Thursday, June 6, 2024  |   View in browser

Fourth Ward News

Hello everyone!

It’s been a busy few weeks in the Fourth Ward…

Last week we met jointly with the Second and Ninth Wards to talk about issues with pedestrian, bike, and traffic safety and to meet Sara FioRito, the City’s new transportation and mobility coordinator. If you missed the meeting, you can catch up with the presentation which is posted here.

Earlier this week, we had our regular Fourth Ward meeting with the City's Budget Manager Clayton Black as the featured guest in the last of a series of six ward meetings focusing on the six City Council goals. That presentation is here. (While we’re at it: presentations for all previous ward meetings are here.)

The fun isn’t over! On Friday this week is the quarterly meeting of the Margarita Inn Good Neighbor Advisory Committee. The meeting is open to the public—you don’t have to be an official member of the committee. We’re meeting at noon at the Margarita Inn if you’d like to join us.

Rounding out the week, June office hours are this Saturday at Reprise Roasters.

Looking ahead: please let me know if there are any topics you’d like to cover in future ward meetings. We’ve run through the six Council priorities, so what’s next? 

See below for more news:

• Lead Pipe Replacement
• Beaches are open!
• Juneteenth
• "Evanston Recycles"
• 4th of July

Hope to see you in the neighborhood!

Jonathan

Upcoming Meetings

Margarita Inn Good Neighbor Advisory Council
Friday, June 7, Noon, Margarita Inn (1566 Oak)

June Office Hours
Saturday, June 8, 10 a.m. to noon, Reprise Roasters (710 Main) 

July Ward Meeting
Tuesday, July 2, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Robert Crown Center + online

Lead Pipe Replacement

I’ve received some questions about a mailer that many of you have received regarding lead water service lines. The Illinois EPA required us to send that out to all households with lead service lines. No need to worry, you don’t have to do anything and your water is as safe to drink as it always has been.

There are more than 10,500 lead service lines in town, which the City will eventually replace at no expense to the homeowner. This process is already underway and will take a decade or so to complete. In the meantime, we’re treating our water with an inhibitor that adheres to all metal pipes (lead, galvanized, and copper), preventing the water from coming into direct contact with the metal.

For a full explanation, see this Statement on Recent Lead Service Line Mailing, watch this video in which Darrell King, Evanston’s water production bureau chief, explains everything, or visit evanstonleadreplacement.org.

Beaches are Open!

The beaches opened on May 25 and will remain open through Labor Day. Once again, admission is free to Evanston residents, but you’ll still need a beach pass. Those are available with proof of residency (60201 & 60202) at the Robert Crown Community Center, Levy Senior Center, Fleetwood-Jourdain Community Center, and Chandler-Newberger Community Center. Passes are not available at the Morton Civic Center or Evanston Ecology Center.

Check out more information, including guest tickets, passes for non-Evanston residents, and watercraft rentals.

Juneteenth with Parade and Celebration

Working in parallel with Evanston Present and Future, the City will honor Juneteenth with the 5th Annual Juneteenth Parade and Celebrations on Saturday, June 15.

Juneteenth, also referred to as Emancipation Day, Juneteenth Independence Day, or Freedom Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved African Americas and is observed every year on June 19. This federal holiday serves as a celebration, remembrance, and reflection.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. and my colleague from the second ward, Councilmember Krissie Harris, is this year’s grand marshal.

Following the parade, community members are invited to join in for an afternoon of art, music, food, and speakers at Ingraham Park, located just west of the Morton Civic Center, beginning at noon.

More information here, including on how to register.

4th of July Parade and Celebration

The Evanston Fourth of July Association hopes this year’s ‘Seeds of Change’ theme inspires residents to plant new ideas as the celebration grows into its second century. Registration is open until June 10!

See the Fourth of July Association’s website for more information.

Evanston Recycles: July 6

The City will host its annual "Evanston Recycles" event on Saturday, July 6, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.

Each year, this free “drive up, drop off” event provides residents an opportunity to recycle and donate a variety of items and securely shred documents. This year, the City will be collecting electronic waste, documents for shredding, and unused prescription medication and expired over-the-counter drugs. No other items will be accepted.

More information.

Jonathan Nieuwsma    
Councilmember, 4th Ward
jnieuwsma@cityofevanston.org
www.cityofevanston.org