Holiday Tree, Holiday Spirit

The annual holiday tree-lighting festivities in Fountain Square were tinged with melancholy, as Mayor Lorraine Morton for the last time in her mayoral career arrived with Santa on a fire truck and flicked the switch to light the tree.

Before her arrival, children in the Children's Choir of the Music Institute of Chicago sang to throng of several hundred packed into Fountain Square.

This year, Evmark boasted a green celebration, with LED lights on the tree (to be used again next year) and serving as simulated candles in the hands of the choir members. The 50-foot tree was donated by Alan and Sallie Gratch. Mrs. Gratch sent the following note about the tree to the RoundTable:

About that holiday tree....

proudly over Fountain Square?  Did you marvel at the Evanston festivities on Tuesday evening, November 25th, at the grandeur of that tree, at its perfection and possibly lament its demise merely for the pleasure of those whose eyes fall upon it?

Well, here is the story behind the tree:  That full-bodied spruce has been living on the 1100 block of Judson for the past 37 years.  Carefully removed from a forest somewhere in Wisconsin during a family camping trip, the tree was gently introduced to Evanston soil when it was no more than 3 inches tall.  Its first years were spent in a back yard; then, after growing to a considerable height, it was moved to the front yard where it brought pleasure to all who saw it and watched it grow. 

Over the years, the spruce's branches reached out to the sidewalk, while its height competed with the trees around it, almost reaching to the top of the 3-story house it so easily hid from the street.

Full skirted and at the peak of its height, its owners decided the time had come to share the tree with the greater Evanston community, to offer the tree to the City of Evanston as its holiday tree.  What greater way to celebrate a tree than have it feted by a community, illuminated and cheered by all?

And so, the tree that so perfectly fits the centerpiece of Fountain Square is one of Evanston's!  Know that it arrived in its final moment of glory through the TLC of Evanston's Department of Forestry, a team of experienced, friendly guys, headed by Tony, who treated the spruce like a newborn.  Its removal and eventual installation in Fountain Square brought tears of joy to the tree's "family," who felt reassured they had made the right decision.

There is an open space today on one of the front yards on the 1100 block of Judson.  A knowing granddaughter just suggested:  "Granmama: how about starting all over again by bringing to the front yard one of those little spruce trees from Montana you've planted in the back?" 

And that just might happen. 
-- Sallie E. Gratch

Mom-Daughter Team to Stage "Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker"

By Victoria Scott

Tess Dinerstein and her mother, Angela Allyn, may well be starting an Evanston tradition with their ‘Dance-It-Yourself' Nutcracker.

Fourteen tiaras, 22 swords and a giant mouse costume: "I have a costume shop in my basement. It's a fabulous resource," says Angela Allyn. Fabulous enough, Ms. Allyn is betting, to create an impromptu production that will bring her daughter's dream to life.

Once upon a time when she was 7, Tess Dinerstein, 8, appeared onstage at the Harris Theater with the Chicago Festival Ballet in the holiday classic, "The Nutcracker." But for a King Lab first-grader, the experience was underwhelming.

"I had an angel role," says Tess, "and I stood there holding a light. My only movement was a bow." A maker of no small plans, Tess had an idea that would let her light shine. "So I thought, ‘I should be in a good role or direct [the production],'" she says. "I told my mom."

Ms. Allyn is the kind of mom who makes things happen. As director of the City of Evanston's arts camps and former head of the movement ensemble Abiogenesis Movement, Ms. Allyn is accustomed to creative thinking.

She borrowed a name for Tess's proposal from the popular participatory version of Handel's classic "Messiah." Then she presented the notion of a "Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker" to Tess's dance teacher.

Béa Rashid, director of Dance Center Evanston, 1934 Dempster St., not only responded enthusiastically, she gave Ms. Allyn permission to use the Dance Center's space during its pre-Christmas break.

On the flyer it appears a modest proposal: "Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker, 10-10:45 a.m. Dec. 20. Open to all ages." But telling the story of Clara and her Christmas adventure in just 45 minutes? "Think of it as a ‘Best of The Nutcracker,'" says Ms. Allyn - "the fast-forward version." Besides, the schedule is flexible. And "all ages"? The flyer anticipates "modulated mayhem."

Mother and daughter have been getting the costumes together: "We have a good sugar-plum princess, a good outfit for Clara at the party, a mouse costume. ... We can make tails," says Tess, who intends to handle that herself. She says she and her mother will bring "Nutcracker" books, in case anyone has forgotten the story.

Then everyone will choose a part - or two -  regardless of duplications. "If there are all Claras [the story's main character], then each one can do a scene," says Tess. "Mom will do the roles nobody takes." As for Tess, she thinks she will direct. But she says she will be wearing her ballet slippers "just in case" she has to fill in for someone.

Ms. Allyn expects some parents will want to drop off their children and run an errand or two. But she will bring an adult-sized cape and witch hat. After all, she says, referring to the eccentric man who gives Clara the nutcracker, "a few Drosselmeyers may show up."

The Dance-It-Yourself Nutcracker is open to the community. A $5/person or $10/family participation fee will be donated to the Dance Center's Evanston Dance Ensemble to help underwrite their spring production of "Alice in Wonderland." Call 847-328-6683 for information or to reserve a spot.

Eco-Gal: Green Dry Cleaning Options

By Mayre Press

The first suggestion is to avoid buying clothing labeled "Dry Clean Only." Many items, such as clothing made from linen, may recommend dry cleaning but can be hand- or machine-washed (cold water/gentle cycle) with fine results.

A key reason not to have clothing dry-cleaned is the toxic chemical called perchloroethylene or PERC, used by the dry-cleaning industry. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, PERC can contribute to the formation of smog. "It is a probable human carcinogen, causing a number of types of cancer," said Dr. Peter Orris of the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health.

Green options are available to consumers such as the Greener Cleaner, which uses a wet cleaning method. The company's mission is simple: Provide the highest-quality garment care by using methods and materials that are healthy for their customers, their employees and the environment. Clothes come back cleaner, fresher and more comfortable than dry-cleaned clothes.

With five locations in Chicago, the Greener Cleaner advertises that its delivery service is available from Hyde Park to Wilmette and from Oak Park to Naperville. Visit  www.greenercleaner.net or call 888-875-8345 for details.

Closer to home is Lake City Cleaners, which offers green cleaning processes that make use of non-toxic, environmentally friendly solvents. They partner with the Hohenstein Institutes in Germany, accredited under ISO 17025, to evaluate solvent usage and stain removal techniques on a monthly basis. This certification is the most stringent in the dry cleaning industry.

Lake City, which operates in Evanston and three other Chicago-area locations, has pickup and delivery service available throughout the North Shore, plus the Gold Coast, Loop, Magnificent Mile and much of northern Cook County. Go to www.lakecitycleaners.com or call 847-864-6200 for details.

The fall 2007 issue of Co-op America's Real Money newsletter cited Peter Sinsheimer, director of the Pollution Prevention Center at Occidental College, who has studied the effects of PERC and its alternatives for more than ten years. He said, "There are no toxicity issues associated with the wet cleaning method." Professional wet cleaning is a safe, energy-efficient way to clean "Dry Clean Only" clothing that uses water as a solvent - rather than chemicals - with a combination of special soaps and conditioners.

Because the wet cleaning method is free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), it eliminates the health, safety and environmental risks associated with traditional dry-cleaning. An added benefit is that the equipment and operating costs are lower. Mr. Sinsheimer said, "The biggest disadvantage to wet cleaning is that it produces waste water. Still, it is the most energy-efficient method. Unlike other techniques, wet cleaning does not have an energy-intensive solvent recovery system. It also saves more water than dry cleaning."

Evanston also has a rug-cleaning firm, Allegretti Rug Masters, which uses 100-percent environmentally safe cleaning products. Allegretti's 12-step process includes the following: 1) Vacuum front and back; thoroughly inspect the condition of the rug. 2) Pre-spot stains and soiled areas. 3) Thoroughly soak rug in water, flushing deep-seated soil. 4) Hand-wash front and back, using green cleaning products. 5) Thoroughly rinse all soap and residue. 6) Extract water from front and back of rug. 7) Hang to naturally air-dry (fans provide circulation). 8) Remove from racks when dry. Re-clean fringe to restore whiteness. 9) Hang a second time to naturally air-dry the fringe. 10) Remove from racks, brush pile to lift and soften fibers. 11) Vacuum. 12) Inspect rug for any problems not resolved in cleaning process and to make any needed repairs. For further details visit www.allegrettirugmasters.com or call 847-866-6668.

Contact Eco Gal at info@evanstonroundtable.com or ecogal247@yahoo.com.

Latex Paint Program Changes

The City of Evanston will no longer collect latex paint at the Recycling Center, 2222 Oakton St. Collection will now take place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Visitor's Parking lot across the street from the Municipal Service Center, 2020 Asbury Ave. 

Residents should not leave paint outside of the designated collection times. Collection will be staffed by City of Evanston employees.

Collection is open to City of Evanston residents only. Proof of residency will be required at drop-off.

Only latex paint that is clearly labeled will be accepted. Oil-based paint or unlabeled paint will be refused.  

For more information call the division of Streets and Sanitation at 847-866-2940 or visit www.cityofevanston.org.

Firewood Sale Continues

The City of Evanston's annual firewood sale continues while firewood supplies last. Sale hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at 2310 Oakton St.

Prices remain the same as last year. The cost is $20 per 1/8 face cord; $30 per 1/4 face cord; $50 per 1/2 face cord; or $90 per full face cord. Payment by personal check is preferred, although payment can also be made by cash. Credit cards are not accepted, and delivery is not available. Once supplies are depleted, the Saturday sales will be discontinued for the year.

New Shorefront Exhibit, ‘Portraits of a Community' Opens at Boocoo

Pictured left to right are Dino Robinson, Val  Summers, Patricia Vance and Claudia Braithwaite.

The first installation of Shorefront's exhibit "Portraits of a Community" opened on Nov. 20 at Boocoo cultural center at Church Street and Dodge Avenue. The exhibit is organized by Shorefront, a non-profit historical organization, which has produced exhibits, publications, lectures and children's programs showcasing more than 150 years of history of the black communities along Chicago's suburban north shore.

This year's exhibit includes 25 portraits of African-Americans who made a contribution socially or who are interesting people, said Dino Robinson, founder of Shorefront. He said the exhibit will evolve and he hopes to add 25 portraits each year. 

"These people are known and unknown, trailblazers and undiscovered talent, newcomers and old-timers," says the program description. "Either considered exclusive or inclusive, this exhibit will continue to grow, change, define and redefine itself. In all, this exhibit showcases people who have and will make changes in everyone's daily life - now and in the future."

 The exhibit includes portraits of Claudia Braithwaite and Neidra Berry, Rev. Gessel Berry, Carlton Black, Inana-Kerensa-Jody and Imani Childress, Carl Davis, Chris Greene, Maria Eliza Hamilton Abegonde, Charles Harrison, Rev. Donald Harwell, Tsehye Hebert, Sandra Hill, Delores Holmes, Geneva and Harry Jackson II, Ayinde Jean-Baptiste, Bennet Johnson II, Doria Johnson, Carolyn Lockwood, Gilo Kewesi Logan, Patricia Mitchell, Hon. Lorrain H. Morton, Loren Nwankpa, Michael Phillips, Patricia Vance, Kathryn McDonald Wimp, France Yoli Maya Yeh Joseph.

The photographers are Rich Foreman, Genie Lemieux, and Debi Chess Mabie.

Feminists Raise Their Voices to Launch ‘talk.in' Radio

By Victoria Scott

Pictured above are host Ravi Batista and producers Jamie O'Reilly and Maya Friedler. Photo by Iwoan Biedermann

Braving snow squalls, a capacity crowd comprised of women - and a few men - of varied ages rallied at S.P.A.C.E., 1245 Chicago Ave., on Nov. 17 to participate in the live recording of "talk.in," a new feminist radio show. Entrance to the 6:30 p.m. reception and 7:30 program was free and open to the public.

Like the 1970s Chicago public radio show, "Talk In," on which it is modeled, the new "talk.in" will examine current issues through the multi-faceted prism of feminism. But the non-profit Women's Media Group, who re-imagined the original "Talk In" for a different era, was thinking outside the box of 20th-century radio when it came to disseminating the taped segments.

While WMG will ready this year's four pilot programs for the radio airwaves, they will also launch them into cyberspace. WMG plans to upload the recorded shows as podcasts as well as developing them for public and community radio station broadcasts.

Program organizers identify themselves as "second-wave feminists" who have followed the lead of the suffragist "first-wave." In the course of the evening they called on a new generation of activists to become the third wave and carry on the conversation and work of the feminist movement.

Last Monday's  program, titled "The Post-Feminist Mystique: Bring Back the ‘F' Word," began with Anne Hills singing a song she wrote for the event, continued with a panel of three feminist speakers and concluded with a question-and-answer period involving the audience, panel and event organizers.

Ms. Hills asked the audience, in song, to "Talk, Talk, Talk - Listen." Then Maya Friedler of WMG, executive producer of the current show and producer of its predecessor, led off by dedicating the show to Diann DeWeese Smith, originator of "Talk In."

An exchange of ideas such as the radio show encouraged, said Ms. Friedler, "leads to grassroots activism." Looking back, Ms. Friedler recalled when "feminists were thought of as those who didn't shave their legs and wanted to be like men," a mistake she attributed to the confusion of "equality" with "sameness."

WMG, she said, operates out of a different principle: "We believe women's equality is at the core of a just society."

Host Ravi Batista, an actor and lawyer and WMG board member, asked panelists Sara Peretsky, June Sochen and Hedy Ratner, "What is feminism to you?"

Ms. Peretsky, a writer of crime fiction whose female heroine, private detective V. I. Warshawski, fights for social justice in Chicago, replied, "Feminism means women are fully human - not property or children." Raised in a family where the story of Joan of Arc became "a cautionary tale about women who speak out," she said feminism prompted her "to write out of the chip on my shoulder." Feminism, she said, "saved my life. It allowed me to find a voice."

Ms. Sochen, an author and historian, recalled hearing the word "feminism" for the first time in 1965 ("The 60s," she joked, "didn't begin until the later 1960s."). "Feminism has been my companion ever since," she said. After earning a Ph.D., she proposed a course in feminism that,
in 1968, became the first at Northeastern University - and in the state of Illinois.

Panelist Hedy Ratner, founder and co-president of the Women's Business Development Center, said she believes "the oppression [of women] in the civil rights and anti-war movements led women to start the feminist movement. ... Frustration sustains activism and leads me to the next challenge."

When she began her career, she said, "Less than 10 percent of businesses were owned by women." Now, she said, the figure is 47 to 49 percent.

But participants see plenty of work left for a "third wave."

"So much needs to be done," said Ms. Ratner. For example, she said, less than 2.3 percent of work went to women's businesses in Chicago in 2006. "Support women," she said. "Think about whom you're buying from."

Ms. Sochen apologized, after the fact, for the impatience of an audience member's feminist friends when she breastfed her son some decades ago. Though she said she was always sympathetic, Ms. Sochen said, "Feminists were often derisive of motherhood, wifedom. It's not either/or."

Ms. Peretsky agreed. "Yes, you can have it all - just not all at once."

The third wave swelled by evening's end. "What is the American feminist movement doing to help feminists in the third world?" asked a young woman. "Listen [ing]," Ms. Paretsky said.

"What one thing can we do to forward the cause best?" asked a 24-year-old.

"Know you can have a role, an impact," said Ms. Ratner, passing the torch to a new generation of activists.

Do-It-Yourself Holiday Gifts

By Anne Bodine

One way to avoid the stress of holiday mall shopping is to consider making homemade gifts this year. Skills are not important, because Evanston is packed with merchants willing and able to help customers create the perfect presents for their loved ones. So instead of standing in long lines, shoppers may wish to consider using precious time wisely by supporting a local shop, learning a new skill and giving someone a thoughtful handmade gift they will cherish for years to come.

Paper Presents

The Evanston Print & Paper Shop, 1125 Florence Ave., is a community art center for bookbinders, letterpress printers, artists and designers.  The shop is offering a class to help would-be artists create a 2009 date book with cloth inlays.  Some lucky person will certainly appreciate this book for its usefulness and beauty.  Dec. 7, noon-4:00 p.m.; $78 (includes materials).

The folks at the Evanston Print & Paper Shop also offer a workshop on how to make a stationary box.  This class will take participants through each cut and fold of assembling an attractive box to give to that special someone who likes to stay organized.  Dec. 13, noon-4:00 p.m.; $75 (includes materials); 847-475-7674.

After building a date book and/or stationery box, the Evanston shopper can head over to The Paper Source, 2100 Central St., and wrap it up. The pros at this hip shop will be sharing their secrets on the art of perfect gift-wrapping: techniques for stylish bows, package-toppers and a variety of other unique touches.  Fair warning: The gifts might be too pretty to open.  Dec. 14, 1-3:30 p.m.; $45; 847-733-8830.

Something Warm and Fuzzy

Who would not appreciate receiving a new scarf made with love this season? Montoya Fiber Studio, 2566 Prairie Ave., offers ongoing knitting and crochet classes. This season, it is OK to dare to be ambitious and try knitting a sweater for someone special. Once knitters decide what to make, shop owner Cathy Montoya will guide them every step of the way. The flexible schedule lets individuals pick the dates they want to attend. Paying for a group of four classes saves 10 percent. Classes are held Saturdays 9:30-11 a.m., Mondays 9:30-11 a.m., and Tuesdays 5:30-7 p.m.; $15 each or four for $54; 847-869-1089.

Bake It

There is no such thing as too many cookies around the holidays. Culinary service center Now We're Cookin', 1601 Payne St., has a hands-on demonstration class called Cookies from Around the World, where students learn to bake traditional cookies from all over the world, from French chocolate macaroons to Peruvian alfojores. Everyone will get to take samples home. Packaged in a holiday cookie tin, they make a perfect gift for a neighbor, teacher or friend.  Dec. 15, 6:30-9 p.m.; $45; 847-570-4140.

It's a Stitch

Needles Excellency, 1630 Central St., offers needlepoint workshops throughout the year.  The highly skilled teachers will assist students with whatever they are working on, from pillows to framings. The instructors, many of whom have been working at the Needles Excellency since it opened in Evanston nearly 30 years ago, are happy to teach the skills to create the perfect gift. $80 for 4 two-hour sessions; call 847-869-1089 for dates and times.

Brilliant Beads

For those who cannot afford Tiffany's this year, the jewelry-making experts at Beadazzled, 2002 Central St., will teach the beading basics to create fine jewelry. In this two-hour course, students will complete a bracelet and a short necklace using nylon and bead tips. Nov. 30, 1-3:30 p.m.; $35 (materials included).

Beadazzled also offers an earrings class, where budding jewelers learn how to make several different styles of earrings and come home with a pair for a great gift. Dec. 7, 1-3:30 p.m.,  $40 (materials included); 847-864-9494.

... In A Pinch

No time or interest in doing it yourself this year? Check out these annual Evanston holiday events and choose from a variety of one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting the community.

The 16th Annual Alternative Gift Fair Lake Street Church, 607 Lake St.
 Dec. 7, Noon-4:00 p.m.

Shop for unique gifts and support humanitarian causes at this eclectic fair. Find everything from personal items (clothing, jewelry, soaps) to home decorations (rugs, pillows, art work) and much more. All proceeds support mission programs
and individual artisans both locally and around
the world.

The 17th Annual Pottery Sale McGaw YMCA, 1000 Grove St.
Dec. 5, 6 and 7
Local potters display their wares, describe their techniques and answer questions at this annual
pottery sale. Proceeds from the sale will benefit
the McGaw YMCA.

The Sixth Annual Winter Arts & Crafts Expo Evanston Art Center, 2603 Sheridan Road
Nov. 21 - Dec. 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon.-Sat.
(closed Thanksgiving), Noon - 4 p.m., Sun.

The Winter Expo offers an opportunity to acquire fine original pieces created by contemporary artists - perfect gifts for the holiday season.  Categories include jewelry, ceramics, wood, glass, metal, fiber, leather, wearable textile accessories, mixed media, small 3-D sculpture and 2-D works including printmaking, photography and painting. Proceeds from the Expo will help benefit the outreach efforts of the Evanston Art Center.

DANCERS

Several Evanston dancers will perform in the Joffrey Ballet's annual production of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker Suite": Emilee Crabbe, Helen Gratch, Celina Mudd-Lindland, Dominique Nottage and Maeve Harvey-Camillone.

Holiday Happenings ...

Food and Toy Drives

The Evanston History Center, 225 Greenwood St., in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, will host its third annual holiday food drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 9-12. Dawes House staff will accept donations of nutritious, non-perishable food items. Call 847-475-3410.

For the eighth consecutive year Harris Bank sponsors the U.S. Marine Corps "Toys for Tots" toy drive. Through Dec. 18, all Harris branches will be accepting new, unwrapped toys for needy children. For more information regarding Toys for Tots visit www.toysfortots.org.

Ten Thousand Villages will donate the proceeds of its evening sale, 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 1, to the Childcare Network of Evanston.

Bazaars and Gift Fairs

Evanston Masonic Temple, 1453 Maple Ave., will host a holiday bazaar 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. on Nov. 29. Items for sale include jewelry, books, holiday crafts, candles and oils, clothing, mosaic glass items, and African attire and art. Admission is free. Limited vendor space is still available; call 847-644-7481.

Twenty-one Native American exhibitors from the Chicago area and beyond will offer authentic, handmade, traditional and contemporary art and craft items at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian's Native American Holiday Bazaar from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 6 at the Mitchell, 3001 Central St. Admission to the bazaar is included with an entrance donation to the museum. 847-475-1030.

"Our Favorite Things" Christmas Boutique at St. Mark's Church, Grove Street at Ridge Avenue. Many gently used seasonal items will be for sale, as well as items from local artisans. Proceeds will go to the Nets for Life Program, which provides mosquito nets for various communities in Africa, and the Interfaith Action Council of Evanston, whose mission is to serve the homeless in this community. Call 847-864-4806 or e-mail office@stmarksevanston.org for more information.

Concerts

The Lakeside Singers will present their 2008 Holiday Concert, "Yuletide Treasures," at 8 p.m. on Dec. 5 at Nichols Concert Hall, Music Institute of Chicago, 1490 Chicago Ave.  $30/adults, $20/seniors and students, $10/children age 12 and under. 847-382-5085.

The Northwestern University Henry and Leigh Bienen School of Music will celebrate the holiday season with festive concerts, scheduled for Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 3 p.m. at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, 50 Arts Circle Drive; 847-467-4000. "Festival of Lessons and Carols," conducted by Stephen Alltop and featuring oboist Michael Henoch, will take place at 10:40 a.m. on Dec. 7 at Alice Millar Chapel, 1870 Sheridan Road. Admission is a free-will offering.

Evanston Symphony Orchestra presents its annual Christmas Concert at 3 p.m. on Dec. 7 in the Evanston Township High School auditorium, 1600 Dodge Ave.

The concert will also feature the 100-voice Evanston Symphony Festival Chorus, with dancers from the Evanston Dance Ensemble. Gifts may be left for Head Start students; $23/adults, $10/children. 847-864-8804.

City Warning on  Coyotes

Although predators such as the coyote serve a valuable function in keeping prey species in balance with their habitat, populations of small animals, such as rodents, coyotes are opportunistic feeders, meaning they will feed on whatever is most readily available and easy to obtain. Their primary foods include small rodents (especially rats), fruit, berries, rabbits, birds, snakes, frogs and insects. They will also scavenge on animal remains, including roadkill, as well as garbage and pet food left outdoors. In suburban areas they prey upon unprotected pets, including outdoor house cats and unsupervised domestic small dogs.

Coyotes are naturally afraid of people and their presence alone is not a cause for concern. However, anyone who feels a coyote is acting strangely should contact Animal Control at 847-866-5080 and speak with one of the animal wardens.

Preventing Conflicts With Coyotes
Do not let coyotes intimidate you; let them know they are unwelcome. Do not hesitate to scare or threaten coyotes with loud noises and bright lights or throw small objects such as tennis balls at a coyote. If a water hose is close at hand, spray the coyote with water in the face.

Coyotes will raid open trash materials and compost piles. Secure your garbage in tough plastic containers with tight fitting lids and keep in secure buildings when possible. Take out trash the morning pick up is scheduled, not the previous night.  Keep compost piles in containers designed to contain but vent the material.

Keep wild things wild - do not feed or try to pet coyotes. Feeding, whether direct or indirect, can cause coyotes to act tame and over time may lead to bold behavior. Coyotes that rely on natural food items remain wild and wary of humans.

Keep pets safe. Although free-roaming pets are more likely to be killed by automobiles than by wild animals, coyotes do view cats and small dogs as potential food and larger dogs as competition. For the safety of pets, keep them restrained at all times.

Feed pets indoors. Outdoor feeding attracts many wild animals to your door.

Keep bird feeding areas clean. Use feeders designed to keep seed off the ground as the seed attracts many small mammals on which coyotes prey. Remove feeders if coyotes are regularly seen around your yard.

Close off crawl spaces under porches and sheds. Coyotes use such areas for resting and raising young.

Cut back brushy edges in your yard. These areas provide cover for coyotes and their prey. If you have fruit trees make sure to pick up any fallen fruit and dispose of it properly.

Making Decorations for the Holiday Tree

These youngsters in District 65's Head Start program at the Hill Education Center made decorations last week for the Christmas tree for Evanston Symphony Orchestra's annual Christmas concert on Dec. 7 at Evanston Township High School, 1600 Dodge Ave.

Those who attend the concert are asked to bring an educational toy suitable for the classroom, such as games, dolls, toy cars and trucks (no stuffed animals) suitable for three- to five-year-olds as part of a new "classroom wish list" project.   

The Evanston Symphony has been involved with Head Start for several years through its special music education "Music in Your World" program.

'The Outlander'

A Book Review By Sue Brooke

 "The Outlander" is an extraordinary first novel by Gil Adamson. The western provinces of Canada are still a wilderness when this story begins. Mary Boulton, a widow at 19, is frantically running for her life. Driven to utter despair, she shot and killed her husband, and now his  two brothers are tracking her through the Alberta Foothills and the Rocky Mountains. She has no food, no money, no weapons - only her worn Bible - and she runs, her Victorian dress dragging through the mud.

Mary can neither read nor write, but she has marked up her bible with her own hieroglyphics so she can recite many long passages from memory.

Several people befriend this refined, terrified young girl: an eccentric old widow, a hermit mountaineer, some Indians and Preacher Man, who makes his living buying stolen horses from the Americans. All are taken with her and try to help her, but in the end it is Mary who must take care of herself in this wild west whose code is "live and let live." Many of Mary's friends and helpers, running from their own troubled pasts, are not all that worried about hers.

Gil Adamson, who is also a published poet, writes beautifully and movingly. In the opening scene she writes:

The girl stood in her ditch under a hard, small moon. Pale foam rose from where her shoes sank into mud. No more voices inside her head, no noise but these dogs. She saw her own course along the ground as a trail of bright light, now doused in ditchwater. She clambered up the bank and onto a road, her still funeral shirt made of bedspread and curtain, her hair wild and falling in dark ropes about her face. The widow gathered up her shawl and fled witchlike down the empty road.

The dark, empty road of her past has both Adamson's readers and Mary running for their lives.

Young Evanston

Evanston's Youth Rocks

By Abigail Uselding

The youngest participants in the competition, a band called "Flaming Ice," performs at The S.P.A.C.E.'s Battle of the Bands on Oct. 19. Photo courtesy of Sol Anderson

In honor of the grand tradition of rock music, the Society for the Preservation of Art and Culture (S.P.A.C.E.) hosted a Battle of the Bands competition on Oct. 19, from 5 to 9 p.m.The City's Youth Engagement Division joined Boocoo, a not-for-profit cultural center located at 1823 Church St., and S.P.A.C.E. at 1245 Chicago Ave. in sponsoring the event.

Nine bands took to the stage in an effort to out-rock each other. The band members who participated in the competition ranged in age from middle school to high school, and in genre from hip-hop, to R&B, to rock, to acoustic, said youth coordinator Sol Anderson.

The competition saw "quite a turnout," said Mr. Anderson. He added, "Well over 100 people [were] in attendance, [including] families and youth of all ages." During, the event, S.P.A.C.E., in conjunction with Union Pizzeria, gave two $450  scholarships for lessons or studio time at Boocoo. One of the scholarships went to Julian Sanders, and the second to Jonisha Montgomery.

Three of the nine competitors emerged victorious: In third place, Ashley Coleman (aka ACStyle) took home a $200 dollar scholarship for lessons and studio time at Boocoo and free passes to performances held at S.P.A.C.E.

A band called BloodJustice took second place. They also won $200 scholarships for lessons or studio time at Boocoo and free passes to S.P.A.C.E. performances. In addition, they will also get the chance to be the opening act for the first-place winner at a show at S.P.A.C.E.

The first-place winner, a group called Triato, will record a CD and headline their own show at S.P.A.C.E. Triato also took home the $200 scholarship for lessons or studio time at Boocoo and free passes to S.P.A.C.E. performances.

Exchange Program Offers Cultural Insight

While Rotary is probably best known for its commitment to eradicate polio worldwide, the organization also sponsors other outreach programs, one of which is a high-school student exchange program. The program is coordinated by Dr. Keith Sarpolis, who matches host families with students from abroad. Dr. Sarpolis said of the program, "For me, it's been wonderful. We get a cultural look at these students. They tell us about how they grew up, what their education is. We learn from them immensely."

Nancy Franzon, who is hosting Wei-Chu "Ranko" Chen, an exchange student from Taiwan until December, said the experience enriches the host as much as the student: "The level of understanding you get with teenagers - you expand their horizons throughout the year, and expand their culture [as well as ours]." She said Ms. Chen has made friends not only with ETHS students but with other students in the country on Rotary scholarships.

After December, Ms. Chen will visit another family or two for the remainder of her stay, and Dr. Sarpolis is looking for volunteers. "We're looking for a four-month commitment," said Dr. Sarpolis. Some families seem reluctant to do this, he said. "It can be disruptive to kids' schedules, and the kids find they have to share their social friends as well as their parents' time." Yet, he said, these exchange students are not guests: "They are expected to be incorporated into the family and be treated as any other family member." Families whose children or parents have participated in exchange programs are often the first to volunteer to host an exchange student, said Dr. Sarpolis. Ms. Franzon added that she became quite close with the family of the first student she hosted, even visiting them - at their invitation - in Brazil afterwards.

Anyone interested in participating as a host, either this year for Ms. Chen or later for other students, should contact Dr. Sarpolis at sarpolis4@ameritech.net.

D65 Constitution Contest Open House Dec. 6
 
After a presidential election for the record books, seventh-graders were challenged to share which Amendment to the U.S. Constitution would be their focus if they were running for U.S. President.  The public is invited to view the student's projects on Dec. 6 from 1 to 6 p.m. in the Joseph E. Hill Education Center, 1500 McDaniel Ave. The competition, the U.S. Constitution Contest,was sponsored by The League of Women Voters of Evanston and entitled "Your Rights, Your Reasons."

Studentss were invited to respond to the challenge through written word, performance art, or visual art entries. Teams of judges with diverse backgrounds and talents will  evaluate the students' works.  The awards ceremony begins at 4 p.m.

Hobbit at Mudlark

Not long ago - last weekend, to be exact - in the not-so-quiet of the stage at the McGaw YMCA ChildCare Center, Mudlark Theatre's staged its production of "The Hobbit."

Under the direction of Amy Eaton, 20 children took to the stage to present J.R.R. Tolkein's beloved classic. Members of the cast were Christopher Emrich, Emma Soglin, Quinn Turley, Logan Sutherland, Zeb Eaton, Peter Stodder, Naomi Fireman, Logan Donley, Zach Sowle, Kieran Collins, Andy Soglin, Isabella Green, Liam Winchester, Jack McCarthy, Jacob Bond, Julia Freeman, Brady Soglin, Dominic Bournes, Emma Gabor and Nadia Stodder.
Photos by Lynne Pace Green.

'Well'

A Play Review By Brian Murphy

The Next Theatre adaptation of Lisa Kron's Tony-nominated "Well" is a compelling and insightful examination of the difficulties and affirmations of community integration; the debilitations of sickness and the accusations of hypochondria that sometimes accompany it; and ultimately, the complex dynamics of mother-daughter relationships.

'Well' opens at Next Theatre. Pictured above, Mary Ann Thebus as Ann Kron welcomes the cast into her home. Left to right: James Krag, Kat McDonnell and Andre Teamer  Photos by Michael Brosilow

Any restaging of "Well" can be expected to suffer somewhat in the absence of Ms. Kron, the show's writer and original star, but Lia Mortensen (of the Next's "Macbeth") tackles the role of Lisa Kron, a dramatist trying to stage the play of her life only to have it constantly interrupted by her mother, Ann (Mary Ann Thebus), who sits in a La-Z-Boy Recliner in her living room, off to stage right. Jack Magaw's scenic design is thoroughly detailed: Ann's house is brimming with framed photos and the type of knick-knacks one might expect to see at a grandparent's house. 

While Lisa directs her actors center stage and constantly breaks down the invisible wall between audience and actor ("This show isn't about my mother," she insists), Ann nods off, terminally tired by her allergies, waking only to listen, and inevitably, interject her own opinions about what her daughter should be focusing on. 

Actors in the play-within-a-play James Krag, Kat McDonnell, Lily Mojekwu and Andre Teamer break out of character to listen to Ann's stories. Lisa's play evolves into her mother's interpretation, and Lisa is not happy about it. 

Effectively bizarre and funny, "Well" is poignantly and sharply directed by Damon Kiely. It is a Chicago premiere of the play, first performed in 2004, and which opened to crticial acclaim on Broadway in March 2006, subsequently receiving two Tony nominations.

"Well" runs through Dec. 14 at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes St. The performance runs about an hour and a half with no intermission. Box office: 847-475-1875.

'Robinson Crusoe: A Holiday Panto'

A Play Review By Brian Murphy

Writer and Piccolo Theatre ensemble member Ken Raabe brings a modern twist to a very funny and creatively staged
"holiday panto" version of "Robinson Crusoe."

Brian Bell tackles the titular role in the wonderfully chaotic production that features a mash-up of "Survivor," "Gilligan's Island," "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea" and some offstage shouting reminiscent of the "E" channel's "The Soup."

The lovely Aine Carlin and Brianna Sloane make their Piccolo debuts as two sailors who find themselves shipwrecked along with the girl next door (Piccolo newcomer Amira Sabbagh as Peggy Sue), Professor McGuyver (Vic May), Major Ginger (Ken Raabe in a pink military uniform), movie star Allspice (Liz Larsen-Silva of "Vaudeville and Vixens"), and Robinson's mother Excrutia (Glenn Proud, hilarious once again in drag). 

The bewildered group finds itself stranded on an island strewn with hidden cameras. It seems the sinking of their ship was no accident; evil television producer Ms. Byg (Jessica Puller of "Sinbad") wishes to film a "Survivor"-like reality show based on actual island castaways.  Ms. Puller relishes her role as the play's antagonist, playfully berating the audience for their "boos" with her faux New Yawk accent and smacking her lackey assistant with a riding crop. 

Director John Szostek provides method to the madness, choreographing kinetic song and dance routines featuring cannibal Friday (Leeann Zahrt is a delightful ball of energy and wide eyes), a synchronized scene of seasickness, and a breathtaking underwater scene, the crux of the play, featuring sea puppets created by Noah Ginex. 

"Robinson Crusoe" is perfect for those who enjoy outlandish humor and actors who play off the audience and each other -- especially when an actor has a mouthful of water he is trying not to swallow.

"Robinson Crusoe" runs through Dec. 20 at the Piccolo Theatre, located at the Evanston Arts Depot, 600 Main St. For tickets call 847-424-0089.

Giving in the Holiday Spirit

Housing Options

Housing Options, a nonprofit agency that provides affordable housing and supportive services for adults recovering from mental illnesses, needs your help.

Our residents survive on a median income of just $815 per month. After for paying for rent and food, there is precious little left over ... certainly not enough for a holiday celebration.

We are looking for donated items for our holiday "stocking stuffers." Great items would include: wrapped candy, gift certificates, decks of cards, soaps and lotions, and anything you'd like to contribute. 

In addition, we always welcome volunteers to help with holiday parties and other resident-centered events.

Please call Laura Sabino, Executive Director Housing Options at 847-866-6144, x11.

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The Musical Offering

Here's a brief wish list on behalf of The Musical Offering:

Community-minded board members who love music, feel strongly about arts education in the public schools and diversity in all its many forms and have a level of experience/expertise in either finance or fundraising or both.

Evanston-based businesses who would like to sponsor Musical Offering students as they perform in our annual Music Marathon Student Performance Event and Fundraiser on Sunday, Feb. 15. The proceeds from this event help sponsor lessons and classes at the MO for needy and deserving Evanston youth.

Two artist benches for Musical Offering piano students.

A flat-screen monitor for a computer station.

 

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Childcare Network of Evanston (CNE)

 CNE supports children of all abilities and families of all income levels in accessing high quality care and early education in order to arrive at school ready to succeed. Childcare Network's holiday wish list includes diapers, gently used winter clothing for children birth to five years, and grocery gift cards for families in need. CNE needs a used refrigerator in good condition for parent and community meetings. 
Please deliver to Childcare Network, 1416 Lake Street, or call 847-475-2661 ex. 26.  Thank you.
United Way of the North Shore/Evanston Chapter(UWNS/EC)

For 75 years, the UWNS/EC has provided funds to local agencies, currently 23. These agencies provide services to needy families, adults, children and youth in our community to help  them achieve financial stability, sustained health and wellness, and become successful adults. Agencies submit an application and are evaluated each year by UWNS/EC board members. Funds are raised every fall through a community campaign.

If you would like to support needy families, adults, children and youth in our community but are not sure what the most pressing needs are, please consider making a contribution to the UWNS/EC, which will help you achieve your purpose.
UWNS/EC  540 W. Frontage Road  Ste 3040, Northfield IL 60093 
Questions? 847-999-2990

Introducing the Turkish Hazelnut, Corylus colurna

By Libby Hill

Turkish Hazelnut, Corylus colurna also know as the Filbert tree.

Most of the plants in the genus Corylus are short, multi-stemmed deciduous shrubs. They are usually placed in the family Betulaceae, along with the birches and alders, although as DNA research illuminates and rearranges our family tree, Corylus species may end up in their own family.

Unlike its shrubby cousins, the Turkish hazelnut or Turkish filbert, Corylus colurna, is a single-stemmed tree. It is short-trunked, strong-looking and grows in a perfect pyramidal shape. Under cultivation, it usually tops out at 50 feet, but can grow to about 80 feet. Michael Dirr, in his standard reference "Manual of Woody Landscape Plants," says, "For an entire career I have wished the best for this tree but have never seen it materialize in everyday commerce." Many experts cite the challenges of propagating it in the nursery and then successfully transplanting it. Most specimens are relegated to arboreta, which presumably have the time, expertise and patience to produce them. The genus was probably native to southeast Asia and southeast Europe. Seeds collected in Constantinople were sent to Vienna in 1582. When introduced into England in 1665, the tree was known as the "Constantinople nut." It was introduced into North America in early colonial times.

The online "Almanac of Miscellaneous Merriment" has a story about the hazelnut and its other common name, filbert, in a nutshell: "As a child when I was driving around the orchards of the Willamette Valley with my mom, she would point out the rows and rows of low and gnarled trees and say, ‘Those are the filbert orchards. In the United States, filbert trees only are grown in Oregon. Some people call filberts hazelnuts. People that call them hazelnuts aren't from Oregon.' ... I mean really, why filberts? Filbert doesn't even have the word ‘nut' in it...."

Searching around for an explanation of the name, "Miscellaneous Merriment" says that the nut was named after St. Filbert, a French saint, because hazelnuts are ready for harvest on his feast day around Aug. 20-22. Others, however, say "filbert" comes from "full beard," which describes the long husk that covers the nut. Oregon's climate and rich soil are so favorable for hazelnuts that, for a time at least, it produced 99 percent of the hazelnuts in the country. Natives bartered them to Lewis and Clark back in 1805.

Hazel plants are monecious - both male and female flowers grow on the same tree. The long, light-green decorative catkins appear as groups of tassels before the tree leafs out with its large, dark green, irregularly shaped, toothed leaves, creating a heavy shade. The small, delicate female flowers are practically invisible unless you look closely to observe their ruby red color. Pollen is windborne, and even though the trees are monecious, it takes two trees to make nuts. Hazels may go years without fruiting.

The "American Girls Handy Book," published in 1887, has rules for "nutting parties" evocative of sweet, innocent times. "Select, if possible, a day in Indian summer for your nutting-party, and it is well to wear a gown that will not easily tear, catch the dust, or spot ... so that no thought or anxiety need be given to your clothing." It says of hazel: "Although we are all fond of the round little hazel-nut, they do not seem to be as plentiful as could be wished, it is seldom we have the pleasure of going hazel-nutting, yet when the opportunity occurs, it is rare sport and an event to be talked of afterward."

Another website, "Sacred Earth: Ethnobotany and Ecotravel," from the United Kingdom, contains this nugget: "This year I did not have to go ‘nutting'- the nuts came after me. When I went out the door the other day I was pelted by clusters of hazelnuts.... The hazelnut that had knocked me out turned out to be a most interesting creature - a large, tightly packed, fuzzy ball with several nuts hiding in frizzy sheaths." [The origin of the scientific name is shrouded in speculation, but some sources say corylus might translate as "helmet," meaning the sheath that covers the nut, not the head covering.]

"I don't recall ever having seen hazelnuts like that before. But this year, having moved to the city, I made my first acquaintance with a hazel-tree (Corylus colurna). And quite a stately tree it is. The ones guarding my street (occasionally bombarding hapless passers-by) are 20 to 30 meters high, I can almost pick the nuts from my second floor window. They are still a little green and probably worth waiting for a couple of weeks longer - when I see the squirrels making a run for them I know it must be time." As a healthy snack for humans, a handful of hazelnuts packs a punch of nutrients.

Turkish hazels are slow-growing, love sun, are not particular about soil, are insensitive to ozone, cold and heat and resist damage from wind, but are drought-resistant once well established. They need reliable watering the first few years. They are, however, sensitive to salt. They have been known to attract Japanese beetles but survive them.

Evanston would plant more of these strikingly handsome trees if they were available. Their stark, strong profile, with limbs growing at right angles to the trunk, decorates the winter scene. As of 2004, only 57 Turkish hazelnuts graced our public land.

This is the final column on trees around Evanston. Look for Ms. Hill's new column, "Birds of Evanston," starting in mid-year 2009