Community Calendar

The free AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program will again be available at the DeKalb Public Library and is for people with low to moderate incomes. AARP Foundation Tax -Aide volunteers will be available by appointment most Saturdays from February 7 through April 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Be sure to bring a photo ID and all necessary tax documents, as well as last year’s return forms.

Please sign up for an appointment by contacting Frances at (815) 991-9418.

For more information, please contact the reference desk at (815) 756-9568 ext. 2150 or at reference@dkpl.org.

The art of David Van Delinder is now on display in the Lowden Gallery from January 1 – February 28.

David’s career actually began in the music business. Blessed with talent in both art and music, he was a premier area guitarist at a young age, recording and performing with Chicago folk legends Bonnie Koloc, Steve Goodman, John Prine and others. His songs have been published and recorded by name artists.

When the road became unsuitable for a married man and father, he turned to his other muse, art. He worked his way up to senior art director for a well-known Chicago agency before deciding to go out on his own. He became a successful and respected freelance illustrator and graphic designer creating art and designs for billboards, magazines, packaging, and books.

David’s fine art is rooted in traditional technique and classical composition. His pen and ink drawings of abandoned barns and jazz musicians, impressionistic florals, landscapes, and classical oil portraits all display both virtuosity and inspiration.

Mr. Van Delinder also accepts commissioned portraits and other works in oil, pastel, charcoal and pen and ink. His pencil portraits of musicians and dancers are very popular and highly sought after.

He lives and works in Cherry Valley, IL.

Jack Benny is regarded as one of the top comedians in American history, shining in vaudeville, radio, television, and film, while making a huge impact upon the sitcom genre. Join Film Historian Dr. Annette Bochenek for a special “Hometowns to Hollywood” tribute to Jack Benny, as she discusses his career, legacy, and early years in Waukegan, IL, in a multimedia presentation.

This event is intended for adults. Registration is not required. This is part of the America 250 initiative: celebrating our nation throughout the year. It is sponsored by the Friends of the Library.

For more information, contact Susan at susang@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 2114.

Join us for a peaceful wander at The Confluence as we explore the changing early spring landscape. The Earth is thawing, sap is flowing within the trees, and seeds stir in the ground. After the welcome circle, take mindful time alone to discover what is stirring and awakening within your own life. The afternoon will culminate at sunset with tea and group reflection. Please bring a journal and pen, a mug, and dress for the elements. This event has limited space to ensure an intimate experience.

Jessie Crow Mermel and Frank Langholf will be your guides. Learn more at wildreenchantment.com.

Nature At The Confluence is committed to providing affordable environmental education for our community. We invite you to choose the particiption fee that is most comfortable to you, either $5, $10, or $15 per person.

Welcome back to the Fiber Arts Club! This month, we will explore the wide range of sewing tools and sewing machine accessories. Local fabric shop MAD Fabrics + Studio owner Rachael will help demonstrate how to use these tools.

All skill levels are welcome to learn a new technique or bring your own project to work on. This club is an open format to try out different fiber arts and form a community of fiber friends! Enjoy tea or coffee and comforting background music. Intended for teens and adults. No registration is required.

For more information, please contact Emily at emilyk@dkpl.org or (815) 756-9568 ext. 6106.

When the time comes to choose a Medicare plan or review your existing coverage the options can become overwhelming. This workshop presented by Jane Sanchez of Aegis Resources, Inc. will provide critical information about the various Medicare plans.

On March 7th, 1965, six hundred brave citizens marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, demanding the right to vote. They were met that Sunday morning with tear gas and brutal violence as law enforcement officers charged on horseback. Though that moment helped spur passage of the Voting Rights Act, efforts to suppress voting rights in America did not end, they evolved. In this powerful documentary, Emmy-winning filmmaker Loki Mulholland, civil rights veteran Joanne Blackmon Bland, and New York Times bestselling author Carol Anderson trace the long history of voter suppression and examine why confronting it remains essential to preserving democracy and equality for all. The film is 46 minutes, not rated, and made possible through Kanopy. The program is free and open to the public.

Join the Boone County Conservation District at the Roger Gustafson Nature Center for a hootin' good time as we dissect owl pellets and use our investigative skills to learn about one of nature's coolest predators! This a family-friendly program. Registration is required - $2 per owl pellet. Spots are limited, so make sure to reserve yours!

Participants are invited to welcome spring by creating a butterfly collage using recycled books and watercolors. All supplies will be provided. This program is geared toward youth ages eight and up, as well as adults. The program is free and open to the public.

American Stories: A Reading Road Trip begins in Rhode Island, a state with a long and varied literary tradition. This 35-minute documentary examines Rhode Island’s literary legacy, from the revolutionary writings of Roger Williams and the Gothic fiction of H. P. Lovecraft to Edgar Allan Poe’s time in Providence and the work of Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jhumpa Lahiri, including Interpreter of Maladies and The Namesake.

The program also includes interviews with writers and illustrators such as Anika Aldamuy Denise (Planting Stories), Christopher Denise (Knight Owl), Caldecott honoree Oge Mora (Thank You, Omu!), David Macaulay (The Way Things Work), and Elizabeth Rush (Rising). Their perspectives highlight how Rhode Island’s landscape, architecture, and arts community influence both literary and visual storytelling.

Viewers will also see historic and cultural institutions including the Providence Athenaeum, Redwood Library, and John Hay Library, along with an examination of the role the Rhode Island School of Design has played in shaping generations of artists and storytellers. The documentary is not rated and is made possible through PBS Books. The program is free and open to the public.