support of Lake County residents, the Lake County Forest Preserve was able to protect some of our county's most important natural areas, maintain over 150 miles of trails and restore many acres of habitat for Lake County's native plants and animals. View the full report: Achievements 2010

Highlights

The Lake County Forest Preserves purchased over 1,400 acres of land, including the creation of three new preserves, Dutch Gap Forest Preserve in Antioch, Kestrel Ridge Forest Preserve in Volo, and Mill Creek Forest Preserve in Old Mill Creek. The new lands provide valuable wildlife habitat, trail connections and flood protection.

The purchase of Dutch Gap Forest Preserve, combined with existing preserves that neighbor the site, creates a 1,300-acre greenway in northern Lake County and provides the opportunity for a future trail system connecting the properties.

Restoration projects in preserves throughout Lake County improved vital habitats for a wide variety of native wildlife and plants, including many endangered and threatened species. Active management of natural resources within the Forest Preserves included:

·         Completed controlled burns on 166 burn units, totaling 2,969 acres.

·         Seeded 151 acres of native seed.

·         Planted 976 trees and 3,784 shrubs on 2 sites.

·         Enhanced fisheries in 8 lakes, including stocking of 4,414 fish.

·         Installed 147,042 native plants at 5 sites.

·         Coordinated over 312 volunteer workdays, totaling 7,887 volunteer hours.

·         Collected seed of 152 native plant species for restoration projects and propagation.

·         Cleared 342 acres of invasive wooded growth from 16 high quality restoration sites and work continues on another 3 preserves.

For more information about the Lake County Forest Preserves, visit www.LCFPD.org.