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Ju n e 2, 2015 • $ 1.0 0
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DAILY CHRONICLE
Kaneland knocks off Sycamore in regional championship / B1 HIGH
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Sycamore passes ‘Cupcake Law’ City Council amends health code to allow home kitchens in residences By ADAM POULISSE apoulisse@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Amber Guarino was expecting a boon for her home kitchen around Easter time – a season known for its sweet treats – before the DeKalb County Health Department shut it down, she said. “I had tons of orders ready to go,” she said. “I didn’t know I couldn’t do it. Someone must have turned me in. I see tons of people bake from their
Hastert to appear in court Thursday
homes. Unfortunately, it was me that got turned in.” But now, Guarino can bake her cakes, cookies and cake pops in peace. Sycamore’s City Council on Monday adopted the state “Cupcake Law,” amending the city code to allow home kitchens in residences as long as they comply with state and county regulations. “Now I’m super excited,” Guarino said. “Now I can hopefully start advertising and get people to want to buy
from me.” The measure passed 6-11, with Alderwoman Becky Springer abstaining because she felt having a sister in the home kitchen business would be a conflict of interest, she said. Alderman Alan Bauer voted against the ordinance. “I’m pro-business and I don’t want this to interfere with any of our local businesses that we have now,” he said. The bill was signed into law last summer after Chloe
Sterling of Troy had her inhome cupcake business shut down for not being a certified kitchen. A similar law was passed in Joliet last fall. Sycamore’s Cupcake Law was previously discussed at the May 18 City Council meeting because of inquiries from “multiple residents,” City Manager Brian Gregory said. DeKalb County health officials had expressed concerns to the council about disease outbreaks and the risks of
home kitchens not requiring a registration or a permit. The law does come with some stipulations – sales cannot exceed $1,000 a month, and packaging must be clearly labeled stating the goods were made in a home kitchen and it must alert consumers of any potential allergens. In addition, the law forbids potentially hazardous foods – goods that require time and temperature control for safety to limit germs. “We’re just covering all
our bases so that no one can say that the local officials didn’t favor this or didn’t want to comply with the Cupcake Law,” Mayor Ken Mundy said. Robin Tufts, another home kitchen owner, attended the meeting and said she was excited about Sycamore’s Cupcake Law. “Right now, I only do things for really close friends and family,” she said. “Now I can open that up to other people.
DeKalb city alderman resolves resale shop permit complaint
The ASSOCIATED PRESS CHICAGO – Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert is set to make his first court appearance in his hush-money case on Thursday, when he is expected to enter a plea before a federal judge who previously donated $1,500 to the then-Illinois congressman’s re-election campaign. The arraignment for Hastert, a Republican who was once second in line to the U.S. presidency, comes a week after a grand jury indictment alleged he agreed to pay $3.5 million to ensure someone from the Illinois town where he taught and coached stayed quiet about “prior misconduct” by Hastert. Dennis The ofHastert fice of U.S. District Judge Thomas M. Durkin confirmed the arraignment date, then told The Associated Press later Monday that Durkin could not comment on any aspect of the case, including whether he might recuse himself. The indictment charges Hastert, 73, with one count of evading bank regulations by withdrawing $952,000 in increments of less than $10,000 to skirt reporting rules. He also is charged with lying to the FBI about the reason for the unusual withdraws. If convicted, Hastert faces a maximum five-year prison sentence on each count. The indictment does not say what Hastert was allegedly trying to hide. But a person familiar with the allegations told the AP the payments were meant to conceal claims he sexually molested someone decades ago. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the investigation is ongoing and the allegations are not contained in the indictment. Hastert hasn’t returned messages, spoken or appeared in public since he was
Monica Synett – msynett@shawmedia.com
DeKalb Alderman David Jacobson purchased the former DeKalb Clinic at 217 Franklin St. at an auction and is now using it to hold rummage sales on select dates.
Jacobson says his shop generates needed traffic downtown By BRITTANY KEEPERMAN bkeeperman@shawmedia.com
DeKalb Alderman David Jacobson is using the former site of the DeKalb Clinic to hold rummage sales.
DeKALB – First Ward alderman, landlord and business owner David Jacobson recently received a permit to operate a resale shop in the central business district downtown and started collecting sales tax on the wares he sells, but only after a complaint raised eyebrows about the property. Jacobson said he had been using the building – which he bought at auction in 2013 for $110,000 – on a monthly basis for about a year as a site to sell items he bought at auctions, estate and liquidation sales. Handwritten posters advertising “rummage sale” hung on the front door of the space recently. Inside, the space is filled with an assort-
ment of boxes, furniture, traffic cones, toolboxes, clocks and more. Jacobson himself said his shop is “a twist” on the traditional resale shop layout. After about a year in operation, Jacobson received a permit to use the site as a registered resale business a few weeks ago, according to city officials. Mayor John Rey said there had been at least one complaint about Jacobson’s monthly rummage sales. The building condition and fire safety issues were concerns, Rey said. Ellen Divita, DeKalb community development director, said that when city officials became aware of what was happening on the property, they asked Jacobson to inspect it.
See PERMIT, page A5
See HASTERT, page A5
LOCAL NEWS
MARKETPLACE
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Taps flowing
Open for business Defense fails
Forge Brew House in Sycamore celebrates official opening / A3
Mega Grande laundromat opens; owners plan to extend service hours / A6
Sycamore shut out in regional final by Burlington Central / B1
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