The University of Illinois Extension DeKalb County Master Gardeners are available to answer questions this spring by calling (815) 758-8194, (Photo courtesy University of Illinois Extension)

DeKALB COUNTY

Help for gardeners is a phone call away

University of Illinois Extension DeKalb County Master Gardeners offer a free service answering garden questions at the Horticulture Help Desk.  Starting this month, the Horticulture Help Desk is open 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Master gardeners research topics about insects, trees, shrubs, plants, vegetables, fruits, gardens and lawns.  Master gardeners supply research-based answers to questions, and look for information needed in specific circumstances.  Master gardeners do not make house calls, but green thumbs may bring samples to the University of Illinois Extension DeKalb County office, located in the Farm Bureau Center for Agriculture building, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore.

The public may call in questions at (815) 758-8194 or by visiting the office. Questions also may be sent my email to uiemg-dekalb@illinois.edu. Master gardener volunteers will ask callers some diagnostic questions to understand the horticulture situation, then will call back after they research the answer. The Horticulture Help Desk is a free service offered by the DeKalb County Master Gardeners.

DeKALB

110^th homecoming game slated for October

Northern Illinois University will hold its 110th Homecoming game, continuing the oldest homecoming tradition in Illinois and one of the oldest in the nation, on Oct. 22, 2016, when the NIU Huskies take on Buffalo at Huskie Stadium.

The 2016 homecoming date announcement highlights the list of football game day themes and preliminary promotions schedule for the 2016 NIU football season. NIU will play six home games in 2016, including five in DeKalb and the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago, marking the first football game ever played at the home of the Chicago White Sox.

After opening the season with consecutive road games, NIU’s 2016 home opener will be played Sept. 17 versus defending Mountain West Conference Champion San Diego State.

Exhibit shows what wealth from barbed wire built

The public is invited to the Ellwood House Museum for the 49^th  annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the Ellwood House Association and the grand opening of a new exhibit: Built by Barbed Wire: The Rise of an Industry and Development of a Grand Estate, starting at 6 p.m. May 13. The Ellwood House Museum is at 509 N. First St., DeKalb.

Both events are free and will take place on the first floor of the Visitor Center. Refreshments will be provided. The exhibit is in the Joseph Towle Gallery, located inside the Visitor’s Center, a multi-car garage built for Perry and May Ellwood in 1912. Displayed artifacts showcase the legacy of the Ellwood family, including the history of Ellwood businesses and properties in DeKalb and around the country.

Funding for the exhibit was provided by a grant from the DeKalb County Community Foundation and through the generosity of Jerry and Cheryl Brauer.

The new exhibit is permanent, so visitors can see it during regular museum hours.

A section of the exhibit was developed by students in the NIU Museum Studies Program. It provides a glimpse inside Harriet Ellwood’s private collection of minerals, relics and curiosities. Displayed artifacts include items she purchased and collected during her world travels around the turn of the 20^th century; many of the artifacts are listed on her original inventory. The artifacts are exhibited in three oak display cases that originally lined Harriet’s private museum, a structure she had built in 1905 and which still stands south of the Ellwood mansion.

The exhibit galleries in the Visitor Center are always free and are open to the public from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. daily, except Mondays. Call the Ellwood House office at (815) 756-4609 or visit www.ellwoodhouse.org for more information. The nonprofit Ellwood House Association operates the Ellwood House Museum in conjunction with the DeKalb Park District.

MALTA

Library to continue Monday closings in summer

In a cost-cutting move, the Malta Public Library will continue its practice of being closed on Monday through the coming summer. The decision was made because of the loss of some funding, rising expenses and unexpected building maintenance costs. After consideration, it was determined that the best action would be to close on Mondays, keeping consistent with the rest of the year, rather than cut services. Residents with questions should contact Peggy Wogen, library director, at the library, 203 Adams St., or at (815) 825-2525.

SYCAMORE

High school musicians prepare for May concert

The Sycamore High School Orchestra will perform at 7:30 p.m. May 17 in the Sycamore High School Auditorium, 427 Spartan Trail. Under direction of Ken Tonaki, this concert will feature Concert Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra and the Concerto Competition winners.

Admission is free. School concerts are streamed live and available for viewing at spartantv.org.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–