What makes us special?

Trevor’s Lawn Care is a new business in the DeKalb County area, but Trevor Elliott is a DeKalb native.  Trevor was gone from the area while serving 8 years in the Army, including 2 deployments to Iraq.  After serving our country, Trevor and his wife moved back home to be close to their family and to provide a top quality area in which to raise their daughter.

While working on an Interior Design degree, Trevor formed and interest in Green Design and the Environment, which ultimately led to the creation of Trevor’s Lawn Care.  Currently Trevor is working on an Associate Degree in Landscape Design.  With that kind of training, Trevor’s Lawn Care can make your yard a showplace in your neighborhood!!!  Give Trevor a call today – 815-751-5249.

Did you know that this year alone one in four people in our community will need mental health or substance abuse help?  Please pledge your support today for mental health and behavioral care services for DeKalb County residents.

Send a check to:  Ben Gordon Center Foundation – 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb, IL  60115. Or, donate online at: www.bengordoncenter.org

What started out many years ago as a small unnamed and unofficial picnic for the faithful of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in DeKalb, has over the years experienced great growth and popularity and is now a major annual community event in the DeKalb Sycamore area. It is now known simply as Greek Fest.

The two day festival features authentic Geek food, lively Greek and American music,  dance performances by the Chicago based Ellas Dance Troupe which will be performing on Saturday at 1:00, 3:00 and 6:00 for your entertainment pleasure. They will perform dances popular from the different islands of Greece and made famous by the motion picture movie Zorba the Greek. You will not want to miss this! There will also be games for the kids, a Greek grocery store and commercial vendor booths and arts & crafts for your shopping pleasure.

The menu for the festival definitely has something for everyone’s appetite and includes some of the all time favorite authentic Greek dishes including Grecian style chicken, Slovakia (Shish Ka Bob), Lamb, Gyros, Pasticho (delicious Greek style lasagna), Spanakoptia, (chopped spinach, feta cheese and spices baked in phyllo dough), Greek salad and the ever popular combination platter as well as Saganaki (flaming Greek cheese), the best appetizer. OPA! Most of the food is prepared by the areas Greek owned restaurants using receipts brought over from Greece that have been passed down through generations.

Pastries galore! You will find a large selection of fresh homemade irresistible pastries for you to select from to compliment your dinner. These delicious desserts are handmade by the ladies of the church, including the ultimate Greek pastry Baklava (layered phyllo dough with ground nuts, cinnamon and dribbled with honey), as well as, Galaktobouriko (honey drenched custard in flakey phyllo dough), Koulourakia (the best Greek dunking cookie ever), Kourambiedes (melt away rich cookies covered with powered sugar), Melomacarona (a moderately spiced cookie hand dipped in honey), Diples (spiral flaky pastry dipped in honey and sprinkled with finely chopped walnuts) and the ever so popular Loukoumades (hot, freshly make, honey puffs topped with warm honey and cinnamon).

The Greek grocery store has been expanded on again this year. A number of popular items in demand have been added including, Feta Cheese, Greek Olives, Virgin olive oil, Greek coffee, Greek spices for cooking.

Don’t forget –  this is an affordable family event for the whole community that is free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather all food and pastries will be available for drive up pick up at the shelter house.

Greek Fest 2012 dates this year are Saturday, June 23^rd Sunday, June 24^th from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will once again be held at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. We hope to see you there.

It’s sure to be a Hellenic of a good time!

Merlin Two Hundred Thousand Mile Shops and Stitch N’ Pitch are helping raise awareness and donations for the thousands of children served by Children’s Home + Aid. Stitch N’ Pitch and the Chicago White Sox will host “Stitch N’ Pitch fans” who love needlearts at a special White Sox baseball game. Don’t miss this quirky and fun event!

It’s the Stitch N’ Pitch baseball game with the Chicago White Sox at US Cellular Field on Saturday, June 2^nd.

Tickets are $35 and order forms are at Merlin Two Hundred Thousand Mile Shops or at merlins dot com. If you can’t attend the game and would like to help, Merlin has two ways:

Visit the STITCH N’ PITCH WALL at merlins dot com. Donate one dollar and place with your name on the wall .

Service your car at Merlin on Wednesday, May 23^rd and up to $50 of your purchase will go to Children’s Home + Aid.

Since 1883, Children’s Home and Aid has been saving children’s lives and helping families. Each year they provide nearly forty thousand Illinois children and families help, hope, and opportunity.

Merlin.  Helping you, and the children served by Children’s Home and Aid go farther.

To learn more about Merlin or Children’s Home + Aid, please visit merlins.com or www.childrenshomeandaid.org.