Good Sunday morning, Evanston!
It was a celebration Saturday night and literally “A Bright Night for the Arts” as the city hosted its annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts. Our photographer Richard Cahan rounded up the winners in the above picture.
And now in case you missed it, the RoundTable brings you the top 10 stories people were reading this week, followed by more coverage you should know about. Enjoy!
On Monday, the City Council will receive a revised 2023 budget proposal. The time to vote is closing in and the budget has been cut, with some key additions made as well — such as $200,000 for training and consultants to combat the racist workplace culture being alleged by a report from a group of Black employees.
But questions on the numbers still remain that the Council must answer, such as how will it fund the increased pension contribution members are requesting? Earlier this month, the city’s Budget and Finance committee backed a plan to increase property taxes to fund pension obligations, despite clear opposition from the Mayor and the City Council about raising taxes — will it come back up Monday?
They do: Their meeting was described as “the very modern love story of Tinder” and so the wedding of Evan McCarthy asked Emily Boylan was nontraditionally traditional – and ‘comprehensively perfect.’
Speaking of raising taxes, this week both school district boards said they will be levying the maximum to raise taxes: D65 levy plans and ETHS levy plans.
Northwestern University came to the Seventh Ward meeting armed with a study showing its proposed stadium redevelopment project will produce huge economic benefits for Evanston. The city has not verified the numbers yet, but Downtown Evanston wrote to say it backs the revamp.
Evanston is dealing with accusations of being a racist workplace, according to a report issued by Evanston Black employee group. Supporters of the group showed up at City Hall Monday to say ‘We will not go away.’ The issue will be coming up again this Monday and the Equity and Empowerment Commission agreed they will be there to support the group at the Council meeting. The Commission, this week, also discussed the city’s job description to hire an equity manager amid these racial discrimination allegations.
There is a bit of hope for the downtown area: UL divisions will be moving in downtown, which is likely to bring economic growth. Earlier this week the Land Use Commission and then the City Council OKed UL’s request for signs to be put atop the downtown tower where it will be renting space.
A parish by any other name? Evanston’s merged Catholic parishes adopt new names for Evanston’s four Catholic parishes, which merged into two last summer.
Cook County Board District 13 seat changes hands, and as Commissioner Larry Suffredin steps down, he thanks people in a wrap-up letter to the community. In it, he also invites people to join his elected replacement at ETHS today, Sunday, for a community celebration of Josina Morita, who will mark her historic position as the first Asian American woman to sit on the County Board.
Holiday information
Here is the city’s Thanksgiving holiday schedule and it’s never too early to think about how to recycle your holiday lights. The program starts Dec. 1, so you can get rid of the stores strands that come out of storage not working.
Obituaries
Norris Carter Larson, 1935-2022. Norris Carter Larson, 87, a retired sociology professor at Loyola University, sailor and former Eighth Ward City Council member.
Robert H. ‘Bob’ Kurz, 1936-2022. Robert H. “Bob” Kurz, who served as Associate Athletic Director of Northwestern University from 1974 to 1979, died peacefully on Friday, Nov. 11.
Books
Books: Q&A with local author Jarrett Dapier. Evanston resident Jarrett Dapier is an author, librarian and lifelong drummer, with a debut picture book.
Bookends & Beginnings’ October bestsellers. Here’s what books people were buying in October at this local bookstore.
Business
There is a lot of news in Minding Our Own Businesses |Mas Salud, Starbucks, Clean Team and Comfort Desserts (really) Reimagined.
Bookends plans a new beginning. Bookends & Beginnings is moving.
City News
Land Use Commission backs Masonic Temple apartments. The Evanston Land Use Commission supported the conversion plans and now it moves on.
Housing committee votes to renew waitlist administrators.
A reparations program in search of a funding source. Evanston has a historic reparations program but the funding source is shaky. In fact, it is expected to be announced Monday, that the city will infuse the program with $1 million.
Rebuilding Exchange gets $1.2 million from city, but can you spare $800,000?
The Parks and Recreation Board meeting talked about pickleball, beach accessibility and the Fifth Ward school campus.
Public Safety and Health
Evanston Hospital gets a ‘B,’ Ascension Saint Francis a ‘C’ in latest safety rating. The Leapfrog Group, a national nonprofit that investigates hospital safety and patient care, published its grades for hospitals.
It’s been literally up and down with COVID-19 numbers at the city and county level. The Nov. 17 update, puts Evanston up to ‘medium’ risk and Cook County down to ‘low’ risk.
Schools
Third graders decorate gifts for Vet Center.
D65’s scores drop in four of five essentials for school success. On the 2022 5Essentials survey, School District 65 scored lower in four of the five categories.
D65 two-way immersion families worry about future. Despite what some parents may have heard, Evanston/Skokie District 65 has not made any decisions about changing the two-way immersion program (TWI).
ETHS board addresses achievement concerns: ‘It’s going to take time.’
D65 puts middle school debate on hold for the year. The school will not be part of the Midwest Middle School Debate League, which Evanston/Skokie District 65 middle schools participated in last year.
Art & Life
Movie review: ‘Till’ is beautiful art film about ugly racism. Till is a hauntingly told historical drama about Emmett Till and his mother’s actions, after the 1955 abduction, torture and lynching of the 14-year-old Chicagoan who was visiting relatives in Mississippi.
Two weeks in photos: Nov. 2 -14. Thank you for your amazing photographs. Now, please don’t forget to send more to news@evanstonroundtable.com.
You will likely like a lot the musical ‘As You Like It.’ But today is the last day to catch a performance. Tickets are available online.
Dear Gabby, Is it OK to keep your kids’ secret from your spouse? My husband keeps kosher, and I do not.
North Shore Choral Society delivers an evening of African American music. The 120-member organization known for being an 80-year-old music took a leap outside of its comfort zone, delivering a concert of all African American music.
Northwestern students organized a concert for Ukraine last weekend at the the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts on Northwestern University’s campus.
Public Square
History Preserved – A life of legacy (part 2). In part two of Evanston Rules two-part podcast on Dino Robinson from Shorefront Legacy Center.
Letter to the editor: Support Evanston Climate Action Fund.
Guest Essay: Teacher Mark Collins asks, What is a school’s purpose?
Sports
College-bound karate champ prepares to get his kicks in a new way. You need to know ETHS senior Mateo Solis.
ETHS girls basketball has not had a great start to its seasons with a loss to Milwaukee Academy this Friday and the season opener loss to Bolingbrook. But it is still early as the team looks to find its leaders, the coach says.
Rank and File | ETHS varsity chess team shows depth at the recent hometown Evanston Team Tournament.
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