In this issue...

• Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service
• Highland Park Awards - Nominations Open!
• COVID-19 Update
• City Council Meeting Recap
• Holiday Tree & Lights Recycling
• NorthShore University HealthSystem Community Input Survey

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service

The City of Highland Park Human Relations Advisory Group (HRAG) and the Park District of Highland Park will present the 13th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. The event will be held virtually via Zoom on January 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The event will feature a keynote address and live Q&A, remote service projects, donation collections and more, each of which will highlight ways in which individuals can further Dr. King’s fight for a more just society. The event will be recorded and posted on the City's website. Participants may RSVP to the Facebook event, available on the City’s Facebook page, to receive an event reminder.

Community members are invited to drop off donations to a number of service providers on January 17, 2022, at the northeast corner of the Highland Park Country Club parking lot (1201 Park Avenue West), from 12:00 – 2:00 PM. Various service vendors will participate in this drive-thru donation drop-off event, collecting items such as bicycles, personal hygiene and grooming products, new and gently used coats and more. A full list of participating organizations and donation requests is available at www.cityhpil.com/mlk.

Contributed photo | www.cityhpil.com

Learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

Highland Park Awards: Nominations Open!

The City of Highland Park is now accepting nominations for several awards honoring the outstanding achievements and contributions of community members and organizations. Nominations for the 2022 Highland Park Awards may be submitted online via the City’s website at cityhpil.com/awards through February 21, 2022. 

Anyone may nominate an individual member of the Highland Park community or a Highland Park business or nonprofit organization for an award; nominators should carefully review the award descriptions and nomination requirements before submitting their nomination. 

Learn more and submit a nomination.

COVID-19 Updates

• The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is making contact tracing more efficient by texting individuals who test positive for COVID-19 and who have provided a mobile number. Learn more.
• The Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine to shorten the time between the completion of a primary series of the vaccine and a booster dose to at least five months for individuals 18 years of age and older. 
• CDC has updated its FAQ about COVID-19 vaccination for children.
• Anyone 5 years of age and older is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine. Find your nearest vaccination location at vaccines.gov or call 833.621.1284 to schedule an appointment near you.

City Council Meeting Recap

At the Monday, January 10 City Council meeting, Mayor Rotering and City Council welcomed the 2023 class of student commissioners, high school juniors and seniors who will serve on the City's advisory groups, boards, and commissions. In addition, Mayor Rotering recognized the outgoing advisory group, board and commission members whose terms ended in 2021, thanking them for their service to our community. 

City Council approved a small business façade improvement grant for Joseph A. Palmentieri Insurance Agency. The Small Business Façade Improvement Program was established in 2001 to encourage improvement and revitalization of the visible exterior appearance of existing buildings and recognize the importance of independent merchants to the City’s image and tax base. City Council also approved the annual contract between the City and Pace that provides for the allocation of funds for all personnel costs, vehicles, and related equipment necessary to support the local fixed-route and Ravinia Park and Ride bus services.

In addition, City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) related to grant funds for the construction of the Sheridan Road-Cary Ave Sidepath Project. This project, which is part of the City's Capital Improvements Plan, will be jointly completed with an IDOT project on Sheridan Road. As a result, construction on the sidepath is anticipated to begin in 2023, once the IDOT Sheridan Road project is complete. The City plans to have another presentation on the Sheridan-Cary sidepath project at an upcoming Council meeting. The meeting will be publicized via the City's eNews and social media.

During the Committee of the Whole, Chief of Police Lou Jogmen, Deputy Chief Bill Bonaguidi, and the Highland Park Police Department command team introduced the new 2022-2026 Police Department Strategic Plan.

Holiday Tree Disposal

Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will collect, transport, and dispose of holiday trees left curbside and free of decorations by all customers on their primary collection day, now through January 25. A sticker is not required. Contact LRS at 773.685.8811 with questions. Please note: trees that are 4' tall or taller should be cut in half.

Residents may also drop off trees free of decorations, wires or any other materials for recycling by the Park District through January 23. Drop-off locations are in posted areas of parking lots at Larry Fink Park, 1377 Deer Creek Parkway, and Danny Cunniff Park, 2700 Trailway. Park District crews chip the trees for use as mulch. Residents are welcome to use the mulch for their own gardens and landscapes. Contact Dan Voss, Director of Parks, at 847.579.3130 or dvoss@pdhp.org with questions.

Holiday lights may be recycled at the Highland Park Recycling Center, which is open every Tuesday and the first Saturday of the month from 7 AM - 1 PM, at 1180 Half-Day Road.

NorthShore Community Input Survey

NorthShore University HealthSystem is conducting a community health needs assessment to understand the unmet health needs of the community. Share your thoughts by scanning the QR code in the image above, or visit northshore.org/communitysurvey.

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