Workforce Services Division of Will County has announced the June schedule of its Mobile Workforce Center.

The mobile unit travels throughout Will County to help residents with resume development, cover letters, and job applications. The traveling workforce center contains 11 computer stations, high speed internet, and offers keyboarding lessons, as well as resume and job search assistance using online listings including Monster.com, CareerBuilder and Illinois workNet.

Workforce Services Division of Will County has released the June schedule of its six-workshop series.

"Workforce Services has developed some wonderful workshops to aid our residents," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh, who oversees WSD. "These classes will give residents an edge when looking for and applying for jobs."

Will County Executive Larry Walsh serves Hester Hrechko a bowl of ice cream during his stint as a Celebrity Scooper in The Sweet Shoppe at Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County on Monday, May 14. Waiting their turn for ice cream and a chance to talk to the County Executive are residents Diane Brozman (standing) and Mildred Hart.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh (left) and Isaac Sancken from 1340-AM WJOL discuss the County’s recycling initiatives and the County’s upcoming Recyclepalooza at the May 19 GR2012 Sustainability Fair during an on-site broadcast on Friday, May 11. WJOL’s morning team broadcast from the County Office Building in Joliet on the final day of the County’s annual weeklong textile collection. An estimated 1,800 pounds of shoes, clothing and household linens were collected. For more information on Recyclepalooza or Will County’s other environmental initiatives, go to www.willcountygreen.com.

     The Will County Land Use Department honored students from schools across Will County during the 13^th annual Earth Flag awards ceremony held May 9. This year 55 schools were recognized for their participation in the annual contest.

     During his opening comments, Land Use Department Director Curt Paddock expressed his pride in the county’s commitment to protecting its natural resources and the students’ interest in furthering their commitment as well.

Blaine Bowen was named Sunny Hill Nursing Home’s 2011 Schuth Gratia Deo Volunteer of the Year during the facility’s annual volunteer tea, that this year celebrated more than 20,000 volunteer hours.

The award is named after the Rev. Louis Schuth, who was a chaplain at the nursing home during its early years and is credited with starting the volunteer program. The Schuth award was one of three honors announced during the annual tea at the county-owned Sunny Hill Nursing Home of Will County, 421 Doris Ave., on April 28.

County program becoming model for nation 
      Will County continues to be a leader in the Neighborhood Stabilization Program as the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development announced this week the county’s prograhas moved to the nation’s No. 2 spot. 
          The County has successfully reinvested nearly all of the original $5.16 million in grant dollars and has earned an additional $5.3 million through the purchase and resale of foreclosed homes in the County.  The grant dollars came from the $3.9 billion Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 which was created to help stabilize areas hit hard by foreclosures and provide affordable home-ownership opportunities to qualified buyers.

The North Providence Ridge Cemetery is the latest addition to the rolls of the Will County Historic Preservation Commission due to the efforts of the North Providence Ridge Cemetery Association. At a ceremony held Weds, May 3, Leonard Seltzer, the association’s president and secretary, and association members, Lois Lewis, Barb Runty and Jerry Hauen were presented with a bronze plaque to commemorate the historic significance of the cemetery.

Located in Jackson Township, the North Providence Ridge Cemetery was formally recognized in 1883, but has burial sites dating back to the 1840’s. The first meeting of the North Providence Ridge Cemetery Association was held on April 7, 1883.

The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy Division will sponsor its first Recyclepalooza as part of GR2012, the Celebrating Sustainability event at Joliet Junior College on Saturday, May 19.

The County is partnering with Acme Recycling, Dart Container, Goodwill, Hospital Sisters Mission, Vintage Tech and WorkingBikes to offer recycling and reuse options, as well as household hazardous waste disposal.

The Will County Resource Recovery and Energy Division will host its annual textile collection event the week of May 7-11.

Collections bins will be available during normal business hours on the first floor lobby of the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago Street, Joliet.

 May is a special month for the Will County Historic Preservation Commission, marking the 20th anniversary of its founding during the celebration of National Historic Preservation Month.

Organized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the 2012 Preservation Month’s theme is "Discovering America’s Hidden Gems" and is designed to encourage exploration of local historic treasures. Will County is home to many of these "hidden gems".

The Workforce Services Division of Will County has announced the May schedule of its Mobile Workforce Center.

The mobile unit travels throughout Will County to help residents with resume development, cover letters, and job applications. The traveling workforce center contains 11 computer stations, high speed internet, and offers keyboarding lessons, as well as resume and job search assistance using online listings including Monster.com, CareerBuilder and Illinois workNet.

The May schedule of the Workforce Services Division of Will County’s six-workshop series has been released.

"Workforce Services has developed some wonderful workshops to aid our residents," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh, who oversees WSD. "These classes will give residents an edge when looking for and applying for jobs."

More than 600 people took the first step toward creating a Will County with less heroin during a multi-generational summit at Lewis University on Friday, April 13.

HERO HELPS was co-sponsored by HERO, Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization, and Will County HELPS, Heroin Education Leads to Preventative Solutions, a prevention and education initiative led by Will County Executive Larry Walsh in response to the number of fatal heroin overdoses in the county.

Smart phone users can keep up with the Will County Land Use Department’s activities by downloading the YouTOWN app, a mobile platform designed for government agencies.

"As far as we can tell, this is the first government group in Will County utilizing this free app," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

The Will County Land Use Department’s Resource Recovery and Energy division has partnered with Call2Recycle to give residents a way to safely dispose of rechargeable batteries.

Batteries may be left at the security station on the ground floor of the Will County Office Building, 302 N. Chicago St., or at the Land Use Department, 58 E. Clinton St., Suite 500, on the building’s fifth floor, from 8:30 a.m.to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Batteries should be taped at both ends, preferably with duct tape.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh and the County Board honored the Land Use Department March 15 for winning the 2012 American Society for Public Administration’s Public Integrity Award.

The recognition was given during the County Board’s regular monthly meeting. The award was presented to Land Use Director Curt Paddock during ASPA’s annual award ceremony on March 6.

As spring -- and the subsequent spring cleaning -- rolls around, remember that gently used garments you no longer want could make a difference to someone looking for a job.

"As you are cleaning out closets and dressers, please keep in mind people who are looking for employment," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. "The clothes you no longer wear could become the outfit someone needs for an interview or to start a new work life."

Residents in unincorporated Will County will be able to "go natural" with their lawns this year, thanks to changes in the County’s Plantings Ordinance.

"The Plantings Ordinance is a proactive measure that establishes standards and regulations allowing the use of natural planting elements in lots less than 2.5 acres in size," said Will County Executive Larry Walsh. "The new ordinance removes the barriers that prevented property owners from taking advantage of natural plantings for sustainable landscapes."

Fairmont students will have a safer walk to school thanks to an Illinois Safe Routes to School grant awarded to Will County.

Protecting local students was the driving force behind seeking this $75,000 grant which will pay for the engineering and construction of 1,000 feet of sidewalk leading to the school, said Will County Executive Larry Walsh.

The Will County Land Use Department has been recognized nationally for its efforts in bringing government to the people and enhancing the transparency of its operations.

The Department was notified that it had won the American Society for Public Administration’s 2012 Public Integrity Award, which will be presented March 6 during the ASPA awards ceremony in Las Vegas.