Volume 1 | October 8, 2024

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Kathleen M. O'Connor

Supervisor

From the Supervisor's Office

Libertyville Township Board Meeting

Tuesday, November 19

7:00 pm at the Township

359 Merrill Court, Libertyville

Food Pantry News

Libertyville Township Food Pantry Needs Your Help!

The Township Food Pantry is a 501c3 organization, which means we operate solely on donations. No tax dollars are used to purchase any food, household items, or grocery store gift cards that the Libertyville Township Food Pantry distributes to its clients. The Food Pantry is sustained entirely by residents, civic organizations, schools, and businesses, who generously donate food items, grocery store cards, and cash.

Right now, we are struggling to keep our shelves stocked. During the height of the pandemic, we were serving approximately 100 of our Township families per week. That number has grown to over 130 families per week.

The Township Food Pantry serves only Township residents, which covers parts of Mundelein, Vernon Hills, Green Oaks, Lake Bluff, Lake Forest, Waukegan, and all of Libertyville.

We are in need of rice, canned vegetables and fruit, canned soup, canned stew and chili, canned tuna and chicken, macaroni & cheese, pasta, ground coffee, and shelf stable milk.

We always need paper grocery bags!

Donations can be made Mon-Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

at our office located at 359 Merrill Court, Libertyville

Call 847-816-6800 if you have any questions.

Did you miss the last newsletter? Click here to view!

OPEN SPACE UPDATES

JOIN US FOR AN OPEN SPACE VOLUNTEER WORK DAY!

On Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to noon, we will hold a volunteer work day at the

Liberty Prairie Nature Preserve. No experience is necessary – we’ll show you what to do, and we’ll explain why it’s important. We’ll also provide gloves, goggles and hand tools (if needed), drinking water and snacks.

Wear layers of clothes that can get dirty. We strongly recommend blue jeans, sturdy boots, and three layers on top. We’ve learned that fleece jackets are just a magnet for sticky seeds and are best left in the car. We’ve also learned that if we’re cold we’re miserable, so we always recommend an extra layer of warmth – better to have it and not need it than the other way around.

We are a hardy bunch but workdays will not be held under the following conditions:

Temperatures of 95 degrees or higher
Lightning or extremely high winds.
Deep, heavy snow
Temperatures or wind chills of 10 degrees or lower

Directions to Liberty Prairie Nature Preserve

18295 W. Casey Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.

Located on the south side of Casey Road, one mile west of Milwaukee Avenue (Route 21).

Turn into the driveway and park/meet where the driveway crosses the trail. This is a private driveway. Parking is only permitted on volunteer work days.

Youth Guidelines

Children 12 and older are welcome if accompanied by a supervising adult. High school students who enjoy working in the outdoors are welcome with parental permission. Releases will be available at the work day.

Questions?

Please contact us at 847.362.9760 or email jhapp@libertyvilletownship.us

I see smoke. Where is the fire?

We want to bring to your attention an important practice that takes place in open space properties within Libertyville Township. This practice, known as prescribed burns or controlled burns, is conducted by township staff, volunteers, and contractors to manage and maintain a natural landscape. During these burns residents may see five or more people dressed in protective clothing working with ATVs, trucks, or hand tools. Prescribed burns require a team effort and strict safety protocols. The team uses radio communication to maintain a safe and controlled operation. Fire crews may elect to leave some smoldering material within the burned area after the fire is complete. This is a natural process that provides microhabitats for plants and animals.

Prescribed burns are typically conducted during the spring and fall. The purpose of prescribed burns is to control invasive plants, reduce the build up of dead vegetation, and stimulate the germination and growth of native prairie vegetation. Prescribed fire is a natural process and its use in maintaining healthy ecosystems has been supported by research.

We hope that this information helps you understand the importance of and benefits from prescribed burns. If you have and questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Libertyville Township

News From the Highway Commissioner

Oak Spring Road Bridge Reconstruction Project Updates

There is a project specific website for stakeholders to use to keep up with the progress of the project. There will be a weekly update and there is an option to subscribe to receive those updates. You can view it at www.oakspringroadbridge.com

Due to the size and nature of a bridge replacement project, Oak Spring Road will be CLOSED for the duration of construction from the Des Plaines River Trail to the west and the private driveway at 15463 Oak Spring Road to the east. Local traffic only will be permitted from Appley Avenue/2^nd Street to the full closure, and from St. Mary's Road to the full closure. It is anticipated the Lake Minear parking, Des Plaines River Trail path, and all residential driveways and side streets will be accessible throughout the construction duration, however, the Lake County Forest Preserve District Canoe Launch parking lot will be closed. Please see below for location map and detour exhibit.

For questions and/or additional information, please contact Dave Marquardt, Gewalt Hamilton & Associates, Inc., at dmarquardt@gha-engineers.com or 847.821.6263 or Marty Neal, Highway Commissioner, at 847.362.3350 or highwaydepartment@libertyvilletownship.us.

Trick or Treat Hours

Libertyville----Thursday, October 31 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Mundelein-----Thursday, October 31 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Vernon Hills---Thursday, October 31 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Green Oaks----Thursday, October 31 4 p.m.- 8 p.m.

Click Here for Locations!!

The 2024 General Election is November 5, 2024.

10/21/24: County-wide early voting begins. The hours are Monday through Friday from 9 am til 5 pm and Saturday from 9 am til 2 pm.

10/31/24: Last day to apply for Vote by Mail ballot. Last day for the County Clerk to receive an application for a vote-by-mail ballot. You may drop your ballot at early voting locations only during voting hours.

11/05/24: Election day - polls open from 6 AM to 7 PM.

If you want to confirm your early voting or election day voting location, request a mail-in ballot, or print your ballot in advance, visit Lake County Clerk's Voter Power site.

Daylight Savings Time Ends on Sunday, November 5

Don't forget to turn your clocks back!

Libertyville Connect---Upcoming Events

Snowflake

Healthy Journeys

When: November 15th from 5-8:30 pm

Where: Libertyville High School

Who: 7th and 8th Graders from HMS, OGS, Rondout, St. Joes, and the Choice Zone

What: A night of small group activities, LHS student speakers, pizza, a dance party, and FUN!

Cost: $25 fee (need-based scholarships available)

To register, click here.

For more information, click here.

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DEA National Rx Takeback

Dispose of your unused Rx drugs with no questions asked! Join us for #TakeBackDay on Saturday, October 26th, from 10 am to 2 pm. Find a convenient collection site near you at www.DEATakeBack.com.

Medications can also be disposed of at your local Walgreens or the Libertyville Police Station all year long.

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Snowball

Save-the-date: February 27

Open to all students at LHS & VHHS

Operation Snowball is an alcohol and drug use prevention program focusing on leadership development to empower youth to lead drug-free lives. The name originates from the idea that “If I have a positive impact on you, you can have a positive impact on someone else, and the effect snowballs.” Out of this concept emerges “A Community of Caring” – the success of Operation Snowball.

Approaches to drug and alcohol prevention have varied since the 70s and 80s. The D128 approach to Snowball focuses on holistic well-being and connecting with others in a fun, warm, and supportive environment.*

*From the D128 website

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NARCAN Is Now Available Over the Counter

NARCAN, which reverses fentanyl poisonings and other opioid overdoses, is now available at your local pharmacy. You can save the life of a friend, neighbor, or family member by keeping NARCAN at home and carrying it with you.

Most health insurance companies cover NARCAN if you purchase it through the pharmacy. If you don't have health insurance, or your insurance doesn't cover it, you can request free Naloxone from the Lake County Health Department.

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For Tips on Talking With Your Kids

Check out our website. Topics include:

· Conversation Goals

· Tips by Child's Age

· When to be Concerned

· Risks & Facts

Check out the Libertyville Connect site

Mundelein Fall Clean Up

Lake County Passage

Know before you go! Check Lake County PASSAGE for real-time, local traffic information. Through PASSAGE you can also sign up for email traffic alerts, twitter alerts, and smartphone apps. Another feature that can be helpful when winter weather strikes is the ability to view camera images from intersections.

Flood Insurance Premium Discounts

Property owners residing in unincorporated Lake County may be eligible to save an average of $232 a year on their flood insurance policies. Currently, there are more than 654 flood insurance policies in unincorporated Lake County.

Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Community Rating System (CRS) program, residents within unincorporated Lake County – who meet certain requirements – are eligible for up to 20% savings on flood insurance premiums. This results in a potential annual total savings of $151,708 overall for residents across the county. Property owners should contact their flood insurance agent to obtain individual savings information.

Since 2008, Lake County has participated in the CRS program and received favorable ratings saving property owners thousands of dollars on their policies. Lake County is required to create an Annual Evaluation Report to maintain the favorable rating.

Highlights from the report include:

Lake County issued permits for two projects for elevating the finished floor of an existing structure to be above the regulatory floodplain elevation and for one project for elevating utilities and/or adding foundation openings to bring the structures into compliance with the Lake County Unified Development Ordinance in 2022. This will help protect these structures from future flooding.
The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission's (SMC) Watershed Management Board cost-share grant program helps fund local stormwater projects. The highest funding priority is flood damage and prevention/mitigation, but other project benefits are also included in funding decisions.
Lake County works closely with residents and coordinates with other agencies such as the Township Highway Commissioners and Lake County SMC to respond to drainage complaints affecting private properties.
View details of the Annual Evaluation Report

The Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County

The Veterans Assistance Commission (VAC) promotes the welfare of honorably discharged veterans of military service and their families. The VAC acts as a central service office for all veteran organizations and has general oversight of the distribution of emergency assistance to military veterans and their families.

Types of Assistance

· Assistance with rental and mortgage payments.

· Utility payment assistance.

· Emergency medical care is provided to any member of the veteran’s immediate family who qualifies. Medical care includes hospital payments, outpatient care provided by Lake County clinics, emergency dental, and vision care.

· Job service assistance.

· Food, clothing and other supplies at Midwest Veterans Closet.

· Proper burial for indigent veterans.

For more information, please visit their website: https://www.vaclc.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lakecountyvac/ or call 847.377.3344.

Ride Lake County

Ride Lake County is a borderless countywide paratransit service that provides seniors age 60+ and people with disabilities transportation to any area of Lake County for work, shopping, medical appointments and more.

As a dial-a-ride program, vehicles do not travel in a fixed route each day. Riders schedule their trips in advance and the vehicles provide curb-to-curb service from the rider's desired pick-up and drop-off destinations. Ride Lake County is a shared-ride service, so vehicles may make stops for other passengers.

Click here for Brochure

211 Is Here to Help

211 is a free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral helpline connecting individuals & families in need with access to available health and human services.

211 is Lake County's one-stop shop for help!

Lake County residents can connect to a wide range of services by phone or text, and an expert navigator will guide them to the help they need, regardless of the time of day, the language they speak, or where they live.

More Information