PHOTOS: Olympic Swimmer Matt Grevers Meets Fans in North Shore

The gold medalist posed for photos and signed posters at his dad's landscaping business in Wilmette.

Four-time Olympic gold medalist Matt Grevers made an appearance at his father’s business, Chalet Nursery, in Wilmette Wednesday afternoon to meet with fans, sign posters and pose for photos. Grevers, who grew up and began his swimming career in Lake Forest, took home two gold and one silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics. He did the same in Beijing in 2008. As the son of award-winning landscape designer Ed Grevers, Matt joined his dad to talk “best practices” in the garden and swimming pool after meeting with fans. Interested in reading more about Matt and his history with the Olympics? Check out Patch’s multiple stories on the award-winning athlete:

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Photo of the Day: LFHS Students Anticipate Grevers' Homecoming

Hometown Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Grevers returns Tuesday afternoon.

As the community awaits the return of its gold medal swimmer, Lake Forest High School Students are sharing their congratulatory messages. On Friday, LFHS students began signing a welcome home banner for Matt Grevers, who won his first individual gold medal in the 100-meter backstroke during the 2012 Olympics in London. Earlier: Olympic Gold Medalist Matt Grevers at Chalet Nursery Grevers' official homecoming celebration will be Tuesday, but residents are already highly anticpating his return. Lake Forest High School and the Lake Forest City Council are joining forces to honor Olympic Gold Medal winner Matt Grevers at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Commons at the high school. Mayor James Cowhey will give Grevers a plaque commemorating Tuesday as …

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Updated: Sunrise Beach's South Beach Open for Swimming

Lake Bluff beach's north and middle beaches remain closed.

  The Lake Bluff Park District sent a press release Friday afternoon (July 20) indicating Sunrise Beach is re-opened at the south beach for swimming after conditions improved. The north and middle beaches are still closed due to rip current conditions.  Staff will continue to assess the swim conditions as the rip current advisory lasts until 9tonight. Guests may still use the beach area. Park District staff will continue to test the waters and reopen once it is determined to be safe.

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Letters to the Editor

Reader Asks Why no Swimming at Lake Bluff Dog Beach?

Park District says no lifeguard, liability make for a bad combination.

  Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch reader Heather Wojda sent an email Thursday afternoon after she and her son, Jonathan, were told not to swim with their dog at the Dog Beach at Lake Bluff's Sunrise Beach and Park. She wrote: Yesterday, my son Jonathan and I strolled down to the beach with our pooch, Erma, to take a cooling dip in the lake. We were told that humans are no longer allowed to swim at the dog beach, due to the fact that there is not a life guard on that beach, and it involved too much liability. Now, Erma is only a year old and doesn't like to swim unless we are swimming too, but I see many other owners enjoy a plunge with their dogs. Our family loves to spend the day at the beach with our dog. But we won't be able to do this any…

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Lake Forest's Grevers Headed Back to Olympics

Wins 100-meter backstroke at trials in second-fastest time in history.

Lake Forest High School graduate Matt Grevers has earned a spot on his second straight Olympic team, winning the 100-meter backstroke in 52.08 seconds Wednesday night — the second-fastest time in the event's history at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, Neb. Grevers, who now trains in Tucson, Ariz., captured the silver medal in the same event at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. Grevers will swim in London when the Olympics begin in late July. His time is the second-fastest of all time behind only Aaron Peirsol's world record of 51.94. Peirsol, a three-time Olympian and seven-time Olympic medalist (five gold, two silver), captured the gold in the 100 backstroke in Beijing, and retired from swimming in 2011. The 6-foot-8 Grevers took the …

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Steve Handwerker

10:43 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012

LONDON BOUND!!!!! AWESOME!!!!   more ›

Brother-Sister Combination Seeks Unique State Title Status

Rachel hopes to snare a pair of state titles to match her brother Mitch’s 2010 effort.

Lake Forest's Rachel and Mitch Stoehr have a goal to be one of the rare brother-sister combinations to win a pair of individual state swimming championships.  Actually, they have many goals, but this one would put them in an elite class. “We want to be the first brother-sister team to win two state championships,” Rachel said of her brother’s stellar accomplishments while a member of the 2010 Lake Forest High School swimming team. “He’s done his part, now I have to do mine.”  A spokesman for the Illinois High School Association could neither confirm nor deny whether the feat has been accomplished before. One-Two Punch Mitch ruled the middle-distance freestyle events in 2010, winning the state title in the 100- and 200-yard freestyles, …

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Lake Forest High School Sports Digest

Lake Forest Girls Swim To Own Invite Title

Capture eight relays, three individual titles.

Date: Aug. 27  The Final Score: 1. Lake Forest High School 447; 2 (tie). Stevenson and Glenbrook South 362; 4. Glenbrook North 276; 5. Libertyville 269. (16 teams overall in field). Scouts’ Star Performer: In a relay-formatted invitational, Lake Forest captured eight relays and three individual titles. Mike Hlavin swam to first in the Senior 50-yard freestyle, and swam on three winning relays (200 freestyle, 400 freestyle and 400 medley). Rachel Stoehr swam to first in the Senior 100 freestyle. Other Notable Scout Performances: Elenore Meeks captured the Freshman 100 freestyle; Anne McArdle, Abbi Kordell, Amanda Gottschalk and Olivia Campbell combined to win the 200 breaststroke relay; Caitlin Lanigan, Hillary Rancap, Maia Brearton and …

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Season Preview: Lake Forest Girls' Swim Led By State Quintet

Stoehr primed for State title run in freestyle events.

Last Year’s Highlights: The Scouts placed 11th at the State Meet after winning the Sectional and North Suburban Conference championships. Top Returning Scouts: Rachael Stoehr returns for her senior season after finishing second in Illinois in the 200-yard freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle. Other veterans of the State Meet returning are Mika Hlavin, Caitlin Lanigan, Olivia Campbell, and Katie Schott.  Leading Newcomers: Senior Lilly Wang is expected to make a strong contribution this season, according to coach Carolyn Grevers. Freshmen Clare Wieland and Eleanor Meeks will add depth. Season Outlook: Stoehr is a leading contender to earn a pair of state titles. The people who finished ahead of her a year ago have all graduated. She is …

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Lake Bluff's Sunrise Beach Reopens To Swimmers Again

Lake County Health Department gives OK after Monday water test.

Lake Bluff's Sunrise Beach has been officially reopened to swimmers Tuesday morning (July 12) after Lake County Department of Health officials gave the OK following results of a test to measure the level of bacteria in the water on Monday, according to Dave Peterson, director of Facilities and Recreation Services for the Lake Bluff Park District. Lake Bluff Park District officials were notified July 8 that the bacteria count had reached 1203 by the Lake County Department of Health, which necessitated closing the beach to swimmers. The normal bacteria range is 235 or more, according to Peterson. Peterson communicated by e-mail Tuesday that the count was 5, according to Lake County Department of Health. Over the same weekend, the beach at …

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