DC_MidWeek_122023

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2023 • S h awLoc al .co m

A JOLLY GOOD FELLOW

DeKalb County residents carry on Christmas tradition for children in need / 6

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

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3-year agreement reached between DeKalb, local firefighters union

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DeKALB – DeKalb city leaders approved a new 3-year contract with the DeKalb firefighters union in what city officials said is a plan to show their support to first responders who answer the call of duty in residents’ time of need.

The agreement, approved unanimously by the DeKalb City Council last week, provides for a number of changes, including a loosening of the residency requirements for employees, minimum station staffing and wage increases. Sixth Ward Alderman Mike Verbic was absent.

City officials also have identified the creation of a fourth fire station to improve 911 response times on the south side as a priority in the new year.

DeKalb Fire Fighters Local 1236 President Noah Millard said he is excited about the new deal and what it provides area firefighters and paramedics.

“It’s the service that we’re going to be able to deliver with the addition of a fourth station and staffing for that station starting in 2025,” Millard said. “Our employees are being fairly compensated as to what’s going on. I think that will benefit recruitment and retention for our people. We haven’t had a retention problem, but recruitment is a challenge. It’s a very competitive process right now throughout the state and the country. I think that that will really help us continue to grow as we need to with the fire department with the addition of the fire station and everything else.”

Under the new collective bargaining agreement, the city and the firefighters union intend to work toward raising the minimum daily shift standard from 13 to 16 people by October 2024, city documents show. Efforts to make this happen will be

PUZZLE ANSWERS puzzles on page 21

Mark Busch file photo

DeKalb firefighters chat in the apparatus bay May 16 at Fire Station 3 in DeKalb. aided by $2.7 million in federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant funding awarded to the city in August 2021.

The firefighters union agreement also takes into account staffing considerations with the city contemplating a fourth fire station.

Under the new contract, the city intends to hire nine firefighters/paramedics in the latter part of 2024 to allow for minimum staffing level at the station. An additional three firefighters are each gradually proposed in 2025, 2026 and 2027 to help the department meet the shift minimum, city documents show.

Mayor Cohen Barnes said knowing that this deal will have an impact on future staffing of a potential fourth fire station means a lot to him.

“I know this really helps with future capacity,” Barnes said. “Now to be a little bit ahead of the game when it comes to our EMTs and our firefighters, I think, is just fantastic. But probably what excites me the most about it is just bringing equity to the rest of our community. If someone dials 911, we have high probability of having the

same response time no matter where someone is in the city of DeKalb. That means a particular lot to me.”

With the new collective bargaining agreement, firefighters get to keep the 2.5% increase in pay already incorporated in the current contract for 2024. The contract stipulates that in 2025 a one-time equity adjustment of 5% will be applied, plus a restoration of cost-of-living adjustments lost during the COVID-19 pandemic, city documents show. In 2026 and 2027, the agreement calls for 2.5% step increases.

The wage package is expected to cost the city an average of $584,019 over the next four years, city documents show.

City Manager Bill Nicklas characterized the firefighters contract as a “pretty big package.”

“I’m proud of the collaboration that has brought this to you tonight,” Nicklas said.

“It’s a package which, I think, we can digest and live with fiscally.”

The new three-year agreement attaches to the end of the present agreement, which wasn’t set to expire until the end of 2024, making the contract extend through Dec. 31, 2027, city documents show.

WHERE IT’S AT Amusements .........................................21 Classified .............................................. 22 Cover story ............................................. 6 Looking Back .......................................... 9

ON THE COVER Christel Springmire of Sycamore was one of the first to arrive for the Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore gift-wrapping party on Dec. 13. The wrapped items will be delivered to area children in need on Christmas Eve. See story, page 6.

Photo by Camden Lazenby

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Photo provided by Gretchen Moore

The Kishwaukee Symphony Association’s Planning Committee is pictured at the home of Shirley Hamilton Nehring at the 2012 KSO Season Preview/Meet the Conductor event. In the back row (from left) are Marilyn Montzka; Marilyn Bazeli, secretary; Gretchen Moore, president; Carol Zar; and Martha Shur. In the front row are Toni Krull, treasurer; Barbara North; and Annette Johns.

Kishwaukee Symphony Associates celebrates 40th anniversary SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – The Kishwaukee Symphony Associates recently celebrated its 40th anniversary as a Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra support organization.

The group has raised more than $100,000 through fundraisers since

1983, according to a news release.

The fundraisers include fashion shows, luncheons, theme dinners at restaurants, An Evening in Vienna, the Painted Violin Auction, Music in Motion, the 3 Celli, KSO season previews and Meet the Conductor.

The group also was named “2012 Guild of the Year” by the Illinois Council of Orchestras.

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF DeKalb County nonprofits receive $5,000 for environmental initiatives

DeKALB – Oaken Acres Wildlife Refuge and Rehab Center and the Friends of Illinois Nature Preserve recently received $5,000 grants from Nicor Gas to support environmental initiatives.

The grants are given to nonprofits and organizations committed to offering natural green spaces equitable access and enhancing sustainability activities, according to a news release.

The Friends of Illinois Nature Preserve’s grant will help survey Illinois Natural Areas Inventory sites to protect and steward the land. Oaken Acres Wildlife Refuge and Rehab Center is using the grant to remove Reed Canary

Grass and plant native prairie plants and rye grass.

Nicor awarded $100,000 in grants to 21 organizations. The grants will help support the organization’s environmental initiatives.

Nicor is one of Southern Company Gas’s four natural gas distribution companies that serves more than 2.3 million customers in most of northern Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago.

Southern Company Gas is a subsidiary of Southern Company that serves 4.3 million natural gas customers through distribution companies in four states.

For information, visit NicorGas.com/ CharitableGiving, nicorgas.com, or southerncompanygas.com.

– Shaw Local News Network

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

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The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

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Sycamore police to upgrade body cameras 2024 New cameras will allow department to outfit every officer, batteries to last full shifts, says police chief

By KELSEY RETTKE

krettke@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Police Department plans to upgrade its body camera equipment, which will provide every patrol officer with their own body camera and upgraded batteries meant to last a full shift, said Police Chief Jim Winters.

The Sycamore City Council recently approved a plan to switch the city’s vendors that provides the cameras. The new five-year $126,606 contract with Motorola also will come with its own cloud-based digital storage for camera footage record-keeping, according to city documents.

“This would allow us to outfit all of our officers with body cameras,” Winters said. “Right now they’re sharing body cameras and also they do not have multiple batteries, so it’s not uncommon for an officer in a 12-hour shift – after 9½ or 10 hours, especially on a busy day where they’re gathering a lot of footage

Shaw Local News Network file photo

Sycamore Police Chief Jim Winters shows a body camera to City Council members and city officials. from their body-worn camera – for them to notify dispatch, ‘Hey my body camera just ran out.’ We don’t want that to happen. We want those body cameras to be reliable for them.”

The department first started using the cameras – usually attached to patrol

officers’ uniforms recording full-time while on duty – in January 2021 after first getting approved in October 2020. In August 2022, the Sycamore City Council approved a five-year $123,718 contract to provide cloud-based digital storage for the camera footage.

Sycamore wasn’t the only DeKalb County area police agency to begin wearing body cameras in 2021. The DeKalb Police Department also began using the technology in early 2021. Law enforcement officials have said the cameras add a level of transparency necessary for modern police work.

The department recently applied for and was awarded a $70,000 grant to help buy new body cameras, said Sycamore City Manager Michael Hall.

Motorola – which provides the body cameras for Sycamore – invited the city to renegotiate a new five-year deal which would encompass both the cameras and the storage. The grant is expected to go toward the new contract, offiicals said.

The new contract – approved Dec. 4 after a unanimous Sycamore City Council vote – is $2,888 more than the former five-year contract, or $577 per year more, city officials said.

With the update, Motorola is expected to provide the city with another camera upgrade to the latest model in three years.

“These new upgraded cameras will get new detachable batteries and every officer will have their own camera, too,” Winters said. “It also comes with a no-fault warranty on it.”

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I hope that we can fill the seats in this room, and I hope we can get the community involved. People’s schedules are so busy, so having that advanced notice, people can have the information sooner, and now they really can make this a destination point.”

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Community School District 427 board will move to a one-meeting-a-month format starting in January.

The meetings will be held on the fourth Tuesday of every month inside Sycamore Middle School, under the schedule approved Dec. 12. The only exception for the remainder of the school year is March. That meeting will be held March 12 because of spring break.

Sycamore Superintendent Steve Wilder said he and Board Secretary Kellie Vinz will work to distribute the agenda to board members a full week ahead of the monthly meetings. That’s being done to help give the elected officials time to read the ancillary documents and come prepared to the public meeting, although Wilder acknowledged the new system may not be perfect when it’s rolled out in January.

“For the most part, I think we can make that transition pretty smooth,” he said.

Meetings have been held twice a month in recent years, switching between Sycamore Middle School and a rotation of the district’s other facilities.

Board member Eric Jones questioned

Michael DeVito, Sycamore Community School District 427 board member

Camden Lazenby

Sycamore Community School District 427 Superintendent Steve Wilder talks Dec. 12 about changes to the school board meeting schedule. whether the board should only use the middle school for meetings.

“I’ve just noticed that when we do have our onsite meetings at the elementaries, whether through coercion or just excitement, there’s usually a

half dozen to a dozen staff from those buildings sticking around for that meeting,” Jones said. “I’d hate to rob them of that opportunity or make it less convenient for them if that’s something they were looking forward to.

But if they just want an excuse to not go, well, then here’s one.”

No one not employed by the Sycamore Community School District attended the Dec. 12 meeting, and board member Michael DeVito said he hopes that changes with the new schedule.

“I hope that we can fill the seats in this room, and I hope we can get the community involved,” DeVito said.

“People’s schedules are so busy, so having that advanced notice, people can have the information sooner, and now they really can make this a destination point.”

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

One meeting a month for Sycamore school board in 2024 5

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

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A CLOSER LOOK

Acts of generosity

Goodfellows will deliver gifts to area children in need on Christmas Eve

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – An annual charitable tradition that was started by an anonymous assistant attorney to the city of Chicago 114 years ago lives on in the generous acts of DeKalb County residents known as the Goodfellows.

According to Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore, the Christmastime initiative was started in 1909 – when a man published an anonymous letter in the Chicago Tribune calling for good fellows (of any gender) to volunteer to deliver presents (of any value) to less advantaged children on Christmas Eve. The call to action was published on Dec. 10, 1909. Three days later, according to the Chicago Tribune, 1,011 good fellows had signed up to help 7,610 Chicago children. As word of the good tiding spread, some began to emulate the anonymous gift giving elsewhere. The Goodfellows never became a national organization but the tradition of giving Christmas gifts to children on Christmas Eve has taken hold in DeKalb County.

“It’s a way for people to share Christmas magic with kids who may not receive much for Christmas.

They’ll get toys from different programs, Toys for Tots or whatever,” said Christel Springmire, of Sycamore, who for the past 20 years has been volunteering and donating with Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore.

Organization president Sandy Lancaster, 66, said no one is entirely sure when the initiative gained its footing in DeKalb County but she said she knows it predates her.

“Goodfellows isn’t a national organization. We don’t pay in dues, there’s no hierarchy. ... A group of volunteers in an area decide this is something they want to take on. We think it started in DeKalb, Sycamore in the 1950s,” Lancaster said.

On Dec. 13, the DeKalb County Goodfellows met at Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward St. in Sycamore, for a Christmas gift-wrapping party.

The numerous gifts wrapped that

Camden Lazenby

Marilyn Stromborg, a DeKalb County Circuit Clerk Office worker, wraps a present for Goodfellows of DeKalb and Sycamore during the organization’s wrapping event Dec. 13. The items will be delivered to children in need on Christmas Eve. night were not bought for family members or friends. Instead they will be delivered to 1,111 children by volunteers on Christmas Eve. Lancaster said it’s the second highest number of children in need the DeKalb, Sycamore group has seen since it began.

Volunteers will reconvene at Blumen Gardens on Christmas Eve morning before setting out to deliver presents to the children. For some, the volunteering has become a family tradition.

Ryan Hannan, 37, has been helping out with the Goodfellows since he was a child.

“My dad has been with the Goodfellows since the ’80s, so growing up I would always help out with deliveries.

And the older I got, and the more I

understood the meaning of Goodfellows, made me want to volunteer more. So about 10 years ago I started to really get more involved – I was back from school – and I’ve been on the board now for probably six to seven years,” Hannan said.

Having seen the group grow over the course of his lifetime, Hannan said he thinks the charitable spirit of DeKalb County residents is amazing.

“Every year it grows more. The support from the community is just incredible. Every year we get new people coming, new people shopping, new people wrapping, new people delivering, so the more we can get the word out the better,” Hannan said.

The gifts aren’t the only purchase

the volunteers need to make. Boxes, wrapping paper, bows, tape, scissors and gift bags are all needed to give area children proper Christmas gifts.

The organization’s leaders also pay for the group’s expenses out of their own pocket if donations fall short, Lancaster said.

Those expenses, however, are something these good fellows are OK paying because they say they understand the impact of their work.

“Goodfellows provides such generous gifts for kids, boots and coats, and mittens and hats, and pajamas and underwear, things that sometimes parents are too stretched to provide,” said Springmire, 65. “And Santa can’t bring all of that stuff.”

My dad has been with the Goodfellows since the ’80s, so growing up I would always help out with deliveries. And the older I got, and the more I understood the meaning of Goodfellows, made me want to volunteer more.”

Ryan Hannan, Goodfellow volunteer

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS DeKALB – The DeKalb Police Department will partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation to enforce the “Driver Sober or Get Pulled Over” and “Drive High. Get a DUI.” campaigns for the holidays.

The campaigns will run from Dec. 15 through Jan. 2, according to a news release.

Illinois law enforcement will enforce zero tolerance for drug- and alcohol-impaired drivers. The campaigns ensure drivers keep the roads safe and have a happy holiday season.

Tips for drivers to remember include: • Designate a sober driver or use a ride-sharing service or public transportation • Report impaired drivers to the police • Don’t let friends drive impaired • Buckle up The holiday enforcement campaigns are funded by federal highway safety funds administered by Illinois Department of Transportation.

Winter crafts event set for Dec. 22 in DeKalb

DeKALB – The DeKalb Public Library will hold a Winter Craft Corner from 10 and 11 a.m. Dec. 22 The program is intended for children in two age groups – 3 to 7 and 5 to 12. It will be held in the Story and Activity Room, 309 Oak St.

Attendees can make a solstice craft and a pinecone bird feeder.

Hot cocoa and bear cookies will be served.

No registration is required.

For information, email stormye@dkpl. org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 3310.

7 3 OR 7 - M O N T H C D

Sycamore Police urge sober driving for holiday season

SYCAMORE – The Sycamore Police Department will partner with the Illinois Department of Transportation to enforce a “Drive Sober of Get Pulled Over” and “Get High. Get a DUI.” campaign for the holidays.

The campaign will be held from Dec. 15 through Jan. 2, according to a news release.

Illinois law enforcement will enforce zero tolerance for alcohol- and drug-impaired drivers. Drivers are encouraged to remember that impaired driving is illegal and potentially deadly.

Tips for drivers to remember include: • Buckle up • Designate a sober driver • If you are drunk or impaired, use public transportation or a ride-sharing service • Don’t let friends drive impaired • Report impaired drivers to the police The holiday enforcement campaign is funded by federal highway safety funds administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation.

– Shaw Local News Network

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

DeKalb Police enforcing sober driving campaigns

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

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Photo provided by the DeKalb County Community Foundation

Youth Engaged in Philanthropy members are seen conducting a site visit with Sycamore High School’s Spartan TV representatives. YEP is a youth-led committee of the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

DCCF accepting YEP Grant applications SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

SYCAMORE – Nonprofit organizations and eligible community organizations are encouraged to apply for a Youth Engaged in Philanthropy grant, up to $2,500, for programs and projects that positively impact youth in DeKalb County.

The deadline for grant applications is Feb. 1. Apply online at dekalbccf. org/yepgrants.

As a DeKalb County Community Foundation grant program, YEP grants specifically aim to improve the quality of life for youth in DeKalb County.

Projects considered for funding must directly involve youth, promote youth empowerment and leadership, and show dedication to the local com-

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF

DeKalb Police receives traffic enforcement grant

DeKALB – The DeKalb Police Department recently was awarded a state grant to conduct more traffic safety enforcement.

The Federal Fiscal Year 2024 Sustained Traffic Enforcement Program grant is funded through federal highway safety funds provided by the Illinois Department of Transportation, according to a news release.

The program focuses on high-visibility strategies and enforcement to save lives

munity. YEP conducts a site visit for each grant application. YEP members lead site visits to learn more about the organization’s request for funding.

Nonprofit organizations with youth initiatives in DeKalb County are highly encouraged to apply.

Organizations should read the updated 2024 YEP Grants Guidelines before applying.

Youth Engaged in Philanthropy is a youth-led committee of the Community Foundation. YEP provides opportunities for high school students across DeKalb County to develop leadership skills, learn about philanthropy, and engage in their communities through grantmaking and volunteering.

For questions, contact YEP Staff Adviser Noah Nordbrock at 815-7485383 or noah@dekalbccf.org.

and prevent injuries by reducing the number of traffic crashes.

The police department will conduct more enforcement efforts to increase mandatory and optional campaign enforcement dates. The grant year runs from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

The efforts focus on the leading crash causes, which include failure to yield, occupant restraint violations, impaired driving, speeding, disobeying traffic control signals and electronic device use.

– Shaw Local News Network

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LOOKING BACK

9 winter’s white stuff at the toboggan slide at Hopkins Park.

Motorists have been handicapped during the last week or two in parking their cars along the Lincoln Highway on account of the parking lines which were painted white several weeks ago have become obliterated. The markers were a great aid to the motorists when first put on the pavement but at the present time are doing little to aid in parking cars.

Residents of Sycamore have been busy during the past few days as the children of the schools have been asking everyone to buy Christmas seals. Prizes have been offered to the person who sells the greatest number of seals before the close of school for the Christmas vacation and every student is intent on winning the prizes. So far, the sale has progressed very favorably and those in charge expect to reach the mark set last year, in the sale of seals, the proceeds of which go toward the prevention of tuberculosis.

London hints the Prince of Wales’ taste in girls is not so good. Girls should use flavored lipstick.

About forty friends came unannounced to the Frank Simpson home in Ohio Grove Sunday evening, bringing baskets of good things to eat. The day was Mr. Simpson’s birthday. A pleasant evening and an excellent supper were enjoyed.

At the regular meeting of the Kiwanis club which was held in the Innovation grill last Monday noon, members were given the opportunity of witnessing one of the best flag drills ever given by grade school pupils in DeKalb. The boys of the Haish school gave a very interesting drill during which several difficult figures were formed without any apparent confusion.

The drill clearly showed that much hard work and cooperation between the student and instructor were available in order to make the success that it was.

The North Western railroad came in for a share of the complaints received at the police station yesterday when Chief James Scott was told that something must be done with the switch engine of the railroad. It was stated that the engine had been down on the Spring Valley tracks east of Evans Avenue during the forenoon and had also returned in the afternoon. The complainant said she had taken her washing in two or three times and was getting tired of it. She said the engine was standing

The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency has given written warning to two DeKalb firms as a result of investigation of fish kills in the Kishwaukee River in September. Several observations of untreated or partially treated waste water discharged from field tiles and storm sewer systems were noted in the letters of the Del Monte plant and the Spaulding Fibre-Insurok Division plant.

Photo provided by DeKalb County History Center

The home at 1108 S. First St. in DeKalb, pictured in December 1965, was the winner of the South Side Christmas Home Display Contest Honor Award two years in a row, for 1964 and 1965. The display included three carolers with lights and evergreens, large candlesticks, letters spelling out “noel” and a white Christmas tree in the picture window. They enhanced their theme with recorded Christmas music.

on the tracks doing nothing but sending a cloud of heavy black smoke over onto the wash lines.

1948 – 75 YEARS AGO

Fears that there would be no snow for Christmas were alleviated on Saturday afternoon when a few flakes started falling and before the evening was over four or five inches had fallen. Even if no more should fall, the present snow should last over the holiday.

Shooters, hungry for fowl or hams at the holiday season, were out in force yesterday for the event held at the range of the DeKalb Sportsmen’s Club on the South Malta Road. Shooting began at 10 o’clock in the morning and continued until darkness forced a halt to the activities.

Coffee, pie, cakes and sandwiches were available throughout the day with the wives of club members providing pies that proved highly desirable.

Kane County authorities are seeking a pretty blonde dressed in a red sweater, light skirt, and fur coat, following a robbery in which Kermit Kirkhus of Waterman lost his billfold and money early Friday morning. Kirkhus reported that he had been robbed in the morning by two men and a woman on Route 30 a few miles west of Aurora.

At a recent meeting held in the Archery Range Room of the Community center in Sycamore, details of the newly organized Archery Club were outlined. The club is to be known as the Kishwaukee Archers.

The only new development today in the plans for the coming Christmas carol sing for next Wednesday night is a suggestion that seems to be a popular one. This plan is to have certain descendants of racial groups in this city sing carols of the land from which their parents came in the original tongue. If the project can be worked out there should be Christmas music of Sweden, Finland, Germany and various Baltic and Balkan countries, sung in the native languages.

Main line train dispatchers on the North Western Railroad between West Chicago and DeKalb have the new CTC machine in operation. Instead of the familiar rattle of telegraph instruments, annunciator bells have taken over. A single tap of the bell announces the clearing up of a track circuit. Sometimes the machine delivers a Bronx cheer, when a wrong lineup which will not work is set up.

Fire early this morning destroyed a large barn on the Ivan Williams farm located east of the Pierce Town Hall.

Twenty-eight head of dairy cows were lost in the fire, as well as a large amount of hay and straw. The barn was constructed in 1938 and the same barn today would probably cost at least $25,000 to build.

1973 – 50 YEARS AGO

The recent accumulation of snow, while often bringing frowns to the faces of persons forced to drive in it or shovel it, has just the opposite effect on youngsters. They took advantage of

DeKalb has cut back its snow removal operations because of the gasoline shortage, but all streets will be plowed at least once. Snow clearing operations use about 2,000 gallons of gasoline under normal conditions. All arterial streets will be kept open and all side streets will be plowed at least once.

1998 – 25 YEARS AGO

On a day of history and upheaval, President William Jefferson Clinton was impeached by the Republican-controlled House on Saturday for perjury and obstruction of justice. The 42nd chief executive thus became only the second since the nation’s founding to be ordered to stand trial in the Senate.

Despite all the missed deadlines and a seemingly impossible time schedule, DeKalb city officials still aren’t willing to declare the DeKalb Regional Mall dead.

The mall, which many believe would put DeKalb on the retail map, originally was scheduled to open in April 1999. It has been delayed repeatedly. According to the agreement between the City of DeKalb and mall developer Joseph Freed & Associates, the mall must open by February 2000.

It all goes smoothly; the Sycamore Park District will continue to expand to meet the needs of a growing city. Board members plan to purchase two tracts of land, including three quarters of an acre on the city’s north side at Freed Road and Larson Street for $30,000.

The Genoa-Kingston School District is planning to start formal talks about merging with Hiawatha schools. Richard Leahy, Genoa-Kingston superintendent, said a school board committee has set a meeting with Hiawatha school’s committee on Jan. 13 to discuss cooperative agreements between the districts.

– Compiled by Sue Breese

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

1923 – 100 YEARS AGO

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

10 DeKALB COUNTY

Homeowners should see decrease in tax bill in 2024

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – The DeKalb County Board last week approved a plan to collect $26.7 million with its 2023 property tax levy, a plan that means most area homeowners likely will see a slight decrease on their bills come spring.

The 2023-24 DeKalb County property tax levy is expected to bring in about $26,737,114 in revenue, and see the rate decrease by 6.58% from 0.97 in 2022 to 0.91 for 2023 taxes, according to DeKalb County documents.

DeKalb County Administrator Brian Gregory said because that rate decrease is larger than the estimated average increase in local property values, taxpayers likely are to see some relief.

“The county has 19 townships, and each township has a multiplier essentially that goes up or down in value, and the average of all townships is an increase of 6.04%,” Gregory said. “The county’s rate that’s proposed in this ordinance would drop our tax rate by 6.58%. So if your value goes up a little over six, and your rate goes down a little over six and a half percent, on average, you would see a slight reduction on your county portion of your property

Camden Lazenby

The DeKalb County Board approved the 2023-24 Property Tax Levy Extension on Dec. 13 and managed to reduce the property tax rate, while increasing the total amount collected from property owners. tax bill.”

Not all townships are below the average, Gregory said, but he reasoned taking the average allows the county to help the most property owners as possible.

The owner of a property valued at $200,000 would have paid $647.19 in property taxes to DeKalb County on their

2022 bill this past spring, according to county documents. Assuming that property’s value went up by the county average, the owner will pay $641.13 on a home now worth $212,000, according to county estimates.

While the property tax levy rate will go down, the county government is expected to increase its revenue collec-

tion by 3.78%.

Although the county decreased the property tax rate, the total amount of money collected in the 2023-24 property tax levy extension will increase by 3.78% because of a rise in property values and economic development in the county, officials said. According to county documents, DeKalb County will levy $1.2 million from new properties that are estimated to have a total value of $134 million.

“Our general policy of holding the amount of the levy more or less constant over the last couple of years we’re proposing to continue while still managing to fund the [DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center],” said DeKalb County Board member Scott Campbell, a Democrat from District 7.

Gregory said tax revenue from new properties have allowed the county to reduce the property tax rate over the past three years. This year’s tax rate reduction was calculated after the $8.3 million contract to sell the DeKalb County Rehab and Nursing Center to third-party buyers was terminated in early October.

“The board took steps, even with some of the financial challenges, to lower the rate,” Gregory said.

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The Northern Illinois University Esports Arena is located in Altgeld Hall.

NIU selected as new headquarters for IHSEA contact@shawmedia.com

DeKALB – Northern Illinois University recently was selected as the Illinois High School Esports Association’s new home.

NIU began hosting the IHSEA’s competitive video game league championship tournaments during the 2023-24 school year, according to a news release.

The tournaments are held in Altgeld Hall’s Esports Arena. The games range from consoles to PCs. The IHSEA and NIU Esports expect to host 700 to 900 high school esport student athletes, 150 coaches and teachers, and student families.

“For NIU, it’s great to have IHSEA here on campus because it allows the students to explore the campus, it shines a spotlight on the NIU Esports program, and it shows these students that college could be the next step for them,” NIU Esports Director Conner Vagle said in the release. “We see this partnership as the next step in reinforcing the scholastic esports pipeline because getting the opportunity to compete in a college arena during their high school years can be a monumental experience and a great motivator to prepare for college.”

The arena features eight console gaming stations, 42 gaming PCs, two movie screens and a dedicated broadcasting room. The Altgeld Ballroom is used as a tournament spectator and vendor space.

Vagle noted that the tournaments are an opportunity for DeKalb County.

“We’re thrilled to be working with the DeKalb County Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote the event and showcase DeKalb area businesses,

including restaurants and hotels,” Vagle said in the release.

The new home is also an IHSEA win.

“We were really excited to receive NIU’s proposal to host the IHSEA tournaments,” Dalton McGhiey, IHSEA competition officer and Springfield Public Schools head esports coach, said in the release. “NIU did a wonderful job hosting our Overwatch and League of Legends tournaments in the past, and they share our commitment to growing a healthy esports community. We know that NIU’s state-of-the art facilities and knowledgeable esports staff will offer a great student experience and will support Illinois high school esports as they continue to grow.”

NIU Esports is an inclusive program for gamers of all backgrounds, abilities and skill levels to play video games.

“Our shared goal is to continue to grow the greater scholastic esports community in Illinois,” Vagle said in the release. “This long-term commitment allows us to extend opportunities to more students in more game titles. It builds camaraderie, increases the championship prestige and promotes healthy competition. These multi-title championships are really a lot of fun and a great social experience for the competitors.

Since we know building a strong community is one of the biggest predictors of mental health and academic success in college, this experience gives the students a head start and reinforces healthy gaming habits.”

The IHSEA works to create and foster competitive esports in Illinois high schools by organizing tournaments, providing assistance, and presenting advisers and schools information.

For information, visit ihsea.org or go.niu.edu/esports.

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12

Youth-centered program focuses on mental health care

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – To better serve the mental health needs of adolescents, Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services has rolled out a new Intensive Outpatient Program.

The program enables adolescents to receive three hours of group therapy along with one hour of tutoring for three to five days a week, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

At the mental health clinic, 760 Foxpointe Drive in Sycamore, staff recently started processing intakes for the program.

Emily Dienst, program manager at Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services and Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, said the health system as a whole recognizes the need to bring more behavioral health care services and different levels of behavioral health care services to the community.

“We know many community members that are referred for a higher level of care with behavioral health are oftentimes provided with the closest options which are upwards of an hour away to be able to access that care,” Dienst said. “There was a gap,

Megann Horstead

Staff at Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services conduct a staff meeting Dec. 4 at their mental health clinic at 760 Foxpointe Drive in Sycamore. kind of a desert, so to [speak], of care not being close to home, and that would either make it difficult for a youth to get to the program or access that in any type of way. By seeing that transportation was a barrier, location

was a barrier. The health system came together to support the opening of a new program to really support the community.”

A recent countywide survey conducted by the DeKalb County Mental

Health Board also showed that area residents say they want more access to resources meant to address mental wellness.

See MENTAL HEALTH, page 14

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13 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

MENTAL HEALTH 14 •Continued from page 12

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

DeKALB – The Egyptian Theatre will accept donations of $94 or more for its Birthday Club to celebrate its 94th birthday.

The donations will be accepted through December, according to a news release.

The donations will allow the theater to continue to grow its programs. The funds also help ensure the theater’s future and events. To donate, visit egyptiantheatre.org or send via mail to the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., DeKalb.

The Egyptian Theatre was built in 1929. It was designed to reflect the era’s Egyptian obsession. The Preservation of Egyptian Theatre Inc. was created to save the theater after it almost closed in 1978. The organization also protects the theater’s integrity as a regional arts center for entertainment and community involvement.

The Egyptian Theatre is owned and operated by Preservation of Egyptian Theatre Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

– Shaw Local News Network

About one in every four individuals who responded to the survey said they’re not aware of local mental health services.

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

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.

Dienst said the new program shares some similarities to the clinic’s adult Intensive Outpatient Program, but it has some differences.

“What we’re very excited about for our adolescent program is … we’re focusing a lot on using dialectical therapy that has some really fantastic skills on mindfulness, communication skills, how to get through a crisis without making it worse, bringing a lot of really applicable skills that we hope that youth can immediately start using in their daily life,” Dienst said. “We’re incorporating individual therapy, family therapy, [and] medication mon-

Egyptian accepting donations for Theatre Birthday Club

Megann Horstead

Staff at Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services conduct a meeting Dec. 4 at the mental health clinic at 760 Foxpointe Drive in Sycamore. itoring. We have a tutor that’s on site who assists with school coordination.”

The program is meant to provide short-term treatment to adolescents for a period of eight to 10 weeks, Dienst said.

“It’s really based on somebody’s progress in treatment,” she said.

“When somebody is progressing along in treatment, we take outcome measures to track along. Everybody has their own individual treatment plan with their specific goals of what

they’re working on while they’re with us. As somebody is getting closer to their discharge date, we coordinate with outpatient care to make sure that they’re set up with outpatient services long term once they’re all done with programming.”

Northwestern Medicine Behavioral Health Services accepts most major private payer insurances and Medicaid.

For more information about the program or to inquire about a screening, call 815-748-8334.

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DeKALB – STEAM Family Nights recently were held in Welsh Park and New Hope Missionary Church through a partnership with Opportunity DeKalb and Northern Illinois University’s STEAM program and included collaboration and assistance from Project HOPE. The events featured mobile exploration learning labs, bubble and slime stations, games and sports activities, live jazz music and food from Big D’s Hot Dogs, according to a news release.

“In the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan, the DeKalb community directly expressed a desire to see more community events and positive activities in the northwest corridor that further improve the quality of life for residents who live there and also draw in people from other parts of DeKalb,” Chad Glover, a volunteer for Opportunity DeKalb, said in the release.

“Events like these are a key part of how those goals are being achieved.”

The gatherings were the latest in a series of weekly community events at Welsh Park dating back to May that included the Welsh Park Summer Kickoff; STEAM and Dream Fest,

Mark Busch file photo

Mariah Cotton, 10, and volunteer Adrien Fell, both of DeKalb, enjoy a game of Uno during Fun Jam in the Park on June 27 at Welsh Park in DeKalb. which was planned and hosted by DeKalb middle school students; and recurring weekly Fun Jam in the Park with the DeKalb Police Department, DeKalb Park District, BLAC Inc. and the Breakroom and Friends.

Many of the events were made possible with grant support from the DeKalb Rotary, DeKalb County Community Foundations’s Youth Engaged

in Philanthropy and the DeKalb Data Center Community Impact Team, along with donations received through Give DeKalb County and human services funding from the city of DeKalb.

Volunteer support came from NIU Greek Life and the National Society of Black Engineers.

Information, photos and videos from the STEAM Family Night and

other summer events at Welsh Park can be found on the Opportunity DeKalb Facebook page.

Support from community and civic organizations such as the DeKalb Rotary has been critical to the success of the events and connects the missions of those organizations with the Annie Glidden North revitalization goals. “[The] DeKalb Rotary is proud to partner with our community to continue to develop and grow the next generation of leaders,” DeKalb Rotary President Chris Boyes said in the release.

Individuals and organizations interested in collaborating on future events in northwest DeKalb can email Opportunity DeKalb at outreach@ opportunitydekalb.org.

Opportunity DeKalb is a nonprofit community development corporation formed to work collaboratively with others to achieve the community revitalization goals established in the Annie Glidden North Revitalization Plan. Creation of such an organization was identified by the community as one of the top 10 goals of the plan.

The nonprofit strives to further the reputation of AGN and northwest DeKalb as a place where all are welcome to get from where they are in life to where they want to be.

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MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

Opportunity DeKalb hosts STEAM Family Nights 15

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

16 Kishwaukee College opens new welding lab

Photo provided by the DeKalb Chamber of Commerce

The DeKalb Chamber of Commerce recently celebrated the opening of Kishwaukee College’s new welding lab. Chamber staff, board and community members and ambassadors held a ribbon-cutting Oct. 17 to mark the occasion. Kishwaukee College, 21193 Malta Road, Malta, is a two-year college that offers five transfer degrees and more than 70 occupational certificates and degrees. For information, visit kish.edu.

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Photo provided by Mayfield Congregational United Church of Christ

Mayfield Congregational United Church of Christ named Pam Jackson (right) of DeKalb as the winner of its quilt raffle. The raffle was held to support the church’s preservation fund, according to a news release. The quilt, “Dashing Stars,” was designed by Robert Stoll, a quilt artist. Rita Yerkes, the church’s stewardship coordinator, presented the quilt to Jackson.

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The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

18

Buzzing with excitement Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery in Sandwich earns sweet honor

By ERIC SCHELKOPF

eschelkopf@shawmedia.com Since Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery opened in Sandwich in 2014, it has been creating a buzz throughout the community.

Now that buzz is statewide. The bakery, located at 1004 E. Church St., was recently inducted into the Illinois Made program, which encourages residents and visitors to discover the people, products and experiences found at small businesses in every region of the state.

Since 2016, the Illinois Office of Tourism has been selecting a group of local businesses that exemplify the authentic experiences and innovative products made in Illinois.

Yari Aguado, executive director of the Sandwich Area Chamber of Commerce, is proud of the efforts of owner Angie Davis and that her business has been recognized in this fashion.

“She made it on the list and is putting Sandwich on the map,” she said.

Aguado knows firsthand what the bakery has to offer.

“I love everything there,” she said.

“I try different things every time I go there.”

Davis opened Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery in January 2014. The building previously housed a gas station convenience store owned by her aunt.

“It was known for its old-fashioned candy and it had a bakery inside of it,” Davis said.

She had worked there over the years, including managing the gas station and bakery. After her aunt retired, Davis thought it was a good opportunity to start her own bakery cafe.

“I wanted it to be like the cafe on the TV show ‘Friends,’” Davis said. “I wanted it to be a place where people came and sat and enjoyed a sweet treat and had a great cup of coffee and carried on the art of conversation. That’s what I wanted to do for this place.”

Ever since it opened, Davis has been trying to make sure her bakery caters to what the community wants.

“The community has been amazing

and extremely supportive,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here without them.”

Customer service is a high priority for Davis.

“We’re very personable,” she said.

“I’ve got an amazing staff. Before I used to just do pies by order. But I found that there was a big demand for pies. So I started having them made all the time, and it’s really gone over well.”

Davis takes pride in the fact that everything she sells is baked and frosted and decorated there.

“All the cakes are baked fresh here and I do all the cake decorating,” she said. “We level our cakes that I decorate and that cake scrap is what we make into truffles or cake bites. We try and save waste. Our bread pudding is made from our day-old doughnuts. We cut them all up and put them in a bowl and mix it all together and bake it into a bread pudding.”

The bakery sells freshly made doughnuts. The employees at Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery arrive at 3:30 a.m. to start making the doughnuts to make sure they are fresh before the doors open at 5 a.m.

Davis takes a lot of joy in cake decorating.

“I love the creativity of it,” she said.

“I love that each cake is different and I love personalizing the cakes. I can really customize and personalize that gift. I feel like the cake is a gift. It’s a gift to that person and a celebration of that person’s life.”

With the holiday season well underway, the bakery is selling its fair share of cookies.

“It’s all about the cookies right now,” Davis said. “Our cookie platters and our cookie tins, that’s what everybody wants.”

And Santa Claus is known to pop into the shop from time to time during the holiday season.

“It’s something that we’ve done for 10 years,” she said. “The kids love it.”

More information about Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery is available at its website, angiessugarbuzzbakery.com or on its Facebook page.

Eric Schelkopf

Angie Davis opened Angie’s Sugar Buzz Bakery in January 2014. The building previously housed a gas station convenience store owned by her aunt.

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The J.F. Glidden Homestead is seen circa 1924.

Glidden house restoration aided by grant Check presentation comes as 150th anniversary of barbed wire patent approaches

By MEGANN HORSTEAD

mhorstead@shawmedia.com DeKALB – The J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center has received an assist from the DeKalb County Community Foundation to help pay to restore the historic 1861 Glidden house.

The recent check presentation comes as the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center, 921 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, looks to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Joseph Glidden’s barbed wire patent.

“We’re just very, very grateful to the DeKalb County Community Foundation that they believe and support our mission to share this history,” said Jessi LaRue, executive director at J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center.

J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center intends to complete repairs to the foundation of the house. LaRue said the house is 162 years old and is in need of a lot of upkeep and repair.

“Being a brick home, it will be masonry work that’s needed,” LaRue said. “It’s really important.

The house is a lot of our museum space. So, being

Joseph Glidden received his barbed wire patent in 1874. able to take care of it, helps us continue to share that story. A big part of the cost is covered by this grant,

thankfully. It’s not inexpensive work, unfortunately.”

Apart from the $12,500 grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, the J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center plans to continue fundraising throughout the winter to help pay for the restoration costs.

LaRue said a spring completion date is anticipated.

The museum’s restoration has been pondered for most of this year, she said.

LaRue said the timing couldn’t be better to prioritize improvements to the homestead and historical center.

J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center plans to mark the 150th anniversary of the barbed wire patent with a big celebration in September 2024.

“It kind of feels like we’re coming full circle,” she said. “150 years ago, just as Glidden is making something just to fence in his own farm. Now here we are 150 years later still taking care of it and preserving it. It’s a good feeling to have these additions and improvements happening right now. It reminds us why we do what we do, for sure.”

19 MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

The house is a lot of our museum space. So, being able to take care of it, helps us continue to share that story. A big part of the cost is covered by this grant, thankfully. It’s not inexpensive work, unfortunately.”

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

20 SYCAMORE

Thai Town sells out of products in grand opening Restaurant is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and from 4 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner

By CAMDEN LAZENBY

clazenby@shawmedia.com SYCAMORE – A new family owned restaurant in Sycamore opened last week to so much success that some products were sold out before the day’s end, the mother and son who partnered together to expand their business said.

Varintorn Bogaert, 22, grew up helping his mother at their family restaurant in South Elgin, and as of Dec. 12 he’s a co-owner of Thai Town in Sycamore. He said the restaurant’s first day – Dec. 12 – surpassed his expectations.

“It was actually very, very good,” Bogaert said. “We ended up selling out toward the end of the day. We were concerned because first impressions are everything.”

His mother, Kalayakorn Bogaert, opened their South Elgin location – the original Thai Town – in 2008 with the help of her mother and a family friend.

Both locations sell a variety of Thai entrees, curry and noodles, as well as seafood and duck dishes. Most dishes cost about $13, but others cost more.

“We have the world famous dish.

It’s called Massumun curry,” Kalayakorn Bogaert said. “And also we do like a Panang curry dish. It’s so very popular. Pad Thai is the No. 1 seller.”

Thai Town, 630 Plaza Drive, is open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for lunch and from 4 to 8:30 p.m. for dinner.

Kalayakorn Bogaert said she is elated to cook for customers in Sycamore and credited her son with creating the opportunity for the family. She said her son is “the one who made me a success.”

Varintorn Bogaert said when they began discussing expanding the family business he saw a potentially untapped market in Sycamore.

“We really like this town, and we want to introduce Thai,” he said.

“Another reason why we wanted to do this is there’s not any other Thai restaurants out here. There’s only one other one that’s in downtown DeKalb, I believe. We figured we can introduce Thai food to Sycamore because right now people in Sycamore and this area, if they want Thai food they have to go into DeKalb.”

ABOVE: Varintorn Bogaert, 22, works in the kitchen, takes orders from guests and organizes take-out food at his family’s restaurant, Thai Town, on Dec. 13 in Sycamore.

LEFT: Kalayakorn Bogaert, Varintorn’s mother and co-owner of Thai Town, 630 Plaza Drive in Sycamore, gathers orders Dec. 13 as patrons wait to sample the city’s newest restaurant.

Photos by Camden Lazenby

MIDWEEK The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023

SUDOKU AND SUPER CROSSWORD ANSWERS ON PAGE 2

21

AMUSEMENTS

The MidWeek / shawlocal.com/midweek-news • Wednesday, December 20, 2023 MIDWEEK

22

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