Antioch’s Environmental Commission will host its annual Eco-Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 at the Antioch Township Center, 1625 Deep Lake Road, Lake Villa.

Round Lake Beach

New Teen Court subject of upcoming Fireside Chat

The village will host a Fireside Chat with Mayor Richard Hill and special guest Bruce Johnson, CEO of Nicasa Behavioral Health Services, from 6-7:30 p.m. April 26 at the Round Lake Beach Cultural & Civic Center, 2007 Civic Center Way. The topic will be Teen Court, an alternative to the traditional justice system for first-time youth offenders (ages 10-18). The program targets juvenile offenders of misdemeanor crimes such as theft, curfew, trespassing and possession of drugs or alcohol. Teen Court sentences are determined by a volunteer jury of teen peers. The offender’s sentence consists of community service hours and a TRACK (Taking Responsibility and Accepting Choices through Knowledge) class, and may include letters of apology, essays or other tasks. Successful completion prevents the youth from having a court record for the offense. Nicasa operates Teen Court in partnership with the Round Lake Beach Police Department, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department and several other area police departments. Admission to the Fireside Chat is free. For more information, call 847-201-9032 or visit www.villageofroundlakebeach.com.

Buffalo Grove

Park Board’s Reiner nets Honored Professional Award

The Illinois Association of Park Districts (IAPD) recently named Buffalo Grove Park District Board Commissioner Dr. Larry Reiner as the winner of the 2017 Honored Professional Award. The annual award is presented to a park, recreation, forest preserve or conservation professional who has worked closely with citizens and the IAPD to “improve the quality of life for all people in Illinois,” among other criteria. In addition to serving as a Buffalo Grove Park District Board Commissioner, Reiner has been the executive director of the Butterfield Park District since 2010. He also served as executive director of the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA) for 33 years. During his tenure, NEDSRA won two National Gold Medal Awards and nine IPRA Outstanding/Innovative Program Awards. Reiner, who first joined the Buffalo Grove Park District Board of Commissioners in 1987, was awarded the IAPD Mike Cassidy Commissioner Community Service Award in 2015 and the Recreation and Park Association’s State Citizen/Board Member Service Award in 1996. He also was named the Rotary Club of Elmhurst’s Man of the Year in 2001. For more information, call 847-850-2100 or visit www.bgparks.org.

Mundelein

Active Mundelein High senior awarded scholarship

Mundelein High School reported that senior Tyler Collins recently was awarded one of 10 $2,000 scholarships from the Consumers Cooperative Association (CCA), the sponsor of Consumers Credit Union. Recipients are able to use their scholarships at the college or university of their choice. Collins, who also recently earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, is active in many school and community organizations. At Mundelein High School, he is involved in band, gymnastics, the chess and math teams, FBLA, Helping Heroes of America, the National Honor Society and the Student Athlete Leadership Team. Collins also volunteers to aid veterans at the James A. Lovell Federal Healthcare Center, in North Chicago, serves as a Special Olympics coach, and volunteers at the Gymnastics Spot, in Mundelein. For more information, call 847-949-2000 or visit www.d120.org.

Highland Park

City named Tree City USA for 38th year in row

The city announced that Highland Park has been named a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation for the 38th consecutive year in recognition of its dedication to effective urban forestry management. Highland Park also received the Growth Award from the Arbor Day Foundation in recognition of the city’s innovative programs and projects, as well as an increased commitment of resources for urban forestry. A municipality must meet four requirements to become a Tree City USA: maintaining an arborist department or tree board, a tree-care ordinance, an annual forestry budget of at least $2 per capita, and providing an Arbor Day observance and proclamation. The city’s 2018 Arbor Day Celebration will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 28 at Jens Jensen Park in the Ravinia Business District. For more information, call 847-926-1043 or visit www.cityhpil.com.

Lake Forest

City offers alternative to closed Open Air Market

The city announced that it will suspend operation of the Open Air Market at the East Side Train Station. In conjunction with Lake Forest property owners, businesses and non-profit groups, the city encourages visitors of the Open Air Market to visit the Elawa Farm Garden Market, located at 1401 Middlefork Drive. The Garden Market will be open from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, beginning May 18 and running through Oct. 27. It will feature produce, herbs and flowers harvested directly from the Elawa garden and from selected vendors. More than two acres of the garden are cultivated every year, providing a wide array of heirloom tomatoes, lettuces and fresh greens, carrots, beets, squash, herbs and more. Seasonal homemade items from the Elawa Kitchen, as well as local artisan items for the home and garden, will also be available. For more information, call 847-234-1966 or visit www.elawafarm.org.

Antioch

Annual Eco-Fair on tap at Township Center

Antioch’s Environmental Commission will host its annual Eco-Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 28 at the Antioch Township Center, 1625 Deep Lake Road, Lake Villa. The event includes vendors, games, food, prizes and interactive activities in honor of Earth Day. Scheduled speakers are Tom Nowak (10:30-11 a.m.), speaking on how to plan financially for climate change; Chris Wells (11:30 a.m. to noon), speaking about personal exploration and how to incorporate land stewardship; Jim Thrall (12:30-1 p.m.), speaking about connections between land use practices and water quality and quantity; and Ed Popelka of Specialty Bee Products (1:30-2 p.m.), discussing native bees and why they are essential to the local ecosystem. Attendees can also learn about Antioch’s Community Garden, native plants and animals, organic food, recycling and more. The event also includes a Recycling Poster Contest. Entries must be submitted by 11 a.m. April 28. Admission to Eco-Fair is free. For more information, call 847-395-1000 or visit www.antioch.il.gov.      

–Lake County News Briefs–