Articles & Stories | Rockford IL

Destination PyeongChang Skate-A-Thon!

The Rockford Skating Club is hosting a fundraiser to support the 2018 U.S. Olympic Figure Skating Team. From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Sunday, January 28, The Rockford Skating Club invites people of all ages and skating abilities to come out and have some fun. The Carlson Ice Arena, 4150 N Perryville Rd, is host site! You can skate some laps or participate just by making a donation.50% of the proceeds will benefit the USFSA Giving Program, and the other 50% will go towards a skating program to benefit children in our community.

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5 For 50 Wine Event!

Tinder Box's, 2217 S Perryville Rd, semi-annual wine event is coming up tomorrow, January 26! From 5:00 - 9:00 pm, come enjoy an evening of wine. It's a great way to come and pick up some quality wines for a great price. For $50, you draw 5 numbers and receive the 5 corresponding wines. That comes out to $10 per bottle, which is cheaper than Tinder Box's usual selection! You can't beat that! They may be white, red, or both! It's all about the luck of the draw. This is one of their most popular events, so you don't want to miss it!Tinder Box has been serving our community since 1928. From a great selection to great service, you know you will leave satisfied! If you can't make it out to their 5 For 50 event, their winter hours are:Monday - Thursday 10:00 am - 6:00 pmFriday - Saturday 10:00 am - 9:00 pmSunday 11:00 am - 5:00 pm

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IceHogs to Kickoff 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Rockford Peaches

Rockford’s flagship professional sports franchise of today honors its most iconic franchise of the past on Friday night. The Rockford IceHogs are holding a Rockford Peaches Night Friday as part of the team’s annual Pink in the Rink game at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The IceHogs will be wearing specially designed jerseys with the historic City of Rockford Peaches logo. Several of the jerseys will be auctioned off throughout the game with a portion of the proceeds benefitting breast cancer research. Best of all, tickets are only $15 with $5 of each ticket sold going to the capital campaign to build a $7 million International Women’s Baseball Center educational center and museum next to historic Beyer Stadium. Friday night’s game against the Ontario Reign is the opening event of the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Rockford Peaches. The league that eventually became known as the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League launched in 1943. The league as a whole and the Rockford Peaches in particular were immortalized by the 1992 movie A League of Their Own that featured an all-star cast including Gina Davis, Tom Hanks, Rosie O’Donnell and Madonna. The Peaches were no random choice. Rockford’s team was the flagship franchise of the AAGPBL. The league operated from 1943 to 1954 and the Peaches were league champions four times (1945, 1948, 1949 and 1950) and finished second three times (1946, 1951 and 1952). A Peaches anniversary committee has put together a series of events from May 30 through June 2 to honor the team and its history. The ultimate goal of the celebration is to raise enough money to build the IWBC educational center and museum and cement Rockford’s place as the center of the women’s baseball universe. And it all starts Friday night at the IceHogs game. Puck drops at 7 p.m.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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Star Wars Sunday!

The Discovery Center Museum is taking you on a journey through space with Star Wars Sunday! Get your kids dressed up and bring them out for a galactic adventure. On January 21, from 1-4pm, the Discovery Center is bringing the galaxy to Rockford.Rev up your Speedbike and get ready to join the Rebel Alliance. Create your own light saber, practice Jedi skills, and evade storm troopers. Journey through hyperspace to different worlds in the planetarium, re-compile a droid, navigate an X-Wing through the asteroid field, and assist Princess Leia in battling the evil Empire. The force will be with you always. Galactic attire encouraged.This adventure is included with Museum admission and is FREE to Discovery Center members.Since its debut in 1977, Star Wars has won over the hearts of people all over the world. Star Wars Sunday will be a great time for you and the family!

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Check Out AFC, NFC Parties at Louie’s Tap House

Last year’s Super Bowl was amazing. The New England Patriots trailed the Atlanta Falcons, 28-3, in the third quarter and across America, football fans were scanning channels to see what else to do with their time. Then the Patriots scored, to make it interesting. Then they scored again … and again. And when it was all over, the Patriots had completed the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, winning 34-28. That’s memorable. You know what’s not so memorable? What two teams blew their chances to be in the Super Bowl by losing to the Patriots and Falcons? This weekend, the big thing in the sports world are the AFC and NFC championship games on Sunday. The winners of those games will go on to play in Super Bowl LII (52) in Minneapolis, the biggest sporting event in the United States. The conference title game losers? They rarely are remembered by anyone outside of their immediate fan base. It’s because of these stakes that the conference championship games often are playing at a more desperate and higher level than the Super Bowl, which doubles as a party and television commercial extravaganza. If you don’t have plans with 20 of your closest friends, then venture up to Louie’s Tap House in Roscoe to spend it with a few dozen. On Sunday, beginning at 1 p.m., the bar is having AFC (Jaguars vs. Patriots) and NFC (Vikings vs. Eagles) championship parties. The specials will be $2 Pabst Blue Ribbon pints and … of course … endless, pointless sports arguing. For the record, as I’m sure fans of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers will tell you, it was the Steelers and Packers that lost the AFC title games last year in blowouts. Louie’s Tap House is located at 5689 Elevator Road, Roscoe. The phone number is 815-270-1020 or louies.taphouse@yahoo.com.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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UIC College of Pharmacy at Rockford is a Winner!

The University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Pharmacy at Rockford has received a $38,870 grant for its project entitled “Investing in the Recruitment and Retention of Top Talent to the Profession of Pharmacy” from the Community Grants Program of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) with support from the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Foundation. “The Community Foundation is honored to support UIC’s project,” said CFNIL President Jon Bates. “The project will put promising students on the path toward the varied and in-demand profession of pharmacy and show them they have a bright future right here in our region.”The UIC College of Pharmacy at Rockford is committed to providing highly skilled and educated pharmacists to the surrounding community and the State of Illinois. This grant from CFNIL helps support and grow the High School Pharmacy Camp and Summer Pharmacy Institute programs built to retain and attract exceptional high school and college students to the pharmacy profession and the UIC College of Pharmacy at Rockford. For those interested in the High School Pharmacy Camp, it’s scheduled for Saturday, April 7, 2018 from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm at the College of Pharmacy in Rockford, 1601 Parkview Ave. Students will have the opportunity to explore the field of pharmacy through instruction and activities led by current pharmacy students! It is a great way for high school students to get their foot in the door and experience what furthering their education would look like. Applications for the camp must be sent in by March 1, 2018. Some lucky students will be chosen to attend at a reduced cost of $10 thanks to the above grant. You can access the application HERE. The Summer Pharmacy Institute is offered June 4-8, 2018. Current undergraduate college students interested in pursuing a career in pharmacy should apply by April 1, 2018. Applications can be found online HERE.Rockford is a great place for furthering your education. We have so many opportunities for those looking to go through high school and beyond. It’s always awesome when these institutions an get recognized for their great work in the community!

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Martin Luther King’s Birthday Now a Basketball Holiday

When Congress officially recognized Martin Luther King’s birthday as a federal holiday in 1983, it is highly unlikely that our representatives and senators knew it would evolve into a high school basketball extravaganza. Fifteen years ago, Hononegah boys basketball coach Mike Miller created the area’s first MLK tournament, figuring it would be a good way to prepare for the IHSA state tournament by playing tough competition from outside the area.The most sincere form of flattery is imitation and now there are MLK tournaments, both boys and girls, all across the state. The Hononegah MLK still is around. There will be six teams with a combined record of 56-31 playing on Saturday and Monday in Rockton. The biggest potential star is Normal West’s Francis Okoro. The 6-9 post player is ranked as one of the 50 best high school players in the United States.Jefferson High School is hosting its fifth MLK tournament. It has 12 teams playing, including one from Milwaukee. The host J-Hawks are the top local school with a 13-3 record. The best of the visitors is Winnetka New Trier. You can find the complete schedule for the J-Hawk MLK by going to jhawkmlk.net.Six schools are playing in a MLK in Sterling and if you’d rather watch girls basketball, Byron is hosting a MLK as well. The weekend is the last big hoops fest before schools grind through conference play and then chase a state title. So get out and watch the bouncing ball.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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What To Do When It's 10 Degrees? Go For a Run and a Beer

The frigid start to 2018 is expected to continue through Saturday - so what better reason to get on the running shoes and head outside.The Mikkeller Running Club stays fit by enjoying a run and a beer on the first Saturday of every month. This Saturday, The Olympic Tavern is hosting the 34th Run of the local chapter of the international running club.The club was founded by Mikkel Borg Bjergso, a Danish businessman and avid runner. There are chapters in Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and nearly 50 in the United States. The guiding principle is to match the love of running with good food and good beer.At noon, on Saturday club members will assemble at the Olympic, 2327 N. Main St. Runners can choose from three different routes, which all lead back to the Olympic. The restaurant offers runners a 50 percent discount on any appetizer on the menu. Although the club is made up of avid runners, speed is not the goal of the Mikkeller Running Club. It's a low-key competitive run with the goal of getting people together to enjoy a beer at the Olympic.To learn more about the Mikkeller Running Club, go to http://mikkellerrunningclub.dk/. To learn more about Saturday's event, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/937067899784426/.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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The World's Most Successful Team

The Harlem Globetrotters have played more than 26,000 exhibitions in 122 countries and are so tied to the New York City neighborhood in Manhattan that most people have forgotten the team got its start in Chicago.In 1927, the team started playing as the Savoy Big Five at the Savoy Ballroom on Chicago's south side. The all African-American team would play exhibitions before dances. The team's popularity grew to the point the players decided to begin touring to other cities under the name "Globe Trotters." In 1929, the team's promoter and manager, Abe Saperstein, decided to name the team's home city as Harlem because it was the center of African-American culture at the time. The Globetrotters actually didn't play a single game in Harlem until 1968.At first, the Globetrotters played straight up basketball, beating teams all over the country, including the NBA's Minneapolis Lakers, the league champions, in a famous 1948 exhibition. Once the NBA integrated, the top black players flocked to the league and the Globetrotters evolved into a comedy act. Although the games are exhibitions, score is dutifully kept and the last time the Globetrotters lost is 1971.Over the years, the team has played in Moscow, on an aircraft carrier, on the top of a New York City skyscraper, at the Vatican and on open dirt courts in Africa using its varied bag of tricks and gags to hook another generation of fans. On Dec. 30, the team will be back in Rockford to play at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The game begins at 2 p.m. and ticket prices start at $25. For more information, go to https://www.eventticketscenter.com/the-harlem-globetrotters-rockford-12-30-2017/3223236/t.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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Add Some Hoopla to Your Holiday Season!

The holiday fun doesn’t have to end on December 25. The kids are still out of school and, while you may be tired from the shopping and chaos that is the holiday season, there is still joy in the air and fun to be had. Keep the spirit alive with Holiday Hoopla at the Discovery Center!From December 26-30, the Discovery Center will be merging hands-on arts and crafts with science, math and engineering. Partake in a multitude of maker activities as you invent delightful ornaments and toys. Plus, vote for your favorite cookie, create a pretty pattern, solve puzzles, and discover hidden shapes. With over 250 hands-on exhibits, holiday planetarium shows, special craft activities and live science demonstrations during the holidays, kids and adults will have fun and maybe even learn a little something about science. The extra activities will take place 11:30 am to 3:30 pm each day. Holiday Hoopla activities are included with admission to the Museum. Planetarium shows are $1.00 for the general public and $0.50 for Discovery Center members. All other activities are included with museum admission-$8/person. Admission to the temporary exhibition Great Balls of Fire: Comets, Asteroid and Meteors is free to members and an extra $2 for the public.Discovery Center will be open until 3 pm on Dec. 24, closed Dec. 25, and open regular hours (10 am to 5 pm) Dec. 31 and Jan. 1.

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Battle of Illinois Friday at BMO Harris Bank Center

Take a little time off from Christmas planning Friday to watch the two Illinois AHL hockey franchises square off.At 7 p.m. at the BMO Harris Bank Center, the Rockford IceHogs play the Chicago Wolves in a battle of two teams with interesting histories. The IceHogs are Rockford’s team – literally. In a unique setup, the city of Rockford owns the franchise rights to the Rockford IceHogs, the AHL affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks. The city pays the Blackhawks an annual affiliation fee to host its top minor league team.The Blackhawks have been one of the National Hockey League’s top franchises over the past decade, winning the Stanley Cup – the trophy that goes to the league champion – in 2010, 2013 and 2015.Before the recent run of success though, the Blackhawks struggled for years. The Blackhawks lack of success led two Chicago businessmen to create the Chicago Wolves in 1994, who promoted the team with the slogan “We Play Hockey The Old-Fashioned Way: We Actually Win.”The Wolves, who actually play their home games in Rosemont, joined the AHL in 2001 and IceHogs joined in 2007. The two teams are in the AHL’s Central Division. The IceHogs are 15-11 on the season and in third place, while the Wolves, who are affiliated with the NHL’s Las Vegas Golden Knights, are 11-12.Tickets for IceHogs games range from $9 per seat to $26. On Saturday, the first 1,000 fans receive a free cooler backpack courtesy of Bud Light.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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Snowflakes on Ice Holiday Exhibition

The Rockford Skating Club is hosting The Snowflakes on Ice Exhibition at Carlson Ice Arena! On Sunday, December 17th, 2017 from 4:00pm until 6:00pm, come watch the skaters fly around the ice in mesmerizing fashion. The Revolution Synchronized skating teams will be opening the exhibition this year. This elite group of skaters have been skating together since June 2017. They have competed in Wisconsin and Michigan so far this season. The Tot Team, the Beginner Team (Silver medalists in Wisconsin), and the Pre-Juvenile team (competing at Sectionals in Witchita, Kansas January 24th-28th), will be performing. The Exhibition will also showcase many of our local competitive skaters. Some of whom have achieved their USFSA Senior Tests. These are the highest tests in the US Figure Skating Association's testing structure. They will be performing delightful holiday programs for our entertainment. Admission is a canned good that will be donated to the Salvation Army, or $5.00 which will toward the Rockford Skating Club Scholarship fund for our 2018 graduating high school seniors. Watching the Rockford Skating Club skaters perform is a great break from your busy schedule. They're going to put on a great show, so make sure you come out!

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Scoreboard: War games - Well, Kind Of

In the winter, it can be hard to get your kids to burn off excess energy. Saturday, beginning at 3 p.m. Kids SPOT in Roscoe gives you a chance to let them tire themselves out.Kids SPOT is hosting its first Nerf Night, which has been years in the making. Hasbro released its first Nerf ball in 1970, marketing it as an indoor ball that wouldn't break lamps or hurt people. Hasbro came out with its first Blaster in 1989 and in 1991 released the Nerf Sharpshooter, the first Nerf gun that shot darts. The various Nerf guns have been so popular that a numbers nut did the math and calculated that Hasbro has sold more than 4.1 billion Nerf darts over the years.Kids SPOT, located at 9461 North Second St., offers classes in dance, cheerleading, gymnastics, tumbling and trampolining. It also has open gym nights each week. Saturday, they are reconfiguring the gym into a terrain-park style battle field with obstacles and barricades. To make it fair, they are offering three different groups. The cost is $15 per session. Kids age 6 and below will do battle from 3 p.m. to 3:45 p.m., ages 6 to 10 will take the field from 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and kids age 10 and up have the floor from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.Children should bring their own Nerf Blaster but NOT their own darts. Kids SPOT will provide darts to everyone. Kids SPOT wants people to pre-register so that they have enough staff and darts. You can pre-register by calling the front desk at 815-623-5437.For more information, go to http://kidsspotinc.com/.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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A Victorian Holiday Celebration

Midway Village Museum invites families of all ages to add a new tradition to their holiday season as we celebration in the Victorian Village!Join them on Sunday, December 10 from 11:00 am - 4:00pm in the Victorian Village. Enjoy the sights of 1800s decorations on several of the historic buildings and stroll around to the following activities:Horse Drawn Wagon RidesDancing at the Fezziwig Ball1800s Immigrant Holiday TraditionsChristmas Carol Performances by 2nd City ChorusHoliday Cards made at the Print ShopCraft Projects1800s Decorations and Traditions DisplayA Visit from Father ChristmasHanukkah Traditions presented by Ohave Sholom TempleAll activities are subject to change.Admission is $7 for adults; $5 for children (ages 3-17); children (ages 0-2) FreeMidway Village Museum Members are Free.Get Your Holiday Photos Taken by a Professional Photographer!Families receive 15 minute photo session for an additional fee of $10. With all photos digitally sent the following week. Register ahead of time by calling 815-397-9112 or, space permitting, sign up at the special event. Event admission is also required in addition to the $10 sitting fee. Visitors can also bring a canned food item to donate in the Salvation Army "red can" at the Main Museum Center Front Door entrance.

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Fill the Pack For Youth in Need!

Just Breathe 815 has put together a fundraiser to help homeless youth in our area. It’s hard to provide for yourself on limited resources, and if we can help out there’s no reason not to. Just Breathe 815 doesn’t want any youth in the Rockford-area to struggle if they can help it.Their Fill the Pack fundraiser is being held at Salamones Italian Restaurant & Bar, 103 South Cherry Valley St, tonight, December 5, from 6:00 – 8:00 PM!They are aiming to collect 200 backpacks and raise funds that will go directly to providing services to homeless youth throughout the year. Tickets for the event are $20 and dinner includes penne or lasagna, pizza bread and a soda. There will also be a silent auction for those in attendance. If you are showing up, Just Breathe is looking for the following supplies:•Coats•Waterproof Winter Gloves•New or gently used boots•Thermals•Hand Warmers•Beanies•Socks•Hats•Blankets•Sleeping Bags•New Men and Women Underwear•New women’s bra’s / sports bras / bralettes•Scarves•Waterproof tarps (Preferably earth toned) Holiday Hunger Needs•Easy-open Canned Goods (with pull tops)•P38 Can openers•Pre-Packaged Goods•Easy on-the-go nutritional food items•Individual snack and Food Items Tickets can be purchased HERE.

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Financing Your Education Doesn't Have to be Scary

There are many ways to finance your college education. CFNIL, RPL and RVC invite students of all ages to attend the Community Scholarship Fair on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, to learn about $500,000 in scholarships available to local students. Free and open to the public, this event will connect students with representatives from more than 20 organizations who represent more than 100 local scholarship opportunities.Some scholarships are based on financial need, while others are basic on academic excellence, community involvement, extracurriculars, or other factors.The diversity of the scholarships offered represents the diversity and generosity of our community. Representatives from CFNIL, Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), RPL, RVC, and many other local organizations will be on hand to answer your questions.Spanish speaking staff will be available.The Community Scholarship Fair has information on scholarships for students of all ages and citizenship status.The following seminars will be offered at 5:15 and 6:15 p.m.• RVC and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission will walk students through FAFSA, the financial aid process, and applying for scholarships/financial assistance from Rock Valley College.• CFNIL will explain its scholarship opportunities and explain how to apply for them. RPL will demonstrate how students can access many other local scholarship opportunities through its scholarship database.College is hard to pay for. Applying for scholarships may seem hard, but it is one way to lessen your stress load down the line. This is a quick and easy seminar to get you started, don’t miss out on it.

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Don't Miss It!: A Local Holiday Market

One of the best parts of the holidays in Rockford is the Local Holiday Market. No, I’m not biased, it’s just the truth. Held at Rockford University, you will be greeted with holiday cheer immediately as you look for gifts for loved ones (or yourself, I know how it goes). You can visit the market this Saturday, December 2, from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Even better, admission is FREE and parking is FREE! Park in Main Lot A at Rockford University and follow the candy cane path to the land of local holiday shopping!The first 200 families who show up will receive a FREE reusable tote bag filled with gifts from local Winnebago County businesses. Doors open at 10:00 am and bags are limited to one per family.There is a little something for everyone at the market. You can even find gifts for under $5. Gift wrapping is also available to you! Rosie's Birthday Club will be wrapping your gifts purchased at A Local Holiday Market for a donation. 100% of your donation benefits Rosie's Birthday Club, a local non-for-profit that gives birthday parties and gifts to under-served children in our community. Whether you’re on a budget, or looking to spend some saved up holiday money, the Local Holiday Market is a great place to get some gifts and keep your dollars local!

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Scoreboard: Tour de Frost

December is a crazy month to get your bicycle out of the garage, but Team Fur Bandit can be a little crazy at times.This Saturday, the bicycle club that rides around on fur-covered bikes is hosting its eighth annual Tour de Frost. It's a 20-mile loop around Rockford with stops at the Olympic Tavern and Rockford Bicycle Company and ending with a pizza party at Oscar's Pub & Grill on East State Street.The ride starts and ends at The Vitamin Shoppe, 5946 E. State St., and is a fundraiser for the Fish-Abled Foundation, which helps improve the lives of those with disabilities by taking them on outings.The cost for the ride is $35 if you register before Saturday on Active.com. If you are one of those people who like to wait and see what the weather is like then registration on Saturday is $40.On-site registration begins at 9 a.m. and runs until 9:45 a.m. That's when the bikes line up and the ride starts at 10 a.m.As of this writing, Saturday's weather isn't forecasted to be too frosty so get the bike off the wall.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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Check Out Top Hoops Teams From Three States

More than 550,000 kids play high school basketball each year, and for boys basketball Thanksgiving week is the traditional kickoff to the season.Thanks to the Rockford School District, you don't have to travel far to get an early taste of the season. Four years ago, the area's largest school district launched the 205 Tip-Off Classic and quickly has grown it into one of the premier tournaments in the Midwest.It started Monday night, but the bulk of the action takes place Friday and Saturday. There are 15 teams playing, including three from Wisconsin and one from Florida. The highlight though of this year's tournament are the five Chicago area schools. Chicago Perspectives is the alma mater of NBA star Anthony Davis. Chicago Hyde Park is a perfect 6-0 in its two previous Tip-Off Classic appearances. Elgin Larkin and Chicago St. Rita were both ranked as two of the best Chicago basketball teams in the Chicago Sun-Times preseason rankings.The headliner though is Chicago Whitney Young. The Dolphins are the defending IHSA 4A state champions and return three starters. In fact, Whitney Young has won three state titles since 2008.Friday's games are at Guilford, East and Auburn high schools. Saturday's games are at Jefferson and Auburn. All of the of the Chicago area teams will be in action along with six teams from the NIC-10 - Auburn, East, Guilford, Jefferson along with Belvidere and Freeport.For a complete schedule, go to 205tipoffclassic.net.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Tour (ticket deal available!)

Every year The Oak Ridge Boys’ Christmas tour plays to packed houses across North America. This year the group’s widely acclaimed holiday tour, The Oak Ridge Boys’ Christmas Celebration Tour, will be coming to Rockford for one show on November 24, 2017 at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.The almost two-hour extravaganza will feature a mixture of traditional and contemporary songs—religious, romantic, and fun holiday tunes—as well as some of the Grammy Award-winning quartet’s classic country-pop hits like Elvira, Bobbie Sue, and Thank God For Kids.The full-production show with its beautiful visuals, falling snow, and Christmas trees also includes a visit from Santa Claus and songs from the group’s seven bestselling Christmas CDs.You won't want to miss this show! Once you've seen it, you'll make it a family holiday tradition. Save 50% when you buy two tickets (excluding fees). Use offer code: TMN241 when you select your seats HERE!Holiday Deal tickets available online only. Regular priced tickets are available at the Coronado Performing Arts Center and BMO Harris Bank Center box offices, by phone at 815-968-0595 or on Ticketmaster.com. Ticket prices are $70.00, $55.00, and $39.00 (additional fees apply when ordering over the phone and online).

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What Should the Name Be?

Earlier this month, the Rockford Art Museum received a donation from Lon and Richard Behr in the form of a steel horse sculpture. Montana-based artist Deborah Butterfield made the piece with scrap material from Joseph Behr and Sons in Rockford. The thing is, they’re having a contest to name the sculpture! Together with the Behrs, Rockford Art Museum invites the community to help name the sculpture. The nationally acclaimed artist will make the final selection for the name from entries submitted in RAM’s Name the Horse Contest. Open to all ages, it runs through January 2, 2018. Participants may submit more than one entry; entries must be submitted in person at Rockford Art Museum at 711 North Main Street, Rockford. The winning name of the sculpture will be announced January 8, and the person who submitted the winning entry will receive a free membership to RAM.Put your thinking cap on and think of some clever name for the piece. You might be the winning entry. It never hurts to try!

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4th Annual Christmas Walk!

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. . . or at least feel like it! How about that cold weather, eh? Were you ready? I sure wasn’t.But, it’s the season for beautiful lights and decorations and The Landscape Connection, 4472 S Mulford Rd, knows how to do it right. They have their store all decorated for the holiday season and invite you to come check it out. You can also pick up some brand new decorations that will stick with your family throughout the years. There is something really exciting about buying a decoration that fits perfectly in your home. The 4th annual Christmas Walk opens on Saturday, November 18 and runs through New Year’s Eve.November hours are Monday - Saturday 9-6pm Sundays 11-3December hours are Monday - Thursday 9-6pm Friday and Satuday 9-7 Sundays 11-3.Go out and explore some of the traditions of Christmas and feel the "Real Reason" for the season.If anything will get you into the Christmas spirit, taking a walk through The Landscape Connection will be it!

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Knock Down Some Pins to Help Golfers Shoot at Pins

With all the focus every year on high school football and basketball and the fact that a professional hockey team dominates the winter entertainment schedule, the sport of bowling tends to get overlooked.If you look at state championship results though, bowling may be the Rockford area's No. 1 sport. Since 1997, Jefferson, Guilford, Hononegah and Harlem high schools have won state championships in boys bowling and East, Harlem and Jefferson have won girls state titles.The Rockford Park District is using the area's love for bowling this Saturday to raise money for another cause - youth golf. On November 18, beginning at 7:15 p.m. at Park Lanes, 5318 N. Second St., the Fore the Kids Bowling Extravaganza will raise money for the First Tee LINK of Greater Rockford program.The cost is $40 per person or $200 per team entries of up to six bowlers. The entry fee buys you two games of bowling and shoe rental.Besides the bowling, the night includes a 50/50 raffle, strike pot, auction, contests and live entertainment beginning at 9 p.m.Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. and you can register on-site if there's space. Advanced registration is encouraged. Entry forms are available at www.golfrockford.org.The First Tee LINK of Greater Rockford is an outreach program by the Rockford Park District to help more kids afford the game of golf.A special thank you to Alex Gary for writing this Scoreboard piece.Alex Gary spent 22 years as a sports, business and education reporter and editor at newspapers in Beloit, Wis., and Rockford. He now is the communications manager at Thinker Ventures when he’s not umpiring youth baseball, running the scoreboard at Jefferson athletics, working on his NIC-10 Sports History Book website or hanging out with his two daughters.

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Rockford Public Library Blowout Sale!

Calling all book nerds! The Friends of the Rockford Public Library are holding a blowout book sale until November 17, 2017! Visit the Rockford Public LIbrary's main campus at 215 N. Wyman to check out their selection. The library is preparing to move to their smaller temporary home at the Hart Library on Church street. All books are being sold for 25 cents during normal business hours. Monday-Thursday 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm, Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm.Money raised from the book sale will go toward purchasing special equipment and materials that support programs and services within the library.This is a great sale to visit before winter. It is about to get very cold outside, so why not stock up on some novels that you can read while being cozy in your house? They are cheap and there are a variety of options. Make sure you check it out!

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Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

Page 40 | Positive Stories & Articles | Rockford IL

Destination PyeongChang Skate-A-Thon!

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Destination PyeongChang Skate-A-Thon!

5 For 50 Wine Event!

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5 For 50 Wine Event!

IceHogs to Kickoff 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Rockford Peaches

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IceHogs to Kickoff 75th Anniversary Celebration of the Rockford Peaches

Star Wars Sunday!

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Star Wars Sunday!

Check Out AFC, NFC Parties at Louie’s Tap House

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Check Out AFC, NFC Parties at Louie’s Tap House

UIC College of Pharmacy at Rockford is a Winner!

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UIC College of Pharmacy at Rockford is a Winner!

Martin Luther King’s Birthday Now a Basketball Holiday

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Martin Luther King’s Birthday Now a Basketball Holiday

What To Do When It's 10 Degrees? Go For a Run and a Beer

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What To Do When It's 10 Degrees? Go For a Run and a Beer

The World's Most Successful Team

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The World's Most Successful Team

Add Some Hoopla to Your Holiday Season!

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Add Some Hoopla to Your Holiday Season!

Battle of Illinois Friday at BMO Harris Bank Center

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Battle of Illinois Friday at BMO Harris Bank Center

Snowflakes on Ice Holiday Exhibition

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Snowflakes on Ice Holiday Exhibition

Scoreboard: War games - Well, Kind Of

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Scoreboard: War games - Well, Kind Of

A Victorian Holiday Celebration

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A Victorian Holiday Celebration

Fill the Pack For Youth in Need!

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Fill the Pack For Youth in Need!

Financing Your Education Doesn't Have to be Scary

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Financing Your Education Doesn't Have to be Scary

Don't Miss It!: A Local Holiday Market

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Don't Miss It!: A Local Holiday Market

Scoreboard: Tour de Frost

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Scoreboard: Tour de Frost

Check Out Top Hoops Teams From Three States

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Check Out Top Hoops Teams From Three States

The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Tour (ticket deal available!)

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The Oak Ridge Boys Christmas Tour (ticket deal available!)

What Should the Name Be?

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What Should the Name Be?

4th Annual Christmas Walk!

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4th Annual Christmas Walk!

Knock Down Some Pins to Help Golfers Shoot at Pins

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Knock Down Some Pins to Help Golfers Shoot at Pins

Rockford Public Library Blowout Sale!

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Rockford Public Library Blowout Sale!

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