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.

Participants are invited to bring a favorite book from home, or select one from the library’s collection, and read aloud to Hobo. This relaxed, supportive experience helps build reading skills and confidence while making reading fun. The program is free and open to the public.

Joy Meyer

Taft Gallery Artist, February 1 – March 31

Joy Meyer earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Art and Art Education from Northern Illinois University. She retired in 2005 after teaching art for thirty years, the last twenty years at Rock Falls High School in Rock Falls, IL. Joy also taught many workshops for both teenagers and adults during her career and shortly after retirement. She has won numerous awards for both her painting and her teaching.

Joy has enjoyed working in many different media including watercolor, pen and ink, pencil, glass etching, stained glass, and silk painting, but the medium she has chosen to specialize in during recent years is Acrylic Painting. She enjoys working in a fairly realistic style using primarily bright, cheerful colors. Her actual painting techniques vary depending on the subject matter being painted and the mood desired, often using many techniques within a painting to better represent the details within the painting. Joy also enjoys the challenges of working in an increasingly wider variety of subject matter.



America the Beautiful Art Exhibit
February 4 – March 21
Sponsored by Ron Bry

Awards Reception
February 13, 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Judge: Stuart Roddy
Music: Jim Kanas & Roger Hintzsche

Participating artists include Cindy Bear, Alice Blue, Richard Born, Bob Cholke, Rick Davis, Connie Fry, Beverly Garcia, Chuck Gregory, Timothy Griffith, Dan Grossmann, Stephen Hart, Kat Heitzman, Maggie Isaacs, Bob Kapheim, Julie Kennelly, Linnea Koch, Paula Kuehl, Bob Logsdon, Colleen Logsdon, Henry Matthiessen III, Joy Meyer, Gary Pearson, Joe Popp, Stephonie A Schmitz, and Joseph Virbickis.

Join us as we celebrate the diverse and talented authors of McHenry County. Local authors will be on hand to display and discuss their latest work. Whether you’re a book lover, aspiring author, or simply curious about the literary scene in McHenry County, this is an event you won’t want to miss! A list of participating authors with be available starting March 4 on our website.
Date: Saturday/March 21
Time: 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

Are you a local author? Would you like an exhibit table at our Local Author Showcase? If you live in Woodstock, McHenry County, have a close connection to the community, or have books set in McHenry County, consider being part of our Local Author Showcase. Self-published authors welcome. Contact katieb@woodstockil.info or carriez@woodstockil.info for an application and more information. Deadline to register is February 27.

During the 1940s, male professional baseball players left the field to lend a hand in WW2 war efforts. To keep the game alive, Chicago Cubs’ owner Philip K. Wrigley and others started the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) which lasted from 1943-1954. Rockford’s own team, The Peaches, were one of the best teams in the league, winning the championship four times, more than any other team. Today many people know of the Peaches through the 1992 Hollywood film, A League of Their Own.

Provided by Midway Village Museum, this presentation is part of the America 250 initiative: celebrating our nation throughout the year. It is open to all ages and sponsored by The Friends of the Library. Registration is not required.

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

Join us for Conversational Café every 3rd Saturday from 1:00 to 2:30 PM at the Christ Community Outreach Center, located at 316 N 6th St in DeKalb. This is a great opportunity to practice your English in a welcoming atmosphere. Everyone is welcome, and walk-ins are accepted! For more information, visit ccclife.org/dekalboutreachcenter.

Pop music comes and goes, but some songs from over 100 years ago are just as fresh in the mind as the day they were written. The Entertainer, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, St. Louis Blues, and Ballin’ the Jack are still familiar, but even when they first hit the scene, these songs were recognized as having something special.

We’ll look at some of the songs that captivated the public and how their popularity continued into the present, and we’ll also share some songs and rags that were hits back in their day. So to quote Irving Berlin, “come on along” for a great hour of ragtime and some early jazz and blues!

“Cherry & Jerry” is Isaac Cherry on percussion and Jerry Rabushka on piano. Based in St. Louis, the duo is also part of the larger “Ragged Blade Band,” and has toured music of the ragtime era throughout a several state area. They’ve found this music is great for good times – brewpubs, wineries, markets, festivals, and more! They’ve appeared in the Big River Steampunk Festival in Hannibal, MO, the Oddities and Curiosities Expo in Chicago and Tulsa, the RAGBRAI bicycle event in Iowa, and the St. Louis World’s Fare in their hometown.

This free event is open to all. No registration is required. It is sponsored by Gretchen and Charles Moore.

This event is part of the America 250 initiative; celebrating our nation throughout the year.

For more information, please contact Samantha at samanthah@dkpl.org or at (815) 756-9568 ext. 1701.

Embark on an exciting journey following the transformation of rocks and minerals into dazzling gemstones! This new series lets participants travel alongside a material’s formation in the earth, through the mining and production processes, and showcases how rough stones are formed, extracted, and transformed into sparkling gems. With real samples to examine and expert demonstrations, this program offers a fascinating look at the life cycle of a gem, highlighting the process that turns a simple rock into a stunning piece of nature’s art. The first program will focus on Jade.

Music on Pearl is excited to host an afternoon concert with local singer/songwriter
favorite Marques Morel and friend Simon Cropp on Saturday, March 21st at 2pm. The
show will be held in the “acoustically wonderful” sanctuary of the historic UU Church of Stockton at 219 North Pearl. Tickets are $15 and are available at https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/marques-morel-with-simon-cropp, or at the door.

Marques, with five CDs to his name, is well known in the area – but rarely does an
audience have an opportunity to see him on stage where they can really immerse
themselves in his music, connecting with his lyrics and energy.

Originally from Illinois corn country, he has performed just about anywhere that anyone
would listen: big city street corners around the world, county fairs, folk festivals, hole in
the wall taverns, theaters and campfires.
His voice has been described as reminiscent of country outlaws, like Johnny Cash and
Waylon Jennings, low with lots of vibrato. One reviewer said of his voice that it’s “like
country singers that are actually from the country”.

Simon Cropp is newer to recording and recently released his first CD. Also a Midwest
native, his songwriting has drawn comparisons to his biggest inspiration, John Prine. Simon appreciates those everyday stories that make lives meaningful. We are excited to hear him perform.

There is plenty of street parking for the show and the venue is wheelchair accessible.
Snacks and drinks will be available for donation.