The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is offering a series of Youth Mental Health First Aid training workshops to the public.

Lake County

Health Dept. offers workshops on youth mental health

The Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center is offering a series of Youth Mental Health First Aid training workshops to the public. The full-day workshops are designed to provide adults with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and support adolescents who are at risk or displaying warning signs of mental health/substance abuse problems or experiencing a mental health crisis. Workshops will be held Nov. 7 and 16, and Jan. 9 and 23, 2018 at the Lake County Health Department, 3010 Grand Ave., Waukegan. Each session begins with registration and refreshments (8-8:30 a.m.), followed by the workshop (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.), including a 30-minute, on-your-own lunch. The cost is $20 per participant. Advance registration is required. To sign up, and for more information, call Angela Stefani at (847) 377-8961 or visit www.lakecountyil.gov/3980/Training-Opportunities. 

Fox River Grove

Village offers free leaf and yard waste pick-up

The village is offering free leaf and yard waste pick-up once a week through Dec. 1. Waste Management will pick up leaves and yard waste placed in brown craft bags or containers on Nov. 3, 10, 17 and 25, and Dec. 1. Yard waste stickers are not required. Yard waste collection equipment is shut down for the winter season after the last scheduled pick-up date and re-opens in the spring. The village encourages residents to clear all yards before Dec. 1., and to keep leaves and yard waste out of regular garbage. For more information, call (847) 639-3170 or visit www.foxrivergrove.org. 

Wheeling

Board of Health to hold Community Blood Drive

The village announced that the Wheeling Board of Health will hold its Community Blood Drive from 2-7 p.m. Nov. 8 at Wheeling Village Hall, 2 Community Blvd. Blood donors of all types are needed for critically ill patients, accident victims, people needing surgery and patients suffering from chronic diseases, including cancer and leukemia. It is estimated that every pint of blood donated will help save three lives. To schedule an appointment, contact Health Officer Serena Klinger at (847) 499-9048 or via email at sklinger@wheelingil.gov. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, visit www.wheelingil.gov.

North Chicago

Mayor elected to term as IML Second Vice President

The city reported that the Illinois Municipal League (IML) unanimously elected North Chicago Mayor Leon Rockingham, Jr. to serve a one-year term as Second Vice President on the statewide organization’s Board of Directors. Rockingham, Jr. was elected on Sept. 23 during IML’s 104th Annual Conference, held in downtown Chicago. He has served as a Vice President and as a member of the Executive Committee on the IML Board of Directors since 2008.

Deer Park

Santa’s Arrival & Fireworks event on tap

The village, along with Barrington VFW Post 7706, will host Santa’s Arrival & Fireworks from 6-8:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at Deer Park Town Center, 20530 N. Rand Road. Attendees can watch Santa Claus arrive in a fire truck, count down with Santa to turn on the holiday lights, and then enjoy a fireworks extravaganza (beginning shortly after 6 p.m.) with a finale honoring U.S. military veterans. Santa will be available to visit with children until 8:30 p.m. Kids who visit with Santa will receive a free bag of “magical reindeer food,” while supplies last. For more information, call (847) 726-1648 or visit www.villageofdeerpark.com.

Lindenhurst

Police officer nets Kiwanis’ Shining Star Award 

The village reported that Lindenhurst Police Officer Sandy Rapey was presented with the 2017 Kiwanis Law Enforcement Shining Star Award during the Kiwanis Club of Lindenhurst/The Lakes Area annual dinner on Oct. 2. Officer Rapey, a 18-year veteran of the department, was recognized for her distinct virtues of community service and helping youth in the community. A certified Juvenile Officer, Rapey has been teaching Lindenhurst youth for 17 years as a DARE Officer and SEND Officer. She also teaches the Choices curriculum in the village’s schools, and is actively engaged in developing community programs for the village’s senior population.

Mundelein

Annual Meat Raffle to benefit Special Olympics

The Mundelein Police Department will host its second annual Meat Raffle, to benefit Special Olympics Illinois, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 12 at Hitz Pizza and Sports Bar, 700 S. Butterfield Road. Attendees can watch the Chicago-Bears-Green Bay Packers football game on TV and have the chance to win a variety of meat donated by area vendors. Advanced tickets are $25, and are available at the Mundelein Police Department, 221 N. Lake St. Tickets at the door are $30. Admission includes an all-you-can-eat buffet (with cash bar) and five raffle tickets. Additional raffle tickets are five for $10. Ticket-holders must be present to win the meat raffle. The event also includes a 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $5 each or four for $20 (winners need not be present). In 2016, the Mundelein Police Department raised nearly $38,100 for Special Olympics Illinois. The goal in 2017 is to raise $40,000. For more information, contact Jennifer Marshall at (847) 968-3775 or via email at jmarshall@mundelein.org — or visit www.mundelein.org.

Buffalo Grove

Public Works Dept. earns national award

The village announced that the Buffalo Grove Public Works Department received the Cartegraph Excellence in Operations Management Award during the organization’s national conference, held Oct. 13, in Denver. The award highlights local government bodies that demonstrate forward-thinking through daily operations and practice organizational efficiency on an ongoing basis. The Public Works Department has been using Cartegraph software since 2014 to collect citizen requests, assign tasks to employees, and manage work in the field. Using this technology also has enabled the department to proficiently track time, materials and labor costs associated with tasks performed by Public Works. The department can now quickly analyze the true costs of services provided to the Buffalo Grove community and initiate cost savings wherever possible. For more information, call the Public Works Department at (847) 459-2545 or visit www.vbg.org.

–Lake County News Briefs–