1+ hour, 31+ min ago (754+ words) Evanston's City Council appears ready to help Family Focus find a new owner and use for its historic property at 2010 Dewey Ave., but it held off on approving an agreement on how to move forward until next month to gather additional community. The social services organization has officially relocated to a nearby space at 1601-07 Simpson St. and is preparing to search for a buyer who will "redevelop it [2010 Dewey] to address community needs," likely including affordable housing. The plan put up for approval Monday involves reallocating financial support committed to Family Focus years ago that was already swapped around earlier this year, but it wasn't this funding change that gave councilmembers pause. Instead, a last-minute amendment proposed by Councilmember Bobby Burns (5th Ward) formally gave nearby residents a role in evaluating future proposals for the site. "Fifth Ward residents will have…...

2+ hour, 17+ min ago (630+ words) Evanston's City Council approved a $404 million 2026 budget on Monday, cutting a proposed property tax nearly in half and drawing on reserves to meet public safety pension obligations and other key priorities. Councilmembers voted 6-2 in favor of an amendment by Clare Kelly (1st Ward) to remove $3 million from a property tax hike proposed to fund pensions and instead use excess reserves, thereby lowering the total tax levy. As a result, the owner of a median-priced property will pay roughly $162 more annually on the city's'portion of their property tax bill, according to officials, compared to an estimated $270 more under the city's original proposal. Councilmembers'Shawn Iles (3rd Ward) and Jonathan Nieuwsma (4th) both spoke against the move, with Iles calling on Clayton Black, the city's deputy chief financial officer, to discuss the consequences of adopting a smaller tax hike. "It does represent a significant draw on…...

7+ hour ago (950+ words) Just getting to the Illinois High School Association state tournament finals in wrestling might be the most difficult task in front of any high school athlete in any sport. And winning a state medal that signifies a top six finish? That's a goal that's out of reach for most. But even though you only need one hand to count the number of times in Evanston's program history that two grapplers have won state medals in the same season, that's a history that might have to be rewritten by the end of the 2025-2026 campaign. Senior heavyweight Jeremy Marshall, who reached State as a junior, and junior 165-pounder Rodrigo Salinas, who missed all of last year with a knee injury, are legitimate threats to reach the medal podium at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign on the final weekend of the season, and…...

7+ hour, 50+ min ago (392+ words) We are indebted to those who give to the Evanston RoundTable every month. Hats off to this wonderful community! (Names as of Nov. 21, 2025.) Thank you to Stay in the know with our free newsletters! Join more than 10,000 Evanstonians already receiving the RoundTable newsletter in their inbox each morning. - Raising Evanston 1X week: everything E-town for families Already signed up? Just close out this popup. Or submit your email to keep this from displaying again on this device. We are indebted to those who give to the Evanston RoundTable every month. Hats off to this wonderful community! (Names as of Nov. 21, 2025.) Thank you to our monthly donors: Ann and John Adamson, Joe Agne, Amanda Jacobs, Nathaniel Al-Najjar, Kenneth Alexander, Diane Allen, Pamela Allen, Reagan Ammann, Karen Anderson, Nancy Anderson, Peter Anderson, Elizabeth Andrews, Kimberly Andringa, Cheryl Angelroth, Mary Anne Diehl, Melissa Appelt,…...

11+ hour, 9+ min ago (155+ words) The City of Evanston has announced changes in service delivery and facility hours in recognition of the Thanksgiving holiday. No collections will occur Thursday, Nov. 27. If the holiday falls on or before your collection day, services are expected to be postponed by one day. Friday condo recycling collections will occur Saturday, Nov. 29. Additionally, no street cleaning will occur Nov. 27-28." Yard waste pick-up will be delayed by one day, with service resuming Nov. 28. The 311 Center will be closed Thursday, Nov. 27, and will operate on its regular schedule, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 28. Thanksgiving is a City of Evanston parking holiday. Parking meters/pay boxes and downtown parking garages will be free Thursday, Nov. 27. In addition, other restricted areas that have signs that prohibit parking except on holidays will be honored." For more information, please call or text 847-448-4311....

12+ hour, 23+ min ago (1032+ words) In a holiday tradition as sweet as pumpkin pie, Evanstonians will come together Wednesday night for the E-Town Get Down, an annual gathering of friends on the eve of Thanksgiving. Now in its 10th year, the event has become an unofficial class reunion and homecoming. "It's an organic old school dance party, and an opportunity to have a good time," said DJ Dustin "Mr. D" Harris." Harris, Corey Bless and Torben "Teebot" Nielsen, all veteran Evanston DJs, are co-leading this year's party. With a theme of "Prince Vs. MJ," the night promises to be a fun and funky addition to the holiday hullabaloo. The free event is scheduled for 9 p.m, to midnight on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at Evanston SPACE, 1243 Chicago Ave." A longtime DJ, artist and muralist with Art Encounter's Evanston Mural Arts Program, Harris's ties to the city run deep. A…...

13+ hour, 52+ min ago (178+ words) Keith Holzmueller has been the head coach of the Evanston Township High School Chess Club and Team since 2017. He became a serious chess player during his high school years. As an adult player, he obtained a USCF Expert rating for over-the-board play and was awarded the Senior International Master title by the International Correspondence Chess Federation. Keith now puts most of his chess energy into helping young chess players in Evanston learn to enjoy chess and improve their play. Stay in the know with our free newsletters! Join more than 10,000 Evanstonians already receiving the RoundTable newsletter in their inbox each morning. - Raising Evanston 1X week: everything E-town for families Already signed up? Just close out this popup. Or submit your email to keep this from displaying again on this device. After wins over Highland Park and the Stevenson B team, and…...

1+ day, 11+ hour ago (435+ words) Alex Harrison reports on local government, public safety, housing and homelessness, town-gown relations and more for the RoundTable. He graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism in June 2023 with both a bachelor's and master's degree in journalism, and previously worked with the RoundTable as a freelancer and summer intern. He can be reached at [email protected] for questions, comments, feedback, suggestions, story tips and music recs. Stay in the know with our free newsletters! Join more than 10,000 Evanstonians already receiving the RoundTable newsletter in their inbox each morning. - Raising Evanston 1X week: everything E-town for families Already signed up? Just close out this popup. Or submit your email to keep this from displaying again on this device. Evanston's City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at Morton City Hall, 909 Davis St., and the 2026 budget is on the meeting…...

1+ day, 14+ hour ago (186+ words) Evanston Made is hosting its 5th Annual Holiday Market, a pop-up market at 1710 Maple Ave,. in downtown Evanston, operating Thursdays through Sundays from Dec. 4 to Dec. 21. The market will feature a vibrant, art-filled experience for arts enthusiasts and patrons during the holiday season. This year, the market will not only feature art exhibits and pop-up sales of handmade goods by Evanston Made members, but also workshops, "Meet the Makers" events, mixers and art demos. The full programming calendar is available at'evanstonmade.org. "Evanston Made loves transforming spaces to create opportunities for local artists to connect with new audiences. Buying art your neighbor makes helps build community.' We are grateful to Downtown Evanston and Continuum for the support and enthusiasm," said'Liz Cramer, co-director of Evanston Made. The space for this year's Evanston Made pop-up has been donated by'Continuum Capital.' The City of…...

1+ day, 17+ hour ago (489+ words) Visitors poured into The Woman's Club of Evanston's Holiday Bazaar to shop for goods from local artists, designers, jewelers and other vendors throughout the weekend, right up to the 4 p.m closing time on Sunday. "It's just wonderful," event co-chair Holly Brady told the RoundTable. "I think we've done really well. Vendors have sold out, I've heard." Local artisans sold a kaleidoscope of hand-made or hand-designed items, including home decor, apparel, jewelry, accessories and gourmet foods. Vendors are, of course, the main attraction. "The vendors pay a booth fee, which is a big part of our income. " We just try to get the traffic to get them the sales," said Brady, adding that all vendors were local with one exception " "we had one ceramicist this year who drove from Tennessee and is spending the holidays with her family here." Evanston resident…...