Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

Each year, the City publishes a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which details a comprehensive, city-wide infrastructure investment program. Today, the City launched a web tool that allows residents to view details, cost and timeline of each of the nearly 200 CIP projects currently underway within the City.Available on the City’s website at www.rockfordil.gov, the CIP web map shows the progress of street, bridge, stormwater and sidewalk projects throughout Rockford. In addition, residents can view Neighborhood Projects for each ward, which are selected by each ward’s alderman.“Not only is this tool a big accomplishment for our facilities management and WinGIS team, but it is a valuable resource for all of our residents,” explains Tim Hinkens, City Engineer. “The map pinpoints every single CIP construction project - complete with pop-up descriptions, pictures and plans for each project.”The Capital Improvement Plan is funded by the infrastructure sales tax and motor fuel tax. The City receives approximately $16 million annually from the 1% sales tax and uses those dollars to leverage external grants and State and Federal funding awards. This year, the City is leveraging $16 million to do more than $40 million of work.To view the map, visit http://rockfordil.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Shortlist/index.html?appid=d7c65faeb50348bebb2105bea5297c5d 

Don your disguise or polish your crown, and join a gathering of superheroes and princesses on Saturday, June 8 from 6-8:30 pm for “Supertastic Capes & Sparkles.” A feisty Arabian Princess and a sincere Spider Hero will be on hand to meet and greet, offer photo opportunities, and sign autographs. Come in costume and bring your imagination for exciting make-believe experiences that use real math and science.  Explore the physics behind super powers as you lift your parent with one hand, or get a grip that sticks to the wall. Fashion a bat belt, create a cape, and use your spidey senses to spot the clues and crack the code in the Science Park. Then come to a special planetarium show and learn to recognize a superhero, a princess, and Pegasus in the night sky! Assemble a light-up magic wand with the help of a visiting fairy godmother. Create a sparkling crown, play in the snow in summer, gather a mermaid’s seashells, and sing along to your favorite songs. Then color a shrinking dragon and put it on a chain to wear! Stop by the demonstration theater for a show of enchanting color changes that would make any genie proud. Or witness frosty fun and behold how much mayhem can be caused by cold when a snow queen’s magic materializes!  Admission is $15/person for the public and $7/person for Discovery Center members. You don’t need royal blood, super powers, or magical abilities to come to this event…but you might leave with some! Grown-ups can play too (your super-identity is safe with us). 

Take a look around downtown Rockford and you’ll see something truly transformational happening. A few weeks ago the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau (RACVB) kicked off the beginning of CRE8IV (pronounced “creative”), a special five-day festival that brought eight lead artists to create large-scale murals around downtown. From May 15 through May 19, our residents caught the artists in action and celebrated with them during daily “Block pARTy” events nearby. While the city will, in many ways, was visually transformed during CRE8IV, the event also promises to have a lasting impact on our community. Here are just five ways public art is transforming Rockford:  1.    It Creates a Sense of PlacePublic art, and murals in particular, communicate a lot about the neighborhood and the city in which they’re displayed. They communicate our values, celebrate our heritage, and even impact our moods – hopefully, inspiring a smile and a bounce in our step. The more familiar they become, the more they become landmarks and symbols of a community’s identity (like Symbol, the orange Alexander Liberman sculpture on the river). In a sense, they almost become tourist attractions unto themselves. 2.    It Visually Transforms the CityscapeMurals add vibrancy and color to otherwise drab and uninspiring places. The newest murals promise to bring fun, uplifting and colorful creations to some very visible locations along the State Street corridor and beneath the Jefferson Street Bridge. With these paintings, there is new energy and vitality in downtown parking lots, along drab alleys and even under the Jefferson Street bridge. 3.    It Fuels Artistic SpiritThe arts are something everyone can participate in, and the more we’re exposed to art the more likely we are to broaden our horizons and expand our own means of creative expression. In their own way, these murals can inspire creative energy. Art, of course, is an important part of healthy communities, and it’s long been a part of Transform Rockford’s values. That’s why there’s a renewed push to build a “cultural plan” that can help maximize the arts’ impact throughout our community. 4.    It Supports Local ArtistsArtists shouldn’t have to work for free, and neither are the eight lead artists behind the CRE8IV festival murals. The money spent on the festival helped continue the work of several area artists: two come from Rockford, one from Chicago and another from Sycamore. 5.    It Enhances the Downtown Experience As crowds continue flocking to downtown Rockford, public art gives them one more way to enjoy their time here. Murals create a scenic backdrop for all sorts of activities downtown, and they become points of interest for tourists and an easy site for photo opportunities (Go ahead and Insta that!).  CRE8IV is produced by the Rockford Area CVB and funded, in part, by a matching grant from the Illinois Office of Tourism with support from many local organizations, businesses and individuals. To learn more about CRE8IV or to get involved, visit gorockford.com/cre8iv.

In honor of Memorial Day and the fact that June is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) awareness month, I am focusing this article on Veterans. Memorial Day is also an important reminder that suicide awareness and prevention require a year-round focus in order to prevent future tragedies. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a trauma and stress-related disorder that may develop after exposure to an event or ordeal in which death or severe physical harm occurred or was threatened. PTSD is something I have personal experience with. I was the unfortunate one to find my son the day that he lost his battle to depression. As you can imagine or you probably can’t begin to imagine, that experience greatly affected me psychologically and caused great distress and trauma. Your brain cannot possibly process such a brutal trauma. I found myself almost a year after losing him feeling intense feelings of distress, invasive memories, and extreme physical reactions to the point I could no longer function normally. I am grateful that I was able to get connected to a therapist that offered a form of treatment that allowed me to desensitize and reprogram those memories so that I could return to a state of function. Nowhere is the connection between PTSD and suicide felt more strongly than in the veteran community. In fact, veterans who experience combat trauma are at the highest relative suicide risk than individuals exposed to other types of trauma.Suicide is now the 10th leading cause of death in America, and it effects some members of the population more disproportionately than others. Male veterans are 18 times more likely to kill themselves than their civilian counterparts, and female veterans are, sadly, 250 times more likely to die by suicide than their civilian counterparts. Another grave statistic is that it is estimated that an average of 22 veterans per day die by suicide — which translates to one veteran every 65 minutes.Nearly 9 million veterans receive health care services from the VA. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) promotes integration of health and mental health care and evidence-based interventions, like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The VA also spends $1.8 billion on research each year, including on mental health conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, and on suicide prevention. Importantly, VHA mental health providers are familiar with military culture. However, as a result of long wait and travel times to VHA mental health often times veterans are left to go without care or seek non-VA professionals for their care. Beneath the Beard was created by Sgt Ryan Curry, Purple Heart recipient and PTSD warrior, to educate individuals on the effects of Veterans coping with Traumatic Brain Injuries, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, depression, and other combat related mental health issues. Ryan created Beneath the Beard to help educate on what to look for, how to help, and why it’s beneficial to hire these heroes in the workplace. As combat wounded Marine, Ryan was forced to overcome depression and PTSD to maintain a positive and healthy lifestyle. By sharing his story and tools that helped him find a purpose in a family unit rather than a combat zone, he strives to provide hope to others. He openly shares his path of transition to civilian life, the emotionally dark places he traveled through to get to the place he is today. Ryan’s story not only helps Veterans but anyone who battles depression and PTSD. Rockford is fortunate to have someone like Ryan who is willing to take his own tragedy and experience to fuel a passion to help educate and support our local veteran’s. I want to thank Sgt. Ryan Curry and all of the veterans who have served and died for our Country. 

Rockford Art Museum announced it will join museums nationwide in participating in the tenth summer of Blue Star Museums, a program which provides free admission to our nation’s active-duty military personnel and their families this summer. The 2019 program will begin earlier than in past years, launching on Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day, and ending on Monday, September 2, 2019, Labor Day. Military can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums.Blue Star Museums is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in collaboration with Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums nationwide. First Lady of the United States Melania Trump and Second Lady of the United States Karen Pence are honorary co-chairs of Blue Star Museums 2019.“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as Rockford Art Museum are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more. Museums are welcome to sign up for Blue Star Museums throughout the summer at arts.gov.“We've seen the tremendous impact the Blue Star Museums program brings to our military families, and we're thrilled to be celebrating a decade of support,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, chief executive officer of Blue Star Families. “Not only are museums fun to explore but are also great for making memories and strengthening military families as a whole.”“The Defense Department congratulates Blue Star Families and the National Endowment for the Arts on reaching an incredible milestone: ten years of service to the military community though Blue Star Museums,” said A.T. Johnston, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Military Community and Family Policy. “We offer our sincere gratitude to the more than 2,000 museums across the country who open their doors through this wonderful program. Your patriotism and generosity have enriched the lives and experiences of our military families.”The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.Follow Blue Star Museums on Twitter @NEAarts and @BlueStarFamily, #bluestarmuseums.

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) opens new art exhibition Chance Encounter: Julie Heffernan and Shelly Mosman on Friday, June 7, with a free public opening 7:30–8:30 p.m. at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. The exhibition remains on view through September 29.Chance Encounter explores paintings and photography by Julie Heffernan and Shelly Mosman. Both use opulent beauty and gritty detail to tell visual stories that disrupt one-sided histories of female figures that still exist today. Also on view are lavish, one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture by Minneapolis designer Carter Averbeck of Omforme Design. Mosman’s recent projects include collaborating with Fashion Week Minnesota to help celebrate youth and the beauty of aging. Heffernan is an Illinois native and professor of art at Montclair State University in New Jersey, where she has taught for more than 20 years. Both artists are represented in the Rockford Art Museum Permanent Collection. Chance Encounter is organized by Rockford Art Museum Curator Carrie Johnson. This exhibition and its related educational programming are sponsored in part by the Dean Alan Olson Foundation, Anne and David Boccignone, and Women’s Art Board, and partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Today Discovery Center Museum announced its participation in the tenth annual Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, the Department of Defense, and more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families this summer.The 2019 program will begin earlier than in past years, launching on Saturday, May 18, 2019, Armed Forces Day, and ending on Monday, September 2, 2019, Labor Day. Military can find the list of participating museums at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. This year’s participating organizations include fine art, science, history, and children’s museums, as well as zoos, aquariums, gardens, and more.Between May 18 and September 2, active duty military personnel and up to five family members will be provided with free admission to Discovery Center. The free admission program is available for those currently serving in the United States Military—Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard as well as members of the Reserves, National Guard, U.S. Public Health Commissioned Corps, NOAA Commissioned Corps, and up to five family members. Qualified members must show a Geneva Convention common access card (CAC), DD Form 1173 ID card (dependent ID), or a DD Form 1173-1 ID card for entrance into a participating Blue Star Museum.“Discovery Center is proud to be a part of this outstanding collaboration to provide opportunities for military families to spend quality time together and create special memories,” explains Discovery Center Marketing Director Ann Marie Walker.“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to celebrate the tenth summer of collaborating with Blue Star Families, Department of Defense, and especially the more than 2,000 museums across our nation that make this program possible,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Organizations such as Discovery Center Museum are providing wonderful opportunities for military families to share a memorable experience together this summer.”The initiative is part of a partnership with Blue Star Museums and in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families and the Department of Defense. The complete list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseumsThroughout the year, Discovery Center offers $1 off admission to active military and their immediate family.

I forgot how much you miss from a car.For several years, my primary mode of transportation was a bike, but then I became heavily reliant on a car for the last five years. In a car, the city filters in to you through metal and glass, a blur of color and shape. But on a bike, the city is laid out in front of you in all of its beautiful detail. There’s the smell of the river, the warmth of the sun, the faces of the people out on foot.And there’s also the art!As I began bike commuting this spring, I was delighted to find that my 3-mile route is alive with artwork. I pass Symbol (Alexander Liberman), The Sinnissippi Crab (Gene Horvath), and Suspended Motion (Gene Horvath)— long-standing metal sculptures that pay homage to our manufacturing heritage and to our location on the Rock River. I pass The Dancers (O.V. Shaffer) outside of the Nicholas Conservatory, who beautifully capture so much movement despite their stillness. I pass The Rock Men Guardians by Terese Agnew, about which I used to tell so many corny jokes as First Mate on the Forest City Queen (rock star…rock bottom…rocky relationships…boulder personalities…you get the idea…) . Jokes aside, they have been flanking the bike path with their protective presence my entire life, and I feel a warm swell of gratitude each time I pass them. As my route continues south towards downtown, sculptures give way to murals. I pass the mural on the YMCA basketball court completed by Rockford Area Arts Council ArtsPlace apprentices last summer under the lead of Jenny Mathews. As I round the corner onto Madison Street, I am greeted by the collaborative community art installation on the Scandrolli Fence—colorfully painted CDs woven into a line of changing-seasons trees. A little further, and I pass Lisa and Libby Frost enlivening the Jefferson Street underpass with brightly-painted pillars. As I veer away from Madison Street up Market Street, I pass the alleyway behind 317 Art Collective featuring the beautiful Audubon Society Mural done by Therese Rowinski and her team of artists. And I finally pass within view of where the new Chris Silva and Molly Z murals are going up on either side of 2nd Street as part of the RACVB’s CRE8IV Transformation Art mural festival. I finally arrive at the historic Shumway Market building, which the Arts Council is lucky to call home, full of gratitude for this city’s beautiful creativity.This is just my one little slice of the city from home to work on a bike— other pathways would reveal other gems, large and small— and I miss all of this when I’m in my car! Someone once described one of art’s powers to me as “creating the delight of keeping your eyes open.” Biking to work has been a wonderful reminder of just how rich and surprising that delight can be. So whether or not it’s on a bike, try slowing down in whatever way works for you, and enjoy the public art that is wrapped all around us!

Simon T. Murphy was just an average guy living in Rockford. He had a good childhood living on the family farm with his four brother and two sisters. His mother, Mary died young and his father, Thomas moved the family to Rockford so they could attend school. In 1917, Simon was twenty-six years old and working at the Standard Oil Company on Kilburn Avenue. He was popular with his co-workers. They had heated discussions about whether the United States should get involved in the “Great War” as they called it. They all knew what Simon thought about the whole thing, of course. He was very outspoken about joining the battle. No one was surprised when Simon was one of the first men to enlist after war was declared in April 1917.They weren’t surprised when Simon was assigned to one of the large destroyers, either. Simon, like a lot of people in Rockford had heard about the danger from the German U boats. The stories of the civilians killed on the Lusitania had been told and retold many times since the sinking of the great ship.Simon was thrilled to be assigned to the U.S.S. Jacob Jones (Destroyer No. 61) as a Fireman Third Class. It was a “submarine hunter”, built especially to chase them down and shoot them out of the water. It must have felt strange to Simon when the Jacob Jones was attached to the port of Queensland, Ireland. Though Simon’s father was born in Wisconsin, his grandfather and grandmother were both from Ireland.The U.S.S. Jacob Jones was one of America’s newest and largest of the Destroyers. She was placed in the care of Commander David Bagley. He spent months patrolling the water, looking for the German submarines and training his men. They would soon earn a reputation as relentless submarine chasers. They also were able to save many lives of sailors whose boats were sunk by the deadly German torpedoes. On July 8, they rescued 44 men from the Valetta, a British steamship; 25 men were saved from the steamship Dafila around July 25 and on October 19, they pulled 305 men from water after the sinking of the auxiliary cruiser Orama.In early December, the Jacob Jones was on its return trip after escorting a troop convoy to France. The weather was awful with stormy skies that caused choppy seas. It was approaching midnight when a watchman spotted a torpedo heading straight for the Jones. Lt. Stanton Kalk was the officer of the deck at the time and though he tried to alter the ship’s course, it was no use. The torpedo hit the starboard side aft and penetrated a fuel oil tank, causing a devastating explosion. Many of the men below deck were killed immediately by the explosion or drowned as the water rushed into the ship. The ship sank in just eight minutes.Even more died when the ship’s depth charges spilled from below decks and fell toward the bottom. They had been triggered to go off at certain measurements and new explosions took even more lives as each charge reached their assigned depth.The sinking happened so fast that no distress calls were sent out and there was no time to release the rescue boats. Several men were able to grab the rafts that set around the deck. Lt. Kalk was able to pull several men onto the rafts and stabilize them as other men grabbed hold. Kalk swam from raft to raft and pulled men aboard and kept the weight even to keep them from capsizing. He would do this until he was too exhausted to cling to a raft himself and his body slipped under the waves.The German submarine that shot the deadly torpedo was the U -53. In what could only be described as a strange twist of fate, the Commander of the submarine was Kapitan Hans Rose. He had actually visited the United States in 1917 on his submarine and had met Commander Bagley. Kapitan Rose recognized Bagley in his binoculars right before the torpedo hit the ship. Though no one would know until months later, Kapitan Rose radioed Queensland to report the Jacob Jones sunk and give her last location to quicken the rescue ships arrival. He also picked up two men who had been severely wounded. These men heard the radio call and told of it later when they were released after the armistice in November 1918.Over 110 men served on the U.S.S. Jacob Jones before December 6, 1917. Rescue ships were able to save forty six men the next morning when they finally arrived. One does not want to even imagine what those men went through on that horribly cold, dark night. Those that survived were reluctant to talk about it. And those that interviewed them for information were horrified to have to make them relive it.But as horrific as the stories were, they were also filled with pride. Many of the stories were filled with courageous, selfless acts. One such story told of the men who shared what little dry clothing they had with those who were washed over-board with little clothing to protect them. Others worked to lift the men’s spirit by telling jokes or singing songs. In truth, it was a miracle that any of them were alive when the British ships arrived the next morning. The forty six men were hauled on board the British ships fed and given medical attention. Some had terrible burns and all of them suffered from hypothermia. The survivors were sent home for a time to heal. The majority of them returned to the sea and continued the fight when the war intensified in the spring of 1918.Simon was killed over a hundred years ago and he was only one of dozens of men and women from Rockford who have served our country. Memorial Day was set aside as a day of remembrance to those who paid the ultimate sacrifices and their families who lost so much. My hope is that by sharing Simon’s story that you will take a moment to remember him and the others as you gather with your friends and families on Monday, May 27. For information on Memorial Day Services, please visit Veterans Memorial Hall’s website: veteransmemorialhall.com    

I love spending a quiet weekend beneath a cozy blanket with a mug of coffee while reading an engaging book. There’s something about getting lost in the words printed across the pages that can take you away from real life for a few moments and insert you into a magical world of literature. OH, HELLO! Sorry, I didn’t see you there. I was just working on the opening lines of my new dating profile. Or something like that. In actuality, I just think I’m funny and awesome. But, what’s actually awesome is the Friends of the Rockford Public Library organization. And, they happen to have a book sale coming your way!TOMORROW, May 11, head down to the Hart Interim Library Branch from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm to find hundreds of used books, audio books, CDs, and DVDs. All items are $0.25 each. Honestly, how can you beat that?!You can’t!Every time these sales come around I get excited because I know you get excited. So, while we’re all excited, head down there on Saturday and find some great stuff!

We’ve had a number of economic wins recently that both create and retain jobs and represent continued investments across our community.  Estwing, a Rockford-based company that manufactures small hand tools, has committed to staying in the Rockford area with a new investment of $10 million in its 8th Street campus.The City Council approved an agreement for a $22 million investment in a six-story, mixed-use retail and residential building on the riverfront that will be constructed next to the new Rockford Public Library.Collins Aerospace announced a new investment of $50 million in its Harrison Ave. campus to create an electric propulsion lab. This investment solidifies the Rockford region as a leader in aerospace for the next 30 to 50 years.

On May 30, 2018, the Illinois Department of Agriculture began accepting applications via their website for the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp for the 2019 growing season. Within 48 hours more than 350 farmers sent in applications to grow industrial hemp showing the tremendous interest across the state. There are no plans to limit the amount of acres that will be in production in Illinois this growing season. Touted as being a potentially billion-dollar industry for Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker and Illinois Department of Agriculture Acting Director John Sullivan have continued to praise the ability of this versatile crop to have an impact on the state economy by creating jobs in both urban and rural areas alike.Despite the debate surrounding industrial hemp because of its close relationship to marijuana, the versatility of this crop is undeniable. Industrial hemp has the ability to be grown for grain, fiber, and cannabidiol (CBD) depending on the production system in place. In simple terms, grain production is similar to small grain production, fiber to hay production, and CBD production to a vegetable or specialty crop operation. It is critical to know and understand the different types of production systems involved in industrial hemp, as it is easy to get the details mixed up. Industrial hemp has over 2500 uses that we currently know of. For example, hemp grain has shown promise as a protein source for both animals and humans as it is nutrient dense and hemp seed oil contains anti-inflammatory properties. Hemp fiber can be used in the textile, construction, and manufacturing industries with potential to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metals. CBD, which is produced from un-pollinated female hemp plants only, has been touted as a miracle cure for a variety of ailments from anxiety to epilepsy though not all of the claims have been backed by good research.Despite most of the interest being in CBD, that has not stopped several universities across Illinois to begin researching grain and fiber production. University of Illinois, Western Illinois University, and Southern Illinois University will all be conducting hemp grain and/or fiber production experiments in 2019 to determine best management practices for this new crop. The goal is to gather preliminary information which can then be used to develop replicated trials across the state and evaluate variety performance. While there is tremendous interest in the future of hemp grain and fiber production at the commercial level, a vast majority of the grower applications will be for CBD production which can be cultivated successfully on limited acreage. A large reason for this is that market and supply chain for the grain and fiber crop are virtually non-existent in the region. These markets are not established because hemp was banned by the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937 which did not distinguish industrial hemp from marijuana. While both are considered to be “cannabis,” industrial hemp is a variety which does not produce a lot of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana. CBD, however, is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid found primarily in hemp. Hemp can do so much more than just CBD,” founder and CEO of the Illinois Hemp Growers Association (IHGA) Rachel Berry, stated. The IHGA, started by Berry and her husband Chris, is a group of hemp educators and business owners whose goal is to build a network for people to empower themselves via partnerships to grow the hemp industry in Illinois. “If we want to actually start making clothing, building materials, and bioplastics here in Illinois then we are going to need large scale processing,” Berry said. There is a lot of excitement regarding hemp production right now, but this needs to ‘be bigger than the hemp train’ if this is going to truly succeed in Illinois. Berry expressed that she and the rest of the IHGA are “making exciting progress as we bring in more people, build our plan, and figure out what we actually need and where we need it.” The hemp industry is poised to grow in Illinois, but there are many risks posed to producers and investors alike. As it stands, there are currently no local markets and elevators to sell grain as you would for corn and soybeans nor are there any fiber processing mills; however, there are some in the surrounding states, Wisconsin and Kentucky for example, who are ahead of the game. That will change soon according to Illinois Farm Bureau Associate Director of State Legislation, Bill Bodine. Bodine says there is a lot of learning to be done as we determine the market for this crop. Regardless of the production system used or the end product, Bodine encourages farmers to determine a market for their product and begin to develop relationships as the market begins to form. For now, determining which communities are interested in hemp production, and they type of hemp they wish to produce, will guide the locations for the various types of processing facilities and where they are needed. Current plans are to establish two production “nodes” over the course of the next decade in northern and southern IL due to their proximity to other hemp producing states as well as the access to other means of transportation such as railways, highways, and barges. As there is currently no market, there are no pricing and production data which can be used to reliably put a plan together in a clear and understandable way. The plus side here is that Illinois is getting a leg up on the rest of the country who does not already have hemp production in place. This is because the national regulations for hemp production set forth by the 2018 farm bill will not go into effect until the 2020 growing season. If hemp is really here to stay, there is no need to rush into business with so many unknowns while the market is being established. If you have would like more information about industrial hemp production, visit the Illinois Extension website at https://web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw/ihp/.

Here is a great article published by my my partner, Philip A. Nicolosi, J.D., for Internet Legal Armorhttps://www.internetlegalarmor.com/what-gdpr-personal-data-is-your-website-collecting/Under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), EU natural citizens now have extensive rights to control how their personal data is collected, maintained and/or used. The GDPR includes a comprehensive definition of what constitutes personal data and sets forth numerous rights of individuals to know how their personal data is being used and each data collector must obtain informed consent to collect, maintain or use the individual´s personal data prior to collection. The GDPR covers any "natural person" located in the EU if your business/organization is located in a non-EU country. This means non-EU citizens while they are located in the EU are protected under the GDPR.Further, in order to comply with the GDPR, businesses and organizations will have to revise their data collection, storage and processing mechanisms to ensure personal data can be isolated, extracted and permanently deleted as required. Compliance reporting may also be required. Larger companies/organizations must appoint a data protection officer to assist with compliance and have automatic record-keeping requirements. WThis post is the first in our GDPR Compliance Roadmap Series identifying the primary things businesses and marketers must do to become GDPR compliant.Businesses Must Understand What GDPR Personal Data It Collects.Businesses must first understand how personal data is defined under the GDPR and then identify how such data is collected through its website or app. This means understanding the entire scope of both direct and automatic data collection.Under the old EU Directive on Data Protection (and the existing UK Data Protection Act), personal data is broadly defined as "any information relating to a living, identified or identifiable natural person. This could be directly (e.g. a person’s name) or indirectly (e.g. the owner of that business). So, for example, a user ID number is personal data because it can be matched to the name of a user on a database. The term ‘personal data’ still applies to data even if it requires the use of information elsewhere to identify an individual.Under the prior EU Data Protection Directive, personal data includes identifiable information such as identification numbers and factors specific to a person’s physical, physiological, mental, economic, cultural or social identity. Clearly, full names are personal data, but not necessarily all email addresses: If you take an email address that states a full name, that clearly identifies that person. This is personal data. But, generic or anonymous email addresses (e.g. info@acmedesign.com) are not personal data. If an individual can be identified from an email address, it is personal data.Basically, the GDPR keeps the same broad definition of personal data but clarifies that data includes online identifiers and location data. This means that IP addresses, mobile device IDs and unique identifiers are all personal data. Location data is not specifically defined but is associated with data that has any kind of geographic position attached to it. Online identifiers refer to digital information such as IP addresses, cookie strings or mobile device IDs. Here is the actual definition of personal data under the GDPR:‘personal data’ means any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person (‘data subject’); an identifiable natural person is one who can be identified, directly or indirectly, in particular by reference to an identifier such as a name, an identification number, location data, an online identifier or to one or more factors specific to the physical, physiological, genetic, mental, economic, cultural or social identity of that natural person.New additions to categories of sensitive dataUnder Article 9, as a sub-category of personal data, sensitive data refers to a more specific type of personal data that should be treated with extra protection and care. The current definition of this includes information such as: Racial or ethnic origin  Political opinions  Religious or philosophical beliefs  Trade-union membership  Health information  Sex life information (sexual orientation)  Genetic data  Biometric dataUnder the GDPR, sensitive data is given more enhanced protection, with explicit consent required for its processing. The data subject must give express permission to use the data for a specific purpose that is disclosed to he or she before collecting such data.Two new information types have also now been added to this classification: genetic data and biometric data. Genetic data specifically refers to gene sequences, which are used for medical and research purposed. Biometric data includes fingerprints, retinal and facial recognition. With the increasing use of fingerprint entry systems and facial recognition programs on mobile applications, the GDPR’s new definitions of personal data seeks to keep-up with current technology. CAUTION: Under Article 9, in some member countries of the EU, it may be prohibited to process this type of data, even if the data subject gives prior consent.What about IP addresses?The most information that the average person can find out about an individual with only their IP address (and nothing else) is what region, city and town that person is in when on the Internet. They won't know anything about you (such as your name, etc.) or the computer you're using. And actually, what they'll find out isn't really about you, more than it is about your online connection. Of course, we don't know who is using a certain IP address-only, in general, where the computer or device may be located. With VPNs now frequently being used, this only further serves to render IP addresses as non-identifiable data under the GDPR.Recital 26 of the GDPR says: “the principles of data protection should not apply to anonymous information, namely information which does not relate to an identified or identifiable natural person or to personal data rendered anonymous in such a manner that the data subject is not or no longer identifiable. This Regulation does not therefore concern the processing of such anonymous information, including for statistical or research purposes”.As an example, selling patterns of mobile use data is in fact statistics and is entirely rendered anonymous where the data subject can’t be identified.The GDPR and PseudonymizationRecital 26 also states: “Personal data which have undergone pseudonymisation, which could be attributed to a natural person by the use of additional information should be considered to be information on an identifiable natural person”. In other words, pseudonymous data is regulated by the GDPR. There is no more potential identification of the data subject with anonymous information. This means:1. Pseudonymization is recommended where feasible in the GDPR. Along with encryption of personal data, pseudonymization is explicitly mentioned as one of the “appropriate technical and organisational measures to ensure a level of security appropriate to the risk”. In other words; it is recommended, where appropriate and feasible as Article 32(1,a) of the GDPR states. (Research has found that 54% of multinationals in the US plan to use such methods of de-identification to reduce GDPR risk exposure.)2. Pseudonymization falls under the GDPR because of the potential of “unauthorised reversal of pseudonymisation.” The key role of the data subject’s perspective. Pseudonymization is the result of uncoupling certain aspects of data from a data subject (often as part of security precautions and analytics) whereby the data fields which are the most identifying and/or sensitive in a data record are replaced by pseudonyms. Yet, it can be reversed as well. The GDPR defines pseudonymisation as follows in Article 4(5) as:the processing of personal data in such a manner that the personal data can no longer be attributed to a specific data subject without the use of additional information, provided that such additional information is kept separately and is subject to technical and organisational measures to ensure that the personal data are not attributed to an identified or identifiable natural person;Now that you learned a little about GDPR personal data, stay tuned for our next post on obtaining required informed consent. 

In a digital age where everyone wants to redesign your website, we offer another unique option for those companies that meet one of the following criteria:·     You love your business website, but dislike the fact that you are barred by your current designer from being able to easily make updates to it.·     You may wish to move away from their current website designer and are struggling with the transition of the actual website design files.·     You really like your current website, but it was unfortunately hacked. Therefore, the website coding is permanently damaged.·     You really like your website, but you have been told a million times that it is not mobile friendly.In most instances, other website designers will default to proposing a completely redesigned website in those example scenarios. However, a complete redesign can be a daunting task because that process would require your active participation and feedback over the course of at least 30 to 90 days depending on the project. Thus, you would need to be prepared to invest your time into the project as well. Let’s not forget that a full redesign can also be expensive! Most business owners are unaware that another option even exists. You may be asking yourself one of the following questions:·     What option is available if I desire a quick turnaround timeframe with minimal effort required on my part?·     What option is available if I wanted to keep the design of my current website AND be allowed to make edits more easily?·     What option is available if I wanted to make my current website mobile friendly, but did not wish to invest in a complete redesign?The answer is a unique website design option that is offered by Internet Marketing Experience. We call it a 1:1 conversion.With a 1:1 website conversion, we can rebuild your website in a more up-to-date website platform AND maintain the visual aspects of the original design almost exactly.The Benefits of a 1:1 Conversion1) Quicker turnaround time because we already have an approved design layout.2) Less expensive pricing because of the reduced development time necessary to complete the task.3) The newly converted website would be built using the latest release of a website CMS system, which would give you the comfort of knowing that no hacking code would survive the transition.4) During most 1:1 conversion projects, we will also take the original website design layout that we are converting and also make it MOBILE RESPONSIVE!If you currently love your website, but it is not friendly when viewed on mobile platforms, then we can keep the current aesthetics of your website AND solve the mobile viewing issue through a 1:1 conversion.5) After the project is completed, you would then have the comfort of knowing that we are there to support and host the newly converted website for your business. Please contact John LiCausi of Internet Marketing Experience at 815.979.1229 for more details about the 1:1 conversion process.

Thomas and his friends are heading toward the roundhouse, but there’s still time to play and learn! The final day of the traveling exhibition is Sunday, May 12.Thomas & Friends: Explore the Rails! has broken attendance records as the most visited traveling exhibition Discovery Center has ever hosted. “The popularity of this exhibition has exceed our expectations,” explains Marketing Director Ann Marie Walker. “We’ve had more than 25,000 people visit the exhibit. Children love Thomas and parents and grandparents delight in joining children play with Thomas and Percy and explore the Island of Sodor, “ Walker adds.Inside the exhibit visitors can:Climb into Thomas’ cab and explore the engine’s inner workings. Flip levers and investigate other moveable parts that trigger train noises such as braking, whistles and steam.Fix Percy’s wobbly wheel by removing and replacing parts and experimenting to find a combination of wheels, rods and bolts that work.Explore the favorite Island of Sodor destinations including: Tidmouth Sheds, Brendam Docks and the Sodor Search & Rescue Station on an over-sized Thomas Wooden Railway train table.Loading luggage, livestock and other freight into train cars.Get Percy moving by loading coal into his coal box and filling his tank with water.Dress up as the conductor to exchange money and sell train tickets to other visitors.The exhibit is in both English and Spanish.In addition to the hands-on exhibit targeted at preschool-age children, children can make a special Thomas train to take with them, and even practice the locomotion! Discovery Center is offering free admission if a child share’s a name with Thomas or one of his friends. The exhibit is open 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Special activities are included with Thomas & Friends™ admission: $1 Members; $11 Public.Local presenting sponsors include Dr. Zak’s Tooth Fairy Castle Pediatric Dentistry and Illinicare Health. Additional local sponsors include JL Clark; BMO Harris Bank; Illinois Bank and Trust; Midland States Bank; Northwest Bank; SwedishAmerican - a division of UW Health; and Target; and also included support from Coyle Kiley Insurance Agency. Local media sponsors include WTVO/Fox 39; 97ZOK and Q98.5.Discovery 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. 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.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is a 70-year-old national observance focused on raising awareness, rejecting myths, and supporting those with mental health conditions and their families. This is shocking to me that we are not farther along after 70 years. Since 1949, community events, anti-stigma campaigns, and inspiring hashtags have encouraged great recognition and discussion. But, the reality is, mental health conditions still sit secondary to physical conditions both in society and in health care. The fact is mental health conditions should be treated like any other physical health condition but often is not. Just because we can’t see mental illness the way we see a physical one doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. It doesn’t mean that person is in any less pain than someone suffering from a physical condition. And it certainly doesn’t mean they need any less support or care. Just like physical health, mental health can effect motivation, energy level and other daily functioning tasks. Mental health and physical health are very closely connected. Mental health plays a major role in your ability to maintain good physical health. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, affect your ability to participate in healthy behaviors. This can result in problems with physical health, such as chronic diseases, and can decrease a person’s ability to participate in treatment and recovery. Issues with mental health can have many different symptoms, just like issues with physical health. According to the University of Washington, of the people who die by taking their own lives, “more than 90 percent have a diagnosable mental disorder. People who die by suicide are frequently experiencing undiagnosed, undertreated, or untreated depression.” We need to stop with the stigma of mental illness and support those that need it. We need to fight for parity treatment for mental health care in emergency rooms and hospitals.  Here are some simple things you can do to support Mental Health Awareness Month:Know How to Help Someone in a CrisisAbout 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health issue in their lifetime. These are our friends, family members, and loved ones who may be experiencing symptoms of mental health issues that aren’t obvious or visible. Keep resources on hand, learn how to recognize the signs, and know where you would go for help if someone you care about were to experience a crisis. Here are a few resources you can keep on hand: Suicide Prevention and Crisis ResourcesIf you are in crisis and need to talk to someone at any time, day or night, whether you feel suicidal or not, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. They can provide free confidential support in a variety of crisis situations, including immediate suicidal crisis, and they can provide general information about mental health.•           Call to speak with someone who cares.•           Call if you feel you might be in danger of hurting yourself.•           Call to find referrals to mental health services in your area.•           Call to speak to a crisis worker about someone you're concerned forIf help is needed or you or someone you know is suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255, call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room. You can also call the NAMI helpline at 1-800-950-NAMI or Text “NAMI” to 741741 to find help during a crisis. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline also offers Lifeline Crisis Chat for online crisis support at www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org When a Loved One Should Seek CounselingThough it may be obvious to you that someone you love needs professional help, there are many reasons why your loved one may refuse or feel reluctant to get treatment. Some people may not have access to quality mental health care, and others may avoid therapy for fear of being considered "weak" or "crazy" by those who stigmatize therapy. A person may have religious or cultural beliefs that keep them from seeking professional assistance, or perhaps they have had a negative therapy experience in the past. Exploring the reasons why someone may avoid treatment can be a good place to start, as well as normalizing mental health issues and treatment. Millions of people all around the world seek help for mental health issues in order to improve their overall health, well-being, and happiness. Severe depression, posttraumatic stress, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation are examples of issues that warrant intervention. Some signs of psychological distress to watch for, as outlined by the American Psychological Association, include:•           Marked changes in mood, such as irritability, anger, anxiety, or sadness•           Decline in performance at work or school•           Changes in weight and appearance, including negligence of personal hygiene•           Disturbances in sleep, either oversleeping or insomnia•           Withdrawal from social relationships and activities Share Your ExperiencesWhether it’s a story about treatment or how your life is impacted by a mental health issue, sharing your experiences can be powerful for you and others. During Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage you to consider sharing your stories on social media, sharing with someone you trust, or sharing with a licensed therapist if your experiences are causing distress.How do you find a Therapist? Here are a couple helpful resources:  https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapistshttps://naminorthernillinois.org/resources/ Understand the Power of Language and How It Can Contribute to StigmaStigma toward mental health issues and treatment often stems from the way we come to understand concepts through media, culture, and influential others. Many commonly used phrases and sayings can contribute to misunderstanding and a reluctance to seek treatment for fear of being perceived as “weak” or “crazy.” Help challenge the stigma in your corner of the world by spending some time thinking and reading about how words and experiences may feel from a different perspective.Avoiding stigmatizing terms and phrases that cause shame, minimize experiences, and misrepresent reality can help eliminate a major obstacle to treatment. It’s not simply about being politically correct, requiring that you tiptoe around your words; the point is to simply stop and think about what you say and be mindful of how your choice of words may affect others. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and it’s important to treat the health of your mind as you would your body. There is nothing to be ashamed about having a mental health disorder. Life can be complicated, uncertain, and stressful; and struggling with a mental health issue alone can make it seem unbearable, but we can help by understanding what we can do. The more we talk about mental health conditions and treatments, the less taboo the subject is. For a long time millions of people suffered in silence, but it’s time to break the stigma of mental health disorders and start living in the solution.

Popular Door County musician Katie Dahl and rising folk star Hope Dunbar (Utica, NE) will perform at The Norwegian in Rockford on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. (dinner will be served at 6 p.m.) Their performance at Base Camp will be the second stop on the “Carpool to Heaven Tour,” a ten-day tour across the Midwest. The Norwegian is located at 1402 N. Main St., Rockford. There is a suggested donation of $8 per person.The Shepherd Express wrote of a 2018 performance: “Hope Dunbar… and Katie Dahl showcased their camaraderie. Soaring, sorrowful...enchanting.”Katie Dahl and Hope Dunbar are Midwestern songwriters with loyal fan bases and multiple accolades to their collective credit. Though they normally perform individually, at The Norwegian they will share their songs in an intimate “in-the-round” format, commenting on and adding texture to one another’s work. Dahl and Dunbar are firmly rooted in the folk tradition, with songs that roam freely to explore country, jazz, and rock traditions.Local singer-songwriter Katie Dahl, says the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, “combines old-fashioned populism, an abiding love of the land and wickedly smart love songs, all delivered in a rich and expressive alto.” Known for the literate candor of her songs and the easy humor of her live performances, Dahl also has four studio albums and an original musical play, Victory Farm, to her credit. Wisconsin Public Radio calls Dahl “the real deal.”Nebraska-based songwriter Hope Dunbar is fresh off the release of her album “Three Black Crows,” which is receiving critical acclaim and radio play across the country. Houston Music Review writes, “Hailing from Utica, NE, Hope sings loud and proud about real human issues and real light hearted fun. She dispels any claim that intelligence and creativity are unique to large urban centers.”For more information, visit thenorwegian.com or call 815-329-6191.

Rockford Art Museum hosts Not Without a Fight: Community Day, a free outdoor festival for all ages on Saturday, May 25, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the museum’s parking lot at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois.Presented in partnership with the YMCA of the Rock River Valley, the free event features a DJ, food trucks, and a variety of activities for all ages, including art projects, live demonstrations, games, a bounce house and more! RAM will be will be open and free to the public during the outdoor festival, which is part of the programming for Not Without a Fight, the museum’s current exhibition featuring Chicago artist Cheryl Pope, on view through Memorial Day, May 27 at Rockford Art Museum.Cheryl Pope: Not Without a Fight includes free admission for ages 18 and younger, and bilingual art information is available. Curated by Carrie Johnson, the exhibition is sponsored in part by the Ahlstrand Family Foundation, Anne and David Boccignone, Jean and Dan Clark, Women’s Art Board, and Rockford Area Arts Council, with in-kind support from Event Floral.About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through art collection, exhibitions and education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org and follow @rockfordart on social media.  

Celebrate National Hoagie Day by making some healthy hoagies!https://www.prevention.com/food-nutrition/recipes/a20520476/basic-healthy-hoagie/

Did know the stars and planets have their own special day? National Astronomy Day is on Saturday, May 11, and from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm., Discovery Center Museum is celebrating with celestial activities.  Enjoy the wonder and beauty of the night sky, investigate the planets, moon and sun, and get inspired to learn more during a free planetarium show. Monkey around with gravity, put the solar system in your pocket, navigate the constellations, meet active amateur astronomers, and more. Organized by the Astronomical League, a coalition of over 240 amateur astronomy groups from all across the nation, Astronomy Day is a national annual event that provides a means of interaction between the general public and astronomy enthusiasts, and promotes the science of astronomy. Discovery Center’s event is sponsored locally by Huntington Learning Center as well as 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.

On behalf of the Fatherhood Encouragement Project, we would like to invite you to our 2nd annual Adopt-A-Block event.Last year, more than 300 volunteers collected over 14 tons of garbage in Rockford from 7th Street to 9th Street, and 10th Avenue to 12th Avenue. That area is considered the 6th most dangerous neighborhood per capita in the United States. Since the Adopt-A-Block event, crime on those streets have decreased by 15%. We hope to accomplish that again this year in Rockford’s Haskell Neighborhood.This year we have partnered with the Rockford Police Department, Food 4 Fuel and Comcast for Comcast Cares Day. Volunteers will receive free breakfast, lunch and a t-shirt. There will also be a block party at the end of the event for the neighborhood.Please join us from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 4th 2019 at 515 Maple Street to help clean up this neighborhood and make Rockford a better place.For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, please visit www.comcastinthecommunity.com 

We are so ready for the warm weather. We put our brains together to talk about summer in hopes that we would summon the warmth. But, we may have just predicted a snow storm instead. *Minor Note: In between recording and publishing this episode, we changed our release day from Monday to Wednesday.Swing Dancing at the Market: https://rockfordbuzz.com/event/swing-dance-at-the-rockford-city-marketAdopt a block: https://rockfordbuzz.com/event/adopt-a-block-rockford-may-4thYou can find us online here:https://rockfordbuzz.com/home https://www.facebook.com/RockfordBuzz/https://twitter.com/therockfordbuzzhttps://www.instagram.com/therockfordbuzz/

I have seen this process work first hand for at least a few years now. What allows one company to steal another company's leads (if that competitor is running a TV ad) is a simple concept. However, most client prospects of mine fail to realize this connection until I bring it to their attention.TV ADS OR INTERNET MARKETINGLocal business clients get pressured into buying TV ads on a constant basis. Maybe they like the rep from the TV station, or maybe the rep cold called on the right day and made an immediate sale. Whether it happens this way or not, I can guarantee you that the TV rep is incentivized to make the sale. When you are about to sign a contract for TV ads, they are SURELY NOT going to explain this concept to you about Internet marketing. In most cases, the rep may not even understand or acknowledge that this weakness exists.Let's use an example to make this easy:Company A decides to run a TV ad during the local news. They are told the TV ad will help them market their revolutionary new product or service, and that the best way to reach their target audience with this new product is to go on TV during the news. They proceed with this marketing plan. In the meantime, they know their website has little to no search engine visibility for their product. However, they may be somewhat intimidated by the Internet so they choose the more traditional marketing route.Company B is their competitor and they offer the same groundbreaking new product or service. Instead of being sold a TV ad, company B proceeds with an SEO (search engine optimization) or a PPC (pay per click) plan.THE WEAKNESS OF COMPANY AWhere did Company A go wrong when they purchased a TV ad? The answer is that they may not understand the buying cycle for their new product or service. Their TV ad is now running during the evening news, which is primarily on TV when households are preparing dinner or actually eating dinner. Nobody at that immediate point in time is calling to schedule an appointment for Company A's product or service because it is now after 5:00PM.However, the household that saw Company A's TV commercial decides to do more homework later that night for the new product or service that they saw advertised on TV. They grab their iPad a couple hours later, go to Google, and start researching the product online.The person in this household is now a warmer lead that has been primed to purchase this new product or service, and wherever they decide to purchase the product/service is NOT necessarily dependent on the TV commercial that they saw during the news. Where they choose to give their business could now depend on WHO HAS MORE SEARCH ENGINE VISIBILITY.THE STRENGTH OF COMPANY BCompany B understood that the Internet is typically the last place that a consumer will visit immediately before making a decision to purchase a product or service.The TV commercial from Company A was successful in generating more local search engine traffic for this new product/service, but they failed to have a strong enough Internet presence to grasp their leads when they started searching Google to do their homework (as a part of the buying cycle).Company B now has the stronger Internet presence, so they are receiving phone calls for the new product/service and the leads might even be mentioning that they saw a TV ad (which was for Company A).THE LESSON LEARNEDIn summary, if you are considering advertising on TV, then make sure you have a strong presence for your products or services on the Internet. If you have a limited budget, and cannot afford both forms of advertising, then choose a competent Internet marketing company like ourselves and invest in the Internet.If your competitor uses TV frequently, but they fail with their online presence, then you can take advantage of the increased local search engine traffic that their TV ad is generating by strengthening your own presence on the Internet.... which will essentially allow you to siphon their leads.If you have any questions regarding this article or this scenario, then please feel free to reach out to my company at 815.979.1229.Sincerely,John LiCausiwww.InternetMarketingExperience.com

There’s almost never been a time when the Rockford area wasn’t a hub of manufacturing. Since its very first settlers dammed up the Rock River, in what’s now known as the “Water Power District,” this region has been producing goods that make the world go ‘round. From farm implements and Swedish-made furniture, to wartime equipment and fasteners, to high-precision aerospace components, Rockford has been a powerhouse in production and innovation. More than a few patents have been earned among its citizens. Through the good times and the bad, our region has lived and died by manufacturing, and its latest boom is creating many opportunities for transformation within our city. Here are 5 simple reasons why manufacturing remains the true strength of Rockford. 1.    It touches nearly half of all local jobs. According to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 20 percent of Rockford workers are engaged in manufacturing. Add the additional 18.7 percent involved in trade, transportation and utilities and you’ve got more than 62,000 local workers making product and getting it to market. No other sector in Rockford comes close – not Education and Health Care (24,900 workers), Government (15,900 workers) or Leisure & Hospitality (13,600 workers). With so many people engaged in manufacturing in the Rockford area, we boast one of the highest concentrations of manufacturing employment in Illinois and the United States. Only Chicago and its Elgin/Kenosha-Lake County submarkets hire more people in manufacturing. 2.    It’s driving one of the most valuable markets in IllinoisRockford-area manufacturers produced more than $4.2 billion in goods in 2017, according to the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s almost a third of all gross domestic product generated in Rockford that year, and it makes us the top-producing market in Illinois, behind only the greater Chicago area ($74.81 billion) and Peoria ($6 billion). 3.    It’s strong here because our neighbors are strong, tooRockford-area manufacturers don’t operate in a bubble. Look closely, and you’ll see their fate is closely linked to the success of other major manufacturers, many of which operate right here in Illinois. Companies like John Deere (Quad Cities), Caterpillar (Peoria/Chicago) and Boeing (Chicago) are purchasing parts manufactured right here in Rockford, and many of these same firms are also buying products that Rockford-based companies are making overseas, in places like China, Brazil and Europe. Our proximity to interstate highways, railroad systems and world-class airports means the Rockford area is closely linked with customers and suppliers all across the state, the country and the world. And, these transportation connections are fueling a growing cluster of activity around aerospace, with more than 90 related firms located within the Rockford area, according to Rockford Area Economic Development Council.  4.    We’re growing our own talent for the futureUnlike in years past, American manufacturers today are competitive because of their advanced knowledge and experience with high-tech equipment – not just the workers on the shop floor but the engineers designing everything from product to process. Because manufacturing is inextricably tied to the fate of our region, and because there’s an impending “bran drain” of retiring baby boomers who will leave the industry with decades of hard-won experience, Rockford-area leaders are coalescing around a strategy to grow our own talent from within. Rock Valley College is teaming up with public school systems in the Rockford region, area manufacturers and Northern Illinois University to ensure a smooth pipeline for young people and working adults to earn the credentials they need while advancing their careers. Rockford Public School students headed to the shop floor are earning college credits while practicing on RVC’s advanced CNC machines, while their colleagues are preparing for the engineering office through a four-year degree NIU now offers right on RVC’s campus. Dozens of students are finding a wide-open door to a fulfilling career post-graduation.   Meanwhile, work continues on transforming the former Barber-Colman manufacturing center, which has been vacant for decades, into a thriving live/work/study center for advanced employment training. Though still in the early design phases, this Colman Village promises to further fuel the demand for skilled manufacturing and engineering talent. 5.    Manufacturing is ExplodingSince the end of the recession, manufacturing has grown exponentially in the Rockford area – to the tune of 24 percent between 2010 and 2018, according to the Illinois Department of Employment Security. That rate, which outpaced the Chicago area, amounts to roughly 6,400 new jobs created over eight years. It’s like adding another FiatChrysler (5,152 workers at its recent peak) and Woodward plant (1,900 workers) to our local workforce.