The DeKalb Municipal Band performs each summer in Hopkins Park. It has been invited to perform next June in Normandy, France, in concerts commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Allied troops’ invasion to free Europe from Nazi occupation.

STATE

Aid for winter heating bills to be available

Senior citizens and people with disabilities can apply for help to pay their winter heating bills beginning Oct 1. The money is being made available by the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, a state and federally funded energy assistance program for low-income families. When applying for assistance, customers must bring required documentation including proof of income and any aid, current heat and electric bills, rental agreement and Social Security numbers.

A single-person household can qualify with a monthly income of up to $1,508; a two-person household, up to $2,030; a family of three can earn up to $2,553; and a family of four can earn up to $3,075.

Disconnected households and families with children ages 5 or under can begin applying for assistance beginning Nov. 1. Individuals not eligible for priority enrollment can apply beginning Dec. 1.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan program is a similar bill-payment assistance program and applications will be accepted starting Oct.1, for eligible households who are customers of one of the following utilities: Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas utilities.

For a listing of agencies administering the funds and additional information, go to liheapIllinois.com.

COUNTY

Fair celebrates Its 130th year

The Sandwich Fair will open for the 130th time Sept. 6-10, at the Sandwich Fairgrounds, 1401 Suydam Road.

Established in 1888, the fair is the oldest continuing county fair in Illinois. The Sandwich Fair – also known as the DeKalb County Fair – includes longtime traditions of an old fashioned agricultural fair and new features where friends and family can come together to enjoy national entertainment, motor events such as tractor pulls, children activities, food, a carnival midway, exhibits, livestock judging and more attractions.

The American flag will be raised at the opening ceremony featuring the Sandwich High School Band at 9 a.m. Sept. 6. Children, 12 and younger, will be admitted free all day. Sept. 7 is Senior Citizen Bargain Day, with an admission price of $6 until 5 p.m. On Sept. 8, the general public will be admitted for $6 until 5 p.m. Also, people currently serving in the military with military identification will be admitted free until 5 p.m.

An extensive program guide can be found at sandwichfair.com.

Applications available for public housing

The DeKalb County Housing Authority is accepting applications for low-income public housing (with one, two and three bedrooms) for persons who qualify. Applications are available online at dekcohousing.com. Paper applications also are available. Housing is in DeKalb, Sycamore and Shabbona.

Apartments include carpeting, appliances, air conditioners and smoke alarms. Rent is based on 30 percent of monthly-adjusted income, with allowances made for medical expenses. Residents are responsible for their own telephone; all apartments are cable-ready. The cost of utilities vary.

Special features include onsite maintenance and management staff, parking, security cameras at all properties, community rooms, laundry facilities and handicap-accessible units. Computer labs are provided at Taylor Street Plaza and Civic Apartments. Bus service is near each property in DeKalb and Sycamore.

DeKALB

Band invited to France for WWII observance

The 75th anniversary of the historic D-Day invasion in Normandy, France, next year will be commemorated in many ways. Speeches, no doubt. But also music. And, the DeKalb Municipal Band has been invited to join the world in its observance of the landing of Allied troops in June 1944 to free Europe of Nazi occupation.

Kirk Lundbeck, conductor of the DeKalb Municipal Band, applied for the band to perform. He submitted video clips, audio files and other documentation about the band to the music selection committee for the event. Lundbeck later received word that the band has been chosen to represent the United States in the weeklong commemoration.

The event will be held from June 3 to 10, 2018, during which time, there will be four concerts.

Every band member has expressed interest in attending. However, the trip will be expensive, so the band will need to find sponsors and hold fundraisers. In the coming weeks, information will be posted on the band’s website, dekalbmunicipalband.com, about how the public can help finance the trip.

MALTA

Camp for girls softball players

The Kishwaukee College softball team is inviting girls who play softball to a two-day camp Sept. 22-Sept. 23. Cost of the camp is $50 per player. Space is limited and early registration is recommended.

The camp is for girls who are in grades 5 – 8 this school year. Instruction will focus on improving defensive and offensive skills with emphasis on hitting, defense, pitching techniques and base-running, and will include scrimmages. Campers should wear proper softball attire (players will slide) and softball cleats/spikes.

The camp will be led by Kishwaukee Head Softball Coach Carolyn Nojiri and members of the 2017-18 Kougar team. Nojiri played second base and outfield in high school, but concentrated her skills in the outfield during her college career at Lewis University. She also played travel ball with the Downers Grove Outlaws. Post-college, she coached in clinics and camps in South Africa as well as in Illinois.

For more information, contact Nojiri at (815) 825-9848 or cnojiri@kish.edu.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–