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Due to escalating concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 and at the recommendation of the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) and Governor of Illinois, the Coronado Performing Arts Center, BMO Harris Bank Center, and Rockford IceHogs will be abiding by the government mandate. As a result, the following events will be postponed, canceled, or otherwise impacted.Venue management will continue to monitor this evolving situation closely and want to thank fans and partners for their patience during this unprecedented time. Please note, updates will be provided on the BMO Harris Bank Center website, Rockford IceHogs website,and Coronado Performing Arts Center website as information becomes available.Scheduled events impacted at the Coronado PAC and the BMO Harris Bank Center include:Friday, March 13 -Dancing With The Stars LIVE (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 14 -Colin & Brad(Rescheduled; New Date: May 27 at 7:30PM)Sunday, March 15 –Darci Lynne & Friends (postponed; date TBD)Monday, March 16 –Waitress (postponed; date TBD)Wednesday, March 18 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Milwaukee Admirals (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 21 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Iowa Wild (postponed; date TBD)Tuesday, March 24 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Texas Stars (postponed; date TBD)Friday, March 27 –One Night of Queen (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 28 –RSO: Beethoven’s Second (Canceled, refer to RSO website)Sunday, March 29 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves (postponed; date TBD)Thursday, April 2 –Bert Kreischer (Rescheduled; New Date:June 12)Friday, April 3 –Sam Lewis (postponed; date TBD)Friday, April 3 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, April 4 –Rockford Laugh-A-Thon (TBD)Friday, April 10 –Chicago (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, April 11 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Iowa Wild (postponed; date TBD)Tuesday, April 14–Blue Man Group (No changes currently pending)Wednesday, April 15–Blue Man Group (No changes currently pending)Sunday, April 19–WWE WrestleMania Redemption Tour(No changes currently pending)Friday, April 24 –The Fab Four (Rescheduled; New Date:August 29)Saturday, April 25–RSO: Prokofiev’s Fifth (No changes currently pending)Sunday, April 26 –Home Free (postponed; date TBD)Thursday, April 30 –Cody Jinks (postponed; date TBD)Tickets purchased for any of the events mentioned above at the Coronado Performing Arts Center and the BMO Harris Bank Center during the impacted dates will be honored for rescheduled dates, which are still to be determined. Guests should stay tuned to coronadopac.org/covid19, thebmoharrisbankcenter.com/covid19, icehogs.com, and social media for updated information. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase after the new scheduled dates have been announced. Beginning March 16th, the Coronado PAC box office will be closed. Ticket information can be provided at BMO Harris Bank Center box office Monday -Friday, 9AM-5PM.The Coronado PAC, BMO Harris Bank Center, and the Rockford IceHogs appreciate the patience of guests and partners during this unprecedented situation.

Due to escalating concerns regarding the spread of COVID-19 and at the recommendation of the Winnebago County Health Department (WCHD) and Governor of Illinois, the Coronado Performing Arts Center, BMO Harris Bank Center, and Rockford IceHogs will be abiding by the government mandate. As a result, the following events will be postponed, canceled, or otherwise impacted.Venue management will continue to monitor this evolving situation closely and want to thank fans and partners for their patience during this unprecedented time. Please note, updates will be provided on the BMO Harris Bank Center website, Rockford IceHogs website,and Coronado Performing Arts Center website as information becomes available.Scheduled events impacted at the Coronado PAC and the BMO Harris Bank Center include:Friday, March 13 -Dancing With The Stars LIVE (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 14 -Colin & Brad(Rescheduled; New Date: May 27 at 7:30PM)Sunday, March 15 –Darci Lynne & Friends (postponed; date TBD)Monday, March 16 –Waitress (postponed; date TBD)Wednesday, March 18 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Milwaukee Admirals (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 21 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Iowa Wild (postponed; date TBD)Tuesday, March 24 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Texas Stars (postponed; date TBD)Friday, March 27 –One Night of Queen (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, March 28 –RSO: Beethoven’s Second (Canceled, refer to RSO website)Sunday, March 29 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves (postponed; date TBD)Thursday, April 2 –Bert Kreischer (Rescheduled; New Date:June 12)Friday, April 3 –Sam Lewis (postponed; date TBD)Friday, April 3 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Chicago Wolves (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, April 4 –Rockford Laugh-A-Thon (TBD)Friday, April 10 –Chicago (postponed; date TBD)Saturday, April 11 –Rockford IceHogs vs. Iowa Wild (postponed; date TBD)Tuesday, April 14–Blue Man Group (No changes currently pending)Wednesday, April 15–Blue Man Group (No changes currently pending)Sunday, April 19–WWE WrestleMania Redemption Tour(No changes currently pending)Friday, April 24 –The Fab Four (Rescheduled; New Date:August 29)Saturday, April 25–RSO: Prokofiev’s Fifth (No changes currently pending)Sunday, April 26 –Home Free (postponed; date TBD)Thursday, April 30 –Cody Jinks (postponed; date TBD)Tickets purchased for any of the events mentioned above at the Coronado Performing Arts Center and the BMO Harris Bank Center during the impacted dates will be honored for rescheduled dates, which are still to be determined. Guests should stay tuned to coronadopac.org/covid19, thebmoharrisbankcenter.com/covid19, icehogs.com, and social media for updated information. Refunds will be available at the point of purchase after the new scheduled dates have been announced. Beginning March 16th, the Coronado PAC box office will be closed. Ticket information can be provided at BMO Harris Bank Center box office Monday -Friday, 9AM-5PM.The Coronado PAC, BMO Harris Bank Center, and the Rockford IceHogs appreciate the patience of guests and partners during this unprecedented situation.

For now, all scheduled classes at No Joke MMA will be going forward and we are open for business.We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation with your safety in mind, implementing heightened hygiene protocols, and working to ensure the safety of students and staff at No Joke.We understand and appreciate your concern for your health and safety, as well as the health and safety of others.All that said: PLEASE STAY HOME IF YOU ARE SICK.Keeping our customers, staff, and family members safe is our highest priority.If you have any additional questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us.Thank you.

To all of our fabulous Roxy Carmichael Boutique Customers ~We wanted to let you know that we are maintaining our regular business hours.The safety of our customers and our staff is our number one concern. We are working hard to keep high touch areas such as counters, computer keyboard and door handles clean as well as washing our hands and using hand sanitizer.As a small business, we are always grateful and thankful for all of our wonderful customers that come in and support our local boutique. We will continue to provide a safe place to shop and hopefully a place for all our customers to escape from all the craziness, even if it is only for a little while❤️.See something you like on Facebook? Message us on FB or call us at 815-316-7396 to make your purchase.FREE SHIPPING if you’d like us to ship your order to you.Be safe, be healthy and thank you for shopping small, it really does make a difference.#roxycarmichael #local #shopsmall #healthy #rockford #thankful #boutique #freeshipping #buywbl

In accordance with Winnebago County Health Department’s recommendation that businesses, institutions, and organizations suspend nonessential public gatherings of 25 people or more, as a way to reduce and prevent community transmission of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), Rockford Area Arts Council is cancelling our biannual Spring ArtScene gallery walk, April 17 and 18, 2020.ArtScene galleries, restaurants, and venue hosts will have their checks voided and credit card payments and checks/cash payments will be reimbursed.ArtScene galleries, restaurants, and venue hosts are responsible for communicating to their hosted-artists regarding this cancellation.It is always tough to make decisions that affect so many adversely, however, the Rockford Area Arts Council is putting the health and well-being of our community first.The Arts Council will continue to be available, at 713 E. State Street, 9-5, 815-963-6765.We encourage our members and the community at large to call or email first, before stopping in, to avoid unnecessary exposure to one another.Mary McNamara BernstenExecutive DirectorRockford Area Arts Council

RPL takes precautions to prevent spread of COVID-19 while continuing to serve Rockford residents.Adhering to County Health Dept. guidelines while continuing to provide library services.Rockford Public Library [RPL] is monitoring federal, state, and county agencies as the COVID-19 outbreak unfolds. As an important public space providing vital services to the community of Rockford, we will continue to evaluate and adjust our operations to best prioritize the health and well-being of Library Staff and patrons alike. While we currently remain open and are maintaining business as usual, we are taking reasonable precautions to decrease the spread of germs. Some of the sensible actions RPL is taking to minimize risk include, extra sanitization of hard surfaces, toys, puzzles and shared devices in the libraries, increasing social space where possible between computer terminals and reading areas, increased thorough hand-washing including before all children’s events, placement of hand sanitizers throughout the Library buildings, and urging both staff and patrons who are not well to stay home. In accordance with Winnebago County Health Dept. recommendations, some classes and events, system-wide that would serve groups in excess of 25 adults, as well as some events hosted by outside partners have been canceled. Please check RPL’s event calendar at : www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/events for cancellations. All patrons who are registered for canceled events are automatically notified via email. For patrons looking for books and magazines to read, videos and programs to watch at home, please explore our digital collection through our website: Hoopla, Kanopy, Cloud Library, and RB Digital. For those looking to learn something new, please explore Scholastic GO, Rosetta Stone, and Universal Class. Rockford Public Library Cardholders can access all these databases and more through our website at: https://www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org/a-to-z-all-databases/For more information, please call the Friends at 815-966-2721 or email: friendsofrpl@gmail.com. While RPL currently remains open, the situation is changing quickly, so please stay posted for updates. About the LibraryThe Rockford Public Library, founded in 1872 as the second library in Illinois, currently has six facilities, including a performing arts and training center (Nordlof Center), the Hart Interim Library and four Branch Libraries. Rockford Public Library informs, educates, entertains, and provides cultural enrichment to the people of our community.

We learned today of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's announcement to close schools through Monday, March 30, with a possible extension. Administrators, principals and staff have been working on plans for several weeks in case of the spread of COVID-19 to our area. While closing schools isn't ideal for teaching and learning, we will make the best of it together. We're working closely with the Winnebago County Health Department and the Illinois State Board of Education, and we will continue to prioritize the safety of our students and staff. We will continue to work with our community partners to provide meals and other support services to students, despite the interruption. Next week is Spring Break, so students and staff were already prepared for a much-deserved break. In the coming days, we will provide more information to our families and staff about our next steps. At this point, our district is not set up for e-learning. Administrators and staff have been compiling a list of resources for families in case of extended time away from school. We'll share more information – including those resources – through our usual communication channels when it's available. This will be difficult, but I know we can work through it together and continue to put students first.Sincerely, Dr. Ehren JarrettSuperintendentRockford Public Schools

Midway Village Museum is closely monitoring and preparing its operations as the COVID-19 outbreak continues in Illinois. At Midway Village Museum, our goal is to keep staff, volunteers and the public safe. In keeping in compliance with both Gov. JB Pritzker’s announcement yesterday to cancel events of more than 1,000 people, and the Winnebago County Health Department’s recommendation to cancel or suspend gathering of more than 25 people attending, effective immediately is a revised schedule of museum activities and special events until May 1, 2020.   No Changes In Schedule19th Amendment Anniversary Storytime at Rockford Public Library Rockton Centre Branch Saturday, March 14, 2020Women’s Suffrage Centennial LecturesSunday, March 15, 2020Jason’s Deli Restaurant FundraiserWednesday, March 18, 2020 From Minks to Sinks Rummage SaleThursday, April 16, 17, 18, 2020PostponedSilent Film Saturday – New Date and Time To Be DeterminedCancelled                                          World War I                         School Day ProgramEducational Field TripFriday, April 3, 2020           World War I: The Great WarSaturday, April 4 and Sunday, April 5, 2020Two-Day Public EventCivil War Hands-On History ProgramEducation Field Trip ProgramApril 28 - May 1, 2020Main Museum Center Is OpenThe museum’s Main Museum Center is open during regular hours at this time. If current situations change, the museum will adjust its operational schedule of the Main Museum Center, and communicate changes as these may develop. The staff at the museum is following Center for Disease Control guidelines to avoid further spread of the virus:Stay home if you are sickIndividuals at high risk with health issues or those over 80 to suspend activity until further notice including volunteers or others affiliated with the museumIndividuals over the age of 60 to assess personal health issues and proceed with activities with caution including volunteers or others affiliated with the museumCover your coughs and sneezesWash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 secondsClean frequently touched surfaces and objectsAs a travel destination-facility, the museum is also taking precautions for all its facility visitors by:encouraging hand sanitizing with increased hand washing stationsstaff preparedness and reducing customer/staff contact with gloves or other barriers when appropriatereducing crowding at events by modifying event logistics and space when appropriate with social distancing as recommended of up to 6-feet apartincreased number of hand washing stations and hand sanitizers, along with an increased schedule of cleaning surface areas, such as service areas, tables and restrooms.We ask each group or individual to personally assess your own situations and health when deciding to actively participate in museum activities and special events. The safety of our community, and all those who visit and are part of the museum team remains our highest priority. The museum will provide updates on its operations to staff, visitors, re-enactors, educators, members, volunteers and others affiliated with museum operations. If you have further questions, please contact the staff you work directly with at the museum, or call the main phone number at 815-397-9112 and your call will directed to the appropriate person.

In accordance with Winnebago County Health Department’s recommendation that businesses, institutions, and organizations suspend all public gatherings of 25 people or more, Artists’ Ensemble Theater is closing there current production of Cry It Out after tonight’s (Thursday) performance. Tonight's (Thursday) performance will be the final performance of Cry it Out. If patrons to tonight's performance wish to cancel their reservation we understand. Please call the box office and we will gladly transfer that ticket to a performance of Jeeves Saves the Day in May at no charge. Patrons who hold tickets to the rest of this weekend or next weekend can call the box office and we will gladly transfer that ticket to a performance of Jeeves Saves the Day in May at no charge. It is always sad closing a show. Closing like this is hard, but the health and well-being of our community has to come first. Our box office will be busy so please be patient. AE Box office: (815) 394-5004 Cry It Out is funded by grants from The Community Foundation of Northern Illionois and The Rockford Area Arts Council.

With the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans of primary importance, the American Hockey League has announced the suspension of play until further notice, effective immediately, due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic.The AHL will continue to monitor developments and will provide updates on the 2019-20 season at the appropriate time.

In response to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we want you to know that the museum is currently open and taking all appropriate precautions recommended by the Centers for Disease Control, Winnebago County Health Department and the City of Rockford to keep visitors and staff healthy. As of March 12, WCHD and Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara have recommended that local businesses and organizations suspend public gatherings of 25 people or more. Because of this, Rockford Art Museum will stay open until further notice, although we are cancelling events, programs and classes for this weekend and the upcoming week: We have RESCHEDULED the ART X FUNDRAISER for FRIDAY, JULY 17 (originally scheduled for Friday, March 13). Ticketholders are being notified they have the option to keep their tickets or be refunded.  We have CANCELED the opening reception for the 79TH YOUNG ARTIST SHOW: HIGH SCHOOL DIVISION (originally scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 1–3 pm). The exhibit itself is on view at the museum through April 11.Below are the precautionary measures the museum has implemented, along with some reminders about common sense and using your own discretion: We have increased the sanitation of all public spaces and communal objects (door handles, railings). Hand sanitizers are available throughout the building at the front desk. We ask that if you have flu-like symptoms or cause to believe you have been exposed to the virus to remain at home and avoid public spaces.We encourage everyone to take the normal precautions recommended for navigating cold and flu season, including social distancing, adhering to coughing and sneezing etiquette, and frequent and proper hand washing.  The museum is constantly monitoring news and recommendations, as they update so quickly. Please regularly check our website, rockfordartmuseum.org, and Facebook page, facebook.com/rockfordartmuseum, for updates. Thank you for your support. Carrie Johnson Executive Director/Curator p.s. Need an art fix from home? Download our free mobile app and go behind the scenes with us, where you’ll find artist-led gallery walks, curator talks and more. # # # About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Connect with us on Facebook @rockfordartmuseum and Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org. 

The Rockford IceHogs have partnered with BMO Harris Bank to promote the importance of living a healthy lifestyle for the students at Carlson Elementary School in Rockford.Together, the IceHogs and BMO Harris Bank donated over 400 drink tumblers that will allow every student and staff member at the school to stay hydrated throughout the day. IceHogs mascot, Hammy, joined representatives from the team as well as BMO Harris Bank to speak to the children about the value of staying active and maintaining a healthy diet.Earlier this year, Carlson Elementary endured a period where it was limited to just one drinking fountain for 350 students before renovations added a second fountain that came with a water bottle filling feature. The IceHogs and BMO Harris Bank then stepped up by donating tumblers to ensure each child and faculty member can have water all day.“I am overwhelmed with excitement for this very generous gesture,” Kristina Miller, principal of Carlson Elementary School, said. “I love seeing our community reaching out for the benefit of our students. I was pleasantly surprised with the addition and tumblers for our students. They ensure that all our students and staff have access to water throughout the day to be hydrated and focused on learning!”The IceHogs and BMO Harris Bank have teamed up for several different initiatives in the past, including building an outdoor learning center at Washington Elementary School, building a playground at RocVale Children’s Home and several sock drives to benefit Project Undershare.Building a sustainable future is one of the main pillars of BMO’s company purpose statement to “Boldly Grow the Good in business and life,” along with supporting a thriving economy and an inclusive society. BMO's leadership on sustainability has been recognized on numerous rankings, including the Dow Jones Sustainability Index and Ethisphere® Institute's list of the World's Most Ethical Companies®.About BMO Harris BankBMO Harris Bank provides a broad range of personal banking products and solutions through more than 500 branches and fee-free access to over 40,000 ATMs across the United States. BMO Harris Bank's commercial banking team provides a combination of sector expertise, local knowledge and mid-market focus throughout the United States. For more information about BMO Harris Bank, visit the company fact sheet. Accounts are subject to approval. BMO Harris Bank N.A. Member FDIC. BMO Harris Bank is part of BMO Financial Group, a highly diversified financial services provider with total assets of CDN$880 billion, as of January 31, 2020.

Pi (without the “e”) is the Greek letter (π) used in mathematics to represent the relationship of a circle’s edge to its diameter. Join us for an irrational celebration on 3/14 as we party and play with circles and shapes and puzzles and games! Get lost in loops, beautify with rubber bands, spin up a spirograph, and more!  All activities are included with general admission to Discovery Center. General admission: $9 adults; $9 children ages 2-17; free to Discovery Center Members and children age 1 and younger. This event is sponsored by Huntington Learning Academy, Dr. Zak’s Tooth Fairy Castle Pediatric Dentistry, and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. ABOUT DISCOVERY CENTER MUSEUMDiscovery Center Museum is a children’s science museum providing hands-on math, science and art experiences for all ages with over 250 hand-on exhibits, planetarium, special area for children under five, and an outdoor science park. Discovery Center Museum is the nation’s 5th Best Museum for Families according to USA TODAY/10Best.com, and one of 12 museums included in Forbes.com’s article, The 12 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S. In 2019 Discovery Center earned the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame distinction. The Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Ill. General admission to the Museum is: $9 adults, $9 children (ages 2 to 17); free to Museum members and children age 1 and younger. Hours of operation are: 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week. For additional information, call (815) 963-6769 or log onto our website at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

ROCKFORD, Ill. – The Rockford IceHogs, proud American Hockey League affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League, announced today that forward Gabriel Gagne has been released from his professional tryout agreement and signed a standard player contract (SPC) with the club for the remainder of this season and the 2020-21 campaign. The IceHogs also announced that the club has signed defenseman Dmitry Osipov to an extension through the 2020-21 season.Since joining the IceHogs on Jan. 18, Gagne has six goals and six assists for 12 points in 21 games with the IceHogs. At the time of his call-up, the Laval, Quebec, native led the ECHL with 24 goals and sat second on the Allen Americans (12th in the league) with 38 points over 36 contests. Gagne skated in three AHL contests with the Ontario Reign earlier this season, registering one assist. Gagne was selected in the second round (36th overall) of the 2015 NHL Entry Draft by the Ottawa Senators.Osipov, 23, appeared in 28 games with the IceHogs this season, adding one goal. The Moscow, Russia, native scored the game-tying goal on Dec. 17 at Laval in a 3-2 shootout win. He has missed the last eight contests due to injury. Last season, Osipov spent the majority of the campaign with the Indy Fuel of the ECHL, notching 13 points (1g, 12a) and 48 PIMs in 66 games. He was named the Fuel’s Defenseman of the Year after finishing second among team blueliners in both PIMs and games played, and posting Indy’s longest ironman streak of the season.Next Home Game:Wednesday, March 18 vs. Milwaukee Admirals | 7 p.m.Join the Hogs for the last Dog Days matchup of the season on Wednesday, March 18. Bring your dog to the game for just $2 and your pup could be chosen to be in the dog show during the first intermission. Hot dogs will be on sale for $2 and select craft beer will be available for $5. Additionally, the first 1,500 fans in the building will receive a drawstring backpack, courtesy of Rock River Valley Blood Bank. Get your tickets HERE, at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office or by calling (815) 968-5222.

Reader Mary Jo writes, “I have gotten two phone calls recently from someone stating they are from the Social Security Administration, and that they are putting a lien on my social security check because my social security card was found at a crime scene. Both times they left a message on my answering machine, and I did not call back because I figured this was a scam. My question is, have you heard of this or any other type of phone scams that we should be watching out for?” Mary Jo, that is a great question, and good for you screening your calls.Medicare and the Social Security Administration DO NOT CALL you. They will send you mail if they need to communicate with you and while scammers are always finding new ways to prey on us, the use of the federal Medicare program and the Social Security Administration names are not new. The use of the government names in the phone scam is to try and scare you enough to get personal identifying information that they can sell to others to use to take your identity or to create Medicare fraud.General rule of thumb is to never give any of that type of information to anyone you did not initiate contact with, and the new unique Medicare ID number is an effort to try and make it more difficult for this type of illegal activity. Your doctor’s office and your insurance agent legitimately need this information, however, other than providers that you have selected, you should not share your Medicare ID or Social Security number and certainly not over the phone.Until next month, dear readers, stay warm and stay well!

Tickets are selling fast for ART X, a brand-new fundraiser of one-of-a-kind experiences for Rockford Art Museum that takes place on Friday, March 13, 7–11 p.m., at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Tickets are $75 per person and on sale at rockfordartmuseum.org/art-x. ART X features a LIVE AUCTION OF ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES, music by DJs Disco Chicken and James Chesney, food by Abreo, beer and cocktails by Prairie Street Brewing Co., and surprises throughout the night, with proceeds benefitting exhibitions and educational programming at Rockford Art Museum.ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES to bid on include A DAY WITH CHEF PATRICK ALBERTO OF OCTANE RESTAURANT! You’ll be his sous chef for meal service, collaborate with him on a weeklong featured dish to be named after you, and have an after-hours drink or two with him and other Rockford chefs to discuss Rockford’s thriving culinary scene. Tickets are $75 per person and on sale at rockfordartmuseum.org/art-x. Cocktail attire, reservations required. Sponsored by Lon and Dick Behr, and chaired by Bridget Finn, Nancy Kaney and Heather Nielsen, proceeds benefit Rockford Art Museum exhibitions and programs.About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Connect with us on Facebook @rockfordartmuseum and Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.

ADULT SOFTBALL EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT FOR ENTRIES BY MARCH 20, 2020. Registration is underway for teams and individuals to sign up for Rockford Park District spring/summer adult slo-pitch softball leagues.All games are scheduled to play at Mercyhealth Sportscore One and Two (Rockford and Loves Park). Players must be age 18 or older as of January 1, 2020.Spring/summer league 14-game play begins the week of April 14, 2020, and includes an end-of-season tournament. Entry fees for spring/summer leagues if registered by March 20, 2020 are $465 per team. After March 20, the entry fee will be $520. All entry fees are due at registration, which will close April 3, 2020 if capacity has not been reached sooner.Entry fees are discounted for teams signing up for both spring/summer and fall leagues by March 20, 2020.Registration opens March 2, 2020. Sign up below. SIGN UP!

Discovery Center is celebrating all things farming with Ag All Around Us on Saturday, March 7 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Discovery Center and the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau are joining forces to create a seed-sprouting good time! Explore the ways agriculture makes use of science, technology, engineering and math. Chat with local farmers, make some butter, and sample goat cheese. Peek at live barnyard babies including goats, piglets, chicks and a baby calf! You’ll be amazed at the number of things we grow right here in Illinois! National Agriculture Week is off and running at Discovery Center with cute crafts, earth-loving activities and eye-opening information. Bandanas, work boots and bib overalls optional! All activities are included with general admission to Discovery Center. General admission: $9 adults; $9 children ages 2-17; free to Discovery Center Members and children age 1 and younger. This event is sponsored in part by the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau and its Agriculture in the Classroom program, Dr. Zak Pediatric Dentistry and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.  Discovery Center Museum is a non-profit organization providing hands-on math, science and art experiences for all ages with over 250 hand-on exhibits, planetarium, special area for children under five, and an outdoor science park. Discovery Center Museum is the nation’s 5th Best Museum for Families according to USA TODAY/10Best.com, and one of 12 museums included in Forbes.com’s article, The 12 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S. The Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Ill. General admission to the Museum is: $8 adults, $8 children (ages 2 to 17) and free to Museum members and children age 1 and younger. Hours of operation are: 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week. For additional information, call (815) 963-6769 or log onto our website at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Midway Village Museum will present Midway Village Museum will present Sock Monkey Nelson’s Birthday Party at the Sock Monkey Madness Festival from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 7, in the Main Museum Center, located at 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. Visitors will participate in theme games and crafts, sock knitting machine demonstrations and more. You’re invited to Sock Monkey Nelson’s Birthday party! • Make a sock monkey with the help of our talented museum staff at the Make a Monkey Workshop. • On the hour, more in-depth guided instructions provided for the sock monkey dolls limit is 10 visitors per hour. • Sock Monkey patches and repairs at the Sockford General Hospital. • Birthday themed costume accessory kits ($5 each) to dress up your monkey (featured in the photograph). • Themed games and crafts throughout the museum for children of all ages. • Meet Sock Monkey Nelson to give a Happy Birthday greeting • Merchandise sales for all things Sock Monkey for both you and your sock monkey. • Food, snacks and beverages available for purchase. Make-A-Monkey Workshop Fee: $20 fee per kit which includes all supplies to create a Sock Monkey. Choose from pink, blue, red, green, yellow, and traditional brown socks. Assistance from experienced staff available in a group setting, basic sewing skills are needed. May take up to 2 hours to sew your handcrafted sock monkey. This family event is for all age and held in the Main Museum Center. Visitors have the opportunity to view the permanent exhibits while attending the special event. Rain or shine event – no refunds. Admission is $8 adult; $5 child (ages 3-17); Free Infants (ages 0-2) and Free Midway Village Museum Members To purchase tickets online go to https://tinyurl.com/sockmonkeymadnessfest. Deadline to order tickets online is 4 pm Friday, March 6. Museum members receive express check-in to show membership cards upon entering the event. You may also purchase tickets in-advance by calling 815-397-9112, at the Museum Gift Store located in the Main Lobby, or at the special event upon arrival. Parking is free. For more information, call 815-397-9112.

Tickets are on sale now for brand-new fundraiser Art X, which takes place Friday, March 13, 7–11 p.m., at Rockford Art Museum, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Chaired by Bridget Finn, Nancy Kaney and Heather Nielsen, this party features music by Disco Chicken with DJ James Chesney, food by Abreo Restaurant, cash bar by Prairie Street Brewing Co., plus surprises throughout the night. Bid on extraordinary, one-of-a-kind experiences with artists, musicians, chefs and local celebrities at the live auction! Tickets are $75 and on sale at rockfordartmuseum.org. Cocktail attire; reservations required. Proceeds benefit Rockford Art Museum exhibitions and programs.About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Connect with us on Facebook @rockfordartmuseum and Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) opens its 79th Young Artist Show: High School Division with a free public opening and awards ceremony 1–3 p.m., Sunday, March 15. Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Rockford East/Cherry Valley and Women’s Art Board, the exhibition remains on view through April 11 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Teachers at schools within 50 miles of Rockford Art Museum submitted more than 900 pieces for consideration by this year’s jurors, who chose 143 works of art representing 129 students at 16 area schools. On view are paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photography, digital art, mixed media and more. Jurors Molly Noyes of Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design and Dave Menard of Rockford University did not know the artist’s name, grade level, or school affiliation when selections were made for inclusion in the exhibition and for awards. Awards will be announced at 2 p.m. during the free public opening on Sunday, March 15. Students and teachers of any grade at any school receive free admission to the museum throughout the entire 79th Young Artist Show, which includes the subsequent Youth Division (April 19–May 10). FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS REPRESENTED:  Auburn High School, Rockford (Teachers: Courtney Haugdahl, Elizabeth Wood) Marissa Allen, Senior; Veronica Bratina, Sophomore; Jesse Hutcheson, Senior; Cynthia Orenday, Senior; Evelin Ortiz-Gonzalez, Sophomore; Adrena Reynolds, Senior; Leslie Soberanis, Sophomore.Beloit Memorial High School, Wisconsin (Teacher: Elizabeth Carpenter) Nayeli Aviles, Senior; Natalie Bittner, Junior; Rebekkah Dekok, Junior; Zaydia Hughes-Taylor, Senior; Elena James, Senior; Gabrielle Klatt, Senior; Ben Leisher, Senior; Sierra Perez, Junior; Yomali Rangal, Sophomore; Janet Rosas, Junior; Jazmin Zuniga, Senior.Belvidere High School (Teachers: Jillian Rients, Laura Davis) Taylor Hoch, Sophomore; Sebastion Williams Lacy, Senior; Milana Rovella, Senior. Belvidere North High School (Teachers: Edith Obenchain, Troy Yunk) Abbey Brynolf, Senior; Jada Garza, Senior; Elizabeth Hare, Senior; Isabella Kazluski, Senior; Valeria Walters, Sophomore.Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford (Teachers: Missy Minardi, Claire Strominger) Allison Ambrose, Senior; Lindsay Arreguin, Junior; Eva Corcoran, Senior; Joy Goebel, Senior; Sam Maggio, Senior; Cassie Schneider, Sophomore; Alliey Thelen, Senior; Katy Woods, Senior. Christian Life High School, Rockford (Teachers: Diane Wing, Sarah Waldron) Juan Gaviria, Senior; Jordyn Kofoid, Senior; Felicity Lukaszyk, Senior.East High School, Rockford (Teachers: Rich Hacker, Priscella Rivas, Jahn Taylor, Karissa Wrasse) Thaw Ro Htoo, Sophomore; Callee Peterson, Sophomore; Ian Price, Junior; Selma Thabet, Senior; Patricia Vera, Senior; Tabitha Yoakum, Senior.Guilford High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Doll, Bo Hammarberg, Bethany Austin, Eric Blackwell) Madison Bruno, Senior; Paige Bruno, Senior; Hadassah Cooper, Senior; Titus Copeland, Senior; Anna Disch, Senior; Kristen Diverdi, Senior; Soleil Gaudry, Senior; Emerson Goza, Senior; Melissa Hernandez, Senior; Shaniah Johnson, Senior; Lamaria Kerrens, Junior; Madolynn Meyer, Senior; Valerie Schneider, Senior; Ethan Stark, Senior; Da Korya Thompson, Senior; Livia Vicente, Senior.Harlem High School, Machesney Park (Teachers: Barb Kurilla, Alison Agustsson, Lani Mitchell) Kayla Bronson, Junior; Eden Brown, Senior; Spring Rodriguez, Senior; Jade Wollin, Junior.Hononegah High School, Rockton (Teachers: Arra Van Galder, Jennifer Decker, Rebecca Robinson) Cassidy Eddy, Sophomore; Ian Hammock, Senior; Hannah Matrick, Senior; Lexi May, Senior; Kyle Middleton, Sophomore; Addison Treadman, Sophomore; Grace White, Sophomore.Huntley High School (Teachers: Jillian Corapi, Katherine Isaacson, Valerie Lindquist, Bridget Regan) Kaitlyn Ambrogio, Senior; Allison Boroski, Senior; Hadley Giovacchini, Senior; Abby Godek, Senior; Keely Grasse, Senior; Joshua Guyer, Senior; Katiana Herrera, Senior; Sean Martil, Senior; Carli Meadows, Senior; Ashton Miller, Junior; Cameryn Piskule, Senior; Madeline Rainey, Senior; Taryn Sargent, Senior; Lydia Sciascia, Junior; Faith Stone, Senior; Shokie Princelia Tseumah, Senior; Olivia VanHouse, Senior.Jefferson High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lynn Stockton, Tabatha Dougherty, Gail Zernia, Matt Cwynar) Yanet Angel, Junior; Jaqueline Aranzolo, Senior; Michael Bankole, Senior; Brenda Banuelos-Mendez, Senior; Gabi Pina Bautista, Senior; Arturo Carrillo, Junior; Erika De La Mora, Senior; Isabella Dittman, Senior; Erin Giardono, Senior; Malikh Gilmore, Senior; Gianna Lobato, Senior; Brittany Lopez, Senior; Rosaura Maldonado, Junior; Ariana Miranda, Junior; Bianca Ortiz, Senior; Paulina Padron, Senior; Arely Paniagua, Sophomore; Chiziya Richardson-Norman, Junior; Mariana Rosales, Senior; Emily Stremmel, Senior; Angel Villalpando, Senior; Liliana Zuniga, Junior.Pecatonica High School (Teacher: Jennifer Krantz) Hailey Baker, Senior; Nathaniel Campbell, Senior; Shannon Shrader, Sophomore; Adriana Smith, Freshman.Rockford Christian High School (Teachers: Liz Day, Kelli Sabin) Tony Chen, Senior; Zhishan Chen, Senior; Joe Glass, Senior; Kiersten Hoff, Senior; Brielle Owens, Junior; Grace Ranz, Senior; Helena Vuong, Junior; Esther Zhong, Senior.Roosevelt High School, Rockford (Teachers: Brian Hierstein, Kyle Wolfe) Anastashia Campos, Freshman; Matthew Nabors, Senior; Liberty Schaefer, Junior.Winnebago High School (Teacher: Lisa Jimenez) Janne Gommel, Senior; Alyssa Guglielmetti, Senior; Mika Monson, Senior; Bianca Namuyomba, Junior; Brooklynn Osborne, Senior. # # #About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Connect with us on Facebook @rockfordartmuseum and Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.

The Knight family was like a lot of people in Rockford in 1927. They moved here to get a fresh start. Rockford had a great reputation for job opportunities across the country and drew many people here.Isaac Knight was 43 years old in 1927 and desperately needed a new beginning. His family had lived in the Red Boiling Springs Tennessee area for years. Isaac had run into some trouble and spent some time in prison. After he finished serving his sentence Isaac wanted to leave the past and Tennessee far behind them.Isaac came to Rockford in December of 1926 and secured a job as a salesman at the L.B. Price Mercantile store. Isaac’s wife Myrtie and their five children joined him in the beginning of January. Everyone was settling nicely into their home on Elm Street. On January 23, 1927 Isaac decided to take the family on a Sunday drive to visit some of the sights of their new city. They just finished touring Black Hawk Park along 15th Avenue and Black Hawk Park Road.Black Hawk Park of 1927 was very different than it is today. It had a beautiful pavilion that overlooked the Rock River and a zoo was there for a time.The family left the park and was driving east on Blackhawk Park Avenue. The car was approaching the Mattison Machine works factory and the train crossing there. The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul passenger train was traveling through Rockford due at the station at 5:00p.m. It consisted of an engine, a tender and two passenger coaches. Sam Boldock who worked at the Mattison Machine Company was a witness to what happened that day.Sam was leaving the factory and saw one car rush over the tracks. The next vehicle was not so fortunate. According to Boldock’s statement, he believed that Isaac Knight had no idea that the train was so close.The train hit Isaac’s vehicle right in the center. The automobile was thrown to the right toward the factory. Boldock heard the sounds of the metal crushing metal and the screams of the victims as the car was pushed 60 feet down the tracks. He also heard the eerie silence when the train and the wreckage finally came to a stop.Boldock joined the men from the train as they rushed forward to search for the victims.They found six of the family members and quickly loaded them into two ambulances. One of the little girls, Nellie was only four years old. A policeman, John Anderson cradled her in his arms during the trip to Swedish American. He was devastated as he witnessed her take her last breath.Physicians and nurses were put on alert at the hospital and had prepared for the large number of casualties. Unfortunately, there was not a lot that could be done for some of the family members. Myrtie, listed as 32 years old, five year old Zola and Nellie were all pronounced dead when they arrived at the hospital.When the crew members returned to the train they were horrified to see a young girl laying on the cattle guard in the front of the engine. Thirteen year old Zella Knight was carefully lifted from the engine. She fainted when the men lifted her. She was placed on the train and taken to the nearest depot. She was rushed to Rockford Hospital away from the other members of her family.Back at Swedish American the rest of the Knight family was slowing losing their fight to survive. Elease, 11 years old died a few hours after her arrival. Isaac and 8 year old Clinton were unconscious and barely clinging to life.Zella appeared to be the least injured of her family. She suffered from a broken hip and pelvic bone and numerous cuts to her body and face. Somehow she was thrown from the car and up onto the train keeping her from the most of the damage during the crushing of the car.Isaac and Clinton died early the next morning just hours apart. All of the family members except Zella had suffered skull fractures and other broken bones. Coroner Fred C. Olson had the deceased family members taken to his undertaking rooms.Olson would conduct an inquest into the accident. Several of the men who had helped gather the victims immediately after the crash testified for the proceedings. Many of them broke down on the stand and could only answer the questions by nodding or shaking their head. They indicated that the train had blown the whistle but that the line of sight was blocked by the Mattison factory. They mentioned close calls with other vehicles in that same spot.Zella was able to tell authorities about where her extended family could be found. Isaac had a brother Cecil who lived in Decatur, Michigan. Cecil had followed in his father’s footsteps and was a minister of a church in Michigan. He and his wife traveled to Rockford to attend the inquest. Fred C. Olson worked as a liaison between the family and representatives of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul line.The local newspapers continued to tell the Knight’s family story over several weeks. They told of Zella’s recovery and of her fears of being left an orphan. The papers also told of the support from the folks of Rockford. The offers came from all over the city and included assisting with medical bills, funeral expenses and even offers of adoption for Zella. Her hospital room soon became full of flowers, fruit baskets, home-made cards from local school children and donations. The offerings of all kinds of support touched Cecil and his wife greatly. They were stunned by the generosity and care offered by these townspeople who didn’t even know Isaac and Myrtie.Fred C. Olson helped arrange the funeral and burial of the Knight family at Willwood Burial Park. He also arranged for the payment of all of the funeral expenses through the railroad company.The funeral was attended by hundreds though the family had only been in the area a short while. The sight of the four small caskets of the children next to the larger ones of the parents touched the hearts of all who attended the proceedings. The family was laid to rest in one large grave in the quiet little cemetery.Reverend Cecil also filed a claim against the railroad company for damages for each victim. The case would be settled later that same year for $6,000 to be used in the support of Zella.The Rockford community helped in other ways, too. When Zella healed enough to leave the hospital the family of Reverend and Mrs. B. E. Allen offered to let her stay with them until she was well enough to make the journey to her new home in Michigan. Her Uncle Cecil and his wife had no children of their own and promised to care for the girl as their own.Before they left Rockford for the last time, they expressed their appreciation for all of the caring support that folks here had given them. They stated that they would never forget the people here who offered all they could to assist Zella and them through the monumental loss they had suffered.It was a proud moment in Rockford’s history that would become a tradition of caring for those who need it the most.

Bath + Body Fusion (B+BF), which opened its doors in downtown Rockford in 2011, is asking for the Rockford community’s support in order to receive a $50 thousand small business grant from FedEx. Proceeds from the grant would enable the popular store to more effectively get their best selling product, Dream Cream, into the hands of burn survivors.  The grant, which is chosen through a public voting process, begins February 4 and runs until March 8.  Supporters can vote once every 24-hour period for their favorite business venture to win.“From the beginning, we knew we had something special with our Dream Cream, but we really had no idea how life-changing it would be for some of our customers,” explains Jennifer Ralston, owner of Bath + Body Fusion. “We hear stories all the time about how Dream Cream has alleviated the effects and appearance of eczema, psoriasis, scars, bug bites, stretch marks and more. What’s impressed me the most is the difference our Dream Cream is making with burns.  Most recently, I got photos sent to us from a cancer patient that suffered chemo/radiation burns. I couldn’t believe the dramatic difference between the before and after photos!”Last October, Ralston, and her team took a trip to Anaheim, California to participate in the Phoenix Society’s World Burn Congress 2019 to touch lives and improve confidence one sample of Dream Cream at-a-time. The team met hundreds of burn warriors, caregivers, nurses and doctors in California and returned to Rockford more determined than ever to share how Dream Cream could help burn survivors.  Denise M. Nordenberg, an APRN Burn Trauma Specialist highly recommends Dream Cream to her burn patients after using it herself to diminish the appearance of scarring. “It’s important to keep (burned) skin hydrated, because when the skin is healing it wants to tighten,” says Nordenberg. “We recommend to our (burn) patients that they apply lotion 10 times a day with massaging.  The Dream Cream works well with fewer applications.”Winning the FedEx Grant will allow Rockford’s homegrown Bath + Body Fusion business to share Dream Cream and the story with burn survivors from all over the world. “Our goal is not just to sell Dream Cream but to spread love, light, and hope,” Ralston says. “This has become about so much more than selling bath and body care.”GO HERE TO VOTE!

Filmmaker Carolyn Jones will present her film Defining Hope and discuss the themes addressed in the movie at a free event on Thursday, February 20, 2020, at the UIC Health Sciences Campus-Rockford. The event, which is open to health care providers as well as the general public, will begin with an information fair and a light meal starting at 5 p.m. for those who register for the event. The hour-long film will begin at 6 p.m. and will be followed by a discussion of end-of-life issues.Defining Hope is a story about people weighing what matters most at the most fragile junctures in life, and the nurses who guide them. It’s a documentary that follows patients with life-threatening illness as they make choices about how they want to live, how much medical technology they can accept, what they hope for and how that hope evolves when life is threatened. According to the filmmaker, it is optimistic and reminds us that we have choices in how we die.The event is put on by Project SILO (Significantly Impacting Life Outcomes), a community group that came together last year to organize a similar event to bring attention to important issues surrounding end-of-life decisions and care. Mercyhealth, OSF HealthCare, Transform Rockford, SwedishAmerican and the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford are the event sponsors.“Engaging in discussions about end-of-life care is so important because it is something everyone will face at some point, whether it is for a loved one or eventually ourselves,” says Brittany Blomberg, DO, a physician in the University of Illinois College of Medicine’s Hospice and Palliative Care Fellowship Program and one of the Project SILO members organizing the event. “Learning about advance directives and options for how we want to face those complicated end-of-life decisions now before a serious illness or injury is helpful and we want to help get those discussions started.”Register at go.uic.edu/ProjectSILO if you want to order a free meal. Medical professionals who would like continuing education credits can register by calling 888-39-MERCY.