Week Ahead Thru Aug. 4: Developer's Second Chance, Sport Signups

Taking a look at what's going down and coming up for residents in the Lake Forest area.

• Will the City Council overturn an opinion by the Planning Commission? It meets Tuesday to consider the appeal of the rejected Brookfield Towne Center project that is hoping to build on the Foothill Ranch Auto Mall. That property is currently zoned for commercial, not residential. The relationship between Brookfield (and other developers) and council members was discussed in Jim Gardner's blog, "Is Lake Forest for Sale?" Particularly interesting is Gardner's Part 4: The Process, in which Gardner says Brookfield (and developer Trumark) began the process by normal means, halted the process, pumped money into the election, and after its preferred candidates were elected sought and received special dispensation from the council based on votes by newly elected Adam Nick and Dwight Robinson. 

• Today is Lasagna Day, but it's also Chicken Wing Day, which seems like a good reason to order wings this afternoon—and lasagna for dinner! Where do you turn for the best lasagna and wings? Tell us in the comments. Tomorrow, Cheesecake Day. Also this week, Vegetarian Day on Thursday (not as fun as Lasagna Day), followed in order by Ice Cream Sandwich Day, Watermelon Day and Chocolate Chip Day. Hmm, do we detect a theme and a caloric addiction?

• Rick Warren made a grand return to preaching at Saddleback Church after a 16-week absence, the longest stint he has gone without delivering a sermon in more than three decades. His series on "How to Get Through What You're Going Through" continues over the next six Saturdays and Sundays as he and wife Kay share what they learned following the suicide of their son, Matthew. This weekend, the subject is "Shock: When Your World Falls Apart."

• The Orange County Fair continues Wednesday through Sunday with its annual collection of pig races, freaky fried food, carnival rides, exhibits and more. Click here for schedules, directions and other information. 

• Signups appear to be in full swing for various sporting opportunities, including South County Basketball tryouts on Tuesday, the Wild West Elite basketball tryouts on Wednesday. The El Toro Fastbreak Basketball Camp begins today.

• A free fibromyalgia and chronic pain workshop is Thursday. If you're starting to feel a little long in the tooth, this one might be worth checking out.

• Rec 'n Roll continues this week and throughout the summer. Today, the Rec 'n Roll gang will be at Foothill Ranch Community Park at 10 a.m., and Cherry Park at 1:30, with the Rec 'n Roll Olympics. Click here for the daily schedule.  

• Like soccer? Like scoring lots of goals? The Adult Arena Soccer League begins its Summer League Season next Monday at Central Park in Rancho Santa Margarita, so be sure to register this week. There are pickup games Monday, Wednesday and Friday for $5.

Got an event coming up in Lake Forest or Foothill Ranch? Post it here.