The South Cook County Mosquito Abatement District (SCCMAD), the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) and the Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) surveillances indicate a large increase in West Nile Virus activity in mosquitoes. It is important that residents and businesses eliminate stagnant water on their properties. To avoid mosquito bites and prevent West Nile Virus disease, these precautions are recommended: Avoid being outdoors when mosquitoes are most active, especially between dusk and dawn. When outdoors at this time, use mosquito repellent.

No need to dim the lights—Mother Nature will take care of that. No worries about leg room—there is plenty of open space. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the show at Films in the Forest, the Forest Preserve District’s new series of films about—and in—the great outdoors. Each month a different feature film with a nature connection will be presented along with family-friendly activities that correlate to the film’s theme. Screenings are free and will take place monthly at different locations all over the county. Screenings begin at dusk, around 8:30.

President Toni Preckwinkle appointed Dr. Stephen J. Cina as Cook County Medical Examiner today, and his name has been submitted to the Board of Commissioners for consent and confirmation. Dr. Cina is currently the associate medical director and chief administrative officer of the University of Miami’s Tissue Bank. From 2007 to 2011, he served as deputy chief medical examiner for Broward County, Florida.

To coincide with the highly anticipated mailing of second installment property tax bills in July, the Cook County Board of Review will be opening to accept pre-registration assessment appeals. In an effort to provide taxpayers with an opportunity to take advantage of this pre-registration period, Commissioner Larry Rogers, Jr. along with U.S. Congressman Bobby Rush, U.S. Congressman Danny Davis, U.S.

Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios announced that on June 23, 2011, reassessment notices were mailed to close to 33,000 single family and 6,200 condominium homeowners in Bremen Township. Our goal at the Assessor’s Office is to ensure that all property owners are equitably assessed, Assessor Berrios said. I encourage all homeowners to review their reassessment notices carefully to be certain their proposed assessments are fair and accurate. Each year, the Cook County Assessor’s Office reassesses one-third of the nearly 1.8 million parcels of property located in Cook County.

“Today marks the first day of summer and it’s a perfect time to venture outdoors for family picnics or bike rides,” CCDPH COO Stephen A. Martin, Jr., Ph.D., M.P.H. said. “Unfortunately, it’s also a time when reports of foodborne illness and personal injuries increase. Follow our basic safety tips to help make your summer memories fun and healthy.” Food Safety: Picnics are part of summer fun, but illness should not be. Food safety when picnicking should be a number one priority: Always wash hands thoroughly before preparing food and after handling raw meats.

During the month of July the Partnership for New Communities, a non-profit group of business, civic and foundation leaders focused on bringing economic opportunity to communities throughout Chicago, is offering all employees of Cook County government a $15,000 “Find Your Place in Chicago” incentive should they buy a home in one of five new developments in Chicago.

Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C.

The Partners for Clean Air and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency are issuing an Air Pollution Action Day alert for the Chicago Metropolitan area for Wednesday, September 14th. The impacted area includes Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will counties in Illinois.

On Saturday, September 17th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm the Cook County Department of Environmental Control and Village of Oak Park is sponsoring a free Prescription Drug Take-back program. This event is a low-cost, high-value opportunity to tackle a critical environmental issue. The EPA has asked people not to flush old medications, as trace elements have been found in groundwater. Each year, close to 5,000 tons of pharmaceutical and personal care products enter the waste stream. Many survive water treatment processes and end up in drinking water.