Forest & Bluff, August 2020

Weare all students

Chairman’s Circle Diamond/Gold

Chairman’s Circle Diamond/Gold

2017, 2018, 2019

2017, 2018, 2019

Chairman’s Circle Platinum

Chairman’s Circle Platinum

2014, 2015, 2016

2014, 2015, 2016

New Listing!

Ann Lyon

Ann Lyon

847.828.9991

847.828.9991

Award winning agent with a BA of Architecture, Practiced architecture for 20 years

Award winning agent with a BA of Architecture, Practiced architecture for 20 years

Jeff Folker

Jeff Folker

847.504.6182

847.504.6182

20+ years in corporate sales, and consulting, 2term member of LF District 67 School Board

20+ years in corporate sales, and consulting, 2term member of LF District 67 School Board

Kim Campbell

Kim Campbell

312.434.9372

312.434.9372

Master of Banking & Finance, Stonier, Wharton, U of Penn. 25 years in Comm. Banking & Management

Master of Banking & Finance, Stonier, Wharton, U of Penn. 25 years in Comm. Banking & Management

#1 Luxury BHHS Sale in 2017

#1 Luxury BHHS Sale in 2017

#1 or #2 Agents in the #1 Office in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Lake County— 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019

#1 or #2 Agents in the #1 Office in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Lake County— 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019

1230Summerfield

limestone and walnut hardwood floors, an elevator servicing all three

Offering a lifestyle of world class refinement and luxury, this magnificent estate was custom-built in 2009. Perfectly sited on nearly 2 breath-taking acres with 13,272 SF of finished space, this home was designed to exceed expectations! The limestone and stucco exterior and beautifully landscaped grounds with a pool create a private oasis like no other! The circular driveway leads to 2 separate 2+ car attached garages. A grand staircase, designer lighting, limestone and walnut hardwood floors, an elevator servicing all three levels, high ceilings, an in-law suite, slate roof, whole house generator and geothermal HVAC system are just a few of the amenities this home has to offer. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets throughout this amazing estate. An estate that exceeds the needs of today's most discerning buyer. Absolute perfection!

405

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LAKE FOREST

5.4 private acres w/over 400ft of lake frontage. Illinois' most architecturallysignificant estate on Lake Michigan, Mayflower Place is truly magnificent! 10 BE

5.4 private acres w/over 400ft of lake frontage. Illinois' most architecturallysignificant estate on Lake Michigan, Mayflower Place is truly magnificent!

M | 11.4 B

| 11.4 B

| $8,499,000

| $8,499,000

778 N. WESTERN AVE | LAKE FOREST BHHSChicago.com

778 N. WESTERN AVE | LAKE FOREST BHHSChicago.com

435ThorneLane.COM

435ThorneLane.COM

LAKE FOREST

LAKE FOREST

Incredible value! Unsurpassed luxury in east LF with fabulous pool and spa. Indoor sports court, 6 car gar, elevator, guest house, geothermal HVAC, Smart House technology and more!

Incredible value! Unsurpassed luxury in east LF with fabulous pool and spa. Indoor sports court, 6 car gar, elevator, guest house, geothermal HVAC, Smart House technology and more! 5+1

925Sheridan

925Sheridan.COM

LAKE BLUFF

LAKE BLUFF

Once in a lifetime opportunity to build the home of your dreams with your own architect and builder on this magnificent 26.65 acre lakefront property! 26.65

Once in a lifetime opportunity to build the home of your dreams with your own architect and builder on this magnificent 26.65 acre lakefront property!

26.65

RE | $3,250,000

| $3,250,000

COM LAKE FOREST

.COM

ayfloweroad.COM LAKE FOREST

Chairman’s Circle Diamond/Gold

2017, 2018, 2019

Ann Lyon

847.828.9991

Jeff Folker

847.504.6182

#1 Luxury BHHS Sale in 2017

Kim Campbell

312.434.9372

745Barberry

Chairman’s Circle Platinum

2014, 2015, 2016

LAKE FOREST

New Listing!

Award winning agent with a BA of Architecture, Practiced architecture for 20 years

Beautiful Howard Van Doren Shaw with meticulous updates and complete renovation! New doors and windows throughout. Like new. Received the LF Preservation Award in 2009!

6 BEDROOMS | 6.2 BATHS | $3,950,000

644

20+ years in corporate sales, and consulting, 2term member of LF District 67 School Board

LAKE FOREST

Master of Banking & Finance, Stonier, Wharton, U of Penn. 25 years in Comm. Banking & Management

This beautifully updated 1.92 acre east Lake Forest estate is just 2 blocks from town and the beach! Spectacular details throughout! Fabulous in-ground pool, stunning gardens. 3 car garage.

905Illinois

#1 or #2 Agents in the #1 Office in Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and Lake County— 2015, 2016, 2017 & 2019

LAKE FOREST

1230Summerfield COM LAKE FOREST

Beautifully updated by Megan Winters in 2014, this home defines warmth, elegance and luxury. Features include a new $140,000 1" thick cedar shake roof. Must see to appreciate!

7 BEDROOMS | 7.1 BATHS | $2,895,000

920

LAKE FOREST

Gorgeous custom home perfectly located on 1.66 private acres on a cul-de-sac near town, schools and parks. Totally updated, new kitchen, baths, and pool. Stunning grounds! Too many updates to list!

4+1 BEDROOMS | 4.1 BATHS | $2,400,000

LAKE FOREST

In the heart of east Lake Forest, this gorgeous home was designed by Litchfield and Rogers. Beautifully expanded and updated by David Poulton! 1.5 acre professionally landscaped acres.

4 BEDROOMS | 4.2 BATHS | $2,395,000

5 BEDROOMS | 4.1 BATHS | $2,500,000

New Listing!

Offering a lifestyle of world class refinement and luxury, this magnificent estate was custom-built in 2009. Perfectly sited on nearly 2 breath-taking acres with 13,272 SF of finished space, this home was designed to exceed expectations! The limestone and stucco exterior and beautifully landscaped grounds with a pool create a private oasis like no other! The circular driveway leads to 2 separate 2+ car attached garages. A grand staircase, designer lighting, limestone and walnut hardwood floors, an elevator servicing all three levels, high ceilings, an in-law suite, slate roof, whole house generator and geothermal HVAC system are just a few of the amenities this home has to offer. Enjoy breathtaking sunsets throughout this amazing estate. An estate that exceeds the needs of today's most discerning buyer. Absolute perfection!

1141GavinCourt COM

LAKE FOREST

The pool is open and ready for fun! Sensational custom built home with unsurpassed luxury finishes and design is an entertainer's paradise!

4 BEDROOMS | 4.2 BATHS | $1,450,000

837—847

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LAKE FOREST

LAKE FOREST

Truly extraordinary! Beacon Place is luxurious, maintenance free living steps from Market Square! Elevator, high ceilings, hardwood floors throughout.

5.4 private acres w/over 400ft of lake frontage. Illinois' most architecturallysignificant estate on Lake Michigan, Mayflower Place is truly magnificent!

3 & 4 BEDROOMS | 4.1 BATHS | $1,275,000—1,575,000

778 N. WESTERN AVE | LAKE FOREST BHHSChicago.com

435ThorneLane.COM

770Linden.COM

LAKE FOREST

LAKE FOREST

162Washington

925Sheridan.COM

LAKE FOREST

LAKE BLUFF

Incredible value! Unsurpassed luxury in east LF with fabulous pool and spa. Indoor sports court, 6 car gar, elevator, guest house, geothermal HVAC, Smart House technology and more!

Beautiful 4,133 sq. ft. home in desirable Whispering Oaks! Large, updated kitchen that opens up to family room. Great for entertaining!.

4 BEDROOMS | 3.2 BATHS | $879,000

Once in a lifetime opportunity to build the home of your dreams with your own architect and builder on this magnificent 26.65 acre lakefront property!

Fabulous home with 5,100 SF of finished space in east Lake Forest. Addition includes an expansive family room, master suite and elevator!

| $3,250,000

4 BEDROOMS | 3.1 BATHS | $830,000

© 2020 BHH Affiliates, LLC. A member of the franchise system of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Information not verified or guaranteed.

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Who’s your lifeguard?

Your family grows. As do your responsibilities. We understand. That’s why we partner with our customers and ask lots of questions to make sure they’re protected from whatever happens in the deep end. Things like accident, flood, fire or disability. You’ve worked hard for what you’ve achieved. Call us to start a conversation about a strategic plan that will guard you and your family against the unknown. So you can continue to enjoy every minute with them in the sun.

Susanne K. Woloson, MD,PhD, RPVI BOARD CERTIFIED VASCULAR SURGEON

All of our treatments are minimally invasive,” Dr. Woloson says. “Every procedure is performed in an office setting. I’m one of the most experienced and efficient physicians using these technologies in the country. We treat the patient’s symptoms and also provide a good visual result. There is no down time and the patients come back for their two-week appointment already feeling so much better.”

She was one of the first vascular surgeons to perform minimally invasive vein ablations and has one of the largest vein practices in the Midwest— having completed more than 10,000 laser ablations.

Yes, the majority of insurance companies cover vein disorder treatment. Our office accepts most PPOs, HMOs, and Medicare.

Our knowledgeable staff is committed to helping you maximize your insurance benefits. We will contact your insurance company to determine exactly what your benefits include. We will then fill out the necessary paperwork prior to the procedure, we will take care of all billing with your insurance company, so you can focus on feeling better.

FEATURES

Lake

CELEBRATING LILLIE

An iconic Lake Forest boutique turns 30.

Margo Thornberry wears a top by Alice & Olivia. Cover photo by 2020 Lake Forest High School graduate Caroline Zeeman, who will study Creative Producing at Chapman University in Orange, California this fall.

Wheat Field with Cypresses , 1889, oil on canvas, Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, 1853–1890), image courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

CLOSETS

CLOSETS

CLOSETS

CLOSETS

Call (866) ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for a free in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com

Call (866) ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for a free in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com

Call (866) ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for a free in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com

Call (866) ART-2-ORG (866-278-2674) for a free in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com

©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved.

©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved

©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved.

©2020 Closet Factory. All right reserved

Editor’s Note

BACK TO SCHOOL. Those three little words evoke a wide range of emotions. Whether they stir in us excitement, nervousness, relief, or nostalgia, the one undeniable feeling in our current climate is uncertainty. What will the new normal look like? We are all going back to school in a way—digesting daily information and learning new ways to take care of ourselves, our loved ones, our communities, and the world at large. It feels less like living on solid ground and more like tacking into the wind on a sailboat, strategically maneuvering from side to side in order to make headway. Many parents will be adjusting to a new normal—entirely different from the aforementioned— when school bells ring at month’s end. Some will experience hand-holding their beloved Lilliputians through giant preschool doors for the first time, while others help their high school graduates pack for the next leg of life’s journey. All involved will undoubtedly feel the exhilaration of freedom and sting of separation. Both of my children are grown and flown, as the saying goes, but I remember their first days of school and their departures as if they were yesterday. My daughter went away to school at age 14 to study ballet at Interlochen Academy for the Arts in northern Michigan. Though she is 18 now, my heart still pangs when I reflect on that drive home—sobbing for a solid hour (or was it two?) after pulling away from the remote, wooded campus. My eldest attended Lake Forest High School and will now be a senior at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His exit made an indelible mark on my life, as it turned our home into the proverbial empty nest and ended my 18-year career as daily caregiver and Chief Anticipator of Others’ Needs. Our feature, The Empty Nest , deftly and tenderly written by Lake Forest’s Nina Vallone weighs in on this life altering shift. Young parents imagining a future of letting go and those with children who have flown the coop long ago will no doubt relate.

Lake Forest College has shifted creatively in anticipation of their students’ return to school this fall.

In Pivot 101, writer Bill McLean interviews Lake Forest College President Stephen Schutt, student Tianna Beilke, and Vice President for Career Advancement and Athletics

Jackie Slaats to discuss actions being taken in education, housing, athletics, and student safety during these tumultuous times.

A Place They Belong takes us to Lake Forest High School. Principal Dr. Chala Holland reflects on the district’s accomplishments, the shifts it has made, and progress over the last five years. She also shares her belief in striving to live a healthy and fulfilling life and how she encourages her students to do the same. Her dedication to every student and their needs—emotionally and academically—is inspiring.

Back-to-school brings back-to-school shopping. Our final feature, Celebrating Lillie, shines a spotlight on the enduring presence of Lake Forest boutique, Lillie Alexander. This year, the beloved clothing store celebrates 30 years in our community. Owner Lillie Milanovic, with great appreciation for and from her clients, has been outfitting generations of girls and women for many an occasion.

Venturing past the features, Lake Bluff Middle School teacher Krina Huddlestun shares the dynamic reading list she has planned for her language arts students in On My Desk. Landscape architect Craig Bergmann’s In the Garden piece on the art of training plants is also a stand-out. As a life-long lover of learning and gardening, he has me itching to learn this incredibly rewarding yet elusive craft.

When August winds to its inevitable close and our children dive into the rhythm of academic life, let us send them back to school remembering fondly that we are all students.

WENDY FLETCHER FRANZEN Editor in Chief

Keeping the Connection

A bereavement program for youth (ages 11–14 years old) grieving the loss of a family member who died by suicide. This is a transformational program that combines a non-traditional equine experience with grief education and emotional support.

Monday 10am–4pm

August 3rd* at Equestrian Connection

Please contact Equestrian Connection at 847.615.8696 to schedule an assessment and a tour.

900 Skokie Blvd., Suite 120 Ridgebrook Bldg. Northbrook, Il 60062

847-697-9181

elyssasmission.org

We are following CDC’s guidelines for events and gatherings. For more information, visit cdc.gov

600 N. Bradley Road Lake Forest, IL 60045

P 847.615.8696

F 847.615.8656 equestrianconnection.org

J. W. CONATSER

Founder & Publisher

jwc@jwcmedia.com

Wendy Franzen

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Dustin O’Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Chip R. Beasley, Craig Bergmann, Krina Huddlestun, Stephanie Klein, Nini Lustig, Rochelle Newman Rubinoff, Nina Vallone

Theresa DeMaria

PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Linda Lewis

ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amanda Alvarado

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Ameen Qutteineh

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Monica Kass Rogers, Robin Subar, Caroline Zeeman

CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATOR Tom Bachtell

Gretchen Barnard, Jennifer Sturgeon

ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER Mindy Kovco

HOW TO REACH

Forest & Bluff Magazine

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

jennifer@jwcmedia.com. 847-370-6940

GENERAL INQUIRIES 847-926-0911

wendy@jwcmedia.com

EDITORIAL TELEPHONE 847-857-9947

forestbluff.com

NORTH SHORE HQ

445 Sheridan Road

Highwood, Illinois 60040

Forest & Bluff is published monthly by

Forest & Bluff accepts freelance contributions; however, there is no guarantee that unsolicited manuscripts, photographs, or graphics will be returned. All rights to the contents of this magazine are owned in full by JWC Media. Forest & Bluff may not be reproduced in whole or in part, including but not limited to advertisements and articles, without written permission from the publisher. Forest & Bluff assumes no responsibility for statements made or opinions expressed by contributing writers, editors, or advertisers. However, comments or corrections or differing opinions are welcomed. The publisher reserves the right to edit and place all editorials and ads. © 2020 JWC Media

THE BUZZ

A long-time Lake Forest establishment gets a fresh look from local artists and Gorton Community Center hosts a local Food Network Finalist.

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff History Center hosts a photography contest where winning work becomes part of its permanent collection. ON MY DESK Lake Bluff Middle School teacher Krina Huddlestun shares the books she plans to read with students this autumn and what is currently on her desk.

CULTURE & COMMUNITY

ADDIE GUNDRY AT GORTON THE BUZZ

tion, you will enjoy tastings from her theme: festive and easy summer appetizers. You will hear interesting stories about Gundry’s culinary training, her work with renowned chefs and celebrities, and get a behind the scenes glimpse into what it is like to compete on some of America’s favorite cooking shows. You will leave with fabulous recipes to enjoy during the last sultry summer days.

Gundry received her master’s degree in Culinary Arts at Auguste Escoffier in Avignon, France. She has worked alongside masters such as Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Martha Stewart. In 2015, she won Alton Brown’s Cutthroat Kitchen, and she was a finalist on The Food Network Star in 2017. She excels at easy, elegant entertaining. Signed cookbooks will be for sale night of the event.

GRAB YOUR friends and head to Gorton for a special evening with Food Network Star finalist and Cutthroat Kitchen Champion, Addie Gundry. During this special cooking demonstra-

Cooking with Addy Gundry will take place on August 20, 2020 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Gorton Community Center, 400 E. Illinois Road, Lake Forest, 847-234-6060. Event tickets are available at gortoncenter.org.

A PICTURE PERFECT DUO

NORTH SHORE photographers

Kerri Sherman and Heidi Clifton partnered on a creative project for long-standing local establishment, Lake Forest Food & Wine. Owner Maria Gomez entrusted Sherman and Clifton’s artistic collaboration for this visual project saluting the community.

The space has been transformed with a dramatic gallery wall, showcasing the fabulous faces of Lake Forest and Lake Bluff residents they have captured over the years. The photos will rotate with new images over time, celebrating community and the subjects they depict.

Countless hours, along with paint and materials, brought this collaborative vision to life. Of this project, the duo shares, “We believe in community over competition, and truly support each other’s work.”

Sherman and Clifton started by creating a gorgeous color palette of deep teal, shades

of turquoise, and warm neutrals for the walls. A huge series of black and white photographs in modern white frames pop perfectly on the wall. Adjacent is a geometric action wall, with a pair of grey modern Barcelona lounge chairs—the perfect spot to visit with friends and watch the action on Bank Lane.

Over the next month, the space will continue to transform in color, along with a new menu design, logo, and signage. Weekly specials and wine tastings will kick off celebrating the new look and rebranding of Lake Forest Food & Wine.

Lake Forest Food & Wine is located at 645 Bank Lane in Lake Forest, 847-234-0620. To see more of photographer Kerri Sherman’s work, visit kerrisherman.com. To see more of photographer Heidi Clifton’s work, visit cecilygeorge.com.

Gundry at home with daughter, Claire. Portrait by Cecily George Photography

Heidi Clifton and Kerri Sherman at Lake Forest Food & Wine.

Portrait by Nisha York

CAPTURING THE COMMUNITY

The

History Center

of

Lake Forest-Lake

Bluff hosts its first photo contest.

words by Nini Lustig

BECOME PART OF THE PERMANENT collection at The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. The History Center’s staff is seeking submissions for its inaugural photo contest— and it is open to all ages. Whether you have been taking photos for years, or just discovered portrait mode on your mobile phone, they want to see how you express your sense of self, sense of place, and/or sense of community. Here is how it works:

PHOTO CONTEST GUIDELINES

1. Contestants* can enter one photo in each of three categories:

• A photo that depicts a sense of self

• A photo that depicts a sense of place

• A photo that depicts a sense of community

2. The entry fee is $25 per photo. All funds raised go towards History Center exhibits, programs, and educational initiatives.

3. Each photo must be emailed to Laurie Stein at lstein@lflbhistory. org as a JPG file (10 MB maximum). The file name must include the last name of the participant, age category (see below), and the word “self, place or community.” For example, “Schneider_20-64_Community.” Please include a brief artist’s statement as well, with a maximum of 150 words.

AGE CATEGORIES SUBJECT CATEGORIES

• 8-14

• 15-19

• 20-64

• 65+

1. Sense of self

2. Sense of place

3. Sense of community

4. Each participant must also fill out a submission form detailing their contact information and granting the History Center the right to use their work for marketing purposes. For all images used, the artist will be credited.

5. Digitally enhanced or significantly altered photos will not be accepted. Minor adjustments, including cosmetic touch-ups, sharpening, contrast, slight color adjustment, and grayscale conversion are permissible.

6. Contest submissions will be accepted August 15 - September 15, 2020.

7. All winners will have their work displayed in the History Center’s Katherine Bell Hale Gallery** from mid-November 2020 through the end of January 2021, and in a virtual gallery on the History Center website.

8. All participants will have their work displayed online in a virtual gallery, as well as at the History Center’s end-of-year art exhibition in a digital slideshow.**

9. Winners in each age and entry category will be awarded select sponsor-related prizes. First place winners will have their work on temporary display in the History Center, and on permanent display on our digital screens and online.

* History Center staff, board, and their families are not eligible to participate.

** The in-house display of the photographs will be dependent upon COVID-19 restrictions at the time.

The contest judges will be Caitlin Saville Collins, professional photographer; Cecilia Lanyon, co-owner of The Gallery Restaurant in Lake Forest; Daria McMeans, Lake Forest College; Ana Miyares, professional photographer; and Kerri Sherman, professional photographer.

The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff connects people and inspires curiosity by exhibiting, preserving, and celebrating history. The History Center is located at 509 E. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, 847-234-5253. For more information, visit lflbhistory.org.

ETCHED IN THE ENTRYWAY

For centuries, Aesop’s Fables artfully integrated lessons of morality and ethics into storytelling. Their timeless messages have since been represented in countless artistic interpretations. In 1922, the stories were used as inspiration for the dramatic sculpture in the arched entryway of Tribune Tower, where they remind all who pass beneath them to be responsible, honest, and fair.

All floor plans shown are for illustrative purposes only. Floor plans may not depict final design of units as constructed and may not be drawn to scale. All sketches, renderings, architectural models, materials, plans, specifications, terms, prices, conditions and statements, including estimated timeframes and dates, contained herein are proposed only and are not intended to constitute representations. Developer reserves the right to make modifications in its sole discretion and without prior notice. All photographs and renderings are merely intended as illustrations of the activities and concepts depicted therein as interpreted by the artists. Developer makes no representations regarding any view and/or exposure to light at any time including any existing or future construction by either owner or a third party. Square footage and ceiling heights are approximate and may be based on various measurement methodologies, subject to construction variances and tolerances, as well as redesign, and vary from unit to unit (and may vary from floor to floor). This brochure shall not constitute a valid offer in any jurisdiction where prior registration is required and not yet fulfilled. Where used, developer shall mean Tribune Tower West (Chicago) Owner, LLC and its affiliated entities and their respective managers, members, directors, shareholders, partners, agents, affiliates and employees.

Lake Bluff Middle School Language

Arts

words by Krina Huddlestun

WE ALL HAVE STORIES of how our lives abruptly changed as a result of the pandemic. For me, I went from greeting my students at my classroom door to logging on to our virtual classroom. Overnight, I had to adjust my way of teaching while still maintaining the meaningful relationships and academic rigor that are part of my school’s culture and mission. My computer and my AirPods quickly became my two most valuable resources for remote teaching, but my desk is covered with daily necessities for life as an English/Language Arts teacher, whether I am teaching from home or in person. On my desk right now is some of the reading I did over the summer. Equity and racism have been at the forefront of discussions lately, and I found some great titles that have given me new perspectives on these topics. One title is a young adult book by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi called Stamped that I can share with my students in the fall. I also have a pile of new releases that I wanted to preview for my students. (And who am I kidding? I have been waiting years for the Hunger Game prequel!)

I love that I can run into the Lake Forest Bookstore and pick up a title whenever I want it. My third stack

is books written by authors who have passed through Ragdale Foundation. I have a special connection to Ragdale as I have been able to host authors in my classroom for the past three years as part of their Ragdale in Schools annual event. Also on my desk are my public library cards. These are free to all in our community, and I am always surprised to hear how few people use our beautiful and abundant libraries. I sync my library card numbers with apps such as Libby and Hoopla to download e-books and audio books. Some of my favorite classroom supplies are multi-sized sticky notes and 99-cent composition notebooks. I also always have sharpies and flair pens on hand (flair pens are the secret to perfect “teacher handwriting”). My students know I am a coffee lover, and I have received multiple Hansa gift cards and mugs over the years. My most recent coffee mug purchase was during our annual class trip to Washington, D.C. I’m also always armed with a water bottle—this special edition Gray Malin S’well bottle was a gift from a friend and I fill it on my way to my classroom every morning. As we get ready to return to school this fall, we need to approach this year with flexibility, grace, and an open mind. My new lunch box is ready to go, and so am I.

Hansa gift cards, 600 Walnut Avenue, Lake Bluff, 847-722-3784, hansacoffee.com.

All books from the Lake Forest Book Store, 662 N. Western Avenue, Lake Forest, 847-234-4420.

teacher Krina Huddlestun shares the books she plans to read with students this autumn and what is currently on her desk.

ON MY DESK

Swell water bottle, similar at swell.com.

ITEMS

Books Stack 1 (Racism/Equity)

• Stamped by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

• White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo

• How to Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi

Book Stack 2 (Young Adult Titles)

• Clap When you Land by Elizabet Acevedo

• Internment by Samira Ahmed

• The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

Book Stack 3 (Ragdale Authors)

• Deep Down Dark by Hector Tobar

• B angkok Wakes to Rain by Ritchaya Sudbantnad

• Friday Black by Adjei-Brenyah

• The Devil and Webster by Jean Hanff Korelitz

• Maggie Brown and Others by Peter Orner

• The Most Fun we Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

FAVORITE BEVERAGES

• Topo Chicco carbonated mineral water

• Hansa coffee

• Gray Malin S’well Bottle with water

OFFICE SUPPLIES

• Flair pens

• Sharpies

• Sticky notes

• Composition notebooks

• Laptop (stickers from Red Bubble—I choose stickers to let my students know a little bit about who I am)

• Airpods with silicon case from Amazon

LUNCH BOX

Scout monogrammed lunch box (similar available at The Initial Choice)

Apple AirPods, apple.com.

Lake Forest and Lake Bluff library cards.

Monogrammed lunch bag, The Initial Choice, 226 E. Westminster Avenue, Lake Forest, 847-234-5884.

KEEP THE FIRE BURNING

The pipes are calling you to a two-day celebration of a time-honored community tradition.

Saturday, September 19 | 4:30-6

Hear the pipers, have a dram and pick up your dinner at Mellody Farm to enjoy the Bagpipes & Bonfire spirit at home.

Sunday, September 20 | 4:30-7

BYO picnic. We’ll provide the bagpipes and bonfire. Enter the lottery to win a reserved picnic spot on the Bagpipes & Bonfire field. (Lottery open August 10-28)

ENTERTAINING

Set a celebratory table with stylish inspiration.

THE CUT

Late summer’s sultry air and the work of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo inspires our August arrangement of the month.

HOUSE & GARDEN

THE DISH

Restauranteur and Chef John des Rosiers shares his recipe for a perfect warm-summer-night starter.

ORGANIZING

As August winds down, back-toschool preparation ramps up. Professional organizer Stephanie Klein offers tips for a smooth

IN THE GARDEN Landscape architect and garden designer Craig Bergmann delves into the art of training plants. transition into the school year.

30

Image courtesy of Linda Oyama Bryan

INSPIRED SETTING

Creating a stylish and original dinner party

words by Wendy Franzen

photography by Robin Subar

HOW DO YOU MAKE a dinner party feel special? Truly special? It is a delicate balance. Bending too far toward the everyday may leave guests feeling like they’ve interrupted family dinner, yet an over-the-top or overly thematic gathering can feel stiff and contrived. Embracing your personal entertaining style is the key to lending an authentic atmosphere. Seeking inspiration from the guest of honor or the celebration’s purpose is next—it elevates the experience and allows guests to feel considered but not labored over. Entertaining at its best. Is it an anniversary dinner? Plan a menu around their Italian honeymoon. Are you hosting a birthday lunch? The guest of honor’s favorite flower can serve as the jumping off point for your tablescape, informing not only the centerpiece but the color palette as well. Take it a step further and place miniature bouquets at each place setting —they perform double duty as table beautifiers and party favors, and guests will remember the experience for days to come.

A favorite dinner party that comes to mind was given for Wes Gordon, the Creative Director of Carolina Herrera. It was an intimate gathering at our home honoring Gordon’s inaugural collection for the storied fashion house. Herrera had retired after 30 years at the helm of her eponymous label, and Gordon was taking the reins.

I wanted the gathering, and most importantly

the table, to highlight Gordon’s fresh, happy collection. After viewing the exuberantly colored pieces at neapolitan collection in Winnetka (neapolitan was an early and avid supporter of Gordon—long before he took over at Herrera) I chose flowers, linens, and china that reflected his new work. Guests did not need to know that I drove to four garden centers and Elawa Farm, gathering lily pad-leaved nasturtiums (the unique oranges and yellows in his collection were what struck me first) to give to the florist for arrangements!

Hand-painted floral stemware referenced the centerpieces—arranged in my collection of brass baskets — and Gordon’s love of florals. Luckily my favorite china pattern, Davenport’s Flying Pheasant, reflected many of the colors in his designs, and the first course of chilled corn and lobster soup deliciously and strategically worked its way into the palette. Finally, strawberry-rhubarb shortcake with a biscuit base—a nod to Gordon’s Georgia heritage—closed out the dinner with a sweet, colorful pop. A resort collection was translated through my personal entertaining lens into a dinner party setting, creating an atmosphere rather than a theme. Let your imagination run wild the next time you seek celebratory inspiration … nasturtiums optional!

Franzen, in a dress from the collection, with designer Wes Gordon

The first course, Chilled Corn and Lobster Soup

A MONTHLY CELEBRATION OF SEASONAL BLOOMS

VIBRANT AND BOLD, this arrangement is a tribute to the tropical beauty artist Frida Kahlo surrounded herself with in her work and in her home. Kahlo frequently painted her iconic self-portraits with flower crowns crafted from the bright blooms of her native Mexico. Still life paintings of fruit, often featuring melons, were another favorite subject of the artist. Roses, zinnias, gladiolas, ranunculus, and peonies—in cantaloupe and watermelon hues—are a perfect match for the sultry heat of August.

Arrangement created by and available through M on the Square, 259 Market Square, Lake Forest, 847-604-4255, monthesquare.com.

THE CURATED HOME BEGINS HERE!

Beauty and detail result from thoughtfulness and planning. Our design experts are here to help you coordinate furnishings, drapery, floor and wall coverings, lighting and accessories to create a space that is truly your own. Schedule a consultation in-store or at home today.

To-the-Trade discounts available.

SHRIMP CEVICHE

digs in, sleuthing mouthwatering recipes from local chefs and fabulous home cooks.

recipe

by John des

Rosiers

photography by Monica Kass Rogers

CHEF JOHN DES ROSIERS, the mastermind proprietor behind Inovasi, The Otherdoor, and Highwood’s Salt Creek Tacos, and upcoming concepts jdR Wine & Beer, Caché, Bonk, Everett Farms, and Station No. 1, honed his skills at Charlie Trotter’s and Gabriel’s before creating his local restaurant empire. Here he shares his recipe for Shrimp Ceviche, a Salt Creek Tacos customer favorite. Made with plump sustainable Pacific blue shrimp, a blend of sweet-tart citrus juices, ripe tomatoes, and juicy mangos, it is a recipe where impeccably fresh ingredients and proper marinating time are of great importance. Des Rosiers believes that a faithful attempt of a recipe using his specific standard of ingredients is key to replicating it at home.

Chef John des Rosiers at Salt Creek Tacos

Makes two snack-sized portions

• 8 ounces Pacific Blue shrimp, 20/25 size, raw, peeled, and deveined

• 1 teaspoon sea salt

• 3 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed grapefruit juice

• 1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice

1. Mix all juices and salt. Pour over the raw shrimp and cover. Marinate in refrigerator for 36 hours, until shrimp are fully cured.

2. Strain juice and discard before using.

• 1/2 cup f resh ripe mango, diced 1/4 inch

• 1/2 cup ripe locally sourced tomato, diced 1/4 inch

• 1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, roughly chopped

• 3 tablespoons sautéed local sweet onions, diced 1/4 inch

• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lime juice

• 1 teaspoon sea salt (adjust salt to taste, but do not be afraid to use generously)

1. Gently mix above ingredients with the shrimp. Serve in a martini glass or a glass that is similar. Serve with fresh fried tortilla chips, preferably homemade.

Is there a recipe you’re dying to have? E-mail us at thedish@jwcmedia. com and we’ll start digging.

Shrimp Ceviche

NEW

500 ARDEN SHORE ROAD, LAKE BLUFF

Once it’s gone, there will never be another like it! Discover this rare gem set amidst historic lakefront estates: 25+ acres of vacant land with 400 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan. Astonishing views of the lake and the skyline of Chicago offer a framework for your dreams. Can sub-divide. $6,790,000

680 LELAND COURT, LAKE FOREST IL

680 LELAND COURT, LAKE FOREST IL

Deborah Fischer 847.309.9119

Once it’s gone, there will never be another like it! Discover this rare gem set amidst historic lakefront estates: 25+ acres of vacant land with 400 feet of frontage on Lake Michigan. Astonishing views of the lake and the skyline of Chicago offer a framework for your dreams. Can sub-divide. $6,790,000 Deborah Fischer 847.309.9119

Truly beautiful 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath residence; created to provide every possible comfort. Incredibly maintained and updated, from a newly remodeled NUHaus kitchen, a beautiful offi ce with fireplace and coffered ceiling, a large eat-in kitchen and a sun room to take in the magnifi cent yard. $1,950,000 Corky Peterson 847.209.9999

Truly beautiful 5 bedroom, 5.5 bath residence; created to provide every possible comfort. Incredibly maintained and updated, from a newly remodeled NUHaus kitchen, a beautiful offi ce with fireplace and coffered ceiling, a large eat-in kitchen and a sun room to take in the magnifi cent yard. $1,950,000 Corky Peterson 847.209.9999

2 N AHWAHNEE ROAD, LAKE FOREST

This historic 6 bedroom, 4 full, and 2 half bath home, located on a private, tree-lined street has been renovated to perfection, combining yesterday’s charm with today’s modern design. Gracious rooms with high ceilings fl ow beautifully throughout the first fl oor. Chef’s kitchen. $999,000 Kim Shortsle & Carleigh Goldsberry 847.987.5702

This historic 6 bedroom, 4 full, and 2 half bath home, located on a private, tree-lined street has been renovated to perfection, combining yesterday’s charm with today’s modern design. Gracious rooms with high ceilings fl ow beautifully throughout the first fl oor. Chef’s kitchen. $999,000 Kim Shortsle & Carleigh Goldsberry 847.987.5702

BUILD

140 RAVINE FOREST DRIVE, LAKE BLUFF

414 W DEERPATH ROAD, LAKE FOREST

575 HATHAWAY CIRCLE, LAKE FOREST

575 HATHAWAY CIRCLE, LAKE FOREST

A Meadowood Farm Gem. Converted into a residence, it offers 5 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, updated white kitchen, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling window, studio/home office, gazebo, and 4-car garage in a cul-de-sac location! $899,000 Kiki Clark & Polly Richardson 847.804.0969

A Meadowood Farm Gem. Converted into a residence, it offers 5 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, updated white kitchen, soaring ceilings, floor-to-ceiling window, studio/home office, gazebo, and 4-car garage in a cul-de-sac location! $899,000 Kiki Clark & Polly Richardson 847.804.0969

1335 VALLEY LANE, BANNOCKBURN

Surrounded by beautiful homes, this pristine piece of property is zoned for approximately 4800 square foot home. This oversized, 91 x 165-foot lot, is vacant and ready to for you to design and build your custom home! This fabulous location is close to town, train, lake, parks, and schools. $460,000 Patricia Carollo 847.951.8817

Gracious in-town 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath Colonial with exquisite millwork, large impressive rooms, 2-story family room with fireplace and custom built-ins. Formal dining room with vaulted ceiling and large Palladian arch window. Wide-plank hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, first floor master suite with sitting room and office. $999,000

Surrounded by beautiful homes, this pristine piece of property is zoned for approximately 4800 square foot home. This oversized, 91 x 165-foot lot, is vacant and ready to for you to design and build your custom home! This fabulous location is close to town, train, lake, parks, and schools. $460,000

Patricia Carollo 847.951.8817

Kim Shortsle & Carleigh Goldsberry 847.987.5702

Work, learn, grow, cook and live from home. Updated in all the right places, the open plan kitchen and family room will host much of your time in the home. Take advantage of the summer using the deck, patios, gazebo and lawns. $825,000 Luke Mutter 917.841.0435

2 N AHWAHNEE ROAD, LAKE FOREST

500 ARDEN SHORE ROAD, LAKE BLUFF

BACK TO SCHOOL

Creating organization—and peace of mind—for the academic year ahead.

words

by Stephanie Klein of Happinest

Organizing

THIS AUTUMN, BACK-TO-SCHOOL will take on a whole new meaning. The COVID-19 pandemic sent students home months earlier than usual last March, ushering in e-learning and a less structured learning environment. As we approach this long-awaited return to the classroom, there are a few organization tips that will help with this transition. Creating organized spaces in the home will also lead to smoother mornings, which can feel like an unpracticed fire drill after our lazy summer days.

BEGIN BY DECLUTTERING

• Dec luttering is the first step in any organization project.

• Start with the closet, removing clothes your children no longer wear and the items that do not fit. It streamlines the early morning what-to-wear process and spearheads the back-to school shopping list.

• W hether your kids work at their own desks or do homework elsewhere in the home, declutter these areas and create a clear, efficient workspace for them.

CREATE CHECKLISTS FOR KIDS

• Routines are incredibly important for kids. Creating customized checklists for each child’s needs will lay the groundwork for a smooth, successful day.

• Morning routine checklist items might include making beds, getting dressed, eating breakfast, and brushing teeth.

• An evening checklist is also helpful. One essential item is preparing backpacks, making sure they contain everything necessary for the next day—including homework, books, charged computers, and items for after-school activities.

LUNCHBOX PACKING

• If possible, create a designated lunchbox drawer or cabinet for lunchboxes, reusable sandwich boxes, small snack containers, baggies, thermoses, and water bottles.

• Remove snack items from bulky packaging and place them in designated containers. This makes packing lunches easier for you and for your children.

HOMEWORK

• Some students prefer a designated space to get homework done, while others change this location from time to time. Often the homework spot is in an area of the home that is shared by the rest

of the family. Creating a portable homework box that can be easily moved and stored helps maintain organization in the home. It also aids students in being prepared, efficient studiers.

• The files or folders within the homework box should labeled by subject. It can also store their notebooks and extra paper. Look for file boxes with storage areas for school supplies such a notecards, pens, pencils, and highlighters.

• Turntables with labeled compartments are also helpful for keeping school supplies at the ready.

FILING SYSTEM

• One of the biggest organizational issues that parents of schoolaged children face is the influx of papers that come from their students’ schools and from the various activities in which they are involved. While the amount of paper has thankfully decreased with online systems in place, there is still a need to keep track of important information. Filing systems are the key to organization.

• Paper files are easily created. Label by school, activity, sport, club, lesson, and volunteering, for example.

As the pace of life gets busier this back-to-school season, decluttering will create organized, functional, and efficient spaces for your family. May these organization tips relieve the external chaos in your home and transform the internal chaos, as well, helping you move from clutter to calm.

To learn more about Lake Forest-based Happinest Organizing and the services it provides, visit happinestorganizing@gmail.com.

1825 Telegraph Road, Lake Forest | $975,000

18752 W Edwards Road, Antioch | $3,650,000

27104 Southwoods Lane, Mettawa | $2,275,000

THE ART OF TRAINING PLANTS

f rom espalier and hedging to topiary and bonsai

words by Craig Bergmann, RLA, ASLA

Elegant Hornbeam standards surround a pool. Photo by Scott Shigley

ESPALIER

MAKING A GARDEN more than just a collection of plants requires many facets of detailing one’s outdoor space. Training plants into unique forms and patterns is a great way to personalize and dramatize a garden.

One of my favorite training techniques is the practice and art of espalier. Often seen grown on a wall or as free-standing screens, an espaliered specimen— just about any tree or shrub—can be a wonderful, uplifting garden element to enjoy for years. The intensive pruning and years of time it takes to create a recognizable form often forces people to buy a pre-started plant, which will grow into the designated space and into the ultimate mature form. Here at Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, we have growers for the start of the process, then our skilled gardeners prune—typically twice a year—to develop the ultimate garden espalier ornament. Historically, espaliered trees have been fruit trees that can be harvested in the fall. Imagine trolling through the King’s Potager at Versailles and seeing the ancient fruit trees espaliered into many forms—it takes

your breath away! We use different materials such as ornamental flowering trees—Cornelian cherry and redbuds, for example. We also use viburnum and witch hazel shrubs, which typically take on a natural, flat-backed shape that softens a fence or a wall. I recently saw a spectacular, eight-level cordon-espaliered climbing hydrangea vine that free stands in Riverwoods—just spectacular! If one puts their mind and time into it, the art of training plants into espalier forms can be very rewarding and absolutely beautiful on any fence or wall, or when used as a division of a space.

HEDGING

Whether it be the recognizable boxwood or privet hedge material, the actual character and success of any hedge must start with an end-result in mind and the horticultural knowledge to make the effort a success. We intentionally do not overcrowd the initial spacing between hedge plants, in order to ensure proper environs for good health and growth for the mature hedge. If one does not want to wait for the infill growth to happen over time, the long-term life of the hedge is significantly shorted. If looking for a flat-topped hedge, consider having the profile of the hedge created with a wider base and narrower top. This allows sunlight to evenly spread across all surfaces of the hedge, and protects it from our heavy, wet snows that break the brittle branches. One can also arc the top of a hedge, but be advised that a wider base for this domed form works for the same reason.

One can also hedge shrubs, trees, and certain perennials for a more formal or geometric look. Know the growth habits and ultimate size of all of your plants, especially if you are planning on

Belgian fence of Keiffer Pear detail.

Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan

An Ornamental Pear embraces the arched window. Photo by Scott Shigley

training and pruning them into something other than their natural form and scale. If one wants a small, low hedge, use a compact or dwarf variety to ease in the effort to keep it low. Always try to keep the plant no smaller than one-third of its mature scale over time for success. Examples of our hedges at the Gardens at 900 Waukegan Road in Lake Forest are arborvitae and hornbeam, as well as boxwood and yew—both upright and low. We even have a 60-foot hedge of the indigo-flowering salvia “Wesuwe” as a front hedge to a blue border. Be inspired to shake up tradition and create a unique form or variety of your hedges. It all takes time, so you may as well be unique and personalized in your own efforts for your home garden.

TOPIARY

There are many of us mad gardeners with images of Edward Scissorhands at work on outrageous, dream-like shapes and sizes when we hear the word “topiary.” Others think of the elegant pairing of lilac standards flanking an entry, or potted myrtles on a dining room server. I embrace the dedicated artfulness it takes to create a topiary that is healthy and beautiful in form. Inside or out, there is a myriad of candidates to craft into topiary, from miniature to monstrous. I have shaped boxwoods into pears and apples, and more boxwoods into chickens and peacocks. A confession—the peacocks came after I met Christopher Lloyd in England for the first time and saw his giant peacock yew topiaries in his Teapot Garden. You think it and a topiary can be born! I will often look at the potential of a future topiary when looking at a plant that needs pruning to see if there is something just waiting to be revealed. The men who maintain our gardens think I am crazy sometimes, but that’s why I have a garden, right? There should always be time to think out of the box or, in this case, the plant…

BONZAI

Many folks do not follow the practice of planting the right plant for the right space with room for growth. The result can often be “hortitorture,” as coined by our friends at the Chicago Botanic Garden. If done just right, by putting the plant into a container instead of the ground, this effort can create the ultimate in training of a plant: a bonsai. I am terrified at the dedication to tend a real bonsai because I would have to be responsible for its well-being 24-7, 365 days a year. I have enough responsibilities and have animals and plants to tend. Maybe this is in my future when I retire. But then, I can’t retire, so maybe no bonsai! If you are considering taking the plunge: BONSAI! My suggestion is to attend a bonsai show to see your options, and to talk to folks specializing in all that is bonsai. It is a fascinating and enviable trade or hobby.

I hope this helps in navigating through the art of training plants into some form of submission. Remember: the right plant in the right place with the right knowledge will make every effort you make pay off tenfold. Here is to “the art of fine gardening!”—our Craig Bergmann Landscape design mantra.

For more information, contact Craig Bergmann Landscape Design, 900 North Waukegan Road, Lake Forest, 847-251-8355, craigbergmann.com.

Various boxwood forms and varieties provide edges and interest. Photo by Linda Oyama Bryan

Towering Hornbeam Cylinder topiaries provide scale and permanence to the ‘Green Room’ beyond.

THE LIFESTYLE LIST

F&B’s Editor in Chief shares her picks for late summer looks and layers.

THE SPORTING LIFE

Beloved Lake Forest swim coach Cindy Dell on the valuable lessons learned from her sport.

WORDS OF WISDOM

Laura George of Laura George Consulting discusses the new journey of college admissions.

WELLNESS

Dr. Bal Nandra on ketamine infusions in the COVID-19 era.

PERSONAL BEST

Swim Instructor

Cindy Dell at Exmoor Country Club

THE LIFESTYLE LIST

in

Editor

Chief curates ready-to-layer pieces in soft, summery Saharan tones.

1 Ashland jean in

denim,

2 Samira

3 Gabriela Hearst

in

in

cream in warm bronze gold, westman-atelier.com 5 Saylor NYC Ayanna top, Valentina, 847-535-9600 6 The Elder Statesman woven stripe city coat, neapolitan collection, 847-441-7784 7 Avignon military jacket in olive, toteme.com 8 Agua by Agua Bendita Acacia Erizos printed linen midi dress, modaoperandi.com 9 Marion Parke Lillian strappy sandals in buff, neapolitan collection, 847-441-7784 10 Bondi Born belted linen-twill mini dress in orange, modaoperandi.com 11 Temperley London NIghtfall dress, neapolitan collection, 847-441-7784 12 Gucci Beauty Rouge à Lèvres satin lip color in coral, sephora.com 13 Bottega Veneta wood and intrecciato leather clutch, net-a-porter.com 14 Allison Fiutak beaded stretch bracelets, Enaz Lake Forest, 224-436-8090 15 The Elder Statesman Gaynor Butterfly Universe cashmere sweater, neapolitan collection, 847-441-7784 16 Tibi featherweight cotton twill romper, nordstrom.com 17 Cutout linen-blend blazer in tan, tibi.com 18 Marion Parke Driscoll wedge bootie in suede, neapolitan collection, 847-441-7784

net-a-porter.com 4 Peau de Soleil

selvedge

therow.com

hoop earrings

gold, jenniferfisherjewelry.com

Woodward shirtdress

mustard,

highlighting

A STROKE OF FATE

The career of Cindy Dell has empowered kids on the North Shore for 30 years.

words by Chip R. Beasley

photography by Ashbey Riley

AFTER RELOCATING with her husband Chip to Lake Bluff in 1990, Cindy Dell got a call from one of her high school teammates that needed help at the Lake Forest Swim Club. She didn’t realize at the time this phone call would alter the trajectory of her life. The job became a springboard into the life of a swimming coach, mentor, leader, and to becoming a person who empowered young people of all ages to be good people.

Dell thinks of swimming as a great teacher of life’s lessons. Hard work is one.

“Swimming is a really, really tough sport,” Dell adds. “You’re in the pool at 5:15 am. You have a full day of school. You have practice after school and at times get home at 9 at night.”

Failure and taking risks are other inherent lessons. Kids learn to embrace failure, and that failure is a great way to learn valuable information and get better. Dell believes kids learn that by taking risks, they develop confidence. Finding that inner strength and confidence is what she wants for all her athletes.

“Swimming isn’t, you know, a hugely popular sport. There’s not a large fan base,” Dell says. “What it forces the swimmers to do as they have their heads down and are looking at a black line is to find the courage and drive inside themselves.”

Probably the biggest lesson she wants her students to espouse is the idea of giving back to a community.

“What I teach my athletes is that there is so much

more to life than swimming,” Dell says. “You have to give back and you have to be a part of giving back in life.”

She uses swimming events as tools to raise money for several charities, including the Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association, the Max Schweitz Foundation, and for various causes at the University of Chicago.

“The team culture at Lake Forest High School is so positive and strong, because of our great captains who lead by example daily,” she says.

Dell has brought this philosophy to thousands of her students and athletes. It started at the Lake Forest Swim Club and continued to Lake Forest High School in 2004, where today she also works as a co-facilitator and aide in the special education department, and coaches water polo. Where does she find the energy to keep going after 30 years?

“There’s something different all the time, every day,” Dell says. “Each athlete changes, each new year brings in new students, athletes, and opportunities. Each year I get to teach kids to navigate life.”

Does she have plans to stop?

“You know, there will be that day where I wake up and I’ll say it’s time to fly off on my broomstick,” Dell laughs. “But right now I thank God I got lucky enough to have this job. I’m a firm believer that there’s a reason for everything.”

“Each athlete changes, each new year brings in new students, athletes, and opportunities. Each year I get to teach kids to navigate life.”

GUIDING YOU HOME WITH THE MERCFOSS TEAM!

1980 Telegraph Road | Lake Forest

Impressive Country French Estate inspired by Monet’s home in Giverny France, exquisitely perched up high behind a gated entry and circular drive. An open floor plan with soaring ceilings welcomes as you enter the gracious foyer with inviting views of the beautiful yard. Beyond the living room French doors are the stone patio and a fun pool with slide, hot tub, and play yard, all fenced. Work from home in the gorgeous cherry paneled library with a fireplace adjacent to the spacious 1st-floor master suite. Beautifully designed, the sun-filled kitchen features a center island with seating and a large dining area hosting a love seat, table, and 6 chairs. The kitchen is open to the family room with handsome stone fireplace, built-in cabinets, vaulted ceilings with skylight, and a wet bar conveniently located between the kitchen and family room. On the second floor, you will find a double bedroom suite that shares a bathroom and two more bedrooms with a Jack and Jill bath. The huge basement offers a recreation room, exercise room, 2 large bedrooms, a full bath, and loads of storage.

www.1980Telegraph.info | $1,895,000

971 Ashley Road | Lake Forest

Welcome to this custom 4 bedroom, 4 full and 2 half baths East Lake Forest home in the desirable Havenwood neighborhood on an acre of gorgeous ravine property. Enter the sun-filled 2 story foyer to the open concept living room with fireplace, custom hardwood floors, walls of windows and sliding glass doors opening to NEW decks overlooking the ravine. Work at home from the handsome library with fireplace. This 5,534 sq ft home features: a First-floor master suite with 2 walk-in closets and sliding glass doors to the deck overlooking the ravine. Entertain your guests in the elegant dining room with fireplace and custom hardwood floors. Adjacent is the sun-filled white kitchen with center island, hardwood floors, 4 sets of sliding doors to the New decks, and a greenhouse. Adjoining is the family room with built-in bookcases and fireplace. The 2nd floor features 2 ensuite bedrooms and a spacious attic that could easily be converted to another bedroom suite. The freshly painted basement offers a full bath with shower, 4th bedroom, and a huge storage room with stairway to the 3 car garage.www.971Ashley.info | $1,249,000

1990 Windridge | Lake Forest

Gracious Custom Brick Georgian situated on an exclusive cul-de-sac with circular drive and professionally landscaped yard perfect for entertaining your family and friends. Enjoy the sprawling 1.42 Acres of private yard with brick patios ideal for a pool and outdoor activities. A grand staircase and marble foyer welcome you to this impressive 6 bedroom, 6.2 bath exquisitely designed property featuring; marble floors, deep rich moldings and millwork, new and refinished hardwood and marble floors, remodeled designer kitchen with high end appliances, walk in pantry and plenty of counter space to delight the most discriminating chef. A luxuri ous master suite showcasing a marble fireplace, new hardwood floors and fabulous oversized walk-in closet, overlooks the picturesque yard. Appreciate the huge bonus room with full bath on the third floor offering a variety of uses: second office, bedroom or upstairs play space. Escape to the light and bright deep pour spacious basement with new porcelain tile throughout, additional bedroom and full bath, kitchenette, rec room and ample storage. This extraordinary home has a side load 3+ garages, Rainbow play set and is conveniently located in West Lake Forest, Bannockburn, shopping, the interstate and 94.

1990windridge.info | $1,649,000

DONNA MERCIER

(847) 757-6538

Donna.Mercier@cbexchange.com

CHRIS FOSS

(847) 971-8524

Chris.Foss@cbexchange.com

DONIELLE FOSS CRIMMINS

(847) 708-4092

Donielle.Foss@cbexchange.com

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS JOURNEY

words

How is the college admissions process evolving?

The college admissions process has become increasingly opaque and confusing, particularly with the growing use of multiple application deadlines and options, including Early Decision. Other terminology such as Demonstrated Interest, Deferred Admission, and Gap Year; new application platforms such as the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success; questions about filling out the FAFSA; and many more aspects of college admissions further complicate matters for families with students who are embarking upon the college search and application process.

COVID-19 has also greatly complicated the application and admissions process for students and colleges. The disruption in availability of ACT/SAT testing has left students wondering when and if they will be able to test and whether it is even necessary. Given these questions and uncertainties, coupled with the devastation caused by COVID-19 itself, what’s most important for rising seniors is focusing on self-care and family care. Colleges understand that many of students’ extracurricular activities, jobs, and sports have been cancelled, and that stressful factors may have affected their families. Students will be evaluated on accomplishments prior to COVID-19 and how they have meaningfully used their time. They will not be judged negatively for what they were unable to pursue or accomplish over the past six months.

With so many variables involved and decisions to make, parents find themselves confused by the process that their children must navigate. At Laura George Consulting, we help families understand all aspects of the college application process and thoughtfully consider all decisions they must make.

What got you interested in the college admissions process and what motivated you to start the company?

After studying psychology at Duke University, working in advertising, and earning my MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, I started a career in marketing. When my oldest son was born nearly 18 years ago, I combined my entrepreneurial spirit with my passion for mentoring students to form Get it Write Consulting. I had served as a full-time student member of the Admissions Committee during my two years at Kellogg and had learned to thoroughly review applications. Combining these unique

insights with my experience writing for both the Duke and Kellogg newspapers, serving as a copywriter, and attending the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, I launched Get it Write Consulting to assist high school students with developing meaningful college application essays. I also trained to become an ACT/SAT tutor and tutored individual students in my area. In addition, I used my MBA admissions knowledge to serve as a senior consultant for Inside MBA Admissions and work with candidates on applications to top-10 MBA programs for nearly a decade.

Four years ago, driven by my growing interest in making an impact in education in my area, I incorporated as Laura George Consulting LLC, devoting more time to serving the needs of students as an ACT/SAT tutor, college essay coach, and application specialist. I perceived a need for an alternative to the chain tutoring companies that do not offer students customized one-on-one instruction, continuity in tutors from lesson to lesson, or a high level of service to families. I also heard from many parents who needed help navigating the increasingly complex application protocols and/or could not confidently advise them on writing meaningful college essays.

How does your process work? In addition to providing specific tutoring for students to prepare for testing, what other services do you offer that are related to the admissions process?

Laura George Consulting is unique. We work with students from as early as middle school through to their acceptance into their best fit colleges, and we offer a seamless experience for families in order to increase their confidence and minimize stress throughout their child’s journey to college. We start by pairing each family with a dedicated Parent Liaison who partners with that family throughout their work with our firm, guiding them and serving as a trusted source of information. We offer high school consulting; customized, one-on-one high school entrance exam tutoring (in SSAT, ISEE, and HSPT) for private high school applications; assistance in determining if the ACT or the SAT is a better fit for each student; customized, one-on-one ACT and SAT tutoring; college search and selection consulting; career interest assessment; college essay development coaching and college application guidance.

Laura George Consulting, Lincolnshire Office: Village Green of Lincolnshire, 300 Village Green, Suite 235, Lincolnshire, 847-363-6780. Barrington Office: Ice House Mall & Village Shops, 200 Applebee Street, Suite 211, Barrington, 847-363-6780, laurageorgeconsulting.com.

In a Q&A, Laura George of Laura George Consulting discusses preparing students for the transition to college.

by Mitch Hurst portrait photography by Mindy Garfinkle

Laura George

KETAMINE IN THE TIME OF COVID-19

PER THE POSITION OF THE American Society of Ketamine Physicians (ASKP), ketamine therapy has been declared an essential service during the COVID-19 pandemic, and rightfully so. According to a piece published May 7, 2020 in Time Magazine, more than one in four Americans met the criteria that psychologists use to diagnose serious mental distress and illness, representing roughly a 700 percent increase from prepandemic data collected in 2018. During these times of increased stress, anxiety, isolation, and uncertainty, IV Solution and Ketamine Centers is committed to providing services to everyone that needs them.

If you struggle from major depression, anxiety, or PTSD, and have not found antidepressants and other medications to be effective, or if the stress throughout this pandemic has worsened your depression, there may be a solution that gives relief in just a few days. I am Dr. Bal Nandra, and as Medical Director of IV Solution and Ketamine Centers I can attest ketamine has changed many lives.

FDA data supports ketamine infusion therapy treatment for depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), obsessivecompulsive disorder (OCD), chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and migraines. As part of this revolution, IV Solution is the first and most experienced private medical facility to offer this customized therapy treatment in Chicago in a confidential setting with anesthesiologists, registered nurses, and skilled staff. We take full disinfection and PPP precautions per CDC recommendations, minimizing person-to-person contact and wait times in our medical facility.

Supported by clinical studies, many from the National Institute of Mental Health, ketamine has been called “the most significant advancement in mental health in half a century.” It has shown to be up to 80 percent effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD), among other conditions.

Developed in the 1960s as an anesthetic drug, ketamine has been used to successfully treat depression for more than 10 years. It has a safe profile when administered by an experienced anesthesiologist. It works by blocking the brain’s NMDA cell receptors, which raises levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate. Ketamine also remaps and stimulates growth of nerve elements for long-term relief of clinical depression, and essentially does a “reboot” of your brain.

IV Solution also offers the stellate ganglion block (SGB) for

treatment of PTSD in both veterans and others. This procedure is performed by one of the world’s foremost doctors and pioneers of SGB, and can eliminate symptoms almost immediately after one injection.

Ketamine is effective within hours to days with minimal side effects, as opposed to oral antidepressants which are only effective in about 40 percent of patients, take a month or longer to work, and have many undesirable side effects. Most of our patients have improvement after the first or second ketamine infusion and feel very relaxed while receiving the treatment. Many patients, with the guidance of their psychiatrist or physician, may be able to decrease or even eliminate other medications after the treatments.

After the series of six 45-minute infusions for depression done over a period of two to three weeks, patients typically report relief of symptoms for many weeks and months, after which time booster infusions may be scheduled as needed. Patients can inquire directly for the treatment or can be referred by their physician or mental health professional.

Chicago Cubs national anthem singer and anti-bullying activist, John Vincent, is one of our most outspoken advocates for ketamine treatment. He sums it up well by stating, “Before ketamine, I felt like I was standing in front of a wall, and ketamine has brought me a ladder to get over that wall. It’s changed my entire life. I feel alive again and am so grateful.”

IV Solutions and Ketamine Centers is located at 300 Village Green Road, Suite 225 in Lincolnshire and at 712 N. Dearborn Street in Chicago. For more information, call 844-9-IV-MEDS (948-6337) for a complimentary consultation or visit chicagoivsolution.com or ketmainechicago.com to watch and listen to our many patient testimonials, news and radio stories.

words by Dr. Bal Nandra photography courtesy of IV Solutions & Ketamine Centers

Ketamine infusions can help provide relief from a host of symptoms.

Finding new purpose once your purpose flies the coop.

words by Nina Vallone

THE EMPTY NEST

photography by Caroline Zeeman editorial styling by Theresa DeMaria hair & make-up by Sara Saltanovitz

STACK OF FRESHLY WASHED SHEETS, a mattress pad, and duvet cover clutter the corner of a once pristine dining room. New hangers, storage bins, extension cords, and Command Strips litter the table. The month is August, the air is thick, warm, and filled with emotion. It is back to school time in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff, which means many of us are sending our children off to college and coming home to clean dining rooms, shoeless mudrooms, and a quiet that we haven’t experienced in nearly two decades. For many, this is the beginning of the empty nest.

Parents across the nation are struggling with the conflicting emotions of sadness, loss, celebration, and hope when taking their children to college. To some, the sadness seems selfish as it is a time of joy and pride—our children GET to move on, our children are launching. And many of us think “What will I do with my time? Will I be lonely? How will I fill the empty time I used to spend in the bleachers? Do I even need to buy granola bars and Cheez Its anymore? What about me?”

“I felt like the rug was pulled out from under me,” Erin Foley remembers.

Foley, a lifelong resident of Lake Forest and mother of four, says that while each drop-off was difficult, leaving her youngest son was the most heart wrenching.

“I am the type of person who likes to be prepared,” says Foley with a warm laugh and carefree seriousness. “When I came home (from drop off), I felt so flat … I was so sad … and it was so unexpected. I’d never had anything hit me as such a bad surprise as much as this did. I kept beating myself up in my head saying, ‘Stop it, what’s wrong with you?’ “

Nothing was wrong with Foley. What she experienced, and what many parents anticipate with melancholy is the phenomenon commonly known as Empty Nest Syndrome.

“While it is not a clinical disorder,” reports Dr. Elizabeth Fishman, Psy.D of Dr. Elizabeth A. Fishman & Associates in Lake Forest, “Empty Nest Syndrome is very real.”

“For many men and women, children provide them with a sense of purpose,” Fishman says. “Parents are used to having lives consumed by taking their children to activities, school, sporting events, and friend’s houses. Without parents being occupied by their children’s lives, the question becomes, ‹What do I do now?’ Many feel they have lost their sense of purpose.”

As if this transition isn’t enough, Fishman notes this is a time of life where many women are dealing with menopause and both women and men are getting ready to retire. Additionally, many parents are dealing with facing their own mortality for the first time. These major events converging can be a lot to handle.

“For the first time in my life, I was seriously thinking that ‘I’m getting older,’” Foley says. “I never thought about that until I was an empty nester. It’s like you get launched into a completely different part of life and you didn’t even know someone was putting you on that rocket ship.”

For Laurie Doherty, it was the lunches. While many moms dread making lunch every day, Doherty, a 24-year resident of Lake Forest, loved it.

“I am a nurturer,” she proclaims. “I loved making special breakfasts and lunches for my boys. I loved being involved in their schools through volunteering.”

Lake Forest High Shcool graduate Margo Thornberry flies off to college.

Thornberry looks forward to arriving at Indiana University this month.

And then came the day during her youngest son’s second semester of his senior year at Lake Forest High School, when she realized she wouldn’t have to make anyone’s breakfast or pack lunches or make big dinners.

“I thought, ‘What am I going to do?’ I felt like I lost my job as a mom, and the sadness was big and shocking and real,” Doherty says.

Both Missy Burger and Tiffany Notz, a three-year empty nester and an almost one-year respectively, express similar reactions. They describe motherhood as landing the ultimate dream job. The one you wait for, you love, and you thrive at (even during some bad seasons). And then, one day—seemingly in the blink of this magical career—you are called in and told you are being let go. You are no longer the CEO. You now have a cursory role on the advisory board, and it is time to redefine your life and purpose.

“Leaving my son at college four years ago was tough,” says Melanie Thornberry, Lake Forest mother of two. “As my daughter and youngest prepares for school, I have a better idea of how to get through the silence at home. It was extremely important for me to feel like I still had purpose after my kids left, and I found that in the restart of a career.”

“I’m still a few months away from the goodbye hugs in Bloomington, so I can’t say for sure how hard this will hit, but I find solace in knowing that I will be needed at work on Monday as her first college classes commence,” shares Thornberry.

Fishman encourages her clients to reflect on what a purpose looks like to them and uses words like “zest” and “passion.” She asks them, “What did you love to do before the kids?” It could look like volunteering, part time work, exploring previous passions you once loved. Maybe it is time to get out your easel and paint brushes, dust off your

old guitar, or become involved again in philanthropic events or boards.

In order to prepare for an empty nest, Fishman suggests the following to help get parents through:

1. Start to think of your interests and passions again.

2. Establish g ood social support with friends and family—talking about your sadness and loss with your trusted social circle will help you realize you are not alone.

3. Structure your day to have a daily plan and purpose.

4. Exercise! Physical activity releases endorphins and endorphins make us feel good.

5. Prioritize your marriage! Fishman says many parents can make the mistake of putting off dealing with marital issues until their kids leave home. You need to nurture your relationship and yourself.

6. P lan date nights during the week—taking a walk and setting aside time to communicate with your partner will go a long way.

Both Foley and Doherty have found joy and purpose as empty nesters.

“Once I started to talk about my sadness and loss with trusted friends, I felt validated,” says Doherty. “Once the sadness and loss were named, it made sense. I was losing something significant, so of course I was sad.” She was then able to accept her feelings and slowly become open to life, instead of feeling like her life was over because her kids were gone.

Doherty also points out that launching her sons into the world was what she always wanted. When parents can look at this change as an exciting time for their children and themselves, it brings about a sense of joy, gratitude, and accomplishment.

Not long after her youngest graduated, Doherty and her husband Dan bought a second home in Florida where they began what she calls “a new adventure.” She loves to share this home with her sons and extended family, allowing her to make those breakfasts and lunches she loves.

Foley began to anticipate the empty nest several years before her oldest went to school by getting heavily involved in volunteering, so by the time her first child left, she was already established. While she was still shocked by her sadness and loss, she was already doing something she loved. While activities and a new passion will not fill the place of your child, having something that is yours does help.

As parents head into this new phase of life— the phase of quiet and less chaotic homes, less laundry, shorter grocery lists, and more “me time” than they have had since their twenties, they can learn from one another, share with one another, and begin the process of rediscovering purpose while thriving during new roles as parents and as individuals.

“Once I started to talk about my sadness and loss with trusted friends, I felt validated.”

PIVOT 101

Lake Forest College leaders and faculty are acing the pandemic response and plans for fall semester.

words by Bill McLean portrait photography by Monica Kass Rogers editorial styling by Theresa DeMaria

An aerial view of Lake Forest College

Lake Forest College President, Stephen D. Schutt

HE PUCK WAS SUPPOSED TO DROP at the start of a men’s hockey playoff game at Lake Forest College in mid-March. It never left a referee’s hand. Foresters junior runner, Tianna Beilke, was having the time of her life around ovals, her track times steadily melting in chilly temps. She had to stop running, competitively, in mid-March.

The COVID-19 pandemic halted all sports on campus for the rest of the spring.

But forward-thinking Lake Forest College President Stephen D. Schutt and the school’s driven faculty and staff have been zipping at a sprinter’s clip throughout their response to the health crisis since that sudden STOP sign screeched hustling student-athletes and forced all students to complete the semester remotely.

“I was traveling in Louisville, Kentucky, during spring break, right before everything was about to change, before we had to send so many people home,” Schutt, LFC’s president since 2001, recalls in mid-June. “I sat in my hotel room that day and thought, ‘I need to end this trip now. I need to return to campus.’

“We pivoted quickly,” he adds. “We’ve been in almost constant planning mode since then.”

Schutt laser-focused first on the college’s 1,500 students and their families. The student body’s health ranked first, second, and third in his mind, followed closely by the collective financial concerns of the students and their parents. LFC offered a free, creditbearing course to all members of LFC’s classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023. They could take the course in May or in June or in July. A thrilled and appreciative Beilke, who majors in psychology and neuroscience and lives in Vernon Hills, completed the free course in May.

T“Parents were losing jobs and experiencing financial upheaval in April,” Schutt says. “We came up with the special initiative after asking, ‘What can we do to give students something of real value?’ Hundreds of students have signed up for a free class. The initiative showed them how much we care about them and their families.”

Similar care blanketed and comforted LFC’s graduating Class of 2020. LFC partnered with the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management to launch an initiative heavy on development—specifically leadership and business skills. The cost of each session: $0. Another invaluable college resource, the “Foresters CAREer 2020 Initiative” (the CARE portion of “career” written in all caps to convey the warmth behind the initiative), connects seniors with select members of the Forester network, including alumni and friends of LFC, for video calls or phone calls. These calls provide seniors with support and career advice, tips for success, and referrals. A stranger’s voice becomes a mentor’s voice, just like that.

By late May, more than 90 LFC alumni and other Forester Community members had conversed with 125 recent graduates. Scores of young folks in the latter group probably trembled briefly before the interactions because of the pandemic-related hiring freezes from coast to coast.

“We asked our alumni to call our recent graduates,” Vice President for Career Advancement and Athletics Jackie Slaats says. “They told them, ‘I’m here for you.’ They asked them, ‘How are you doing?’ A young woman from Chicago, interested in marketing, heard from an alumnus in New Jersey. The alumnus then connected the young woman to his marketing contacts in Chicago.”

At least one student from nearly every state in the nation attended LFC in the 2019-20 academic year. Founded in 1857, the liberal arts school is United Nations diverse, its enrollees hailing from 80 countries. Listen attentively from one end of the 107-acre campus to the other and you’ll hear 40 languages.

Schutt thought of every young Forester—plus the school’s entire faculty and administrative staff— when he formed three summer planning teams

Lake Forest College student, Tianna Beilke

Vice President for Career Advancement and Athletics, Jackie Slaats

to zero in on nothing but the fall semester, scheduled to start August 24.

The crews have addressed appropriate testing protocols, contact tracing, occupation limits, and new traffic patterns in all buildings to ensure safety, and isolation places if students were to test positive for the coronavirus. In fact, LFC and 4Med have collaborated to offer students an Intro to Contact Tracing certification course. Faculty members will be ever-ready to pivot again should they need to resort to remote instruction at any point in the fall.

The Complete Book for College Presidents in Pandemic Times hasn’t been published yet, but that’s only a matter of time. Start that first draft of the foreward, Mr. Schutt.

“The safety of our students, faculty, and staff is

paramount,” Schutt says. “But there’s something else that we, as a community, want to assure our students when they return to campus. Given all the upheaval that occurred in Minneapolis [following the death of George Floyd at the knee of a policeman] and other areas in our country, we want to assure our students that they will feel welcomed here.”

How Beilke, a 2017 Lake Forest High School graduate, felt upon learning she’d have to turn in her track togs and learn remotely from mid-March until early May: sad.

“My track team was closer than ever,” she says. “My teammates and I just accepted that we couldn’t do anything about our season ending early. We’re looking forward to our cross country season in the fall.”

Taking online classes bothered Beilke initially. They were time-consuming, hard. Marathons. But “26.2 miles” eventually became “800 meter” strolls behind screens for Beilke, thanks to the patience and professionalism of her professors.

“They appeared calm at all times and were just as available as they had been on campus,” Beilke says. “I am nervous and uncertain regarding the fall, but I know Lake Forest College truly has all of its community members in mind and wants the best for all of us. I am grateful for the school’s support.”

“I’m also confident the school will continue to work with me every step of the way, no matter what happens.”

For more information about Lake Forest College and to read its COVID-19 update, visit lakeforest.edu.

“I know Lake Forest College truly has all of its community members in mind and wants the best for all of us. I am grateful for the school’s support.”

Lake Forest College’s Blackstone Gates

The historic Durand Art Institute building at Lake Forest College

A Place They Belong

Dr. Chala Holland in the Public Room at Lake Forest High School

words By Chip R. Beasley

photography by Caroline Zeeman

editorial styling by Theresa DeMaria hair & make-up by Sara Saltanovitz

IX YEARS AGO, Dr. Chala Holland, Lake Forest High School’s principal, started her new career and her passion to make Lake Forest High School a place of validation, affirmation, and growth for all kids. The Ardmore, Pennsylvania native believes that education has the potential to shift life trajectories. She understands that education can help people learn about themselves personally, and in relation to other people and the rest of the world. She sees this as profoundly powerful. And one of the most important areas of this is inclusion.

“We really want to ensure that we are focusing on all of our students, not some, with the exception of others, but all of them,” says Holland.

She has always thought it important to meet students where they are in life. Students in high school are navigating social pressures, community pressure, and peer pressure.

“Part of that is to be attentive to who they are as people,” she states. “We should create a space where we’re listening, paying attention, and making sure students feel validated and affirmed in every aspect, not just by saying things, but by partnering with students to create a place where they know and feel that they belong.”

Believing that every student deserves to be educated alongside their peers is a core belief.

“None of us are the same,” says Holland. “All of us have a variety of different learning needs, and I do think that’s how we have to look at how we collectively support students.”

Six years later, the district has made true progress.

“For example, when I arrived, we had a significant number of students who were receiving special education services,” Holland says. “And during my time at the high school, we’ve been able to decrease that amount by 5%.”

According to Dr. Holland, there were a large number of students who were outplaced or who were receiving special education services because there

Swas a lack of evidencebased tiered supports implemented inside and outside of the classroom. It wasn’t always because special education services are what was needed. Sometimes it was because that was the only option for support.

“And so that’s a huge shift. Because we didn’t have some fundamental supports in place that would benefit every kid—targeted and more intensive supports— students were being recommended disproportionately for special education,” she says. “By implementing tiered supports, we were able to gain a better understanding (with evidence) of the students who really needed that level of support and services.”

Holland says she’s very proud of the work the district has been doing to change things so that they reach all students, academically, socially, and emotionally. She believes in wholeheartedly adhering to the needs of her students and sees every kid as her responsibility.

“Engaging these types of changes required an entire systems-approach, from shifts in leadership, shifts in instruction, to shifts in our practices, our beliefs, and our values,” Holland adds. “Basically, it required us to really put our actions where our beliefs and our values were.”

Five years ago, her critics argued against her holistic approach to education. There was a change.org petition against her hiring. There were protests that she wanted to “bring down the AP system.” There were waves of press, criticism, and apprehension. Some in the district were extremely concerned about her plans. Now? She seems to have won them over. Her practice of inclusion, not exclusion, of everyone is hard to argue against.

“Our work around inclusion really focuses on membership, which connects to students having a sense of belonging,” she says. “It connects to engagement, how we’re bringing kids into the fold inside and outside of the classroom, and how we’re encouraging them to participate and be active members. I do think we should always go over and beyond for every single student that comes into the school, and that’s what this work has been about for us.”

Dr. Chala Holland continues on a passionate path to help students to reach their full potential.

“We really want to ensure that we are focusing on all of our students, not some, with the exception of others, but all of them.”

To some, this might be enough for a fulfilling life. But Holland is one of those people who practices what she preaches.

“I love to work out. I love sports, music, art. I love learning and growing so I like to take classes to further my education” she says. “I have a lot of things that I’m interested in and actually still engaged in outside of work, but I think all of those things—all of my hobbies and all of my areas of interest—also show up with me every single day in school. As they should.”

Holland strives to live life in a way that is healthy and fulfilling for her. In doing so, she encourages her students to do the same.

“I embrace all parts of who I am—my race, my gender, my faith, my hobbies,” she shares. “I think it’s important to stay true to who I am and not allow a place, space, or experience to take away from that or try to suppress parts of what makes me, me.”

“And my hope is that kids in high school, if they run up against adversity, any type of adversity, that they go towards it and not away from it,” Holland says. “I think it’s important to stand and be okay with who you are and not waver.”

This school year brought unprecedented adversity to Holland and her students in the form of Coronavirus.

“Everyone experienced something in common that has shifted everyone’s life,” she says. “We’re looking at how we can be attentive to a variety of needs as well as making sure that our students and staff feel supported and have what they need to navigate all the things that come up with them, emotionally and socially, because of the pandemic.”

Holland knows the pandemic has put things in perspective in terms of what is important.

One of Holland’s favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou who said, “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Six years later, she reflects that what she expressed before being hired is now a recap of what she has continued to prioritize and work to fulfill. “Recognizing the unique gifts that each of our kids bring every single day and working to maximize the potential of each student,” she says, “is what gets me fired up about coming to work every day.”

“I think it’s important to stand and be okay with who you are and not waver.”

Holland looking forward to students returning to Lake Forest High School

Chicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.

• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects

Chicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.

Chicago’s first private facility to offer clinically proven intravenous ketamine therapies for the treatment of depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD, bipolar disorder, pain and other ailments.

• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects!

• Potential to eliminate your medications and their unwanted side effects!

• Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects

• State-of-the-art medical facilities in River North and Lincolnshire

• Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects

• Minimal downtime and no lingering side effects

• Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting

• State-of-the-art medical facility in River North

• State-of-the-art medical facility in River North

• Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting

• Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff

• Customized therapy in a private, luxurious setting

• Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff

Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Additionally, Chicago Ketamine Centers is now offering SGB (Stellate Ganglion Block), the breakthrough instant treatment for PTSD. As featured on “60 Minutes,” this treatment is transforming lives.

• Onsite anesthesiologist, registered nurses, and skilled staff

Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Chicago Ketamine Centers is now providing this proven therapy utilizing proven protocols.

Hailed as “The most significant advancement in mental health in half a century”, ketamine is up to 80% effective in relieving treatment resistant depression (TRD). It is also effective in treating chronic pain (CRPS and fibromyalgia), migraines, OCD, PTSD, neuropathy, and more. Chicago Ketamine Centers is now providing this proven therapy utilizing proven protocols. 844-9-IVMEDS

An iconic Lake Forest boutique celebrates its 30th anniversary.

words by Rochelle Newman Rubinoff photography by Robin Subar make-up by Sara Saltanovitz

LOVE HER HONESTY.” “Dedicated, hardworking businesswoman.” “Wonderful asset to our community.” “Absolute gem.”

These are just a few of the accolades Lillie Alexander’s customers use to describe owner, Lillie Milanovic, and the shopping experience at this storied boutique. It is easy to see why Lillie Alexander will be celebrating 30 years in the business this fall—and is still going strong.

CELEBRATING LILLIE “I

“When you open a store like this you have high hopes that it’s all going to go well, otherwise you wouldn’t do it,” says Milovanovic, when commenting on her upcoming anniversary. “I’m sure I thought I would be doing it for a long time. I’ve seen a lot of businesses come and go and we’re happy to still be here.”

And it is that winning attitude which has contributed to her success. However Milovanovic is reticent to take all, or even any, of the credit. “I pretty much attribute (my success) to our customers. I feel like the Lake Forest customers have been very loyal and they have all supported me.”

Lillie Alexander Ltd owner, Lillie Milanovic

“Even through those growing years in the beginning, I feel like I had the support. So I think that gave me energy to like keep going. I developed my base.”

Part of that base is Laurie Valassis, a loyal customer for the past 30 years. “Lillie Alexander offers a unique selection of clothing, shoes, and accessories. I also love that she has a children’s section.  I not only find things for myself, but also have fun shopping for our grandchildren.  To have such a special shop locally is a wonderful asset to our community,” Valassis says.

Joanna Marshall is another loyal customer who echoes those sentiments. “It’s my favorite place to shop. It’s really inviting with a low-key atmosphere.” As a working mom, Marshall doesn’t have any time to waste when it comes to shopping. “They have an incredible selection of stylish clothes that aren’t outrageously priced,” Marshall says. She shops there for both herself and her children. “Lillie Alexander is absolutely a gem in Lake Forest with incredible customer service.”

Although it’s obvious that Milovanovic is a natural, it seems that she got into retail almost by accident.

After getting married and while attending school in Milwaukee, Milovanovic was looking for a part-time job. She started working for a family owned store called Mr. Roberts, a retail shop carrying everything from sportswear to dresses. “I always liked clothes,” she says. “I was always into wanting to look nice; I always wanted to dress.” Within six months, she was promoted to manager. “I just felt very comfortable.”

She and her husband moved back to the Chicago area to be closer to family and after having her own children, she worked part time at a variety of stores, including Marshall Fields in Lake Forest, where she was the manager of the Polo department.

“After working in town here for a while, I realized that I know the customer and have the same taste as the customer, and I just developed it from there. I just decided to do my own thing,” Milovanovic says. The store is named after herself and her eldest son, Alexander.

“Even back when I was at Mr. Roberts, he once told me, ‘I think you’re going to have your own store one day.’ Maybe that planted a seed that I could do it.”

For the first ten years of business, Lillie Alexander occupied two different locations in Lake Forest before landing

at their current spot on Westminster. It was at that point that she bought the children’s store, Hanson’s, and the two businesses merged, becoming the mother/child concept that it is today.

“Hanson’s was a very established store, having been in business for over 40 years,” Milovanovic says. “It was a big deal when we took over, and we’ve been doing kids and ladies since then.”

Looking back on the past three decades, Milovanovic is beyond grateful for “just being in this town and appreciating my customer and the fact that they like me and they want to come in. I think that’s the most rewarding. I’m here six days a week. So people have gotten used to me and I’ve gotten used to them. And I’m able to pull out things and know what’s going to work for them.”

What is really gratifying for Milovanovic is the fact that, “People do shop local, and they do support the small businesses, which is so important— now more than ever.”

In fact, even during the COVID-19 crisis, Milovanovic still had people calling her. “I changed my windows once a week, and people would call and want to know if they could purchase what was in the window. People were very supportive even during that time.”

Lillie Alexander carries a wide selection of luxury brands for boys and girls, from infants through children’s wear, in addition to many iconic brands that women love to shop today. It’s a one-stop shop for clothing, shoes, and accessories. Milovanovic is proud of the brands she carries and the relationships she has developed with her vendors. The lines she carries include Joie, Vince, Vera Wang, Tracy Reese, Mother Denim, ALC, Ulla Johnson, Alexis, Shoshanna, Lily Pulitzer, Rebecca Taylor, Theory, and more. What better way to shop local and get exactly what you want?

For the celebration of their 30th anniversary in September, Milovanovic shares, “We may do a big fashion show in the store, which is what we did for our 25th. We had an open house all day and people just came in to say hi and congratulations, and that I’d done a great job to make it for 25 years.”

Indeed--and an even greater job to make it for 30. Happy anniversary Lillie Alexander. Happy shopping, Lake Forest!

Summer-into-fall clothing at Lillie Alexander

PLASTIC SURGERY UPDATE

GENIUS

words by Steven Bloch, M.D.

layers of the skin while providing real-time feedback during the procedure. This allows for treatments on all skin types and colors. We can deliver customized energy precisely to the dermis and create micro-injury to jump-start your body’s natural healing process to firm and renew skin. I can deliver precise customized energy where I want with less pain than any other previous technology.

Genius treatments help provide lasting unparalleled outcomes with intelligent RF (Radio Frequency) technology, delivering thermal energy through micro-needles into the dermis.

Treatment takes about one hour. A topical anesthetic is used. There is minimal downtime and mild redness and swelling for 24 hours. Results begin to show in three to four weeks. Any part of the body where there is laxity can be treated. Dramatic results may require multiple treatments. Typically two to three treatments give optimal results.

The quest continues. As we age the skin loses collagen and elastin resulting in laxity, wrinkles, and sagging. Traditionally as a plastic surgeon, we resort to surgery to remove or tighten loose skin. The trend over the past 20 years is for less invasive or minimally invasive treatments or procedures to treat these vexing problems.

Since I cannot operate on myself and am a bit of a control freak, I’ve invested considerable sums in state-of-the-art technologies that can help reverse or delay the aging process. All of these technologies have been tested on me. The latest is Genius by Lutronic.

The trick in any of these technologies is to deliver energy beneath the skin to the dermal layer without injury to the surface skin. Genius uses unique and intelligent technology to help protect the top

For additional information, visit skindeepmedicalspa.com or call Dr. Bloch’s Highland Park office, 847-432-0426 or Glenview location 847901-0800.

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SWIMSUIT OPTIONAL R

ARE, STUNNING, DRAMATIC. The dark red branch corals in these earrings by jewelry designer Therese Crowe are perfectly mismatched. Their organic beauty inspired Crowe, a lifelong Lake Forester, to simply accent with complementary blue-hued opals and suspend by 18-karat yellow gold half-hoop earring tops.

Crowe handpicks the beautiful and sometimes quirky jewels that define her classic-with-a-twist style. Her business, Therese Crowe Design LTD, was established in 1991, on Chicago’s Jeweler’s Row, where every piece is handmade by fine craftspeople. She opened her boutique store in Lake Forest in 2008, and a devoted following quickly took hold. Of these coral knockouts, she advises, “wear out to dinner or to the beach.” Her designs, after all, are decadent yet utterly wearable.

Therese Crowe Design LTD is located at 291 E. Deerpath Road in Lake Forest, 847234-7501, and 29 E. Madison Street, Suite 1401 in Chicago, 312-269-0039. For store hours and more information, visit theresecrowe.com.

700 CRAB TREE FARM LANE, LAKE BLUFF / $14,900,000

175 PEMBROKE DRIVE, LAKE FOREST / $2,495,000

1125 EMMONS COURT, LAKE FOREST / $1,299,000

1115 ACORN TRAIL, LAKE FOREST / $1,899,000

1756 SURREY LANE, LAKE FOREST / $1,228,000