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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

By a Lake Forest Love Writer The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra (LFCO) performed its final concert of the 2025-2026 season on May 3 at the John & Nancy Hughes Theater at Gorton Center. Guest conductor Nicholas Wallin led the orchestra and appreciative audience on a journey of mostly American music focused on the Appalachian region of the United States. Midwest Young Artists Conservatory competition winner Andrew Schinler performed the Rimsky-Korsakov trombone concerto on this

By David A. F. Sweet A Lake Forest Community High School student was frustrated with the 16th-century language of Romeo & Juliet. He struggled to relate to the Shakespearean tragedy involving teenage lovers. Peer Tutoring, which nurtures student-to-student sessions, helped bring understanding. “Everybody has big hearts,” says Elaine Metz about the Scout Buddies program, one of many where students help students. “The peer tutor told him, ‘You’re absolutely right,’ and got t

By David A. F. Sweet During this 50th anniversary year, no one would have been surprised had the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation (LFPF) quietly celebrated its many accomplishments and eschewed any new initiatives. But under Executive Director Jennifer McGregor, who replaced longtime leader Marcy Kerr in 2024, the foundation is charging forward with important work as it continues a decades-long collaboration with the City of Lake Forest that has helped preserve the commun

By David A. F. Sweet “Act well your part,” wrote essayist Alexander Pope in the 18th century. “There all the honor lies.” Acting well has never been a problem at Lake Forest Community High School, whose commitment to theater harkens to the school’s founding during the Great Depression. Today, students continue to carry out their roles with aplomb across an amazingly diverse selection of plays. Lake Forest High School depends on students to build sets for plays. Greek traged

By David A. F. Sweet Lake Forest Community High School has always embraced the spirit of an East Coast prep school, from the façade of its original building to the rigor of its curriculum. So how does it enjoy so many national success stories in the world of sports? Consider this roster encompassing one generation: Matt Grevers (‘03), a four-time Olympic gold medalist in swimming; Tommy Rees (’10), a University of Notre Dame quarterback who now serves as the offensive co

By David Sweet and Alexa Moreno What started as a simple classroom idea is quickly becoming a meaningful solution for families across Lake Forest. Scout Your Sitter, a startup created by Lake Forest High School juniors Claire Maguire, Jenna Nagel, Andrew McIntyre, and Emma Engelberg, is rethinking how families connect with trusted babysitters, making the process faster, easier, and more reliable for everyone involved. Andrew McIntyre, Claire Maguire, Emma Engelberg and Jenna

By David A. F. Sweet In celebration of Ragdale’s 50 th anniversary in 2026, Lake Forest Love is highlighting a few of the many prominent authors who have benefited from a residency at the campus off Green Bay Road. Christina Clancy has crafted a number of bestselling novels, including The Second Home, Shoulder Season and, most recently, The Snowbirds. As she notes on her website, “My novels feature restless people trying to figure out how—and where—they can feel at home in

By Kristin Elliott Smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of eggs highlighted Lake Forest Parks & Recreation’s 2026 Egg Hunt Eggstravaganza at Deerpath Community Park on Saturday. Kids took off in a flash, racing across the fields to collect colorful eggs, stopping only for bunny hugs and photo ops along the way. From giggles to golden eggs, the morning was packed with excitement and springtime magic. There’s nothing better than seeing families come together to celebrate the seaso

By Carol Summerfield In the 1950s, the interpretation of the American lifestyle underwent a seismic shift that was felt both inside and outside the home. As World War II ended and the massive factory-based industries that supported it sought new ways to use their machinery and floor space, they turned to the new needs of the American home. The ease of producing aluminum, glass, and plastic materials opened myriad possibilities. The factories offered three important things to