Important Community Updates
Business & Government Update

The Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber will host its annual Business & Government Update with local officials. All are welcome to join Jason Wicha, Lake Forest City Manager and Drew Irvin, Lake Bluff Village Administrator, for their report on the state of the towns on Friday, January 15 at noon via Zoom. In addition, the Chamber will welcome its 2021 Board of Directors and present its Community Leadership Award to Jeff Urso with Donati’s Pizza.

The Chamber’s Community Leadership Award is presented each year to a local business that demonstrates an exceptional level of community service. This year’s honoree, Donati’s Pizza and its owner, Jeff Urso, exemplify this honor. Through Donati’s, Urso has organized food drives for those in need, donated and delivered countless meals to local essential workers and even had Santa bring toys and meals to homeless and foster children. His commitment to community has also been evident in his numerous partnerships, utilizing his established delivery operation to sell and deliver items produced by other local businesses.

Visit the Chamber’s website www.lflbchamber.com to register for the Business and Government Update. All are welcome. Cost is $10.  
Learn More About the COVID-19 Vaccine at the Jan. 13 Virtual Town Hall

At Lake County's next Virtual Town Hall on January 13, Lake County Board Chair Sandy Hart will host a discussion with Lake County Health Department Executive Director Mark Pfister, Medical Epidemiologist Dr. Sana Ahmed, and others about the County's vaccination efforts and answer related questions from the community. Register Now!
Everett Management Announces the Planned Opening of Two New Restaurants

Announcing Everett Farms and The Station, two new restaurants currently under construction in West Lake Forest, located in the Forest Square Shopping Center at 840 S. Waukegan Road. The restaurants are being developed and managed by Everett Management, Chef/Proprietor John des Rosiers and his team, and are slated to open in early April, 2021.

Everett Farms, named for the Irish Farming community originally settled in the mid 1800’s, will be a full service sit down and pick-up/delivery American Café. The café will feature design elements of raw concrete, breeze walls, generous midcentury lighting and strengths of color throughout the space. The Station is named for the adjacent West Lake Forest train station, which was one of the first built on the Northern route to Madison, WI in the 1870’s. The Station will be an upscale Fast Casual Mexican restaurant featuring salsas, meats, fish and vegetables made from scratch in the restaurant. It will sell tacos, burritos, salads, bowls, and other delicious snacks.
Deerpath/Rte. 41 Viaduct/Pump Station Project News

The area has been cleared and construction fencing is in place. The City’s Forestry Section partnered with Lake Forest Open Lands to transplant some of the trees that were removed from the construction site onto the Deerpath Golf Course and Middlefork Farm Nature Preserve. Check the website for details on the project.
Xmas Tree Recycling

Please check here for the holiday refuse/recycling schedule. During January, Christmas trees, wreaths and greenery will be picked up on regularly-scheduled recycling days at the curb. Please remove all lights and ornaments and trees must be removed from plastic bags. Trees should be cut into six-foot lengths. Thank you!
Lake Forest Station

The Pop-Up Shop is wrapping it up for the season with selected items on sale (20% off) through the last day on Saturday, January 9. Make sure you stop by!

Open on Friday, January 8 and Saturday, January 9 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Metra Schedule Changes Begin on Monday, January 11

Metra will be making changes to the weekday schedules on the Milwaukee District North and West, the North Central Service and the Metra Electric lines beginning Monday, Jan. 11. The updated schedules are intended to improve travel options and train operations across the Metra system. The revised schedules are posted on metrarail.com. Metra will continue to reevaluate its schedules during the COVID-19 pandemic and make changes as warranted to enable social distancing and address current travel patterns.
Smart Snow Salting

When snow falls, you may be ready to break out the salt to prevent slippery steps, walkways, and paths around your home. While salt is an essential part of winter safety, using too much salt doesn’t actually make pavement less slippery. When it comes to salt, a little goes a long way. Help protect our environment by using smart salting practices this winter. Check out this video from Lake County!
Upcoming City Meetings

  • Plan Commission: Wednesday, January 13, 6:30 p.m.
  • Finance Committee and City Council: Tuesday, January 19, 6:30 p.m. (due to holiday)
  • Environmental Sustainability Committee: Wednesday, January 20, 6:30 p.m.
  • Zoning Board of Appeals: Monday, January 25, 6:30 p.m.
  • Historic Preservation Commission: Wednesday, January 27, 6:30 p.m.

Click here for agendas. Meetings are held remotely unless noted.
After You Travel

You may have been exposed to COVID-19 on your holiday travels. You may feel well and not have any symptoms, but you can still spread the virus to others. You and your travel companions (including children) may pose a risk to your family, friends, and community after your travel. Consider getting tested with a viral test 3–5 days after your trip and reduce non-essential activities for a full 7 days after travel, even if your test is negative. If you don’t get tested, consider reducing non-essential activities for 10 days. Also take these actions for 14 days after you return from travel to protect others from getting COVID-19:
  • Stay at least 6 feet away from anyone who did not travel with you
  • Wear a mask when you are in shared spaces outside of your home
  • Wash your hands often or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol
  • Avoid being around people who are at increased risk for severe illness

CDC Photo
COVID-19 Vaccination Registration

As of yesterday, over 175,000 Lake County residents have registered for the vaccination.

Register here.

The Lake County Health Department encourages all who work or live in Lake County to register so you can be notified when it is time to make your appointment for a COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the Lake County Health Department is in Phase 1a of vaccinations as defined by the CDC and the Illinois Department of Public Health. 


FAQ

Can I call to register?
Yes, call the Lake County Health Department at 847.377.8130.


What information do I need to register? 
  • Full name 
  • Date of birth 
  • Zip code 
  • Risk factors 

Am I able to also register another person? 
Yes, you can register other people through your profile. Go to your home page and click "Add another person". 

Should I register if I work in Lake County but live in another county?
People who work in Lake County but live in another county may register on the portal. Please register using your home address, not your work address.

Who will COVID-19 vaccines be distributed to first? 
At first, the supply of vaccines will be limited. Certain residents will receive their vaccines before others. We are following the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) on this timing. As of December 4, IDPH has prioritized residents in this order:  
  1. Health Care Personnel and Long Term Care Facility Residents 
  2. Essential Frontline Workers - pending CDC guidance 
  3. Adults with high risk medical conditions and those over 65 years of age - pending CDC guidance 
  4. All other adults and people in other congregate settings - pending CDC guidance 
  5. Young adults and children (if a pediatric vaccine is available) - pending CDC guidance 

You may find a detailed list of Frequently Asked Questions here.
Local COVID Resources


State/Federal COVID Resources
The City of Lake Forest, Illinois | Website