DC_Midweek_101222

Pay raises, but no strikes allowed under NIU’s new instructors’ union contract

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – After more than a year without a collective bargaining agree ment, Northern Illinois University and the NIU Instructors’ Unit, Local 4100 of the University Professionals of Illinois have settled on a new contract for fulltime faculty assistants, lecturers and instructors.

The new pact is retroactive to July 1, 2021, and continues through June 30, 2025, according to university documents.

The union represents approximately 236 employees, with 224 in the Division of Academic Affairs and 12 in the Division of Outreach, Engagement and Regional Development, university documents show.

“I think our members are happy with the agreement,” said Keith Nyquist, chap ter president for NIU Instructors’ Unit, Local 4100 of the University Professionals of Illinois. “They ratified it unanimously. We’re looking forward to the end of the contract to work together hand-in-hand with the university to provide the best education and best educational experi ence for our students. That’s the one thing that we all have in common here is we’re here for the students.”

Pay increases are in order for full-time employees under the new contract. That includes a 3% increase for fiscal 2022, 6% for fiscal 2023, 6% or salary adjustments for fiscal 2024 according to the non-negoti ated faculty and staff salary increment guidelines approved by the NIU Board of Trustees, whichever is greater, univer sity documents show. In fiscal 2025, bar gaining unit members become eligible for

WHERE

that understanding.”

Nyquist stressed that a work stoppage was never in play for bargaining union members.

chapter president for NIU Instructors’ Unit, Local 4100 of the University Professionals of Illinois

a 5% increase or salary adjustment, whichever amount is greater.

NIU officials issued a Sept. 22 state ment on the new agreement after bargain ing talks.

“We are pleased that we were able to work with the leadership of Local #4100 of the University Professionals of Illinois to arrive at a contract that not only meets the needs of the university, but also received the unanimous support of their membership,” according to the statement.

“Our instructors are an integral part to our mission of delivering an outstanding education for students at NIU and we look forward to working with them to meet that goal during the term of this contract and beyond.”

Under the new deal, bargaining unit members are discouraged from partici pating in strikes, work stoppages or slow downs. But it doesn’t deter picketing as some did prior to the union securing a new agreement with the university.

“I mean, we’re not only discouraged, we’re legally prohibited from participat ing in a strike,” Nyquist said. “We can’t strike under the agreement, and we’re fine with that. Those are the terms we agreed to, and we’re moving forward with

The university administration also agrees not to lock out any of the employ ees covered by the collective bargaining agreement while it remains in effect.

“If neither side can come to an agree ment during a contract negotiation, then one of the tools the employer has is to lock out those bargaining employees until they agree to come back to work,” Nyquist said. “Strikes and lock outs are tactics usually reserved for the negotiating pro cess. But once the contract’s in place, there’s no reason to do either.”

Nyquist stressed that the potential for a lock out never came up in talks with the university.

In a related development, the Board of Trustees recently authorized a side agree ment for a one-time $2,500 supplemental increase to the current base salary for full-time faculty assistants, lecturers and instructors. The board’s action will follow the implementation of the contractual sal ary adjustments for fiscal 2022 and 2023 for bargaining unit members who are in active pay status and who are on the pri mary employee roster as of Aug. 16, or July 1 for 12-month appointments, uni versity documents show.

The pact stipulates that bargaining unit members cannot be capped at less than 75 days for sick leave or sick leave bank that may accumulate during the duration of the collective bargaining agreement. Employees are granted bene fits and entitlements in accordance with campus policies and the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993.

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ON THE COVER

Brian Reis walks through the Ellwood House facility on Monday, Oct. 3. Reis said goodbye to his executive director job recently after a 12-year run.

See story, page 6.

Photo by Camden Lazenby –clazenby@shawmedia.com

CORRECTIONS

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“I think our members are happy with the agreement. They ratified it unanimously.”

Keith Nyquist

The Commitment of Resource Bank

Chapter Four Community

Five generations of my family were born and raised in the Malta community, and you may have visited our family business, Jonamac Orchard. My grandparents lived on Sprague Street, and I recall them having a large garden that they spent many hours tending, beginning with the first tillage in the spring, to planting, pulling weeds, and harvesting all summer and into fall. They also composted the lawn and garden waste so it could be reused each spring to fertilize the garden. Grandpa explained that when he grew up on the farm, there were no commercial fertilizers, so you had to use and conserve what was available because that was all you had.

By mid-summer, they usually had more produce than they could use and eagerly gave it away. I think they enjoyed giving it away as much as they enjoyed eating it. My grandparents taught us that if you put in hard work and effort, your backyard garden would take good care of you, your family, and your neighbor’s family. The same hard work and effort it takes to grow a garden is also needed to sustain and grow a community, but the rewards and the shared success are well worth it.

Being a locally owned community bank means that everything is homegrown, from resources found right here. Our owners and employees may be your neighbors, sit behind you in church, or have children that play soccer with your children. Our business customers depend on the local economy to have viable, sustainable businesses so they can take care of their families. We all work together to make our local garden great. Stop in today to see how much of a difference being local can make. We would be honored to meet with you.

Kevin McArtor, Director of Business Services

• Believing In The American Dream

U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Embrey speaks Saturday, Oct. 1, during a dedication ceremony marking the completion of Phase 1 of the DeKalb Elks Veteran’s Memorial Plaza in DeKalb.

DeKalb Elks Veteran’s Memorial dedicated to area military service members

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – About 100 people gath ered to dedicate the new DeKalb Elks Veteran’s Memorial Plaza on Oct. 1 in a ceremony that emphasized what orga nizers said was the city of DeKalb’s reputation as a veteran-friendly com munity.

The event brought out current and former area government officials and veterans, marking the completion of the first phase of development for the new memorial.

U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Embrey of DeKalb is a member of DeKalb Elks Lodge 756 and co-chair man of the Elk’s Veteran’s Memorial project. He said he was inspired to cre ate the memorial after he was invited to perform taps at an American ceme tery in Normandy, France, in 2016.

“When I was there, I looked around and I saw their memorial and I said to myself ‘Oh my God, there’s a memorial in France for our veterans,’” Embrey said in his remarks during the halfhour ceremony.

Embrey said he then challenged for mer DeKalb city leaders to do more for

area veterans. That encouragement eventually manifested itself into the 70 veteran banners hung in downtown DeKalb, the creation of veterans-only parking spaces downtown and now the DeKalb Elks Veteran’s Memorial Plaza at 209 S. Annie Glidden Road.

He said his efforts were done “to make DeKalb the most veteran-friendly city in northern Illinois.”

“And I think we’ve not only met but exceeded that goal,” Embrey said.

Former DeKalb County State’s Attorney Michael Coghlan was among those in attendance and praised Embrey’s attitude.

“I’m here because these are the peo ple that guarantee our freedoms, free dom of speech, freedom of the press,” Coghlan said. “I think Michael Embrey said it very well, that it’s not the law yer that guarantees the fair trial, it’s the veteran.”

State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Syca more, said he thinks the greater DeKalb area embraces veterans warmly.

“I chalk it up to the sense of commu nity and the same reason we have so

David Toney for Shaw Local News Network

LONGTIME LEADER LEAVING

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – Longtime leader of the historic Ellwood House in DeKalb said goodbye to his executive director job recently after his 12-year run saw more than $1 million raised and the Nehring House brought back under the propri etorship of the historic facility.

Reis said it’ll be hard to leave the museum supporters in the DeKalb area, but he’s proud of the restoration work he’s completed at the mansion.

“We put new roofs on buildings, really good preservation campaigns, and for the mansion itself we did this historic structures report, which is this really hefty document that looks at ... the total package of the building to see how it was developed historically, how it’s used today and then how to restore it in the right manner,” Reis said. “That was a two-year deal right there, just to have that document created by a team of preservationists.”

The Ellwood House’s accomplish ments, preservation initiatives and respect from the community accumu lated during Reis’ tenure, but esteem for the local heritage site wasn’t the only positive outcome he created during his time. Jerry Johns, a member of the Ellwood House’s board of direc tors, said his relationship with Reis has been among the most significant he’s had in his life.

“It’s been excellent, and one of the most meaningful experiences in my life,” Johns, 78, said. “He is an outstand ing executive director and we have apparently forged a bond so that we can communicate very openly and clearly with each other, and we have also enjoyed a very special friendship.”

Reis began his time at the Ellwood House a decade before he was hired as the executive director – and met Johns – when he was brought on as an intern around 2000. Reis said he worked at the Ellwood House and three other muse ums to “cobble work together” while pursuing a graduate degree in art his tory museum studies at Northern Illi nois University. After a time, he transi tioned to caretaker of the Ellwood House, living in an apartment in the mansion for several years.

“It was great, it was a great apart ment and it was a great place to live,” Reis said. “I mean, I wrote my master’s thesis on the little porch that’s part of the apartment, so it was perfect with the proximity to NIU.”

Johns said under Reis’ leadership, the Ellwood House embarked on a three-year program to raise more than $900,000 for historic restoration, which resulted in more than $1 million raised for the initiative.

“Brian was the foundation to really make all that possible, and it’s a real feather in his many accomplishments as executive director,” Johns said.

Reis also helped with the acquisi tion of the Nehring House, now called the Ellwood-Nehring House, from Shirley Hamilton Nehring a decade ago. The 1899 Tudor-style revival house is used for event space mostly, while the Ellwood mansion remains a museum.

With Reis’ departure, Johns said the Ellwood House needs to fill the execu tive director position. In the meantime, current staff will facilitate the tasks Reis is leaving behind.

“We also have staff members who will be continuing the various roles so that the Ellwood House can serve the community and broader region with

outreach programs, tours, and the upcoming holiday open house event,” Johns said.

Johns, who has previously served as a president and vice president for the Ellwood House Board of Directors, hopes the new executive director will carry on initiatives started under Reis’ tenure, and help carry the museum and historic homestead forward much how Reis has done.

A qualified candidate, Johns said, will be a strategic leader capable of working with the board to reach longterm goals while also managing several fundraisers a year, performing func tions of a human resources department and overall business administration, and manage the exhibits and maintain appropriate care of the artifacts.

“It’s a sad time, and I think I speak for all the board members,” Johns said. “However, we are delighted that he [Reis] has found a new venture that will continue to use his talents. And I per sonally think it’s a darn-near perfect position for him.”

Reis’ retirement from the Ellwood House won’t end his professional career, however. He’s taken a position as executive director of the Smeja Homestead Foundation in Rockford. At 25 acres, the homestead is Reis’ largest site, with fewer buildings than in DeKalb.

“They’re more of [an] organization that’s looking for a new direction and they want to focus on historic preserva tion and doing, you know, outreach and programing,” Reis said. “And they’re looking for someone to kind of look at it as a startup, and that’s appealing to me.”

Asked why Reis’ new position at Smeja Homestead Foundation is close to a perfect fit, Johns said it’s “because he’s a visionary.”

“And this new role will ask him to spend some time preparing for a resto ration of a [century old] farmhouse and then move onto other things that will help position that organization to grow and make a larger impact in the com munity,” Johns said.

‘Visionary’ Brian Reis, a fixture at Ellwood House for decades, retires as executive director

Shaw Local News Network file photo Brian Reis, executive director of the Ellwood House Association, points out some of the damages at the historic property, on Jan. 5, 2017, in DeKalb. Reis recently said goodbye to his executive director job after a 12-year run.

Vigil calls upon survivors of domestic violence, advocates to ‘break the silence’

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – DeKalb resident Cari said she knows all too well the rela tionship between silence and fear.

Together, they can make for a dan gerous combination. Cari, a domestic violence survivor herself heaped praise on Safe Passage, DeKalb Coun ty’s only domestic violence prevention and survivor advocacy center, for the resources they provided her when she needed it most.

“My whole life was turned out around,” Cari said. “I’ve been clean for almost nine months.”

Cari said she struggled to find help and people who would believe her as she dealt with the dueling challenges of living with a domestic abuser and substance abuse issues. She said she had been rejected by 15 domestic vio lence shelters before those at Safe Pas sage agreed to work with her.

“I was lucky I survived,” Cari said. “I’d end up 6 feet under.”

Safe Passage hosted a vigil Monday, Oct. 3, in commemoration of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, inviting survivors and advocates to share testi mony and speak to resources available in the community for those in need of aid. The event featured a speak out, remarks shared by dignitaries and a candlelight procession.

DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd said he felt compelled to take part in the annual vigil to show the commu nity that area authorities are commit ted to targeting domestic abuse.

“Every year, I come here for a lot of

reasons: one [is to] support the fight for domestic violence,” Byrd said. “But also I come here every year to confirm our dedication and our challenge to protect victims of domestic violence and to also try to end domestic violence.”

Byrd said he is hopeful that the fight against domestic violence won’t be for naught.

“We have to stop the cycle,” Byrd said. “It starts with every breathing soul in this city, every breathing soul in this country. … It’s a world problem.”

DeKalb County State’s Attorney Rick Amato said fighting domestic vio lence in the community has been a pri ority since he came into office six years ago. Now in his second term, Amato said his office has changed how they prosecute domestic violence cases.

“We have two attorneys fully dedi cated to domestic violence and I’m adding a third to be part time in there,” Amato said.

The state’s attorney’s office has more than 1,000 domestic violence cases awaiting prosecution, to date, he said.

Amato said many people are “suf fering in silence” out there.

Safe Passage Executive Director Mary Ellen Schaid commended the agency’s clients for working to create change in their lives.

“It takes a huge amount of bravery to break the silence [of] domestic vio lence,” Schaid said. “The more and more people that do that, the more and more that we’re going to be able to cut that in the world. That is what we aspire to.”

The following are the times and locations of Early & Grace Period Voting Sites in DeKalb County for the General Election being held on November 8, 2022.

*All Early & Grace Period Voting Sites are available to all DeKalb County Voters*

Sycamore Campus

Legislative Center’s Gathertorium 200 N. Main St., Sycamore, IL 60178

Early & Grace Period Voting

Serving ALL County Precincts

September 29th – October 28th Monday – Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Grace Period Registration Begins – October 12th October 12th Wednesday

*County Board CoW 8:30am - Noon

October 19th Wednesday

*County Board Meeting 8:30am - Noon

October 29th – October 30th Saturday & Sunday 8:30am - 4:30pm

October 31st – November 4th Monday – Friday 8:30am - 7:00pm

November 5th – November 6th Saturday & Sunday 8:30am - 4:30pm

November 7th Monday 8:30am - 7:00pm

DeKalb Township Building 2323 S. 4th St., DeKalb, IL 60115

Early & Grace Period Voting

Serving ALL County Precincts

October 24th – November 4th Everyday 8:30am - 4:30pm

NIU-Holmes Student Center

Gallery Lounge 340 Carroll Ave., DeKalb, IL 60115

Early & Grace Period Voting

Serving ALL County Precincts

October 24th – November 4th Everyday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Kingston Friendship Center 120 Main St., Kingston, IL 60145

Early & Grace Period Voting

Serving ALL County Precincts

October 24th – November 4th Everyday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Sandwich Library 925 S. Main St., Sandwich, IL 60548

Early & Grace Period Voting

Serving ALL County Precincts

October 24th – November 4th Everyday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Dated at Sycamore, Illinois, September 19, 2022

DOUGLAS J. JOHNSON

DEKALB COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER

Mark Busch – mbusch@shawmedia.com

Jennifer Yochem of the DeKalb County Housing Authority speaks Monday, Oct. 3, at the Egyptian Theatre during the Safe Passage domestic violence vigil.

4

many amazing volunteer and commu nity groups,” Kiecher said. “We just have a unique footprint in the state of Illinois where people want to stand up and

After the ceremony, Tasha Sims, who works in DeKalb County govern ment, said she’s proud to live in a com munity that honors those who’ve served and credited community organi zations, such as the Elks Club, for that status.

“I don’t think we can ever thank the veterans enough for everything that they do,” Sims said. “And to have a memorial like this in our county but also the entrance to the city of DeKalb is very meaningful,” Sims said.

The new memorial is adjacent to DeKalb Elks Lodge 756, and can be clearly seen when driving north on South Annie Glidden Road, an intended spot, said Embrey.

“That was the reason we picked it,” Embrey said. “Because we want this to be that visual destination when you’re coming off of [Interstate] 88 on Annie Glidden. It is the primary entrance when you’re coming into town.”

DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes said he supports the memorial’s central view ing location for those who visit DeKalb.

“Thousands upon thousands, hun dreds of thousands when you think

about how long this memorial is going to be up, are going to drive by this. In their cars they’re going to see it, some are going to pull over, they’re going to sit on the benches that we’re sitting in right now,” Barnes said. “They’re going to read a little bit more about it, they’re going to go on the internet to find out more about it, but ultimately it’s going to touch some people’s lives because of where it’s at, but also because of how

wonderful and beautiful this is.”

Nine flags are hoisted atop poles on the memorial, each for a different branch of the U.S. military, those who were prisoners of war or missing in action, the Elks veteran flag and the American flag. Organizers said they believe it’s the first regional memorial to also include a flag for the newest branch of the military, the U.S. Space Force.

Additional phases are planned for the memorial, including five more benches and plans for patriotic-style lighting.

“It will be spectacular,” Embrey said. “We had one light prototype, and we were impressed with one. There will be seven lights, it’ll be ground to sky lights and it’ll be red, white and blue. So it’ll be really, extremely patri otic.”

David

for Shaw Local

Network

LOOKING BACK

1922 – 100 YEARS AGO

According to instructions received here by Harley Self, who is in charge of the patrol road from DeKalb to Water man, it is possible and probable as well, that this road will be widened early in the coming spring. Mr. Self, it is said, has received orders to keep the road in as good condition as possible this fall and winter, but not to do any work that might be permanent. With a double driveway on this cement from DeKalb to Waterman, the trip will be a pleasant one. It is pleasant now, especially during the dry weather, but when soaking rain such as those of late have taken place, there is little joy in making the trip. Espe cially it is unpleasant when one drives a new car.

Following acceptance today by the committee ordered to purchase an ambulance for the city, the next hospital patient, or the next police call, will be given attention with Fire Chief McEvoy and the new ambulance. The wagon, a Service Motor company make, is an ideal outfit for the city of DeKalb. There are several features of the new machine that put it in a class by itself. It is larger and higher than the old public safety wagon.

Workmen have just about completed building the fence around the athletic field at the state teachers’ college prepa ratory to the game there Saturday after noon. It is expected that hundreds of people will be on hand for the contest and the task of keeping that many peo ple back of the lines would be a terrific one were it not for the American steel fence.

Judge Glidden this week received a large basket of Concord grapes from Thomas Scott, who is on location on a small farm in New York, and according to the judge’s story, the grapes were deli cious.

Three Reo speed wagons built into a comfortable bus seating about 15 or 16, the Service Motor Bus company today started its schedule between DeKalb and Rochelle, and Rochelle and Dixon. The large bus, very well fitted for winter use, stood in front of the post office this morning for a few minutes and attracted considerable attention. The busses are roomy, well-constructed and after the business once become known, there is no reason why the service should not be well patronized.

1947 – 75 YEARS AGO

The ”good earth” of DeKalb County must contain something besides its rich ness and its fine black color. Either that or the citizens of this land of milk and honey must be numbered among the “Lord’s chosen people.” How else can you account for a bountiful crop in a year that was a month late at the start and then was cut 10 days short by early killing frosts? Veteran farmers shake their heads, but the evidence is unmistakable. The corn crop was from a week to a month late at the start of the season because farmers were unable to work their fields subjected to almost daily rains.

Glidden Memorial hospital, complet ing 25 years of service to the DeKalb community, having opened its operating rooms on Oct. 13, 1922, will observe the event within the next month or six weeks, it was announced this morning.

St. Mary’s hospital, completing 25 years of activity in the DeKalb commu nity, will have an open house on Sunday, Oct. 12, to properly celebrate the event. The open house will be throughout the day and the entire institution will be open for public inspection. Those who remember the opening of the hospital 25 years ago and who have not visited there in the past few years will be sur prised at the many changes and improvements that have been accom plished.

Milton E. Duell, son of Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Duell of Esmond, and a freshman at Bradley University was pledged to Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity. A graduate of the Rochelle High School, he is now pursuing a career of engineering at Bradley.

Last evening a number of residents of this community enjoyed a beautiful spectacle as the Aurora borealis was vis ible in all its glory. A number reported seeing the spectacle. Although the northern lights cannot be seen often, they always attract considerable inter est when noted lighting up the northern skies.

The perky little squirrel with a nest somewhere near the Glidden School on South First Street is a smart one. The other day a passerby saw the squirrel trotting toward his favorite tree with an odd-shaped green something in his mouth. Curiously, he watched the squirrel trying to make out what he was carrying. The squirrel trotted down the street and when he approached the passerby, stopped, eyed him for a long minute and then proceeded calmly on his way. In his mouth, the squirrel was carrying two big green walnuts which had grown on the same stem. The squirrel had grabbed the stem in his mouth and was adding to his winter nut store two walnuts at a time.

1972 – 50 YEARS AGO

The Ed Paulson family of rural Genoa has a usual hobby, and they don’t have to go farther than their own back yard to pursue it. The Paulsons, Ed and Alice and sons Phillip, 11, and David, 14, and daugh ter Barb, 15, are avid collectors of Indian artifacts and the farm on which they make their home just north of Genoa has yielded a sizable collection of artifacts in the past nine years.

The hiring of two adult school cross ing guards was discussed at the Oct. 9 meeting of the Cortland Town Board. It is hoped the adult crossing guards and the fifth grade crossing guards would work together, the adult crossing guards work ing at the heaviest traffic points, thereby increasing the number of locations where there would be a crossing guard on duty.

Snoopy thinks man is his friend. The pet raccoon in Central Elementary School has no fear of children or men, according to Mrs. Phoebe Barnes, Kin dergarten teacher. He runs loose around the classroom, plays with the children and drives home every day after school with Mrs. Barnes, who lets him run free in her home at night. Snoopy came to school a week after school started this fall. One of the children’s fathers found a mother raccoon dead on the highway and Snoopy by her side.

1997 – 25 YEARS AGO

A chemical spill near the intersection of Peace Road and Pleasant Street forced an evacuation of the area and sent six people to the hospital. A small amount of ethyl mercaptan was released from a 1,000-gallon service tank at National Propane, when an employee accidentally removed a valve allowing the liquid to spray out under pressure.

Village officials in Kirkland have a con tract in hand for the hazard mitigation buyout program for the trailer park destroyed in last year’s flood, but refused to sign it last night until more details are worked out with the property owner.

Lincoln Elementary School Principal Tom Burski led students as they lined up around the playground to cut a ribbon to officially open the new play area. Stu dents whose parents volunteered time and materials, and two students chosen from each classroom got the honor of cutting the ribbon during the ceremony.

–CompiledbySueBreese

Photo provided by DeKalb County History Center

The Hopkins Park Bandshell in DeKalb is seen Aug. 20, 1949.

KSO features Black composers in 46th concert season opener

Shaw Local News Network

DeKALB – The Kishwaukee Sym phony Orchestra will open its 46th con cert season on Saturday, Oct. 15, with “The Price is Right: Celebrating Life of Florence Price,” led by Linc Smelser, KSO music director and conductor.

The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall in the Music Building of Northern Illi nois University, DeKalb. The concert will feature works by Black composers Florence Price and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor.

Those attending the concert are invited to join Smelser for a free pre-concert talk to learn more about the composers and themes presented in their music, at 6:30 p.m. in a room near the Concert Hall.

The program will feature Ballade in A Minor, Op. 33, by Samuel Coleridge-Taylor; Piano Concerto in One Movement, by Florence Price with soloist Sung Hoon Mo on piano; and Symphony No. 3 in C Minor, by Flor ence Price.

Mo studied at the Peabody Conser vatory of Music, the Jacob School of Music at Indiana University, and the Eastman School of Music. He is on the faculty of the Music Institute of Chi cago and is also a guest lecturer at the Wheaton College Conservatory of

BRIEFS

Sycamore Fire Prevention Co. to host drive-thru dinner Oct. 19

SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Fire Pre vention Co. will host a pulled pork sand wich drive-thru dinner to help raise money to restore the department’s 1923 Stutz Fire Truck.

The dinner will run from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Sycamore United Methodist Church, 160 Johnson Ave.

The dinner is part of the church’s Wednesday Drive-Thru Dinner commu nity outreach program.

The meal, provided by Slow Smoke BBQ, includes a quarter-pound pulled pork sandwich, Bud’s sweet BBQ sauce, cowboy beans, coleslaw and applesauce.

Tickets cost $15 and must be pur chased in advance no later than Wednes day, Oct. 12. To buy tickets, visit the SUMC office or go online to the events section of the church’s Facebook page.

The Sycamore Fire Preservation Co. restores vehicles and equipment from the past and has been raising funds to restore the 1923 Stutz Fire Truck, originally used

Music.

Price was the first Black woman to have her music performed by a major symphony orchestra. In 1933, the Chi cago Symphony Orchestra gave the world premiere of Symphony No. 1 by a then little-known composer.

Her work faded into obscurity after her death in 1953. Much of it was thought to be lost, until a cache of music was found in her former sum mer house in Chicago in 2009.

Coleridge-Taylor, a composer who influenced Price, was an English com poser, conductor and political activist who fought against racial prejudice with his incredible compositions.

Born in Holborn, a district in cen tral London, in 1875 to an English mother and a father originally from Sierra Leone, he liked to be identified as Anglo-African – and was later referred to by white New York musi cians as “Black Mahler,” owing to his musical success.

Tickets are sold online anytime and in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall lobby starting 30 minutes before the concert. All seats are general admission (no reserved seating); it is recommended to arrive early. Individual ticket prices are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors 62 and older and $7 for students and children.

For information, visit kishorches tra.org.

by the Sycamore Fire Department.

For information, call 815-895-9113.

DeKalb’s ‘This is My Brave’ tickets now available

DeKALB – Tickets are on sale for DeKalb’s upcoming “This is My Brave: The Show in DeKalb” performance at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., DeKalb.

Proceeds from the show will benefit mental health services in DeKalb County.

The cast of “This is My Brave: The Show in DeKalb” consists of performers from DeKalb, Kane and Winnebago counties. The performers will take the stage one by one to tell stories both heart-wrenching and uplifting. Performances include original music, spoken word and pantomime. Per formers will share their personal experi ences with challenges like depression, anx iety and addiction.

Tickets cost $20 and are available at the Egyptian Theatre box office and online at egyptiantheatre.org.

NIU hosting three-part art lectures beginning Oct. 12

Shaw Local News Network

DeKALB – The Northern Illinois Uni versity Art Museum will present three in-person lectures by award-winning illustrator, James E. Ransome, from Thursday, Oct. 13, through Saturday, Oct. 15.

The lectures are free and open to the public.

Ransome will be joined by his wife, author Lesa Cline-Ransome, with whom he often collaborates, in dis cussing their Chil dren’s Illustrated Literature Exhibi tion Suite.

Artist James E. Ransome (right) and author Lesa Cline-Ransome

The three lectures include:

• “Public Joint Talk A Book, A Page, A World: The Artistic Journey of Lesa Cline-Ransome and James Ransome” from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, in the Music Building, Recital Hall. Cline-Ransome and Ransome will share their early beginnings as authors and

BRIEF

Spinoso Masters Scholarship awards $30K to area graduates

SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently named the 2022 Spinoso Masters Scholarship recipients. They are Jacob Bjork, Elena Haliczer, Tyler Hull and Diana Morales.

Bjork graduated from Sycamore High School in 2016 and is pursuing a doctorate of medi cine at George Washington Univer sity School of Medi cine in Washington, D.C., according to a news release. Hal iczer is a 1999 grad uate of DeKalb High School and is work ing toward a Ph.D. in educational technology at Northern Illinois University. Hull graduated from Sycamore High School in 2018 and is working toward a doctorate of osteo pathic medicine at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida. A 2018 graduate of DeKalb High

illustrators, the creative process from idea to revision and how they navigate the business and art of writing and illus trating books for children.

• “Public Talk A Harmony of Pic tures and Words” from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in Altgeld Hall Room 125. Ransome will examine how pic tures are worth a thousand words. The picture book format is a perfect union for words and pictures. Illustrations are not just pretty pictures; they are an essential part of storytelling. His pre sentation will take you on a journey that shares how illustrations commu nicate with words to make a wonderful marriage.

• Informal artist talk by James E. Ransome at 2 p.m., NIU Art Museum Rotunda Gallery, Public Talk Closing Reception, from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15.

Ransome’s exhibit, “Everyday Peo ple: The Art of James E. Ransome,” is organized by the National Center for Children’s Illustrated Literature in Abilene, Texas, and on display at the NIU Art Museum through Saturday, Oct. 15.

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School, Morales is pursuing a Ph.D. in kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urba na-Champaign.

The scholarships are made possible by donors John and Vivian Spinoso through the com munity foundation. To receive the scholarship, individ uals must have graduated from a DeKalb County high school and be enrolled in a post-undergraduate institution working toward a master’s or higher degree in any field of study.

To make a dona tion to any fund at the DeKalb County Community Foundation, visit dekalbccf. org/donate or write to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore.

For information, call 815-748-5383 or email grants@dekalbccf.org.

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DeKalb Chamber welcomes Willrett Flower Co.

Photo provided by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce recently welcomed Willrett Flower Co. to its membership with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chamber staff, board members and community members celebrated the shop joining the DeKalb Chamber with a ribbon cutting on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Willrett Flower Co., 302 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, provides floral designs for events including weddings, large scale events and backyard celebrations.

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NIU STEM Fest offers fun for all ages Oct. 15

Shaw Local News Network

DeKALB – Northern Illinois Uni versity will host its annual STEM Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, in NIU’s central campus at the MLK Commons, the Holmes Student Center, Founders Memorial Library, Swen Parson Hall and Anderson Hall.

Admission is free. Maps and details are available at the event’s welcome table and at go.niu.edu/stemfest.

This year’s focus is on the role of creativity in STEM and the connec tions between art and the STEM fields. The event will feature a juried art exhibition, theater tech demonstra tions, an artists’ playground and other celebrations of art.

Younger visitors can build with blocks in the Tot Spot in the Holmes

Student Center, enjoy story time or play with robots in Founders Memo rial Library.

High school students can partici pate in a free Meta Code Remix work shop. The workshops offer students ages 13 and older a chance to program musical beats using block-based cod ing in Javascript and share their cre ations with their community. Regis tration is required to attend; visit go. niu.edu/MetaCode.

Visitors also can experience old favorites including the Haunted Lab, Chemistry Club Demo Show and NIU Steelband, as well as hear talks by experts from NIU, NASA, Meta, Ferr ara and Argonne National Labora tory.

For information, visit go.niu.edu/ stemfest.

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NIU STEM Cafe exploring mechatronics engineering

DeKALB – The next NIU STEM Café will explore Mechatronics: From Robots to Self-Driving Vehicles.

The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb. It is free and open to the public.

Attendees will learn about the profes sion of mechatronics engineering, the mechatronics design process, and how mechatronics is making a difference in everyday lives.

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary engineering field that integrates mechani cal, electrical, computer and information systems throughout the design process to create a better final product.

Featured speakers include Yueh-Jaw Lin, Ph.D., NIU mechanical engineering professor and director of the Mechatron ics Engineering Program; and Peter A. Lin, Ph.D., engineer and NIU visiting professor in the Mechatronics Engineering Program.

To learn more or register, visit go.niu. edu/stemcafe.

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Experiential gifts are great for seniors

METRO CREATIVE

Holiday shoppers know that, seemingly every year, there’s one person on their shopping list who’s hard to shop for. Seniors may fit that bill, as many have already accumu lated a lifetime’s worth of goods and gadgets. That’s why experiential gifts can be such a good fit for seniors come the holiday season.

Experiential gifts are wildly popu lar. In its 2021 Winter Holiday Shop ping Report, the market research firm Mintel revealed that nearly half of individuals surveyed for the report felt that experiential gifts are superior to tangible items. Seniors who already have everything they need might be even more enthusias tic about experiential gifts, which may encourage them to get out of the house or pursue passions they’ve long had a passing interest in. This holiday season, shoppers can con sider these experiences as they look for something new and unique for the seniors on their shopping lists.

• Biplane flight: Few experiences are as exhilarating as a flight in an open cockpit biplane. Biplane flights are unique to each company that offers them, but some planes can accommodate two passengers (in addition to the pilot), making this an ideal gift for senior couples who aren’t afraid of a bird’s eye view. The length of a flight depends on shop pers’ budgets, but no matter how long seniors are in the air, they’re sure to return to the ground having enjoyed a truly unique experience.

• Hot air balloon ride: If riding shot gun with a pilot in a tiny plane is

more adventure than your favorite senior may be seeking, a hot air bal loon ride may be more suitable. Hot air balloon rides provide a truly stun ning way to experience idyllic set tings and a calm way to take to the skies on a beautiful day. Rides tend to last around an hour, but companies typically offer various packages and may even let shoppers customize rides for their loved ones.

• Theatre tickets: The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t been easy for any one, but seniors were among the groups most vulnerable to serious infection if they caught the virus. As a result, many seniors strictly adhered to social distancing guide lines prior to getting vaccinated. Now that seniors are eligible to be fully vaccinated and even receive two rounds of booster shots, a trip to the theatre can reignite their passion for live entertainment and make for a memorable night out.

• Cycling tour: Modern seniors are among the most physically active demographics. A 2020 study pub lished in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found that, within months of the pandemic being declared, adults age 65 and older averaged 100 more minutes of physi cal activity than the next closest cohort. A cycling tour can make for a perfect gift to active seniors. Tours may be designed to visit local places of historical significance, idyllic nat ural settings or local eateries. Wher ever the tours ultimately end up, they’re sure to put a smile on active seniors’ faces. Experiences can make for the perfect holiday gifts for seniors who have it all.

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Where to get nomination packet if running

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – DeKalb residents inter ested in becoming prospective candi dates for City Council in the April 2023 election can obtain nomination pack ets on the city’s website.

Ruth Scott, the city’s executive assis tant and recording secretary, wanted it to be clear how prospective candidates can get their nomination packet.

“They cannot pick it up here,” Scott said, referring to DeKalb City Hall. “We do not have copies. But we do have on the city’s website under ‘Elec tions,’ you can find the 2023 abbrevi

BRIEFS

DAR marks Constitution Week

WASHINGTON D.C. – The National Society Daughters of the American Rev olution celebrated Constitution Week Sept. 17 through 23.

Constitution Week began in 1955 when DAR petitioned U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17 through 23, of every year to the commemoration of the Con stitution. The resolution was adopted, and signed into law Thursday, Aug. 2, 1956.

The goals of Constitution Weeks include encouraging the study of histor ical events that led to the framing of the Constitution; reminding the public that the Constitution is the basis of Ameri ca’s heritage and the foundation of its way of life; and emphasizing U.S. citi zens’ responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the U.S. Constitution.

DAR has 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the country and abroad. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholar

ated consolidated calendar [and] the 2023 consolidated election candidates guide, which is very important for any candidate.”

The aldermanic seats up for grabs in 2023 are those in wards 1, 3, 5 and 7.

Scott said the signature require ments are different for each of the city’s wards.

She said the 2023 consolidated elec tion candidates guide tells them how many signatures minimum they need in order to be on the ballot and the maximum number.

The first day to file candidate peti tions for elected office in DeKalb is Dec. 12 and the last is Dec. 19.

Scott said prospective candidates will need to report to city hall to submit their nomination packet with all the required signatures during the allotted window.

Scott expressed optimism for the potential for the city to yield a good turnout for the 2023 election.

“Hopefully we get a lot of candi dates,” Scott said. “Unfortunately for the years that I’ve been doing this, some times we get a lot of candidates and sometimes we only get one. There’s been years where there have been wards [that have] run unopposed. Hopefully, some people will come out this year and want to support the city of DeKalb and work with the city of DeKalb to continue

to make it a better place.”

Scott said it is important that the residents’ voices are heard at the bal lot box come the consolidated election next year.

“I think it’s your civic duty to come and vote [and] to be part of how deci sions are made within the city,” she said. “If you come out to vote, you cast your vote. You’re speaking to the city, the mayor, the city manager, how you want things to go. So, it’s important for people to get out there and vote and make their voices known and make their voices heard.”

The consolidated election will take place April 4, 2023.

ships and educational initiatives, citi zenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more.

For information, visit dar.org.

IVT’s production of ‘Murder is a Game’ opens Oct. 21

SANDWICH – Indian Valley Theatre will present its production of “Murder is a Game” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, and Saturday, Oct. 22, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 23, at the Sandwich Opera House, 140 E. Railroad St.

“Murder is a Game,” written by Fred Carmicheal and directed by Chris Green wood Williams, tells the story of Toby and Sloan Bigelow, two famous mystery writers. Their publisher, Lois Dunston, has given them an anniversary gift to stay in a mansion that was used for the movie, “Murder is a Game.”

Lois arranges for a few “actors” to play parts in a murder plot to help get the Bigelows’ creative juices going to write another book. The actors, Nick

Ranelli, Stephen Leech, June Ripley, Cora Leech and BB Mink, set up some great plot ideas for the Bigelows with many surprising twists and turns.

The cast includes Nick Bantz-Beaty as Toby Bigelow, Jen Ketchum as Sloan Bigelow, Christine Roe as Lois Dunston, Logan Graham as Nick Ranelli, Darren Whaley as Stephen Leech, Brittany Watne as June Ripley, Shelbbie Daugh

erty as Cora Leech and Megan Shupe as BB Mink.

Tickets for “Murder is a Game” cost $15 and can be purchased in advance at indianvalleytheatre.com or at the door for $20 if available.

For information, email info@indian valleytheatre.com or send a message on the Indian Valley Theatre Facebook page.

–ShawLocalNewsNetwork

DeKalb Fire Department has new $600K fire engine

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – The DeKalb Fire Depart ment unveiled, dedicated and ceremo nially washed its new station No. 3 fire engine Monday, Oct. 3, a 2022 Rosen bauer that DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas said cost more than $600,000.

In a tradition that dates back to the days of horse-drawn carriages, DeKalb firefighters washed down the new fire engine before pushing it into the sta tion’s garage at 950 W. Dresser Road, where it was fitted with equipment. Thomas, a 27-year veteran of the DeKalb department, said it was excit ing to experience the procedure.

“I haven’t done it before,” Thomas said. “I’ve been here a long time. So I either missed it when we replaced engines or we didn’t have an opportu nity to celebrate getting another piece of equipment in service. So it’s pretty exciting, and when you’re the guy that gets to help make decisions like this, it’s very satisfying,” said Thomas, 58.

Lt. Bill Lynch, who moved emer gency response equipment from the old engine into the new one, said get ting a new rig is “a big deal” for the fire department, especially because the old engine had a history of breaking down and being unreliable.

“To get a new engine that is this quality is outstanding, we’re really pleased,” Lynch said.

The new Rosenbauer replaced a 16-year-old engine Thomas said has “a lot of hard miles on it” and is the busiest in the department. Typically an engine stays in service for 10 to 15 years. As the COVID-19 pandemic slowed supply chains, however, the decision to replace the engine fell to Thomas, who took over the department in April.

“We were able to contact the maker

and they said, ‘Yeah we have this one ready to go, it’s on the assembly line currently,’ and if it wasn’t spoken for then we wanted to jump on it because we knew we’d get it within a year,” Thomas said.

The brand-new Rosenbauer cost roughly $624,000, plus around $90,000 worth of state-of-the-art equipment, Thomas said.

DeKalb Fire and Police Commission chair, Sam Finch, 50, said the acquisi tion was necessary because of costly repairs to the old engine.

“So the cost efficiency in repairing old [equipment] is getting to be sky high, Finch said. “Where we can get a new one and the repair would be a lot less.

Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Don Faulhaber, 51, said the depart ment got lucky with a shortened wait for a new engine, despite lengthy wait times for a lot of other vehicles. The department’s been waiting on new ambulances for 16 months, he said. The trick was getting a vehicle previ ously used for demonstrations.

“We had a couple of little changes to it but we liked it as is and that allowed us to get, and even our next one is going to be demo’d for a short period of time, and that’s what allowed us to get it,” said Faulhaber, a 27-year veteran of the department.

The next new engine, which will replace Engine No. 1, is expected to arrive Jan. 1.

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Camden Lazenby – clazenby@shawmedia.com

The new Engine No. 3 sits outside DeKalb Fire Department Station 3 on Monday, Oct. 3, in DeKalb.

“To get a new engine that is this quality is outstanding, we’re really pleased.”

Lt. Bill Lynch DeKalb Fire Department

OBITUARIES

SHIRLEY ANN DRENDEL

Born: December 3, 1935 in Hampshire, IL

Died: October 2, 2022 in Genoa, IL

Shirley Ann Drendel, 86, of Genoa, formerly of Huntley, passed away Sunday evening, Oc tober 2, 2022, at home surrounded by family.

She was born December 3, 1935, in Hampshire the daughter of Frank and Anna (Hermann) Engel. Shirley graduated from Hampshire High School and then attended Business College. She worked at Joseph Spiess Department Store in Elgin for years.

She met the love of her life, Vernon Drendel and they were married October 5, 1955. Shir ley became a very active housewife, raising their children, busy with their activities, and supporting Vernon with their farming opera tion in Huntley for over 40 years. Shirley and Vernon moved later to their farm in Genoa, where they still reside. Shirley and her daugh ter owned several Merle Norman Cosmetic Studios over 26 years. Shirley’s favorite way to express her love was to share her baking, crafts, and love of flowers with family and friends. She attended St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Huntley and St. Catherine’s Catho lic Church in Genoa during her lifetime.

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She is survived by her husband of almost 67 years, Vernon; her children, Richard (Elke), James (Vickie), Karen, Steven (Vickie), and Dennis (Tina); 15 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; and brother, Frank Engel; and a sister-in-law, Carol.

She is preceded in death by her infant daughter, Mary; her parents, Frank and Anna Engel; brothers and sisters in laws, Donald (Lucille), Harold (Arlene), Ronald, Robert (Mary), son-in-law, Paul Koeppen Sr. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrat ed on Friday, October 14 at 1:30 PM at St. Mary Catholic Church, 10307 Dundee Rd. in Huntley. Burial will follow in the St. Mary Cemetery.

Visitation will be prior to mass at James A. O’Connor Funeral Home, 11603 E. Main St. in Huntley from 11 to 1 PM.

Memorials in Shirley’s name may be direct ed to the family for her favorite charities. Information (847)669-5111 or www.jamesa oconnorfuneralhome.com

DeKalb Chamber

New therapy police dog making fast friends at

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

K-9 Dooley, a 1-year-old German shorthaired pointer, recently was wel comed as the newest member of the Sycamore Police Department and Syc amore Community School District 427.

On Sept. 26, Dooley joined School Resource Officer Kaitlyn Pederson at Sycamore Middle School as a part of Sycamore Police Department’s new therapy dog program. The initiative aims to provide mental health and behavioral support to those within Sycamore schools and the commu nity, according to a news release from District 427.

Dooley started his work with Ped erson at Sycamore Middle School. Pederson said things have “gone really great” so far.

“The kids love Dooley. The staff members love Dooley,” Pederson said. “He’s had a ton of interactions with staff and students within the building, and he’s already been used in multi ple aspects as a therapy dog, so it’s pretty awesome.”

To be able to serve as a K-9 for the Sycamore Police Department, Dooley completed an extensive 12-week ther apy canine program at Paws and

Stripes College in Brevard County, Florida. Pederson also undertook a weeklong handler program with Paws and Stripes before she brought Dooley to his new home in DeKalb.

Dooley, who lives with Pederson, was matched to Pederson when she applied to the therapy canine program with Paws and Stripes College based on the role he was going to be fulfilling.

“He’s with me 24/7,” Pederson said. “He’s with me at school every day,

and then if we’re not in school, we’re off duty, or we’re at the police depart ment doing other things within the community.”

Pederson spearheaded efforts for the therapy dog program by putting in, what she said was, “extensive research” and submitting a proposal to the city of Sycamore and Syca more’s police department. As a result of her efforts, onboarding Dooley and all of the associated training was done

at no cost to the city or the Sycamore Police Department.

“It feels amazing to see it all come to light and all the hard work before hand,” Pederson said. “Now it’s really a rewarding opportunity and I think an opportunity of a lifetime in this career, for sure.”

Sycamore District 427 Superinten dent Steve Wilder said he was approached by the Sycamore Police Department about the idea of imple menting a therapy dog program with a school resource officer. Wilder said he told police officials he loved the idea.

“I’ve never worked in a school that’s got a comfort – I think the offi cial name is a comfort dog – but I’ve known other school districts that have a therapy dog and that they’d had a lot of success with it,” Wilder said. “So when they came up with the idea, I was all for it.”

Wilder said he’s heard a lot of posi tive feedback among district students and staff since Dooley was introduced to Sycamore Middle School and said he thinks the program is a hit so far.

“It created a bit of a buzz, from what I understand,” Wilder said. “That kind of interest, that kind of energy, so to speak, is exactly what we were hoping would happen.”

Camden Lazenby – clazenby@shawmedia.com

K-9 Dooley sniffs around outside the Sycamore Police Department on Sept. 30.

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