News

DeKALB – Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra presents its spring concert on Saturday, May 4. The concert will feature Piano Concerto No. 2 and Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 by Sergei Rachmaninoff and “Les Preludes” by Franz Liszt. Music director Linc Smelser will present a free pre-concert lecture beginning at 6:30 p.m. in room 173 in the Music Building.

GENOA — Danielle Neisendorf of Genoa, a member of the Genoa-Kingston FFA Chapter, won the State Equine Science-Entrepreneurship Award at the State FFA Proficiency Awards Day April 6.

BIG ROCK — Collections by Russian/American designer Irina Christensen will be modeled at the Couture Creations Fashion Show at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 5 at Esther’s Place, 201 Route 30, in Big Rock.

KIRKLAND – The Greater Kirkland Area Chamber of Commerce is seeking Citizen of the Year nominations for 2013. Nominees should have performed significant public service, fostered pride in the community and/or made a lasting contribution to the quality of life in the area served by the chamber, which is equivalent to the Hiawatha School District boundaries. The nominee does not need to live in the area, provided he or she has been active in the community.

GENOA – The Genoa Days King & Queen Scholarship Contest Committee has announced the semifinalists in this year’s contest.

SYCAMORE – Gardeners will soon see how much last summer’s drought impacted the landscape. It may take three to five years to see the impact on trees, but other plants respond quicker. Although most lawns revived better than expected last fall, University of Illinois Extension horticulture specialist David Robson anticipates many will need renovation this spring.

Master Gardener training for Boone, DeKalb, Ogle and Kane counties was recently completed and 17 new Master Gardener interns are starting their volunteer internship.

GENOA – Genoa again will have a grocery store after Piggly Wiggly finalized a deal to open in the old Browns’ County Market on Pearson Drive and bring about 70 jobs to the community.

MALTA – CAST Foundation’s fifth annual 5k Tractor Trot will be at 9 a.m. Saturday, June 8, in Malta. Proceeds this year will benefit Feed’em Soup Community Project. Feed’em Soup’s mission is “to empower our community by serving fresh food with compassion and respect in a restaurant quality environment to anyone – regardless of situation, background or ability to pay – while strengthening our community and nourishing hope.”

Master Gardeners from Ogle, Boone and DeKalb counties recently received training for a new youth program, I Think Green. Master Gardeners received hands-on training for three tracks: worms, butterflies and insects.

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced recently that applications are being accepted from qualified nonprofit and public organizations that provide loans to support rural businesses and community development groups. Funding, which is intended to spark business expansion and create jobs, will be made available through USDA’s Intermediary Relending Program (IRP).

SYCAMORE – The spring series of the Four Seasons Gardening program, from University of Illinois Extension, continues with a session titled “All About Tomatoes: Strategies for Controlling Common Pests and Disorders” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 7 and 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 9. Both sessions will be presented via teleconference at the DeKalb County Center for Agriculture, 1350 W. Prairie Drive in Sycamore.

SYCAMORE – A fundraiser on April 27 will help a local family to cope with ongoing medical bills.

SYCAMORE – CASA DeKalb County will hold its third annual The Triple Crown fundraiser from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, May 3, at Blumen Gardens in Sycamore.