A Message from Mayor Rosenthal

Friends and neighbors,

Our streets and gathering places have been empty. Normally this would be cause for concern, but it gives me relief that so many are heeding the call to stay home and only go out when necessary. Thank you for being safe and practicing social distancing.

This weekend, a resident of Kings Cove shared with me that neighbors are sitting at the end of their driveways and chatting at a safe distance to keep in touch. This kind of action continues to build social ties during these unprecedented times. I encourage HOAs and neighborhoods to find ways to continue to build social ties in smart, safe ways.

I continue to be amazed by the outpouring of residents and businesses reaching out asking for ways they can help. There is a lot we can do to help from a distance. The West Deerfield Township food pantry is seeing an increase in demand and is asking for donations. You can donate remotely here. The United Way of Lake County has established a fund to help the area’s health and human service organizations continue to provide for neighbors and communities significantly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. It’s critical these organizations have the resources they need to continue to operate at the highest capacity. You can learn more and donate here. The State of Illinois has launched an on-line volunteer and giving clearinghouse with information on how to help each other click here.

There is a need for blood donations as blood drives have been canceled. Please give blood at one of Vitalant’s 17 Chicagoland donation centers. Blood donation is safe. Right now, there is an urgent need for healthy donors to continue to donate blood to ensure hospital patients have what they need to survive. Cancer, surgical and trauma patients cannot wait for coronavirus to go away. Click here to find blood donation sites near you.

We know kids are home from college and local schools are closed. This is not a time for parties and large gatherings. We encourage you to keep kids at home to help reduce the risk to older adults and people with underlying health issues. Enjoy family time and protect our community.

Not everyone in our community is on-line and has access to the internet. Please share information from trusted sources with those in your life who do not regularly go on-line. The Village’s public access channel 10 also shares updates from our website.

Please continue to support our local businesses! The DBR Chamber of Commerce has compiled a list of local restaurants with takeout, delivery and drive-thru options. It is available here. A number of our retailers have had to close due to the stay at home order. Please see if you can order from them on-line or wait until they re-open to stock up on what they sell.

Our grocery stores and pharmacies have changed their schedules. Jewel now offers special hours for seniors only from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Whole Foods has seniors only hours for adults over 60 daily from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. Our Walgreens location has also changed their hours for inside the store from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the drive-thru remains open 24 hours. Walgreens will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. for seniors, their caregivers and their immediate family members.

When we must go out for food and medication, please implement social distancing practices. Stay a six feet from those in line and be courteous as we get through this together. Please purchase only what you need. My sincere thanks to those working at our grocery stores and pharmacies during this time. Thank you for all you do for us!

Although Village Hall is closed, staff continues to work remotely to assist residents. There will be no reduction or changes to critical emergency services, water distribution or garbage collection, however Waste Management has suspended bulk item collection to protect their employees. The Village encourages residents to conduct business online or by phone when possible. As this is a developing situation, the Village will continue to share updates using its website at www.deerfield.il.us/COVID-19 and on social media. Residents are encouraged to sign-up for e-notifications via the website as well. 

Our Water Reclamation Facility reminds residents that disinfectant wipes should not be flushed down the toilet. Even if the product says “flushable” on the packaging, please do not put it in the toilet. When these are flushed down the toilet, you are putting yourself and potentially your fellow residents at risk for sewage backups.  These foreign objects can cause blockages in the sewer lines, plug pumps and damage treatment equipment when they build up. These products belong in the trash, so please dispose of them accordingly.

Protecting our first responders is paramount during the COVID-19 outbreak. Our 9-1-1 dispatchers are asking the following questions of any caller requesting a service that requires face-to-face contact. 

• Does anyone that will be on scene when Officers arrive, have a fever and/or respiratory symptoms?
• Has anyone on scene recently traveled foreign or domestic?
• Has anyone been recently exposed to an individual known to have or suspected of having COVID-19?
• Has anyone on-scene tested positive for COVID-19?

 
We are asking our residents to review these questions with everyone in their household now. Emergencies can happen quickly and be disorienting. By knowing the answers now it will be easier to recall in case of emergency. Please respond honestly to the questions, as they help our first responders take extra personal protective equipment to avoid exposure when they respond.
 
Anyone with questions, ideas or concerns should reach out to me at hrosenthal@deerfield.il.us.
 
My sincerest appreciation to our Village staff, first responders, those in the healthcare field and other levels of government for working so hard to keep our community safe.
 
We’re in this together  – even if at a distance. And let’s work toward flattening the curve.

Stay safe,

Harriet