Unwanted Christmas lights can be recycled, thanks to the DeKalb County Health Department through Feb. 15, 2017. Residents can drop off their old holiday lights at a number of locations.

DeKALB COUNTY

Veterans’ group sponsoring traveling memorial

The Moving Wall, the traveling Vietnam veterans’ memorial, will return to Sycamore Park District in July. The DeKalb County Veterans Assistance Commission has been working to bring the exhibit again. From July 13-17, 2017, the traveling Vietnam veterans’ memorial will be on display 24 hours a day in the Sycamore Sports Complex, Route 64 and Airport Road. The DeKalb County Chapter of VietNow arranged for the Moving Wall in 1997, and again in 2007.

The cost to get the Moving Wall is $7,500. Funds also are needed for additional items, such as school field trips, sound equipment rental, chairs, staging and publicity. The goal is to raise $20,000-25,000.

Donations may be sent to the Traveling Wall account at Resource Bank. Each individual, business or organization that contributes will be honored at the exhibit.

More information and donations opportunities can be found at dekalbcountywall.com

Recycle unwanted Christmas lights

This year the DeKalb County Health Department is partnering with DeKalb Iron and Metal Company for the 6th annual Holiday Lights Recycling Program. Last year, the Holiday Lights Program collected nearly 3,000 pounds of Christmas lights.

The recycling program runs through Feb. 15, 2017. All string lights and extension cords will be accepted for recycling. Officials say that with this program, DeKalb County can divert all holiday lights from the landfill, as recycled goods. Keeping even one strand of lights out of a landfill helps to reduce waste.

Residents can drop off their old holiday lights at any of the following drop off locations during regular operating hours:

•  DeKalb County Health Department, 2550 N. Annie Glidden Road, DeKalb

• DeKalb Park District Sports and Rec Center, 1765 S. Fourth St., DeKalb

• City of Genoa, 333 E. First St., Genoa

• Sycamore Centre, 308 W. State St., Sycamore

• DeKalb County Legislative Center, 200 North Main St., Sycamore

• DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore

• Village Hall of Waterman, 215 W. Adams St., Waterman

• City of Sandwich, 144 E. Railroad, Sandwich

• City of DeKalb Municipal Building, 200 S. Fourth St., DeKalb

• Kishwaukee Family YMCA, 2500 Bethany Road, Sycamore

For more information about the Holiday Lights Recycling Program, call Michelle Gibson at (815) 748- 2408 or email recyclemailbox@dekalbcounty.org.

SYCAMORE

Festival of Trees decks out museum

Midwest Museum of Natural History, 425 W. State St., Sycamore, will have its annual Festival of Trees and special weekly events during December.

To dress up the museum for the holidays, the Festival of Trees will feature a display of more than 20 trees decorated by businesses and non-profit groups. The museum provides the trees and the lights and the businesses and groups provide the creativity. You may use home-made or store-bought ornaments (no food products such as popcorn or salt dough and no glitter). Trees should be decorated by Nov. 30 during regular museum hours. Donations for the trees is $40 for non-profit organizations and $100 for businesses. To reserve a tree call (815) 895-9777. Trees sold out last year.

The public can vote for their favorite tree by making a donation in jars in the museum’s lobby. The top three trees receive awards and participants are invited to the museum’s holiday party on Dec. 1.

The museum will have events throughout December. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, the public can enjoy a free make-and-take craft. Each craft is winter-themed and fun for children, On Wednesdays and Fridays, an animal demonstration will be held at 3 p.m. A staff member will bring out an animal for everyone to learn about and touch. On Saturdays, Free hot chocolate will be served with admission.

The special program, the Physics of Santa, will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 2. The program will explain the physics that help Santa make his magical midnight journey from house to house around the globe. Cost is $2 for museum members. Non-members pay the admission plus $2.

STATE

Rauner names first state day of service

Governor Bruce Rauner has announced that April 22, 2017, will be the first State Day of Service in Illinois.

The state’s previous contract with AFSCME, the largest union of public employees, restricted the use of volunteers to do state work. However, a recent decision by the Illinois Labor Relations Board will now allow the state greater flexibility in using volunteers.

Rauner is looking at the day of service as a way to provide additional services at no cost to taxpayers. On the State Day of Service, groups and individuals will participate in activities such as cleaning up state parks, working on projects at the state fairgrounds and volunteering at the state’s veterans’ homes.

In the coming weeks and months, more information regarding the timing, location and activities for April 22, 2017, will be released. The announcement of the day of service comes on the heels of recent demonstrations by public service workers in Illinois state government. The “Don’t Dictate, Negotiate” events came after a state board ruled that contract talks between Rauner’s administration and the state’s largest public-employees union are deadlocked.