Thursday, November 4, 2021 | View in browser
Good afternoon!
Read below for information about pumpkin composting, completed renovations at McCulloch Park, COVID-19 vaccines for children 5-11, and more.
Plus, learn about community fridges popping up throughout Evanston!
 Putting jack to work: Compost don't toss!
Rescue your Halloween pumpkins and jack-o’-lanterns from withering on the front porch by dropping them off to be composted at the 6th annual “It's the Great Pumpkin Compost” Collection event this Sat., Nov. 6, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Morton Civic Center parking lot.
Did you know? Food waste, including plain, clean pumpkins, can also "ride along" in food and yard waste carts with grass clippings and leaves. You can also sign up for year-round food scrap composting through the City’s exclusive hauler, Collective Resource.
 Looking for a new park to visit?
This past weekend, the City celebrated the ribbon cutting and dedication of the newly renovated McCulloch Park, located on Livingston Street between Broadway and Eastwood Avenues. Stop by to enjoy the new playground, basketball court, pathways, LED lighting, site furnishings, and landscaping!
Another reason to visit: McCulloch Park is named after Evanston suffragist Catharine Waugh McCulloch. Be sure to check out the National Votes for Women Trail Marker, one of only four in Illinois!
 Veterans Day is November 11
Honor all those who have served at the Veterans Day Ceremony hosted by American Legion Evanston Post 42 at Fountain Square on Thurs., Nov. 11. Assembly will begin at 10 a.m. and the ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. The ceremony will include reflections, singing, and remarks by elected officials and leaders of local veterans groups.
Reminder: City facilities and services, including refuse collection and street cleaning, will operate as normal on Veterans Day.
 Chicago Avenue from above. (Photo courtesy of Patrick Hughes, Jr.)
Improvements planned for Chicago Avenue
COVID-19 Update
Cases, Positivity Rates and Hospitalizations
 Cases: Evanston reported 49 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 40 for the week prior. To date, the city has had 5,525 total confirmed cases, and 121 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19. (Note: Last week’s data included one reported death of a Skokie resident. That death has been removed from Evanston’s total.)
Positivity rate: The City’s seven-day moving average positivity rate is 0.50 percent.
Hospitalizations: View local COVID-19 hospitalizations over the last month.
Vaccinations: 90.3 percent of residents 12 years and older have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 83.3 percent are fully vaccinated. View the City’s updated data dashboard (view on mobile) for the latest Evanston-specific vaccination data from the IDPH.
Vaccination Updates
COVID-19 vaccines now recommended for children ages 5-11
This week, the CDC recommended use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5 to 11 years old following emergency use authorization by the FDA. The IDPH and the Evanston Health & Human Services Department have fully adopted this guidance.
The vaccine for children 5-11 years old is a smaller dose (one-third of the dose for individuals 12 years and older) and is found to be more than 90 percent effective in preventing COVID-19 in this age group.
Where your child can get vaccinated
COVID-19 vaccinations for children 5-11 are free and will be available at a variety of locations in the coming week, including:
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Evanston Health & Human Services Department. Complete the City’s COVID-19 Vaccine Survey for 5-11 Year Olds to be notified of upcoming vaccination events for this age group hosted by the City’s Health & Human Services Department. Please complete the form separately for each child in your family. The City is planning a number of vaccination clinics at various locations starting later next week.
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Evanston/Skokie School District 65. The City is working with District 65 to host a vaccination event open to Evanston children 5 to 11 years old on November 13. Please stay tuned for details and a registration link.
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Pharmacies and health centers. Visit vaccines.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location near you.
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Pediatrician offices. Contact your child’s healthcare provider to see if they provide the COVID-19 vaccine.
Parents and guardians should talk to their doctor or pediatrician if they have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for their children.
COVID-19 booster shots available
The CDC has recommended expanded use of a booster dose of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Booster doses of all three vaccines are free and readily available at a variety of locations for eligible individuals. Visit vaccines.gov or call 800-232-0233 to schedule an appointment.
Want to receive your booster dose from the City of Evanston? Complete the City’s Vaccine Booster Survey to be notified of upcoming vaccination events. At this time, the City is only offering booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines.
This week, the City administered more than 700 booster doses at two vaccination clinics.
More news and events
Fall back for daylight saving time
Like it or not, daylight saving time will end this Sun., Nov. 7. That means earlier sunrises (yay!) and earlier sunsets (sigh). If you still own a clock, don't forget to set it back one hour before going to bed on Saturday night. The official time change will take place at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
Get an update on the City's ADA Transition Plan
Attend a community open house for an update on the City's ADA Transition Plan on Thurs., Nov. 18, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Levy Senior Center. Learn more at evanstonaccessibility.com.
Mayor's Holiday Food, Book, and Toy Drive
Help every family in Evanston celebrate this holiday season by participating in the annual Mayor's Holiday Food, Book and Toy Drive! Continuing through December 10, the City is collecting new, unwrapped toys in addition to staple food items for holiday meals.
Deter catalytic converter theft
Due to a rise in catalytic converter thefts, the Evanston Police Department will hold a catalytic converter marking event on Sat., Nov. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in the Morton Civic Center parking lot. Officers will use spray paint to mark the catalytic converter underneath your vehicle, helping to reduce the chance of theft. This is a free event, but space is limited. Register today!
Social service organizations: Apply for an arts residency
Social service providers are invited to apply for the City's Community Resiliency Through the Arts Program, a pilot program which aims to spark partnerships between social services organizations and arts organizations in Evanston by funding five arts residencies. Apply now.
Register your pet by December 31
Dog and cat owners: Submit your 2022 pet registration by Fri., Dec. 31 conveniently online. Registering your pet will increase the chances of being united if it's ever lost, and also serves as an annual reminder to renew its rabies vaccination.
Get Engaged
Community Calendar
Community fridges help fight food insecurity
 Evanston Community Fridges, a mutual aid project in partnership with Evanston Fight for Black Lives, has placed three community fridges (with a fourth coming soon) throughout Evanston in an effort to fight food insecurity and food waste through open access to nutritious and culturally affirming food for free.
Community fridges are located at:
- 1335 Dodge Ave. (OG Fridge)
- 1601 Payne St. (Soul Fridge)
- 619 Howard St. (Freedom Fridge)
- 717 Custer Ave. (installation underway)
Want to get involved? The organization is looking for volunteers to help fill or clean the fridges.
That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely,
The City of Evanston Communications Team
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