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NIU reaches out to residents DeKalb mayor pleased with dialogue at meeting about university’s plans By STEPHEN HABERKORN editorial@daily-chronicle.com DeKALB – One of the goals of Northern Illinois University President Douglas Baker has been to inspire more collaboration between the city and school, Baker told the audience at a town hall meeting Saturday. “I think what we can do here is take the city’s planning
that’s been underway for a couple of years and start building,” Baker said. “And so that was the idea: Let’s take on this design thesis and see how can the university begin to talk and plan with the city and see how those pieces come together. Could we really have this town-gown relationship and make a vibrant community where we’re both progressing together?”
Some of the plans floated by NIU officials, though, have raised the hackles of residents living nearby, particularly in the Ellwood historic neighborhood to the east. At the town hall meeting hosted by DeKalb Mayor John Rey, concerned residents and Northern Illinois University officials dug into more details about the proposed changes. Rey was “very pleased”
with the tenor of the dialogue in the city council chambers. “I think the discussion today moved in a very positive vein,” Rey said. “… I think people were able to see Doug Baker’s personality – the mindset he’s bringing to the community-university relationship. I hope people were able to see my perspective on that relationship and the energy I’m putting into [it].”
The meeting was a followup to one hosted last week by Preserve Our Neighborhoods, a community group formed by residents living around NIU who are concerned about changes the university has proposed that could affect their neighborhoods. NIU consultant Ron Walters, an architect and former head of consulting for Deloitte, said in order to reverse declin-
Sycamore celebrates Cinco de Mayo
ing enrollment, the university must do a better job attracting members of the millenial generation. Today’s traditional students are savvy shoppers who prefer living in an urban rather than suburban environment. Walters cited the fact that one-third of last school year’s freshman class did not return as sophomores this
See NIU, page A8
Sycamore teen raising funds for drowning victim, family By SHAWN SHINNEMAN sshinneman@shawmedia.com
Mary Beth Nolan for Shaw Media
Esmeralda Lazaro, 9, and dancers with Ballet Folklorico Monarcas perform Sunday at the 17th annual Cinco de Mayo festival in Sycamore.
Taxco Restaurant holds 17th annual holiday festival By ANDREA AZZO aazzo@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Instead of just spectating, Lilia Leon, 4, of Sycamore was dancing right along with DeKalb’s Ballet Folklorico Monarcas dancers Sunday at Sycamore’s Cinco de Mayo festival. Lilia, with her face painted with a depiction of a pink butterfly, even took her grandmother’s hands and swayed to the Latin music, only stopping when the music stopped. Lilia said she loves dancing often. “Every day. Every day. Every day,” she said while jumping in the air. Taxco Restaurant, 223 W. State St., Sycamore, held its 17th annual Cinco de Mayo festival on Sunday. The event included live entertainment, a petting zoo, bounce houses and plenty of food. Taxco Restaurant owner Jesus Rome-
ro started the festival in 1998 in honor of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, which celebrates Mexico’s May 5, 1862, win in the Battle of Puebla, when the French Army invaded Mexico and were defeated by a much smaller Mexican Army. For Romero, a Mexican who moved to the U.S. when he was 17, the holiday symbolizes the country coming together at a time when they were divided by ethnic groups, he said. “It’s important to share our culture,” Romero said. “In Sycamore, we can come together and raise money for nonprofits.” The event’s proceeds benefited Kishwaukee College scholarships, Kishwaukee Education Consortium’s culinary program and DeKalb County Community Gardens. According to its website,
See FESTIVAL, page A8
Noah Najewski, 3, of Cortland has a cheering section as he competes in a milk drinking contest Sunday at Cinco de Mayo Festival in Sycamore.
CRYSTAL LAKE – A Sycamore teen is organizing a fundraiser to help the family of his elementary school friend, Jose Esquivel, the Crystal Lake high school freshman who drowned earlier this month. Eriq Walker, 14, and his mother, Patricia Walker of Sycamore, are putting together a fundraiser to be held at Chick-Fil-A, 4812 Northwest Highway, Crystal Lake, from noon to 8 p.m. today. Twenty percent of proceeds from orders of those who mention Esquivel or bring in a flier from the event will go to Esquivel’s family to help with funeral costs. The event also will feature raffles and games throughout the day to benefit the Esquivels. Eriq Walker said his desire to help out stems from his own experience. Walker was living under the same roof as his cousin when his cousin passed away in April 2010. “People were there for us,” Patricia Walker said. “They did a fundraiser for us. Why not pay it forward to another family?” Esquivel was with friends at a house on Haligus Road when he jumped from a pier into a pond behind the home, authorities have said. When he didn’t surface, emergency crews were called to the scene and began a search. Esquivel was found in eight feet of water just after 10:30 p.m. April 17, about an hour and a half after the fire department was dispatched. He was pronounced dead at 11:43 p.m. at Centegra Hospital – Woodstock. The Crystal Lake boy, 15, ran cross country and track at Crystal Lake Central High School. Patricia Walker said she was supportive of her son’s idea to hold a fundraiser because of the feeling of care it can present from the community to the family. She said she was proud of Eriq for taking the initiative. “For a 14-year-old wanting to help out like that, it just shows he has a big heart,” she said. “I was behind him and am doing everything I can to help.”
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