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Good Wednesday morning, Evanston.
Sunday’s Family Dance at Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center featured excited daughters, proud fathers, arts and crafts, dinner and dancing. And lots of bubbles. The gym was filled with music – and memories in the making.
Hope you’ve saved a spot for “local news” on your dance card: Here are today’s top stories:
Three months after a group of Black City of Evanston employees released a scathing report alleging racial discrimination in the workplace, the city and the group seem to have agreed on a path forward, prioritizing three goals. “I think this is a marathon, not a sprint,” said one group member.
At the second community meeting on the new Fifth Ward school’s design, residents voiced concerns about parking, the environment and green space. District 65 Superintendent Devon Horton (above) said there’s a “95% chance” that the current site proposal is the final one. The last meeting before the plan is submitted to the city is at 10 a.m. today at Christ Temple Missionary Baptist Church, 1711 Simpson St.
An Evanston City Council committee on Monday debated a Fair Workweek ordinance, which would require employers to provide advanced notice of schedule changes and adequate rest time between shifts. But local small-business owners pushed back. “What is the tangible data that indicates it is needed for small businesses?” asked Julie Matthei (above), co-owner of Hewn Bread.
COVID-19 by the numbers: Nine new cases and no new deaths were reported Monday, Feb. 6, the last day the city updated case totals. One death was reported on Sunday, Feb. 5. The seven-day average is eight cases per day.
More RoundTable reads
The Evanston Chamber of Commerce awards dinner Tuesday night honored Peter Braithwaite (above, from left) as public service person of the year, Lisa Kaplan as community leader of the year and Amy Morton as businessperson of the year, with Paul Fischl receiving a lifetime service award. RoundTable photographer Richard Cahan talked with the four winners.
For the first time since 1995, the Evanston Police Department’s community police academy class will be available in Spanish. The academy is open to any adult who lives or works in Evanston. No ID is required. The deadline to apply is Feb. 15.
The ETHS boys basketball team didn’t take the easy route to Tuesday’s game at Oak Park-River Forest – a bus snafu meant the journey was via Des Plaines, stretching the trip to more than two hours. But their final destination was victory.
Love is all around us: Tricia Nameth-Rich and her husband Matthew Rich (above at prom in 1993, left, and a 2017 event) celebrate Valentine’s Day with a dinner out. Check out the RoundTable’s ideas for the heart holiday, including local gift options.
Open letter to school and health officials: “By prioritizing what we typically term ‘green building’ in its design, District 65 has the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to ensure that this school is a testament to community healing and health,” a group of environmental advocates write in the RoundTable.
Join curator Fran Joy from 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center for Black History/My History, a celebration of Black History Month in support of Lakou, a nonprofit providing job training for Haitians.
Picturing Evanston: The breakwater and melting ice in the marina at Dawes Park, bathed in warm evening light. (Photo by Joerg Metzner)
Join our team: Do you like to write? Are you curious about the varied and dynamic life of Evanston? The RoundTable is looking for feature writers to cover human interest stories and produce profiles about our fair city. If you’d like to write, we’d love to hear from you! Send us a query at news@evanstonroundtable.com.
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Around the web
Here are 8 great ways to celebrate Black History Month in Chicago. From jazz to science to theater, check out this list of options from WBEZ Chicago.
Despite troubling rise in suicides, CPD falling short on getting help for officers, inspector general finds. Seven Chicago police officers died by suicide in 2022. A city hall watchdog says CPD needs to provide more mental health services.
Homelessness crisis at O’Hare shows more city support is needed on NW Side and beyond, advocates say. The airport often serves as a warm place to stay overnight, but experts said demand for social services has skyrocketed recently.
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