52 great things about Lake County according to Chris Geiselhart

Editor's note: This is another installment in our weekly series highlighting what people like about living in Lake County. We asked that question of local environmentalist Chris Geiselhart.

When she transferred to Lake County from the Cherry Hill, New Jersey, in 1972, Chris Geiselhart says she was immediately impressed by the friendly people and solid values here.

As time passed, she recognized something else: a strong "can do" community spirit and an interest in preserving the environment in the face of development pressure.

"I think one key word is access -- access to open space, whether in the form of the wonderful forest preserve system we have with its trail systems and nature activities or the Liberty Prairie Reserve with its preservation open space in cooperation with Libertyville Township," she said.

"Access to participate or expend the spirit of volunteerism with any kind of group that reflects your interests, whether organizations that I'm involved in … folk music groups, dramas and music at CLC (College of Lake County) or the Byron Colby Barn. The list is extensive."

Geiselhart taught all subjects in third through fifth grades for about 30 years, mostly in Libertyville schools. Her love of the environment began as a child in Pittsburgh. She has always gardened organically and was active in the first Earth Day in 1970.

Locally, she co-founded the Citizens of Lake County for Environmental Action Reform and organized the county's first household hazardous waste collection.

Aside from natural features, including Lake Michigan, Geiselhart says the ability of organizations to influence local government is another important aspect of life in Lake County.

"That has been shown with successful oppositions both to a proposed incinerator in Grayslake and an electric peaker plant in Libertyville," she said.

"We have amazing access to public officials who are responsive even if we don't always agree with the response."