2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the Lake County Division of Transportation Adopt-A-Highway program. There are seven groups celebrating this milestone that have participated since the Adopt-A-Highway program began: Allendale Association, Buffalo Grove Chamber of Commerce, Exchange Club of Grayslake, Gurnee Rotary Club, Lake Bluff Open Lands, Lake County Court Services and Paul's Landscaping.

Since 1993, these remarkable volunteer groups and hundreds of others have been provided with a commemorative sign at their adopted location, high-visibility safety vests, trash bags and safety information. Twice a year, volunteers remove litter from both sides of their adopted county highway, helping the environment, providing a valuable public service and promoting civic responsibility.

Don't miss out on your opportunity to be a part of the next 20 years. Open enrollment will take place Jan. 2-31. Participants must be at least 10 years of age, and anyone younger than 18 years of age must have adequate adult supervision.

The Lake County Division of Transportation is using new methods and technologies to more efficiently clear the roads during winter weather. GPS systems allow LCDOT to monitor snowplows during storms and more effectively deploy its fleet of plows. In addition, the County has been a local leader in using salt brine and beet juice, saving money on salt, man hours and fuel.

Watch a video about LCDOT's efforts to modernize its snow removal processes.

Jim Reynolds of Grayslake was honored for his volunteerism as a bugler at military funerals.

Volunteers with the Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) of Lake County have been recognized for giving 137,000 hours of volunteer service in 2012, including over 56,000 hours to the Lovell Federal Health Care Center.

Volunteers with the VAC have received the Presidential Service Award. President Barack Obama sent a letter of congratulation and the gold Presidential Volunteer Service Pin to volunteers Stan Villarreal, Bob Sittler, Norm Arnswald, Bob Cloud, Wally Frazier, Nick Konz, Richard Moy, Mike Kozar and Tom Marciciak. 

In addition, Michael Smith of Rosalind Franklin Health Services and Dr. Raymond Moy of Vernon Hills have received the Department of Defense Seven Seals award for their work during the 2012 Stand Down. During the event, over 239 veterans were given health care screenings, and Moy performed dental screenings. 

VAC Vice President Nick Konz also recently recognized Jim Reynolds of Grayslake for his volunteerism as a bugler at military funerals. Reynolds has played Taps at military funerals for the past 40 years, averaging 150 funerals a year.

Read more about the work of the Veterans Assistance Commission.

Don't send your Christmas tree to the landfill. Drop it off at a participating Lake County Forest Preserves location for recycling. Donated trees are chipped and used for trails and for landscaping at forest preserves throughout Lake County.

Bring your tree to a drop-off site at one of the following forest preserves, open daily from 6:30 am to sunset:

• Grant Woods in Fox Lake
• Greenbelt in Waukegan
• Half Day in Vernon Hills
• Heron Creek in Long Grove
• Lakewood in Wauconda
• Old School in Libertyville
• Ryerson Woods in Deerfield
• Van Patten Woods in Wadsworth

Drop-offs accepted at the marked sites until Feb. 1.

Only undecorated, real Christmas trees can be accepted; no yard waste. Commercial drop-offs are prohibited. 

Do you have the right skills for your next job? Employers stress that "soft skills," such as positive attitude and reliability, are as important as technical and computer skills when they look for job candidates. See the

The Lake County Job Center can help you brush up on your skills.