City of Evanston Blog

The City received a new bond rating from Fitch Rating today of “AAA”, Fitch’s highest rating, in advance of the capital improvement bonds we will be selling soon. The City’s previous rating was “AAA” Fitch's press release has all the... Wally Bobkiewicz

The Tribune today ran an interesting article about what area cities and villages are doing to track down residents who have not purchased their city vehicle sticker. The article talks about six dozen Illinois cities purchasing vehicle registration data from... Wally Bobkiewicz

  Alderman Lionel Jean-Baptiste reads a story today at the grand opening of the Evanston Public Library's Summer Reading Outpost at the Evanston Plaza Shopping Center. The outpost will be open through August.... Wally Bobkiewicz

Here is a photo (a little hard to make out) of an "Evanston Taxi" destroyed during filming of "Transfomers 3" this weekend in downtown Chicago.  Thanks to Alderman Ann Rainey for pointing this out from a posting from Joe... Wally Bobkiewicz

The City's new website presents a problem for me with the blog.  I have often used the blog as a way to post "news" about what is going on in the City government and the community.  We now have a... Wally Bobkiewicz

The new City website has been getting great reviews.  However, one problem we have encountered and are still working on is how the website is rendered in Firefox a web browser.  There is one particular page (with the City Council agendas)... Wally Bobkiewicz

The City received unexpected news this week with the announcement that Community and Economic Development Director Lehman Walker would be returning to University Center, Missouri where he had served many years as the Community Development Director to become its City... Wally Bobkiewicz

The City Council is holding a special meeting Monday at 7 PM in the Council Chambers as part of a year long review of components of our Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department.  The discussion Monday evening will focus on... Wally Bobkiewicz

First Ward Alderman Judy Fiske presided over the ribbon cutting for the new Andy's Frozen Custard in Downtown Evanston.  Along with the ribbon cutting Andy's is also giving away free sundaes all day today.  The sundaes are not just mini-sized,... Wally Bobkiewicz

All links are Adobe Acrobat (PDF): 1.  Further discussion of the Township of Evanston's budget. 2.  Consideration of amendments to the City's State and Federal Legislative Priorities. 3.  Consideration of new electric franchise agreement with Commonwealth Edison to provide electrical... Wally Bobkiewicz

There was an article in the newspaper a few days ago mentioning that June, 2010 was the wettest June in the Chicago area in 108 years.  It made me wonder how this impacted Evanston water usage.  In June, 2010 227,275... Wally Bobkiewicz

There is a great article in the Thursday July 8 edition of the New York Times on the recent commemorations of the former Emerson Street YMCA (on the Times website tonight). Also check out the photo gallery that accompanies the... Wally Bobkiewicz

The City's Public Works Department collected over 500 pounds of recycling from the 4th of July parade.... Wally Bobkiewicz

The City of Evanston Police Department has issued 442 citations for illegal use of cellular phones while driving since the City's ban went into effect in March.... Wally Bobkiewicz

A fire occurred this evening at the YMCA, 1000 Grove Street. The following details are from talking to EFD and YMCA staff on the scene. They were all busy responding to the emergency, so some times and details may ultimately be corrected:... Wally Bobkiewicz

Last night my wife Patrice and I attended a fundraiser in Chicago for the Piven Theater Workshop.  The Workshop has been based at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center for many years and we thought we would attend the fundraiser to support... Wally Bobkiewicz

Last night my wife Patrice and I attended a fundraiser in Chicago for the Piven Theater Workshop.  The Workshop has been based at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center for many years and we thought we would attend the fundraiser to support the program.  Also in attendance at the event was Downtown Evanston Executive Director Carolyn Dellutri and Bridget Calendo, NU’s sustainability program director.

Carolyn and I had talked about attending the event over the last few weeks and she shared with me one of her great visions:  get Jeremy Piven and his mom Joyce to film a tv commercial for Downtown Evanston.  Mr. Piven, one of Evanston’s favorite sons, has gone on to stage and screen fame and his mother Joyce, remains in Evanston as the Artistic Director Emeritus of the Piven Workshop.

The four of us sat together at the event and watched as all the young beautiful people arrived.  We enjoyed the complementary beverages and talked about getting to the Pivens to discuss the Downtown Evanston commercial.

Jeremy and Joyce arrived soon after and were surrounded by well wishers and the press.  Carolyn saw her chance and tried to make her way to see them.  No luck.  Carolyn was not deterred.  She came back to our table and kept an eagle eye on Jeremy.

Soon she saw another chance when Mr. Piven headed to the Men’s Room.  Carolyn headed in that direction with Bridget with a camera not far behind.  Patrice and I had a good view of all of the action outside the Men’s Room and stayed put.  Before too long, Jeremy emerged from the Men’s Room and there was Carolyn.  She began talking to him, introduced herself, and Piven expressed his love for Evanston.  She then pitched the commercial idea.  He said he liked it, but would need a donation to the Workshop in order to participate.  As he walked away, he told Carolyn to talk more with Joyce.

Carolyn and Bridget returned to our table and shared their successful meeting.  Soon the live auction started and Patrice and I headed back to Evanston.

This morning I received this photo from Carolyn with the following update:

“Jeremy had told me to talk to his mother so after the live auction I went up to her and reintroduced myself.  I told her that I was talking to Jeremy earlier in the night about doing an ad campaign and told her Jeremy said to run it by her.  So I did and she loved it.  Then Jeremy came over by her (see all three together above) and asked her what she thought and she told him they need to do it.  He did whisper to her that he told me he thought a  donation to Piven Theatre workshop would be appropriate. I reiterated that Mayor Tisdahl sent me there tonight to tell them that she appreciates having them in Evanston and wants to keep them there and that Piven Theatre workshop programs are important to our community.”

No commitments from the Pivens for a Downtown Evanston commercial as of today, but Carolyn got a great start last night.

All links to PDF documents 1.  Consideration of future of Evanston Public Library North and South Branches.  The City Council has funded the branches through August 31.  Reports from the Evanston Library Board and Friends of the Library will be... Wally Bobkiewicz

All links to PDF documents

1.  Consideration of future of Evanston Public Library North and South Branches.  The City Council has funded the branches through August 31.  Reports from the Evanston Library Board and Friends of the Library will be presented to the Council.

2.  Consideration of budget for Township of Evanston.

3.  Consideration of $50,000 grant for funding of development and land acquisition for future park (“Grandmothers Park”) at 1125 Dewey.

4.  The City Council’s Planning and Development Committee will receive a report on property foreclosures in Evanston.

Meeting Agenda      Agenda Materials

Channel 16 went off the air about ninety minutes through the City Council meeting this evening.  There apparently is a problem with Comcast’s network and how it connects to the government access channel.  The entire meeting was recorded and will be... Wally Bobkiewicz