2023's Most-Read Stories On Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch

LAKE FOREST, IL — Another year is nearly in the books. As we round out the final week of 2023 and prepare to ring in the start of 2024, which promises to bring an extra day in February and a total solar eclipse across North America in March.

Among the year's top local stories were contested elections, proposed caucus bylaw changes, the death of a Navy recruit and allegations of teacher sexual abuse.

Below find more than a dozen of the most-read stories that appeared on the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Patch over the course of the past 12 months, presented in chronological order.

$105 Million Lake Forest High School Referendum Leads By Less Than 100 Votes

District officials are "cautiously optimistic" that voters have approved a $105 million plan to renovate the 88-year-old LFHS campus.

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New Lake Forest Mayor, City Council Members Sworn Into Office

The Lake Forest City Council honored outgoing Mayor George Pandaleon and a pair of aldermen before welcoming newly elected Mayor Randy Tack.
Earlier: Lake Forest Mayor Election: Randy Tack v. Prue Beidler v. Paul Hamann / Tack Defeats Beidler, Hamann In Lake Forest Mayoral Election

Lake Bluff Man Drowns As Tide Rises While Trapped In Alaskan Mud Flats

Lake Forest High School grad Zach Porter died after becoming stuck up to his waist in tidal mudflats in the Turnagain Arm estuary.

Drowning Cause Of Death For Seamus Gray: Coroner

The 21-year-old Navy recruit went missing near Lake Michigan after leaving a bar on St. Patrick's Day. Utility workers found his body on April 19.
Earlier: Missing Navy Recruit Seamus Gray Was In Apparent 'Tragic Accident,' Mom Says

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Lake Bluff Beach Among America's 'Top 100 Secret Beaches,' Poll Finds

It was the only beach in Illinois to make the list.

Convicted Ex-State Senator, Democrat Chair Admits Wearing Wire For FBI

For years, tax cheat and former Lake County Democratic Party chair Terry Link had denied cooperating with a federal bribery investigation.

Lake Forest Alderman Resigns After Attending A Single Meeting

Terry Mieling ran unopposed, endorsed by the Lake Forest Caucus. Police are reportedly probing an incident involving him at a Starbucks.

Suburban Man Survived Earlier Voyage Of Imploded Titanic Submersible

Lake Forest resident David Waud filmed his 2021 voyage with OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush but has scrapped plans to make a movie about it.

New Lake Forest Chabad Center Holds First Rosh Hashana Services

"It's a historic first-ever High Holidays services in the city," says Rabbi Moshe Spalter.

Teacher Sexual Abuse Suit Against Lake Forest High School Can Proceed

A judge found LFHS's argument that it owes no duty to protect a student who was allegedly sexually abused by a teacher to be "unpersuasive."

Voters Reject Lake Forest Caucus Bylaw Changes

Favored by caucus leadership, the so-called "Caucus Preservation Act" would have eliminated "easily manipulated" votes at annual meetings.

Lake County State's Attorney Candidates File Nominating Petitions

First-term incumbent Democrat Eric Rinehart and Republican challenger Mary Cole are both unopposed in their respective primaries so far.

Alleged 'Grooming' At Evanston School Led To Firing In Lake Forest

Documents reveal more details of allegations that led to the termination of a 6th grade math teacher from Lake Forest School District 67.

Read More Of Patch's Most-Read 2023 Stories From Highland Park, Winnetka-Glencoe