INVEST Celebrates 30 Years of Connecting Schools and Community

By Anne Bodine

Evanston Mayor Lorraine Morton issued a proclamation recognizing INVEST's 30 years of connecting schools and community in a partnership to help all public school  children in Evanston. 

INVEST, a volunteer organization that serves Evanston School Districts 65 and 202, was started in 1978 by a concerned group of community members in response to the elimination of school programs and services due to budget cuts.  Today, the not-for-profit organization continues to support Evanston/Skokie schools in a number of different ways.

Perhaps the most visible service offered is the recruiting and assigning of tutors and classroom helpers, with the help of two INVEST coordinators - District 65 coordinator Laura Antolín and District 202 coordinator Ellen Morgan.  At the elementary and middle school levels, teachers are encouraged to make requests for classroom helpers.  Working under the teacher's direction, these volunteers will do anything from individual tutoring to supervising learning stations or working with small groups.

At Evanston Township High School, students needing assistance are matched up 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 tutors at the high school level, with more than 75 student tutors volunteering last school year to work with their peers in a variety of subjects.

INVEST also has a Museum Alliance Program that allows teachers to take advantage of a cooperative effort between local museums and Evanston/Skokie schools.  INVEST provides free buses every year to each school in District 65 and District 202 for field trips to Museum Alliance institutions and offers additional mini-grants to teachers for special projects and activities.  During the past school year, nearly 2,000 school children were exposed to the wonders of museums throughout the area, including the Botanic Garden, the Mitchell Indian Museum and the Emily Oaks Nature Museum, to name just three of the 11-member Museum Alliance.

Bill Speth, who has been an INVEST board member for nearly six years, says the goal of INVEST is more focused than it has ever been.  "I feel we have become a full-fledged partner with the high school, and it is very gratifying to know we are a part of the school's support system."

Each year, INVEST recognizes an outstanding volunteer tutor who has impacted a student's educational experience in a profound way.  This past May, INVEST honored volunteer Leonard Adams, a retired businessman. Mr. Adams not only spent several years tutoring a student who is now in college, but also designed and taught units on astronomy to a group of fifth-graders at Dawes Elementary School.

" I love it," says Mr. Adams.  "I find the kids to be smart and interested.  It can be challenging but so rewarding." 

In its 30th anniversary year, the INVEST Board encourages the community to "Re-INVEST in Education." To volunteer to tutor or for additional information on ways to support INVEST, contact District 65 resource coordinator Laura Antolín at 847-492-5990 or District 202 resource coordinator Ellen Morgan at 847-424-7686.

EDC Approves Funding for Evmark, Sales-Tax-Sharing for Farmer's Best

By Virginia Johnson

At the Sept. 24 meeting of the Economic Development Committee, members unanimously approved $132,000 in funds for Evmark, the downtown marketing association. A special taxing district in downtown Evanston allows the City to collect additional taxes from the property owners there, and the EDC allocates some of these funds to Evmark.

Carolyn Dellutri, the new executive director of Evmark, said that, although Evmark's budget for 2009-10 shows a 1 percent increase over the current year, the request was $6,000 less than the maximum allowed.

Ms. Dellutri said last summer's Thursday night dances were "very successful," and she described some new aspects of its marketing program, to "bring people downtown as a destination." For example, Evmark would like to have Metra indicate that its "Main, Davis and Central Street stops are in Evanston." She said Evmark is also planning a "bike-shopping" event. To make that successful, she said, retailers will have to be "educated about" certain aspects of service - such as shipping or delivering a customers' purchases.

Ms. Dellutri added, "EvMark is going green with holiday decorations. ... In previous years, holiday lights were discarded after one use.  This year, some decorations will use LED reusable lights and LED use will increase annually until all holiday lights will be LED." 

She also said Evmark is expanding its communications to include Chicago media outlets.

Maintenance landscaping in downtown Evanston sparked discussion. Ms. Dellutri said Evmark received only two responses to a request for bids for maintenance in the downtown area. Alderman Ann Rainey, 8th Ward, said the City has names of several contractors who have responded to the City's requests for proposals. 

 Farmer's Best Market Agreement
The committee members also unanimously the redevelopment agreement containing a sales-tax-sharing agreement between the City and Farmer's Best Market, which they had previously approved.

 Under the agreement for the property, Farmer's Best will remain for 12 years at Oakton Street and Asbury Avenue; in return, the City will split its share of the sales-tax revenue generated by Farmer's Best - up to $500,000 - with the owners.  The store plans to open by Christmas. 

Both funding recommendations must be approved by City Council.

Maya Papaya and Tony Macarony

By Victoria Scott
           
Owner Simone Oettinger displays fun clothing at Maya Papaya and Tony Macarony on Central Street.

The new children's clothing and gift store in town has a whimsical name and merchandise to match: Owner Simone Oettinger is counting on the fact that Maya Papaya and Tony Macarony, 1917 Central St., will provide an appealing alternative to the predictability of the mall.

Ms. Oettinger calls her store's clothing "unique, trendy" but "wearable, comfortable" - a combination she says should fit her clientele.

While the store's musical name just "popped into my head," she says (albeit after she rejected a long list), she has been gathering information about children's clothing - and the friends and neighbors who buy it - for years.

A 20-year resident of Evanston with 9 1/2- and 11-year-old daughters and a home within view of Orrington School, Ms. Oettinger has long noticed what Evanston children like to wear. She has also taken note of their moms' consumer instincts. "People in Evanston are down-to-earth and reasonable," she says. She is betting Evanstonians will prefer T-shirts that say "Gucci Coo" and "Pradada" to the real designer items, because "they will spend their money - but wisely. They want something that makes sense, is wearable."            

The store is the concrete manifestation of her New Year's resolution. For years Ms. Oettinger sold children's clothes and toys on the Internet, acquainting herself with the field -- and dreaming of opening a shop.

"But I did nothing. I asked myself why," she says. Last January, she says, she gave herself an ultimatum for the new year: "Start acting."

She began searching for a space, eventually settling on the former home of an antique store. After moving a wall and refinishing the floor, she transformed the subdued space into a child's playroom. She slathered the room with bright orange and yellow paint, festooned the heating ducts with vines and commissioned a mural of a monkey frolicking amid tropical foliage for behind the counter.

Where traditional pastel clothing would disappear, the store's imaginative wares play well against the deep hues and playful jungle décor.

Maya Papaya clothes are bold and colorful. For girls size 2 to 12 there are Wati creations, the sort of bright-colored "urban fashion" Ms. Oettinger says they love. Despite details such as frayed-edge ruffles and embroidery, she notes Wati's "reasonable price point."

Twice as expensive, but appealing for a splurge, are dresses with the Room 7 label. With their tiers of fabric in mixed prints, they are reminiscent of Holland's colorful Oilily brand, and no wonder: Ms. Oettinger says the daughter of Oilily's founders is the designer for Room 7.

Belle Ame frocks are new arrivals at Maya Papaya. The tulle skirts in black and hot pink are so full they stand up on their own; coordinated tops have a matching ruffle at the neck. While these are meant for street wear, the shop also has tutus for playing dress-up. They are packaged in pickle jars.

Little boys will be able to roughhouse in Charlie Rocket and Wes and Willy tees. Or they - or their moms - can make a fashion statement with shirts like the Kit + Lili white-with-black print Ms. Oettinger calls "bold and punchy." For baby boys there are Tea brand mix-and-match separates in red, navy and olive, stenciled and painted with designs of jungle creatures - monkeys, tigers and the like.

Ms. Oettinger says because her own taste is eclectic (she describes it as extending from "funky to classic"), she likes everything in the store. "I have to be passionate about what I sell," she explains. "It's difficult to sell what you don't believe in."

Anticipating an ongoing demand for shower and baby gifts, she has gathered an unusual selection: yellow plastic cutlery by Constructive Eating, including a forklift fork and bulldozer pusher to put pizzazz into mealtime; bath towels with hoods trimmed with animal ears and faces to make getting clean as much fun as Halloween; hair accessories and hats with enough crystals to make little girls feel like royalty; fleece blankets appliquéd with felt cupcakes to warm winter babies.

Ms. Oettinger is awaiting the awning and sign that will identify her store for those driving by. She predicts the store website,www.maya-tony.com, will be ready for e-commerce soon (a temporary site is accessible at www.mayapapayaandtonymacarony.com). Evanston customers will be able to arrange free store pickup or order online items to be shipped.

Meanwhile, she says she thinks she is off to a good start. She says she is listening to requests and comments and from here "will try to accommodate her customers and please the crowd."

Diwali Festival Oct. 18

Gauri Thakar of Leeba Creations and Lisa Weber of Heaven Meets Earth Family Yoga Studio are celebrating the Indian Diwali, the Festival of Lights, at the yoga studio, 2746 Central St. Free yoga classes will be offered, as well as kirtan (chanting) and other activities.