Lionel Jean-Baptiste: Haiti’s strong values endure despite history of turmoil
The Honorable Lionel Jean-Baptiste credits his groundbreaking success in the United States with the qualities of “selflessness” and a “can-do attitude” that he learned during his childhood in Haiti. He made his remarks in a Zoom conversation sponsored by the Evanston chapter of the League of Women Voters on Tuesday, Jan. 18. Among Judge Jean-Baptiste’s many accomplishments are serving as the first Haitian American member of the City Council, where he represented the Second Ward from 2001 to 2011. He left that position to become a judge in the Cook County Circuit Court. On Jan. 1, 2021, he swore in…
LATEST NEWS
Newsletter
Latest news from Evanston: Your Friday news digest
Good Friday morning, Evanston. Here’s a summary of the latest news and feature stories from throughout the city.
Mayor favors open application process for candidates interested in 9th Ward council seat
Mayor Daniel Biss is pledging an open process in his appointment…
First zero-waste store opens in Evanston
Caring for the environment is all about sustainable growth for Bethany…
RECENT POSTS
Nichols Middle School put in ‘soft lockdown’ after threat found in girls bathroom
Nichols Middle School was briefly placed on a “soft lockdown”…
Reimagining Public Safety panel looks at Minnesota model for reducing police role
The Reimagining Public Safety Committee met Tuesday evening to discuss…
Evanston businesses struggle to keep prices down as inflation soars
Harith Razaa, owner of Comfort Desserts Reimagined at 517 Dempster…
Walk for Warmth: Some 600 march to raise awareness of homelessness in Evanston
To kick off events honoring the life and legacy of…
‘Resolved’ mural by Ben Blount unveiled: ‘Big and bold’ commitment to racial equity
More than 100 Evanston residents gathered Monday, Jan. 17, for…
Some aren’t ready to close curtain on Varsity Theater for proposed apartment development
A development team is proposing converting the vacant Varsity Theater…
Evanston reparations begin: Random drawing selects 16 Black ‘ancestors’ to receive $25,000 grants
The first 16 recipients of Evanston’s restorative housing program were…
Animal Welfare Board talks possible cat limits, fire rescue adoptions, plans for new shelter
Evanston’s Animal Welfare Board met virtually Jan. 11 to discuss…
Irwin Weil on the Russian classics, Putin and Shostakovich
Irwin Weil is still going strong at 93, and when…
Upcoming events
CITY NEWS
Land Use Commission delays decision on music studio
The proprietor of an Evanston music studio is weighing his options after the city’s Land Use Commission tabled a decision on a variance he said he needs for his studio to stay open.…
City wins award for 5-million-gallon water reservoir project
The Institute for Sustainable Infrastructure has awarded the City of Evanston with its Envision Verified Award for the Clearwell 9 Replacement Project. Completed in 2021, the Project, located near Lincoln Street beach, included replacement…
City shares ways to celebrate MLK Jr. Day
City of Evanston & Fleetwood-Jourdain Theatre The MLK Project 2022 Monday, Jan. 17 at noon | VirtualIn celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and all of the courageous people who fought for…
People you should know: Garrett Karp
Garrett Karp, the new Executive Director of the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, is interviewed by Chamber president Nasuta Mabwa. Garrett describes his background and goals. Garrett comes to Evanston after serving as program…
Slow or missing mail is another pandemic casualty
In the past two weeks the RoundTable has heard from several concerned Evanston residents about delays of days or weeks in mail delivery. Colleen, a retired technology executive who recently moved back to…
ART & LIFE
KemperSports selected to manage Canal Shores Golf Course
KemperSports announced that it has been selected by the Evanston Wilmette…
Willard House Handicraft Hour to focus on assembling children’s newspapers
Extra, extra, read all about it! The old newsboy street…
Rank and File | ETHS chess shows depth at conference championship
The ETHS chess team continues to post consistent results in…
I don’t feel safe with my close friends
Dear Gabby, My best friend loves to talk about our…
SCHOOLS
District 65 virtual presentations will address district structure and inequities
Last spring, District 65 launched a multi-year Student Assignment Project…
ETHS offers context for COVID-19 results, remains committed to in-person learning
At the most recent gathering of the Evanston Township High…
ETHS survey invites community input in search for new Superintendent
The Evanston Township High School District 202 Board of Education is…
Evanston schools report record number of COVID-19 cases
For the week ending Jan. 14, Evanston/Skokie School District 65…
Student safety and mental health at top of mind as ETHS opened its doors again this week
After a two-week hiatus for winter break, Evanston Township High…
PUBLIC SQUARE
Peggy Tarr: Humankind
It was reported that Sidney Poitier (born 1927) died on Jan. 6, 2022. He was a Bahamian-American/African American actor, film director and ambassador to Japan and UNESCO. He was the first African American and Bahamian to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor (1963 for “Lilies of the Field”). In…
Letter to the editor: Property owners must shovel snow from sidewalks all the way to street crossings
What good is a mostly snow-free sidewalk if a barrier of icy snow blocks it at the street crossing? That’s long been a persistent irritant and hazard of life in Evanston (and much of the blizzard belt). I just learned that the city last year finally took a…
Peggy Tarr: “A Man Of All Seasons”*
On Dec. 26, the first day of Kwanzaa**, the news reported that South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu had passed (1931-2021). My heart sank. Not only had Anglican Archbishop Tutu been a human rights activist, he was a genuinely kind person who cared about the welfare of others:”A Man…
Charles Wilkinson: Never not the last word
Never say “never” and those who know me say I am never at a loss for words. But there comes a time when the never I shouldn’t say needs to become a thank you to the RoundTable and my readers for being there all these years, and I…
Nancy E. Anderson: I like lists, so I made a few
Like most people, I like lists. I like making them, checking things off them, and reading lists that others have made. But I wonder if I like lists more than the average person. Throughout my adult life, I’ve made to-do lists for work and home. I’ve made lists to…
SPORTS
ETHS boys basketball: Defense delivers for Kits in neighborhood matchup
No high school basketball program in Illinois plays better man-to-man…
ETHS boys bowling: Wildkits claim first regional title in program history
Evanston’s boys bowling team made history last weekend by capturing…
ETHS boys basketball: Kits fall short after Irby sparks comeback
Another loss to a state-ranked basketball team isn’t exactly the…
ETHS boys basketball: Noard lifts Glenbrook South over Wildkits in 2nd half
No team has done a better job of defending Cooper…
REPORTS & ANALYSES
Evanston’s lead pipes are everywhere, and could become a significant health risk
This series was produced in partnership with the Pulitzer Center. This is part 1 of the RoundTable’s three-part series: Lead pipes in Evanston: How local government inaction…
Developing a Segregated Town, 1900-1960
Evanston’s first African American residents arrived in the 1850s, and by 1880 there were approximately 125 African Americans in Evanston. The number grew to 737 in 1900.…
Fifth Ward STEM School Plan Promises Equity
The Fifth Ward of Evanston, the historic heart of the Black community in the west-central part of the City dating to the days of redlining, has not…
Ninth Ward Residents Battle Environmental Justice Issues: ‘This Area Has Really Been Abused and Neglected’
Seven years ago an explosion in Evanston’s southwest Ninth Ward rocked the homes of some nearby residents. Highly flammable and combustible materials were densely packed behind the…