Good afternoon,

Read below for information about the Mayor's Holiday Food, Book & Toy Drive, tomorrow's Veterans Day Ceremony, ways to prepare for the winter season, and more!

Plus, get to know our "Titans of Transactions," also known as the City's Collector's Office.

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It's time to get in the holiday spirit!

As the seasons change and we begin gearing up for the winter months ahead, here are a few ways you can get into the holiday spirit:

Donate to the Mayor's Holiday Food, Book & Toy Drive: Help ensure every Evanston family gets to celebrate this season by donating new, unwrapped toys, staple food items, and new and gently used children's books to the Mayor's Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive.

Attend the Central Street Holiday Stroll & Tree Lighting: Spend the day shopping on Central Street on Sat., Nov. 12. Enjoy shopping specials, holiday festivities, a tree lighting ceremony beginning at 5 p.m. in Independence Park, and delicious dining.

Veterans Day is November 11

Honor all those who have served at the Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by American Legion Evanston Post 42 at Fountain Square on Fri., Nov. 11 at 10:30 a.m.

Reminder: City facilities and services, including refuse collection and street cleaning, will operate as normal on Veterans Day.

Let's WINter Together, Evanston!

It's hard to think about snow when we've been enjoying 70 degree weather the past few days, but this week is Winter Weather Preparedness Week in Illinois! There's no better time to make sure you're prepared for the first snowfall of the season. Review these helpful winter reminders.

Stay informed: Parking restrictions can be declared following accumulated snowfall. Sign up for convenient text message or email alerts and we'll notify you when it's time to move your vehicle.

Movies are back on Maple Avenue!

AMC Evanston 12 officially opened its doors in downtown Evanston on Wed., Nov. 9 ahead of the holiday movie season! Construction will continue on the soon-to-be-remodeled concession area, but movies are back up on the big screen.

COVID-19 Update

Cases: Evanston reported 112 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 95 for the week prior. The current seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases is 16.

COVID-19 Community Risk Level: LOW

Hospitalizations: View local COVID-19 hospitalizations.

To date, Evanston has had 17,207 total confirmed cases, and 157 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19. View the City’s interactive COVID-19 dashboard (view on mobile).

Stay up to date on your COVID vaccines

Everyone 5 years and older is strongly encouraged to stay up to date with their COVID-19 vaccines. Contact your local pharmacy or primary care physician to get your updated Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, or visit vaccines.gov to schedule an appointment.  If you’re homebound due to a medical condition or are otherwise unable to visit a provider, complete the City's In-Home Bivalent Booster Vaccination Survey.

More News and Events

Congratulations, arts award recipients!

This year's annual Mayor’s Awards for the Arts recipients, Vernon Clark and the Heirs of Joy, Evanston Dance Ensemble, and Evanston Mural Arts Program, will be recognized by Mayor Biss at "A Bright Night for the Arts" on Sat., Nov. 19, 6 p.m., at Studio5. Register to attend this free event!

Last chance: Purchase your tickets for FJT's "American Son"

The final performances of FJT's "American Son," by Christopher Demos-Brown, take place this weekend, November 12 and 13. Don't miss out on your opportunity to see this extraordinary story, which follows an estranged interracial couple as they confront their feelings about race and bias. Purchase tickets.

Get to know Police Chief Stewart

Grab a cup of coffee with Evanston's new police chief, Schenita Stewart, at an upcoming "Coffee with the Chief" event in your ward.

Attend a free financial literacy workshop

Join in for the last workshop in Evanston Community Bank & Trust's free financial literacy and business building series. Attend "How to Talk to Your Banker: Why Having a Relationship with Your Banker is Important" on Thurs., Nov. 17, 11:30 a.m., at YWCA Evanston/North Shore.

Get involved in the participatory budgeting process

Participatory Budgeting Evanston is hosting its first official Idea Collection Assembly on Tues., Nov. 22, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., at the Robert Crown Community Center, where community members can submit ideas for how to spend money allocated to the participatory budgeting process and learn how to become a budget delegate. RSVP to secure your spot!

2nd monkeypox vaccine clinic, November 17

In October, the City partnered with Northwestern University to host a monkeypox vaccination clinic open to eligible Evanston residents as well as NU students, faculty and staff. The City and NU will host another clinic on Thursday, Nov. 17 to complete the two-dose series. Registration is required. View monkeypox vaccine eligibility requirements and more information.

Get Engaged

CTA Virtual Public Hearing on 2023 Budget, November 10

4th Ward Office Hours, November 12

Stormwater Master Plan Public Meeting, November 16

Virtual 1st Ward Meeting, November 17

Community Calendar

MSYEP Job Fair, Nov. 11

Backpack & Winter Gear Give Away Drive, Nov. 12 & 20

Seesaw Theatre: Inclusive Theatre Festival, Nov. 12 & 13

Ecology Center Fall Speaker Series: Designing Nature Play Spaces, Nov. 17

FAN Zoom Event - Healing Developmental Trauma, Nov. 17

FAN Zoom Event - GRAND ROUNDS: Healing Developmental Trauma: The NeuroAffective Relational Model for Resolving ACEs and C-PTSD, Nov. 18

Fran Randall Concert: Manou Magdalena Chakravorty and Piotr Nowak, Nov. 18

Bottoms Up! A fundraiser for Bundled Blessings Diaper Pantry, Nov. 20

Get to know the City Collector's Office!

Located on the first floor of the Morton Civic Center, the Collector’s Office does just that: collects the revenue that funds the vital City services our community relies on.

Through the first three quarters of 2022, the Collector’s Office has:

- Coordinated water bill payment plans for 115 households

- Supplied more than 1,300 residential parking passes/permits

- Facilitated more than 1,600 real estate transfers

- Processed nearly 20,000 over-the-counter payments, generating almost $28 million in revenue

- Processed more than 40,000 online transactions, generating $11.7 million in revenue

“The team has an amazing camaraderie and spirit to help one another,” said Asim Ahmad, revenue supervisor. That cohesion is in large part thanks to Donna Ferrill, a beloved Collector’s Office staff member who passed away in 2019. An honorary street sign designating "Donna Ferrill Way" now welcomes visitors to the Collector’s Office.

Thank you to the entire Collector’s Office team for your work to support our City each and every day!