Voting in the primary election continues until l7 p.m. tonight. Public meetings, modified (see stories on this website), will take place as scheduled.
On March 15, Mayor Stephen Hagerty declared a State of Emergency for Evanston (see accompanying story). At present there are two confirmed cases of coronavirus in Evanston. On March 16, Governor J.B. Pritzker ordered all bars and restaurants closed except for take-outs.
As the novel coronavirus has now been termed a pandemic, the RoundTable will post information about closings, postponements, etc., as it is received. The information is updated several times a day.
Late in the afternoon of March 13, Northwestern University announced that an employee in the Kellogg School of Management’s Global Hub on the Evanston campus has tested positive for the coronavirus (COVID-19). This is the first confirmed case of COVID-19 at Northwestern University. The staff member is self-isolating off campus.
The Evanston Public Library has cancelled all programming until the end of April. On March 13, all locations of the Library will close at 6 p.m. and will remain closed through at least April 12. Any materials checked out from the Library currently, including Most Wanted books and Wi-Fi Hotspots, will have a new due date of April 13. Staff will work from home and questions may be sent to the library at epl.org/ask-a-librarian/.
Evanston Township High School and District 65 schools will close at the end of the day on March 13, implement e-learning and reopen after spring break (see separate story).
Free, cold breakfasts and lunches will be served to youth ages 1 to 18 years old at locations throughout the city on weekdays, from Monday, March 16 through Friday, April 3. Both breakfasts and lunches will be distributed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, Robert Crown Community Center, Kamen Park East Fieldhouse, and Mason Park (see separate story).
Police, Fire and 911 Dispatch services will continue to operate as normal. In addition, the City’s 311 Service Center will be open for normal hours, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. Residents can contact 311 by calling/texting 847-448-4311, online at cityofevanston.org/311, or using the Evanston 311 mobile app.
Public Works services, including street cleaning and refuse collection, will continue as normal.
Residents are encouraged to complete all City business online, when possible. The Civic Center will be open in a very limited capacity.
City Collector’s Office – The City Collector’s Office will be closed to in-person transactions until further notice. Residents are encouraged to make payments online at cityofevanston.org/how-to/make-a-payment, or may contact the Collector’s Office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to receive assistance. To contact the Collector’s Office, residents should call/text 847-448-4311. A payment drop box is also located just west of the Morton Civic Center.
Residents are encouraged to submit building permit requests electronically by emailing permitdesk@cityofevanston.org. Paper submissions can be dropped off in bins located outside of the Permit Desk located on the third floor of the Morton Civic Center. Customers will
Non-essential City meetings will be postponed until further notice. Please see the City’s website calendar, cityofevanston.org/events, for the latest status of City meetings and events.
Visit the City’s COVID-19 web page for the latest Evanston-specific information. Community members may also sign up for COVID-19 updates from the City at cityofevanston.org/newsletter.
The Youth Job Center has turned its fundraiser into a “virtual annual benefit, ‘Opportunity Knocks,'” scheduled for April 23.
All events at Northwestern University are on hold until after April 15.
All Bookends & Beginnings March events only are cancelled or postponed.
March 12
Levy Center classes cancelled until further notice
Albion Residential Grand Opening cancelled
Unitarian Church of Evanston closed until March 19
Connections’ Milestone Celebration postponed. Connections is also offering only essential services (lunches, shower, clothing room, and pantry), limiting the number of participants in each space at a given time at both locations, not serving or accepting communal food (unsealed items, platters, cakes, loose fruit, etc.) and asking staff and volunteers who are not feeling well to stay away.
Police Explorer kickoff postponed
Second Ward meeting postponed
Screening at Block Cinema cancelled
March 13
State of the City address postponed. Public events to be hosted by the Chamber of Commerce through March 31 will be postponed; events scheduled after March 31 will be reviewed later.
Screening at Block Cinema cancelled
Last day of school in school buildings for students in District 65 and District 202.
March 14
Open House for Robert Crown Community Center and Library postponed
Chessman Gala postponed
Marcus Roberts Trio concert at Nichols Concert Hall rescheduled to Aug. 1. Concerts scheduled for March 28 and April 4 at Nichols Concert Hall have also been postponed.
Reception at Perspective Gallery postponed
Citizens Climate Lobby meeting postponed
March 15
YWCA Evanston/North Shore suspends or postpones all public programs and events and closing its building from March 15 through April 13. YWCA Evanston/North Shore will continue essential domestic violence services and shelter to keep women and children safe from abuse. Most staff will be able to work remotely and will be available to respond to voicemail and email.
Women’s History Month Bruncheon postponed
Evanston Symphony Orchestra concert postponed. The ESO board of directors will meet shortly to consider the possibility of rescheduling the concert and the feasibility of maintaining the May 3 concert. Subscribers and single-ticket holders will be notified about ticket exchange and redemption options.
March 16
McGaw YMCA closed for a week, with the plan to reopen March 23. As of March 13, there have been no confirmed cases of COVID-19 at the McGaw Y.
The Family Action Network event with Robin DiAngelo will be live-streamed on the ETHS youtube channel.
March 19
Public meeting on City Manager search postponed
YWCA Evanston/North Shore Equity Summit postponed
Public meeting on City Manager search
March 22
Bach Week fundraiser and gala postponed
March 25
Art Encounter’s Members’ Party postponed until further notice
March 26
Seventh Ward meeting postponed
Public meeting on City Manager search postponed
Under the Buffalo lecture “Evanston Women and the Fight for the Vote” postponed. The Evanston History Center is practicing “social distancing” with seating arrangements, postponing programs with a planned attendance of 50 or more or with a speaker travel conflict. The center plans to remain open during regular hours.
March 28
The Mayor’s Summer Youth Job Fair is cancelled. Contingency plans are being made.
Update About Programs for Seniors
To limit the potential spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to the senior population in Evanston, all senior classes, programs and activities are canceled indefinitely.
Congregate Meal Program at the Levy Center At the Levy Center, meals will continue to be provided to seniors in to-go containers. Seniors will not be allowed to congregate, nor stay at the center to eat.
Seniors enrolled in the congregate meal program may call the Levy Center and request to pick up a lunch. They may pull up in front of the center and staff will bring it to their car or they may walk in and pick it up. They will not be able to eat it at the center.
Seniors enrolled in the congregate meal program may call the Levy Center and request to have someone else come to the center and pick up their lunch to take to them. They will still need to sign out the lunch for that individual.
Levy Senior Center Fitness Room and Computer Lab The Levy Senior Center Fitness Room and Computer Lab will be closed until further notice.
Levy Senior Center Bus The Levy Senior Center bus will not be picking up or dropping off seniors until further notice.
Senior Programs, Activities and Classes All senior classes at the Levy Senior Center are canceled indefinitely.
Additionally, the Fleetwood Jourdain Foster Club, the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center’s Congregate Meal program, FJT Prime Time Players and pickleball at the Chandler-Newberger Center are also canceled indefinitely.
Seniors at Fleetwood-Jourdain will be able to pick up their meals on Wednesday as well.
Staffing of Facilities Impacted by Senior Activity Cancellations Staff will be available to answer phone calls and emails at the Levy Senior Center and other affected community centers.