Good morning, Evanston.
For the first time in a decade, the ETHS girls relay team captured the State championship in the 800-meter event, as the Kit unit of Rikki Gray, Jasmine Wright, Dawson Wright, and Jacklynn Okereke smoked the rest of the field with a winning time of 1 minute, 40.47 seconds on the Eastern Illinois University blue oval track.
Evanston head coach Fenton Gunter was involved in a season-long tug-of-war with his coaching staff when it comes to Okereke’s talents and just exactly where the junior standout could help the Wildkits most this spring.
The veteran coach’s decision to shift Okereke from the hurdles to relay events only paid big dividends Saturday at the Illinois High School Association Class 3A State track and field championships as the Wildkits captured their first State relay championship in 10 years.
The June 3 meeting of the Joint Review Board to consider a recommendation on the Five-Fifths tax-increment financing (TIF) district attracted nearly twice the typical number of interested residents. They raised questions about the possible developments in the proposed TIF district, opening up the possibilities of robust discussions at the July 12 public hearing and beyond.
The name of the proposed TIF harks back to the Three-Fifths Clause in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, said City Senior Economic Manager Paul Zalmezak. He said the Five-Fifths name is symbolic of making the community whole again, and it also represents the Fifth Ward.
“We’re trying to provide a tool that maybe leverages the reparations conversation. We want to use the TIF to maybe leverage additional [federal rescue] dollars to implement infrastructure improvements in the area,” said Mr. Zalmezak.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable Website
Girls Soccer Squad Bows Out with 2-0 Loss to New Trier. Since Stacy Salgado took over as head coach for the Evanston girls soccer program, the Wildkits have earned wins and ties during the regular season in head-to-head matchups against arch-rival New Trier. But the Kits still haven’t figured out a way to beat the Trevians once postseason play begins. And almost no other school has, either.
Evanston 2nd Act Players Partners with Black Playwright Idris Goodwin to Present Black Flag. The Evanston 2nd Act Players is partnering with Black Playwright Idris Goodwin this summer to stream Black Flag, one of five short plays in Goodwin’s Open Source Scripts for an Antiracist Tomorrow. A special streaming presentation of the film will take place July 1 at 7 p.m., as part of the 2nd Act Players involvement with the Evanston Performing Arts Collective, as well as on EPAC’s YouTube channel.
The Week Ahead
Around the World on Central Street June 18 at 11 a.m. to June 27 at 9 p.m. Businesses on Central Street will offer food, beverages, gifts, and services from around the world. Pick up a gift card from any participating business and turn in the passport at the end of the week to enter a raffle for a $150 Evanston gift card.
Today
- Administration & Public Works Committee 4:30 p.m. Agenda.
- Planning & Development Committee 5 p.m, virtual. Agenda.
- District 202 Special Board Meeting 5 to 6:30 p.m. in ETHS Welcome Center, Room E112, followed by District 202 Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m. in ETHS N112.
- City Council 5:30 p.m. Community members may watch the City Council meeting online at www.cityofevanston.org/channel16 or on Cable Channel 16. Agenda.
- District 65 Regular Board Meeting 7 p.m. at the Joseph E. Hill Early Childhood Center Board Room. Agenda.
Tuesday
- Levy Lecture Series: Ed Asner: A Composite Portrait – a book in progress 1 p.m, virtual. Mark Larson, author of Ensemble, will give a lecture on Ed Asner’s career as a star of television, film, and stage, and an outspoken activist.
- ETHS LGBTQ+ Information Session 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Welcome Center, Room E112. This information session aims to help ETHS students who may be exploring their identities answer questions about subjects such as pronouns, locker rooms, who to go to for support, and if they will be represented in curriculum in healthy and affirming ways.
- Zoning Board of Appeals 7 p.m, virtual. Agenda.
Wednesday
- Wellness Wednesdays at Independence Park (Pilates Central Wellness) 8 a.m. in Independence Park. Free Pilates class. Registration is required.
- Design and Project Review Committee 2:30 to 4:30 p.m, virtual.
- Wildkit Senior Sports Banquet 6 to 9 p.m. Location TBD. All senior athletes and their guardians are invited to the annual Wildkit Senior Sports Banquet.
Thursday
- District 202 Special Board Meeting 5 to 8:30 p.m. in the Welcome Center, Room E112
- Virtual Juneteenth Commemoration: 100 Years Later: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre 6:30 p.m. at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. Pay tribute to victims, survivors, and descendants of the Tulsa Massacre.
- Equity and Empowerment Commission 6:30 p.m, virtual.
- 1st Ward Meeting 7 p.m. at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center
- Virtual FAN Event: Letters to My White Male Friends: A Conversation with Dax-Devlon Ross J.D. 7 to 8:30 p.m. Author and principal at the social impact consultancies Dax-Devlon Ross will speak directly to the millions of middle-aged white men who are suddenly awakening to race and racism.
Friday, June 18
- Get Fit Friday with Title Boxing Evanston 4 p.m. at Fountain Square. Take a free 45-minute class with Title Boxing Club Evanston. Register online.
Saturday, June 19
- Juneteenth Parade and Celebration 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The parade begins in the parking lot at Robert Crown Community Center and ends at Ingraham Park. After the parade, enjoy musical entertainment, art, food and celebration at Ingraham Park.
- Sketchbook Juneteenth Concert & Fundraiser 5 p.m. at Sketchbook Brewing Company. Jazz trumpeter Corey Wilkes and ensemble will present two free concert sets.
Sunday, June 20
- Beach Cleanup – Lee Street Beach 9 to 10:30 a.m. North Shore Vibe will provide all the materials needed for the cleanup. Register online.
- Langford & Timms at the Custer Oasis 4 to 6 p.m. at the Custer Oasis. Order tickets online to see Sally Timms and Jon Langford, members of the legendary British punk band the Mekons, perform live.
Around the Web
- Medill freshman Simone Scott dies from pneumonia complications. Medill freshman Simone Scott died Friday morning following a heart transplant, Vice President for Student Affairs Julie Payne-Kirchmeier announced Saturday in a message to the community.
- Chicago offers free Lollapalooza 2021 passes to fully vaccinated residents. The City says it will give away 1,000 one-day passes to Lollapalooza, according to Allison Arwady, Chicago’s top doctor.
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