Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

Pure elation. I could leave it at those two words and it would perfectly describe the scene downtown on Thursday night for Jurassic Park Rockford. Game 6. With a win, the Raptors would take home the NBA title and Fred VanVleet is a champion. I can’t even waste time here and walk through the game. In the nail-biting last few minutes, the Toronto Raptors pulled out a win AND OUR HOMETOWN HERO IS AN NBA CHAMPION. Let me repeatFRED VANVLEET IS AN NBA CHAMPIONJust let that sink in. Fred wasn’t afraid to support his city, and his city supported him back. Thousands of people came downtown to watch him be a star in Game 6. His three point shots helped lead them to the win. And, man, being in that crowd when he sunk them was absolutely surreal. Not only was Fred part of the title game, he was an absolutely crucial part of the win. Rockford, we showed up to support Fred and it was incredible. Everyone was so happy. The atmosphere was almost something out of a movie. Savor this. It’s amazing. 

I just returned home from Jurassic Park Rockford – the watch party for Game 5 of the NBA final between the Golden State Warriors and our HOMETOWN HERO, FRED VANVLEET’S, TORONTO RAPTORS. With the Raptors up 3-1 in the series, they could have won the whole thing. Unfortunately they lost by one . . . single . . . point. What I’m here to talk about isn’t the game itself, though. That was all fun and games (ha!). But, what I want to talk about is the absolute best crowd that showed up for Fred tonight. The City Market pavilion was absolutely packed with people that came out to support Fred and cheer on the Raptors. There were food trucks. There were drinks. There was a DJ and music. And, there was a pop-up shop to buy Fred’s merch. For a first time event, you never know how it’s going to go, but Rockford showed itself tonight. There were so many people tuned into the game and cheering every time the Raptors put up points. It was an amazing atmosphere. Everyone was kind and there for the same reason. Unfortunately, Toronto didn’t win it all tonight. Fortunately, we get to pick this party back up on Thursday. Gates open at 6. Come prepared to have fun and cheer Fred and the Raptors on to victory!

As Rockford native and NBA superstar Fred VanVleet is set to compete for an NBA Championship, the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau invites the community to join in on a city celebration and watch party at Jurassic Park RKFD. This FREE all-ages event will be held at the City Market Pavilion with gates opening at 6 p.m. Monday, June 10. Game time is at 8 p.m.With VanVleet and the Toronto Raptors in pursuit of their first NBA championship, Jurassic Park RKFD was created as a Rockford-centric offshoot of the smash hit Jurassic Park watch party that has been held adjacent to the Toronto Raptors home arena during the 2019 NBA Playoffs and Finals.“There’s a lot of buzz and excitement around town about the finals. As he has done since his days at Auburn, Fred continues to make Rockford proud. We invite everyone to attend and help us celebrate Fred’s amazing run in the NBA championship games,” said RACVB President/CEO John Groh. “We are cheering for Fred, for the Toronto Raptors and for Rockford!”Located at the corner of East State and Water streets, Jurassic Park RKFD will feature a jumbo screen airing game five, the FVV Shop Pop-Up Store, food and beverage trucks, a pre-game DJ party and VanVleet signage for photo opportunities. For more details, visit GoRockford.com/FVVFinals.A Rockford native and Auburn High School graduate, VanVleet helped lead the school to a 22-game winning streak and third-place finish at the 2012 IHSA State Tournament. The point guard went on to play for Wichita State University, earning multiple All-America accolades while leading the team to the NCAA Final Four. In 2018-19, VanVleet averaged career highs of 11 points and 4.8 assists per game during the regular season.“Fred is an amazing basketball player and a genuinely good person both on and off the court,” said Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. “He gives back to Rockford, and we’re excited to support him as he works to bring home an NBA championship.” 

Avast there, mateys, ye be in for wet as Discovery Center Museum kicks off their Family Fridays with “Swashbuckling Science” Friday, June 14 from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Assemble your pirate hat, hoist your flag, and test the boat that floats your swag. Put a parrot on your shoulder and a hook on your hand, and get ready to cast off! Landlubbers tolerated; eye patches, peg legs and pirate jokes welcome.  All activities included with admission: $9/Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Sponsored by Powmet.

We have all been watching the news and waiting for the opening of the Indoor City Market since it was announced as officially being a thing. On one hand, the anticipation has made the wait super hard. On the other hand, they have pulled this together very quickly!We now have the first permanent tenant to open inside of the market. And, if you like food, you’re going to love this place. Well, you probably ALREADY love this place. Just because it’s a new space on Madison St. doesn’t mean it’s new to Rockford. Ronit’s Kitchen has been a favorite at the outdoor City Market for a while now. Ronit serves up delicious Mediterranean Cuisine with such fresh ingredients that you can just taste the quality. When I heard she was officially opening her doors, so to speak, I made sure we stopped by immediately. Jake had some falafel and I (Courtney) had some French Toast. Yes, French toast. I like breakfast, okay? I did have some of the falafel to get the full experience though. Everything tasted great. It was filling without being heavy and left me feeling very satisfied. I was so full when I walked out of there, and I cannot wait to go back. If you haven’t stopped in yet, make sure you do so immediately! You won’t regret it!ANd make sure you say hello to Ronit while you're there. She's so sweet!

Here's a special column by Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara:Few among us can remember an Illinois legislative session that was more “sweeping and consequential,” as Governor JB Pritzker noted, than the one just completed in Springfield. Most importantly for Rockford residents, the accomplishments of our bipartisan team will have a real and lasting impact on our community. Among the highlights: Casino: After literally waiting decades for a gaming expansion to include a casino in Rockford, our city now will have yet another attraction to add to our tourism and entertainment infrastructure. Most importantly, we’ll be able to attract visitors who might have been visiting casinos in other Illinois suburbs or Indiana and Wisconsin. Sen. Dave Syverson has worked for years to get a casino for Rockford and I thank him for his leadership and commitment, along with the work and support of Sen. Steve Stadelman and Rep. Maurice West II on this initiative. Rail:  The capital bill specifically includes $275 million for upgraded railroad service between Chicago and Rockford. While this project is still somewhat undefined and will take time to implement, I’m pleased our legislators, especially Sen. Stadelman, are seeing the economic development value of expanding rail beyond just suburban commuter rail or longer-route downstate rail.  Capital Spending and Appropriations: The General Assembly passed a $45 billion capital-spending plan to improve our state’s crumbling infrastructure. Our Public Works & Engineering Departments are ready with a detailed and specific list of road, bridge and other infrastructure projects. We also provided our local legislators with our Capital Improvement Plan and will be closely involved in the grant-making process that makes these projects a reality. In addition, numerous other organizations and projects received funding for critical projects that will have a positive impact on our region.  Airport: Our previous governor promised money for the AAR facility at the Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD). When he failed to follow through on that promise, a local consortium of banks saved that project, costing the airport $80,000 per month in interest. The approved state budget includes money to repay RFD the $14.7 million it is owed. Sex Education Bill: We’ve been working diligently for 18 months to stem the impact of domestic violence, human trafficking and sexual assault in our community. A bill that passed both the House and Senate requires school districts that teach sex education to give a fuller definition of “consent.” The bill specifies that consent is “a freely given agreement to sexual activity” that cannot be given if an individual “can’t understand the nature of the activity” due to drug or alcohol use. Serving on a transition committee for Gov. Pritzker and traveling to Springfield several times to testify on Rockford’s behalf and build relationships with key legislators are important parts of my job. However, our work in Springfield is most definitely a team effort. Our City Council Legislative & Lobbying Committee, led by Ald. Kevin Frost and Ald. Ann Thompson-Kelly, worked hard this session on our city’s behalf. Mike Cassidy, our long-time lobbyist in Springfield, is a tireless and valuable advocate as well, working countless hours, especially over the session’s final weeks, to keep us updated and to help bring home critical pieces of legislation.  Our work is not done. We have many things left to accomplish on a state-wide level that can have a positive impact on Rockford. I’m looking forward to continuing to work with our Governor, our local legislators and our City Council members to provide value to our taxpayers in the services, programs and projects we manage.  

Love is love. If we spent less time judging and more time loving I believe half of the world’s problems would go away. Judge less and love more. People don’t have to look like us, live like us, or believe like us and yet we can still choose to love them unconditionally. June was proclaimed Pride month for the first time in the City of Rockford and I have watched and listened while people comment both support and opposition. The truth is with every decision and declaration there are going to be those who oppose and support. I have always believed that equal rights, support, and recognition should be encouraged for all regardless of what our own personal beliefs may or may not be. Whether or not we accept others thoughts, beliefs, or way of living, there is always the choice to support and love them for who they are. I believe God doesn’t make mistakes and made each of us uniquely for our own individual purpose. Every single person provides value to our community. There are some key points to consider when you encounter someone in the community, workplace, or even at church that looks, thinks, or lives differently. First of all – DON’T JUDGE THEM. We have no right to judge anyone or hold them to some standard. Everyone has the right to choose who they are and how they want to live. Empathy towards others, or the ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes, can go a long way in truly loving another person. Expressing empathy can bridge the divide most of the time. Empathy is a choice we can make in the light of differences. Empathy also forces us to practice compassion and become a more compassionate person overall. Compassion allows us to connect with another person and try to see things from their perspective. Controlling our reaction is critical when difference in opinion or beliefs arise. I have always been told that you can’t control a situation or what happens to you, but you can control the way you react to it. This is so true. We are all sensitive, connected individuals and how we think and act has a much bigger influence on others than we might imagine. Our reactions can trigger thoughts and behaviors in others, both in a negative and positive way. Negativity breeds negativity, however, when we come from a place of calm and giving the person the opportunity to share their perspective and individualism there is much more opportunity for a positive outcome. Sometimes we have to just agree to disagree, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t love and respect one another. We need to be open to consider different mindsets and perspectives when we encounter individuals who appear or live differently then we choose to live. Our DNA makeup is to be naturally selfish due to the fact that we believe how we think, our perspectives, and our opinions are correct, while everyone else who is different is wrong. The reality is we are all made uniquely different for a reason. We rarely consider that each and every person is never having the same experience or thoughts due to life experiences and limited beliefs. By taking another person’s point of view into consideration, we broaden our own and this helps us understand our actions and consequences as well as other’s better. At the end the day, it’s all about being self-aware and non-judgmental towards those we encounter who are different from us. We can never be expected to fully understand the minds of those who are closest to us, let alone individuals who are not, however we can learn how to be less judgmental and limited in our beliefs and more understanding and accepting of everyone. There are so many people fighting a battle every single day in their mind and what we need more of is love. Choose love.“Love is not ‘if’ or ‘because’. Love is ‘anyway’ and ‘even though’ and ‘in spite of’. The greatest of these is LOVE.

Courage leads the way for Disney’s most adventurous heroes when Disney On Ice presents Dream Big comes to the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, IL., Friday, Oct. 25, to Sunday, Oct. 27.Join the wayfinder Moana and the greatest demigod that ever lived, Maui, on an action-packed voyage to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti. Explore the Land of the Dead as Miguel from Disney•Pixar’s Coco brings the festivities of Dia de los Muertos to the ice. Get tangled up in Rapunzel’s hair-raising quest to see the floating lights. Travel to the kingdom of Arendelle with Anna, Elsa and Olaf in a dramatic retelling of the sisterly love that saved a kingdom. And discover the strength, bravery and kindness that inspired generation after generation with Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Cinderella.Dream Big captures all the magic and adventure of Disney’s immortal tales through cutting edge figure skating, glamourous costumes and stunning set designs. Through innovative lighting and thrilling special effects, audiences are transported to a world of imagination, where heroes of every kind seek to fulfill their dreams. High-flying jumps, breathtaking skating and lovable Disney friends make Disney On Ice presents Dream Big an experience families will never forget!Dates and Times of Performances:Friday, Oct. 25 – 7 pmSaturday, Oct. 26 – 11 am, 3 pm and 7 pm Sunday, Oct. 27 – 1 pm and 5 pmTickets start at: $15.00 *additional fees may applyTo order tickets online: www.Ticketmaster.comOver the phone: 815-968-5222*Ticket pricing is subject to change based on market demand.To learn more about Disney On Ice visit (http://www.DisneyOnIce.com) and stay current on the latest news through social media:Facebook: www.facebook.com/DisneyOnIce Twitter: @DisneyOnIce #DisneyOnIce YouTube: www.youtube.com/DisneyOnIce Instagram: @DisneyOnIce

Discovery Center Museum will host 10 Family Fun Day events between June and August of 2019. Designed as educational and entertaining programs for families, Family Fun Days focus on a specific subject matter and then explore that subject through various means, including activities, demonstrations, make-and-take projects, and performances.Below is the schedule of events: Supertastic Capes & SparklesSaturday, June 8: 6-8:30 pm Admission: $15 pubic / $7 membersDon your disguise or polish your tiara, and join our gathering of superheroes and princesses. Come in costume and bring your imagination for enchanting make-believe that uses real math and science. Assess your super-powers, sing a movie tune, meet a fairy godmother, and more! Grown-ups can play too (your super-identity is safe with us). Capes are optional. Swashbuckling Science Friday, June 14: 11:00 am-3:30 pm Avast there, mateys, ye be in for wet! Assemble your pirate hat, hoist your flag, and test the boat that floats your swag. Put a parrot on your shoulder and a hook on your hand, and get ready to cast off! Landlubbers tolerated; eye patches, peg legs and pirate jokes welcome. All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Game On! Friday, June 21: 11:00 am-3:30 pm Angry Birds, Pokémon, Minecraft, and more! Use everyday materials to examine the science, math, and engineering that form the scaffolds of your favorite games. Torch building, mineral mining, and sling shot assembly are just the beginning! Can you imagine Discovery Center as a Super-Mario set? Come in your favorite game attire and catch all the fun! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Whoosh! Friday, June 28: 11:00 am-3:30 pmTest the strength of air and design devices that flutter, fly, and float in the breeze! Whip up a wind, pop out a vortex, compare breezes to gusts, and create a contraption for a blustery day. Manipulate materials in a wind column, use your breath to create a work of art, and witness wonders that wind can do! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Kaboom Thursday July 4: 11:00 am-3:30 pmFriday, July 5: 11:00 am-3:30 pmGlow lights, rockets, sparkles and flags! Strut your stars and stripes as science and art join hands for this 2-day patriotic celebration. Construct light and sound creations and assemble a red, white, and blue masterpiece. We’ll experiment with explosions, launch mini rockets, and more! Dress to get wet: if the weather is nice, we'll have an old-fashioned water balloon toss! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. E-I-E-I-O July 12: 11:00 am-3:30 pmPut on your straw hat and overalls for this rural romp! Meet and greet bunnies, cows, goats, and ducks as we bring a barnyard of fun to Discovery Center! Pet a farm friend, create a rural mural, and find out how agriculture is everywhere everyday. Get artistic with loads of legumes, and stuff your brain with farm facts! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. To the Moon July 19: 11:00 am-3:30 pmCelebrate the 50th anniversary of the Lunar Landing! Tally the technology brought to us by the space age, launch a rocket, and a make a scale model you can eat! Create a crater, find out about phases, and join us for our own version of “race to the moon”! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Unicorn Frolic! July 26: 11:00 am-3:30 pm Rainbow magic abounds in this prismatic party! Be awed by chemical color changes, and take a planetarium peek at the mythical creatures populating the night sky. Take flight with Pegasus, turn everything iridescent, see the world through a rosy glow, and more! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. Splish Splash Splat August 2: 11:00 am-3:30 pmLittle squirts and big drips can help us splat the parking lot when we use our giant sling shot to send things flying! Drench is the word when experimenting with water balloon ballistics! Mess around with messy stuff, splash together some dripping art, and use unusual techniques to move water! Dress to get wet. All activities included with admission: $9/Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger.  Maker Mania August 9: 11:00 am-3:30 pm Real tools + recycled materials + imagination = creative fun! Toy cars, musical instruments, and art are just the beginning! We’ll also have loads of LEGOs, tons of tape, and oodles of building materials. You’ll be amazed at what you can make and take home during this day of fanciful fabrication! All activities included with admission: $9 Public; Free to Members and all children ages one and younger. ABOUT DISCOVERY CENTER MUSEUMDiscovery 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. In 2018 Discovery Center earned the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame distinction. The Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Ill. General admission to the Museum is: $8 adults, $8 children (ages 2 to 17); free to Museum members and children age 1 and younger. Hours of operation are: 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week. For additional information, call (815) 963-6769 or log onto our website at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

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.