The Lighthouse Keeper sees …

… what a difference a few weeks make. Hockey players and figure skaters are flocking to the Arrington Lagoon and …

… that a solitary walker at Lee Street Beach could easily be mistaken for an Arctic explorer.

… that, effective Jan. 1, new parking fees took effect on the lakefront and elsewhere in Evanston. Lakefront parking is free for vehicles registered in Evanston, but nonresidents will be charged all year, $0.50 an hour from Nov. 1 to March 31 and $3 an hour from April 1 to Oct. 31.

Resident or not, the first hour in downtown parking garages is no longer free, but rates have been reduced on several streets from $2 to $0.50 an hour.

… that, speaking of parking, a Tesla supercharger station with several charging slots has been installed on the second floor of the Maple Avenue garage, at no charge to the city.

… that a tree wrapped in various textiles stands opposite the Dawes House. The Lighthouse Keeper wonders, is it a mitten tree? A yarn-bombing effort? A work in progress? Or something else?

… that over the holiday “Click-it or Ticket” period, the Evanston Police Department issued 38 seat belt and child safety seat citations as well as:

• 2 suspended/revoked/no valid license arrests
• 3 uninsured motorist citations
• 8 speeding citations
• 14 distracted driving citations

Finally, RoundTable reader Kurt Brown asked about the Tomo Japanese Street Food restaurant, 1726 Sherman Ave., identified as “coming soon” in a November Lighthouse Keeper column. Brown said, “I have driven by their soon-to-be restaurant several times and can never catch anyone at that restaurant.” The Lighthouse Keeper hears that the restaurateur informed city staff last Friday that they are about to submit the contractor paperwork so their permit can be issued. The Lighthouse Keeper will follow up and post updates in this space.

The Lighthouse Keeper wishes readers the best for a healthy and happy 2022 and encourages all to send any comments, questions, and new tips to lk@evanstonroundtable.com.