DeKalb

Library board may return money to taxpayers

DeKalb homeowners may see a slight dip in their real estate bills, after the DeKalb Public Library board decides how to use the rest of a payment it is expecting from the state.

The board is waiting for $1.1 million the state owes the library district. The board officials reached consensus recently to remit to taxpayers money not needed to pay off the rest of a $4.5 million loan. The money was used to finish construction of the new library.

In 2015, the library’s levy was raised $500,000 to almost $2.3 million to allow $4.5 million to be borrowed to finish construction. Library officials said the money would be remitted once the state paid the full amount.

The board most likely will maintain the levy and remit funds, either with or without fees and interest. Officials are reviewing its 2015 decision to see if it promised in 2015 that fees and interest would be included in the remitted amount.

Depending on whether the fees and interest will be included in an approved scenario, a homeowner with a $150,000 home could see an $86 to $91 rebate on their tax bill. The board will not take action until it receives the last $1.1 million from the state.

Meals on Wheels sets fundraising goal

The Voluntary Action Center has announced its Let No Senior Go Hungry campaign to raise $40,000 by April 1, and to keep its Meals on Wheels and other congregate meal programs alive.

VAC Executive Director Ellen Rogers announced the campaign, designed to raise funds while the U.S. Congress struggles to agree on a budget.

VAC food programs provide for more than 1,000 seniors in the DeKalb County area. Last year, VAC served or delivered around 344,000 meals to clients. For information or to donate, go to vacdk.com.

Richard Jenkins

DeKalb native gets Oscar nod

There is a DeKalb connection to this year’s Academy Awards competition. DeKalb native Richard Jenkins, a 1965 graduate of DeKalb High School, has been nominated for his second Academy Award. Jenkins is up for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Guillermo del Toro’s lavish monster romance, “The Shape of Water.” Jenkins plays the character “Giles” in the film.

Jenkins will be up against these actors, who also received Best Supporting Actor nominations:

• William Dafoe, “The Florida Project,”

• Woody Harrelson, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,”

• Christopher Plummer, “All the Money in the World,” and

• Sam Rockwell, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”

Jenkins previously was nominated for Best Actor for “The Visitor” in 2009. He earned his first Emmy award in 2015 for outstanding lead actor in a miniseries for his role in HBO’s “Olive Kitteridge.”

Local cupcake shop reopens

Smallcakes is back doing what it does best: selling cupcakes. A flood at the company’s St. Charles store shut the business down for almost a month. All the baking is done in St. Charles, and it could not continue until the flood damage was repaired. Flooding was caused by burst pipes in a Chinese restaurant above Smallcakes. Equipment, including microwaves, blenders and candy melts, was damaged from the flood and had to be replaced.

The cupcake shop is at 817 W. Lincoln Hwy., Unit G, and owned by Tina Wackerlin.

Second City performs at the Egyptian

Without question, The Second City is the first name in comedy—it’s the troupe that launched the careers of superstars Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert and others. Who knows—tomorrow’s next comedy superstar just might be performing in the show coming to the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. Second St., Feb. 24. The comedy troupe’s new program, “Look Both Ways Before Talking,” is an evening of wildly original, ever-daring, and hilarious sketch comedy. Show time for the adult-only performance is 7:30 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 and $30. To purchase them, go to egyptiantheatre.org.

POLARpalooza celebrates winter with festival

The DeKalb Park District is holding POLARpalooza Winter Festival Feb.11 in Hopkins Park, 1403 Sycamore Road. Festivities will start at 12 p.m. Admission is free.

Activities will Include a snow shoe scavenger hunt, snow sculpting by Lyn Bute, s’mores and hot chocolate, photos with the POALRpalooza mascots, a snowman building contest, winter crafts, fat tire bike rides with North Central Cyclery, hockey and figure skating demonstrations and a birding hike.

Ice skating will be offered, and skates will be available for rental. The park district is asking for donations of ice skates, especially youth sizes. Donations may be brought to the Sports and Recreation Center, 1765 S. Fourth St.

Visit www.dekalbparkdistrict.com for event updates.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–