Nipping & Tucking: Evanston to Undergo Lakefront Facelift

By Mary Helt Gavin

Tomorrow night, Oct. 4, will see the latest version of the lakefront master plan, incorporating comments and ideas from the Sept. 19 and 20 workshops. Between Sept. 19 and 20, EDAW - the landscape design company serving as consultants for the City's lakefront master plan - reduced the three draft proposals to two by accommodating and incorporating input from the community. One proposal, emphasizing passive use of the lakefront, was called the "passive" plan; the other, looking toward more active uses, is termed the "multigenerational" plan.

Moving the rip-rap into the lake to create a submerged reef is one idea for Garden Park.

On Sept. 20, EDAW - a landscape architecture company - presented what the previous night's group had collectively deemed "desirable," what was "unacceptable" to them and a few items on which there were split decisions. Among the desirable proposals were creating a great lawn; reducing the traffic lanes on Sheridan Road at Calvary Cemetery; creating a water trail; eliminating or relocating ramp for motorized boats; making more public use of the Clarke mansion (now occupied by the Evanston Art Center); creating an overlook at the foot of Lincoln Street; and making a clean separation between bicycle and pedestrian trails. In addition, nearly everyone seemed to favor the idea of enhancing the dune ecology and planting native flora.

The Wednesday (Sept. 19) night group found as "not acceptable" proposals to remove the parking at Dempster Street beach and to eliminate the art festival program, said Greg Weykamp of EDAW. There were split decisions about three proposals: relocating Sheridan Road near Lunt Park, allowing private commercial use of the Clarke estate and adding more covered picnic shelters.

This overlook at Lincoln Street near the waterworks could become a habitat for wildlife or a bird sanctuary. Access would be permitted only with a guide, if at all.

"‘No more rocks - that's what we heard," said Greg Weykamp of EDAW to the nearly 70 residents who attended the Sept. 20 meeting at the Civic Center. The rocks at Lighthouse Beach could be tucked under the bluff at adjacent Lawson Park, allowing more room for dunes and native plantings, he said.

One proposal calls for a breakwater at teh boat lauch to check the sand-silt drift.

Further south, at Dempster Street, Clark Square and Garden Park, for example, the rocks could be moved into the lake itself as a submerged reef, "reclaiming the view of the lake," Mr. Weykamp said. The assumption for most of the evening was that the City would still charge to access the five public beaches. With enhanced dune ecology, access to the beach would be controlled through a small building that also housed rest rooms, Mr. Weykamp said.

Lighthouse Beach
The City-owned Clarke mansion, adjacent to Lighthouse Beach, is now occupied by the Evanston Arts Center. Most respondents said they would like to see a greater commercial use of the building, said Mr. Weykamp. Most did not wish to see a hotel, but said a café or gift shop would be acceptable.

At the end of Lincoln Street, at the foot of the waterworks, the City owns a strip of land overlooking beach vegetation and the lake itself. For security reasons the area is off-limits to the public, but it might be possible to create a wildlife habitat or bird sanctuary there after the non-native invasive plants and shrubs have been removed. The public would be able to enjoy the view from an overlook there and would have limited access via occasional guided tours.

Boats, Beaches and Parks
Clark Street Beach is the City's least-used beach, said Mr. Weykamp. New uses proposed for the area include boat storage, a boat ramp and a great lawn. The Dempster Street boat storage - with racks appropriate to the water craft - and possibly the motorized Church Street boat launch could be moved north to the Clark Street Beach area. Parking would be added there, said Mr. Weykamp.

Some respondents favor eliminating the motorized Church Street boat ramp and allowing only non-motorized craft to launch in Evanston. In that instance, the number of parking spaces there would be reduced, since, for the most part, cars hauling kayaks and canoes do not require the double-spaces that trailers do. (See accompanying story).

A great lawn, whose expanse stretched from Lunt Park to the shoreline, would increase accessibility to and enjoyment of the beach, said Mr. Weykamp. One problem in connection with that proposal is how to reroute traffic, since Sheridan Road would be closed between Church and Clark streets, at a minimum.

The lagoon, which is the focus for both the Ethnic Arts and Lakeshore Arts festivals, would see an enhanced promenade under either plan. "The brick and the grass there now are just not sturdy enough to support the arts-festival traffic," said Mr. Weykamp. Some who favor more active uses - which could also be income-producing - suggested constructing a band shell or perhaps designate an area where a portable stage could be brought in for concerts or other performances.

Promoting connectivity between Patriots' Park and the lakefront - or Dawes Park - would entail the loss of parking spaces; some of these could be recouped at the proposed new Church Street boat ramp.

The groin at Dempster Street could be improved for public fishing. "There is no real public fishing area in Evanston," Mr. Weykamp said.

Lee Street Beach

Wide and level, Lee Street Beach is Evanston's most-used beach.

Evanston's most used beach, Lee Street Beach, would see enhancement of its dunes with native plantings. Proposed for here and elsewhere are centrally located facilities at the meeting of dune vegetation and sand, which would also serve as "access control" areas - where people would show their tokens to be admitted to the beach.

Clark Square
Most people feel that Clark Square should be left as it is, but the consultants suggest planting additional trees now to ensure a "succession" of trees.

Most people are happy with Clark Square - a park with no facilities in the 800 block of Sheridan Road, said Mr. Weykamp. "We heard, ‘Don't mess with Clark Square' from many people. ... However, the trees need reinforcements: Most are more than 60 years old," he said. He recommended a "succession of trees," so that "trees planted now would be about 30 years old when these begin to die off."

Garden Park
With the rocks, or rip-rap, removed from the shoreline at Garden Park, the view of the lake would be enhanced and the park itself extended, said Mr. Weykamp. The rocks could be placed into the lake, resulting in a submerged reef a few feet from shore.

Sheridan Road
Both plans would decrease the number of traffic lanes on Sheridan Road at the south end of the City. Near Calvary Cemetery, at Evanston's south entrance, the proposal is for one lane of traffic in each direction and a bicycle lane separated by a barrier. "This is the sort of project that designers and engineers love," said Mr. Weykamp. "There's plenty of room to do it, and it's a benefit to the community."

Parking
After tomorrow night's meeting, EDAW consultants will create the preferred plan. Depending on the uses selected, there may be less parking available than at present. Under the passive plan, parking spaces taken from the Dempster Street area could be recouped by additional parking spaces at the Clark Street Beach storage area (per accompanying article). It is not clear how, under that plan, the parking taken from Sheridan Road in the extension of Lunt Park would be recouped or how traffic would be rerouted.

The City's consultants will present the "preferred plan," again, with community comments incorporated, tomorrow night, Oct. 4, at 7 p.m. in the Parasol Room of the Civic Center. The final plan, which will likely combine aspects of each of these plans, will have to address the many facets of parking, as well as those of access, and active, passive or commercial use of Evanston's five beaches and lakefront parks. That plan, the master plan, will be the one City Council will ultimately consider.

Renderings of the proposals can be viewed here.

Rendering 1
Rendering 2
Rendering 3
Rendering 4
Rendering 5
Rendering 6

Launching Options
One of the big decisions that will be either made or unveiled at tomorrow night's presentation of the preferred plan for the lakefront is whether to continue allowing motor boats to launch from Evanston's lakefront.

Whether the decision is to allow motorized and hand-powered craft or to eliminate the motorized aspect, Evanstonians will find there is no such thing as a free launch. At present the City charges $500 per boat per year.

Under the more active, or "multigenerational," plan for the lakefront presented on Sept. 20, options for boaters would remain essentially as they are now, with places to launch both for motorized and non-
motorized craft.

The Church Street boat ramp would remain, but a breakwater would be added to help control the drift of silt and sand. At present, 130-150 boats use the Church Street boat ramp at a cost of $500 per boat per year, generating $65,000-75,000 per year in revenue for the City. However, at present it costs the City about $40,000 each year to dredge the sand and prepare the boat ramps, said Bob Dorneker, superintendent of the City's recreation division. The new breakwater could reduce or eliminate that cost.

The "passive" plan, as presented on Sept. 20, would eliminate the Church Street boat launch for motorized craft and relocate the Dempster Street storage and launch for non-motorized craft to the Clark Street beach area, further north, and add parking for automobiles and trucks only (no trailers) there.

"Clark Street beach is the least-used beach [of Evanston's five beaches," Mr. Weykamp said. Reconfiguring the beach area to add parking and native plantings and to eliminate the volleyball space would not affect most beach-goers, he suggested. While there would be no private launching for motorized craft, there would be one lane for emergency vehicles, he said. The Clark Street area could also serve as the launch site for the proposed water trail.

The City would still charge launch and storage fees for canoes and kayaks, at present $240 per year and greater, said Mr. Dorneker.

Green stuff

Ask Ecogal: Paper or Plastic? Neither!

By Mayre Press

At one time, grocery shoppers were asked at checkout, "Do you want paper or plastic bags?" The green response remains, "Neither." Most grocers do not bother to ask and automatically reach for the annoying and deadly (for small children, pets and sea-life) plastic bags. If paper bags are available, they are often the reusable kind with handles, a/k/a shopping bags, which can be used and reused until they tear, their handles break or they become wet.

Both of those options have a negative environmental impact. In the United States, about 12 million barrels of oil (a non-renewal resource) and 14 million trees are used annually to make plastic and paper bags, respectively. At the grocer's, observe how many plastic bags are used to hold other shoppers' groceries.

Often a bagger puts four items or less in a single plastic bag, and it is not unusual to see one shopper leave with ten bags or more. Multiply that by tens of thousands of shoppers, and the appalling result is that U.S. consumers throw away 100 billion plastic bags each year.

In autumn, after the leaves have fallen, the bare trees in almost any neighborhood or along any roadway have plastic bags clinging to their highest branches.

According to the Center for Marine Conservation, plastic bags are one of the 12 most common items found during coastal cleanups. Thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine mammals die yearly from eating discarded plastic bags they mistake for food. The bags do not biodegrade, they photodegrade or break down into smaller toxic bits that contaminate soil and waterways and then enter the food web when ingested accidentally by animals.

Plastic bags, even the smaller type for holding groceries, pose a hazard at home to small children and pets. Both suffocation and accidental ingestion are potential risks. Store all plastic bags out of the reach of children and pets.

Some cities are trying to eliminate the problem through legislation. San Francisco enacted a ban in April that applies only to larger grocery stores and drugstores. Similar measures are under consideration in Annapolis, Md.; Boston; Baltimore; Oakland, Cal.; Portland, Ore.; Santa Monica, Cal.; and Steamboat Springs, Col.

A July 23, 2007, piece in The New York Timesquoted Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau and director of EarthEcho, a Washington, D.C. environmental education group: "Banning plastic makes sense for the simple reason that it takes more than 1,000 years to biodegrade, which means that every single piece of plastic we've ever manufactured is still around, and much of it ends up in the oceans killing animals."

Annapolis Alderman Samuel E. Shropshire, sponsor of that city's ordinance to ban plastic bags, said, "What we need for the improvement of Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries is some radical legislation." Under the proposed Annapolis ordinance, stores would have to issue recyclable paper bags, or customers would have to provide reusable bags. Violators would face up to a $500 fine.

What can environmentally conscious consumers use? For durability, space and style, an excellent choice is a canvas bag or one made from another renewable resource material such as woven nylon. Some local nonprofit groups offer cotton canvas bags as membership premiums. A ChicoBag (www.chicobag.com), for example, easures 18"x18" when unfolded, and stuffs neatly into a 3"x4" pouch. At $5 a bag, one can be kept in the car, backpack or purse to carry shopping items.
Next shopping trip, avoid paper or plastic, and BYOB ("bring your own bag").
Contact Eco Gal at info@evanstonroundtable.com or ecogal247@yahoo.com.

October is ‘Evanston CAN Recycle!' Month

The City of Evanston and Keep Evanston Beautiful are calling on Evanston residents and businesses to recycle as many aluminum beverage cans as possible during the entire month of October, now designated "Evanston CAN Recycle!" month.

Evanston has accepted the challenge to compete against other municipalities its size in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Cans for Cash program. The monetary prizes of up to $10,000 can be put toward enhancing Evanston's recycling programs.

"This challenge is a great way to put Evanston on the map as a green city," said Carolyn Collopy, Evanston's sustainable coordinator. "If we all make a concerted effort next month, we can show the country how serious we are about saving the environment." Evanston will compete in Division Three against other cities with populations between 50,000 and 99,999. Last year's winner was Bowling Green, Ky., which recycled 78,310 pounds of aluminum cans.

Ms. Collopy said Evanston community members do not need to do anything extraordinary; simply make certain all of their aluminum cans are in recycling containers. Groot, the City's recycling hauler, will sort and weigh the aluminum cans.

The aluminum can is the country's most recycled beverage container and has been so for more than 20 years.

For more information on Evanston CAN Recycle, call Ms. Collopy, 847- 448-8069 or Suzette Eggleston, superintendent of Streets and Sanitation, 847- 866-2940.

‘Our Climate Matters' Oct. 18-21

Several local Leagues of Women Voters are holding a four-day symposium on global warming, entitled "Our Climate Matters," from the evening of Oct. 18 through the evening of Oct. 21 at the new Glenview Park District facilities, 2400 Chestnut Ave. in The Glen.

Scientists, business people, economists, legislators and other policymakers, architects, and citizens will discuss such topics as the economic ramifications of action and inaction, environmental law and policy, green architecture, the health of Lake Michigan, "Ways to Make Your Town Green," and what is happening in governmental policy at the national, state and local levels.

Friday's keynote speaker, Peter Goldmark, is director of the climate and air program at Environmental Defense; his topic will be "Global Warming: What To Do About the Express Train Coming at Us." He will speak at 8 p.m.

Saturday's programs include a panel entitled "Building Matters: Shades of Green." Walter Kihm, Ed Noonan, Steve Sturm and Cappy Kidd will be on the panel. Evanston architect Ellen Galland will be the moderator.

Interested parties are invited to form carpools, fire up the hybrid, or grab a bicycle to attend "Our Climate Matters." All programs are free and open to the public.

Chicago Marathon Runners Go for Gold for Local Charities

By Victoria Scott

Jeanne Malcolm expects to be among those cheering for the Center for Independent Futures' team along the designated Charity Mile at the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 14.

Though not a marathon runner, Ms. Malcolm has developed more than a passive appreciation for the diligence it takes to stay the long course.

"My Marathon," launched in May, encourages participants to start an exercise, or movement, routine, says Ms. Bowmann.

Nearly 35 individuals, including staff, volunteers - and a seeing-eye dog - have joined the monthly walks or bike rides.

A resident of one of CIF's three privately owned, supported-living facilities for adults with disabilities, Ms. Malcolm is reaping double benefits from the race.

Money raised by the charity team will go into the CIF general fund, which helps Ms. Malcolm and her fellow residents.

In addition, inspired by the team's rigorous marathon training, Ms. Malcolm and other CIF residents and fans have engaged in their own fitness initiative. The program, called "My Marathon," was the brainchild of CIF staff member Jacqueline Heavey.

Physical activity is important for adults with disabilities, says Mary Bowmann, CIF development/administrative associate. "They love being active."

My Marathon, launched in May, encourages participants to start an exercise, or movement, routine, says Ms. Bowmann. The program "has energized the office," she says. Nearly 35 individuals, including staff, volunteers - and a seeing-eye dog - have joined the monthly walks or bike rides.

Participants accomplish "movement miles" in a variety of ways: Swimming, tae kwan do, rolling in a wheelchair and pushing a grocery cart in a place of employment all count, says Ms. Bowmann. They keep weekly "movement charts," which CIF staff members convert into miles.

The goal was for My Marathon participants to complete the equivalent of one marathon, or 26.2 miles, before the Chicago race. With a month to go "nearly half had finished one or more [marathons]," says Jane Doyle, executive director of CIF.

Ms. Malcolm says she is "between my seventh and eighth marathon. I've been walking a lot." A diabetic who is now a Weight Watcher, she has not taken part in an exercise program before. "This really got me going," she says of My Marathon.

She now makes a point of parking some distance from the grocery store and has regularly walked the mile or two to the beach with a friend from her Chicago Avenue CIF apartment building.

Some My Marathon participants are also raising money for the residents' activity fund. CIF residents get $300 a year to spend as they choose, says Ms. Doyle. Last year they decided to take their first limousine ride to the big CIF fundraiser; previously funds have gone to buy a firepot and order in meals to enjoy together.

Becoming a LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon charity for the first time has given CIF invaluable exposure, says Ms. Doyle. The CIF team, though among the smallest of the 83 in the race, has brought the non-profit "close to our goal of raising $15,000," says Ms. Bowmann.

In their hometowns across the country the CIF runners have come up with such creative fundraising ideas as a poker tournament and a cocktail party with a $26 cover charge, $1 per mile.

Ted Fund
A family of Evanston runners will be going the extra 26 miles for their favorite charity on Oct. 14.

Will Van Dyke, who placed 10th in the first Chicago Marathon 30 years ago, is running with the daughter who was just 15 days old in 1977.

Gretchen Van Dyke and her brother, Garrett, will join their father in running for the Ted Fund, established in memory of their late neighbor, Ted Muller.

"Ted babysat for the kids on the [1800 Asbury] block," says Mr. Van Dyke. He describes Mr. Muller as a Pied Piper who found ways to include kids from 3 to 12 in neighborhood activities. "They even invented their own game," he says.

Mr. Muller, later a teacher, is memorialized with a fund whose mission is to "level the playing field" for Evanston youth. The Ted Fund addresses the gap between haves and have-nots with regard to after-school and summer enrichment activities.

"There are no free public recreation or day camp programs in the community," reads the Ted Fund brochure. In partnership with District 65, the fund awards camp scholarships to third-graders for three consecutive years.

Gretchen Van Dyke and her brother, Garrett, will join their father, Will, in running for the Ted Fund, established in memory of their late neighbor, Ted Muller.

These scholarships amount to $700 per child per year, says Mr. Van Dyke, a former president of the fund. They started with one child; this year the Ted Fund provided scholarships for 100.

Mr. Van Dyke rounded up friends from the Evanston Running Club to make up the 15-member team the Chicago Marathon requires for charities. To date they have raised $7,300, he says - more than his goal of $6,000 but less than the $10,000 he would like.

A runner since 1961, Mr. Van Dyke completed the 1977 race in 2 hours 32 minutes. This year he expects to finish in 3 to 3:45 hours. His daughter, who recently did a half Iron Man event in Spokane, Wash., is likely to beat him, he says.

"I've passed the torch to her," he says.

Young Evanston

Hispanic Youth Achievement Awards

The Evanston Coalition for Latino Resources (ECLR) is honoring Hispanic public school students in grades 4-12 on Oct. 23 at Northwestern University's Norris Center, 1999 Campus Drive, in the Louis Room from 6:30 to 8 p.m.. The students honored have excelled in at least one of the following categories: Character, Civility, Community Service, Leadership, Scholarship and Sportsmanship. The students were selected by their teachers and school counselors at the end of the 2005-06 school year.

EHYAA was established to give recognition to youth who have excelled in the classroom and extracurricular activities, while honoring their heritage.

The mission of ECLR is to build and promote effective relationships among organizations and individuals in order to improve the Latino community's access to resources.

"Honk" at Fountain Square.

On Sept. 23, 11-year-old Lucy Godinez organized a little Obama rally in Fountain Square. Lucy called many of her friends to come and painted lots of posters which said, "Honk for Peace," "Honk for Obama," and "Honk for Change," and the like.

They held up those signs for nearly an hour and a half and counted more than 1,400 honks, from people in cars, and from pedestrians and cyclists who simply said "honk" as they passed by.

Nancy Godinez, Lucy's mother, said, "I was so proud of the kids."
Pictured left to right are Gaby Godinez, Zoe Wilson, Lucy Godinez, Leah Barr, Jazmine Aron, Ben Wilson, Sophia Nawn and Courtney Gregori.

Photo courtesy of Nancy Godinez

Lunchtime Orchestra at Lincolnwood School.

With teacher Melody Norman conducting, students at Lincolnwood School banged, clapped and tapped on tambourines, water bottles and other homemade instruments to the beat of Rossini's spirited "William Tell Overture." The lively event, held on Sept. 19 on the school's playground, was the kick-off for this year's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. The program assigns each student to a faculty or staff member. The adult and his or her assigned students are called "families." This family structure ensures that each child in the school has an adult he or she can talk to about school-related concerns, and also helps build a stronger school community and positive school climate. The families will meet four or five times during the school year.
Story and photo by Joe Linstroth

Trees around Evanston

Introducing the Maples (Acer species)

By Libby Hill

"Norway maple double samara and overlapping leaves."

In the fall of 1957 when we moved to Evanston from Boston, I was looking forward to the annual autumnal color display. After all, we were moving west along almost the same 42 degrees latitude. In my new hometown I found thousands of striking old elm and oak beauties lining the streets and towering over homes. October arrived, bringing skirt-and-sweater weather. Elm leaves turned a rather indifferent dull, yellowish-brown. Oaks simply turned brown. The leaves with brilliant hues were a drive away.

Then came Dutch elm disease. Sanitation strategy dictated that the elms come down. Residents asked to replace them with maples.

No surprise - maple fall color is exquisite. In a vastly oversimplified explanation for this extraordinary natural phenomenon, the sugar-producing molecule, chlorophyll, which has captured the sunlight through photosynthesis and kept the engine of the tree working through spring and summer, decays as the nights get longer and trees prepare for winter dormancy. The yellows, which have always been in the leaf but have been masked by chlorophyll's green, become visible to our eyes. The brilliant oranges and reds of maple and some other tree species are produced by the glucose that remains after photosynthesis ends. Cool nights and sunny days hasten the chemical changes that bring out maples' natural pigments that we so enjoy, particularly the purplish-red anthocyanin and orangish carotin. Genetics, soil and environment probably influence an individual tree's color.

The etymology of acer and maple inspire long essays by experts, the upshot of which is that the origins of both words are cloaked in mystery and changing interpretations. It is generally agreed that the word maple comes from Old English mapul, and that Acer goes back to ancient Latin aceroides for maple-like. The idea that acer is rooted in the Latin word for sharp, describing the pointed lobes of the leaves, seems to have been discounted. Along with all other organisms, maple taxonomy is being re-evaluated by DNA analysis, and recent sources lump the Aceraceae family with horse-chestnuts in the family Sapindaceae. Stay tuned.

Today's natural worldwide distribution of maples reflects the recent (geologically speaking) warming and cooling periods of the earth. During the dawn of the dinosaurs, the earth was warm. Even the site of Chicago had a tropical climate. Gymnosperms - plants with naked seeds - like the ginkgo, dominated the land. Flowering plants, or angiosperms, developed during the latter years of the dinosaurs, around 120 million years ago. The first maple-like species probably appeared in China around 100 million years ago. Eventually they radiated throughout the Northern Hemisphere, some crossing the Bering Land Bridge to North America. Even now, some maple species in Asia and North America bear striking resemblances to each other. According to D.M. Van Gelderen's "Maples of the World," maples "came into their own" between 24 million and 5 million years ago.

Then the earth began to cool. Mr. Van Gelderen calls the most recent ice ages, beginning around 2 million years ago, "a catastrophe" for the distribution of maples. They retreated south from the cooling north pole. Although they are now considered plants mainly of the northern temperate zones, in North America they grow as far south as the tropics of Mexico and Guatemala.

Of the many species of maple worldwide, about a dozen (depending upon who is counting) are native to our continent, and only a few are native to our region: sugar (or black), silver, red and box elder. Typical maples are easily recognized by distinctive winged seeds and simple, palmately-lobed leaves. All are deciduous and have opposite leaves, twigs and branching. Leaves dangle on long stalks. Flowers, conspicuous promises of spring, were formerly thought to be pollinated by insects but are now thought to be primarily wind-pollinated. The distinctive winged seeds growing from the ovaries are called samaras. All of our maples have double samaras. Their nicknames - keys, whirlybirds and helicopters - describe their twirling descent from the tree, delighting children who try to capture them.

Telling maple species apart is not always simple. Norway (Acer platanoides) and sugar (Acer saccharum), also known as rock or hard maple, look so much alike to the amateur that only the milky sap that oozes from the petiole (the end of the stem after it has been pulled off its twig) identifies it as a Norway. Silver maples (Acer saccharinum), also called soft, white, or river maple, have deeply incised leaves with whitish undersides, especially showy in the wind. Red or swamp maples are probably named for their bright red flowers on bare gray branches in spring, not for their red autumn leaves. Box elders (Acer negundo), considered weed trees by many, have compound leaves and a bluish blush on new growth.

Two small maple species of Asian origin also deserve mention. Japanese Acer palmatum, the Japanese maple, which is red year-round, is planted by specific request in protected areas. The Siberian Amur maple, Acer ginnala, is occasionally planted in parks.

Ironically, when Evanston residents requested maples for their parkway replacements, they were probably picturing brilliantly fall-hued sugar maples. Instead, the Norway maple, native from the Pyrenees to the Urals and Caucasus and from Scandinavia to southern Italy, dominates our streetscape. These trees turn yellow, period.

No doubt the Norway was chosen for its superior ability to tolerate all soil types, road salt, hot and dry conditions and pollution better than the sugar maple. Michael Dirr, in his "Manual of Woody Plants," says it is an "over-used and probably over-rated tree."

Maple leaves generally lie overlapping one another, creating a mat that effectively blocks the sun and inhibits the growth of grass beneath. In combination with shallow, widespread roots that often protrude above the ground and girdle their own trunks, maples are problematical for parkways.

Silver maples are best left to their natural riverbank habitat. Their branches are brittle and break off easily in high winds.
Norway maples, including the cultivars ‘Emerald Queen' and ‘Crimson King,' comprise about 16 percent of our parkway trees. Sugar, silver and red make up just over 6 percent. When our 700 parkway sugar maples turn in the fall, it is worth a pause to take in this marvel of nature's ephemeral gift of splendor.

BOOK REVIEW

"The Zookeeper's Wife"

A Book Review By Sue Brooke

"The Zookeeper's Wife" by Diane Ackerman is the incredible true story of Jan and Antonia Zabenski. During WWII Jan was in charge of the Warsaw Zoo.

A scientist and an atheist, he had gone to school with many Jewish friends. When the Nazis entered the city, ordering all intellectuals and artists shot, he, along with the 10 percent of Jews who survived, became involved in the well organized underground.

Antonia was a pretty blonde housewife raising their young son, Rys. With her ability to calm and communicate with animals, she had been an integral part of the zoo before the War. She had a wonderful sense of humor and put animals and humans alike at ease with her enchanting warmth. Though she knew about Jan's underground activities, she was not directly involved. She was more the caretaker of those around her.

When the zoo was bombed at the beginning of the War, most of the animals escaped, roaming Warsaw until they were shot or captured. The remaining rare animals were shipped off to Germany, and the zoo closed. By this time Jan was already hiding Jewish refugees and ammunition in the lions' den or pheasant house, so he went to the German command and talked them into turning the zoo into a pig farm.

As a government official, he then gained the right to enter the Warsaw Ghetto and made a point of getting to know every guard there.

When he went to meet his childhood friends in the ghetto, he often walked out with one of them at his side, simply informing the guard, "He's with me." Jan became the alpha male, expecting everyone to obey.

Then the refugees would come to Antonia who must have run a chaotic, fun and amazing shelter. Animals had the full run of their villa, which was continually full of legitimate house guests.

Jan and Antonia figured that if anyone observed them, they would get used to seeing different people coming and going at their villa and not suspect that they were hiding Jews. "Hide things in plain view" became their motto. Nothing blocked the views from the windows. Anyone looking in would assume whatever they saw was just part of the normal chaos.

The Jewish "guests," however, were on a fairly strict schedule. Only a few were allowed to roam the house at any given time. Then the schedule changed, and everyone had some free time. If someone came to the door, Antonia played "Go to Crete" on the piano, sounding the cue for everyone to find a hiding place. Over the course of the War more than 300 "guests" found shelter in their villa.

As a boy of only 5, Rys learned to understand the necessity for complete secrecy. Though the family lived in constant danger and chaos, Antonia's equanimity held things together. The book recounts many stories of the SS's coming to their door - only to be put off by Antonia's calm manner.

Even those who have read a lot about Warsaw during the War will be surprised and informed by this book. Jan, Antonia and Rys are an inspiring and remarkable family.

PLAY REVIEW

"The Busy World is Hushed"

A Play Review By Brian Murphy

The Next Theatre kicks off its 27th season with "The Busy World is Hushed," a contemporary look at the role of religion in our daily lives.

Playwright Keith Bunin's work is an intelligent and devastating foray into the lives of Episcopal minister Hannah (Peggy Roeder); her son, Thomas (Erik Hellman); and her assistant, Brandt (Dennis Grimes). All have been scarred by life, and their views on religion differ greatly.

Hannah, aside from her daily duties at the church, is driven by a need to uncover the written word of the prophets that is the most representative of Jesus. After obtaining the Gnostic Scrolls (circa 50-60 A.D.), she enlists the help of writer Brandt to help her translate the texts. Brandt endears himself to Hannah by admitting that his present writer's block may be the result of his father's recently discovered terminal brain tumor and that the work may give him comfort.

When pressed as to his own feelings about religion, he tells Hannah that he is gay and has given up on religion, as he feels the church has abandoned him with its stance on homosexuality.

"The Busy World is Hushed" abounds with wit. Hannah, elated by the arrival of the scrolls, confides to Brandt that the closest words to God's might be on the pages in front of them. She quips, "And it came UPS."

Mr. Grimes and Ms. Roeder develop a palpable rapport as Hannah and Brandt, with dialogue that is effortlessly conversational, poignant and funny. While their views on religion differ, they find common ground and develop a solid friendship.

Enter Thomas, the minister's wayward son, with his penchant for near-suicidal solo adventures and for disappearing unannounced for undetermined amounts of time. Thomas, forever affected by his father's suicide, recklessly retraces his footsteps. He visits the site where his father drowned himself in the ocean and reads his underlined Bible passages, trying to understand his father's actions.

Thomas constantly ridicules his mother's faith and rips her heart out with his transience and self-destruction. When Hannah notices a spark between her son and Brandt, she decides to encourage the relationship between them as a way to keep Thomas near her.

Brandt and Thomas fall in love, and then, inevitably, things fall apart.

Mr. Bunin writes these characters so well any one of them can speak with intelligence, passion, hatred and hypocrisy all at once.

All three actors, who are making their respective debuts with the Next, put on exceptional performances here. Director Kimberly Senior (founder of Collaboration Theatre Company) has picked a perfect cast and has mined their emotions.

"The Busy World is Hushed," from the stained glass windows in Hannah's apartment to the searing rhetoric argued and defended by its characters, will leave the audience contemplating the role of religion in their lives long after the curtain has come down.

"The Busy World is Hushed" runs through Oct. 14 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street. For tickets, call (847) 475-1875.