Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

This week Jake and Courtney get real.Burnout is a very real thing that people are often made to feel like they shouldn't talk about. Too bad, we're gonna talk about it. It's important to check in with yourself, understand yourself, and take care of yourself mentally so you can feed into other aspects of your life. We talk about what burnout feels like to us and some things we do to combat it. Enjoy!If you didn't hear, you can now listen to the podcast on your Podcast App of choice!Just copy this URL:https://podcast.rss.com/rockfordbuzz/feed.xmlPaste that URL into your app of choice and voila!Apple Podcasts – Tap “Library” on the bottom menu. Click Edit. Click “Add Podcast by URL”. Enter Podcast URL. Hit Subscribe.Castbox – Enter the Podcast URL into the search bar. Hit Search. Tap SubscribePodbean – Tap the search icon. Click +Add Feed URL >. Enter Podcast URL. Make sure it says you’re following.

Actor/Comedian/Writer Tom Segura has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most in demand and highly regarded talents. He is best known for his three Netflix specials, Disgraceful (2018), Mostly Stories (2016), and Completely Normal (2014). Paste Magazine described him as, “...having a natural and capable storytelling ability, one that lifts his narratives out of average anecdote fare and plants them firmly in hilarious ground.” Additionally, his hit podcast Your Mom’s House which he co-hosts with his wife, comedian Christina Pazsitzky, was a finalist for Best Comedy Podcast at the Stitcher Awards and profiled by VICE.On July 25, 2019 he’ll appear at the Coronado Performing Arts Center for one-night-only and reserved seats are going on sale Friday, April 12 at 10:00am. Tickets ($59/$49/$39 plus a limited number of gold circle seats) will be available online at Ticketmaster.com, in person at The Coronado PAC or BMO Harris Bank Center box office or by phone at 815-968-5222. Show time is 7:30pm. *Additional fees may applySegura can be seen in the Paramount feature Instant Family opposite Mark Wahlberg and Rose Byrne. Segura’s television credits include The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Conan, Workaholics, Happy Endings, The Late Late Show, Comedy Central Presents: Tom Segura, Mash Up, How To Be A Grown Up.Segura has risen to be one of the top comedy theater acts in the country. He also continues to perform at the top comedy festivals in the world, including Montreal’s Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, The Melbourne International Comedy Festival, The Comedy Festival - Las Vegas, The South Beach Comedy Festival, and The Hong Kong Comedy Festival.Segura has an increasing social media following (@seguratom on IG) and also regularly appears on radio shows like the Bennington Show and some of the most downloaded podcasts in the world of comedy such as The Joe Rogan Experience and WTF With Marc Maron among others. His fourth hour-long stand up album Mostly Stories sat atop the iTunes and Billboard Comedy charts for consecutive weeks and his first two albums Thrilled and White Girls with Cornrows debuted at number 1 and continue to play heavily on satellite radio and streaming music platforms. When he isn’t performing on stage or recording a podcast he’s watching College Football or waiting for College Football to come back.At the artists request. NO USAGE OF CELL PHONE/CAMERAS DURING SHOW. Once the show starts, anyone who is caught with his or her cell phone out will be ejected without refund. NO warnings will be given during the performance!

Erin Sturm was born and raised in the Rockford area. She chose to stay here, raise her family here, and make a difference here. Erin is the type is person who sees a need for something and, instead of just talking about it, makes change happen. Erin went to Harlem High School and then moved on to NIU to collect an English degree and a Masters in Business Administration. Her original plan was to work in a library and she ended up working in a Scientific Library. Earning an English degree takes a lot of reading and writing, but learning a lot about old texts was really rewarding. While getting her MBA, Erin took a lot of classes in finance and marketing. Using the writing skills she was made to develop from her English degree, Marketing spoke to her and she opened her own small Marketing business in 2014, The Sturm Agency. Erin is a family person through and through. She and her husband Mike have been married for 8 years and have two lovely children, Norah and Miles. Erin and Mike met in college and he moved here to be with her. Originally from Lombard, it wasn’t a huge move for him, but it allowed them to start their family in the place she calls home. She always loved living here while growing up. There are so many family-oriented places to visit and so many things to do. You also get a great taste for nature. Whenever Erin visited larger cities like Chicago, she found that there was just too much concrete for her liking. She now takes her children to all of her favorite places and they’re members of the Discovery Center Museum – one of our more awesome attractions for kids!Erin’s favorite thing about Rockford is nature. We have some amazing parks around our region and you can experience so many different nature-scapes just by driving around. We have forests, prairies, rivers, lakes, and that’s just the beginning. Erin loves discovering and experiencing the outdoors with her kids. In the process of doing this, they came across the Red Oak Playground at Rock Cut State Park that was completely closed down due to it being broken down and dangerous for play. It’s in such a beautiful spot of the park, so Erin took action. She contacted the Illinois DNR and Rock Cut Staff and discovered that there are no funds currently available to fix the playground. This wasn’t good enough for her. After learning that a community funding effort would ensure a new and safe playground for the kids, she set up a non-profit organization and a GoFundMe page to raise money for an amazing destination playground. The NEW Red Oak Playground will allow kids from all walks of life to enjoy the outdoors and experience the joys playing on playgrounds. We had the pleasure of filming a video for her. You can find that video on the GoFundMe page and donate to this amazing cause. Here’s a link: Fun Facts:Favorite-Movie: Jurassic ParkTV Show: Lost and Stranger ThingsBook: Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. It’s a nice coming of age story. Music: Alternative Rock. Young the Giant. Local restaurant: Dos Reales and JMK Nippon for her sushi fix!Erin really enjoys baking and reading. Both of these hobbies also pay off for her family. Her daughter loves books and being read to. The whole family gets to enjoy the delicious baked goods that she comes up with – some of her favorites being chocolate chip cookies, S’Mores cookies, and Christmas cookies. I highly suggest that you check out Stateline Kids if you’re also raising a family here in the area. And, again, check out her GoFundMe page for the new Red Oak Playground.Here are some links for you:https://www.gofundme.com/redoakplaygroundhttps://statelinekids.com/

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) opens its 78th Young Artist Show: Youth Division with a free public opening and awards ceremony 1–3 p.m., Sunday, April 14. On view are 375 paintings, drawings, sculptures, mixed media, and more by K–8 students at 65 schools in Winnebago County. Sponsored by Alpine Kiwanis, Meemic, and Women’s Art Board with in-kind support from Dick Blick, the exhibition remains on view through May 5 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford. Recognition awards, one per grade, will be announced at 2 p.m. during the free public opening on Sunday, April 14. Students and teachers of any grade at any school receive free admission to Rockford Art Museum throughout the entire 78th Young Artist Show. FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS REPRESENTED: Bloom Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Rae Carbaugh) Shams Al Najjar, 4; Ma Bless, 4; Gabriel Camacho, 1; Alisha Gray, 5; Chara Hinz, 2. // Brookview Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Tim McGinnis) Cade Guse, 3; Addison Harvey, 1; Kevlen Jackson, 5; Jasmine Jimenez, 4; Danalee Palacios, 2. // Brown Homeschool (Teacher: Michelle Brown) Makenna Brown, 8. // Brunson Homeschool (Teacher: Natalie Brunson) Kairo Brunson, 6; Thorin Brunson, 3. // Cathedral of St. Peter Catholic School, Rockford (Teacher: Cindy Buffo) Riley Dornbush, 3; Taylor Dornbush, 6; Eva Greenberg, 7; Sarah Hudak, 8; Natilee Jaeger, 1; Jenna Martinez, 6; Julian Nichols, 8; Eileen O'Brien, 4; Matthew O'Connor, 7; Sophia Okite, 8; Danny Rose, 3; Colin Wedwick, 4; Peter White, 8. // Cherry Valley Elementary School, Rockford (Teachers: Helen Linden, Haley Lyons) Alexis Adams, 5; Kylie Chouinard, 1; Kayle Garcia, 4; Sophia Truong, 3; Chase Velasco, 2. // Christian Life Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Mia Romo) Ra'mon Jones, 1; Caleb Lopez, 4; Adelynn Sihakhom, K; Taylor Spires, 3; Avery Staaland, 5. // Conklin Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Jason Yates) Jacob Bamberger, 3; Essence Dock, 5; Isaiah Dosie-Coleman, 5; James Gallagher, 4; Brian Windom, 2. // Eisenhower Middle School, Rockford (Teacher: Julie Hoyer) Eloisa Cabrel- Tabillo, 7; Risa Chung, 7; Meredith Dady, 8; Jakup Jakupi, 7; Abigail Larson, 8; Reagan Mitchell, 8; Anthony Molina, 8; Alexis Montejo, 8; Aila Ortega, 7. // Ellis Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Steven Gates) Niyhanna Trammell, 5. // Flinn Middle School, Rockford (Teacher: Lee Ann Sluiter) Diana Mangaina, 8; Heaven Harris, 8; Valerie Juarez, 6; Brianna Oceloti, 6; Emily Petway, 6; Autumn Richardson, 8; Serenity Thomas, 8; Daniela Torres, 8. // Gregory Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Andrea Holm) Yoemilli Chavez-Navarro, 1; Pete Eziagulu, 5; Miyah Loeppky, 2; Aleesia Lopez, 4; Diamond McClendon, 5. // Haskell School/RPS 205 STEAM Academy, Rockford (Teacher: Katrina Olson) DaMya Fricks, 3; Nikyia Marzette, 4; Janiyah Noy, K; Kioja Sanders, 2; YoYo Too, 1. // Heinrich Homeschool (Teacher: Meredith Heinrich) Gavrielle Heinrich, 8; Gelya Heinrich, 4. // Henderson Homeschool (Teacher: Nichole Henderson) Elliana Henderson, 2. // Hillman Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Lorie Painter) Nayeli Casas-Delao, 5; Jose Eduardo, 4; Moroni Esqueda, 2; Thang Nuam, 3; Monserrath Suarez, 3. // Holy Family Catholic School, Rockford (Teacher: Mary Haas) Maxwell Beaulieu, 2; Julia Berbeka, 4; Kayla Bruscato, 7; Rissa Donnelli, 6; Abby Dunn, 3; Evelyn Felauer, 7; Michelle Gornicki, 8; Ashley Guinto, 8; Ellie Kaszycki, 7; Ella Maier, 8; Gia Singer, K; Ryan Starck, 7; Sylas Woodford, 1. // Maud Johnson Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Therese Moncelle) Emery Hoshaw, K; Isha LaPorte-Volmar, 1; Taliyah Parnello, 5; Neng Them, 3; Terrence Wilson Jr., 1. // Kinnikinnick School, Roscoe (Teacher: Brooke LaBuy) Sammy Castelli, 5; Peyton Champagne, 5; Morgan DiGangi, 4; Madeline Grady, 5; Annika Londo, 4. // Kishwaukee Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Kristina Kasten) Martha Emil, 4; Fairy Laheir, K; Jessica Lwalaba, 5; Lay Paw, 2; Niyah Wilson, 3. // Ledgewood School, Roscoe (Teachers: Brooke LaBuy, Sarah Wolfe) Sara Chu, 1; Emma Heidenreich, 1; Georgia Speer, K; Amelia Tedder, 1; Indira Tripodi, K. // Loves Park Elementary School (Teacher: Joanna Stoneham) Bailey Ackerson, 3; LaKyla Brough, 4; Caiden Ferguson, 1; Leo Ramos, 6; Miani Rivera, 4. // Machesney Elementary School, Machesney Park (Teacher: Ingrid Hyde) Jordan Anderson, 4; Olivia Casica, 4; Sophia Huff, 6; Enjoli Jimenez, 6; Lauren Million, 5. Maple Elementary School, Loves Park (Teacher: Joanna Stoneham) Tabitha Eye, 3; Gavin Koerner, 5; Alivia Neubauer, 6; Morgan Schmidt, 4; Jersey Wolf, 2. // Marquette Elementary School, Machesney Park (Teacher: Kelly Winters) Izabelle Campbell, 3; Izabella O'Day, 3; Mila Primeaux, 1; Irian Vrebac, 2. // Thurgood Marshall School/RPS 205 Gifted Academy, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Normoyle, Kelly Smith) Sayana Bilguun, 6; Larkin Blakeney, 5; Angelina Dalip, 7; Mackenzie Dockter, 7; Armaan Farokhi, 6; Jimmy Fischer, 3; Giulyana Gamero, 8; Nicholas Giarardin, 2; Hae Leh, 8; A'Sha McClinton, 7; Omar Ortega, 5; Abby Rabon, 5; Louis Raimbault, 5; Sophia Rosado, 5; Ella Roxworthy, 6; Shirin Uran, 1; Eliza Wirtjes, 4. // McIntosh Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Heather Nicholls) Donquez Ashford, 2; Jeremiah Dishman, 4; Mollie Hargan, 1; Logan Whittington, 5; Alexus Wiley, 5. // Jean McNair Elementary School, Winnebago (Teacher: Dixie Mumm) Hannah Bertram, 4; Lehnie Gibler, 4; Avery Kaap, 3; Justice Muhammad, 5; Natalie Olsen, 5. // Maria Montessori at Marsh School, Rockford (Teachers: Matt Palmer, Haley Lyons) Jenae' Belmontes-Gonzalez, 8; Nylan Billingslea, 6; Olivia Farris, 5; Liadan Gray, 8; Lucy Morlan, 2; Scarlett Siehoff, K. // Nelson Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Sarah Berg) Maria Dominguez, 3; Allyson Franckowiak, K; Linnea Hall, 5; Dayana Hernandez-Ortega, 4; Kenneth Ortiz Lopez, 4. // Olson Park Elementary School, Machesney Park (Teacher: Kelly Winters) Ginger Doetch, 1; Ella Fitz-Simmons, 2; Finleigh Hough, 2; Isabelle Tang, 4; Joshua Watkins, 6. // Parker Early Education Center, Machesney Park (Teacher: Rebecca Davis) Capri Huber, K; Sondra Krepfle, K; Trinity Milvert, K; Uziya Rushing, K; Mila Yarbrough, K. // Pecatonica Middle School, Pecatonica (Teacher: Jessica Sheets) Alexia Beck, 6; Jonathan Hartline, 7; Adelyn Howald, 5; Kayla Jenkins, 8; Kamryn Lender, 5; Allie McLevige, 7; Bella Roberts, 8. Prairie Hill Elementary School, South Beloit (Teachers: Sherry Witz, Heather McIlwain) Mason Binger, 1; Sophia Kenny, K; Avery Lovejoy, 3; Morgan Smith, 2; Camryn Swindell, 4. // Ralston Elementary School, Machesney Park (Teachers: Rebecca Davis, Lucinda Maina) Chevelle Davis, 6; Claire Johnson, 5; Isla McDermott, 1; Sonny Shields, 4; Emmerson Swenson, 4. // RESA Middle School/RPS 205 Rockford Environmental Science Academy, Rockford (Teacher: Adriana Villagomez) Roberto Benitez, 6; Natilia Flores, 7; Xohanny Garay, 8; Blake Johnson, 8; Alejandra Navarro, 8; Menah Savaglio, 7; Ania Walker, 8; Kaylen Zernike, 6. // Rock Cut Elementary School, Loves Park (Teachers: Lucinda Maina, Mary Peterson) Lluvia Cantu, 2; Athena Fry, 5; Kaylee Glasgow, 6; Julian Presley, 1; Bowe Tufte, 6. // Rockford Christian School (Teachers: Liz Day, Sarah Letsinger) Brooks Anderson, 1; Zoe Antczak, 8; Mason Brock, 3; Janey Currie, 8; Warren Glass, 7; Allison Orr, 2; Taylor Powell, 7; Madigan Rhode, 4; Kelsi Roth, 6; Sophie Whelan, 5. // Rockford Lutheran School, Rockford (Teachers: Cheri Schmid, Molly Carter) Grace Anderson, 6; Brooklyn Hogan, 1; Jay Hollingshed, 6; Landon Horn, 4; Thalia Mackey, 8; Ben Menard, 5; Joshua Menchaca, 3; Ella Neubert, 6; Allison Roser, 8; Elizabeth Shockley, 8; Alina Zitzke, 2. // Rockton Grade School, Rockton (Teacher: April Graves) Sullivan Butler, 2; Alissa Liebert, 2; Bella Rodriguez, K; Adyson Smith, 2; Gwen Vanderheyden, 1. // Rolling Green Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Molly Bhattacharya) Roz Al Ashoor, 2; Aela Berg, K; Rebecca Chavez, 4; Lily Finke, 1; Tyler Shepherd, 3. // Roscoe Middle School, Roscoe (Teacher: Lily Picot) Audrey Christensen, 8; Hallie Hoffman, 7; Alex Lake, 8; Maria Pulido, 8; Chloie Riesen, 6; Kendra Schreck, 8; Ali Smoody, 8; Peyton Wilson, 6. // Shaikh Homeschool (Teacher: Aisha Shaheen) Yusuf Shaikh, 6. // Dorothy Simon Elementary School, Winnebago (Teacher: Jennifer Blomgren) Rylann Delehanty, 2; Kymbrie Kingsbury, 1; Emery Ludwig, 2; Colton Nelson, 1; Malia Thompson, K. // Spectrum Progressive School, Rockford (Teacher: Pam Kehoe-Peterson) Sophia Bradel, 8; Kathryn Dunn, 6; Ava Kalt, 6; Milla Korneski, 3; Lilah Rauh, 3; Calum Scroggins, 4; Takumi Ueda, 2; Yumi Ueda, 1. // Spring Creek Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Allison Wendt) Karina Alfonso Diaz, 5; Khloe Kruk, 4; Ashlyn Meyer, 4; Santiago Montes, 3; London Webster, 4. // St. Bridget Catholic School, Loves Park (Teacher: Lisa Greco) Austin Bryant, 1; Gianna Cacciatore, 7; Matthew Dickman, 6; Sienna Estrada, 4; Izze Fritz, 8; Ian Kuhn, K; Camren Lewandowski, 5; Abbi Longo, 8; Isabelle Neuschwander, 5; Alexa Petalber, 8; Max Peterson, 7; Isabella Rodriguez, 8; Lily Shields, 6; Ally Sims, 8. // St. James Catholic School, Rockford (Teacher: Andrea Weightman) Sophia Brodeski, 7; Carla Campa, 1; Mia Carlson, 6; Nya Chai, 8; Olivia Dawson, 7; David Garcia, 7; Emily Hawkins, 6; Shan Non, 5; McLysta Sanders, 3; Chery Sue, 2; Shining Sun, 4; Audrey Winters, 7. // Stone Creek School, Roscoe (Teacher: Sarah Wolfe) Kayla Chen, 3; Maxx Ditsworth, 3; Ella Lensing, 2; Tyler Nguyen, 3; Stella Niemeyer, 2. // St. Paul Lutheran School, Rockford (Teacher: Cheri Schmid) Hanadie Bazzelle-Keyes, 1; Kennedi Gorham, 4; Tabitha Hamrick, 3; Isabella Stoddard, K. // St. Rita Catholic School, Rockford (Teacher: Mary Gorsline) Caroline Barker, 4; Kyra Cruickshank, 8; Taylor Doe, 8; Kylie Dover, 4; Sophia Faught, 4; Roman Gorsline, 6; Ava Lendman, 7; Jacob Martorana, 8; Caleb Nelson, 6; PJ Poirier, 7; Bria Tallacksen, 3; Natalie Tekampe, 6; Adysen Welter, 3. // Three Ravens Studio, Rockford (Teacher: Thomas Harrison) Caroline Ellison, 5; Sophia Ellison, 8; Caleb Johnson, 8; Dorien Peterson, 7; Meadow Thomas, 3. // Welsh Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Carolyn St. Angel) Triston Boonos, 5; JaTayviah Farris, 3; Liliana Paniagua, 5; Anneka Pofelski, 4; Daijah Thompson, 1. // West Middle School, Rockford (Teacher: Eileen Morrissey) Sherlyn Carranza, 8; Aliyah Honings, 7; Ny'Kia McFadden, 7; Jamaica Roach, 8. // West Middle School/RPS 205 CAPA: Creative and Performing Arts, Rockford (Teacher: Matthew Taden) Kasandra Aguilar, 6; Bella DiVerdi, 6; Bridget Juarez, 6; Jade Stone, 7. // West View Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: Hotavio Escamilla) Jayci Barrett, K; Keyon'Zyria Goldsmith, K; Lauren Iverson, 2; Arianna Pearson-Sandine, 3; Jayla Whitfield, 3. // Whitehead Elementary School, Rockford (Teacher: John Costello) Damian Allen, 5; Coral Covarrubias, 5; Liz Dominiquez-Hernandez, 2; Daliany Santana, 4; Fernanda Villagrana, 1. // Whitman Post Elementary School, Rockton (Teacher: Dan Enderle) Yemaya Arce-Lynch, 4; Tim Caver, 3; Alyssa Connors, 3; Kennedy Kovarik, 3; Cooper Zovitowski, 5. // Willowbrook Middle School, South Beloit (Teacher: Heather McIlwain) Sydney Atkins, 5; Amanda Harris, 8; Isabelle Molitor, 7; Cadence Thurman, 6. // Wilson ASPIRE: Achieving Success, Providing Inspiration, Reaching Everyone/RPS 205 Special Education (Teacher: Laura Hibbs) Brianna Battles, 11; Virginia Gaines, 12; Zyaire Glass, 6; Kevin Martindale, 11; Colin Peggs, 12; Monserrat Rodriguez-Lopez, 10; Kalina Vatcheva, 10; Emma Weingartner, 6. // Windsor Elementary School, Loves Park (Teacher: Mary Peterson) Joslyn Gutierrez, 3; Makenzie Montalto, 5; Lexi Schroeder, 2; Autumn Taylor, 1; Addyson Toltzman, 4. // Winnebago Middle School, Winnebago (Teacher: Beth Melancen) Tayla Cunningham, 8; Jadyn Garrett, 8; Amanda Gustafson, 8; Karla Guzman, 7; Kendrick Meador, 8; Kayden Prince, 8; Anna Viel, 6; Wyatt Webb, 7. About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through art collection, exhibitions and education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org. 

Rockford Mayor Thomas McNamara will hold a Mayor’s Night Out on Tuesday, April 9, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Taco Betty's, 212 E. State Street.Similar to the Mayor’s Coffee Talk series, this event allows Rockford residents the opportunity to speak directly with Mayor McNamara about municipal issues. When participants arrive, they can sign up for a five-minute one-on-one conversation with the Mayor. The discussions are held on a first-come, first-served basis.

I feel like I keep talking about the weather getting nicer, but let me have this after the first two months of this year that we had. I'm also just waiting for it to take a turn for the worst again. But, not this weekend! This weekend we have absolutely beautiful weather AND there are so many different things going on in Rockford, it's pretty great. Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, April 5, 2019Discovery Center Garage Sale @ Discovery Center Museum - view event9:00 am - 4:00 pmTransform Rockford Pop-Up Event w/ Rockford Art Deli! @ Rockford Art Deli - view event3:00 pm - 7:00 pmWinter Markets in the Rockford City Market @ Indoor City Market - view event4:30 pm - 8:30 pmLight's Out: Pop Down Show @ 317 Art Collective - view event5:00 pm - 10:00 pmArt Battle @ Rockford Art Museum - view event6:30 pm - 9:00 pmThe Antitones are back @ The Office Niteclub - view event8:00 pmQuilt Club @ The Irish Rose - view event9:00 pmMinimal @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 12:30 amSaturday, April 6, 2019Morning Birding with Jack Armstrong @ Severson Dells - view event8:00 am - 10:00 amDiscovery Center Garage Sale @ Discovery Center Museum - view event9:00 am - 12:00 pmCommunity Shred-It Day @ MembersAlliance Credit Union - view event9:00 am - 12:00 pmThe Great War World War I @ Midway Village - view event10:00 am - 5:00 pmChug Chug @ Discovery Center Museum - view event10:00 am - 3:00 pmConscious Creators Art Show @ 815Yoga - view event2:00 pm - 6:00 pmTraveling Bijou Theater Silent Films @ Midway Village Museum - view event6:00 pm - 8:30 pmPurple Hell performing @ The Office Niteclub - view event8:00 pmLaw & Love @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, April 7, 2019The Great War World War I @ Midway Village - view event10:00 am - 4:00 pmRockford Peaches Event @ SPoRT Makeup - view event11:00 am - 5:00 pmGroup Past Life Regression @ Luna Datura's - view event1:00 pm - 4:00 pm

When you are faced with the worst circumstances of your life you have a choice to make. You either allow the pain to control you, discover a new normal, or find a purpose in the pain. I have always admired and been inspired by individuals who were dealt unconceivable circumstances, but they use it to empower and inspire others.  Since the day I found my son after losing his life to suicide, I made a decision to allow the pain of losing him be used for a greater purpose.  I continue to keep myself open and available to whatever opportunities come my way and look for ways to help others through the pain. I think because of that openness and willingness, God has used me in ways I never imagined. I have had the privilege of working alongside some amazing individuals in the community, that like myself are powerful supporter and advocates. Rockford is incredibly fortunate to have many great resources in the area that many City’s don’t have.  Ray of Hope is a suicide survivor’s support group that was established over 20 years ago by two wonderful ladies that wanted to bring hope to those who have lost a loved one to suicide. This group helped me tremendously in the first year after losing Tommy, by showing me that I am not alone in this battle and that there is hope in getting through this type of loss. The group meets twice a month at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Rockford and provides support to individuals who have endured suicide loss. Families need a safe place to go, to show their raw emotions and know that whoever is listening can empathize with them fully and Ray of Hope has been that for many.  The Rockford area is also fortunate to have Group Hope, which is a support group for those living with depression. Group Hope was established by Charles Smith after losing his daughter to depression by suicide. He saw a need for free of charge support and for individuals to connect with others who understand the personal nature of depression. There are several different Group Hope meetings in many different locations in the Rockford area. It’s a place where people and their family members can go and connect with others who are struggling in similar ways. Additionally, in 2015, I worked in collaboration with Charles to start the first Teen Group Hope and it’s been established ever since.    The individuals who started these groups had a pain that formed a passion to make a difference and to establish resources and change in our community. This is motivates me. I do not want my son’s story to end with his death. I want his story, our story, to be a catalyst for change and to improve current resources as well as create new ones. This is the reason we established our endowment fund, The Tommy Corral Memorial Foundation. This is the reason we are holding events to raise funds to create and help support local resources for those effected by suicide and/or mental illness. We will continue fighting for change. We will continue to fight against the stigmas. We will continue to spread awareness and educate people on the truths of suicide and mental illness. On April 27th, 2019 at 8:00AM, we will be holding our 5th annual Each Breath of Faith 5k Fun Run and 3k Family & Dog Walk at the YMCA Pavilion down by the Rock River Bike Path. This event brings our community together to raise funds that stay local and support individuals affected by mental illness and suicide. It’s a kid and dog friendly event and has avid runners and leisurely walkers. There are many different organizations that offer valuable resources in our community available to learn about and/or seek support. We have tons of free giveaways, snacks and water for the dogs as well as humans. The event is meant to provide hope and healing to all who attend. It is the only suicide prevention walk in Rockford that ALL proceeds stay local to help local families. Will you join us? If so, sign up now for our Each Breath of Faith 5k/3k at: https://tinyurl.com/y8b4d39h

More than 70 people attended the second installment of Rockford Art Museum’s 2019 Pop-Up Restaurant Series on Wednesday, March 27, to raise funds to help support the museum.The March Pop-Up at RAM featured Chefs Ashley Garza and Brian Jason of Rockford Country Club; Chef Paul Sletten of Abreo was featured in February. This is the second year for the popular series that highlights top area chefs inside the museum galleries; the 2018 series earned a nod for Rockford from the Chicago Tribune on its Bicentennial Bucket List last year. Each Pop-Up Restaurant showcases an innovative multiple-course menu alongside the current feature exhibition at Rockford Art Museum, as well as a lively “Did You Know” conversation about art and food with RAM Curator Carrie Johnson.Sponsors include the Ahlstrand Family Foundation, Ameriprise Financial/David Boccignone, Anne and David Boccignone, Raymond James, Sold on Toni with Keller Williams Realty Signature, and Title Underwriters. Proceeds help support Rockford Art Museum programming throughout the year.The 2019 Pop-Up Restaurant Series continues with Chef Shendet Ismajlaj of GreenFire on April 24, and Chef Gagan Anand of Shree on May 22. Tickets for both are $75 each, and can be purchased at rockfordartmuseum.org.About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to enrich the quality of life in the Rockford region through art collection, exhibitions and education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org and follow @rockfordart on social media. 

Become a train engineer and work the controls of a real model train during Chug Chug Chuggin’ Along Saturday, April 6 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm at Discovery Center. Members of the Rock River Valley Division of the National Model Train Association will be on hand to talk to visitors of all ages about model trains and guide children as they operate a model train. The NMTA members will also help children create their own wooden trains to take home. And don’t’ forget to shovel some coal, fix some wheels and climb aboard your favorite blue engine in the Thomas & Friends™ exhibit before it leaves the station May 12!All activities are included with Thomas & Friends™ admission: $11 Public; $1 Members. Free to children ages 1 and younger. Discovery Center Museum is a non-profit organization providing hands-on math, science and art experiences for all ages with over 250 hand-on exhibits, planetarium, special area for children under five, and an outdoor science park. Discovery Center Museum is the nation’s 5th Best Museum for Families according to USA TODAY/10Best.com, and one of 12 museums included in Forbes.com’s article, The 12 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S. The Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 North Main Street, Rockford, Ill. General admission to the Museum is: $8 adults, $8 children (ages 2 to 17) and free to Museum members and children age 1 and younger. Hours of operation are: 10 am to 5 pm seven days a week. For additional information, call (815) 963-6769 or log onto our website at www.discoverycentermuseum.org.

Kartemquin Films and the Mosaic Film Foundation is proud to present a screening of “Minding the Gap” on Saturday, April 13th at 11am. The event will be held at the Nordlof Center in downtown Rockford and the doors will open at 10am.Oscar-nominated filmmaker Bing Liu will be in attendance for a Q& A afterwards.Tickets are $5 with all proceeds to benefit the Boone County CASA, Children’s Safe Harbor, and a Rockford Skatepark Initiative. Additional donation opportunities will be available at the door.“Minding the Gap” was filmed in Rockford and was listed by Variety magazine as one of the ten best films to screen at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. It was nominated for an Academy Award and has won numerous awards since its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018.“Bing’s film sold out the theatre back in August when it made its premiere here in Rockford,” says Mosaic World Festival Director and Programmer Jerry LaBuy. “He wanted to screen the film again in Rockford for those that may not have had the chance to see it back in August and be able to help some community organizations with the screening proceeds in the process.”Tickets can be purchased in advance HERE. Any available tickets will be sold at the door on April 13th. The screening will start promptly at 11am. 

Can we just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful the weather is? This is such a contrast from the long, cold winter that we had here in Rockford. The weather is getting nicer and the calendar is getting full. Here is your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 29, 2019Paper Fingers @ 317 Art Collective - view event6:00 pm - 11:00 pmArt & Climate Change @ Rockford Art Museum - view event6:30 pm - 9:00 pmOrlando Peña - Exciting Original Acoustic Folk and Americana @ JustGoods - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmHouse Brotherhood @ Mary's Place - view event9:00 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 30, 2019Rockford Libraries Meet & Greet Barnstorming Tour! @ Rockford Public Library - view event9:00 am - 6:00 pmMoney Smart Week Kids Read with free book! @ Rockford Public Library - view event11:00 am - 12:00 pmStraw Bale Gardens @ Landscape Connection - view event1:00 pm - 2:00 pmRise Up 815 March To End Youth Violence - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Grand Rapids Griffins @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pm - 9:00 pmPaper Fingers @ 317 Art Collective - view event6:00 pm - 11:00 pmONE NIGHT OF QUEEN @ Coronado PAC - view event8:00 pm - 10:00 pmThe Claudettes @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, March 31, 20192019 Guns & Hoses Hockey Game @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event12:00 pm - 3:00 pmPublic Coffee Cupping @ Rockford Roasting Company - view event1:00 pm - 2:15 pmMovies on Main: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse @ Nordlof Center - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Chicago Wolves @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event4:00 pm - 7:00 pmMovies on Main: A Star is Born @ Nordlof Center - view event4:00 pm - 6:00 pm

In this episode, Jake and Courtney interview each other for a live version of I Am Rockford. There's also something about a concussion and a hospital visit . . .If you didn't hear, you can now listen to the podcast on your Podcast App of choice!Just copy this URL:https://podcast.rss.com/rockfordbuzz/feed.xmlPaste that URL into your app of choice and voila!Apple Podcasts – Tap “Library” on the bottom menu. Click Edit. Click “Add Podcast by URL”. Enter Podcast URL. Hit Subscribe.Castbox – Enter the Podcast URL into the search bar. Hit Search. Tap SubscribePodbean – Tap the search icon. Click +Add Feed URL >. Enter Podcast URL. Make sure it says you’re following.

For 21 years, the Rising Star Classic has given local basketball fans a chance to say goodbye to the kids who made the Midwestern winters bearable.The Classic annually pits NIC-10 boys and girls all-stars versus the best from schools in surrounding conferences, such as the Big Northern, Upstate Illini and Big 12.This year, it'll be the last high school game featuring East stars Chris Burnell and Sha'Den Clanton, who led the East E-Rabs to the IHSA Class 4A semifinals. On the girls side, it's the last high school action for Jordan King, who set the all-time NIC-10 scoring record and led Hononegah to the semifinals as well.This year, there's an added attraction. Organizers are including middle school all-star games as well. These will pit Rockford's best eighth graders against the best from Machesney Park, Roscoe, Rockton, Byron, Freeport and Belvidere.The Rising Stars Classic is being held on Rock Valley College on March 30. The girls middle school all-star game begins at 4 p.m., followed by the boys at 5 p.m.The girls all-star game featuring NIC-10 stars versus the area is set to tip-off at 6 p.m. and the boys game wraps things up at 8 p.m.

Words have the power to heal and they have the power to hurt. Some people don’t realize how important the words are we speak. Our words can speak light into someone’s life or darkness into their soul. Our words can literally mean life or death to someone who is struggling. In the Bible it states that death and life are in the power of the tongue. All it takes is saying the wrong thing at the wrong time to push a person over the edge they may be standing on.  It happens every day. And we have no idea what is going on in someone else’s life at any point in time. Gentle words brings peace and life; a devious tongue crushes the spirit. If we allow words of encouragement to leave our lips it heals the one who receives it, but if we speak deceitful or hurtful words they break the spirit of the one who receives it. Do we really want to break the spirit of others? Do we want to break the spirit of a grieving parent? Do we want to break the spirit of an individual with a physical disability or mental handicap? Do we want to break the spirit of someone already living on the streets? Our words can lift a person up or bring them down to the ground in an instance. What would happen if the only words we spoke were encouraging words of life, hope, and truth? What if the only words we spoke were the words of love, empathy, and compassion? Some people speak words just to hear themselves speak, but their words lack meaning and intent. When we choose to speak love to inspire others we can make an incredible difference in the world and in the life of that individual. Words of life is an act of compassion and love. When we look into the eyes of the broken, the lost, and lonely hearted and speak life and love into them, it will make a change in not only their life, but our own. Carly Rice is a perfect example of this illustration. Miss Carly’s is a place of refuge for many individuals who are broken and lost. Carly opens her home and shares a meal with them to build their trust and fuel them with words of compassion and love until they learn to trust her and open up about their needs and struggles. Miss Carly’s is known for helping those who exist in the margins and provides light to those who are lost to find their way back from the dark. Carly has a way with words but she has also mastered the art of listening to others to find their true desires and needs. Gary Chapman in his book, Love as a Way of Life uses the brilliant metaphor for words as being either ‘bullets or seeds’. If we use our words as bullets with a feeling of superiority and condemnation, we are not going to be able to restore a relationship to love. If we use our words as seeds with a feeling of supportiveness and sincere good will, we can rebuild a relationship in positive and life-affirming ways. That building of relationships is what Miss Carly has mastered. Carly also knows the value of planting seeds and understands that it might take weeks, month, or even years for someone to be ready for true change, but she will always be there planting seeds to encourage them to another way of life. We all know there are so many broken people in the world. Every day people around us are struggling in their marriage, in their finances, in their jobs, in their illness or addiction, so many aspects of their lives. Why don’t we make a choice to show LOVE, EMPATHY, and COMPASSION to those around us not only in what we do but what we say? What do I mean by this? I mean slow down…don’t cut someone off, don’t scream or say choice words because the person in front of you is going too slow. I mean be patient…when the person in line in front of you is writing a check instead of using cash or credit like the rest of the world. I mean give recognition…. take time to express your gratitude and appreciation for those you work with instead of taking them for granted. I mean be understanding….to others who don’t think or live like you do or have a different way of doing things. Just because someone is different doesn’t mean they have to be treated differently. I have witnessed many times where people feel they have a right to criticize, shame, and blame others like it’s their responsibility or duty. No one has the right to do that. I think many of us blame and shame ourselves enough that we don’t need others doing it for us.  Let’s learn to love others for who they are and where they are at in their life just like Miss Carly does. Judge Less and Love More. Most importantly, use words that build up and bring light instead of those that bring darkness and pain. 

What a difference 14 months makes. In January 2018, the City opened the Mayor’s Office of Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking Prevention. Since then, the office has made substantial progress confronting the scourge of domestic violence and human trafficking (DV/HT) in our community. Among the accomplishments: Examined the data behind DV/HT and its impact on the community and are developing a working Task Force to address the gaps. Held interviews and listening sessions with more than 260 DV/HT survivors and partner organizations throughout the community.Created a Juvenile Enhanced Response Team (JVERT), a multi-disciplinary team that meets regularly to help respond to juveniles in crisis, particularly those at risk for human trafficking victimization or becoming violent offenders due to experiencing domestic violence.Trained nearly 200 area educators and administrators in identifying and responding to domestic violence and human trafficking. That event yielded a working group to identify next steps and support needed to provide educators with resources and training to implement meaningful tools in our schools.Partnering with the 17th Judicial Circuit Domestic Violence Coordinated Courts, trained first responders on how to identify and respond to survivors exhibiting signs of human trafficking and domestic violence. This training includes teaching signs of strangulation in DV survivors, an indicator of future lethality. Started work to create a local Family Justice Center, a one-stop locations for survivors to seek the services, support and programs they need. The next steps are aggressive and build on the foundation already constructed: Host a two-day strategic planning session on May 29-30 to begin developing a vision for our FJC. Work with RPS 205 to create a survivor-informed teen dating violence policy.Enhance relationships with local and federal law enforcement partners to support our efforts to disrupt human trafficking in our region. 

Looking for something to do in Rockford during this first weekend of spring? You've come to the right place! Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 22, 2019Secret Serenade @ Gene's Place - view event6:00 - 10:00 pmGrant Maloy Smith - Billboard Top 10 Americana Artist @ Rockford Listening Room - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmParanormal Evidence Revealed @ Veterans Memorial Hall - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmThe Boom Boom Room @ Louie's Tap House - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amBlue Healers with Long-Shot @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 23, 2019Species Spotlight: Bat Monitoring @ Severson Dells - view event9:00 am - 10:00 amRockford MeltFest 2019 @ Prairie Street Brewing Co. - view event10:00 am - 3:00 pmWe'll Leave The Light On: extended viewing of 'Its Gonna Be Lit' @ 317 Art Collective - view event10:00 am - 5:00 pmFamily Fort Building Night at the Library @ Hart Interim Library - view event5:00 pm - 7:00 pmUsual Suspects Read: CLUE @ Nordlof Center - view event6:00 pm - 10:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Milwaukee Admirals @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pmParanormal Tour with Ghost Head Soup @ Tinker Swiss Cottage - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmRockford Laugh A Thon @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmYour Local Radar, Galaxy, and Honcho @ Mary's Place - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amSunday, March 24, 2019Sunday Drum Workshop Rockford @ Womanspace - view event1:00 pm - 4:00 pmTRIPPY sip n' paint @ 317 Art Collective - view event1:00 pm - 3:00 pmBlackberry Smoke @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pm

March 11th was National “Eat Your Noodles” Day. Although this day has come and gone, I am giving you another excuse to go out and celebrate. To be honest, do we really need an excuse to eat noodles anyway?  Octane Interlounge - 124 N Main St, Rockford, IL 61101 “Sesame Miso Pulled Pork Ramen” - fried pulled pork (Eickman’s), soy marinated egg (Tenmen Farms), pickled red cabbage, scallions, Eickman’s bacon, roasted onions & Octane sesame miso ramen broth *Every Wednesday, Octane has a ramen night with two different ramen dishes to choose from. YOU MUST GO! Baker Street Burgers - 1603 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Bacon & Goat Cheese Mac” - bacon, goat cheese & caramelized onion *Don’t let the restaurant’s name fool you. They make AH-MAZING mac & cheese!Rock-Pho’d - 1603 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Pad Thai” - served with your choice of meat, thai rice noodles stir-fried with tofu, eggs, bean sprouts, green onions & ground peanuts in a savory brown soy sauce *Their name may be a pun, but their food is no joke. This is one of my favorite pad thai dishes in Rockford! Alchemy - 610 N Bell School Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “Alla Sarda” - italian sausage, fresh peas, aged parmesan, creamy tomato sauce & campanelle *National “Eat Your Noodles” Day wouldn’t be complete without some Italian pasta. The sauce in this dish is unreal!

Sorry, St. Pat, red was better than green on your day. Sunday night’s contest had big playoff implications for the IceHogs. The team is still fighting for their playoff lives and sat one spot out coming into the game against the Texas Stars. You could say the IceHogs needed a bit of that Irish luck. To make the game even more important, the Texas Stars are the team that sat immediately ahead of the Hogs in the standings. Anton Forsberg took to guarding the net. He put up a 46 save performance on Friday night in Grand Rapids and stole the show. He looked to recreate that magic at home. Local boy Josh McArdle got the night off on Sunday as 6’4 newcomer D-Man, Dmitry Osipov, stepped into his first game for the Hogs. McArdle has been an awesome addition on the blue line for the IceHogs this season. His story is even sweeter because he’s a native of Roscoe. Once the puck was down on this Sunday night contest, we settled in and hoped that fatigue didn’t become too apparent on the third game in three nights. Jordan Schroeder got a puck toward the net that fooled a lot of us up in the stands but unfortunately went off the post. Would have been a nice, early goal to settle down my nerves. But, alas... The game continued 0-0. After a fortunate bounce off the referee to our skater, Graham Knott had a great shooting chance but the goalie came up with a better save. That didn’t stop the determined Hogs. Spencer Watson corralled the rebound and took the puck for a wraparound adventure. Desrosiers made an incredible stop slamming the puck against the post with his skate blade, but Alex Fortin swooped in with his (imaginary) super hero cape and poked it in for the first goal of the game! Things were going great until a cross-crease goal similar to the one the Monsters scored on Delia on Saturday tied the game on a defensive breakdown by Jokiharju and Gilbert.Don’t count these pigs out, a dogged effort by Martinsen to drive to the net after not getting enough on an open net tip regained the lead for the Hogs. The Hogs were determined to not have a blemish on their weekend record. END OF 1: Shots 12-5 Hogs. 2-1 Hogs. Anton freakin’ Forsberg came up with some MASSIVE stops nearly 5 minutes into the second period on the penalty kill. He seemed to be down and out but battled for every shot. The goaltending performance put on by #31 this past weekend was remarkable. I don’t know what kind of water he was drinking, but I want some of that!7:10 into the second, Hogs got their first powerplay. They fail to convert on first one. With 8 seconds left, Texas got another penalty. 5 on 3 . . .The IceHogs failed to convert on all three power plays. Texas got a breakaway coming out of the box. It was incredibly similar to how Victor Edjsell scored on Saturday. Anton Forsberg made the save, albeit - controversial save. The refs called no goal, but he seemed to slide into the net himself with the puck. Either way, I’ll take it. They ended the period still in the lead. END OF 2: Shots 19-17 Texas. 2-1 HogsFor a game that wasn’t tied, it was pretty crazy that there were only about four plays of note in the third period. Anton Forsberg came up with a huge set of saves with 6:10 remaining to keep the Hogs up by one. Delay of Game penalty on Jokiharju with just under 4:30 to go. Hogs killed it off.Joni Tuulola had a massive stick tie-up with 2:42 to spoil a Texas breakawayWith 10 seconds to go, there was a mad scramble around Forsberg’s net off the faceoff. No harm done . . . HOGS WIN HOGS WIN! HOGS WIN!The game ended 2-1 IceHogs. Shots 35-25 Texas. Let’s just reflect a bit. The IceHogs went into Grand Rapids and Forsberg stole the win and 2 points. They came home for a Saturday night battle and Collin Delia led the team to an overtime win against the Cleveland Monster. They got to entertain their home crowd again on Sunday night and Forsberg led them to their 3rd win in 3 nights which put your Rockford IceHogs right back into a playoff spot!This weekend was MASSIVE for the Hogs and their playoff hopes and they did everything right. I am still hyped up from the work they put in this weekend. It was great hockey. They got three great wins. Even more exciting, they are back home on Wednesday night! Grab your tickets and let’s keep this thing rolling!

The second game of a 3-in-3 came to Rockford on Saturday night, bringing with it tired players and an excited crowd. The BMO was rocking which is always great to see. The Cleveland Monsters were in town. I don't know if I'll ever forgive them for sweeping us in the playoffs a few seasons ago. There are just some things you can't let go of. Saturday night's contest was also the return (again) of Collin Delia after he was sent back to us coming off a crazy 3rd period relief performance in Toronto. Crawford was suffering from the flu and Collin took the net facing 30 shots in the process but securing the win.The Hogs got off to a good start. They didn’t look like they had played Friday night. They were skating well and getting some shots off, but they took the first penalty of the game. It always sucks the air out of the building when your team is the first to kill a penalty, especially when the game is scoreless. Just don't give up that first goal. The IceHogs came away with a perfect kill, thankfully. As soon as the two minutes were up, Pelletier hit Victor Edjsell with a perfect feed. He out waited the goaltender and tucked it behind him on the breakaway. It was a beautiful goal and the BMO went wild! Breakaway goals are some of my favorites. I'm also one of the minority that enjoys shootouts. Seeing what kind of creativity a shooter comes up with is really fun. Or, you have the flip side where you get to see your goalie's skills on display. Let's just pretend they always turn out well for the IceHogs. I like that idea. Cleveland tied the game with 2:26 to go in the first period off a wraparound goal that just squeaked by Collin Delia. They went into the first period tied 1-1. Shots were 13-10 Cleveland after first period. At one point, a Monster landed on Collin’s left leg in a weird way and he was in some pain. We’ll just have to hope it was a stinger and nothing more serious. Heading into the second period, we needed a strong performance to make the third period easier on the team. With a minute and a half gone, Blake Hillman rifled one over the goalie’s glove. I almost didn’t believe it went in. It just seemed too easy. There was nothing really happening, and then there was a puck hitting the back of the net. I saw it happen. I knew it was in. But it took me a second to actually celebrate. It was a strange time. But, it was Hillman’s first goal of the season! That should be exciting for the rookie blue-liner. I was excited for him, once my brain caught up to what was happening.The game became a bit scrappy and the teams both had guys in timeout. AKA - a 4 on 4 situation. The Monsters decided that one guy in timeout wasn't enough which led to an extended 4 on 3 of the IceHogs. PERFECT! This is a great chance to go ahead by two. When there are only 3 defenders on the ice, just get them moving, open up some lanes, and put that puck in the net! Or, that's how it works in theory. The Hogs did none of that. Cleveland came down and scored a short-handed goal as the first two penalties expired. It was a perfect passing play, and Delia had almost no chance on it. Those almost make me more frustrated that soft goals. Although, ask me again after a soft goal goes in and I will change my mind. Being a hockey fan is a fickle thing, okay?!The IceHogs got a power play with under 8 minutes left in the second. This would have been a great chance to get the go ahead goal and some peace of mind headed into the third period. Instead, they cashed in a power play that was nothing to write home about. The Monsters got the best chance while short handed. Moving on . . .Collin Delia came up with some huge saves with under 3 minutes to keep the game tied. His leg must have been feeling okay. After he looked in pain during the media timeout, he bounced back strong. I only hope it’s not a lingering thing that bugs him for the rest of the season. Shots were 22-20 Cleveland after the second. Somehow. I don’t know where all of our phantom shots came from. We had 10 but it felt more like 2. But, this is why I write about what I see and don’t keep the official shot clock. With the game tied, you’d expect the third period to be full of action . . . No, not really. Collin made some great saves on the PK to kick off the period, but that was about it. Both teams were getting shots off, and as the clock ran down it started getting a bit stressful. We needed two points badly for the playoff race, so each shot by Cleveland was a little heart-stopping. But the IceHogs held down the fort and took this thing to overtime . . . awesome. Overtime can be your best friend or your worst enemy depending on the circumstances that got you there. In this game, I was fine with it. I felt confident that the boys would pull out a win. Sometimes you just get a feeling. Shots were 33-31 Cleveland after 3. Going into OT tied 2-2.There was some great back and forth action in overtime. There were a few more heart-stopping chances by Cleveland, but COLLIN DELIA, LADIES AND GENTS!!!! He came up with a MASSIVE save to keep the game alive which led to . . .ICEHOGS WIN ICEHOGS WIN ICEHOGS WIN!!!! 3-2 1:15 INTO OVERTIME! Peter Holland with the snipe and the fans get to go home happy! Oh, I bet the players are just a little thrilled as well. What a game. What a team. Strap in and get ready because the third game in three nights is TONIGHT! Puck drops at 4:00 pm at the BMO Harris Bank Center. Grab your tickets and let’s cheer them on to another win!I can’t end this piece without telling you about one of the coolest things that has happened to me. Cat Silverman of The Athletic and InGoal Magazine reached out to me and my dear friend Jacalyn for our opinions on what it’s like to be a fan of an AHL team. I felt so honored, and the piece came out awesome. You can check that out here (there’s even a photo of yours truly): https://theathletic.com/868746/2019/03/14/inside-the-life-of-an-ahl-fan-the-double-edged-sword-of-cheering-for-the-farm/

Happy St. Patrick's Day Weekend everyone! If you're Irish, enjoy your weekend and drink responsibly! To everyone else . . . have fun and drink responsibly.A staple of this holiday is Corned Beef. We heard about one of the most anticipated dishes in town, so I took one for the team and checked it out. My job is so hard, I know. If you like corned beef, you have tonight and tomorrow to stop into Lucha Cantina and grab yourself these Corned Beef Tacos before they're gone! After a long Friday, I decided it was time to treat myself to some dinner. Full disclosure: I am not really a corned beef person. When we sat down with Josh for our video show, he was telling us about how these tacos are one of their most talked about dishes throughout the year even though they’re only available for about 6 days out of 365. I like Lucha. I like eating. So, I gave them a shot. I went with the corn tortillas because those are ALWAYS a solid choice. From the photos, the tacos looked delicious. I had no idea I was in for a flavor party in my mouth, though. The beef was so tender and flavorful. The sauce was delicious. Yet, none of it was super overpowering. Every flavor blended really well together to make for a full experience.They may have just turned this non-corned beef eater into a believer. Of these tacos, at least! Plus, you get a side of their signature rice and beans. If Lucha isn't already on your radar this weekend, make sure you change that immediately. You need to try these.

It’s always really exciting for me when I get to meet people who were born and raised in Rockford and decide to stay here and start their careers. Yojaira is one of those people. She was born and raised in Rockford, graduated as a Jefferson JHawk in the class of 2007, then went to Rock Valley and Tricocci University for beauty, barbering, and education. She started out in the education field teaching at a Charter School becoming the Spanish teacher. It was an act of fate when her contract got terminated. She signed up for beauty school and has been cutting hair for about 3 years now. She stepped it up a year ago and became a licensed barber. Yojaira started her work as a barber at Off the Top last March. She has transitioned to Thexperience Salon and Spa and absolutely loves it. If you’re looking to get a fresh cut, make sure you give her a call to make an appointment! When Yojaira isn’t making people look gorgeous, she enjoys going out with friends, playing music, and drawing. She can play an assortment of instruments including guitar, drums, and bass. She used her talents to lead worship at Lao Evangelical for 6 years. When she’s at home, she gets to hang out with her 4 awesome dogs. Yojaira’a favorite thing about Rockford is watching it grow. You can see such a difference in the city and in the attitude of everyone here from just ten years ago. There has especially been awesome growth in the art world. There are more art shows, more break dancing, and the music scene has taken off. It’s great to see the people of Rockford creating and using those creative skills to bring the community together. Fun Facts: Favorite -Movie: Likes musicals – Chicago, Rent, BurnBook: The Hunger GamesMusic: Old salsa music, oldies, the temptationsLocal Restaurant: Olivos tacos – The taco truck with the 3 for 5 deal. In her opinion, they have the best tacos in town!  When I asked if there were any other fun facts she wanted to share, she said the only thing she could think of was being left-handed. If my memory serves me, she’s the first person I’ve interviewed who has said that. I would say that is very cool! To follow along with Yojaira and check out her barber skills, you can find her on instagram: @yo_loveisinthehair

Feeling a bit green this weekend? It's the only weekend of the year where that means something positive! We know you're here for some St. Patrick's Day Festivities. But, if you need to give your body a break, there are some other great things sprinkled throughout as well. Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 15, 2019St Patrick's Weekend 2019 @ The Olympic Tavern - view event11:00 amThe Return of James Lee Stanley @ JustGoods - view event7:00 pm - 10:30 pmSt. Patrick’s Party @ Rural on Tap - view event7:00 pmSPEAKEASY: Mob Hits Night @ Franchescos - view event7:30 pm - 11:30 pmPink Beam @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 16, 2019Textile Tessellation with Sarah Reed-McNamara @ Rockford Art Museum - view event9:00 am - 10:30 amSt. Paddy’s Eve Party! @ Mulligans Pub & Grill - view event11:00 am - 2:00 pmShamrock Beer Run - 5K Fun Run @ Rockford Speedway - view event1:00 pm - 6:00 pmThe Rock City Sneaker Show @ Loft Ten 19 - view event2:00 pm - 6:00 pmRockford PaddyFest & St. Patrick's Day Parade @ Prairie Street Brewing Co - view event3:00 pm - 8:00 pmRockford IceHogs vs Cleveland Monsters @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event6:00 pmBar Crawl @ Bygone Brand - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amMiles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amDrink and Be Irish @ Cj's Public House - view event11:00 pm - 2:00 amSunday, March 17, 2019St. Paddy's Day Brunch @ Granite City - view event9:00 am Smash Tournament @ Top Cut Comics - view event1:00 pm - 7:00 pmRockford Promise Night - Rockford IceHogs vs Texas Stars @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event4:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Today, it is not that hard to find stories of strange lights in the sky or even of people experiencing with what they believe to be aircraft from another world. One can find documentaries or television shows about these sightings at almost any hour of the day.It isn’t even hard to find these stories closer to home. The local newspaper has covered them for decades. If you have a Rockford Public Library card, you can even find them right at home by logging on the website and looking under Research It. Yes, that was a plug for the library. www.rockfordpubliclibrary.orgSome of the more documented sightings seem to have multiple witnesses. For instance, several people saw strange lights in the sky during the first half of the year in 2001. These cases got a lot of news coverage, not only locally but even internationally. They were even listed on the National UFO Reporting Center and discussed as far away as London. Dozens of people spotted bright, orange circles flying in vicinity of Newburg and Mulford Roads. Jack Dickerson was quoted in a newspaper article from February 13, 2001. Jack stated that he was driving toward home around 9:30 in the evening when he joined others who had pulled over to the curb of East State Street. They all noticed seven orange lights that started in a T shape but changed to form a cluster. The witnesses all stared upwards as the lights continued to hover over the area for at least 15 minutes. Everyone described the same incident including the fact that these lights had no sound as they hovered and then moved away. Air Traffic Controllers at the Greater Rockford Airport were interviewed about any sightings on this particular night. They reported that nothing unusual was spotted.Another case from November 1957 was compelling for two reasons. First, the sightings were spread over several counties in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin and included multiple witnesses. Second, many of the reports came from police authorities across several jurisdictions. In McHenry County, a deputy sheriff reported seeing four or five objects in the sky. He stated that these objects had lights that changed color. At the same time as this report was sent to headquarters, two other sightings were called in from miles away. These reports claimed that they also saw a cigar shaped object with lights that flew slowly over their vehicles causing their engines to suddenly stop. These stories were so widespread that two Air Force planes were sent to explore them. One took off from Truax Field near Madison and the other from O’Hare Field near Chicago. The reports from the pilots came back with nothing unusual spotted.Three squad cars in Rockford reported similar sightings during the same evening. They described it as a “fiery red cigar shaped thing.” The policemen reported that they followed “the mysterious spaceship” to the little town of Winnebago before returning to Rockford. While today’s sightings are often explained away as weather balloons, experimental aircraft, and even satellites, as one travels back into Rockford’s history for more of these claims the usual explanations fall away. The timing of these next two stories make them most intriguing.Further back, research leads back to August 27, 1916. Hundreds of people in Rockford witnessed lights in the sky in the northwest part of Rockford. These lights were so bright that many thought that a large part of the city must be on fire. These lights were observed over several hours during the evening. Local telegraph offices reported problems with their equipment during the same time as these sightings. No scientific explanation was ever found.The earliest report found by this author dates back to April of 1897, long before airplanes were making their way across the sky. On Saturday, April 10, 1897, two brothers, Elisha (labeled as Captain Thayer) and his brother Frank Thayer were arriving home at 1140 N. Church Street in Rockford. They had been out to dinner and were returning around 8:30 in the evening. They were standing on their porch as Elisha finished his cigar. Elisha was just about to toss the cigar away and enter the house when he noticed strange lights moving in the sky. The lights were moving in a southwesterly direction. The sight of the lights startled Elisha so much that he called his brother back outside. The men watched as the lights moved quickly over the city. There were four lights on the object: two green and two white. This sighting was also witnessed by many other Rockfordians before they moved out of the area. Reports came from several other cities in Illinois over the next few weeks and matched the description turned in by the Thayer brothers.  The series of reports during this time first appeared in Kansas and spread their way across the Midwest including Iowa and Nebraska before appearing in the skies over Illinois. They were deemed the “Kansas Airship” by the reporters and called “an eerie nocturnal visitor.”   These sightings went on all over the area for several months before fading away. As one can imagine, discussion and searching for an explanation for the “queer pilgrim of the night” as the paper called it, went on for much longer. One local scientist suggested that it was a star that had reached a closer point to the earth in its orbit. Though some Rockford citizens were satisfied with that answer, Captain Elisha Thayer, who considered himself an amateur astronomer, stated that what he had witnessed was definitely not a star.~Kathi Kresol March 2019

This weekend at Lucha Cantina, our fan-favorite Corned Beef is BACK! If Lucha Cantina isn't at the top of your mind for a St. Patty's Day celebration, it will be when you take a look at these dishes. We'll be serving up Corned Beef starting on Thursday night, March 14, and going all weekend!Drop in and try these out. See you at the Cantina!