Happy Friday morning, Evanston!
Above, future skateboarders Nina Daisy, 2½, and Linus Miller, 19 months, show their parents how brave they are at the Ridgeville Ramps on Elmwood Avenue near South Boulevard. The “camel hump,” installed last year, will be open to skateboarders (and toddlers) until December. (Photo by Richard Cahan)
And there may be some bumps in the road ahead at the RoundTable website: Over the next few weeks, we’ll be upgrading our systems with a new signup and account management process that will make it easier for you to manage your newsletter subscriptions, recurring donations and other activity on our site all in one place.
You may start noticing these changes in the days ahead. So we wanted to let you know what’s coming -– and how you can help.
Now, here are today’s top stories:
COMING THIS AFTERNOON: Last night, the three finalists for Evanston police chief – from left, East Dundee Deputy Chief Schenita Stewart, Chicago Deputy Chief Migdalia Bulnes and Chief of the Investigations Bureau in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office Joshua Hunt – participated in a virtual forum, answering questions posed by Evanston Community Foundation President and CEO Sol Anderson. Read about the candidates in the RoundTable’s preview of the discussion, and look for the full story from reporter Bob Seidenberg on our website later today.
Also last night, Evanston Sustainability and Resilience Coordinator Cara Pratt met with the Environment Board to give updates on local energy consumption. In 2021, electricity usage only slightly rebounded from 2020’s pandemic shutdown. But there are more and more electric vehicles. “At some point, the city’s not going to be able to continue giving away free electricity to everybody,” said Council Member Jonathan Nieuwsma, 4th Ward.
Launching today …
We often hear what’s wrong with Evanston, but we would like to know from you, what’s right with this city? Why do you love it? What makes you stay here? What is the one corner or person or memory or moment that best tells others about your Evanston experiences? Write about it and send us your thoughts. We launch Evanston Essays today, with Najiah Osborne: City’s opportunities shape your experiences. To participate in this ongoing series, write an essay of about 500 to 600 words, put “Evanston Essays” in the subject line and send it to news@evanstonroundtable.com.
Elsewhere on the RoundTable website
Evanston resident launches new line of luxury sneakers: It’s taken more time than he expected, but financier Charles Hawkins is ready to launch his new line of “ultra-luxury” sneakers, branded Hawk & Sole. “As I approached retirement I asked myself: ‘What can I do to provide some relief for people? What can I do to create a big impact with a small firm?’” He found his answer in footwear.
COVID-19 update as of Sept. 8, Cook County stays in ‘medium’ community risk level, Evanston in ‘low’ risk level. The total number of new cases of COVID-19 in Evanston was 51 for the week ending Sept. 7, compared with 42 for the prior week, an increase of 21%. The seven-day average of new cases in the state decreased 2.6%; hospitalizations increased 4%.
ETHS Booster Club holding its first in-person fundraiser in three years. After hosting events online and raising money for athletics and activities remotely for more than two years, the Evanston Township High School Booster Club’s signature fundraiser, Boosterpalooza, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10 at the Autobarn Nissan of Evanston. (If you go, send us your pictures! Send your photos to news@evanstonroundtable.com)
Picturing Evanston. Built in 1898, Immanuel Lutheran Church of Evanston on Lake Street and Sherman Avenue provides a welcome splash of color with its red door. (Photo by Joerg Metzner)
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Around the web
Football: Northwestern seeks to maintain momentum in home opener against Duke. NU has lost three straight games against Duke since 2017. Saturday’s matchup provides an opportunity for the Cats to snap the streak and build on their momentum from the Nebraska contest.
A look back on the time Queen Elizabeth visited Chicago in 1959. Queen Elizabeth II, whose reign lasted an unprecedented seven decades, only visited Chicago once, arriving with Prince Philip by boat on Lake Michigan for a whirlwind 14-hour stay. A dentist with an office in the Drake Hotel did an emergency filling for the queen, who was suffering from a toothache.
Progressive Chicago aldermen aim to protect abortion rights for out-of-state people and providers. A proposed ordinance would essentially make Chicago a sanctuary city for abortions and abortion providers. The legislation would bar city staff and law enforcement from assisting any investigations into people seeking abortions or to clinics offering them.
Thousands Of monarch butterflies will flutter through Chicago this weekend for annual migration. The endangered butterflies are expected to start their journey to Mexico for the winter over the next few days, and the Chicago Academy of Sciences and Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum host a Flutter into Fall event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
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