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Solar energy facility approved in split DeKalb County Board vote

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

The developers of a proposed 48-acre solar farm in DeKalb and Mayfield townships received approval from the DeKalb County Board on Oct. 15 in a split vote.

Coltonville Solar Farm, which is expected to become an almost 4.4-megawatt commercial solar facility, will be owned and operated by Surya Powered, according to DeKalb County documents.

Those documents show that the facility will be southwest of Sycamore’s city limits, predominantly north of Coltonville Road. The solar energy facility will be built across the street from the property that recently was annexed into the city of

Sycamore as a part of a developer’s bid to create new commercial business space.

The land where the solar energy system will be built is zoned for agricultural uses, meaning the developers needed to secure a special use permit from the county to proceed with their plans.

The solar panels, when at full tilt, will not be allowed to be taller than 20 feet, according to one of the 39 conditions DeKalb County has set for the project, according to county documents.

That permit was approved by the DeKalb County Board in a 16-6 vote on Oct. 15.

Of the six DeKalb County Board members who voted against the developers’ special use permit request, one is a Demo-

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Salvation Army accepting annual Angel Tree Christmas Toy registration

The Salvation Army of DeKalb is accepting registration for its annual Angel Tree Christmas Toy to provide families with children ages newborn to 12 toys for Christmas.

The registration will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays through Thursdays through Nov. 14 at the Salvation Army, 830 Grove St.

The Salvation Army will provide toys to more than 1,000 families and 4,000 children

PUZZLE ANSWERS

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unable to buy Christmas gifts. Proof of residency, photo identification, and birth certificates or medical cards are required. Registration will be available online at saangeltree.org/ or at the DeKalb Salvation Army by appointment only.

Thanksgiving food box sign-up on now at DeKalb Salvation Army

The DeKalb Salvation Army is accepting registration for its annual Thanksgiving food box for families in need to receive food for

crat and five are Republicans.

The head of the DeKalb County Republican Party, Tim Bagby, District 3, was joined by fellow party and Board members Suzanne Fahnestock, District 5; Ronda Henke, District 1; Rebecca Johnson, District 12 and Joseph Marcinkowski, District 11.

DeKalb County Board member Benjamin Haier, District 5, voted against the developer’s request for permission to create the Coltonville Solar Farm. He also voted against an almost 2,000-acre solar facility that received county approval in September. In that vote and Wednesday’s vote, Haier was the only Democrat on the DeKalb County Board to vote against the developments.

the holidays.

The registration takes place from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday until Nov. 21 at The Salvation Army, 830 Grove St. Participants will receive a turkey and Thanksgiving food box. Proof of residency is required. Community members who register in advance will earn a Thanksgiving dinner box by appointment only Nov. 25. In-person registration is required to receive a holiday food box.

– Shaw Local News Network

ON THE COVER

Grace Rex, (right) 8, of Sycamore and her sister Karen, 6, carry their pumpkins to their spot Oct. 23, 2024, on the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn during the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival. This year’s festival begins Oct. 22.

See story, page 6.

Mark Busch file photo

CORRECTIONS

Accuracy is important to The MidWeek. Please call errors to our attention by phone at 815-526-4411 or email at readit@midweeknews.com.

IDOR warns of tax refund text message scam

By JUDY HARVEY jharvey@shawmedia.com

The Illinois Department of Revenue is warning taxpayers about a new nationwide text message scam that uses fraudulent messages appearing to come from state revenue or treasury agencies.

The phishing scheme involves unsolicited text messages claiming that a tax refund has been processed, according to a news release from the department. The messages urge recipients to provide or verify their banking information under the threat of losing their refund.

“There has been a significant rise in fake text messages impersonating state revenue departments,” IDOR Director David Harris said in a statement. “These scams are designed to deceive taxpayers and pressure them into revealing their

most sensitive financial information. Let me be very clear that IDOR does not send unsolicited text messages asking for banking or personal information.”

The agency said it communicates primarily through official correspondence sent by mail or through MyTax Illinois, its secure online account management system. Taxpayers are urged to ignore and delete unsolicited messages claiming to be from IDOR, especially those requesting personal or financial information.

“Protecting taxpayer information is a top priority,” Harris said in the release.

“If you’re ever unsure about a message you’ve received, we strongly encourage you to reach out to us directly.”

Taxpayers can verify refund information or account details at tax.illinois.gov or by calling 1-800-732-8866.

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

DeKalb library’s Halloween parades begin Oct. 28

The DeKalb Public Library will host three Halloween parades for children. The free parade will be held at 9:45 and 10:45 a.m. Oct. 28 and at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 29 in the library’s children’s department, 309 Oak St. Attendees can wear costumes. The parade will stop for children to trick-or-treat. No registration is required to attend. For information, email theresaw@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 3350.

City of DeKalb’s annual loose-leaf collection begins Oct. 27

The city of DeKalb will begin its annual loose-leaf collection Oct. 27.

The collection will be held from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays through Dec. 5.

Residents can rake leaves into a narrow row along the curb’s backside. The leaves will be collected by vacuum trucks. The leaf piles must be free of debris including rocks and large tree branches. The leaves must not be placed in the street to prevent flooding. The leaf collection crews will begin the city’s southern half and move north to Lincoln Highway. The city will hold three to four collection cycles. Residents must have all leaves at the curb by 7 a.m. Dec. 1. The collection locations and schedule will change

to accommodate weather conditions. Leaf collections also will be cancelled in the event of snow.

Leaf collection will not be held on the following days:

Nov. 11 – Veterans Day

Nov. 27 – Thanksgiving Day

Nov. 28 – Day after Thanksgiving Lakeshore Recycling also will pick up leaves curbside during regularly scheduled garbage days. The leaves must be place in open garbage cans or biodegradable yard-waste bags. Leaves in plastic bags will not be collected.

For information, call 815-748-2040.

DeKalb library to offer smartphone app program Oct. 23

Seniors and adults can learn about helpful and easy-to-use smartphone apps during a hands-on program at the DeKalb Public Library.

The free program will begin at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St. Participants can learn about various apps which make everyday life easier. Attendees will be able to bring a smartphone. No registration is required to attend.

For information, email amyf@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.

Glidden Homestead to create children’s activity area

SHAW LOCAL NEWS NETWORK contact@shawmedia.com

The J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center recently was awarded a grant from the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary to create a museum children’s activity area.

The $1,694 was presented to the homestead Sept. 9, according to a news release.

The children’s activity area will be a permanent, hands-on homestead exhibit. The activity area also will feature furniture, toys and books related to the barbed wire story, homestead and farming.

“Our club contributes to both local and global efforts, but we decided several years ago that children, youth and families would be our priority. This project in particular hit all the right buttons for us,” Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary Club member Davis Dosier said in the release. “The Glidden Homestead is an important part of our local history, and the activity center will not only contribute to children’s education but will also make the site a little more family-friendly, allowing more families to take in this local treasure.”

The J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center recently was awarded a grant from the Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary to create a museum children’s activity area. Pictured (from left): Jessi Haish LaRue, Glidden Homestead Executive Director; Gip Seaver, Kishwaukee Sunrise Rotary President; Terri Dye, Glidden Homestead Board Member, Education Committee

The children’s activity center will feature farm toy donations from the Cheladyn family, including toy tractors and horses. The toys were used as extras or replaced in a diorama created by

Richard and Joann Lichthardt which was displayed at the Sycamore Steam Show. The toys were donated to continue the legacy of sharing the area’s farming history by Joey Cheladyn, the

Lichthardt’s grandson.

“We are thrilled to bring tangible history that will encourage our youngest of visitors to fall in love with local history,” J.F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center Executive Director Jessi Haish LaRue said in the release. “We believe in the importance of understanding and appreciating history from a young age; it provides the building blocks for critical thinking, [offers] a sense of belonging, and fosters hometown pride.”

The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center is a nonprofit organization working to preserve the home and barn while providing educational opportunities to the public.

The house and welcome center are open from noon to 4 p.m. each Sunday. The Phineas Vaughan Blacksmith Shop, also located on the Glidden campus, is open each Sunday while volunteer blacksmiths provide living history demonstrations of the craft. Admission to the museum and tour is $5 for adults; children younger than 14 and homestead members are admitted for free.

For information, email jessi@gliddenhomestead.org, call 815-756-7904 or visit GliddenHomestead.org.

DeKalb park projects expected to be complete by 2026

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

The DeKalb Park District is in the middle of embarking on several capital projects this month, according to a news release.

They include, among other things, flooring and interior renovations at the Sports and Recreation Center, a new irrigation system installation and driving tee update at Buena Vista Golf Course, upgrades to League of Women Voters Park, and renovation of the outdoor pool at the Hopkins Park Community Center.

Sports and Recreation Center flooring project

Established in 2000, the Sports and Recreation Center features some amenities original to the facility, with its flooring and interior components of the building, the news release said. Over the years, they’ve neared the end of their useful life. Between being worn out from heavy use, difficult to clean and outdated, it has prompted the need for improvements to enhance both functionality and appearance, according to a news release.

additional upgrades, including new spectator seating and aesthetic improvements, according to the release.

“Modernizing our facility ensures an inviting, safe, and clean environment for residents and visitors,” Chrissy Tluczek, Superintendent of Recreation, said in the release. “These updates not only improve the facility’s appearance but also extend its lifespan well into the future.”

The facility is open to the public, but in accordance with planned closings in phases, as needed, to minimize disruption, according to the release. Community members are welcome to drop in and check out the improvements as they are completed.

Buena Vista Golf Course irrigation project

An update to the flooring and interior components of the building is underway now through the end of fall, according to the release. To date, work has included epoxy resurfacing on the first floor, floor-

ing installation in public areas on the second floor, such as hallways, spectator seating, bathrooms and concession areas. What remains underway is the main lobby, replacement of all stair treads, and

The original irrigation system at Buena Vista Golf Course dates to the early 1960s, according to the release. For more than 60 years, it’s allowed the park district to maintain turf health on the course. But between irrigation breaks and the upkeep of the current system, district officials

‘People love Sycamore’

The 64th annual Sycamore Pumpkin Festival returns Oct. 22

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

From cinematic pumpkins to hometown VIPs and autumn vibes, the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival is poised to bring the flavor of fall to anyone who attends this month.

The 64th annual 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival will kick off at 5 p.m. Oct. 22 with a ceremonial cake cutting on the corner of State and North Maple streets. Activities run through Oct. 26,

ending with a parade that will wind down the streets of downtown Sycamore. The festival, taking place near the corners of Main and State streets, also will feature a smorgasbord of vendors, carnival rides, pumpkin displays, daily events and more.

The carnival runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival committee president Cole Regnery said the festival also serves as a fundraiser for local nonprofit organizations.

“We are an opportunity for family to come together at a family-friendly festival, and also an opportunity for DeKalb County not-for-profits to raise money,” Regnery said. “I’m just trying to get that

Rosas and her mother Nicole Houran stand with the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival theme contest trophy, which now bears Rosas’ name after she was announced May 21 as the winner of the 2025 contest.

Theme contest winner eager for festivities to begin

By CAMDEN LAZENBY clazenby@shawmedia.com

As the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival approaches, 12-year-old Rayven Rosas is eagerly awaiting her moment – she’s a big part of the festivities after all.

Back in May, Rayven Rosas, 12, was selected as the winner of the annual contest to come up with the theme for the pumpkin festival’s decorating contest. Rosas’ winning entry, “Pumpkins at the Movies,” means she’s going to play a significant part in the downtown Sycamore festival.

“I’m very excited,” Rosas said. “I’ve been excited about being in the parade. Last year, I was just watching on the sidelines. Now I get to be in it. It’s crazy.”

The festival begins Oct. 22, and Rosas’ idea will come to life for days. Contest participants will display their theme entries for all to see on the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse downtown. On Friday, Oct. 24,

the winners will be announced.

The 2025 Pumpkin Festival Parade will begin at 1 p.m. on Oct. 26. Floats will parade down Somonauk, Elm, California and State and Main streets.

And Rosas will get to be in the parade, too.

Her mother, Nicole Houran, 37, said she and Rosas’ father, Carlos Rosas, are proud of their daughter.

“She’s extremely creative, whether it be painting or art of any sort, she’s got a great imagination,” Houran said. “When she came up with the theme, it wasn’t a question in my mind. I knew it was going to be a good option.”

On Oct. 22, Rosas will be on hand for the ceremonial cake cutting, which formally begins the festival.

The cake cutting will take place at 5 p.m. on North Maple Street, next to the DeKalb County Courthouse lawn.

Rosas said that’s likely what she’s most looking forward to.

“I really like cake,” she said. “It’s my favorite dessert.”

• PUMPKIN FESTIVAL

Continued from page 6

message out there as much as I possibly can so that people understand why it’s so important we preserve our intellectual property.”

The annual event brings together more than 30 DeKalb County nonprofits. The Sycamore Lions Club will play a central role in the pumpkin display and theme contest that fills the lawn of the DeKalb County Courthouse.

This year’s theme, “Pumpkins at the Movies,” was crafted by Rayven Rosas, 12, for the festival’s 50th annual theme contest. As the contest winner, Rosas will get to ride in the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival parade as a dignitary.

“We’re super grateful for such an exciting theme,” Regnery said. “I think the pumpkins are going to be fantastic. It’s always my favorite part, to go look at the courthouse lawn and see how everybody around DeKalb County decorated their pumpkins.”

Sycamore Pumpkin Festival committee treasurer Jerome Perez, who’s also a member of the Sycamore Lions Club, said the pumpkin display is his favorite part of the festival.

“The pumpkins that they do, I mean, some of them are really spectacular,”

Perez said.

The Sycamore Music Boosters will host the annual Autumn Craft and Treasures Market Oct. 25 and 26 at the Sycamore High School fieldhouse, 427 Spartan Trail. The Sycamore Chamber of Commerce’s annual 10K Pumpkin Run and Family Fun Run will start at 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at the Sycamore Armory, 516 E. State St.

Grammy and Tony Award-winning drummer, vocalist, composer, arranger, orchestrator and band leader, Bryan Carter, will serve as the grand marshal of this year’s parade.

“He’s definitely a bigger name than we usually are able to get,” Perez said. “I mean, he’s won a Grammy.”

This year, Carter returned to Broadway through a stage adaptation of the sixtime Academy Award-nominated play “Good Night and Good Luck,” written by and starring Academy Award winner George Clooney. That production, which Carter served as composer, arranger, orchestrator, music director and co-music supervisor, was the first Broadway production to be broadcast live. That performance was seen by millions of viewers on CNN and HBO Max.

Carter graduated from Sycamore High School in 2008 and went on to train at The Juilliard School, a private performing arts conservatory in New York. He has

We are an opportunity for family to come together at a family-friendly festival, and also an opportunity for DeKalb County not-for-profits to raise money.”

Cole Regnery, Sycamore Pumpkin Festival committee president

performed as a drummer for NBC’s “Maya & Marty,” “Sesame Street” and has frequently appeared as a guest with The 8G Band for NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” according to the festival.

Regnery said Carter’s willingness to participate in his hometown’s marquee festival speaks to the kind of city Sycamore is.

“I think that people love Sycamore, they love Pumpkin Fest so much that even when they go on to these fantastic, amazing careers, they make time to come back, especially for Pumpkin Fest,” Regnery said. “I think it’s just a testament to how great of a place we live in and how lucky we are.”

The Sycamore Music Boosters helped Carter travel to Sycamore for the parade and meet with students in the Sycamore High School music department, according

to the festival.

Rosas and Carter are not the only VIPs of the 2025 Sycamore Pumpkin Festival, however. Retired Deputy Police Chief Jeffery Wig will serve as the 2025 Friend of the Festival.

Wig, who retired from the Sycamore Police Department in March, spent years working with the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival committee to plan the multi-day event that is attended by thousands.

Like the other dignitaries, Wig grew up in Sycamore, with the pumpkin festival as a cornerstone of the fall calendar. He was born in Sycamore Hospital, the nowclosed Kindred Hospital, and graduated from Sycamore High School in 1990. After spending time with the Illinois National Guard and graduating from Illinois State University in 1995, Wig would go on to work 24 years for the Sycamore Police Department. He was the first Sycamore High School alumnus to become a school resource officer at his alma mater.

“Among my duties as Deputy Chief was being in charge of planning special events, including the Sycamore Pumpkin Festival,” Wig said in a festival news release. “Being a hometown ‘kid,’ it was a great honor to be involved in the planning of Pumpkin Fest.”

For information on the festival and to see a full calendar of events, visit sycamorepumpkinfestival.com.

LOOKING BACK

1925 – 100 YEARS AGO

J. G. Reul, deputy state fire marshal, of Mendota, this morning ordered closed two dry cleaning plants in DeKalb, one known as the DeLuxe Cleaning plant and operated by James Katopodus and the other operated by Manos Folena. Both were classed as fire traps by the fire marshal, who made an inspection of the plants before ordering them closed. The fire marshal ordered the plants closed and to remain closed until made fireproof and passed upon by the state. The two establishments were operating in direct defiance of the state laws, it was stated.

The word “obey,” heretofore spoken by brides in the Protestant Episcopal marriage ceremony has been definitely eliminated by a 66 to 27 vote of the Hours of Bishops of the church. In eliminating the word obey, the bishops also struck out the bride-groom’s promise of “with all my worldly goods I thee endow.” Although the Bishops conceded women the victory in the matter of the elimination of the word “obey,” they declined to coincide in a proposal passed by the house of deputies that women might take seats in the lower house.

Paving operations have begun on South Somonauk Street, and it is believed the contracting First, Trompeter & Sons, will complete the work before colder weather comes. The material and equipment for the work arrived here several days ago but the weather conditions were such that nothing could be done. As soon as the work is finished, Sycamore residents will have another route on which to travel out of the city, and on which to reach the Lincoln Highway without going by way of DeKalb.

One of the largest stalks of corn to be shown in this city in some time is now on display at the First National Bank in DeKalb. The stalk, which was grown by John Johnson on the Charles Broughton farm, near McGirr, is 14 feet and six inches in height. Much interest is being taken in the beet contest that is being entered at the First Nation bank. Several large beets, ranging in weight from seven pounds to over 10 pounds are on display at the present time.

1950– 75 YEARS AGO

The warning period is over. Chief of Police John Ramsey announced this morning that

motorists failing to observe the flasher signals at Fourth and Fisk will no longer be given warning notices. The flasher signals are only in operation during the periods when the students at the St. Mary’s school are going to and from school. Motorists are cautioned that they are to come to a complete stop when the flashers are in operation and that slowing and shifting gears is not enough.

Members of the DeKalb unit of the Ground Observer Corps of the National Aircraft Warning Service, held the first formal meeting last night. The session was called by Clifford Johnson, who had been named DeKalb chairman and made responsible for the organization of the group. It is planned to man the observation tower at the Municipal Airport from 9 o’clock in the morning until 6 o’clock in the evening on two days and all aircraft signed will be reported to the control center.

Fire Chief Clayton Kennedy this morning cautioned parents about the dangers of Jack-o-lanterns. The majority of jack-o-lanterns purchased at stores are flammable and should not be lighted with candles and when candles are used, present a great fire hazard.

DeKalb’s swimming pool in Hopkins Park is a mighty safe place to swim. It was rated Class A by the state Department of Public Health after an inspection last summer and a certificate attesting to that fact was

and vegetable medleys of the 20th century. Their culinary virtues were thoroughly explored in September by the DeKalb County Homemakers. The “case for casseroles” was heard by more than 400 jurors throughout the county.

It is likely that DeKalb/Sycamore Altrusa Club members are now more familiar with the names of Russell Huntley, Dr. Cook and Mr. Gurler than they were a month ago. Doris Glidden Needler spoke to Altrusa members on a subject she titles “Bits of DeKalb History” at the club’s last meeting. Mrs. Needler is the older sister of Jessie Glidden, president of Altrusa. The Glidden family is among the early settlers of this area, and their great uncle, Joseph Glidden, was the inventor of barbed wire.

2000 – 25 YEARS AGO

received here this week. This certificate must by posted at the pool. The DeKalb pool was rated at 90 per cent, missing AA rating, or at least 95 per cent, because of minor defects in water treatment.

An ordinance governing parking of cars in the business district of Genoa was passed and approved by the Genoa City Council and it is effective on October 20. The ordinance provides that all vehicles shall be parked at angles to the curbs on Main Street from Sycamore to State, according to the white lines marked on the streets. In the even that the lines are not visible, vehicles should be parked with the right front wheel adjunct to the curbing. Parallel parking is permitted on all side streets from Sycamore to State except the west side of North Genoa Street from the post office to the city hall which is a no parking area.

1975 – 50 YEARS AGO

The joy of stuffing yourself, and the agony of gluttony. Those were the experiences at DeKalb High School during Tuesday’s Homecoming hamburger eating contest. The winner was junior Joe Kalodimos, who gobbled nine burgers in 10 minutes.

When the jury room is the family kitchen table, the church basement dining table, the Grange Hall or the post-game buffet, chances are the deliberations are brief. The casserole is guilty. Guilty of being one of the most popular gastronomical meat, pasta,

After a rocky few years during which projected costs were outstripping assets, the DeKalb Firefighters Pension Fund may be back on the road to fiscal health, according to the fund’s administrators and financial advisers.

With grass and native wetland plants growing around the new pond at County Farm Woods, Forest Preserve District Superintendent Terry Hannan says he is pleased with the results of the development of the county’s newest preserve. His satisfaction is echoed by at least one neighbor who uses the trail through the woods for frequent walks.

It sits isolated between Peace Road and Route 23 like a fortress, and to this point, it’s been that impenetrable to customers. It is the new Menards store on Mercantile Drive. The store was slated for an April opening, but to this point the only occupants of the building have been contractors, Menards employees and store suppliers.

Two Northern Illinois University students and an associate dean were rewarded Wednesday night for knowing the correct spelling of “macellum.” The first annual DeKalb County community Spelling Bee was held last night at the Best Western Inn and Suites with 24 teams participating from various area companies and organizations.

• PARK PROJECTS

Continued from page 5

said it’s straining resources that could be allocated elsewhere. A new irrigation system, once complete, would allow for better water coverage, including much of the rough, according to the release.

The project, which began earlier this month and is anticipated for completion by the end of December, includes the installation of a larger mainline pipe to the rough and smaller pipes to the tee and fairways – the latter of which is expected to take place once the course closes for the season.

Buena Vista driving range tee update

Natural grass is coming to the driving tee range.

Bentgrass was added this past summer behind the existing driving range mats, according to the release. The plan is to remove the mats to extend the bentgrass area forward in the fall and winter, providing players with about 15,000 square feet of grass hitting space. New range mats are also in the works in case the grass area becomes too wet for play, according to the release.

League of Women Voters Park update

Improvements to the park currently

are underway, with plans for the coming weeks – depending on the weather – to install concrete flat work, install playground equipment, and begin the paving process, according to the release. In place currently, visitors will find that safety and protective fencing were installed, playground equipment and surfacing were removed, the game area and basketball court were excavated and a compacted gravel base was installed – all of

which district staff said bodes well for plans in the continuing weeks for concrete flat work, playground equipment installation and the beginning of the paving process.

Hopkins Park outdoor pool facility renovation updates

The district is awaiting a permit from the Illinois Department of Public Health to help enable construction of the facility,

which will consist of a new zero-depth pool, spray ground, water slides and locker rooms. A permit, tentatively approved by the city of DeKalb, provides for work to continue, the news release said. Energy ComCheck and mechanical items received authorization to allow the building to come out of the ground.

Work has been completed on underground plumbing and the installation of electrical raceways. In addition, slab-ongrade pours have been performed at the entry, concessions and mechanical buildings, according to the release. What’s underway now is the construction of exterior masonry wall assemblies, which are planned to be completed to the roof pre-cast, allowing it to be built in late October. District staff said the walls of the lobby have since been painted a consistent color after temporary walls were removed last month and opened to the public again.

Along with building masonry work, other site improvements continue on the site, according to the release. They include preparation for the new ComEd Service, which includes modifications to the south parking lot and footings, foundations for new park shelters and a monument sign at the north end of the site.

District staff said all the updates are anticipated to be completed in time for the summer of 2026.

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Does Bears ‘mega project’ mean mega tax break?

Among them is a bill proposed by state Rep. Mary Beth Canty, a Democrat from Arlington Heights, the northwest suburb to which the Bears are looking increasingly likely to relocate.

By CLAIRE O’BRIEN cobrien@shawmedia.com

The Chicago Bears are poised to move to the suburbs. But are Illinois lawmakers – and local taxpayers – going to help them do it?

As legislators head back to Springfield for the fall veto session, they could soon confront the question of providing property tax incentives – like assessment freezes or negotiated tax bills – to the team and other so-called “mega project” developments.

And then there are those who don’t think an NFL franchise worth billions doesn’t need such tax breaks and contend they can hurt existing taxpayers.

But in a rarity in today’s hyper-polarized politics, viewpoints don’t appear to fall on partisan lines, with Republicans and Democrats both in favor and wary of the proposals on the table.

Canty’s bill would allow mega projects – defined as those in which $500 million is invested within seven to 10 years – to freeze their property tax assessments and make annual special payments to the community, negotiated through a local review board that would include representatives from municipalities and other local taxing bodies.

Such incentive arrangements could last up to 40 years.

Although Canty’s proposal doesn’t expressly mention the Bears – and she says it wasn’t prompted by the Bears –team officials have indicated they’re looking for that type of incentive package, along with public funding of $855 million for infrastructure costs, the Daily Herald reported.

Canty’s legislation would give taxing bodies like school, park and library districts weighted votes on the local review

• BEARS MOVE

Continued from page 12

board, in proportion to their piece of the property tax levy. She said that ensures everyone has a “real and meaningful seat” at the table. She also said the bill is “doing right” by local taxpayers.

Bears ‘can well afford’ to pay tax bill

But protecting the taxpayers is a big concern among detractors, too.

State Rep. Steve Reick, a Woodstock Republican, said his “initial response” is that any tax break for the Bears to move to Arlington Heights “is a de facto subsidy” to a company “that can well afford to pay the property taxes.”

“I’m not in favor of greasing the wheels for any company worth $9 billion more than me,” Reick said. “Why should the Bears be getting any exemptions when you know those costs are going to be passed on to the local taxpayers?”

Yet many of his GOP colleagues look favorably on the proposal.

State Sen. Don DeWitte, a St. Charles Republican, said he’s “generally supportive” of giving mega project developers protection against property tax spikes or uncertainty.

“I believe this is the type of project that could generationally transform the suburbs from the Tri-State Tollway to Route 47, from Crystal Lake all the way to Joliet,” DeWitte said. “I think they deserve to know what their taxes are going to be.”

Rockford-area Republican state Sen. Dave Syverson said details of any final legislation will need to be considered, but he supports the concept of the Bears and state teaming up to get a facility in Arlington Heights.

“If done responsibly, this project could have a major economic impact on both the region and the state, creating thousands of construction jobs and positioning Illinois to host a Super Bowl, as well as major concerts and conventions we currently cannot accommodate,” Syverson said in a statement.

State Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, an Oswego Democrat, also said she supports the mega development legislation as an economic development tool for projects that will create jobs. She likes that tax negotiations would be handled at the local level.

‘All Illinoisans need tax relief’

Skeptics on both sides of the aisle aren’t convinced that a tax break for a mega project wouldn’t shift the burden onto homeowners.

State Sen. Andrew Chesney, a Freeport Republican, said he was “not in favor of crony capitalism. I support broad-based tax relief that doesn’t choose winners and

losers. These kinds of tax incentives tend to shift the tax load so that others are carrying a heavier burden. All Illinoisans are in need of tax relief. It should not just be available to those with political clout.”

State Rep. Jed Davis, a Kendall County Republican, agreed.

“Illinois doesn’t have a revenue problem - it has a spending and fairness problem. We shouldn’t be freezing taxes for half-billion-dollar corporations while letting homeowners and small businesses shoulder the increases. If the state wants to attract investment, it should do so through lower regulations and a predictable tax climate for everyone, not handpicked winners. Families deserve the same stability the big guys are getting,” Davis said in a statement.

Democratic state Rep. Anne Stava of Naperville cited similar reasons for her opposition to Canty’s bill in its current form.

“Property taxes are already a huge burden for too many families, so giving special property tax breaks to billionaires and developers is tone deaf. ... If local governments want to give tax breaks, they should go ahead. But they should bear the cost, not shift it to others,” Stava said.

House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, a Savanna Republican, said tax incentives can attract investment and boost economic growth. But the major concern about Canty’s bill is “the potential shift of the tax burden onto Illinois families, which would be unacceptable.”

‘Someone

needs to call a penalty here’

State Rep. Republican Martin McLaughlin of Barrington Hills said he’s strongly against “corporate welfare” and that “someone needs to throw a flag and call a penalty here.”

He pointed to remaining debt payments on Soldier Field – reportedly hundreds of millions of dollars still left to pay off renovations done more than 20 years ago.

“This is especially troubling given the state’s pressing needs in education, housing, health care and support for vulnerable populations,” McLaughlin said. “Taxpayer dollars would be far better invested in these critical areas rather than subsidizing a private sports team. ... The never-ending belief that Illinois taxpayers must be fleeced for this project to succeed is absurd.”

State Sen. Rachel Ventura, a Joliet Democrat, said she would be a “hard no” on any bill that puts a burden on taxpayers as it relates to the Bears.

“My goal is to shrink the wealth gap,” Ventura said.

State Rep. Dan Ugaste, a Geneva Republican, also said that if incentives are

LOCAL NEWS BRIEF

City of DeKalb releasing 2026 Human Services Funding Grant applications

The city of DeKalb will release applications for the 2026 Human Services Funding Grant.

The applications were released Sept. 30. The applications are available to nonprofit agencies providing services to city of DeKalb residents. The funds will be around $300,000. The organizations must provide services to neglected or abused children; domestic or sexual violence victims; low-to-moderate-income households; at-risk youth and children; individuals who are homeless or at risk for homelessness; elderly and disabled

• BEARS MOVE

Continued from page 13

given, they should be broader-based tax breaks instead of prioritizing one business over another.

State Sen. Sue Rezin, a Morris Republican, said lawmakers are still reviewing the mega project legislation. One concern she’s heard from local economic development directors is the proposed 23-year minimum length for incentive agreements. Rezin said local officials in her area have found the most success with shorter terms.

She also noted Illinois has proven, flexible economic development tools already, including enterprise zones and tax-increment finance districts, or TIFs.

While some lawmakers had concerns or were supportive of it, others were not as clear-cut.

State Sen. Craig Wilcox, a McHenry Republican, likes certain elements of Canty’s bill, like the local board of review concept, but also has questions and concerns, and is hoping to see examples of similar efforts that have worked elsewhere.

He said he has learned governments at any level don’t usually do well against big corporations in negotiations, and government and taxpayers often end up on the wrong end of them.

He also hopes no bill will be rammed through.

“This is a pretty detailed discussion,” Wilcox said.

State Rep. Suzanne Ness, a Crystal Lake Democrat, said she sees upsides and downsides to the bill.

The weighted vote on the local tax review board could force people to collaborate in new ways, but it could slow

individuals; and individuals with mental health or substance abuse conditions. Programs focused on community issues such as food insecurity, homelessness and housing insecurity, and vulnerable populations support will be given priority. The grant funds must be ised for tangible supports and client services. The funds can not be used for benefits, agency operations, salaries or unrelated expenses. Applications are available on the city website. The application submission instructions and deadlines will be provided.

For information, call 815-748-2366 or email jennifer.yochem@cityofdekalb.com.

– Shaw Local News Network

If done responsibly, this project could have a major economic impact on both the region and the state, creating thousands of construction jobs and positioning Illinois to host a Super Bowl, as well as major concerts and conventions we currently cannot accommodate.”

State Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Rockford

things down. The plan could also help local school districts avoid the delayed tax benefit that occurs with TIFs, she said. Ness is against using taxpayer dollars for stadiums.

Rep. Kam Buckner, a Chicago Democrat whose district includes Soldier Field, said he prides himself on “being pro-people and pro-business.”

Buckner said there were good things in both Canty’s and a related proposal, but that he didn’t think they should be applied to a sports stadium. He also pointed out that negotiated special payments could be below the normal tax rates.

One area where there’s more common ground is on providing public money to offset infrastructure costs for things like roads and public transit. The Bears’ move would necessitate such improvements, but the public would also benefit.

Reick is “not dead-set” against that kind of public funding, saying it’s the government’s job to provide such services and the cost shouldn’t fall to other local taxpayers.

Activists propose establishing microforest in DeKalb

Concept promotes dense tree planting to enhance urban ecology and habitat

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

In what activists have said would be a first for DeKalb, a local group this week started early talks on how to inspire the community to start a microforest in town.

The concept, backed by DeCarbon DeKalb and Beyond, would drum up communal support for planting trees on a small plot and allowing them to grow rapidly in close proximity.

Discussion on this topic was among those highlighted at the group’s regular monthly meeting at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of every month at the DeKalb Public Library, 309 Oak St.

The new program is called DeCarbon Dialogue, meant to bring neighbors together for a free, bite-sized series on local climate solutions.

“We are hoping to establish a regular rhythm of real neighbors talking about real change, having a real impact here in DeKalb County,” said Kendra Holton, co-founder of DeCarbon DeKalb and Beyond. “And we want to do it in microbites.”

The program, moderated by Holton, was divided into two segments, with one on microforesting and another on winter sowing.

Microforesting is a method that grew from a botanist in Japan, Dr. Akira Miyawaki, who was studying weeds and then progressed into studying the growth of forests.

Andrew Wanek, co-founder of DeCarbon DeKalb and Beyond, said it’s gained a lot of attention around the world over the years, especially throughout Asia and Europe.

Wanek is an architect in making buildings greener and safer.

“There [are] about 3,000 and counting forests that have been installed,” Wanek said. “They’ve been installed in blighted lots.”

Microforesting calls for the planting of trees and species native to the region.

Among some of the keys to microforesting is attention to size and species.

“Starting off on a good footing calls for a diverse mix of size and species as well, within that native species realm, so they are not all tall trees,” Wanek

said. “You’ll see the canopy trees, midlevel trees, shrub trees and a groundcover layer. And this creates a healthy competition for life. So, they’ll grow vertically and more quickly with this competition.”

Another key to microforesting is the soil and its condition.

Typically, the soil needs to be amended to add some compost and beneficial microorganisms that are natural.

“This supercharges the root growth, so the roots can get down there [in the soil] and establish and create this web system,” Wanek said. “Part of a forest is the ... upground that we see, but the part that we don’t talk about as much, but scientists are really digging into – literally – is the part belowground.”

There are a number of benefits to microforesting.

“They’re ideal for urban situations because they can be so small – as small as a tennis court,” Wanek said. “But they’re also used to screen things – to provide sound barriers anywhere where rapid growth is required and needed.”

Wanek expressed excitement about establishing a microforest in DeKalb.

“If we had small ones, we could put them in places like schools, universities, parks,” Wanek said. “They could be a living laboratory, so we can share these experiences with students of all ages. Obviously, habitat is an issue in any developing area where we’re losing a lot of habitat. We have a crisis of our songbird population. So, this helps provide some very, very dense habitat for birds, mammals [and] insects.”

It doesn’t take a lot of land or consulting to get started, either.

“This is a way to come together as a community and do something collective,” Wanek said. “In fact, this is why I started following this movement.”

Wanek said starting a microforest requires some maintenance initially, but after a few years, it takes care of itself.

The idea behind establishing a microforest in DeKalb grew out of what Wanek said is his own “climate anxiety.”

He said he wanted to find a way to

make change in the world. But Wanek said he didn’t necessarily want to go at it alone.

“I saw this as kind of a natural extension of that,” Wanek said. “I think we could get something like this going here in DeKalb.”

Microforests have already been started in Asia and Europe. They are starting to crop up in the Midwest, as well, with one in Algonquin, two in Joliet, and one in Iowa City, Iowa.

Wanek said he wants DeKalb to be one of the pioneers in this movement.

No site has been selected to begin planting a microforest.

“To get to this point would be a huge celebration, and that’s what it should be,” Wanek said. “Community effort can strengthen community bonds, create a sense of agency around our own local climate, our own local ecology ... and a common purpose.”

Wanek said the idea already is generating some local momentum.

DeKalb High School grad is ‘The Golden Bachelor’

By MEGANN HORSTEAD mhorstead@shawmedia.com

The second season of ABC’s “The Golden Bachelor” features one of DeKalb’s own.

DeKalb High School alumnus Mel Owens can be seen gracing viewers’ screens at 8 p.m. every Wednesday.

On the show, the former NFL starturned-lawyer has the opportunity to try his hand at finding love again in his golden years.

Owens’ photo continues to be featured in DeKalb High’s athletic wing after his 1975 senior year football season, when he was an all-state linebacker.

Having graduated from DeKalb High

in 1976, Owens took his talents to the University of Michigan, where he also would graduate and go on to be selected ninth overall in the 1981 NFL Draft by the Rams.

It wasn’t until years ago that Owens found love after retiring from football, entering the legal profession and moving to Orange County, California, according to the reality TV show’s website. It was around this time that Owens got married to his first love and had two sons.

Things didn’t last forever, however.

After the unexpected passing of his father and the dissolution of his marriage, Owens is back in the dating scene, reality TV style, according to the website. His season debuted Sept. 25.

LOCAL NEWS BRIEFS

Somonauk library to host anniversary celebration and author fair Nov. 1

The Somonauk Public Library District will host an anniversary celebration and local author fair to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

The free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1 at the library, 700 E. La Salle St.

Attendees will be able to meet local authors, buy signed books and learn about the authors’ works. The event also features face painting, balloon art, crafts, giveaways, drawings, roaming magicians, a food truck, and an appearance by Pikachu. Refreshments will be served by the Friends of the Library. Participants also can get a picture taken with a Model T.

DeKalb library to hold fallen leaves event Oct. 28

The DeKalb Public Library will hold an event for adults to learn why fallen leave are good for gardens, local wildlife and the planet.

The free event will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the library’s lower-level Bilder Family Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.

Participants will be able to learn how fallen leaves enrich soil, reduce waste and provide habitats. No registration is required to attend.

For information, email amyf@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.

Book repair workshop set for Oct. 26 in DeKalb

The DeKalb Public Library will hold an introductory workshop for teens and adults to learn how repair personal books.

The free workshop will begin at 2 p.m. Oct. 26 in the library’s lower-level Zimmerman Meeting Room, 309 Oak St.

Participants will learn how to perform simple repairs, assess damage, and photocopy missing pages to tip in.

Attendees also can learn how to archivally test and store delicate items. Repair techniques include book corner reinforcement, pencil erasing, tightening hinges, preventing water damage, torn pages and text alignment and tipping in a loose page. Library materials will not be repaired. No registration is required to attend.

For information, email emilyk@dkpl.org or call 815-756-9568, ext. 2150.

–ShawLocalNewsNetwork

• MICROFOREST

Continued from page 15

“We did have a chance to present it to the city’s environmental commission,” he said. “They were pleased by it.”

The next DeCarbon Dialogue will

take place Nov. 11, featuring a panel discussion on how to feel, think and talk about climate change.

Wanek said the group’s end goal is simple.

“We like to be inspired by our neighbors and try to inspire in return,” Wanek said. “And I think that’s what we’re achieving here.”

AMUSEMENTS

CARD COLLECTION - BB, FB, BSKOdunze, DJ Moore, Worthy, Sanders, Rose, Ryan, Clemens, McGill, etc. 847 -409 -225 6

Bears Willi ams, KC Mahomes, Kelsey $40. 847- 409-2256

PUBLIC NOT ICE HOUSING AUTHORIT Y OF THE COUNTY OF DEKALB ANNUAL PLAN

FYB 04-01-2026

The Housing Authority of the County of DeKalb will hold a Public Hearing regarding the FYB 04-1-2026 Annual Plan and 5-Year Capital Plan.

The hearing will take pl ac e on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. at our main office located at 310 N 6th St., DeKalb IL, 60115. The draft plans will be av ai lable for public viewing starting on Octobe r 18, 2025, at www.dekcohousing.com

Comments may also be made via email though the website or in writing and submitte d to the main office. If you are a person with disabilitie s and need an accommodati on to access this information, please contac the housing authority main offic e at 815-758-2692

(Published Da ily Chronicle October 17, 18, 21, 2025 & The Midweek Oc tober 22, 2025) 2278086

PUBLIC NOT ICE

Drainage District Meeting Al l me mbers of the Normal Drainage District #13 of Dekalb Township are notified to attend Thursday, November 6, 2025 from 11am to noon at 7491 Twombly Road, Dekalb, IL for the annual meeting for all Normal Drainage District me mbers. Masks optional Commissioners: Scott Drake, Barbara Twombly, Stephen Storey

(Published in The Midw eek, Oct. 22, 2025) 2279289

JO BS AN NO UN CEME NTS

STUF F VEHICLES REAL ESTATE

SE RVIC ES

MidWeek Classified and onli ne at: www.MidW eekNews.com