The stock market, the real estate market, the prices at the grocery market: The news keeps getting harder to take. What does it all mean? It means there has never been a better time to Shop Your Cause.

On Wednesday night The Lake Forest Shop is kicking off the sixth annual "Shop Your Cause" benefit that donates 10% of sales to very local, very key, non-profit organizations. "We need the community to support these groups because these groups are the community," said Ellen Stirling, owner of the ladies clothing store. That's her in the photo below, picking out dresses for Wednesday's Fashion Show.

To get the 8-day event off to a fun start, the store is hosting a first-ever "What To Wear, What Not To Wear" fashion show with volunteers from the various non-profits pitching in as models. In the

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Fred Koch spent a day at the Google Teacher Academy and returned to Lake Forest brimming with ideas. The technology coach at Cherokee and Sheridan Elementary Schools shares details about his day with Google on his blog, FredKoch.edublogs.org: click on this link for the full story. One idea is to create a Google Maps project around "Picturing America," which is a grant he received along with Katie Kirsch, 

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Professional artists are more than mid-way through the creation of two expansive murals at the Lake Bluff Train Station. Organized by Artists On The Bluff, the mural project captures the village's natural environment and historic traditions and brings lightness and beauty to the 108-year-old station.

Artists On The Bluff is seeking contributions to offset expenses for
this project, which enriches the commuting experience for 14,000 people
who pass through the train station each year. Sponsors and patrons will
be memorialized on the wall of the Lake Bluff train station, if they so choose. Please contact Pat Falligant, president of Artists On The Bluff, for more information, at 847-295-7903. And keep reading this post for more photos and details about the murals.

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Ready or not, fall has arrived. It's time to sort the sweaters, shop for pumpkins and saute up some Swiss chard.

Swiss
chard? Although it is not a staple at many dinners, the tough leafy
green is bountiful this time of
year. It also is nutritious … and quite delicious … if it's prepared correctly.
Dea Dia Organics of Grayslake offered several Swiss chard recipes at
Friday's Farmers' Market in Lake Bluff, including "gratin of artichoke
& Swiss chard," "chard & cheddar omelet," and the simple and
tasty "sauteed chard." For the recipes, click over to Dea Dia's web site or continue to the bottom of this story.

Didier Farms had an abundance of a different leafy green at its booth: basil.
Sue Didier Brosio said her all-time favorite use for basil is a pesto sauce

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The results for last year's Illinois State Achievement Tests show a consistently high achievement pattern among Lake Bluff students.

"These are incredible results and something to be proud of and celebrate," said Assistant Superintendent Susan Armbruster at this week's District 65 School Board meeting. "As I go over the results you will have a nice smile on your face."

Scores were strong in both mathematics and reading. "It seems like the kids do better in math as a general trend, particularly at the seventh-grade level," she said. For a full review of the Power Point presentation, click over to the LBSD 65 website. 

The Grim Reaper visited the Lake Bluff School Board meeting Tuesday night, but that was not the worst of it. The worst news of the evening was that construction on Lake Bluff Elementary School is three weeks behind schedule due to recent heavy rains and a delay in the delivery of steel, said Augie Ziccarelli, the school district's construction rep.

The west basin is still flooded, because the drainage system was not in place before the area received nine inches of rain–the photo above was taken Wednesday morning after many days of dry skies. As for the flooding of Central Elementary school's basement, Mr. Ziccarelli told the board

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Workers hoisted screens into place Monday at Blair Park, setting the stage for Lake Bluff to become one of only three Chicago suburbs to offer paddle tennis at a public facility.

According to PaddlePro.com, Winnetka and Hinsdale provide paddle tennis through park districts, whereas other area
programs take place at private clubs. Amy Halstead of the
Lake Bluff/Lake Forest Paddle Tennis Association said 100 people have
registered with the Lake Bluff program, with more
expected to join in the

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If the builder of an old house came back for a visit, would he recognize the property? That's the bottom line for the Vliet Museum as it evaluates nominees of its Distinguished Home Awards program.

On Sunday the museum recognized its 2008 recipients: four Lake Bluff homes that were renovated, restored or built from the ground up with the village's historic and architectural character in mind. In each case, the judges felt the original builders or architects would feel right at home in the homes. (Click here to read more about the Distinguished Home Award categories and rules.)

The museum gave the "Heritage Award" to the home in the following photo. Committee member Tom Tincher said owners Arlen and Susan Shorey preserved the "Camp Meeting" cottage in a manner that embodies Lake Bluff's significant social history. He added that the property visually projects the character of the Village.

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 Traffic was brisk but sales of big-ticket items were slow at the 12th annual Antiques on the Green in downtown Lake Bluff Saturday.

 "People don't understand the time frame and history of antiques," lamented Jerry A. Greenblatt, owner of Verdigris Antiques, a dealer based in Evanston who specializes in fine antique furniture and housewares. "This has affected the price of mid-range antiques under $1,000."

Indeed, antique furniture is caught between a rock and an even harder rock: economic turmoil and America's current love affair with all things modern. According to the Wall Street Journal, prices of antique furniture have plummeted to one-fourth of their value compared to a year ago (click here to read the WSJ article.) Or continue reading this story for more news and photos on Lake Bluff's Antiques on the Green…

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