Village of Wilmette E-News
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The following email provides timely information on general news and community events from the Village of Wilmette. For more information, please visit the Village of Wilmette website.
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COVID-19 Resources and Updates
How does vaccine distribution work in our area?
Vaccine distribution and administration in Wilmette is the responsibility of the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH). While the Village does not have direct access to vaccinations, the Village has and will continue to advocate on behalf of Wilmette residents to expedite the vaccination roll-out in suburban Cook County. Learn more.
What is the status of the vaccine supply?
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that the supply of vaccines available for first doses has decreased as the need for second doses outpaces vaccine supply. IDPH expects allocations of first doses to increase in March. Learn more. The federal government has notified all states of COVID-19 vaccine delivery delays across the entire country due to adverse weather and road conditions. Learn more.
How can I register to receive the vaccine?
Residents eligible under Phase 1a or 1b can register at any of the Community Vaccination Centers online at vaccine.cookcountyil.gov or by calling the Cook County hotline: 833-308-1988 (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). You can also register with individual providers, including pharmacies and health care providers – view a list here. All residents are encouraged to sign up with CCDPH to receive appointment notifications when your phase is eligible. Please note that vaccine supplies are extremely limited at this time.
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Community Caretakers Needed - Help Your Neighbors with the COVID-19 Vaccine
With technology being the primary method to secure a COVID-19 vaccine, some of our more vulnerable neighbors may not have the technological ability to schedule a much-needed vaccination appointment. To help our vulnerable seniors, the Village is partnering with the Woman’s Club of Wilmette to reach out to residents to provide assistance in scheduling and/or driving to a vaccination appointment. If you would like to help with this effort, please visit the Village’s website and you can sign-up to be added to the list of community caretakers.
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COVID-19 in Wilmette:
- As of Feb. 18, Wilmette's seven-day rolling average of confirmed daily cases is 6.9 new cases per day. To date, Wilmette has had 1,346 confirmed cases and 17 residents have died of complications related to COVID-19.
- As of Feb. 18, Wilmette's seven-day rolling average for test positivity (percentage of those tested who test positive for COVID-19) is at 5.66%. Since Feb. 11, there have been 48 new cases and 848 new tests.
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Black History Month Contests
In commemorating Black History Month, the Village of Wilmette Human Relations Commission is sponsoring poster, essay/poetry, and multimedia and music contests. Students can submit entries based on significant accomplishments of African-Americans throughout history or the African-American experience in the United States.
All poster contestants must be enrolled in K-8 in a Wilmette public or private school. All essay/poetry and multimedia contestants must be enrolled in grades 5-8 in a Wilmette public or private school. All entries must be submitted by 4 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 12. See the website for the complete list of rules and details.
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Upcoming Village Meetings
Final Approval of Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan
The Board is expected to approve the Master Bike and Active Transportation Plan at Tuesday’s meeting. The goal of the Plan is to develop recommendations to make the Village more walkable and bike-friendly. Visit walkbikewilmette.com to learn more about the plan, which is shaped by community input and will guide future decision-making in the Village.
The Board meeting will be held via Microsoft Teams and broadcast live on the Village's YouTube and Channel 6. Residents are encouraged to provide input. If you would like to submit written comment on this discussion, please send comments to [email protected].
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Land Use Committee Review of Information for Recreational Cannabis Dispensaries
Earlier this month, the Village Board held a special meeting to discuss the retail sale of adult-use cannabis in Wilmette and referred the item to the Land Use Committee for further discussion. The focus of the upcoming Land Use Committee meeting will be identifying information to have an informed discussion on potential zoning regulations and locations. Additional meetings will then be scheduled for further discussions. After a full review by the Land Use Committee, a report will be presented to the Village Board.
The Village is committed to a methodical and transparent deliberation of this topic and will be holding multiple meetings over the next several months prior to making any final decisions. If you would like to provide feedback to the Village Board on this topic, please email [email protected] or virtually attend the upcoming Village Board and Land Use meetings.
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Winter Weather Safety & Tips
A big shoutout to the Village’s Public Works Crews – thank you for your snowplowing efforts and for keeping us safe!
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With the significant snow accumulation this week, remember to clear snow and ice around your home:
- Clear ice and snow from ventilation pipes for direct-vent furnaces and water heaters.
- Keep dryer vents clear of snow and ice.
- Use a broom or brush to gently remove ice and snow from outside meters (e.g. gas) and equipment to keep them from malfunctioning or interfering with service.
- Help the Fire Department by clearing a 5-foot perimeter around fire hydrants and a path from the hydrant to the street.
- Be a good neighbor - think about family, neighbors and friends who may not able to shovel sidewalks, walkways and driveways. Make a plan ahead of time; let neighbors know if you are willing to help. Check in with neighbors after a storm to be sure they are okay and ask if they need assistance.
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Recent severe weather serves as a reminder to prepare in advance for outages caused by damaged trees, down power lines and other equipment failures. Be prepared for outages by making sure you have an emergency kit and know how to report outages to ComEd:
- Use the mobile app
- Text “out” to 26633
- Tweet #OUT to @ComEd
- Visit ComEd.com/Outage
- Call 1-800-334-7661
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If you must use de-icer on sidewalks, avoiding chemicals is usually the safest choice. Use the smallest effective amount and only apply it only where necessary - one cup of salt is enough for a typical driveway. Check out the EPA’s list of de-icers that meet their Safer Choice Standards.
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Save the Date: April 6 Consolidated Election
The 2021 Consolidated election on April 6 includes the election of Municipal, Park District, Library District, and School District officials. The Village has four Village Board offices on the ballot; one office for Village President and three offices for Village Trustee; all are 4-year terms – view candidates here.
Register to Vote: You can register to vote online, by mail or in person:
- Online - by Sunday, Mar. 21 - If you have an Illinois driver’s license or state ID, you may register online (opens Feb. 25).
- By Mail – Must be postmarked by Tuesday, Mar. 9 - If you do not have a driver's license or state ID, fill out a form online, print, sign and mail it in. Other language options available.
- In Person - by Tuesday, Mar. 9
- With two proofs of identification, one showing the current address, you may register to vote at Village Hall
- At one of the Cook County Clerk's six locations
- At an Illinois Secretary of State's driver's license facility (when you obtain or renew your driver’s license or state ID).
Voting:
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Village Construction Projects
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The Neighborhood Storage Project is the Village's largest ever infrastructure investment and will bring flooding relief to thousands of Wilmette residents while improving access and safety for our entire community. Visit the project website for construction updates.
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Phase 2: Hibbard Park stormwater storage vault
- Work completed this week included continued excavation for the underground stormwater reservoir. Heavier semi-truck traffic is expected for the next several weeks as excavated materials are hauled out of Hibbard Park. No road closures are scheduled in the immediate future, but trucks will enter and leave the Park on Wilmette Avenue immediately west of Skokie Boulevard. View this week’s update to learn more.
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Wilmette Events and Happenings
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Feb. 23 - Village Board Meeting
Feb. 24 - Land Use Committee Meeting
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