Good afternoon,

Read below for information about tonight's 'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party, ways to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, fun outdoor events this weekend, Metra bridge repainting, and more.

Plus, have a scary good time at the Zombie Scramble this October!

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Today: 'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party!

Celebrate the back-to-school season at the 'Kits, 'Cats and Kids Block Party today, 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Church Street and Hartrey Avenue!

Pep rally and more: Enjoy games, music, inflatables, the ETHS and NU marching bands, and plenty of great food truck options!

Cheer on the Wildkits: After the block party, cheer on the ETHS Wildkits during tonight's varsity football game versus Barrington.

Cheer on the Wildcats: NU Football will take on Southern Illinois this Sat., Sept. 17, 11 a.m., at Ryan Field.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month!

Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 through October 15! Celebrate at a variety of upcoming events in Evanston.

Latinx Heritage Month Celebration: Enjoy free food, a traditional clothing competition, raffle prizes, a Starlight showing of Encanto, and much more at Elks Park on Sat., Sept. 24, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

"Bike the Ridge" on September 25

Pedal up and down Ridge Avenue on Sun., Sept. 25, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as part of the annual "Bike the Ridge" event! Ridge will be closed to vehicles and open to bikes from Howard to Church streets. Stop by Ridgeville Park for live music, bike repairs and more!

Summer fun continues this weekend!

Meteorologists and astronomers may not agree on when summer officially ends, but everyone can agree that great weather is on tap for free, outdoor events this weekend!

Jamming Jean Concert: Kick off your weekend at James Park on Fri., Sept. 16, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., with a free outdoor concert featuring Chicken Bone! Enjoy high-energy funk, R&B, soul and rock favorites.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Join Evanston Parks & Recreation for a Starlight Movie, "Respect," at Kamen Park East, South Boulevard and Barton Avenue, this Sat., Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Bring your own blankets, chairs and snacks!

Metra to repaint Davis, Dempster Street bridges

Metra will implement lane closures on Davis Street beginning Mon., Sept. 19 as it conducts bridge repainting. Traffic will remain open throughout the project, which is expected to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. Work will then follow on the Dempster Street Metra bridge.

Pace bus impacts: The bus stop for Route 213 on the northeast corner of Davis Street at Benson Avenue and the bus stop for Routes 208, 213, 250 and 422 on the northeast corner of Davis Street at Maple Avenue will be temporarily closed for three to four weeks. Bus routes will not change.

COVID-19 Update

Cases: Evanston reported 53 new confirmed COVID-19 cases over the last seven days, compared to 51 for the week prior. The current seven-day moving average of daily confirmed cases is 7.57.

COVID-19 Community Risk Level: LOW

Risk level chart, Sept.. 15, 2022
Hospitalizations: View local COVID-19 hospitalizations.

To date, Evanston has had 16,222 total confirmed cases, and 156 residents have died of illness or complications related to COVID-19. View the City’s interactive COVID-19 dashboard (view on mobile).

Stay up to date on your COVID-19 vaccines
Increase your protection against COVID-19 ahead of the fall and winter months. Contact your local pharmacy or primary care physician to get your updated Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster, or visit www.vaccines.gov to schedule an appointment convenient for you.

Due to the wide availability of vaccines at pharmacies and other locations, the City will be focused on providing booster vaccines to Evanston residents who are homebound due to medical conditions or a disability. If you are an Evanston resident and fit this criteria or know someone who does, please complete the City’s In-Home Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine Booster survey.

Monkeypox Update

Evanston is currently reporting 10 Monkeypox cases and one hospitalization. To learn more, visit the City's website.

More News and Events

Fall bulk trash pickups begin Friday
The City offers the free removal of up to six cubic yards of bulk garbage twice a year as part of the Bulk Trash Pickup program. Fall bulk trash pickups will take place on Fridays, Sept. 16 through Oct. 7, and are scheduled according to your normal refuse pickup day.

Reminder: Wheel tax payments due soon
The deadline to pay the 2023 Wheel Tax is Fri., Sept. 30. Save time by paying online! Visit our convenient online portal.

Share feedback on lakefront repairs and improvements
The City has begun long-term planning for shoreline repairs and potential lakefront improvements. We want to hear from you! Take the survey.

Harris appointed 2nd Ward councilmember
On Monday, the City Council approved Mayor Biss's appointment of Krissie Harris as 2nd Ward councilmember. Learn more about Councilmember Harris.

EFD to conduct dive rescue drill along lakefront tonight

This is just a drill. The Evanston Fire Department will be conducting night dive rescue training in the area of the Church Street boat ramp tonight. Expect a high level of activity.

Book sale at the Book House on Saturday

The Artists Book House at the Harley Clarke Mansion will hold a book sale this Sat., Sept. 17, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.! Teachers with ID can browse the sale early, beginning at 9 a.m.

Get Engaged

1st Ward Meeting, Sept. 15

Joint 3rd and 9th Ward Meeting, Sept. 21

9th Ward Meeting, Sept. 21

Community Calendar

Evanston Wine Walk, Sept. 15

Paws & Claws Rally for Rescues, Sept. 17

Outdoor yoga at Dawes House, Sept. 17

Taste of Evanston, Sept. 18

North Shore Century Bike Ride, Sept. 18

Vintage Garage Flea Market, Sept. 18

Scouts Troop 929 Car Wash, Sept. 18

FAN Zoom Event - Behind Their Screens: What Teens are Facing (and What Adults are Missing), Sept. 20

FAN In-Person Event - The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness, and Healing in a Toxic Culture, Sept. 22

It's a scary good time!

The Zombie Scramble returns in 2022! Join Evanston Parks & Recreation for this fall favorite event, which features a 2-mile course through the Ladd Arboretum, Butler Park, and Twiggs Park. Just don't get caught by one of the roaming "zombies!" Register by September 26 to receive the early bird discount and secure your coveted Zombie Scramble t-shirt!

That’s it for today's e-news. Thanks for reading!

Sincerely,

The City of Evanston Communications Team