Amusements

Photo provided by J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center The Glidden Homestead, 921 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, held a tree dedication and “rag tree” ceremony in honor of DeKalb resident Steven L. Johnson on Oct. 16. Johnson, son of Steven “Kepp” Johnson, a longtime board member of the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center, died Feb. 17, 2021. A hawthorn tree was planted in his honor. Family members and Glidden board members tied a “rag” to the tree to represent a wish, aspiration or memory. Johnson was a dispatcher at the DeKalb County Sheriff’s office and was a member of the DeKalb Law Enforcement Agency for more than 25 years. He was a member of the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus, Andrew Mitchell Assembly and was an active advocate for Epilepsy Awareness. Johnson and his wife, Jeanette, also were the founders of Act of Grace. Friends and family of Johnson, as well as community members, are welcome to visit the homestead to add a rag to the tree from noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

“For patient privacy, all the sameday surgery bays are private rooms with breakaway sliding glass entry doors,” Rickets said.

Currently, in an area where confidential and personal information is discussed, curtains are the only privacy afforded to patients and their family.

“If you can imagine, people being getting ready for surgery or immediately after surgery and the surgeon is coming in and talking to the family – not a lot of privacy,” Ricketts said. “And so now with those breakaway glass doors that will just be improved privacy, which is, you know, as a patient that’s pretty huge.”

Beyond the necessity for privacy, Snyder said – with a TV on and people talking – it can be an uncomfortable place to wake up in after surgery. This renovation seeks to change that.

Marckie Hayes, senior staff program director for administration at Kishwaukee and Valley West hospitals, said the goal of the renovation for the surgery suite is to bring “clinically academic care to people’s backyards.”

Hayes said the work will help centralize the hospital’s offerings for area residents.

“And being able to, you know, allow those in the community to not have to travel on every single occasion,” Hayes said.