Evanston, IL
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Latest reporting from the Community desk.
Community
Artists have until Friday, Oct. 23, to submit designs for a mural on Ryan Field's facade, while Criss Henderson, former head of Chicago Shakespeare Theater, will lead a new Evanston summer arts festival funded by Northwestern University through 2040.
Community
The Harley Clarke Mansion grounds host Clarketoberfest from Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18, with swing dancing, live music, beer flights, a stein-holding competition and a family day featuring children's entertainer Jeanie B!
Community
Interfaith Action of Evanston's overnight shelter already has a waiting list for its 30 beds before its Sunday, Oct. 18 opening at Grace Lutheran Church, Executive Director Sue Murphy Berube told the organization's annual meeting.
Community
Fire alarm testing at Ryan Field will continue through at least Oct. 19, with the city manager limiting tests to weekday business hours after weeks of noise complaints from 7th Ward residents.
Community
Griffin Henry, 17, of Wilmette will host Java & Jams, a two-day musical instrument drive at Harley Clarke Coffee Co. on Oct. 10–11 to benefit the nonprofit Hungry for Music.
Community
Red Clay Dance Company's "Freedom Square: The Black Girlhood Altar," a dance-theater work honoring missing and murdered Black women and girls, opens its world premiere run Oct. 1–3 at Northwestern's Wirtz Center, with artistic director Vershawn Sanders-Ward citing Evanston's reparations program as one reason she chose the city.
Community
Evanston's fifth annual Recycling Truck Design Competition will award two winners instead of one, thanks to a new partnership with SWANCC and an EPA-funded regional recycling campaign. Student designs are due Oct. 16.
Community
Evanston Community Fridges opened its fifth and first downtown location on Sept. 22 at the Woman's Club of Evanston, bringing a free food pantry to the alleyway near the Evanston Public Library off Church Street.
Community
Evanston's Crisis Responder Team started operations Sept. 14, building on the CARE program that has handled more than 3,500 calls since 2024, with full deployment expected by Nov. 2.
Community
Evanston police arrested Kobe M. Wilson, 27, at Robert Crown Community Center on Sept. 17 after a series of incidents in which he allegedly approached juveniles and offered a child candy and cannabis, leading to two misdemeanor trespass charges and increased patrols near the center and surrounding schools.
Community
Tony and Grammy winner Heather Headley, a former Northwestern student, will headline Over the Rainbow Association's annual benefit concert on Nov. 1 at Galvin Recital Hall, raising funds for the Evanston nonprofit's affordable housing for adults with disabilities.
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Community
Evanston's Preservation Commission voted 8-0 to approve Celadon Partners' exterior renovation plans for the Harley Clarke Mansion, a $30 million project to convert the long-vacant lakefront landmark into an event venue, restaurant and speakeasy. The project still needs Land Use Commission and City Council approval before construction can begin.