WELCOME FROM THE CHAMBER PRESIDENT

The Grayslake Chamber of Commerce extends a warm welcome to everyone. The Chamber, founded in 1950, continues to be a driving force throughout the community. Whereas most chambers’ sole focus is on business growth and development, the Grayslake Chamber, in addition, is the premier civic organization in town, sponsoring various events such as the Craft Beer Fest, Arts Festival & Wine Tasting, 5K Fun Run, Color Aloft Balloon Festival, Business Trick-or-Treating, the Annual Tree Lighting ceremony, and of course, Summer Days. Not only is this good for our businesses, but it also spreads goodwill and fosters a community’s spirit unlike any in Lake County.

The Chamber of Commerce provides its members with many benefits and business services. These include joint advertising programs, sponsorships, newsletters, customer referrals, informational membership meetings, seminars targeted to specific needs of the business owner and many opportunities to network and make new contacts and relationships. The Chamber is also very active in local, state and federal issues regarding business. The Grayslake Chamber continues to grow and prosper, with membership of more than 210.

The Chamber enjoys excellent working relationships with the village, economic development commission, park district, township and schools. We all work together for the betterment of the community.

Please visit www.grayslakechamber.com or call (847) 223-6888 for additional information about the community, its businesses or how the Chamber can help your business grow.

Sincerely,

Philip Bruno
Chamber President

WELCOME FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Located in the heart of Lake County, the community of Grayslake, with its unique blend of old and new, is an ideal place to live and work.

In this guide, you will find a business directory with both alphabetical and categorical lists of Chamber members who represent the excellent service providers and retail establishments available to you in the Grayslake area.

We hope you will patronize those businesses whose Chamber of Commerce membership reflects their strong commitment to serving the Grayslake community. We also hope you will find this guide to be a useful reference.

Sincerely,

Karen Christian Smith, IOM
Executive Director

The Grayslake Chamber of Commerce serves its members and the community at large, through a large variety of programs and publications. More than 210 businesses and organizations currently belong to the Grayslake Chamber.

New Business contacts

Business mixers: An opportunity to meet fellow members of the business community in a relaxed setting.

Monthly membership meetings: Programs and items of interest to the business community.

Annual golf outing: Traditionally held in June.

Networking with other Chambers: Joint meetings and expo throughout the year with neighboring Chambers of Commerce.

Publicity & exposure

Community resource guide: Distributed to more than 14,000 households and businesses, this guide lists Chamber member businesses alphabetically and categorically. Advertising opportunities are available.

Newsletters: Monthly Chamber publication highlights new members, lists latest Chamber events and provides up-to-date business news.

New resident packets: Welcoming packets sent to new residents featuring information on Grayslake, as well as advertising materials by our Chamber members.

Referrals: When receiving requests for goods or services, the Chamber refers members.

Mailing lists & labels: Lists and labels of Chamber members are made available to members only.

Chamber website: Free link on the Chamber website is available to all members. Members may also post events, job postings and hot deals free of charge.

Social media: Business events/highlights posted on Chamber social media sites.

Community Involvement

Scholarship: The Chamber awards Joanne W. Lawrence and Shirley A. Christian/Grayslake Chamber Scholarships to graduating seniors from the area.

Economic development: The Chamber has representation on the Grayslake Economic Development Commission, which has numerous business support services, grants, low-interest loan programs and other incentives.

Philip Bruno, President
Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Ltd.
410 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake
(847) 223-8122
Pdbruno4334@yahoo.com

Grace Brown, President Elect
NorStates Bank
1777 N. Cedar Lake Rd., Round Lake Beach
(847) 775-8206
Grace.brown@norstates.com

Rhonda Harden, Past President
Community Trust Credit Union
1263 N. Rte. 83, Grayslake
(847) 662-2050
Rhonda.harden@ctcu.org

Kelly Buchman, Director
Drs. Sellke & Reily
30 N. Slusser St., Grayslake
(847) 223-2876
kellysr@ameritech.net

Eileen Falson, Director
Shear Genius Salon
31 S. Seymour, Ste. D, Grayslake
(847) 231-6640
Falson5@att.net

Richard Gaddis, Director
Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, Ltd.
410 E. Belvidere Rd., Grayslake
(847) 223-8122
rgaddis@strangfuneral.org

Mark Hamilton, Director
Churchill, Quinn, Richtman & Hamilton
2 S. Whitney St., Grayslake
(847) 223-1500
mhamilton@grayslakelaw.com

Maribeth Hamm, Director
Nor States Bank
1601 N. Lewis Ave., Waukegan
(847) 775-8510
Maribeth.Hamm@NorStates.com

Kieran Kirby, Director
Warren Electric
33261 N. Rte. 45, Grayslake
(847) 223-8691
kkirby@warren-electric.com

Greg Koeppen, Director
Lake County Farm Bureau
70 US Hwy. 45, Grayslake
(847) 223-6506
gkoeppen@ameritech.net

Steve Lawrence, Director
Baird & Warner Real Estate
216 Peterson Rd., Libertyville
(847) 367-1855
steve.lawrence@bairdwarner.com

Julie Myrdal, Director
Drs. Sellke & Reily
30 N. Slusser St., Grayslake
(847) 223-2876
juliesr@ameritech.net

Tim Perry, Director
State Bank of The Lakes
50 Commerce Dr., Grayslake
(847) 548-2700
tperry@sbotl.com

Tim Rafferty, Director
Rudolph’s Furniture
11 S. Rte. 83, Grayslake
(847) 223-5497
rudysfurn@aol.com

Jim Starwalt, Director
Better Homes & Garden Real Estate
783 Barron Blvd., Grayslake
(847) 548-2625
Jim@StarHomeTeam.com

Linda Wegge Slipke, Director
ATC Wegge
265 Center St., Grayslake
(847) 223-0777
lws@atcwegge.com

Karen Christian-Smith, IOM
Executive Director, Grayslake Chamber
Marlon Rodas, Marketing Director

UNITED STATES SENATORS

Senator Richard J. Durbin
(312) 353-4952 | (202) 224-2152

Senator Tammy Duckworth
(312) 886-3506 | (202) 224-2854

REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS

10th Congressional District
Brad Schneider
(847) 383-4870 | (202) 225-4835

ILLINOIS STATE OFFICIALS

Governor: Bruce Rauner
Lieutenant Governor: Evelyn Sanguinetti
Comptroller: Leslie Geissler Munger
State Treasurer: Michael W. Frerichs
Attorney General: Lisa Madigan
Secretary of State: Jesse White

ILLINOIS STATE SENATORS

31st Senatorial District
Melinda Bush
(847) 548-5631
(217) 782-2115 – Springfield

ILLINOIS STATE REPRESENTATIVES

62nd Representative District
Sam Yingling
(847) 231-6262
(217) 782-7320 – Springfield

OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS

Lake County Courthouse
18 N. County St., Waukegan

Circuit Court Clerk – Erin Cartwright Weinstein
(847) 377-3380

Coroner – Dr. Howard Cooper
(847) 377-2200

County Clerk – Carla Wyckoff
(847) 377-2400

Recorder – Mary Ellen Vanderventer
(847) 377-2061

Sheriff – Mark Curran
(847) 377-4000

State’s Attorney – Michael Nerheim
(847) 377-3000

Treasurer – David B. Stolman
(847) 377-2323

LAKE COUNTY BOARD

Serving Grayslake
District No. 6: Jeff Werfel

REGIONAL SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS

Roycealee Wood
800 Lancer Ln., Grayslake
(847) 543-7833

VILLAGE GOVERNMENT

Grayslake Village Hall
10 S. Seymour Ave.
(847) 223-8515
www.villageofgrayslake.com

Village Officials

Mayor: Rhett Taylor
Village Clerk: Cynthia E. Lee

The Village of Grayslake uses the Mayor-Trustee form of government. The board consists of the mayor, six village trustees and a village clerk. All officials are elected for four-year terms. These eight elected and appointed officials manage village services from the village hall. Call village hall for community or local government information.

Trustees

Elizabeth Davies
Ron Jarvis
Heather Nicodemus
Adam Shores
Shawn Vogel
Kevin D. Waldenstrom

VOTER REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Grayslake residents can register to vote at the Grayslake Area Public Library, 100 Library Ln.; County Clerk’s office in Waukegan; or Avon Township, 433 E. Washington St., Round Lake Park.

To register, you must be a Grayslake resident for at least 30 days prior to the election. Bring two current forms of identification with your name and Grayslake address on them.

For absentee voters not able to be in their precinct on Election Day, Avon Township conducts absentee voting three weeks prior to each election.

For more information, contact Avon Township, (847) 546-1446.

On-street parking
Parking is not allowed on any village street between 3 and 5 a.m. or after 1 inch or more of snow has fallen. If you have overnight guests, or if your vehicle is disabled on a village street, notify the police department as soon as possible.

Water and sewer
Water and sewer bills may be paid at the village hall. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. During regular business hours, you may pay your bill inside village hall or use the convenient night deposit on the south side of the building. Various payment options, such as credit card or online payment, are also available. For more information, call (847) 223-8515 or visit www.villageofgrayslake.com.

Building department
The building department, (847) 223-8515, located in the village hall, issues permits for any building or property changes including decks, fencing, patios, yard sheds, paving, etc. Consult with the building department before making any interior or exterior changes to your property.

Pets
Owners are required to abide by the leash law whenever an animal is off the owner’s property. Additionally, owners are responsible for the removal of their animal’s waste from public and private property.

Landscape waste disposal
Illinois law requires that landscape waste, consisting of leaves, grass clippings and woody material be excluded from landfill disposal. Residents who wish to dispose of their landscape waste have two options. First, you can create a compost pile that will naturally decompose the yard waste. Secondly, you can subscribe to Waste Management’s yard waste service at a flat monthly fee. To arrange for this service, contact Waste Management at (847) 395-2020.

Garbage pickup
The village contracts with Waste Management for refuse pickup. When you call the village hall to establish an account, you will be advised of your pickup day. Containers may be on the parkway only from 6 p.m. the night before pickup until 6 p.m. the day of pickup. The village’s contract provides for the pickup of garbage deposited only in the automated cart.

If you have additional garbage for pickup, call Waste Management and make direct arrangements with them for a special pickup. Waste Management charges for special pickups. They are not included in the standard service provided by the village contract.

Recycling
Under the village’s refuse contract, each single-family home is provided with a green recycling cart for curbside recycling. Residents may place the following materials in the recycling cart at the curb: newspaper, magazines, glass bottles and jars, PET and HDPE plastic bottles. A recycling center is located at the Grayslake Public Works Department facility (at the end of Berry Avenue, east of Route 83). The center is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon, and accepts newspaper, aluminum cans, cardboard, washed glass and plastic. Electronics are also accepted.

Village of Grayslake Senior Center
The Grayslake Senior Center is located at 50 Library Ln. at the south entrance of the Library Lane Residences. The center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A variety of programs are offered daily and weekly. Exercise equipment, pool table and computers are also available at no charge for Grayslake residents. A hot meal is served at noon Monday through Friday. Advance registration is required by phone or in person.

The Village of Grayslake has contracted with Catholic Charities to manage and operate the senior center. For more information, contact Sharon Wold, senior center manager, at (847) 543-1041.

Grayslake Aquatic Center
The Esper A. Peterson Foundation Family Aquatic Center is located at 250 Library Ln. and is open Memorial Day through Labor Day from noon to 8 p.m. daily. Amenities include a 180-foot tube slide, 120-foot body slide, poolside climbing wall, seven water play features, zero-depth entry, sand play area, and full-service concession stand.

The aquatic center is also available for birthday parties and after-hour rentals. For additional information, visit www.swimgrayslake.com or call (847) 223-POOL.

Grayslake Youth Center NFP, Inc./The Oasis
The Grayslake Youth Center NFP/The Oasis is located at 151 Hawley St. in downtown Grayslake. Its mission is “to be the place of choice for students to go after school, evenings and weekends. To provide a safe and stimulating environment to interact with others in the same age group.”

The Oasis provides live music on stage with its state-of-the art sound system on weekends, and study areas with homework assistance on a drop-in basis on specified evenings during the school year. In addition, snacks and games are available. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 3 to 9 p.m. (free admission), Friday and Saturday from 3 to 11 p.m. ($5 donation). Sundays are available to rent for private parties.

It is closed on holidays. For more information, visit www.oasisgrayslake.com, email info@oasisgrayslake.com or call (847) 986-2799.

Avon Township
433 E. Washington St.
Round Lake Park, IL 60073
Phone: (847) 546-1446
Fax: (847) 546-9409

Some of the many services offered at the Avon Township center include:

• Food pantry
• General and emergency assistance to person and/or families to assist them in meeting basic living expenses and in need according to written standards.
• Handicapped parking applications
• R.T.A. Senior Fare passes

The Grayslake Historical Society and the village’s Heritage Center and Museum work together each year to bring an aspect of local history to those who visit the lovely park across the street from the Grayslake Village Hall.

Beginning this summer, the partners will bring the public a weatherproof exhibit called “From Statehood to Center Street: Grayslake & Illinois History” which will likely be on display until mid to late-2019, said Michelle Poe, interim director of the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum, and Charlotte Renehan, president of the Grayslake Historical Society.

The five-panel exhibit details how the northern portion of Illinois, from the southern edge of Lake Michigan northward, was not originally part of Illinois. Those 8,000 square miles were slated to become part of Wisconsin instead. But access to Lake Michigan was deemed extremely important, so the state line was moved northward in 1818, setting up all of Lake and Cook counties (and 12 others) to become part of Illinois.

It also gives information about the arrival of William M. Gray to Illinois during the 1830s; his homesteading of land along the lake that would eventually be dubbed with his name; and then the incorporation of the growing community nearby in 1895.

State parks, state capitols and the Sears Tower landmark in Chicago are then covered, alongside corresponding information and photos of Grayslake’s historic commercial highlights like the Grayslake Gelatin Factory, the Wisconsin Condensed Milk Company and the first village hall.

Additional panels cover tragedies throughout the state like the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, a huge mine fire in 1909 and changes in the flow of the Mississippi River, which altered the location of the state capital; as well as local disasters like fires at the Wilbur Lumber Company, deaths at a village lift station and major floods in 1938 and 2017.

The last two panels cover notable state and Grayslake buildings and icons/symbols, as well as latter day development that brought interstate highways to Illinois and made Grayslake much more accessible to Chicagoans and those living in other suburbs.

Exhibit viewers will notice that Grayslake and Illinois histories often paralleled. For instance, in the spring of 1881, deforestation along the Mississippi River had dire consequences for Illinois’ first capital city, Kaskaskia. The lack of trees weakened the river banks and, after a large rainfall, the river altered its course. Water surrounded Kaskaskia, flooding much of the city and turning what remained into an island.

Grayslake as also experienced major flooding. In 1938, heavy rainfalls filled low lying areas with water and caused Grays Lake to overflow its banks. The water was so deep that residents could fish for carp on Center Street.

Another parallel can be seen with one of Illinois’ greatest tragedies that happened in 1909 at the St. Paul Mine Company in Cherry, Illinois. A kerosene lamp ignited a nearby hay cart, causing a major fire that filled the tunnels below with smoke and fire. The first wave of rescuers lost their lives. Of the 480 workers present, 259 died.

Grayslake never had a mining disaster, but four public works employees perished in 1974. The men, friends who regularly ate breakfast together before work, tried to help each other escape the village lift station but were overcome by toxic fumes. A plaque at village hall honors their memory.

“We want the public to think about Illinois’ Bicentennial this year, so there was no question about what our annual outdoor exhibit would cover,” Renehan said. “The Heritage Center put together the state part of the exhibit and the Historical Society handled the Grayslake history.”

“I expect that people will zero in on the disasters panel, because that is what people generally do,” she added. “But I hope that they will now understand the role that Grayslake played in the development of the whole state of Illinois.”

“All of us in Illinois are part of one big community and we also want everyone to see this and understand how Illinois’ various treaties and laws have impacted Grayslake throughout its history,” Poe added.

If you are interested in learning more about the rich history of Grayslake, visit the Grayslake Heritage Center, a joint effort of the Grayslake Historical Society and the Village of Grayslake, at 164 Hawley St.

The Heritage Center is open from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday and from noon to 4 p.m., Thursday through Sunday. It is also open by appointment and during major downtown Grayslake events. Good will donations are gratefully accepted.

For more information, contact the Heritage Center at 847-543-1745 log onto www.grayslakeheritagecenter.com; or phone the Grayslake Historical Society at (847) 223-7663 or visit www.grayslakehistory.org.

The Grayslake-Hainesville Police Department and the Grayslake Fire Protection District, led by Chief Phil Perlini and Chief John Christian, respectively, ably serve the Grayslake community, day in and day out – dealing with whatever emergencies and issues come their way.

Police
The Grayslake-Hainesville Police Department has 31 full-time sworn officers, 11 part-time sworn officers and two full-time community service officers. The agency recently hired a new full-time officer to replace an officer who retired in December 2017 after serving the community for 29 years. The new officer is currently attending the police academy in Decatur, Illinois, and will receive 520 hours of training over a 14-week time span.

The department’s management team is also receiving ongoing training. Department sergeants and assistant watch commanders are undergoing John Maxwell Leadership Training under the tutelage of Marvin Bembry, teaching them tactics of servant leadership which will help them to stand out in their community, careers and daily lives by making a positive impact on the lives of other people.

Grayslake also continues to collaborate with other Lake County policing bodies including Mundelein, Libertyville, Gurnee and Round Lake Park in an effort to curb prescription drug abuse which often leads to opiate addiction, according to Perlini.

“We got in on the ground floor of this effort, working alongside the Lake County Opiate Task Force,” he said. “We carry Narcan, the opiate overdose antidote, in all of our police cars now and have brought back a number of overdose victims over the years.”

But the effort does not end there. Anyone who feels that they have a drug addiction problem and decide that they want help can walk into the Grayslake Police Department, 10 S. Seymour Ave., or approach an officer and ask for help.

Residents can assist with preventing unwanted drug use by disposing of their unused prescription drugs and old syringes in an approved container in the police department’s lobby. These containers are available to the public 24 hours a day. By taking these steps, residents can help prevent potential harm/overdoses by those who may want to improperly use or experiment with prescription drugs.

When it comes to community interaction, the Grayslake-Hainesville Police Department is a stand-out. Officer Amy Guzman, the school resource officer at Grayslake North High School, is once again coordinating the department’s participation in the Special Olympics Torch Run, held each June. The event covers about three miles of Route 83 roadway within Grayslake and many members of the Department participate by providing water to runners, guarding intersections and even running themselves.

The other program of which Perlini is particularly proud is the department’s Shop with A Cop program that helps between 30 and 40 local children each year. Local businesses and residents support the program, which is run entirely on donations and involves a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, a Christmas movie, treats and then a shopping outing with a police officer.

The December event annually involves between 15 and 20 Grayslake police officers, supplemented by additional volunteers from the College of Lake County police force, the Lake County Forest Preserve Police and additional officers from Round Lake Beach, Lindenhurst and Glenview.

Fire
The Grayslake Fire Protection District’s 40 full-time and 28 part-time Firefighter/Paramedics responded to over 4,300 calls for help during 2017 and are continually getting additional equipment and specialized training to further serve residents of the district, according to Christian. A new fire engine and a new ambulance will be delivered this year to replace aging pieces that have long been in service in the six-municipality Fire Protection District.

“Our focus always is to reduce risk to the district’s community by increasing fire prevention inspections, developing new strategies for dealing with hazards and keeping a close eye on how we are responding to situations,” Christian said. “We also continue to advocate for the installation of fire sprinklers in any new construction.” Research has shown that home fires become deadly in as few as three minutes. Fires today seem to burn faster and kill quicker, because the contents of modern homes can burn faster and more intensely. The installation of sprinkler systems can reduce these risks and minimize property loss.

Because of the large number of lakes in the district, firefighters need more diverse training than those in communities with less water. For instance, Grayslake has firefighters that are specialists who are also certified public safety divers, trained to execute rescue and recovery efforts in both water and on ice. They are part of the Lake County Water Rescue Team that handles calls from Lake Michigan, west into McHenry County.

“We have many bodies of water in Grayslake and in Lake County, so we need highly-trained divers available year-round,” Christian said. “All fire district personnel are trained to an operation level but we also have technicians available in the county who are trained to operate county-owned sonar equipment to do both side scans and sector scans of our lakes. Recreational boating in Lake County is continually increasing so we need to be fully prepared with the proper equipment and personnel to respond to emergencies on our lakes.”

Christian estimated that 70 percent of their annual calls are emergency medical service-related and the other 30 percent are comprised of fires, technical rescues, hazardous materials calls and other issues.

“We continually strive to provide the best service we can in a constantly changing environment,” he said.