CSA Sinfonia performs in NIU’s Boutell Concert Hall. Young musicians have until Oct. 16 to apply for a competition for an opportunity to play with the orchestra.

COUNTY

Nominees sought for education awards

Do you know an outstanding teacher who should be honored for his or her good work? The DeKalb County Community Foundation is encouraging county residents to nominate deserving teachers and other educational professionals for the foundation’s annual Excellence in Education Awards.

The public may make nominations through Nov. 1 in five categories: teachers for preschool through fifth grade, sixth to eighth, and high school; and school support staff and administration. A committee of teachers and administrators will review applications, and each winner will get $1,000.

Nomination forms are available at dekalbccf.org and can be sent to Community Foundation Grants Manager Becky Zantout at becky@dekalbccf.org. Forms can also be mailed to the foundation at 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, 60178.

For more information, call Zantout at (815) 748-5383.

DeKALB

Music competition deadline nears

The Community School of the Arts at Northern Illinois University invites musicians 18 years and younger to compete in the annual CSA Sinfonia Concerto Competition. The deadline for applications is Oct. 16. Musicians wishing to compete must live within a 75-miles radius of DeKalb.

Auditions are scheduled in the Recital Hall of the NIU Music Building on Nov. 13. The winner receives a $200 cash prize and performs the concerto with the youth orchestra, as a special guest at the Sinfonia concert on May 2, 2018.

Each musician will perform from memory one movement of a standard solo concerto or an appropriate one-movement composition. Auditions are limited to eight minutes, and musicians are expected to bring their own accompanist. 

More information and applications forms are available at csa.niu.edu and by calling (815) 753-1450.

Pancake breakfast to aid firefighters’ foundation

The DeKalb Firefighters Historical Foundation will hold a pancake breakfast and open house from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 15. The event will be held at DeKalb Fire Station 1, 700 Pine St., and will cost $5 for adults, $3 for children ages four to 10. Children younger than 4 may eat for free. Proceeds from the breakfast will help gather, preserve and maintain historical items from and about the DeKalb Fire Department.

The breakfast will be held in conjunction with an open house at Station No. 1 to kick off Fire Prevention Month. Families can tour the facility and see displays of current and retired fire equipment, tour the DeKalb Fire Department Safety House, enjoy a children’s bouncy house and watch an historical slideshow. Fire Station No.1 houses the administrative offices for the Fire Department and serves the central and northeast side of DeKalb.

For more information, contact Lt. Jason Pavlak at jason.pavlak@cityofdekalb.com or (815) 748-8460.

Disability takes center stage at Performance Art Night

Performers who identify as disabled or whose work addresses issues related to disability are invited to perform Oct. 22 at Disability Performance Art Night at The House Café, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb

Signup for an open mic session will begin at 6:30 p.m.; open mic performances will begin at 7 p.m. Scheduled performances by Pepe and Wolf and others will begin at 8 p.m. Email KelseyW@DeKalbRiseUp.com to sign up to perform and/or for more information. There is no cover charge.

Future of forensic science topic at STEMfest

Innovations in forensic science in a crime-scene booth will be showcased Oct. 21 during Northern Illinois University’s annual STEMfest. STEMfest celebrates innovations in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Northern Illinois University STEM departments, student groups, regional corporations, museums, educators, and national labs are joining forces to present hundreds of activities that range in complexity to entertain people of all ages.

Future scientists can engage in popular activities such as
the hands-on laser lab, bowling ball pendulum and Haunted Physics Lab, which will be back on display at the Midwest’s premier festival for celebrating science, technology, engineering and math.

The event is from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Convocation Center, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. A list of activities and presenters is available on the NIU STEMfest website at stemfest.niu.edu/stemfest. Between presentations on the STEMfest Stage, F.I.R.S.T. Robotics will hold robot competitions.

The event is free with no advance registration required. For information, call (815) 753-1272, or email stemoutreach@niu.edu.

CORTLAND

Road closed until Nov. 17

Motorists may want to avoid a portion of Barber Greene Road, which is closed to traffic until Nov. 17. Barber Greene Road, about a half-mile east of Airport Road, is closed for deck replacement work on the bridge over the east branch of the Kishwaukee River. The project is expected to cost about $170,000. For information call (81) 756-9513 or email highway@dekalbcounty.org.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–