Good morning, Evanston and happy Friday!
Above, ETHS freshmen football players gather around the commemorative jersey of Alex Thomas, their line coach who died of a heart attack last week at the age of 42. “He held them to the highest standard,” said freshman coach Kevin Augusta. (At This Time photo by Richard Cahan)
For more pictures from Thursday’s first public ETHS football scrimmage of the season, please catch photographer Rich Cahan’s photo essay, which includes the Wildkits football teams, cheerleading squad and marching band. The first game of the regular season is Friday, Sept. 2, at Libertyville. Now, on to more news.
It’s hard to tell from the recent numbers if COVID-19 cases are truly going down, or if it’s a result of less reporting. In the RoundTable’s Aug. 18 update, Cook County has dropped to “medium” risk and Evanston is in the “low” risk category. But officials also said the actual number of new cases is likely between six and 10 times higher than the number being reported.
The City of Evanston is launching a Guaranteed Income Pilot Program that will randomly select 150 eligible applicants to receive $500 a month for a year – no strings attached – on a prepaid debit card to those who qualify. At an information session Thursday, the basics of the program were explained to a Levy Senior Center audience. A final information session is to be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at the Robert Crown Center, 1801 Main St. Applications are being accepted through Aug. 29.
COVID-19 by the numbers: Ten new cases and no new deaths were reported as of Wednesday, Aug. 17, the last day the city updated totals. The seven-day average is 10.57 cases per day.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Library trustees approve new priorities to use with search for new director. The Evanston Library Board is hoping to avoid the issues that city official had in their multiple searches for a city manager as it conducts its first search in 11 years for a new library director. Meeting this week, the board honed in on its priorities for a new director as well as what type of search it means to undertake.
Ninth Ward meeting explains participatory budgeting and guaranteed income pilot. Northwestern University Professor Matt Easterday talked about how residents can get involved with the city’s new participatory budgeting process. And Council member Juan Geracaris told attendees about the city’s Guaranteed Income Pilot Program, which is accepting applications through Aug. 29.
Road closures set for ETHS Sunday for triathlon. The North Shore Youth Triathlon will close roads from 6:30 to 10 a.m. and reroute drivers. The City of Evanston and the Evanston Police Department want to make sure you know!
The Downtown Evanston Farmers Market wants your vote. The Downtown Evanston Farmers’ Market is in a competition run by the American Farmland Trust and Farmers’ Market Coalition, with cash prizes and – perhaps more importantly – community pride at stake. Voting runs through Sept. 19.
Week in photos: Aug. 11-18. Thanks for sending these pictures along to the RoundTable, and we ask you to keep ’em coming! Send your Evanston photos to news@evanstonroundtable.com, and we’ll share them with the community.
Join our team: The Evanston RoundTable is growing! Check out our jobs page for writing opportunities in editorial. Keep in mind: Novelist Ken Follett started as a reporter!
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Around the web
Around the web item (largest coverage level – national/state, perhaps.)
Former Chicago Park District lifeguard supervisor pleads guilty to sex crimes. Mauricio Ramirez, 32, is the first person convicted in the year-old investigation by Cook County State’s Attorney’s office.
Chalk Howard Street returning To Rogers Park this month as artists create amazing 3D drawings. The chalk drawing festival is set for Aug. 27. Due to the pandemic, this will be its first outdoor event since its 2019 debut.
Great Harvest Bread Co. shares easy-to-make sandwiches for school lunches. In an appearance on ABC7, Madison Houk of the Great Harvest Bread Co. in Evanston goes beyond PB&J with other easy-to-make sandwiches for your kids’ lunch box.
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