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Welcome!
Where can you find the information you need to stay connected with what's happening across the City? Here!

Scroll through for department news and updates. There's a lot of information, so save this email to reference throughout the month or view the What's Happening archive. If you have questions about something included here, feel free to reach out to the person listed.
City Hall
Submitted By: Communications Manager, Dana Olson

  • The Summer Dialogue Newsletter arrived at City facilities and in residents' mailboxes last week. Need more copies? Let Dana know! The weather is starting to warm up, which means it's almost time to start thinking about the Fall Dialogue (covers August through October)! The deadline to submit content for the Fall newsletter is Thursday, June 23.
  • In case you missed it, read stories a Q&A with Bernard Pondexter on the Burr Oak Area Project, a story about the City's new Tree Map, and more on Lake Forest Love! Have an idea for a department or project to highlight? Let us know!
  • Maddie Szczerba joined our team as a part-time Communications Specialist to support the City's digital communications, including the website, social media, and eNews. We're glad she's here! If you have content for the City's weekly email newsletter, please send it to Maddie by Thursdays at 10 am to be included in the Friday email.
Community Development
Submitted By: Director of Community Development, Cathy Czerniak

A reminder: Eat and Drink Local!
  • Authentico
  • Deerpath Inn 
  • Chief’s Pub
  • The Lantern
  • Oaken Bistro (The Forester Hotel)
  • The Station
  • Everett Farms
  • The Gallery
  • Starbucks
  • Francesca’s
  • Egg Harbor
  • Kuro Bistro
  • Lucky Duck
  • Rosati’s
  • Lou Malnati’s
  • Jimmy John’s
  • Donati’s/Jefe’s Tacos
  • Lake Forest Food and Wine
  • Daily Grind
  • LF Juice
  • Dunkin’ Donuts
  • Sushi Kushi
  • Ferentino’s
  • Sweet’s
  • Sushi Kushi Toyo
  • Left Bank
  • Bake Homemade Pizza
  • Foodstuffs
  • Sunset
  • The Fresh Market
  • Einstein’s
  • Gerhardt’s Bakery

And coming soon...
  • Le Colonial - former Market House space on Forest Avenue – Opening July, 2022
  • Sophia Steak Lake Forest – former The Grille on Laurel space, southwest corner of Western and Laurel Avenues – Opening September, 2022
  • The Peanut Gallery – Western Avenue, south of Deerpath – Opening any day!
  • Duffer’s (family friendly, golf simulator – Western Avenue, north of Jewel – anticipated fall, 2022
Finance
Submitted By: Assistant Finance Director, Diane Hall

  • The City’s FY2023 budget was approved by City Council on April 18. A big THANKS to all those involved in the budget process.
  • Just a reminder any goods or services incurred prior to April 30 will be classified as a FY22 expense. Please make sure to enter the posting date as 4/30/22.
  • New FY2023 PO’s can now be entered. If you have balances on FY22 PO’s and are they're final, please reach out to Diane Hall to cancel the open balances.
Fire
Submitted By: Administrative Assistant, Jamie Nixon

  • Please help us congratulate Andy Allan and Andy Rick on both being appointed to the rank of Battalion Chief!
Human Resources
Submitted By: Human Resource Specialist, Brina Diaz

  • Thank you to everyone who attended the 2022 Chili Cook-Off in April! We had amazing weather, delicious food, and great company. Looking forward to the 2022 Rib Cook-off later this year! 
  • Stride to the Tide steps challenge has started! Don’t forget to login to AssetHealth to link your devices and track your steps.
  • We’re hiring! Check our Job Board for current openings and don’t forget about the referral program. We have various seasonal maintenance worker positions currently open.
Innovation & Technology
Submitted By: Assistant Director of IT, Joe Gabanski

  • Pardon our Dust. Due to staffing vacancies, we've shifted a lot of our efforts to filling positions. Please continue to enter in helpdesks as needed. We have a temporary IT contractor, Charles Herman, working with us during this time. We continue to get him up to speed. Please welcome him if you get an opportunity to work with him.
 
Submitted By: IT Business Analyst, Cameron Burrell

  • Helpdesk Banner. Speaking of helpdesk stuff! While visiting our helpdesk ticketing platform, you may have noticed we have started displaying a banner which shows current issues/outages that may affect you. This is not the end-all-be-all of our communications to the City regarding ongoing issues, but another tool that we are using to let you know when we are actively working on a City-wide issue. If the issue you’re looking to report to us is related to what’s in the banner, you can make the assumption that we are working on resolving the issue and that someone else has reported it to us.
Parks & Recreation
Cemetery
Submitted By: Cemetery Sexton, Phil Alderks

  • Still incredibly busy with funerals - three this week, two next week already. Funerals are scheduled all through May, June, and July and just scheduled one in August.
  • Sorting through applications for the Admin II and seasonal openings.
CROYA
Submitted By: CROYA Manager, Todd Nahigian

  • Over 100 youth, officers, and staff attended CROYA’s 19th Annual Donut Cup Floor Hockey Event! Check out the photos!
  • CROYA recognizes May as Mental Health Awareness Month! If you or anyone you know needs extra support, email Todd Nahigian at CROYA. Paws for Patrick therapy dogs will visit CROYA on Monday, May 16 from 4-4:30pm.
  • CROYA’s final youth meetings of the year are on Wednesday, May 25 from 7-8pm for High School, and on Tuesday, May 31 from 4-4:30pm for Middle School.
  • CROYA’s Battle of the Bands is on Friday, June 10 at Lake Forest High School!
  • Follow CROYA on Social Media! CROYA has a Facebook page and Instagram @CROYALFLB.

Dickinson Hall
Submitted By: Senior Resources Manager, Tricia Schwall
 
  • Did you know that we have a transportation program? If you know someone that lives in Lake Forest or Lake Bluff that is no longer able to drive and needs assistance getting to appointments or errands in the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff area, we have drivers on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 9 am – 3:30 pm to help. Have them call Dickinson Hall 847.234.2209.
  • Membership Appreciation Night is scheduled for Thursday, May 26 and will feature appetizers, beer/wine and the musical entertainment of Andrew Blendermann for all members of Dickinson Hall to enjoy!

Forestry
Submitted By: Forestry Supervisor, Corey Wierema

  • Go Native! Tree & Plant Sale is Saturday, May 21.
  • In-house and Contractor installation of spring parkway trees.
  • Deerpath golf course corridor landscaping project installation.
  • Species assignment for the upcoming spring parkway tree planting is ongoing.

Parks
Submitted By: Parks Supervisor, Rich Paulsen

  • The Veteran’s Park Project has resumed construction and should be completed and open by this Fall.
  • Construction for the Townline Park Splash Pad has begun and should be completed this summer.
  • Dredging has been completed and prep work for the beach opening is in full swing.
Recreation
Submitted By: Marketing & Communications Specialist, Kristin Elliott

  • Lake Forest Dance Academy’s Spring Recital is on May 15! Did you know that we have three children of city employees that are in our dance program? Kudos to Annika Dalzot, Cecily Hamburg, and Callie Hamburg - have a great show!
  • Exciting news from Lake Forest Sailing! The LFHS Sailing Team has had another very successful season so far - they are the only team out of 165 Midwest High School Sailing Teams to qualify for both Fleet Race and Team Race Nationals this year and are headed to Texas May 20-22 for team race nationals and San Diego June 3-5 for fleet race nationals. Congrats LFS!
  • The Lake Forest Fitness Center is running its summer special - 1, 2, or 3 month memberships for $30 student/senior and $39 month for residents. No enrollment fee, great for students! Stop by or give them a call today - 847.810.3932. 
Public Works
Building Maintenance
Submitted By: Building Maintenance Supervisor, Bill Borzick  

  • The roof replacement project at the Public Safety Building has begun, total project should take about a month.
  • Warming houses at West Park and Northcroft Park have been removed and the pavilions are ready for summer.
Engineering
Submitted By: Superintendent of Engineering, Byron Kutz

  • Rafael Davila placed 2nd at the Chili Cookoff…next year he has his eye on first place, congratulations Rafael!
  • Levi Bieda is interning again for Engineering this Summer, please stop by to welcome him back. We look to increase his responsibility and exposure to different types of projects.
  • Removal of ComEd’s bridge on Deerpath that carries the Skokie Valley Bike Path is complete. ComEd is adjusting the design of their bridge which staff will review soon, the overall project will be completed end of summer or early fall.
  • Work is ramping up this week for the Burr Oak Area Storm Sewer Improvement Project which aims to reduce flooding on Western Ave and Burr Oak between Thomas Pl and Franklin Pl, as well as a small section of Alden Ln. Work begins this week in the alley next to Shaggy Dog. There's a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, May 18 at 1:30 pm.
  • Parking lot work began last week at the Waveland Park lot. The parking lot, located off Butler Drive, is undersized and experiences traffic-flow issues from only having one entrance. As part of this project, the existing lot will be resurfaced as well as expanded to the north, nearly doubling the capacity of the lot. An additional driveway entrance will be added which will resolve the current traffic-flow issues which are occurring. In terms of sustainability elements, a bioswale will be added to the west of the parking area to filter stormwater prior to discharging into the Skokie River. 
  • The annual resurfacing project starts next week with saw-cutting and concrete removals. The work this year is on Millburne Road from Old Mill Rd to Shawford Wy, Ridge Road from Mellody Road to Route 60, Conway Road from Telegraph Road to Stablewood Ln, and Alden Lane from Green Bay Road to Tara Ln.
Fleet
Submitted By: Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Gramer

  • Started receiving FY23 Capital Equipment. The vast majority are delayed due to manufacturing and supply chain issues.
  • Spring cleaning in preparation for spring/summer vehicle and equipment auction.

Sanitation
Submitted By: Sanitation Supervisor, Brian Pogachnik

  • We recently hired Juan Aguirre to fill an open full-time position! Juan was previously a seasonal with our Section and brings some already great experience to his fulltime role.
  • Sanitation is looking to hire two recycling campaign interns and a seasonal maintenance worker. Visit the Job Board for details.
  • Compost & Recycling Center activity is in full swing! We are averaging 750 car visits a weekend. Remember - City employees can access the Center with your City employee ID.

Streets
Submitted By: Streets Supervisor, Matt Brugioni

  • Wrapped up converting the remaining 7 gas lamps to LED bringing the total to 44 fully converted lamps in the South Park area. Next area scheduled is Triangle Park.
  • Working on asphalt patching areas where water main breaks occurred last winter.
  • The street sweeping program and street sign maintenance continues.
Water & Sewer
Submitted By: Water & Sewer Supervisor, Rich Volpe

  • Hydrant flushing should wrap up by end of the month.
  • Working with Contractor on replacing eighteen water valves throughout town. 
  • Storm sewer catch basin repairs are being completed at a steady pace; we will be working on repairs over next several weeks.

Water Plant
Submitted By: Chief Water Plant Operator, John Gulledge

  • Replacing modules on two treatment trains starting next week. 
  • We will be dewatering our sludge in a couple of weeks with the help of a Centrifuge. “Sludge”, is simply the accumulated solids from one year of water filtration consolidated into one tank and then the water is mechanically removed with a centrifuge.
Police
Submitted By: Administrative Assistant, Barbara Lueder-Manetti

  • Thanks to everyone who donated money to the SEDOL Foundation. With everyone’s help, we raised $5,287 in the month of April in honor of Autism Awareness.
  • Save the date for the Bike Rodeo on Saturday, June 25 from 9 am-12 pm in the Deerpath-Oakwood Parking Lot.
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Kudos Corner
Kudos to Jake Mattson, Diane Hall, and Rich Paulsen for being the first three people to read the last edition of What's Happening!
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