14 minute read
Cover story
from MidWeek_072722
by Shaw Media
COVER STORY 200-YEAR-OLD OAK FELLED
Massive tree was likely among the oldest living in DeKalb County
By CAMDEN LAZENBY
clazenby@shawmedia.com
DeKALB – A tree estimated to be more than 200 years old was cut down recently after it succumbed to rot, and area residents are recalling fondly its DeKalb legacy.
On July 21, crews contracted with the city of DeKalb cut down a historic oak tree on Rolfe Road for liability reasons after a recent rainstorm caused a large limb – which had already been cabled to the tree – to fall.
“It’s like losing a best friend, quite honestly,” said Diane DeMers, who has lived in DeKalb for 33 years and said she could see the oak tree through her kitchen window.
The tree sat between the curb of 246 Rolfe Road and the sidewalk, making it property of the city of DeKalb.
DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas said because the canopy of the hundreds-year-old tree extended over the street, sidewalk and the adjacent property, the city had to act to ensure more hefty limbs wouldn’t fall. Nicklas said the significant-sized limb that broke off and crashed to the ground on July 15 could have crushed a car or killed somebody.
Nicklas said a certified arborist, under contract with the city, came out and did an analysis of the trunk and limbs of the tree. Nicklas said the arborist told him the health of the tree was failing.
“It still has a canopy of leaves,” Nicklas said, “and sometimes people look at that and say ‘Oh, it’s OK,’ but certain species don’t lose their leaves before they can fail.
“In other words there’s rot inside the trunk that you can’t see from the outside,” Nicklas said.
DeMers, who has lived in her home near the tree since 1989 said she understood the reason the tree, which officials estimated predates the founding of the country, had to be felled.
“Thing is, it’s so vibrant, it’s just that it’s diseased and I think the interior is pretty split. And, you know, for liability reasons they need to take it down, but it’s beautiful,” DeMers said.
The tree is estimated to predate the arrival of the Ellwood family to the area, one of DeKalb’s more prominent early families. The tree also is likely older than the period of time when European settlers came to the area in the early 1800s.
“This tree was there when the Ellwoods had horses in the pasture,” DeMers said.
She wasn’t the only person to have grown a strong affinity for the tree. Fifty-four years before DeMers moved into the house nearest the tree, the home was built for Dr. James Ellis and Dorothy Ellis.
Barbara Ellis Bennett, the daughter of the Ellises, grew up in that house and developed fond memories of the old oak tree. Bennett said her father loved the tree, which played a significant factor in her family’s decision to build the home on that land.
After growing up, moving away and starting a family, Bennett said she would still bring her kids to her parents’ place for Christmases and Thanksgivings.
“We came to celebrate with my folks no matter what the holiday was,” Bennett said. “So they all, my five children, all are just so fond and so devastated that that tree is going down.”
Bennett said she understands why the city elected to bring the tree down, and doesn’t want anyone or anything to be hurt, but considers the ordeal a shame.
DeMers, who was home when the July 15 rainstorm broke off a large branch, suggested to the city the bark could be repurposed to honor its life. She said she would love to see a bench made for the Ellwood House museum, which is just down the street from her residence.
“If they have to take the stump out maybe something historical could be carved into it,” DeMers said. “It’s massive, you know, with some thought they could really design something that reflects the history of DeKalb.”
Nicklas said he agreed and had planned to have large portions of the tree stored at a secure site with the city’s Public Works Department. That idea, however, didn’t come to fruition. When the oak was brought down, it was discovered that rot and ants had gnawed away at the tree from the inside, rendering the bark unusable.
The day after the massive oak was felled, DeMers said she felt like she’d witnessed the end of a hundreds-ofyears-long circle of life.
“I got up and I walked outside and it’s heartbreaking,” DeMers said. “I love the sunshine but it shouldn’t be there, it just shouldn’t be in that spot.”
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com Workers from D. Ryan Tree and Landscape take photos of the stump of the historic oak tree at 246 Rolfe Road in DeKalb after it was cut down Thursday, July 21. The tree, one of the oldest in the city, was beginning to die and lost a branch in a storm last week so at the advice of an arborist the city opted to remove it rather than risk more branches coming down and causing damage or injury.
Diane DeMers, DeKalb resident
Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com Judge Philip Montgomery is sworn in as a circuit court judge for the 23rd Judicial Circuit Court by Judge Bradley Waller as his wife, Lisa Montgomery, holds the Bible on Friday, July 15, at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore.
Philip Montgomery sworn in as 23rd Judicial Circuit’s newest judge
By CAMDEN LAZENBY
clazenby@shawmedia.com
SYCAMORE – Philip Montgomery was sworn in as the 23rd Judicial Circuit court’s newest judge on July 15, moving up to a circuit judicial bench in DeKalb and Kendall counties after serving as associate judge for more than seven years.
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Michael Burke spoke during Montgomery’s swearing-in ceremony at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. Burke said he was honored to recommend Montgomery – who was appointed after a vacancy arose because of the retirement of DeKalb County Judge Thomas Doherty on July 4 – for the position.
“There is a great deal of responsibility that comes along with being a circuit judge,” Burke said. “I cannot think of a better person to fill that position.”
Burke said he always does his best to come to events like this. “I think it’s important for the Supreme Court to, you know, be involved in the swearing-in ceremonies whenever we can.”
While talking to the crowd gathered to watch him take his oath of office, Montgomery said if he had been told eight years ago he would be appointed an associate judge and then a few years later be appointed a full circuit judge, he wouldn’t have given credence to it.
“Needless to say, I would have looked at you and said, ‘I don’t believe that’s accurate,’ ” Montgomery said. “But I stand before you as an example of the fact that dreams do come true.”
State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, was among those in attendance inside the crowded Courtroom 300. He said he was ecstatic to see Montgomery step into his new role.
“We need people of integrity to sit on the bench, and I don’t think anyone embodies that better than Judge Montgomery,” Keicher said.
Early in his career, Montgomery worked as a private-practice attorney and then served as an assistant state’s attorney in DuPage County from 1989 to 1998. Starting in 2008, Montgomery served as an assistant state’s attorney in the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office in Sycamore until he was appointed as an associate circuit court judge on Oct. 9, 2014.
Montgomery, who earned a Juris Doctor degree from Drake University in 1987, worked as an attorney for 26 years before he took up the circuit court bench in November 2014.
The Chief Judge of the 23rd Judicial Circuit, Bradley Waller, said he didn’t know Montgomery prior to his appointment eight years ago. Waller said he remembered, however, that Montgomery asked the judges questions, something atypical of most candidates.
“He knew a little bit about each of us, which kind of scared me a little bit,” Waller said.
“While I think he may have focused on standing out, Phil has done that in the most humble and unassuming way possible,” Waller said. “I am proud to call him a colleague and a friend.”
Montgomery was appointed to be a resident circuit judge on March 14, after Doherty’s retirement, according to a document from the State of Illinois Supreme Court.
While speaking during the ceremony, Montgomery said his biggest fear when he learned Justice Burke was going to attend his swearing-in was that he’d been mistaken for someone else.
“There aren’t any takebacks are there,” said Montgomery.
Burke said he first met Montgomery when he came to the DuPage County State’s Attorney Office.
“Just seeing his career grow and then become a judge out here,” said Burke, “I was very proud to be associated with him.”
La Calle receives $12K TIF grant from city
By MEGANN HORSTEAD
mhorstead@shawmedia.com
DeKALB – The owner of La Calle, a new music venue and bar slated to open its doors next month in the space formerly occupied by The House Café in downtown DeKalb, is now the recipient of a $12,625 public grant from the city of DeKalb.
Yesenia Galindo, owner of La Calle, appeared before DeKalb city leaders last week as the DeKalb City Council voted, 7-0, to approve the tax increment financing assistance grant. Galindo plans to use the money to help pay for life safety equipment, electrical, mechanical and plumbing upgrades and measures to ensure Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
La Calle is expected to open for business Aug. 26.
“We were extremely excited,” Galindo said. “My brother and I have been working extremely hard to make this happen, make this music venue come back to life.”
La Calle is eligible for the economic incentives as it falls within the boundaries of city’s geographical tax district called TIF 3, located generally along Lincoln Highway from the Kishwaukee River west of the downtown to the railroad tracks on the east end of the downtown.
The TIF grant was awarded through the city’s Architectural Improvement Program, city documents show.
City Manager Bill Nicklas applauded the Galindo family for their patience and hard work. He said the city is generally excited to see vacant buildings given new life, including upgrades to ensure the building is compliant with the ADA.
“In this case, they are spending a lot of money on ADA compliance and installation of life safety improvements and other things,” Nicklas said.
Galindo said she settled on this location as she was surveying her options and found that it stood out to her, especially given her family’s musical history. The House Café served as a local spot for area bands, a venue to enjoy an evening of drinks and music.
“It has significant meaning to us because when we were younger – my brothers are musicians – we grew up going there when we were younger not only to listen to their bands but other friends that we know that are also musicians,” she said.
“Other great musicians have played at The House. So, it definitely has
Megann Horstead – mhorstead@shawmedia.com The owners of La Calle, a new music venue and bar, are in the process of setting up shop at the former location of The House Café, located at 263 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb. The building is seen Thursday, July 14.
Yesenia Galindo, owner of La Calle
See LA CALLE, page 9
Dr. Z has been in the area for 29 years 15 Minutes West of Somonauk
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Photo provided by Jazz in Progress
Members of Jazz in Progress perform in “Jazz at the Egyptian.”
• LA CALLE
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significant meaning to us to be able to bring that back to the community.”
Born and raised in DeKalb, Galindo said the idea of running her own business in the city matters to her.
“This means a great deal to us,” Galindo said. “This opportunity, we’ve worked really hard for. I’ve been in this industry for over 25 years. It’s been a dream of mine to open up my own bar especially where I grew up.”
Galindo said La Calle is hoping to appeal to a variety of people with the venue’s promise to bring more diversity to the scene in downtown DeKalb.
“We really want to give the community another option as far as nightlife goes,” she said. “I think there’s room for everybody in the downtown area to succeed. You can go from one bar to the next bar. I remember it being that way when I was younger.”
Galindo expressed appreciation for city staff who worked with her to help bring the music venue and bar back on line. The House Café closed in 2019 and has been largely vacant, with the front entrance area serving as art and vendor space periodically since.
“We’ve already done a walk-through with the city,” Galindo said. “We’ve been working really hard since July 1 to get all of that done as far as electrical work, plumbing. … There’s definitely a lot of stuff we need to bring up to code.”
Galindo said she is grateful to have been awarded the TIF grant, and she believes the funding could help offset costs associated with improving the building.
“It will make it that much easier for us to complete everything that needs to be completed in a timely manner,” she said.
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Jazz in Progress band to host a free concert
Shaw Local News Network
WATERMAN – Jazz in Progress will perform a free concert open the public Saturday, Aug. 27, highlighting a variety of jazz music.
The concert is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Park Pavilion in Lions Park, 420 S. Birch St., Waterman, according to a news release.
The 18-piece community jazz band will play a variety of music, including classic jazz standards, swing-era, funk music from the 1960s and 1970s, as well as other music. The concert also will feature a number of vocalists and instrumental soloists from within the band.
Jazz in Progress is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that puts funds it raises back into local community music programs, including the DeKalb, Sycamore, Genoa-Kingston, Hinckley-Big Rock, Indian Creek, Sandwich, Earlville and Leland, St. Mary’s-DeKalb school districts and the DeKalb County Community Foundation.
For information on Jazz in Progress, call 815-751-0006 or like the band on Facebook.
You can win if you want... Puedes ganar si quieres...
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My Life, My Quit™ is the free and confidential way to quit smoking or vaping. Text "Start My Quit" to 36072 to chat with a Coach. My Life, My Quit™ es la forma gratuita y confidencial de dejar de fumar o vapear. Envía un mensaje de texto con “Start My Quit” al 36072 para chatear con un Entrenador.
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