Budget Survey Results

Last week, I sent a survey out on the e-newsletter with questions regarding the City budget and potential cuts. Please find a summary of the survey results here.

Statement on Budget Cuts

I have received numerous calls and e-mails regarding the City’s budget. Many citizens are concerned about cuts in the budget, including the branch libraries and the Evanston Community Media Center (ECMC). I want to be clear that I am keeping an open mind on all pending budget-related decisions. Over the next several weeks, I plan to carefully analyze the data related to the budget before casting my vote.

As many of you may know, I ran for Ninth Ward Alderman on a platform to balance the budget and support decisions that enable the City of Evanston to live within its means. I believe it is extremely important to preserve the City's long term fiscal health, which may require making difficult and potentially unpopular financial decisions.

I appreciate the feedback I have received these past few weeks and encourage you to continue to contact me and other elected officials with fresh ideas and suggestions—it is this civic participation that makes our community strong.

-Coleen Burrus

A Message from the EPD

While looking at some of our recent burglary to vehicle reports I observed that the items taken from the vehicles are very expensive to include such things as GPS units, laptops, IPODS, etc. We are advising people to not leave these items in plain view in your vehicles. Anyone walking by and peeking inside would be tempted to take what they see. Don't let this happen to you. If you have any questions, please let us know. Thank you.

-Officer Rick Whitehead, Problem Solving/Community Stragegies: (847) 866-5019

"For the Love of Oakton" Event

Save the date for the Oakton PTA's 3rd annual "For the Love of Oakton" at Oakton School on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 3-5!  Suggested donation of $5 at the door..

Fun for the entire family, featuring our very own D.R.U.M Group, Dramatic Success from Oakton's Super Saturday program, a jazz combo from the Chicago Academy of the Arts (thanks to Rick Ferguson of Musical Offerings), a brief performance by Striding Lion, supervised kids activities, a child and adult raffle, silent auction, and delicious potluck food. There is a suggested donation of $5 at the door.

Here are some highlights of the silent auction: Hotel get-aways, summer cottages, theatre tickets, sporting events, restaurants, toys, games and books for the kids, jewelry, clothes and much, much more.
If you would like to make a donation, please contact Robyn Hurtig.

100% of all money raised goes to fund Oakton's 6-week artist-in-residence program and other PTA programs. For the 3rd year, we are partnering with Striding Lion as Oakton's artist-in-resident, who will work with our kids using music, dance, and theatre to reinforce their learning about living organisms in the third grade curriculum. Our artist in residence program focuses on the third grade, but touches every child in the school through performances and by working with every classroom.

Message Board

Feel free to post any news, concerns, events, or anything related to the 9th ward or Evanston on our new message board. The board can also be found by clicking "Message Board" on the homepage.

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