Lake County Gazette

Concert & Fireworks Sept. 5, Wolters Field

The Grand Finale Concert of the Bitter Jester Music Festival and the City's annual community fireworks display will be held this Sunday, September 5 at Wolters Field! The festivities begin at 3 PM when the top bands from this year's Battle of the Bands will take the stage. Learn more about these talented young performers at bitterjestermusic.org. The fireworks display will begin at 8:45 PM. As a reminder, masks are strongly encouraged in crowded outdoor settings like festivals and concerts, as well as for activities that require close contact with people who are not vaccinated.

Preventing Underage Drinking

The City is proud to partner with the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center and North Shore School District 112 on the #KeepShowingUp statewide campaign to prevent underage drinking. The campaign focuses on providing tools to empower parents to help their middle schoolers understand the consequences of alcohol consumption. As part of the campaign, you'll be hearing more about strategies to support kids via social media and in eNews. 

COVID-19 Updates

• According to data published by the CDC, Lake County continues to experience high community transmission of COVID-19. The positivity rate over the last seven days is approximately 5.23% and there has been a 26% increase in the case rate over the past seven days, according to data published as of 4:45 PM on August 31, 2021. Given the spread of COVID-19 in Lake County, it's essential to mask up in indoor public spaces. If getting your COVID-19 vaccine is still on your to-do list, get started at vaccines.gov.
• The Lake County Health Department explains the difference between booster shots and additional vaccine doses.
• Information about plans for booster shots for individuals vaccinated against COVID-19 is available from the Department of Health and Human Services. The goal is to ensure that vaccinated people maintain protection from COVID-19. The plan, which is subject to authorization by the FDA, will begin in the fall, with individuals becoming eligible for a booster shot 8 months after they received their second dose of either the Pfizer (now marketed as Comirnaty) or Moderna vaccines. Guidance for those who received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine is forthcoming. Learn more from CDC.
• CDC has shared updated information about the Delta variant, reflecting data that indicates that Delta is more infectious and spreads more easily than other variants, even among some vaccinated individuals. 
• A new study from Northwestern University underscores the importance of receiving the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, even if you've previously had COVID-19. Not sure if you received your second dose? Check your record online with VaxVerify, the online portal from IDPH.
• A new report by the CDC indicates that patients with COVID-19 had almost 16 times the risk for myocarditis, or inflammation of part of the heart muscle, compared with patients who did not have COVID-19. Children and people aged 75 and older had the highest risk of myocarditis. Per the CDC, these findings also underscore the importance of being vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Update

Naval Station Great Lakes, the City of Highland Park and Lake County hosted a subject matter expert and leadership meeting with Openlands on Aug. 26 to discuss efforts underway to support the return of public access to Openlands Lakeshore Preserve. 

The event included a site visit of the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve by Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic Environmental experts and a synchronization update on resources and capabilities available to assist. Openlands Lakeshore Preserve is located on the former Fort Sheridan with shoreline and bluffs overlooking Lake Michigan. The post was closed in 1993 as part of the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process and a portion of the installation was converted to a nature preserve in 2007. The public access to the preserve has been closed since April 2021 out of concerns for three artifacts that were found on the shoreline that were suspected of being unexploded ordnance. 

The team is committed to addressing concerns to return the preserve to its intended purpose for resident enjoyment and asks all residents to respect the closure while an assessment is completed. 

In Season at the Ravinia Farmers Market

Plan for your Labor Day BBQ at this week’s Ravinia Farmers Market, Wednesday, September 1 from 7 AM -1 PM at Jens Jensen Park, in the Ravinia Business District. Look for zucchini and summer squash, eggplant, peppers, beans, sweet corn, greens and lettuces, cucumbers, herbs, heirloom tomatoes, Michigan peaches, and nectarines, plums, summer apples, berries, and even more seasonal, local, and organically grown produce! 

Live music is sponsored by the Highland Park Community Foundation. “Jazzman” Jeff Justman performs acoustic Beatle jazz, 60s music, torch songs, and originals from 8:45 -10:45 AM, followed by The Desert Birds acoustic trio from 11 AM - 1 PM.

Food Truck Thursdays

This Thursday, beginning at 4:45 PM in Jens Jensen Park, enjoy music from Aloha City Strummers (4:30 - 5:45 PM) and The Acoustic Generation (6:15 - 8:15 PM) while you sample delicious menu items from a variety of food trucks and Highland Park restaurants. 

Learn more about Food Truck Thursdays.

Mosquito Treatment NotificationsMosquito control applications are administered by the Southlake Mosquito Abatement District. Their contractor, Clarke, maintains a resident notification portal for those who would like to be notified prior to mosquito control applications. Residents may also use the portal to notify the District of water that may be potential breeding sites or high mosquito populations. Access the portal and sign up to receive notifications at clarkeportal.com/hotline. 

Recycling Center 

The Highland Park Recycling Center is open every Tuesday and the first Saturday of the month, including this Saturday, September 4, from 7 AM - 1 PM. Visit cityhpil.com/recyclingcenter for a full list of accepted/unaccepted items. If the items you would like to recycle are not accepted at the Recycling Center, visit swalco.org to learn about other opportunities for recycling or disposal.

Learn more about the Recycling Center.

National Water Quality MonthAugust is National Water Quality Month! Water quality begins with our drinking sources: rivers, lakes, and groundwater. We each must do our part to protect our drinking water supplies and keep our water sources and waterways clean.