The Lighthouse Keeper sees …

 

… that Metra, Union Pacific and Chicago’s Regional Transport Authority are all keeping mum about last month’s ruling by a federal court upholding UP’s contention that the company is not required to provide commuter service on three of the Metra’s busiest train lines. It is not clear what, if anything, the decision means for service on the UP-N line that serves the Main, Davis and Central Street stations in Evanston. 

… that, speaking of transit, as part of ongoing efforts to promote bike-friendly routes, the Evanston Transit Alliance is planning a ride on Saturday, November 13 from Evanston to Chicago via 312 RiverRun and Lincoln Avenue bridges and ending at Metropolitan Brewing near Belmont.

… that the City has updated residential parking signs with bright orange overlays, announcing additional street cleaning dates for fall cleanup between November 4 and December 10. 

… that local artists have found three large canvases for new murals in Evanston expressing the values of the city and schools and concern for climate change.

Artist Ben Blount calls attention to Evanston’s commitment to end structural racism with a new mural along the viaduct walls on the west and north sides of the Washington/Custer intersection.

Tyrue “Slang” Jones’ “Birds of Concern” faces Green Bay Road from the building on the northwest corner with Central Street. It features three Evanston birds whose populations are in decline due to climate change and loss of habitat: a redheaded woodpecker, an American kestrel and a Blackburnian warbler.

Muralist Rahmaan Statik is creating a mural on the exterior of Oakton Elementary School that expresses and celebrates the school’s values. The mural will be finished within the next few weeks.

… that, speaking of art, a RoundTable reader observed the new Northwestern Medicine facility going into the former Barnes & Noble site at Church Street and Sherman Avenue and suggests replacing the large purple panels in the first floor windows with installations of work by local artists.

… that another RoundTable reader asked about the large black bags on the lakefront. In the 2020 Shoreline Repairs recommendation from the city’s Public Works Agency, the bags are described as a “temporary barrier” and the Trapbag website says the bags are designed to last “at least five years.” The Lighthouse Keeper not-so-secretly hopes that Northwestern students will eventually start painting the bags, just like they’ve painted the landfill rocks in the past.

The Lighthouse Keeper hears …

… that an underground storage system beneath the Robert Crown Community Center and surrounding sports fields can hold 1.4 million gallons of stormwater, reducing flooding that might otherwise plague the area if stormwater runoff from the Center’s roof, driveways, sidewalks and parking lot were discharged into local sewers.

… that the Design and Project Review committee is reviewing proposals from restaurateurs seeking to expand downtown dining options. Watch for Tomo Japanese Street Food at 1726 Sherman Avenue and Elephant & Vine coming to 719 Church Street.

… that DAPR will consider Oscar Isberian Rugs’ request for a 29′ high illuminated sign on the north elevation of the building.

… that the Evanston Public Library has upcoming book discussions and author events to appeal to readers of several genres including science fiction, history, graphic novels, true crime and a new feminist book club for middle schoolers.

… that the Zoning Board of Appeals has recommended that the City Council approve an applicant’s “Special Use Permit for a Convenience Store” at 1806 Dempster Street as long as the applicant installs a bike rack in front and that the “sale of tobacco products must be less than the total sales revenue.”

The Lighthouse Keeper reminds readers that daylight savings time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, November 7. Enjoy an extra hour of sleep – or productivity.

… that one way to use that additional hour is to change the batteries in your smoke detectors and purge your medicine cabinets of expired medications. Don’t throw your drugs in the trash or flush them down the toilet and into the water. Drop them off at the Evanston Police Department headquarters at 1454 Elmwood Avenue for safe disposal.

As always, comments, suggestions and story tips are welcome. Readers must include their full names with comments intended for publication. Editors read all of the comments, whether posted or not, but readers can also communicate directly with the Lighthouse Keeper via LK@EvanstonRoundTable.com.