These Clinton Rosette Middle School students cleaned up on National Kick Butts Day, tackling cigarette trash and making a statement against smoking.

DeKALB

Cemetery clean-up deadline nears

Families of loved ones buried in Fairview Park Cemetery in DeKalb are being asked to remove all grave decorations as part of cemetery’s spring cleanup. Officials from the cemetery, 1600 S. First St., DeKalb, will remove and discard all decorations left on graves after March 31. Graves may be decorated again starting April 8.

Students battle cigarette trash

Students at a DeKalb school recently kicked butt – hundreds of cigarette butts. Clinton Rosette Middle School (CRMS) students picked up 1,686 cigarette butts and tobacco-related litter in support of National Kick Butts Day, March 15.

Students have been involved in Reality Illinois, a statewide smoking prevention program, facilitated by the DeKalb County Health Department. Reality Illinois is a program that empowers young people to work with local governing bodies to adopt policies that create healthier communities through tobacco policy and prevention.

The health department joined forces with CRMS to provide the Reality Illinois program to students who want to be involved with community and policy initiatives related to tobacco.

Kick Butts Day is an opportunity for the students to raise awareness and educate others on the harmful effects of tobacco. The students learn how tobacco affects the environment and those around them and how to have a positive impact by cleaning up cigarette litter.

SYCAMORE

Stores celebrate spring with sales, activities 

Downtown Sycamore merchants are celebrating spring with their eighth annual Spring Fling. Activities are taking place through April 3 at participating businesses.

The public is invited to sign up daily at all of the participating businesses to be entered to win the Golden Egg door prize. The egg contains items from each of the businesses. No purchase is necessary to win, limit one entry per person per day per business. Entrants must be age 18 or older.

For children on spring break, the Midwest Museum of Natural History is offering daily crafts with paid admission. Visit the museum’s website at mmnh.org for details.

The Sycamore Theatre is showing “Sing” for $2 (cash only) through March 31. Proceeds will be donated to the Barn on Baseline Animal Shelter (formerly the DeKalb County Animal Shelter).

Businesses offering activities, food and/or sales and events include Sweet Earth Jewelry and Gifts, which is offering tasty treats, store specials, jewelry classes and a jelly bean counting contest to win a $25 Sweet Earth gift card. Visit sweetearthjewelry.com for class details.

Made Just for You has a free “make it take it” for kids, and shoppers can choose an egg for a free gift with a $5 purchase. There also are store specials.

Children ages 12 and younger can decorate a cupcake at Paulsen Appliance and Electronics at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. March 29-31. Registration is requested; call 815-895-6373.

Shoppers at Fargo Home Furnishings who make a $250 purchase can receive 7 percent off the price if they have one child, 15 percent off if they have two children, and 20 percent off with three or more children.

At D&D Jewelers, visitors can crack an egg for a chance to draw an extra discount or prize and at Sycamore Antiques they can pick an egg for a special discount.

Christian Connection is offering a $5 reward certificate with a $50 purchase and Whimsical Perspective is celebrating its grand opening. The Clock Shoppe also is participating in Spring Fling.

Pancakes, whole hog served up for breakfast

Mayfield Congregational Church will host an all-you-can-eat pancake and whole hog sausage breakfast from 6:30 to 11 a.m. April 8 at the church, 28405 Church Road, Sycamore. Tickets will be available at the door, and cost $8 for adults and $4 for children ages 4 to 10. Children younger than 4 may eat for free.

Attendees also can visit the country store for baked and preserved goods or whole hog sausage to take home. The attic treasures table will sell a variety of items. For more information, call (815) 895-5548 or visit mayfieldchurchucc.org.

KIRKLAND

Citizen of the Year nominations wanted

The Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the Kirkland Citizen of the Year. To nominate someone for this award, provide a statement in 150 words or less describing why the nominee is deserving of the award. Include your name and address on the nomination statement.

The nominee should be someone who has performed significant public service, fostered pride in the community of Kirkland and/or made a lasting contribution to the quality of life in the area served by the chamber, which is equivalent to the Hiawatha School District boundaries. The nominee does not need to live in the area, provided he or she has been active in the community.

Mail nomination form to Kirkland Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 208, Kirkland, IL 60146, or email nomination to KirklandChamber1882@gmail.com with “Kirkland Citizen of the Year” in the subject line. Nominations are due by April 27. The event is being co-sponsored by KishHealth System, a part of Northwestern Medicine.