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It’s Friday, DeKalb! Let’s finish this week strong.

In today’s can’t-miss-weekend-plans edition: Gold and silver are hot, someone googled you this week, and Lucky Charms cookie decorating class + a stacked lineup of events this weekend.

Today’s sponsor (FinanceBuzz) built a free comparison tool that helped me cut my car insurance premiums in half. It took about 3 minutes, and honestly… I wish I’d done it sooner. If you haven’t shopped around in a while, you can easily check the best rates here.

📰 In the news

Aging fleet drives new purchases: DeKalb City Council approved a 5,000-gallon Jet-A refueler for DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport for $302,650, plus two 35-foot diesel buses for $1.37 million, drawing questions about hybrid options — get all the details.

Local talent takes center stage: Rochelle Township High School’s speech team won the IHSA Regional at DeKalb High School on Feb. 7, topping the field and advancing to Sectionals, a proud moment for students — read the full story.

Global perspective on soil health: At the 2026 Conservation Cropping Seminar in Sycamore, soil expert Ray Archuleta said cover crop mixes that feed microbes can boost soil biology, urging DeKalb-area farmers to study their fields — see what he recommends.

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.

Someone Googled you this week: Whether you’re dating again, selling something locally, or just meeting new neighbors… people are going to look you up. Like it or not, the internet has a way of surfacing past mistakes and outdated information that no longer reflects who you are.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 all that up – learn more here.

Highlights this week:

• Get moving with seated fitness class
• Create a cactus using string art
• Discover Sweet Life Garden Group roots
• Over 62? See how to turn home equity into tax-free cash

🚗 Are you quietly overpaying for car insurance?

Together with our sponsor FinanceBuzz

Auto insurance premiums have been climbing across the country… and most folks won’t notice until it’s time to renew and they’re hit with a higher bill.

The frustrating part? Loyalty rarely gets rewarded. Insurers adjust prices constantly, and new customers often qualify for better rates than long-time policyholders.

I learned that the hard way. I had the same policy for half a decade. Autopay was on, I saw the charges come in every month and never thought twice about them. Turns out I was paying well above the national average ($175/mo) for a single car… for years.

This free comparison tool lets you check rates from multiple insurers in just a few minutes. It costs nothing to look, and it could save you hundreds this year.

🫶 We got your back

Plant-based pick-me-up: When you want an easy, actually filling meatless meal, Jamrah Restaurant has falafel, hummus, lentil soup, and stuffed grape leaves that hit the cozy, craveable sweet spot. Flavor-forward, not fussy, and perfect for nights when dinner should be simple and still feel good.

Treasure hunt, unlocked: At This & That Collectibles, 6,000 square feet brim with mid-century finds, primitives, and upcycled gems from 44+ vendors. It’s the spot to wander, spark ideas, and uncover that quirky piece your mantel, coffee table, or curious soul has been craving.

Spark something special: Need a little shine pick-me-up? D&D Jewelers crafts custom designs, handles in-house repairs, and stocks a browse-worthy mix of diamonds and gems, so you can revive an heirloom or design the piece you’ve been daydreaming about. Think this week, not “someday.”

An emergency vet visit could cost you $7,000+ (ask me how I know 🙃). From the initial fee just to be seen to x-rays, surgery, medicine, and aftercare, it adds up quicker than a chew toy turns into a crime scene. The good news? You could get up to 90% cash back on your vet bill with this pet insurance plan.

📆 Around town this weekend

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.

🎬 Midday Movie Classics: The Quiet Man @ DeKalb Public Library | Friday (3/6) at 10:00 AM – Take a midday escape for The Quiet Man, a G-rated classic where romance, redheads, and Irish stubbornness collide. Expect movie chat, trivia, lemonade, coffee, and popcorn, no registration needed. Adults welcome, which means fewer kick seats, more knowing chuckles.

💡 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.

🍪 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.

🍺 Brews, Bottles, & Blarney @ St. Mary’s Memorial Hall | Saturday (3/7) at 4:00 PM – Nothing beats an adults-only night of craft beer, wine, and local spirits when it supports St. Mary’s Catholic School. Brews, Bottles, & Blarney returns for its fifth year with hearty appetizers, games, and a silent auction that somehow makes bidding paddles feel weightless.

🖼 The Goddess Within – Solo Exhibition @ Jubilee Art Gallery | Sunday (3/8) at 11:00 AM – Pop in for Carol Ann Boecker’s The Goddess Within, a thoughtful solo show with guest pieces by local women artists, aligned with Jubilee’s Festival of Women. International Women’s Day, not a spa day, so expect real art, real stories, and zero forced zen.

🥣 Soup-er Sunday: “Clinton Rosette, the DeKalb Press, and the Campaign to Bring NIU to DeKalb” @ Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center | Sunday (3/8) at 12:00 PM – Bring your appetite for soup and a good DeKalb origin story. Over a warm bowl, historian John Paris digs into Clinton Rosette, our DeKalb Press, and the campaign that landed NIU here, plus a homestead tour for dessert, all for five bucks, members free.

📚 Beginner Book Repair @ DeKalb Public Library | Sunday (3/8) at 2:00 PM – Got a shelf of books held together by tape and optimism? This beginner workshop teaches you to triage torn pages, tighten hinges, tip in loose pages, reinforce corners, and store keepsakes archivally. Bring a well-loved book, not the library’s, teens and adults welcome, no registration.

Live music & entertainment:

• 3/7 Drum Club Sessions 2026 @ The Music Connection, LLC – 5:00 PM
• 3/7 InFunktious @ PJ’s Courthouse Tavern – 7:30 PM
• 3/9 Music Bingo @ MVP Sports Bar – 6:00 PM
• 3/12 Gaelic Storm @ Egyptian Theatre – 7:30 PM
• 3/13 Royal Children’s Ball 2026 @ Altgeld Hall – 6:00 PM
• 3/13 High School Musical Jr. @ Huntley Middle School – 7:00 PM
• 3/14 Drum Club Sessions 2026 @ The Music Connection, LLC – 5:00 PM

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
• 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: 70°F – Low: 57°F – Precip: 92%

Areas of fog and showers and thunderstorms likely before 9am, then patchy fog and showers and thunderstorms between 9am and noon, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy. High near 70, with temperatures falling to around 67 in the afternoon. South wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. Later: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before midnight, then showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. South southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 35 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%.

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Tomorrow – High: 59°F – Low: 33°F – Precip: 25%

A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 9am. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. West wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. Later: Partly cloudy, with a low around 33.

Something in your house is about to break 🏠

It might be your AC, your water heater, your fridge… doesn’t matter. Every major system and appliance has an expiration date, and when it goes, you’re staring down a repair bill that can climb into the thousands fast.

It never happens at a convenient time, and most homeowners just eat the cost because they don’t realize there’s a better option.

American Home Shield covers repairs and replacements on most of your home’s major systems and appliances — old or new, no inspection required.

The best part? Select plans are 50% off now through March 9th.

This house is wild

This proposed fan-favorite Aspen ranch delivers four bedrooms, two baths, and a full basement in a split-bedroom layout. An eat-in kitchen stars a large angled island and breakfast bar open to the great room with four windows and covered porch views. The primary suite shines with a tray ceiling, walk-in shower, expansive vanity, and generous closet. Oversized sideload 2-car garage.

Take a peek inside →