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Good Tuesday morning, Evanston.
Comfort Desserts Reimagined owner Harith Razaa has closed the restaurant at 517 Dempster St. to spend time with his grandkids and travel. “As many people who have come and said how much they enjoyed my sweets, they don’t know that I got the better part of the deal,” he said. “It’s hard to express the joy that you get in giving.”
Now, after that sweet farewell, on to more local news.
After the Friday, Jan. 27, release of video showing police in Memphis, Tennessee, beating Black driver Tyre Nichols before his death, graffiti appeared across Evanston demanding “Justice for Tyre.” Even before the footage was public, Evanston Police Chief Schenita Stewart issued a statement about the “crisis of confidence” in police. Later, the Rev. Michael C.R. Nabors released a response.
Some District 65 families will see their child care costs rise after the district approved a fee hike for before- and after-school care, while also voting on a private security contract. Superintendent Devon Horton said in a memo the increase was necessary to “cover the increased cost of labor and commodities.”
The Evanston Chamber of Commerce has issued an open letter to the city in support of building a new Ryan Field. The group says new programming, “including alcohol sales and concerts presents significant new partnership opportunities that will strengthen Northwestern’s connections to the Evanston business community.”
COVID-19 by the numbers: Six new cases and one new death was reported Sunday, Jan. 29, the last day the city updated totals. The seven-day average is 12.71 cases per day.
More RoundTable reads
Members of the Foster Senior Club, a group rooted in the historically Black Fifth Ward, shared a steakhouse dinner Jan. 24 and talked about their life stories, documented in their journals. “The thing is, when you’re gone, that book, that journal can tell what went on in your life,” said Rodney Greene, chaplain of the club.
Dozens of Evanstonians braved the snow Saturday for the city’s Reconvening on Climate Action, which returned after a pandemic hiatus. The networking event put renewed focus on city environmental goals and the Climate Action Resilience Plan.
Dear Gabby: A recent airline traveler encountered some unexpected personal turbulence surrounding the retrieval of her baggage in the rear of the plane. So our advice columnist Gabby offers some plainspoken instruction on plane etiquette rules.
The ETHS Chess team advanced to the State Finals at the Highland Park Chess Sectional on Saturday, Jan. 29. The Wildkits, who won their first three matches, had winning records on all eight boards.
Northminster Prebyterian Church is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year and has begun a months-long celebration. From now until Memorial Day weekend, a “Northminster at 100” exhibit will be presented in the church’s Tower Gallery space.
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
Soup for the Soul: How Evanston’s soup kitchens satiate hunger, build much-needed community. The student journalists at The Evanstonian look at the city’s many volunteer efforts, largely faith-based, to serve meals to the hungry.
‘The Negro Motorist Green Book’ exhibition opens at Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie. The exhibit on “The Green Book,” which gave Black customers a guide to welcoming businesses during the Jim Crow era, runs through April 23.
Illinois governor has bill to ease path for name changes. Supporters say the legislation would especially help people who are transgender or have been victims of human trafficking.
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