CORTLAND
Preschool Story Time
Time: 10 a.m.
Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday; next, March 19
Place: Cortland Community Library, 63 S. Somonauk Road
More information: 815-756-7274 or cortlandlibrary.com
For children 3 and older. No registration required.
Crochet Class
Time: 7 – 8:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Place: Cortland Community Library, 63 S. Somonauk Road
More information: 815-756-7274 or cortlandlibrary.com
Third-Grade and Up Writer's Group
Time: 4:30 p.m.
Date: Mondays; next, March 24
Place: Cortland Community Library
More information: 815-756-7274 or cortlandlibrary.com
Evening Story and Craft
Time: 7 p.m.
Date: Every Tuesday; next, March 25
Place: Cortland Community Library, 63 S. Somonauk Road
More information: 815-756-7274 or cortlandlibrary.com
DeKALB
Toddler Time
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Place: DeKalb Public Library
More information: 815-756-9568 or theresaw@dkpl.org
Stories, songs, and a craft for infants, toddlers and their caregivers.
Blood Drive
Time: Noon – 4 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 19
Place: Swen Parson Hall, Normal Road
Teacher in the Library
Time: 4 - 5:15 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Place: DeKalb Public Library
More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 250 or www.dkpl.org
A retired teacher will help Dist. 428 students in grades 3-5 with their homework. Registration is required.
Free Community Meal
Time: 5 – 7 p.m.
Date: Every Wednesday; next, March 19
Place: Feed'em Soup, 122 S. First St.
More information: feedemsoup.org
For transportation, call 815-293-7433. Diners pay what they can; those who cannot pay can eat for free.
Free Community Meal
Time: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Date: First, third and fifth Wednesdays of each month; next, March 19
Place: DeKalb Community Center, 330 Grove St.
For transportation, call 815-758-6641. To volunteer, call 815-758-1678. To donate, call 815-758-3932. Dinner sponsors are especially needed.
'How to Start a Successful Child Care Business'
Time: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Place: 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care, 155 N. Third St., Suite 300
More information: 800-848-8727 ext. 230
4-C will host a free workshop for people interested in starting a home-based day care. Topics include legal child care, professional business practices and resources and support. Register by phone.
Infant Safety and CPR
Time: 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center
Cost: $15 per couple
More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishprograms.org
Learn about childproofing, poison prevention, SIDS, CPR, and choking rescue for children younger than 1. Registration is required.
Computer Files and Folders
Time: 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: DeKalb Public Library
More information: 815-756-9568 ext. 220
Practice saving and finding files on a computer and flash drive, and moving files around. Register by phone or at the reference desk.
Three Women Who Stand for Peace
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: Holmes Student Center Regency Room
Three well-known international peace activists - retired Army Col. Ann Wright, Medea Benjamin, and Kathy Kelly - will speak on issues of military drones, government eavesdropping, and the activists' recent experiences in Egypt, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
All-You-Can-Eat Fish Fry Buffet
Time: 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Date: Every Friday through April 18; next, March 21
Place: Knights of Columbus, 1336 E. Lincoln Highway
Cost: Adults $10 plus tax, children $6 plus tax
Buffet includes walleye, cod, shrimp, macaroni and cheese, soup, baked potato, french fries, coleslaw and salad bar. No carryouts.
Taize Prayer Sessions
Time: 7 p.m.
Dates: March 21 and 28; April 4 and 11
Place: Rolfing Chapel, First Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St.
More information: 815-758-0691
Taize meditative prayer is a form of worship characterized by brief hymns and periods of silence, accompanied by Psalms and other reflective readings.
Collecting & Contributing to Women's History Month Exhibit
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Dates: March 21 and 28
Place: DeKalb Area Women's Center, 1021 State St.
More information: 815-758-1351 or dawc@niu.edu
An exhibition of collections by women, including hats, linen, crochet, stamps, teapots and more.
Time: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Place: Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of DeKalb, 158 N. Fourth St.
Cost: $1
Seven Corpses Murder Mystery Dinner
Time: 6 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Place: Feed'em Soup, 122 S. First St.
Tickets: $30
More information: www.feedemsoup.org
Be a part of the story and solve the murder mystery. Dinner includes choice of meat or vegetarian lasagna, soup, salad and bread.
Friends of the DeKalb Public Library Book Sale
Time: Library hours
Dates: March 22-31
Place: DeKalb Public Library
All-You-Can-Eat Country Breakfast
Time: 7 - 10:30 a.m.
Date: Fourth Saturday of each month; next, March 22
Place: Trinity Lutheran Church
Cost: Adults $7, children $4
All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast
Time: 7:30 - 11 a.m.
Date: Every Sunday; next, March 23
Place: DeKalb Masonic Lodge 144, East Fairview and South Fourth streets
Cost: Adults $6, children 5 to 12 $4, children 4 and younger free
Pancakes, pork sausage, eggs cooked to order, toast, coffee, orange juice and milk. Biscuits and gravy are available for $4 for a full order or $2 for a half order.
Daughter-Safe Seminar
Time: 2 - 4 p.m.
Date: Sunday, March 23
Place: Hero Martial Arts, 2179 Sycamore Road, Unit 102
Cost: Women 18 and older, $15; girls 6-17, $5. Girls younger than 18 must be accompanied by an adult female.
More information: 815-517-0411
Practical, age-appropriate scenarios wil be presented for awareness, prevention, and simple, easy-to-learn escape and defense skills. This program is presented by a retired police officer in a safe, family-friendly way. Registration required.
Westminster Musicians in Concert
Time: 3 p.m.
Date: Sunday, March 23
Place: Westminster Presbyterian Church, 830 N. Annie Glidden Road
A mix of gospel, sacred and jazz music, performed by handbells, choral groups, the church's praise band, a trumpet and brass ensemble, flute and piccolo.
Time: 3 - 5 p.m.
Date: Sunday, March 23
Place: DeKalb Area Women's Center, 1021 State St.
Cost: $5; $1 if paying with a Susan B. Anthony dollar or a Sacagawea golden dollar
More information: 815-758-1351 or dawc@niu.edu
In honor of women's history month, tea and cookies will be served while visitors take in the displays of collections by local women. There will be entertaining education with local and historical women's stories by guests from Northern Illinois University.
Life Care Planning: Getting and Paying For Good Care When You Need It
Time: 1 – 2:30 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Place: KishHealth System Cancer Center at Kishwaukee Hospital
More information: 815-748-2958
Learn planning strategies that combine asset protection and care coordination to minimize financial and emotional stress and make sure assets are secure and available when the rainy day comes. Registration is required for this free program.
Dietitian's Dish
Time: 10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 26
Place: KishHealth System Cancer Center at Kishwaukee Hospital
More information: 815-748-2958
A clinical dietitian offers free food demonstrations and nourishing strategies to incorporate into your lifestyle.
Blood Drive
Time: Noon – 5 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 26
Place: Holmes Student Center
'Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women in Leadership and Education'
Time: 5 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 26
Place: Barsema Alumni Visitors Center
A panel of female Northern Illinois University alumni, all of whom have risen to success in leadership positions with academic institutions, will talk about women in leadership and education. Heavy hors d'oeuvres at 5 p.m.; panel discussion to begin at 6. Free and open to the public.
DeKalb County Community Expo
Time: 3 – 7 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 27
Place: DeKalb High School field house
Sponsored by the DeKalb and Sycamore chambers of commerce. The first hour is for business-to-business networking only; at 4 p.m. it opens to the general public.
Implanted Devices: Pacemakers and Defibrillators
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 27
Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center
More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishprograms.org
Cardiologist Paul Nguyen leads a discussion about the differences between pacemakers and defibrillators, and talks about cardiac rehab after implantation. Registration is required for this free program.
Time: 7:30 p.m. March 27 – 29 and April 3-5; 2 p.m. March 30 and April 5
Dates: March 27 – 30 and April 3 – 5
Place: Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth St.
Tickets: Adults $16, seniors $13, students $8
More information: 815-753-1600 or www.niu.edu/theatre
Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance presents this Ketti Frings adaptation of a Thomas Wolfe novel about growing up and being true to your art. Not affiliated with DeKalb School District 428.
Drive-Thru Sweet Dreams Dinner
Time: 4 – 6 p.m.
Date: Friday, March 28
Place: KishHealth System Cancer Center
Tickets: $10
More information: 815-748-2967
Dinner includes a choice of pulled pork or Italian beef sandwich, pasta salad, fruit cup and Sweet Dreams cupcake. Tickets must be purchased in advance; they can be purchased by phone or at the cancer center. Proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.
Blood Drive
Time: 3 - 6:30 p.m.
Date: Monday, March 31
Place: First Congregational United Church of Christ, 615 N. First St.
Blood Drive
Time: 3 – 7:30 p.m.
Date: Monday, March 31
Place: Goodwill, 1037 S. Annie Glidden Road
Heartsaver AED/CPR
Time: 5:30 – 9 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Place: KishHealth System Emergency Medical Services, 2727 Sycamore Road
Cost: $45
More information: 815-748-5951
This course teaches lay rescuers when to call 911, how to give CPR, how to use an AED and how to provide choking relief in adults and children. Registration required.
Understanding, Healing and Preventing Traumatic Stress in Children
Time: 6 – 7 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center
More information: 815-748-8334 or www.kishprograms.org
Adults concerned with interacting with children who have experienced trauma – including accidents, violence, abuse or loss – are invited to this free workshop to learn the tools to respond to children in a way that may minimize the negative impact of the trauma and promote healing and recovery. Parents, grandparents, teachers, health care professionals and first responders are among those who may benefit from this workshop. Registration required.
New Baby Care
Time: 6:30 – 8 p.m.
Date: Thursday, April 2
Place: Kish Hospital Roberts Conference Center
Cost: $15 per couple
More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishprograms.org
Bathing, diapering, feeding, sleeping and soothing a crying baby are among the topics covered in this class. Registration required.
GENOA
Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Date: Wednesdays; next, March 19
Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care
A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.
Line Dancing
Time: 7 – 11:30 p.m.
Date: Third Friday of every month; next, March 21
Place: Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St.
Cost: $5
Line dancing by dancers' request. Split floor for couple dances and line dances.
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Place: DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter, 16173 Baseline Road
More information: 877-475-7729
Low-cost routine vaccines for dogs and cats, plus low-cost flea/tick and heartworm preventatives. Clinic is by appointment only; call to schedule.
Ham dinner
Time: 4:30 – 7 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Place: Faith United Methodist Church, 325 S. Stott St.
Cost: Adults $10, children 6-12 $5, children 5 and younger, free
More information: 815-784-5598
Ham dinner with salad and dessert bar. Carryouts available.
Hymn Sing
Time: 6 p.m.
Date: Fourth Sunday of every month; next, March 23
Place: Emmaus Baptist Church, 701 Pearson St.
Time: 1 - 4 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Place: Genoa Public Library
Free craft. Make-and-take a spool necklace.
Bingo
Time: 7 p.m.
Date: Every Tuesday; next, March 25
Place: Genoa Veterans Home, 311 S. Washington St.
'Unraveling the Civil War Quilts'
Time: 1:30 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 27
Place: Genoa Public Library
Leslie Goddard will present a one-hour lecture.
Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Date: Friday, March 28
Place: Genoa Public Library
Sharon Holmes will demonstrate embroidery.
Time: 1 - 3 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 29
Place: 201 W. Main St.
Demonstrations of crochet, embroidery, tatting and bobbin lace.
George Shearer Smelt Fry
Time: 4 – 8 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 29
Place: Genoa Vets Home, 311 S. Washington St.
Cost: $9 all you can eat
More information: 815-784-5967
Chicken tenders and spaghetti will also be served. Proceeds benefit The Memory of Curt Alsup.
Knights of Columbus Breakfast
Time: 7:30 a.m. - noon
Date: Sunday, March 30
Place: St. Catherine of Genoa, 340 S. Stott St.
Cost: Donation
Scrambled eggs, biscuits and gravy, hash browns, pancakes, pork sausage patties, toast, orange juice, coffee and milk. Proceeds benefit the Knights of Columbus scholarship and general assistance funds.
Time: Registration from 7:30-8:30 a.m.; 5K starts at 9 a.m., 2K starts at 10 a.m.
Date: Saturday, April 12
Place: Russell Woods Forest Preserve
Cost: $25 for 5K, $10 for 2K
More information; www.stmarysycamore.org or www.signmeup.com or 815-895-5215
Register online by March 31. The 5K winds along wood and prairie trails; the 2K stays on the flat, even main lane through the preserve. Funds support St. Mary's Catholic School in Sycamore.
HINCKLEY
Story Time
Time: 10 a.m.
Dates: Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday; next, March 19
Place: Hinckley Public Library, 100 N. Maple St.
For children ages 15 months through 5 years, with a caregiver.
LEGO Group
Time: 4 p.m.
Date: Every Friday; next, March 21
Place: Hinckley Public Library, 100 N. Maple St.
Open to all ages; please do not bring LEGOs from home.
Young Author Presentation
Time: 4 p.m.
Date: Saturday, March 22
Place: Hinckley Community Building
Deanna Frances of Shabbona will talk about the process of writing and publishing her first novel. Frances wrote the novel at age 14 and had it published at 18. "Taking Chances" is available for checkout at the Hinckley Public Library.
SHABBONA
Grandparents Day
Time: 8:30 – 11 a.m.
Date: Friday, March 21
Place: Shabbona Elementary School, 301 W. Cherokee St.
Grandparents of Shabbona Elementary students are invited to visit their grandchildren at school. There will be a musical program at 9:30 a.m.
SYCAMORE
Bingo
Time: Card sales start at 6 p.m.; play begins at 7:15
Date: Every Wednesday; next, March 19
Place: Sycamore Veterans Home, 121 S. California St.
Story Time
Time: 10 a.m.
Dates: March 19 and 20
Place: Sycamore Public Library
For children 3-5 who can be in the room without a caregiver.
Eat to Beat Heart Disease: Soluble Fiber
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, March 19
Place: Hy-Vee Club Room
Cost: $15
More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishprograms.org
Learn how soluble fiber can reduce risk of heart disease and how this information applies to daily food choices. Registration required.
DeKalb Christian Women's Connection
Time: Noon
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: Blumen Gardens, 325 Edward St.
Cost: $10
More information: 815-762-5513
A dramatic presentation of the biblical story of Rahab will be the feature. Laura La Frado will be the speaker.
'Divergent' Book Talk
Time: 4 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: Sycamore Public Library
Have pizza and talk about the book "Divergent" in anticipation of the movie's release.
Free Senior Breakfast
Time: 8 – 10 a.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: Grand Victorian, 1440 Somonauk St.
More information: 815-895-1900
Breakfast and prize drawings.
Warm Season Vegetable Crops
Time: 3 – 4 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 20
Place: University of Illinois Extension, 1350 W. Prairie Drive
Cost: $5
More information: 815-758-8194 or web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo
Learn about warm season vegetable garden staples that can be started early.
Harry Potter Movie Marathon
Time: 1 – 4 p.m.
Dates: March 22 – 29
Place: Sycamore Public Library
Watch all eight "Harry Potter" movies, with popcorn and Honeydukes sweets.
HOPE Circle
Time: 6 p.m.
Date: Fourth Monday of each month; next, March 24
Place: Wise Owl Wellness Center, 1101 DeKalb Ave., Suite 4
Cost: $15
More information: www.wiseowlwellness.com
Clear limiting beliefs and rewire your thoughts and feelings to live your ideal life.
'Yes! You CAN: Preserving Safely'
Time: 1:30 – 3 p.m.
Date: Tuesday, March 25
Place: University of Illinois Extension, 1350 W. Prairie Drive
Cost: $5
More information: 815-758-8194 or web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo
Learn the basics of food preservation, including the most up-to-date information on preserving food safely. Bring your pressure canner lid to test the gauge for accuracy. Registration preferred by March 21.
Blood Drive
Time: 3:30 – 7 p.m.
Date: Thursday, March 27
Place: Sycamore Public Library, 103 E. State St.
Nothing But Net 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament
Time: 9 a.m.
Date: Saturday, March 29
Place: Cornerstone Christian Academy, 355 N. Cross St.
Cost: $40 to register a team
More information: 815-895-8522 or www.cornerstonechristianacademy.com
Tournament open to all community teams in these divisions: boys 10-13, boys 14-18, men, and girls 12-18. Three-point and free-throw contests begin at noon. There will be concessions and prizes. Register online; deadline to register is 11:59 p.m. March 25. Proceeds benefit Cornerstone sports boosters.
Time: 8:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Date: Monday, March 31
Place: DeKalb County Center for Agriculture, 1350 W. Prairie Drive
More information: 815-753-6365 or tbullock@niu.edu
A women-only, peer-to-peer, informal discussion where women who own, co-own or farm farmland can talk about their goals and share information. There will be information on cost-share and conservation resources as well. The meeting ends at noon, then there will be an optional field tour ending at 3 p.m. Space is limited; reservations required.
STEM Story Time
Time: 10 a.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Place: Sycamore Public Library
NIU STEM Outreach will be at this special story time to demonstrate an app that plays with shapes, colors and sounds to make music. For independent children 3-5.
Eat to Beat Heart Disease: Healthy Fats
Time: 6 – 8 p.m.
Date: Wednesday, April 2
Place: Hy-Vee Club Room
Cost: $15
More information: 815-748-8962 or www.kishprograms.org
Learn to replace saturated fats in your diet with healthy fats. Registration required.
WATERMAN
Bookworms Story Time
Time: 12:30 p.m.
Date: Wednesdays; next, March 19
Place: Clinton Township Public Library
Stories for children 3 to 5.
Walk-in Blood Pressure Clinic
Time: 9 – 11 a.m.
Date: Thursdays; next, March 20
Place: KishHealth Family and Specialty Care
A community wellness professional monitors blood pressure weekly. Receive blood pressure information and a tracking card. No registration necessary.
Boy Scouts Fish Fry
Time: 5 – 7:30 p.m.
Date: Friday, March 21
Place: Waterman Community Building
Cost: Adults $7.50, children 9 and younger $5.50