Your Vote is Your Voice

Kim Stone

It’s time to make your plan to vote in the fall election. More details on the options are here. Please note that our nearest Early Voting site has moved from the Police Station and is now located at the Highland Park Country Club. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place.

As I said in my email, if you choose to use an official drop box to return your mail ballot, it must be in the box by the time polls close on November 3. However, drop boxes will not be available on Election Day at all locations – check here for a list of locations and hours.  Mail-in ballots dropped by November 2 in Lake County will be counted on election night along with early votes. Those dropped on the 3rd will be counted with those mailed and postmarked by Election Day, but arriving later. More information on voting options, polling locations and hours is here. Most importantly, please vote early if you can, whether in person or by mail.

Share the Road Reminders

Kim Stone

On most roadways, bicyclists (including those on electric bikes or low-speed vehicles such as scooters and mopeds) have the same rights and responsibilities as other roadway users. Additionally, bicyclists riding on the sidewalks are reminded to please alert pedestrians before safely passing them, either verbally or using a bell. The Illinois Secretary of State provides an overview of essential laws and safety tips regarding bicyclists:

  • Bicyclists are required to travel in the same direction as vehicles.
  • Drivers must yield the right-of-way to a bicyclist just as they would to another vehicle.
  • When passing a bicyclist, motorists must do so slowly and leave at least three feet of passing space.
  • Crowding or threatening a bicyclist is prohibited.
  • A motorist should not park or drive in marked bicycle lanes.
  • If a motorist is turning right and a bicyclist is approaching on the right, the motorist should allow the bicyclist to proceed through the intersection first before making a right turn. Motorists and bicyclists should always signal when turning.

Read more on the Illinois Secretary of State’s website. Always remember to wear your helmet!

Trash Pick Up Rescheduled

Kim Stone

The spring clean up days that were postponed due to Covid-19 have been rescheduled to August. The new dates coincide with your normal trash collection day. Monday collection: August 8, Tuesday collection: August 15, Thursday collection: August 22, Friday collection: August 29.

Electronics and recycling will not be collected during the special summer clean up days. Recycling should go out on your regular trash day. Electronics can be left out next to your trash on the first pick up of the month or taken to the City Recycling Center when they are open. You can take used clothing and textiles to the drop boxes at the Recycling Center or the HP Metra Station for reuse and recycling.

Remember that you can put out one large item with your trash each week rather than waiting for these seasonal pick up days.

Vote By Mail

Kim Stone

If you plan to vote by mail in the November election, you can now request a ballot online here. On August 1, the County Clerk will begin mailing vote by mail applications to registered voters who voted in elections or primaries in 2018, 2019 or 2020. You may fill in that application and return it to the Clerk if you prefer. More information about voting options is here.

Updated: Trash and Recycling

Kim Stone

Curbside bulk and electronic pick up has resumed. You may place one large (bulk) item out with your trash each week at no additional charge. On your first pick up day of each month, you may place one large electronic item or three small items out with your trash. More details are here.

The City Recycling Center at 1180 Half Day Road has reopened for drive up drop off of electronics, styrofoam, fluorescent bulbs, rechargable batteries, shoes (paired) and textiles. The Recycling Center is open from 7 am – 1 pm every Tuesday and the first Saturday of the month. More details are here. Clothing and textiles can be put in either the drop box outside the Recycling Center gate or the box on the south side of the Highland Park Metra station at any time.

As I walk around the neighborhood, I’ve been seeing plastic bags and styrofoam sticking out of recycling carts. Please take a few minutes to review this list of what is recyclable in Highland Park’s curbside program. Local grocery and big box stores have plastic bag recycling receptacles. Please do not bag your recyclables in plastic. Styrofoam should be taken to the City Recycling Center. To keep our recycling system clean remember: when in doubt, throw it out.

How Can You Help?

Kim Stone

Thank you to everyone who is supporting our front line workers – health care, grocery store employees, and pubic safety. They are working very hard, and it helps them to know that the community appreciates their efforts. Many people have lost jobs or income due to the pandemic and are struggling to pay their bills. If you are able to, please consider directing donations to Moraine Township Food Pantry or the Highland Park Community Foundation. Both of these organizations support those in our community who are in need of help.

Be Counted!

Kim Stone

While you are home, please fill out the Census here if you have not already done so. The Census Bureau advises completing the Census now, even if you haven’t yet received your 12 digit ID by mail. Your information is confidential, and your response helps to direct federal funds to local communities for schools, roads, and other public services.

Trash Service Updates

Kim Stone

There have been some temporary changes to trash collection due to the Covid 19 pandemic. Bulk and electronic waste pick up have been temporarily suspended, and the City’s recycle center has been temporarily closed. Spring clean up has been cancelled. It may be rescheduled at a later date. Regular trash and recycling pickup will continue. Please hold on to electronic waste, styrofoam, paired shoes, textiles and bulk items until these services resume. Thanks for your help in keeping City staff and trash haulers safe. When these services resume, information will be posted here.

Spring Clean Up Cancelled

Kim Stone

Due to the pandemic, the spring clean up days originally scheduled in April and May of 2020 have been cancelled. Here are some ways to get rid of unwanted items in the meantime.

Arts and Crafts supplies: donate them to the Brushwood Art Supply Exchange.
Bicycles: Donate to Working Bikes.
Household Chemical Waste: The SWALCO website has a schedule of Household Chemical Waste drop off events.
Medication:  Drop them off anytime in the disposal box at the HP Police Station, 1677 Old Deerfield Road. Details are here. 
Recyclables: Put these out on your regular trash day.
Textiles: Place in a sealed plastic bag and drop off anytime in one of the collection boxes located at the City’s Recycling Center or the Highland Park Metra Station (east of tracks and south of station).
Usable items: Donate to charity or use the Highland Park-Highwood Freebox page on Facebook to get unwanted but usable items to others in the community.

Learn more about how to recycle or dispose of unusual items here and here.  Here are some creative repurposing ideas for spring.