In partnership with the City of DeKalb’s “America 250” initiative in honor of the year-long celebration for our country’s 250th anniversary of the United States, Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists are launching a series of community collections throughout the year to support local non-profit organizations that support those in need and promote a healthy lifestyle in our area.

As part of this effort, Northern Rehab is excited to introduce our first initiative: “250 Books & Games for the Future,” a donation drive to support CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) and the children they serve in DeKalb County. CASA DeKalb County’s mission is to advocate for and be the voice of children in our community who have experienced abuse or neglect, ensuring they have a safe, permanent home and a brighter future.

“In honor of America 250, Northern Rehab wanted to celebrate in a way that reflects who we are and how we serve our patients,” said Northern Rehab physical therapist Melissa Beck. “We are deeply committed to supporting the communities we serve, and this America 250 collection drive allows us to invest directly in local children and families. Our goal for the ‘250 Books & Games for the Future’ drive is to collect 250 new items—children’s books, classic board and card games, and puzzles—to support children served by CASA DeKalb with opportunities for learning, connection, and joy.”

From April 6–17, community members are invited to drop off donations during regular business hours at any Northern Rehab location in DeKalb (3266 Sycamore Road), Genoa (540 E. Main Street), and Rochelle (1211 Currency Court, Suite 1).

Donations will directly benefit children served by CASA DeKalb County, providing them with age-appropriate books to support literacy and imagination, as well as games that encourage positive social interaction, family time, and fun. As our nation reflects on 250 years of history and looks ahead to the next generation, this drive offers a meaningful way for neighbors to invest in the futures of children right here at home.

All items should be new to ensure the children receive high-quality books and games that they can enjoy and cherish. Requested donations include:

• Board books for babies/young children
• Pre-K books (ages 3 – 5 years)
• Books for pre-teens, teens, and young adults (boys and girls)
• Generic kids’ books (not a specific topic or holiday books)
• Classic board games (Connect Four, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Yahtzee, Candyland, Dominoes, Hi Ho Cherry-O, Pass the Pigs, Don’t Break the Ice, etc.)
• Classic card games (Uno, Skip-Bo, Go Fish, Crazy Eights, memory/matching, 5 Crowns, Old Maid, Phase 10, etc)
• Children’s puzzles (12 to 500 pieces, board puzzles)

By participating in “250 Books & Games for the Future,” community members can join the America 250 initiative in a local, tangible way by honoring the past while investing in the potential of children who will shape our shared future.

For more information, please visit northernrehabpt.com or call 815.756.8524.

Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists, voted DeKalb County’s Best Physical Therapists for 14 consecutive years and Ogle County’s Best Physical Therapist for 6 years, is a physical therapist owned and operated physical therapy practice dedicated to providing clients with the very best one-on-one customized care and has built a solid reputation and strong relationships within the communities they serve. Learn more at NorthernRehabPT.com and follow them on most social media platforms.

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

An exhibition of twenty-four original paintings created by the Plein Air Painters of Rockford depicts Rockford iconic scenes and surprises. Artworks include views of Klehm, Sinnissippi Gardens, Midway Village, Indian Hill Manor and many more. The exhibit is located in the Visitor Center at Klehm Arboretum.

The Black & White PLUS Photography Show is a juried exhibition celebrating the strength and versatility of monochrome photography. This show invites photographers to explore imagery created without full color (including traditional black-and-white, sepia-toned and cyanotype), focusing instead on composition, contrast, light, shadow, texture, and visual storytelling.

The gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10-4 or by appointment.

Princeton's Prairie Arts Council presents "Suite Dreams," [love, intimacy, & artistic practice as escape from the dystopian nightmare that is our reality], collaborative works by Harry William Sidebotham Il & Lyzz Lundberg Sidebotham, weekends through April 24 in its art gallery.

This body of work is exploring the freedom and limits of marital intimacy in a dystopian hellscape by married collaborators Harry William Sidebotham Il and Lyzz Lundberg Sidebotham. Their independent art practices align by their modes of making and love of paint and masking tape.

Can stress ignite passion? Does lust inherently decrease with time? Is escapism delegated to toxicity? Does escapism invalidate love and partnership? Can we relish in love and lust as a partnership while the world literally and figuratively burns around us? We are inclined to believe that love and intimacy offer a glimmer of hope in contemporary times. Expressed through art and acts, we strengthen our partnership despite the times.

Harry's work is focused on finding the moments of bliss in visual static and chaos. Sidebotham organizes geometric systems and attempts to make conflict in the eye through color.

A third generation painter, Harry William Sidebotham Il received his BFA in painting from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and his MFA in painting from Illinois State University.

Notable solo exhibitions include Happy Gallery and NYCH Gallery in Chicago, The College of DuPage, and The Indianapolis Art Center. Sidebotham's work has been featured in New American Paintings and he was a Luminarts finalist and the regional winner of the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series. Sidebotham lives and works in Peoria, Illinois.

Lyzz's work seeks to luxuriate in moments not occupied by the forces deemed "Thee Sacred Institutions" - a state which they call "Thee Precipice of Bliss." These moments are not governed by systemically oppressive forces and provide freedom through intimacy. This conundrum is communicated through hard edges and undulating color. Creating is a magickal ritual of resistance, surrender, struggle, and pleasure.

Lyzz is a native of Central Illinois and alum of Illinois State University's Wonsook Kim School of Art. Lyzz has been featured in publications Sixty Inches From Center and Voyage Chicago.

Their work has been featured locally as well as nationally and internationally -from Los Angeles to Peoria to Budapest.

Formed in 2024 by trombonist Andrew Meyer and saxophonist Andy Schlinder, Interlace Jazz Sextet blends tradition with innovation. Inspired by groups like Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, the band honors the classic sextet format, offering a mix of reinterpreted jazz standards and original compositions. With a focus on rich, collaborative sound, Interlace brings a fresh yet respectful take on the jazz tradition.