The Northwestern University Wildcats' home football season opens this Saturday against Stanford University, with kickoff at 11:00 am.  It's more than just football, as the festivities begin three hours before kickoff at 8:00 am on Wildcat Alley with food trucks, activities for families, and Willie the Wildcat.  You'll need a ticket (click here) to the football game to see the skydiving team land on the field while the NU Marching Band (NUMB) plays the National Anthem.  Look for the four skydivers on approach to the stadium for their launch around 10:50 am.  And please stop by Let's Tailgate at 1807 Central Street, east of the tracks on your way to the game, for all your Northwestern Wildcat purple swag.  Owners Dave and Cindy Gaborek stock gear for Blackhawks and Cubs fans, too.

And speaking of bands, Saturday's game is also Band Day, featuring 18 area high school bands, the highlight of halftime.  The high school bands will fill Ryan Field's student section, as most Northwestern students won't return to campus until closer to the start of classes on September 21.

Ticketed attendance for Saturday's non-conference game is expected to reach 25,000 and the weather should be warm and sunny.  Look for our Northwestern Wildcat football team on the eastern sideline for this game and listen for the fireworks when they win the game. 

Vaulted sidewalks in the 1900 block of Central Street (between Prairie Avenue's north- and south-bound legs) require complicated reconstruction of the sidewalk, scheduled to begin next week.  The scope of the work includes constructing a retaining wall under the sidewalk, accommodating underground utilities, filling the old coal vaults, replacing the existing sidewalk with a new concrete sidewalk and a brick border, installing new roadway curbing, and constructing new tree pits with frames and grates. 

And because there is no magic wand that makes these projects happen overnight, there will be considerable disruption and inconvenience until construction is completed in October.  One lane of traffic will be maintained in each direction of Central Street and pedestrian access to businesses will not be interrupted, but parking will be affected.  Look for "NO PARKING" signs posted 48 hours prior to the start of the work.  To ease the parking stress, street sweeping and neighborhood parking restrictions will be waived for a one-block radius around the construction zone.  Apologies to pedestrians, shoppers, businesses, and residents for the inconvenience. 

The streetscape improvements are continued implementation of the 2007 Central Street Master Plan, in addition to sidewalk improvements already completed and underway on Central Street to the west.  These projects are funded by the City's Capital Improvement Fund.  

The Illinois Department of Transportation begins replacement of the 8-foot wide gravel path in the Ladd Arboretum this month with an 8-foot wide asphalt pathway surface.  The new path will provide 12-month use and ADA accessibility for pedestrians, bikers, birdwatchers, wheelchair users, strollers, and students of all abilities.  The path will be closed during construction, but will reopen upon its completion at the end of October.  This project is funded primarily through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program, with local matching funds from the City's general obligation bond funds.

Join Canal Shores Golf Course for an evening of food, drink and live music for the 3rd Annual Groovin' on the Greens fundraiser on Friday, September 25.  Libations provided by Canal Shores' neighborhood partners Bluestone, Beth's Little Bake Shop, and the American Legion bartenders, and music from the legendary bluesman Chainsaw Dupont.  Tickets are tax-deductible and proceeds support the continued improvement and expanded programming at Canal Shores, a 501(c)(3) organization.  Buy your tickets online, click here. 

If you haven't already found the cheap beer and live bluegrass music in Evanston's Post 42 American Legion Hall, this fall presents several opportunities.  The bluegrass series kicks off on October 10 with the Kevin Prater Band of East Kentucky.  Doors open at 7:00 pm and the music starts at 8:00 pm. For the full schedule and ticket information, click here. 

The American Legion Hall, at 1030 Central Street, is next to the City's Chandler Newberger Community Center, on the second floor above the Canal Shores Golf Course Pro Shop.  The American Legion Post 42 hall and bar are available to rent for your own party or meeting.  The Legion Club Bar is open to the public daily, Monday - Friday 3:00 to 11:00 pm, Saturday/Sunday 11:00 am to 6:00 pm.  A hidden gem.  

Apply during the month of September to join the Evanston Fire Department's team of firefighter/paramedics.  Chief Greg Klaiber, an Evanston resident who has risen through the ranks in a distinguished career with the department, seeks qualified candidates and has made it a priority to recruit and hire Evanston residents.  The entrance exam is November 7, 2015. To learn more about the process, click here. 

My heartfelt thanks to the City's departing Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Development, Joe McRae, as he departs Evanston to run the parks department in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, closer to family.  Director McRae has served the City of Evanston for several years and led our efforts to establish the 311 Service Center.  Director McRae has served us well, with integrity, wisdom, humor and compassion.