BUFFALO GROVE – As part of her small business tour series to get to know local business owners and better understand their needs during the pandemic and beyond, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) paid a visit to North Shore Distillery in Green Oaks.

“Like many other businesses in our community, North Shore Distillery suffered economic setbacks as a result of the pandemic,” Johnson said. “But over the past year, they have shown impressive resilience and innovation to keep their doors open. I’m proud to have businesses like North Shore Distillery in the 30^th District.”

North Shore Distillery bills itself as Illinois’ original craft distillery, established in 2004 by Derek and Sonja Kassebaum, a husband-and-wife team who invested their life savings into the facility.

When the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on in-person gatherings, North Shore Distillery—which regularly hosted tours, classes and other events in its spacious bar and tasting room—took a hit.

Despite this hardship, North Shore Distillery pivoted at the onset of the pandemic to help support first responders, long-term care facilities and health care providers by becoming the first distillery in the country to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to produce alcohol-based hand sanitizer, addressing a dire nationwide shortage.

Thankfully, the business was eventually able to secure funding through the Paycheck Protection Program to help cope with pandemic-related losses. The Kassebaums say they hope to expand their seven-person team as COVID-19 restrictions loosen.

“Like the other outstanding small businesses I’ve had the privilege of visiting as part of my tour series, North Shore Distillery not only offers exceptional products and exciting experiences—they also serve the community,” Johnson said. “I encourage everyone to shop and dine local when possible to ensure these establishments can continue to enrich the 30^th District.”

Johnson encourages local business owners to sign up to participate in her tour series. To apply, visit SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com/SmallBusinessTours. Once an application is received, a member of Johnson’s team will reach out with additional details.

With questions, contact Senator Johnson’s office at 847-623-3006 or by visiting SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com/contact-us.

BUFFALO GROVE – To give people the opportunity to ask questions, raise concerns and get updates about what’s going on in Springfield, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) is inviting residents to attend the first session of her monthly outreach event series, Coffee & Connect.

“The best part of being an elected official is getting to know the members of the community, but the pandemic has made it more difficult to connect with each other,” Johnson said. “Coffee & Connect will give us a chance to meet and chat safely about how we can work together to make our community even stronger.”

The first Coffee & Connect session will be held Saturday, April 17 at 10 a.m. via Zoom. To participate in the event, register to receive the Zoom link at www.SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com/CoffeeConnect.

Each monthly Coffee & Connect will serve as an open forum for community members to engage in informal conversations with the senator and each other about issues facing the region and the state.

The event is open to any resident of the 30^th District, which includes parts of Waukegan, Buffalo Grove, Vernon Hills, Mundelein, North Chicago, Wheeling, Gurnee, Park City, Lincolnshire, Riverwoods and Beach Park.

Johnson plans to host Coffee & Connect sessions on the third Saturday of each month. The events will be virtual at first, but may transition to in-person gatherings if conditions allow.

For information on future Coffee & Connect sessions and other upcoming events, visit www.SenatorAdrianeJohnson.com or connect with Senator Johnson on Facebook and Twitter.

BUFFALO GROVE – State Senator Adriane Johnson is announcing that school districts in the 30th District will receive an estimated $92,629,180 in additional funding to help address the many challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When the pandemic put a pause on classroom learning, our teachers stepped up and put in countless hours of additional planning to keep students engaged remotely,” Johnson said. “This much-deserved funding will give teachers and schools the support they need to fully return to in-person lessons safely.”

The funding comes as part of the most recent federal COVID-19 relief package. Schools, students and parents have overcome challenges that no one could have imagined before the pandemic began, including remote and hybrid learning, digital connection issues, new processes for receiving state and federal aid that normally flow through schools, and more.

Local school districts are set to receive the following amounts:
• Gurnee SD 56 - $2,824,532
• Waukegan CUSD 60 - $62,698,166
• Rondout SD 72 - $80,624
• Hawthorn CCSD 73 - $3,104,257
• Mundelein ESD 75 - $1,949,968
• Kildeer Countryside CCSD 96 - $939,787
• Aptakisic-Tripp CCSD 102 - $880,057
• Lincolnshire-Prairieview SD 103 - $286,406
• Mundelein Cons HSD 120 - $2,176,106
• Adlai E Stevenson HSD 125 - $1,029,293
• CHSD 128 - $740,601
• North Chicago SD 187 - $15,919,383

BUFFALO GROVE – With COVID-19 test positivity rates and hospitalizations on the rise, State Senator Adriane Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove) urges Lake County residents to wear masks, practice social distancing and take advantage of a new state-run vaccination site opening in Waukegan on April 1.

“A resurgence of COVID-19 could endanger lives and livelihoods in our community. We cannot risk a backslide,” Johnson said. “The vaccine is our most effective defense against the virus—please don’t let your guard down, and get vaccinated as soon as you are able.”

Starting Wednesday, April 1, a state-supported vaccination site administering 400 doses a day will open at 102 W. Water St. in Waukegan, which is currently serving as a state-run COVID-19 testing site. Appointments are required and can be made through the Lake County Health Department AllVax Portal. Residents must meet the state’s current eligibility requirements to book an appointment.

More than 4.8 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered across the state, and nearly 1.8 million residents—about 14% of the population—are fully vaccinated. However, despite this progress, the Illinois Department of Public Health is reporting increases in rates of COVID-19 test positivity and hospital admissions, signaling a possible resurgence.

These metrics will need to be appropriately addressed and resolved before Illinois can move into the Bridge Phase, when capacity limits on restaurants, gyms, movie theaters and other establishments will loosen.

“This past year hasn’t been easy on anyone, but we have almost made it to the finish line. The sooner we get vaccinated, the sooner life can return to normal,” Johnson said.

A statewide list of COVID-19 vaccine providers is available here.