We are REALLY BACK HOME!  Please join us Thursday and Friday for some great basketball.

Can’t wait to see you all!

• COMPASS CHALLENGE (Game 1 at 4:30 / Game 2 @ 7:00)
• Star Wars Night
• Toy Drive

Go Huskies!

Elder Care Services recognizes the 11 years of dedication and service of Board Vice President Richard Dowen. Richard retired from Northern Illinois University and has served on ECS’ board for the past 11 years. During this time, Richard provided guidance to ECS and assistance to the community. Current Board President John Rey said this about Richard; “Dick was a good mentor for those who came on the board at Elder Care Services. I was always appreciative of Dick’s thoughtful consideration, offering of suggestions, and background knowledge of finance.” Richard’s financial experience at NIU was instrumental to ECS’ growth and goals. While Richard will be missed, his caring nature will remain at ECS forever.

On Monday, October 18, the Board of Directors of the Sycamore Education Foundation (SEF) awarded $17,487 in grants to enhance educational opportunities for the students of Sycamore Community School District 427. 

“Through the support of our generous donors, we are able to provide funding for seven special projects for educators during this grant cycle” said Lauren Holtz, SEF Executive Director. “We are so thankful for the generosity of our community.  Through donations from individuals and businesses, we are fortunate to be able to provide funding for Sycamore 427 teachers and students that encourages creativity and innovation inside the classroom.” 

These grant funds will go to support a variety of projects in District 427 including: 

• Graphing calculators at Sycamore High School
• Social emotional books at West Elementary School
• iPads to support physical education at Sycamore Middle School
• NoRedInk, grammar education software at Sycamore Middle School
• Mirrors, Windows, Sliding Doors Initiative at all elementary schools
• Movement chairs for students with sensory needs at North Grove Elementary School

Since 2018, SEF has funded nearly $240,000 in grants for Sycamore schools. The Foundation has supported a variety of projects for the District including the library renovation at North Elementary School, a 21st Century collaborative commons at Sycamore High School, digital signage, and the Spartan TV production studio and access channel . 

About the Sycamore Education Foundation: 

The Sycamore Education Foundation receives and distributes private gifts from generous individuals and businesses to enrich educational opportunities for students in the Sycamore School District 427 not otherwise available through regular funding resources. The Sycamore Education Foundation supports more than 3,500 students, faculty and administrators of Sycamore School District 427. 

If you’re interested in contributing to future initiatives to enhance the quality of education for our students throughout Sycamore Community School District 427, visit SycamoreSEF.org.  

Stage Coach Players (SCP) invites you to help them spread Christmas cheer this December.  To do that, SCP will be singing Christmas songs for all to hear as they present the modern holiday classic, Elf The Musical.  The production to be produced at the historic Egyptian Theatre opens on December 16^th and runs through December 19^th.

Elf The Musical is directed by Jan Kuntz who last directed Disney’s The Little Mermaid in 2019.  John Feken is musical director with Samantha Haywood choreographing the production.  Based on the popular film, Elf The Musical follows Buddy, the Elf, a human raised in the North Pole at Santa’s workshop as an elf.  Upon learning that he is not an actual Elf, Santa sends him on a quest to New York City to find his real father, Walter Hobbs. 

Much to Buddy’s chagrin, Hobbs, a children’s book publisher, is on Santa’s naughty list!  While in New York, Buddy also meets Jovie, a young woman who works at Macy’s and maintains a very cynical outlook on life.  Buddy is determined to win over Jovie and his new family along with anyone else he encounters and to help them embrace the true meaning of Christmas. 

Elf The Musical opened on Broadway in 2010 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre during the holiday season breaking theatre box office records.  It starred Sebastian Arcelus as Buddy along with George Wendt as Santa Claus.  It was revived two years later and in 2014 and then was made into an animated television special.

Performances for Elf The Musical are December 16 – 18, 2021, with a curtain time of 7:30 p.m. along with matinee performances on December 18 and December 19, 2021, with a curtain time of 2:00.  All performances will be held at the Egyptian Theatre.  Tickets start at $20 each or $15 for seniors and children aged 12 and under.  Tickets are currently on sale through the SCP website at www.stagecoachplayers.com.  You can also order tickets by phone from the Egyptian Theatre Box Office at 815/758-1215.

Thank you for being understanding as SCP navigates COVID-19 guidelines.  For this production, all who attend are asked to wear masks covering both their nose and mouth.  If the state of Illinois guidelines change, our guidelines will change also.  Thank you for helping us keep our patrons, cast and crew safe.  

On Saturday, October 30, 2021,Stage Coach Players (SCP) will hold an audition for the role of Martha, in Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.  

The audition is open and auditioners should be prepared to perform a cold reading from the script.  

Directed by Bernie Schuneman and Assistant Director Jan Booth, the audition will be at Stage Coach Theatre from noon – 4:00 p.m..

If you ever wanted to be part of a terrific show and role, this is your chance.  

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George.  The action of the play takes place at their home, late one evening, after a university faculty party.  The couple receive an unwitting younger couple, Nick and Honey, as guests, and draw them into their bitter and frustrated relationship.

The director is looking for a woman between the ages of  40 – 60.  Please note that Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a show with challenging adult themes.   Martha is a difficult woman who curses freely and there is physical contact with which some auditioners may not feel comfortable.

The production, which was originally scheduled to be produced this past summer, will be brought back to SCP this coming winter.  The dates for the production are January 20 – 30, 2022.  

Please visit www.stagecoachplayers for information on upcoming shows, auditions, future community outreach efforts and other events. 

Northwestern Medicine has named Maura O’Toole the new president of Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital, in DeKalb, Ill., and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital in Sandwich, Ill.

O’Toole has more than 25 years of health care leadership experience, most recently serving as vice president of operations at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Ill.

“Maura has a proven track record as an enthusiastic leader who inspires people to be their best,” said Kevin Poorten, senior vice president, Northwestern Memorial HealthCare. “Under her experienced guidance, Kishwaukee Hospital and Valley West Hospital will continue our mission of always putting the patient first.”

A trained nurse, O’Toole received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Salve Regina University and a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration from Chamberlain College of Nursing. She held several administrative leadership positions before joining Central DuPage Hospital in January of 2005 as director of perioperative services.

“The team at Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital is truly outstanding,” said O’Toole.  “I am excited to continue the amazing progress these hospitals have achieved with a focus on excellent patient satisfaction and quality care.”

O’Toole is replacing Jay Anderson, who was named chief operating officer of Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio.

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital and Valley West Hospital recently achieved Magnet Recognitionâ, from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, including 10 exemplars in areas that highlight excellence in patient satisfaction and preventing patient harm. In addition, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as high performing in three conditions, heart failure, kidney failure and COPD, in the 2021-2022 “America’s Best Hospitals” rankings.

To learn more about Northwestern Medicine, visit http://news.nm.org/about-northwestern-medicine.html.

Have you been looking for an opportunity to introduce your business/organization to NIU students, faculty, and staff? Join us for the Campus Meets Community Block Party to connect with the NIU campus.  Local businesses and organizations are invited to come show all the community has to offer at this fun and festive event.

Grab your tent, swag, samples, coupons, flyers, etc. and join the party to welcome Huskies to the DeKalb area.

The Block Party will take place from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Thursday, September 9 in the Martin Luther King Commons in the heart of NIU’s campus (in case of inclement weather the indoor location is the Duke Ellington Ballroom). 

Registration is now open!

Sign up today at:

https://registeruo.niu.edu/Ungerboeck_public/emc00/register.aspx?OrgCode=40&EvtID=18056&AppCode=REG&CC=121061603651

Please contact Jennifer Groce at jgroce@niu.edu with questions.