Good Wednesday morning, Evanston.
Above, on the holiest night of the year, members of the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation gather Tuesday outside First United Methodist Church, which the group uses for its High Holiday services to accommodate large crowds. The members had just left the Kol Nidre service that marks the start of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Yom Kippur concludes today at sunset. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
And now, here’s the latest Evanston news.
About half of the members of the Margarita Inn Good Neighbor Agreement committee who will work out expectations and a communication plan for the Connections for the Homeless shelter have been chosen as the group faces a tight deadline, Council Member Jonathan Nieuwsma, 4th Ward, told a meeting of his constituents Tuesday.
At Monday’s meeting of the city’s Rules Committee, City Council members discussed making changes to the structure of Evanston’s Referrals Committee, a relatively new panel established last year that considers agenda items and policy issues. Council Member Devon Reid, 8th Ward, criticized the current process as unrepresentative.
The historic Harley Clarke Mansion, now home to local author collective Artists Book House, is hosting a Halloween spectacular called “A House, Haunted” during this spooky season. Instead of being a horror-inducing experience, the exhibition is meant to be “lighthearted, fun and engaging around the season,” said Jamie Thome, an Evanston artist, writer and ABH board member.
COVID-19 by the numbers: 48 new cases and no new deaths were reported on Monday, Oct. 3, the last day the city updated case totals. The seven-day average is 16.3 cases per day.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Wendi Kromash: Ramsey Lewis, a jazz great who stayed true to Chicago. Lewis, a renowned composer, jazz pianist and radio personality, passed away at his home in Chicago last month. Aaron Cohen, an Evanston native who graduated from ETHS in 1987, spent much of the last two years with Lewis working on a biography of the musician’s life and work, which is scheduled to hit bookstores in 2023.
Isabelle Reiniger: Minding Our Own Businesses. In the latest edition of our new column on local businesses, Reiniger dives into a leadership change at Puerta Abierta, Evanston’s only Spanish immersion preschool. Maria Cueller Weisgal (above), the school’s founder and executive director, is stepping down.
At This Time. Tuesday at 4:07 p.m. “You really couldn’t draw up a better day than this,” said Tom Wuellner (right), who dropped by to visit friends at 717-723 Hinman Avenue. “Which is exactly why we are all lounging out here,” said Ingrid Koepcke, sitting with neighbor Stuart Katz. Oh, the dogs. That’s Jackson getting affectionate with Koepcke and Leo, one of the best dog posers ever. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
Tango coming to Evanston. For one night next Friday, Oct. 14, Evanston will be the center of the tango universe as the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall hosts a new production, Volver, featuring past world champion dancers from the most prestigious international tango competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MashUp brings business community together on Nov. 22. The Evanston Chamber of Commerce is bringing back MashUp, an opportunity for local business owners, community leaders, and Evanston aficionados to engage in a spectacular one-night celebration of all that makes Evanston vibrant and unique.
Spirit of Evanston, Future of Evanston award nominations due Oct. 10. The MashUp’s annual Corrine Passage Spirit of Evanston Award is given to “an Evanstonian that exemplifies the extraordinary spirit of our city,” and the Future of Evanston Award is for youths 18 or younger who have “taken the initiative to help their community in some amazing way.”
The Woman’s Club of Evanston now accepting grant applications. The grants will give out between $500 and $30,000 to organizations supporting youth through art in Evanston, Skokie or the Rogers Park neighborhood of Chicago.
Join our team: The Evanston RoundTable is growing! Check out our jobs page for opportunities in editorial.
Become a member!
From day one, it’s been the RoundTable’s mission to bring you unbiased, in-depth reporting about the Evanston community. But we need your help to continue investing in high-quality and in-depth journalism, reporting news that strengthens and enlightens our community, encourages civic engagement and bolsters our democracy. Please join our community of readers and become a member today.
Around the web
The CTA is on a campaign to win back riders. Who’s listening? Chicago’s buses and trains have recovered only about 60% of their ridership before the pandemic. Most of the agency’s budget comes from rider fares.
The new 988 suicide prevention line shows promise in Illinois, but questions remain. Thanks to the new 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Illinois emergency mental health services are improving, but calls to communities of color still too often end in violent police encounters.
The landmark Voting Rights Act faces further dismantling at the Supreme Court. A major voting rights case is up before the Supreme Court this session, and justices heard arguments this week about allegations that the Alabama explicitly diluted the power of Black voters with new congressional districts.
Like what you’re reading? Share it!
If you appreciate the RoundTable newsletter, please forward it to friends and suggest that they sign up!