May 13 Events

Kim Stone

SWALCO’s annual rain barrel, compost bin and native plant sale will take place from 9 am – 3 pm at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville. Details are here.

Help clean up the Chicago River on Saturday morning between 9 am and 12 pm. In Highland Park, there are 2 clean up sites: 1) the northeast end of the Target parking lot or 2) the Golf Dome off the highway north of Park Avenue. Bring gloves and wear rain boots.

Moraine Township is looking for volunteers in the morning to help plant their garden, and in the afternoon to help sort food at the pantry. Details are here. You can also donate to the food pantry by leaving a bag of shelf stable, unexpired food by your mailbox during Saturday’s Postal Food Drive.

Thank You!

Kim Stone

I am truly honored to have the support of Highland Park residents. This campaign was a community effort, and I am grateful to all those who helped in any way — from displaying a yard sign to knocking on doors to voting. The level of engagement in local issues in Highland Park is encouraging, with over 20 people on the ballot in the local elections and robust discussion of many issues.

Over the next four years, I look forward to working with the Mayor and my Council colleagues to advance sustainable policies, make sure we spend our money efficiently and effectively, make our streets safer for pedestrians and cyclists, and further enhance the lives of our residents.

Trash Updates

Kim Stone

The compost pick up program begins again this week. You can request a third cart from Lakeshore for no cost for both yard waste and food scraps. This is available to all Highland Park residents regardless of which trash program you have chosen. There are two different options – you can purchase stickers at local hardware and grocery stores and pay as you go, or sign up for a seasonal subscription. Details are here.

Highland Park’s spring trash collection days are scheduled for April 29, May 6, 13 and 20. Electronic waste, yard waste, and over one cubic yard of construction waste will not be picked up. If you have a bulky item under 50 pounds, you can place it next to your trash cart for pick up on your regular trash collection day, rather than waiting for spring clean up. Details are here. You can also put one large, or three small electronics at the curb on your first trash pick up day of the month. Electronic waste, styrofoam, and paired shoes can also be dropped off at the City’s recycling center. 1180 Half Day Road, from 7 am – 1 pm any Tuesday or the first Saturday of the month. Details are here.

Please Vote and Bring a Friend

Kim Stone

Turnout in the municipal elections is typically low. Please help change this trend by voting tomorrow, Tuesday, April 4. Polls will be open from 6 am to 7 pm. You can confirm your polling place and registration here. If you previously voted at Northwood Jr. High, your new polling place is the Chinese Christian Union Church, 1506 Half Day Rd. (just west of 41 on the south side of the street.)

There are 22 candidates running for positions at the City, School Districts 112 and 113 and Park District. Many people have been asking how to learn about the candidates. The most comprehensive source of information is the League of Women Voter’s Candidate Guide. Candidates for either Moraine or West Deerfield Township will also be on your ballot along with Trustees for College of Lake County.

Be a Voter

Kim Stone

It’s time to vote. Are you an early voter or do you prefer to go on election day? Please look at your calendar now, and mark a time to go vote. Turnout has been very low so far, and I ask for your help to change that. Please encourage others to vote. Bring a friend with you to the polls. Please cut and paste the below voting information into an email or text and send it to your friends, family and colleagues. Thank you!

Early Voting:
Highland Park Police Station, 1677 Old Deerfield Rd.
Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm and Saturday from 9:00 am – 2:00 pm through April 1
Additional Early Voting options:
You can early vote early at any Lake County early polling location, and some have extended hours. A list of locations and hours is here.

Election Day:
On Tuesday, April 4 polls will be open from 6 am – 7 pm. Click here to confirm your polling place and registration. If you previously voted at Northwood Jr. High, your new polling place is the Chinese Christian Union Church, 1506 Half Day Rd. (just west of 41 on the south side of the street.)

Coal Tar Sealant Ban Introduced – Take Action

Kim Stone

There is a hearing Tuesday, March 14 on a bill to ban the use and sale of coal tar sealants in Illinois. Several local municipalities, including Highland Park, have banned these sealants in order to protect our health and environment. You can help support this bill by filing a witness slip as a proponent of the original bill and amendment 1. This will take 3 minutes of your time. Click here to support the bill. If you’d like more information on HB 2958, click here and enter the bill number. Thank you to State Representative Laura Fine for introducing this bill.

Candidate Forum, Voter Guide and Polling Place Changes

Kim Stone

Come hear from candidates for City Council, Park District, and both School Boards at the Candidate Forum sponsored by League of Women Voters on March 19 from 1 – 4:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. You can read about the local candidates in this voter guide. Some polling places in Highland Park have changed. Click here to confirm your voter registration and polling place location.

Complete Streets: Good for Business

Kim Stone

We are fortunate to live in a community with excellent bicycle and pedestrian access, and I am proud of my work to ensure that future projects maintain the walkability so integral to Highland Park’s character.  Complete streets play an important role in livable communities, where all people – regardless of age, ability or mode of transportation – feel safe and welcome on the roadways.

A new book states what I have long believed: “…it’s pedestrians (and now bicyclists in increasing numbers) that drive sales to street-level businesses, not drivers of cars. There is now an ever-increasing amount of research that demonstrates conclusively that changes to our streets which support bike and pedestrian activity have a profoundly positive impact on street-level businesses.“

Coal Tar Sealants Banned in Highland Park

Kim Stone

I am pleased to report that the Highland Park City Council has voted to ban the use and sale of Coal Tar Sealants. Coal tar is a known human carcinogen. These sealants do not provide any structural advantage to pavement – they just make it look black. There are alternatives available which are less toxic and similarly priced.

We are lucky to live so close to Lake Michigan. With our proximity to the lake comes a  responsibility to protect it. Lake Michigan is part of the Great Lakes Basin which is the largest freshwater system on earth. The Great Lakes contain 18% of world supply of fresh surface water and 90% of US supply. Our drinking water comes from Lake Michigan. The choices we make do have an impact on the health of our Great Lakes.