Kudos to Jason Olson, Sally Swarthout, and Paul Daizovi for being the first three people to read the last edition of What's Happening!
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City Hall
Submitted By: Communications Manager, Dana Olson

Community Development
Submitted By: Director of Community Development, Cathy Czerniak

Verizon Service Improvements (we hope!)
  • Plans are underway to re-orient the existing Verizon antennas on the Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Campus with the goal of improving Verizon service in the surrounding area. The antennas were recently moved from the monopole that was located near the helipad and Central Energy Plant on the hospital campus to the monopole located further north on the campus, northeast of Deerhaven Childcare Center. The relocation is to allow space for construction of a new parking garage on the hospital campus. Discussions are underway with other service providers about opportunities to improve service in other parts of the community as well.  

Saturday Market – Celebrate the Holidays
  • Do you have two hours to spare? Help out at the City’s 2nd Annual Saturday Market at the Telegraph Road Train Station on December 10 and 17.  Staff support is needed for setup, starting at 9 am, during the market hours from 10:30 am until 2:30 pm, and to help with clean up after the market closes. Shop, eat and visit with residents while you are there. Please let Cathy Czerniak know if you are interested in taking a shift. Or, just stop by the Market to pick up holiday gifts, sweet treats and have lunch. We anticipate about 15 different vendors. Thanks in advance for your support!   
Central Business District – Visit the Project Website and Respond to the Poll
  • Your opinions, insights and ideas are important. Scan the QR code to take the poll!
Finance
The Finance Department Team was recognized at a recent City Council Meeting for receiving an award from the Government Finance Officers Association for the FY21 Popular Annual Financial Report Award.
Submitted By: Assistant Finance Director, Diane Hall

  • The FY24 Capital Budget Workshop was held with the Finance Committee on Monday, November 14. A huge shoutout to all the City staff that was involved in preparing the materials and presentations! Great job everyone! 
  • FY24 revenue projections have been distributed to departments with a due date of Friday, December 2.
  • Finance is in the final phase of contacting vendors to comply with Illinois Public Act 102-0265 effective January 1, 2023. The form will be required to be completed for all new vendors. If you have any questions or need the new form, please reach out to Matthew or Claudia.
Fire
Submitted By: Administrative Assistant, Jamie Nixon

Fire Station 1 Remodel
The Station 1 kitchen remodel is complete! A huge thank you to Lake Forest Foreign Fire Insurance Board for funding and Kudos to FF Travis Pedersen for his efforts in heading this project.
Human Resources
Submitted By: Human Resources Generalist, Brina Diaz
  • The 2022 Employee Recognition Dinner and Holiday Party is right around the corner! Don’t forget to RSVP by Friday, November 18!
  • To participate in the City’s Computer Purchase Program, please submit your written justification to HR no later than Monday, November 28.
  • It’s Open Enrollment season: Do you need to add $$ to 2023 Flex? Update dependents? Increase 457 contributions? Make sure to make your changes by Wednesday, November 30!
Innovation & Technology
Submitted By: IT Business Analyst, Cameron Burrell

  • Jake’s here! In late October we hired Jake Micksch to fill our vacant IT Intern position. Jake is working on finishing up his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems with a specialty in Computer Forensics. Some of you may have already met him as we’ve been working on showing him all of our City facilities, but if you see him around town be sure to say hey! We are excited for what he brings to our team and are really looking forward to getting him started on our Hardware Rollout Project. Welcome Jake!
  • QuickHelp. In late September we sent out a re-introduction note to everyone regarding our QuickHelp training platform. We have seen an increase in activity on the platform which is really great, but we know that there’s even greater opportunity for everyone to utilize all the features that QuickHelp has to offer! Each month will cover different topics including OneDrive (this month), SharePoint, and Advanced Excel to name a few. Keep your eyes peeled for these emails and click into the links provided to learn more. The holiday season is the perfect time to take a few minutes to explore these opportunities with things around the office being a little quieter than normal!
Parks & Recreation
Deerpath Park Synthetic Turf Athletic Fields Project
Submitted By: Assistant to the Director of Public Works, Jim Lockefeer

  • Project design works continues! The project team recently hit the 70% design milestone. The next exciting milestone that will be met in the coming weeks will be the 90% design level. The project team continues to meet on a weekly basis to provide feedback the design consultant team.
  • Once the design phase is complete, the City Council will consider funding project construction and discuss next steps.

CROYA
Submitted By: CROYA Manager, Todd Nahigian

  • CROYA’s Poinsettia Sale orders are due today, Wednesday, November 16! CROYA is selling 3 sizes of red and white poinsettias, Christmas Cactuses and Frosty Ferns! Contact Susan Simms (ext. 3980) at CROYA to place an order.
  • CROYA’s High School Fall Retreat is this weekend at Camp Henry Horner!
  • CROYA’s “Friendsgiving” event for CROYA Alumni and current youth is Wednesday, November 23 from 12-2 pm.
  • CROYA is open after school from 3:30-5:30 pm (starting at 2:30 pm on Mondays).

Forestry
Submitted By: Forestry Supervisor, Corey Wierema

  • Updating the Tree Inventory
  • Holiday Lighting
  • Upcoming: Parkway/Contractual Tree Pruning

Parks
Submitted By: Parks Supervisor, Rich Paulsen

  • The West Park Ice Rink is up!
  • Beach items have been removed for winter (benches, piers)

Cemetery
Submitted By: Cemetery Sexton, Phil Alderks

  • Leaves, leaves, leaves!
  • 3 funerals the end of the week
  • Getting ready for winter
Recreation
Submitted By: Marketing & Communications Specialist, Kristin Elliott

  • Recreation staff/elves have been working hard to get everything ready for the holiday season. We are excited about the expanded Annual Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration, the Stirling Hall Art Sale on Dec. 2 and 3, our new pop-up event Cocoa with the Claus's, and our timeless holiday events that get everyone in the spirit.
  • We are also excited about our newly designed Program Guide coming out for Winter Spring 2023! We have condensed the guide and directed the public to our website for more information and registration. The updated design more accurately reflects our community, and we can't wait for it to hit mailboxes mid-November!
  • Back for the first time since 2019, The Women's Board of Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital's Holiday Boutique returns to the Lake Forest Recreation Center this Thursday, November 17-Saturday, November 19. This festive event features in-demand designers and artists, both local and from across the country. FREE entrance for city employees, so stop by on Friday from 9 am - 6 pm! Find more info on the Holiday Boutique.
Public Works
Building Maintenance
Submitted By: Building Maintenance Supervisor, Erik Huston

  • Winterizing lakefront buildings
  • Assisting Departments on various holiday electrical projects
Engineering
Submitted By: Superintendent of Engineering, Byron Kutz

  • Work continues on ComEd’s bridge on Deerpath that carries the Skokie Valley Bike Path. Deerpath Road will be closed this Friday, November 18 at 7 pm through Monday, November 21 at 5 am for installation of the bridge beams.
  • Work continues on the Illinois Pedestrian Bridge with installation of the new bridge happening this week with hopes to reopen the path prior to Thanksgiving.
  • This week has been a good week for the East Skokie Drainage District’s river stabilization project with gabions being installed on the southern extent of the project. 

Fleet
Submitted By: Fleet Maintenance Supervisor, Ron Gramer

  • Continually maintaining and repairing our Fleet
  • Getting snow equipment ready
Sanitation
Submitted By: Sanitation Supervisor, Brian Pogachnik

  • Sanitation is looking to hire a seasonal employee.
  • The Compost & Recycling Center is switching to winter hours after December 1. From December 1 through March 15, the Compost & Recycling Center is open on Saturdays 8 am-3 pm.

Streets
Submitted By: Streets Supervisor, Matt Brugioni

  • Prepping snow equipment
  • Asphalt and concrete roadway repairs 

Water & Sewer
Submitted By: Water & Sewer Supervisor, Rich Volpe

  • We will be making taps and installing the flow meters for the Distribution Pressure Sensor Project
  • Finishing up hydrant Painting in Zone 4
  • Going through final “Punch List” for Burr Oak Project
Water Plant
Submitted By: Chief Water Plant Operator, John Gulledge

  • Performing maintenance projects now that water demand is lower
  • Continue to tweak membrane cleaning procedures with manufacturer
Police
Submitted By: Administrative Assistant, Barbara Lueder-Manetti

LFPD - Our Culture of Giving
  • Police just wrapped up our Breast Cancer Awareness Month Campaign, raising awareness and funds with our commemorative Breast Cancer Police Patches. Officers were on hand for several planned and pop-up events to accept donations for the Posy Krehbiel Cancer Center at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital. The campaign raised over $5000! We’re thankful to everyone who contributed and to our community partners at Starbucks (both locations), Gerhard’s Elegant European Desserts, and the LF/LB Chamber’s Then and Now Car Show for allowing us to set up shop. Recap.
  • Our culture of giving continues with No-Shave November. During November, we relax our policy to allow officers to grow a beard in exchange for a $100 contribution to the 100 Club of Illinois. This year we have nineteen participants. Each will submit a photo at the end of the month that will be posted on the LFPD Facebook page. Our Facebook friends will be encouraged to vote on their favorite beard. The winner will be announced in early December. Read more
  • Not to be overlooked is our annual Toys for Tots Program. LFPD has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve-Great Lakes for over 20 years to be a collection point for donations. 2022 marks the 75th anniversary of the Toys for Tots Program. The collection boxes will remain in the lobby of the Public Safety Building until Monday, December 19. Read more.
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