West End Market Opens

By Mary Helt Gavin

Volunteers at the West End Market are, left to right, Micere Keels, Melanie Davis, Carolina Pfister, Debi Chess Mabie, Susan Besson and Michele Lacy.

The tangy hint of the farmer's field scented the berries from Geneva Lakes Produce, the sole produce vendor at the opening day of the West End Market on June 14. A steady flow of shoppers visited the new market, many of them promising to return over the summer. Some came from curiosity, some to show support of this new grassroots project, and some came because they knew fresh produce would be available just a short walk from home.

Schona Buranda brought a cousin visiting from Zimbabwe, enjoying both the fresh produce and the local crafts for sale. David and Rosine Trippel were among the many shoppers whose purchases gave Steve Beno, who brought the produce to the market, "an average" day. He said, though, he is "expecting more" as the summer progresses and more people come to the market.

William Logan, retired police chief and member of Evanston Community Development Corporation (ECDC), a partner in the market, said a woman told him she was excited to be able to walk to a market rather than take a bus to the larger farmers' market just north of the downtown area.

Melanie Davis, a member of the vendor-relations committee for the market, said, "We know the market is going to improve, because people said they'd be back next week." In addition to the expected increase in patrons, Ms. Davis says the market group plans to add vendors - two or three farmers and up to 10 local crafts-persons - and to provide "low-key entertainment."

The idea of a fresh-food market on the City's west side had been floating around the neighborhood for a number of years It was one of several suggestions by the not-for-profit organization ECDC, which promotes economic development and neighborhood preservation and enhancement in the Church/Dodge area. Bringing the market to reality was a project of one group of the most recent class of Leadership Evanston; they provide the volunteer staffing and coordination among vendors, ECDC and other participants.

As at the downtown farmers' market, members of the League of Women Voters of Evanston were on hand to register voters and provide information about voting. The market's organizers plan to have a voter-registration booth at the market each Saturday.
With people chatting in small groups, making purchases and promising to return, Susan Besson, one of the organizers of the market said, "It could not have been a better day."

Housing Options Dedicates Rose House

By Nathan Carley

Ribbon and big scissors in hand, pictured at the inauguration of Rose House are, left to right, Peter Michaels, State Senator Jeff Schoenberg, Mayor Lorraine Morton, State Representative Julie Hamos, Dayle Duchossois-Fortino, Ed Fortino, DeShana Forney and a Rose House resident.Photo by Nathan Carley

On June 18 Housing Options for the Mentally-Ill in Evanston, a non-profit agency that provides supportive residential and non-residential services to people recovering from chronic mental illness, celebrated the opening of its sixth building, Rose House. Providing permanent affordable housing for 18 people, the house marks the successful collaboration of the agency, private philanthropists and the state.

Housing Options acquired the property with a $1 million donation from Ed Fortino and Dayle Duchossois-Fortino. General fund contributors since the early 1990s, the couple decided four years ago to embark on a bigger project with the agency. Rose House, which is double the size of Housing Options' next largest building, is named in memory of Mr. Fortino's sister. Founding board member Claire McCarthy Peterson helped them develop a plan to establish the agency's sixth building using the supportive housing model.

Housing Options selects buildings with a small public footprint and keeps them well-maintained, says Ms. Peterson. Rose House has a small façade and stretches back from the street with discreet entrances to the apartments along the side.

Each of the nine living units has two bedrooms and the residents live with roommates. A common room with a large kitchen area is shared by all of the residents. The extensive renovations were funded by $838,000 in long-term, interest-free loans and tax credits from Illinois Housing Development Authority. Illinois State Representative Julie Hamos applauded the joint financial effort, saying at the ceremony "the recovery model is what [Housing Options] is all about, and that takes private and public partnership." Mayor Lorraine Morton praised this "community of giving," adding that she has attended each building inauguration since Housing Options' first in 1992 and has not "heard one word of criticism" from the buildings' neighbors.

As for Housing Options' future, Ms. Peterson said "growth doesn't just mean more housing." Having more residents makes it possible to offer more services and activities to them. Housing Options coordinates communal activities such as Tai Chai, painting classes, cooking workshops and job-training sessions. Residents of Rose House organize bi-weekly dinner parties and set up a café in the community room where they serve coffee to other residents for small tips. Many Housing Options residents have full-time or part-time jobs, and in the evenings some take group trips to the movies and concerts. All of them work with a case manager and support staff to develop a plan leading toward more independent living.
The emotional high point of the celebration came when one of the residents of Rose House took the podium. She described what a relief Housing Options has been to her after living in other state institutions, and concluded by saying "Rose House has given me the opportunity for my own personal growth and has given me back my dignity."