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
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.
Wipes are NOT flushable
Do not believe what the package says. Wipes clog our sewers and the treatment plant machinery. Please put wipes in the garbage. Do NOT put them in the toilet. More information from the City is here.
Spring Clean Up Cancelled
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.
Coronavirus Information
Covid 19 is a contagious virus that has been spreading rapidly around the world. There is no need to panic, but you should take precautions to avoid getting sick.
The City of Highland Park has an emergency operations plan in place and is prepared in the event our area is impacted by the coronavirus disease or other emergency matters. The City Manager’s Office, Police, and Fire Departments are in communication with Highland Park Hospital, Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center, and Illinois Department of Public Health in addition to area partner agencies, and all are taking steps to prepare, prevent and aid in recovery should our area be impacted. There is additional information on the City website, including links to the websites of the Lake County and Illinois Departments of Health and Centers for Disease Control.
Information on basic protective measures from the World Health Organization is available here. Some of the recommendations are:
1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
2. Disinfect frequently touched objects (phones, doorknobs, etc.).
3. Avoid touching your face – that’s a good way to spread germs.
4. Avoid contact with people who are sick.
5. Please stay home if you are sick. This will help stop the virus from spreading to others.
If you have travel plans, the Centers for Disease Control is recommending that people avoid non essential travel to South Korea, Italy, Iran and China as of this writing. Up to date travel advisories are here.
Be a Voter
Your vote is important! The primary election in Illinois is March 17, 2020. Early voting will begin Monday, March 2, 2020 at the Highland Park Police Station and other locations in Lake County. (Early voting has already begun at the Lake County Clerk’s office only.) Lake County voters may vote early at any early voting site in the county. On Election Day, you must vote at your assigned polling place. More information on times and locations for voting is here.
Are you registered to vote?
If you are not yet registered to vote, you can register to vote in person at Highland Park City Hall, 1707 St. John’s Avenue (call (847) 432-0800 for hours) or the Moraine Township Office, 800 Central Avenue (call (847) 432-3240 for hours). Voter registration at these locations closes February 18, but you can still register to vote at any early voting site during early voting or on election day at your polling place. Details on voter registration are here. You may check your registration or register online using the application available here.
More information about voting and voter registration is here. Please be sure to vote!
Winter Energy Tips
The cleanest energy is the energy you never have to use. Improving efficiency is also a great way to lower you energy costs. As we get into the colder months, a little bit of insulation or weather stripping can go a long way. Consider a smart thermostat – some models are eligible for rebates from ComEd. Larger energy efficiency projects may be eligible for a rebate from North Shore Gas. If you go on vacation, remember to turn down the temperature on your water heater. In the summer the electricity bills tend to go up, while in the winter, it’s the gas bill.
Check out these energy saving tips from NorthShore Gas.
ComEd has partnered with the gas company to provide FREE home energy assessments. They will bring and install a number of energy saving products and can recommend further savings opportunities.You can call 1-855-433-2700.
Climate Strike
It was inspiring to see so many young people standing up to take action on climate last week. Thank you to the Highland Park and Deerfield students who organized an event at the Ravinia Train Station. As someone who began working professionally to stop climate change in 1989, I am very excited to see younger people joining the fight and taking action. The City of Highland Park has set a goal of a 5% reduction in carbon emissions by the City by 2023. You can read about some of the steps the City has taken to reach that goal here.
Bike Fair and Family Friendly Bike Route Opening
Join Highland Park’s Bike Walk Advisory Group and Trek HP for a bike fair at the Trek parking lot, 1925 Skokie Valley Road on September 22 at 1 pm. The fair includes bike safety and helmet checks, a bike safety course, Aidan’s Crazy Bike Creations and more. Bring your bike and join us at 2 pm for the inaugural ride of Highland Park’s new Family Friendly Bikeway in the Highlands neighborhood. This new route is a short, on-street loop that is easy for families to ride. Working Bikes will be there to collect old bikes in any condition to refurbish for those in need of transportation.