Grayslake Trustee Lalena Zoe Magnetta

06/14/2026

Today at noon, our community will once again come together for the 6th Annual Grayslake Pride Parade hosted by the Better Together Project as well as the LGBTQ+ Center of Lake County and our PFLAG of Grayslake/Round Lake community! All are welcome to attend in the Grayslake Village Center!

It gives me great knowing that the Village continues the tradition of recognizing June as Pride Month through the Mayoral Proclamation, one that I have been proud to help advocate for over the years because I believe every member of our community deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. One of the greatest privileges of serving as one of your Trustees is helping ensure that every resident knows they belong in the community we all call home. To me, Grayslake is at its best when we lead with kindness, respect, and the understanding that our differences make our community stronger. 💚

Regardless of who you are, who you love, or how you identify, you deserve the opportunity to live openly and without fear of prejudice or hate. That spirit is reflected in today’s proclamation and in the many people who work so hard to make this celebration possible. Thank you to the Better Together Project, the LGBTQ+ Center Lake County, the volunteers, participants, and our Grayslake Police Department for helping create a safe and welcoming event for everyone. A BIG thank you to PFLAG as well for your sponsorship for the parade to even be possible. It is a great celebration of love and awareness, for all. ❤️

I hope everyone attending today has a wonderful and safe celebration. It warms my heart to live in a community that recognizes the importance of equality, inclusion, and the simple truth that every person has value.

Happy Pride, Grayslake. 🏳️‍🌈

05/30/2026

I’m so excited that our Navy Band Great Lakes is going to be performing in our town! Celebrating America 250 🇺🇸 in town this summer is going to be great!

Celebrate the soundtrack of American this summer at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum’s Summer Concert Series! 🎶🇺🇸

As part of the USA 250 celebrations, this year’s lineup is filled with music that captures the spirit, energy, and nostalgia of America.

Come out for the first FREE concert on Tuesday, June 9th at 7 pm in Centennial Plaza (Whitney Street) featuring a special performance by Horizon, the popular music group from the United States Navy Band at Great Lakes. Horizon brings high-energy hits spanning rock, pop, country, and other favorites.

2026 Summer Concert Lineup Includes:

🌟 June 9th – U.S. Navy Band – Horizon
🌟 June 30th – Chicago Brass Quintet
🌟 August 4th – A Tribute to the King featuring Logan Ramey

Mark your calendars, bring your lawn chairs, and celebrate USA 250 with free music in the Village Center! 🇺🇸

, , , , , , ,

05/26/2026

We may be a little town, but we have BIG HEART! Thank you for everyone who spent a little time with the community honoring and remembering those who are no longer with us. ❤️🤍💙

05/24/2026

Grayslake Mayor Davies and I would like to personally invite the community to attend our Memorial Day Ceremony immediately following the parade, which begins at 9:30 a.m. The parade leads into Memorial Park, located within the square of Park Avenue, Junior Avenue, and Seymour Avenue. The ceremony portion will begin at approximately 10:30 a.m.

This small and intimate ceremony allows us the opportunity to recognize and honor those heroes who made the Ultimate Sacrifice, those who gave their ALL for our country and its citizens. We have 19 names engraved on our monument, and during the ceremony we conduct a roll call, rifle volley, and the playing of Taps in their honor.

Please join us as we pay tribute to these heroes, learn a little about their stories, and take part in the time-honored traditions that accompany a true memorial service.

Our Veterans of Foreign Wars Post and American Legion take immense pride in putting together a ceremony rooted in honor, remembrance, and tradition for America and its heroes.

Fire District Chaplain Brian Davies, along with VFW Post Commander Mike Magnetta, will also help lead the ceremony and ensure guests truly feel and understand the meaning behind Memorial Day. We would love for you to attend. If the day calls you elsewhere, please take a moment to remember those who gave us this holiday to begin with.

As always, it is an honor to serve our community and its members.

05/23/2026

The poppy. 🌺

Such a small flower, yet it carries a big weight of sacrifice, remembrance, and freedom.

As we approach Memorial Day, I hope we all remember this holiday is about so much more than a long weekend or a day off. It is a day of reflection. A day to honor the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country so that we may continue to live freely here at home.

The red poppy stands as a reminder of the blood shed for our freedoms and of the lives that were never able to come home.

If you took a poppy, made a donation, stopped to talk with one of our veteran volunteers, or simply shared a kind word, thank you. Your support truly matters.

And to the families carrying the memory of a loved one who served and is no longer with us, please know this community remembers them too. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

As the Service Officer of Ronald Hill Memorial VFW Post 2245 and as a Trustee for the Village of Grayslake, I am incredibly grateful for the generosity and support our community shows every single year. Because of all of you, we are able to continue honoring the legacy and stories of those we have lost, support fellow veteran organizations doing important work every day, and provide scholarships and opportunities for youth right here in our local schools.

I would also like to invite everyone to join us Monday at Memorial Park immediately following the parade for our Memorial Day Ceremony beginning at approximately 10:30 AM. Together, we will honor the 19 names etched onto our monument and remember the sacrifices behind each one.

Thank you 🙏 again, Grayslake, for continuing to stand beside your veterans and their families. Your support never goes unnoticed.

05/22/2026

05/18/2026

Yesterday I was honored to participate in the “22 A Day in May” event here in Grayslake hosted by Jeeps4vets alongside so many incredible organizations, volunteers, and community supporters. 🇺🇸

It was especially meaningful to march in the Color Guard carrying the rifle during the parade representing our VFW Post 2245. Serving my fellow veterans and the community I love will always be such a privilege.

Thank you to the organizations working every day to support our veterans, and to everyone who came out today to help bring awareness to veteran mental health, PTSD, and su***de prevention. These conversations matter and all proceeds went straight to Veterans Path to Hope in Lake & McHenry County.

As both a veteran and Village Trustee, I remain committed to supporting our veteran community and working toward making Grayslake recognized as a Red Star City through the Red Star Foundation. ❤️🤍💙

Thank you again to everyone who came out and showed up. You make our town what it is, community.

05/16/2026

Attending Tuesday’s Board Meeting? Here’s What to Expect 🎤💚 🗣️

With many residents planning to attend the May 19th Village Board meeting, I wanted to share a quick guide to help you feel confident and prepared if you’d like to participate in Public Comment.

👉 The approved T5 Data Center project is not on the business agenda, so

👉 If you’d still like to speak on it, you will sign up under “Items of General Interest”, which takes place at the END of the meeting.

This graphic walks you through exactly how the process works ⬇️

Whether you choose to speak or simply attend and listen, your presence matters! Public meetings are one of the most important ways we stay connected as a community.

And if you can’t make it to the meeting, we livestream! Log on to the Village’s YouTube channel and watch from your home! Click on the link below and subscribe for when we go live, you can get a notification!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPnLOnmTu9VhW0paDWubHhw

Have any other questions? Please reach out! I’m always willing to talk, meet for coffee, and fill you in with whatever is going on in town.

📧 [email protected]

Let’s keep engagement respectful, informed, and meaningful for everyone.

05/16/2026

There is something really special about seeing historic spaces in our downtown continue to evolve while still preserving the charm and character that make our Grayslake Village Center so unique. 💕

Today I gave myself some “me” time at Blush Boutique at 229 Center Street and experienced two of their newer wellness offerings: a 25-minute infrared sauna session followed by 20 minutes of red-light therapy in their state-of-the-art NEO red light therapy bed.

Beyond being a beautiful boutique 💕 that celebrates femininity, confidence, and self-care, Kelly and the team are continuing to invest in wellness-focused services right here in our community, all inside one of our historic downtown spaces.

Infrared sauna sessions are often associated with relaxation, stress reduction, muscle recovery, and improved circulation, while red-light therapy has become increasingly popular for supporting skin health, recovery, inflammation reduction, and overall wellness. For someone like myself who travels primarily for work and is always on the go, especially during marathon season - this is a must!

I truly love seeing local small businesses continue finding creative ways to grow, adapt, and offer experiences that bring people into our downtown while also encouraging people to slow down and take care of themselves for a little while. Community is built by supporting one another, supporting local dreams, and continuing to invest in the heart of Grayslake. 💚

If you have not stopped into Blush Boutique lately, it may be worth checking out everything they now have to offer!

05/09/2026

🫡 Thank you, Village of Gurnee!

Join us on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 12 p.m. for the official unveiling of the Allen J. Lynch Bronze Plaque at the Veterans Memorial in Gurnee.

This special event celebrates Sergeant Lynch's extraordinary heroism and his 1970 Medal of Honor, presented by President Nixon.

The ceremony will take place at 100 N O’Plaine Road (outside the Police Department), with refreshments to follow.

Come stand with our community as we dedicate this lasting tribute to his sacrifice and profound legacy.