Celebrate Valentine's Day With Ten Thousand Villages

Valentine's Day takes on another meaning at Ten Thousand Villages by offering fairly traded that extends the loving spirit of Valentine's Day around the world, ensuring fair wages and working conditions for artisans in 35 countries.

On Feb. 10 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Ten Thousand Villages, 719 Main St., will celebrate "Heart at Home" with free family activities throughout the day. These include tasting of fairly traded teas, tea-table displays of a variety of hand-crafted tea sets, cookies and brownies made from Women's Bean Project mixes, and samples of fair-trade chocolate. A "Roses are Red" composition contest invites entrants to submit original variations on this classic rhyme. Participants will receive a gift with their entries. The author of the best verse, as determined by a vote by staff and store volunteers, will be awarded a grand prize, and his or her poem and photo will published in the RoundTable.

Call Susanne Donoghue, manager, or Cheryl Nester-Detweiler, assistant manager, 847-733-8258.

Ethical Planet Opens Chicagoland's First 100-Percent Vegan Store

Ethical Planet Healthy Living General Store, 1110 Davis St., has opened the first 100-percent vegan store in the Chicagoland area and offers vegan, organic, cruelty-free and recycled products.

Ethical Planet is based on an old-fashioned general store, but with a healthy twist. Their product choices have all been researched to be sure they will cause minimal harm.

They carry a variety of non-perishable vegan foods, many of which are organic, Kosher and gluten-free. They also have a selection of men's and women's shoes, organic cotton tees and socks, earth-friendly paper and cleaning supplies, animal friends products, soy- and vegetable-based candles, personal care products, unique recycled items, books and music.

Store hours are Monday-Friday from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., closed Sundays. By-appointment hours are also available for groups; call 847-866-2088.

New Main Street Store Has Rx for Healthier Living

By Victoria Scott

Dr. Marny Turvill opened Healthy Green Goods to give people the choice of using eco-friendly products like the cleaning supplies shown here.

The doctor is in. But she is on call at a different sort of clinic.

Dr. Marny Turvill retired last June from her medical practice at Evanston Hospital to launch Healthy Green Goods, 702 Main St., a store full of eco-friendly, toxin-free products for the home and body.

Though on break ("at least temporarily," she says) from her career as a pediatrician, the doctor says, "I am very much using my medical training."

The store carries earth-friendly cleaning supplies, personal care items, bedding and linens, and clothing. Dr. Turvill says she believes these organic and non-toxic products are not only better for the environment but also better for the health of human beings than their conventional counterparts.

Households with babies and children, whose "neurological and immune systems are not fully formed," have an especially good reason to use "healthy products," she says.

As a pediatrician, Dr. Turvill says she was often "frustrated by the number of children with chronic illness" and by a "medical establishment [that] is addressing [the problem] mostly by putting them on more medications."

At Healthy Green Goods she provides alternatives to products she deems dangerous and unhealthy. She sees the store as an extension of her professional work, another venue where, she says, "I have chosen to be the physician. I am still doing preventive health care, which is why I went into the practice [of medicine]."

Dr. Turvill's own experience led her to think organic. Plagued since adolescence by maladies of unclear origin, the doctor realized five years ago that she was suffering from symptoms of chemical sensitivity. By the time of her second pregnancy, she says it was "clear what was causing the problems.

"Even small exposures to things made from petrochemicals made me sick," she says - cleaning products, things with synthetic fragrance, carpets, new plastic."

A year and a half ago she added inpatient and teaching duties to the clinic hours she had kept at Evanston Hospital since 1998. But, she says, "I was getting very sick." She realized the hospital's housekeeping products were the culprits.

Last spring Dr. Toni Bark, a fellow physician who had been running a store called Plan It Green from the former Tinkertoy factory at 1400 Sherman Ave., contacted Dr. Turvill about selling the business to her.

"I said she was insane," says Dr. Turvill. "I didn't want retail."

Further conversation convinced her otherwise. "I realized I could make people aware of the dangers and provide them with an alternative education and a place to get products," she says.

While Dr. Bark's emphasis was on the environment, Dr. Turvill knew she would stress the health benefits of "green" goods. Within two months she had opened the shop at 708 Main St., above Trattoria D.O.C. Just a few months later she signed the lease on the street-level property she now occupies, with its high visibility and larger square footage.

Word of mouth is bringing in some customers who are relieved to be able to see, touch and smell products they could formerly find only in cyberspace, she says. Like her, she says, a huge number of Americans suffer from chemical sensitivities. But she says "only a fraction know" that their asthma, sinus infections, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, depression, arthritis, cancer, attention deficit disorder - and even autism - are "clearly exacerbated and often outright caused by chemicals."

Many people are frightened to admit to their sensitivities, she says, suspecting that addressing them could require vast changes in their lifestyles.

But although Dr. Turvill says the solution to her own health issues was a "radical overhaul of the house" to eliminate toxicity, she says such drastic measures are not always necessary.

Because everyone has a different degree of chemical sensitivity - and few can afford to remediate their entire home - she recommends that generally healthy people begin modestly, by making a gradual change to non-toxic cleaning products. "When you run out, buy a healthy alternative," she says. "Every step helps."

The next step, she says, "depending on your illness," would be to redo the bedroom. "It's the place you spend the most time, or the time you are supposed to be rejuvenating," says Dr. Turvill. Healthy Green Goods has organic and all-natural mattresses, pillows and mattress toppers, as well as sheets, blankets and duvets.

Organic items are still considerably more expensive, she says. But they are increasingly available ("Five years ago it was painful to find stuff," she says), which she suspects will eventually bring their prices down.

Dr. Turvill says she thinks the time is right for her store. "Al Gore's [Oscar-nominated documentary] movie really made people wake up," she says, "and accepting one thing opens the door to re-examining others." If people believe global warming is real and there is a way to fix it, she says, they can admit that chemicals are damaging the earth and the atmosphere.

"Evanston is a great community for [the store]," says the Evanston-born and -educated physician. "[Evanstonians] are open-minded."

Rubloff Celebrates Evanston Opening.

Rubloff North Shore, Inc. opened its doors to welcome 280 guests to the new office's Grand Opening celebration on Jan. 17. The event, which spilled from inside the office into the lobby of Sherman Plaza, brought in agents, clients and area retail representatives to celebrate the company's recent expansion into the North Shore. Rubloff owners Thomas Horwich and Howard Weinstein co-hosted the event with Rubloff North Shore, Inc. Managing broker Mary Ellen Tainer (pictured above). The office's 20 agents were on hand to receive their guests. The new North Shore office is located at Sherman Plaza, 1620 Sherman Ave.

Pizzamania on Feb. 20

The Kiwanis Club of Evanston presents "Pizzamania" from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 20 at Carmen's Restaurant, 1014 Church St. The event will benefit SHORE Community Services. Advance-purchase tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children; they are $2 more at the door. Call 847-982-2030, ext. 21 or ext. 25.

For Valentine's Day Romance Is on the Menu

This Valentine's Day Evanston's restaurants are creating the perfect setting and fare for romancing sweethearts.

The flicker of candles in the dimly lit atmosphere can be seen through the large front window of the little French bistro La Petite Amelia, 626 Church St. The setting is "romantic and intimate" and the food is "unique," says Robert La Pata, owner of the restaurant. But on Valentine's Day, La Petite Amelia is adding something else to the dining experience - a love story.

Mr. La Pata wanted to theme the Valentine's Day menu around something romantic. "When I think of France, I think of Cyrano," he said.

Cyrano de Bergerac famously wooed his love interest, Roxanne, through love letters. At La Petite Amelia, he will woo her with food and wine from the region of Bergerac located in southwest France.

What would Cyrano prepare for his beloved Roxanne?

A menu including a first course of salt-cured foie gras with leeks and pomegranate, followed by potato cakes layered with duck confit. The third course offers a choice of filet de bouef with perigourdine sauce or seared scallops with heart-shaped beets, a beet reduction and horseradish oil. The meal will finish with a dessert of fig crepes with toasted hazelnuts.

The large fireplace in the center of Quince at the Homestead's dining room invites lovers to cozy up on Feb. 14, and if that does not put them in a romantic mood, the food definitely will. Each course will feature an aphrodisiac (from Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love), a food meant to increase feelings of love.

Chef Mark Hannon says he was inspired by food that reminded him of Valentine's Day, such as celery hearts and hearts of palm.

Quince's seductive menu will feature a choice of starters: shaved asparagus salad with tomatoes, parmesan cheese and truffle vinaigrette; seared foie gras with a blood-orange glaze and pistachio brittle; or almond-crusted scallops with celery-root puree and celery heart salad.

Entrees include pan-roasted pink snapper with forbidden rice, basil cream, tomato and hearts of palm salad; seared pork tenderloin with goat cheese orzo, broccolini, and honey-lavender glaze; and grilled skirt steak with smashed fingerlings, potato crema and glazed asparagus.

The meal will finish with a banana split for two made of scoops of strawberry, chocolate and vanilla ice cream, banana brulee, amoretti cookie, beignets and pineapple granita.

The fare at Lupita's, 700 Main St., this Valentine's Day will be made with more than standard ingredients, it will be prepared with love. The restaurant celebrates the holiday of romance with a "Like Water for Chocolate" menu that celebrates the story of Tita and Pedro, lovers separated by Tita's parents when Pedro was forced to marry her sister. When guests at Pedro and her sister's wedding ate the cake made by Tita, they felt Tita's sadness. She then realized her emotions could be cooked into her food.

The courses on the "Like Water for Chocolate" menu are chiles nogada in walnut sauce, turkey mole with almond and sesame seeds, Cornish hens in rose-petal sauce and wedding cakes made with love.

This year, Valentine's Day falls on a Wednesday, but the Celtic Knot, 626 Church St., will be celebrating through the rest of the week. Their three-course "Valendine" menu will be available until Saturday for those who find it difficult to get out during the week, says Chef Debbie Evans.

The prix-fixe menu will include a choice of appetizer, entrée, dessert and a glass of Champagne.

Of course, one does not need to leave home to have a romantic dinner. Lou Malnati's, 1850 Sherman Ave., will deliver love right to the front door in the form of pizza. The pizzeria will be sending out heart-shaped pizzas on Valentine's Day filled with a choice of toppings, cheese and covered with red pizza sauce. The pizzas could also make for an alternative gift idea. "Instead of shipping flowers, ship a pizza," says Elton Buster, general manager.

Don't forget dessert. Lou Malnati's also delivers heart-shaped, white chocolate Eli's Cheesecake, topped with raspberry puree.

These Evanston restaurants have also prepared a special Valentine's Day menu: Chef Station, 915 Davis St.; Oceanique, 505 Main St.; Va Pensiero, 1556 Oak St.; and Wolfgang Puck Grand Café, 1701 Maple Ave.

Levy Center Wins Marketing Award

Pictured left to right are Charles D. Johnson, director, Illinois Department on Aging; Leslie Wilson, Levy Center program manager; Christina Ferraro, Levy Center manager; Karen Schainker, president, Association of Illinois Senior Centers; Ken Schaefle, advisory board member and marketing committee chairman, Levy Senior Center. Photo courtesy of the City of Evanston

The City of Evanston's Levy Senior Center received the 2006 Visionary Program Award from the Association of Illinois Senior Centers at the 2006 Governor's Conference on Aging, held in December. The award is given annually to a single program exhibiting innovative ideas that raise the consciousness of senior centers and empowers older adults through independent living, lifelong learning and creative retirement.

Faced with the challenge of how to attract and retain participants and to let the public know what services are offered, the Levy Senior Center devised a marketing strategy that is customer-centered, looks to the future, is easily communicated and motivating both to its employees and constituents. This strategy was funded by the Life Enrichment Fund of the Levy Center, Inc. (LEF). The LEF is a nonprofit organization working to improve the quality of life for seniors by soliciting monies to supplement the Levy Center's operating budget, the bulk of which is provided by the City of Evanston Parks/Forestry and Recreation Department.

The Center's Marketing Committee worked closely with the Evanston RoundTable newspaper, Innovative Design and Graphics, and Sue Lafferty, Ph.D., who conducted focus group sessions. The Marketing Committee members included three Levy Center members and five City of Evanston staff members.

The Marketing Committee analyzed Center membership and Center utilization. The goals were to attract new members, retain current members, foster diversity, encourage enthusiastic word-of-mouth promoters of the Center and increase participation at the Center. These goals were achieved by developing new and innovative programs that focused on physically active an culturally diverse activities and on expanding class offerings appealing to younger seniors. This successful strategy increased Center membership by 10 percent within six months. The Center's membership and retention are also at their all-time highest as a result of this strategy.

Because of the impressive success of the Levy Center's 2006 marketing program, the Center will share its its strategy and outstanding results at the March 2007 Joint Conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging in Chicago. The hope is that much of the Levy Center's ground-breaking marketing approach may be replicated by many senior centers across the nation.

Tenfold Increase in Fines for Noise Violations?

By Bill Smith

The City's Human Services Committee has approved an ordinance that would increase fines for people who have overly loud car stereo systems by ten times the present amount, raising the minimum fine for violating the ordinance from $10 to $100 and the maximum fine from $50 to $500.

On Jan. 29 the committee dropped a provision sought by the sponsor of the ordinance, Ald. Anjana Hansen, 9th Ward, that would have given police the power to tow the cars of people caught violating the ordinance, after Ald. Steve Bernstein, 4th Ward, said he thought that penalty was too severe.

Any sound system that can be heard more than 75 feet from the car would be a violation under the ordinance.

Evanston police have issued about 30 tickets a year under an existing state car noise statute.

Only Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste, 2nd Ward, voted against the measure. He said he would prefer an ordinance that targeted only the most offensive big bass speaker systems that shake residents' windows, rather than all car noise. He added that he only gets about one noise complaint a year from constituents.

Committee approval came on a 4-1 vote. With the support of Ald. Hansen, who is not a committee member, the proposal would have enough votes to win final approval from the full City Council.