Forest Preserve & Lake County News June 2011

The Memorial Day weekend has become the traditional kick off for summer. But we should not forget the origins of the holiday or Lake County's own connection to the military. Please check below for information on some local Memorial Day observances.

We are home to the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, which this year is celebrating it's 100th anniversary. In May the County Board passed a resolution recognizing this centennial. Each year approximately 40,000 men and women pass the requirements to become Navy sailors. In celebration of this important year, Great Lakes Naval Base is offering an even larger 4th of July celebration. Read more about it and visit the Naval base this year.

If you are an active duty military personnel or family member, read below for information on free admission to the Lake County Discovery Museum.

The first installment of the 2010 tax bills are due June 6. Please read below for additional information.

In May the Forest Preserve reviewed the recommendation by the Fort Sheridan Advisory Committee to privatize the building of a 9 hole course. In June the District will discuss what details would need to be included in such a proposal and take action on the proposal.

In June the County Board will discuss the recommendation of the Winchester Advisory Board to privatize the building of a new Winchester House. I will keep you apprised of both of these issues.

As always, I welcome your comments on these or any other issues. Government works best when the citizens are heard, so I hope you'll continue to share your concerns.If you'd like me to come to your Homeowner's meeting of other group to address more issues in person, just contact me.

Sincerely,

Ann

Ann B. Maine

President Lake County Forest Preserve District
Lake County Board District 21

amaine@lakecountyil.gov

847-374-9787

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Memorial Day Observances

Libertyville
The American Legion and VFW will lead a silent parade beginning at 9:15 a.m. Monday May 30. It will start at the Metra station and proceed south on Milwaukee Ave to Cook Memorial Park. After ceremonies at the park, a wreath will be placed at the Veteran's Memorial monument in Lakeside Cemetery and the names of the deceased will be read.

Lincolnshire

Residents should gather at Spring Lake Park Monday May 30 for a 10 a.m. ceremony that will include Sea Cadets respectfully disposing of flags by burning.

Property Taxes: 1^st Installment Due Date June 6

Property owners have received their bills and now it's time to make the first payment. The first installment of your property taxes is due Monday, June 6.

To avoid late penalties, payments must be received or U.S. postmarked by June 6. Per Illinois Statute, any payment received after the due date must include a 1.5% monthly penalty.

Payment Option	Instructions
U.S. Mail	18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085
On-line by credit card or e-check	On-line payment A processing fee will be charged by the processing company.
In person at most Lake County banks	Must bring original bill or a copy of the bill
Drop box	Must pay by check and include tax bill stub in sealed envelope. Locations: 18 N. County Street, Waukegan Libertyville campus off Winchester Road, a half block west of Milwaukee Avenue Look for "Collectors Drop Box" sign.

You can also lean about payment options information online or by calling the Treasurer's Office at (847) 377-2323.

Office hours:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Due Date, June 6, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Understanding Your Property Taxes

In this 30 minute video, Treasurer Bob Skidmore, Chief County Assessment Officer Marty Paulson, and County Clerk Willard Helander help break down the complex issue of property taxes and assessments, and answer common taxpayer questions.

Forest Preserve and Nature News

Snow geese Did you know that Illinois is part of both the Great Lakes and Mississippi fly ways? These vital corridors for bird migration are especially active in the spring. The Nature Conservancy, recognizing the importance of these areas has been working on one of the largest floodplain restorations outside of Florida Everglades. The Emiquon preserve, located on the Illinois River south of Peoria is a 6,700 acre project. Literally tens of thousands of birds rest here on their way north. On June 4 the visitor center and boardwalks will open. I had the good fortune to travel through there during spring break and it is amazing. Any birders or those who want a glimpse of what the area once looked like should put this on their list of places to go.

The Lake County Forest Preserves are consolidating offices and relocating the Lake County Discovery Museum to a more centralized site in Libertyville. Whether you're a regular museum visitor or new to the area, we invite you to share your thoughts and ideas with us as we prepare to move and expand our exhibit space.

Survey ends June 10. Please select one of the two brief surveys:

I have visited the Lake County Discovery Museum before

I have not been to the Lake County Discovery Museum

GeeseFamily All this rain has made the woods and prairies lush. It isn't unusual to see young animals who seem to be alone. Most likely they are not orphans and do not need your assistance! Find out what to do if I see a baby animal. And make sure your children know what to do too.

Put on your boots and go for a hike, but please, check to make sure the underpasses are open. As of this moment, all Des Plaines River Trail underpass except I-94 are closed due to flooding.

The Forest Preserves offer a number of programs for individuals and families. Many of these require registration and may also require a fee. Please be sure to get more information. On June 11, Paddle at Dusk at Independence Grove is being offered.

On June 12th we offer the free, Kids Nature Fun Fest at Greenbelt Preserve in North Chicago. And on June 26, the popular tour of Adlai E. Stevenson House is offered once again.

Check out our Calendar of events for more information on these and other programs.

Transportation Update

The Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT) works hard to keep its highways, bridges, and bikeways in good condition, including repaving roads, replacing culverts, and repairing bridges. Learn how LCDOT is using high-tech equipment to strategically plan for preservation projects, and save taxpayer money. Also, find out about the preservation projects planned for the next few years. Note, you may need to download software to watch the video, but it's easy to do--I did it.

Watch the 7 minute video

Round about Update--I have received some calls and emails about the height of the dirt and future plantings at the Riverwoods and Everett Road roundabout. I had the same questions. I have discussed this with our engineers and they assure me that research has demonstrated that drivers are actually distracted by the oncoming traffic. By obscuring this view, drivers are forced to look to their left (as they should be) and they slow down. Overall the roundabout has worked quite well, so I ask you patience with this change. We are not the first to do this, and thus far the research has backed up the other promises--remember those long lines of traffic?

Blue Star Museum Program for Military Personnel

This summer the Lake County Discovery Museum is participating in Blue Star Museums, a partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and more than 1,300 museums across America, to offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families. These include children's museums, fine art museums, history and science museums, and nature centers.

The free admission program runs through Labor Day, September 5, 2011, and is available to any bearer of a Geneva Convention Common Access Card (CAC), a DD Form 1173, or a DD Form 1173-1, which includes active duty military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard), National Guard and Reserve members, and up to five immediate family members. Present your ID card at the Lake County Discovery Museum front desk to receive free admission.

Learn more about other museums participating in the program.

Environmental Issues

SWALCO is committed to helping you help our environment.

Find out about the household waste or

electronics collection nearest to you.

For the 7th year, SWALCO sponsored and coordinated the Lake County Shoe Recycle and Reuse Program. Every year, millions of pairs of shoes around the world end up in landfills.

SWALCO partners with Nike to recycle worn out athletic shoes and turn them into something new. Old athletic shoes (any brand) are collected, processed and recycled into a material called "Nike Grind" that is used to create sports surfaces like basketball and tennis courts, athletic fields, running tracks and playgrounds. Products like floor tiling, padding and yoga mats made with "Grind" are also becoming available now at places like Home Depot.

SWALCO staff have expanded the program even further and have again

Shoes

partnered with Share Your Soles (SYS), a local Illinois shoe charity organization to reuse shoes. This local group has been working for over 10 years to get shoes to people who need them, including areas in the U.S. and many adults and children affected by tragedies around the world. SWALCO delivered approximately 4,000 pairs of shoes or more to SYS. Many of these shoes will be sent to Joplin, Missouri.

To find out more or have your group participate, please contact Merleanne Rampale at SWALCO for more information: mrampale@swalco.org or 847-336-9340 x 4.

Lake County has a commitment to a greener economy. Recently, the Lake County Board partnered with the College of Lake County, along with other elected officials, business leaders, and stakeholders for an all-day event focused on promoting sustainability and economic growth in Lake County. Keynote speaker, Randy Blankenhorn, Executive Director of the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), also discussed the GO TO 2040 plan which includes far-reaching strategies to address regional issues over the next 30 years, such as: transportation, housing, economic development, open space, and the environment. Watch a 4 minute video. to learn more.

Emerald Ash Borer

In May the Forest Preserve heard a presentation from Chuck Myers, Assitant Superintendent of Natural Resource Operations on the Emerald Ash Borer. As mentioned last month, unfortunately, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is now found throughout Lake County. It will kill all untreated trees, and even when treated, there is no guarantee the tree will live. Within the next 3 years you will begin to see damage to your ash trees. Among the trees Chuck suggested as possible replacements are the hackberry and the Kentucky Coffee Tree. Lake County Forest Preserve has information on the EAB as does the Morton Arboretum.

Community Happenings

District 128 Foundation 5K Run

The first Lace Up 4 Learning 5k walk/run will be held 8 a.m. Monday May 30 at Old School Forest Preserve. Registration is $30 in advance and $35 the day of the race. Get more information.

Vernon Area Public Library has a new convenient location to return books, DVDs, CDs, and other library materials, thanks to the installation of a library book return box at Stempel Parking lot in Long Grove. The new location supplements an existing drop box located in Buffalo Grove at the Grove Shopping Center, at the northeast corner of Lake-Cook and McHenry roads. Library materials can be dropped off at either of these remote return locations 24 hours a day, or at the drive-up return located in the library's circle drive or walk-up return slots at the library's entrance. VAPLD will be sponsoring Read, White & Blue summer reading club. You can sign up for this and other programs.

Cook Library is now open! Be sure to visit and see the new, enlarged space.

With the good weather a number of communities will be sponsoring outdoor concerts and other activities. MainStreet Libertyville is among the most active groups. Be sure to find out more about their activities.

The Stevenson High School Foundation golf outing will be held Friday, June 17 at Traditions at Chevy Chase in Wheeling. The cost is $175 per person, which includes 18 holes of golf (electric cart), breakfast, lunch and prizes.

Health News-Beach Safety

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, Lake County beachgoers can access daily information on Lake Michigan beach advisories and swim bans. Usually these are temporary and caused by high bacterial counts due to stormwater run-off. So it is particularly important to check after rain. In addition, studies have shown that the sea gulls and geese on the beach also contribute bacteria in their droppings. Please don't feed the birds!

During the summer, the Health Department's Environmental Services samples 12 beaches along Lake Michigan four days per week.

North Point Marina Beach Winthrop Harbor

Illinois Beach State Park North Beach Zion

Illinois Beach State Park South Beach Zion

Illinois Beach State Park Resort Beach Zion

Waukegan North Beach Waukegan

Waukegan South Beach Waukegan

Lake Bluff Dog Beach Lake Bluff

Lake Bluff Sunrise Beach Lake Bluff

Forest Park Beach Lake Forest

Moraine Dog Beach Highland Park

Park Avenue Beach Highland Park

Rosewood Beach Highland Park

The Health Department tests the water samples for E. coli bacteria, which are found in the intestines of almost all warm-blooded animals. While not all strains of E. coli are the same, certain strains can make humans sick if ingested in high enough concentrations. E. coli also serves as an indicator that other potentially harmful pathogens may be present. If water samples come back high for E. coli (235 E. coli/100 ml), the beach's manager is notified and a sign is posted indicating the beach closure. In addition, because heavy rain tends to lead to elevated bacteria levels in the water, the Health Department advises that persons avoid swimming for 48 hours after a large rain event.

Swimming related illnesses are typically minor. The most common illness is gastroenteritis, which causes flu-like symptoms that typically develop 1-2 days after exposure. Other minor illnesses include ear, eye, nose and throat infections. Skin parasites such as ringworm and schistosomiasis (swimmers itch) can be transmitted in areas of water degradation. Although there are many serious illnesses transmitted through water, swimmers are rarely exposed to these more serious diseases in the United States.

In addition to monitoring swimming beaches along Lake Michigan in Lake County, the

Health Department's Lakes Management Unit also monitors licensed beaches on inland lakes and the Chain O'Lakes. For more information on beach monitoring, please call the Lakes Management Unit at: (847) 377-8030.

2011 July 4th Centennial Celebration

Great Lakes Naval Station

Celebrate our Nation's Independence and the Naval Station's 100th Birthday in a "BIG" Way!

You are invited to the Naval Station Great Lakes' July 4th Centennial Celebration on Ross Field from July 2nd - 4th. Enjoy three full days of "fire-cracking" festival fun at one of the biggest 4th of July Celebrations in the region!

Each day, the celebration will include three stages of exciting live music and family entertainment, a bingo tent with thousands of dollars worth of prizes, a craft fair with handmade items, the Gridiron Experience: interactive football activities and a "Kicks for Cash" competition, a paintball arena, the Kid's Zone with plenty to do for the little patriots, roving entertainment and costumed characters, thrilling carnival rides/games, delicious festival food and beverage booths-available from local area vendors, and lots and lots more!

On Sat., July 2nd, catch special performances by "The United States Army Soldier Show" and the memorable Great Lakes Navy Band! Plus, don't miss the action-packed "Battle at Great Lakes" amateur boxing event. Also on this day, the Naval Station Great Lakes will attempt to break a world record for the most plastic bottles recycled in an eight hour period.

On Sun., July 3rd, the celebration will kick off with the Firecracker 5K Run at 9:30 a.m. (base course). It is open to both the general public and base personnel. July 3rd continues with a fantastic music line up on the main stage, featuring "Pop Evil" and headliner, "Saving Abel."

On Mon., July 4th, enjoy musical tributes to great artists like Johnny Cash, The Beatles and Led Zeppelin with the following bands: "Junes Got the Cash," "Brit Beat" and "Kashmir."

Of course, this long time running celebration is not complete until the amazing fireworks show lights up Ross Field! Firework displays will take place this year on both July 3rd and 4th, with "never before" special effects attempted during the show on the 4th!

For full details, go to www.facebook.com/GreatLakes4thofJuly.

Job and Business Information

You can now find out who's hiring in Lake County.

Lake County Workforce Development has a variety of information to serve businesses, adult job seekers and youth with a variety of career and training opportunities. Another source of job information, including job sessions and Lake County Job postings is at the Job Center of Lake County.

Available jobs at the Forest Preserve . The Forest Preserve is also placing bids and requests for proposals on-line.

Lake County News Archive

Click here to view past issues of Lake County News from Ann Maine.