Above: The Central Street Neighbors Association entry in the 2024 Fourth of July parade.
For over a century, Evanston, through the efforts of the non-profit Evanston Fourth of July Association (EFJA), has celebrated Independence Day on July 4. This Fourth marks the 250th anniversary of the 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence by delegates to the Continental Congress. Probably you already know that. Be assured, many who will grill out or watch fireworks this weekend do not.
Is that "birthday party" still appropriate? News reports today are that many Americans don't feel excited or inspired. Is staying home the answer?
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Sat, 05/23/2026 - 14:33
Submitted by CSNA on Sat, 05/23/2026 - 13:36
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Sun, 10/12/2025 - 10:37
The City of Evanston has propounded a draft Housing Plan. You may wonder why. The City of Evanston, like most cities its size, is not in the business of constructing, selling, managing, or leasing housing as a municipal function. The housing is already built. Lots of it. By the private sector, since the 1840s.
Submitted by CSNA on Thu, 07/17/2025 - 09:21
Central Street Neighbors Association again entertained parade-goers on the 4th of July in Evanston with local musicians Holly and the Harrisons (Holly Shapiro (drums) and Matt Sobczyk (bass) of Rent Party as rhythm, plus Harrison Street residents Matt Storkman (lead vocals), Jeff Smith (guitar), and Bruce McBratney (keys)). CSNA thanks all the musicians and marchers and truck-decorators who donated their time for several hours each on a hot and extremely humid 2025 Independence Day.
An irony of parade music is that no spectator gets to hear a whole song! So here, for your enjoyment, is a video of the band performing Woody Guthrie's timeless populist ode to America, at the end of the 2-mile route, passing Mustard's and the reviewing stand. Evanston's Bruce McBratney leads off the song.
Submitted by jeffpsmith on Sun, 04/12/2026 - 18:45
Most residents of Evanston and nearby suburbs are aware of the diagonal road called Gross Point. Why, many wonder, does that road not go to the only other area feature similarly named, the landmark Grosse Point lighthouse at Central and Sheridan in Evanston? Here is the history.
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We have been working on editing and posting manageable segments of video from the February 4 forum featuring six candidates for the Democratic nomination to represent the 9th Congressional District that includes all of Evanston. As of this writing we have about half the forum up and hope to complete the rest within a few days. In the meantime, if you missed the forum or were there and want to review, or share with a friend, you can view individual questions at your leisure from the links below or at our 