By Spencer Trees The Lake Forest High School Boys Varsity golf team is no stranger to success. In their time in the North Suburban Conference (NSC), the Scouts have won three state championships in the past 20 years and captured numerous NSC titles. “Our goal is to win state,” said senior golf captain Michael Hahn. Added senior captain Raunak Whadera, “We came in fourth last year, but five out of our six starters have returned, and we think we have a really good chance to

By David A. F. Sweet Growing up in the Milwaukee area, Elizabeth Sweet loved playing all sorts of sports, from basketball to soccer to cross country. She dreamed of playing varsity basketball at Homestead High School in Mequon. She achieved that goal – but few watched their games. Elizabeth Sweet's Fill The Stands helped girl athletes attend a pro women's soccer game recently. “We had a big field house, and 200-300 watched the boys. For us, it was just parents and the band

By Kristin Elliott From Market Square to our neighborhood parks, Lake Forest has been filled with free concerts, great music, and plenty of summer fun. Families, friends, and neighbors came together to enjoy everything from local favorites to lively cover bands, making the most of warm summer evenings in our community. A couple of concerts had to be postponed due to wet weather, but that extended our season, and we have one more summer night of music to enjoy! Join us Thursda

By Carol Summerfield In looking at the photos of Lake Forest’s 1800s business district, it is hard to see any hint of the picturesque city that we know today. The East Lake Forest train station and the business district looked as much like a rugged Western town as anything in a John Wayne Western film. Dirt roads, clapboard buildings, and the telltale evidence of horses in the roadways definitely gave little indication of the elegant city that was to come. Western Avenue loo

By Lucy Hanlon The City of Lake Forest is expanding its use of technology to help Police and Fire personnel respond to emergencies faster and with better information. City Council recently approved the establishment of a Drone as a First Responder pilot program, a joint Police and Fire initiative that will provide critical information to emergency responders within seconds of a 911 call. Beginning this Fall, the Lake Forest Police Department and Lake Forest Fire Department wi

By Ashley Love Photography by Jack Frede For 118 years, Lake Forest Day has been a cherished tradition, bringing neighbors, families, and friends together to celebrate our community. From the 5K Fun Run and the beloved parade to the carnival and the new Pre-Parade Family Party in Market Square, this year's festivities were filled with smiles, laughter, and hometown spirit. We loved capturing these special moments along the way. Take a look through the photo gallery and relive

By David A. F. Sweet Like elsewhere in the world in 2020, smiling faces and fist bumps with friends were replaced with masks and remote classes at Lake Forest Community High School. Despite the historic upheaval, opportunity emerged from the crisis. Coming out of the pandemic, a new leader, Superintendent Dr. Matthew L. Montgomery, took charge, while a few top administrators headed to other jobs. It was the perfect time to implement a new culture – not from the top down, bu

By Bailey Angel Citadel Theatre recently welcomed the community to its first Mamma Mia! Sing-Along, an outdoor fundraiser on the lawn of the Gloria Dei Center at Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart. Over one unforgettable July weekend, about 500 audience members packed elaborate picnic baskets, donned feathered boas and enjoyed music, laughter and community. The fundraiser brought together an all-star cast made up of familiar faces from throughout the Citadel family, incl

By Laurie Stein One hundred years ago this summer, Lake Forest entertained royalty. The Crown Prince Gustavus Adolphus and Princess Louise of Sweden visited the town on June 25, 1926. The Princess, the former Louise Mountbatten, was the great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria. The royal party traveled up from Chicago to the Great Lakes Naval Station by motor yacht, where they were welcomed by Captain Hines in full regalia while great guns roared a royal salute. After drivi

By David A. F. Sweet Those driving west on Illinois past Gorton Center will notice a vibrant new mural to their left. Members of CROYA (Committee Representing Our Young Adults) spent a week this summer painting a flowing, red-white-and-blue 250 between the words America and Illinois. Rick Day and others from CROYA gather before the finished mural. “A number of people drove by offering a supportive honk, which meant a lot to be able to feel the community support through the

By Carol Summerfield In 1897, Illinois became the first state to provide women with the opportunity to become a registered and licensed architect. And, in 1898, Marion Mahony Griffin passed the Illinois state exam, making her the first officially licensed female architect in United States history. She was also the first employee hired by Frank Lloyd Wright. But women architects were a limited group, with only one other female in the licensed architect ranks through 1920. In

By David A. F. Sweet For the first time recently, Gorton Center welcomed members of the community to Sing at Gorton, where guitarist Dave Hiltebrand played well-known songs from the 1980s and 1990s, and visitors to the Stuart Room sang heartily. “Sing at Gorton is about creating space for people to connect,” said Amy Wagliardo, Gorton’s executive director, about the free gatherings. “Singing together is deeply human. It breaks down barriers, brings people into the moment, an

By Kristin Elliott What a weekend! While the forecast kept us guessing, the weather came through just in time, allowing thousands of residents and visitors to come together to celebrate America's 250th anniversary. From great food and live music to fireworks and sweet treats, the holiday weekend was filled with hometown pride, patriotic spirit, and unforgettable memories. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, performed, sponsored, and helped make this Independence

By Kristin Elliott For generations, Bank Lane has served as a discreet connector (essentially a service alley) in Lake Forest's Central Business District, helping residents access local shops, restaurants, and services and accommodating deliveries. This year, it is taking on a new role: a place to gather. Completed in the fall of 2025 concurrent with the Deerpath Streetscape Project, the first phase of the Bank Lane Pedestrian Corridor Enhancement Project transformed the blo

By Tess Uihlein The following talk was given by Senior Class President Tess Uihlein during the Lake Forest High School graduation this month. When telling people I was given the opportunity to write a graduation speech, I was typically met with wide eyes, quickly followed by unsolicited advice. My oldest brother Mac said, “As long as you don’t talk about the definition of a Scout.” The senior class president of 1988, Vince Vaughn, told me to make people laugh, but quickly

By Laurie Stein This year marks the 250th anniversary of the United States, or “Semiquincentennial” if you’re a lover of large words. Such a milestone provides a wonderful opportunity to look back and celebrate our history – and with a full slate of events on the docket in 2026, residents will have ample opportunity to do just that. With the anniversaries of our nation, our town, and our many longstanding institutions to commemorate, the annals of such a history-loving co

By Carol Summerfield From movies and television shows, we have all seen the hall or the stairway bedecked with dozens of paintings of different generations in gilded frames, in their place of honor on the wall of a stately home. These ancestral portrait collections have been a part of society -- particularly European high society -- for hundreds of years. That tradition of having portraits of the family patriarchs and matriarchs migrated with its people to the United States.

By David A. F. Sweet Starting June 11 and running until Aug. 13, free summer concerts are being offered by Lake Forest Parks & Recreation. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m. Lake Forest Love found out more about this summer’s series from Aaron Dalzot, a program manager at Parks & Recreation. What's new and exciting with the series this summer? We're excited to bring back our Summer Concert Series with 10 concerts this season—eight in Market Square and two in our neighborhood

By Kristin Elliott Have you ever wondered what it's like to sit behind the wheel of a snowplow, climb aboard a dump truck, or get an up-close look at the equipment that helps keep Lake Forest running every day? Now's your chance! The City of Lake Forest Public Works Department invites families, truck enthusiasts, and curious community members of all ages to Meet the Fleet on Friday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Municipal Services, 800 N. Field Drive. This free community

By Lesley Fisher Lake Forest High School graduating seniors Dylan Cran and Campbell Gore were named the inaugural recipients of the Lake Forest High School Alumni Legacy Scholarship during the Scholarships and Awards Program on May 28. Dylan Cran is the son of Greg Cran ’92 and brother of Aidan ’21 and Lily ’23. Campbell Gore is the daughter of Shawn Valassis Gore ’94 and niece of Adrienne (Valassis) Stratman ’97, Lauren Valassis Hirsh ’99, and Doug Valassis ’03. Dylan Cran

By David A. F. Sweet The City of Lake Forest tapped The Cotton Duck as its new food partner at Forest Park Beach. Co-founders Cecilia Lanyon and Dominic Zumpano, who are Lake Forest residents and long-time restaurateurs in the city, discussed what they plan to offer this summer. Why were you interested in running the Forest Park Beach concessions? I (Cecilia) grew up in Lake Forest, and summertime meant every day at the beach! We are so fortunate to have access to this gor

By Laurie Stein With America’s 250th birthday coming up in July, we turn our thoughts back to other milestone anniversaries in the history of our town. The year 1876 marked the Centennial of the Declaration of Independence, America’s “first birthday party” where the nation for the first time took stock of itself as something other than a newcomer on the world stage. The Farwell family celebrates America's Centennial 150 years ago. But Lake Forest itself in 1876 was still

By David A. F. Sweet Earlier this year, the Lake Forest Police Department launched an online Crime Transparency Portal at cityoflakeforest.com/PoliceTransparency.. Featuring an interactive map, it displays incidents beyond those arrests that have appeared for years in the online police blotter. “Residents have told us they want to better understand what’s happening in their neighborhoods,” explained Chief of Police John Burke. “This portal helps us share more information a

By Liz Weithas In April, the Spirit of 67 Foundation awarded 30 grants totaling $145,905 to District 67 schools for the 2026-2027 school year. This allows Lake Forest children to enjoy incredible educational and cultural experiences that enrich their learning -- and also add a lot of fun to their school days. During Grant Week, volunteers from Spirit of 67 visited a different district school each day to announce their school’s awarded grants. At each school, they showcase