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Lake Forest Love
Telling the Stories About the Community We Love
Lake Forest, Illinois
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!
7 hours ago
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...
4 days ago
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 6
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...
Dec 23, 2024
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 19, 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 16, 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 9, 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 5, 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 2, 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...
Nov 25, 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 21, 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 18, 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 14, 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 12, 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 7, 2024
Saluting Lake Forest’s Captain Ehret as Veterans Day Nears
By David A. F. Sweet Often it’s not easy to spot heroes. They’re humble about their exploits, and it’s difficult to persuade them to...
Oct 31, 2024
Junior Garden Club of Lake Forest Joins Esteemed Garden Club of America
By Kim Piekos Lake Forest’s remarkable gardens have added color to the town over the years, as has the work of its many dedicated garden...
Oct 28, 2024
New Website, Newsletter Share History and Beauty of City’s First Park
By Kim Piekos As you walk along the gravel path in Lake Forest’s 168-year-old Forest Park, absorbing the beauty of Lake Michigan and the...
Oct 21, 2024
When Lake Forest Home Design Was Transformed
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff The 1950s were a boom era for the United States. Growth in personal income created the...
Oct 17, 2024
Café Encourages Those with Memory Loss to Talk About the Past, Connect
By David A. F. Sweet Memory loss among older Americans is a significant issue. According to a recent report released by the U.S. Centers...
Oct 14, 2024
Elawa Farm Capital Campaign Poised to Fund Many Improvements
By David A. F. Sweet The Elawa Farm Foundation recently kicked off the public part of its Keep Elawa Growing capital campaign. The farm...
Oct 9, 2024
‘Tap Dancing Holds a Very Special Place in My Heart’
By Ana Jaramillo Lake Forest High School senior Chloe Fournier performed Rhythms of Passion: A Tap Dance Experience at Gorton Center on...
Oct 3, 2024
Disc Golf Course, Handball Courts Among Improvements Coming to Northcroft Park
By David A. F. Sweet Significant upgrades are planned for Northcroft Park. One of six neighborhood parks in the City of Lake Forest,...
Sep 30, 2024
Pathway Project at Beach Nears Completion
By Thais O'Malley Soon, Lake Forest residents can head to Forest Park Beach courtesy of a new boardwalk which is ADA-compliant and...
Sep 23, 2024
Dance Academy Student’s Production to Be Presented at Gorton
By Ana Jaramillo Chloe Fournier, a senior at Lake Forest High School, has been dancing with Lake Forest Dance Academy for more than a...
Sep 20, 2024
What’s in a Name? Early Area Monikers Might Surprise You
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff In the earliest days, the current West Lake Forest area was known as Meehan’s Settlement,...
Sep 16, 2024
Citadel Theatre Celebrates Jeff Award Nominations, Kicks Off New Season with ‘Levity’
By Kim Piekos Entering its 23rd season, Lake Forest’s Citadel Theatre has plenty to celebrate. Two of its shows from last season, Silent...
Sep 9, 2024
‘Parks & Recreation Truly Does It All’: A Look at the Department’s Robust Offerings
By Cameron Wacker For Fred Jackson, working at Lake Forest Parks & Recreation was more than a job; it was his lifelong passion. Jackson...
Sep 6, 2024
‘Gorton Will Always Be a Place for Connection’: Venerable Nonprofit Set to Celebrate 50 Years
By Cameron Wacker “Gorton is a place where everyone belongs – no matter what school or neighborhood you might live in, what other...
Sep 4, 2024
Partnership Between City of Lake Forest, Elawa Farm Foundation Earns Top Award
By David A. F. Sweet The City of Lake Forest received the Program Excellence Award for Community Partnerships for its partnership with...
Aug 27, 2024
Challenges with Current Police Station, Opportunities for a New Facility
By David A. F. Sweet On July 15, the Lake Forest City Council unanimously approved purchasing the building at 1925 Field Court for...
Aug 22, 2024
Author and Filmmaker Susan Kelsey Follows Billy Caldwell’s Steps
By Cameron Wacker “The Negotiator: Billy Caldwell” is a documentary film about Billy Caldwell, son of Mohawk woman Rising Sun and...
Aug 19, 2024
Engineering Intern Explores Lake Forest Ravines to Evaluate Conditions
By Cameron Wacker Clara Goshgarian was the Lake Forest Public Works’ Ravine Engineering Intern this past summer. Goshgarian spent her...
Aug 12, 2024
Lake Forest Day's Contagious Beginnings
By the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Lake Forest’s long-running annual summer celebration, Lake Forest Day, dates back 116...
Aug 8, 2024
Lake Forest Day Draws a Happy Crowd
Photography By Thais O'Malley Another successful Lake Forest Day took place on the first Wednesday in August. The event -- started in...
Aug 5, 2024
Engineer Embraces Variety of Projects
By David A. F. Sweet Nellyka (Nelly) Dennis is an Engineering Assistant for the City of Lake Forest. She works with engineers and project...
Aug 2, 2024
On the GO: Lake Forest Walks Boost Health
By Thais O'Malley More than 180 people attended the GO Lake Forest Fire Truck Fun Walk on July 23, when Lake Forest Parks and Recreation...
Jul 29, 2024
CROYA Is the Best Place to Make New Friends
By Michaela Barry If you know anyone who is involved in CROYA, I am sure that you have heard them rave about the funky Wednesday night...
Jul 25, 2024
Brebners Made Their Mark in Lake Forest in Various Ways
By the The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff honored the Brebner family with the...
Jul 22, 2024
New Parks and Recreation Director Excited to Contribute to Growth of Offerings
By David A. F. Sweet A veteran of parks and recreation in northern Illinois, Michael Wick was tapped to be the new Director of Lake...
Jul 15, 2024
Memories of Saturdays With Larry
By David A. F. Sweet Many remember the best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie, when sportswriter Mitch Albom visited his dying college...
Jul 11, 2024
The World’s Top Female Golf Amateurs Are Coming to Lake Forest
By Cameron Wacker Featuring the world’s top female amateurs, the Women’s Western Amateur tournament will be held at Onwentsia Club from...
Jul 8, 2024
'CROYA Will Always Be a Part of Me'
By Tyler Klein This essay by Tyler Klein -- a 2024 graduate of Lake Forest High School -- won the Margot Martino Spirit of CROYA award. ...
Jul 1, 2024
A Look at Lake Forest Days of Yore
By David A. F. Sweet As the Fourth of July beckons, Lake Forest Day (Aug. 7) is only a month away. Enjoy the vintage photos below from...
Jun 27, 2024
A Six-Year-Old Discovers a One-in-a-Million Cicada
By Lake Forest Open Lands During the Cicada Sensation program at a Lake Forest Open Lands (LFOLA) preserve recently, six-year-old Fritz...
Jun 25, 2024
Stars, Stripes, and Disco: 17th Annual Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks Set for July 4
By Cameron Wacker Celebrate your Fourth of July holiday with friends and family at the 17th Annual Lake Forest Festival and Fireworks on...
Jun 17, 2024
'Continue to Get on the Bus'
By Kelsey Bumbaco Kelsey Bumbaco, senior class president of Lake Forest High School, offered her thoughts during the 89th annual...
Jun 13, 2024
Truck Loads of Fun at Meet the Fleet!
By Thais O'Malley The City of Lake Forest hosted its annual Meet the Fleet event on June 7! Over 915 people came by to climb aboard the...
Jun 13, 2024
Giving Back: Summer Jam for Camp Hope
By Cameron Wacker Camp Hope, a week-long summer camp for teenagers and young adults with disabilities in the Chicagoland area, is an...
Jun 10, 2024
Residents Young and Old Embrace Lake Forest Day – A Constant in a Changing World
By David A. F. Sweet It’s likely that no resident alive has seen more Lake Forest Days than Larry Crone. At 93, he remembers what they...
Jun 7, 2024
Lake Forest’s Atelier Preserves Renaissance Art Technique Inside Architectural Gem
By Kim Piekos Nancy Smith sits before her five-foot-wide painting, paintbrush in hand steadied by a mahl stick, focused on every stroke...
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