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Good morning, Evanston.
The Evanston Fire Department temporarily suspended the search Monday afternoon for a Lighthouse Beach swimmer who went missing Sunday. The fire department said it would resume the search today for the missing 41-year-old man. The beach remained closed as of late Monday afternoon. (Sunday photo by Jorg Metzner)
City staff are backing a nearly $700,000 plan to improve access to Evanston’s Dog Beach for pet owners with disabilities. The proposal, which includes building a large, wheelchair-accessible wooden and concrete walkway through a small nature preserve, is set to be considered by the Nature Conservation Committee tonight and presented to City Council on July 8. Dog beach user groups argue that a “quicker, less intrusive and more affordable plan is worthy of further discussion.”
After 23 years of baking, the Shapps family (above, from left: Dave, Hannah and Lizbeth Shapp) have sold Great Harvest Bread Company on Central Street. New owner Kate Weber took over on June 11. Despite operating as a franchise, the Shapps have made the bakery an Evanston staple by curating a menu of local favorites, sponsoring youth teams, donating raffle prizes and employing generations of Evanston teenagers. People stop by for free samples (with delicious butter) and a chat with Dave.
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For 45 years, Evanston Safety Town’s miniature village has been teaching preschool and elementary school-aged campers how to cross roads safely. The day camp also covers topics like water safety and fire prevention. Safety Town has created memories for three generations of Evanstonians, writes Roundtable intern Keira Beaudoin.
But did you know? Independence Day is on Thursday. RoundTable Food Editor Julie Chernoff has some simple, star-spangled red, white, and blue recipes to help you celebrate the holiday with pride.
Evanston’s small donor matching fund program is the first of its kind in Illinois, and it will match small donations received by mayoral candidates nine times. For example, a $100 donation will be matched by $900. Virginia Hunt, a journalism student at Northwestern University, will be testing the pilot ahead of the April 2025 election.
When Rick Mihebuk and his wife moved next door to Trahan Park in 1999, the park’s gardens were “neglected and overgrown with weeds,” said neighbor Neil Parker. But since then, Mihebuk has revamped the park at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Monroe Street, and it was featured in last month’s Evanston Garden Walk.
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Evanston Recycling recycles electronics, documents and pharmaceuticals. The city will host its annual Evanston Recycling event this Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Evanston Township High School (1600 Dodge Ave.).
Celebrate Independence Day with a parade, games, concerts and fireworks. The Evanston Independence Day Association is teaming up with the city to host a fun run and activities on Thursday, a parade down Central Street, and a concert and fireworks show on the lakefront.
Photos from readers
Above is a photo of Evanston’s lush gardens taken by Joan Olsen. Submit your own photo for a chance to be featured in this newsletter.
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On the web
“A new day in Chicago”: Tipped restaurant workers get a pay raise. Tipped restaurant workers’ hourly wages increased from $9.48 to $11.02 on Monday as part of a five-year plan passed by the Chicago City Council. [WGN-TV]
Police said 53 people, including nine minors, were arrested in Lakeview hours after the Pride celebrations. Mass arrests were reported late Sunday on the North Side as people jumped into cars and threw bottles at police. [ABC7chicago]
Jack in the Box is returning to the Chicago area next year with eight company-owned restaurants, mostly in the suburbs, plus several franchise locations. [Chicago Tribune]
In Illinois, a pro-Biden group has challenged the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The group is disputing 66,487 of 85,509 signatures, arguing that some of the signatories are ineligible and that required fields are inaccurate or incomplete. [Chicago Sun-Times]
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