Chicago NATO Summit: A Suburbanite’s Survival Guide

Life as we know it may be disrupted a bit while the eyes of the world are on Chicago for three days.

  For the first time the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will conduct a summit in an American city other than Washington, D.C. In addition to global leaders, more than 2,000 journalists and countless demonstrators and activists are expected to inundate the Chicago area. Some protests have already begun. Security measures are in place for the days before the summit and the actual meeting days, Sunday, May 20 and Monday, May 21, when more than 60 heads of state and government will come together to discuss security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area. Although you are not a NATO delegate, some of the plans may affect your life during this time. Here is a rundown of the security plans as they now stand. Check websites listed …

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Railroad, City Officials Seek to Improve Train Crossing Safety

Look at installing fencing, cracking down on trespassing.

Installing fencing along the railroad tracks from Woodland Road north past Lake Forest High School, along with stricter pedestrian enforcement around railroad crossings, are some of the suggestions coming from a group composed of Lake Forest officials and representatives from Union Pacific and Metra railroad companies. The group, which had not met for a year, reconvened April 26 to consider creating some proposals in conjunction with other initiatives launched in the wake of the deaths of three Lake Forest High School students hit by trains since January. Two of the three incidents were ruled suicides by the Lake County Coroner’s Office. On May 3, half of the group also observed pedestrian behavior around the East Lake Forest Train Depot, …

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Katharine Christie

12:14 pm on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Let's not loose sight of the fact that--- engaging in action that may end one's life is not really a "choice" as we typically describe it. One of the things I've learned since we've lost 3 beloved members of our community - is that young people are impulsive risk-takers whose brains have not fully developed to truly understand concepts like the future and consequences of actions. If we add to the…   more ›

Lake Forest Parents Ask About Teens Who Talk, Those Who Don't

Dr. John Jochem said parents need to be aware of what stage of grief their child is in following pair of teen deaths.

One woman said that trying to comfort a teenager by simply reducing their reaction to “we’ll get through this” might make the child think the parent is trivializing the deaths of two Lake Forest High School teens. “It involves really understanding and saying, ‘How do you feel about this?’ ” agreed Dr. John Jochem, a clinical psychologist. Lake Forest parents probably have had some level of conversation with their sons and daughters over the recent deaths of two 15-year-olds, Farid Hussain and Will Laskero-Tesocki, within a 60-day period since the school year reconvened Jan. 3. Hussain, a sophomore, walked into the path of a Metra train on the way to school Jan. 9, which was ruled a suicide by the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Laskero-…

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Update: Lake Forest Teen Killed by Metra Train Identified

Second high school student death in 2012.

  Lake Forest High School has released an e-mail to its parent community identifying the 15-year-old student found dead on the Union Pacific railroad tracks this morning as William Laskero-Teskoski, who was a member of the class of 2015. Laskero-Teskoski's body was discovered at 7:25 a.m. by a Lake Forest High School female student at 1351 N. Western Ave. in Lake Forest, according to Lake Forest Police. The female student didn't immediately recognize what she saw as a dead body. After taking a closer look, she then called 911, according to Pioneer Press. Lake Forest Fire Department paramedics responded and determined the victim was deceased due to blunt force trama to the head. The Lake County coroner was contacted and responded to the …

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Jim Powers

7:13 pm on Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Nicely said, Brian.   more ›

The Sunday Cartoon

For Some Commuters, an Unscheduled Stop at the Bank

The cost of a monthly pass, on average, went up by about 30 percent this week.

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Metra Riders To Experience Fare Hikes Feb. 1

Metra Board approves fare Increases, changes in fare policies.

  The Metra Board of Directors approved its 2012 budget, which includes increased fare prices that will go into effect on Feb. 1. Metra fare increases are across all ticket types and fare policies will see a change. Riders who travel from Libertyville or Prairie Crossing Station in Zone H, a one-way ticket would go up from $6 to $6.75; a 10-ride ticket would increase from $48.05 to $60.75; and a monthly pass would go from $152.55 to $192.25. According to the 2012 fare table, one-way tickets will increase an average of 15.7 percent across all fare zones, while 10-ride tickets will go up an average of 30 percent and monthly passes will increase an average of 29.4 percent. Reduced fare one-way tickets will increase an average of 10.3 percent…

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Metra Holds Public Hearings on Fare Hikes, 2012 Budget

Metra is holding eight hearings in the Chicago metropolitan area before taking a final vote on its budget, Nov. 11.

Area residents will have an opportunity to express their feelings about Metra rate increases at a public hearing on Metra’s proposed 2012 budget, from 4-7 p.m., Thursday (Nov. 3) at the Grayslake Village Hall. “The purpose is to hear from the public and our riders about what they think of the proposed budget and to take comments. The board will consider all of the comments before they vote on the final budget,” said Michael Gillis, a spokesman for Metra. Metra board of directors will hold eight public meetings prior to voting on the budget, Nov. 11. In a Metra survey this summer, users favored a rate increase over schedule cutbacks. “Many people preferred us to retain the service the way it is and address the budget problem with fare …

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First Phase of Lake Forest's East Train Station Makeover Begins

Phase Two needs funding to start in the spring.

The makeover of the East Train Station in Lake Forest is underway, and Stage One of Phase I improvements is expected to continue until Thanksgiving. Phase I involves restoring the roof consistent with the original design of the station to include slate, restoration of dormers and hipped roof elements, and removal of the roof overhang on the station and gable on the west building, according to a press release from the city of Lake Forest. In the spring, Stage Two will begin with restoration of exterior wood and stucco. Stage Three includes masonry repairs and tuckpointing, with a start date to be determined. Phase One construction is being paid for out of two funds. In 2009, the City partnered with the Lake Forest Preservation Foundation to…

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Metra Board Hears Rate Hike Proposal Of Nearly 30 Percent

Decision not expected until October.

East Lake Forest Train Station Repairs Likely To Begin This Summer

Roof replacement will be the first phase of the project.

Every day, First Ward Alderman Kent Novit catches the Metra train from the East Lake Forest Train Station, and he has become alarmed by the state of repair that the building has fallen into in recent years. “The appearance of the station is horrible,” he said at Monday night's City Council meeting. “This is what is the center of our city.” Although it may not happen as soon as Novit would like, the city of Lake Forest took a step closer Monday night to Phase I of the rehabilitation of the East Lake Forest Train Station. City Council members approved the authorization to execute an agreement with Metra to begin the project. The first phase of the project is to replace the station’s roof, which has been leaking for some time. City leaders …

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