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On the cover: Autumn’s spiderwebs and other remnants can be found in surprising places like this beauty frozen in time on a frosty pane of window. Many spiders lay eggs in the fall. Often, those eggs hatch and tiny spiderlings spend the winter inside the egg sac to keep warm. nearly
31,000 acres are
protected by the lake county forest preserves .
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11 LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES BOARD of COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT
A MESSAGE from
Angelo D. Kyle, Waukegan
ANGELO D. KYLE PRESIDENT LAKE COUNTY FOREST PRESERVES AKYLE@LAKECOUNTYIL.GOV
VICE PRESIDENT
Julie Simpson, Vernon Hills TREASURER
Paul Frank, Highland Park ASSISTANT TREASURER
In the record flooding we have experienced in Lake County in recent years, we see the local impact of changing climatic conditions. A changing climate impacts all aspects of the human and natural world: air quality, water quality, plant and animal diversity, food security, thriving businesses, and safe shelter. The protected and restored lands held by the Lake County Forest Preserves are our greatest shared natural asset in tempering some of these impacts. Our lands hold water to mitigate flooding, store carbon, filter surface water runoff to improve water quality, and even clean the air. Like many of you, I want to actively help, but it can be difficult to know how. One way to be part of the solution is to support your Forest Preserves; as a user, as a volunteer, as a donor, as an advocate. There are many ways to be a voice for nature. Simply visit a preserve, participate in a public program—and better yet—bring a friend who may not know about all the Forest Preserves has to offer. Find a volunteer workday and help to clear the invasive buckthorn that is choking out our beautiful Lake County woodlands. And, consider making a monetary gift to the Preservation Foundation of the Lake County Forest Preserves. The Preservation Foundation makes it possible for each individual to help, beyond the 2.2% of your property tax bill that goes to support basic day-today operations of the Forest Preserves. A gift to the Foundation allows you to have a direct positive impact on what I believe is the most pressing environmental issue of our time, right here in our home community. As winter draws in, the end of the year is a perfect time to consider making a gift. As preserve user, as volunteer, as advocate, or as donor—any way you see fitting the Forest Preserves into your life and the lives of those you love, helps more than you know.
Craig Taylor, Lake Zurich Dick Barr, Round Lake Beach Steve Carlson, Gurnee Jennifer Clark, Libertyville Mary Ross Cunningham, Waukegan Michael Danforth, Fox River Grove Adam R. Didech, Buffalo Grove Bill Durkin, Waukegan Sandy Hart, Lake Bluff Diane Hewitt, Waukegan Ann B. Maine, Lincolnshire Judy Martini, Fox Lake Brent Paxton, Zion Linda Pedersen, Antioch S. Michael Rummel, Lake Forest Jessica Vealitzek, Hawthorn Woods John Wasik, Grayslake Terry Wilke, Round Lake Beach EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ty Kovach
HORIZONS
VOLUME 29, ISSUE 1 Winter 2019 EDITOR
Susan Hawkins, Horizons@LCFPD.org DESIGN
Jeanna Cristino INSECT ILLUSTRATIONS
Allison Frederick CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS
Allison Frederick, Kim Mikus Croke, Jackie DeMasi, Rebekah Snyder, Brittany Abrams PHOTOGRAPHY
Joan Sayre (cover), Robert Visconti, Jeff Goldberg, John Weinstein, Bryan Hix, Vories Fisher, Emma England, Joyce Dever, John D. Kavc, David Joel, Mike Borkowski, Chip Williams, Phil Hauck, Rick Myslinski, Jeffrey Moore—Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab SUBSCRIBE, UNSUBSCRIBE, UPDATE ADDRESS: 847–968–3335 | Horizons@LCFPD.org Photo and videos are periodically taken of people participating in Forest Preserve District programs and activities. All persons registering for Forest Preserve District programs/activities or using Forest Preserve property thereby agree that any photo or video taken by the Forest Preserve District may be used by the District for promotional purposes including its website, promotional videos, brochures, fliers and other publications without additional, prior notice or permission and without compensation to the participant.