Evanston Hip-Hop Producer Gets Big Break

David "D.A." Doman is on the verge of the biggest musical breakthrough of his young career. The Evanston-based hip-hop producer has signed on to co-produce a new album by New York underground star Ali Vegas. Mr. Doman is part of the recording team that will be gathering in Chicago over the next few weeks under NBA basketball star Lamar Odom's label, which is currently closing negotiations with Atlantic Records over a distribution deal.

Mr. Doman is working alongside two big names in the rap industry, Mechalie Jamison and sound mixer Craig Bauer. Mr. Jamison, the executive producer of the album, has written songs for R&B stars Mary J. Blige and Faith Evans and is currently involved in a production deal with rap mogul P. Diddy. Mr. Bauer mixed both of Grammy-winner Kanye West's albums, and Mr. Doman says "he is one of the best in the business."

Together, D.A. -- as he is known in the hip-hop world -- and Mr. Jamison hope to bring Ali Vegas unprecedented commercial success. "Ali has been around the N.Y. underground scene for years, but I feel like Mechalie and I can bring this guy to the next level," D.A says. He cites very few influences on his music, and maintains that keeping his music original is always a primary goal. His new sound has been dubbed "space-age clap music," and D.A. says that these sounds are brand new: "It's all original, no samples, hard drums, and creative, futuristic synthesizer sounds."

As for the beat-making process itself, it starts with simple electronic sounds that D.A. builds on, using his own mixing board, MPC (Midi Production Center) -- "the brain" -- and an electronic keyboard. The three machines communicate through Midi, a sound language. D.A. uses these machines to create about a half-dozen beats from scratch daily, with varying quality and rhythms.

Ali Vegas' album will feature at least two of D.A.'s beats, which he says sound nothing alike. "The beat that may end up as the lead single features a live guitar that's been chopped up," he says. At this point, D.A.'s creative job is finished, and the beats will stay as they are. The next step, he says, is for Ali Vegas "to write to the beat, and to match the beat's energy with his own." D.A. will be in the studio offering creative input and support to Ali; he says that a positive attitude is essential for studio success. Once Ali Vegas has laid down his vocals, Mr. Bauer takes all of the various sounds apart with his $1 million sound mixer and rebuilds them so that "the beat sounds cleaner, more well-defined," he says. For one song alone, this process -- from beat to recorded song -- takes 10 to 16 studio hours. Once the songs have been completed, Mr. Jamison and Mr. Odom have final say over the finished product before bringing it to market.

D.A. was eager for a new project after one of his biggest clients, infamous Chicago rapper Bump J, was released by Atlantic earlier this year. Over D.A.'s beat, Bump J's "Send Him Off" poked verbal jabs at multi-platinum rapper Twista. The song saw a fair amount of underground radio play but did not bring D.A. the commercial success he expected. He expects this new project to be better. "Mechalie, you know, he has that pedigree, a talented guy who can bring things to market," he says of Mr. Jamison.

D.A. also says he has been in conversation with John Monopoly, the manager for breakout hip-hop star Kanye West. "Kanye has proven that socially conscious music can still make a lot of money in this industry," D.A. says, noting that he currently sells beats for anywhere from $500 to $5,000. D.A. is becoming well-known around Chicago's rap scene, but insists that success only comes from hard work in the studio. He believes that "money is important, but the music comes first."

Like mother, like son: Winners are made in Evanston.

Evanstonian Jeremy Piven won the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as agent to the stars Ari Gold in "Entourage." Mr. Piven is pictured with his mother, Joyce Piven, at a benefit for the Piven Theatre Workshop, 927 Noyes St., held in Chicago earlier this year. Ms. Piven and her late husband, Byrne, launched many a star from the workshop.

Veggie Mama - Peaches

By Anna Mussa-Ivaldi

The big event at the end of my Sicilian summer in the village of San Piero was the inauguration of a coffee shop that had been renovated 60 years after it first opened. The owner was anxious and worried: Would people like the new place? Would new customers come? Would the old ones be comfortable with the changes? In other word, would his investment pay off?

"You wouldn't believe it," a radiant Mr. Pagliazzo told me ten days after the opening. "I haven't been able to go to bed before 3:00 in the morning!"

He wanted to show off some new attraction on the menu and encouraged me to try the peaches granita. I must confess I was skeptical and a little outraged. Everybody knows that there are only three kinds of granitas: lemon, strawberry and coffee topped with whipped cream. A good summer day in Sicily starts with the ritual breakfast of an icy granita with an oven-hot brioche.

It is good. Trust me.

"It is made with fresh ingredients, like any of my granitas," said Mr. Pagliazzo. "None of those toxic powders has ever entered my coffee shop and never will. Besides, " he added, lowering his voice, "it is more expensive to make a granita with powders than with fresh peaches."

Persuaded by his arguments and longing to show how open-minded I was, I tried the peaches granita, It was a fine marriage of ingredients. The flavor was a perfect balance -- the sweetness of the peaches and the smooth, powdery granularity of the ice. In support of Mr. Pagliazzo's claims, little pieces of peach crunched between my teeth. I didn't even pay much attention to the brioche, smitten as I was with this unexpected end-of-the-summer treat.

How could I return the favor of such a fine "breakfasting" experience? I thought and thought and then decided to tell him about the history of peaches. Mr. Pagliazzo, it turned out, did not know that peaches were originally not from Italy, but from China. Chinese writings from the tenth century B.C. attest to their presence at that time, and speak of them as a favorite fruit of emperors.

I was pleased to surprise Mr. Pagliazzo by revealing to him the global peregrinations of the peach: Persians brought them from China to Rome, while Spanish explorers carried them to America in the 16th century. Only in the 17th century peaches come back to Europe. For a long time they were affordable only by the likes of Queen Victoria.

I think I also managed to impresse Mr. Pagliazzo when I told him that Native Americans are credited with spreading the peach tree across the United States. It seems that as Native Americans moved across the country, they planted seeds everywhere they went.

According to Peggy Trowbridge, however, farmers in the United States did not start growing peaches commercially until the 19th century. Initially peaches were produced in only four states, Maryland, Delaware, Georgia and Virginia. Later they were also grown in California, Michigan and Colorado.

Mr. Pagliazzo seemed to appreciate knowing that the United States, China, Italy and Greece are the world's biggest peach producers.

I finally delighted myself by telling Mr. Pagliazzo some fine stories reported by Peggy Trowbridge on the About.com website. I explained to him that Chinese legend attributes to peaches the power to bestow immortality. The only peach tree with this power, however, grew in the garden of the gods and bloomed once every 3,000 years: The lucky ones who ate the fruits were granted the gifts of immortality, health and virility. (I guess women received only immortality and health, but legend does not address this.)

Finally, I mentioned "Momotaro," the Japanese legend of the boy who is born from a very large peach. He loved his foster parents and his foster parents loved him. When he grew up, the boy challenged the evil oni of the island of demons and won. He took their treasure, which he gave to his poor foster parents.

"Can I go, now?" said Mr. Pagliazzo. "Although I really love listening to you, I have to make more peach granita for the other customers". I agreed, of course. I wondered how much he really appreciated the fascinating history of peaches.

(recipe)
PESCHE IN PRIMITIVO
INGREDIENTS:
2 cups sugar
1 clove
2 cups Primitivo or other dry red wine
4 peaches

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, red wine and clove.
2. Simmer until reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Let cool, and remove the clove. (The syrup can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 1 week.)
3. Peel and slice the peaches, and divide among four bowls.
4.Pour 1/4 cup syrup over each peach and serve.
Recipe © 2005 by Mario Batali. http://www.leitesculinaria.com.

Preserving Summer - In a Jam

By Claire Bryant

The beaches have closed, schools are back in session and the weather is getting cooler, all signs that the end of summer is near. But summer can be saved, or at least preserved. Before the fruits of summer start to dwindle, stock up and save the sweet tastes of seasonal fruits by turning favorites into jars of jam.

When choosing which fruit to "save," ask this question: "What fruit available now will become harder to find in good quality as the weather turns colder?" Also consider which fruits make the best jam, such as strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, boysenberries and gooseberries. Not only do these work well alone, but they can also be combined to make mixed-berry jams.

Before beginning, make sure all the ingredients are available. Six cups of jam require 8 cups of raw fruit, low-sugar or no-sugar pectin (a natural product made from apples), a funnel for jarring, 4 1/2 cups of sugar or sugar substitute, 2 large pots (at least 16 quarts) and 6 8-ounce canning jars with lids and rings.

It is important to make jam in small batches. The pectin box warns that doubling the recipe will keep the jam from setting properly. With smaller batches the pectin will cook faster, and the heat will be distributed more evenly so that the pectin does not overcook.

Prior to "jamming" everything must be cleaned. Sterilize the jars by placing them in boiling water for 10 minutes. Then turn off the stove, but keep the jars in hot water until they are used. Next, stem and wash the fruit and drain it thoroughly. Then crush the fruit, mashing it to the desired consistency. Leaving some large chunks or crushing it completely will make for good jam; but at least some fruit must be crushed in order to release its natural pectin and thicken the jam.

Each fruit requires a different amount of sugar or sugar substitute, but most berries, when using a low-sugar pectin, require 4 cups (a regular pectin will require 7). Mix the pectin with 1/4 cup of sugar and keep it separate from the rest of the sugar so the pectin will mix without clumping.

Next, stir the pectin and the fruit in a large pot over medium to high heat, stirring often to prevent burning. Bring the mixture to a boil. While it is heating, boil a small pot of water to sterilize the jar lids. This will also soften the gummed surface of the lids to ensure airtight jarring. Once the fruit is boiling, add the remaining sugar and bring it back to a hard boil for one minute, again stirring often. Remove from heat if the jam has thickened; if not, add a couple more tablespoons of pectin and bring to a boil for another minute.

Now let the jar stand for five minutes to cool and set. Once it has cooled, fill each jar, using a jarring funnel; wipe any spilled jam from around the jar's mouth, place the lid, and tighten the ring. Then, put the jars in a large pot of boiling water for five to 10 minutes. After removing them from the water, set them somewhere where they will not be touched to cool overnight.

Keep the jars sealed tightly until ready to use. An opened jar of homemade jam lasts about one month refrigerated. An unopened jar will last for six to eight months, a perfect amount of time to the get the family through the bareness of winter, until summer fruits are plentiful once again.

Evanston Gallery Hosts Crawl

"Crawl," a show of recent works by Boston sculptor Gints Grinbergs, will be held Sept. 8-26 at Ware in the World, 609 Dempster St. The show is free and open to the public during gallery hours. An opening reception will take place on Sept. 8 from 6 to 9 p.m., providing an opportunity to meet the artist. Additionally, a scavenger hunt of Mr. Grinberg's works will take place on Sept. 9 from 12 to 4 p.m., with sculptures temporarily exhibited in shops and businesses in the Chicago Avenue-Dempster Street neighborhood. The gallery is open Tuesday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and by appointment Sundays and Mondays. Call 847-424-9609.

"Beerfest"

I was dumbfounded the other day at the movie theater. After purchasing tickets to "Little Miss Sunshine," the dysfunctional- family comedy starring Steve Carell, I found myself in a packed theater with only neck-straining front-row seats available.

I ditched the critically lauded film and made my way to the empty theater down the hall, the one showing "Beerfest."

I was shocked, not by the fact that I was able to find good seats just five minutes before the start of a film, but rather by the sheer idiocy of what I witnessed.

A Film Review By Brian Murphy

The Broken Lizard comedy troupe - Paul Soter, Erik Stolhanske, Kevin Heffernan and Jay Chandrasekhar - has made a decent career by creating low-budget, lowbrow comedies.

The former Colgate University buddies have never met a fart joke they did not like, cranking out the painfully unfunny "Puddle Cruiser," and the laugh-out-loud flicks "Super Troopers" and "Club Dread."

With a keen eye for inane behavior, Broken Lizard has lampooned college students, police officers and spring breakers. This time around, beer drinkers get their just desserts (Jell-O shots, probably), in "Beerfest," an asinine but funny, brain-cell-destroying 110 minutes, probably best enjoyed rented for watching, while intoxicated, in a college dorm room.

Stereotypes run rampant in this tale of two German-American brothers, Todd (Mr. Stolhanske) and Jan (Mr. Soter) Wolfhouse, seeking to get soused in Germany during Oktoberfest.

Stumbling upon a secret and sacred international beer-drinking/drinking-games competition, the two are humiliated by the German champions (including Saturday Night Live's Will Forte, effusing a German accent so bad it could make Kevin Costner's English acccent in "Robin Hood" seem good).

The winners, their own German relatives, insult Jand and Todd's family (how did Donald Sutherland and Cloris Leachman wind up here?) so egregiously the brothers vow revenge, seeking out the best American drinkers/drinking gamers they can find without leaving their home town.

The bulk of "Beerfest" is comprised of the recruiting and year-long training of the team, and all the best comic bits occur in this part of the film; the competitions themselves are mostly devoid of laughs.

The film, typical of all Broken Lizard films, unfolds like an improvisation show - all funny ideas that arise are explored. Some are indulged in too much for too scant a laugh, while others mesh with perfect timing and delivery - culminating in engaging entertainment. Mr. Chandrasekhar's hack directing often hamstrings the pace of the film, prompting one to question how on earth he was hired to direct "The Dukes of Hazzard."

But for every poorly developed or unfunny joke or concept, the boys nail one, redeeming themselves instantly.

Broken Lizard purposely confounds its audience by killing one of the main characters. Before we can even shrug, that character's never-before-mentioned twin brother materializes at the funeral, asking to join the team, and to honor his brother by having the guys refer to him by his sibling's nickname.

"Wow," Barry surmises. "It's as if he was never gone."

A moment of pure genius, this wink to the audience echoes the irreverent, comedic masters Jim Abrahams and David Zucker's film, "Top Secret," in which Val Kilmer and Lucy Gutteridge recap the incredible plot in which they are involved, prompting Ms. Gutteridge to muse, "I know it all sounds like some bad movie." Both turn slowly toward the camera.

Like Mr. Abrahams and Mr. Zucker, Broken Lizard knows what they are doing is dumb; they just want to make the audience laugh.

Critical Rating: 2 and ½ beer cans

Rated R for pervasive crude and sexual content, language, nudity and substance abuse

Savoyaires Perform at the Library

Evanston's own Savoyaires return for a delightful program of selections from Gilbert and Sullivan operettas. Cast members will preview their upcoming show, "Iolanthe," along with selections from other Gilbert and Sullivan favorites. Sunday, Sept. 17, at 2 p.m. Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave. Free. 847-448-8600.

How to Succeed in College

Professional trainer, author, and motivational speaker Morris Taylor will discuss his new book, "How to Create a Magical College Life," a must-read for those who want to understand what it really takes to succeed in the college environment, at 7 p.m. on Sept. 11 at the Main Library, 1703 Orrington Ave.

Mr. Morris has presented more than 1300 lectures, seminars, and workshops in a variety of educational and corporate environments. Call 847-448-8600; free.

Evanston Gets a Big Turnout for the CommUNITY Picnic

The City of Evanston's Human Relations Commission and the Evanston Police Department hosted a large portion of the community last Sunday at the CommUNITY picnic. The day included free food, games and goodies. The most popular activity was the police officer dunk tank. Among the volunteers who helped to make the day a success were the members of the Evanston Fire Department, the Kiwanis Club of Evanston and the Evanston Police Department, who also distributed D.A.R.E. t-shirts to the children.

Religious Science of the North Shore Moves to Evanston Masonic Temple

On Sept. 1, Religious Science of the North Shore relocated to the Evanston Masonic Temple, at Maple Avenue and Lake Street.

"This is truly a new beginning. The Masonic Temple is more than a meeting place. We see it as a vibrant center that allows us to greatly expand our activities, all under one roof, with plenty of room to grow," said Rev. Bill Arrott, pastor of Religious Science of the North Shore.

The temple was designed by John A. Holabird, founder of the world-renowned architectural firm Holabird & Root. Patterned after the legendary King Solomon's Temple, the Masonic Temple's entrance is dominated by two pillars, which King Solomon named Jachin and Boaz, representing "intelligence operating through law."

Founded in 1996, Religious Science of the North Shore held services in the Orrington Hotel for five years. Services were then moved temporarily to the New Thought Community Center at 833 Foster St., pending relocation to more permanent quarters.

A formal dedication is planned for early fall; call 847-492-0500.

Awassa Children's Project Hosts Fashion Show Benefit "CAIR" at Evanston's George Salon

The Awassa Children's Project is hosting an end-of-summer benefit at George Salon, 808 Davis Street, from 7 to 11 p.m. on Sept. 10. The event features performances by Jesabelly, a tribal belly-dancing troupe, and jazz musicians The Julian Allen Trio. During the event, George Salon stylists will work with models to preview some of fall's newest looks in fashion, hair and makeup. Refreshments from participating Evanston restaurants will be served.

A raffle and silent auction will also take place. No reservations are required and families are encouraged to attend. Tickets are $40 (tax deductible), and all proceeds will go directly to Awassa Children's Project's children's home in Africa, which cares for over 50 orphans but still has over 100 children on its waiting list. These children perform socially conscious theater projects designed to educate the Ethiopian people on HIV/AIDs awareness and prevention. For tickets call 847-328-3800.

INVEST in Evanston

Mayor Lorraine Morton has designated the month of September as "INVEST in Education - Volunteer to Tutor Month" as a way of acknowledging and honoring INVEST, a 28-year-old volunteer organization which serves Evanston School Districts 65 and 202.

On Sept. 15 and 16 INVEST will hold its annual volunteer recruitment fair at various locations throughout Evanston, seeking to recruit tutors for its own programs, as well as for other local tutoring programs, including the McGaw YMCA, Family Focus, Youth Organizations Umbrella (Y.O.U.) and the Second Baptist Church Tutoring.

Perhaps INVEST's most visible service is its recruitment and assignment of tutors and classroom helpers. At the elementary and middle school levels, teachers are encouraged to make requests for classroom helpers.

Working under the teacher's direction, these volunteers do everything from individual tutoring to supervising learning stations or working with small groups. At Evanston Township High School, students needing assistance are matched up by the on-site coordinator with either peer tutors or community members who volunteer their time during one period of the school day to work one-on-one with a student.

Students make up a large portion of the tutors at the high school level. Last year, about 75 student tutors worked with their peers in a variety of subjects including English, history, math, science and foreign languages.

Other programs offered by INVEST include the Museum Alliance, which allows teachers to take advantage of a cooperative effort between area museums and public schools. Facilitated by INVEST, the Alliance encourages using museum trips -- complete with free bus service and mini-grants for special activities -- to enhance topics being studied, particularly in the areas of art, history and science. More than 3,000 students benefit from this program each year.

In addition, the Business Partners for Education program seeks to foster working partnerships between area businesses and schools. Based on their reciprocal needs, both sides benefit through mutual cooperation and support.

The INVEST volunteer recruitment fair will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16 at the following times and locations: Borders Books and Music, 1700 Maple Ave., Friday 4-7 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. -3 p.m.; North Branch of the Evanston Public Library, 2026 Central St., Friday and Saturday 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Friday and Saturday 9-11 a.m.; and Evanston Farmers Market, Saturday from 8 a.m.-noon.

For more information on INVEST or to volunteer as a tutor, call Laura Antolin, 847-492-5990, or Ellen Morgan, 847-424-7686.

Trees Around Evanston

Introducing the Amur Corktree

Amur Corktree Bark

There seems to be more disagreement among experts about the Amur corktree (Phellodendron amurense) than about any other tree so far in this series.

The Amur corktree is native to northern China, Korea, Japan and Manchuria and was brought to this country for ornamental landscaping either in 1856 or 1874, depending upon the source of information. It is a member of the Rue (Rutaceae) family, of which Citrus is the most economically important genus. The Rutea graveolens, a shrublike herb to which the family owes its name, is a Mediterranean plant and was so appreciated for its medicinal properties that 13th-century students in the Salerno, Italy, medical school used this mnemonic:

Rue keepeth chaste both man and maid,

Lifteth mind and eye from shade.

Boiled, and scattered in the house,

It bringeth death to flea and louse.

In China, the Amur corktree is considered one of the 50 fundamental herbs. It has been used to treat 46 ailments, from dysentery to typhoid, and has been called the "poor man's cure-all."

Amur corktree leaf and berries

Plants produce chemicals as insect repellants. Volatile chemicals may keep insects at a distance. Chemicals in the sap, leaves, stems, or hairs may be toxic to an insect if it lands or begins to feed. If an insect survives to eat, chemicals can actually inhibit its growth, lead it to lay fewer eggs or to die during development. Given the pharmacopoeia of chemicals in the Amur corktree, it is not surprising that it is pest-resistant.

The Amur corktree has a short trunk and may grow to 45 feet tall. Its canopy can spread to 60 feet. Because it consists of just a few strong, mostly horizontal, branches, its shade is light and grass grows well underneath. There is no agreement concerning its growth rate: Descriptions range from "slow-growing" to "fast and vigorous." The rate probably depends upon soil type and the zone in which it is planted.

Its outstanding characteristic, from which it gets its genus name, is the ornamental ridged and furrowed gray-brown bark on its trunk and branches. Although deceptively cork-like in appearance (phellos), it is not useful for wine bottles or other cork products. On most trees, the edges of the bark plates actually feel spongy. The species name amurense comes from the Amur River, the boundary between Manchuria and the former Soviet Union.

The leaves are dark green and glossy, turning yellow or bronze in fall and then dropping quickly. They are opposite and pinnately compound. From five to 13 leaflets about 2-4 inches long make up the long leaf. The leaflets are narrow, oval and "entire": There are no indentations along the edges. The leaflet margins are slightly toothed and often appear wavy.

Amur corktree is dioecious, meaning there are male and female trees. Female trees produce fairly inconspicuous white-yellow-greenish flowers in late spring (authorities do not agree on the color, and I have not seen it). Loose clusters of green berries develop during summer, change to black over time and persist on the tree throughout winter. The fruits are attractive to birds but unappealing and squishy on sidewalks.

Amur corktree escapes from cultivation into the wild, probably through fruit distribution by birds. Because of its tendency to naturalize easily, it is on the Chicago Botanic Garden "Invasive Species List" in the category "Remove as soon as possible and do not add to collection in future." (An invasive plant is not native to the local ecosystem; has no natural enemies in that ecosystem; produces many seeds that may be widely dispersed by birds or wind and germinate quickly; grows rapidly and matures early; and is harmful to the ecosystem economically, physically or environmentally.)

Experts agree that only male Amur corktree cultivars should be planted. Fortunately, three male cultivars are currently available, one memorably named "Macho." Among the 174 Amur corktrees in our parkway inventory, there are a number of females. Even so, I have not heard of this species reproducing wildly through town.

While experts praise the Amur corktree for the beauty of its mature specimens in arboreta, there is no consensus on the suitability of the Amur corktree for life as a parkway tree. Even though it is easy to plant and is probably drought-tolerant, claims of its environmental toughness, such as tolerance of urban conditions and pollution, are yet to be proven. In addition, its shallow, spreading root system may need more room than is typically available on parkways. It may not flourish in constricted growing space, or it may lift sidewalks, making choice of location a primary consideration.

In my observations around Evanston, I have not noted troublesome shallow roots. But I have noted that it is not uncommon for Amur corktrees to have dead branches in need of trimming.

A good place to see a row of young Amur corktrees is on Case Street, east of Ridge Avenue along the Skokie Swift tracks, where there are no sidewalks (Case is one-way going east from Ridge.). All but one of the dozen trees is male. A more mature group dominates both the east and west sides of Sherman Avenue between Lincoln and Central streets. The majority of these corktrees are females currently loaded with berries.

The exquisite bark with its deep, irregular furrows and salmon-colored lining is easy to identify. If you question whether you have the right tree, press its bark; if it gives slightly, it is an Amur corktree.

Register Now for the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans

Registration is currently open to the National Symposium for the Needs of Young Veterans to be held Oct. 18-21 in Chicago.

The unprecedented event will bring together a diverse and representative group of 1,500 active-duty reservists and veterans to find solutions to the challenges service members coming home from Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere are facing as they transition to post-military life.

The symposium will focus on ways to ensure that new veterans, as well as current ones, have access to promised benefits for health care, education, civilian employment and job training. Benefits for National Guard and reservists, because of their expanded military role, will also be discussed. Other topics include the anticipated influx of homeless veterans, as well as issues unique to women veterans.

"The benefit system created more than 50 years ago, as good as it was then, needs to be modernized. Our military has changed. The needs of our veterans have changed. The Symposium is going to challenge veterans to suggest concrete ideas on how to make the system more effective and efficient," said co-chairman for the event, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Anthony J. Principi. "I highly encourage attendance, and it would be noble if all veteran service posts would help send a young veteran to the event."

For registration information, please visit www.veteransnationalsymposium.org.

Corrections

The Traffic Guy column in the Aug. 9 RoundTable stated that National College came to Evanston in the 1960s. In fact, National College (now National-Louis University), including its Baker Demonstration School, came to Evanston in 1926, not the 1960s. The college was founded in Chicago in 1886 and the demonstration school opened in 1918. In the Aug. 23 RoundTable, the photo caption on the visitors from Belize City stated that Samuel Hunter is a fire chief when in fact he is a fire captain.

Also in that issue, the note about King Arthur and Queen Guinevere's visit to Evanston misstated the camp they visited: It was the Arts Camp of the City of Evanston, not of the Evanston Art Center. Also in that issue, the way one sentence in the Eye on Evanston column was edited may have slightly changed the meaning. The original sentence, referring to Design Evanston's assessment of a proposal read: "It received unanimous approval, disproving the misconception that architects of different tastes never agree on anything." The RoundTable regrets the errors.