Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

As Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan begins on Friday, May 29, 2020, Rockford Park District golf courses have updated restrictions in place as outlined by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The restrictions in place are for the safety of area golfers, District team members, and the entire community. REVISED GOLF RESTRICTIONS FOR PHASE 3 OF THE RESTORE ILLINOIS PLAN:Groups of 4 are allowed, with 10 minutes between tee timesDriving ranges, practice putting greens, and Aldeen Practice Centre will be open; 50% capacity allowedGolf carts are permitted. Individuals who are not members of the same household shall use individual carts. Every cart will be sanitized after each use.Clubhouses will remain closed, but pro shops are open, and food and beverage items will be soldNo ball washes, bunker/sand trap rakes, port-o-lets, or water coolers will be available at any golf courseCups will be modified at each hole so golfers can retrieve their ball easier with little contact with the cupFlags should remain in the cupA golf club should be used to smooth out the sand in the bunker “This next phase will allow us to have more golfers on the course, and allow for more use of golf carts. Thank you to everyone who has come out to play, and for being patient as we adjust to these fluid rules and regulations. We ask that players maintain social distancing at all times while at the golf course, pick up their own ball, handle their own scorecard, and unfortunately, refrain from the customary handshake at the beginning or end of the game,” said David Spencer, Operations Director. If any golf course patron has symptoms of COVID-19, or are from a household with someone with symptoms, they should not play. Every golf course will have food and beverage items for golfers to grab and go. Outdoor seating is also available at each course, and will be sanitized after use. There is no set date when Phase 3 restrictions will end; moving into another phase depends on our region’s public health metrics.Tee times can be made online (14 days in advance), and credit or debit cards are the required form of payment accepted at the golf course. Please call 815-968-PLAY (7529) for assistance with golf-related needs.https://golfrockford.org/

History is happening all around us every day. We rely on you - our community - to help us tell your personal stories and continue Midway Village Museum’s mission of preserving Rockford’s unique history.We’re asking you to share your stories , photographs and objects of your experiences of Rockford during the COVID-19 pandemic. These first-hand accounts will become part of the Museum’s permanent collection. Years from now, your stories will provide a historical perspective on how Rockford responded to the challenge we’re all currently facing.How can you help?• Send us pictures that typify your pandemic experiences (please tell us who is in the photo and where and when it was taken)• Write us an email, a memo, or a letter telling us how your business has been affected by the pandemic.• Have you closed your doors or found ways to remain open?• Have you been able to access emergency funding?• How have you changed your operations to meet the challenges?• What will your industry look like post COVID?• Send us an object that helps us understand the impact on your business• Signage used on your property conveying new ways of operating or closures during the stay at home orders (Flyers on doors, yard signs, counter signs)• Advertising materials that share covid-related operational changes (ex. no contact delivery)Please send all stories or photographs (along with the submission form) to Curator of Collections , Laura Furman, at curator@midwayvillage.com. Contact  Laura Furman to arrange for the donation of objects.

Miracle Mile Rockford is great at hosting shopping events. They have different shopping crawls all throughout the year with fun themes and so many different businesses. They really like to engage the community and keep their participating businesses together.Tonight begins another Miracle Mile shopping event! They’ve evolved with the times we are in now and hosting a virtual shopping experience!Friday, May 15 from 6pm – 8pmSaturday, May 16 from 11am – 3pmIt’s a two day event! Tonight, Friday, you’re encourages to order curbside pick up from your favorite Miracle Mile Restaurant and then join in on Facebook for some online shopping! You can take virtual shop tours, meet store owners, and do some online shopping.Join the Facebook event between 6 and 8 pm and you have a chance to win Miracle Mile Shopping Experience packages! These include gift cards from participating businesses. Who doesn’t love gift cards?!Here is a link to the event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/3101354033248396/On Saturday, May 16, it’s time to pick up your online orders curbside! You can also grab lunch from several food trucks that will be lined up. And, don’t worry, each food truck is following CDC guidelines to make your experience as safe as possible!Participating businesses:815 Blades, 3534 E State StBonnie’s Boutique, 3921 E State St Ste DBygone Brand, 3600 E State St 1CCalvary Bookkeeping, 4010 E State St Ste 101ACircle of Wellness, 3626 E State St Crazy Joe’s Best Deal Furniture, 4435 E State StDon Carter Lanes, 4007 E State StGreat Wall, 4228 E State StHacienda San Jose, 3725 E State StJohnny Pamcakes, 3700 E State StLallygag Boutique, 4616 E State StMary’s by Design, 308 N Alpine RdMASA – Latinx non-profit, 815-209-3017Mobility Connection, 4100 E State StPetals & Pickin's, 4616 E State StPregnancy Care Center, 4108 Morsay DrQuilters Haven, 4616 E State StReTool, 3626 E State StRobin’s Nest, 3920 E State StRoxy Carmichael, 310 N Alpine RdRoyal Hobby Shop, 3920 E State StShooter’s Bar & Grill, 4007 E State StTJ’s Auto Center, 3427 E State StValue Plus Auto & Van Rental, 4235 E State StWolf Hollow Gift Shoppe, 3800 E State St #103Enjoy! If you get some curbside goods, we would love to see your photos! Tag us on Instagram @TheRockfordBuzz and make sure to tag the business you’re supporting as well!

Here we are. We’re in the place we expected to be in but didn’t want. Without an official announcement, it could remain “tomorrow’s problem”. Now, tomorrow is today and everything sucks.The 2019-2020 American Hockey League season was officially cancelled this morning.“After a lengthy review process, the American Hockey League has determined that the resumption and completion of the 2019-20 season is not feasible in light of current conditions. The League’s operational focus has turned toward actively preparing for the 2020-21 season. We are grateful to the National Hockey League and its teams for their support and leadership in navigating through the challenges faced over the past two months. The AHL continues to place paramount importance on the health and safety of our players, officials, staff and fans and all of their families, and we all look forward to returning to our arenas in 2020-21.” - David Andrews, American Hockey League President and Chief Executive OfficerThe Rockford IceHogs finished the shortened season with a record of 29-30-2-2 (17-14-0-1 at home). It was an exciting season that saw the IceHogs right in the middle of the playoff hunt. When the season was cut short, Rockford was tied with Chicago in points but sat one point out of a playoff spot due to points percentage. They finished with 63 points, but Chicago finished with 2 games in hand.The IceHogs fanatic inside of me is driven a little bonkers by this fact. With such a promising season, the Hogs still finished behind Chicago despite leading the season series 6-3 and being the technical winner of the Illinois Lottery Cup.Now we are in the AHL offseason and have to begin preparing for next season. In the coming weeks, I’ll be taking a look back at the season that was and the players that made an impact throughout.But, for now, I am just sad.Jacalyn and I discussed the cancellation briefly in this week's episode of From Center Ice: The Podcast.You can listen on your streaming service of choice by searching "From Center Ice" or click here to find it: https://podfollow.com/from-center-ice/viewFollow on Social:Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfcentericepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcentericepod/

With the continued concerns related to COVID-19, the scheduled Therapeutic Recreation summer program registration date of May 5, 2020, has been postponed.When restrictions have been lifted, we will be able to set a new date for the opening of summer registration. Watch for that new date in a future e-mail and on our Facebook page.At this time, all Be Social programs offered in June 2020 are cancelled.Stay connected with the Therapeutic Recreation Facebook page or give me a text or call on my cell phone to stay informed on program offerings.Karin KelloggManager, Therapeutic RecreationMobile: 815-601-6076

Boredom just got easier to combat! If you’re stuck at home and running out of things to do, not to fear – Rockford Public Library is here!RPL is officially open for curbside pickup so you never have to run out of things to read. Plus, they make things super simple! If you have a library card, all you have to do search their catalogue online (www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org) and place a hold on the item you want and you’ll get a call from the library staff to set up a time for you to pick up your item or items!If you have trouble finding your items online, just give your library branch a call, and you can reserve your items that way!Hart Interim Library 214 N. Church St 815-965-7606East Branch Library 6685 E. State St 815-966-2748Montague Branch 1238 S. Winnebago St 815-966-2740Rock River Branch 3128 11th St 815-966-2763Rockton Centre 3112 N. Rockton Ave 815-966-2776From RPL’s Press release:When a customer reports to a RPL location at their appointed time, they are asked to wait in line, at a distance of at least six feet from any other customer retrieving materials.Once they reach the door, they are asked to hold up either their Library card or a State ID to the window.Staff will verify the items placed on hold and the customer will simply signify YES or NO.Once verified, customers are asked to step back six feet from the door so that staff can place items on a cart and send them out to the customer.Once staff has returned inside the building, customers may grab their materials and enjoy!Don’t have a library card but live within the library district? You can now get a VIRTUAL library card! Sign up here!If that isn't enough, head over to their Facebook page where they're posting storytimes, bedtime stories for the kids, and so much more!

Spectrum School announced that it will be presented with a giant “event” check for $12,000 at Napleton Subaru on ​Friday, May 22, 2020 at 10:00am​. Napleton selected Spectrum as THE local non-profit for Subaru’s annual ​Share the Love​ event. Last November, the Spectrum and Subaru communities overflowed an actual Subaru vehicle with new toy donations, benefiting Children’s Home and Aid.Spectrum Board Member Mary Baldauf, who fostered the connection with Subaru, stated, “We were honored to be chosen as the local charity. The funds we receive will be used towards tuition support to make a Spectrum education more affordable to families in need.” For every new car purchased or leased from November 14 - January 2, Subaru donated $250 to the buyer’s charity of choice.Spectrum provides a school environment with open-ended approaches to learning. It has been a student-centered, inquiry-based school serving Rockford and northern Illinois for over 50 years. Passion projects, Interest Groups, themed days, and Genius Hour are all structures that foster student ownership and deeper learning that have been part of the Spectrum experience for decades.With the current challenges of Covid-19, Spectrum School transformed its child-centered,inquiry-based approaches to ​Spectrum at Home​. ​Spectrum students have interacted with their teachers via a variety of video and virtual tools every school day since March 23. Not a day of school has been missed, as Spectrum teachers and staff worked tirelessly over their spring break to pivot to its new approach. See the story at ​Spectrum at Home.About Spectrum SchoolSpectrum students have the confidence to be deeply engaged in learning, work, and communication. They have the skills to think critically and creatively. They understand how to collaborate and know how to ask questions. They can solve problems in a variety of contexts,applying what they know to what they need to do. They care about their communities,humanity, and the natural environment. They work to make a positive difference in the world.

Customers of Rockford Public Library (RPL) can now pick-up physical items they have placed on hold during an agreed upon time at all library branches. Customers can reserve items through RPL’s website, www.rockfordpubliclibrary.org, or via telephone. If the items are available, RPL Staff will pull them, sanitize them, and call the customer to make an appointment to have them pick the items up through a curbside pick-up process. If the items are currently out on loan, a “hold” will be placed on the items until their return, at which time, they will be sanitized before being loaned out again.The curbside pick-up process is as follows:When a customer reports to a RPL location at their appointed time, they are asked to wait in line, at a distance of at least six feet from any other customer retrieving materials.•Once they reach the door, they are asked to hold up either their Library card or a State ID to the window. •Staff will verify the items placed on hold and the customer will simply signify YES or NO. •Once verified, customers are asked to step back six feet from the door so that staff can place items on a cart and send them out to the customer. •Once staff has returned inside the building, customers may grab their materials and enjoy!“So far, customers have been thrilled to have an opportunity to pick up materials,” said Donna Hopson, RPL Circulation Manager. “ It seems with regard to handling the anxiety of this pandemic, more than hairdressers and barbershops, people miss the Library.” If a Rockford resident does not have a library card, they are able to get or renew one online through our website, at any time. RPL Staff are available to provide phone service at all locations during regular business hours and will answer any questions via email at info@rockfordpubliclibrary.org. Hart Interim Library 214 N. Church St 815-965-7606East Branch Library 6685 E. State St 815-966-2748Montague Branch 1238 S. Winnebago St 815-966-2740Rock River Branch 3128 11th St 815-966-2763Rockton Centre 3112 N. Rockton Ave 815-966-2776About the LibraryThe Rockford Public Library, founded in 1872 as the second library in Illinois, currently has six facilities, including a performing arts and training center ( RPL’s Nordlof Center), the Hart Interim Library and four Branch Libraries. Rockford Public Library informs, educates, entertains, and provides cultural enrichment to the people of our community.

Guest: Ed Morrison, Founder of Strategic Doing. Director, University of North Alabama Agile Strategy Lab and Founder, Purdue University Agile Strategy LabInterviewed by: Dr. Rena Cotsones, NIU Associate VP for Outreach, Engagement and Regional DevelopmentRecovering from the biggest business disruption in generations will take creativity, resilience and agility. How can you think and act differently as you consider the path forward for your business while staying true to your original mission? Could new partnerships be a key to success? How can you set yourself up for resilience? This is a unique opportunity to hear from one of America’s best thinkers about agile strategy and the power of networks.Ed Morrison is the founder of Strategic Doing, a process to help people move ideas to action quickly and effectively. Ed has visited Rockford many times and Strategic Doing has been used locally to facilitate some of the region’s best collaborations.When: Tuesday, May 12th, 5:30 to 7 p.m.Where: Online via Zoom (please click on link below) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89736530911Meeting ID: 897 3653 0911Cost: Free

Here we are. It’s the end of April, and the hockey season is still on hold. Just as the playoff race was heating up and things were getting very, VERY interesting . . . hockey was taken away from us. It’s for the best, but that doesn’t make it suck any less.Thankfully, the IceHogs have been very active on social media. Their Facebook page is very much alive, and there are a lot of ways you can stay up-to-date with the IceHogs and stay entertained with hockey goodness during quarantine!One of my favorite things that they’ve started doing is posting puzzles for fans on the weekends. On Facebook, you can find IceHogs crossword puzzles and word searches. They’ve also posted some coloring pages for the kiddos. It’s a new and fun way to stay engaged with the team, and I would really like to see it continue when life goes back to normal.They’re also broadcasting old games on Facebook Live. If you miss hockey as much as I do, this is a great way to get your IceHogs fix!If you want to keep up with the players and coaching staff, they’ve also been hosting live Q&A’s over on Facebook live! If you missed any of them, you’re able to go on there and watch them back. You don’t get to interact with the players by watching the replay, but you can still see what they had to say. It’s almost like hanging out with them right from your home!Trust me, nothing is equal to seeing some IceHogs hockey on the ice down at the BMO. But, these are not normal times and we have to take what we can get. I’m very thankful to the team and team staff for keeping us fans engaged and providing us with fun ways to get through the quarantine.If you aren’t following them on social media already, here you go:Twitter: https://twitter.com/goicehogsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RockfordIceHogs/And while you're here, if you want more hockey goodness, go ahead and subscribe to the From Center Ice Podcast and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook: Twitter: https://twitter.com/vfcentericepodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/fromcentericepod/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fromcentericepod/

Recently, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced that he will extend but modify the Executive Order allowing golf to be played as of May 1, 2020.The change comes with strict safety guidelines for golf course operators and players to ensure safety and social distancing during the Coronavirus pandemic.“We know everyone is beyond ready to get out and play golf, so we are thrilled that we are finally able to open all of the District’s golf courses for the season. Thank you to everyone for being so patient, and we ask that golfers embrace the new rules in place during the next month to play. The State of Illinois has outlined very specific restrictions that we all must adhere to for the safety of area golfers, District team members, and the entire community,” said David Spencer, Operations Director.Tee times must be booked online and paid for prior to coming to the golf course as no cash will be accepted and no receipts will be printed. Walkups will not be allowed either.   Tee times can only be made 7 days in advance.Learn More!

As students throughout our community complete the 2019-2020 school year from home via e-learning, the Rockford Park District will continue to be an at-home resource for recreation. Play is an essential part of everyone's day, and is needed now more than ever. The Rockford Park District is providing “RPD Recess” every weekday at 1 p.m. Short videos from our recreation experts can be found on Rockford Park District’s Facebook page, or at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/recess.RPD Recess is a way to share new skills, games, activities, or just have fun. Toddlers through teens need a chance to step away from learning for a bit to recreate. “This is a time when we have to play it safe, but we can still recreate. The Rockford Park District is here to help you enjoy life no matter if it's indoors, in the garage, in the basement, backyard, or driveway,” said Laurie Anderson, Superintendent of Operations. RPD Recess has already featured how to play kickball, build an indoor and outdoor obstacle course, and a variety of agility drills. A lot of the activities are what area youth and teens would also experience at a Rockford Park District program, lesson, or camp.

Hey Rockford Jake here! No, no, no. Courtney is FINE. I've just been working behind the scenes with some pretty awesome Rockford people and wanted to tell you what we've been up to.Oh wait... there's a giant image at the top that's full of spoilers... Whelp, since the cat is out of the bag let's dive in!Rockford Buzz has teamed up with the Better Business Bureau, Illinois Licensed Beverage Association Rockford Chapter 59, Ronin Branding, and Fats Productions to put together the"815 Takeout to Dine In" eventThe idea is for The 815 to all come together to enjoy a meal and some entertainment. Give everyone a break from the chaos and help build the sense of community that makes Rockford so great.We'll be publishing a ZOOM LINK and Fats Productions will be hosting a Facebook Live. So whether you want to have the full experience (Zoom), or just sit back and watch the party (Facebook), we've got you covered.Order some food from your favorite local restaurant, kick back with your deliciousness, and enjoy some Trivia or Stand Up Comedy provided by Jared at Fats Productions!Here's the deets.And here is the link to our list of restaurants with delivery and pick-up: https://www.rockfordbuzz.com/rockford-area-restaurants-offering-delivery-or-carry-outWednesday, April 22nd @ 6:00 PMTRIVIA NIGHTFriday, April 24th @ 6:00 PMCOMEDY NIGHT WITH SECOND CITYand here are the links to join in:FATS PRODUCTIONS FACEBOOK PAGEhttps://www.facebook.com/fatsproductionspresentsZOOM LINKhttps://us02web.zoom.us/j/88597324052

Rockford’s oldest 10k is back for the 36th year, with a unique twist. In order to comply with current social distancing regulations, the 2020 Heritage Run will be virtual! Winnebago County Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program will host the virtual run on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Each runner will run the distance on their own, and then report their time. Results will be posted on-line. Everyone who registers by April 18th will receive a commemorative race shirt.While many places are currently closed, the Juvenile Courts continue to operate. CASA’s trained volunteers continue to advocate for abused and neglected children. Recommendations are made to the Judge about what is believed to be in the best interests of the children. The ultimate goal is to find a safe, permanent home for each child. Currently, 115 trained volunteers work with over 300 children in our community. Unfortunately, there are still more than 1200 children in Winnebago County waiting for a CASA volunteer.For further information, or to register, please contact the CASA office at 815-319-6880 or visit WinnebagoCountyCASA.org. 

Rockford has always had a rich history of coming together to help in the times of our greatest need. I wanted to share one of the stories that I have researched from our city’s past to remind us all of that. I am always impressed with this city and what we can accomplish-together.Even now when we are asked to stay apart the news is filled with ways that we can all do something to help each other. Just remember –even though you may be isolated you are not alone. We have come through much worse than this by sticking together and reaching out.My best to all of you and your families.~Kathi KresolThe tornado that touched down on Friday, September 14, 1928, came in like a roaring train, leaving a path of destruction across Rockford. First, it touched down at the Rockford Chair and Furniture Company on the southwest side, at the intersection of Peoples Avenue and Kishwaukee Street, destroying the building and killing six men.The funnel went back up and damaged poles and trees until it touched the earth again at Eighteenth Avenue and Eighth Street, where the Mechanic Machine Company suffered broken windows. The twenty girls who worked at the plant that day were cut from the flying glass but were otherwise unhurt.The last section heavily hit was the Elco Tool Company, the National Chair Company and the surrounding neighborhood, where houses were wiped from their foundations. It was on Eighteenth Avenue that the three-story Union Furniture Company was destroyed. On the same corner, a little neighborhood grocery store owned by Cy Johnson and his wife was spun around several times and finally swept off of its foundation. “We huddled behind the counter while the roaring noise was going on and the wooden benches flew over our heads.” said the Johnsons, who escaped with just a few scratches.Along Fifteenth Avenue, seven houses and their garages were knocked down. The northeast corner of the National Chair Factory was completely demolished as the tornado’s devastation continued. Houses at the top of the hill of the Rock View Neighborhood were untouched, but the hollow to the north was demolished. Nineteen houses on Nineteenth Avenue and Ninth Street were destroyed in the final fury of the twister. A miracle took place in a house on Eighteenth Avenue that belonged to the Ebarp family. Little two-and-a-half-year-old Donald was sleeping in his crib when the tornado tore its way through the neighborhood. The wind uprooted a huge tree that stood next to the house and slammed it down on the roof. It knocked the chimney and the wall right down on Donald in the rear bedroom.Mrs. Ebarp was in the basement with her daughter, and Mr. Ebarp was sleeping in another bedroom of the house. Mr. Ebarp was the first to reach the boy, and Mrs. Ebarp entered the room to find her husband tossing bricks, branches and boards off their smallest child. The father was terrified when he first saw his son’s face covered in blood but he realized soon that the boy, while cut, was not seriously hurt. The family stood in the wreckage of their home and realized how fortunate they were.The city was also grateful that even though the tornado came within a half a block of one school and very close to two others, the thousands of children that attended the schools were unhurt. Brown, Turner and especially Hallstrom School students and their families were feeling blessed. A mere half block down from Hallstrom School was a scene of terrible devastation. Houses all around the school had their roofs torn off and their windows completely blown out. Furniture was deposited in the streets, and trees were blown over. The four hundred students that attended Hallstrom were all kept safely inside the building.Tony Martinkas, fifty, was found dead in a chicken coop on a farm on Harrison Avenue, four blocks west of Kishwaukee. He was from Spring Valley and was cleaning up the chicken and pigeon yard at a neighbor’s home. Tony was busy working between two buildings and did not notice the tornado approaching. The wind slammed the poor man between the two buildings before moving on to the Chair Factory B, where it killed eight more men.George Palmer, employed at the Mattison Machine Works, was one of the very first men to reach the destroyed Chair Factory B. He was stunned by the devastation but hurriedly grabbed an axe and started to chop his way into the building. He was able to bring three men out before others came to help.The first wave of responders was fire and policemen who walked through the destroyed buildings calling out for some sign of where the survivors might be. Their calls went unanswered. They attempted to start removing the debris, but it was too heavy.O.W. Johnson worked as the superintendent of the Chair Factory B and was buried in the debris from the storm. He was trapped under heavy timbers for three hours before his son heard his calls and found men to help focus on the rescue. He was rushed to Swedish American hospital.  Building companies were contacted, and in an amazingly short time, the pleas for help were answered. Mayor Burt M. Allen, police chief A.E. Bargren and Sheriff Harry Baldwin, working with fire chief Thomas Blake and Captain Warren Aldrich of Company K of the National Guard, organized rescue efforts. This was the biggest response to a rescue operation ever in the history of the city. “Scores of contractors and factory officials, unaffected by the storm, offered the officials of the Rockford Furniture and Chair Company, trucks, men, steam shovels, hoists, and other equipment yesterday in a frantic search to find the bodies of the missing men.”   State police officers arrived to assist deputy sheriffs, police officers and soldiers involved in organizing equipment, handling traffic flow and gathering information about the missing men. They also helped with crowd control as thousands of people rushed to the factory. Ropes and men kept the crowd under control for the two days of searching.  More than two hundred men from the city’s and county’s building firms were involved in the rescue effort at the Chair Factory B. They all knew they were looking for bodies. When a body was located, all work would cease, and everyone silently watched as the mangled bodies were tenderly wrapped in a blanket, loaded on a stretcher and carried to an ambulance.   Forrest Lydden, a city building inspector, organized the crews. Tireless searching went on for two days. They recovered the body of Gunnar Ryden at 1:40 a.m. on September 17. He was killed on his twenty-ninth birthday.  The other men that were killed in Chair factory B were:Olaf Larson, twenty-seven years oldHerman Wydell, forty-seven years old; left a wife and two childrenMartin Anderson, thirty-four years; old left a wifeAugust Peterson, fifty-two years oldFrank Strom, thirty-four years old; left a wife and a childAll six of the bodies were found near the elevator shaft, close to the heavy water tank, which plunged from the roof through the crumbling floors, crushing the men and causing their deaths. All of the men were working in the finishing department on the second floor when the tornado struck. John Brunski, forty-five years old, and George Fagerberg, fifty-one years old, were the two other victims in the plant.Other men working at the Chair Factory B were up on the fourth floor when they heard yelling that a cyclone was approaching the building. The group started to run down the stairs when the funnel hit the building, right in the area where they were. The men were all piled on top of each other, and everything was completely dark. They were trapped for several hours before being pulled from the debris.  The Union Furniture Company’s east end was demolished, adding to the city’s death toll. Swan Swenson, forty years old, and Axel Ahlgren, forty-three years old, were found beneath the wreckage of the water tank. Ahlgren’s body was carried all the way down through the building by the water tank and buried under tons of debris. The men trying to rescue him had to cut their way through the shattered timbers of several floors.Seventeen-year-old Virgil Cornmesser, sixteen-year-old Everitt Cornmesser and fourteen-year-old Bernard Cornmesser were sent to a nearby gas station to buy a gallon of gas. The boys noticed the approaching storm and were racing to their homes before it hit. They reached the corner of Seventh Street and Seventeenth Avenue when, suddenly, an entire garage roof was blown off and came down right on top of them. Everett and Bernard were killed instantly, and Virgil died later at St. Anthony’s Hospital. The family held a triple service for the boys in the home of S.O. Cornmesser at 1728 Seventh Street on Sunday, September 16, with Reverend O. Garfield Beckstrand officiating. Virgil and Bernard were brothers and the sons of Mr. and Mrs. John Cornmesser. Everitt was their cousin, and his parents were Mr. and Mrs. S.O. Cornmesser. Virgil and Bernard’s parents shipped the boys’ bodies back to Iowa with the help of some of the tornado funds donated by the city, and Everitt was buried in Rockford.A blinding rain started to fall right after the funnel hit the area, and ambulance drivers had trouble getting to the boys quickly because of the rain and debris that lined the streets. They loaded all three of the boys into an ambulance.  All of the other bodies were taken to the undertaking rooms of Fred C. Olson. Family members gathered there, anxiously waiting for some word on their missing men. Piercing cries were the notification that another man had been identified and another family’s hope shattered.  Besides the fourteen men killed, there were over 80 people injured that needed hospitalization. Over 360 buildings, 181 of them houses, were damaged, costing over $1,000,000. There were 1,200 people left homeless, and because most of them worked in the same neighborhood where they lived, they had also lost their place of employment. These families were in dire need of assistance.  The Rockford Chamber of Commerce kept busy collecting donations for the families of the men that were killed in the tornado and other families that were left homeless by the storm. The money just came pouring in, and they were able to gather $25,000 in a very short time.  Committee members from several different organizations visited over 164 families to assess their needs and determine how to fund them. Agencies, including the Rockford Register newspaper, were busy collecting funds as well. The Red Cross was working with the other agencies to go into the affected area and assess the property damage. Wilbur J. Adams was the director of storm relief and in charge of getting the needed supplies to the people.  On Sunday, September 16, people from all over the state came to visit Rockford to view the damage. Estimates put the number somewhere near 150,000 people that came to town on that Sunday following the tornado. They surged into the area and stopped at local restaurants to eat. By the end of the day, most of the restaurants were running out of food. One estimate put the total served at 60,000. Some of the people were family members who came to help, and police and other rescue workers were very impressed with the crowds. There were issues with traffic, but everything stayed orderly. There was no looting or destruction caused by the visitors.  The theaters in town donated half of their proceeds on different days toward the relief fund. The Palace Theater showed motion pictures of the destruction during the Pathe newsreel. It featured three hundred feet of film highlighting the damaged areas.  Rockford has always been known for stepping forward during times of need, and this crisis was a perfect example of that. Many in the community gave selflessly of either their time or money, even those who were themselves in dire straits.  Fred Machesney, manager of the Rockford Airport, gave a percentage of the proceeds of his sales for transporting passengers to the relief fund. The Women’s Society, headed by Jessie Spafford as its president, visited damaged homes and brought much-needed supplies. The Rockford Girls served donated food and drinks to the searchers and men working on the rescue efforts at the factories; Boy Scouts helped to maintain a line of safety for visitors and family members at different locations. E.A. Brodine, secretary of the local carpenters union, reported that local carpenters would be gathered to help with repairs on damaged homes. It was an incredible outpouring from everyone, and Mayor Allen was very proud that his city was able to care for its own without assistance from outside agencies.  The city bounced back, and even before the first night was done, plans were being made to rebuild the factories. Aid was given to the neediest families, homes were repaired and families were reunited. Because of the tireless searching by the men and donation of equipment by various companies, every body was recovered quickly. The families that lost their men were given extra aid to rebuild their homes. The community responded so quickly and so generously that many of the families felt grateful that they lived in such a caring community when disaster struck.

Dear Friends, Just a reminder that Kibble Korner Pet Food Pantry/The Rock River Valley Pantry ARE open to the public.We are distributing pet food and people food with "no contact" protocols. With many people losing jobs, hours cut, layoffs, uncertain times....these services are needed now more than ever.(From March 8th thru April 8th, we have seen a 38% increase of people needing pet food assistance and it’s growing daily.) If you know anyone who needs a little assistance with pet food or people food, please let them know about these resources.(visit our website pages for days/hours of operation) If you would like to help by donating, please visit our websites or facebook pages. http://www.kibblekorner.com/https://www.facebook.com/kibblekorner https://www.rrvp.org/https://www.facebook.com/RRVPantry/ **Lastly, Thank you to everyone who supported the Kibble Korner online auction! Because of your support,we are able to continue this much needed pet food program.**

Transform Rockford To Host Virtual “Happy” Hour to Promote Unity in the RegionIn recent news, popular DJ “DNice” made headlines hosting a listening party on Instagram via his private residence. His act of kindness engaged over 150K worldwide listeners which included the likes of many A-list celebrities and former first lady Michelle Obama.  Transform Rockford will be creating a similar experience, but doing it Rockford style! In partnership with the musical mastering of DJ Rated AG, we are hosting a city-wide virtual listening and dance party to promote community resilience and our shared value of unity. This event will provide Rockford residents with a wide range of great dance music, and something happy to do while following the stay at home order.  “Happy” Hour will take place virtually after the workday on Thursday, April 9, 2020, from 5:00-8:00 P.M., via Facebook Live on the Transform Rockford Facebook page. Residents will be encouraged to log on and enjoy the music, type uplifting comments and interact, and to continue following the Facebook page to remain aware of the work TR does for Rockford.  RSVP to the Facebook event by clicking here.

With schools not being in session and kids being stuck at home, they are missing out on a crucial part of their day – RECESS! This is where our amazing Rockford Park District steps in and provides recess for kids while they’re at home!The hub for RPD Recess can be found here at this link!They’re posting short videos from their recreation experts to show different activities that kids can do at home. Whether it’s learning a new skill, playing a game, or just having fun – your kids will enjoy it!They’re posting videos on their Facebook page weekdays at 1:00 pm, so you can hop on there and interact if you so wish. Otherwise, you can just check out their website and take advantage of their recreation expertise!Have Fun. Stay Safe. Stay Home!

RPD Recess is your at-home resource for recreation!Play is an essential part of everyone's day and is needed now more than ever.  RPD Recess is a place to find short videos from our recreation experts that show a fun new skill, game, or activities.We are here to help you enjoy life! Let's have some fun!https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/recess

COVID-19 is presenting small business owners with unprecedented challenges: limitations on business beyond their control and economic uncertainty, to say the least. This month, Innovation Tuesday goes online as we offer information, perspective and encouragement to help small businesses navigate this new terrain and plan for the recovery. During this free webinar, you will learn about a variety of available resources and how to apply.Our panel of experts includes:Agnes Masnik- IL Dept. of Commerce and Economic OpportunityKarl Franzen- City of RockfordEdward Caceres- Rockford Small Business Development CenterTopics include:· SBA Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loans· SBA Debt Relief Program· SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans & Emergency Advance Grants· SBA Tax Provisions· SBA Express Bridge Loan Pilot Program· IL Small Business Emergency Loan Fund· IL Downstate Small Business Stabilization Program· Facebook· Honeycomb Credit· Google Ad Credits· Other resource that may become availableWhen: Tuesday, April 14th, 5:30 to 7 p.m.Where:Online via Zoom (please click on link below) https://us04web.zoom.us/j/496937330Meeting ID: 496 937 330Cost: Free 

During this critical time in our community, finding ways to enjoy life has never been more important. It's okay to recreate, but please play it safe! Walking, hiking, biking, and running keep you moving and allow for plenty of social distancing. Rockford Park District parks, paths, trails, and dog parks will remain open at this time. As per the Executive Order from the State of Illinois, all Rockford Park District playgrounds and skate parks will be closed to the public during this mandate. For your health and safety, we urge everyone to avoid gathering at tennis courts, basketball courts, and all sports fields. Parents, please share this information with your kids too. Recently, area youth have been gathering in parks for basketball games and soccer matches. These contact sports usually mean more than 10 people are gathered and sports equipment is being shared. We want you to enjoy your neighborhood park but short term sacrifices have to be made right now to stop the spread of Coronavirus. Every action we take as individuals during this time affects the entire community. Thanks for understanding!https://rockfordparkdistrict.org/covid19-parks

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) has extended Sonic Disruptions: Buisch + Hogin through September 27 in response to the current public health crisis. The major art exhibition opened February 7 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park building at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. The museum is currently closed, and the original closing date for the exhibition was Memorial Day, May 25. { RELATED: Rockford Art Museum is currently closed. Click here to see a special video message from Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson. }Sonic Disruptions features Derrick Buisch and Laurie Hogin who use color, imagery, narrative and symbols to stimulate our senses and challenge our perceptions. Also featured is a custom-designed playlist and reading list of the artists’ favorite music and books, and related educational programming. Buisch is an art professor at the University of Wisconsin while Hogin is Associate Director and Director of Graduate Studies at the School of Art and Design at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and both are represented in the Rockford Art Museum Permanent Collection. “We are thrilled to extend Sonic Disruptions through the end of summer so more people have the opportunity to experience this engaging exhibition. We are grateful to artists Derrick Buisch and Laurie Hogin for their commitment to the museum and this exhibition,” said RAM Executive Director/Curator Carrie Johnson. “None of this would be possible without support from the artists, exhibition sponsors, museum members and our community.” Organized by Carrie Johnson, Sonic Disruptions: Buisch and Hogin is on view February 7 through September 27, 2020. The exhibition and its related programming are supported by grant awards from Smith Charitable Foundation, the Donald V. and Britta A. Peterson Memorial Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program, and RAAC Rockford Area Arts Council; and partially supported by a Partners in Excellence grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency. 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 @rockfordartmuseumand Instagram @rockfordart #rockfordartmuseum, and go behind the scenes with us on our free mobile app. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.

#ICYMI, forward Garrett Mitchell answered YOUR questions in a Q&A on Facebook Live a few days ago. Check it out!https://icehogs.com/news/forward-garrett-mitchell-to-join-facebook-live-for-fan-q-a-on-tuesday

We drop the gloves vs. cancer and the Chicago Wolves tomorrow night on #IceHogsRewind! Puck drops at 7 PM on Facebook Live!https://icehogs.com/news/icehogsrewind-hogs-host-iowa-tonight-at-7