City Of Evanston E-News - October 6, 2022

Good afternoon,

Read below for information about fun fall festivities this weekend, two major capital improvement projects wrapping up, a frighteningly good opportunity for zombie fans, and more.

Plus, we're recognizing Evanston's customer service All-Stars!

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Pump up the fun this fall!

Evanston is the epicenter of autumn awesomeness! Check out some of the free events happening around town this weekend.

Fall Festival: Decorate pumpkins and enjoy music, games, food and more at the City's Fall Festival at Mason Park this Fri., Oct. 7, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Starlight Movie: Catch the final Starlight Movie of the season, "The Nightmare Before Christmas," this Sat., Oct. 8, 7 p.m., at Ingraham Park (just west of the Morton Civic Center).

Main-Dempster Mile Fall Fest: Are you Evanston's top pumpkin carver? Prove it at the Main-Dempster Mile's Fall Fest and Pumpkin Carving Contest this Sat. Oct. 8, 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Dempster Street and Sherman Avenue. Plus, enjoy line dancing and a mobile sauna station!

Downtown Evanston Fall Fest: Stop by Fountain Square for a family-friendly, fall-themed block party this Sun., Oct. 9, noon to 5 p.m. Whether you're into arts and crafts, or craft beer and cider, this event is for you.

Last chance to sign up for the Zombie Scramble

Join Evanston Parks & Rec for a scary good time at the 2022 “Zombie Scramble” on Sat., Oct. 22! Sign up for a time slot by this Fri., Oct. 7 to complete the 2-mile course filled with roaming “zombies.” 

Would you rather chase than run?

Volunteer "zombies" are needed! Makeup and costumes are provided along with a t-shirt, food, community service hours and fun! "Zombies" must be 16 years or older.

Capital Improvement Projects Update

The City is wrapping up construction on two major projects in Evanston.

Central Street Bridge

The Central Street Bridge replacement project is now complete. The project, completed in coordination with the Illinois Department of Transportation, included the removal and replacement of the 114-year-old bridge structure. Improvements include a wider bridge deck accommodating bicycles, pedestrians and golf carts, as well as new street lighting and crosswalk upgrades.

30-inch Water Main Replacement

The City has finished replacement and rehabilitation of a nearly century-old, 8,200-foot water pipeline that serves as the backbone of the City's water transmission system. Over the next couple of days, crews will finish pavement marking along the project route, which includes Sherman Avenue north of downtown and Benson Avenue.

Help Evanston business districts thrive!

The Evanston Thrives Retail District Action Plan is a highly focused, community engagement and business district market analysis to improve the quality and mix of retail, food and entertainment offerings in Evanston’s eight business districts. We want to hear from you!

Click here to take the survey.

Get involved in reparations

The City's Reparations Committee is seeking community participation in  ongoing reparations initiatives in Evanston. 

Join the conversation: Attend a town hall meeting on Sat., Oct. 22 to get updates on Evanston's Reparations initiative and learn about opportunities for continued education. 

Get creative: The Reparations Committee is seeking youth art submissions that respond to the question, “What comes to mind when you think of reparations?" Submit art by October 12 for a chance to win $200!

COVID-19 Update

Cases: Evanston reported 122 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 85 for the week prior. The current seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases is 17.43. 

COVID-19 Community Risk Level: LOW

Hospitalizations: View local COVID-19 hospitalizations.

To date, Evanston has had 16,728 total confirmed cases, and 156 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-19 vaccines 

Increase your protection against COVID-19! 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

Welcome, Chief Stewart. Thank you, Chief Eddington.

Schenita Stewart will be sworn in as Evanston's next police chief at Monday's City Council meeting. As we welcome Chief Stewart, we also extend our heartfelt gratitude to Chief Richard Eddington for his dedicated, professional service to our community.

EPD to host catalytic converter marking event, Oct. 30

Make your vehicle's catalytic converter less desirable to thieves by attending EPD's catalytic converter marking event on Sun., Oct. 30, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Levy Center parking lot. Registration is required.

Are you ready for the next emergency?

Attend the City's Emergency Preparedness Fair on Sat., Oct. 22 and Sun., Oct. 23 at the Robert Crown Community Center. The event will include CPR classes, free preparedness kits, cybersecurity workshops, and more.

Community Resource Fair next Saturday

Get services and information from government agencies and local partner organizations at a Community Resource Fair at the Robert Crown Community Center on Sat., Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This event is sponsored by State Sen. Laura Fine and State Rep. Robyn Gabel.

Explore health equity in Evanston

Are you interested in how health and quality of life differ by neighborhood across our city, and the long-term impact of redlining? View results from a recent equity study and give City officials suggestions on how to make Evanston a better place for everyone at an upcoming Data Walk.

October is Residents' Rights Month

Residents' Rights Month brings awareness to the dignity, respect and value of those who live in long-term care facilities. The City's Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program has overseen licensed long-term care facilities in Evanston for over 20 years to ensure that resident rights are protected and upheld.

Provide Input on the City's 2022 Storm Water Annual Report

This annual report explains the safeguards and best management practices the City employed to help protect Lake Michigan and the North Shore Channel from storm water discharge. Public comment is welcome at the October 13 Environment Board meeting.

Click here for More Information