Good Tuesday morning, Evanston!
Above, Ed Hanlon and Patti Capouch on Monday show off the new basement of an Evanston two-flat that houses people with serious mental illnesses. The upstairs is being set up for two families. “This is now such a dignified space,” said Capouch, executive Ddirector of Impact Behavioral Health Partners, which owns the building. Hanlon, project manager of designs for Dignity, upgraded lighting and flooring, painted and provided new furniture to create a community room, waiting room and therapy room. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
Now we’ll make room for more news:
Anya Tanyavutti (left) a member of the Evanston/Skokie District 65 school board since 2016 and former president of the board, announced her immediate resignation at the board meeting Monday night. Tanyavutti, who unsuccessfully sought appointment to the Second Ward City Council seat, said she will be transitioning to a new job in youth development and focusing on her writing projects. Also Monday, Tracy Olasimbo was appointed to the board. Olasimbo (above right) will fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Marquise Weatherspoon.
And at the same meeting, the District 65 board approved a final budget for the 2023 fiscal year, which will continue the trend of increasing staff despite declining enrollment. The budget shows an operating surplus of $574,886 – Business Manager Kathy Zalewski said at an earlier meeting that the district was able to balance the budget primarily due to a reduction of 25 teaching positions.
At its Sept. 12 meeting, Evanston’s City Council unanimously agreed to object to a Wilmette landowner’s latest attempt for an easement over a part of the Canal Shores Golf Course to allow access to his landlocked space. The resolution said the request filed for a possible roadway would have a detrimental effect on the design of the golf course and be inconsistent with preservation missions of the city and the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District, which owns the Canal Shores land.
COVID-19 by the numbers: No new cases and no new deaths were reported Sunday, Sept. 18, the last day the city updated totals. The seven-day average is six cases per day.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Edwin B. Jourdain Jr.: Laying the foundations for Black political power and a citizen-equal future in Evanston, part 2. In the second half of a two-part series, historian Spencer Jourdain finishes sharing the story and legacy of his father Edwin B. Jourdain Jr., Evanston’s first Black alderman.
Participatory Budgeting 101: The public makes spending decisions. The City of Evanston has set aside $3 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds for a pilot participatory budgeting program. RoundTable reporter Alex Harrison explains how the pilot program came about, how it will work and how the process will allow Evanstonians to take a direct role in the city’s budgeting process.
Taste of Evanston raises $21,309 for two nonprofits. More than 35 food and beverage vendors from throughout Evanston gathered on the lawn of the Charles Gates Dawes House on Sunday to raise money for Connections for the Homeless and Reba Place Development Corp. About 450 guests and 100 Rotary volunteers were in attendance, as well as chefs and culinary assistants cooking, plating and explaining their prepared dishes to hungry attendees. Maudlyne Ihejirika, Taste of Evanston celebrity emcee, is above left with Mayor Daniel Biss.
Un cuento de dos Mendoza: poderosas líderes latinas de Evanston. As Hispanic Heritage Month gets underway, the RoundTable offers a Spanish-language translation of the profile of Stephanie Mendoza and Rebeca Mendoza that was posted earlier this month.
Picturing Evanston. One of the many rocks painted by Northwestern students along the lakeshore on the Northwestern campus. (Photo by Joerg Metzner)
Join our team: The Evanston RoundTable is growing! Check out our jobs page for writing opportunities in editorial.
Become a member!
From day one, it’s been the RoundTable’s mission to bring you unbiased, in-depth reporting about the Evanston community. But we need your help to continue investing in high-quality and in-depth journalism, reporting news that strengthens and enlightens our community, encourages civic engagement and bolsters our democracy. Please join our community of readers and become a member today.
Around the web
Redefining The Block: New exhibitions reflect a commitment to inclusivity. The museum’s newest exhibition, A Site of Struggle: American Art against Anti-Black Violence, was curated by Janet Dees over the course of six years. Through approximately 65 pieces, it explores how American artists have engaged with anti-Black violence for over a century.
As Touhy Park’s tent city swells, park district closes its field house and moves programs. A tent encampment that has resided in Touhy Park since summer 2021 has led to debates about how to best help its residents while keeping the Rogers Park neighborhood park available.
Republicans look to keep what few seats they have on the Cook County Board. Sean Morrison is one of only two Republicans on the Board of Commissioners, and he’s the only one running for reelection. Morrison represents the 17th district, an area that stretches from Elk Grove Village south to the Will County border that has only elected Republicans since 1994.
Police shutdown of downtown traffic Saturday was ‘unorganized chaos,’ frustrated residents say. Chicago police shut down access to part of the Loop on Saturday night in an attempt to control traffic amid Mexican Independence Day celebrations, causing confusion and gridlock.
Like what you’re reading? Share it!
If you appreciate the RoundTable newsletter, please forward it to friends and suggest that they sign up!