Northern Illinois University’s School of Art and Design presents the February 2017 exhibition of artwork from Illinois community colleges running through Feb. 24 at the Holmes Center daily and at Gallery 215 on Thursday, Feb. 17 and Sunday, Feb. 19.

SYCAMORE 

Open House for Little Spartans Learning Center 

Are you looking for a preschool for your young learner? Did you know your child could start attending a Sycamore Community School District #427 School as early as age three?

Sycamore Community School District #427 has announced its latest initiative in empowering students to succeed in their world by opening the Little Spartans Early Learning Center to all residents of the District.

The center is an inclusive community preschool providing developmentally appropriate learning experiences for children ages 3-5 through research based play-based curriculum.

The Little Spartans Early Learning Center will be hosting an Open House on Wednesday from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at South Prairie Elementary School.

For more information contact Marijo Schwartz at (815) 899-8299.

DEKALB 

Autism researchers  seek children for study

Are coordination skills the underlying link between language and motor deficits in children with autism? That is one question NIU speech-language pathology assistant professor Allison Gladfelter and physical therapy assistant professor Christina Odeh are looking to answer with their current research study.

They are seeking participants for a research study exploring how balance, coordination, language and quality of life measures are related to symptoms of autism.

Speaking children between the ages of 3 and 12 with autism qualify. Participants will be scheduled for four sessions, each lasting approximately one hour, at NIU’s Speech–Language–Hearing Clinic, HUSKIES Lab and HUSKIES in Motion Lab, 3100 Sycamore Road, DeKalb.

It is possible to schedule all the sessions for the same day. Families will be compensated roughly $10 an hour and the children get to pick out toys as prizes. Families will also receive a report of their child’s hearing, speech, motor, adaptive skill and language standardized testing scores.

For more information contact Allison Gladfelter, Ph.D., CCC-SLP at 815-753-7737 agladfelter@niu.edu or Christina Odeh, DHSc, PCS at 630-557-9648 codeh@niu.edu.

Allstate Good Hands  in the Community grants 

For the fourth year in a row, the locally owned Patrick Shafer Allstate agency presented both the Police and Fire departments of DeKalb a Good Hands in the Community Grant.

Each department received $1,000.

The Allstate Agency has awarded a total of $18,000 in Good Hands in the Community Grants to various organizations. The entire staff has spent numerous hours volunteering for various events throughout DeKalb County.

“As our agency grows, (we) are committed to continuing our partnership with the organizations through volunteering our time and efforts.” Shafer said. “By continuing to award nonprofit organizations with The Good Hands in the Community Grants, we hope to have a positive impact on the community for years to come.”

NIU 

Community college art  exhibition on campus 

Northern Illinois University’s School of Art and Design presents the February 2017 exhibition of artwork from Illinois community colleges. The show features the professional artwork of community college art faculty and a juried competition of community college student artwork.

The School of Art and Design as they host an opening reception on Friday, Feb. 10, beginning at 1 p.m. at Gallery 215, 215 N. Fourth St. in DeKalb.

The exhibit will be held in two locations: The Holmes Student Center main floor gallery at 340 Carroll Ave. and Gallery 215. The show runs through Feb. 24 and is open to the public at the Holmes Center daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and at Gallery 215 on Thursday, Feb. 17, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Sunday, Feb. 19, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information, contact Anna-Marie Zurlinden at  azurlinden1@niu.edu.

New football signing class numbers 22 

Northern Illinois University football head coach Rod Carey has announced the addition of 22 players for 2017, including 10 in-state products.

In all, 18 of the 22 new Huskies introduced in the Class of 2017 are from Illinois or an adjoining state.

“I feel great about this class,” said Carey, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the NIU program in 2017.  “I think it’s one of the best we’ve signed since I’ve been here.  I feel really good about the 10 Illinois commitments we signed.  We always want to take care of our home turf and focus on that 500-mile radius.”

In addition to the 10 players from Illinois, NIU’s list of recruits features three from Missouri, two each from Indiana and Wisconsin, and one from Iowa.  Chicagoland schools yielded nine of the 10 Illinois recruits, while DeKalb High School wide receiver Cole Tucker chose to stay home and play for the hometown Huskies. NIU also brings in two players from Michigan, one from Florida and one from North Carolina.

The Huskies’ 22 recruits include three who are already on campus as early enrollees – quarterback Rodney Hall (Detroit, Mich./Cass Tech), offensive lineman Isaac Hawn (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) and junior college defensive lineman Justin Nwachukwu (Raleigh, N.C. /Heritage HS/Butler [Kansas] CC) .

COUNTY 

Sheriff’s K9 Dallas  to get body armor 

Dallas, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s police dog, will receive a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization

Dallas’ vest is sponsored by an Anonymous Donor and will be embroidered with the sentiment “This gift of protection provided by Vested Interest in K9s, Inc”. Delivery is expected within eight to ten weeks.

The program is open to dogs actively employed in the U.S. with law enforcement or related agencies who are certified and at least 20 months of age. New K9 graduates, as well as K9s with expired vests, are eligible to participate.

Dallas is a 20-month old German shepherd being handled by Deputy Justin Moede. Moede and Dallas attended the Illinois State Police Canine Academy in Springfield for of 320 hours of training in patrol functions, including: tracking, article searches, narcotics detection, and criminal apprehension.

Dallas was purchased from Vohne Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind. in August 2016. Dallas enjoys training, going on long walks, playing fetch, and tracking people.