August 2011

Public Hearing on Tollway  

Capital Plan & Toll Hikes

Route 53 Extension Included as Priority

The Tollway Board has identified the Route 53 north extension (from Lake Cook Road to Route 120) as a long-term priority project in its proposed 10-year capital plan. 

The Tollway also included $100 million toward planning and technical studies for the Route 53 project, as well as the Illiana Expressway (connecting I-55 from south of Joliet to I-65 near Lowell, Indiana) in the proposed plan. 

Details of the capital plan and proposed toll rate increase will be presented at public hearings in the 12 counties served by the Tollway in August. There will be two hearings in Lake County:

• Friday, Aug. 19, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Libertyville Civic Center, 135 West Church St., Libertyville
• Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7 p.m. - 9 p.m., Buffalo Grove Village Hall, 50 Raupp Blvd., Buffalo Grove

If you can't attend, you can submit comments to the tollway by clicking here.

Lake County Workforce Development - Your Job Search Partner!

During these tough economic times, job seekers can easily become discouraged.  The Lake County Workforce Development Department has programs designed to help job seekers, as well as employers.

If you are a job seeker and are struggling to make your next move, some services available to you include:

• Internet connected computers with specialized software to help you with your search
• Trained staff who can assist you with your questions
• Resume and interview assistance so you can put your best foot forward
• Workshops on a variety of job search topics
• Job clubs and networking opportunities
• Access to job listings and employers
• Skills assessment and training assistance to help you achieve your maximum potential

Lake County Workforce Development Provides Help for Employers too!

If you are an employer who is looking for the right candidate to fit your position, or need to upgrade the skills of your current workforce, the Workforce Development Department has a variety of programs that can help you, including:

• Assistance with posting jobs and access to qualified candidates
• On-site recruitment to help you fill vacancies quickly
• Reimbursement for retraining to help you remain competitive
• On-the-job training programs for skilled workers allow employers to receive reimbursement of up to 90% of a new employees' wages
• Assistance with tax credits

Come to one of the job centers of Lake County to learn more, or visit http://lakecountyjobcenter.com for more information. 

Job Center locations:

                Grayslake                                                            Waukegan

                800 Lancer Lane                                                1 N Genesee St., 1^st Floor

                Grayslake, IL                                                      Waukegan, IL

                (847) 543-7400                                                   (847) 377-3450

Lake County Forest Preserves Mobile App 
 

Stay up-to-the-minute with what's happening in your forest preserves on your smartphone with the new Lake County Forest Preserve mobile app. Find out about upcoming events, trail closings and special alerts, view recent photos from around the preserves, find and map nearby preserves, view trail maps, identify local flora and fauna, and more! Connect with other friends of the preserves by checking in and sharing content via Facebook or Twitter. Available free in the Android Market or Apple App Store-search for "Lake County Forest Preserves." 

Take the Hike Lake County challenge. Get fit, earn rewards.

The Lake County Forest Preserves' annual Hike Lake County challenge, sponsored by Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital, encourages you to get outside and hike trails you may not have visited before. Complete just 7 out of 12 designated trails before November 30, and you'll earn a free shield for your walking stick.

New this year, you can also complete the challenge on your iPhone or Android smartphone. Check-in to 7 of the 12 Hike Lake County sites via our new smartphone app, available for free in the Apple App Store or Android Market (search for "Lake County Forest Preserves"). A Facebook, Twitter or Foursquare account is required to enable check-in. Show us your check-ins on your smartphone to receive your free shield. 

Let your dog join in the fun

Take your dog along with you on the 7 trails. Your canine friend will receive their own free commemorative dog tag. You can also buy an optional dog collar to hang it on.

Visit the Hike Lake County website for program details, and trail maps for this year's designated hikes. 

May we have your thoughts?

To collect ideas and help plan for potential future recreation improvements, the Lake County Forest Preserves is asking the public to take a survey about its existing multiuse trails and equestrian facilities. The brief, anonymous survey takes about 10 minutes, and will be available online until September 30.

Survey questions focus on public satisfaction of the existing trail system, personal trail usage, and trail design preferences. Questions also seek to identify issues of sharing the trail between users with different interests, such as horseback riding and biking.

The survey is being conducted as part of the Dutch Gap Area Master Plan project that will complete coordinated master plans for five preserves located in northern Lake

County: Dutch Gap, Ethel's Woods, Pine Dunes, Prairie Stream, and Raven Glen.

For questions, please contact Susan Hall at shall@LCFPD.org or call 847-968-3270.

Heroin in Lake County 

In 2010, there were 35 heroin related deaths in Lake County- triple the amount from three years prior. In this edition of "Behind the Badge," Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran, along with narcotics officers, and recovering heroin addicts take us undercover to give an inside look at the heroin problem in Lake County.

This video is about thirty minutes long.  Watch now 

A new dental discount card program is now available that will help Lake County residents save money on their dental service expenses. The NACo Dental Discount Card Program, provided by the National Association of Counties (NACo) in partnership with Careington International Corporation, can help Lake County residents save up to 50 percent on their dental care services, and 20 percent on orthodontic services. Individuals or families may opt to pay for a monthly or yearly membership. The cost for a yearly individual membership is $59 and $69 for families. More than 200 providers in Lake County are participating in this program. Discount card holders will receive significant savings from these providers on dental cleanings, x-rays, braces, dentures, crowns, root canals and more. This plan is not insurance.

To sign up for the Dental Discount Card Program, residents can download a registration form at: www.nacodentalprogram.com.  A list of participating providers and more information is available.

Prescription Drug Card