A sign near Lake Geneva warns of “low-flying aircraft.” Since most cars do not have burrowing capability, TG assumes the signs are merely to apprise drivers and riders or possibly unexpected noise and sights – not to advice defensive actions.

… that Jeremy Rielley won the International race of the Transamerica Chicago Triathlon on Aug. 30. He is a physical education teacher at Dawes and Orrington schools and a soccer coach at Evanston Township High School. He has been competing in triathlons for the past five years and the recent Chicago Triathlon earned Mr. Rielley his first overall win.

… that thousands of residents enlivened Main Street between Robert Crown Center and Hinman Avenue on Sept. 13 in the now annual Streets Alive! Kids found games, made giant bubbles, climbed walls and played, while adults learned about sustainable living from the Green Living Festival section.

… that City-contracted crews will make improvements to the Church Street boat ramp for the next few weeks – possibly until the end of November. According to the City, these improvements will include “a permanent ramp extension, floating dock and modifications to existing pier structures.” The ramp itself and the adjacent parking area will be closed to the public during that time.

 … that work has begun on the Arboretum path, which is to be an 8-foot-wide asphalt path with a four-foot vegetation buffer.

… that, speaking of City construction, the City says its Streets & Sanitation Division has implemented a “new process to better maintain” its 316 gravel alleys: by grading them according to a schedule, rather than by haphazard request. Now each alley will be graded three times per season – along with “as-needed” grading by request. The alley-grading schedule is available at cityofevanston.org/public-works or by calling 311. Alleys in Zone 9 on the map are paved and thus not graded.

… that the City may create new parking – with a maximum of four hours weekdays between 9 and 6 – on the north side of Lincoln between Ridge and the canal. The City may also add 12 meters to the parking lot at Chandler-Newberger, 1028 Central. The charge – a quarter per hour – is obviously designed to appeal to commuters.

… that work on Dempster Street continues, and traffic is slow around the Dodge/Dempster intersection and slower at times west of there.

… that, speaking of the Dempster/Dodge area, Spatz & Associates is
modernizing the mega building at 1900 Greenwood. Look for Architect Andy’s signature metal and swoop somewhere on the completed renovation.

… that crews from Schroeder & Schroeder Inc. will soon pave the alley north of Greenwood and east of Maple.  J.A. Johnson will pave the parking lot of Fire Station #2.
 
 … that another fast food restaurant is on the horizon: Maxwell Style Grill at 999 Howard. Meanwhile, SEG Café, at the Central Street Metra station, continues its location there via sublease with the City.

… that the City will lease office space in the Civic Center to the North Shore Senior Center and to Housing Options.

… that the City will have easements with the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago to allow the maintenance and repair of three existing storm sewers adjacent to the North Shore Channel and to maintain and repair four existing storm sewers at two locations.

… that Bike the Ridge returns on Sunday. From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., bikes, trikes, pedestrians – and of course Ald. Ann Rainey’s pedicar – will roll up and down the street between Howard and Church. Children under 18 on bicycles must wear helmets, and adults of any age should, as well.  No skateboards – and pedestrians must use the sidewalks. Here’s what can be found along the Ridge that day: Ridgeville Park District’s Fall Frenzy; the Health and Wellness Corner at Grey Park; free snacks; free water; free bike registration; and food sold from food trucks.
Volunteers can register at volunteerevanston.org.

… that, speaking of streets, pedestrians, bikes and vehicles, TG hears that the community still does not have “share the road” down pat. Crosswalks remain a dangerous problem in many areas of the City. A recent caller to the RT said the crosswalks on Central are laced with pedestrians and motor cars not really heeding each other. Pedestrians have been seen strolling into a crosswalk without really looking right or left, believing the traffic will stop –  a mighty act of faith. Apparently, the caller said, there have been no accidents. But it is as vital for pedestrians to look for traffic before stepping into a crosswalk as it is for drivers to be alert to those who would cross the street.

… that NU will name its new music and communications building the Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Center for the Musical Arts – to be dedicated this afternoon (Sept. 24).

… that the Evanston Police Department’s Labor Day haul of scofflaws included the following:  one for underage use of alcohol; 76 for seat belt violations; 6 for failure to restrain a child in an approved car seat; 6 for driving on suspended driver’s license; 12 for operating a hand-held cell phone; 29 speeders; 10 with no insurance; 1 wanted on a criminal warrant; 3 without a valid driver’s license and 21 other miscellaneous drivers. This was part of the Illinois Division of Transportation and Safety’s statewide “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign.

… that a reader took this photo (below) at Clark Street Beach the day before the beaches closed for the season. Is Evanston such a Camelot that its very beach tokens guarantee great weather?

… that this sign, (right) advising motorists of low-flying owls and taken in Florida appears to be unique but somewhat unclear in its advice: Is it telling drivers not to be alarmed and swerve if a large flying thing appears in front of the vehicle? To gauge the distance between car and owl and adjust speed accordingly? According to the website enchantedlearning.com, owls have two typical means of hunting: perch and pounce, for one, and quartering. An owl will perch in a tree until it spots its prey and then pounce on it (a Mini Cooper? A VW Beetle?) A quartering owl flies low over the ground looking for prey – and thus might ignore a car? In “Owl Myths and Legends” Shani Freidman of the Wild Bird Store in Tucson writes that the ancient Sumerians apparently knew of owls’ nighttime acuity, large eyes and wisdom. “Lilith, the goddess of death, has talons for feet, wears a headdress of horns, and is flanked by owls. She is probably the inspiration for Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare. … In the Middle East, the owl is linked with destruction, ruin and death. They are believed to represent the souls of people who have died un-avenged.” Enough reason to be apprised of low-flying owls.

From our readers: TG: As a true bridge player who has seen many a winning three-no-trump hand, I think the Republican convention should seek a No-Trump contract.
– George L.

The Traffic Guy thinks …
… that it is a wondrous thing that the City might straighten out in its own mind and in the minds of residents just when streets are going to be swept. Once that is figured out and posted, though, the information must be given to the traffic police. More than one person – in the RT neighborhood at least, and, TG suspects, elsewhere – has been ticketed for parking on a street, say on a Tuesday, but not on a street-sweeping Tuesday. So maybe a large part of the confusion is in the minds of the ticket-issuers.