Northern Illinois Community Calendar

Learning how to be a resource for youth struggling with mental health challenges through our free QPR Training.

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): A suicide prevention gatekeeper training that teaches adults how to recognize warning signs, offer hope, and refer youth to life-saving professional care

Workshops are scheduled once enough attendees have submitted for them. The workshops are 8 hours long split in a single session or 2-day sessions of 4 hours each.

For more information, email: Ymhfirstaid@niu.edu

A display of paintings created by members of the Plein Air Painters of Rockford depicting "Buildings". These paintings were created on location. Many of the buildings depicted are in the Rockford area

The Coliseum Museum is honored to host a special collection of China by members of the Pickard Collectors Club. The club was founded in 1992 by Joy Luke of Bloomington, Illinois, who along with a small group of Pickard enthusiasts thought it was time to bring together collectors of Pickard porcelain and glass.

Wilder A. Pickard (1857-1939) started the company in 1894 by offering his customers hand-painted giftware, artware, and eventually dinnerware of the highest quality.

Today, Pickard, Inc., remains a family-owned business proudly producing high quality, hand-crafted china. Each Pickard generation carries on the tradition of producing Ivory and White porcelain for individuals as well as for government and corporate organizations, both domestic and international. For more information visit their website at https://pickardcollectorsclub.org

Les Allen
Taft Gallery, August 1 – September 30

Les Allen, an award-winning photographer based in Dixon, IL, specializes in Fine Art Traditional Black and White Photography. Using a large format camera, Les captures the surreal and abstract elements of the world around him.

In the world of analog photography, Les is a master printer, creating luminous and mesmerizing images that challenge perception and invite viewers into a dreamlike realm. His photographs, a manifestation of his deep connection with nature, convey his instinctual understanding of light, shadow, and composition. Evoking emotions, provoking thought, and inspiring viewers to explore their own intuitive connections with the world.

Janet Beiler
Feature Walls, September 1 – 30
Sponsored by Stillman Bank

“I am a full time artist pursuing my third career in life. I work in oils, acrylics, and watercolor medium and my artistic inspiration has been landscapes, florals, and narrative art, consignment on request. I exhibit at The Next Picture show in Dixon and The Loft in Morrison, IL. Currently you may view my art on Instagram Janet Beiler username Serafinas_window and on Facebook at art created by jbeiler.”

Rock River Valley Painters Guild Plein Air Art Show
September 2 – October 31
Lowden Gallery, Coliseum Museum

Sponsored by the RRVPG

​Artists participating in the 2026 annual show include Carol Bingham, Pam Bradford, Dick Cholke, Janice Conkrite, Charles Gregory, Anne Hilliard, Tom Linden, Nancie King Mertz, Sharon Saponari, Donna Smith, Terry Werntz, Lucinda Winterfield and Leah Zahn.

Awards will be presented by judge Jean Apgar, on October 9, in conjunction with the Moments in Monochrome Awards & Reception.

The RRVPG is a not-for-profit organization promoting local art and art education (North Central Illinois).

Meet with representatives of the Illinois Tollway and the Illinois State Treasurer's Office.

I-PASS ON-DEMAND SERVICES OFFERED:
IPASS Transponder Deactivation & Recycling
New IPASS Sticker Transponder Issuance
Account Updates (payment methods, addresses, plate numbers, etc.)
Billing questions
I-PASS Assist applications (toll forgiveness, reduced tolls for qualifying individuals)

ICASH SERVICES OFFERED:
Look-Up service (discover how much you're owed)
File a claim (start the process of claiming your funds)

For more information, contact Kimberly Barrios, Community Relations & Events Coordinator for DeKalb Township, 815-758-8282.

Two lectures presented courtesy of the Mary Sue Schriber endowment.

Melissa Adams-Campbell, the Mary Suzanne Schriber Endowed Professor of Literary Studies researching women and gender in literature, will give a talk titled, "Seduction and Scandal in the Stacks: Tracing Two Early American Bestsellers and Women's Circulating Textual Bodies." She will share an archival find made in NIU's Rare Books and Special Collections and how it weaves together reader interests in seduction, scandal, and the circulation of women's textual bodies in early America.

Karina Diaz, the Mary Suzanne Schriber Endowed Graduate Student Scholar for the 2026-2027 academic year, is writing a dissertation on Latine Literature, culture, and higher education. Her talk, " “‘Mourning the past, grieving the future:’ Finding the Latina Student in the American Campus Novel,” defines the campus novel and traces the relationship between 200 years of a literary genre and Latina fiction that depicts academic experiences.

Join us for a Composting Open House at the Lake County Extension Office on Thursday, September 17, 2026. Whether you are struggling with a traditional backyard setup or want to explore advanced indoor methods, our Master Gardeners are here to help you get your pile back on track.
What to Expect

Expert Troubleshooting: Bring your toughest questions and get real, research-based answers for home composting.
Live System Demonstrations: Tour the extension grounds to see multiple types of outdoor composting systems in action.
Indoor Methods Revealed: Get an up-close look at active indoor vermicomposting and harvesting (worm bins) and Bokashi pre-composting setups.

To ensure everyone gets personalized advice and a quality tour of the demonstration bins, registration is required. Please select one 30-minute arrival window between 4:00 and 6:00 PM.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate, please contact Alex Landberg

You are invited to experience the collective wisdom and personal experience of artists' interpretation of the theme Echoes of a Changing Planet. Participating artists:
Norm Knott, Marsha Goodheart, Holly Blair-Cascio, Susan Berry, Julie Kennelly, Maya Simmons, Caitlyn Jahn, Paula Flanagan-Marsh, Barbara Berney, Lori Gustafson, Sadie Hoessrich, Becca Houlihan, Jose Sente, Greg LaMont, Clara Krick, Jessie Crow-Mermel, Wren Medina, Cassie Blair, Ventie Houi, Drew Helge, Annette McLean and Cherie Heck.