The North Shore Weekend, February 27, 2021 by JWC Media

FIND US ONLINE: DailyNorthShore.com

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

SUNDAY BREAKFAST

Storytelling never gets old for Lake Forest High School New Media teacher Steve Douglass P14

WEEKEND WEATHER Saturday, Sunny skies, high 42. Saturday night, Clear, low 30. Sunday, Morning sun giving way to clouds, high 41.

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

Wilmette native cooks a book P12 FOLLOW US:

NO. 437 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION

BRANCHES IN BLOOM A SHORT WINTER’S WALK WITH PRUNING SHEARS IN HAND WILL BRING THE SPRING COLOR WE ALL CRAVE.

Story on PG 10

UNDER CONTRACT IN 2 DAYS! 1326 A SH L AN D AVE NUE , WILM ET TE

MULTIPLE OFFERS

$1,299,000

BE AUTIFUL H O ME, A MA Z ING LO CAT I O N

#1 WILMETTE AGENT 2020 OVER $43 MILLION IN CLOSED SALES IN 2020 *

8 4 7. 2 2 6 . 5 7 9 4 | L O R I N E U S C H E L . C O M LO R I . N E U S C H E L @ AT P R O P E R T I E S . C O M *Source: Broker Metrics, #1 individual agent in Wilmette based on transactions, units and dollars, 1/1/2020-12/31/2020 **MRED Source LLC 1/1/2020-12/31/2021

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

I ST I NN GG N EEW W LLI STI

S PO RT S CO U RT

1324 TRAPP LANE, WINNETKA

6 Beds • 6.2 Baths // listed at $3,225,000

1005 MT PLEASANT ROAD, WINNETKA

exceptional nor th shore beautie s

7 Beds • 5.2 Baths // listed at $3,899,900

1 AC R E

PRO P O S E D N E W CO N ST R U C T I O N

265 WHITE OAK LANE, WINNETKA

115 DE WINDT ROAD, WINNETKA

6 Beds • 6.2 Baths // listed at $3,695,000

7 Beds • 7.3 Baths // listed at $5,999,900

312.925.9899 | jradnay@atproperties.com *MRED, LLC #1 North Shore Closed Sales Volume 01/01/20 – 12/31/20

SELLING YOUR HOME? SUBMIT YOUR STORY TO WIN MY SERVICES FOR FREE! † LEARN MORE AT: TouchlessShowing.com/heart-program †Free encompasses a waived commission from Jena Radnay,professional photography & staging. @properties not responsible for fulfillment of ‘heart program’ promotion and terms. Winner(s) selected at the discretion of the agent, additional terms & conditions may apply.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

S LI

D FO

1925 Emerald Woods Lane Highland Park | $2,000,000 2 ACRES + POOL

2028 Central Avenue Wilmette | $950,000

NEWER CONSTRUCTION

FULLY REHABBED BRICK COLONIAL

S LI

624 Grove Street Glencoe | $1,099,000

Co-list with Susan Maman

442 Amberley Lane Deerfield | $895,000

11 Elsinoor Drive Lincolnshire | $649,000

RANCH STYLE

RANCH WITH LOFT

1371 Asbury Avenue Winnetka | $849,000 T C N A IO R T T N UC O C TR S ER N D O N C U W E N

T C N A IO TR CT N U O C TR S R E N D O N C U W E N

S LI

223 Pasture Court * Buffalo Grove

1560 Oakwood Avenue #303 * Highland Park

2020 TRANSACTIONS

464 Jackson Avenue Glencoe

2860 Hillcrest Lane Northbrook

465 Madison Avenue Glencoe

663 Greenwood Avenue Glencoe

467 Jackson Avenue Glencoe | Rented

616 Dundee Road Glencoe

407 Kelling Lane Glencoe

2451 Riverwoods Road Riverwoods

935 Maple Avenue Evanston

132 Harlem Avenue Glenview

206 Highwood Avenue Highwood

3955 Mission Hills Road #A Northbrook

835 Greenleaf Avenue Glencoe

5430 N Long Avenue Chicago

2501 Virginia Lane Northbrook

710 Oakton Street #305 Evanston | Rented

1 E Scott Street #504 Chicago | Rented

705 11th Street #416* Wilmette

1308 Almaden Lane * Gurnee

1771 Mission Hills Road #415* Northbrook

2028 Central Avenue * Wilmette

Thinking of Buying or Selling? Please Call Me

200 W Witchwood Lane* Lake Bluff

1041 Oak Street* Winnetka

2247 Henley Street* Glenview

1992 Sheridan Road* Highland Park | Rented

595 Greenwood Avenue Glencoe

1005 Oxford Road* Deerfield

114 E Lahon Street* Park Ridge | Rented

1929 Bosworth Lane* Northfield | Rented

Co-Listed Sonia Cohen

MICHAEL MITCHELL

YOUR NORTH SHORE NEIGHBOR YOUR REAL ESTATE EXPERT *Buyer or Tenant Represented

| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

congratulates

On Her 10th Anniversary! Over $125 Million Sold* 2011 @properties Rookie of the Year

Cheers To The Next 10!

Source: MRED Residential Properties Total Sales Volume as of 1/1/11 - 2/23/21.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

COMING SOON

ENGEL & VÖLKERS SHORELINE 23 Center Street #2 • Douglas Michigan White Glove Service and Luxury at Every Price Point

t Engel & Völkers Shoreline, we offer a world-class approach to service and unprecedented international support. Today’s world, economy, and culture are more closely intertwined than ever, which provides tremendous opportunities. Highly productive agents and savvy consumers demand real estate brokerages that demonstrate both local and international market expertise, competency, resources, referral opportunities, and marketing strength − all inherent at the core of the Engel & Völkers value proposition. Buying or selling a home is a tremendous milestone, so we equip ourselves with the innovative tools, in-depth research, exclusive marketing strategies, and approachable professionalism to share in our clients’ real estate journeys and remain a long-term resource. We would love to provide you with our expertise in this unique market whether you are a local or a visitor who has fallen in love with all that this area has to offer. Experience the difference that Engel & Völkers has to offer.

Engel & Völkers Shoreline

269.331.3131 • shoreline.evrealestate.com 23 Center Street #2 • Douglas, Michigan ©2021 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

We are please to announce the appointment of

Carly Jones As Designated Managing Broker Engel & Völkers Shoreline Engel & Völkers Shoreline, opening this spring, will be led by Carly Jones. Her leadership in Michigan is critical to its success as she is incredibly knowledgeable about the Michigan shoreline communities and a born leader. As a managing broker of this new shop, Carly will blend her experience as an attorney, as a top producing advisor on the North Shore, and prior leadership experience to attract, mentor, and inspire advisors new to the Shoreline shop. While continuing her sales on the North Shore, she will be overseeing the success and growth of the Shoreline shop. Engel & Völkers Shoreline serves the coast of Lake Michigan from Grand Haven to New Buffalo, as well as the other communities in Southwest Michigan. Engel & Völkers is a global boutique firm specializing in residential real estate sales. With shops throughout the United States and around the world. Engel & Völkers Advisors are uniquely positioned to support all your real estate needs. Carly can be reached at carly.jones@evrealestate.com

312.391.3170 Engel & Völkers Chicago 773.797.9500 • chicago.evrealestate.com 2401 N. Clark Street • Chicago, Illinois

Engel & Völkers Chicago North Shore 847.441.5730 • chicagonorthshore.evrealestate.com 903 Green Bay Road • Winnetka, Illinois

Engel & Völkers Shoreline 269.331.3131 • shoreline.evrealestate.com 23 Center Street #2 • Douglas, Michigan

©2021 Engel & Völkers. All rights reserved. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified. Engel & Völkers and its independent License Partners are Equal Opportunity Employers and fully support the principles of the Fair Housing Act.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

INDEX

Dream LOOKING FOR YOUR

HOME?

LET ME HELP YOU!

LIFESTYLE & ARTS 18 personal provisions

Wilmette native and octogenarian Charie MacDonald writes a cookbook that's been decades in the making

847.204.5613

ADVERTISING Jennifer Sturgeon

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Wendy Franzen, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Sherry Thomas, Megan Weisberg

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean

LAST BUT NOT LEAST 22 sunday breakfast

colleenmcginnis@atproperties.com

John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER

Former ESPN Studio Production Assistant Steve Douglass watches his Lake Forest High School New Media students capture gold at prestigious Film Festival

DESIGN Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Amanda Alvarado ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATOR Robin Subar PHOTOGRAPHY Mindy Kovco ASSISTANT TO THE PUBLISHER

ALL ADVERTISING INQUIRY INFO SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO 847.370.6940 & JENNIFER@JWCMEDIA.COM FIND US ONLINE: DAILYNORTHSHORE.COM LIKE US ON FACEBOOK! © 2021 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND A PUBLICATION OF JWC MEDIA 445 SHERIDAN RD., HIGHWOOD, IL 60040

1256 ASBURY AVENUE, WINNETKA 4+1 BEDROOM | 2.1 BATH | $949,000

VISIT AT 1256ASBURY.INFO

Must see inside to appreciate this spacious 4-bed + (5th bed in basement) Hubbard Woods home that checks all the boxes for today’s buyers. This happy home is meticulously maintained and has great circular flow with generous rooms on all 3 levels. Fabulous backyard for entertaining with deck, playset and big fenced yard space. Features NEW roof, NEW baths, NEW appliances. Attached 2-car garage. Short distance to Hubbard Woods train, shops, restaurants and schools. e

ing 20 yea rat rs b le

SERVICE THAT MOVES YOU

773.398.2976 | GRACEFLATT@ATPROPERTIES.COM

| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Learn More At: www.nsbwestleigh.com

Luxury Lifestyle. Beautiful Views. Open Space.

Enjoy luxurious and low-maintenance living at Westleigh Farm Westleigh Farm is a new construction community project, so whether you are looking for a move-in ready or a more customized home, there is sure to be an option for you to love. Each home is intentionally positioned to ensure that each home enjoys gorgeous views of the community, which include 47 acres of orchard, three ponds, miles of crushed limestone walking paths, fishing docks, and a community clubhouse. With landscaping and snow removal services included, you can look forward to maintenance-free living and more time to enjoy your scenic surroundings.

Homes Starting at $1.2 M

LIMITED TIME OFFER: Free Side-load Garage Upgrade!* Schedule a Self-Guided tour at www.nsbwestleigh.com/selfguidedtour or scan the QR code or Call 847-744-9481 to Make a Private Appointment Today! *Restrictions apply. Offer valid on new contracts batween 1/15/2021 to 2/28/2021.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

NEWS BRANCHES IN BLOOM

From PG 1

BY WENDY FRANZEN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Beneath the bark of knobby tree branches reaching toward February’s gray sky, spring is beginning to swell. Many flowering trees and shrubs set buds during the previous growing season, and a close look will reveal rounded, plump flower buds and small, pointy leaf buds bulging from their barren branches. It is time to pull on the winter woolens and walk the yard with sharp, clean pruners in hand. Forcing branches into bloom is a simple and forgiving process, where they are coaxed into early flowering by emulating spring’s environment indoors. Trees and shrubs require a proper stretch of cold temperatures—six to eight weeks—for buds to experience a requisite dormancy that allows them to open. Lake Forest and Lake Bluff are situated in growing zone 5B, where cold temperatures have safely settled in by the time February rolls around. Following these easy steps will bring spirit-lifting blooms to your favorite room within a few days to a few weeks— long before outdoor specimens blossom.

The tips of ‘Declaration’ lilac branches are arranged asymmetrically to suggest movement.

A MONTHLY GUIDE FOR SEASONED AND ASPIRING GREEN THUMBS The following are some suggested trees and shrubs for forcing. Specimens that are cut closer to their natural blooming time will have a shorter forcing time. Forsythia and pear, for example, bloom early, making late January and early February a great time to prune. Lilac and dogwood bloom later in spring, so late February and early March are safer bets for forcing success.

Branches of Japanese cherry (Sakura) dazzle in a simple white ceramic pitcher.

• Choose a mild, above-freezing day so branches and buds are more pliable and less shocked by the transition indoors. • Look for younger branches approximately 1/2-inch in diameter and 12 to 18 inches long, with plenty of fat, round buds. Select non-essential branches that will not mar the shape of your tree or shrub. Branches with beautiful curves will make a more dynamic arrangement. • Prune from the widened base of the stem you plan to cut where it joins the larger branch or trunk, making a clean cut. • After removing desired number of branches, carefully cut two slits in a cross pattern into the pruned end of branches or tap gently with a hammer to facilitate water

intake (smashing too hard will have the opposite effect). Immediately place in a bucket or sturdy vessel filled with warm water and some floral preservative. Alternatively, completely submerge and soak whole branches in water overnight in bathtub to speed the breaking of dormancy. • Arrange in a sturdy, water-filled vessel with floral preservative that will not topple from the weight of the branches. For shorter arrangements, cut branches to desired length, choosing sections with plenty of buds. • Place arrangement in a cool spot with bright, indirect light away from heat sources to prevent drying. Mist with water daily to keep buds from falling off, and change water every two to three days (sooner if water appears dirty) to keep bacteria at bay.

• Forsythia • Quince • Dogwood • Willow • Cherry • Pear • Apple and Crabapple • Magnolia • Rhododendron • Serviceberry • Redbud • Lilac

ABOVE: Branches are cut for forcing in late winter. RIGHT: Magnolia soulangeana, also called saucer magnolia.

| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

ANETS WOODS

80 %

SO LD

We Saved The Best For Last, Just For You!

Very few places on the North Shore come together with such craftsmanship and detail. At Anets Woods you may downsize in space, but not in quality.

A T UD O R T R E AS U R E

353 Woodlawn Avenue Glencoe, IL 60022

5 Bed | 3.1 Bath | $899,000 Charming, updated Tudor set on stunning property amongst the mature Oaks of Glencoe. Features 5 bedrooms including full primary suite, finished third floor office with full bath, finished walkout basement. Lovely vintage appeal with numerous updates throughout. Attached 2-car garage, steps from downtown Hubbard Woods, schools, parks, transportation.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

The Matlin Group thematlingroup@compass.com

The Matlin Group is a team of Real Estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage. 320 Tudor Ct, Glencoe, 60022.

AnetsWoods.com | (847) 416-1318

847.951.4040

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

LIFESTYLE & ARTS

PERSONAL PROVISIONS A LIFETIME OF DIY COOKING AND OTHER ADVENTURES LED CHARIE MACDONALD TO PUBLISH HER COOKBOOK, CELEBRATIONS, LATE LAST YEAR. BY MITCH HURST THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Ask Charie MacDonald what inspired her to start cooking at primary school age and you’ll get a straightforward answer. “I like to eat,” MacDonald says. “That’s it, in a nutshell.” Now 84, MacDonald published her first book, Celebrations, toward the end of last year. The book is a mashup of cookbook and memoir, filled with recipes, photos, and memories living life as a self-taught cook. It all started with cake. MacDonald grew up in Wilmette, and when she was 7, she used to walk to Bennison’s Bakery—which was then in Wilmette—to pick up a cake, usually vanilla with chocolate frosting or vice versa. Eventually, it occurred to her that she could just bake the cake herself. “I thought, ‘I can make this cake, all you have to do is read, and if you can read you can cook,’” she says. “Then I started baking. My first cake was a chocolate cake with

Charie MacDonald is shown in front of her former business in Winnetka, Beautiful Food, which offered catering services and a place for her to host cooking classes.

vanilla and I was so proud of it. I decorated it with red hots and everything.” To her chagrin, her brothers’ friends came over, saw the cake, and thought it looked good. She caught them eating it. “I was not pleased,” she says. Early on, MacDonald developed a sophisticated palate, which would serve her well during her many cooking endeavors and adventures. “I wasn't picky, but if the strawberry wasn't perfect, I'm like, ‘forget it,” she says. “I'm not eating that. I just ate what my body wanted me to eat.” MacDonald’s love of food heated up in college as she experienced a variety of cuisines and came to appreciate food created from top to bottom in the kitchen. “I was a senior in college and my roommate's father took us to a French restaurant.

I had my first taste of a sauce and it just blew my mind,” MacDonald says. “I'm like, ‘Oh, my goodness.’ It was all from

scratch.” After graduating from Manhattan College in White Plains, New York, MacDonald asked her parents for a trip to Europe as a graduation present. Foodwise, it opened up a whole new world. “I went to Europe and was there for a couple of months and just fell in love. I fell in love with the cooking, everything,” she says. “I was kind of like my own groupie, going out to eat. I would take notes on taste and what I had to eat, and what I liked and didn't like about it.” When she returned from Europe, MacDonald noticed a sea change in the food landscape of Chicago. A lot of mom-andpop restaurants and bakeries where she could get quality homemade food were closing. “The bakeries started disappearing. Major grocery chains would come in and open a

bakery department, but they weren't using good stuff. They weren't using real chocolate. They weren't using butter,” she says. “I mean, you could taste it. It was just awful.” Her frustration led her making her own food at a standard she could appreciate, and she continued to take notes on her own recipes and on her experiences going out to eat at higher-end restaurants. “I would have a dinner party every Wednesday night and you know how dinner parties work. People started calling me for advice,” says MacDonald. “I would try out new things, just this or that.” The positive word of mouth about her cooking skills led MacDonald to start offering cooking classes in her home, with great success. Then her neighbor, an owner of a gourmet food and catering store with locations on the North Shore, asked her to oversee the stores’ food offerings. MacDonald wasn’t keen on the food offered there, so she started cooking her own breads and selling them in the store. They sold well, but it put her in the crosshairs of the owners. After a year-and-a-half of frustration, she quit, and started her own business, Beautiful Food. Beautiful Food offered catering services, wholesale and retail food, and a place for

| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021

MacDonald to provide cooking classes. “I was having the time of my life. It was so much fun, like having the tiger by the tail,” she says. “I truly was beautiful, beautiful food.” After five years her building was sold, and MacDonald reopened at another location. At the same time, she opened a 3,000 square foot kitchen in Glenview to provide catering services. “It was really wholesaling. I sold to Williams Sonoma. I shlepped salads around the city of Chicago at six in the morning, took muffins to the Hancock building,” MacDonald says. “Anything we could do to stay alive. It was a riot. We did a lot of good catering.” Eventually the second iteration of Beautiful Food closed—there were personnel issues she didn’t have the energy to deal with—and MacDonald focused on the wholesaling and catering business. When she closed the catering business a few years later, she went back to teaching cooking classes in her home and the idea of a cookbook began to take shape. “The reason I did the cooking classes was to write down things that I had been cooking. People really like to eat, and my classes were the basics, especially breads,” she says, “Also Chinese and Italian and making pasta from scratch.” One of MacDonald’s underlying philosophies is that good food isn’t hard to cook. It’s a matter of being able to read and follow a recipe. The key is that the writer of the recipe has to know what they’re doing, which is why MacDonald spent all of that time documenting and perfecting her eating and cooking experiences. While the idea for Celebrations is 30 years old, MacDonald finally sat down at the beginning of last year and began auditing all of her notes from over the decades. “I was able to write the whole thing in a few months. I came home after Christmas, and it's like the first week of January and I'm like, ‘OK, Celebrations,’” she says. “It became really, really easy to write.” Celebrations consists of 14 chapters that share recipes in chronological order for celebrations throughout the year. Two additional chapters include recipes that don’t fit a particular holiday categorization, and recipes for Sunday dinner. “We do Valentine's Day and other days that mean something to me,” MacDonald says. “It ends up being extremely personal and people that read it, they go, ‘Oh, my Lord, we hear your voice. Your voice is everywhere in this.’” To purchase copies of Celebrations, email Charie MacDonald at chariemacdonald@gmail. com. She can also be followed on Instagram at @ charie.macdonald. THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

GRIFFITH, GRANT & LACKIE A Real Connection. A Real Advantage We are proud to be your North Shore real estate experts since 1903, upholding the highest standards of ethics and providing the best customer service experience. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, call us today for an expert consultation!

GGLREALTY.COM

SELLER’S MARKET MORE BUYERS THAN HOUSES IN THE MARKET The 2020 housing market was a year of extremes. In February of last year there were approximately 300 homes listed for sale in Lake Forest and 120 homes were available in Lake Bluff. Inventory levels declined precipitously since the onset of the pandemic. Currently, the supply of available single-family homes has dropped to just 120 in Lake Forest and 24 in Lake Bluff. Demand increased dramatically last summer and continued through Fall and into the Winter fueled by historically low mortgage rates and an exodus from more densely populated urban areas. These extremely low levels of available inventory have created what is often referred to as a Seller’s Market. A market like this creates a unique opportunity for homeowners who are contemplating a sale. We are seeing strong price appreciation in many price ranges.

Do you know the current value of your home? A complimentary market analysis is a just a phone call away! Contact one of our experienced brokers for the information you need to make an informed decision.

980 N Green Bay Road, Lake Forest $6,750,000 | www.980greenbay.info

1780 Shore Acres Drive, Lake Bluff $2,595,000 | www.1780shoreacres.info

NEW LISTING

292 Sussex Lane, Lake Forest $1,595,000 | www.292sussex.info

291 Deerpath, Lake Forest $1,249,000 | www.291deerpath.info

1700 N Waukegan Road, Lake Forest $2,500,000 | www.1700waukegan.info

697 Bluff Road, Lake Bluff $1,749,000 | www.697bluff.info

NEW LISTING 890 Symphony, Lake Forest $835,000 | www.890symphony.info

36719 N Kimberwick Lane, Wadsworth $799,000 | www.36719kimberwick.info

NEW LISTING 185 Heathrow Court, Lake Bluff $769,000 | www.185heathrow.info

847. 234. 0485

440 Spruce Avenue, Lake Forest $774,500 | www.440spruce.info

Lake Forest Real Estate Office | 280 E. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest IL 60045 THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

153 Laurel Avenue #204, Lake Forest $444,000 | www.153laurel204.info

847. 234. 0816

Lake Bluff Real Estate Office | 8 E. Scranton Avenue, Lake Bluff IL 60044 SATURDAY FEBRUARY 27 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 28 2021 |

S U N D AY B R E A K FA S T

DOUGLASS FIRM LAKE FOREST HIGH SCHOOL NEW MEDIA TEACHER STEVE DOUGLASS STANDS TALL AS AN ARDENT PROPONENT OF STORYTELLING—IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM.. BY BILL MCLEAN ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT

Riveting storytellers were rapt, patient listeners first. A young Steve Douglass—his eyes wide, his mouth ajar—cherished every chance he got to buckle up as his Grandpa Jack, a Tennessean who died at age 95 near the turn of the century, painted pictures with vivid words and created story rhythms with a range of inflections and intermittent pauses, some quick, some … pregnant. “Grandpa, an old Scotsman, was an amazing storyteller,” recalls the 43-year-old Douglass, a New Media teacher at Lake Forest High School since 2005, and recipient of the prestigious Apple Distinguished Educator award in 2015. “A huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, like I am today, he liked to watch a Cards game on TV at home, while listening to the radio broadcast of the game, and read the newspaper during the commercials. When he was finished reading, he told stories, all kinds of stories. I couldn’t get enough of them. The birth of my love of storytelling took place when I first listened to Grandpa Jack. “The way he spoke, it lured you,” adds Douglass, who was born in Northern Virginia and adored the Baltimore Orioles before falling hard for the Cardinals. “He took you on a journey with his oral tradition, every time. I’d hear him tell the same story 15 different ways; no matter what he changed, or added, he made it entertaining. I couldn’t wait to hear the story a 16th time.” The eternally engaging, quick-tosmile Douglass— also an English and Social Studies teacher, as well as a soccer coach, at LFHS—has stories to tell. Oodles and oodles of them. The Lake Bluff resident even teaches his New Media students how to tell enthralling stories, through video, audio, and visual effects. His favorite personal yarn? Too close to call. There’s the one about the exact moment he knew it was time to leave his dream job—as an ESPN studio production assistant, making $12 an hour, with no benefits—in his early 20s. There’s the one about the drastically disparate roles he had to play in the same soccer match

while attending soccer powerhouse Wheaton College. And there’s the one about the Westminster Christian Academy (Missouri) teacher/ soccer coach who sat the dyslexic Douglass down and showed him a highly effective way to process

You know why I became a teacher? Because I wanted to build confidence in students who struggled like I did in high school and then continue to support them whenever I could.

Steve Douglass

information. Let’s start with Story No. 3. “I struggled, for years, as a student,” Douglass admits. “I was not the kid who was supposed to become a teacher; not even close. Just ask any of my teachers. My saving grace was having teachers, like Tim Baldwin, who taught outside the box. Tim introduced me to concept maps— they helped me visually connect ideas, helped me think more critically and analytically. You know why I became a teacher? Because I wanted to build confidence in students who struggled like I did in high school and then continue to support them whenever I could.” Now, about that unusual soccer double he pulled off while serving as a backup goalkeeper at Wheaton College: Douglass often climbed a set of bleachers after warming up with his mates in the pre-game session. Not as punishment; he had to ascend to the press box to call the game for a radio station. “So, I’m up there, doing my radio gig, when our starting goalkeeper got hurt,” says Douglass, named a Missouri All-State keeper after his senior soccer season at Westminster Christian Academy. “I had to run down those bleachers and enter the game.” The ESPN anecdote in-

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volves a horse, Dubai, and an epiphany. “Working in Bristol, Connecticut, right out of college, what a job, what a wonderful opportunity for me,” says Douglass, who mostly prepared highlights for SportsCenter and other ESPN shows for a year and a half. “I worked with (anchors) Dan Patrick, Kenny Mayne, (Chris) Berman, all those guys. I worked with 32 producers. Yes, 32. I’d get to work super early, do my research, absorb everything going on around me. Crazy, crazy hours. But I was grateful, because that was the best apprenticeship; it helped me understand the importance of storytelling for a station that insisted on presenting compelling narratives. “One day, for ESPN News,” he continues, “I was preparing teleprompter information about horse racing in Dubai. I asked a producer, ‘Why? Why am I doing this?’ The answer I got was, ‘Because we have viewers who are bettors.’ That’s when I realized, when it actually hit me, ‘OK, I need to find another field where my love of storytelling could be more useful.’ ” Douglass and his wife, Amy, a teacher, then moved to Missouri, where he enrolled at Webster University School of Education and earned a master’s degree in Media Literacy. He researched media department teaching positions at LFHS, New Trier High School, and Evanston Township High School. “Prestigious high schools, all of them,” says Douglass, the father of Jack, 13, and Peter, 11. “As I looked into the program at Lake Forest High School, I learned how personalized it is. The faculty? Collaborative, across the board. I’ve had the privilege of interviewing every LFHS faculty member with one or more years experience at the school since I started at the school. You know what? They’re all lifelong learners. How great is that? “People,” he adds, “move to Lake Forest because of Lake Forest High School. The high school, to me, is a hidden gem.” What’s clear: the rampant talent of LFHS’s New Media students. Douglass guided a coterie to first place (in the Best Film Invitational — Complete Experience category) at the 2020 All American High School Film Festival. Produced submissions from Nature Coast Technical High School in Brooksville, Florida; the Episcopal School of Dallas; and Taipei American School in Taiwan, among several other schools, also vied with Lake Forest High’s video, “Out For a Long Time,” for the top prize in the category. “It’s lighthearted and comedic, a coming-ofage story,” Douglass says, adding the video lasts about four minutes and went through nine drafts. “I can’t say enough about my students’ hard work and their selfless leadership throughout the project. Creative freedom was the foundation of New Media before the pandemic; it’s now more important than ever, with teachers and students constantly making adjustments. “I love what I do. I also love what I get to see from my students—their meaningful creations and their courage to share their voices and ideas. Establishing validity for each individual is such a powerful thing for our students today. And one of the most effective ways to do that is to tell a story through video.” THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

Deborah McClain

Mary Ellen Apostolopoulos

Licensed Real Estate Broker

312.488.9379 deb.mcclain@compass.com

312.485.3330 mary.ellen@compass.com

We’ve been down that road already, so we are the perfect guides.

Choose City Living is a team of Real Estate agents affiliated with Compass. Compass is a licensed Real Estate broker with a principal office in Chicago, IL and abides by all applicable Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only, is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, and changes without notice. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of Real Estate brokerage.

THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND

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LAKEFRONT PROPERTY

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THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND