Editor's Notebook

Farewell, 2012! Hello, 2013!

I'm taking a look back at some of my favorite moments of 2012 in Libertyville and Vernon Hills.

I'm taking a look back at 2012 and remembering the great times I've had while working for Patch. I've been with Patch for more than a year and a half now. I spent the first year as the editor of Lake Zurich Patch. Then, the editor spot opened up for Libertyville Patch and I jumped at the opportunity. I've always loved Libertyville. I grew up in Lake County and always loved Libertyville's beautiful downtown. At the same time, I was presented with the opportunity to launch Vernon Hills Patch. The site launched on May 31, 2012, and has been growing ever since. I've spent so much time in Vernon Hills over the years; Westfield Hawthorn Mall is, after all, our local shopping mecca when it comes to malls. These past several months in Libertyville…

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Vernon Hills, Park District Move Forward with YMCA Agreement

The village and the Vernon Hills Park District officials vote on agreement this week, the Daily Herald reports.

A deal between Vernon Hills and the Vernon Hills Park District to keep the Central Lake YMCA building open is close to being completed, the Daily Herald reports. Vernon Hills officials this week voted on the financial agreement with the park district for it to purchase the YMCA building for $2 million, the newspaper reports. The park district is expected to vote on the same agreement at its meeting scheduled today, Nov. 15, the Daily Herald reports. The village and the park district have been working together to purchase the YMCA building, located at 700 Lakeview Parkway from the Lake County Family YMCA.

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Village, Park District Reach Agreement With YMCA to Purchase Vernon Hills Facility

The three groups reached an agreement "in principle," with the sale closing by Jan. 1, 2013.

It appears that the Central Lake YMCA facility will be saved. In a press release issued Monday evening, Vernon Hills Park District Executive Director Jeff Fougerousse revealed that "the village of Vernon Hills and the Vernon Hills Park District have reached an agreement in principle with the Lake County Family YMCA to purchase the Central Lake YMCA, located at 700 Lakeview Parkway, Vernon Hills." "It's very good news," said Park Board President David Doerhoefer. The Lake County Family YMCA, which operates facilities in Waukegan and Vernon Hills, announced Sept. 28 that it will permanently close the doors of both facilities at the end of this month. The reason for the Oct. 31 closure, as stated in a press released on the Lake County Family …

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Korrina Grom

8:06 pm on Monday, October 29, 2012

A comment from a reader on the Vernon Hills Patch Facebook page: "This is great news!!!!"   more ›

Central Lake YMCA

Take a look at all of our stories about the anticipated Oct. 31 closure of the Vernon Hills facility.

Negotiations Continue Between Village, Park District and YMCA

The Central Lake YMCA in Vernon Hills is set to close Oct. 31.

The Village of Vernon Hills and the Vernon Hills Park District boards agreed late Thursday night to continue negotiating with the Lake County Family YMCA on the possible purchase of the organization's Vernon Hills facility. After about two and a half hours of closed session discussions, the village and park district boards both voted unanimously to "collectively … continue to negotiate in good faith with the YMCA and their bank," said Mayor Roger Byrne. Hal Katz, interim CEO for the Lake County Family YMCA, said he will now relay this latest information to his board and the bank in an attempt to reach an agreement. "We know time is running short and we need to keep things moving at a quick pace," said Katz. "Time's getting so critical." …

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Korrina Grom

1:45 pm on Friday, October 26, 2012

Hi DG, The village is looking at using reserve funds to pay for the facility.   more ›

Village, Park District Offering $1.4 Million to Purchase Central Lake YMCA

The Village of Vernon Hills would purchase the facility with reserve funds, and the Vernon Hills Park District would operate the facility.

The Village of Vernon Hills and the Vernon Hills Park District are drafting a joint letter of intent that includes an offer of $1.4 million for the Central Lake YMCA facility. Hal Katz, interim CEO for the Lake County Family YMCA, said he will take the joint letter of intent to the YMCA board for consideration. Should the YMCA board find the offer acceptable, the offer will be presented to the bank the YMCA is working with for possible approval. "The next couple of days are critical," said Katz. "It gets more critical as we get closer to Oct. 31." The Lake County Family YMCA, which operates facilities in Waukegan and Vernon Hills, announced Sept. 28 that it will permanently close the doors of both facilities at the end of this month. The …

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Central Lake Y Could Be Bought By Village, Run By Vernon Hills Park District

Residents who spoke at a special board meeting Oct. 22 are supportive of the move.

Vernon Hills resident Mark Alexander can be counted among those who would like to see the village and the Vernon Hills Park District save the Central Lake YMCA. "I'd like to see it happen," said Alexander. A member of the Central Lake Y for the past 10 years, Alexander spoke out in favor of saving the facility at a special park district meeting Oct. 22. "I'm for the village and park district being involved," Alexander told the board. "I think there are some issues with the YMCA; it's not perfect. But I like it and it's convenient and reasonably-priced. It's been a real asset." Vernon Hills resident Greg Scharf echoed those sentiments. He has been a member of the YMCA for the past three or four years and said he and his wife use the …

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Vernon Hills Officials to Discuss Possible Purchase of Central Lake YMCA

Meetings are slated for Oct. 22 and 23.

The Vernon Hills Park District will hold a special meeting today, Oct. 22, with Lake County Family YMCA staff as discussions continue on how to keep the Central Lake YMCA from closing. Jeff Fougerousse, executive director of the Vernon Hills Park District, said the aim of the meeting is to "gather additional financial information with the potential to purchase the Y." The Lake County Family YMCA, which operates facilities in Waukegan and Vernon Hills, announced Sept. 28 that it will permanently close the doors of both facilities at the end of this month. The reason for the Oct. 31 closure, as stated in a press released on the Lake County Family YMCA website, is "due to insufficient financial resources to sustain operations on a long-term …

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Want to Help Save the Central Lake YMCA?

The Lake County Family YMCA has launched a capital campaign in an attempt to save the Vernon Hills and Waukegan facilities, which are set to close Oct. 31.

Vernon Hills Village, Park District Officials Looking for Ways to Help YMCA

The Central Lake YMCA is set to close Oct. 31.

The Lake County Family YMCA, Vernon Hills Village Board and the Vernon Hills Park District Board have agreed to work together to try to find a way to help the Central Lake YMCA, which is set to close at the end of this month. At a special meeting of the village committee-of-the-whole and park district commissioners Oct. 4, Mayor Roger Byrne proposed holding some two-on-two meetings to discuss options for helping the Central Lake YMCA, located at 700 Lakeview Pkwy. It was a suggestion that was met favorably by both trustees and park district commissioners. "I'm very, very fond of the Y. My granddaughter went through your daycare. She learned to swim there," said Trustee James Schultz. "From my seat, from my elected position, I want to keep …

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