DC_MidWeek_112223

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2023 • S haw Lo c a l .co m

BREAKING A (TURKEY) LEG

DeKalb theater troupe helps feed families this Thanksgiving / 6

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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Copyright 2023

New NIU union contract promises 5% pay increase for workers

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com DeKALB – After months of negotiations under an expired contract, Northern Illinois University recently reached a new agreement with two of its worker unions, which includes 5% pay increases after workers complained about “poverty wages.”

Workers represented by two American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employee unions will be given increased compensation under a new two-year contract recently ratified by the union and approved by the university’s Board of Trustees. The employees have been working on contracts that expired in June.

Union officials called the contract, effective through June 30, 2025, “progress toward fair pay,” in a statement to the Daily Chronicle.

“This agreement represents a critical step forward in our pursuit of a brighter and more equitable future,” Rave Meyer, office manager in the NIU Department of Environmental Studies and the president of AFSCME Local 1890, said in a news release. “Even so, our journey is far from over. Our union will remain steadfast in our commitment to tirelessly work toward realizing these essential goals.”

More than 650 employees are represented by the two AFSCME unions. About 500 workers are represented by Local 1890 and 160 with Local 963. The unions represent office workers, building services employee, maintenance and food services workers at NIU. Union members have previously aired grievances that $15 per hour wages had stagnated, especially for longtime employees, while new hires were offered more pay.

PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzles on page 20

Mark Busch file photo

Northern Illinois University employees listen to speakers Sept. 21 at the NIU Board of Trustees meeting in Altgeld Hall on campus in DeKalb. Several NIU employees, represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, attended and spoke at the meeting seeking a fast resolution to a contract with higher pay.

The new two-year agreement includes a 5% pay increase that’s retroactive to July 1, 2023. Union workers will get at least a 3% pay increase on July 1, 2024, and employees can expect annual lump-sum payments up to $1,150 based on seniority.

The new contract was announced six weeks after NIU union workers demanded better pay, with union president Patrick Sheridan lamenting their hourly rate as “poverty wages,” at a Board of Trustees meeting on Sept. 21.

The new contract not only included pay increases but it also raised the minimum starting wage for union members working at the university to $16 an hour. Efforts to

address union worker wage inversion – where new hires are sometimes brought on at a higher pay rate than tenured workers – were also included in the contract’s provisions, according to the union.

NIU spokesman Joe King said the new contract that was approved by NIU’s Board of Trustees on Nov. 9 is for AFSCME Council 31 and Local 1890 union members.

Clerical, professional and administrative workers at NIU are represented by AFSCME Local 1890 and NIU building services, health services, dining and maintenance workers are represented by

See NIU CONTRACT, page 7

WHERE IT’S AT Amusements ........................................20 Classified .........................................21-23 Cover story ............................................. 6 Looking Back .......................................... 9

ON THE COVER Jan Kuntz stands above Judy O’Connor, Roberta Maxfield and Linda Ball during one of the drop of times for the Stage Coach Players Thanksgiving Food Drive.

See story, page 6.

Photo provided by Stage Coach Players

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By MEGANN HORSTEAD

I want them to know that they spent the day making a difference in the life of another woman. I think when women … come together, we’re a united front and we really help each other up.”

mhorstead@shawmedia.com KINGSTON – About 20 people took to a new home construction site in Kingston Nov. 11 hard at work with a shared purpose in mind: to lend a hand up, not a handout.

A Women Build, put on by Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County, aimed to raise funds and bring volunteers in the community together to build the 17th home in the organization’s 25-year history for the Gonzalez family.

Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County Executive Director Kim McIver said she hopes all the women on the build site feel empowered.

“I want them to know that they spent the day making a difference in the life of another woman,” McIver said. “I think when women … come together, we’re a united front and we really help each other up. I think it’s really impactful especially when you’re a mom and you know that you’re building a stable foundation for those kids and that family.

When they have safe place to call home, it’s transformational. It’s a generational thing because they’re going to carry this thing with them. Everybody just wants their family to feel safe.”

The Women Build made for the third

Kim McIver, Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County executive director

Megann Horstead

Jade Winkoski (left) Taylor Lupa install siding on the Gonzalez family’s home Nov. 11 during the organization’s third of three Women Build events in Kingston. of three national fundraising events slated for the year. This time around, volunteers were charged with working on the gutters and siding of the house.

Earlville resident Kelly Johnson said she’s glad she decided to participate in the Women Build. She said her favorite part about the event was the people she shared it with.

“I think just being around likeminded people that are here to help [and] for the experience,” Johnson said.

“Everybody’s super friendly. Most of the ladies here are in the [Northern Illinois University] group, but I don’t know anybody here. But everybody here was super friendly and welcoming. So, it was nice to just sign in and help.”

Nov. 10-12 and Nov. 16-18 A Midsummer Night’s Dream Written by William Shakespeare Directed by Melanie Keller Black Box Theatre NIU Stevens Building

Nov. 30 - Dec. 3 Fall Dance Concert

Directed by Michel Rodriguez Cintra, Richard Grund, Monique Haley O’Connell Theatre NIU Stevens Building

Johnson said she’s gained some new skills by participating in the Women Build.

“I’m much better with a hammer,” Johnson said. “I’ve never hung siding before. I’d say I’m pretty good at it now.”

NIU student Salma Thomas shared that sentiment. “[I’ve] never built a house, but I’m learning how to do siding, which is fun,” Thomas said.

NIU student Maja Rzadkowski said

See HABITAT, page 7

NIU Art Museum Nov. 18 Nov. 19 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 27 Nov. 28 Nov. 29 Nov. 29 Nov. 30 Dec. 3 Dec. 5

Banda NIU and Mariachi, 7 p.m.

Swingin’ in the Holidays, 3 p.m.

Gamelan Concert, 5 p.m.

Avalon String Quartet, 7 p.m.

String Chamber Music Ensemble, 7 p.m.

NIU Wind Ensemble and Wind Symphony, 7 p.m.

Third Rebel Music Conference, 9 a.m.

NIU Chamber Brass Small Ensembles, 7 p.m.

NIU Chamber Brass Large Ensembles, 7 p.m.

25th Annual Holiday Choral Concert, 3 p.m.

NIU Percussion Ensemble Winter Concert, 7 p.m.

What is for Supper? What is a Meal? and Food for the Soul: Belief and Healing in Burma Nov. 14 - Dec. 16 and Jan. 16 - Feb. 12 Altgeld Hall - First Floor

NIU School of Art and Design Screenic Paradigms Jan. 22 - Feb. 29 Jack Olson Gallery Jack Arends Hall

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Habitat for Humanity empowers women to build 3

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

4 ILLINOIS SCHOOL REPORT CARD

D-428 students perform below state average High school now designated as ‘targeted’ school

Our teacher retention is pretty high considering where the rest of the state is. There’s a lot of loyalty to DeKalb.”

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com DeKALB – DeKalb District 428 students performed below the state average in math, science and English language arts over the past school year, according to Illinois School Report Card data.

DeKalb School District 428 also had several schools receive overall high marks while others underachieved during the 2022-23 school year. Every year, the Illinois State Board of Education releases its Illinois School Report Card to give the public a gauge as to how the state’s schools stack up to one another.

DeKalb High School was one of three district schools that saw a setback, according to the report. The high school is now designated as a “targeted school” meaning that one or more student groups is performing at or below the level of the lowest performing 5% of schools.

Superintendent Minerva Gar-

Minerva Garcia-Sanchez, DeKalb superintendent

Mark Busch file

DeKalb School District 428 Superintendent Minerva Garcia-Sanchez discusses the results of the 2023 Illinois State Board of Education report card Nov. 1 in her office in DeKalb. cia-Sanchez said she’s not alarmed by this new development and what it’s meant for the school district.

“Commendable is a designation you want to visit quite often,” Garcia-Sanchez said. “But it’s not realistic to

always want to live there. If we can, that’s great that there’s a consistency.”

DeKalb High School enrolled 1,954 students. More than half, or 55%, come from low-income backgrounds, according to the report.

Huntley Middle School also has been designated among the lowest-performing 5% of schools in Illinois. Huntley Middle students performed the best in science proficiency, data shows, at 34%, though still below the state average.

Bringing in high marks, or commendable summative designations as the report card states, were Jefferson, Littlejohn, Founders and Lincoln elementary schools.

Garcia-Sanchez said that being an education official requires a measure of flexibility and nimbleness.

“I think that because we have been

See DISTRICT 428, page 5

Downtown Genoa Friday, December 1st 6pm-8pm

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Jingle Bell Parade Tree Lighting Ceremony Photos With Santa GK Jazz Band

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Thank You to our Celebrate the Season Sponsors!

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF The library, 309 Oak St., DeKalb, will hold the workshop at 11 a.m. Nov. 25 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, according to a news release.

The workshop is free and intended for

adults and seniors.

Attendees can learn about Medicare insurance options. Licensed sales representative Carol Cherry will discuss Medicare’s different parts, how to make the right choice, Medicare

insurance options and how to find the right plan. No registration is required to attend.

For information, email samanthah@ dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 1701.

– Shaw Local News Network

• DISTRICT 428

DeKalb students are white, 27.8% Black, 30.3% Hispanic, 1.1% Asian and fewer than 1% for American Indian, Pacific Islander or other.

ficient compared to a state average of 51.8%.

The district’s Math Growth Percentile rose to 47.7% from 46.1% the prior year, according to the Illinois School Report Card website. The district’s English language arts (ELA) Growth Percentile dipped to 41.7% from 44.3% the year before.

“I’m proud of the fact that our trajectory is on the rise,” Garcia-Sanchez said.

Report Card website.

The district’s teacher retention rate is 90.7%, slightly above the state average of 90.2%.

Garcia-Sanchez said it bodes well for building morale and teacher retention when administrative staffing isn’t constantly in flux.

“We really haven’t had a lot of turnover,” she said. “I think people move on as they need to, but we always have our assistant principals or somebody else in the wings ready to move up so that we can stay consistent to the work.

So, I definitely think that’s a plus. We have folks ready to lead. We don’t want to see people leave, but as they do, they make choices. Then we need to be ready. Our teacher retention is pretty high considering where the rest of the state is. There’s a lot of loyalty to DeKalb. The relationship is there. ... I think that’s a phenomenal thing. A lot of districts don’t have that benefit, which, I think, is something that’s really great about DeKalb.”

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library will host a workshop for patrons to learn about available Medicare insurance options.

Continued from page 4 commendable before, the teachers that are there are doing their job,” she said.

“Do we have to pivot [and] change because now we have a different type of student in front of us? Absolutely. …

By giving us this data [and] by understanding that we’re not dealing with the same type of needs is a part of it.

We’re noticing a lot more social-emotional needs [and] a lot more behavioral health needs.”

The district’s overall graduation rate was 79%, with an 18-to-1 student to teacher ratio for total of 445 full-time-equivalent teachers on staff.

More than half of DeKalb’s 6,664 enrolled students across the district’s 12 schools, 64%, come from low-income backgrounds.

The district’s student population is more diverse than the state average.

According to the report card, 34% of

By the numbers

DeKalb District 428 schools are performing below the state average in multiple areas of academia, according to the report. In some areas, however, DeKalb schools improved compared to district stats from the 2021-22 school year.

ELA, math and science

Overall, DeKalb students performed below the state average in math, science and English language arts (ELA), according to report card data.

Data showed 15.6% of DeKalb District 428 students are proficient in English language arts compared to a state average of 34.6%. In math, 13% of DeKalb students were proficient compared to 26.9% state average. And in science, the district’s strongest scores, almost 33% of DeKalb students are pro-

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The district’s chronic absenteeism fell to 31.5% from 36.8% the year before, according to Illinois School Report Card data. The district’s rate of truancy dropped slightly to 27.7% from 28.6% the prior year.

Overall DeKalb student attendance is high, at 90.6%, about in line with state averages, data shows.

Building leadership and teacher retention

The district has maintained a principal turnover of two over the past six years, according to the Illinois School

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5 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

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The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

6

A CLOSER LOOK

Hometown partnership

Stage Coach Players give back to DeKalb through Thanksgiving food drive

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Volunteers with DeKalb theater group Stage Coach Players are making sure community members enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal this holiday.

Nonperishable food items were collected by Stage Coach Players volunteers and generous individuals over the past week for the theater troupe’s annual Thanksgiving food drive.

Patti Pearson and her husband Dave Pearson, who have been involved with the Stage Coach Players for 26 years, were among those who donated food to the food drive done in partnership with The Salvation Army in DeKalb.

“We like to support the cause and give to people who are less fortunate than us during the holiday season,” Patti Pearson said. “It’s wonderful. We go to every play. Every month there’s a new play, and we go to all the plays and we usher.”

Volunteers Gloria Dennison and Angela Schiola-Niemeyer kept warm by a portable heater outside the Stage Coach Players, 126 S. 5th St. in DeKalb, on Nov. 14 to collect the last batch of donations before the week of Thanksgiving.

“I think Angela and I both really like DeKalb, and I think it’s special that we have a community theater that is this good. We love doing our plays but we also like supporting people in DeKalb because they’re our people. They come to our shows,” Dennison said.

This year, the Thanksgiving food drive generated food boxes for DeKalb area families with Thanksgiving meal staples such as stuffing, turkey gravy, cranberry sauce, whole kernel corn and other food items. Cash donations and $20 gift cards toward turkeys also were accepted.

Dennison set a goal of 50 food boxes for the drive and with more than a week left before Thanksgiving she said she felt confident they’d hit the mark.

“I think people want to give, I think they just like to know exactly what they’re supposed to give, but they just don’t know. But if you give them a list they’re happy to go get the list and bring it,” Schiola-Niemeyer said.

Schiola-Niemeyer also said she thinks the community theater group’s name recognition enables the food drive to have a wide reach.

Camden Lazenby

Dave Pearson (from left) with his dog, Beau, Bernie Schumeman, Patti Pearson, Gloria Dennison, Nancy Schumeman and Angela Schiola– Niemeyer stand outside Stage Coach Players in DeKalb on Tuesday, Nov. 14, for the last day of the troupe’s Thanksgiving food drive.

“I think it’s an easy thing for us to do, to sit here and collect food and use our name. You know, because people know us and then people that have seen our shows will just look on our Facebook page and they’ll come. So it’s such an easy way for us to collect and to give, and then we work with other organizations,” Schiola-Niemeyer said.

The group has worked with Safe Passage, Hope Haven, DeKalb Food Mart and at the beginning of the current semester the Stage Coach Players outreach program worked with Northern Illinois University to fill campus area food banks.

Dennison, Schiola-Niemeyer and Jan Kuntz created the Stage Coach Players outreach committee in 2020 to help the community that has supported the troupe’s shows since 1947. Initially the trio operated weekly food drives, but as the COVID-19 pandemic waned and

We love doing our plays but we also like supporting people in DeKalb because they’re our people. They come to our shows.”

Gloria Dennison

needs shifted they’ve begun conducting the drives on a seasonal level.

“It’s a way we can give back to a community that has supported us for over 70 years, because we are the second oldest continuing performing community theatre in Illinois,” Dennison said.

According to a Stage Coach Players Facebook post, the group will work with

the Salvation Army DeKalb Corps Community Center to feed hundreds of local families during the 2023 holiday season.

Dennison said she doesn’t think of the annual food drive in November as a Thanksgiving Day outreach program, so much as as an extension of the program’s year round efforts.

In December, an annual angel-tree gift giving program is expected to return while “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” will have a five-day run from Dec. 6 to 10.

While donating food, Patti Pearson was asked what her favorite part of being a member of the Stage Coach Players has been over the past 2½ decades.

She said “everything,” but emphasized the outreach program.

“The productions are always amazing and just doing this outreach program is great, they do stuff all year round,” Patti Pearson said.

Call, click or stop by today

Scott Zeimet Ins Agency Inc Agent Mark Busch file photo

Many people attending the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees meeting wore AFSCME shirts with this slogan on Sept. 21 in Altgeld Hall on campus in Dekalb.

• NIU CONTRACT

Continued from page 2 AFSCME Local 963, with AFSCME Council 31 bargaining on their behalf.

“The university is always committed to bargaining in good faith as was the case with AFSCME in achieving a contract reflective of their membership and goals. We appreciate the contributions of our staff to student success and our university community,” King said in a statement to the Daily Chronicle.

• HABITAT

Continued from page 3 she’s fortunate that she didn’t have to worry about what to do when faced with challenges on the new home’s construction site.

“It’s just slow and steady,” Rzadkowski said. “We have so many people helping us that are professionals [who] have done this type of work for many, many years. Having that type of supervision really helps us and guides us, which is really good.”

McIver said the trouble with buying materials needed to build the home hasn’t subsided.

She said the group isn’t part of Habitat International, which means the DeKalb County group buys all the materials itself for home builds using fundraised money. McIver said they try to support as many DeKalb County trades during the process as they can.

“The biggest thing that we’re facing is obviously the increase in prices,” McIver said. “The cost of building our Habitat homes has gone up by about 30% and that’s seen across the board.

So, all Habitat affiliates are having … to fundraise the difference in the cost of the homes.”

McIver added that fundraisers, such

A 2023 study from the University of Illinois and the Illinois Economic Policy Institute indicated public university employees are paid about 20% less than individuals working similar roles in state government. That’s what union workers said they were rallying against in September.

“Clerical, technical and other support workers make NIU and every state university happen,” AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Roberta Lynch said in a news release. “Together in our union we’re fighting for fair pay for every university employee.” as the Women Build, go a long way toward bridging the gap in funds.

The group is always welcome to more corporate teams to hold a build.

“Because if we’re not given those donor dollars and those sponsorships, then we’re not able to build any more homes and that’s the mission of Habitat: It’s to build as many homes as possible,” McIver said. “There is such a high demand within DeKalb County for safe affordable shelter. We definitely need all the funding we can get to help us carry out our mission.”

McIver said she would consider the Women Builds that Habitat for Humanity of DeKalb County had put on a success.

“It is an annual event, so we definitely look forward to hosting it again next year,” McIver said. “We had such a demand for it for DeKalb County that we hosted it three different weekends. … We had so many women that wanted to come out and be a part of the Women Build.”

Thomas urges anyone considering participating in future Women Build events to heed her advice.

“Just come and enjoy. It seems like it’s super intimidating, but when you get here, everyone’s super nice,” Thomas said. “It’s fine if you don’t know anything. You’re here to learn.”

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LOOKING BACK

9

Fate seems to have it in for Kaneville. When the DeKalb electric line was sold under the hammer for $90,000 last October, the village saw its electric car service slipping away. Then the junking of the line began. That was discomforting enough. Now, as if to add insult to injury, the village has been plunged into medieval darkness as the jinking of the line disconnected the wire which brought electrical power by way of the DeKalb line from the A. E. & C. power plant at North Aurora. Around 6 o’clock in the evening, Kaneville takes on the appearance of a pioneer village.

Although no definite announcement was given today from the factory, other than all of the workmen have been laid off for a few days, it is understood that the Sycamore Foundry company will cease operations for an indefinite period.

Members of the police department discovered a Ford yesterday that may be stolen property, although the present owner may not know anything of the matter. The license number of the machine, 673093, was issued to a man in Chicago and the engine number that corresponded to the license number is 318094, but this has been altered to read 318879. As soon as the police department was advised of the alteration of the engine numbers, the usual police storage tag was attached and the present owner will have to explain when, where and how to the police before he can expect to get the machine.

Fire breaking out in a pile of coal in one of the Haish flats just before noon today and gaining considerable headway, caused much excitement on Fisk Avenue for a time. The fire department received the call as Haish Avene, when it is believed the location was given as Haish flats. On the account a trip was made to the south end of Haish Avenue and another inquiry made of the telephone operator as to the proper location. The damage was confined to the basement of the flat and within 20 minutes time the work for the fire department was over.

1948 – 75 YEARS AGO

Children aged six through 18 who attend the Odenalk School in Germany located in the state of Hessen on the upper Rhine near Darmstadt will receive clothing, food, school supplies and money to enable them to stay in school, from the students of Sycamore High School at Christmas. The present problem facing the parents of the 180 students in that German school is lack of sufficient money to permit the children to continue with their education.

At a breakfast of the newly formed DeKalb County Shrine Club held Sunday morning at the Rice Hotel, a sum of $400 was contributed in less than four minutes to the Shriners Crippled Children’s Home located at Oak Park.

A two-way mobile police radio unit has now been installed in Chief of Police Chester G. Cook’s patrol car in Genoa. This is the first unit to be used in DeKalb County and consists of the latest in F.M. equipment.

Photo provided by DeKalb County History Center

Ho-Ka turkeys are seen in the field on the Kauffman turkey farm in Waterman, circa 1955.

The purchase of this equipment was made possible by the contributions of the merchants of Genoa as well as other individuals.

ber a little more. Their image and their opinion of a man we buried at Arlington but kept alive in our hearts is inherited, filtered through parents and textbooks.

A book, “Bet a Million,” the story of John W. Gates, is proving of great interest to many of the older residents of the Fox Valley area as it reads like a letter from home.

Gates spent his boyhood in that area and visited frequently in later years at the home of his parents, Asel and Mary, in the red brick house which he built for them at 217 S. Second St., St. Charles. The home is now occupied by the Sharkins and they have restored it to its original fine home, also remodeled the coachman’s home in the rear to a three-car garage with two family apartments above. It is significant that the Sharkin family coming from DeKalb also recall the Ike Ellwood family, frequently connected with the Gates, barbed wire and other ventures.

The Skylab 3 astronauts, who are having difficulty with such simple chores as tying their shoelaces, have been given a shopping list of jobs they should perform during a Thanksgiving spacewalk that may turn into man’s longest stay outside an orbiting spacecraft.

Central Illinois Light company has announced that power will be cut in parts of Sycamore and rural areas Sunday afternoon for a brief period while some new equipment is being installed.

Barricades were being moved back this morning at the site of the new building which is to be constructed

by Clifford Johnson to replace the one destroyed by fire on the Lincoln Highway near Second Street in DeKalb. A large section of the sidewalk collapsed making the moving of the barricade necessary. For the past several days large crowds have gathered there to watch the machinery dig the basement.

1973 – 50 YEARS AGO

Only rarely in a lifetime does an event of national importance shock the mind into remembering the time, the place, the details of first hearing of it. It happened at Pearl Harbor. It happened at Dallas, Nov. 22, 1963. It has been only ten years, but already the torch is passing to a new generation, a generation which barely knew him. They are freshmen and sophomores in high school now, the juniors and seniors, it seems, remem-

DeKalb Schools will go back to the one building, one principal philosophy. That was the decision of the DeKalb School Board at its monthly business meeting Monday night. Presently, there are six principals for nine elementary schools; two of those persons are part-time instructors-part-time principals.

1998 – 25 YEARS AGO

A 20-year-old transient has been arrested and charged with phoning in a false bomb threat which forced the evacuation of Hiawatha Schools for two hours Friday morning.

Despite some opposition, the U. S. Postal Service is proceeding with plans to acquire a pair of lots at the southeast edge of Genoa as the site for a new post office.

The dispute over park land in the Kensington Pointe subdivision is over. However, the DeKalb Park District is still not happy with what is received. Late yesterday afternoon, the park board accepted almost all of the land it was offered, rejecting only one pond area. The subdivision is located at the intersection of Glidden Avenue and Taylor Street.

After almost two years of preparation, the first home in The Bridges of Rivermist subdivision is ready to be built. Preliminary landscaping on the 242-acre subdivision is compete, including the construction of several ponds and a covered bridge. The developers even have two swans in the water to keep geese away.

– Compiled by Sue Breese

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

1923 – 100 YEARS AGO

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

10

Sycamore city overtaxed its residents’ property bills

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Sycamore overtaxed its residents by almost $120,000 on their 2022 city property tax bills, taxing them at a higher rate than what the City Council approved, a Daily Chronicle review of tax records found.

According to city officials, Sycamore residents were overtaxed an average of about $10 to $20.

In a statement released Nov. 14, after the Chronicle began asking about its findings, city officials acknowledged the overtaxation and blamed it on a “clerical error.”

The 2022 property tax levy the Sycamore City Council approved in December 2022 was not the same levy that went out to taxpayers for 2022 bills payable this year, according to multiple government documents including DeKalb County tax records from the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, city and Sycamore City Council minutes.

“The City contacted the County immediately upon learning of this error and is actively developing options to rectify it,” according to the statement.

“This matter will be discussed at the

See SYCAMORE, page 11

Provided by the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Office

The 2022 tax year computational report Sycamore City Manager Michael Hall submitted to the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder Office in March 2023.

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SYCAMORE – Sycamore-based property and casualty firm Crum-Halsted Agency recently was acquired by OneDigital, an insurance brokerage, financial services and HR consulting firm.

Crum-Halstead’s business and personal clients will continue to be served by its 55-member team, according to a news release.

OneDigital will integrate property and casualty services into its portfolio. The partnership also increases Crum-Halsted’s access to national P&C and employee

• SYCAMORE

Continued from page 10 next meeting of the City Council on Monday, November 20th at 6:00 PM, and information will be published to the City’s website and social media channels to keep our community informed as we work to resolve this error.”

Public records requests revealed that the city levied property taxes at a higher rate – 0.7% instead of the approved 0.68% rate – for 2022 property tax bills, paid in 2023. Instead of bringing in the expected additional revenue of $600,000, the city brought in $719,991, about $120,000 more than was approved by elected officials, according to DeKalb County documents.

The higher tax collection was not approved by the City Council, however.

The City Council did vote to increase property taxes in 2022, the Daily Chronicle previously reported, but not by that much.

“During preparation of the City’s tax levy proposal for tax year 2023 (payable 2024), a clerical error was discovered in the amount levied for tax year 2022 [payable 2023],” according to the city statement.

In total, Sycamore city collected $3.9 million in property tax revenue instead of the expected $3,785,960.

Records show that City Manager Michael Hall signed a tax computational report in March 2023, which was submitted to the DeKalb County Clerk and Recorder’s Office. In that report, the total levy rate is 0.703%, not what the City Council approved in December.

Hall said the city sent documents to DeKalb County within days of the December 2022 vote which approved the city’s tax levy. When he signed the tax computation report in March, he didn’t check to see if the numbers matched what was voted on, just what had been written into the ordinance, Hall said Nov. 14.

“I did not go back and check and see, ‘Wait, what did they vote on versus what was given to them in December,’ ” Hall said. “So four months, three

benefit resources while enhancing business and personal client solutions. The solutions include wealth management, HR, Medicare and pharmaceutical benefits and retirement plan services.

Crum-Halsted Agency is a northern Illinois and Chicagoland property and casualty firm that provides community involvement, protection, and risk management to businesses and industries through proper insurance, risk mitigation tactics and value-added services.

For information, visit onedigital.com or crumhalsted.com.

– Shaw Local News Network months later there was no, there’s no check to say ‘Oh, wait, that’s not what was voted on’ because that’s what was submitted in December.”

A draft of the city’s 2022 property tax levy was prepared ahead of the Dec. 19, 2022, Sycamore City Council meeting which originally assumed a rate collection that ended up different than the final approved version. According to the minutes for that meeting, Hall told the Council he would have to change the numbers on the tax levy ordinance to reflect what the elected officials decided upon before submitting it to the county.

Hall confirmed revenue from the property tax hike was used to hire three firefighters and two police officers, which was a part of the original plan approved by the City Council in December.

Sycamore resident Ted Strack, who also is on the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and Sycamore Park District Board of Commissioners, recently attended a Nov. 6 city meeting to voice concerns about a proposed new Sycamore Fire Department fire station and how the city was going to pay for it.

When informed of the tax error, Strack said he understands that mistakes happen, although he still has concerns about Sycamore’s overall taxes.

“Everybody’s fallible, and I believe the city when they say was a clerical or numeric mistake, so I’m not going to be critical of that. If you’re not making any mistakes you’re not doing very much,” Strack said Tuesday. “My bigger issue is just the overall tax burden that the residents of Sycamore are baring, granted the city of Sycamore’s piece of it is relatively small and the big heavy hitter is the school district.”

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Virginia Sherrod said on Nov. 14 she wasn’t aware of the discrepancy.

“I do know that the city has done an awesome job in trying to not put a heavy burden on our community as far as taxes go, and sometimes you can’t help it,” Sherrod said. “However, I did not know there was that big of a gap in the amount they had quoted to us.”

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The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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NuEra Cannabis breaks ground on marijuana dispensary Once it opens in early 2024, NuEra Cannabis will make for the second marijuana dispensary doing business in DeKalb

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com DeKALB – NuEra Cannabis, the second of two marijuana dispensaries slated for DeKalb, is entering a new era in its hopes of setting up shop in town in early 2024.

On Nov. 13, project leaders joined city staff for a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the start of work that will commence on the building at 818 W. Lincoln Highway. DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas and city planner Dan Olson were present.

The 4,834 square-feet space, now vacant, used to be home to the former Book World in The Junction Shopping Center.

Plans for the soon-to-be marijuana dispensary have been a long time in the making, officials said.

“We are absolutely delighted,” NuEra Cannabis chief operating officer Laura Jaramillo Bernal said. “We really thought that we would’ve been up and running years ago, but the cannabis licensing process has been much slower than everybody expected. Also, the COVID-19 pandemic slowed everything a lot more than everyone expected. So, it’s taken everything a little while, but both the city and our landlord have been incredibly supportive and incredibly patient. We are so excited to finally be breaking ground today and hopefully opening up our doors to the public in quarter one next year.”

NuEra Cannabis already has other dispensaries in Illinois, including in Aurora, East Peoria, Chicago Champaign, Urbana and Pekin, according to its website.

Jaramillo Bernal said the company’s decision to choose DeKalb for a dispen-

Megann Horstead file

City staff and project leaders from NuEra Cannabis joined together Nov. 13 to celebrate NuEra Cannabis’ groundbreaking ceremony outside the former Book World building, 818 W. Lincoln Highway, in DeKalb. sary was simple.

“The family that started and runs NuEra has been in the Western Suburbs for a very long time,” she said. “They’ve been part of this community as developers, as builders. We care about this part of the state. We love DeKalb. We think it’s going to be a great market for cannabis.”

Jaramillo Bernal said that while NuEra Cannabis won’t be able to sell medicinal cannabis with the medical lower taxes to patrons, they will be able to give people assistance in other ways.

“We host [classes] anything, from infused cocktail making classes to learning how to use devices, to using cannabis to cope with cancer treatment,” she said. “We host all sorts of events and classes in all of our locations. We try to be very active in the community. So, we participate in anything, from farmers markets to music festivals to hosting classes. We intend to do the same very much in this community.”

By early 2024, NuEra Cannabis will make for the second of two dispensaries operating in town after what is the expected fall opening of Excelleaf, 305 E. Locust St. Excelleaf is expected to open later this month.

Jaramillo Bernal said she doesn’t necessarily see Excelleaf as competition.

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“I’m excited to see another dispensary in DeKalb as opposed to seeing the growth of the illicit market, for example, where people are getting products that are not tested,” she said. “People are getting products that might have heavy metals, solvents and pesticides that aren’t part of what … we like to call this new era of cannabis for us. This new era of safe, legal, trustworthy, educational, accessible welcoming cannabis. If that means more dispensaries, I’m excited to see that.”

While NuEra Cannabis has approval from the city, the marijuana dispensary is still in need of final clearance from the

People are getting products that might have heavy metals, solvents and pesticides that aren’t part of what … we like to call this new era of cannabis for us. This new era of safe, legal, trustworthy, educational, accessible welcoming cannabis. If that means more dispensaries, I’m excited to see that.”

Laura Jaramillo Bernal, NuEra Cannabis chief operating officer state to open for business, Jaramillo Bernal said.

“The state doesn’t issue approval until the full buildout has been finished, all the paperwork is done and they do an inspection,” she said. “We won’t have final approval from the state until that’s done.”

NuEra Cannabis is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2024.

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By KELSEY RETTKE

krettke@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Almost 100 people gathered Nov. 11 in downtown DeKalb’s Memorial Park to give thanks to military service men and women, while officials announced a new plan to fund more public veterans memorials.

U.S. Air Force veteran Michael Embrey led the annual Veterans Day ceremony hosted by DeKalb American Legion Post 66. Embrey, a Legion member and active supporter of local veterans causes, said he and others have partnered with the DeKalb County Community Foundation to establish the DeKalb County Veterans Recognition Fund.

Proceeds will go to bolster efforts made by residents and veterans over the past few years to honor area military personnel.

“Our goal is to raise $100,000 so that in the future these memorials will be sponsored and paid for,” Embrey said.

The group has done so much work to honor local veterans that the city of DeKalb was lauded as the “Most Veteran Friendly City” and named Veteran City of the Year in 2023 by the Forty and Eight veterans organization.

Efforts by the group can be seen

throughout the city of DeKalb.

“Hometown Heroes” banners line downtown streets celebrating local servicemen and women. The 102-yearold Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Clock at First Street and Lincoln Highway, originally built in 1921 to honor those who served in World War I, was restored and rededicated in 2021 with help from the DeKalb Rotary Club.

Reserved veterans-only parking spaces have cropped up across town, Locust Street was designated as Veterans Way and the DeKalb Elks Veterans Memorial on Annie Glidden Road unveiled additional features in October.

Continuing those efforts is the goal of the new Veterans Recognition Fund, said former DeKalb Mayor Jerry Smith, a U.S. Army veteran, who spoke on Nov. 11. Smith also is part of the committee behind the fund.

“Our goal is to expand recognition, whether it be clocks, whether it be benches, whether it be parks, throughout this county,” Smith said. “[...] So we’ve got a lot of things happening.

Let’s continue this momentum. And we are just so pleased to be able to put together a few folks, and we we hope this will expand throughout DeKalb County.”

“This fund is making history today,

Kelsey Rettke

DeKalb American Legion Post No. 66 Cmdr. Manual Olada, a U.S. Marines veteran, laid a ceremonial wreath at the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Clock during the annual Veterans Day ceremony Nov. 11 in downtown DeKalb. The event was hosted by DeKalb American Legion Post No. 66. here for the future, and honoring the past and those who served our country,” Community Foundation Executive Director Dan Templin said in a news release. “We are honored to be stewards of this important fund for generations to come.”

Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation, including the DeKalb County Veterans Recognition Fund, can be made online at dekalbccf. org/donate or by mail to the DeKalb

See VETERANS DAY, page 16

Belonging: A Call to Building a Healthy Community

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Officials announce plan to fund more public memorials 13

State assistance expanded for low-income Illinois residents SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

Illinois families who need help paying their utility bills have been offered an extra boost by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration.

Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity this month announced expanded assistance programs for low-income Illinois families to help pay for natural gas, propane and electricity bills.

Applications now include income-eligible households that are already disconnected or facing imminent disconnection from utilities, according to a news release from Pritzker’s office.

“With temperatures dropping and the winter season just weeks away, my administration is ensuring that every family has the assistance they need to keep the lights and the heat on,” Pritzker said in a news release. “With DCEO’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, we are providing utility bill support to thousands of income-eligible families – and I urge those who are disconnected or facing imminent disconnection to apply. Here in Illinois, we look out for our neighbors, and that’s exactly what LIHEAP is all about.”

Shaw Local News Network file photo

Illinois families who need help paying their utility bills have been offered an extra boost by Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration.

Interested families can apply by visit ing www.helpillinoisfamilies.com or visiting their local agency (find a list here). Families also can call 1-833-7110374 for assistance in 30 languages.

“Essential utilities like electricity and gas should not be an obstacle when trying to live, work and raise a family.

The expansion of the LIHEAP program is a welcome opportunity for our most vulnerable to receive access to muchneeded utility assistance,” Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton said in a news release.

“We will continue to find ways to support our Illinois families.”

All families who meet the qualifica-

Sycamore

tions and provide proper documentation will receive support until funding is exhausted, according to the release.

Families who earn up to 200% the federal poverty level, have a household with a senior, a child or children younger than 6, and/or a person with a disability, along with households that provide proper documentation of disconnection or imminent disconnection from a utility are eligible to receive support through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

The new application period runs through Aug. 15, 2024 or until funds are exhausted.

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The energy bill assistance offered through the Help Illinois Families Program in 2024 will provide $237 million to eligible families for energy bill assistance.

A tired application system was reinstated this year to ensure families with the most need can apply first, according to the news release. The schedule runs as follows: • Oct. 2 – Income-eligible households who fall under the following categories: Households with seniors age 60+; households with a documented long-term disability; households with children younger than age 6 • Nov. 1 – Income-eligible households who fall under the following categories: October priority period households; households that are disconnected; huseholds facing imminent threat of disconnection • Dec. 1 – All income-eligible households The utility assistance program provides one-time payments directly to energy service providers on behalf of recipients. While the amount of support varies based on the needs of individual families, in 2022 more than 311,000 Illinois households received utility assistance, with an average of more than $1,000 per household, according to the news release.

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Herbal Oracle’s new location is seen at 161 E. Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb.

Owner of Herbal Oracle excited to occupy new downtown DeKalb location

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com DeKALB – Herbal Oracle, the complementary and alternative medicine practice and herb shop, is on the move with plans to occupy a new location immediately across the street from its current space in downtown DeKalb.

The relocation, once completed, will fill a vacancy left by Herbal Embers in July, when its owner closed up shop to tend to family issues and find another job.

Owner Dezarae Haley said she is looking forward to Herbal Oracle’s upcoming move from its existing establishment, 150 E. Lincoln Highway, to its new space, 161 E. Lincoln Highway.

“It’s a little nerve-racking,” Haley said. “It’s about four times bigger than the place I have now.”

On Nov. 28, Herbal Oracle will start operating from its new location. Haley said that space has about 1,600 square feet on the main level and a basement.

She said she’s excited about what a new location means for her business.

“It’s also on a more desirable side of the street,” Haley said. “Where we’re at right now, there’s not a lot of things to attract or pull people to walk in front of the store. But on the side of the street that we’re going to be on, we’re closer to the farmers market, we’re closer to Back Alley Market. Everything will pretty much be at our backdoor. So, we will have more foot traffic, more people willing to come and check it out.”

Haley said her existing location has a basement, but it’s not easily accessible from the store’s main floor, which makes her decision to relocate make all the more sense.

“I have no space here,” Haley said of

her soon-to-be old location. “I have no backdoor access to the building. I make the soaps, the shampoos, the lotion, herbs and remedies in-house. I need a lot of space to be able to carry all the oils and the ingredients for those items and the space to work it.”

With the upcoming move comes several new and expanded offerings for patrons of Herbal Oracle.

“There will be an area that is for education classes,” Haley said. “We’ll have the retail area. Also when it’s in season, the front part of the store is going to be a lot like a farmers market in the aspect of we already have pork from our farm and our beef goes out to slaughter on the 16th. We have farm fresh chicken eggs who are licensed and everything to sell. I also am partnering with other local farmers to be able to bring in more produce variety and even more eggs. We have honey.

People will be able to come to the shop to get local farm-fresh produce and meat because I know the farmers market is only on Thursdays, and a lot of people cannot make that.”

The new establishment has already undergone a bit of a face-lift since Herbal Embers vacated the premises.

“They just got done putting in new flooring,” Haley said. “They repainted everything. The landlord has revamped the whole place, brought it back to life [and] modernized it.”

Haley said she anticipates a seamless transition between relocating from her existing location, and setting up shop and opening the doors to her new establishment for business.

“It is not going to interrupt my daily hours of operation because I have some amazing volunteers and helpers,” she said. “We plan on doing it in two days.”

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A soldier’s boots, gun and helmet were displayed during the DeKalb American Legion’s annual Veterans Day ceremony in downtown DeKalb’s Memorial Park on Nov. 11. The display was meant to honor all who’ve served or given their lives in service to the country.

• VETERANS DAY

Continued from page 13 County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

Saturday’s ceremony included an honor guard salute, the singing of the national anthem by Terri Crain Goodman, laying a ceremonial wreath at the clock site and recognition of several veterans and dignitaries in attendance.

Those included members of the American Legion; the AmVets Post 90; 1st Ward Alderwoman Carolyn Zasada, who also is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran; DeKalb County Sheriff Andy Sullivan; DeKalb Fire Chief Mike Thomas; DeKalb City Manager Bill Nicklas; veteran Frank Beierlotzer of 40&8; and retired judge and U.S. Marine veteran Tom Doherty.

Embrey said DeKalb Mayor Cohen Barnes, a U.S. Army veteran, sent his regards from Illinois State University,

where the mayor spent Saturday with his son, who was being honored through the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.

Embrey said he’s been touched by the community response to the Elks Memorial and shared a recent encounter.

“Somebody tapped me on the shoulder and said ‘You don’t know me, but I know you.’ And he said, ‘Every day, I drive up Annie Glidden going to work.

As I drive by that memorial, I say hi to my dad,’” Embrey said in recollection.

Smith said he wanted attendees to remember to thank a veteran on Saturday.

“God bless our veterans, God bless those who are now in harms way in places a long way from here around the world. God bless the families of our veterans, those still living and those who have given their service to this country,” Smith said. “And God bless all of you for being here on this beautiful sunny day.”

DeKalb Iron & Metal, LLC 900 Oak Street DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: (815) 758-2458 Hours Monday-Friday Saturday

7:30AM-4:00PM 8:00AM-12:00PM

Zimmerman Recycling 301 Industrial Drive DeKalb, IL 60115 Phone: (815) 756-8600 Hours Monday-Friday Saturday

7:30AM-4:30PM 7:00AM-2:00PM

Survey: DeKalb County residents want more support addressing mental health DeKALB – About one in every four individuals who responded to a survey commissioned by the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board said they’re not aware of local mental health services.

Among those respondents, data indicates that 30.6% are not receiving mental health services.

The findings from the survey were the focus last week of a town hall meeting held at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb hosted by DeKalb County officials who focus on mental health in the community.

Quiana Jones, co-chairman for DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board Collaboration for Equity and Belonging Behavioral Healthcare Committee, said that in an ideal world, everyone would be aware of the mental health services in the community and there would be no mental illness to address.

“We have some work to do,” Jones said. “The only way to get that work done is if we’re all involved.”

A majority of survey respondents indicated that they would prefer to receive support from a mental health professional at their provider’s office.

Certain respondents, such as those who identify as members of LGBTQ+ communities, said they would benefit from seeking mental support in alternate formats such as virtually at home with a mental health professional.

Many of those who identify as Black said they would prefer to meet at their church with a pastor, spiritual adviser or church member.

About 65% of Black respondents indicated that they would prefer to meet with a mental health professional who’s similar to them in terms of race.

At the same time, 14% of Black respondents said they’re more likely to believe that a mental health professional does not understand or relate to their issue, according to survey results.

DeKalb resident Lisa King said she thinks that a lot of young people who are in crisis could benefit from providers who are capable of connecting with their clients on a cultural level. But she said she believes it’s unfortunate that

there aren’t more mental health professionals taking cultural competency into account.

“I think the pay is a big deal,” King said. “I think that’s the point of it. But I think if you’re going to be in it, be in it to win it. There are enough people that need support and that need help and assistance.

“I also think that those of us that are professionals have to work within sometimes informal situations. So we have to work in church. We have to work in schools. Sometimes that takes us out of those parameters and those boxes that all of the credentials tell us, ‘Hey, you’ve got to get this many hours.’ ” Among those who completed the survey, some desires expressed were for more support or peer groups, the development of an intensive outpatient treatment center and partial hospitalization programs in DeKalb County.

The community’s calls for more mental health support come amid a national shortage for therapists and a mental health emergency among youth.

Sabrina Nicholson, director at Northwestern Medicine Ben Gordon Center – Behavioral Health Services, said Northwestern Medicine is looking to make a dent in the area’s need for additional youth mental health resources.

“We’re also very excited about … opening an intensive outpatient program for adolescents hopefully in the beginning of December,” Nicholson said.

That program will serve teenagers ages 13 to 17.

Nicholson said it won’t be long thereafter that Northwestern Medicine plans to open a partial hospitalization program for adolescents.

“That could [provide] five days per week of care for a kiddo who needs it,” she said. “We take multiple types of payers for that program as well. So [we’re] excited to bring that to the community with everything going on.”

Deanna Cada, executive director for the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board, said that there’s a recruitment problem in the behavioral health field and that if things are going to improve, it must start inside out.

“It’s a very hard field,” Cada said. “It doesn’t pay very much, and you end up

with a lot of student loans. As we try to recruit people, we have to have a better story to tell.”

The survey identified cost, insurance and long wait times among the barriers that preclude some people from seeking professional mental health treatment.

Hispanic and Latino respondents were among those most likely to want mental health services available in their preferred language only to believe that it’s not an option.

But for older populations that may not be tech savvy, telehealth could present a tall order for some people to connect with a mental health professional.

It doesn’t have to be this way, said Dori Delacruz, owner of the local counseling business Walk and Talk and a committee member for the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board Collaboration for Equity and Belonging Behavioral Healthcare Committee.

“I think a lot of people don’t use their [employee assistance program],” Delacruz said. “A lot of times if they have private insurance, they usually start with sometimes five to eight sessions depending on your EAP. … You can

always start there. Then, if you like that therapist and they accept your insurance there, then you can see that person through your EAP.” Cada said she was pleased to see how much of the community showed up for a town hall on mental health.

“Everyone says it’s the No. 1 problem in our community, but nobody wants to talk about it,” Cada said. “We need to make people realize what is and what is not a mental health crisis. We need to have help all along the way.”

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Everyone says it’s the No. 1 problem in our community, but nobody wants to talk about it. We need to make people realize what is and what is not a mental health crisis.

We need to have help all along the way.”

Deanna Cada, executive director for the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board

Megann Horstead file

Quiana Jones speaks Nov. 6 at the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board Town Hall meeting held at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church in DeKalb.

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com

17

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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Distillery drums up support Sycamore residents say they’re in favor of plans for vacant building

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – A proposal to turn an old wire manufacturing building into a local distillery, restaurant and event space on North California Street in Sycamore is gaining momentum as the idea heads to the city for approval.

Supporters spoke this week ahead of an expected Sycamore City Council vote set for Nov. 20. The vote seeks council approval to transform a portion of Sycamore Industrial Park into a restaurant and banquet facility for a Sycamore distiller next week.

Chris Mayer of BCM Industrial Park LLC operates Windows Distillery at 421.

N. California St. Mayer spoke to the Daily Chronicle this week at the site, which sits largely empty. It’s ready, however, for new life, he said.

“The goal is to obviously be an attraction for Sycamore, try to bring people to Sycamore,” Mayer said. “So, it’ll obviously bring lots of jobs, lots of tax revenue to the town. I would anticipate it would be one of the largest tax-driving revenues once we can get it going the way we anticipate.”

Windows Distillery is a “passion project” for Mayer, according to its website. In 2016, Mayer co-founded an equipment supply company for commercial growers, Innovative Growers Equipment Inc., also on North California Street.

He hopes to create a full-service restaurant associated with the distillery, along with live entertainment stages, a tasting room and event spaces in the 41,300-square foot industrial space.

It’s not he first time he’s attempted to solicit city support for a business idea this year.

In April, Mayer unsuccessfully sought city approval to establish a marijuana craft grower facility at the same location he’s now trying to turn into a front-of-house site for his distilling business. This week, he lobbied for his new prospective business by telling the Sycamore Planning and Zoning Commission the project would generate tax dollars for the city.

Sycamore Industrial Park was formerly the site of Anaconda Wire Company. Some residents said this week they believe the now vacant space has been a blight on the neighborhood.

A petition has circulated to drum up support for Mayer’s development plans.

As of Nov. 16, the petition has 867 signatures.

Bishop Ronald Henton and Assistant

Mark Busch file photo

The inside of one of the buildings on the property at 421 N. California St. is seen Nov 13 in Sycamore. Local businessman Chris Mayer hopes to renovate the existing industrial buildings into a distillery, restaurant and event space.

Pastor Wesley Coats of the Israel of God Church in Sycamore spoke against the marijuana craft grower facility in the spring. They said they are supportive, however, of Mayer’s new venture. The church is within walking distance to the industrial park.

Henton said the members of the Israel of God Church are concerned about how the neighborhood looks, and hopeful the project will revitalize the area.

“I think this is going to be an enhancement to the neighborhood,” Henton said. “We are not against progress. We have never been against progress. And knowing Anaconda was there before and that was a blight on the community, I think what Chris Mayer’s done thus far is simply remarkable.”

According to preliminary project details, no liquor will be produced at the Sycamore Industrial Park site. Instead, liquor distilled off site will be taken to the facility be proofed, mixed and bottled.

If approved, the banquet hall and restaurant space will be separate from the manufacturing operation, according to city documents. Liquor is expected to

I think this is going to be an enhancement to the neighborhood. We are not against progress. We have never been against progress. And knowing Anaconda was there before and that was a blight on the community, I think what Chris Mayer’s done thus far is simply remarkable.”

Bishop Ronald Henton, Israel of God Church in Sycamore be sold for consumption inside the proposed Windows Distillery restaurant, however the liquor license will go before City Council at a later date.

The building’s parking lot will be reconfigured, and code-compliant exterior lighting and landscaping will also be a part of the project.

Mayer said he hopes to have the space up and running before the end

of 2024.

The Sycamore City Council will have to approve two items to give Mayer the go-ahead. That includes amending city code to better establish guidelines for banquet halls, tap rooms, tasting rooms, breweries and distilleries. The council also is expected to vote on a special permit request for the restaurant, banquet hall, tap and tasting rooms.

The Sycamore Planning and Zoning Commission sent both items to City Council with unanimous recommendations for approval.

Fourth Ward Alderwoman Virginia Sherrod, who will vote on the measure Nov. 20, said she’s in support of the project. She said the church she attends is near 421 N. California St., where her father walked to work at Anaconda Wire Company for 36 years.

“We look out our [church] doors and see that building, and saw it dying after Anaconda closed,” Sherrod said. “To see someone with the vision to come in and give it life, breathe life into it and revitalize it, I am just so happy and so glad that someone took an interest in that building because that building meant a lot to me.”

DeKalb business features jewelry made from regional native plants

19

Dr. Z has been in the area for 29 years 15 Minutes West of Somonauk

SM-CL1961982 SM-CL2114464

WWW.TRICOUNTYVETERINARY.COM

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Photo provided by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

A DeKalb business featuring handmade jewelry using native plants from the Fox and Illinois River valleys recently was welcomed to the city’s business community. Nature’s HandyWork was welcomed Sept. 7 to the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce by Chamber staff, ambassadors and board members, along with community members. Tori Eisenberg, owner of Nature’s HandyWork, makes a wide variety of items using simple, minimalist designs. To learn more about Nature’s HandyWork, visit torieisenberg.com or call 815-414-1051.

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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AMUSEMENTS

SUDOKU AND SUPER CROSSWORD ANSWERS ON PAGE 2

To place an ad

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classified@shawlocal.com

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Paying Top Dollar for Right Experience Required knowledge and/or experience: PLC, Welding, Pneumatics, High and Low Voltage and Mechanical skills

PRINT SHOP GENERAL LABOR To Run Equipment Mechanically inclined is a plus, but will train

• Quarterly and yearly perfect attendance bonuses awarded in recognition of our team's commitment • Profit sharing program designed to reward the hard work of our diverse and dedicated staff • Generous benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision & 401k with company match • Vacation, PTO and 10 paid Holidays

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Cars & Vintage Motorcycles

Growing Company Seeking Shop Space DeKalb or Sycamore, IL Minimum of 14' door clearance Must fit 53' semi trailer Must have floor drain Month to Month lease preferred

Contact Brad @ 605-929-7643

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Mercedes, Porsche, Corvette, Ferraris, Jaguars, Muscle Cars, Mustang & Mopars $$ Top $$ all makes, Etc.

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Publisher's Notice: All real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise "any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation of discrimination."

Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.

To complain of discrimination call HUD 1-800-669-9777 Hearing impaired number is 1-800-927-9275

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

CLASSIFIED

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The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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Every Wednesday in

The MidWeek

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www.MidWeekNews.com Untitled-1 1

5/31/23 11:49 AM

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After 90 YEARS! The Kauffman Family have decided to retire from our Turkey growing, processing, retail and farming operation and will sell following Equipment in a 2-DAY Auction To The Highest Bidder At No Reserve, Located 1 mile West of Waterman, Illinois on Rt. 30, to the farm, 8519 Leland Road, Waterman, IL. Watch for the HO-KA TURKEY SIGN

* 2-Big Days * 2-Big Days *

Friday Dec. 1st & Saturday Dec. 2nd, 2023 Starting at 9:30 am each day.

SELLING FRIDAY DEC. 1st * 12-Tractors * 4-Trucks * Feed Equipment * Tools * Farm Equipment * JD 4650 MFWA, Powershift, 2nd owner tractor, 4,875hrs. Sells w/ duals, full front wts. Ser#003677.

JD 4430 one owner tractor, 10,786hrs. Quad range 3pt. PTO, Dual Hyd. Cab. Ser#051722R. JD 4250 one owner Powershift tractor. Open Station, full front wts, 3pt. PTO, Dual Hyd. Ser#002399.

JD 6410 one owner 2wd diesel tractor, Full Cab, Front wts, 3pt. PTO, Hyd. Ser#277291.

JD 4020 one owner, diesel tractor. Engine overhaul, syncro, 3pt, PTO, Hyd. Ser#131160.

JD 2640 diesel tractor w/ JD 148 loader. 3Pt, PTO, Hyd. Very good front and rear tires.

JD 2550 one owner 2wd diesel tractor. 3Pt, PTO, Hyd, ROPS, Sun Shade. Ser#522279.

JD 4520 MFWA one owner, Hydro, diesel tractor. 3Pt, PTO, Hyd. Open station. Ser#H550402.

JD 5200 one owner 2wd diesel tractor. 3Pt, PTO, Hyd. Open Station. Ser#E520249.

JD model B gas tractor, Older restoration. Narrow Front. 2- Ford 8N tractors, Both run & operate fine.

Trucks 1991 Mack Midliner Bulk feed truck. Mack engine and 7 speed. Truck has a Sudenga 6 ton 3 compartment bulk body w/rear 20ft. Auger. Everything works as it should; 1989 Ford F800 diesel grain truck w/ Ford Turbo inline 6cyl. engine, 5-2 speed and 16ft steel grain box & hoist; 1985 GMC 7000 gas grain truck w/366 gas engine, 4-2 speed 16ft. Steel box and hoist; 1972 Chevy C60 grain truck, 350 gas motor, 4-2 speed, w/ 14ft box and hoist. Truck used just on the farm, runs fine, but not for the road, Bring a trailer.

Shop Tools Lots of good mechanics and hand tools; power tools long handle tools; we will have hay racks filled with usable parts, supplies hardware items, anvils, vises and many more farm and shop related equipment accumulated after 90 years of farming.

Farm Equipment & Machinery JD 7200 conservation 6 row Vacuum planter, very good condition; JD 750 grain pull type grain drill, one owner, 15ft, 7” space w/ Yetter markers; CIH 496 18ft disk w/ Remlinger drag; Schutte Hammermill only 2 yrs old. used to grind cobs for bedding. Works great: Knight-Kuhn 1140 ProSpread manure spreader, w/ hyd gate. Knight 350 manure spreader w/ hyd gate; Parker 300 bu. Gravity wagon JD 1350-1450 6 btm plow; JD 609 3pt. Mower; 3- hyd. Lift hog mover carts, used for turkeys; NH 60 silo blower; Fetral 8x28 auger; 15ft stalk chopper; Kewanee 15ft mulcher; JD 712 Mulch Ripper JD 400 rotary hoe, 15ft; JD 6 row 825 cultivator; flair and barge box wagons w/ hoists; 7ft Snowblower, 3pt, 2 stage; Older JD 500 and AC Grain carts, used a feed wagons; Several water tanks on trailers, 300 gal. Bean Sprayer; other older wagons, AA toolbar and misc. iron. Feeding Equipment 13-Brock 3ton feed bins. All have ladders, lids and 28ft, 4” augers w/ 110v electric motors. All are working. Augers will be removed, but buyer will need to remove bin from pad. Over 100 waters for turkeys along with feed pans and troughs used inside buildings; over 100-50 bu. Outside field feeders.

SELLING SATURDAY DEC. 2nd * Turkey Processing Equipment * Retail & Office Equipment * Lots of Stainless Steel work tables solid top and drain tops; Over 30 Galvanized icing tubs on wheels measure 62”x36”x27”; Hobart A-200-D SS commercial mixer; Koch Sausage Snuffer; Koch Mixer; Butcher Boy Meat Grinder; Cozzin knife sharpener; 40 gallon steam kettle; Multi-Vac Vacuum sealer; 2- Z-linkers; Hobart commercial meat slicer; Hobart meat band saw; Ricelake digital scale from.01-50lb; 2 Toledo dial platform scales; Poly-Clip for sealing bags, Shrink tunnel; Stack-able baskets trays on carts; Vac-Air Hock-neck, lung guns; Clark ST30B walk behind electric pallet jack/forklift; Clark 24 Power worker walk behind electric pallet jack/forklift; Crown Electric pallet jack; PMX Electric pallet jack; Dayton Electric pallet jack; Several hand trucks, wheel barrows, utility carts and trays; scoop shovels; misc. parts, stainless and aluminum items used in the commercial processing trade. Several office desks, chairs, file cabinets, storage cabinets; 4-12ft and 28ft wooden picnic tables; several microwaves & office supplies.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Self Storage Sale Please take notice KM Storage located at 706 West Railroad Street (RT 72) Kingston IL 60145 intends to hold an auction of the goods stored in the following units in default for non payment of rent. The sale will occur as an online auction via www.storageauctions.com beginning on November 30, 2023at 9:30 am and close on December 5, 2023 at 10:00am. Unless stated otherwise the description of the storage unit contents are household goods and furnishings.

Guillermo Guzman 55 Oak Dr Genoa IL 60135 Unit 40 All property is being stored at the above self storage facility. This sale may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.

(Published in The Midweek Nov. 22 & 29, 2023) 2124330

If the shoe fits.

Terms: Cash, Check, Credit Cards w/ 3% convenient fee added. All Items Settled For On Auction Day. Not Responsible For Accidents, Injury or Theft. Videos & Pictures @ www.almburgauctions.com. Almburg Auctioneers will have Loader Available sale day and until December 6th. ALL ITEMS REMOVED BY DECEMBER 6TH 2023. HO-KA Turkey Lunch served by Fay's Finest Foods Friday. Wild Carrot Catering serves Saturday. ** AUCTION VIEWING & INSPECTION NOVEMBER 27-28 From 9am-4pm. ** Auctioneers note: For 90 Years folks have been coming to HO-KA Turkey farm for their holiday turkeys. This family farm operation where turkeys were grown and processed had generations coming back year after year for the best home grown turkey available. The Kauffman Family has been a staple in the farming community of DeKalb county. This is the end of an era, so come out and join us for this great auction and say farewell to a tradition that has lasted nearly a century. We will be auctioning 2 of the last dressed turkeys with the proceeds going to the local N.I.C.E Center Food Pantry.

Almburg, Auctioneers. Malta, Illinois. Andrew, Adam, Steve. 815-739-3703

HO-KA TURKEY FARMS, Owner 815-739-3703 www.almburgauctions.com

It’s never too late to get into the game.

See the classifieds section if you’re looking to score a job!

Jobs.ShawLocal.com

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023

HO-KA TURKEY FARM EQUIPMENT RETIREMENT AUCTION

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, November 22, 2023 MIDWEEK

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