No one wants a cookie cutter house. When seeking to create a space that reflects your family’s unique style, there are experts in Sycamore who can help turn your house into the home you’ve always dreamed of having.

Ronesha Pena, owner of Fargo Home Furnishings, often deals with clients who are looking to make a house into a home. Whether it is new or being remodeled, they want a comfortable space that reflects their individual style and responds to their particular needs.

Fargo Home Furnishings is a furniture retailer that also offers design consultation. It specializes in offering options, which is what customers want when they are creating a space, Pena said.

Fargo carries four or five nationally-known, high-quality brands including the HG TV Home Furniture Collection and Bassett Furniture. These furnishings, whether a chair,

dining table or a sofa, can be modified in material or style to suit a customer’s needs.

“People want more options. They want to be able to change things around,” Pena said.

For example, a customer ordering a sectional sofa can create a unique look by choosing from 600 fabrics and over 70 leathers as well as customizing the style of the body of the sectional. Dining tables can be created for different family sizes from 34-inch diameter to 112-inch diameter with chairs to suit each
style. ’

Pena said one of the best parts of her job is seeing clients’ reactions when they see their new furniture and how great it fits in their home.

“I love helping people design their furniture. Their eyes light up because it’s the perfect style they wanted,” she said.

She also likes knowing that her customers are furnishing their homes with items that will last for generations.

“I like seeing that people are getting quality furnishings,” Pena said. “I know these furnishings are going to last a long time, for generations to come.”

Kim Kramer, owner of Kramer’s Kitchen and Bath, finds that clients today are a lot more knowledgeable about options available and trends.

“The trend now for kitchens is quartz and granite countertops,” she said.

Painted cabinets are also a hot item because they can be customized.

“The major paint companies are working directly with manufacturers so that your cabinets can be finished in any color they offer. This is something that wasn’t an option even a couple of years ago,” Kramer said.

A hot trend in bathrooms is to eliminate bath tubs, which provides more space and safety.

“Bathrooms are getting larger,” Kramer said. “People are eliminating bathtubs and incorporating walk-in showers. This allows many of us to age in place and utilize the space most effectively.”

Whether you’re looking at changing cabinets, counters or just hardware, Kramer said the options in colors and materials can make each project unique. There is no right or wrong style, it just has to be right for you, she noted.

Kramer, who has owned her business for nine years, encourages clients to bring photos of home interiors they like to help her understand what they are seeking.

“When you take the time to sit and listen you begin to understand what they like and how the space is to be used,” Kramer said. “Then we really get the ideas flowing to make a kitchen or bath exactly what they’ve dreamed about.”

EXPERIENCE Before Your Graduate

College students in DeKalb County are getting a head start in the working world through internships. Businesses, nonprofits, a college and university are offering a wealth of opportunities for young people to build skills. Businesses, too, are reaping the rewards as they help develop a valuable workforce.

The DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership, under the auspices of the DeKalb County Community Foundation, is one example. It partners with various departments at Northern Illinois University, such as the Center for Nonprofit and NGO Studies and Career Services, as well as with partnership members, to provide internships at DeKalb County nonprofits.

Students, who are usually juniors or seniors, acquire experience they can put on their resumes while nonprofit organizations benefit from each intern’s 120 hours of service during the semester. Another partner, the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation, provides $575 stipends for interns.

Ben Bingle, director of DCNP, said the internship program has been hugely successful for both students and nonprofits alike. It is estimated that more than 18,400 internship service hours have been completed through the program to date. That translates to $454,296 in economic impact when multiplied by the value of volunteer time per hour in Illinois, which is $24.69.

Interns are matched with DCNP members in the fall and spring. An orientation is held to acquaint intern supervisors with the program, requirements and expectations. Intern resumes and cover letters are provided to the supervisors who rank the interns in preferential order. Interns also rank the

organizations where they would like to work. After interviews between the supervisor and interns take place, the students and supervisors complete a second round of ranking each other. Final placements are assigned based on those rankings and other factors such as schedules and availability.

Bingle said some interns give credit to their internship for launching their careers.

“We have alums of the program who identify the internship as the reason why they got their first job offer,” Bingle said. “And some organizations have hired their former interns on as full-time employees right here in DeKalb County.”

Catherine Doederlein, director of Internships and External Relations in Career Services at Northern Illinois University, is also pleased with the program.

“I have had the privilege of working with the DCNP Internship program since its inception, and I can say it’s a truly unique program and one I’m proud to be involved with each semester,” Doederlein said. “NIU is very lucky to have this partnership and has great appreciation for the work they do in facilitating the program for our local nonprofit community.”

She also is grateful for the Douglas C. and Lynn M. Roberts Family Foundation, for its support of the program.

“We’re incredibly thankful for their continued tremendous generosity, which makes it possible for our students to get this great professional development exposure,” she said.

Kishwaukee College is another important source of internships in the county. For fiscal year 2018, more than 50 students participated in internships.

“All programs encourage students to take advantage of an internship to get real world, hands-on experiences beyond the classroom,” said Kayte Hamel, executive director, College Relations and Kishwaukee College Foundation.

Programs with internship opportunities include computer-aided drafting, computer information system, criminal justice, horticulture, electronics, diesel power technology and nursing.

Besides gaining workplace experience in their fields, there are many other benefits to doing an internship. Students can see how their classroom experience translates in to the real work world, try out a career before they graduate, network with professionals in their fields and connect with mentors and build references.

There also are more tangible benefits to landing an internship. The college’s website notes that on average, college graduates who have an internship on their resume are 12 percent more likely to be hired and earn $7,000 more than graduates who did not.

Hamel said internships provide students with opportunities to work for local businesses in environments related to their major or program area. Internships are also a great opportunity for businesses to expand and develop their workforce.

There were 5,116 credit-seeking students and 754 noncredit students enrolled in Kishwaukee College in fiscal year 2018. The college was founded in 1968 and offers 19 technical programs.

There is probably not a truer saying than this: “Your health is your starting point; without it you have nothing.” Fortunately for residents of Sycamore and nearby communities, there are experts ready to help them restore and maintain health.

One of those is Dr. Teresa Melton, a chiropractor and acupuncturist who has operated Allergies, Aches & Pains Chiropractic and Acupuncture Center for 16 years in Sycamore.

While most people associate chiropractic medicine as only for the back, Melton said it is used to treat a wide variety of physical problems such as migraines and headaches, muscle strain, chronic pain, carpal tunnel and pain due to injury. It can aid in fertility, help expectant mothers and young children, too, she added.

As a chiropractic physician and licensed acupuncturist, Melton treats ailments of all sorts. She particularly enjoys working with expectant mothers and pediatric patients.

“There is nothing more rewarding than when a mother comes in with a baby who is colicky and, after a couple of visits, Mom goes home happy and baby goes home happy,” Melton said.

Melton often uses chiropractic and acupuncture together in treatments.

“I find when you do them together, patients have better results and the results last longer,” she said. “Chiropractic keeps the nervous system in balance and acupuncture keeps the electrical system in balance.”

Melton advises a course of treatment to bring relief to a patient in the most effective and efficient way possible. She doesn’t push acupuncture if, for instance, a person has an aversion to needles.

She takes a whole-body approach to helping patients ease pain or improve their health.

“I’m not working on the symptoms. I’m working on balancing their body and improving their overall health so the body can repair itself.”

While many patients seek her assistance when they are feeling pain, Melton advises her patients to maintain their health and well-being by visiting four times a year. Melton also offers nutritional advice and food testing for sensitivities to help patients better understand what they’re eating may be adversely impacting their well-being.

“The testing is ala carte,” she said. “You can test for 50 foods or 250 foods. We can also test for herb supplements, food colorings and additives.”

Melton graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic and continues to take courses to satisfy not only state requirements, but also to follow her own particular interests. Most recently, she completed her studies in animal chiropractic through Health Pioneers
Institute. ’

Another business dedicated to serving the well-being of the community is the DNA Holistic Center of Sycamore. Dr. Kristy Lynn handles the functional health and nutrition counseling while Jim Edwards focuses on releasing trapped emotions.

DNA Holistic Center offers two Himalayan salt rooms, an organic juice bar, yoga/meditation classes, massage and other holistic modalities. The center has a store featuring Himalayan salt lamps, mosaic glass chakra lamps and various other products.

“I think every town in America needs this kind of business,” Edwards said. “People can use alternative ways to get healthy.”

Edwards noted that salt caves have been prized all over the world for thousands of years for their medicinal value. Himalayan salt rooms can help people with various respiratory conditions such as asthma, allergies, bronchitis and COPD. Since Himalayan salt is anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal, salt rooms are also beneficial for a variety of skin issues. Himalayan salt also produces negative ions that counteract harmful positive ions emitted from cell phones, smart watches, microwaves and other sources of electromagnetic radiation. A salt room visit usually involves sitting in a zero gravity lounge chair for 45 minutes enabling a person to kick back, relax, rest, unwind, nap, meditate or chat with a friend in a unique and healthy environment.

“The word is out there and more and more people are using salt rooms,” Edwards said.

Family Wellness and Rehab SC in Sycamore helps patients live their best lives. The practice focuses on nutrition, homeopathy, pain relief, stress relief, chiropractic and narapathic services, ache relief, muscle relaxation, emotional and mental health.

“We help people feel and function and be the best they can be,” said Dr. Kim Selir, a lifestyle practitioner who has been in practice for 27 years.

The emphasis is not only on treatment of symptoms, but on understanding and addressing why they are occurring. The practice treats the whole person.

“We’re there to help people make better choices with eating, moving and thinking,” Selir said, which is gratifying. “I think it’s a gift and a privilege to be able to help people.”

CITY
Emergency – 911
Fire Department Non-Emergency – 895-4514
Police Department Non-Emergency – 895-3435
Public Works & Street Department – 895-3545
Water Department – 895-4516

SYCAMORE CITY OFFICIALS
Mayor – 895-4517
City Clerk – 895-4515

COMMUNITY
Post Office – 895-2888
Sycamore Chamber of Commerce – 895-3456
Sycamore Park District – 895-3365
Sycamore Library – 895-2500
Sycamore Township – 895-3766

ENTERTAINMENT
Midwest Museum of Natural History – 895-9777
Sycamore Family Sports Center – 895-7407
DeKalb County History Center – 895-5762
Sycamore Speedway & Associates, Inc. – 895-5454
Sycamore State Theatre – 895-3549

CIRCUIT COURT
Main Office – 895-7138
All Civil – 895-7131

COUNTY
DeKalb County Circuit Clerk – 895-7138
DeKalb County Clerk & Recorder – 895-7149
DeKalb County Farm Bureau – 756-6361
DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office – 895-7260
DeKalb County Health Department – 758-6673
DeKalb County Veterans Assistance – 756-8129
DeKalb County Assessor – 895-7120
DeKalb County Forrest Preserve – 895-7191

MEDIA OUTLETS
Daily Chronicle/Shaw Media – 756-4841

RADIO
B95/WDKB (95 FM) – 758-0950
WLBK (1360 AM) – 748-1000
WNIU (90.5) – 753-9000
WSQR (1560 AM) – 899-1000

MEDICAL
Northwestern Medicine Kish Hospital – 756-1521
KishHealth System Physician Group – 748-8300
Physicians Immediate Care – 754-1122
Kindred Hospital – 895-2144

SCHOOLS
Cornerstone Christian Academy – 895-8522
St. Mary’s School of Sycamore – 895-5215
Sycamore Community Unit School District – 899-8100

UNIVERSITIES & COLLEGES
Kishwaukee College – 825-2086
Northern Illinois University – 753-0094

INTERNET
DNA Communications – 562-4290

UTILITIES
ComEd – 490-2729
Nicor Gas – 261-9423
Nicor Emergency – (888) 642-6748

GARBAGE & RECYLCLING
Advanced Disposal Solid Waste Midwest, LLC – 874-8431
DC Trash of Illinois, Inc. – 579-2002
Waste Management – 847-980-7648