Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: North Shore Donors Asked To Help As Red Cross Reports National Blood Crisis

Spotted on the Evanston calendar: Fundraising in the Age of AI

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Wednesday August 26th Patch AM
Wednesday August 26th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Good day Evanston! We're here again with what you need to know today. Grab a cup of coffee and read on. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • Evanston blood drives added as Red Cross declares national crisis
  • How much did Evanston property taxes really rise this year?
  • What Council changed before advancing Evanston's new youth sports facility

Also on today's calendar: Fundraising in the Age of AI and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What did the wall say to the other wall. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Wednesday: A thunderstorm in spots, with a high of 84 and low of 67 degrees.
  • Thursday: Sunny to partly cloudy, temps: high: 77, low: 68.
  • Friday: Partly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 77 and low of 68 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. North Shore Donors Asked To Help As Red Cross Reports National Blood Crisis (patch.com) — Evanston and other North Shore residents are being urged to donate blood as the American Red Cross declares only its second-ever national blood crisis, driven by low summer donations and high hospital demand. Several local drives, including two on Aug. 27 in Evanston and an ongoing donation site on Main Street, offer nearby options, with August donors receiving a $20 Amazon gift card. The Red Cross says just a few more donors at each drive could help stabilize supplies.
   

2. Tax report: Residential bills up 5%, down for business properties (evanstonroundtable.com) — Evanston homeowners are seeing a roughly 5% jump in median property tax bills this year, while many business properties are paying slightly less. A new Cook County report shows the tax burden shifting further onto residences, details how much revenue goes to local schools and city government, and reminds owners they can appeal assessments through Sept. 1 for future bills.
   

3. Youth sports facility advances at Council (evanstonnow.com) — Evanston's proposed Ishbia Family Foundation youth sports facility on Green Bay Road cleared its first City Council hurdle, with alders tweaking alley width and lighting rules before a final September vote. Council members also pressed a Central Street townhome developer for a much higher affordable housing contribution, signaling they don't want to weaken the city's inclusionary housing requirements.
   

4. Two longtime city staff retiring (evanstonnow.com) — Two deeply rooted Evanston public works leaders, Kevin Johnson and Stefanie Levine, are retiring after decades shaping city services and parks used daily by residents. From maintaining complex operations to transforming parks like Robert Crown, Penny Park, and the Evanston Skate Park, their work has quietly influenced how Evanstonians gather, play, and move through the city for years.
   

5. Sweepstakes machine rules sent to committee (evanstonnow.com) — Evanston's decision on how tightly to regulate sweepstakes machines is on hold after City Council sent a proposed ordinance back to the Economic Development Committee. The measure would cap machines citywide, limit them per location, require registration and impose a temporary moratorium, with further debate expected at the committee's Sept. 23 meeting.
   

📸 Around Evanston

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Evanston

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Class Of 2026 Set For Hall Of Fame Induction —Dennis Mahoney Read on Patch
  • The Douglas Center Public Hearing Notice —Linda Cordero Read on Patch
  • Bellis Throws For Three Scores In Varsity Debut —Dennis Mahoney Read on Patch
  • Double Clutch Brewing Company to Host 5th Annual Clutchtober Fest Sept. 12 —Kate Ahern Read on Patch
  • Potbelly Corporation posted a job opening for Team Member in Evanston. Apply here.
  • Williams-Sonoma, Inc. posted a job opening for Shipper-Receiver, Part Time Flex, Skokie - West Elm in Skokie. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Evanston here.

Ok Evanston! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Meet me at the corner. (Thank you Earlene M. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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