Friends of Kim Stone

Early voting began on March 3 for the primary. Voting is open Monday – Friday from 9 AM to 4:30 PM and Saturday from 9 AM to 2 PM through March 15. Candidates who win their primary will go on to the November general election. Early voting will be at the HP Police Station, and many polling places in Highland Park have changed. To find your new polling place, click here.

Do you know someone who has a record of sustained giving and has, through his or her efforts, made a significant contribution to changing lives in the Highland Park community? Nominate them for the 2014 Humanitarian Award. Nominations are accepted by mail or by email until March 1, 2014. Click here for more information, or contact Don Miner at (847) 926-1861.

Participate in the day of service on January 20, 10 am – 2 pm at Highland Park Recreation Center. Sponsored by the Human Relations Commission and the Park District of Highland Park, the event features service projects and entertainment, including special guest speaker, Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State. Please bring canned food donations to stock the Moraine Township Food Pantry.

The City of Highland Park has installed a public Electric Vehicle Charging Station in Port Clinton Garage. More information is here.  If you are looking to install an electric vehicle charging station at home, work, or in your community, grant assistance is available. The application deadline has been extended into April 2014.  Click here for details.

If you are interested in serving on a City commission, you can find a list of commissions and application forms at www.cityhpil.com. Commission applications are being considered this month for terms starting January 1, 2014. High school student commissioner applications are due December 6.

Do you know an environmental hero in Highland Park? The City is accepting nominations of HP residents and/or businesses for the meritorious service award through November 8.  Details on how to submit a nomination are here.

The budget is the most important policy document of any organization — where you put your money is where your priorities are. We welcome your participation in the process. Council and neighborhood meetings are scheduled to discuss priorities for our City, and get input from you. Budget Workshops will be held at 6:30 pm on September 16 and October 21 at City Hall. Neighborhood meetings are scheduled for September 26, October 9, 16 and 23 at various locations.  Further details are here. All meetings are open to the public, and I encourage you to attend and participate.

Volunteers are being sought by Moraine Township to work as in-person counselors helping residents navigate the new Illinois Health Insurance Exchange. Moraine Township is partnering with the Lake County Health Department/Community Health Center to assist southeast Lake County residents to enroll for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Training sessions will take place during August and September in Waukegan and Chicago. The training to become an “in-person counselor / navigator” consists of an online training portion, a two-day in-person training course, and a criminal background check. “The process to determine what a person or family may be eligible for could be daunting for the average person or family,” commented Moraine Township Clerk Gail Feiger Brown, who has completed the training. “That’s why the Township has stepped up to assist. This program is important to our residents and will impact our community.” notes Moraine Township Supervisor Anne Flanigan Bassi, Enrollment in the Insurance Exchange begins October 1, 2013 and extends through March 31, 2014, for coverage beginning January 1, 2014. The Health Department estimates that well over 100,000 Lake County residents are uninsured, which impacts the broader community in multiple ways. Under the Affordable Care Act, residents whose income is 138% or less of the federal poverty guideline (about $27,000 for a family of three in 2013) will be eligible for the expanded Medicaid program; those with higher incomes may be eligible for subsidies to help offset the cost of health insurance based on a sliding scale. The Township is planning to assist residents in its office at 777 Central Avenue in Highland Park during weekdays with existing staff and trained elected officials. Volunteers will be deployed into the community during weekend and evening hours so that opportunities are convenient regardless of residents’ work schedules. For more information call Supervisor Bassi at 847-432-3240 or email by clicking here. Moraine Township’s website is morainetownship.org.

The state is in the process of developing a bicycle transportation plan. Help the state prioritize future bicycle projects by providing input through this survey. The Plan will become part of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s long range plan, and will guide efforts to improve bicycling in Illinois.

This is what my son said after we attended a conference on climate change this spring. I was surprised to hear in a recent NY Times article that he’s not alone.  “The End of Car Culture” states: “recent studies suggest that Americans are buying fewer cars, driving less and getting fewer licenses as each year goes by. ” A combination of alternative modes of transportation are getting us where we need to go, with less reliance on cars.  Read the full story by clicking here.