Topic: Parks and Recreation
Thu., Oct. 24, 7pm at Three Crowns Center

Please join Daniel Stein, chair of the city's Parks and Recreation Board and 6th Ward resident, city staff and me for a discussion of current issues and priorities for our parks, beaches, and recreation facilities. There will also be an update of Evanston Police Department issues and current Public Works projects in the 6th Ward.

by Libby Hill, volunteer steward

The path through Perkins Woods is now complete! This is not just another path. This is lovely and natural-looking crushed red granite whose origin is in the quarries of central Wisconsin. While it looks smooth and almost white now, it will weather naturally so that small stones and gravel will show through and it will be a neutral color. This is the first time the Forest Preserve District has used crushed red granite, so it has been a learning experience for everyone on the job. The care and cooperation and sensitivity to the woods of workmen, contractors and Forest Preserve supervisors has been nothing short of amazing.

The paths are fine to walk on now, but bikes could still create marks in the surface. We should hold off on riding them in Perkins Woods until mid-October.

New soil has been distributed and tamped down along the paths. We will be seeding with annual rye to hold the soil and the path edges in place. We will cover the seeds with straw to keep them from drifting.

Anyone interested in learning more about the paths, and/or helping out in the woods should contact me at libbyhill@comcast.net. This is our path, thanks to the Forest Preserve of Cook County. We want to give the path and the woods we love the best and most responsible care.

Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the Cook County Forest Preserve District (CCFPD) which was founded by visionary volunteers meeting at the home of Dwight H. Perkins on Lincoln Street in Evanston.

On September 28th National Public Land Day was celebrated to recognize the preservation of land for the common good. After 100 years the largest public land owner in Cook County is the CCFPD with nearly 69,000 acres of forested open space.

The smallest and most unique Cook County Forest Preserve is our own Dwight H. Perkins Woods. This special place is enjoying a revival because of the work of an increasing number of volunteers who have worked with the professional staff of the CCFPD to remove invasive plants and trees and to improve the paths. After 100 years it is great to see the spirit of Evanston volunteerism still fighting to protect the public land.

Larry Suffredin
Cook County Forest Preserve District Commissioner, 13th District

with thanks to Irene Moore

We had a neighborhood watch meeting, in conjunction with the police beat meeting, this past Monday, 9/23. The major take-home message is to make sure you lock up (cars, garages, and homes).

Other important take-home messages from the meeting:

1. From May to September 2013, 98% of the incidents in our ward have involved unlocked cars, homes and garages.
2. There have been three forced entries.
3. The most common times for burglaries is 12pm to 4pm and 11pm to 3am. The most common day is Saturday;
4. The burglaries occurring seem to be mostly crimes of opportunity: checking for unlocked car doors, unlocked house doors, etc. There have been a few cases of people "staking out"  a home to burglarize, but it isn’t in the same number as we had about five years ago around Christmas time. However do be aware that both can occur.
5. To date, there is no particular profile of the burglars.
6. Burglars are looking for anything of value and easily portable -- phones, GPSs, purses, laptops, loose change, etc.
7. Home alarms help. Homes that are not alarmed are three times more likely to be burglarized. Prominent lighting and low-landscaping also help reduce changes of being burglarized.

Both Officer Loyce Spells and Officer James Pickett (Problem Solving Team) stress to call the police if you think anything is out of place -- even if you are not sure, please, please call. In our neighborhoods, you will see 3 types of patrols:

• uniformed officers in marked cars
• uniformed officers in unmarked cars
• civilian-dressed officers in civilian cars  numbers to call are:

The numbers to call are:

• 911 (emergency)
• 847.866.5000 (non-emergency)
• 847.866.CRIMES (text-a-tip, anonymous)

provided by Officer Loyce Spells, EPD

For years one of the cornerstones of community safety has been the reporting of suspicious activities and individuals to the police. Over the years, citizens have stopped countless crimes and saved lives by becoming actively involved in protecting their communities by just being an involved witness when crime strikes their neighborhood. We have often said that the level of response from your police department and the efficiency by which they operate is directly tied to community involvement.

As the additional “eyes and ears” of law enforcement, citizens can help to reduce crime, improve safety and increase the quality of neighborhood life by knowing what to report and how to report it.

Now more than ever, citizens are needed to come forward and provide valuable information to combat local social disorder and even terrorism. Remember: don’t be shy – your job is simply to report, and law enforcement will take your call seriously and check out the situation.

Sometimes it can be confusing about what to report and when to report it. What exactly is a “suspicious activity or person”? A suspicious person or activity can refer to incidents, events, individuals or circumstances that seem unusual or out of place.

Remember the five “W’s” when reporting any suspicious person or activity:

WHAT is happening?

WHO is doing it?

WHERE is it taking place?

WHEN did you observe it?

WHY is it suspicious?