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Dear Neighbor,
As you'll read below, there are several public meetings coming up in the next few weeks that may impact you, from a discussion about recent gun laws to local food and Route 53/120. If you have any comments or suggestions regarding these meetings or anything else, please bounce back and let me know. In addition to the regular Lake County and Forest Preserve meetings, I've attended several other meetings over the last few weeks: As always, it's a pleasure and honor representing you on the County and Forest Preserve Boards. Please contact me any time for any reason. I am always glad to hear your concerns, interests and ideas. 
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How Do Recent Gun Laws Affect You?  Tonight, Wednesday, October 16th, 7:00 pm
Gorton Community Center, 400 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest Scott Drury, State Representative - 58th District, James Held, Lake Forest Chief of Police, and Nicole Chen, Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense will discuss recent gun legislation that affect you, your family, and local businesses.
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Flu and Pneumonia Vaccinations at Health Department
Appointment required. 847.377.8470
Health Department Immunization Annex
2303 Dodge Ave., Waukegan
Persons 65 and over must bring their Medicare part B cards with them as it will cover the cost of the flu and pneumonia vaccines. Medicaid and All Kids will also be accepted. Children 18 years of age and younger who have no insurance, or whose insurance does not fully cover the cost of vaccines, may receive a flu shot for $16.00.
Fees are $27.00 for the flu vaccine and $59.00 for the pneumonia vaccine. For an extra charge, a high-dose vaccine is available for the elderly and a vaccine manufactured without the use of eggs for those with egg allergies.
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"Enroll Lake County!" and the Affordable Care Act
Get help understanding coverage options, determining eligibility, and enrolling in affordable health insurance options.
The Lake County Health Department, in partnership with many other community-, faith-, and civic-based organizations, is working to inform residents on the new health insurance options available through the Affordable Health Care Act.
Residents who register by December 15th will have coverage on January 1st, 2014.
Counselors are available to provide free guidance to individuals in several locations throughout Lake County. To find a convenient location near you, simply enter your address in our interactive map.
Some key facts about the Affordable Care Act:
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All insurance plans must cover doctor visits, hospitalizations, maternity care, emergency room care, and prescriptions.
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If you have a pre-existing condition, insurance plans cannot deny you coverage.
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You may be able to get financial help to pay for a health insurance plan.
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Undocumented citizens will not receive insurance under the Act
For more information about the Affordable Care Act and how to enroll, click here.
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Public Hearing on Beekeeping and Hens on October 17th
Lake County is considering new regulations that would allow the keeping of bees, hens, and hoophouses in the unincorporated area for local food production.
The Lake County Zoning Board of Appeals Public Hearing on the proposed regulations has been rescheduled for October 17 (the meeting was originally scheduled for Oct. 7):
Thursday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m.
Independence Grove Visitor Center
16400 W. Buckley Road, Libertyville.
Proposed changes are as follows:
- Two beehives on residential lots of at least ¼ acre, and one additional beehive for each extra 10,000 square feet of lot area.
- No more than six hens to be kept on residential lots of at least ¼ acre.
- Hoophouses will be 50 square feet in size for each 10,000 square feet of residential lot area.
Learn more about how local food systems offer many economic, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits at lakecountyil.gov/LocalFood.
Proposed Amendments
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Illinois Route 53/120 Finance Committee Meeting Oct. 21
Monday, October 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Lake County Central Permit Facility
500 West Winchester Rd, Libertyville
Visit the Illinois Tollway's Illinois Route 53/120 website for more information. Efforts to establish a more detailed understanding of how to fund, build, operate and maintain the proposed Route 53/120 into Lake County are moving forward. The Illinois Route 53/120 Project Blue Ribbon Advisory Council (BRAC) met recently to discuss the next phase, which specifically includes a two-pronged effort to examine the feasibility of the project with respect to financing and land use. There are five focus areas for this phase: - Financing: What are the options to close the funding gap?
- Regulatory: What are the legal regulatory challenges of this project?
- Environmental: How do we achieve the environmental goals and what are the costs?
- Operations: What are the maintenance and operational costs?
- Design: What will it look like, taking in to account the boundary conditions?
The next phase of work builds on the BRAC's report that recommends a four-lane, 45 mph, tolled parkway that will address specific needs for congestion relief and provide greater connectivity, as well as protect the natural environment and preserve the character of Lake County. If you are interested in this project, I strongly suggest that you watch the video of the meeting. It's about 40 minutes long and provides a great synopsis of the work that will be done to undertake this important initiative. View meeting video |
Board Considers Recommended FY 2014 Budget
The recommended FY 2014 budget is now available online. Earlier this week we discussed the proposed budget at a series of hearings, and adoption of the budget is on the agenda for the Nov. 12 county board meeting.
The budget is balanced at $487.7 million, remaining flat for the last three years and is $10 million less than five years ago. As a result of conservative budget policies, Lake County has a AAA rating from both Moody's and Standard and Poor's.
The county continues to look for areas to save money across all the different departments. Energy efficiency projects has saved the county $2 million over the past three years alone. Health insurance costs are well below national averages due in part to the County's wellness programs and focus on preventative care. Lake County partners with other local governments for joint purchasing contracts, decreasing our costs on commodities.
If you would like to attend the budget hearings, click here to view the board calendar for meeting information, or send me an email.
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Pace Bus Public Hearing on Friday, October 25th
Lake County 2014 Budget and Fare Policy Change Public Hearings
Pace is holding hearings on its proposed program and budget for 2014, and the implementation of the Ventra™ Fare Payment System.
Several community members in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff are working together with Pace, Lake County Department of Transportation, and area townships to see if we can offer transportation services for our disabled residents. Most of the county benefits from Pace bus services, which provides curb-to-curb transportation to disabled persons to/from locations within 3/4 mile of an established route. Since Shields Township does not have a Pace bus route or participate in Dial-a-Ride, our disabled residents cannot access this program from our township.
If you are interested in providing transportation to disabled residents in our area, or would like to comment on the proposed 2014 budget and fare policy change, you can submit a comment to Pace, or attend the upcoming meeting:
October 25, 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Waukegan Public Library
Bradbury Room (lower level)
128 N. County Street, Waukegan More
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The Lake County Sheriff's Office Reserve Currently Accepting Applications for the Reserve Deputy Unit
Interested in becoming a Lake County Sheriff's Office Reserve Deputy? The Reserve Deputy Unit is a volunteer unit which augments the Sheriff's Office in times of natural and man-made emergencies. Requirements and more information here
Applications can be downloaded here or picked up at 1301 N. Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville
Contact Lt. Ryan McCormack at RMcCormack@lakecountyil.gov or 847-377-7020.
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Water Meter Replacement for Lake County Public Works CustomersLake County is replacing 20,600 water meters with new automated meters, which provide for accurate, timely, and reliable reading- wirelessly. It will no longer be necessary to read the meters manually on customers' properties. These new meters, which will be replaced at no cost to customers now through 2014, can identify high water usage and potential leaks. Customers will be able to access their water usage and account information conveniently on-line. If you are a customer of Lake County Public Works, you will soon receive a postcard from Professional Meters, Inc. (PMI) to schedule an appointment to replace your meter. Check out our FAQ or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/publicworks for more information. Program Overview
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Prairie Crossing Named National Blue Ribbon School
Congratulations to Prairie Crossing Charter School, one of only 21 schools in Illinois to receive this award for 2013. The National Blue Ribbon Schools Program honors public and non-public elementary, middle and high schools where students perform at very high levels or where students are making significant gains in academic achievement. Prairie Crossing is also unique in that the curriculum is centered on the environment, a strong relationship with nature, and behaviors that help the planet.
Click here to learn more about Prairie Crossing Charter School
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Woodland Primary School Receives LEED Certification
Congratulations to Woodland Primary School in Gurnee, the first in the state to achieve Silver LEED Certification for Existing Buildings. To be LEED certified, Woodland Primary School made significant changes to their operations and maintenance,ensuring high indoor air-quality, implementing water conservation, and making several upgrades to improve the sustainability of the school. Given that the school was built in 1948, this is an even more remarkable achievement. Click here to learn more.
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Forest Preserve News 
Upcoming Programs
 Restoration Workdays
Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m.
Grab some work gloves and join other volunteers to save some of Lake County's natural areas. New volunteers and groups of four or more, please RSVP to Tom Smith, Stewardship Coordinator. More
Special Events
Chocolate, Champagne and Shopping Fundraiser
Friday, Nov. 15, 4:30 - 9 p.m.
1899 W. Winchester Rd., Libertyville
Sip champagne and enjoy delicious chocolates while shopping for gourmet kitchen tools, fair trade gifts, candles, jewelry, and more. All proceeds benefit the Lake County Discovery Museum. More info and tickets here
Forest Preserves News
Seismometer at Ryerson Woods
A seismometer (a sensitive instrument that measures movement in the ground, including earthquakes) was placed underground at Ryerson Woods in the summer of 2011 as part of a nationwide research project, recording earthquakes from around the world. To see if any special activity was recorded today, click here.
 Rainbow Trout Season Opens Saturday, Oct. 19
Anglers are reminded that no trout may be taken until the fall trout season opens on October 19 at 6:30 am. Most of the trout range in size from three-quarters to one pound. Daily creel limit is five and fishing is free. Trout Season Info
Download a guide to fishing or call at 847-367-6640 to request a free copy.
Halloween Happenings Small Discoveries-A Happy Halloween
Wednesday, Oct. 23, 10-11 a.m.
Lake County Discovery Museum
27277 N Forest Preserve Rd., Wauconda
More
 Halloween Hikes
Oct. 25-26, 6-8 p.m.
Ryerson Woods
21950 N Riverwoods Rd., Riverwoods
60 minute guided group hike along a candlelit path to watch fun nature-themed skits. More
Trick or Treat Trails
Sunday, Oct. 27, 2-7 p.m.
Greenbelt Cultural Center
1215 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago
More
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Waukegan Park District Wins Gold Award for Best in the Nation
The National Recreation and Park Association awarded the Waukegan Park District its highest honor, the 2013 National Gold Medal Award for Excellence in Park and Recreation Management. The award honors the nation's outstanding park and recreation agencies for excellence in the field of park and recreation management. Read More
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