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Lake Forest Love
Telling the Stories About the Community We Love
Lake Forest, Illinois
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Welcome to lakeforestlove.com, a blog destination where we curate the amazing stories of our community, shine a light on them and share them back with you.
We believe there are so many ways to fall in love with Lake Forest—the open spaces, schools, extraordinary organizations, community spirit, lakefront, retail and dining offerings, and its kind and generous heart.
We also feel there are stories about people who live and work here that you might like to know. There is so much to love and we’re just getting started. So welcome. You’re going to love it here!
Entrepreneurs Launch App to Limit Kids’ Scrolling While Educating Them
By David A. F. Sweet While raising two boys, Richard Marra endured the typical battles over when they should receive cellular phones...
7 days ago
Artists, Attendees Enjoy Festival's 25th Anniversary
By Spencer Trees The Summer Arts Festival in Lake Bluff offered a few nice surprises this year. “I didn’t really think colored pencil...
Jun 23
Safety First Is Theme at Gorton Camp
By a Lake Forest Love Writer Scores of campers ages 5-7 took part in the latest Safety Town this month at Gorton Center. The curriculum...
Jun 19
Meet the Fleet: A Big Day for Big Trucks and Big Smiles!
By Kristin Elliott (Photos by Thais O’Malley) If you were anywhere near Municipal Services earlier this month, you heard the laughter and...
Jun 16
Courtney Letts: Adventures in a Man’s World
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Part of the appeal of Lake Forest for author F. Scott Fitzgerald when he visited in 1915...
Jun 9
'We Are So Lucky to Have This': The Joys of Forest Park Beach
By Angeline Lombardi Lake Forest resident Cindy Corrigan has enjoyed visiting Forest Park Beach on Lake Michigan since she moved to town...
Jun 5
Rooted in Passion: Meet Lake Forest’s New City Forester
By Kristin Elliott Kelly Bougher, Lake Forest's new City Forester, brings a deep love for trees, a sharp eye for sustainability and a...
Jun 2
The Legacy of Edith Rockefeller and Her Lake Forest Estate
By Lizzy Grace In the 1920s, Lake Forest became a destination for many of Chicago’s wealthy, exhibiting country clubs, polo fields, and...
May 27
A Toast to the LFHS Class of 2025 from a 1955 Graduate
By Lyla Carney Ed Madsen, a proud graduate of LFHS and a member of the Class of ‘55, recently wrote a toast to the Class of 2025—70...
May 22
Community Fund Designed to Support Unmet Needs in Lake Forest
By David A. F. Sweet A few years ago, Bruce Grieve shared an idea with his friend Bill Andersen. Over coffee in Market Square, Grieve –...
May 19
Little Hands, Big Imaginations: Inside Kinderhaven Preschool Academy's 18th Annual Art Show
By Ashley Love On May 4, Kinderhaven Preschool Academy celebrated the incredible artistic talents of its youngest creators at its 18th...
May 12
Wander Through the Woods: GO Lake Forest Partners with Open Lands
By Kristin Elliott (Photos by Thais O'Malley) Lake Forest Parks & Recreation and Lake Forest Open Lands recently joined forces to host...
May 8
Lake Forest Pet Supply Store Barks Up the Right Tree
By Cara Goldstone In 1974, a Northbrook toddler fled from her stroller and returned to her bewildered parents with a stray cat in tow. A...
May 5
‘Such Togetherness’: Lake Forest Author Brings Stories to Children in Need
By Cara Goldstone Ellen Stelter has always had a passion for education; as a longtime French teacher and 25-year resident of Lake Forest,...
Apr 28
Egg-citement, Smiles and Fun at Deerpath!
By Kristin Elliott (Photos by Thais O'Malley) Families gathered at Deerpath Community Park on Saturday for Lake Forest Parks &...
Apr 24
A Fairytale Come to Life: LFHS Cinderella Production Set to Spark Magic
By Cara Goldstone From storybooks read aloud to classic Hollywood productions, there are countless ways to tell a fairytale—but perhaps...
Apr 21
Georgian-Style Estate to Be Featured During Lake Forest Showhouse & Gardens
By a Lake Forest Love Writer The Lake Forest Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago will transform a limestone Georgian-style...
Apr 17
Magdalena European Med Spa Helps Clients Achieve Skin Goals
By David A. F. Sweet Magdalena Wesolowski  runs Magdalena European Med Spa at 272 E. Deerpath Rd. After studying in Europe, she worked...
Apr 14
Scout Driver Encourages Teen Safety on the Road
By Cara Goldstone A Lake Forest resident for 24 years, teacher, and father of four children, Dave Balmelli understands the importance of...
Apr 7
Fitzgerald Exhibit Explores Lake Forest's Influence on His Books
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff It’s been 100 years since The Great Gatsby was published on April 10, 1925, but the work...
Apr 3
Lake Forest Dance Academy: Passion, Performance and Community
By Kristin Elliott The energy, talent, and artistry of Lake Forest Dance Academy (LFDA) were on full display at Passion to Dance 2025, a...
Mar 31
Rolek, LF/LB Chamber Highlight the Arts in Lake County
By Cara Goldstone Passionate local business and arts advocate Joanna Rolek has served as the executive director of the Lake Forest/Lake...
Mar 24
Silence Is Golden: LFHS New Media Program Honored for Film
By Cara Goldstone A little boy scrawls cartoon characters on his homework; he skips recess to doodle indoors. As he ages, he makes a...
Mar 20
The Hole Story: New Bagel Shop Draws a Crowd
By David A. F. Sweet Once Adam Dlatt and his brother-in-law bought Once Upon a Bagel in Highland Park in 2022, they started to receive...
Mar 17
Breakfast of Champions: Boys Enjoy Pancakes with Police
By Kristin Elliott During the Lake Forest Parks & Recreation's Pancakes with the Police on Saturday, a great time was had by all. Moms,...
Mar 10
Dickinson Hall Gives Seniors 'A Place to Go and Feel Comfortable'
By David A. F. Sweet In Lake Forest, a century-old Georgian brick building is dedicated to helping seniors with the challenges of aging,...
Mar 6
ARCC Helps Businesses Thrive by Navigating Complex Rules, Regulations
By David A. F. Sweet ARCC Consulting began to help businesses navigate launching and then establishing a strong financial background by...
Mar 3
New Women’s Clothing Store Offers High-Quality Athleisure, Styling Advice
By David A. F. Sweet Lindsay Signa is the manager of Lux Lane Boutique, which opened on Feb. 6 this year. Situated on Deerpath Road, the...
Feb 24
GLASA Gives Young Woman Chance to Play Hockey Despite Rare Genetic Condition
By Cara Goldstone Chicago native Ashley Phillips was not always an athlete; growing up, she preferred nature walks to high-intensity...
Feb 20
Remembering African American Roots in Lake Forest Neighborhoods
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff  Several neighborhoods in Lake Forest have long roots in the community’s African...
Feb 17
Lake Bluff Native Poised to Make Major-League Effort to Join Brewers
By David A. F. Sweet In his brief career in pro baseball, Lake Forest High School alumnus Caleb Durbin has played for a few little-known...
Feb 10
Celebrating Weirdness: LFC Professor’s Poetry Book Poised to Be Published
By Cara Goldstone Next year will mark Dr. Benjamin Goluboff’s 40th teaching English at Lake Forest College; this year will see the...
Feb 6
‘Always Game for It’: Amy Budde, LFC ’19, Back at the Rink
By Cara Goldstone Amy Budde’s hockey career has been global; the former Lake Forest College’s women’s player traveled to play...
Feb 3
Curiosity and Creativity Thrive at Kinderhaven Preschool Academy
By Kristin Elliott Kinderhaven Preschool Academy, a beloved part of Lake Forest Parks & Recreation, offers children a warm and nurturing...
Jan 27
Expanded Baseball, Softball Programs Bring New Opportunity to Lake Forest Youth
By Cara Goldstone With a window overlooking 10 acres of synthetic turf and a stunningly organized desk, the office of Lake Forest...
Jan 23
'We Do It Because We Love the Job:' Rick Discusses New Role as Fire Chief
By David A. F. Sweet A Mundelein native, Lake Forest Fire Department Fire Chief Andy Rick graduated from the University of Iowa in 2006...
Jan 20
Steep Toboggan Run at Winter Club Thrilled Many
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff The Winter Club began in the early 20th century amid a flurry of new clubs, institutions...
Jan 13
New Senior Advocate at Dickinson Hall Helps Explain the Complexities of Aging
By Ana Jaramillo Britney Marsh, Dickinson Hall's new Senior Advocate, is excited to work with the community and reconnect with former...
Jan 9
LFC Professor Teaches Valuable Lessons to Communication Students
By Ana Jaramillo As an intern at The City of Lake Forest and a communication major at Lake Forest College, I wanted to interview the head...
Jan 6
When Local War Veterans Needed to Heal
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff  Nestled between Naval Station Great Lakes and Fort Sheridan, Lake Forest and Lake Bluff...
Dec 23, 2024
Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus Entertain Youngsters at Dickinson Hall
By Ashley Love Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus shared cocoa and cookies with youngsters at Dickinson Hall in Lake Forest recently. Children...
Dec 19, 2024
Deerpath’s New Chapter: Improved Safety, Infrastructure and Beauty for Lake Forest
By David A. F.  Sweet  Given Lake Forest was incorporated more than 160 years ago, improvement projects are an important way to...
Dec 16, 2024
‘The Department Has Made a Huge Impact on My Life’: Retiring Fire Chief Shares Insights
By David A. F. Sweet After a nearly 30-year run, Lake Forest Fire Department Chief Pete Siebert will retire on Jan. 3. Deputy Chief Andy...
Dec 9, 2024
College Students Become Real-World Reporters with Help of Lake Forest Police
By Ana Jaramillo A female resident of Lake Forest was thought to be a homicide victim. The aggressor and the victim were believed to be...
Dec 5, 2024
New Director Helps Students Find, Develop Their Musical Voices
By Ana Jaramillo From playing the trumpet in a fifth-grade band to being the campus director for the Music Institute of Chicago's Lake...
Dec 2, 2024
Towering Above: New Deerpath Golf Clock Honors Legendary Starter
By David A. F. Sweet Starters at golf courses may not play the game themselves, but they must always be aware of the time for those who...
Nov 25, 2024
New Playground Design Chosen for Beach
By a Lake Forest Love Writer Built in 2004, the Forest Park Beach playground is nearing the end of its 15-20 year lifespan, which is...
Nov 21, 2024
Lake Forest's Tree Lighting Celebration Poised to Turn 40
By Ana Jaramillo  In 1984, the Lake Forest Tree Lighting Holiday Celebration began in Market Square. The welcome sounds of Jingle Bells,...
Nov 18, 2024
Isabella Kranz Captures Jr. Miss Lake County Title
By a Lake Forest Love Writer During the 20th Lake County Community Pageant at the College of Lake County last week, Isabella Kranz,...
Nov 14, 2024
‘A Lot of Work but a Lot of Fun’: LF Scouts Hockey Annual Tree Fundraiser Supports GLASA, Club Programming
By Ana Jaramillo Aidan Carruthers, a sophomore on the Lake Forest J unior V arsity G old H ockey team, is involved in the 45th annual...
Nov 12, 2024
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