🎙️ Nobody said this week was going to be easy. The city won't show us the rating scale they used to pick the Forest Park Beach concession vendor. Pete's been filing FOIA requests. They keep saying no. And then somebody drops a bomb mid-show that changes everything.

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🏖️ Cotton Duck LLC — Peanut Gallery's Dom and Cecilia — won the Forest Park Beach concession contract. Great people. But the city used a scoring sheet to pick them and won't share it. If it was above board, why are you hiding it?

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🎵 This episode inspired our album "You're Telling Me Now?" — Stream it now: https://open.spotify.com/album/3fQbvNvify4Av0RrmVKl3a?si=8MdjMcsVQlKBQd8_lJ12LA

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🏒 PUCK CANCER: Co-host Jeff Urso was diagnosed with hairy cell leukemia and launched Puck Cancer — raising money for Lurie Children's Hospital. 100% of net streaming proceeds go directly to Lurie Children's. Stream the Puck Cancer album on Spotify and help Jeff hit his goal.

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🔥 In this episode:

🔒 FOIA FIGHT — The city picked a beach vendor using a secret scoring sheet and refuses to show anyone how the scores broke down

⚡ LIGHTNING STRIKE — Joe's neighbor's house got hit. Roof caught fire. Fire department from half the North Shore showed up

🎟️ MILLION DOLLAR LOTTO — Winning ticket sold right here in Lake County. Joe knows things he can't tell you

🌴 PETE'S MEXICO TRIP — Puerto Vallarta was "dangerous." It wasn't. Fake news has a hundred year history

🤖 AI IS HERE — Is it helping your business or replacing you? Skoo has thoughts

🏀 SKOO CORRECTS THE RECORD — Lake Forest hoops had a great year and the coach is NOT Phil La Scala. He retired. Our bad

⚾ OPENING DAY — Sox talk, Murakami, the Dodgers, and why you can't jump off the bandwagon

💣 THE ANNOUNCEMENT — Someone picks up their rifle and moves on. Next man up. Lake Forest doesn't stop

⚖️ PETE'S PARTING SHOT — Nobody who has caused the city financial loss should ever sit on a board or commission. Remember that

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⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Supporter messages

2:48 Skoo's back — Opening Day for the Lake Forest Podcast

3:22 Shoutout to Kate McGrath episode https://youtu.be/zqVXhGPSf2Y

3:55 Kate asked the Republican Party for help and got zero

4:39 Pete's back from Puerto Vallarta — the "danger" was overblown

6:09 AI discussion — is it helping or replacing you?

8:53 $1 million lotto winner in Lake County https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2026/03/31/winning-lottery-ticket-worth-over-1-million-sold-at-convenience-store-in-lake-county/

9:05 Lightning strike on Joe's block — neighbor's roof caught fire

21:14 Were there bodegas in old Lake Forest? Baseball card memories

24:17 Jeff Urso recovering — we're thinking about you

24:30 Skoo weighs in on the beach vendor contract

28:50 The city won't share the rating scale they used to pick the vendor

39:00 Skoo corrects what we got wrong

43:00 Baseball season — Sox talk, Opening Day rituals

46:17 Easter egg hunts in Lake Forest?

48:42 The announcement

1:02:20 Thank you for your service

1:05:19 Nobody who cost the city money should ever sit on a board

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📣 Supporters: The Aesthetic Lounge | Larisey & Company CPA | Iliad | Michelle Parnell | Paul G

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🎵 Music: "You're Telling Me Now?" by Peter Jansons

📧 pete@lakeforestpodcast.com

🌐 lakeforestpodcast.com

💰 patreon.com/lakeforestpodcast

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