Craft beers will be served at the Sycamore Kiwanis Club’s first Craft Beer and Brat Fest July 1. More than 30 local craft breweries will participate in the inaugural event, from 4-10 p.m. in the Sycamore City Parking Lot at the corner of Somonauk Street between west State and west Elm.

COUNTY

New system handles non emergency calls

Social service information can be obtained by calling a new 211 service. DeKalb County has launched the 24-hour operation, which enables residents to get information on social services they might need during nonemergency situations. The new system is also designed to reduce the number of calls to 911.

Dialing 211 will connect the caller with an operator in a Bloomington call center who can direct them to resources for needs such as housing assistance, education and job training, transportation, health care and help for those in an abusive relationship, homeless or battling addiction.

The 211 database directory can link the caller to more than 80 nonprofit organizations, schools, local governments and other agencies in the county. The information can also be accessed online at findhelp211.org.

DeKalb County’s participation in the 211 service costs about $3,000 a year, and Kishwaukee United Way has secured grant funding to pay for a four-year pilot program.

Grants for 211 service were provided by the DeKalb County Community Foundation, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, First Midwest Bank, Northern Illinois University, the DeKalb Township Board, the DeKalb County Mental Health Board and Kishwaukee United Way.

DEKALB

Lunch service fills gap during summer

Residents who need a hot meal can find one at Summer Lunch and More (SLAM). Hosted by First United Methodist Church of DeKalb, SLAM provides lunches for children, their families and any other community member in need from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays to Fridays at the church, 317 N. Fourth St., next to the Haish Memorial Library on Oak Street.

The summer lunch is provided through partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank and with the help of community volunteers and businesses.

Unique to this program is a free buffet lunch, including hot entrées and fresh fruits and vegetables, all prepared daily onsite. Several days a week, activities are available for children, and a few for adults, as well.

Nearly 60 percent of children in DeKalb schools meet the federal guidelines for free or reduced-price lunches, and First United Methodist Church of DeKalb and its partners and volunteers serve meals to those who need them during the summer.

For information, call the church at (815) 756-6301 or register to volunteer at signup.com/go/xWcuKP. The program has served more than 25,000 meals since 2012.

SYCAMORE

New YMCA sprinkler system paid with grant

The Kishwaukee Family YMCA will be able to install a sprinkler system, thanks to a $15,000 community needs grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation. The sprinkler system is for the YMCA’s newly remodeled preschool classrooms. The sprinkler system will add safety and a higher level of security to the YMCA’s preschool program, which has recently implemented enhanced curriculum and updated learning tools.

The YMCA is at 2500 W. Bethany Road, Sycamore.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation awards community needs grants to support the charitable needs and efforts of nonprofits and community organizations throughout DeKalb County, with preference given to 501(c)3 organizations.

Craft beer, brats on tap at first Kiwanis’ event

The Sycamore Kiwanis Club will serve up its first Craft Beer and Brat Fest. More than 30 local craft breweries will participate in the July 1 inaugural event, selling unique brews to adults, 21 and older. Gourmet brats will be sold and family activities will be offered.

The event will be held from 4-10 p.m. in the Sycamore City Parking Lot at the corner of Somonauk Street between west State and west Elm.

HyVee gourmet brats and hot dogs will be on the grill all evening. Sycamore Key Club will sell pretzel necklaces and the Aktion Club will sell popcorn and soda. A root beer tent will feature crafts for children with help from Kiwanis K-Kids and Builders Club. The Sycamore Fire Department will host interactive displays including a water table.

Union Jack Rock will perform at 6:30 p.m.

Admission is $35 for adults, $10 for those 6-20 years old and free for children under 6. Proceeds will help support the child friendly projects the Kiwanis Club sponsors.

Guided walking tour focuses on local history

DeKalb Avenue will be in the spotlight during a guided walking tour of Sycamore history. Tour guide Steven Bigolin will lead a tour highlighting the architecture and local history connected to the homes and buildings along the street, which is in Sycamore’s History District. The tour will start at 1 p.m. July 2, from the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore. Fee is $5 per person. The tour is sponsored by the Sycamore History Museum. For more information, call (815) 895-5762 or email info@sycamorehistory.org.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–