The Kishwaukee Concert Band before its March concert. The band will close out its season with a concert May 21 at Northern Illinois University’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall.

DeKALB

Band to perform final concert of the season

A group of volunteers will make sweet music when the Kishwaukee Concert Band presents its Season 15 Finale Concert at 3 p.m. May 21 in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall on the Northern Illinois University campus in DeKalb.

Deb Shofner, retired band director and accomplished tuba player, will direct the band, performing several pieces including “Scenes of Wonder” by Mark Williams, a three-movement piece with each movement expressing emotions felt when visiting certain sights in Europe.

Dave Lehman, oboist, will perform a solo, “Gabriel’s Oboe,” from the movie, “The Mission.” Lehman is a retired music director from the DeKalb School System, well-known oboe player and co-director of the band.

No concert would be complete without a march from John Phillip Sousa, and the concert will conclude with the “Star Spangled Banner.”

The Kishwaukee Concert Band is made up of musicians over the age of 18 who play a wind or percussion instrument. Rehearsals are held at Huntley Middle School in DeKalb at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays. No auditions are necessary. For more information, visit kishconcertband.org or. The band is supported by the DeKalb County Community Foundation and Mary E. Stevens Concert and Lecture Fund.

Antiques store prepares to open

The storefront has been repainted, and a new sign hangs outside. Antique Treasures, an antique store, will soon be open for business. The owners are Jeff and Mara Metzger of Sandwich, who are fulfilling a dream of buying and renovating a building to sell antiques and other home décor.

Metzger, a former DeKalb County Board member, bought the eastern dining area of Eduardo’s Mexican Restaurant, 218 E. Lincoln Hwy. He had been preparing for a final inspection by the DeKalb Fire Department and city staff. After that, he will have a soft opening in preparation for a grand opening later.

Students continue shoe drive

DeKalb High School environmental group is not stopping until it reaches its goal. The Eco-Buds group set out to collect more than 2,500 pairs of sneakers by April 20, for developing countries. The group fell short of its goal, and is carrying on, hoping to collect more than 2,000 pairs.

Fifteen pairs of shoes fit into a bag, a company in Orlando, Florida, pays $10 a bag of sneakers, which are sent to developing countries.

The money collected from the shoes will go toward medical expenses of Ata Shakir, a DeKalb High School teacher who was diagnosed with colon cancer in February, the Hope Haven homeless shelter, Safe Passage domestic violence services and the Eco-Buds program.

Sneakers can be dropped off at the high school at 501 W. Dresser Road, DeKalb; Fitworkz, also in DeKalb at 1690 Sycamore Road; and the Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 Bethany Road, in Sycamore.

Artwork of two college students is on display

“Dual Exhibition: Paintings by Destiny Stroud & Ryan Lindsey” is on display at the DeKalb Area Women’s Center Gallery through May 26.

Viewing is available 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays and by appointment by calling (815) 758-1351.

Destiny Stroud has been studying art for about a year now but plans to pursue a master’s degree in art therapy and minor in visual communication. Nature and the human body are her main inspirations, and her main medium is acrylic.

Ryan Lindsey has been paintings for about four years now. He is pursuing an arts education degree at the College of DuPage and will graduating this semester. His paintings are primarily influenced by Impressionism. He calls his style is quick and sloppy with an emphasis on reveaing the brush strokes to give the paintings their appeal.

The DeKalb Area Women’s Center is at 1021 State St., DeKalb.

SYCAMORE

More businesses eligible for city improvement funds

Sycamore is expanding the amount of money it gives to businesses that want to improve its facades, and opening the program up to more businesses. An additional $20,000 is being added to the $25,000 the city already sets aside for the program.

The program, which began in 2004 as a way to help businesses make improvements, will allow “gateway” areas into downtown to apply for grants. Businesses fronting the Route 64 corridor from Airport Road to Peace Road, and along North Main Street between Route 64 and the Kishwaukee River will now be eligible.

The city provides 50 percent matching grant assistance up to $5,000 an applicant. May 31 is the deadline for the initial review of facade grant applications. From there, the architectural review committee will make recommendations for approval by the City Council in June.

Funding is transferred from the hotel/motel tax fund, and unused funds from recent years have helped expand the program, which coincides with the city’s 2014 comprehensive plan.

Eligible improvements include landscaping, removing incompatible facades or accessories, restoring historic facade materials or buildings, painting, tuckpointing, installing handicap-accessible entrances, and repairing or replacing exterior windows and doors.