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Good Tuesday morning, Evanston.
Monday was picture day for Evanston Township High School athletes participating in spring sports. Above, varsity volleyball player Spencer James poses for a shot in the high school gym. For a lively team photo, see At This Time.
Three years ago, on March 13, 2020, the pandemic forced more than a year of remote learning at Evanston Township High School, and by May 2020 screening surveys showed 51% of all ETHS students met the criteria for depressive disorder. But data presented to the school board Monday shows student mental health is improving: Just 25% of students qualified as clinically depressed in April 2022. “You’re going to see that we’re really making an impact,” said Associate Principal for Student Services Mia Lavizzo (above, right).
The Illinois Supreme Court is set to hold a hearing today on the SAFE-T Act, which would eliminate cash bail for many types of crimes. Opponents say the act is unconstitutional because the legislature usurped a judicial prerogative. Supporters say the law corrects an unfair system that too often means the amount of money a defendant has determines who stays in jail before a trial. Mary Helt Gavin talks with an Evanston lawmaker, a legal activist and an Police Department commander about the law.
Security barriers, business district improvements, addressing health disparities – those are just a few of the projects still on the table as City Council members must decide how to spend the city’s fast-disappearing COVID-19 recovery funds. To date, the council has allocated roughly $36.78 million of its $43.17 million allocation from the federal government.
COVID-19 by the numbers: Five new cases and no new deaths were reported Sunday, March 12, the last day the city updated totals. The seven-day average is 11.86 cases per day.
More RoundTable reads
ETHS girls soccer is kicking off a new season. (Above, from left, are team captains Ariel Kite, Adriana Merriam, Jordin Kadiri and Anna Bergmann.) “It’s a new, hungry group and we’ll build on what works for us this year,” said head coach Stacy Salgado.
Letter to the editor: District 65 has suffered a 17% enrollment decline since 2018-19. “A school district that hemorrhages students at the rate this one has is not a healthy one – and the bleeding needs to stop,” writes District 65 parent Barry Doyle.
With spring around the corner, gasoline- and propane-powered leaf blowers will be banned under a city ordinance that goes into effect April 2. Only electric leaf blowers will be allowed.
An Evanston couple who are prominent collectors and supporters of German Expressionist art will get a chance to display their own artwork. Art by Jim (left) and Pam (right) Elesh will be shown at Evanston’s Space 900 for one week only.
Early voting for the city’s consolidated election begins Monday, March 20, with candidates vying for Evanston 2nd Ward and 9th Ward City Council seats, as well as board spots at District 65, District 202 and Oakton Community College.
The Art of Making Art: Evanston artist Bonnie Katz specializes in working with paints, ceramics and paper, with her work drawing on her home and surroundings. Read about Katz ahead of her April show at the Evanston Art Center.
The Mather, an Evanston Life Plan Community for those 62 and older, threw a party last week to honor residents born before 1929, including 11 who are or soon will be centenarians (including Dr. Herb Rosen, at left, soon to turn 100).
WILD for ETHS, the ETHS Foundation’s annual fundraiser, is set for 6:30 pm Friday, March 24 at Sketchbook Brewing Company in Skokie, 4901 Main St. There will be local eats, Sketchbook sips, live music and a silent auction.
Picturing Evanston: With the Red Baron kite snagged in a tree, it’s all quiet on the eastern front, that is, the city’s lakefront. (Photo by Joerg Metzner)
Picture perfect: Send your photos of people, places and events around town to news@evanstonroundtable.com for a chance to be included in this newsletter.
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Around the web
Five days paid leave guaranteed for Illinois workers under law signed by Pritzker. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed a bill into law Monday that would see most workers in the state get up to 40 hours of guaranteed paid leave a year.
Artist who formerly taught in Evanston accused of sexually abusing foster daughter. Prosecutors allege David A. Geary began sexually assaulting a foster daughter in 2006 and continued until she moved away to college.
Wilmette’s role in the fight against Northwestern’s Ryan Field rebuild. Wilmette Village Manager Mike Braiman said more than 50 residents have contacted the village with concerns about the Ryan Field proposal.
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