A volunteer for HorsePower Therapeutic Riding leads a client on a horseback riding outing. An orientation for prospective volunteers will be held March 28 in Maple Park.

STATE

Art contest entries sought by April 21

Middle school and high school artists are invited to submit original artwork for the 70th Representative District Art Appreciation Contest. Submissions will be accepted through April 21 at state Rep. Bob Pritchard’s office, 2600 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore. With various mediums of artwork accepted, artists have freedom to create meaningful and original pieces. There is no theme or limitation on the creativity.

One entry in each division will be selected and placed on display in the State Capitol this spring.

Pritchard, R-Hinckley, began the program several years ago to showcase creativity of area students and give them an opportunity to display their work in the state capitol. Contest guidelines and requirements, as well as the submission form that must accompany art entries, can be found at pritchardstaterep.org or by calling (815) 748-3494.

COUNTY

Sanitary district seeks board member

Residents interested in protecting the public’s health and the environment by governing the DeKalb Sanitary District may apply to serve on the three-member sanitary district board. Members serve three-year staggered terms beginning May 1.

The DeKalb Sanitary District is operated as a utility, responsible for providing sanitary sewer services largely within the city of DeKalb. The board of trustees is the corporate authority of the sanitary district and governs the affairs and property of the district. The board has full power to pass ordinances, rules and regulations for the proper management and conduct of the business of the district.

The district’s mission is to protect the public health and environment by providing collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater in an efficient and economical manner. The district must adhere to environmental regulations established by the Environmental Protection Agency.

The board meets monthly. Trustees receive an annual salary of $6,000.

To apply for the open trustee seat, send a letter of interest, along with a resume, to Mark Pietrowski Jr., DeKalb County Board chairman, via email to administration@dekalbcounty.org. Candidates should include background information about the strengths they would bring to the board. Finalists will be subject to a background check. Application deadline is March 29, with the appointment expected to be made on April 19. For information on the application process, contact Gary Hanson, county administrator, via email at ghanson@dekalbcounty.org.

NIU

CSA seeks donations for scholarship drive

The NIU Community School of the Arts (CSA) seeks used sheet music, music books, old musical instruments, stands, CDs and other items that might be of interest to musicians for sale during an upcoming Performathon to raise money for scholarships.

Held every two years, Performathon is the CSA’s major fund-raising event of the CSA. The funds raised support CSA scholarship programs, which help enable families unable to afford the full cost of arts education to enroll children in music lessons, music ensembles, or classes in music, art, or theatre.

Since the CSA scholarship programs began in 1993, it has raised more than $100,000, and nearly 800 students have received scholarship assistance.

Performathon is scheduled for Saturday, April 22, in the Boutell Concert Hall and lobby of the NIU Music Building.

The CSA is sponsored by the College of Visual and Performing Arts. More than 50 teachers offer lessons on virtually all musical instruments, as well as art and theatre. More than 400 community people from nearly 40 towns and cities travel to DeKalb for lessons, classes and music ensembles every semester.

Items can be brought to Room 132 at the NIU Music Building between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, or contact the office at (815) 753-1450 to arrange for pickup of the items.

DeKALB/SYCAMORE

Expo showcases two communities

The DeKalb and Sycamore Chambers of Commerce will host a Community Expo March 30, at the Sycamore High School Field House, 427 Spartan Trail, Sycamore.

The expo, which will be held 4-7 p.m., will include food samples from a variety of local restaurants, crafts and games for children, live demonstrations, 2017 car models, inflatable bounce houses and a live DJ.

Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact the Sycamore chamber at (815) 895-3456 or sycamorechamber.com.

DeKALB

Residents and volunteers or DeKalb Area Retirement Center – Oak Crest will hold a book sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 25, in the Little Theater at Oak Crest, 2944 Greenwood Acres Drive, DeKalb. Many categories of books will be available in hardback and paperback. The easiest access to the Little Theater is Door 4. For more information, call (815) 756-8461.

Episcopal church welcomes new pastor

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s new interim rector will celebrate his first worship service April 2 at the church, 900 Normal Road, DeKalb. The Rev. Ed Bird most recently served in Chicago at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and St. Leonard’s Ministries. The service will begin at 10:30 a.m.

Rev, Bird also serves as a director at Summer in the City, a camp for urban youth run through St. James Cathedral in Chicago. He and his wife Beth will relocate to DeKalb soon. For more information, call the church at (815) 756-4888 or visit stpaulsdekalb.org.

SYCAMORE

Music boosters to award scholarships

Sycamore Music Boosters is accepting scholarship applications for summer music camp support, senior music scholarships and continuing college music scholarships.

Any Sycamore School student in grades 6 through 11 enrolled in the band, orchestra or choir music program is eligible to apply for a scholarship for summer camps including residential camps and day camps.

Any Sycamore High School graduating senior intending to major in music in college may apply for the Senior Music Scholarship with three being given, one in each of the following areas: choir, band and orchestra.

The Continuing College Music Scholarship is available to one or several Sycamore High School graduates who are currently an undergraduate college junior or senior majoring in music.

Deadlines for various scholarships are as follows: Summer Music Camp Scholarship applications must be submitted to the student’s music teacher by March 24. Senior Music Scholarship applications must be submitted by April 28 and Continuing College Music Scholarship applications must be submitted by July 14 to scholarship chairwoman Laurie Emmer at laemmer82@gmail.com. All scholarship information and applications are available at sycamoremusicboosters.com.

MAPLE PARK

Volunteers wanted to share joy of horses with the disabled

Volunteers are needed to help with HorsePower Therapeutic Riding, which provides recreation through horseback riding lessons to children and adults with disabilities. Orientation will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. March 28 at Fox Chase Farm, 46W276 Route 38, Maple Park. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, should have at least two years of horse experience and be confident handling horses.

Support volunteers also are needed. They do not need horse experience and can assist with roles such as marketing, fundraising, cleaning, photography, website management, child care and office tasks.

To attend the orientation, submit an application and schedule a phone interview with Carrie Capes at info@HorsePowerTR.com or (815) 508-0804.