Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

In keeping with our mission of Arts for Everyone, Rockford Area Arts Council’s biannual ArtScene has something to offer, well, everyone!ArtScene brings out thousands of art-lovers to galleries, studios, restaurants, shops, and other sundry venues all over town to admire (and buy!) local art of all sorts. From textiles to sculptures, photography to metalwork, painting to drawing and everything in between, ArtScene exhibitors have something for every pallet.The beauty of ArtScene is that no two people attend the same event. That is to say that ArtScene is an experience that can be uniquely tailored to your particular interests and style. Some people like to hit as many venues as possible to glimpse a little of everything, while others like to slow down and take a deeper dive at a select few. Some people choose to enjoy a more concentrated and geographically-bounded gallery tour by focusing on Midtown or downtown galleries— an approach that will be simplified this year through a special downtown ArtScene Rockford Mass Transit Route! Meanwhile, others simply seek out the artists or type of art they enjoy the most and make their own route of favorites to follow, even if that takes them off the beaten path or to the farther-reaches of the map.   With over 40 participating locations this spring, Rockford Area Arts Council’s Spring ArtScene will feature a rich variety of venues and artists that are sure to offer a gratifying experience for anyone’s approach. And on top of all of that, ArtScene is no cost for people to attend to ensure that it is an opportunity that everyone in our community can enjoy, however they choose to do so.Spring ArtScene is coming up next month on Friday, April 12 from 5-9 and Saturday, April 13 from 4-9. The full event map will be available as it gets a little closer at http://springartscene.com/So however you ArtScene, please enjoy, and thank you for supporting local art and artists! 

March is National Women's History Month, and since half of the Rockford Buzz team is a woman, we decided to have a chat about how women have been treated throughout history and the current business climate, at least in Rockford.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.

Friday afternoon I walked into Embroid This! to pick up the t-shirts I had ordered for Rockford Buzz. Ace, the founder and owner, was there and as we chatted he told me about an online store he had opened to help raise support for the family of Deputy Keltner after last week's tragic events. I thought it was such a cool idea and unique way to raise support and awareness that I HAD to share it.This isn't the first time Ace and his team have done fundraising for a cause. They do a lot with local organizations, School PTO's, and helped raise money last year to support devastation that occurred in western Montana."Usually we receive a request from an individual wanting to help out a friend or a cause. This time we just did it on our own, simply from the desire to do "Something" rather than nothing."They had just launched the site that morning. Ace and his team don't have any direct connection to Deputy Keltner. However, they do have a staff member that is married to a Rockford police officer and so have a brethren to public servicemen and women.The site is called BLUE LINE. and features shirts and apparel honoring those who serve.https://stores.inksoft.com/blue_line/shop/home 100% of the proceeds from BLUE LINE in the month of March will be donated to Mrs. Keltner and her family. The site will remain up after March, but won't be tied to Deputy Keltner at that time."The site will be up always we will however remove Dep. Keltners, apparel at the end of the month. We will be writing a check to Mrs. Keltner at that time for all the proceeds collected this month."What happened last week is truly tragic. But the support this community, both from individuals and businesses like Embroid This!, has given in the face of it is inspiring and shows just how big a heart this community has for the people within it.https://stores.inksoft.com/blue_line/shop/home

This weekend is gonna be lit! Well, it will at 317 Art Collective. Or so I'm told. There's also some great music coming through town and so so so much more! Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 8, 2019Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour! @ Coronado PAC - view event6:00 pmTrinadora's US Roots @ Gene's Place - view event6:00 pm - 9:00 pmTriflemore - Transatlantic Folk Duo @ Rockford Listening Room - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmTellTime, The Addisons, and What About This. @ Mary's Place - view event9:00 pm - 2:00 amSaturday, March 9, 2019Friends of RPL Book Sale @ Hart Interim Library - view event9:00 am - 4:00 pmAg All Around Us @ Discovery Center Museum - view event11:00 am - 2:00 pmMovie: Food For Change-The Story of Cooperation in America @ Katie's Cup - view event12:15 pm - 2:30 pmSpiritual Encounters Group @ Womanspace - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmArt Opening - Rockford East High Student Art! @ JustGoods - view event2:00 pm - 4:00 pmIt's Gonna Be Lit @ 317 Art Collective - view event7:00 pm - 11:00 pmFlatfoot 56 In-Store Acoustic Set (Because It's Tradition!) @ Culture Shock - view event7:00 pm - 8:00 pmRockford Symphony Orchestra- Behind The Mask @ Coronado PAC - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmFlatfoot 56 @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, March 10, 2019Smash Tournament @ Top Cut Comics - view event1:00 pm - 7:00 pmNAMI Mental Health support group @ SwedishAmerican Heart Hospital - view event2:00 pm - 3:30 pmTas Cru @ Mary's Place - view event7:00 pm - 11:00 pm

The City of Rockford is now taking applications for commissioners for the Community Relations Commission. The commission, whose focus is on community engagement, will help the City better achieve its goals of involving the community, improving communication, and fostering positive relations. The Commission will consist of 11 members, which will reflect the City’s diversity and will act as an advisory board to the mayor and council. Functions of the commission will include:  · Providing opportunity for our City departments to communicate the work they do, so that commissioners can be ambassadors for the City · Giving commissioners opportunity to provide feedback to the council, Mayor and staff on issues impacting the community· Providing a forum for thoughtful debate on issues impacting the community, including civil rights, diversity and fair housing· Reviewing and recommending adoption of ordinances· Helping hold the City and our contractors accountable by periodically receiving reports from staff regarding compliance with our EEO and diversity hiring policies· Assisting staff with informal mediation and conciliation to resolve claims of discrimination· Recommending educational programs, trainings, and best practices to counsel and the community in furtherance of the goal of community engagement, diversity and equity· Holding trainings on engaging minority and women owned businesses· Helping navigate difficult issues by fostering input and discussion For the initial appointments, terms will be: · Four commissioners will serve a 1-year term· Four commissioners will serve a 2-year term· Three commissioners will serve a 3-year term· Commissioners after the initial appointment will be appointed to 3-year terms. To apply, applicants need to submit a current resume and a one-page statement of interest and qualifications by March 31: · In person or mail: Mayor’s Office, City of Rockford, 425 East State, Rockford, IL 61104· E-mail: communityrelations@rockfordil.gov Applications will be reviewed by the Mayor’s Office. Final recommendations of commission members will be submitted by the Mayor to City Council for approval. Questions? Please e-mail communityrelations@rockfordil.gov or call the Mayor’s Office at 779-348-7150. 

One in four people in the world will be affected by a mental or neurological disorder at some point in their lives. Around 450 million people currently suffer from such conditions, placing mental disorders among the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. Treatments are available, but 56% of American adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment. As I previously wrote, stigma, silence, and neglect prevent care and treatment from reaching people with mental disorders and often leads to suicide.There has been a stigma in law enforcement community because there is a lack of ability to understand and recognize the signs and symptoms of the different illnesses or education of such. On the flip side, when a law enforcement officer themselves are dealing with a mental disorder they are made to feel as though they cannot speak about if for fear of losing their career. The current focus on law enforcement’s response to mental health and substance abuse-related issues and increasing demand for more training seem to often lead to more questions than answers. There is a question as to whether more training is needed to address the growing problem. The issue is further problematic because, historically, law enforcement and behavioral health have functioned independently. Recent events make it clear that community behavioral health needs to play a critical role in public safety.While mental health professionals and law enforcement in some circumstances work together, we need to more effective and consistent with those efforts. Two of the most widely discussed mental health/crisis training programs geared toward law enforcement are Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) for Public Safety and Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs. Both programs have strengths and are frequently offered to law-enforcement agencies as solutions. At the same time, both are often misunderstood. Both are needed.Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety is an eight-hour codified training curriculum, specifically modified to address the law enforcement population and provide a general awareness of mental health issues. The course teaches a 5-step action plan encompassing the skills, resources, and knowledge to help an individual in crisis connect with appropriate professional, peer, and self-help care. Participants learn the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and, most importantly, teaches individuals how to help someone in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.  This evidence-based best practice, run by the National Council for Behavioral Health, provides an overview of psychiatric disorders, suicide, and intervention strategies. In addition, MHFA for Public Safety helps the officers with defusing crises, promoting mental health literacy, combating the stigma of mental illness, enable early intervention through recognition of signs and symptoms, and connecting people, as well as fellow officers, to care.Crisis Intervention Team (CIT) programs, includes a 40-hour Advanced Officer Training component, which delves deeply into topics and brings the face of consumers directly into the classroom. CIT is a large-scale community collaborative program and law enforcement training is just one component. Partnership with the community’s public health system is central to CIT. Fostering functional partnerships improves safety in the community and provides an opportunity for diversion into treatment for distressed individuals, leading to long-term solutions and recovery. Without these relationships, there are missed opportunities due to a lack of meaningful engagement between partners. Understanding that CIT programs are the foundation for developing meaningful collaborations with community behavioral health services, and not merely training for police is key to bridging this gap.The National Council has long believed that Mental Health First Aid is not a replacement for CIT. Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety should be incorporated into an existing CIT program as an enhancement and not a replacement.The CIT program is proven most effective when experienced officers attend voluntarily. Training 20-25% of a department’s uniformed patrol officers in CIT normally constitutes adequate coverage. Ideally, in addition to specialized CIT response, all uniformed officers possess some basic level of mental health awareness training. It is not necessary nor possible due to budgetary constraints to require that all officers attend the intensive, full week long training; Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety provides adequate exposure to mental health awareness in an eight hour course. Providing department-wide Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety training during in-service, academy, or other times, is an effective complement to a CIT program. In addition to demonstrating a commitment to ensuring that an entire department has a minimum standard of mental health understanding, Mental Health First Aid for Public Safety can serve as a catalyst for officers to attend CIT training in the future, while it improves the overall commitment to quality care for those experiencing mental health disorders.Chief Jamie Evans of Village of Roscoe understands the importance of Mental Health First Aid so much that she went through the training herself to become a certified instructor for the course just as I did. Together we now co-instruct Mental Health First Aid together to the general public as well as public safety officers. The Roscoe Police Department strives to have all officers trained in Mental Health First Aid and re-certifies every three years. Jamie shares that Mental Health First Aid not only has helped their department with assisting the public, but with having a deeper empathy for individuals experiencing mental health crisis’s and their families with better understanding. Jamie believes with the call volumes increasing for mental health and suicide, public safety officers not being trained in Mental Health First Aid is a disservice to us all. It’s individuals like Chief Jamie Evans who saw a need and stepped up to become part of the solution that help make a powerful impact. Her willingness to train her officers has lead to improved outcomes for individuals living with mental illness in our community. We have to continue to work to bridge the gap between those living with mental illness and public safety to improve the outcomes in our community. Resources used for this article: National Council for Behavioral Health website

That’s right! For just $10 a person, you and your friends can get a tour of our amazing brewery! Come hang out with the brewers, try some fresh beers, and walk away with a sweet souvenir glass!Current tour dates: Wednesday, March 27th @ 6:30pm Saturday, March 30th @ 1:00pm and 4:00pm Sunday, March 31st @ 1:00pmStay tuned for more info! Tickets will be available via website soon!!!

Sip and sprint (or walk) your way to granting Wishes for young adult cancer warriors. On Saturday, March 16, 2019, join Nik’s Wish for the 5k Shamrock Beer Run/Walk. The course, at Rockford Speedway (9572 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park, IL), boasts five beer pitstops. At each pitstop, sample a three-ounce brew courtesy of one of our local craft beer sponsors: Generations, Granite City, Lena, Pig Minds, & Prairie Street. All registered participants will receive a souvenir beer glass, a Shamrock Beer Run long-sleeve T-shirt, and a medal for completing the course. The race is not timed, but a race-clock is posted so you can check your time. Festivities begin at noon and the Run/Walk starts at 1:00 p.m. A post-race party will be held indoors, where all five breweries will be set up to serve participants and all who purchase beer tickets. On race day, the cost to register for the Shamrock Beer Run/Walk will be $50 (must be 21 or older); however, a significant discount is available for those registering in advance, and for those registering as designated- drivers (no beer). The spectator fee is $10. Register online at http://www.nikolasritschelfoundation.org/events/. Beer tickets can be purchased during registration, before the race, and during the party. Nik’s Wish, The Nikolas Ritschel Foundation is a small, all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity based in Rockford, Illinois. At age 17, Nikolas Ritschel was diagnosed with Synovial Sarcoma. Nik and his family went on a Make- A-Wish respite vacation. During his many grueling cancer treatments, Nik met Nate, who was also suffering from a Sarcoma cancer. Unfortunately, Nate was diagnosed after turning 18, which made him ineligible for Make-A-Wish type programs. In March of 2012, before he passed, Nik’s last wish was for a respite vacation for his friend Nate. Shortly thereafter the foundation was born when Nate’s “Nik Wish” of a vacation to California was fulfilled. Since then, the foundation has granted over 130 Nik Wishes to young adults (18-24), and their loved ones, fighting cancer. To learn more, visit www.nikolasritschelfoundation.org. 

We teamed up with Cocao Cuvee to make amazing chocolates with our Imperial Turkish Coffee Stout, Angry Turk! $5 gets you a 5oz glass of Angry Turk, one Dark Chocolate infused with Angry Turk topped with dark roasted coffee beans and a hint of chili pepper, and one milk chocolate with Angry Turk caramel and topped with sea salt. (chocolate only option also available for $2)

There’s some exciting news buzzing around the Rockford IceHogs this week. What’s a big deal, you ask? COLLIN DELIA IS BACK IN ROCKFORD!With Corey Crawford returning from a concussion in Chicago, Delia was sent back down to the IceHogs. Delia took to guarding his crease Tuesday night as they took on their biggest rivals in Chicago. It was sort of a rough game as Maxime Lagace stood on his head in the Chicago net and the Wolves ended up winning with a score of 1-0. If your goalie only gives up 1 goal per game, you’re going to win a great majority of contests. Unfortunately, Legace did one better and didn’t let a single puck by him. Fortunately, Collin got a chance to return to the net Friday night at home. He got a very enthusiastic welcome from the home crowd when he was announced as the starting goaltender. After being held off of the score sheet in their previous game, we were just hoping that the Hogs could pot a few goals and get another solid performance from their goalie. The Grand Rapids Griffins were in town and they’re near the top of the division. It was an important game, and the crowd was ready for it. In the first period, the IceHogs came out like they had something to prove. They were connecting passes, getting pucks to the net, and laying some hits. This determined effort led to them scoring the first goal of the contest on the power play. Schroeder took a feed from Jokiharju and Johnson and whipped it past the goalie. They stayed hot, and Spencer Watson scored his first goal as an IceHog by tipping a rocket of a shot from Lucas Carlsson. Watson is the new kid in town after being acquired shortly before the trade deadline in a deal with the Los Angeles Kings that sent Matheson Iacopelli the opposite way. Neither player could really find their footing on their previous teams. Hopefully a change of scenery will benefit both guys. With 1.6 seconds left in the first . . . ANOTHER ICEHOGS GOAL! This time, Dennis Gilbert snuck down from the blue line and tossed the puck by Harri Sateri after Luke Johnson got shoved into him by a Griffins defender. Shots after the first were 15-7 Hogs. The scoreboard was looking good as it read 3-0 Hogs. When the second period started, they looked like they were going to carry over their play from the first period. They had some great chances right in tight, but Sateri wasn’t allowing anything else by him. The goaltender’s solid effort to start the period injected some life into his team’s veins. 3 minutes go by . . . Griffins rifle one past Delia. IceHogs turnover . . . Griffins get a second goal. Thankfully, the penalty kill came up big after the second goal to keep the IceHogs ahead. But, with a failed power play of their own and a failed breakaway chance, it looked like the Hogs were doing everything in their power to not score a goal in the second period. I’m sure they WERE trying. But, from section 203, it was so frustrating to watch. Mercifully, the period ended. Shots were 26-19 Hogs after 2. The third period certainly can’t go worse than the second, right?One minute into the third period, Grand Rapids ties the game off of a hard slap shot on the power play. Well, ****. SCHROEDER! Just over 6 minutes left in the third period and Jordan Schroeder rips home the go ahead goal. This is great. The IceHogs need these points while playing against divisional rivals. The playoff race is on and they cannot afford to give up points. They battled back hard after a rough second period and won in regu. . . . . . Griffins tie the game with 2:11 in the third period. Cool. Awesome.This is fine. Everything is fine. To overtime we go. I swear this team is taking years off of my life, but I love them. Overtime was a wild ride. It seemed like the IceHogs had better possession time, but the Griffins had their chances as well. Delia had to come up with a huge poke check on a streaking Griffin in order to keep the game alive. With time winding down and a shootout looking guaranteed, Peter Holland cleans up a scoring chance and SENDS THE ICEHOGS TO A VICTORY WITH 35 SECONDS TO GO!ICEHOGS WIN! ICEHOGS WIN! ICEHOGS WIN!Now, that’s a pretty big deal(ia). 

How is it March already? It feels like the first two months of the year flew by at light speed. We are really starting out this month on a high note. There are SO many things going on this weekend. Check this out. Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, March 1, 2019Silent Art Auction @ Womanspace - view event5:30 pm - 7:00 pmWine Tasting Fundraiser @ Artale Wine Co. - view event5:30 pm - 8:00 pmRaw Perspectives Closing Party @ 317 Art Collective - view event6:00 pm - 10:00 pmPainting and Pie Night - The B52's @ Kate's Pie Shop - view event6:30 pm - 9:30 pmNot Without A Fight: Fight Night @ Rockford Art Museum - view event6:30 pm - 9:30 pmRockford IceHogs vs Grand Rapids Griffins @ BMO Harris Bank Center - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmElephant's Graveyard @ Nordlof Center - view event7:30 pm - 10:00 pmGood Morning Bedlam and Quilt Club @ Culture Shock Records - view event8:00 pm - 9:00 pmThe Attitudes @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSaturday, March 2, 2019PaleoFest @ Burpee Museum - view event9:00 am - 9:30 pmSpecies Spotlight: Calling Frogs and Toads @ Severson Dells - view event9:00 am - 10:30 amSock Monkey Madness Festival @ Midway Village Museum - view event10:00 am - 4:00 pm2019 Rockford Out of the Darkness - Committee Meeting @ Mary's Market - view event10:00 am - 11:30 amTrinadora Duo's US Roots Mélange @ Pig Minds Brewing - view event7:00 pm - 10:00 pmSoul Fingers @ The Norwegian - view event7:00 pm - 9:00 pmBLUE STEEL at Shooter's North @ Shooter's North - view event9:00 pm - 1:00 amBlink 182 Tribute: Blank 281 @ District Bar Rockford - view event9:00 pm - 12:00 amTattoo You @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, March 3, 2019PaleoFest @ Burpee Museum - view event9:00 am - 4:30 pmAle Yeah Yoga @ Prairie Street Brewing Co. - view event3:30 pm - 5:00 pmPool Class: Intro to Kayaking @ Boylan High School Aquatic Center - view event3:30 pm - 6:30 pm

GORDON LIGHTFOOD is making a one night stop at the Coronado PAC on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 8:00PM. After more than 50 active years of hit song making and international album sales well into the multi-millions, it’s safe to say that esteemed singer-songwriter and musician Gordon Lightfoot resides with some very exclusive company atop the list of all-time greats. His song catalog is incredibly vast and includes such immortals as “Early Morning Rain,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway,” “Sundown,” “(That’s What You Get) For Lovin Me,” “The Wreck Of The Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Canadian Railroad Trilogy,” “Ribbon Of Darkness,” “Beautiful,” “Song For A Winter’s Night” and “Rainy Day People” to name a few. Celebrating his 80th birthday, this year is special for the legendary artist, who has announced plans for a cross- country USA tour entitled “GORDON LIGHTFOOT: 80 YEARS STRONG TOUR.” The tour will feature his well-known hits as well as some deep album cuts for the die-hard fanatics. All of which are woven together with some of Lightfoot’s own behind the scenes stories and personal anecdotes about his historic 50-plus-years musical career and his 80 years of life. The event is sure to be a great thrill for live audiences and anyone who enjoys hearing great music and seeing a living legend in person. Come out and celebrate his 80th birthday with us in downtown Rockford, IL at the Coronado PAC! For more information, images, interview or ticket requests, please contact jcarlsen@smgrockford.com. About the artist: Gordon Lightfoot has recorded 20 albums and has five Grammy nominations. His songs have been aired regularly for over 50 years, earning him Radio Singles Chart Positions in North America achieved by few others. Lightfoot’s radio hits in the USA have earned Five #1s, Five Top 10s and Thirteen Top 40 hits. In Canada he has earned Sixteen #1s, Eighteen Top 10s and Twenty One Top 40 hits. Aside from his success in writing, singing and performing his own songs, Lightfoot has found fortune in having his songs recorded and performed by other great artists including: Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Jr., Marty Robbins, Jerry Lee Lewis, Judy Collins, Johnny Mathis, Anne Murray, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah McLachlan, Barbra Streisand, Peter Paul & Mary, Harry Belafonte, Jane’s Addiction, Richie Havens, Glen Campbell, Toby Keith and George Hamilton IV. In June of 2012 Lightfoot’s legacy was further enhanced when he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame. Lightfoot was honored for his role in defining the folk-pop sound of the 1960s and ‘70s. Other impressive inductees who make up the roster enshrined in the Songwriters Hall of Fame include Barry Mann, Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Hal David and Burt Bacharach, John Fogerty, Bob Dylan, Isaac Hayes, Carole Kind, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Sir Elton John, Bernie Taupin, Brian Wilson, James Taylor, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Jim Croce, Phil Collins, Loretta Lynn, Jimmy Webb, Van Morrison, Kris Kristofferson, Dolly Parton, Diane Warren, Garth Brooks, Leon Ruseell and Leonard Cohen. In his native Canada, Lightfoot has been decorated with the highest honors bestowed to a civilian including the Governor’s General Award and the Companion to the Order of Canada honor of merit. He has also won 17 Juno Awards – Canada’s equivalent to the Grammy Awards. Gordon is a member of Canada’s Walk of Fame and The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2007, Canada Post honored him by issuing an official Gordon Lightfoot postage stamp. Lightfoot is also in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame. Gordon Lightfoot is an indelible part of the Canadian national spirit and regarded as perhaps the most prolific and greatest Canadian singer-songwriter of all time. About SMG: Founded in 1977, SMG provides management services to 243 public assembly facilities including convention and exhibition centers, arenas, stadiums, theaters, performing arts centers, equestrian facilities, science centers and a variety of other venues. With facilities across the globe, SMG manages more than 19 million square feet of exhibition space and more than 1.5 million sports and entertainment seats. As the recognized global industry leader, SMG provides venue management, sales, marketing, event booking and programming, construction and design consulting, and pre-opening services for such landmark facilities as McCormick Place & Soldier Field in Chicago, Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, Houston’s NRG Park and the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. SMG also offers food and beverage operations through its concessions and catering companies, currently serving more than 140 accounts worldwide. For more information visit www.smgworld.com. 

Discovery Center is celebrating all things farming with Ag All Around Us on Saturday, March 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Discovery Center and the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau are joining forces to create a seed-sprouting good time! Explore the ways agriculture makes use of science, technology, engineering and math. Chat with local farmers, peek at live barnyard babies and get the scoop on soil. You’ll be amazed at the number of things we grow right here in Illinois! National Agriculture Week is off and running at Discovery Center with cute crafts, earth-loving activities and eye-opening information. Bandanas, work boots and bib overalls optional! All activities are included with general admission to Discovery Center. General admission: $8 adults; $8 children ages 2-17; free to Discovery Center Members and children age 1 and younger. This event is sponsored in part by the Winnebago-Boone Farm Bureau and its Agriculture in the Classroom program, and a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

Rockford Art Museum (RAM) opens its 78th Young Artist Show: High School Division with a free public opening and awards ceremony 1–3 p.m., Sunday, March 3. Sponsored by Alpine Kiwanis, Meemic and Women’s Art Board, the exhibition remains on view through March 31 at RAM, located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford. Teachers at schools within 50 miles of Rockford Art Museum submitted nearly 1,000 pieces for consideration by this year’s jurors, who chose 137 works of art representing 90 students at 15 area schools. On view are paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, photography, digital work, mixed media and more. Jurors Matt Irie of McHenry County Community College and Valerie Olafson of Rock Valley College did not know the artist’s name, grade level, or school affiliation when selections were made for inclusion in the exhibition and for awards. Awards will be announced at 2 p.m. during the free public opening on Sunday, March 3. Students and teachers of any grade at any school receive free admission to the museum throughout the entire 78th Young Artist Show, which includes the subsequent Youth Division (April 14–May 5). FULL LIST OF SCHOOLS, TEACHERS, STUDENTS REPRESENTED:  Auburn High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Frost, Courtney Haugdahl) Susan Manriquez, Sophomore; Cynthia Orenday, Junior; Gabriella Sevilla, Sophomore. Beloit Memorial High School, Wisconsin (Teachers: Elizabeth Carpenter, Brittany Miller) Abigail Champeny-Johns , Junior; Jessica Chavez, Senior; Rebekkah De Kok, Sophomore; Ibis Enriquez, Senior; Essence Ferguson, Senior; Zadia Hughes-Taylor, Junior; Gabby Klatt, Junior; Makayla Loyd, Senior; Leslie Medina, Senior; Isaic Pulliam, Senior; Angela Vargas, Senior; Nathalia Zamora, Senior. Belvidere North High School (Teacher: Edith Obenchain) Meghan Cummings, Sophomore; Lori Anne Flaherty, Junior; Elizabeth Hare, Junior; Haley Pryor, Sophomore; Cristian Salinas, Sophomore. Boylan Catholic High School, Rockford (Teachers: Missy Minardi, Claire Strominger) Morgan Anderson, Junior; Lindsay Arreguin, Sophomore; Mayra Arteaga, Senior; Eva Corcoran, Junior; Celine Feria, Senior; Libbie Frost, Senior; Dominic Guerrero, Senior; Alliey Thelen, Junior. Christian Life High School, Rockford (Teacher: Sarah Waldron) Rachel Klemm, Senior; Kendra Klock, Senior; Jordyn Kofoid, Junior; Madison Rorossian, Senior. East High School, Rockford (Teacher: Rich Hacker) Corey Hirsch, Senior. Guilford High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lisa Doll, Eric Blackwell, Bethany Austin) Madison Bruno, Junior; Brianna Grimborg, Junior; Lilly Hudson-Opengo, Sophomore; Lamaria Kerrens, Sophomore; Jemma Offer, Junior; Nahil Phommatheth, Sophomore; Ren Ramsey, Senior; Katelyn Sayyalinh, Junior; Ethen Stark, Junior; Wiktoria Szul, Senior; Maggie Torrisi, Senior; Trinity Williams, Sophomore; Kristen Woods, Sophomore. Harlem High School, Machesney Park (Teacher: Barb Kurilla) Lauren Heslop, Junior. Hononegah High School, Rockton (Teachers: Arra VanGalder, Rebecca Robinson) Lauren Bonnell, Senior; Madeline Boyce, Senior; Annika Liljeberg, Freshman; Mazie Mawyer, Sophomore; Brittany Mincolla, Junior; Isabella Myers, Junior; Melissa Sanderson, Senior; Jessica Schaefer, Freshman; Alex Thompson, Senior; Liam Tram, Senior; Carter West, Sophomore. Huntley High School (Teachers: Jill Corapi, Kate Isaacson, Valerie Lindquist, Bridget Regan) Mady Benedetti, Senior; Allison Boroski, Junior; Jessica Essa, Senior; Emily Gaurino, Senior; Hadley Giocacchini, Junior; Katiana Herrera, Senior; Bradlee Leiseberg, Sophomore; Enrika Narvilaite, Senior; Patricia Swierczek, Senior; Elizabeth Tatosian, Senior; Shokie Tseumah, Junior; Olivia Van House, Sophomore. Jefferson High School, Rockford (Teachers: Lynn Stockton, Gail Zernia, Matt Cwynar, Steve Hoover, Tabatha Dougherty) Erika De La Mora, Junior; Leah Dobratz, Sophomore; Madison Hoffman, Junior; Hazel McClinton, Senior; Carmen Mendoza, Senior; Yvette Nava, Junior; Bianca Ortiz, Sophomore; Jossie Parra, Junior; Leleany Rodriguez, Freshman. Rockford Christian High School (Teachers: Liz Day, Kelli Sabin) Mikayla Brander, Senior; Joe Glass, Junior; Adam Santana, Freshman. Rockford Lutheran High School (Teacher: Molly Carter) Syeon Ha, Junior; Adreanna Richardson, Junior. Roosevelt High School, Rockford (Teacher: Brian Hierstein) Brian Ortiz, Junior; Abi Schlueter, Junior. Winnebago High School (Teacher: Lisa Jimenez) Kaitlyn Anderson, Senior; Aurora Insko, Sophomore; Lorrayne Lightfoot, Sophomore. About Rockford Art Museum: Founded in 1913, Rockford Art Museum exists to help make life in Rockford better for people of all ages through a permanent art collection, frequent art exhibitions, and lifelong art education. RAM is located inside the Riverfront Museum Park at 711 North Main Street in downtown Rockford, Illinois. Learn more at rockfordartmuseum.org.

Episode 2 of Rockford Buzz The Podcast is now available! You saw the email come out about the Talk Show being live. Well, if you prefer listening to things on-the-go, we also have it for you in podcast form! But, in the podcast, you get to catch up with Jake and Courtney before the interview and see what they’ve been up to since the last recording. Something about trampolines and death glares……Here’s more exciting news! You can now listen to the podcast on your Podcast App of choice.You just need this link:https://podcast.rss.com/rockfordbuzz/feed.xmlApple 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.I personally tested it on all 3 of these apps and it worked perfectly. I wanted to make sure I found free app options for you to use!If you use a different podcast app and are having trouble finding out how to manually add an RSS URL in order to subscribe. You can email us atsupport@rockfordbuzz.comWe will do our best to help you out! Most podcast apps are moving in the direction of allowing manual subscriptions, but some haven’t caught up yet. We are keeping an eye on it and will let you know things as we learn them!

Suicide, Silence, and Stigma. I am living the horrifying experience of being a suicide survivor. After losing my 19 year old son, Tommy, to suicide in 2014 the 3 S words established a deeper meaning then I ever thought possible. The only suicide death I experienced of someone I knew personally was about 8 months before my son died.  When I found out our old neighbors husband had killed himself, I was completely shocked.  I remember going to his funeral in disbelief that this funny, artistic, and loving man would do such a thing. I felt so heartbroken for his wife and couldn’t even begin to imagine the pain she was feeling having been the one who found him. I had no idea that a few months later I would experience first hand the trauma and pain of finding a loved one after suicide. I had no idea how predominant suicide was in our County, until my son became one of the statistics. Now I know that Winnebago County loses an average of 41 lives per year to suicide, which is almost 30% higher than homicide deaths, yet we hear about those all the time in the news. Suicide is a topic that many avoid talking about. I, myself, immediately felt the shame of death by suicide and that shame leads to silence. Often times being open about it leads to judgment and condemnation. However, I refused to be silent about how my son died and openly talked about his death as it was; a suicide caused by depression and substance use, both mental illness.  Silence around these topics is the principal problem. It’s easy to suffer in silence, not knowing what to say to whom. If we are not able to talk about it openly then how can we expect those suffering to be able to speak up and ask for help? Both mental illness and suicide are stigmatized, which is a burden for those affected and potentially contributes to suicidal thoughts among stigmatized individuals. Many consequences of stigma include social isolation, low self-esteem and hopelessness. Interventions and education to reduce stigma is an important component of successful suicide prevention. We are all just human–vulnerable, prone to suffering, and codependent. We need each other, and we need to learn how to cope with the challenges of living in a broken and emotional world. Having lost my son to suicide after a long battle with mental illness, I know all too well the steep toll it can take on both the person living with the illness and those who care for them, as well as the vital importance of removing the stigma around mental illness. Looking back on my son's struggle with depression, anxiety, and substance use, while I am not sure what more or else my family could have done to support him, I believe we all would have been better off and suffered less—my son in particular—had there not been so much shame and stigma surrounding mental illness. Fear of social rejection, mockery, discrimination and judgement often keep people from sharing their pain and struggle. While we may not all suffer from mental illness, we each have a role to play in ensuring that those who do suffer feel less afraid to reach out and get the support they need in the moments when they need it most. If people felt as comfortable talking about their PTSD, bipolar or anxiety as they did talking about their eczema, diabetes, or menstrual cycle, it would markedly reduce the suffering of those with mental illness and the ability of those around them to support them. There are many ways we can help to remove the social stigma and make it easier for people not to self-stigmatize themselves. Talk openly—without shame or self-consciousness—about your own experience of mental illness, suicidal thoughts, or that of your family. If you sense someone around you may be struggling, have the courage to ask them how they're doing. Put yourself in their shoes and try not to judge, but to extend the compassion they need. And if you are struggling yourself, I can only encourage you, with all my heart, to reach out, to confide your struggle and to keep faith that hope exists no matter how dark life may feel and look right now. Because it does.One of the areas that I use locally to help increase knowledge around the topics of mental illness and suicide while working to break the stigma is by hosting screenings of powerful movies created around the topic. Last August we hosted a screening of a documentary called ‘Suicide: The Ripple Effect’ at Showplace 16 in Rockford, in which over 220 individuals attended. The film opened our eyes on the reality of this ongoing crisis and highlighted effective efforts that are helping people stay well and alive. Kevin Hines story of what lead him to jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge, surviving and turning his experience of pain into a powerful purpose allowed for the audience to connect to and better understand what it’s like to be in darkness and come out the other side with hope and purpose. We had an expert panel of individuals available for Q&A session after the screening and great interaction and feedback. It is opportunities like this that help break the stigma and educate individuals on a topic that they may not have first-hand experience in. This Thursday, February 28th, we are hosting another screening of a film ‘Bricked’ at Showplace 14 in Machesney Park. This movie is about acceptance when faced with a mental health disorder that takes an unexpected turn. An emotional journey through all the stages and challenges of taking psychotropic meds to embracing holistic therapies to begin the recovery process. This screening is an opportunity to educate and enlighten the journey of living with a mental health disorder. The screening will conclude with a Q&A session with a young man and local advocate, Chad Brooks, and his mother who will be sharing their own personal experience and providing feedback. This is an example of many opportunities Rockford offers to better educate ourselves and increase our compassion to break the stigma surrounding these tough topics. Tickets for this screening are only available in advance and can be purchased at: https://gathr.us/screening/28220  Tickets cannot be purchased at the theater or on the day of screening. 

Greetings. This may be the most packed weekend we've had in awhile. Take a look at this list and HAVE FUN! Here's your Weekend Roundup!Friday, February 22, 2019Gongtopia @ Womanspace - view event6:00 pm - 7:30 pmSecret Serenade @ Cucina di Rosa - view event6:00 pm - 9:00 pmGalentine's Day @ Rockford Art Museum - view event6:00 pm - 8:00 pmDisney on Ice presents Frozen @BMO Harris Bank Center - view event7:00 pmElephant's Graveyard @ The Nordlof Center - view event7:30 - 10:00 pmThe Steepwater Band @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amRockin' Roscoe @ Louie's Taphouse - view event9:30 pm - 1:00 amSplurge, Chapter 7 @ The Office Niteclub - view event10:00 pm - 2:00 amSaturday, February 23, 2019Celebration Talent Dance Competition @ Coronado PAC - view event8:00 am Discover Engineering @ Discovery Center Museum - view event11:00 am - 3:00 pmPrincess Brunch @ Franchesco's - view event11:00 am - 1:00 pmDead Guy Festival @ Veterans Memorial Hall - view event12:00 pm - 5:00 pmWhere the Wild Books Are @ RPL Hart Interim Library - view event2:00 pm - 3:00 pmJabali African Acrobats @ The Nordlof Center - view event11:00 am - 12:00 pmThe Antitones & Live Painting Feat. Roni Golan @ The Hope & Anchor - view event8:00 pm - 10:00 pmHenhouse Prowlers @ Mary's Place - view event9:30 pm - 1:30 amSunday, February 24, 2019Breakfast at Betty's @ Taco Betty's - view event8:00 am - 2:00 pmDrumming Workshop with Helen Bond @ Womanspace - view event1:00 pm - 4:00 pmFour Icons Show for CASA @ Community Building Complex of Boone County - view event2:00 pm - 5:00 pmPolar Plunge Trivia @ The Hope & Anchor - view event5:00 pm - 8:00 pm

When Jean Cione was 17 years old, she hurried through her finals at East High School not because she wanted to hang out with friends or look for a summer job.She had to catch a train to spring training. This was 1945.Cione was a pioneer of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, earning a contract before a high school degree.She would play in the league immortalized by the movie A League of Their Own for 10 seasons, including two years for the iconic Rockford Peaches. She then became a teacher and professor and was inducted into her college hall of fame at Eastern Michigan and the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame.After a lifetime of accomplishments, Cione died in 2010, three years before Rockford Public Schools launched a hall of fame of its own to honor the many outstanding athletes and coaches that have come that school system.Despite having never actually competed in high school for Rockford Public Schools - official girls sports in high school didn’t start until the 1970s - on Saturday, Cione will be added to the RPS Hall of Fame along with four other athletes, a softball coach who left a field behind as a legacy and an undefeated football team from the 1960s.The 7th annual RPS Champions Ball and Hall of Fame takes place at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center beginning at 5 p.m. The event is a fundraiser for the Rockford Sports Coalition, which supports the District 205 middle school and high school athletics programs.Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased online at www.rockfordsportscoalition.org. While Cione unfortunately didn’t live to experience this honor, Saturday’s other honorees are coming in from places such as Kentucky, New York, Arizona and Florida. Many of the current district coaches will be in attendance. This is a chance to reminisce and rub elbows with the very best athletes to ever play in the district and meet the people developing tomorrow's stars.

Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson have just confirmed their notorious ‘Twins of Evil’ tour which Billboard said makes a “big rock show feel like not only the right place to be, but also the best.” Produced by Live Nation, the co-headlining ‘Hell Never Dies Tour 2019’ North American summer tour kicks off in Baltimore, MD on July 9 and makes a one night stop at the BMO Harris Bank Center on July 16, 2019. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Friday, February 22 at 10am local time at the BMO Harris Bank Center Box Office, online at www.Ticketmaster.com, or over the phone at 815-968-5222. Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson will run artists presales beginning Wednesday, February 20 and fans can access a presale through Blabbermouth.com starting on Thursday, February 21. VIP packages will be available starting Wednesday, February 20. Citi is the official presale credit card for the tour. As such, Citi card members will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, February 20 at 12:00PM local time until Thursday, February 21 at 10:00PM local time through Citi’s Private Pass program. For complete presale details visit www.citiprivatepass.com. Rob Zombie’s new album is due out later this year and he is currently putting the finishing touches on his new film Three From Hell. Marilyn Manson is working on the follow up to his critically acclaimed 2017 release Heaven Upside Down. More details on upcoming projects to be announced soon. Past praise for the Twin of Evil tour: “A rockers dream come true with the most intense music the world will ever know.” –Aquarian Weekly “The masterfully raucous due of Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson brought bedlam.” –Buffalo News “Like being strapped into an electric chair and zapped with 50 trillion volts of heavy metal madness.” –Phoenix Rob Zombie on the web: https://robzombie.com/ https://twitter.com/RobZombie https://www.instagram.com/robzombieofficial https://www.youtube.com/user/robzombiehttps://www.facebook.com/RobZombie/ Marilyn Manson on the web: http://www.marilynmanson.com https://twitter.com/marilynmanson https://www.instagram.com/marilynmanson https://www.youtube.com/user/MarilynMansonVEVO https://www.facebook.com/MarilynManson/ 

On February 22nd, we have another amazing holiday to celebrate - NATIONAL MARGARITA DAY! I have shared some of my favorite margaritas from the Rockford area below. Cheers! Taco Betty’s - 212 E State St, Rockford, IL 61104 “Pineapple MARG Cube” - arette blanco, orange oleo saccharum, lime, salt & pineapple flavor *If you haven’t had a Taco Betty’s cube, you haven’t lived truk’t - 443 E Grand Ave, Beloit, WI 53511 “truk’t MARGARITA” - corazon blanco tequila, gran gala, fresh lime & sea salt *This restaurant is well worth the drive! Lucha Cantina - 1641 N Alpine Rd, Rockford, IL 61107 “The Natural” - herradura reposado, luxardo triplum, agave nectar & fresh squeezed lime juice *Please whatever you do, do not forget to order the chorizo queso

Saturday, March 2, 201910 am - 4 pmThis year’s Sock Monkey Madness Festival returns as an exclusive one day special event! New twists and theme will add to the festive one-of-a-kind fun.Travel around the globe with your Sock Monkey to experience different cultures and customs!Visit with Nelson Knitting “loopers” while you make your own sock monkey at the Make-A-Sock-Monkey Workshop open until 5 pmGet your passport stamped at each activity location as you complete games and crafts from around the world.Merchandise sales for all things Sock Monkey for both you and your sock monkey.Sock Monkey patches and repairs at the Sockford General Hospital.Food, snacks and beverages available for purchase.Performances throughout the day.Make-A-Sock-Monkey WorkshopThe popular Make-A-Sock-Monkey Workshop is open until 5 pm. The $20 fee per kit which includes the supplies to make a sock monkey to bring home. Choose from pink, blue, red, green, yellow, and traditional brown socks. Assistance from experienced staff available, basic sewing skills are needed. Allow two hours to make your sock monkey doll.New in 2019!New! Mini-Monkey Buddy KitsIn addition, the popular Make-A-Sock-Monkey Workshop, a new activity will include a new kid-friendly version for little ones! These Mini-Monkey Buddy Kits are $10 per kit.New! Pre-K AreaA supervised area just for tiny tots with sock monkey fun for children between the ages 0-5.New! Sock Monkey Mascot BabsMeet the Midway Village Museum Sock Monkey Mascot Babs!Admission$8 adults$5 child (ages 3-17)Infants (ages 0-2) are FreeMuseum Members are FreeYou may also purchase tickets by calling 815-397-9112 or at the Museum Gift Store located in the Main Lobby. Visitors may also purchase tickets at the special event upon arrival.Questions? Call 815-397-9112.

Rockford is an incredible city. With 147,000 people, we have the advantages of a larger community, yet many opportunities for residents to get involved and make a difference at any level. We also have the challenges that come with a bigger city—and that includes crime. Daily headlines, viral social media posts, online rankings and news stories grab attention, drive perception and make people feel unsafe. All this noise, especially when lacking context or detail, can breed confusion, making residents ask “what is REALLY happening?” Statistics tell the true story of any community’s progress with public safety. We announced at a news conference recently that violent crime is trending downward, with a drop of 11 percent in 2018 and a 17 percent decrease since 2016. Property crime, while seeing a slight 2 percent increase in 2018, also is down 5 percent since 2016. Community cooperation and trust is critical to both preventing crime and arresting the perpetrators. Our officers are strengthening relationships with residents, leading to increased communication and information when crimes do occur. The police department cannot solve crimes on its own—we need involvement from bystanders and victims to help bring perpetrators to justice. Preventing and responding to domestic violence—responsible for 35 percent of our violent crime—is another part of our strategy. Opening the Mayor’s Office on Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking Prevention in early 2018 was a key first step. Increases in arrests for domestic violence show our work to raise awareness is paying off.  However, we also must stop the pipeline of domestic violence that turns young people down the wrong path. More than 75 percent of juveniles arrested in 2016 and 2017 were victims of or witnessed domestic violence in their homes. Clearly, we have more work to do and we need your help. Relying on rumor and questionable social media posts when you have questions about public safety is short-sighted and damaging to the community. In Rockford, your leaders are accessible. If you have questions or need more information, reach out to us directly. We speak frequently with neighborhood groups, businesses and organizations throughout the community and welcome the opportunity to share our strategies and results. Working together, we know Rockford will become a safer and more prosperous community. Tom McNamara is Mayor of Rockford (Thomas.McNamara@rockfordil.gov) and Dan O’Shea is Chief of the Rockford Police Department (Daniel.OShea@rockfordil.gov). 

As a Local Rockford artist, I have always felt the need to involve and incorporate people into my creative process. Art isn't just a singular process. For me, art is a direct expression of how I feel. I want to be able to share those feelings with the world. I wanted to create an online space for artists to connect and bring ideas together. I want artists to be able to share and network to work together on a project. Cloth and Canvas is an online collaboration for artists, designers, and consigners. I launched @clothandcanvas on Instagram in late 2018. I have an extreme appreciation for art, fashion, design, and photography.I wanted Cloth and Canvas’ first project to be one I was passionate about. I had the idea for Cloth and Canvas for several years before I decided to launch on Instagram. I waited to launch it because I knew the first project would "speak" to me. In July of last year, I was asked to have a solo show, entitled “She’s a Rainbow” at Karnitz Art Gallery in Downtown, Rockford. Through the whole month of July, I was connected with local artist, musicians, and creatives. I really got inspired and started stirring up ideas to launch Cloth and Canvas, again. While continuing collaboration ideas in my head, I was invited to another show in August by local artist Drew Eurek. His paintings immediately spoke to me. I admire his works so much, I ended up purchasing one of his charcoals. His abstract oil paintings took my breath away and his style is so inspiring. I knew immediately that I wanted this collaboration to be my first project for Cloth and Canvas. I decided to reach out to him. (@dreweurek). When I met Drew I felt our energies connect. I knew our energies would create amazing works of art together. My bold color choices and his aggressive strokes on the canvas would complete each other. When we sat down to meet, we talked about how much local art is important for our community and how much local artists should be able to help and rely on each other. Drew came up with a concept for the project and entitled it “Rainbow Room”. There are four (4) 6’x4’ canvases, Drew personally built, stretched, and primed. I then went in to use my bold color choices to start their process. This past weekend local photographer, Paul Mannone (@pmannone) joined Drew and I in my studio for a capture session. Paul documented Drew and I working side by side, as well as his own artist photographs. We plan to show these beauties, including Paul’s photography at a Gallery once they are finished....Any local takers? The idea is for locally based artists to be able to reach out and make connections. Maybe you're a printmaker that wants your prints on hand made leather bags? Maybe you're a jewelry designer in need of models? Maybe you're a photographer looking for inspiration? I want to be able to connect you to the right people and help our community grow as a whole. I have started reaching out to other local artists I’ve found through social media to collaborate. My goal is for any local artist or aspiring artists of all ages to meet, inspire one another and connect through projects. I’m hoping Cloth and Canvas can one day be an actual workspace for artists to meet and work in Rockford. If you're interested in collaborating please reach out via the Rockford Buzz App or Instagram.  Stay tuned for collaboration photos and You can follow this collaboration on Instagram @clothandcanvas. 

Welcoming PALEOART Workshops!Bring your artists to create their own PaleoArt with Burpee Museum's best artist! Stephen Sommers will be helping you with your art work!This will include museum admission, any fun activities or demonstrations happening throughout the museum, and of course, your PaleoArt Workshop!