 
Thursday, July 22, 2021 | View in browser
Good afternoon!
Read below for information on the Greenleaf Shared Street Pilot project, the start of the Starlight Movies in the Park series, Church Street and Chicago Avenue improvement projects, and more!
Plus, in need of a feel-good moment? See how a family of ducks travels from a local bike shop to the lakefront! (Hint: They don't ride.)
 Slow down and share the road!
The City has launched a pilot project with the goal of allowing pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers to safely share the entire length of Greenleaf Street, from McDaniel Avenue to Lake Shore Boulevard, through August 16.
We want your input! Please submit your comments and questions regarding this pilot project.
 Enjoy concerts and movies outdoors
Music at Mason Park: The Starlight Concert series comes to a close on Tues., July 27. Head out to Mason Park, Church Street and Florence Avenue, at 7 p.m. to enjoy a performance of soul music and R&B standards by Gerald McClendon, "The Soulkeeper".
Movies on the big screen: The Starlight Movies series begins on Sat., July 31 at Lovelace Park, Gross Point Road and Thayer Street, with a showing of Soul Surfer. This free outdoor movie series will feature 13 movies on Tuesdays and Saturdays through September at park locations throughout Evanston. This year, all movies will begin at 7 p.m. (That means you no longer have to figure out when "dusk" is.) Don't forget to bring your lawn chairs, blankets and snacks!
Movie Night at Ryan Field: Bring your family out for a free showing of Tom & Jerry (2021) on Thurs., July 29 as part of Northwestern's annual Movie Night at Ryan Field. Gates open at 5 p.m. and the movie starts at 6 p.m.
 Chicago Avenue from above. Photo courtesy of Patrick Hughes, Jr. (Thanks, Patrick!)
Provide your input on transportation projects
Travel on Church Street? Attend an open house meeting on Tues., July 27, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Evanston Ecology Center, about the preliminary engineering study for future pedestrian and bicycle improvements along Church Street, between Dodge Avenue and the west City limits.
Chicago Avenue Multimodal Improvements: Join the City for a public meeting regarding potential multimodal improvements along Chicago Avenue from Howard to Davis Streets. The meeting will take place on Thurs., July 29 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the City Volkswagen of Evanston.
COVID-19 Update
Cases and Positivity Rates
 Click to enlarge.
Evanston reported 18 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 11 for the week prior. The City’s seven-day moving average positivity rate is 1.18 percent.
To date, the city has had 4,668 total confirmed cases, and 118 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19. (Note: 22 cases from 2020 and early 2021 were removed from the City’s total number of confirmed cases to eliminate duplicates and those belonging to other jurisdictions.)
Vaccinations
View the City’s updated data dashboard (view on mobile) for the latest Evanston-specific vaccination data from the IDPH. To date, approximately 84 percent of residents 12 years and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and nearly 78 percent are fully vaccinated.
Protect yourself and others. COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free, and vaccination appointments are widely available. Visit vaccines.gov to find a vaccination appointment or call 1-800-232-0233.
FAQs
How prevalent is the “Delta” variant in Evanston and should any additional precautions be taken?
Evidence suggests the Delta variant may be more transmissible than previous strains of the virus. Although the Delta COVID-19 variant has not yet been detected in Evanston, community members should continue to follow public health guidance, including:
- If you are 12 years or older, get vaccinated!
- Wear a mask when required (view current mask guidelines)
- Wash your hands frequently
- Stay home if you’re sick
You can access state-level data regarding variants of concern on the IDPH website.
What advice does the Evanston Health & Human Services Department have for students returning to school in August?
Vaccination is the best protection for teachers, staff and students against COVID-19. With only a few weeks left until the new school year begins, now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven’t already.
The City of Evanston’s Health & Human Services Department is following guidance for K-12 schools issued by the CDC and the IDPH, which recommend that:
- Masks should be worn indoors by all individuals 2 years or older who are not fully vaccinated.
- Schools should maintain at least 3 feet of physical distance between students within classrooms, combined with indoor mask wearing by people who are not fully vaccinated, to reduce transmission risk.
- Layered prevention strategies, such as indoor masking, should be implemented when social distancing is not possible.
According to CDC and IDPH guidance, those who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 do not need to wear masks in schools unless otherwise determined by school administrators or local public health departments, or if other prevention measures, such as social distancing, are not possible. Evanston community members should consult their school or district for specific COVID-19 guidelines. See the District 65 and ETHS websites. The City will continue to work closely with Evanston schools to ensure a safe school year.
More news and events
Sidewalk Sale & Chalk Art Contest
Get ready for another weekend of amazing shopping deals from July 22 to 25! Independent shops and national retailers in Downtown Evanston and the Main-Dempster Mile will set up racks and tables with too-good-to-resist deals on the sidewalks. Don't forget to check out Downtown Evanston's Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest.
Support Main Street businesses during construction
Water main and sewer improvements are underway on Main Street, from Maple to Hinman Avenues, but restaurants and shops are still open for business! Be sure to get out and support them during construction.
Free parking: The City is providing complimentary 4-hour parking at Lot #24, located at 727 Main St., throughout the project.
Download the Evanston 311 mobile app!
311 is your key to City services! Whether you want to report a pothole, obtain a permit, or find out your next street cleaning day, 311 can help. Download the Evanston 311 app from the App Store or Google Play today. You can also contact 311 by calling or texting 847-448-4311 or submitting a service request online.
Northlight Theatre moves one step closer to Evanston
Northlight Theatre recently announced its purchase of a Church Street property in Evanston where it will construct a new, three-story theater and community complex set to open in 2024. Read more from the Daily Herald.
Evanston Accessory Dwelling Unit Walking Tour
Join the Evanston Development Cooperative for a stroll through the Dempster Street and Chicago Avenue area on Sat., July 31 to see how accessory dwelling units (ADUs) fit into a thriving neighborhood. The free tour will begin and end at Noir d'Ebene Chocolat et Patisserie. Sign up for a spot today!
Stay Engaged
Community Calendar
Need a feel-good moment? Check out Evanston's annual duck parade!
 Click image to view video from Downtown Evanston on Facebook.
Evanston's Wheel & Sprocket is proud to offer "Way More Than Just Bikes." And we mean way more!
One day a year, the staff at the busy bike shop on Davis Street take a break from providing bikes, bike rentals and repairs to safely escort a mama duck and her ducklings from the nest behind their shop to the lakefront. This year, three ducklings found their way (with a little help) to their new home at the Arrington Lakefront Lagoon.
Thanks to Downtown Evanston for capturing this heartwarming journey!
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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