Rail Crossing On Monaville Rd. to Close May 29

The Canadian National Railway has informed the Lake County Division of Transportation of its intention to close the railroad crossing on Monaville Road for scheduled repairs. The closure of the crossing will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29. The road should reopen to thru traffic on the evening of Friday, June 1.

The signed detour route for this closure will be Cedar Lake Road, to Rollins Road, to Illinois Route 83. Local traffic will be allowed from Route 83 to the crossing and from Cedar Lake to the crossing.

View the detour and press release here.

Important Changes on Metra During NATO Summit

Metra has announced temporary policy changes in preparation for the NATO Summit in Chicago May 19-21. Riders of all lines may be subject to screening and baggage checks, will be prohibited from carrying many items onboard trains and will face other security restrictions outlined below.

• Riders may be subject to search and/or screening before boarding or while en route.
• Riders may carry only one bag not exceeding 15 inches square and 4 inches deep. Boxes, parcels, luggage, backpacks and bicycles will not be allowed on trains. Banned items cannot be stored at Metra stations. They must be removed or they will be disposed of.
• Riders may not carry any food on the trains. Liquids and personal effects (such as makeup) must be less than three ounces in size. This includes coffee and other beverages. Breast milk can be carried but is subject to inspection and should be declared during any screening.
• Riders may not carry any type of tools, pipes, stakes, wood or weapons, including pocket knives and pepper spray, on the trains.
• Law enforcement personnel must identify themselves and present their credentials and any weapons. Security guards will not be allowed to carry any weapons onboard. 

Failure to comply with these safety measures or instructions from law enforcement personnel, or attempted avoidance of screening, will result in ejection from the station or further police action.

Metra's NATO plans could change, and riders are urged to go to Metra's website for the latest information as the summit date approaches. Metra also will send emailed alerts to all riders who have signed up to receive them. We encourage riders to request alerts by creating a "My Metra" account on the website.

Treasurer Discusses Property Taxes in 'County Update' Video 

Property owners have received their property tax bills and the first installment is due Wednesday, June 6. The property tax process is a state mandated function. By state law, Lake County is responsible for the collection of taxes from property owners and the distribution of these property tax funds to more than 200 taxing bodies, such as cities, townships, county, park and fire protection districts, and schools (which account for 68% of your tax bill).

In this video, Lake County Treasurer Robert Skidmore talks about the tax process, and answers taxpayers' frequently asked questions.

Watch now: http://lakecnty.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?clip_id=1394

Is Your Lawn a Water Guzzler? 

Every drop counts!

Did you know... more than 50 percent of commercial and residential irrigation water use goes to waste due to overwatering, evaporation, or runoff? You can help by following your local water usage and restriction ordinance. If your community does not have one, consider watering your lawn no more than twice a week, before 10 a.m. or after 6 p.m. Thank you for doing your part to help ensure that our community and neighboring communities have a clean and reliable water source now and for future generations!

EPA Water Sense www.epa.gov/watersense

Lake County Water Resources http://www.lakecountyil.gov/savewater2/Pages/Default.aspx

JobMarketplace Job Fair, May 17

As Lake County's largest, longest-running annual job fair, JobMarketplace attracts hundreds of employers and thousands of job seekers! This is an excellent opportunity for to find full-time, part-time, seasonal, and professional employment positions.

May 17, 1-5 p.m.

College of Lake County Physical Education Center (Building 7)

19351 W. Washington Street, Grayslake 

This free event is hosted by the College of Lake County and the Job Center of Lake County.  Jobseekers DO NOT need to pre-register. Click here for a full list of employers.

Health Department Activates West Nile Virus Hotline

The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center is urging residents to protect themselves against West Nile virus.  West Nile virus is contracted from the bite of a mosquito infected with the virus.  While there were not any reported human cases of the disease in Lake County last year, there were other cases nearby in northeast Illinois.

The Health Department has re-activated the West Nile virus hotline for county residents to report dead birds, report areas of stagnant water (which are conducive to mosquito breeding), or to obtain more information on the signs and symptoms of West Nile encephalitis. The West Nile virus hotline number is: (847) 377-8300.

The Health Department has begun collecting a limited number of dead birds for testing. The Health Department will contact you if the bird you report is needed for testing. All other dead birds will not be collected by the Health Department. It is recommended that dead birds be disposed of by placing the bird in a plastic bag. Either double bag or tightly secure the bag and place it in your regular garbage. Dead birds cannot spread West Nile virus. The information residents provide is very important and will be used to monitor West Nile virus in the county and identify any problem areas that exist. The Health Department will share this information with municipalities and townships. 

The Health Department is operating 22 mosquito monitoring sites and reviewing data from other sites throughout the county to identify "hot spots" for the mosquito that carries WNV. The Department will also conduct investigations to identify potential mosquito breeding areas in and around underdeveloped or abandoned residential building sites and swimming pools in certain areas of the county.

Click here to view the full press release, outlining mosquito prevention tips for you and your family. Information can be found on the Department's WNV website.

County Health News

Spring Health Tips  As warm weather draws you outside, be aware that there are a few potentially harmful things to look out for such as ticks, which can carry Lyme disease, mosquitoes, which can carry West Nile virus and bats, which can carry rabies. The Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center offers tips to help you stay healthy this spring and summer.

Healthy Eating When the Power Goes Out
Power outages may occur at any time of year, but that does not mean you cannot eat healthy foods at home. Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center Registered Dietitian Toby Smithson talks about how to get through a power outage while considering foods like dairy alternatives for calcium, canned or pouched tuna and even popcorn. Healthy Eating When the Power Goes Out.

New Vaccine Requirement to Address Resurgence of Whooping Cough
To address the growing cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, the state of Illinois has a new requirement for school entry. Students entering 6th and 9th grades for the 2012-2013 school year will be required to provide proof they have received a dose of the Tdap vaccination in addition to the physical exams required for students entering those grades. Learn more.

Take United Way's Community Survey

United Way of Lake County is conducting a public opinion survey regarding UWLC's programs and efforts in the community. If you live or work in Lake County, please consider taking our survey.  It should only take 5-10 minutes to complete. We are looking for as many qualified responses as possible so please be sure to share the survey link with your friends/family/co-workers, etc. (NOTE: you may only complete the survey once.)

Those that complete the survey and provide their contact information will be entered to win a $50 Visa gift card!  Click the link to take the survey.

News from the Lake County Forest Preserves

Upcoming Community Events

 

Lindenhurst Memorial Day Ceremony

May 28, 10 a.m.

Lindenhurst Veterans Memorial, 2301 E. Sand Lake Rd.  Visit lindenhurstil.org for more information.

Join the Antioch CERT Team

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train people to be better prepared to respond to emergency situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders, provide immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community.

The training covers basic skills that are important to know in a disaster when emergency services are not available.  With training and practice and by working as a team, you will be able to do the greatest good for the greatest number of victims after a disaster, while protecting yourself from becoming a victim.

Classes will be taught by trained emergency personnel, including firefighters and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) personnel.  The program consists of 20 hours of training and emphasizes hands-on practice.