 
Thursday, October 8, 2020 | View in browser
Good evening!
Read below for information about Halloween safety, early voting, the City Manager Forum, a COVID-19 update, and more.
As a reminder, you can find the latest Evanston-specific COVID-19 updates on the City's website.
 Celebrate Halloween safely
As Halloween approaches and with COVID-19 still present, residents are encouraged to celebrate with lower risk activities like pumpkin carving, virtual costume parties, holiday decorating, and outdoor Halloween movie nights. More information at cityofevanston.org/halloween.
What about trick-or-treat? Trick-or-treat will take place on Sat., Oct. 31 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. To help your family stay healthy and safe, check out our trick-or-treat guidelines. Households wishing to accommodate trick-or-treaters are encouraged to place individual goodie bags in a designated location for trick-or-treaters to pick up and go while continuing to social distance. Households that do not wish to participate are encouraged to turn their lights off or post signage on their door to discourage visitors.
 Get out and vote, Evanston!
Vote by mail: Mail-in voting for the Presidential Election on November 3 is taking place now! Apply online to receive a mail-in ballot or call 312-603-0946. Your completed ballot can be mailed back to the Cook County Clerk's Office or dropped off at any of 50 Cook County drop boxes, including one on the ground floor of the Morton Civic Center beginning October 19. As a reminder, mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day.
Early voting: Planning to vote early for the Presidential Election? Here's what you need to know! Early voting will take place Mon., Oct. 19 through Mon., Nov. 2 at the Morton Civic Center, Room G300. Due to COVID-19, the City will be taking extra safety precautions and face coverings must be worn by voters at all times.
 Ribbon Cutting Ceremony held for Robert Crown
After two years of construction and many more years of planning, Evanston celebrated the ribbon cutting of the brand new Robert Crown Community Center and Library this past weekend. Thank you to all who helped make this project a reality!
 Meet the city manager candidates
Last night, the City held a virtual community forum with candidates selected as finalists for the city manager position. Topics included COVID-19 response and recovery, racial equity, long-term fiscal management, and more. Watch the forum.
 Sign up for street cleaning and other notifications
Need a reminder about street cleaning days? The City offers courtesy text message and email notifications to remind you to move your vehicle. Sign up for notifications and view the schedule.
EvanstonAlerts emergency notifications: The City also uses the EvanstonAlerts emergency notification system to alert you in the event of an emergency. Sign up for text message, email and phone alerts.
Coronavirus update
Situation Report
Below, you’ll find the latest COVID-19 data from the City’s Health and Human Services Department. Visit the City’s interactive COVID-19 dashboard (view on mobile) for information and metrics updated daily. You can also view IDPH Restore Illinois indicators for Region 10, which includes Evanston.
Confirmed daily cases remain steady
 Evanston’s seven-day moving average of confirmed daily cases decreased slightly to 5.43 new cases per day, compared to 5.86 new cases per day for the week prior. Six new COVID-19 cases were reported today in Evanston.
Evanston’s seven-day moving average of new cases per 100,000 residents is 51.72, and remains lower than the State (120.42), Cook County (97), and our neighbors, Chicago (84.93) and Skokie (70.18). The State’s goal is 50 or fewer cases per 100,000 residents.
To date, Evanston has had 1,190 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Seventy-three Evanston residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19.
Testing and hospitalizations
The City’s seven-day moving average test positivity rate decreased to 1.31 percent, compared to 1.7 percent for the previous seven days. The statewide test seven-day positivity rate stands at 3.7 percent. COVID-19 hospital admissions continue to be stable.
The City will partner with IDPH to offer a second COVID-19 community testing event at ETHS on October 26 and 27, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event is open to all residents regardless of symptoms; no registration is required.
You can also access free testing daily at the State's COVID-19 community-based testing sites, including the nearest Harwood Heights and Arlington Heights locations.
Watch last week’s ‘Coronavirus Q&A’
 Last week, Mayor Hagerty, Health and Human Services Director Ike Ogbo, and guests from Northwestern University participated in a live “Coronavirus Q&A” to answer residents’ questions and provide the latest public health updates. Watch the video.
October 4-10 is Mental Illness Awareness Week
 In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the City is featuring a new awareness initiative, "Mental Health is Essential," to highlight the support and resources available to Evanston residents. Reaching out for help is a positive step to take when you need it. Be on the lookout for mental health resources, tips, self-care guides, surveys and more shared periodically in upcoming newsletters.
The mental health subcommittee of the Mayor’s COVID-19 task force is a collaboration of the following organizations: NAMI CCNS, AMITA Health, PEER Services, Institute for Therapy through the Arts, NorthShore University HealthSystem, Mental Health America of the North Shore, Naomi Ruth Cohen Institute, Evanston Community Foundation, Moran Center, Impact Behavioral Health Partners, Y.O.U., and The Family Institute at Northwestern University.
Pandemics are stressful. The CDC offers helpful tips for coping with stress during this difficult time.
More mental health resources. Visit the City’s COVID-19 Resources page for a variety of mental health and other resources.
More news and events
Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month
Evanston Latinos invite you to their Hispanic Heritage Month fundraiser on Sun., Oct. 11, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Temperance Beer Co., 2000 Dempster St. All proceeds will go toward COVID-19 relief for Latino families. You can also make a donation online.
Looking to renew your driver's license?
Drivers of all ages can complete a vision screening, renew an Illinois ID card or driver's license (must be under 75), and register to vote on Fri., Oct. 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Levy Senior Center as part of the Illinois Secretary of State's Super Senior Day and Mobile Driver Services event.
Two outdoor movies this weekend!
The City's next Starlight Movie in the Park, Ghostbusters (1984), will take place this Sat., Oct. 10, 6:45 p.m., at Larimer Park, located at Crain Street and Oak Avenue. Plus, enjoy dinner and a drive-in movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark, at 2201 Autobarn Pl. this Fri., Oct. 9 at 7 p.m. Proceeds from tickets will benefit Rotary Clubs of Evanston.
Attend or participate in the Annual Maker's Market
Downtown Evanston and Evanston Made are partnering to host the second annual Maker's Market on Sun., Oct. 18, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Maple Avenue Garage! Vendors interested in selling can sign up here. Those interested in attending can purchase tickets online.
Submit a public comment on the PY2019 Action Plan
The City will hold a meeting to hear public comment on the Third Substantial Amendment to PY2019 Action Plan on Mon., Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Comments may be submitted by email to housing@cityofevanston.org, by phone at 847-448-4311, or by video conference during the live public comment period of the virtual City Council meeting on October 12.
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
Featured Evanstonian
 Rebeca Mendoza
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we're featuring Rebeca Mendoza! Having lived in Evanston for over 35 years, Rebeca has embedded herself into the community through her volunteer and professional work, with the goal of making Evanston a better place to live for all. Read more.
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading.
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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