Businesspeople Mix and Mingle at Chamber Get-Together

Acoustic music and cold beer set the mood Wednesday evening on the patio of Peppino's Italian Restaurant in Foothill Ranch.

Representatives of local businesses met for a casual three-hour get-together, hosted by the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce, to talk with acquaintances and make new connections.

Prize drawings, live acoustic music by John Troy and the chance to network drew about 50 people to the event, which is the chamber's first summer mixer.

Lake Forest's mayor  and Councilmen and  attended the networking event.

The chamber, which has received support from the Lake Forest municipal government since its formal inception in late 2009, is a relatively new member to the Lake Forest business scene.

The chamber was once an affiliate member of the South Orange County Regional Chambers of Commerce. The idea for the Lake Forest-focused body formed in 2008 and came to fruition by Jan. 30, 2010, when the fledgling group held its kickoff celebration.

In February, it .

The Lake Forest chamber has a number of events lined up in August for both members and nonmembers:

• Aug. 5: Networking breakfast, 7:15 a.m., , 26712 Portola Pkwy., Foothill Ranch.
• Aug. 12: Business roundtable networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Freedom Village, 23442 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest.
• Aug. 19: Networking breakfast, 7:15 a.m., , 26712 Portola Pkwy., Foothill Ranch.
• Aug. 26: Business roundtable networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ, 23760 El Toro Rd., Lake Forest.

For more information about the Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce, visit lakeforestcachamber.com or call 949-596-0410.