In the News
4H Speaking Contest 2010
By ELENA GRIMM – egrimm@daily-chronicle.com
DeKalb receives federal funding for bike path
DeKALB – The city has been awarded federal funding for a new bike path that will connect neighborhoods southwest of DeKalb High School to the school and nearby parks and athletic fields.
Under the plan, the path will run on the north side of Fairview Drive from Heritage Drive to Route 23, then it will turn north on the highway to Lucerne Lane.
The $168,000 from the Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation, Community and System Preservation grant program requires a 20 percent local match, or $42,000, said Joel Maurer, assistant director of public works for building, engineering and transportation.
This could come from motor fuel tax funds or another source, he said.
The Fairview Drive project was one of 16 projects selected among more than 100 proposals from around the country, according to a memo from the FHWA. It was the only one selected in Illinois.
“The biggest thing is that it’s for all those residents, not only the new residents of the City of DeKalb that have been annexed in, but all the people who live in the subdivisions back there,” said 4th Ward Alderman Brendon Gallagher, whose district includes that area.
In July, about 30 homes on that stretch of Fairview Drive were brought into city limits through a forced annexation process. Gallagher said that the impetus for annexing the land was to be able to bring city water to the properties if the road ever is reconstructed, but that a bike path was secondary.
“The actual bike path, I guess that’s an added benefit for the residents who live there,” he said.
He also noted that the path would be “a natural thing” to have when the high school building is converted into a middle school next year because more bike and foot traffic will be expected.
Maurer said the first step is a consulting engineering design agreement that will come before the city council for approval at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 13.
“That is the date they would endorse going forward or not,” he said.
The grant stipulates that funds must be obligated during the current fiscal year or they will be lost.
Midweek News June 20, 2010
4H Speaking Contest 2010 4H Speaking Contest 2010
DeKalb County hosts Tour de Farms
DEKALB – More than 2,000 bicyclists are expected to gather in DeKalb County this weekend to help out a good cause.
The Bike MS: Tour de Farms is set for June 12 and June 13. The two-day bike ride is scheduled to begin 7 a.m., June 12 at the Northern Illinois University Convocation Center. The bicyclists will travel throughout DeKalb County and surrounding areas, then back to the Convocation Center. Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is serving as honorary chairperson for this year’s event.
“We’re kind of all over the place,” said Elle Ullum, event manager. “The route goes south to Route 30 to Hinckley Middle School then further south.”
The purpose of the bike ride is to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Greater Illinois Chapter. Ullum said they expect to raise about $1.2 million this year.
“Every rider commits to raising a $300 minimum,” Ullum said. “They ask friends and family members for donations. We, usually, receive an average of $850 per person.”
During the first day of the event, participants have the option to ride 35 miles, 75 miles or 100 miles. On the second day, they either may ride 75 miles or 100 miles.
“The majority of our riders travel 100 miles on the first day and then 75 miles the second day for a total of 175 miles,” Ullum said. “We get all levels of bikers that’s why we offer the shorter route to make it available for everyone.”
There will be 12 rest stops along the route where participants may purchase drinks and food items.
“Bikers can purchase bananas, oranges and all kinds of food at the stops,” Ullum said. “There will also be food available to them when they get back to the (Convocation Center).”
Besides the bike ride, there also will be a festival held throughout the day on June 11 at the Convocation Center. Ullum said residents do not have to participate in the bike ride in order to attend the festival.
“There will be bands and music all afternoon,” Ullum said. “Anyone can come out and enjoy the music and learn about multiple sclerosis.”
Officials from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society organize the bike ride throughout the year. Ullum said about 500 volunteers help make the event a success. “We have meetings with representatives from all the jurisdictions. We’ve met with the mayor of DeKalb, and he will help us kick off the bike ride on Saturday,” Ullum said. Copyright © 2010 Midweek. All rights reserved.
Page 92 Invironments Magazine “Biking with Beanzie”
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/07/23/68073572/
Letter to the Editor. Thanks for Beanzie support.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/07/19/80652286/
Beanzie Article 7/19/09
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/07/14/66039563/
Barry Schrader’s Tuesday articles on Beanzie and Toney
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/07/06/12009695/
Pre-Beanzie Article thanks to Sue.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/09/25/21319284/
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/09/18/91886415/
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/09/16/20715166/
Peanut Day.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/08/21/33161601/
Corn Fest at the airport.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/08/05/49458662/
Kish Kiwanis Grant assists in Littlejohn School and Garden Club.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/07/13/22806079/
Kish Kiwanis supports 4-H Speaking Contest.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2009/02/17/22522823/
Park District honors Kish Kiwanis support.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/10/20/features/people/doc48f537ff063e5006155721.txt
Childrens Learning Center, Mandy Derrington Friend of the Child Award
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/09/22/features/people/doc48d034aa5e74f501055976.txt
Kiwanis supports Kishwaukee Hospital Pediatrics Room
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/08/13/features/people/people04.txt
Oak Crest Good Samaritan Award honors Beryl Smith
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/04/01/features/people/people10.txt
Childrens Learning Center and Reading is FUNdamental Support
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2008/03/29/features/lifestyles/lifestyles03.txt
Aktion Club and Community Service
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/03/18/neighbors/lifestyles/lifestyles01.txt
Bowl for Kids Sake
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/03/26/neighbors/neighbors06.txt
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2007/03/19/neighbors/neighbors01.txt
Rock Paper Scissor Tournament
http://www.northernstar.info/article.php?id=33927&old=1
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2006/10/23/neighbors/neighbors16.txt
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/articles/2002/10/24/news/export11977.txt
Haunted House
November 2, 2009
NIU’s Transportation Department was held up as an example of environmental responsibility in “We are the Weather Makers: The History of Climate Change,” the new book by DeKalb-based author Tim Flannery.Director of Transportation Bill Finucane has helped the university assemble the largest fleet of hybrid vehicles of any stage agency. More than one-third of all university motor-pool sedans are hybrids, using an electric motor to offset gasoline use.
The university police department is also believed to be the first in the nation to have a fleet comprised entirely of hybrids. The department also makes extensive use of vehicles that run on alternative fules, such as ethanol and biodiesel.
The department also was lauded for its extensive recycling efforts – including shipping old fuel drums to the School of Music to be turned into instruments for the nationally acclaimed steelpan studies program, which makes steel drums for the NIU Steel Band.