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Good Thursday morning, Evanston.
Above, an excavator begins tearing apart the stands beneath Ryan Field’s press box on Tuesday. Track the ongoing stadium project in the RoundTable’s demolition diary, with photos and videos by Storer “Bob” Rowley.
As the old stadium is destroyed, Northwestern is planning a temporary venue. The university said Wednesday it will play a majority of home football games at its lakefront athletic fields for the next two seasons. Construction will begin this summer to convert Martin Stadium (above, top right) and part of Hutcherson Field into a facility for up to 15,000 spectators. A city spokesperson confirmed the project does not require a special use permit or zoning variances.
Author Arshay Cooper discussed his life and award-winning memoir A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team at Wednesday night’s inaugural RoundTable Reads event. Growing up on the West Side of Chicago he tried football and basketball, he said, but “rowing was the first sport for me that reduced the trauma and calmed the storms.” He encouraged the audience to support local programs working to diversify the sport.
At This Time: Luciana Ruiz and Michael Wyman were among the hundreds who attended Wednesday’s RoundTable Reads event. Ruiz helped start the Evanston Township High School rowing club and is head coach of the team; Wyman is co-founder of North Channel Community Rowing, which mentors young rowers. (Photo by Richard Cahan.)
More RoundTable reads
Today is World Parkinson’s Day. RoundTable author Cissy Lacks (second from right), who has Parkinson’s disease, marks the occasion by presenting answers to questions that people who don’t have the chronic illness may have. She also offers advice on how to politely ask those with Parkinson’s about their experiences.
Climate Watch: Electric vehicle registrations in Evanston have grown from just 316 five years ago to 1,239 this spring, a nearly four-fold increase. And Evanstonians with EVs are eager to share their experiences.
Local music roundup: Music writer Chris Gillock admits feeling a bit “overwhelmed” by all of this coming week’s performances. Featured musicians include Tai Murray (above) – and perhaps you too: There’s a piano in Tallmadge Park for visitors to play.
ETHS baseball: Rain-soaked fields have kept ETHS from paying any home games so far this season, but that hasn’t kept the Kits from winning eight of their first 11 games, including a 14-1 walloping of Vernon Hills on Tuesday.
Public Square
Middle school teacher Simone Larson writes on the “student achievement microscope” – the singular focus on standardized test scores, which she calls “demoralizing and exhausting for students, teachers and administrators alike.”
And columnist Peggy Tarr reflects on the power of a simple “thank you” – or “thankee” – not just for the person hearing the acknowledgment of generosity, but the person saying it as well.
Bulletin board
Inaugural Evanston Environmental Justice Conversation Series on April 13. The forum, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, 1655 Foster St., will focus on local and national issues shaping the contemporary struggle for environmental justice.
ETHS Evening of Appreciation for new Health Science Center on April 16. RSVP by Friday to celebrate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and opportunities to tour the new learning facility.
Photos from our readers
Solar shadows: Franklin Bell shared this photo of sharpened shadows cast by trees during Monday’s partial solar eclipse. Send us your photos for a chance to be included in this newsletter.
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Around the web
Drawing on lived experiences, Gender Affirming Evanston aims to support parents of transgender children. Parents and caretakers of transgender, nonbinary, gender-expansive and gender nonconforming youth meet monthly.
Wilmette trustees OK $2.9 million in road fixes that should cover portions of 14 streets. The approved bid includes proposed work for 15th Street from Isabella Street to Wilmette Avenue, which was excluded from the original staff-recommended $2.5 million bid.
Chicago Pride Parade to scale down due to city’s ‘safety and logistics concerns.’ Entries for floats, marching bands and performers will be limited to 125, down from the 199 approved in the 2023 parade.
CTA says Red Line extension a ‘top priority’ for Biden administration, on track to begin construction next year. The CTA’s board of directors Wednesday approved a $335.9 million amendment to the agency’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan, allowing the agency to finalize its financial plan and pursue billions in federal grant funds.
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