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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2021 • M id We e k News .co m

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WEEK IN REVIEW Hall named new Sycamore city manager

By SHANE TAYLOR

staylor@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – Sycamore will have a new city manager in the new year after a unanimous vote by the City Council on Dec. 6 to bring in Michael Hall, formerly village manager of a Milwaukee suburb.

Hall will begin his role, which pays about $130,000 annually, in January. His contract with Sycamore runs through 2025.

In an interview after the meeting, Hall declined to comment on the nature of his former role in the Village of Brown Deer, a small town north of Milwaukee, from which he was ousted in July. He said he wanted to come to Sycamore because of the area’s friendliness.

“It has the big city, small city kind of feel to it and close to home,” said Hall,

who is from Milwaukee. He said he is planning to move to Sycamore.

Hall was terminated in July from the Brown Deer, Wisconsin, village manager position he’d held since 2013 by a 4-3 village board vote, according to village records. Officials there held a closed session meeting via Zoom on July 8 to discuss Hall’s employment, records show. Village officials have not responded to multiple requests for comment.

Sycamore Mayor Steve Braser, who recommended Hall for the role, was not available for comment following the meeting. The mayor and council also did not provide comment on the matter during the meeting ahead of the vote.

Sycamore has been searching for a new full-time city manager after Brian Gregory left in February to take a job as

DeKalb County Administrator following the retirement of former county administrator Gary Hanson.

Former Assistant City Manager Peck has been serving as Sycamore’s acting city manager since then and will return to her role in January when the transition occurs.

In mid-October, city manager applications were processed and finalists were interviewed, Peck said. The position was offered to Hall and he accepted before the formal vote by the City Council. A master’s degree or a Master of Public Administration and five years in a manager type role was needed to even be considered for the job, Peck said.

In addition to his salary, Hall will be provided a monthly car allowance of $375 for the use of his personal vehicle while performing his duties, documents show.

County nursing home’s operating board dissolved

By KATIE FINLON

kfinlon@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The operating board for the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center will be absorbed, one of several steps the county government looks to take to address budget constraints at the facility.

The DeKalb County Board also voted last week to begin soliciting an outside consultant to come in and assess financial realities at the center, which recently underwent a $13 million expansion but now faces dwindling resident numbers and cost increases, officials said.

On Dec. 8, the DeKalb County Board voted, 23-0, to approve the ordinance, which will go into effect at the start of the new year. County Board member Kiara Jones was absent from the meeting.

WHERE IT’S AT Amusements........................................22 Classified..............................................25 Cover story............................................. 6 Looking Back.......................................... 9 Obituaries.............................................20

County officials previously said the operating board was meant to exist on its own financially. However, because of the continued budget constraints from the nursing home, the County Board has had to approve $4.5 million in total financial aid to the facility so far, DeKalb County Administrator Brian Gregory said.

DeKalb County Board Chairman John Frieders said he wanted to acknowledge the volunteer work operating board members put in over the years.

“It’s the kind of job that doesn’t obviously get headlines in the paper, but it’s deeply appreciated, what’s been done over the years,” Frieders said. “It’s very much a thankless job.”

To address continued staff and financial issues, the County Board also voted unanimously to begin a search for broker-

PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzles on page 22

age and consulting services to evaluate the nursing home’s finances. Next steps could include the county government selling the nursing home to a private buyer, Gregory said previously.

Operating board member Ferald Bryan served on the board for five years, and said he’d been excited at the time because renovations were going well.

“Obviously, we could not have predicted the confluence of events that led us to where we are today,” Bryan said.

County Board member Bill Cummings said while he supports the operating board’s dissolution, he said he believes the board never received relevant and timely information about its financial predicament. He said financial statements the board received were always three months behind.

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Copyright 2021

ON THE COVER Buddy the Elf, portrayed by Cameron Harms, plans to travel to New York City to meet his father during a dress rehearsal of Stage Coach Players’ production of “Elf: The Musical” on Dec. 8.

See story, page 6.

Photo by Katrina J.E. Milton kmilton@shawmedia.com

CORRECTIONS Accuracy is important to The Midweek and it wants to correct mistakes promptly. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-756-4841, ext. 4564, or email readit@midweeknews.com.

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The Crosswinds Flute Choir will present a Holiday Concert at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in DeKalb.

Crosswinds Flute Choir to play holiday tunes THE MIDWEEK The Crosswinds Flute Choir will present a Holiday Concert at 7 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 1915 N. First St. in DeKalb.

The group will play some familiar holiday tunes, some new tunes and some old tunes with a new twist.

What sets the flute choir apart from other musical ensembles is that it is made up of only flutes. Most people have seen the standard concert flute and piccolo but four different sizes of flutes are played in the choir, which

helps to fill out the sound. There will be some duets, trios and other pieces with as many as seven parts.

Flute choirs are becoming more popular and there is some music specifically written for flute choir. Other music is arranged from pieces written for other ensembles.

Crosswinds Flute Choir is based in DeKalb and is made up of flutists from high school, college and adults who enjoy working together. The concert is free, although a donation to the Bethlehem Food Pantry is appreciated.

Attendees are asked to wear a mask and maintain distance from others.

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St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 900 Normal Road in DeKalb, will again partner with the Illinois Department of Public Health to offer a second free COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Tuesday, Dec. 21.

The Pfizer vaccine will be used and is authorized for those age 12 and older.

The under 12 children’s dose will not be available at this location.

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ON THE RECORD ... with Greg M. Romaneck Who would you like to see go on the record? Let us know at readit@midweeknews.com DeKALB – Like many people, Greg M. Romaneck spent a lot of time watching movies during the pandemic.

Romaneck used his extra time at home to watch films and programs related to the Civil War, and he wrote reviews of everything he watched.

Romaneck has published an e-book, “My Pandemic Year With the Civil War: 306 Critical Reviews of Movies, Documentaries, Miniseries, and Programs.” It can be purchased online at Amazon.com.

Romaneck is a retired educator with 34 years of experience working in schools. His positions included special education teacher, assistant principal, elementary principal, adjunct professor, director of special education and associate superintendent for human resources. He also trained as a counselor and worked in crisis intervention, mediation, problem solving and conflict resolution.

Romaneck is married to his wife, Jane, and they have three children, Kyle, Erin and Colin, and two grandsons, Lincoln and Sawyer.

He has two graduate degrees in history and has had several books and numerous articles published on a variety of Civil War subjects, as well as

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Romaneck has lived in DeKalb since 1975 and enjoys spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, backpacking, reading and writing.

Romaneck spoke with MidWeek reporter Katrina Milton about the 306 reviews he wrote, the importance of the Civil War and his must-see and must-skip recommendations.

Photo provided

Greg M. Romaneck of DeKalb wrote “My Pandemic Year With the Civil War: 306 Critical Reviews of Movies, Documentaries, Miniseries, and Programs.” The e-book can be purchased online at Amazon.com. having been a living historian for a number of years. He also has been published in areas such as education, psychology, self-improvement, backpack-

Milton: Why did you choose the Civil War? Romaneck: I’ve always been interested in the Civil War. I remember an elementary school librarian recommending a book about the Civil War, and I loved the topic back then. I was a Civil War re-enactor for years, and I visited every battlefield, about two or three dozen in total. I’m also a huge film buff. I courted my wife by going to the movies together and getting ice cream afterwards. I retired in 2013, and I usually spent most of my time with my family and visiting my grandchildren. When the pandemic came, we were all in lockdown and in isolation. I was separated from my daughter and grandchildren for a period of months, so I decided to start watching Civil War movies and shows. I thought it would not only fill

the time, but I could also be of service if I wrote reviews.

Milton: How did you settle on 306 reviews?

Romaneck: My goal was to watch and write about 100 Civil War films, miniseries and documentaries, but I don’t think anyone expected the pandemic and shutdown to last as long as it did. I saw a total of 306 movies, documentaries, miniseries and programs. Since it was all during a calendar year, I called the book “My Pandemic Year with the Civil War.” I spent more than 1,000 hours viewing and more than 1,000 hours doing research and writing.

Milton: What are a few of your must-see recommendations?

Romaneck: Three that you have to watch come to mind. The first is “Lincoln” with Daniel Day-Lewis. The movie is thoughtfully done and excellent. It is about more than the penultimate leader during the Civil War, it includes the politics of the day. The finest documentary series is Ken Burns’ “The Civil War.” Then, my third recommendation is my all-time favorite, “Glory,” starring Morgan

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Milton: Why is the Civil War still relevant today?

Romaneck: The Civil War was a complete turning point in American history. Slavery ended, which meant 4.5 million people were no longer enslaved. It also started the Homestead Act, the transcontinental railroad and migration west. America fundamentally changed. Before the Civil War, we said “the United States are,” plural, and after the Civil War, we said “the United States is,” singular. The issues that were raised during the war, including systemic racism, still persist.

They never dissipated. Some issues were resolved politically, but not socially. Also, if you look at a political map, of who votes for which candidate, and compare that to which states succeeded, the maps don’t look a lot different.

Milton: Is there a tie between the Civil War and the pandemic?

Romaneck: During the Civil War, 620,000 to 630,000 soldiers died, a total

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Milton: How can people watch what you reviewed?

Romaneck: Each review includes information about how to access the film: Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, Vudu, YouTube, the library, whether it’s streamable or purchasable. I include a scale from zero to five on its ease of access and where people can find it. All 306 are accessible.

Milton: What about “Gone with the Wind?”

Romaneck: “Gone With the Wind” was a colored film made in the 1930s when most films were in black and white. It is dynamic and very popular, but it focuses on the south’s lost cause mythology and completely wrong history: the slaves are depicted as happy, southerners were good, everything was wonderful before the war. The movie is a guilty pleasure, and I compare it to a beautiful wedding cake that’s actually a plaster mold. Watch it with the caveat knowing that it’s not real.

Milton: What was the worst film you watched?

Romaneck: The worst was “The Birth of a Nation” by D. W. Griffith.

The movie was a silent movie, and featured a lot of experimental techniques, which were new at the time.

However, it follows the racist ideology of the director. It was a vastly successful film. President Woodrow Wilson enjoyed the movie and had a special White House screening. The star of the film was the KKK. It’s a celebration of the KKK, based on racist tropes. I gave that film a zero. I pledged I’d view and review all, but that one was difficult to get through.

It was just full of racist hate.

Milton: Are westerns included in your book?

Romaneck: I watched a few spaghetti westerns, including “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly,” which is one of my top 10 films. It’s very entertaining and has a good story. Two miniseries I watched, “The Rebel” and “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” were about postwar bounty hunters. A lot of movies and shows are about the western migration, how soldiers and their families moved west after the war. Many of the soldiers, if they came home at all, had PTSD. Of course, it wasn’t called that then. It was called soldier’s heart during the Civil War, shell shock in World War I and battle fatigue in

World War II. … One out of four soldiers were killed or were seriously wounded during the Civil War. Most came home with physical or psychological wounds.

Milton: Why is history important?

Romaneck: To me, history is not just facts and dates, it has the word “story” embedded in it. It’s the stories of everyday people, people who lived their life. But then the Civil War came. It was a very religious age, very faith-based. They had the idea of “the good death:” dying quietly at home surrounded by loved ones, being able to say your last words before dying a peaceful death. Many soldiers did not die a good death during the Civil War. They were young and not supposed to die. There are thousands of unmarked graves at prisoner of war camps and battlefields.

Milton: Why did you write the book?

Romaneck: Writing a book was a good way to pass the time during the pandemic. I know I’m not Stephen King, I’m just a regular guy in DeKalb that’s retired, writing about Civil War history. … The book is meant for people who are interested in films, TV and documentaries and for history buffs. The book is an e-book, so people can read it on their Kindle or through the Kindle app. It’s meant to be a guide for those who are interested.

5 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

Freeman, Denzel Washington, Matthew Broderick and Cary Elwes. It’s a powerful war film, a story of bravery about men who sacrificed nearly everything for their freedom.

of 700,000 to 750,000 people. All casualties in all wars America has fought before and since are less than the total deaths of the Civil War. The pandemic has just surpassed 800,000 deaths.

When you compare the war and the pandemic, you see how people come with devastation, loss of life and how they remain resilient.

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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COVER STORY

Katrina J.E. Milton - kmilton@shawmedia.com

Buddy the Elf, portrayed by Cameron Harms (right) hugs Santa Claus, portrayed by Todd Pope, during a Dec. 8 dress rehearsal of Stage Coach Players’ production of “Elf: The Musical.” The show opens Thursday, Dec. 16, at the Egyptian Theatre in DeKalb and runs through Sunday, Dec. 19.

SEASON OF GIVING

Stage Coach spreads Christmas cheer with ‘Elf: The Musical’

By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com

D

eKALB – According to Buddy the Elf, “The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.” The community can spread Christmas cheer this weekend at Stage Coach Players’ production of “Elf: The Musical.”

Performances of the musical will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, Dec. 16-18, and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 17-18, at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St. in DeKalb.

Tickets cost $20 for regular seating and $35 for premium seating, with a $5 discount for ages 12 and younger.

Tickets can be purchased online from the Egyptian Theatre’s website or in person at the box office from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Director Jan Kuntz said what

makes this Stage Coach production unique is its special effects, including projections used for the set backgrounds.

“The show is quite magical,” she said. “I have a hard time not crying when I’m watching it, and I see it day after day.”

She said that fans of the 2003 movie will enjoy the story as well as the songs. A live orchestra will accompany the cast during each show.

“There were very few songs in the movie, and we have a plethora of songs in our production,” she said.

“You might not know the music, but you’ll leave the show singing.”

Instead of Will Ferrell, Buddy the Elf is portrayed by Cameron Harms of Loves Park.

“You’ll fall in love with our Buddy, he brings his own wonderful charm and charisma to the character,” Kuntz said.

Harms describes Buddy the Elf as

“a hard worker who loves passionately and wants everyone around him to be happy.”

“The show is a lot like the movie with a lot of people’s favorite moments, but it has plenty of new stuff to keep you guessing,” he said.

“The show is all about relationships.

It’s a celebration of friendship and family relationships at the holidays.

It’s also about the magic of Santa Claus and a reminder that it’s not about the gifts you get. It’s about the gifts you give, which could be as simple as giving a hug.”

Todd Pope of Cortland portrays Santa Claus. “[Elf] has the perfect message we all need to hear right now,” he said.

“It’s full of Christmas spirit, it’s uplifting, it makes you feel good. There’s something unique about seeing the show on the stage. Theater is an experience, with the audience immersed and part of the program. You’re miss-

ing out if you’ve never seen live theater.”

Susan Johnson, one of Stage Coach Players’ costumers, described the costumes as “full of color and imagination.” A few of the characters, including Santa Claus and Buddy the Elf, have iconic costumes. Others, like the North Pole elves, had more flexibility with their costumes.

“The North Pole elves were able to add a little bit of their own character to their costumes,” Johnson said.

“They could decorate their costume on their own, so each costume is different.”

Kuntz said that seeing the actors in their costumes on stage “was a wonderful and magical experience.”

“They have truly brought the characters to life,” she said. “It’s more than a musical that takes place at Christmastime. It captures all the magic and joy of Christmas and brings it to life on stage.”

By EDDIE CARIFIO

ecarifio@shawmedia.com With a MAC title under their belts, the NIU football team is now going bowling.

NIU announced on Dec. 5 it accepted a bid to the Cure Bowl in Orlando, where the Huskies will face Coastal Carolina.

The game will kick off at 5 p.m. Dec. 17 on ESPN2.

“Obviously a bowl game is a great experience and a great reward for your team,” NIU coach Thomas Hammock told the Daily Chronicle. “I just think it shows a great season. You won games.

We have a great opportunity to play a great team in Coastal Carolina.”

The Chanticleers finished 10-2 this year out of the Sun Belt, losing to both Appalachian State and Georgia State.

They played one Power 5 team, beating Kansas at home, 49-22.

The teams also both played at Buffalo. The Chanticleers won 28-25 in September, while the Huskies won 33-27 in overtime last month.

Led by quarterback Grayson McCall, the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year, Coastal Carolina boasts a potent offense, leading the nation in passing efficiency (190.63) and ranking

Mark Busch file photo - mbusch@shawmedia.com

Northern Illinois Huskies quarterback Rocky Lombardi scrambles away from the pressure of Bowling Green Falcons defensive lineman Blaine Spires during their game Saturday, Oct. 16, in Huskie Stadium at NIU in DeKalb. seventh in total offense, averaging 493.1 yards per game. The Chanticleers are sixth in the country in rushing offense, just behind NIU, averaging 231.2 yards a game.

Hammock said the Huskies’ coach-

ing staff will balance game prep this week along with recruiting.

“Our coaching staff is digging into the film this week and start working on the game plan,” Hammock said. “Obviously we’ve got to do some recruiting

as well. It’s kind of a big deal this week but we’ve got a great schedule aligned of how to get on the road and see kids and continue to game plan knowing the game is next Friday.”

Not even the MAC title game slowed down the Huskies on the recruiting game. After the win Dec. 4, Wisconsin linebacker Izayah Green-May announced he would be transferring from the Badgers to the Huskies for his final season.

“It’s always a good thing when you can have an opportunity to play in the postseason and put a class together of the quality that’s coming together for us right now,” Hammock said.

The Huskies are fresh off winning the MAC Championship on Dec. 4, defeating Kent State 41-23 in Detroit.

They enter the bowl game with a 9-4 record.

NIU is 4-9 all-time in bowl games as an FBS team and has lost its last six appearances. Their last Bowl win was against Arkansas State, 38-20, in the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl.

This will be the seventh annual Cure Bowl, and NIU will be the first MAC team to be playing in it. It’s the second straight Cure Bowl appearance for Coastal Carolina, which lost 37-34 to Liberty last year.

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7 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

NIU set to face Coastal Carolina in Cure Bowl

Santa kicks off holiday season in Sycamore

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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Sycamore welcomed Santa Claus to town on Dec. 3 with the Walk With Santa event that included a holiday movie, a Sycamore Fire Department escort for Santa and Mrs. Claus through downtown and a tree-lighting on the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn.

Photo by Mark Busch mbusch@shawmedia.com

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If it is possible to keep heavy loads off the South Fourth Street road for a few Days until the work is completed, the results will be everything desired. Otherwise a heavy load going through the cinders before the work is done will ruin the road and destroy the efforts of the first of the week by some 50 men.

A recent publication of The American Issue, circulated in the interests of prohibition and its enforcement, gives DeKalb County a good record. From the reports taken from all over the state, the figures show that DeKalb County is the blue ribbon county in enforcement, having a record of 100 percent.

Reports have been made to the police that kids have acquired the habit of destroying the large bill posters that are placed on the billboards in the northeast part of the city. Mrs. McCann, in charge of the advertising boards, reports that several instances have come to her attention where it was necessary to do the work over again.

Some time ago, it will be remembered, the people of Genoa had a sensation when it was discovered that someone in an automobile had driven over the Illinois Central trestle near that town. Marks were discovered where the driver of the car had been within one inch of the edge of the trestle. Had the car slipped from the edge, it would have struck the ground 30 feet below. It was discovered that the fellow had turned his car around on a 5-cent piece, as the saying goes, and kept on going.

Several big army trucks went through here yesterday supposedly from Camp Grant enroute to Chicago for the extra Christmas business of the postal departments there. The boys driving the trucks lost no time in making the trip and were traveling at 25 miles an hour when they went through this city. One of the drivers had engine trouble shortly after leaving Camp Grant and became lost on the road. Getting onto a soft mud road, the big car was stuck in the mud, necessitating a trip back to camp by foot, to get him started again. He went through there about five o’clock, while the other cars were two or three hours ahead of him.

E.P. Ellwood recently went to Bloomington and bought a cow. Desiring to get it here quickly, he investigated the costs of express and freight shipments. Investigation of freight and express offices brought out that the cow could be sent here for about $3.00 cheaper by express than by freight. Mr. Ellwood said that in addition to the express shipment saving him $3.00, the cow was received here in much shorter time than by freight.

He gave as the reason for the higher freight rate that the animal would have been shipped as 3,000 pounds.

1946 – 75 YEARS AGO

At 7:50 o’clock this morning the DeKalb Fire Department was called to the Chicago and North Western roundhouse where the cab of an engine was on fire.

Attempts were being made to thaw out a pipe on Engine 2308 which was standing on a siding near the roundhouse when the fire started. One fire truck

Photo courtesy of DeKalb County History Center Archives

Pershing Park, now Prairie Park, in DeKalb is pictured in 1930.

answered the call and the booster pump was used to extinguish the blaze. The inside of the cab was scorched quite badly by the flames.

Motorists were seen today traveling at a “snail’s pace” as a result of the snow and freezing that occurred yesterday and last night. Some were having trouble getting the vehicles in motion after they had stopped at an intersection and others were finding it difficult to back out of parking spaces in the business district due to the ice.

The homey atmosphere of the Sycamore Public Library has increased with the presence of delightful Christmas decorations. In the children’s rooms, tapers and greens have been placed under the picture of the Madonna and special books have been put out of stories, plays and party ideas for the holiday season. The front desk has been graced with long-needled evergreen branches and pine cones. Other festive arrangements of red and green tapers and greens grace the other rooms and adult books in keeping with the season have been put out.

Chief Stanley Tastad of the DeKalb Fire Department, with several members of the newly organized Malta Fire Fighters, will demonstrate the new fire pump on Sunday morning at the O. P. Painter home. The demonstration will be staged, providing the weather is suitable.

After processing nearly 500,000 inductees and re-enlistees in the army, Fort Sheridan’s recruiting reception center will end its activities on Monday, Dec.23, when the center is inactivated. In the future, all men entering the army from this area will be sent direct to Fort Know, Kentucky, where they will be processed and will begin their basic training.

1971 – 50 YEARS AGO

Plans for a new “Auto Park” hit a roadblock before the DeKalb City Council when the council stood pat on a vote which will hinder the developers’ attempt to

rezone the land needed for the project. The owner of Brad Manning Ford, Brad Manning, told the council that he hoped to use a 27-acre site at Route 23 and Fairview Drive to relocate several major car dealerships A Chicago & Northwestern freight train blocked traffic in the city for 38 minutes during the peak of student migration back to the university area Sunday afternoon.

According to DeKalb police, the train stopped at 3:52 p.m. because its air brakes had lost air. The train stayed in the downtown area until 4:30 p.m. It was the 11th time this year that a train has blocked the major intersections in DeKalb for longer than the 10-minute legal time period. The longest traffic delay occurred on March 30 when a train blocked the intersections for 58 minutes.

Twenty-six tons and what do you get? Twenty-six tons of garbage a day is the usual amount of refuse collected by the two-man crews of DeKalb County Disposal Inc. on their residential routes.

1996 – 25 YEARS AGO

Heeding the call of neighbors, the DeKalb Park District will continue to look to purchase land for the new park on the city’s west side, although the owners of the property have shown little interest in selling. At last night’s park board meeting, community members from the Russell Road neighborhood met with the board and city officials to appeal for the park. The topic of discussion was the property known as University Village phase IV, an area of vacant land which sits on the corner of Russell Road and Crane Drive.

Santa Claus arrived in downtown DeKalb last night to hear how local children want their stockings filled.

Downtown merchants, on the other hand, just wish Santa will help fill their stores. Santa set up shop in a new, chalet-style house located in a brand new downtown park, further evident of this year’s efforts to revitalize the central business area in DeKalb.

– Compiled by Sue Breese

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

1921 – 100 YEARS AGO

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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DeKalb and Sycamore warming centers listed THE MIDWEEK Local officials are reminding residents of several locations where they can go for free to stay warm this winter.

People are asked to contact the facilities of choice before traveling to them to ensure room is available, especially on holidays and during severe weather events.

The locations in DeKalb include: • DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St., 815-756-3568, open 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday • DeKalb Park District, Hopkins Park Community Center, 1403 Sycamore Road, 815-758-6663, open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed weekends • DeKalb Salvation Army Community Center, 830 Grove St., 815-756-4308, open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed weekends • Christ Community Church, 2350 Pride Ave., 815-787-6161, open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, closed Friday through Sunday The number of people allowed inside each warming center may be limited

by COVID-19 occupancy restrictions and social distancing requirements.

Face coverings are required.

To request a well-being check for someone who may be suffering because of the extreme weather, call the DeKalb Police Department any time at 815-7488400.

Landlords must provide heat to residential buildings to maintain a room temperature of at least 68 degrees between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. and at least 62 degrees at other times, per city of DeKalb Municipal Code, Chapter 24 Building Code, Section 602. To report inadequate heat in a residential building, call 815-748-2070 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Tuesday through Friday. Call 815-7390745 after hours.

To find the closest warming center, call 815-748-8460 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday.

The locations in Sycamore include: • Sycamore Police Department, 535 DeKalb Ave., open 24 hours every day • Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St., open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday

Opportunity House Giving Tree a chance to provide gifts for those in need THE MIDWEEK SYCAMORE – Community members are invited to select an ornament from Opportunity House’s Giving Tree to provide for those in need this Christmas.

According to a news release, Opportunity House has been providing assistance for more than 50 years to individuals with developmental disabilities to work, live and enjoy community life. Many of the people the organization serves do not have family members or have elderly family members who are unable to physically or financially celebrate in the traditional gift-giving season.

The Giving Tree is adorned with ornaments that have gift ideas for the

individuals served by Opportunity House. If you would like to help make Christmas a little merrier for someone else, you’re invited to come to any Opportunity House facility and select an ornament.

The Giving Tree is located in the lobbies of First Midwest Bank at 230 W. State St. in Sycamore and First Midwest Bank at 130 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

The gift should be wrapped and the ornament from the tree taped to the package so staff can identify who the gift goes to. Bring wrapped gifts to the banks or 357 N. California St. by Monday, Dec. 20.

For information, call Shaylee Hester at 815-895-5108, ext. 130.

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By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com DeKALB – DeKalb’s newest restaurant had a ribbon-cutting event Dec. 8, and its grand opening was Saturday.

Keg & Kernel by Tangled Roots Brewing Company is located at 106 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, in the space formerly occupied by Tavern on Lincoln. It’s the fourth location for the regional brewery. Other restaurants include The Lone Buffalo in Ottawa, Lock & Mule in Lockport and Hangar Two in Glenview.

Tangled Roots was co-founded in Ottawa by Peter Limberger, his wife, Inga Carus, Scott Struchen and Keith Pearse. Struchen said each restaurant touches on the unique history of its location.

“In Lockport, it’s the locks and dams, in DeKalb it’s corn and barbed wire,” Struchen said. “We want to celebrate the area and what it means to be local. DeKalb needs to be celebrated, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

The restaurant is closed Mondays and open from 3 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sundays.

The restaurant offers a full menu, including a craft beer and cocktail menu. In the spring, the location will open a brewery in the building’s adjoining space. The brewery area will offer seating for an additional 40 people, as well as another bar and brewing on site. Additional patio seating is planned to be added in the spring.

Limberger describes Tangled Roots as “farm to foam,” since the restaurant’s farm in Ottawa grows not only corn and soybeans, but also barley and hops for beer.

Struchen describes the food as fare one might find at an upscale brew pub, offering burgers, salmon and Detroitstyle pizza, as well as unique and signa-

Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com

Scott Struchen, one of the founders and chief commercial officer of Keg & Kernel by Tangled Roots Brewing Co., serves a beer Wednesday, Dec. 8, after a ribbon-cutting at the restaurant at 106 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb. ture items, such as pimento pub dip and corn custard.

“We don’t want people to eat and leave in a rush. We want people to spend an evening in the restaurant mingling, eating and drinking,” Limberger said. “The quality of food and beer is important to us. Everything is really good quality and fresh, with very reasonable prices.”

Limberger said he hopes the restaurant offers a relaxing atmosphere that’s inviting and reminiscent of the 1950s and 1960s, which he called “the good old times.”

“We wanted to recreate the spirit of Mayberry a little bit,” Limber said, referring to “The Andy Griffith Show.”

“We want people to unplug and unwind, relax over food and drink and good times with family and friends.”

Matt Duffy, executive director of the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce, attended the ribbon-cutting event Dec. 8.

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“We’re really happy to have this location filled again. It’s a great addition to downtown DeKalb,” Duffy said.

“There’s momentum of new businesses coming to town.”

Duffy said that Keg & Kernel gives

the community “another option for dining and drinking.”

“There are now many different locations where people can eat, drink and shop,” he said. “And this is just the first phase. There’s more happening and coming with the new brewery in the spring.”

Dan Olson, DeKalb’s city planner, described the ribbon-cutting event as “the start of even more activity happening in DeKalb.”

“It’s another option in town for food and drink with a great location,” he said. “We’re very, very happy to have them here.”

Brad Hoey, special projects manager with the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau, said he was looking forward to the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of Keg & Kernel since he heard the business was coming to DeKalb.

“Tangled Roots is well-known throughout the state, and it’s an exciting opportunity for them to be here in DeKalb,” Hoey said. “It’s a wonderful fit for our community. There’s a lot coming to the DeKalb area, including Facebook, Syngenta and Ferrara. DeKalb has become a destination for new businesses. It’s great for downtown DeKalb and for the county as well.”

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11 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

Keg & Kernel opens in downtown DeKalb

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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Metro Creative

Factors to focus on when discussing driving with seniors METRO CREATIVE Around 45 million licensed drivers on the roads today are age 65 and older.

Driving is one way for seniors to stay independent and live fuller lives, but traffic crashes are a leading cause of injury and death for older adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Older adults are more than twice as likely than younger drivers to report having medical conditions that make it difficult to drive, and usage of certain medications can further affect the ability to drive safely.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration urges older drivers, friends and family to talk about driving safety. The following are some points to emphasize during such discussions.

• Physical fitness: Driving is more than just understanding road signs and how the car works. Safe driving requires sufficient physical fitness to operate a vehicle. Exercising and being active by walking daily, stretching and performing strength-training exercises can make it easier to steer and get in and out of the car.

• Seat belts: Seat belts save countless lives. Some older drivers may have grown up during a time when

seat belts were not standard on vehicles and may not recognize the importance of wearing them. However, seat belts are crucial each and every time drivers get behind the wheel.

• Vision checkups: The CDC recommends that adults have their vision checked by an eye doctor at least once per year. Corrective lenses or glasses also should be worn if they are needed to improve vision.

• Medications management: Individuals should exercise caution when taking medications, especially sleep and pain medications. Even cold remedies can affect driver safety, advises the Mayo Clinic. Always read medication labels and pharmacy inserts to determine if it’s safe drive while on a given medication.

• Limitations and modifications: Getting older may come with certain physical limitations that can be remedied with a few modifications. An occupational therapist may be able to recommend assistive devices, such as steering wheel covers that make gripping the wheel easier, or a swiveling seat pad to make getting out of a vehicle less strenuous.

Aging drivers and their families can focus on various factors to keep such motorists safe when they’re behind the wheel.

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13 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

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The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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Visualization of the residual proto-neutron-star core of an exploding 25 solar-mass star. Data courtesy of Adam Burrows, Princeton University. Data visualization by Joe Insley.

NIU STEM Café to explore why data visualization matters THE MIDWEEK SciVis, maps, charts, graphs and infographics. There is some truth to the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.

The public is invited to learn more about the art and science of data visualization at the next NIU STEM Café at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Fatty’s Pub and Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb). The event is free and open to the public, with food and drink available for purchase from Fatty’s.

Register at go.niu.edu/stemcafe.

Presenter Joe Insley is a data visualization researcher at Argonne National Laboratory and an associate research professor in Northern Illinois University School of Art and Design. He’ll share a wide range of visualization examples, including large-scale computer simulations, and discuss how these examples impact scientific research and our everyday lives.

“Visualization can be beautiful and compelling,” Insley said in a news release. “Beyond producing pretty pictures, it can provide insight and communicate complex phenomena. It can also inspire students and get them excited about the creative process,

about science and learning.”

Insley has been a researcher at Argonne National Laboratory for more than 20 years, where he’s primarily been involved in high performance computing and scientific data visualization. He’s currently the team lead for data visualization and analysis at the Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, which is home to some of the largest supercomputers in the world.

Insley also co-leads the Data, Devices and Interaction Laboratory at NIU, along with his colleague Michael Papka, NIU professor of computer science. The lab brings together students from both the Department of Computer Science and the School of Art and Design with the goal of using computers to support and enhance knowledge and discovery, as well as artistic expression.

NIU STEM Cafés are part of NIU STEAM and are designed to increase public awareness of the critical role that STEM fields play in our everyday lives. STEM Cafés are supported by Bayer Fund and Thermo Fisher Scientific. For more information, visit go. niu.edu/stemcafes or contact Judith Dymond, Ed.D., at 815-753-4751 or jdymond@niu.edu.

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Sandwich man survives double lung transplant after COVID-19

By KATRINA J.E. MILTON kmilton@shawmedia.com

SANDWICH – This time last year, Henry Garza was sedated and on a ventilator at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital fighting for his life against COVID-19. This year, he’s counting his blessings after surviving a double-lung transplant.

“I wouldn’t wish [COVID-19] on my worst enemy,” Garza said. “It was the worst experience I ever had. I was close to death. Although I had a positive attitude going through it, I think nurses and doctors didn’t let on sometimes how truly bad it was. I would never want to see anyone go through this because it’s horrible. It’s a nightmare, a truly horrendous experience.”

Headed into the Christmas holiday season in 2021 looks dramatically different for Garza than 2020, and for that he said he considers himself the most thankful man in the world.

What started as a cough and upper respiratory viral infection due to COVID-19 led to both viral and bacterial pneumonia in November 2020.

Garza was sedated and placed on a ventilator over the Christmas holiday, and endured a double lung transplant. He spent 200 days in the hospital, unable to eat for more than four months. He lost 70 pounds. Due to muscle atrophying, he had to learn to walk and write again.

With a new pair of lungs, Garza has returned home, is now walking up to a mile at a time. He said he loves cooking for and spending time with his family.

He thanks his team of doctors, nurses and medical staff at Northwestern Medicine for saving his life, and the support of those around him.

Garza lives in Sandwich with his wife, Michele, and his two stepdaugh-

going to get it, and then it would be gone, we’d be fine. It wasn’t a joke to us, but boy, were we wrong.”

Although Garza’s case was severe, no one else in his home contracted the virus, he said.

The week of Thanksgiving 2020, Garza went to the emergency room at Northwestern Medicine Valley West hospital in Sandwich because he was struggling to breathe. It was Monday, Nov. 23. That same day, he was transferred to Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb, where a team in the Intensive Care Unit had more resources to treat critically ill COVID-19 patients.

“They thought they’d be able to catch it and give me medicine to fix it,” Garza said. “But we kind of hit a wall.

Photo provided The lungs weren’t responding to the Henry Garza has returned home to his family, including his wife Michele, pictured together, medicine, and I was gradually getting after he spent 200 days in the hospital after COVID-19 and pneumonia required him to have worse.”

On Dec. 20, Garza was transferred to both of his lungs transplanted.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital in ters, Avrie and Sydney. He also has two were always very careful, we washed Chicago. His condition had worsened.

He was put on an extracorporeal older sons, Kyle and Austin, who do our hands, wore a mask, practiced not live with him. social distancing. My wife and I said See COVID-19 SURVIVOR, page 17 “The reality is that if someone gets that sooner or later, we were probably this, it can get a hold of you like it did to me, and you don’t know what can happen,” Garza said. “Something as simple as washing your hands more, getting the vaccine and wearing a mask can possibly save someone from getting sick. A lot of people joke that it’s a cold or the flu, but it isn’t.”

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On Nov. 17, 2020, Garza took a COVID-19 test because he wasn’t feeling well. Two days later, he was notified he had contracted the virus.

Garza, who was 54 at the time, had no pre-existing or underlying conditions.

“Back in November of last year, there was no vaccine,” Garza said. “We

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

‘I WAS CLOSE TO DEATH’

15

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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READER SNAPSHOTS

Provided photo

Youth volunteers of the Cortland Lions Club recently raised $600 for the Lions of Illinois Foundation, a group that advocates for those who are visually and hearing impaired based in DeKalb. A ceremony was held regarding the fundraiser, which included: Lamar Bradley, a sophomore at DeKalb High School; Jayden Bradley, an eighth-grader at Huntley Middle School; Nathan, a sophomore at DeKalb High School; Rowan Fowler, a sophomore at DeKalb High School; Grady Fowler, an eighth-grader at Huntley Middle School; the Cortland Lions Club President Mike Velez and Lion Chris Fowler.

Provided photo

DeKalb Chamber of Commerce staff, ambassadors and board members, along with community members recently held a ribbon-cutting to congratulate Kishwaukee United Way on the Born Learning Trail at North Elementary School in Sycamore. The Born Learning Trail includes a series of activities to help caregivers engage with young children while promoting literacy and early learning. Visit the trail at 1680 Brickville Road, Sycamore. To learn more, call Kishwaukee United Way at 779-255-1267.

Provided photo

Provided photo

Open Door Rehabilitation Center was one of the selected nonprofit organizations to receive a $25,000 grant through Kendall County. This grant, administered through the American Rescue Plan Act, helps nonprofits to regain funds lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Open Door will use the funds to obtain up-to-date technology, an emergency generator and sign-on bonuses for prospective employees. For more information about Open Door, visit odrc.org or call 815-786-8468. Pictured (from left) are Jennifer Karales, Kendall County budget and financial analyst; Kayla Gomez, Open Door public relations coordinator; and Scott Koeppel, Kendall County administrator.

P.E.O. Chapter, Sandwich, presented a check for $300 to the Lions Club Franklin Mall Project in Sandwich. Each Christmas, Sandwich Lions and community members work together to deliver 250 boxes of groceries and gift certificates to about 200 families in the Sandwich community. P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) supports educational opportunities of women through grants, loans and scholarships as well as contributing to local nonprofit organizations. Chapter FO of Sandwich hosts various fundraising events throughout the year to help pay for P.E.O. educational projects and donations. Pictured (from left) are Jeanette Wright, Mickey Farley (Lions Club member), and Linda Benson.

• COVID-19 SURVIVOR From page 15

SM-CL1943143

‘[COVID-19] ... ate through my lungs’

In early February, Garza was added to the lung transplant list due to the virus’ toll on his body.

“The [COVID-19] and pneumonia ate through my lungs,” Garza said.

“When the doctors went in to remove them, my lungs were stuck to my rib cage because they were so diseased.”

In March, a set of lungs was rejected for transplant due to blood clots, and then Garza suffered an infection that delayed his wait-list spot.

Two weeks after his name was placed back on the list, doctors told Garza they’d found a donor.

On April 16, Garza had a double-lung transplant surgery at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

Both lungs that were transplanted came from the same person, an anonymous donor.

“I am very, very grateful for my lungs and to the donor,” Garza said. “I would not have survived without a donation. The ECMO and ventilator

See COVID-19 SURVIVOR, page 18

17 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

Photo provided

After spending 200 days in the hospital and requiring a transplant for both of his lungs, Henry Garza of Sandwich returned home. He enjoys cooking for his family, including his wife Michele and his two stepdaughters, in his spare time.

membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine and ventilated Dec. 23. On Christmas Eve, he underwent a tracheotomy, a procedure where a tube is placed through a person’s neck into the windpipe to allow doctors direct access to the breathing tube.

Over the next four months, from Dec. 24 to April 24, he was unable to eat or drink at all and was on a feeding tube and IV. Nikki Pynenberg, ICU charge nurse at Kishwaukee Hospital, remembers when Garza first came into her care.

“He came in on a stretcher, still able to walk using only a little bit of oxygen,” she said. “I remember him saying he was going to beat this. He was so determined that he was walking out of here. He turned his pain into power.”

Pynenberg said Garza trusted her and her medical team to do all they could to advocate for him. She kept in close contact with Garza and his family via text. A year later, they still text each other multiple times a day.

“If I met a patient that was going to make it through [COVID-19], it was going to be Henry for sure,” Pynenberg said. “He turned everything that he was going through into something more, something positive that would benefit him. He was not going to give up.”

Garza said he doesn’t remember

last Christmas at all. He was sedated and intubated, and when he awoke, the holiday was over.

“A couple of times, I didn’t know if I’d even come home,” Garza said. “It was bleak.”

18

• COVID-19 SURVIVOR

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

machines served as life support for me. I would have been on machines forever.”

Irina Galyayeva, lung transplant nurse coordinator at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, first met Garza after his transplant.

“No other choice, other than a transplant, would allow for him to go home to his family,” she said. “He had irreversible lung damage. The transplant was truly a second chance at life.”

Garza praised his medical team at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

“Their culture is to care for the patient, and they were really amazing,” he said. “I never experienced this level of service and care from a medical facility.

It’s very humbling when you think about it, all the ways they took care of me to get me healthy again.

They treated me like I was a member of their family.”

Galyayeva said seeing Garza doing so well post-surgery brings her great joy. She said her team has done more than 200 transplants at the center, including more than 30 transplants for COVID-19 patients.

“For now, and for years to come, he has a new lease on life,” Galyayeva said. “Without this lung transplant, it is unlikely he’d have another holiday season with his family.”

From page 17

Homecoming

On May 7, Garza was discharged from Northwestern Memorial Hospital and went to Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago for inpatient therapy. He returned home to Sandwich on June 4 after exactly 200 days in the hospital.

Photo provided

Neighbors and community members gathered along the street of Henry Garza’s residence in Sandwich to welcome him home. Garza spent 200 days in the hospital after COVID-19 and pneumonia required him to have both of his lungs transplanted.

Garza was able to eat food two weeks after the surgery. Although the diet was limited at first, he slowly was able to eat meals and solid food.

Garza had in-home therapists until October, and since then, he attends outpatient therapy at Valley West Hospital in Sandwich.

“Life is different now. It’s a whole new type of life,” he said. “I’m in the process of recovering. I am mobile and am walking around. My voice is getting a little stronger now. It’s an overall body recovery.”

He credits his wife, stepdaughters and friends for a speedy recovery.

“My wife was amazing, and she held the family

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together,” he said. “Everything that we went through, just getting through it, it was all God.” Garza said his church congregation in Plano, the Village Bible Church, organized meals and financial support for his family, and visited him in Chicago.

He said the biggest post-surgery change is his outlook on life. It’s the simple things, he said, like sitting on his deck and listening to the birds, that he appreciates more.

“I didn’t realize how tightly wound up I was before the surgery,” Garza said. “I’m enjoying life more now. My wife and I are closer now that we have ever been before. I’m bonding more with my family and friends.”

Garza said that he is looking forward to being together with his family for the holidays this year: coherent, awake and not hooked up to any machines.

“I am looking forward to decorating the Christmas tree and just being together as a family, enjoying each other,” he said. “I want to let the season be about love, peace and rejoicing God for all that He’s done. It’s been a heck of a year.”

Garza hopes to return to his longtime job where he’s worked for the past 11 years in the admissions department at Chamberlain University’s College of Nursing in the spring.

He’s also planning to attend a concert with Pynenberg, a goal they set together for when he was out of the hospital and feeling better.

“I think it’s important to take care of yourself and each other,” he said. “[COVID-19] is real, it’s super real. It’s nothing to take lightly or to dismiss as a political thing. Take it seriously, and let’s be kind to each other. Be considerate, be careful, be courteous, and hopefully nobody else will have to go through what I went through and what my family went through.”

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THE MIDWEEK SYCAMORE – Two separate Agency Funds have been created through the DeKalb County Community Foundation to benefit Barb City Manor Retirement Home in DeKalb, and support the fulfillment of its mission.

The two named funds are the Barb City Manor Endowment Fund and the Barb City Manor Fund. The endowed fund will assist lower-income residents living in their community by providing them with monthly rental assistance.

The other will be used primarily for capital projects. Both funds will ultimately help support Barb City Manor’s mission to provide its residents a safe, secure environment.

“We chose to work with the Community Foundation because of its great reputation­. They are a vital part of the nonprofit community,” Sarah Davis, Barb City Manor assistant administrator, said in a news release.

Barb City Manor is an independent living option for people age 62 and older who want to be free from the responsibility of maintaining their own homes. Barb City Manor was created by the City of DeKalb with support from DeKalb community members and opened in 1979 with the mission to serve low- to moder-

Photo provided

Barb City Manor is an independent living community for ages 62 and older who live an active lifestyle but want to be free from the responsibility of homeownership. ate-income seniors in safety and security. It is nestled in a quiet, residential neighborhood and operates in the former DeKalb Public Hospital.

The Manor has 62 studio or one-bedroom apartments with amenities including three meals daily, 24-hour staffing, weekly housekeeping service, and month-to-month leasing. Barb City Manor does not provide medical services; however, residents can age in place by contracting with home health and caregiver services as needed. These

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options help prevent premature placement in long-term care facilities.

Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation, including the Barb City Manor Endowment Fund and the Barb City Manor Fund, can be made online at dekalbccf.org/donate or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, IL 60178.

For questions or to start your charitable fund, contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

BRIEFS Cat yoga offered at DeKalb Library DeKALB – Explore your feline side as you move through several yoga poses at the DeKalb Public Library.

The library will hold Cat Yoga at 6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Dec.16.

There is no skill prerequisite for this fun session. Just bring a yoga mat or towel and your love for cats.

The cats in attendance will be from Tails Humane Society and will be available for adoption at the shelter the day after the event. A donation of any type of kitten food would be appreciated.

This program is free and intended for mature teens and adults. Register for either session at dkpl.org. Space will be left for five walk-in attendees.

For more information or help with registration, contact Britta at brittak@dkpl.org or 815-7569568, ext. 2100.

– The MidWeek

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19 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

New funds help Barb City Manor residents

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

20 OBITUARIES

WALLACE (WALLY) G’FELLERS Wallace (Wally) G’Fellers, 93, of DeKalb, passed away on December 3, 2021.

Wally was born June 25, 1928, in Chuckey, Tennessee.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Walter Wallace and Bessie G’Fellers; by his siblings Guy, James, Clara, and Edith, and by his son-in-law, Roy Monk. He is Survived by his wife of 70 years, Clara Jane, whom he married on September 1, 1951. Wally is also survived by his brother Roy G’Fellers of Knoxville, Tennessee.

Wally was blessed with 6 children: Barbara Monk, Jimmy (Patsy) G’Fellers, Richard (Sally) G’Fellers, Deb Lints, David (Debbie) G’Fellers, and JoEllen (Rick) Hicks. He had 15 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great-grandchildren.

Wally served in the Army during the Korean War between 1952 and 1954. He was a carpenter who passed his skills on to his sons

and grandsons. Wally was a master gardener, planting an amazing vegetable garden each year. He was a life-long Chicago Cubs fan and was thrilled to be able to watch them win the 2016 World Series. Making trips to Tennessee to visit family and enjoy the Smoky Mountains was one of his favorite things to do. He loved family get-togethers where he could spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The family would like to thank the compassionate, caring doctors and nurses in the ER and ICU departments of DeKalb’s Northwestern Hospital who took care of Wally and supported and comforted his family.

The Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 11, 2021, at Christ Community Church, 2300 Pride Avenue, DeKalb, with lunch to follow. The family would appreciate wearing masks and social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Illinois Chapter, 8430 W. Bryn Mawr, Suite 800, Chicago, IL 60631 or Alz.org, in care of Anderson Funeral Home, Ltd., P.O. Box 605, 2011 South Fourth Street, DeKalb, IL 60115.

For information, visit www.AndersonFuneralHomeLtd.com or call 815-756-1022.

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AMUSEMENTS

SUDOKU AND SUPER CROSSWORD ANSWERS ON PAGE 2

THE MIDWEEK Alison Harris and Becky Zantout have rejoined the staff at the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Harris was an employee of the foundation in 2010 in the role of administrative manager, and then took time off to be a stay-at-home mom. She recently was rehired in a part-time position to support the foundation’s grant making. As a grants manager, her responsibilities include working directly with donors and nonprofit organizations to distribute grants, conducting due diligence, collecting and analyzing data to evaluate grant program impact, and more.

Zantout worked at the foundation from 2011-18 as the Grants & Community Initiatives manager before taking time off as a stay-at-home mom. She recently was rehired in a part-time role to focus on foundation grants and scholarships. As the Grants & Scholarships manager, she looks forward to serving the community again, and helping connect students with foundation scholarship opportunities. Her responsibilities include the administration of scholarship distributions, communicating directly with donors

Photo provided

Alison Harris and Becky Zantout have rejoined the staff at the DeKalb County Community Foundation. and award recipients, processing award distributions to educational institutions, and more.

Serving the community since 1993, the DCCF is a nonprofit foundation that enhances the quality of life in DeKalb County through endowments

and donor services, stewardship, grant making and community initiatives. The foundation manages more than 411 funds that, collectively, provide over $3.5 million in annual support for needs today and in the future.

Learn more at dekalbccf.org.

BRIEFS Sycamore Library launches ‘Literacy Lane’ trail

SYCAMORE – “Literacy Lane: Story Walk” is a new tri-government partnership between the Sycamore Public Library, Sycamore Park District and DeKalb County Forest Preserve District that combines outdoor fun and reading to serve the community in a unique way.

Through a donation to the library, 23 permanent sign structures will cover 7/10th of a mile along a trail in Sycamore.

This all-ages family-friendly outdoor activity includes exercise and a love of reading; sharing stories, fun facts, and fitness exercises with continuously rotating content.

The best way to access Literacy Lane is to park at the DeKalb County Forest Preserve District Sycamore Forest Preserve, 955 E. State St., and head west on the trail.

After strolling down Literacy Lane, patrons are invited to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #literacylane and sign a virtual guestbook on the library’s website to be entered into a prize drawing.

For more information, visit sycamorelibrary.org or call 815-895-2500, ext. 405.

– The MidWeek

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23 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021

Foundation welcomes back staffers

BRIEFS Season’s Readings! Library begins winter challenge

Photo provided

The Sycamore Lions Club recently donated to the Sycamore Fire Department. Pictured (from left) are Sycamore Fire Chief Peter Polarek, Deputy Chief Art Zern, Firefighter/Paramedic Dustin Ruby, Sycamore Lions Kevin Berry, President Joe Woodward, Jerry Malmassari and Pete Springmire, Deputy Chief Dan Rink, and Firefighter/Paramedics Bill Reynolds and Eric Walker. Not pictured is Lion Tony Sgarlata.

Sycamore Lions donate to fire department THE MIDWEEK SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Lions Club recently donated $2,160 to the Sycamore Fire Department to purchase a piece of training equipment for paramedics in honor of longtime Sycamore Fire Lt. and Lions Club member Gene Listy.

Listy served as a Sycamore firefighter for more than 50 years. He was an active member of the Sycamore Lions Club for 20 years, according to a news release.

The money was for the purchase of a training manikin that will help paramedics learn how to treat patients struggling to breathe, including for practice with airway intubation techniques.

The Lions Club donation bought the Deluxe Difficult Airway Trainer that features a manually inflatable tongue to simulate obstructed airway and is designed for training the management of difficult airways.

Lions Club members presented the fire department with a check Nov. 18.

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library’s first winter reading program for all ages will run from Dec. 15 to Jan. 12.

This winter reading initiative has a program for kids, teens and adults. Stop by the youth, teen or adult reference desk to sign up and receive a reading log and a bookmark.

The reading log is a book bingo card. Each square represents a different category. Read four or five books and fill the appropriate squares as you read. Complete a horizontal, vertical or diagonal line and declare Bingo!

Return your completed card to enter to win a gift basket filled with seasonal goodies.

For more information, email reference@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568.

Community breakfast planned in Kingston The Kingston Friendship Center, 120 Main St. in Kingston, will host a community breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18.

The menu includes eggs cooked to order, pancakes, waffles, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, bacon, sausage patties, toast, fruit cups, English muffins, juice, milk and coffee.

Suggested donation is $7 for adults and $3 for children age 4 and younger; cash or check only.

Carry-outs and gift certificates are available.

For more information, call 815-784-3921.

– The MidWeek

WARMEST WISHES THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FROM THE KELLY MILLER TEAM Celebrating our wonderful buyers and sellers this week! Each and every client has touched our li o lives in a different way and each way has been so special. We love what we do because of YOU! Meridith Jourdain Me 815-990-0795

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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

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* Guaranteed not to clog for as long as you own your home, or we will clean your gutters for free. **Consumer Disclosure/Award Rules: All participants who attend an estimated 60-90 minute in-home product consultation will receive a $25 gift card. Retail value is $25. Offer sponsored by LeafGuard Holdings Inc. Limit one per household. Company procures, sells, and installs seamless gutter protection. This offer is valid for homeowners over 18 years of age. If married or involved with a life partner, both cohabitating persons must attend and complete presentation together. Participants must have a photo ID and be legally able to enter into a contract. The following persons are not eligible for this offer: employees of Company or affiliated companies or entities, their immediate family members, previous participants in a Company in-home consultation within the past 12 months and all current and former Company customers. Gift may not be extended, transferred, or substituted except that Company may substitute a gift of equal or greater value if it deems it necessary. Gift card will be mailed to the participant via first class United States Mail or e-mailed within 30 days of receipt of the promotion form provided at presentation. Not valid in conjunction with any other promotion or discount of any kind. Offer not sponsored or promoted by Amazon and is subject to change without notice prior to reservation. See www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html?nodeId=G7KXB4EYEHXZRUMA for gift card restrictions. Expires 12/31/21.

The MidWeek / MidWeeknews.com • Wednesday, Dec 15, 2021 MIDWEEK

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Health Insurance Marketplace November 1st - January 15th Healthcare Enrollment Assistance Program Navigator 815-748-2498 enrollhealth@dekalbcounty.org

This Healthcare Enrollment Assitance Program-Navigator (HEAP-N) is Supported by the Centers for Medicare and medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a Financial Award funded by CMS/HHS totaling $158,005.00 annually. The contents are the those of the Dekalb County health Department and do not necessarily represent the official views of, now an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the the U.S. Goverment.

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