The boarded up windows of the Carnegie section of the Sycamore Public Library stand as a reminder that money is still needed to replace them. Proceeds from a March 1 all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner will help the library raise funds for the project. (Chronicle Media file photo)

NORTHERN ILLINOIS

Vintage Shop Hop to lure shoppers

The 6th annual Vintage Shop Hop is scheduled for March 1-March 2. It’s the motherlode of all vintage road trips – a self-guided day to any number of the more than 400 participating vintage shops, boutiques, barn sales, oddity shops and home decor stores throughout the DeKalb County area, northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Shoppers will find farmhouse chic, industrial and automotive relics, architectural salvage, barn wood, piles of windows and doors, vintage and boutique clothing, jewelry old and new, cottage finds and cabin goods.

For more information, go to vintageshophop.blogspot.com, the link to the complete master list of shops.

DeKALB

‘Hamlet’ presented at NIU

Under the cover of night, a ghost walks the ramparts of Elsinore Castle in Denmark. It is the recently deceased King Hamlet, and he has explicit instructions for his son, the prince. What are those instructions?  The answers will be told in Northern Illinois University’s production of one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, “Hamlet.” NIU’s theater department’s production premieres at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27, at the Black Box Theatre, School of Theatre and Dance, Stevens Building, 200 University Circle, DeKalb.

Other performances will be given at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28 and March 1, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. March 2 and 2 p.m. March 3. Tickets cost $6-$17, and can be purchased online at niu.edu/theatre/productions/mainstage/Hamlet.shtml.

Kayak workshop to teach basic skills

A workshop will introduce participants to basic kayaking skills, blending skill instruction with practice. Beginners and first-timers are welcome to attend this 2-hour clinic. Included in the registration fee is equipment (kayak, paddle, PFD) and hands-on instruction with a student instructor. The workshop will be held at 3 p.m. March 3, at Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth St., DeKalb. Registration will close March 1. The cost is $5 for NIU students and $15 for NIU faculty and staff and the DeKalb community. More information and registration for the general public is being handled by the DeKalb Park District at dekalbparkdistrict.com.

Oral history project sets March dates

The Oral Histories of DeKalb podcast series focuses on interviewing local residents, 55 and older, about their personal stories and their connection to DeKalb and its history. The podcasts and the interview materials will become part of the DeKalb Public Library’s local history department. Potential interviewees are invited to learn more about this series, the questions that will be asked, and the time slots available to give testimonials.

This project follows the standards of the Oral History Association (OHA). A list of the questions that will be asked during the interview is posted at dkpl.org.

The March recording sessions will be held at 11 a.m.-12 p.m. March 1; 6:30-7:30 p.m. March 4; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. March 9, March 16 and March 23.

The Oral Histories of DeKalb Podcast series is an opportunity to focus on the stories of the senior citizens of DeKalb. By capturing their personal histories and connection to the city, the library can document the history of DeKalb and its residents.

For additional information, send an email to saramf2@illinois.edu or call 815-557-7526.

SYCAMORE

BBQ dinner to support new library windows

Proceeds from a March 1 all-you-can-eat barbecue dinner will help the Sycamore Public Library raise money to replace windows in the historic Carnegie Building portion of the library.

Friends of the Sycamore Library will host the dinner from 4-8 p.m., with food prepared by the Country Store and Catering. Dinner will be served at the Sycamore Veteran’s Club, 121 S. California St., Sycamore. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $16 at the door for those ages 10 and older, $8 in advance and $9 at the door for children 6-9, and free for children 5 and younger. Food can also be purchased to go at the event.

Tickets are available at the library, 103 E. State St., and the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce, 407 W. State St., Suite 10.

About $25,000 already has been set aside for the project, which could cost $80,000 to $100,000. The windows in the Carnegie section of the library are original to the building, which was built in 1905. The building was made possible with a partial grant from the Carnegie Foundation, which was starting libraries throughout the country at the time.

Deadline extended for police positions

The Sycamore Police Department is extending its deadline and accepting applications for certified police officer until Feb. 28. Applicants must be certified Illinois police officers and actively employed by a law enforcement agency for at least two years and within the last 12 months. The city’s website, cityofsycamore.com, has more details.

Applications are available in the Human Resources office in the Sycamore Center, 308 W. State St., and in the Police Department, 535 DeKalb Ave., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The application form also can be found on the city’s website. The application form along with copies of certifications and college transcripts, must be received (not postmarked) by Human Resources by 4 p.m. Feb. 28. For more information, contact Maggie Peck, human resource director, at 815-895-0786.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–