Music education grants go to support local students
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The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently awarded $130,900 in Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Grants to support music education.
The grants benefited 25 nonprofit and public sector organizations in DeKalb County and the greater Chicago area.
“The DeKalb County History Center is honored to be a recipient of Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grant,” said Michelle Donahoe, executive director of the DeKalb County History Center, in a news release. “This grant will provide the seed money to kick off the musical programming at the History Center’s new corn crib venue.”
DeKalb County recipients:
• DeKalb County History Center - $10,000 to support the purchase of equipment for a newly developed music performance space and launch a summer concert series
• DeKalb School District - Huntley Middle School - $15,500 to buy percussion instruments for student use
• Hiawatha High School - $7,500 to build the school’s inventory of band instruments
• Indian Creek Elementary School - $2,300 to buy Drums Alive curriculum and materials
• Indian Creek Middle School - $7,600 to buy percussion instruments for student use in lessons and classes
Greater Chicago area recipients:
• Chicago Danztheatre Ensem -
PUZZLE ANSWERS
puzzlesonpage13
DeKalb County Community Foundation representatives Deborah Booth and Sara Nickels presenting a Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grant to DeKalb County History Center executive director Michelle Donahoe
ble - $4,000 to support music classes and performance at Daniel Webster and Johnson Schools
• Chicago Jazz Philharmonic - $5,000 to support music and band instruction for students in Chicago schools
• Chicago Master Singers - $3,000 to support a 2-day intensive music education residency
• Chicago Philharmonic Society - $2,000 for an in-school mentorship program benefiting underserved junior high and high school music students in Chicago and Skokie.
• Classical Kids Music education - $4,000 to support 2026 Chicago Expansion Initiative programming and educational outreach
• Elmhurst Choral Union - to present Carmina Burana and support an educational capstone for 100+ youth singers
• Experimental Sound Studio - $2,500 to present a free workshop series at Chicago’s Experimental Sound Studio
• Glenwood Academy - $2,500 to support staffing cost for a school music education program
• Illinois Conservatory for the Arts - $4,000 to provide theater training scholarships to low-income and underserved students
• Intonation Music - $5,000 to support music education for Bronzeville students in grades 3-12
See GRANTS, page 5
ON THE COVER
Edith Reynolds, Miss Illinois Emissary 2025, hands a turkey to TD Ryan to add the pile of donations during Ryan’s Let’s Talk Turkey Thanksgiving food drive Friday at the Salvation Army food pantry in DeKalb.
See story, page 6.
Photo by Mark Busch
CORRECTIONS
Accuracy is important to The MidWeek. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-526-4411 or email at readit@midweeknews.com.
Photo provided by the DeKalb County Community Foundation
DeKalb Park District’s 2026 budget draft
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
The DeKalb Park District’s proposed $22.3 million fiscal 2026 budget has an almost $10 million deficit, which officials said is primarily because of funds needed for a new Hopkins Pool.
The Park Board recently took a close look at its proposed budget, which hasn’t yet been finalized.
Executive Director Paul Zepezauer said the district would be “in the black” but for the pool, which has a budgeted expense of $10 million in the fiscal 2026 budget.
The budget, if approved, will come with an about $9.9 million deficit that is due primarily to ongoing work at Hopkins Pool. The district is expecting to cover that deficit by pulling funds from its reserves and with money already earmarked in previous budgets, officials said.
The district also issued long-term debt of about $9.6 million for the pool. Total project costs are expected to be
between $15 million and $16 million when the pool is complete, officials said.
The proposed fiscal 2026 budget also includes funds for Haish Gym and River Heights Golf Course, documents show.
The park district received a permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health for the pool project, which officials have said is slated for completion by summer 2026.
New starting next year, the park board intends to follow a fiscal year
budget calendar running January through December.
Previously, the park district operated on a different fiscal year schedule beginning in March and ending the following February.
Zepezauer said it prompted the district to be behind with projects in the past.
The park district will face several organizational challenges in the new fiscal year, with one being an anticipated increase in health insurance costs due to rising premiums.
Zepezauer said the district is looking at about a 4 to 6% increase in health insurance costs.
He said he recommends the park district absorb a bulk of that increase. Health insurance is expected to be considered by the park board at its Nov. 20 meeting.
Looking ahead to 2027, Zepezauer said health insurance changes could be in order.
“Maybe working into 2027 and having
Megann Horstead
DeKalb Park Board members sit in Nov. 6 on a special meeting.
Kishwaukee Valley Art League events set for December
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The Kishwaukee Valley Art League will host several programs and events in December at the Gallery on State, 322 W. State St., Sycamore.
KVAL’s next general meeting is set for 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at the gallery. Attendees will be able to participate in the “Create with KVAL” challenge. Members can create themed artwork including photography, sculptures, 2D art and jewelry. The challenge’s theme is “Winter.”
The league’s Holiday Arts and Crafts Market is open through Dec. 24. Participants can buy handcrafted ornaments, decor and gifts made by local artists.
The Gallery on State also will be open during Sycamore’s “Walk With Santa” event Dec. 5. Attendees can browse gifts handcrafted by local artists.
KVAL will participate Sycamore’s Winter Chocolate Walk from 4 to 8 p.m. Dec. 11. Participants can visit downtown Sycamore businesses to sample chocolate treats. The league will host a “Meet The Artists” event featuring holiday art demonstrations and gifts. Entry cards
and hot cocoa mugs are available at Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St., Sycamore. To buy tickets, visit DiscoverSycamore.com.
The gallery recently launched a new art rotation featuring 2D and 3D art pieces, including sculptures, paintings, photography and mixed-media installations. The art pieces are available to buy and will remain on display through January.
The league’s Second Saturday Art Workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Gallery on State.
KVAL’s “Secret Subject” challenge cards are available at the gallery. League members will be able to draw sealed envelopes containing a one-word “secret subject” card. The embers can create an art piece depicting the “secret subject.” The artwork will be presented at the league’s general meeting Feb. 5.
The league is collecting art supplies to donate to local charities. KVAL will only accept new art supplies. The art supplies can be dropped off at Gallery on State. Monetary donations also will be accepted. For information, visit kvalnfp.org.
Photo provided by the Kishwaukee Valley Art League Kishwaukee Valley Art League’s
Continued from page 2
• Maywood Fine Arts Association - $5,000 to fund a financial assistance program for low-income music students
• Merit School of Music - $5,000 to support a music instruction program for students in Chicago area schools and community centers
• Music in Urban Schools Inspiring Change - $3,000 to support free, local, conservatory-style programming to youth on Chicago’s west side
• Music Institute of Chicago - $4,000 to provide essential resources to participants in the tuition-free Third Coast Suzuki Strings Program
• Musical Arts Institute - $3,000 to support programs that provide quality music education in communities where this opportunity is lacking
• Snow City Arts Foundation - $10,000 to provide standards-based music education programs for pediatric patients in Chicago hospitals
• Southland College Prep Charter High School - $5,000 to support costs for a beginning strings education program at South-
• PARK DISTRICT
Continued from page 3
more time to really dig into it, maybe there’s a better compromise out there that works for everybody,” Zepezauer said. “I don’t think right now is the time to do that.”
To date, the park district has amassed a fund balance of $18.3 million and is anticipating starting fiscal 2026 with $12.3 million.
“Fund balances had been accumulating over a period of years in anticipation of the pool project and other projects needed throughout the district,” Zepezauer said.
Officials said the district has a fund balance policy calling on the park board to set aside revenue in an amount of 25 to 50% of its annual expenses.
Zepezauer said the district is projected to be overfunded in fiscal 2026.
“Overfunding leaves us a little bit vulnerable to property tax challenges and also a lot of management letter comments,” Zepezauer said. “We want to avoid those.”
A challenge can come if a taxpayer decides to appeal the assessed value of their home, which could change someone’s tax bill, according to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
Commissioner Dean Bourdages asked how the district became overfunded.
Zepezauer pointed to a donation that
land College Prep Charter School
• The People’s Music School - $5,000 to support intensive, tuition-free music education to students facing financial barriers
• VanderCook College - $10,000 to buy musical instruments for use by middle school-aged participants
• Young Naperville Singers - $4,000 to support need-based scholarships for participants
The Wurlitzer Company was one of the largest musical instrument companies in the U.S., manufacturing pianos in DeKalb throughout much of the 20th century. The Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation was established in the 1940s and became a Fund of the Community Foundation in 2012. Today, the fund and its board of advisors remain an important part of the Foundation’s grantmaking efforts in support of music education.
Applications for the next round of Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund grants open Jan. 1, 2026. Full details, including eligibility and guidelines, are available at dekalbccf.org/wurlitzer.
Those with questions should contact the Fund’s Board of Advisors Chair, George Buck, at george@dekalbccf.org.
the park district received from the Ellwood House Association.
“There were about $850,000 in private donations that were given to the district from the Ellwood Association,” he said. “The Ellwood Association collected. They were for specific projects. Projects have just been delayed repeatedly due to a variety of reasons.”
That money was deposited into the district’s museum fund.
Bourdages questioned whether it’s an issue.
“Is that bad?” Bourdages said.
Zepezauer suggested that it may be.
The district is in the middle of defending itself on a property tax challenge, he said.
“It would have been better in the capital fund,” Zepezauer said. “Because you can exceed the number without having to worry about being overfunded and property tax challenges.”
Zepezauer said the district hopes to end 2025 with less funding in the bank.
The district is projecting that it will have $2.4 million in fund balance by the end of 2026, park district documents show.
“We’re trying to be in a good spot,” he said.
A vote on the budget is expected when the park board meets in December, at which point a public hearing will be held.
At that point, the district’s residents are invited to come with questions and comments.
Turkey drive collects enough to feed hundreds
By MARK BUSCH mbusch@shawmedia.com
TD Ryan’s Let’s Talk Turkey annual food collection drive on Friday gathered enough frozen turkeys and monetary donations to feed hundreds in DeKalb this Thanksgiving.
Organizers gathered at The Salvation Army food pantry, 830 Grove St., DeKalb, all day Friday to accept donations.
Formerly hosted by WLBK 98.9 FM/AM 1360 radio, the donation drive is now sponsored by Kishwaukee DeKalb Kiwanis.
Longtime Let’s Talk Turkey host Ryan, a former local radio per -
sonality, is now a podcaster. He was on hand during the event to chat with participants and spread awareness.
The day’s totals: 288 actual turkeys collected and enough cash donations for another 342 turkeys, said Kiwanis member Bill Finucane.
A total of 630 turkeys made possible by the collection drive will be used by The Salvation Arm.
It will be used for more than 700 Thanksgiving dinners this holiday for area residents.
Photos by Mark Busch
TOP RIGHT: TD Ryan, host of the TD Ryan Unleashed podcast, adds another donated turkey to the pile Friday during his Let’s Talk Turkey Thanksgiving food drive at the Salvation Army food pantry in DeKalb. ABOVE: Cheryl Johnson, from Cortland, hands her turkey donation to Shadow Gentry, (left) of DeKalb and TD Ryan Friday. LEFT: TD Ryan touts his annual Let’s Talk Turkey Thanksgiving food drive Friday at the Salvation Army food pantry in DeKalb.
Unknown company behind major data center proposal
By KELSEY RETTKE krettke@shawmedia.com
A petitioner for an unknown company wants to build a major data center on 560 acres in DeKalb just south of another 500-acre data center campus owned by Meta.
The development is proposed under a code name, “Project Vector,” according to a posted public notice. If approved, Project Vector would have four data center campus buildings and two electrical substations, plans show.
The data center campus would be built on about 560 acres of land on both the east and west sides of Illinois State Route 23, north of Keslinger Road and west of Crego Road, according to the notice.
Northern Illinois University’s central campus in DeKalb is 756 acres. Hopkins Park is 32 acres. Under the proposal, Project Vector – which could fit about 17.5 Hopkins parks – would have fewer buildings than Meta’s data center, but sit on more land.
The petitioner is listed as JJK 343 LLC, also known as ChicagoWest Busi-
A petitioner for an unknown company referred to as “Project Vector” wants to build a major data center on 560 acres in DeKalb. A public hearing is scheduled for Dec. 1. A digital rendering shows what the data center campus could look like off Illinois Route 23 in DeKalb.
ness Center, according to the public notice. ChicagoWest brands itself as “DeKalb’s premier business park,” city documents show.
at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., is expected to be the first time the project is presented to the public for review. The petition to rezone and annex hundreds of acres of mostly farmland requires DeKalb City Council approval.
ChicagoWest manager Jerry Krusinski, DeKalb city manager Bill Nicklas, city planner Dan Olson and city engineer John Laskowski planned to meet Oct. 29 about the petition, according to the notice.
ChicagoWest owns most of the land in question and paid millions for it, according to DeKalb County property records.
About 43 acres on the proposed site is owned by Castle Bank and Trust, sale listings show.
Little else is known so far about the proposed data center campus or the company behind it.
A public hearing set for 6 p.m. Dec. 1
More than 270 acres of the site land was bought by ChicagoWest as recently as Sept. 9, property records show. That includes: about 71 acres along Route 23 sold for $2.6 million; about 48.5 acres along Route 23 sold for $1.4 million; about 80 acres along Crego Road sold for $1.5 million. On Sept. 25, 2024, ChicagoWest bought 80 acres off Keslinger
See DATA CENTER, page 8
223 North Fourth Street, DeKalb (815) 756-2951 www.DelanosHomeDecorating.com
Thursday, December 4th • 7:00 PM
A reflective gathering with readings and music to share quiet thoughts and the hope that Christmas can give.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church – 900 Normal Road, DeKalb IL www.stpaulsdekalb.org, stpaulsdekalb@gmail.com, 815-756-4888
Image provided by city of DeKalb
LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS
Next Queer Art Club meeting is Nov. 30 in DeKalb
The next Queer Art Club meeting is Nov. 30 at the DeKalb Public Library.
The meeting goes from 2 to 4 p.m. in the library’s Nancy D. Castle Collaboration Studio, 309 Oak St.
The club will feature a mini lesson about an artist. Attendees also can work on art projects such as coloring books, drawing, painting and crochet. No registration is required. For information, email brittak@ dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2100.
DeKalb library to host thrifting program Dec. 1
Do you need tips on how to find that perfect item while second-hand shopping? How to stumble on a hidden gem in a sea of used products?
Learn how to become a successful second-hand shopper during an upcoming program at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free program starts at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1 in the library’s lower-level Bilder Family Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.
Participants can learn about thrifting secrets, including how to spot hidden gems and how to navigate sale racks. Attendees can learn how to identify quality pieces, what to look for and how to purposely shop. The program will feature a “From Thrifted to Gifted” showcase for thrifting holiday gifts. No
from page 7
Road for $3.6 million.
All that land is included in the data center site plans.
It’s not uncommon for corporations seeking approval for public business –including permit applications, zoning requests and tax incentives – to keep industry details close to the chest. Before Meta was announced, the data center was called “Project Ventus” in public records and meetings.
Often, the public is not privy to further information due to nondisclosure agreements signed by city officials.
Major industrial development concentrated in recent years on land near Interstate 88 has brought the likes of Amazon, Ferrara Candy Co. and Kraft Heinz to DeKalb. Those projects were first brought to the public eye under codenames, too.
registration is required.
For information, email amyf@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.
Tabletop games program set for Dec. 1 and 15 in DeKalb
Teens and adults will be able to paint and play tabletop games during a program at the DeKalb Public Library.
The free program will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Dec. 1 and 15 in the library’s 309 Creative room, 309 Oak St. Attendees will be able to discuss tabletop games, paint leftover models and play games. Children may attend if accompanied by an adult. No registration is required. For information, email techdesk@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2851.
Sycamore church to serve free Thanksgiving meal Nov. 27
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint John will serve a free Thanksgiving meal for community members this month.
Meals will be offered from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Nov. 27 at the church, 26555 Brickville Road, Sycamore.
The meal includes roast turkey, baked ham, corn, dressing, squash, dinner rolls, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes with turkey gravy and dessert.
– Shaw Local News Network
Before social media giant Meta – the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, Threads and WhatsApp – came to DeKalb, developers spent months petitioning the city and surrounding governing bodies. In that case, the petitioner was ChicagoWest Business Center, acting on behalf of Meta.
Meta’s $1 billion data center on DeKalb’s south side came online in November 2023. It spans five buildings at 2.3 million square feet.
Gov. JB Pritzker, who visited DeKalb for the opening, at the time said Illinois was the “hub of data center expansion.” In 2019, Pritzker signed a bill that offered tax incentives specifically to data centers that build in Illinois.
The neighboring city of Yorkville just approved a 1,037-acre data center development that will feature 18 two-story data center warehouses and three electrical substations. A 795-acre data center that plans for 12 three-story buildings is proposed in
LOOKING BACK
1925–100 YEARS AGO
Workmen started yesterday afternoon upon the installation of a large four-faced clock for the First National Bank, which is being so placed that it will be visible from four directions. The new time piece is in the colors of white and green with attractive dials and will make a great improvement over the clock that was on the old bank. It is expected that it will take them a day or two to complete the installation of the new clock, and the work is being watched with interest of many people.
Harley Self, maintenance foreman of the Sycamore-DeKalb Road, is now stationed along the highway crushing the old cement that was removed by the contractor, the same to be used in repair and shoulder work. The huge crusher operated to a tractor, soon minces the cement blocks, and the road official hopes to get a large quantity of crushed stone for use on the highway when demanded.
Early this morning, according to reports, a Ford machine was struck at the DeKalb Avenue crossing of the North Western tracks, but fortunately, no one was injured. One rear tire was damaged, as well as the back end of the machine, but the driver continued on his way as if nothing had happened.
After considerable effort on the part of the agent of the Chicago Great Western railroad in tracing the shipment of seats for the new Fargo theatre, the shipment was finally located and transferred here by means of a huge truck.
State patrol officers will be required to enforce a new law the first of the year that will strike many motorists of this city. The law is relative to use of cut-outs on automobiles and there are a large number of cars in this city that have cut-outs. The law that will become effective the first of the year states that no automobile may have a cut-out that can be operated from the inside of the car. An auto may have a cut-out, but must be so arranged on the auto that to operate it the owner must have the car standing still. The state patrol officers also have received communications from the state department stating that all autoists using whistles, sirens or gongs on
Many dates on holiday calendars are already circled. But Dec. 7 should be starred. It is a special Sunday in DeKalb–Festivities Day at Ellwood House. Actually, a two-day affair, the plans this year are for a holiday open house that will return guests to the “days of yore in early America”, one more time.
Benjamin Franklin would have had the Great Seal of the United States with a turkey instead of an eagle. A letter to his daughter, referring to the eagle’s “bad moral character,” says: I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen as the Representative of our Country! The Turkey is a much more respectable, though very unintelligent bird and withal a true original native of America.”
2000–25 YEARS AGO
their autos should be arrested. The law prohibiting these forms of warning has been in operation for some time.
1950–75 YEARS AGO
Fire Chief Clayton Kennedy is distributing “no smoking” warning signs to the Glidden and St.Mary’s Hospitals to be placed in rooms where oxygen is being used. Chief Kennedy pointed out that it is very dangerous to smoke in rooms where oxygen is being used especially in the winter time when no windows are open. The signs state that oxygen is being administered and no smoking is allowed. The signs are being provided by the DeKalb fire department.
A gun case, in which old guns will be displayed has been placed in the police magistrate’s room at the Dekalb city hall. The case was constructed by Chief John Remsey and Sgt. Tony Barauski. Periodically the police receive old guns which persons want to dispose of and the two officers decided that some of the pieces were worthy of being placed on display. At present there are three guns in the case but Chief Remsey and Barauski plan to add other pieces to the display collection.
At 7:17 o’clock this morning the DeKalb fire department was called to the Schram home at 524 Charter Street where a blaze had
started in the two-room home. The fire had developed around the area where a chimney passed through a partition but the blaze was brought under control before extensive damage was caused. No estimate of the damage was made. The firemen made the trip in the zero weather. This was the first call received during the cold wave.
Somebody driving into Sycamore from Chicago Wednesday night reported 90 cars stalled or in the ditch east of there. The roads were pretty slippery east of us, not so bad to the west.
Sheriff Arthur E. Anderson and Deputy Harry Overton returned Thursday afternoon with a prisoner they had picked up in Alton, and who is wanted by DeKalb County authorities. The sheriff reported a slippery, hazardous trip. The officers left Wednesday afternoon and stayed overnight in Alton.
1975–50 YEARS AGO
The Pilgrims gave thanks in 1621 for a bountiful harvest. They were happy to be alive. Today, most Americans give thanks for continued abundance, but some persons still have the reasons used by the Pilgrims in that original Thanksgiving. School, church and service groups gather food for persons in DeKalb County who are hungry, but happy to be alive.
Democrats and Republicans scratched for votes all across Florida as Al Gore and George W. Bush plotted their strategies for today, when the state’s top elections official certifies the longest, closest White House race in 124 years.
Tracey Tolbert was glad when she heard the city planned to tear down the burned-out building next to her beauty shop on East Lincoln Highway. But some of that optimism evaporated as Rockford Blacktop Construction, which the city contracted to demolish the building, continued with its work Tuesday morning. Tolbert said her shop, Beauty and the Braid Salon and Spa, 318E. Lincoln Highway, began to shake so badly that pictures fell of the wall and half-inch-wide crack from ceiling to floor appeared in the wall fronting the now rubble-strewn space where the old building used to be.
The traditional Thanksgiving Day meal includes a roasted turkey. Most people are able to buy their turkey from a store not knowing just how the bird got there. Every year, the Ho-Ka Turkey Farm in Waterman offers the opportunity to purchase fresh turkeys right from the farm. Ho-Ka opened in 1933 with a flock of 3009 turkeys. The birds were slaughtered in the basement of the house adjacent to the current turkey farm and then loaded onto a Model-T Ford.
– Compiled by Sue Breese
Photo provided by the DeKalb County History Center Archives
Looking from Carroll Avenue and West Locust Street, Northern Illinois University’s Fine Arts Building (now the Stevens Building) being completed in May 1959.
Illinois community colleges named eligible for 2027 Aspen Prize
The Illinois Community College Board recently announced that 21 community colleges were named eligible to compete for the 2027 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
The $1 million award recognizes outstanding student outcomes, including program completion, transfer, and bachelor’s degree attainment, and retention.
The colleges were named among the top 200 two-year institutions nationally. The Aspen Prize winner will be named in the spring of 2027.
“Today’s announcement reflects the extraordinary work performed by Illinois community colleges in building accessible, high-quality pathways for students to complete credentials, transfer to four-year institutions, and achieve meaningful careers,” Illinois Community College Board executive director Brian Durham said in a news release. “We commend each of our 21 institutions for this national recognition and look forward to supporting them as they
move into the next stage of the Aspen Prize competition.”
The award process requires eligible colleges to apply and participate in a multi-stage review. The community colleges will be evaluated on outcomes data and scaled practices evidence which drive student success improvement for 20 months.
“The inclusion of these Illinois colleges among the top 200 underscores
our statewide commitment to student success, equity and innovation. These institutions are making a real difference locally and nationally – this recognition affirms the value and impact of their work for students, employers and communities,” Illinois Community College Board board chair Sylvia Jenkins, Ph.D, also said in the news release.
The Illinois community colleges eligible for the Aspen Prize include:
• Carl Sandburg College
• College of Lake County
• Danville Area Community College
• Elgin Community College
• Harper College
• Highland Community College
• Illinois Eastern Community Colleges
• Illinois Valley Community College
• John A. Logan College
• John Wood Community College
• Kishwaukee College
• Lake Land College
• Lincoln Land Community College
• McHenry County College
• Oakton College
• Rend Lake College
• Rock Valley College
• Sauk Valley Community College
• Shawnee Community College
• Spoon River College
• Triton College
The Illinois Community College Board is responsible for administering state and federal grants, managing Illinois high school equivalency testing, and coordinating the Illinois Community College System’s state organization.
Matthew Apgar file photo
McHenry County College in Crystal Lake.
DeKalb officials, residents, say area youth need more engaging things to do
‘It’s going to take a village to save a village’
By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com
Shawnda Harris takes issue with the quality of life afforded to residents of DeKalb’s northwest side.
The DeKalb resident, who lives in University Village apartments, made a plea for community leaders to step up and address the issues. She said she often has to clean the hallways herself, even though her landlord pays someone to do it.
“The hallways are terrible,” Harris said. “I don’t know who the cleaning service company is. ... It’s terrible, the glass doors, the windows, the floors, the carpet, the walls.”
Harris was among several in attendance Saturday for a community meeting called by local elected officials for residents of the city’s northwest side.
The meeting was meant to allow residents to reflect on community concerns and how city leaders can help address them.
Elected and appointed officials on hand included DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, DeKalb City Council‘s 2nd Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson, DeKalb Community Services Coordinator Jennifer Yochem, DeKalb Police Chief David Byrd, DeKalb School District 428 Board member Nick Atwood and DeKalb County Board members Meryl Domina and Rukisha Crawford.
During the meeting, residents raised concerns about a number of issues, including safety and security, food insecurity and a lack of healthy activities.
Byrd said he, too, is concerned about residents’ quality of life.
“I mean, landlords, they are responsible for this building,” Byrd said. “They should do a better job. They clean. That’s 100% their responsibility is to send somebody through here and clean these buildings. Who wants to live in squalor? I mean, truly. No one should have to.”
Harris said she’d like to see more events and programming for young people.
“They need more activities for the
youth when they get out of school,” Harris said. “Not to babysit them but to make them feel comfortable and keep them out of trouble.”
A common sentiment shared during the meeting is that communication to University Village residents needs improvement.
Some residents said they only heard about Saturday’s meeting after seeing a flyer.
Harris suggested that the community room at University Village needs to be used more.
“Like we have this space,” Harris said. “Do we use this for something?”
Byrd acknowledged that residents need to be heard.
“We need you to come to City Council and express your thoughts on this,” Byrd said. “Because no one, and I understand this, too, but as a parent, no one wants to be told how to parent their children. However, when it starts becoming a problem and a menace to society, then we have to speak up on that.”
Some steps have been taken in recent years by community leaders to extend
outreach to residents on the city’s northwest side.
In 2023, the DeKalb Police Department launched a series of community events called “Fun Jam in the Park” to help foster more positive relations between residents, especially youth, and area law enforcement. The summer program provides free family fun with games, activities, arts and crafts, and more.
Byrd acknowledged there is a need to do more in the community.
“All these things are security issues,”
Byrd said. “It’s a public safety issue. And we’re all responsible for public safety, not just the police.”
One idea raised during the meeting was to establish a tenants’ association. Yochem said plans are in the works.
“The city of DeKalb has an arrangement with University Village,” Yochem said. “Every month, we meet as University Village Collaborative. And we’re trying to restart a tenants’ association.”
Photos by Megann Horstead
Shawnda Harris (center) speaks in front of fellow University Village residents Nov. 15 at a community meeting in DeKalb put on by DeKalb County Board members Rukisha Crawford (left) and Meryl Domina.
DeKalb County Board member Meryl Domina takes notes Nov. 15 as she listens to residents’ concerns raised during a community meeting held at University Village in DeKalb.
Continued from page 11
Some residents said there’s trash littered around the community that needs to be picked up.
Barnes said it’s important not to duplicate efforts that are already being done.
For example, Trash Squirrels is a local group dedicated to carrying out cleanups in town, he said.
“There’s so much happening right now,” Barnes said. “We don’t need to recreate the wheel on a lot of this because the process and the organizations are already doing it.”
Veronica Ward, who lives in University Village, suggested a curfew is necessary to keep some in line.
“I know everything is not the city’s fault,” Ward said. “They can’t control this. ... At the end of the day, they need to start cracking down on these parents with these kids out here.”
Byrd acknowledged that parenting in today’s world can be challenging.
“It’s a different time, different place,” Byrd said. “I guess we have to come to an understanding that parents now don’t parent like in the past.”
One resident who attended the meet-
ing questioned why tenants of University Village don’t have stainless steel appliances in their units, yet the complex’s community room does.
University Village has more than 500 apartments and is a privately-owned, federally subsidized residential complex on the city’s northwest side.
In response, after the meeting, Barnes said he appreciated what everyone had to say.
“At the meeting today, what I heard were questions that were focused on quality of life,” Byrd said. “... But what I didn’t hear the entire time was about shots fired, about ‘I don’t feel safe.’ So, for me, there’s an evolution that has happened in the city of DeKalb. I’m so proud of the City Council, school district, police department, everyone that’s been involved, where originally, when I’d have meetings in that neighborhood, it was about survival. And now it’s about quality of life because [of] the changes that we’ve made.”
Barnes said he has made efforts to be present in the community during his time as mayor.
DeKalb 7th Ward Alderman John Walker and 1st Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Zasada also represent portions of the Annie Glidden North neighborhood. Walker, whose ward includes Uni -
versity Village, said Monday he didn’t attend Saturday’s meeting because he had other things to do, and also believes such gatherings don’t lead to meaningful progress.
“It was thrown together by two people, and they invited everybody,” Walker said. “Nothing’s been done. Everyone has a lot to say at all these meetings. ... Nothing’s getting done. I’m moving solid these days because I get more things done and more things accomplished when I move in silence. ... That’s why I won’t go to things like that.”
When reached Monday, Zasada said she had planned to attend the meeting but was unable due to an unplanned schedule conflict.
A staffer with University Village property management’s office said Monday they weren’t privy to speak on behalf of the office, but that their manager wished to learn more about residents’ concerns before commenting.
University Village resident Demetrius Page said the onus doesn’t fall to any one person.
“What it’s going to take for this community to be better is for each resident to get involved,” Page said. “This room actually needs to be packed. ... It’s not. It’s going to take a village to save a vil-
lage. And each resident is here right now. That’s a start.”
There are a number of public meetings that residents can attend to ensure that their voices are heard on community issues. City meetings are open to anyone, for example.
Barnes said he believes that it can be difficult to follow all that’s going on in town.
“It’s just hard to get everyone to find out,” Barnes said.
Page said he was glad that community leaders decided to host the meeting.
“Actually, this meeting was very helpful,” Page said. “I was wondering when DeKalb was going to have a meeting.”
Crawford said hosting the community meeting meant something to her. The meeting was called by Crawford and Domina, both of whom represent residents of DeKalb’s northwest side on the County Board.
“This kind of meeting needs to be a more regular thing,” Crawford said.
After the meeting, Barnes said he believes the city’s efforts are making a difference.
“All the changes that we have made [have] truly started affecting the lives of people in [Annie] Glidden North in a positive way,” he said.
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