This photo shows a crossroads in southern DeKalb County near Rollo. The DeKalb County History Center is asking the public to submit photos that answer the question: What is Rural? The photos will be used as a companion piece to a Smithsonian Museum on Main Street exhibit that tells the county’s story.

STATE

Illinois Top 200 list nearing completion

The final votes are being tabulated, and when they are, a major project to mark Illinois’ bicentennial will be complete. The Illinois Top 200 list, voted by the public, include 20 categories, such as the best scenic locations in the state, top political leaders, favorite movies shot in Illinois and leading musicians. Votes are being tabulated for the final category: Unforgettable Moments. Choices include a diverse set of news events such as the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the Chicago “Black Sox” scandal and the removal of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office.

Bicentennial best-of voters recently picked Abraham Lincoln as the state’s best leader. That was the second-to-last list. When the list is complete, the results will be available on the Lincoln Presidential Library’s website, and will be a resource for anybody who is interested in exploring the state’s history.

The full Top 200 list will be ready in time to be part of the celebration of Illinois’ 200th anniversary on Dec. 3. 

COUNTY

Exhibit attempts to answer: What is rural?

What is rural? Ask this question to 10 people and you will get 10 different answers. The DeKalb County History Center wants to hear your answer, but in a photograph that might be selected as part of its upcoming traveling Smithsonian exhibit.

One of the themes explored in the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, is “What is Rural?” The display includes nationally recognized paintings that idealize rural America along with photographs that show a more realistic view of what life can be like in smaller agricultural communities. The DeKalb County History Center will be providing a companion piece to this Smithsonian exhibit that tells the county’s story. Part of the display will include selected photographs submitted by the general public answering this question.

The History Center is encouraging people to be creative and thoughtful. Photographs can be current or historical, they can be of festivals, farming, people, historic down towns, and can represent the variety of seasons.

Guidelines include:

1. Making sure your camera or Smartphone is set to the highest resolution for quality and your photo is sent at its original size.
2. The submitted photo must be the photographer’s original work.
3. Email pictures to info@dekalbcountyhistory.org with the photographer’s name, a brief description of the photo and the story behind it.
4. All photos submitted become property of the DeKalb County History Center, and maybe reproduced in an exhibit, shared on social media or other History Center publications.
5. Photographers will be given credit for their photos. For all of the guidelines visit dekalbcountyhistory.org.
6. All participants acknowledge that if there are people who are easily recognizable in your photo, you have their permission to submit their image for use by the DeKalb County History Center.

The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2019. For more information, call the DeKalb County History Center at 815-895-5762.

Healthy eating program will pop up throughout the county

The DeKalb County Community Gardens Grow Mobile program will continue popping up around the county until Dec. 18. The stops will be: 8 to 11 a.m. Dec. 8 at the Kingston Friendship Center in Kingston, 120 Main St.; 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 11 at Edens Garden, 2355 Williams Way; and 4 to 6 p.m. Dec. 18 at the University Village Community. Five other stops have already been made. 

The pop-ups are open to anyone in DeKalb County. These are in addition to the program’s weekly stops at various area locations. The mobile food pantry brings food to low-income and food-desert areas of rural and urban DeKalb County, and it serves nearly 200 food-insecure neighbors every week.

For information, call 815-793-0950 or visit dekalbgardens.org.

DeKALB

Police collecting money so needed children can have a merry Christmas

The DeKalb Police Department has a goal this holiday season: give needy children money for Christmas shopping. To reach that goal, the department is asking for donations for its annual Heroes and Helpers event, slated for Dec. 9 at Target, 2555 Sycamore Road.

The department and Target work together to provide underprivileged local children with toys. The department is seeking cash donations so it can buy gifts to fill those children’s stockings.

Participating children are either residents of DeKalb or part of DeKalb School District 428. With the help of a DeKalb police officer, each child will get to choose $100 worth of Christmas presents from Target on Dec. 9. Target staff members and other community volunteers will wrap the gifts, while the children enjoy snacks, refreshments and coloring with the officers.

Forty children and their families were helped last year.

Donations are requested before Dec. 1. Checks can be brought to the front desk of the DeKalb Police Station, 700 W. Lincoln Highway. Checks can be made payable to the DeKalb PB and PA, Police Benevolent and Protective Association. Donations also can be made by contacting community relations officer Kelly Sullivan at 815-748-8446.

Those who donate $100 will be able to nominate a child to be a part of the program and ensure that donation goes directly to that child.

–DeKalb County New Briefs–