Forest & Bluff, October 2023

JEFF

FOLKER

KIM

kimcampbell@atproperties.com Master of Banking & Finance, Stonier, Wharton, U of Penn. 25 years in Comm. Bank & Mang. MOWER

847.345.6600 jennifermower@atproperties.com 30+ years in sales, development and customer service. Lifelong Lake Forest Resident.

NATIONAL JEWELER: HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

National Jeweler, the leading New York-based news source for jewelry industry insiders, has chosen the latest group of inductees for its prestigious Retailer Hall of Fame. Stan and Ingrid Razny, second-generation owners of Razny Jewelers, are receiving the 2023 honor as forward-thinking multi-store independent jewelers.*

WATCHPRO FEATURES

TALKING TIMEPIECES: Editor and founder of WatchPro, Rob Corder, sat with Stan Razny to talk timepieces, discuss the ever-changing landscape of the luxury watch market, and breakdown how family-owned independents provide the value that direct-to-consumer brands struggle to match.

Deemed “The Big Interview,” it also showed how seriously Razny Jewelers takes its position as the only authorized dealer for Patek Philippe in a territory that stretches across Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, and Wisconsin, surpassing 220,000 square miles.*

RAZNY JEWELERS NAMED TOP 100:

Razny Jewelers is honored to have made this year’s Hot 100 list in the Retail Power Players categoary. Published by WatchPro magazine, the premier publication for news on timepieces and jewelry for collectors around the globe, this designation is reserved for elite American jewelers who display exceptional growth and success.*

AS SEEN IN VOGUE

Over 75 years ago, the Razny family immigrated to America with the vision of building a legacy they could pass on to their children. Today, they are proud to have developed their dream into something far grander than they could have imagined. Ingrid Razny and Christine Razny-Porter share their family’s story in this September’s issue of Vogue Magazine.*

*Links to full articles on razny.com/press

*MRED, LLC, based on listing data for 320 E North Ave, 08/03/2023-08/06/2023. **MRED, LLC, based on listing data for 417 E Scranton Ave, 08/09/2023-08/12/2023. ˚Sales figures based on MLS and @properties Christie’s International Real Estate data 01/01/2022 – 12/31/2022. ˚˚MRED: Based on North Shore residential sales data 01/01/2022-12/31/2022. ˚˚˚MRED: Based on team sales 01/01/2010-12/31/2022.

Editor’s Note

When the COVID-19 pandemic put the world on pause more than three years ago, no one could have imagined how long it would last or the profound impact it would have on businesses, restaurants, and arts organizations. One of the many casualties was Lake Forest Symphony (LFS).

As told in this month’s cover story, In Perfect Harmony, LFS members saw the void it left in the community and found a way to keep the music going with Rendezvous Arts. This diverse group of artists and musicians are now putting their own spin on traditional chamber music at Gorton Center and in performances throughout the Chicago area.

A second feature in our October issue spotlights this year’s Local Legend—Pro Football Hall of Fame writer Don Pierson. Turn to A Pro’s Prose to learn more about this former Chicago Tribune sports scribe and why the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff found him worthy of this annual honor.

Speaking of local legends, the Memoriam page in The Good Life section pays tribute to the life of Marilyn Lillie Gerlach Lovell, wife of Apollo 13 astronaut James Lovell and member of the “Next Nine”—the second group of the Astronaut Wives Club. The two met when they were teenagers at Juneau High School in Milwaukee and lived a happy life together in Lake Forest. Marilyn died in late August.

Another must-read column this month is a profile about Lake Forest native Anna Catherine Block in The Portrait. She recently purchased a home across the street from her alma mater, School of St. Mary and is excited to introduce her hometown to her fiancé, Christopher, and their young daughter. The Good Life also includes a Giving Back story about the important work that Meals on Wheels does in our community and the nonprofit’s Celebrity Chef Ball fundraiser this month.

Speaking of fundraisers, our social pages are always a favorite but the one we know everyone can’t wait to see this month is a look back at the fabulous

Citadel Theatre gala held at the Lake Forest estate of Adrian and Nancy Smith. Let’s just say the tradition of jumping in the pool in black-tie attire continues!

Closing out this issue is The Last Word column, which tells the story of Lake Forest resident John Kelly and his A Meal To Heal nonprofit. Kelly began the mission to provide restaurant gift certificates to families in mourning in 2008, shortly after his mother died. Fifteen years later, he’s passing that sense of comfort on to others in need.

We hope you enjoy this issue and all it has to offer. With the glory of fall in our midst, perhaps you can take it outside to read under the autumnal sunshine. November is just around the corner.

THERESA DE MARIA Editor in Chief

This year’s Local Legend, Don Pierson.

Adrian and Nancy Smith of Lake Forest.

President Richard Nixon flew Marilyn Lovell to meet her husband, Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell, in Honolulu following his famous mission. Turn to Memoriam to learn more about her life and legacy.

Time and Space: Watches from the Collection of Glen de Vries

October 18 | New York

UPCOMING SINGLE OWNER SALES

Forever Young:

Photographs from the Joe Baio Collection

October 19 | New York

The Collection of Judith and Philip Sieg, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania

Part I (Fine Art), Part II (Modern Pottery)

October 26 | New York

The Dr. Donald F. Moylan Collection of American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

November 3 | Cincinnati

Fine Books from the Dorros Family Collection

November 9 | Chicago

Beyond a Cincinnati Legacy: The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fleischmann III, Part I & II

November 16 & 17 | Cincinnati

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The Good Life

Musings on What’s Doing And Who’s Doing It

Remembering Marilyn Lovell

The wife of Apollo 13 Commander Jim Lovell landed in Lake Forest with her family in 1981, after serving a vital role as a “Next Nine” member of the Astronaut Wives Club in Texas. She died at Lake Forest Place in August at age 93.

Before portraying Marilyn Lillie Lovell in the 1995 movie Apollo 13, Kathleen Quinlan visited the wife of the mission’s commander, Jim Lovell, twice in Texas.

Quinlan sought to discover the essence of the strong, loving matriarch and then capture it vividly for moviegoers. But their relationship did not end there.

“Kathleen and my mother kept in communication for years after the movie was made,” says Jeff Lovell, one of the couple’s four children, with Barbara Harrison, James Lovell III, and Susan Lovell. “Mom was overjoyed with Kathleen’s portrayal.”

A poignant scene unfolded inside a room at Lake Forest Place on August 27. Surrounded by her husband of 71 years and their quartet of children, Marilyn Lovell died peacefully from natural causes at age 93.

“We were all there, and she knew it,” Susan Lovell says. “It was unique, unplanned. I remember thinking, ‘How did this happen, all of us getting to spend her final moments with her?’ It was perfect.

“I miss her,” she adds. “I miss talking with her. We were close. A very strong, determined woman, Mom put everybody ahead of her and lived a good, long life.”

Born Marilyn Lillie Gerlach as the youngest of five children in Milwaukee, she first met her future husband when she was 14 and Jim was 16. They attended Juneau High School in Milwaukee. According to astronomy.com, Marilyn transferred from Wisconsin State Teachers College in Milwaukee to George Washington University in Washington D.C., in order to be closer to Jim, who was a United States Naval Academy midshipman in Annapolis.

They got married in 1952.

Marilyn Lovell served as a member of the “Next Nine,” the second group of the Astronaut Wives Club.

“The club supported and promoted NASA, and it supported the wives of NASA astronauts as

well,” says Jeff Lovell, who graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1984— three years after the Lovell family moved to the suburban city—and lives in Houston. “Mom was there for the wives who had lost their husbands working in a dangerous occupation.”

Apollo 13, NASA’s third scheduled mission to land on the Moon, averted disaster thanks to the skill and poise of Jim Lovell and his crew. An oxygen tank in the service module failed during the second day of the 1970 journey, forcing the crew to loop around the Moon. It returned safely to Earth.

“I never knew my dad was in trouble,” says Jeff Lovell, who was four years old when the nation followed the gripping plight on television. “Mom saw to that. We all lived normal lives because of her and her ability to juggle a lot of balls at the same time without dropping any of them.”

In 1968, while on the Apollo 8 mission to the Moon, Jim Lovell eyed a pyramid-shaped lunar mountain and named it after Marilyn. Mount Marilyn became officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union in 2017.

Carole Schall, of Lake Forest, knew Marilyn Lovell for more than seven years, mostly as a Talbots client specialist. A former Saks Fifth Avenue director of fashion, Schall “styled Marilyn and picked out wardrobes (typically elegant and classic) for her.” An unforgettable moment for Schall was seeing Jim, 95, and Marilyn Lovell interacting one day.

“What a thrill that was for me, watching two celebrities together in my hometown,” Schall says. “Marilyn trusted me. We had a great connection.

“I loved her dearly.”

Marilyn Lovell loved chocolate almost as much as she loved her family and friends.

“If you gave her chocolate, especially a Cadbury Easter egg, she’d be your friend for life,” Susan Lovell says. “I learned from Mom that the 12-step program for chocoholics is to never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate.”

Other survivors include 11 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A service was held last month.

words by Bill McLean photography provided by the Lovell family

Marilyn Lovell in her younger years.

Jim and Marilyn Lovell.

OUR PASSION FOR REAL ESTATE

REMAINS CONSTANT EVEN WHEN THE SEASONS CHANGE

LORI BAKER & ALISSA MCNICHOLAS

Partnered with Peter Coutant Director of Operations

LOCAL, BORN AND RAISED

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@bakermcnicholasgroup

280 E. Deerpath Road, Lake Forest, IL 60045

“Alissa McNicholas and Lori Baker are an amazing team! I bought, sold, and built many homes in Lake Forest and it was a great relief to know that I could count on their expertise to market and get them sold. They know every inch of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and whether you are seeking to purchase or sell a home, they are both knowledgeable, diligent, caring, and effective as well as fun!”

- M. Funk | Buyer & Seller

Make

About Town

All About Autumn

TEEN COAT DRIVE

WHEN: October 10 to November 10

WHERE: Throughout Lake Forest & Lake Bluff

Developed 10 years ago, the Mother’s Trust Foundation Teen Coat Drive provides warm coats and clothes to hundreds of families. motherstrustfoundation.org

NIGHT OF 1,000 JACK

O’LANTERNS

WHEN: October 11 to 22

WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden

Visit the Chicago Botanic Garden for this festive annual tradition featuring a display of artist-carved pumpkins. More than 1,000 handcarved pumpkins lit with LED lights will light up the night and line the family-friendly outdoor paved path in a gorgeous fall setting. chicagobotanic.org

MUSICAL STORYTIME

WHEN: October 12

WHERE: Lake Forest Library

Children ages 3 to 6 are invited to drop in to enjoy toys, puppets, LEGOs, and more in the Children’s Library. No registration is required but an adult caregiver is required to attend.

lakeforestlibrary.org

LEGO ROBOTICS

WHEN: October 12

WHERE: Lake Forest Library

Students in grades 6-8 can register to join library staff to build LEGO Robotics using Spike PRIME kits. Some knowledge of block coding is required. Registration is also required. lakeforestlibrary.org

THE BETTY BASH

WHEN: October 14

WHERE: Fields Mini Dealership, Glencoe

Help the Mother’s Trust Foundation celebrate its silver anniversary with cocktails, food, live music, dancing, live auction, and a paddle raise. The organization has served the community for 25 years to provide for children who have no other place to turn in times of crisis. motherstrustfoundation.org

WINE & WORDS

WHEN: October 14

WHERE: Bernie’s Book Bank

Bernie’s Book Bank hosts a unique evening filled with wine, hors d’oeuvres, and lively discussions. Guest speaker Aimee Garcia is best known for her roles on such TV hits as Dexter, Lucifer, Vegas, and The George Lopez Show. She is also an accomplished writer and part owner of the Chicago Red Stars. Joining Garcia is Chris “Fred” Fredrick, the host of iHeart Media KISS

FM’s nationally syndicated The Fred Show. berniesbookbank.org

PUBLIC SAFETY DAY

WHEN: October 14

WHERE: Lake Bluff

The Lake Bluff Fire and Police Departments host a Safety Day with fire station tours, fire extinguisher demonstrations, fire, police and public works vehicle displays and more. lakebluff.org

THE MOUSETRAP

WHEN: Through October 15

WHERE: Citadel Theatre Brimming with intrigue, sophisti-

cated humor, and surprising twists, Agatha Christie’s iconic murder mystery is the world’s most successful and longest-running play. Amidst news of a murder in London, seven strangers find themselves snowed in at a remote country guesthouse. When police arrive they discover—to their horror—that a killer is in their midst! citadeltheatre.org

BOOK SIGNING

WHEN: October 19

WHERE: Gorton Center

Join the Lake Forest Library for an evening of thoughtful and compelling conversation between Diane Wilson, author of The Seed Keeper, and Davis Schneiderman, Krebs Provost and Dean of the Faculty at Lake Forest College. A question and answer session and book signing will follow the discussion. lakeforestlibrary.org

READ WITH RAGDALE

WHEN: October 25

WHERE: Ragdale, Lake Forest

Join Ann Walters, Ragdale Trustee and longtime facilitator of Between the Covers Book Discussions, at the Hart McCutcheon House on Ragdale’s campus, for a discussion with Toya Wolfe, who will discuss her debut breakout novel Last Summer on State Street. Wolfe was recently honored with the Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award. ragdale.org

REVEL

WHEN: November 1

WHERE: North Shore Country Club

Club of Hearts members present Revel, an evening of boutique shopping for charity. The organization’s mission is to raise funds for one charitable partner per year. Funds raised this year will benefit Fill A Heart 4 Kids, an organization supporting homeless youth, at-risk, and foster children with the educational support, necessities, and positive experiences to help their hearts heal so they can achieve brighter futures. clubofheartsil.com

Night of 1,000 Jack o’ Lanterns runs at Chicago Botanic Garden from October 10 to 22.

Native Daughter Returns

Top 3 favorite restaurants? First, Deer Path Inn; Fhad and Jorge always take care of me! Second, Sails in Naples; love the caviar and a lychee martini. Third, Bavettes downtown Chicago; a classic

edited by Sherry Thomas

photography by Maria Ponce

s tyling by Theresa DeMaria

hair and makup by Maria Ponce

Favorite color? Army Green.

Anna Catherine Block had the quintessential Lake Forest childhood. “I grew up primarily on Sheridan Road on a private drive, overlooking a ravine,” recalls Block, who says she used to ride her bike everywhere. “I scaled every ravine in town and held many lemonade stands with my two younger sisters, Olivia and Isabelle. I attended Lake Forest Days every year and loved McCormick Day Camp.” One day after cheerleading practice, she even met Jennifer Aniston. The influence those early years had on this new mother and entrepreneur is what prompted her to make an offer on a special Lake Forest property that is just steps from her alma mater, School of St. Mary. “Lake Forest instilled many morals and values that I will be sure to raise my daughter with and continue to instill in those around me in my daily life for many years to come, just as my mom did with me,” says Block, who will marry her fiancé, Christopher, next June at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. The reception will be held across the street at the family’s new home, which she says she can’t wait to start decorating.

Best concert you’ve been to this year? Post Malone, twice this summer, in Alpine Valley and San Diego.

What is your favorite thing about Lake Forest? Everything from the beauty and convenience of Market Square, the Lake Bluff 4th of July parade, and Lake Forest beach to the historical society, which protects the beautiful properties in our city. Beach, mountain, or city for vacation? Definitely beach. Favorite designer or brand? I have eclectic taste; I love everything from designer to Zara. Quote that inspires you? “The most important thing in your life if to live your life with integrity and not give into peer pressure to try to be something you’re not, to live your life as an honest compassionate person, to contribute in some way.” Favorite place in the world, so far? St. Barts. Top 3 favorite restaurants? First, Deer Path Inn; Fhad and Jorge always take care of me! Second, Sails in Naples; love the caviar and a lychee martini. Third, Bavettes downtown Chicago; a classic! Favorite color? Army Green. Favorite music to listen to while driving? Totally depends on my mood. When I am in Naples, I crank a lot of girly pop music, Lake Forest is more rap and hip hop. Best concert you’ve been to this year? Post Malone, twice this summer, in Alpine Valley and San Diego. Favorite movie you’ve seen recently? About My Father with Sebastian Maniscalco. I got to go to the official movie premiere in downtown Chicago, where I also met him. Favorite cocktail? A beautiful glass of Dolce Far Niente Chardonnay. Next item to check off your bucket list? African safari.

Favorite movie you’ve seen recently? About My Father with Sebastian Maniscalco. I got to go to the official movie premiere in downtown Chicago, where I also met him.

Anna Catherine Block reflects on her life growing up in Lake Forest and why she and her fiancé recently chose to purchase a home here.

Favorite place in the world, so far? St. Barts.

The Portrait

Anna Catherine Block is settling in to her new home in Lake Forest.

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KIDDIE

CATS

These animal print Christian Louboutin

Mini Shark lace-up sneakers for girls are more than just a statement in children’s haute couture. The printed lemur on the insole of the crêpe satin, Pony Leo brown tennis shoes helps kids tell left from right. A creative rework of Maison Louboutin’s iconic Loubishark with its signature blend of textures, the junior version features the Loubi red anti-slip sole with sporty spikes on the heel, rounded at the edges for maximum safety. Priced at $545. Order from christianlouboutin.com and get an exclusive comic book with every kid’s and baby order.

READY

FOR TAKE-

OFF Confident luxury. That’s how BRABUS, makers of the “ultimate go-anywhere pickup,” are describing the next 900 XLP Superblack “One of Ten.” Untamed and unstoppable, this bespoke supercar is the third addition to the brand’s monochrome design series. Based on the Mercedes-AMG G 63, this next-level Geländewagen represents the very heart of the BRABUS roots—designed to push the limits with its unmistakable black and bold design, breathtaking performance, and masterpiece luxury. It is the definitive BRABUS machine, an unstoppable night rocket, and an homage to more than four decades of passion, luxury, and heritage. Available now for a starting price of more than $400,000. Visit brabus.com.

PRETTY IN PICKLEBALL What

do Emma Watson, Drew Barrymore, George Clooney, and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? These A-list celebrities all love pickleball, the hottest sport du jour. If you count yourself among them, you’ll want to know about Mark and Graham, a luxury purveyor of accessories and match day gear. The best part is, many of them can be personalized (who doesn’t love a good monogram?) From racket covers to pickleball bags to totes and duffel bags, you’ll be hitting the court in style. Pickleball accessories like Mark and Graham’s travel jewelry cases and leather tassel zipper pouches (available in fun hues of yellow, pink, orange, and green) are convenient to have on hand on match day and every day. Visit markandgraham.com to peruse the entire collection.

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!

546 LAKELAND DRIVE, LAKE BLUFF

A Signi cant Home like this rarely becomes available in a lifetime. On 1.4 acres, 4 minutes from LFHS, with gorgeous outdoor spaces & a stunning swimming pool, 5+ bedrooms, 7.1 baths, a 4-car garage & a walk out lower level. Is this your moment? Seize it now. $4,175,000 Deborah Fischer 847.309.9119

This magni cent estate is a stone’s throw from Lake Michigan. No detail was overlooked in the construction of this unbelievable home-from the foundation to the spectacular designer nishes. Breathttaking, sophisticated & pristine. An unforgettable residence! $2,499,000 Kim Shortsle & Carleigh Goldsberry 847.987.5702

291 W DEERPATH ROAD, LAKE FOREST

This stunning Lake Forest estate in a close-to-town location will captivate you from the minute you drive through the gated entrance. Appx 1.8 acre park-like setting with gorgeous landscaping, a pond, fountain, outdoor replace and gazebo with multiple entertaining brick patios $1,475,000 Anne Hardy 847.436.1075

1150 W OLD MILL ROAD, LAKE FOREST

Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to create the home of your dreams or breathe new life into a charming 1930’s Cape Cod home situated on a sprawling corner lot with a picturesque, park-like setting. Boasting ample space to build up to an impressive 8,000 appx sq ft. $739,000

Elizabeth Jakaitis 847.840.7842

1111 WALDEN LANE, LAKE FOREST

Rarely available three bedroom mid-century modern, ranch-style home in East Lake Forest! Solid Lannon Stone construction nestled on secluded 1.24 acres on coveted private Walden Lane with expansive ravine views. Great home for entertaining with desirable oor plan. $1,175,000 Kiki Clark & Polly Richardson 847.804.0969

701 PARK PLACE, LAKE BLUFF

2 HOUSES FROM THE LAKE!

Giving Back Food for the Soul

Lake Forest’s Heidi Clifton marries two of her passions—food and caring for the elderly—as she co-chairs this year’s Celebrity Chef Ball on Friday, October 20—benefiting Meals on Wheels Chicago.

words by Ann Marie Scheidler / photography by Lisa Sciascia styling by Theresa DeMaria / hair and makeup by Leanna Ernest

Heidi Clifton remembers when Meals on Wheels provided food for her grandfather.

“None of my family lived close enough to him where we could make sure he was getting the food he needed,” says Clifton, a Lake Forest married mother of two and owner of Cecily George Photography. “When my mom made the connection for my grandpa, we all had so much peace knowing that he was being taken care of. I don’t know what my grandfather would have done without them.”

This gratitude for Meals on Wheels never left Clifton, so when she moved to Lake Forest and was looking for a place to donate her time, she sought out Meals on Wheels Chicago.

The Meals on Wheels Home Meal Delivery Program began in Chicago in 1987, delivering to 1,218 homebound seniors. Today, this program serves more than 4.7 million meals to over 13,000 seniors and individuals with disabilities living in every neighborhood of the city.

“I always think that someday I might need a service like Meals on Wheels and I would love for it to still be around,” she says. “So, if I can help make that happen, that’s what I’m going to do.”

Meals on Wheels Chicago put Clifton to work, both in their outreach and in their fundraising efforts. For the second year in a row, Clifton—along with her cochair Shannon Murphy and Chef Lead Corry Morris—is spearheading their signature fundraiser, Celebrity Chef Ball on Friday, October 20, at The Geraghty in Chicago.

For the Celebrity Chef Ball, dozens of top chefs and mixologists come together to create a special evening of fine dining. The main event of the night is a unique and extravagant dining experience where every table is a chef’s table. A team of chefs prepare a sixcourse meal right at the table, personally presenting their creations. And the decadence doesn’t stop there: after the sit-down tasting

menu, guests will be invited to indulge in desserts from Chicago’s top pastry chefs. The evening also includes a live auction and paddle raise. In the 36 years that this event has been held, more than $5 million has been raised.

For Clifton’s part, she has been charged with recruiting chefs for the event—a task that takes nearly a year to pull off.

“I wouldn’t call myself a foodie, but I do love finding new restaurants and talking with chefs about their craft and what they love to create,” says Clifton, who has invited several Michelin star-rated chefs to participate. “Our chefs donate the food and their time. To show our appreciation, we try to make the night as special for them as we do our guests.”

This year, attendees can expect to be wowed by the following chefs and restaurants: Soo Ahn from Adalina, Cesar Murillo from North Pond, Brian Jupiter from Frontier/Ina Mae Tavern, Andrew Zimmerman from Sepia/Proxi, Paul Virant from Vie, to name a few. Lake Forest will also be well represented with Sophia Steak adding to the culinary color of the evening.

“In the early years of this event, it was less formal,” Clifton says. “But more recently, we’ve made it black-tie optional. This has really elevated the evening and it’s so much fun to see everyone so dressed up.”

Not only does Clifton volunteer her time at Meals on Wheels, but she also donates a percentage of every photo shoot she does to this cause.

“I’m lucky enough to be able to donate 25 percent of each Cecily George session I do to Meals on Wheels,” she explains. “And for some of my clients, I just ask that instead of paying me—they make a donation to this organization. I started doing this in 2017 with the goal of giving $10,000 over five years. As of today, with the help of my incredible husband, I’ve been able to contribute over $35,000. Every little bit helps. It really does. This money goes right to work helping those who need it most.”

While Clifton’s grandparents are no longer, she is often on the lookout for other grandparents she might be able to help. You may spot her loading groceries into a trunk in the Jewel parking lot or offering a ride to another with their arms full walking down Western Avenue.

“I honestly never expected that I’d one day be living in this amazing community,” she says. “The money raised has exceeded my expectations and chairing this event is truly an honor. It has all come together in the most wonderful way.”

To purchase tickets to the Celebrity Chef Ball on October 20 benefiting Meals on Wheels Chicago, visit mealsonwheelschicago.org/ccb.

Heidi Clifton of Lake Forest

Roasted Tomato, Herb & Cheese Hand Pies

words, photography, and recipe by Monica Kass Rogers

Because I love them so, herbs dominated my vegetable garden this year—dill, oregano, lovage, lavender, parsley, French tarragon, lemon balm, and lemon thyme, plus many kinds of basil, rosemary, and sage. Yes, all of those lovelies, plus a few veg essentials: including tomatoes! Waiting for the red globes to reach their peak, I first made these delicious savory hand pies with plump and pretty store-bought Campari (sometimes called “cocktail”) tomatoes, later switching to homegrown. Camparis are the perfect size for the recipe (less fleshy that big tomatoes, and less fiddley than cherries to slip the skins off of after roasting) but the recipe works with any size of the fruit. (If you use big tomatoes, just cut them into eighths.)

Slow roasted with garlic for a good hour and a half, the tomatoes deepen to rich flavor that matches their hue. Tucked into crusts with freshly made basil pesto, two kinds of mozzarella, they are delicious. I used Jessica Battilana’s New York Times calzone as my jumping off place for this recipe, learning from her that for crisp-perfect crusts, you need to bake at a raging 500 degrees. But while Battilana designed a drier filling to ensure that crispy crust, I prefer a little juicier filling, so added some cubes of fresh mozzarella to the whole milk mozzarella shreds, lots more garlic, and some chili flakes for punch. And the crispy crust held! You can use 24-ounces of store-bought pizza dough if time-pressed, but the homemade crust is very good, so do try to make it if you can. To round out the meal, serve the pies hot from the oven with a fresh green salad.

SERVES 6

INGREDIENTS FOR THE ROASTED TOMATOES & GARLIC

• 2 ½ lbs. Campari (sometimes called cocktail) tomatoes, washed and dried OR 2 ½ pounds any tomatoes (sliced into eighths if large; left whole if using cherry or Campari)

• 3 Tbsp olive oil

• 6 to 8 gar lic cloves, small dice

• ½ tsp f reshly cracked pepper

• ½ tsp salt

• FOR THE DOUGH:

• 1 cup plus 3 Tbsp warm water

• 1 Tbsp pure cane sugar

• 1 ½ tsp active dry yeast

• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ tsp salt

• 2 Tbsp good quality olive oil

• ½ to 1 tsp chili flakes to add to tomatoes after they are roasted

FOR THE FRESH BASIL PESTO

• 2 large bunches fresh basil, stems discarded, leaves packed to make four cups roughly chopped

• 2 c loves garlic, minced

• 2/3 cup pine nuts

• Finely grated zest from 2 fresh lemons

• 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice (plus more after pulsing pesto, as desired)

• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil, plus more as needed

• 1 heaping cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (parmesan) cheese

• Salt & pepper to taste

TO FINISH PIES

• 2 ½ cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella

• 1, 8-ounce ball fresh mozzarella cut into cubes

• 1 egg yolk, beaten with 1 Tbsp milk

• Sea salt flakes

METHOD MAKE DOUGH

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment, combine water and sugar; stir to dissolve. Sprinkle yeast over the warm sugar water and let stand 10 minutes until yeast is foamy. Add the flour, salt, and olive oil, and mix on low speed until combined. Increase speed to medium and continue mixing with dough hook until mass comes together in a ball. Remove dough from bowl and knead for three more minutes until smooth. Spray inside of mixing bowl with light vegetable-oil spray. Place dough ball inside and cover with kitchen towel. Place bowl in a draft-free spot and allow dough to rise for 1 hour and 15 minutes. While dough is rising, roast tomatoes and garlic.

ROAST TOMATOES & GARLIC

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place tomatoes on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Scatter chopped garlic over all. Drizzle with 3 Tbsp of olive oil, rolling the tomatoes around a bit to make sure they are coated. Grind pepper over and sprinkle with salt. Roast in oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or a little longer, until tomatoes are very soft and skins completely crinkled. Slip off and discard (or save to eat later) skins from tomatoes. Scoop tomato flesh and juices into a mesh strainer over a bowl, setting aside the garlic for a minute. Press tomatoes to release tomato juices into the bowl. (Note: Save the tomato juice to drink fresh, to make a Bloody Mary, or to add to your next batch of chili!) Dump strained tomatoes into a bowl, stir in the roasted garlic, and add ½ tsp homemade or store-bought red chili flakes. Set aside.

DIVIDE DOUGH

Flatten dough ball into a disk. Cut in half. Cut each half into thirds. Roll each into a ball. You will now have six dough balls. Cover dough balls with clean dish towel and allow to rest for 15 minutes while you make pesto.

MAKE PESTO

Combine basil leaves with pine nuts, garlic, and lemon zest in a food processor. Pulse to break down into small bits, scraping sides of food processor bowl as needed. Add lemon juice and olive oil and pulse again. Add parmesan and pulse once more. Stir; add more olive oil as needed to make a rich sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper and more lemon juice, if desired.

MAKE PIES

Preheat oven to 500 degrees. On a clean work surface with a sturdy rolling pin, roll one of the dough balls into an 8-inch circle. Starting at center, spread with generous dollop of pesto, leaving the outermost inch of the dough circle bare. Sprinkle grated cheese over pesto. Place three cubes of fresh mozzarella along the center-half line of the dough. Top with a few spoons of the roasted tomatoes and garlic. Lift and fold right half of the dough circle over the left half to make a half-moon shape. Press top edge into bottom edge to lightly seal and then roll and crimp the edge of the half-moon to completely seal in the filling. Repeat until all six hand pies are finished. Coat each with egg wash. Sprinkle lightly with salt flakes. Very lightly grease sheet pan. Place pies on pan and bake at 500 degrees for 15 to 18 minutes until deep golden brown. Watch closely during last few minutes to ensure crusts don’t get too dark. Remove from oven. Serve with fresh green salad.

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STEP THREE OF THE STRATEGIC DIVORCE PROCESS™—CHILD SUPPORT

words by Michone J. Riewer / photography by Katrina Wittkamp / styling by Theresa DeMaria

The attorneys at Strategic Divorce strive to educate our clients on all relevant matters to ease an often-difficult process. We believe knowledge of the divorce process provides the strength and peace of mind to complete it. This goal of education inspired me to write The Strategic Divorce Process™.

My book breaks divorce into five distinct steps when children are involved. These steps are: 1. Making Decisions for Your Children; 2. Visitation; 3. Child Support; 4. Maintenance; and 5. Division of Marital Assets and Debts.

Allocation Judgement is a legal term for the document used to specifically assign parenting time and parenting responsibilities. Once Step 2 has been completed and the Allocation Judgement has been entered as a final order by the court, we move on to the marital settlement agreement. This next stage is expressed as Steps 3, 4, and 5 in The Strategic Divorce Process In this monthly series, we will examine Step 3 or Child Support.

Under The Strategic Divorce Process, discussions around child support only begin once the Allocation Judgment has been reached, and with good reason. While the Allocation Judgement has no effect on child support, the visitation schedule it sets forth is the driving factor in the amount of money one spouse will pay—so it must be determined first.

Child support is an obligation of both parents to support their child until the child is 18 years old or has completed high school—whichever comes second. Typically, one parent will pay the other a set amount of money each month to help with living expenses for the child.

Child support is calculated using a complicated equation

that takes a variety of variables into account. While some of the variables are obvious, such as the number of overnights and each parent’s income, others, such as who pays health insurance, are less obvious, and many parents may not have thought to consider them.

In addition to child support payments, parents usually divide the cost of additional expenses proportionate to their income. These expenses can include school fees, medical costs not covered by insurance, extracurricular activities, and other costs that don’t fall under day-to-day expenses. Often there is a 40/60 split, with the parent who has the higher income paying 60 percent, regardless of the visitation schedule.

The first step in determining the amount of child support is knowing who will be receiving it. If one parent has more than 60 percent of the overnights, the other parent will likely owe them child support—even if the parent with more visitation has a higher income. Parents who have less than 40 percent of the overnight visits will pay significantly more child support, even if the difference is only a few days.

Whoever has greater visitation is significant in other ways as well, as this parent will likely get the tax benefit from each child. This is important because the tax filing status of each parent is taken into the child support equation.

This may seem like an insignificant thing to consider, but it can have a large effect on the parent’s net income—and net income, not gross income, is what child support is based upon.

Spousal Support, also known as maintenance or alimony, can also affect the amount of child support. Although they are calculated separately, maintenance is considered income for the parent receiving it, which will reduce the income gap between each parent, affecting the child support calculation.

There are some situations that would cause child support to continue beyond the age of 18 or after high school graduation. For example, a new motion would be filed with the court asking the court to set how much each parent should pay toward college expenses. Another instance of continued support would be if the child had a disability.

While many of the decisions that factor into child support may be complicated, the actual equation leaves very little room for interpretation. Once the Allocation Judgement has been reached, child support is a pretty quick calculation in most cases. When parents work together, realizing that they both want what is best for their kids, it tends to be even easier.

Michone J. Riewer

Michone Riewer is an attorney with Strategic Divorce in Lake Bluff, 847-234-4445, strategicdivorce.com.

Practice Makes Permanent

words by Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo

In a highly anticipated conference matchup, the two football rivals were locked in a standoff—neither team able to hold the advantage for more than a moment. As the seconds wound down, the offense brought on their seasoned kicker. With five seconds on the clock and the crowd giving him their full attention and voices, the kicker sent the football straight through the uprights from the 35-yard line, clinching the win.

How did this kicker withstand the immense pressure to perform? Did he use the noise to his advantage? Did he heighten his focus? Was he just “lucky?”

Probably not.

In fact, it’s far more likely that the reason he succeeded amidst so many mental, physical, and emotional distractions is because he simply and clearly remembered how.

That’s right. It all comes down to muscle memory because what you practice becomes permanent

Muscle memory impacts more than just your body. Our brains store habits and automatic responses, too. That’s actually one of the brain’s key functions—it’s brilliant at finding more efficient ways to get things done so it can conserve energy, focus, and decision-making power.

For better or for worse, you’re constantly strengthening your mind’s muscle memory. Every time you check your email first thing in the morning, drive a familiar route to work, or sip coffee while you scroll the internet—without really thinking or actively choosing—you’re experiencing mental muscle memory in action.

When these habits and rituals are positive and goalaligned, this muscle memory can be one of the most powerful ways athletes and high-achievers can sustainably perform at a high level—almost on autopilot.

When this “programming” is negative, however, it can be one of the brain’s biggest roadblocks to success, and also the fastest pathway to what I call “The Red Zone,” the psychological state that makes us overly focused on the negative and overwhelmed by stress and pressure. It looks like irritation, frustration, and critical or controlling behavior. And it feels horrible.

At EleVive, my team and I help athletes optimize their practice, elevate their performance, and avoid The Red Zone through transformative mindset work. And there are three specific mindset responses and patterns we

coach our clients to intentionally practice every single day: Start strong with powerful morning routines.

Practice good wake-up habits like drinking a glass of water, going for a walk around the block, or setting (and writing down!) a positive intention for the day. That’s the kind of muscle memory that really serves you.

Engage your subconscious mind for restful, helpful sleep.

Our subconscious mind is the most receptive first thing in the morning and just as we’re getting ready to fall asleep. If you’ve ever watched a scary movie right before bed, then dreamt about it all night long, you know just how powerful this principle can be!

Make the most of these impressionable times by being mindful of what you listen, watch, and think about right before you go to bed and right as you wake up. Get in the habit of meditating, maintaining a calm environment, and focusing on what’s going well—instead of all that went or is going wrong. You’ll be surprised at how powerful this can be!

Check your setbacks—and your responses to them.

We all have a near-automatic response pattern when things go wrong. Do you tend to blame others—or yourself? Do you focus on what you have—or what’s missing? Do you quickly spiral—or do you slow down?

As you become aware of your natural setback response, begin to practice more positive ones. Acknowledge that times are tough, but you can handle anything that comes your way. Identify the positives and find what’s still working for you. Take a slow, deep breath.

In everything you do, the more you replace negative responses and rhythms with resilient, empowered ones, the stronger your mindset—and your performance—becomes.

Visit elevive.com to learn more about how our neuroscientific principles and mindset coaching can help athletes get more of their head in the game.

Elizabeth Lombardo

Sports Psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Lombardo shares how “mental muscle memory” increases the chances of success—without a second thought.

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In Perfect Harmony

Rendezvous Arts launches its 20232024 season with a robust and diverse offering of performances at Lake Forest’s Gorton Center.

words by Mitch Hurst

AS 2019 ROLLED INTO 2020, members of the Lake Forest Symphony became increasingly aware that the symphony was likely to disband due to fundraising challenges and the onset of COVID-19. Indeed, the day before Governor JB Pritzker ordered Illinois residents to stay at home, the symphony closed its doors.

That’s when Deb Stevenson and a few other symphony members—with time now on their hands—began ruminating about ways to fill the void left by the Lake Forest Symphony’s absence. The result was the founding of Rendezvous Arts, a group of artists and musicians who not only are continuing the strong tradition of professional chamber music in Lake Forest but doing so in a new and visceral way.

“While it was looking like the orchestra was going to fold, we had a very successful full chamber music series,

and I kept asking board members and people involved with the orchestra if they thought we could at least find a way to keep chamber music alive in Lake Forest,” Stevenson says.

One of the first moves she made was to call the Gorton Center, which expressed a strong interest in partnering with Rendezvous. Within six weeks the nonprofit organization had a board, two venues in which to perform, including the Gorton Center, and seven concerts booked.

This year’s Rendezvous Arts season runs from October to April and will include seven concerts by diverse groups of musicians, from traditional Irish instruments to jazz to string quartets, plus a guitar duo.

“People ask, ‘How is this chamber music?’ The true definition of chamber music is 13 or fewer players all of whom have their own individual parts,” says Stevenson. “We had a jazz group in our second season and the next month

Black Oak Ensemble, an internationally known trio, features violinist Desirée Ruhstrat, cellist David Cunliffe, and violist Aurélien Fort Pederzoli.

a 1700s-period instrument ensemble. We’re just showing people there’s a way to love all chamber music. It doesn’t have to be just one specific kind.”

And Rendezvous Arts is not just about music. It’s also about how different types of art can be paired together to create an even more sensory experience for the audience. Each music group in this year’s lineup is paired with a visual artist, from painters to fiber artists to potters.

“The idea is that there’s something for everyone because chamber music isn’t supposed to be stuffy and boring, it’s supposed to be fun and interactive,” she says. “That’s what we’re doing. I like to tell people it really took off the first time we had a harpsichord and people realized they could go look in the harpsichord and see how it worked and learn about it.”

It is this type of interaction with audiences that makes Rendezvous Arts a perfect fit for the Gorton Center (Rendezvous also stages performances at Artifacts Events in Chicago and Stage Left Theatre in Dixon, Illinois). The smaller performance space provides an intimacy with the audience that just can’t be found in more traditional concert halls.

“It’s always bothered me that at the end of the concert, the audi-

ence goes out the front door and the orchestra goes out the back door and we never meet,” she explains. “Now we get to meet and get to know each other.”

Stevenson says the values baked into Rendezvous’ DNA are featuring first-class talent, including full-time, professional musicians, and musicians and artists that fit the vibe and atmosphere of what the organization is trying to do, including a willingness to interact with the audience.

“Most chamber music in its beginning was written for parties. It wasn’t written to be on a concert stage,” she says. “We just want it to be more intimate. At the Gorton Center in Lake Forest, we’re not on the big stage where Lake Forest Symphony used to perform. We’re in the smaller Stewart Room. It’s almost like you’re going to a concert in a living room, and I love that. Plus, you can walk in and out and get a drink.”

This year’s Rendezvous lineup features the well-known guitar duo Fareed Haque and Goran Ivanovic; woodwind specialists Band of Five (Plus 4!); an Irish Christmas performance by fiddler Katie Grennan and accordionist John Williams (who happen to be newlyweds); the Christian Dillingham Jazz Quartet; Black Tulip Period Instrument Ensemble; the internationally acclaimed Black

The Christian Dillingham Quartet is led by Grammy Award-winning Chicago bass legend Christian Dillingham.

Oak Ensemble; and the Kaia String Quartet.

Uruguayan native Victoria Moreira is one of two violinists in the KAIA String Quartet, an ensemble that regularly features music by composers from Latin America. Moreira knew of Stevenson, and they had even played together at some point but had never really spoken. When Stevenson dialed her up to find out if KAIA would be interested in working with Rendezvous, Moreira was elated.

“It was actually really nice chatting with her and just from the conversation we realized we have so much in common. A lot of her interests are very similar to mine regarding music,” Moreira says. “I was particularly excited to have the quartet playing in her festival because of her mission and she really was excited about our Latin American repertoire.”

Moreira says she also liked the idea of partnering with an artist and making artwork a part of KAIA’s performances. Stevenson suggested the Chicago-based painter Ken Reif, known for his vibrant paintings of trees and other outdoors landscapes. It’s a good match.

“I was looking at his artwork and I just thought she did a really good job with pairing us up with him. One of the things he writes about his work is that he thinks of his work as renewable energy,” adds Moreira. “That really resonated with me because that’s how I feel when we play the repertory that we do.

She grew up in Uruguay on tango music—her father is also a musician—and the KAIA Quartet’s performance on April 27 at the Gorton Center will feature tango-infused works by composers

from Mexico, Brazil, and Cuba. She and her fellow musicians in the quartet, Naomi Culp, Susan Bengtson Price, and Hope DeCelle, make it a point to elevate Latin composers who don’t get a lot of attention in the U.S.

“We have a couple that we are doing this year and we haven’t finalized the pieces, but we’re trying to represent different parts of Latin America,” she says.

Longtime Lake Forest resident and classical music enthusiast Megan Morris says Rendezvous Arts brings a fresh perspective and approach to presenting classical music on the North Shore, especially given its local partnerships.

“I think a lot of people in our community have a real soft spot for Gorton in general and the fact that Rendezvous Arts has partnered with Gorton is a win, win for me,” Morris says. “That’s a really important piece of the puzzle for me personally. If Rendezvous Arts were in Highland Park or in Deerfield or another community, I would probably still go, but it’s really juicy for me that it’s local.”

To have a group of musicians like Rendezvous Arts, Morris says, contributes so much to both the Gorton Center and the community. She says having a dynamic leader such as Stevenson has upped the excitement for classical and chamber music in Lake Forest.

“I thought it was really cool how she created a venue not only for the musicians but then brought artists and their artwork to kind of tie in a theme,” says Morris. “So that just adds another depth to the experience.”

And while there are other options to see and hear live music on the North Shore, such as Ravinia during the summer, Morris says having a place in the heart of Lake Forest to experience highquality classical music makes Rendezvous Arts unique.

“The fact that we can pop into Gorton and have that level of music for an hour or two makes it so easy,” she says. “To have so many different groups and musicians I think is amazing.”

For more information about Rendezvous Arts, see a schedule of performances, and purchase tickets, visit rendezvousarts.org.

Guitarists Fareed Haque and Goran Ivanovic will open the 2023-2024 Rendezvous Arts season with a performance at the Gorton Center on October 29.

The KAIA String Quartet is a high energy group of musicians dedicated to promoting the rich and colorful music of Latin America.

A Pro’s Prose

Don Pierson is this year’s Local Legend.

Pro Football Hall of Fame writer Don Pierson—a Chicago Tribune sports scribe from 1967-2007 and a longtime Lake Forest resident—receives Local Legend distinction from the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff.

words by Bill McLean

photography by Katrina Wittkamp

DON PIERSON TOOK A CLASS taught by former Ohio State University football coach Woody Hayes. He met often, at 6 a.m., with Mike Ditka to help the former Chicago Bears head coach write his autobiography in 1982.

And Pierson attempted to interview Walter Payton while the late Bears great banged a set of drums at his home in Mississippi. Hayes, Ditka, Payton.

A bellicose Buckeye, a brash and beloved Bears field boss, and a brilliant back.

Pierson had a better-than-a-front-row seat during the football icons’ careers.

“Woody Hayes could have been a history teacher,” says Pierson, who, during a 40-year career (1967-2007) at the Chicago Tribune, became the newspaper’s first full-time Chicago Bears beat writer after covering Hayes’ Big Ten teams and taking Hayes’ Introduction to Football course while majoring in journalism at OSU. “When I sat down with Mike Ditka during those early mornings in his office at Halas Hall, he was always focused. I’ve told people I was never intimidated by Mike Ditka because I covered Woody Hayes at OSU.

“Walter Payton,” the 79-year-old and longtime Lake Forest resident adds, “could not sit still during our interview in Mississippi. He couldn’t sit still during football practices. After playing the drums in his home state on that day, he said to me, ‘Let’s go to the driving range.’

“I truly enjoyed writing about personalities during my career.”

Pierson covered the 1985 Bears—a squad teeming with delightfully outsized personalities—during the franchise’s Super Bowl season. He’s now a member of the Local Legends, a team of luminaries sporting considerably more star power than Ditka’s crew of

“Don was an old-school writer, always positive and extremely professional,” says History Center Board Member Fred Jackson, who served as a co-chair of the Local Legends selection committee. “You read him because of his ability to write outstanding human interest stories. Don was a great Local Legend candidate. He’s a family man, a class act, and a down-to-earth guy. And the man certainly knows Bears history. I still love going through the coffee table book he wrote (Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook, 2019, with co-author Dan Pompei).”

Pierson, a Pro Football Hall of Famer writer, will be recognized and celebrated at the Local Legends Benefit on Saturday, October 28, 4 p.m., at the History Center in Lake Forest. He’ll be interviewed by local author and journalist David Sweet. The setting is an intimate conversation that encourages the sharing of littleknown stories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, and insights missing from standard biographies.

“I thought it was a prank when Fred Jackson called to inform me,” says a chuckling Pierson, who moved to Lake Forest with his wife, Kathy, in 1974, and helped raise their children, Craig and Kate. “What I’ve always liked about the event is that it promotes the History Center and reminds all what a wonderful resource it is for our community. It’s a thrill and quite an honor to have been selected, considering the well-known names of all of the previous honorees.”

Pierson and Captain Lovell shared something in common before 2023.

“We were in the same book club,” Pierson says.

Pierson grew up as a Cleveland Browns fan in Kent, Ohio, and attended Theodore Roosevelt High School, where he played football only as a freshman—“I was too small for the sport,” the former running back says—and ran for the Rough Riders’ cross country team as a senior.

He devoured sports stories and columns in the Akron Beacon Journal, the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and the Toledo Blade. A young Pierson threw Recorder-Courier newspapers onto Kent driveways and took golf scores over the phone for the same publication.

gridders displayed 38 years ago.

Each year, the History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff presents a new Local Legend, honoring someone who has contributed significantly to the community and the world.

Pierson joins the ranks of Captain James Lovell, Adrian Smith, John Bryan, Richard Marx, Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra, Mark and Franklin McMahon, Ellen Stirling, Ryne Sandberg, Marian Phelps Pawlick, Jack Schuler, Dr. Eugene Hotchkiss III, the Honorable Susan Garrett, and Ed Wehmer.

Pierson’s first assignment for the Chicago Tribune, in 1967, was a feature on a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan who was hospitalized at the time. It didn’t take long for an editor to choose Pierson to cover the Chicago Bears for the paper.

“I went to Ohio State, so it was assumed that I must know a lot about football,” Pierson says.

He did. He also reported thoroughly and accurately and wrote well, making him a triple threat in the realm of grid scribes. Pierson also got assigned to cover the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles (1984) and in Barcelona (1992), allowing him to flex his versatility as a writer while crafting track and field, boxing, and men’s swimming stories and features.

“I truly enjoyed writing about personalities during my career.”

Bold-faced Bears names, including George Halas, Red Grange, Sid Luckman, Dick Butkus, and Gale Sayers, answered questions from Pierson, who served as president of the Pro Football Writers of America and later received the Ring Lardner Award for excellence in sports journalism in 2009.

“Dick Butkus was my favorite Bear to cover,” Pierson says. “He’s a genuine guy, a regular guy, authentic. I was at a golf event with him, and what I remember most about it was Butkus sitting with his (Chicago Vocational) high school friends. And he’s still promoting anti-drug initiatives for high school kids.”

Bears running back Brian Piccolo died of lung cancer in 1970. Most of Brian’s Song, the 1971 movie about Piccolo’s friendship with Sayers, was filmed in Rensselaer, Indiana, the former location of the Bears’ training camp. The late James Caan portrayed Piccolo.

Pierson didn’t appear in the flick, but he deserves credit—for finding out that Caan had made a courageous request which resulted in instant pain.

“James Caan was a thin man then,” Pierson recalls. “He wanted to be tackled by real Bears players during filming. Well, after getting tackled for the first time, that was it, no more. Caan didn’t want to feel that again.”

Pierson, a grandfather of four, has stories to tell, too many to count. They’re typically interesting and enlightening and entertaining to sports fans and fans of life. But he’s the story now, a worthy and humble Local Legend.

“Don Pierson is the quintessential local guy,” says History Center Board Member and Local Legends Selection Committee Cochair Kristen Chun, a Bears season-ticket holder since the 1980s and owner of a car adorned with a Bears license plate. “He’s fantastic, like all of our Local Legends are, and we hadn’t honored a literary Local Legend until we named Don. I love that each Local

Legend is a part of our community, people who shop at local grocery stores and say hi to you.

“I can’t wait to listen to Don tell stories and talk about my favorite football team in a relaxed setting at the Local Legends Benefit.”

The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff is located at 509 East Deerpath Road, Lake Forest. Call 847-234-5253 or visit lflbhistory. org for more information. To register for the Local Legends Benefit on October 28, visit lflbhistory/give-join/local-legends-benefit. A Patrons Sponsors Event—a “tailgate” gathering before the Bears-Commanders game at Washington—will be held at the History Center on Thursday, October 5, from 5:30-7 p.m.

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SOCIAL LIFE

DENIM & DIAMONDS

photography by Ian McLeod

Adrian and Nancy Smith’s renowned Lake Forest estate came alive with revelers decked out in denim and diamonds celebrating at Citadel Theatre’s annual summer gala. Following a delicious BBQ dinner, libations continued on the dance floor and poolside accompanied by Nashville’s Tyson Hanes Band and late night DJ-ing courtesy of Freddie Wack. Funds raised support the nonprofit theater’s professional main stage productions, youth education and performances, and the Citadel Cares organization—dedicated to providing enrichment and scholarship opportunities to underserved communities. citadeltheatre.org

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words by Steven Bloch, M.D.

The nose is the first facial feature other people notice, not only because it is in the middle of the face, but also because it does not lend itself to camouflage. There is no such thing as the “perfect” nose. Different people have different features, and the purpose of a rhinoplasty is to create a natural harmonious look that doesn’t look “operated”. Very often patients come in complaining of their profiles. They look like one person from the front and a totally different person from the side. The object of the surgery is to get the two views to match.

The use of computer-simulated images is a major advance in taking the guesswork out of what the surgical result will look like. It allows the surgeon to show the patient what he or she has in mind. In order to achieve a harmonious result, it is often important to modify other facial features such as the chin and neck. The nose should be viewed in the context of the entire face. A turned up, scooped out, little nose may look very attractive on some women, but on someone else it may look totally out of place and unnatural. Most patients seek a “refinement” or natural look. The three most common flaws addressed by rhinoplasty are a hump on the bridge, a bulbous tip, and a nose that is too large when compared to other facial features. Regardless of the flaws fixed, the goal is to achieve a natural-looking outcome.

The surgery itself is usually done on an outpatient basis under IV sedation. The techniques vary but consist of filing down excess bone, reducing excess cartilage, and adding additional cartilage or bone when needed. Each case is unique and millimeters count. Most patients have a splint in place for one week, and there is some bruising and swelling, but it is usually minimal. Most noses look good at the end of one week, yet it can take nine months to one year for every last bit of swelling to subside, as well as for the skin to shrink to the smaller structure. To balance out the profile, often some modification of the jawline or chin is done. If the chin is too small, a miniincision is made under the chin or through the mouth. A pocket is created over the chin and an implant is inserted. The implant is made out of solid silicone and feels like the underlying bone. If the chin is too prominent, then the chin can be filed down from inside the mouth. If the neck is poorly defined, then liposuction can be done at the same time to give greater definition. Rhinoplasty is probably one of the most challenging procedures plastic surgeons perform, both technically and aesthetically. It is also one of the most gratifying. It has the potential to significantly enhance one’s appearance and give them the self-confidence to better enjoy their life.

For additional information, visit skindeepmedicalspa.com or D r. Bloch can be reached at his Highland Park office at 8 47-432-0840 or Glenview office at 847-901-0800.

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Meals to Heal

words by Sherry Thomas illustration by Tom Bachtell

Comfort food. It means different things for different people. For John Kelly, it was king crab legs. And not just any king crab legs, but the ones he and his five siblings ordered at Bob Chinn’s that day in 2008 right after their mom died. “My father-in-law told us all to go out to dinner as we were in the house grieving for my mother,” he recalls. “So, we did, and I was sitting at a big round table with all my brothers and sisters and I remember a sense of healing that came over me.” A few weeks after that meal, the Lake Forest resident (who works by day as an economist for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics) had an epiphany that would change his life, and the lives of many more who were mourning the loss of a loved one. “I was coming back from playing basketball and I had a realization that I could pass that same bonding, uniting, and healing I felt from the meal to other families, and I immediately said to myself ‘A Meal To Heal’.” As the oldest of six children growing up in Waukegan, Bob Chinn’s in Wheeling had been his family’s place for “special occasions.” So, when Kelly founded the A Meal To Heal nonprofit shortly after his mother’s death, the goal was to provide families with gift certificates to their version of Bob Chinn’s—that special restaurant where food always brought them comfort. “The first meal to heal was Portillo’s,” explains Kelly, who now partners with businesses throughout the North Shore to provide meals for what he calls “survivors” of loss and trauma. “A lady from a company that I collected data from lost her son in a car accident. We sent out a letter with our

stationary making the offer and the family requested Portillo’s. She said it was ‘the nicest thing anyone has ever done.’ Another family lost a child that same year and we did The Cheesecake Factory.” Over the last 15 years, the nonprofit has become a family venture, with John’s wife, Amy, and daughters Annie and Emma involved, along with the same siblings who shared that first meal. “We have had fundraisers and restaurant participation events, as well as lemonade stands when they were younger,” he says, adding that A Meal To Heal now also partners with a group called Chicago Survivors that supports children affected by gun violence in Chicago. “It is nice to work with so many great restaurants locally who support us, such as The Deerpath Inn, Sophia Steakhouse, Francesca’s, Authentico, Ferintino’s Pizzeria, Scotty’s ... and of course, Bob Chinn’s!” While the nonprofit serves mostly local families, including those who suffered losses during last year’s tragic 4th of July shooting in Highland Park, gift certificates have been distributed for restaurants from California to Virginia. Kelly says he was particularly proud to arrange a meal at Francesca’s for America’s Gold Star Families, serving those who lost their sons in the Iraq War. “It was very emotional for me. One of the parents said to me that this was the first time they had ever met other Gold Star families,” he adds. “To be able to share a wonderful meal and see the bonding and unity of the families that night really was amazing and unforgettable.”

Follow A Meal To Heal on Instagram at @amealtohealorg.

Lake Forest resident John Kelly reflects on the nonprofit he founded in 2008 to spread solace to families in mourning.

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North Shore, we ® you

DEAR LAKE FOREST AND LAKE BLUFF:

We love your beautiful beaches that set the scene for blissful moments watching the sunrise and escaping the daily grind. We love your community spirit that comes alive at local events like the farmers market. We love the historic charm of Market Square and the excitement of a night out at Deer Path Inn. We love your natural beauty, your architectural treasures, your endless recreational opportunities. We love YOU.

LOVE,