MAY/JUNE 2024
Community Newsletter

THE NEW PARKING LOT IS ALMOST DONE!!!

For many years we have needed additional parking for park district programs, events, and rentals. With a capacity of 161 people for the community center, 27 parking spots in the lot across the creek along with Hutchins Athletic Field parking, there just isn't enough available parking. We are adding 30 regular parking spots, plus 2 handicap spots next to the building and it's almost done!! Here are some pictures of the progress:

The Park District has been working hard to offer a lot of fun events for the community this summer. Mark your calendars and come out and enjoy them with us!

Scan the QR codes, or check the website for more information about any event. 

There are so many different types of scams they are difficult to count. We will try to address some of them and how to avoid being a victim in this and upcoming newsletter editions. 

Popular door-to-door scams include bogus contractor repairs, home inspections, security system installations or upgrades, and disaster relief offers.  When unsuspecting residents answer their doors, scammers hope to:

• Take victims’ money during visits (by accepting payment for a low-quality product or service or upfront payment for a product or service supposedly to be delivered later)
• Steal items discreetly while they are inside the victim’s house
• Distract residents while another person slips inside and steals items
• Case homes to help them break in more easily later
• Get their hands on personally identifying information such as residents’ Social Security numbers or bank account numbers so they can steal their identities later.

Most likely targets of door-to-door scams

Anyone home often during the day and answers the door could become the target of a door-to-door scam. This includes stay-at-home parents, work-from-home professionals, and college students living at home. College students in dorms can be victims, too. 

Older adults are also door-to-door scam targets for several reasons:

• They’re home more often during the day and may live alone
• May have more assets or cash on hand
• May be more lonely or have diminished mental capacity
• They may be too embarrassed to report being defrauded
• Less likely to closely monitor their credit card accounts and other accounts

Always be cautious of people claiming they’re about to help you with a great product or service. It’s probably too good to be true. Also, be careful before signing loan modification or foreclosure postponement paperwork, especially if it comes from a door-to-door solicitor or someone on the phone.

Common Scam #1

In this common scam, fraudsters offer a complimentary home inspection to lure victims. Following the assessment, they may claim that your roof, plumbing, wiring, or some other aspect of your home requires urgent attention. They make a great deal to do the necessary repairs, but there's a catch — they demand immediate payment. Once homeowners pay up, the scammers vanish into thin air, never heard from again.

Naturally, there are variations of this scheme. Some scammers may use the opportunity to access your home, intending to steal your belongings later. They may pretend that everything is in order. Still, they've acquired your Social Security number or gathered substantial information about your safes, the presence of dogs, and whether you have a security system. Alternatively, they may steal your valuable possessions while you are not paying attention.

Here are some simple safety precautions everyone should follow: 

1. Keep your outside lights on at night.
2. Keep your doors and windows locked.
3. Keep your garage doors closed.
4. Don't leave personal/valuable items in view in your car and keep your cars locked - even when parked in your driveway.
5. Don't answer the door to anyone you don't know.
6. Don't let anyone you don't know in your house.

Regular bookmobile stops have been suspended over the summer so they can participate in the many summer programs and events in the communities they serve. During this time they also reevaluate all of their stops to develop the schedule that will begin in fall. As soon as that schedule is received we will share it on our Facebook page and in our newsletter.

Do you know about Doorstep Delivery??

Warren-Newport Public Library offers Doorstep Delivery for patrons who have difficulty obtaining library materials.  Doorstep Delivery is a free service available for district residents of all ages.

To make sure we are delivering items you would enjoy, please either place holds on specific titles with a pickup location of “Warren-Newport Public Library (Mobile Services)” or request a Book or Movie Bundle one week before your scheduled delivery date.

To receive Doorstep Delivery, either fill out the form below or call WNPL’s Mobile Services at 847-244-5150, option 6.  A staff member will contact you to make arrangements.  Please note that a minimum one-week notice must be given to receive Doorstep Delivery services.

We look forward to bringing the library to your doorstep!

Sharing information found in the latest Warren Township E-News:

WARREN TOWNSHIP SECURES LAKESHORE RECYCLING SYSTEMS (LRS) AS NEW RESIDENTIAL WASTE AND RECYCLING HAULER

In anticipation of the Township’s expiring contract with Waste Management on June 30, 2024, in January, the Township engaged in a competitive bidding process for a 5-year contract for the Township’s new garbage and recycling hauler. The decision to change haulers was driven by cost considerations, the Township’s commitment to customer service, interest in maintaining current service offerings, and providing Fall leaf vacuuming collection.

On July 1, 2024, Lakeshore Recycling Systems (LRS) will take over the weekly collection of trash and recycling for residential properties in Warren Township.

Sealed proposals from three firms (Waste Management, Groot, and LRS) were opened publicly on February 21, 2024. LRS was the only vendor to provide a bid on Fall leaf vacuuming services and offered additional savings to the Township overall.

About Lakeshore Recycling Systems: LRS is one of the largest private waste and recycling haulers nationwide with nearly 2,300 employees, and they process over 3.8 million tons of solid waste annually. Since 2012, LRS has specialized in delivering exceptional customer experience for residential and commercial customers across nine states. LRS services 1.5 million households in over 160 communities and has a strong Chicago-area presence, servicing several communities in the North Shore. LRS operates a fleet of 1,400 units and operates over 70 facilities. To learn more about LRS, visit www.LRSrecycles.com.

MORE DETAILED INFORMATION COMING SOON!

Elmer C. Fallos
Warren Township Supervisor

On Saturday, March 23rd, the Easter Bunny came to the Park District for the annual parade through the community. Even though it was a cold day, the sun was shining and the Bunny was excited to see all of the children!! During the parade, food donations for the Warren Township Food Pantry were collected, and goodie bags distributed to the children that came to say HI to the Bunny.

Thanks to the Lake County Sheriff's Department for supplying our escort and using their sirens to announce the Bunny was coming as we drove down every street. Warren Township Supervisor, Elmer Fallos joined the parade, and the Warren Township Highway Department Commissioner Amy Sarver and foreman Tom Hart helped with collecting the food donations and delivering them to the food pantry for us. We were also lucky to get 4 students from Grayslake High School to drive and distribute the goodie bags for us while Amy Cassidy Deines was our bunny, Specialist Dustin Deines, with the US Army, drove the vehicle the Bunny was in, and Joel Diaz and Mike Cassidy collected the food donations.

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE THAT DONATED FOOD TO THE FOOD PANTRY!!! A special thank you goes to one of our residents that donated an ENTIRE WAGON FULL of food!

On a sad note, the future of the Bunny Parade is in jeopardy. Although the event did happen this year, it was very difficult to secure volunteers - that's why students looking for community service hours helped out (they weren't even residents of our community), and we convinced family members to save the event this year by putting goodie bags together and being in the parade! It was also discouraging that only a handful of families came out to see the Bunny, and the small amount of collections in the photo was all that was received. Of course, we are grateful for anything we can provide to the food pantry, but we collected 10x that last year. We cannot continue to ask the Sheriff's Department and Warren Township to devote 3+ hours to an event that less than 1% of the community participates in ..... it is a very good possibility that this will be the last Bunny Parade event.

Park District meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month. They are held in the conference room of the community center located at 36630 N. Hutchins Rds., Gurnee. The meetings begin at 6:30 p.m.

                                     MAY 8th - Annual Meeting (first meeting of our fiscal year) 
                                     JUNE 12th 
                                     JULY 10th 

Grandwood Park Park District Board Commissioner Vacancy

WHY MARKET YOUR BUSINESS THROUGH OUR PARK DISTRICT THROUGH AN EVENT SPONSORSHIP OR GENERAL DONATION?

•Increase Business Visibility – Your business will be featured in promotional materials giving your business another venue to not only increase visibility but also to create a year-round positive image.

•Connect with the Community – Choose from a variety of Park District events to show your support for the community.

•Find the Right Fit – Whatever your budget, the Park District offers several options for businesses of all sizes. Your sponsorship and/or general donation includes advertising in our e-Newsletter, on our website, Facebook page, Instagram, and fliers distributed at all of our events.

Please click here to download the Partnership Guide 2024