Evanston Now

Maura Sullivan, an Evanston native who graduated from both Evanston Township High School and Northwestern University, narrowly lost a Democratic primary Tuesday night in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, falling short in her second run for the seat. Sullivan, a Marine Corps captain who served in the Iraq War, is also a former government staffer in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense during the Obama administration.

Northwestern University’s new Ryan Field, set to host its first football game in less than a month after years of construction on Central Street, unveiled part of its concession program for the upcoming season Wednesday. The stadium will offer a set of food and beverage options dubbed “Willie’s Fan Favorites,” including hot dogs, burgers, nachos, popcorn and soft drinks priced at $5 per item.

One raised flower and vegetable bed was being painted blue. Another was getting a coat of white. And the two others were getting different colors as well. Each color represents the hue of a building which used to be here. The four box gardens are an effort to add something both pretty and significant to what was once a viable residential corner. The site declined into several abandoned homes before the city bought the property and tore down the seven structures in 2023.

Evanston’s Preservation Commission Tuesday night approved proposed renovation plans for the historic Harley Clarke mansion. Celadon Construction Corporation plans to convert the lakefront building at 2603 Sheridan Road into a event venue, along with a restaurant, bourdon shop, ice cream parlor, and a speakeasy bar in the basement. The project, estimated to cost around $30 million, will include restoration of the building’s clay tile roof, windows and limestone masonry.

Evanston Community Foundation’s president and chief executive officer, Sol Anderson, left his role at the Evanston nonprofit organization on Friday, Evanston Now has learned. Anderson, a former executive director for two Chicago nonprofit organizations, had been president of the foundation since June 2021.

An attorney for the Illinois Department of Public Health said Tuesday that “additional enforcement” against Albany Care, the mental health rehabilitation facility on Maple Avenue, is possible, as both the state and the facility look to schedule hearing dates in the state’s case to shut the facility down.

The Evanston Fire and Police Departments will hold a memorial ceremony to honor the brave men and women who lost their lives 25 years ago on Sept. 11, 2001. The ceremony is scheduled for 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11, at Firefighters Park, at the corner of Simpson Street and Maple Avenue in Evanston. This year’s program will feature presentations by State Rep. Robyn Gabel, former Mayor Steve Hagerty, fire and police chiefs, chaplains, 9/11 survivor Mark Shore, and other guests.

The steeple on Lake Street Church, once the tallest structure in Evanston, has an almost complete set of shiny new copper shingles — for the first time in 70 years. Steeplejacks are working high above Chicago Avenue now, finishing up a project that began early this summer. The project also involved removing and reconditioning the cross atop the steeple. It all started with removing the weathered old copper shingles. Steeplejacks working to remove the old copper shingles in June.

14-year old Hana Halilovic had a legitimate excuse for missing her second week at Evanston Township High School. Hana was in San Jose, Costa Rica, competing in the World Karate Federation’s Pan American Championships, with 1,000 other athletes from two dozen countries late last month. Hana Halilovic, Cecilia Pace, Zaynab Saudye on the podium at the Pan American Tournament.

A group representing Downtown Evanston residents plans on opposing a proposed 26-story tower at 900 Clark St. The mixed-use high-rise, proposed by Continuum Development, is planned on the north end of Church Street Plaza and would include nearly 2,500 square feet of ground floor retail space and 360 apartment units. A rendering showing the proposed 900 Clark tower to the left of the existing 28-story Optima Views high rise at 1720 Maple Ave.