STATE

DeKalb County will have to repay state $75K for clerical error

 A ledger error by the Illinois Department of Revenue gave thousands of taxing districts, including DeKalb County, money that now has to be repaid. The taxing districts were overpaid for their 2014 Personal Property Replacement Taxes.

The Personal Property Replacement funds are disbursed to local governments annually to compensate for not being able to tax personal property. Similar errors have happened with sales tax in the past, and the county repaid the money by accepting smaller annual contributions for a several years.

DeKALB

NIU faculty vote to unionize

Northern Illinois University faculty last week filed an intent to unionize with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board. Named the United Faculty Alliance of Northern Illinois University, it would represent more than 600 tenured and tenured track faculty.

Proponents say that a union will give faculty a greater voice to improve NIU, for the benefit of students and the community.

The NIU union would be affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers, the University Professionals of Illinois, American Federation of Teachers and the American Association of University Professors.

New Orleans celebration to liven the weekend

ARTigras, a celebration of the arts in the DeKalb community and on the Northern Illinois University campus, kicks off 7 p.m. May 6 with the March to Bourbon Street at the Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. 2nd St.

New Orleans jazz music is an identity to American culture and signature to any Mardi Gras event. March to Bourbon Street will be an extravaganza that celebrates the local art community with connected talents in music, dance, visual art, costume and food. This event will immerse guests into the Bourbon Street experience. Food and drinks will be available for purchase while enjoying roaming performers, live visual artists, art displays, a variety of live performances throughout the evening, dance performances and music. Admission is $20 for adults, $15 for students and seniors.

May 7, the following day, will be filled with an arts parade, a post-parade party featuring music, crafts and games, art gallery shows and receptions from about 3-6 p.m. The Arts Parade, which will start at 3 p.m. at 3rd Street and Locust, will travel down Locust to John Street and end at the School of Art & Design Building on the NIU Campus. A post-parade party will be held 4-6 p.m. at the School of Art & Design Parking Lot on College Avenue. Children’s art activities, live music provided by Rule 34, ceramic and print sales, henna and caricature artists, info on Park District and YMCA activities, STEM activities with the STEM Divas, food trucks and more are planned. Art receptions will be open to the public from 4-6 p.m. A shuttle bus service will be provided to bring the public to the gallery and museum receptions throughout the community.

Evening concerts will be performed by the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. Boutell Memorial Concert Hall, NIU Music Building; and the Stage Coach Players, 126 S. 5th Street, 7:30 p.m. performance of “The Laramie Project.”

For a complete schedule, go to niu.edu/ARTigras.

SYCAMORE

A cappella music, salad highlight event

 Salad is on the menu as the Federated Church in Sycamore hosts a “Spring Salad Supper for the Girls” at 6 p.m. May 5, at the church at 612 W. State St.

Women of all ages are invited to attend the supper which is open to the public. The musical entertainment will be Bread & Roses, a community women’s chorus directed by Peggy Safford.

Tickets cost $5 each. To request tickets, call the church office at (815) 895-2706. Tickets also are available at the Sycamore Chamber of Commerce office. Attendees are asked to bring a favorite salad to pass. Dessert, beverages and table service will be provided.

Bread & Roses is completing its 21st year singing in the DeKalb area. The group offers a variety of music highlighting peace and justice, women’s issues, protection of the environment and also just plain fun songs. Much of the music is a cappella, though quite a few pieces are accompanied by piano and other instruments.

The chorus has 28 members, with a range of ages and interests. Bread & Roses generally performs two full concerts a year which benefit various local organizations, in addition to smaller programs such as the salad supper.

Middle-school actors perform the Pinocchio story

Students from two DeKalb middle schools will perform at the Sycamore Library, at 6 p.m. May 11. The Huntley and Clinton Rosette middle schools’ theatrical group will perform songs and dances from their upcoming play, “My Son Pinocchio, Jr.”

The audience also will enjoy a marionette puppet craft. Admission is free.

The library is at 103 E. State St. For more information, visit sycamorelibrary.org or call (815) 895-2500.