On Monday, May 7, the Deerfield Village Board unanimously approved the pro bono services of both the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence (the “Brady Center”) and Mr. Christopher Wilson, managing partner of the Chicago office of Perkins Coie (“Perkins”) to assist in the representation of the Village in the two lawsuits filed in the Lake County Circuit Court challenging the Village’s Assault Weapons Ordinance.

Village Attorney Steven Elrod of Holland & Knight will lead the team and supervise and coordinate the litigation strategy, but the bulk of the regular legal work will be undertaken by Brady Center and Perkins. This is the same legal team that successfully defended the City of Highland Park’s ordinance, on which the Village’s ordinance is modeled.

The Village Board unanimously approved the Assault Weapons Ordinance on April 2. It bans the possession, sale and manufacture of assault weapons and large capacity magazines in the Village. On February 20, just days after the Parkland, Florida mass shooting, Mayor Rosenthal directed staff and the Village attorney to prepare a report concerning the implementation of a ban on assault weapons similar to that of Highland Park.

The Ordinance took effect April 13. Those with weapons in the Village prior to that date need to remove them from Village limits before June 13.

Get more information here. 

"Everyday Heroes Blood Drive" - Friday, May 11, at Deerfield Village Hall (850 Waukegan Road) from noon-6 p.m. Walk in or make an appointment with Lifesource to donate blood and be an "everyday hero." Get more information here. 

"Cop on a Rooftop" - Friday, May 18, at Dunkin' Donuts (499 Lake Cook Road) from 5 a.m.-1 p.m. Get a glimpse of Deerfield Police officers on the roof of Dunkin' Donuts and donate for Special Olympics Illinois. Get more information here.

Join the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO) for their annual "Rain Barrel, Compost Bin and Native Plant Sale" on Saturday, May 12. The event is taking place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at Independence Grove Forest Preserve in Libertyville (16400 W Buckley Road).

Bins and barrels are being sold for half the normal retail price and there will be a large selection of beautiful native plants. SWALCO will have knowledgeable staff to answer any questions you have about composting, hooking up your rain barrels as well as questions about the native flowers, shrubs, trees and grasses available as well.

Get more information here. 

Celebrate the Historical Society's 50th Anniversary at their Jubilee event on Sunday, May 20, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Deerfield Historic Village. 

This event will feature tours of the Historic Village, antique appraisals, historic games and activities and food service. 

All funds raised will go toward repairs and improvements to the historic structures, including the oldest building in Lake County, the Caspar Ott log house built in 1837. 

As a non-profit organization, all of the Society’s services, including the maintenance of the Historic Village, are made possible by membership dues and donations. 

This community event is made possible through a partnership between the Deerfield Area Historical Society, the Village of Deerfield, District 109 Schools, the Deerfield Public Library, the Deerfield Park District and the West Deerfield Township.

Get more information here.