Huskies on Parade

DeKalb and Sycamore High School football players will both be vying for first possession of more than just the pigskin Friday night. The victor in this year’s Castle Challenge will be the first high school to decorate and display a fiberglass Huskie, donated by the community-wide project Huskies on Parade. The completed Huskie will be shared by both schools.

The academic and athletic leadership of both schools agreed each school will decorate one side of the Huskie. Both teams will decorate the mascot in red and black, as a tribute to NIU. The Huskie will be displayed for the first half of the year at the winning team’s school, and the second half of the year at the other school.

“Huskies on Parade is all about people coming together to demonstrate their pride in the “communiversity,” said Susan Johnson, chair of Huskies on Parade.

“We are delighted to involve our local high schools in this special way, and we can’t wait to see who will get it first!”

Gary Evans, business development director of Castle Bank and head of the Castle Challenge, welcomes the addition to the game’s festivities.

“Every year, the Castle Challenge gets bigger and better,” Evans noted. “This is another great element to an event that brings everyone together to celebrate our community and its students. “

Fifteen decorated Huskies are currently on display in the DeKalb-Sycamore area, with 10 more expected by the end of this week. When all Huskies are completed, there will be more than 50 on display. For a map of locations and more information about Huskies on Parade, go to www.huskiesonparade.com.

Suicide Prevention Week

The DeKalb County Partnership for a Safe, Active and Family Environment (DCP/SAFE) and The Community Violence Prevention Action Group want to inform the community that National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 7-13. It is equally important to understand the significance of support for those who may be dealing with thoughts of suicide, those who have a loved one who is thinking of suicide or for those who are dealing with the loss of someone who committed suicide.

Anyone who sees or exhibits any of the following should contact a mental health professional, call 1-800-273-TALK or call the Ben Gordon Center Response Line at 1-866-BGC-0111:

• Someone threatening to hurt or kill him/herself, or talking of wanting to hurt or kill him/herself

• Someone looking for ways to kill him/herself by seeking access to firearms, pills, or other means

• Someone talking or writing about death, dying or suicide, when these actions are out of the ordinary

The Warning Signs of Suicide:

• Ideation – threatened or communicated

• Substance abuse – excessive or increased

• Purposeless – no reasons for living

• Anxiety – agitation/insomnia

• Trapped – feeling there is no way out

• Hopelessness

• Withdrawing – from friends, family, society

• Anger (uncontrolled) – rage, seeking revenge

• Recklessness – risky acts, unthinking

• Mood Changes (dramatic)

If you are a loved one of someone who is considering suicide, please be aware of these warning signs. Also, get involved in that person’s life; be direct, willing to listen and be non-judgmental. Do not ask “why” questions and do not keep this information to yourself; seek support immediately.

Anyone wishing to participate in a support group should contact Sue Plote, Executive Director of Family Service Agency at 815-758-8616 or can contact Batavia’s Suicide Prevention Services at 630-482-9696.

Campus Web Map Updated

A virtual trip through the Northern Illinois University campus has never been easier. NIU’s award-winning, interactive Campus Web Map (www.webmap.niu.edu) has been upgraded this fall with a host of new features. Those features allow users to do a variety of new things, like locating Huskie Bucks food establishments in DeKalb and Sycamore, and finding copiers, printers and vending machines on campus.

Students can even find their seats on the east side of Huskie Stadium, and upgrades planned for later this fall will provide field views from the seating sections. The map is now compatible with both Windows and Mac formats, as well as with multiple browsers, including Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox and Google Chrome. Additionally, the site has improved its features for visitors with disabilities.