This was one colorful soccer game: A parakeet flew out of a tree and into a Lake Bluff Middle School soccer game on Thursday afternoon in Artesian Park. While attempting to land on one of the players, the bird was grazed by a soccer ball, which stunned it long enough for someone to pick it up. The bird is now home with Jean Dickelman and her family … and they would very much like to return it to its rightful owner!

She said the LB Police have no reports of a missing bird. … But someone out there is missing a bird. Call Jean at 847-234-8684 if you can help find this bird’s way back home. And call her if you have a bird cage that you can donate or lend …

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LAKE FOREST – The North Shore’s premier shopping event, the 47th Annual Allendale Boutique, will be held November 2-4 at the Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road in Lake Forest. The Boutique, which attracts more than 1,000 shoppers every year, serves as the primary fundraiser for The Shelter Club, which is the largest private financial supporter for the Allendale Association, a non-profit child welfare agency serving disadvantaged youth and their families from throughout the Chicagoland area.

The Allendale Boutique is renowned for bringing to the North Shore a distinctive and well-edited selection of luxury retailers from around the world in a shopper-friendly setting that offers something for everyone. More than 26 specialty retailers will display a full range of sought-after goods, including women’s apparel, gifts for teachers, children and friends, one-of-a-kind jewelry, holiday and home décor, fine menswear, and much more.

Among the vendors featured at the 2010 Boutique will be Jewels By Piper, Venice, CA, antique lockets; Fairway Kansas’ Sharyn Blond Linens; floral design by Molly Flavin of Lake Bluff; and Shelley Johnstone Design, Lake Forest, home décor.

Patrons’ Night will be held on Monday, November 1 from 6:30-9:30 pm. Guests will be the first to shop that night. Food and spirits will be served. A Wednesday, November 3 Ladies’ Night will take place from 6:30 to 9:30 pm with cocktails and treats. The Boutique will be open to the public the following hours:

• Tuesday, November 2, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
• Wednesday, November 3, 9:30 am to 3:30 pm
• Thursday, November 4, 9:30 am to 2:00 pm

General admission tickets are $10 and all proceeds will benefit the Allendale Association. For additional information please visit The Shelter Club link at Allendale4kids.org.

About the Allendale Association

Founded in 1897, The Allendale Association is a non-profit child welfare agency based in Lake Villa, Illinois, that is dedicated to excellence and innovation in the care, education, treatment and advocacy for disadvantaged youth and their families. The Allendale Association has a highly trained professional staff of psychologists, psychiatrists, Masters Degree counselors, Certified Special Education Teachers, and Mental Health Specialists who serve more than 1,300 youth and families annually. The Allendale Association treats some of the most severe behaviorally and emotionally disordered [...]

Metra released this press release on Thursday, Sept. 30

CHICAGO (Sept. 30, 2010) – Feedback from riders and communities along the Union Pacific North line regarding recent schedule changes has prompted Metra to postpone the project to rebuild 22 bridges on the line until next spring and reinstate the line’s original schedule with a two-track operation starting Sunday, Oct. 3.

Metra changed the UP North schedule on August 22 in order to accommodate an unprecedented plan to use a single track for inbound and outbound trains in the construction zone. Metra would not normally have taken the drastic step of using a single track, but that approach is more economical than trying to maintain a two-track operation and we felt our limited resources required us to attempt to make it work.

But while we made a good-faith effort to use that approach, our riders made it clear that the new schedule was not meeting their needs. And while we tried to address that schedule’s deficiencies, it was not possible to fix the problems in one area without adversely affecting other areas.

We will now revert to the schedule that had been in use before August 22. And we are exploring engineering options that provide for maintaining a two-track operation when construction resumes in the spring.

“We appreciate our riders’ feedback and we have listened to their comments,” Metra Chairman Carole Doris said. “We firmly believe that the quality of service and ease of travel to our passengers is paramount, and thus we are going back to the schedule that best fits the needs of our passengers. We know our attempt to operate on a single track has been difficult, and we apologize to our riders for the problems.”

The $185-million project calls for replacing 22 aging bridges on the north side of Chicago between Fullerton and Balmoral. While construction is on hold, Metra will vigorously monitor each bridge and make repairs when needed. The project also includes a new Ravenswood Station, which will feature longer, partially covered platforms, warming shelters, improved lighting, a ticket office, vendor space and ramps and stairs.

Ald. Gene Schulter (47th), who has been meeting with Metra for more than a year to provide input on the design the new Ravenswood Station and address the concerns of his constituents, said he would continue the dialogue.

“I will continue to work with Metra to ensure that not only the best service [...]

Do you support the Lake Bluff Park District’s efforts to build a new pool at Blair Park … or not? Do you have enough information to make a decision about whether or not you’ll vote to support the $10.6 million referendum on the ballot in the Nov. 2 election?

The pool is a subject people are talking about, and there is a lot of conflicting information going around. Recently, the LB Park District issued a fact sheet and announced two Referendum Forums on Oct. 5–at 9 a.m. and at 6:30 a.m. in the Rec Center. Also, several local residents started a website filled with information supporting their stance that this is not the time to build a new pool.

Decide for yourself and share your opinions with the GazeboNews readership. If everyone who cares about the pool takes a look at the data and offers an assessment, maybe we’ll all get some clarity. Let’s give it a try. Read the following and post your comments here!

–Facts (1) by the Lake Bluff Park District
–LakeBluffReferendum.com, a website by a group of park district residents who oppose the Park District referendum

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Submitted by The Parent Board of the Gorton Children’s Drop-In Center

Prost! The Gorton Children’s Drop-In Oktoberfest fundraiser is coming up this Saturday, October 2, 2010! Don’t miss out! Get your tickets now! The event runs from 7:00 – 11:00 pm at the Lake Bluff Golf Club. Tickets are $75 each and can be purchased at www.gortonoktoberfest.com or by calling the Drop-In Center at 847-234-2799.

This not-to-be-missed event includes an open bar, buffet German dinner, live music, games, an impressive silent auction and several top-notch raffle packages, including a Cadillac Club Bears Package, an Instant Wine Cellar, a Micro Brew Collection, a Facial Rejuvenation Package worth $2,000, and many more. Last year, attendees won over $30,000 worth of raffle prizes! Premier silent auction items include a trip to Jackson Hole, a Ritz Carlton Golf Resort in Naples, FL getaway with airfare, and two realtor commissions for a new home purchase. You can view all of the excellent prizes at http://www.gortonoktoberfest.com/.

All proceeds from ticket sales, purchases prior to or at the event, and community donations will count toward the Drop-In’s $25,000 gift-matching fundraising drive. If you are unable to attend the event, please conside

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Submitted by the North Suburban Symphony

The North Suburban Symphony, based in Lake Forest and sponsored by the Lake Bluff Park District, will present a unique concert on Sunday, October 3rd, at 4:00 p.m. in Reid Chapel on the campus of Lake Forest College. Ron Arden is music director and conductor of the North Suburban Symphony.

What makes this concert unique is that the work to be performed, the lone piece on the program, is by a full-time and internationally known composer who lives in Lake Forest with his wife and four children, Jim Stephenson. The musical composition featured, Compose Yourself!, will be narrated by the composer himself. Performing the music will be an ensemble made up of first chair players of the North Suburban Symphony.

Billed as a Family Concert, Compose Yourself! is certain to appeal to all age groups. The forty-five minute piece will introduce children to each instrument of the orchestra. During the interactive concert a new piece of music will be composed by Mr. Stephenson and the young people present. The on-the-spot composition will then be given its premiere performance by the NSS orchestra ensemble and some of the children themselves.

Jim Stephenson would not reveal his secret of how he goes about producing an on-the-spot music composition. Only by attending the concert will the riddle be solved.

Jim Stephenson graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music where he earned his Bachelor of Music with distinction in trumpet performance. Never did he envision after graduation that he would do anything other than play trumpet in an orchestra.

The transition from trumpet player to full-time composer came about gradually. For seventeen years Jim and his wife Sally, a professional violin player, played in the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra. While a member of the Naples Philharmonic Jim started to arrange music with great success for Erich Kunzel, a Ravinia favorite until his death last year; Keith Lockhart of the Boston Pops Orchestra, and many other “Pops” conductors.

Composing music followed when Jim’s initial forays into writing music were received favorably by his friends. For the last ten years every thing composed by Jim has been a commissioned piece. [...]

This was submitted by Elizabeth Forbrich, executive director YWCA Lake County

September 28, 2010

Dear Editor,

Our children are our future. We hear this statement often, but it is in fact a powerful statement. In many ways, the upcoming elections in Illinois will be critical for children and families in Illinois.

In order to vote, it is necessary to register. For this reason, the early care and education community in Illinois is coming together on Monday, October 4th from 10:00am to 4:00pm, to help get the word out to register voters before the Tuesday, October 5th deadline passes.

At our event at the YWCA Lake County, an official registration site, we will have voter registration information and forms available in English and Spanish. In addition, there will be fun and educational activities for children and their parents, including resource information, mock voter registration booths and ballots to share with families.

Every child, every vote, every minute counts! That is the message of this and other “Step Up for Kids Day” events taking place across the state. Remember, it’s not too late to register to vote and step up for all children.

Sincerely,

Elizabeth Forbrich
Executive Director YWCA Lake County
YWCA Lake County
2133 Belvidere Rd. Waukegan, IL 60085
847-662-4247

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The Lake County Sheriff’s office is looking for anyone who can help with the investigation of an accident that happened early Wednesday morning, Sept. 29, in Long Grove. Here are the details from the press release:

WAUKEGAN- This morning (September 29, 2010) at approximately 12:38 AM, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded to a hit and run accident involving a 66 year-old pedestrian female in the area of Route 53 and Route 83 in Long Grove.

The female victim was found unresponsive in the outside northbound traffic lane of Route 83 at the intersection. She was transported to Condell Hospital in Libertyville where she was pronounced deceased. The victim sustained injuries to her head and chest areas. Sheriff’s officials are attempting to make notification to the victim’s family prior to releasing her identity.

Anyone who may have witnessed or may have information regarding this accident is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office Accident Investigation Unit at 847 549 5200.

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By Adrienne Fawcett

Sad news in Lake Bluff: The Village Market is closing.

“It’s this new economy; it makes it very challenging,” said proprietor Rob Douglass, who made the announcement on Tuesday. “Since the fall of 2008, spending habits have changed and the store has not been able to adapt. It’s been on life support and we just can’t do it any longer.”

The Village Market is selling its inventory at a 30% discount and will close for good once everything is gone–perhaps as early as Saturday. And then … what’s ahead for the building that has been a general store since it was opened in 1888? Mr. Douglass said he’s had conversations with people who are interested in the space for other uses, but the reality is the store’s future is unknown. Likewise the future of employees Tudy Gallardo, Jennifer Pettit and Sherry Trenchard, old-fashioned shopkeepers who knew many customers by name, coffee preference and whether they liked paying with cash or credit.

“That’s the human side, which obviously we’re concerned about. They’re going to be out of work with this store,” said Mr. Douglass. “Tudy has a full-time job at Jewel, which is good, and we will do what we can to help transition all three of them along.”

Village Administrator Drew Irvin, like many in the community, is taking the news with a lump in his throat. “It’s horrible,” he said. “It’s an institution in our downtown, and we can only hope someone comes in and picks up the pieces and tries again.”

Board of Trustees President Christine Letchinger echoed that statement. “We are grateful for Sue and Rob for their outstanding restoration of the Village Market and we are sad to see it closed. The Market is an intricate part of the fabric of Lake Bluff and we hope to see it reopen soon.”

The Village Market has an exceptionally high emotional quotient among the residents of Lake Bluff–and not just the teens and tweens who stop by the store after school to purchase candy and drinks, and to hang out. People of all ages were thrilled when Mr. Douglass [...]

By Rob and Sue Douglass, proprietors of The Village Market,

It is with great sadness that we are announcing the closing of The Lake Bluff Village Market effective immediately. The restoration of the Village Market building and the reopening of the Village Market
store has been one of our favorite projects within our own community.

The current economy, the unknowns of the future economy and the shifting buying trends of consumers has been a hardship on the store for the last eighteen months. It is now time for us to bow out with
the knowledge that through it all we gave it our best, we enjoyed what we did, we met some amazing people and have some wonderful memories.

Being a part of the Lake Bluff Merchants has been a great experience as well. Please remember that when you and your family shop, dine or need services to do so here in our great Village of Lake Bluff. The
benefits of having a thriving downtown are contingent upon all of us supporting what we currently have and what is yet to come.

Thank you to all The Village Market friends, neighbors and visitors who have supported us and most importantly to our employees, you have been the best part of it all.

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