Metra Rail Schedule Changes

Metra has implemented an alternate weekday schedule to adjust for the reduced number of riders due to school closures, work-from-home mandates and other consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. The alternate schedules, which can be viewed on metrarail.com, represent about half of Metra’s normal weekday service. According to Metra, these changes will provide adequate service for those who still need to travel, and where Metra is able, they we will maintain the number of cars on trains to allow for social distancing. The reduced schedules will remain in effect until health officials deem the crisis has passed and/or ridership begins to return to normal. On a line-by-line basis, Metra is monitoring ridership and may further reduce service to meet the ridership demands. Metra has also announced that medical personnel on the front lines of the pandemic can ride for free. Reminder – the train running through Vernon Hills is the North Central Service (NCS) line.

Advanced Disposal Changes

• All trash/refuse and recycling must be placed in the company designated cart. Loose items outside of the container will not be collected.
• All bulk item pickup/collection is suspended until further notice.
• At this time, yard waste service has not been affected. It is expected to begin on April 1. While Village and Park District sites are now closed, yard waste stickers are expected to be available at other regular outlets, including Home Depot and Walgreens, or by contacting Advanced Disposal directly. 

Watch Out for Scams

First published on the Vernon Hills Police Department Facebook page

The pandemic has presented an opportunity for a new variety of scams. Malicious actors use multiple approaches when conducting their scams. They can include the following:

• Misrepresenting themselves as health professionals, either in person or by email, offering vaccinations or testing for the disease.
• Claiming to be a bank official and offering investment advice citing COVID-19 as a reason to send them money.
• Claiming to be a hospital where a loved one is being treated and requesting money be wired immediately for a life-saving procedure. 
• Claiming to be a friend who is stuck in a foreign country and cannot leave unless a virus-related fee is paid.
• Telling victims their computer has been infected with "corona virus" and offering to repair the device.
• Claiming to be a medical equipment distributor and asking for payment in advance via bank transfers, often to foreign countries. 
• Pretending to be a health official and requesting personal information in order to conduct contact tracing to identify infected individuals they may have been in contact with.
• Sending emails while pretending to be a member of the CDC, WHO or another legitimate organization asking recipients to click on links that are malicious. 
• Creating official looking websites or social media accounts used to infect a victim's computer.

The following measures can help prevent becoming a victim of a COVID-19 scam:

• Only use trustworthy websites instead of clicking on email links, attachments or pop-up advertisements.
• Change passwords regularly and ensure they are complex and varied from site to site.
• Keep anti-virus software updated and running.
• Use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
• Be suspicious of anyone initiating contact regarding COVID-19 and offering advice on prevention, protection or recovery in exchange for money.
• Do not download purported COVID-19 apps. Most are malicious, such as turning on cameras and microphones on your phone. The most reliable COVID-19 info is available from the World Health Organization (www.WHO.int), Centers For Disease Control (www.CDC.gov), State of Illinois Coronavirus Response (coronavirus.illinois.gov), and Lake County Health Department (www.lakecountyil.gov).

Also, there are NO door to door COVID-19 survey takers or inspectors. Call 911 right away if someone comes to your door claiming to be. Do not let them into your home.

Stay-At-Home Order In Place

• Reminder: State-wide Stay-At-Home Order remains in place
• Current order in place until end of day April 7
• Non-essential businesses and organizations are to be closed
• Groceries, pharmacies, restaurant take-out, delivery services are allowed to continue operations
• This is the time to work from home!
• You can go for a run or walk your dog – but keep social distance
• Help protect our hospital staff, first responders, essential workers – as well as at risk individuals and those with compromised immunity
• More information, including the Executive Order in multiple languages, is posted on the State of Illinois Coronavirus Response webpage (Coronavirus.Illinois.gov)
• The World Health Organization has ideas for reducing stress during this outbreak – with special tips for children. 

GLMV Member Carry-Out List

• Chick-Fil-A
• City BBQ
• Claim Company
• Corner Bakery
• IDOF Fresh Mediterranean
• Jameson's Charhouse
• Kuma's Corner
• Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar
• Maggiano's Little Italy
• McAlister's Deli
• Nothing Bundt Cakes
• Scotty's on 21
• Shake Shack