Every winter, the baseball diamond at Artesian Park in Lake Bluff transforms into a skating rink, when the Park District floods the 36,000-square-foot space with more than 315,000 gallons of water drained from a four-inch water line.  The lighted rink and warming house, supervised by Park District staff, are open from 3:30-9 p.m. on weekdays, and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m weekends.

The kids hitting the Blair Park slope on Tuesday afternoon in Lake Bluff proved that Christmas vacation can be as much a blast as summer. Some arrived as early as the crack of dawn with their sleds and toboggans. Others strapped themselves to inner tubes and snow discs. They dashed through the snow. Bounced on it, too. When a handful of boys forming a human chain wiped out before reaching the base, they tumbled over each other in laughter. Built in winter 1996, the hill is located adjacent to the Lake Bluff Park District Recreation Center. It boasts a 22-foot drop, allowing thrillseekers …

Little elves were busy at work earlier this week participating in the Little Elves Workshop offered for ages 3.5 to 6 by the Lake Bluff Park District. Kids made gifts for Mom and Dad, sang songs and spent time with their friends.

Last Sunday's first-ever Christmas Home Tour exceeded attendance expectations, raising more than $6,000 for the Vliet Center for Lake Bluff History, which hosted the event. Participants embarked upon a self-guided journey through the decades, beginning in the late 1800s, of five Lake Bluff homes fabulously decorated by local merchants for the holidays. The event extended to a second day activities planned for the "It's a Wonderful Life . . .  in Lake Bluff" celebration. 

Santa and his helper brought holiday wishes Saturday to Lake Bluff's Breakfast with Santa at Grace United Methodist Church. The Kiwanis Club of Lake Bluff and Lake Forest prepared breakfast and proceeds from the event went to Kiwanis Club Charities.

Sunday morning, Santa Claus made his annual ride through Lake Bluff. For at least the last 50 years, Santa has hitched a ride on the fire department's truck to make a two-hour trek touring the streets on both the east and west sides of town. Volunteer Lake Bluff firefighters helped St. Nick hand out more than 80 pounds of chocolate candy. As the temperature dipped below freezing, the truck siren signaling Santa's approach wailed only slightly louder than the gust of 37-mile-per-hour winds. Kids big and small trickled from their homes, their fingers wiggling in excitement; some diehards …