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Hello DeKalb! Hope your coffee tastes especially good this morning. 

In today’s bring-the-kiddos edition: PS5 sports tournament, high school art competition, and Florida strawberry truckload sale + excuses to get the fam out and about this week.

Today’s sponsor, Spot Pet Insurance, is something I wish I had before a late-night emergency vet visit left me with a $10,000 credit card bill. It’s cheaper than Netflix… and means you never have to choose between your pet and your savings. It takes less than 5 minutes to sign up – get started here.

📰 In the news

Neighbors investing in tomorrow: DeKalb County Community Foundation created the Shabbona Lee Community Endowment Fund supporting Shabbona and Lee. Established in 2025 by Darryl and Ellen Kupecz, tax deductible gifts will grow lasting resources — learn more about the fund.

Local infrastructure proposal on table: DeKalb city leaders are considering a $3 million 2026 street maintenance plan to repave streets and alleys, funded by capital allocations from a program launched in 2022 — see what’s planned for 2026.

Rolling canvases steal the show: Brian Bemis Toyota of DeKalb named winners in the third annual High School Art Competition, where students painted wrapped vehicles. Cash prizes and trophies were awarded, with community voting — get all the details.

Gold & silver are hot: Coming off gold’s best year since 1979, the momentum is carrying well into 2026 with silver remaining one of the most talked-about assets. Curious why they’re back in focus? American Hartford Gold has a free guide that explains what’s happening and how people are approaching it today. It’s free – and definitely worth a read.

Compare rates for free: The national average for car insurance is around $175/month. Paying more than that? Same, so I did some shopping around and ended up cutting my premium in half. If you haven’t checked in a while, you’re probably overpaying too — here’s the comparison tool I used.

Highlights this week:

• Shop the Florida Strawberry Truckload Sale
• Create a cactus using string art
• Discover Sweet Life Garden Group roots
• This top-tier home warranty is 50% off right now

🐾 One pet emergency can cost $10,000+

Together with our sponsor Spot Pet Insurance

Nothing prepares you for a late-night emergency at the vet. I learned that the hard way after charging $10k to a credit card for life-saving surgery on my cat, Miss Stache.

From the initial exam fee just to be seen, to x-rays, surgery, medication, and follow-up visits… the bill racks up fast (to say the least). And at that moment? You’re not thinking about your savings, you’re just saying yes to whatever keeps them thriving.

As soon as we got home, I dug around online and ultimately signed up for Spot.

It’s super affordable and reimburses up to 90% on qualified vet bills. It was too late for me, but it’s not too late for you. Sign up today.

🫶 We got your back

Small plates, big vibe: Weeknight catch-up? Slide into Tapa La Luna for shareable tapas, classic cocktails, and a cozy, live-music-friendly scene that makes Tuesday feel a little special. Order a couple favorites, then one more… future you will be very okay with it.

Tune up your ride: Blue Moon Bikes keeps local legs spinning with repairs, restorations, and a Vintage Schwinn Stingray Museum upstairs. Whether your chain squeaks or an old frame needs love, their crew brings bikes back to life, so you can roll smooth.

Old-school movie night vibes: Egyptian Theatre keeps DeKalb’s movie nights intimate and lively, with classic films, special screenings, and community events that make the big screen feel personal again. Expect midweek escapes, local charm, and a nostalgic ambiance that welcomes cinephiles and casual watchers alike.

Access cash without selling your home: A reverse mortgage can help anyone over 62 cover everyday expenses, support healthcare needs, fund home improvements, or even reduce pressure on 401(k) withdrawals – all while staying in your home. Longbridge offers a free calculator to estimate how much flexibility your home could provide, with no commitment required.

📆 Fun for the whole fam

Have an event to share? BaseLocal Verified Businesses can submit them for free! Learn more about how to submit an event here →

All events are subject to change without notice. Always check official event pages for the most up to date information.

🎮 PS5 Sports Tournament @ DeKalb Public Library | Wednesday (3/4) at 6:30 PM – Got a teen who talks a big game? Let them button-mash it out at a PS5 tournament with College Football 26, Madden, NBA 2K, and EAFC, plus other consoles, for grades 6-12. Sign up at the door, winner gets candy, everyone gets Vinny’s pizza.

🧸 Play Group for Children with Special Needs @ DeKalb Public Library | Thursday (3/5) at 10:00 AM – A play group for children with special needs, ages 0-5, where movement and excitement are welcome. A place where ‘inside voices’ get the day off as kids explore cars, puzzles, Magna-Tiles, books, and stepping stones. It’s free, open to all, no registration, and parents stay.

💡 Light It Up! Creative Circuits @ DeKalb STEM | Saturday (3/7) at 9:45 AM – If your fridge art could use a glow-up, this mini course turns kids’ drawings into LED-lit creations while they learn circuits, polarity, and electronics. For grades K to 12, they build, test, and make it glow, you get bragging rights, and a ride home.

📚 Home Schooling Coffee Chat, Consult, and Curriculum Sale @ Connect Collaborative | Saturday (3/7) at 12:00 PM – Kicking around homeschooling? Connect Collaborative in Sycamore is pouring coffee, fielding questions about socialization, patience, and college, and hosting a low-key curriculum swap with veteran homeschoolers, local and online program tips, and zero sales pitch. Bring curiosity, a small donation, and your dry humor.

🍪 Lucky Charms Cookie Decorating Class @ 35:35 Makers Collective | Saturday (3/7) at 12:30 PM – Trade your errands for an afternoon of nostalgia with Kennedy from Ken’s Kakes, decorating six Lucky Charms sugar cookies fit to make a leprechaun weep. She’ll teach outlining and flooding, you’ll pretend it’s for the kids, and everyone goes home sugared, St. Patrick’s ready.

🥁 Drum Club Sessions 2026 @ The Music Connection, LLC | Saturday (3/7) at 5:00 PM – Give the vacuum a rest and hit Drum Club at The Music Connection in Sycamore, where pros sharpen your rudiments, drum set chops, and mallet game. Bring sticks and earplugs, they supply the rest, and twenty bucks covers it all.

🛹 Discover Skateboarding @ Fargo Skateboarding | Monday (3/9) at 3:00 PM – If you’ve been waiting for a sign to finally step on a board, or let the kids try without wrecking the coffee table, DeKalb’s Fargo learn-to-skate drop-in is it. Instructors included, gear included, confidence included. Ages 6+, monthly, residents $10, others $12.

Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →

🔥 Worth a peek

We’re always on the hunt for useful resources, deals, services, and products we think you’ll love. Here’s what caught our eye this week.

• Thinning hair? Don’t wait – here are 3 treatments that work
• This free tool helps connect you with the right financial advisor
• Got debt? You may be able to pay less than you owe
• Protect your pet from disaster with this pet insurance plan
• You can own physical gold and silver in your retirement account
• Treat yourself: Save on self-care during the CVS Epic Beauty Sale

📻 DeKalb report

Weather forecast

Today – High: 48°F – Low: 39°F – Precip: 18%

A slight chance of rain showers after 3pm. Partly sunny. High near 48, with temperatures falling to around 46 in the afternoon. East wind 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. Later: A chance of rain showers before midnight, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 39. East wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

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Tomorrow – High: 52°F – Low: 41°F – Precip: 69%

Rain showers likely and patchy fog. Cloudy, with a high near 52. North wind around 5 mph, with gusts as high as 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Later: A chance of rain showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Chance of precipitation is 30%.

Someone Googled you this week 👀

It may feel like an invasion of privacy, but unfortunately It’s the new normal. Whether you’re joining a committee, selling something locally, dating again, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up online.

Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.

Thankfully, there’s a really easy way for you – or someone you care about – to clean up outdated results that no longer tell the real story. Learn more here.

This house is wild

Updated 3-bed, 1-bath ranch on a corner lot with a private backyard pairs fresh paint with all-new flooring. The kitchen stacks storage with cabinets, glass tile, and butcher block, plus dining space. A picture-window living room beams with light. Extras include a built-in desk, a laundry room, a 1.5-car garage with workshop space and covered porch, and interstate access.

Take a peek inside →