Members of LFBA's Casino Royale Committee welcome guests to their annual fundraiser (left to right): Michael Thomas, Suzanne Thomas, Patti Pasquesi, Kim Galvin and Johnna Deering.

Lake Forest — Lake Forest Baseball Association (LFBA) hosted its annual fundraiser and season kick off party, Casino Royale 2012, on Saturday, January 28, 2012 at the Lake Forest Club. With 234 guests in attendance, the event was a great success.

“We were really pleased that so many folks came out to support Lake Forest youth baseball and this year’s Casino Royale,” commented Glenn Thomas and Donna Williams, Event Co-Chairs. “On behalf of LFBA and the Casino Royale Committee, we’d like to thank all of our sponsors and donors who gave so generously to this event.”

LFBA’s annual fundraiser not only brings the Lake Forest community together, but also helps raise funds to send two LFBA 12U teams to the annual Cooperstown Field of Dreams Tournament in Cooperstown, New York.

Heather O'Hara and John Kaptrosky

This year, LFBA’s two 12U teams will play in the Cooperstown tournament during the week of June 23-30, 2012. The tournament takes place in the historic Baseball Hall of Fame city, Cooperstown, New York, where teams from across the United States come to play traditional little league baseball.

“The memories created during this trip will last a lifetime and LFBA is happy to support such an experience for our twelve year old players,” noted John Chandler, LFBA’s 2011 Casino Royale Co-Chair and 11U Director, who attended last year’s Cooperstown tournament with his son.

Dr. and Mrs. Steven Haggerty

Founded in 2000, LFBA is a non-profit organization that supports full time travel baseball and is part of a ‘feeder program’ for Lake Forest High School baseball. LFBA’s mission is the same today as it was upon its founding: to provide a community-based travel baseball program for young baseball players who will want to continue playing the game of baseball in high school and beyond.

LFBA’s Commissioner, Chris Fisher added, “LFBA prides itself on being a community-based program, allowing boys to play alongside their friends, [...]

Phil Rosenthal's proposed caption is 'Please stop asking, honey. If anything, you look too thin.'

By Adrienne Fawcett

Let’s help Lake Bluff native Phil Rosenthal win The New Yorker caption-writing contest–again! Click here to vote for Phil’s caption, ”Please stop asking, honey. If anything, you look too thin.”

This is Phil’s second time to make the finals of The New Yorker competition in recent months; he won the contest on Aug. 5.

Making it twice in less than six months is an accomplishment given that some people submit captions for years. Of course, writing is Phil’s thing—he’s a business columnist for the Chicago Tribune. But he still said he’s as thrilled and surprised as anyone.

“If only I could draw, I’d really have something,” he told GazeboNews. “But my brother Sam is the artist, Marty’s the educator and Robert’s the scholar and public servant. I’m just a smart aleck who types.”

Phil will be in Lake Forest on Feb. 23 for Lake Forest High School’s “Lunch & Learn” program, and he’s scheduled to speak to the Lake Bluff-Lake Forest Kiwanis on March 15.

The captions in the current contest are:

“I don’t like the way Adam looks at you.”
Submitted by Norma Hersh
Boynton Beach, Fla.

“Now you’ll probably want a chair.”
Submitted by Jim Leonard
Albany, N.Y.

“Please stop asking, honey. If anything, you look too thin.”
Submitted by Phil Rosenthal
Chicago, Ill.

Correction: The second meeting is at 7 p.m., not 7:30 p.m. as originally reported

By Adrienne Fawcett

The Lake Forest School District 67  Board of Education will meet in executive session at a special board meeting on Feb. 1 to hear a presentation of attorney Ronald Safer’s independent investigation into the Deer Path Middle School sexting scandal and to discuss “matters related to the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of a School District employee; probable or imminent litigation.”

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and is at the Lake Forest High School West Campus on Waukegan Road.

Another executive session meeting is planned for 7 p.m. to discuss the D-67 and D-115 superintendent search.

The public will not be apprised of the DPM investigation until the District 67 Board’s regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 28. Why the month-long wait? School district spokeswoman Anne Whipple said:

“The Board has announced that a report will be presented to the public at the regularly scheduled Feb. 28 Board of Education meeting.  The February Board meeting date has been publicized for many months and the public is aware of the Board’s regular schedule. Hopefully making it convenient for anyone who has an interest in hearing the report.”

Click here for the agendas.

How much of the Safer report will the School Board share with the public? Ms. Whipple said it is too soon to say: ”As this is an outside, independent review —  The Board has not received the report. Therefore, I am unable to answer any specific questions about it at this time.”

Given that the story broke last fall as a result of a Freedom of Information Act filing with the Gurnee Police Department, it’s safe to assume that if the School Board doesn’t release the entire report or a good portion of it, there likely will be many FOIA requests for it, from the media as well as from residents of the community.

But even with FOIA, how much of the school board’s independent investigation is the public entitled to read?

I asked Andy Sellars of the Citizen Media Law Project at Harvard University if his organization could offer insight.  The Citizen Media Law Project manages the Online Media Legal Network, a pro bono initiative that connects lawyers and law school clinics from across the country with online journalists.

Mr. Sellars said Illinois Public Records Law presumes that when a government body creates a record, it generally is subject to disclosure. From the [...]

A “collective prayer” for Will Humphrey is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 6 p.m. You don’t need to go anywhere to participate–you don’t even need to know Will. But if you’re a praying person, please say a prayer for this Lake Forest father of three, who had a bone marrow transplant on Monday.

If you want to know more about Will, you can follow his wife Ellen’s blog, “Where There’s A Will, There’s A Way!” at www.CaringBridge.org.

Citadel Theatre founders Scott & Ellen Phelps rehearsing for 'Sirens'

Lake Forest – Audiences during the winter theatre season have a special treat in store. The Citadel Theatre will be bringing an especially unique offering, starting Feb. 3, when the Midwest premiere of Deborah Zoe Laufer’s ‘Sirens’ hits the stage. This will be the first chance for theater enthusiasts to see a play the Louisville Courier Journal called: “funny and heartfelt…witty with a heart as big as its mouth” But, it will also bring Citadel Theatre founding members Scott and Ellen Phelps to the stage, adding further dimension to the love story.

Sirens is a play about the struggle married couples can face in maintaining that special ‘spark’ – the flame of passion so essential to a fulfilling relationship. In the play the lead character, Sam (Scott Phelps), is a musician living in the fading limelight of a chart topping single he wrote during his torrid courtship with wife Rose (Ellen Phelps). Now, 25 years later, Sam and Rose head to the Mediterranean for a cruise to celebrate their anniversary. Sam is lured overboard when the song of a Siren, the most compelling music he has ever heard, entices him to jump. Finding himself stranded on the Siren’s island, Sam must strive to overcome depression over his faded musical talent and fight to find a way back to his wife Rose.

“This is a redemptive comedy, one that all of our audience members will be able to relate to,” said Phelps, “it is about realizing that sometimes the grass you have is very green, but it takes time and effort to make it grow. It’s worth it.”

For the Phelps, the play represents a romantic homecoming. Scott Phelps, also Artistic Director of Citadel, described Sirens as “completing the circle” to connect his relationship with wife Ellen to their own romantically destined meeting during their early days as actors. The couple met at the Actors Theatre of Louisville in 1982, which is where they saw Sirens (2009 Humana Festival) and decided they had to bring it to audiences at Citadel.

Now married for over 27 years, the Phelps [...]

Lake Forest Fire Department
Blood Drive
Monday, January 30th
7:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Contact Michelle Kousins for an
appointment 847-810-3867.

Eat well. Stay hydrated. Bring your ID on the day of the blood drive.

Proper identification is required to donate blood. A Lifesource or military ID, driver’s license or employee badge with picture and full name are all accepted forms of ID.

Birth certificate along with a picture ID that includes donor’s full name will also be accepted.

Feb. 11 Event To Showcases Sports Equipment, Athletes With Disabilities

CHICAGO – On Feb. 11, Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) and Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) will host an event designed to showcase the endless possibilities for children with disabilities who want to get active and athletic.

The event, part of CCM’s monthly Play For All program, will feature stations highlighting a variety of different activities, including goal ball, hand cycling, roller sled hockey and judo. Current athletes with disabilities will share their stories with attendees as well, and the Empowered Fe Fe’s will give a special performance in CCM’s Great Hall at noon.

The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The first hour will be for Play For All visitors only. Pre-registration is required, and the first 100 visitors to register receive free admission (limit 6 per family). To register, or to request additional information, please call (312) 321-6551.

WHAT: February Play For All event

WHERE: Chicago Children’s Museum; Navy Pier;
700 E. Grand Ave.

WHEN: Feb. 11, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. (open to public beginning at 10 a.m.)
VISUALS: Children and families learning about and playing with sports equipment designed for people with disabilities; athletes sharing inspirational stories; performance by the Empowered Fe Fe’s

By Rosemary Troxel of the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation

It’s that time of year for Oscar nominations. Did you know that it’s also time to think about nominations for the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation Historic Preservation awards?

Yes, you can nominate your house or any other Lake Forest structure or landscape constructed over fifty years ago if it fits the qualifications. Your house, that of a neighbor or friend, or one that you have always admired as you passed by can be considered for this award.

The five award categories are: Preservation, Rehabilitation, Restoration, Reconstruction, and New Construction or Infill . (New construction in established neighborhoods and historic landscape restoration will be considered for awards.) Homeowners must give their consent for the nomination; approval from the owner will be obtained by the Foundation for those entries submitted by one other than the owner.

For more details on this award, for which a handsome, bronze plaque is presented at the Preservation Foundation’s Annual Meeting, visit the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation’s website.

This site also allows you to download the entry form, due March 25, 2012, as well as to view photos of previous award winners. Additional information is available at the Preservation Foundation Office: 400 East Illinois Road, Lake Forest, Illinois 60045, email: info@lfpf.org, Phone: 847-234-1230 , Fax: 847-234-9250.

College students from Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Knollwood have been busy lately. Here is news from several colleges and universities.

Ms. Claire Anne Donohue Honored as First-Year Student at Colgate University

HAMILTON, NY (01/27/2012)– Ms. Claire Anne Donohue, a member of the Colgate University Class of 2014, has been inducted into the Colgate chapter of Phi Eta Sigma, the national scholastic honorary society that recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of first-year students.

Donohue received the prestigious distinction for having earned a grade point average of at least 3.5 during the 2010-2011 academic year. A banquet was held in honor of the approximately 150 students who qualified.

Currently a sophomore at Colgate, Donohue, is the Daughter of Mr. Thomas F. Donohue Mrs. Carole I. Donohue of Lake Bluff.

Ms. Claire Anne Donohue is a graduate of Lake Forest High School.

Phi Eta Sigma was founded in 1923 at the University of Illinois. The Colgate chapter received its charter in 1982.

Lake Bluff Students Named to Dean’s List at Bethel University

SAINT PAUL, MN (01/26/2012)– The following students have been named to the Dean’s List for academic excellence for the winter 2011 semester at Bethel University, St. Paul, Minn.:

Catherine Leider, a sophmore, is the daughter of Mark and Kathryn Leider from Lake Bluff, IL. Rachel Mancuso, a sophmore, is the daughter of Marc and Donna Mancuso from Lake Bluff, IL. The Dean’s List honors students who achieve an outstanding scholastic record during a semester with a grade point average of 3.6 or greater.

Bethel University is a leader in Christ-centered higher education with approximately 6,600 students from 48 states and 25 countries enrolled in undergraduate, graduate, seminary, and adult education programs. Based in St. Paul, Minn., with additional seminary locations on both coasts, Bethel offers rigorous bachelor’s and advanced degrees in nearly 100 relevant fields. For further information on Bethel University, go to www.bethel.edu.

Local residents named to Clemson University President’s List

CLEMSON, SC — The following local residents have been named to the President’s List at Clemson University for the fall 2011 semester:

• Samantha Lee Culbertson of Lake Forest, who is majoring in Pre-Business.
• Shannon Elizabeth Smales of Lake Forest, who is majoring in Psychology.

To be named to the President’s List, a student must achieve a 4.0 (all As) grade-point average.

Ranked No. 25 among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and [...]

Students rehearse for the "Charlie Brown" segment of "Far From The Tree" at Lake Forest High School

Lake Forest High School presents “Far From the Tree: The Stories That Have Shaped Us.”
Friday January 27th at 7:30, Saturday October 28th at 6:30
in the David Miller Theatre at Lake Forest High School
Tickets are $10 and $5 for students and seniors at www.lfhstheatre.org or at the door.

The 2012 Student Directed Winter Show is entitled Far From the Tree: The Stories That Have Shaped Us. It’s a collection of scenes from favorite childhood stories of many members of the production team. Characters shown include the Peanuts Gang (in a scene from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), Alice coming straight out of Wonderland, Matilda and her horrid family from Roald Dahl’s classic, and more. The scenes are all tied together with the recurring theme of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree.

The theme of growing up and leaving childhood behind was particularly poignant to students in the latter half of high school. It was clear, once the theme of childhood was laid on the table, that it was the right choice. Besides, it was an excuse to go back and spend more time with some favorite characters!

Far From the Tree runs just over an hour, and more than fifty students make up the cast and crew. It is directed by Mollie Blahunka, junior, and Erica Werner, senior, and produced by Hannah Gersten and Emily Neuberger, both seniors.