Evanston’s first Green Ball a Huge Success

The Evanston Environmental Association (EEA) and City of Evanston know how to throw an awesome party. This past Friday (May 18, 2012) the Green Ball held at the Levy Center (Dodge Ave. and Mulford St.) was the place to be.

South Boulevard Band, photo by Natural Awakenings

No foreign dignitaries or protesters were present, but there was a photogenic snake and a huge turtle. Wine, beer and Green Rivers flowed, delicious foods were tasted and South Boulevard Band’s bluesy sound resonated throughout the building.

According to EEA president Fred Schneider, the intent of the inaugural Green Ball was to keep the ball rolling at the Evanston Ecology Center. “We are thrilled the event sold out and that so many people, businesses and organizations stepped up to support the Ecology Center,” he said.

Readers may recall that during City budget deliberations various recreation facilities, including the Ecology Center, were on the table for possible closure. With further staff and program cuts looming, the EEA stepped up and conceived a fun and creative way to fund the center.

In addition to the ticket price, monies were raised with an event-night raffle and live auction. A 27-member host committee helped everyone feel welcome and volunteered to sell raffle tickets throughout the evening.

The community followed with sponsorships from the Archer-Patterson Family Foundation, Chicago's Progressive Talk, First Bank & Trust, Roberts Architects and Construction, Consolidated Printing, Constellation Energy, Evanston RoundTable, Evanston Subaru, Central Street Neighbors Association, Evanston Lumber, and Renewal by Andersen.

Green River, photo by Natural Awakenings

Some of Evanston’s finest restaurants and caterers offered a tasty variety of foods and beverages: Bluestone, Bravo, Celtic Knot Public House, Creperie Saint Germain, Goose Island, Green River, Hecky's Barbecue, Koi, Lulu's Dim Sum, MJ Catering/Corner Chef, Pasta Puttana, Prairie Moon, River Valley Kitchens, Whole Foods Market and WineStyles - Winebow Distributor.

Erlene Howard and Mary Beth Schaye of Collective Resource contributed hugely to the event’s green quotient. Carts labeled “Compost,” “Recycle” and “Landfill” reminded partygoers to be cognizant of their carbon footprint.

Kudos to the Evanston Environmental Association and the City of Evanston for showing off one asset to raise funds for another…a two-for everyone can get behind!

CTA's Yellow Line Oakton-Skokie Station

“If you build it, they will come,” is a line from the 1989 movie Field of Dreams. Apparently, that is the hope of the mayor and economic development leaders at the Village of Skokie regarding the Oakton-Skokie Yellow Line Station. 

Photo by Jeff Zoline for Grid Shots

Monday, April 30, 2012 at 4:45 am the CTA’s Yellow Line Station at 4800 Oakton St. opened officially. Sited at the eastern edge of Downtown Skokie, the transit station offers easy access to shoppers, commuters and other visitors to the area. 

Adjacent to the station is the Illinois Science and Technology Park, a 650,000-square-foot science and research facility that opened in 2005. The new station has the potential to attract tenants and those new businesses will mean new jobs. With a $20 million price tag, the newest CTA station looks to be a win-win.

Although most of my visits to Skokie have concentrated on the area around the Old Orchard shopping center, I have visited Downtown Skokie on occasion. As an avid public transit rider, had to try the latest method available. Must admit that I had never ridden the Skokie Swift (as the line was known formerly), so this was my first ride ever on the Yellow Line.

Caught the CTA #201 bus headed south to the Howard St. Red Line station and took the escalators up to the Yellow Line platform. It took a few minutes for an inbound train to switch to the outbound tracks and open its doors for passengers.

After the Howard Street rail yard, the train began its descent to the subterranean tracks that run through the south side of Evanston. Too bad the CTA stopped using the name “Skokie Swift” because the train speeds very swiftly until it slows down just before Dodge Avenue for the climb to its elevated run. 

Once elevated, passengers whizzed past the North Shore Channel with fascinating views of the water reclamation plant to the south and the Skokie Sports Park to the north. Not sure exactly where the train descends to a road-level grade, but it moves quickly past parks, playgrounds and single-family houses before making a final turn that leads into the Oakton-Skokie station.

Forgot to glance at my watch to gauge how long the trip lasted, but most likely it was no more than 10 minutes. Got off the train and walked to the north exit at Searle Parkway. Crossed the street and quickly deposited a check at the First Bank & Trust branch at 8047 Skokie Blvd. Its parking lot is lined with fragrant lilac bushes, which reminded me how nice it is to use a community bank.

Combo CTA/I-Go fare card.

Stopped for lunch at Tub Tim Thai, which had been on my Thai dining radar for a few years. Enjoyed the $8 lunch special and the generous portion meant leftovers for dinner. Also stopped at the Walgreens and finished in time to catch a train within the two hour window for a $0.25 return ride. Total cost for the whole excursion = $2.25. I ♥ my Chicago Card Plus fare card.

Upon reviewing the trip, I have one complaint…that Skokie needs to deal with its pedestrian-unfriendly street crossing system. Even though there is a button to push for the “Walk” signal, only a sprinter could make it safely across before the warning light. Right turn-on-red drivers are another hazard to pedestrians. If you undertake the expense of building a transit station to draw people to the Village’s downtown, please make it safe for them to walk about and cross streets.

Second round of Earth Month events near Evanston

Although Earth Day actually fell on Sunday, April 22, several eco-friendly events will occur this weekend and next.

Indoor Farmer & Artisan Food Market

(Final market of season)

Saturday, April 28, 9am-1pm

Evanston Ecology Center

2024 McCormick Blvd.

Evanston

Sustain Evanston Meet and Greet

Saturday, April 28, 9:30-11:30am

Northwestern University John Evans Alumni Center,

1800 Sheridan Rd.

Evanston

RX Take-back Day

Saturday, April 28, 10am-2pm

Levy Senior Center

300 Dodge Ave.

Evanston

Skokie’s Spring Greening

Sunday, April 29, 10am-4 pm

Niles North High School

9800 North Lawler St.

Skokie

Chicago Green Festival

Saturday, May 5, noon-8pm

Sunday, May 6, 11am-7pm

Navy Pier

600 E Grand Ave.

Chicago

Most of these events are accessible by public transportation and bicycle riders are granted special treatment at Chicago’s Green Festival.

Practicing the 3Rs (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) for Earth Day

For me, Earth Day activities started with an I-GO car rental on Friday afternoon. Decided to test-drive a Toyota Matrix, which had been a curiosity for some time. This meant walking nearly a mile to the city parking lot on Hinman Ave. (just south of Main). Upon arrival, noticed the car’s windshield being washed by a young man. 

Carlos works for I-GO Car Sharing and grooms their cars sited at lots in southeast Evanston and nearby Rogers Park. As I entered the car, he gave a final wipe to the passenger side exterior window and moved on to clean an adjacent rental car. 

Was excited to finally drive a Matrix. No, it’s not a hybrid, but gets decent mileage (26/32 mpg) and is a hatchback with great storage space. It was a bit noisy…I’m spoiled from having leased 2003 and 2007 Honda Civic Hybrids. Still, for a rental car, the Matrix gets a “thumbs up” from me. Aside to I-GO: please remove the underwhelming Toyota Yaris at South Blvd and replace it with a Matrix.

Loaded the storage area with a carton of broken ceramic pieces and a shopping bag filled with other supplies destined for a Craft Supply Swap in Morton Grove. An e-newsletter from Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County (SWANCC) promoted the swap. Not much into crafting these days but recognize a potential craft item when I see one.

As with all creative pursuits, crafting thrives on ones the ability to see the “what could be” in an object. Was thrilled to find a productive outlet for the broken ceramic pots, dishes and tumblers that I couldn’t bear to toss in the garbage (note: ceramic and glass household items are not recyclable). 

Recently, one of my cats broke a colorful glass dish a friend had given me. Cats will be cats and, thankfully, no paws were injured. Now it could have a second life with a mosaic maker. Plastic bags of wooden Popsicle sticks and fudge bar holders, individual serving plastic pudding cups and empty containers of Crystal Light were available for new options. Some empty vessels beg for creative reuse…such as a small bottle from milk or juice products or a label-free cup from Greek-style yogurt. 

Was most excited to offer a collection of lidded lunchmeat containers. Yes, the tubs and lids are recyclable but the possibilities for storage reuse are endless. 

Jackie Walker-O’Keefe, building manager of the American Legion Memorial Civic Center and Nancy Brothers, coordinator of programming at the Morton Grove Library, were the key organizers of the Craft Supply Swap. It was held Saturday, April 21 from 9am to noon at the American Legion Memorial Civic Center on Dempster St. (listed previously on 4/13/12). 

Craft items for donation were accepted on the three preceding Fridays. When I dropped off my stuff, the room was filled with volunteers sorting and arranging table displays for the swap.

This was a well-run event that included the opportunity to acquire much needed goods for two local food pantries. Admission to the Craft Supply Swap was free, but guests were asked to donate a can or box of non-perishable food.

Craft Supply Swap, photo by Mayre Press

On Saturday, my friend JoAnn and I arrived a few minutes before the doors opened.  A long line of crafters waited to sign in and begin searching for treasures. At 9 am, people fanned out to hit the tables loaded with yarn, fabric remnants, scrapbooking supplies, beads and a plethora of other craft supplies. 

I checked out the supply tables, but hadn’t come as a crafter. I came as a reporter with notebook and camera in hand. 

Diane and Veja, a mother-daughter team had driven from Gilman, Ill. (south of Kankakee). They learned about the swap from a volunteer and felt the 100-plus mile drive was worth it.

Nancy Brothers got the idea after reading about another library’s craft supply swap through a listserv for librarians. Modesty aside, I was impressed with her execution of a great idea for anyone who practices the 3Rs—Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

Celebrate Earth Month with these events in and around Evanston

April is Earth Month and there is no shortage of events and activities planned to help folks get their “green on.” Here is a digest of upcoming events to add to your calendar:

 

Wild & Scenic Film Festival

Friday, April 13, 7pm

Evanston Ecology Center

2024 McCormick Blvd.

Evanston

Green Metropolis Fair

Saturday, April 14, 10am-6pm

Green Exchange Building

2545 W. Diversey Ave.

Chicago

LWVE Wind Farms and Community Sustainability Luncheon
Tuesday, April 17, 11:45am

Evanston Ecology Center

2024 McCormick Blvd.

Evanston

Women in Green Chicago

Wednesday, April 18, 5:30-8:30pm

Green Exchange Building

2545 W. Diversey Ave.

Chicago

EPL Spring Book Sale

Friday-Sunday, April 20-22

Evanston Public Library

1703 Orrington Ave.

Evanston

Multigenerational Earth Day Celebration

Friday, April 20, 6-9pm

Unitarian Church of Evanston

1330 Ridge Ave.

Evanston

Craft Supply Swap

Saturday, April 21, 9am-12pm

American Legion Memorial Center

6140 Dempster St.

Morton Grove

Spring Community Day on Central Street

Saturday, April 21, 10am-5pm

Download PDF with participating businesses

1700-2900 blocks of Central Street

Evanston

Most of these event locations are public transit accessible and bicycle riders are always welcome. More green-themed events are planned for the remainder of April and into early May. I’ll post about those next week. Please consider subscribing to my blog (scroll down for a link) to have the latest green news within a few mouse clicks.