Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

With the holiday break coming up, the kids are going to be out of school. That doesn’t mean that have to be bored or not using their brains, though!Our awesome Discovery Center Museum has some events coming up to round out December that will keep the kids entertained. But, they’ll be entertained AND being educated. That’s what Discovery Center does best!First up is Holiday Hoopla!Thursday, December 26 – Monday, December 30 11:00 am – 3:00 pmKids get some hands-on experience making new treasures out of recycled material! They can put their imaginations into gear and make anything from instruments to decorations. Holiday Hoopla is included in general admission!Second, Countdown to Fun!Tuesday, December 3112:00 pm – 4:00 pmIt’s New Years Eve! Get the ball dropping with some arts & crafts fun. Kids can make their own party hats, have fun with noisemakers, and watch the ball drop! There will be a ball drop and confetti at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm, and 4:00 pm! If your kids don’t stay up until midnight, this is a great way to get them the full New Years Eve experience!Discovery Center Museum is a great asset for kids (and parents!) in our community. Spend the holiday season with them and have some fun!

Alison Krauss announces several new Springtour dates which will find the accomplished bluegrass-country singer and musician performing at the Coronado Performing Arts Centerin Rockford, ILon May 15. Windy City, her latest solo album, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and Top Bluegrass Albums charts and received two Grammy nominations. The album was produced by Buddy Cannon, whose vocal harmonies Krauss grew up listening to and were the soundtrack to her childhood. “Buddy sang harmonies on everything back then,” Krauss says. She also reveals of Cannon, “I don’t do something unless I feel like I’m called to do it. That’s what I felt like, so I honored it. It’s like the same feeling of when you know something is right musically, with a song or a batch of songs –the same feeling, but this was attached to a person instead of a batch of songs.”Born in Champaign, Illinois, Alison Krauss grew up listening to everything from folk to opera to pop and rock music, but quickly fell in love with bluegrass ¬when she began playing fiddle at the age of five. Shortly after, Krauss began entering fiddle contests. At the age of 14, Rounder Records signed her to her first record deal and she went on to release her debut solo album two years later. The accomplished bluegrass musician became a member of the Grand Ole Opry at age 21. Since 1985, Krauss has released 14 albums including five solo, seven with her longtime band and musical collaborators Union Station, and the Robert Plant collaboration Raising Sand, which was certified platinum and won five Grammys, including Album of the Year and Record of the Year. She’s sold more than 12 million records to date, and her honors include 27 Grammys, nine Country Music Association awards, 14 International Bluegrass Music Association Awards, two Academy of Country Music Awards and two Gospel Music Association awards.Tickets go on sale Friday, December 13 at 10am at the Coronado PAC and BMO Harris Bank Center Box Offices, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, and over the phone at 815-968-5222

Three…Two…Fun! Discovery Center is bringing the sights, sounds and excitement of Times Square to the museum…all before bedtime! Ring in the New Year at “Countdown to Fun” on Tuesday, December 31 from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. The family-friendly celebration is filled with countdowns to ball drops and confetti showers at 1:00 pm, 2:00 pm, 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Fabricate a party hat, knock together a noise-maker and more! The event is sponsored by SwedishAmerican – a division of UW Health, and HMC Products. Cost is included with admission to Discovery Center - $9 adults; $9 children ages 2-17 and free for Discovery Center Members and children age 1 and younger.  Discovery Center will close at 3 pm on Christmas Eve, and be closed Christmas Day. Discovery Center will be open normal hours on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day - from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. 

The kids will soon be out of school for their winter break. But that doesn’t mean it’s “tis the season” for kids to be without reason! The holidays are a great time to exercise the mind. Discovery Center provides the perfect holiday mix…family fun, physical activity and even a little science! And December 26-30 Discovery Center will be celebrating winter with extra fun during Holiday Hoopla, when we’ll merge hands-on crafts with science, math and engineering. We’ve got a rainbow of fun in our drop-in workshop space. Pick up a hammer or grab a screwdriver and put your imagination in gear. See what you can construct using recycled materials, and take what you make from bird feeders and toys to decorations and musical instruments! Then have a blast building with LEGOs, cardboard, wire, and foam!  We’ll also have live science demonstrations each day. The extra activities will take place 11:00 am to 3:00 pm each day. Holiday Hoopla activities are included with admission to the Museum– $9/person and free to Members and children age 1 and younger. Planetarium shows are $1.00 for the general public and $0.50 for Discovery Center members. Discovery Center will be open until 3 pm on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, and open regular hours (10:00 am to 5:00 pm) throughout the remainder of the holiday season including New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day.

Happy Holidays to aaaaaalllllll coffee lovers! Meg’s Daily Grind has stepped up their cold coffee game. In addition to iced coffee and iced Americanos, They now have Cold Brew and Nitro Cold Brew! It was brand new this week. You KNOW I had to stop in and try it. Now, we consider ourselves to be somewhat coffee snobs. We drink so much of it, why would we want poor quality? Exactly. We wouldn’t. When we were informed of the new brews coming to Meg’s, I’m pretty sure my eyes actually lit up because I had new local coffee to try!I wouldn’t recommend buying both a large cold brew and a large nitro cold brew if you intend on sleeping at night. But, I did. Because I had to try them both immediately. I don’t think I’ve slept yet, but SO WORTH IT!Let me just tell you, if you’re a fan of cold coffee (if you aren’t, I guess I won’t judge but come on) you’re going to be pleased with the new offerings at Meg’s. I drink mine just black. So, I can’t speak for the taste when adding flavor or cream. But with the quality of the brews, I’m sure they’ll be delicious too. If you drink your coffee black like me, you’ll love the cold brew and nitro. It’s so smooth and it’ll give your brain a good kick-start! Do yourself a favor and grab one this week!I’ll even provide the hours for you:Meg’s Daily Grind – PerryvilleMonday – Thursday 5:30AM to 8PMFriday 5:30AM to 7PM Saturday 7AM to 5PMSunday 7:30AM to 3PMMeg’s Daily Grind – AlpineMonday – Thursday 6AM to 9PMFriday 6AM to 8PM Saturday 7AM to 6PMSunday 7:30AM to 5PMHappy coffee drinking, friends! May I suggest grabbing a Meg's giftcard as a stocking stuffer for family and friends? Then they can try the new cold brew too!

J. R. Kortman Center for Design hosts its fourth annual JingleBling! holiday jewelry shopping party on First Friday, Dec. 6, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Rockford Art Museum (RAM).“We will be presenting the newest arrivals of outstanding contemporary necklaces, bracelets, and earrings from the pearl and jewelry markets of Shanghai and Beijing,” said Doc Slafkosky, gallery director and co-owner. “You can also enjoy ‘The Purse’ art exhibit while enjoying some Christmas cheer served up by Jennifer Langworthy, who will be hosting the Kortman Gallery Bar during this fun holiday shopping party!” Currently on view at Kortman Gallery is ‘The Purse: Art, Design, Fashion, Function,’ a holiday group exhibition featuring work in a variety of media—from ceramics, fabric, watercolor and painting, to sculpture, printmaking, digital imagery and functional objects—by more than 30 Rockford artists. J.R. Kortman Center for Design and Kortman Gallery are located at 107 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. For more information about the event contact the shop and gallery at (815) 968-0123 or go to jrkortman.com. 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.IMAGE features ‘Red Purse’ by Carrie Johnson, from ‘The Purse: Art, Design, Fashion, Function’ exhibition in the Kortman Gallery at J.R. Kortman Center for Design at 107 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois.

100 Men Who Give a Damn Rockford is a group of men who want to make a difference in the community by supporting the Family Peace Center. The next event for this group is planned for Tuesday, December 10, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Giovanni’s. This holiday event, sponsored by Associated Bank, will provide an opportunity for networking and a chance for men to do a little holiday shopping. Local vendors will have a variety of items for sale, including jewelry, gift certificates and artwork.Cost for the event is $100. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/100MenRKFD.  

J. R. Kortman Center For Design, 107 N Main Street, is hosting their 4th annual JingleBling event this Friday, December 6, from 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm. This is a great event to get some holiday shopping done for the jewelry lovers in your life, or just for yourself! The event will feature new arrivals of contemporary jewelry pieces from the Pearl & Jewelry markets of Shanghai and Beijing. You can enjoy some beverages while browsing. The Kortman Gallery bar will be open to fill you up with tasty drinks.A portion of the proceeds from this event will go towards the Rockford Art Museum. Not only can you pick up some unique and thoughtful gifts, you’ll also be supporting our great local art museum. If you missed out on the opening of The Purse: Art, Design, Fashion, Function exhibit, you’ll be able to browse those lovely creations by local artists. What a way to kick off a weekend!

* Order Deadline Extended *Please Place Your Order By Noon Friday, December 6!We’re decorating the Midway Village Christmas tree this year in memory of and in honor of our friends, supporters, and relatives… and you can be a part of this tradition.That’s right! You can honor the life or memory of a loved one, family member, friend, co-worker or community volunteer with a beautifully-inscribed, ceramic ornament this year (and for many years to come) which will initially hang on the Midway Village main lobby entrance Christmas tree, until you retrieve it to take home to hang on your tree, or send it to the honored individual to hang on their tree!Each ornament will be inscribed with the name you will be remembering or honoring this year and comes in a beautiful maroon gift box.There is limited availability so please place your order by Wednesday, December 4. Any ornaments remaining on the Midway tree on Wednesday, December 18 will be mailed to your home, to arrive by Christmas.For additional information, contact Dolores Avram, Administrative Assistant at 815-397-9112, ext. 109 or email at adminstrativeassistant@midwayvillage.com.To honor your loved one, family member, friend, co-worker, or community volunteer, link on the button link below to download the order form for this year's commemorative ornament.https://www.midwayvillage.com/ornament-program.html

Wednesday, December 4, 2019- Having played to capacity audiences across the nation this fall, Christian music supergroup Newsboys United announced today it will extend its monumental “Greatness Of Our God” Tour into the spring of 2020. On the heels of the group’s history-making #1 album, United, the band plans to hit the road again next spring with a slate of nearly 35 new shows. Back by popular demand, the spring leg of the “Greatness Of Our God” Tour will once again bring together former members Peter Furler and Phil Joel with Newsboys’ Michael Tait, Duncan Phillips, Jeff Frankenstein and Jody Davis. The iconic band will be taking the stage to perform several of the new songs from their recently released United album, as well as a set of songs spanning their three-decade career, from recent chart-toppers “God’s Not Dead” and “We Believe,” to classics like “Shine” and “Entertaining Angels,” among many others. Newsboys United will be making a stop at the Coronado Performing Art Center on Friday, February 14, 2020. Kicking off Feb. 6, in Eden Prairie, Minn., the “Greatness Of Our God” Tour will also feature Grammy- winning American Idol Season 5 finalist Mandisa and acclaimed singer/songwriter Adam Agee as special guests. The tour is slated to run February through April, making stops in Minnesota, South Dakota, Illinois, Kansas, Oklahoma, Indiana, Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Georgia and more, before wrapping up April 26, in Grand Prairie, Texas. Tickets for the “Greatness Of Our God” Fall Tour will be on sale on Friday, Nov. 6, and special VIP add-on packages are also available which include early entrance, pre-show Q&A with Newsboys, souvenir tour laminate and poster, and exclusive VIP location for buying tour merchandise. A limited number of Platinum VIP packages will also include an exclusive photo with Newsboys backstage. For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Coronado Performing Arts Center or BMO Harris Bank Center box office, call 815-968-5222, or go to www.Ticketmaster.com. Newsboys’ latest release, the groundbreaking United, debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top Christian Albums chart following its May 10 release. A 10-song collection of compelling praise & worship moments and powerful pop tracks, United was produced by Peter Furler and Geoff Duncan and showcases four songs co-penned by Furler. The album is highlighted by the hit debut single “Greatness Of Our God,” a triumphant worship celebration showcasing Furler and Tait on lead vocals, and also includes “Love One Another,” with guest vocals from Kevin Max; pulsing praise anthem “Only The Son (Yeshua)”; “Symphony,” a call to complete surrender; and the worshipful “Set Me Ablaze,” which was originally recorded by Bethel Music and written by Mia Fieldes, Bryan & Katie Torwalt and Jacob Sooter.

Today we have an awesome guest - Kellie from Kellie Cheree Candles! We talk about her journey to creating her awesome products and the faith and passion that carried her through all the years of trial and error.If you missed her at Stroll On State this weekend, you have the chance to smell her awesome products again on December 14!Hit play and come hang out with us. Coffee drinking is suggested.Click Here To Listen & Subscribe!Find her online:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellieChereeCandles/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelliechereecandles/Website: https://www.kelliecheree.com/Follow us on social mediaInstagram: @TheRockfordBuzzFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockfordBuzz/"Rockford Buzz" Apple and Android Mobile Apps

How To Prepare For Your Next Appointment... ✅My team & I appreciate having you as a client and know you will be excited and very pleased with the conscientious, quality service you will receive!We specialize in helping clients, just like you, keep their homes and offices beautifully clean and healthy while greatly extending the life of your carpet and upholstery investment. In fact, you only pay if you're happy with our work--guaranteed!Clients always have questions about the best way to prepare for our visit and here are some tips:Preparing for Carpet Cleaning...* Have an open parking space as close to your front door or main access door as possible.* We love children and pets; however, because we are working with machinery, we ask that you keep children and pets away from the areas we will be working in.* What’s Buggin You? 👉 Be sure to point out every area of concern to your technician (whether it’s spots or just a dirty traffic lane). Tell him what caused the spot or stain. When we know what caused a spot or stain, it is much more likely that we can remove it. Is it a “spot” or a “stain”? This may sound like a dumb question, but there is a difference. A “spot” is something like dirt or sand or even oil that is lodged against the outside of your carpet fibers. These spots will come out with our normal extraction process. A “stain” is something like wine, coffee, pet stain, or Kool-Aid that actually penetrates your carpet fibers and the stain color exists along with the original carpet color. Stains will NOT be removed with any normal cleaning method. There is good news, though! We are experts in Stain Removal, and we will help you determine which areas of concern are “spots” and which are “stains”.* Before the technician arrives, please remove all breakables, misc. toys, books, loose clothing, etc. from the work areas. Also decide how much furniture you’d like to have moved (if any). You’ll get the most thorough cleaning if we move your furniture, but you’ll get our best pricing if we don’t move any furniture. It’s your choice. We will move most items for you like chairs, tables, sofas etc. We do not move china cabinets or entertainment centers unless they are completely emptied. We will move beds, but there is any additional charge for this.Preparing for Upholstery Cleaning...* If possible, please have end tables and coffee tables moved away from the pieces to be cleaned. When possible we will move and clean all surfaces of each piece, but sometimes nearby pieces make it impossible for us to that.Preparing for Tile & Grout Cleaning...* Loose tile and grout will be removed with our powerful system, so sure be to point out these areas to us.*** Our schedules fill up fast, and most clients book weeks in advance. To help us be as accommodating as possible to our family of clients, please allow a minimum of 24 hours notice, should you need to reschedule.Thank you again for your business, referrals and cleaning challenges! 😉

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) will participate in “Museum Store Sunday” on December 1, and will offer 25% off museum memberships as well as 25% off select store items all day, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. The 2019 program represents more than 1,400 museum stores from all 50 states and Washington, DC, 18 countries, and five continents. Full list of participants at museumstoresunday.org/participating-museums. Museum Store Sunday is an initiative of the Museum Store Association. The MSA community advances the nonprofit retail industry and the professionals engaged in it through advocacy, education and collaboration. “Museums foster appreciation and knowledge of art, nature, culture, science, and history,” the group said in a statement. “When you purchase a gift from the museum store, you help to sustain the museum’s service to their community and the public.” Bold Abstractions: Paintings from the Thoma Collection is the feature exhibition at Rockford Art Museum, on view through January 26 with FREE daily admission throughout the exhibition provided by support from the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation. This 15-week major exhibition, organized by Carrie Johnson, executive director/curator of Rockford Art Museum, marks the first time the couple’s significant post-war painting collection has been shown at a public institution. About the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation: Founded in 2014 and based in Chicago and Santa Fe, the Thoma Foundation recognizes the power of the arts to challenge and shift perceptions, spark creativity and connect people across cultures. Learn more at thomafoundation.org. 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) will be closed Thursday, November 28, and open regular hours 10 AM–5 PM on Friday, November 29. Bold Abstractions: Paintings from the Thoma Collection is on view through January 26 at RAM with FREE daily admission throughout the exhibition provided by support from the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation. Bold Abstractions explores new forms of abstract painting from the 1960s, following the heyday of Abstract Expressionism, and features an international group of 33 artists associated with some of the key painting movements of the mid-20th century: Color Field, Post-Painterly Abstraction, Hard-Edge, and Op Art. This 15-week major exhibition, organized by Carrie Johnson, executive director/curator of Rockford Art Museum, marks the first time the couple’s significant post-war painting collection has been shown at a public institution. Click here to listen to RAM Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson lead the Gallery Walk on opening night, which is featured on Rockford Art Museum’s free mobile app. About the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation: Founded in 2014 and based in Chicago and Santa Fe, the Thoma Foundation recognizes the power of the arts to challenge and shift perceptions, spark creativity and connect people across cultures. Learn more at thomafoundation.org.About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to help make life in Rockford better 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 @rockfordartmuseumand Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.photo Rockford Art Museum

My team & I appreciate having you as a client and know you will be excited and very pleased with the conscientious, quality service you will receive!We specialize in helping clients, just like you, keep their homes and offices beautifully clean and healthy while greatly extending the life of your carpet and upholstery investment. In fact, you only pay if you're happy with our work--guaranteed!Clients always have questions about the best way to prepare for our visit and here are some tips:Preparing for Carpet Cleaning...* Have an open parking space as close to your front door or main access door as possible.* We love children and pets; however, because we are working with machinery, we ask that you keep children and pets away from the areas we will be working in.* What’s Buggin You? 👉 Be sure to point out every area of concern to your technician (whether it’s spots or just a dirty traffic lane). Tell him what caused the spot or stain. When we know what caused a spot or stain, it is much more likely that we can remove it. Is it a “spot” or a “stain”? This may sound like a dumb question, but there is a difference. A “spot” is something like dirt or sand or even oil that is lodged against the outside of your carpet fibers. These spots will come out with our normal extraction process. A “stain” is something like wine, coffee, pet stain, or Kool-Aid that actually penetrates your carpet fibers and the stain color exists along with the original carpet color. Stains will NOT be removed with any normal cleaning method. There is good news, though! We are experts in Stain Removal, and we will help you determine which areas of concern are “spots” and which are “stains”.* Before the technician arrives, please remove all breakables, misc. toys, books, loose clothing, etc. from the work areas. Also decide how much furniture you’d like to have moved (if any). You’ll get the most thorough cleaning if we move your furniture, but you’ll get our best pricing if we don’t move any furniture. It’s your choice. We will move most items for you like chairs, tables, sofas etc. We do not move china cabinets or entertainment centers unless they are completely emptied. We will move beds, but there is any additional charge for this.Preparing for Upholstery Cleaning...* If possible, please have end tables and coffee tables moved away from the pieces to be cleaned. When possible we will move and clean all surfaces of each piece, but sometimes nearby pieces make it impossible for us to that.Preparing for Tile & Grout Cleaning...* Loose tile and grout will be removed with our powerful system, so sure be to point out these areas to us.*** Our schedules fill up fast, and most clients book weeks in advance. To help us be as accommodating as possible to our family of clients, please allow a minimum of 24 hours notice, should you need to reschedule.Thank you again for your business, referrals and cleaning challenges! 😉

Friday, November 22, 2019Christmas Open House @ Landscape Connection - view event9:00 am - 6:00 pmEdgebrook Tree Lighting @ Edgebrook - view event5:30 pm - 6:30 pmThe Purse: art, design, fashion, function @ J. R. Kortman Center For Design - view event5:30 pm - 9:00 pmAudio/Visual Night with Artale and Culture Shock @ Culture Shock - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmThird Eye Blind - Screamer Tour @ Coronado PAC - view event8:00 pm - 11:00 pmDisco Chicken 1 Year Anniversary Party @ Abreo - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amSaturday, November 23, 2019Block Print Gift Wrap with Sarah Reed-McNamara @ Rockford Art Museum - view event9:00 am - 10:30 amChristmas Open House @ Landscape Connection - view event9:00 am - 6:00 pmTrolls LIVE! @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event10:00 am - 12:00 pmPower of Print: Positive Words in Action @ Rockford Art Museum - view event11:30 am - 1:00 pmTrolls LIVE! @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event2:30 pm - 4:30 pmMen On Boats @ West Side Show Room - view event4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPasta for Pets 2019 @ SMSF Club - view event4:00 pm - 8:00 pmThe Unapologetically Ignorant Podcast: LIVE @ Nordlof Center - view event6:30 pm - 11:00 pmJersey Boys @ Coronado PAC - view event8:00 pm - 11:00 pmEspinosa & Coffey @ Rural on Tap - view event8:00 pm - 11:00 pmSidekick Kato Reunion Show @ Marys Place - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amSunday, November 24, 2019Trolls LIVE! @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event10:00 am - 12:00 pmChristmas Open House @ Landscape Connection - view event10:00 am - 3:00 pmJazz Brunch w/ The Joel Baer Jazz Trio @ The Norwegian - view event12:00 pm - 2:00 pmJingle & Mingle Holiday Expo @ Franchesco's Ristorante - view event12:00 pm - 3:00 pmTrolls LIVE! @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event2:30 pm - 4:30 pmPeter Asher & Albert Lee: An Evening of Songs & Stories @ Concerts on the Creek - view event6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) isn’t the only art museum showcasing postwar American abstraction this season. Bold Abstractions: Paintings from the Thoma Collection is on view through January 26 at RAM with free daily admission throughout the exhibition provided by support from the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Art Foundation. This 15-week major exhibition, organized by Carrie Johnson, executive director/curator of Rockford Art Museum, marks the first time the couple’s significant post-war painting collection has been shown at a public institution. Bold Abstractions explores new forms of abstract painting from the 1960s, following the heyday of Abstract Expressionism, and features an international group of 33 artists associated with some of the key painting movements of the mid-20th century: Color Field, Post-Painterly Abstraction, Hard-Edge, and Op Art—including Helen Frankenthaler, a defining force in the development of American painting who has long been recognized as one of the great American artists of the 20th century. London’s famed Tate Modern museum is also showcasing postwar American abstraction this season, with five paintings by Helen Frankenthaler currently on view—one of which recently became its first acquisition by the legendary artist, reported ARTnews this week. About the piece, Tate said in a statement the gift from the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation “transforms our ability to represent postwar American abstraction, while also reflecting the vital contribution made by women artists, such as Frankenthaler, during a critical moment in art history.” Rockford Art Museum visitors can view Helen Frankenthaler’s White Makes Four in Bold Abstractions for free through January 26 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. RAM is regularly open daily 10 am–5 pm, Thursdays 10 am–7 pm (closed November 28, December 25). 

It’s time to drape the red and green—heavy on the green! Dive into the holiday spirit with art and science activities during two days of festivities at Discovery Center over Thanksgiving weekend for Grinchy Green Science! Special activities will abound from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm on November 29 and 30.  Delve into green fizz, Grinch gunk, and tons of decorative tape! Squirt and swirl colors, design a Who Hats, make a marble-ous game, and more! The event is included with museum admission: $9/person for the Public; free to Members and children age one and younger. Grinchy Green Science is sponsored by Thermo Fisher, HMC Products and the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Give The Gift of Midway Village Museum MembershipSpecial Additional Three Months On A Year Long MembershipGive the gift of a Midway Village Museum Membership this holiday season! Your gift purchase includes the benefits of an extra three months of membership to the museum for a total of 15 months if purchased by 5 pm Monday, December 16! A unique gift idea - and a great way to support YOUR history museum.Memberships include FREE unlimited admission to the Main Museum Center's exhibits for 15 months, plus FREE admission to many of the annual signature special events such as Sock Monkey Madness Festival, The Great War: World War I, and the very popular World War II Days. As a Midway Village Museum member, you also receive benefits at many other museums around the United States as part of the Time Travelers program including FREE admissions, reduced admissions, gift shop discounts and more.Your gift membership will be festively packaged in a box tied with ribbon and available for pickup or you may decide to have the membership mailed to your family member, friend or colleague.You can learn more or purchase a membership at http://midwayvillage.com/midway-membership.html or contact 815-397-9112, ext. 109.

New Merchandise Just In Time For Holiday Gift Giving!The Gift Store at Midway Village is gearing up for the Holidays. New items include a new Rockford Sock Monkey Bobblehead. The shelf mate bobblehead sits on a ledge or book shelf and is a new look for bobbleheads. The Gift Store has also received a limited number of NBA Official Fred VanVleet bobbleheads. This collectors item featuring Rockford’s own Auburn High School basketball star now an important part of the NBA Toronto Raptors. If you are looking for unique Rockford Gifts and Books, shop the Gift Store at Midway Village. The store is open during regular museums hours. Follow this link for museum hours: https://www.midwayvillage.com/midway-hours-admission.html. To inquire, contact store@midwayvillage.com, call 815-397-9112, or stop by the Museum Gift Store.

The Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, along with its grant application partners the City of Rockford and the Coalition of Latino Leaders, hopes to qualify as one of the Top 25 finalists competing for a 2020 Levitt AMP [Your City] Grant Award. This grant opportunity is sponsored by the Mortimer & Mimi Levitt Foundation, a national foundation dedicated to strengthening the social fabric of America through free, live music. Fifteen nonprofits, or municipalities partnering with a nonprofit, will receive up to $25,000 each in matching funds to produce their own Levitt AMP Music Series - a free outdoor concert series featuring a diverse lineup of professional musicians.What makes this opportunity especially unique is its focus on ensuring musical performances are a representation and celebration of our diverse community. This will allow us to continue the positive momentum behind Davis Park through music.A successful campaign for Rockford depends on community participation to get as many online votes as possible to bring the concert series to town. Community support, as measured by the number of online votes received, will be one of the key factors when the Levitt Foundation determines the 2020 Levitt AMP Grant Award winners.The process is easy, simply register and vote by visiting www.levittamp.org/vote .

Alice and Clemen Schneider were at first confused by the phone call from their daughter, Terry. Terry called to tell them that her sister Rae Ann, called Birdie by everyone, hadn’t shown up to Terry’s house for the Christmas holiday.The couple had left their home in what was then known as North Park (now the Machesney Park area) to spend the 1972 Christmas holiday with Clemen’s father in North Dakota. Two of their daughters, Terry and Birdie lived in the Bloomington, Illinois area.Birdie joined Terry and her husband in Bloomington in August of 1972. She was excited to have a fresh start in a new place. She graduated from Harlem High School in 1971. Birdie was painfully shy and hadn’t made a lot of friends in school. She was diagnosed with epilepsy and that kept her from being outgoing and approachable. Though she hadn’t had a seizure in a while, it was always in the back of her mind. It kept her from doing so many things that other young people her age took for granted. She had never had a job before and couldn’t get a driver’s license. It also kept her from being open to relationships, especially with men. It felt like everyone in North Park and possibly all of Rockford knew about her seizures. Bloomington-Normal was an exciting college town where no one knew anything about her or her seizures.At first, Birdie stayed with her sister’s family but by September she had found an apartment and two room- mates. Birdie also got a job. She worked as a waitress at a Steak and Shake restaurant. Her room-mates and co-workers would later say they didn’t know very much about Birdie, just that she was very quiet and a home body.Her maternal grandmother Beryl came to visit toward the middle of December 1972. Terry, Birdie and Beryl went Christmas shopping, cooked together, and laughed as they wrapped the presents they bought. Beryl tried to convince Birdie to return to Rockford with her for the holiday. But Birdie was adamant that she was the new girl at work and had to cover the holiday hours. Terry assured Beryl that Birdie would be with her family for the holiday. Beryl couldn’t know that this would be the last time she would ever see Birdie alive.One of the things Birdie liked about her apartment was that it was really close to work. It was about a mile away and most days she could walk it in less than 20 minutes. When she got the job at the end of the summer it was still light out at 5:00 p.m. when her shift ended. But by winter, it was dark by the time Birdie left the restaurant. Her co-workers watched her push open the door and step out into the dark on December 22, 1972. It would be the last time anyone would see Rae Ann Schneider alive.Her room-mates started to worry about her when she hadn’t returned that night. They knew that she didn’t know many people. She had met a couple of young men but neither of them could be considered a boyfriend. They also knew that Birdie would not leave for a long period without her seizure medicine. The room-mates decided to call her sister.Police during this time period usually waited 48 to 72 hours before even taking a missing person report, especially in a college town like Bloomington. But the fact that Birdie was on medicine put them on alert. Lt. Kenneth Morgan was put in charge of her case. When Birdie hadn’t contacted anyone by Christmas day, Morgan said he grew fearful. Another girl, Marie Burchie, had gone missing from the area back in April and was found buried in a shallow grave. Birdie’s family tried to hold onto hope. Her grandma Beryl offered a $1,000.00 reward for her safe return or information leading to the arrest of the person who took her.They would have no answers for nine long months. When another girl went missing in the area in May 1973, Birdie’s parents were resigned to the fact that their daughter would not return home to them. They wouldn’t know the truth until the beginning of August 1973.The case blew wide open when Jesse Donald Sumner was arrested in July 1973. He had beaten his third wife when she confronted him about molesting his step-daughter. After Sumner’s arrest, the wife had some information for the police. The wife told of Sumner’s involvement in the cases of the missing girls. When the police confronted Sumner with his wife’s allegations, he decided to confess. He led the authorities to two more graves. One was a shallow grave on the road south of Stanford on Old Danvers Road. It was where he took Dawn Huwe when he kidnapped her in May 1973. She had been hit on the head and buried alongside the road.The other grave held Birdie’s body. She was buried in Sumner’s garage under the dirt floor. She had been beaten on the front of her head by a blunt object. On her finger the authorities found her class ring with the Harlem Huskies 1971 insignia on the side. Police theorized that Sumner buried Birdie in the garage because the ground was too frozen in December when she was kidnapped.Jesse Donald Sumner was tried first for the April 1972 murder of 20 year old Marie Burchie. She, like Dawn Huwe was a student at Illinois State University. Sumner was found guilty and sentenced to 50 to 100 years for the murder of Marie.Sumner was put on trial for Dawn and Birdie’s murders in October of 1974. Before handing down the sentence Circuit Judge Calvin Stone read a statement, “Cruel, bizarre, unmerciful, despicable are all understatements for this man.” He also stated that he didn’t believe that Sumner could ever be rehabilitated and sentenced Sumner to 100 to 200 years in prison. Judge Stone said he hoped that Sumner would never walk free again.Judge Stone would get his wish. Sumner died in Joliet Prison in 2005 at the age of 68. He is buried in his family’s plot in Stanford, Illinois.Birdie was brought back home and buried in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Her parents were laid to rest near her when they died a few months apart in 2011.Kathi Kresol has been researching Rockford’s history for over a decade. She shares the stories she discovers on this website, in a column for the Rock River Times, and during the events she hosts. Find more of Kathi’s stories at www.hauntedrockford.com or at www.kathikresol.com

Friday, November 15, 2019Sip & Shop: An Evening with Cole Brandt @ Rockford City Market - view event5:00 pm - 8:00 pmHoliday Open House & Preview Party @ Bath + Body Fusion - view event5:00 pm - 8:00 pmAnything goes! Art show @ Womanspace - view event5:30 pm - 7:00 pmMen On Boats @ West Side Show Room - view event8:00 pm - 10:00 pmThePianoGuys @ Coronado PAC - view event8:00 pm - 11:00 pmFrosty Fridays: Public Skating @ Carlson Ice Arena - view event8:00 pm - 10:00 pmSaturday, November 16, 2019Cultural Heritage Celebration @ Midway Village Museum - view event10:00 am - 3:00 pmStorytime with Rockford Public Library @ Rockford Art Museum - view event10:00 am - 11:00 am4 Authors Book signings @ Crimson Ridge - view event1:00 pm - 4:00 pmLearn to use RPL’s Resume Builder @ Rockford Public Library - view event2:00 pm - 3:00 pmRockford IceHogs Military Appreciation Night vs. Grand Rapids @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pmEspinosa & Coffey @ Nmt Drink - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmThe Hope & Anchor Comedy Night - view event8:00 pm - 11:00 pmBLUE STEEL @ Shooter's North - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amDusty Boots Birthday Blowout - view event9:00 pm Sunday, November 17, 2019Quad Con Rockford - Comic & Toy Show @ Tebala Event Center - view event10:00 am - 4:00 pmNatural Helpers Luncheon and Style Show @ Mauh-Nah-Tee-See - view event11:00 am - 1:30 pmDOG YOGA: Unleash Yourself! @ Pampered Pet - view event2:00 pm - 3:00 pmMen On Boats @ West Side Show Room - view event6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

We’re decorating the Midway Village Christmas tree this year in memory of and in honor of our friends, supporters, and relatives… and you can be a part of this tradition.That’s right! You can honor the life or memory of a loved one, family member, friend, co-worker or community volunteer with a beautifully-inscribed, ceramic ornament this year (and for many years to come) which will initially hang on the Midway Village main lobby entrance Christmas tree, until you retrieve it to take home to hang on your tree, or send it to the honored individual to hang on their tree!Each ornament will be inscribed with the name you will be remembering or honoring this year and comes in a beautiful maroon gift box.There is limited availability so please place your order by Wednesday, December 4. Any ornaments remaining on the Midway tree on Wednesday, December 18 will be mailed to your home, to arrive by Christmas.For additional information, contact Dolores Avram, Administrative Assistant at 815-397-9112, ext. 109 or email at adminstrativeassistant@midwayvillage.com.To honor your loved one, family member, friend, co-worker, or community volunteer, link on the button link below to download the order form for this year's commemorative ornament.https://www.midwayvillage.com/ornament-program.html