Thursday, May 23, 2013
Vernon Hills officials are preparing to vote on an economic incentive agreement that would help fund redevelopment and renovation plans at Westfield Hawthorn shopping mall.
Westfield Hawthorn is just a Village Board vote away from getting permission to begin its redevelopment. Approval of an economic incentive agreement is all that stands between Vernon Hills and the owner of the shopping mall. Under the proposed agreement, the village would pay about $17 million to Westfield over a decade-long agreement. The money includes a $9.41 million sales tax rebate for Westfield-owned portions of the property, including the proposed AMC Theater. The money would help Westfield pay for construction-related costs such as remodeling the mall entrances, building the movie theater, relocating utilities and improving the parking lot. The rebate would not apply to the four anchor department stores. Westfield also requests 7.…
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
There is concern about whether the Vernon Hills Athletic Association can sustain itself financially.
To help get the Vernon Hills Cougars Youth Athletic Association back on its feet financially, the Village of Vernon Hills has agreed to forgive the organization of approximately $21,000 in unpaid bills related to its use of the village-owned Vernon Hills Athletic Complex, reported the Lake County News-Sun. At a recent special meeting, association officials asked village trustees to waive more than $12,000 in unpaid electric bills incurred by the organization last year along with six years worth of unpaid concession stand revenue totaling about $9,000, reported the News-Sun. The association cites negative football publicity, decreased corporate donations and the economy as reasons why it is struggling.
The bill, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), would prohibit all teens 17 and younger from using UV tanning beds.
Legislation to ban minors from indoor tanning beds was sent to Gov. Pat Quinn on Tuesday after being approved by the Illinois Senate. House Bill 188, sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont), would ban Illinois minors age 17 and younger from UV tanning beds. Currently, minors ages 14 to 17 are allowed to tan if they provide a parent's signature. Spray-on tanning is exempt from the legislation, as is phototherapy, which applies to situations where a physician supervises tanning when it is necessary to treat a medical condition. Radogno said in a press release that she sponsored the bill to protect Illinois minors from the serious health risks involved with indoor tanning beds. “Not only do children not realize there …
Monday, May 20, 2013
The Lake County Forest Preserve District's overall budget for 2013-14 decreased $12.4 million over the last fiscal year.
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Monday, May 20
To keep more than 30,000 acres of forest preserves in Lake County safe, clean and open for people to enjoy, the Lake County Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners adopted a reduced fiscal year 2013-2014 budget of $101.5 million at its May 14 meeting. For the fifth consecutive year, total forest preserve property tax revenues collected are projected to decrease substantially due to declines in Lake County’s equalized assessed value (EAV), and because of the district's conservative budgeting practices and wise use of available fiscal resources. The overall budget decreased $12.4 million (11 percent) from the previous year, primarily due to an $11.4 million (21.5 percent) decrease in the capital budget. Of property taxes collected in…
Sunday, May 19, 2013
The festival is slated for Aug. 24 in Grayslake.
Picture this: It's a warm August evening. As the sun's rays fade, you're soon surrounded by glowing hot air balloons. Now imagine this taking place right here in Lake County. The Village of Grayslake is planning to host its first-ever hot air balloon festival, Color Aloft!, on Aug. 24 in Central Park. The event is set to feature six balloons, along with live entertainment and a few food vendors. "Our goal is to try to build community spirit, to make it a memorable event," said Grayslake Trustee Bruce Bassett. The hot air balloon festival idea came about almost as a joke, Bassett explained. He was chatting with recently-retired resident Pat Klemens at Emil's in Grayslake one day and "I said, 'We should put you to work, maybe get a new event…
Friday, May 17, 2013
Passed by a 35-21 vote, the bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Pat Quinn, who has not yet said whether he intends to sign it.
By a vote of 35-21, the Illinois Senate approved legislation on Friday that would allow doctors in the state to prescribe marijuana as pain relief for severe medical conditions. The bill now goes to Gov. Pat Quinn for his signature. According to the Chicago Tribune, the bill covers 33 specific conditions—including multiple sclerosis, cancer and HIV infection—and includes several controls, with a four-year trial program, dosage limits, fingerprinting, background checks and licensed dispensing centers. “This bill is filled with walls to keep this limited,” the paper quoted sponsoring Sen. Bill Haine (D-Alton), who urged lawmakers to pass the legislation as a compassionate measure for those suffering with extreme pain. In opposition, Sen. …
Government teacher Andy Conneen created the bill proposing that 17-year-olds be able to vote in Illinois primaries, the Stevenson Daily Digest reports.
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Friday, May 17
Seventeen year olds could soon be voting in Illinois primary elections, thanks to a bill proposed by a Stevenson High School teacher. Government teacher Andy Conneen created the bill titled “Suffrage at 17”, the Stevenson Daily Digest reports. The Illinois Senate approved the bill on Wednesday by a vote of 43-9. It would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections, but only if they turn 18 by the time of the general election, the Chicago Tribune reports. Governor Pat Quinn supports the bill. If passed, Illinois would be the 13th state to allow 17-year-olds to vote in primaries, the newspaper reports. Related Articles: Andrew Conneen Named Teacher of the Year Finalist
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Village officials acknowledged the Stevenson High School team's second-place state finish.
Stevenson High School's boys basketball team was honored May 7 by the Village of Vernon Hills, which issued a proclamation acknowleding the athletes' second-place state finish. The team ended the 2012-13 season with a 29-5 record. The players and coaches were also honored last month by the Village of Buffalo Grove.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Village president, three trustees officially began new terms May 7.
Vernon Hills officials began their new terms May 7 when they were sworn into office. In a brief ceremony at the beginning of the Village Board meeting, Village President Roger Byrne and trustees James Schultz, Thom Koch and Barbara Williams raised their right hands and repeated the oath of office. Find complete election results on Patch.
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Middle and high school students learned about local government when they role-played as elected officials and village staff members.
Students took over the board room May 7 for Vernon Hills' Student Government Day program. For about 30 minutes prior to the regularly scheduled Village Board meeting, students from Vernon Hills High School, Hawthorn Middle School North, Hawthorn Middle School South and Daniel Wright Junior High School took the seats behind the dais and learned firsthand what it's like to conduct village business. Each student played a specific role, including Grace Ferolo as village president, Arden Floom as public works director and Aparajitha Adirajo as police chief. The participants read village reports, answered questions and conducted voice votes.
McCloud
8:52 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Ban teen tanning, but go ahead get pregnant, go to Planned Parenthood and strangle the baby, no probs, let the taxpayer pick up the tab too. more ›