Articles & Stories | Rockford IL

I Am Rockford: Brian Huels

Brian Huels is originally from the suburbs of Chicago, but he moved to Rockford in 2002. After being here for 15 years and being a major contributor to our community, Brian is sort of an unsung hero, but he is behind one of the coolest events here in Rockford. Brian did his pre-college schooling in the suburbs and went on to get an undergrad degree from Whitewater. He has two Masters degrees, taxation and accounting, from DePaul University. He is currently working on his Doctoral degree in business with an accounting emphasis at Whitewater. After spending a lot of time as an accountant, he wanted to start something a little more exciting. He moved to Rockford with the intention to sell high-end ski boats. He opened a marina, and in the process, he met his wife. They decided to close the Marina and 2005 and got married that July. About seven years ago, Brian Huels got into teaching. He was inspired after reading a book called One Month to Live at church. He realized that he would love to be a teacher, so he perused that career path and is now a professor at Rockford University. You can find him teaching entry level and advanced courses in accounting. For him, one of the most rewarding things is seeing students that never thought they would be interested in accounting find out that it impacts their everyday life. It sparks an interest within them that wouldn’t have been there before. I mentioned before that Brian Huels is behind a really neat event here in town. He was a part of the original group that got together and brainstormed Meltfest! He continues to be behind the event every year. The purpose of the event is the celebrate the melting away of winter and the melting together of the community. It is on the first Saturday of spring, and most things involved are free so anybody can come out and be involved. It is a super family-friendly event with a kids run, free trolley rides, ice skating, art classes, kids crafts, a clown, magic shows, and more! All of the money earned is donated back to a local charity. Meltfest is a way for the community to come together and have a bunch of fun. Being a father of two, a professor, a husband, and a doctoral student himself, he doesn’t have a whole lot of free time. When he does find some free time, he loves to spend time with his family and is also an avid water skier when the weather allows for it. Brian Huels believes that Rockford is a really cool city. There are some bad things, but there is bad everywhere. People don’t focus on the good things in our town nearly enough, and that is why it has such a bad reputation. We have great running paths, the river is great and the people you share the water with are so friendly. The music scene is incredible and the local outdoor events are unique and fun. He believes that there is so much going on here that you can’t get everywhere. We have West Rock Wake Park. Something like that is hard to find even in big cities. The Park District does a great job keeping up with their facilities and introducing new programs. “You have to be involved and focus on the positive, but you have to be honest about the things that you don’t like. The people here are friendly. It is a neat city.” Fun Facts: Favorite Movies: Happy Gilmore, The Replacements, Saving Silverman. He enjoys silly, stupid humor movies. He thinks true stories are also neat, and faith films keep you grounded. He reads more articles than books. TV Show: Chicago Fire Music Genre: Christian Contemporary or a little bit of everything He still does accounting work on the side. It helps keep him relevant in what he teaches. He has run about 9 marathons. Earlier in his life, he was diagnosed with melanoma. That’s when he started realizing life was too short. Any animal without fur freaks him out. If there is fur on their paws, they are okay. As the fur moves away from their paws, he starts to struggle with them.

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The Rockford Network of Professional Women!

The Rockford Network of Professional Women is an important organization here in Rockford that acts as a support system and motivating factor for women. Formed in 1981, they hold meetings where women can come together, join forces, and encourage each other to reach their goals. The women in the network have a place to go to get advice, have their voices heard, and come out feeling motivated and ready to tackle new ventures. The Rockford Network of Professional Women is for women of all ages and in all walks of their professional life. They have business owners, and they have women just starting out their careers. “You can feel the energy at our meetings. Many great personal and professional relationships are built in this group, and our membership is growing each month.” - Karen Keller, President Not only do they help each other, they have given away a scholarship every year since 2002 to a woman who is interested in continuing education in her chosen field. A Professional Development Workshop is held every year in order to raise funds for this scholarship. This year, it taking place on Wednesday, March 29 at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, 200 S Bell School Road. From 7:30 – 11:00 am, you can listen to speaker Mary Stier talk about how to be a Lady leader and have success in a predominantly male business. The Network is important for the women of Rockford. If you are interesting in being involved or learning more, check out their website HERE.

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Nom Nom Nom: The Greatest Birthday Party

There is a good chance that when you think of food in Rockford, Beef-a-Roo is one of the places that comes to mind. They have been a staple in this town for 50 years now! 2017 is their 50th birthday year, and now it is time to celebrate. I stopped in there the other day and decided to have a mini celebration for this great place. I ordered a grilled cheese, cheddar fries, and a Birthday Cake Shake! Let’s go ahead and break this down. First, the grilled cheese. It is like they just know that you want to order more food because they don’t over-stuff you with the main part of your meal. The grilled cheese isn’t huge, but it packs a taste punch. I have pretty simple taste when it comes to this fantastic food, so I ordered it plain. If you want more than that, you have the option to add bacon, tomato, or avocado! The bread isn’t too crispy and the cheese is melted all the way. Beef-a-Roo’s grilled cheese has a great texture and it tastes good too. It is a limited time item, so make sure you get in there soon. Next, we have the birthday cake shake. This shake tasted exactly like cake batter. I wasn’t sure what to expect from it, but it was so good. It was a nice, thick shake. It was smooth so you don’t have to worry about any chunks. The sprinkles added a nice touch to it as well. It was a very festive addition to this special celebration meal, and I would highly recommend that you try one the next time you are in there. They have it available all year, but I wouldn’t put off trying one if I were you. Finally, of course, the cheddar fries and a mint. Because, if you don’t eat cheddar fries and a mint, did you really go to Beef-a-Roo? Beef-a-Roo is a place that we as people of Rockford can be proud of. This is a very special year for them. They have been serving up delicious food for us for 50 years now. If you want to pay them a visit and have your own little celebration like I did, I highly recommend this meal. Try out their new items before they are gone!

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Wine Tasting with an American Bald Eagle

Okay, maybe the eagle won’t be drinking wine. But, you can attend a super cool wine tasting and also have the chance to meet one of these majestic birds. On April 6, 2017 at Prairie Street Brew House from 6:00 - 8:00 pm, Hoo Haven will be hosting an event involving wine, snacks, and an auction. Oh, yeah, and an American Bald Eagle. Captain Jack is a special bird that now calls Hoo Haven home. He has an eye injury and is non-releasable due to it. Instead, he will be available for educational programs here in Rockford, and you have the chance to meet him at this event. Tickets for the event are available online HERE. You can also click HERE or call Hoo Haven for more information. Please get your tickets before March 30, 2017. They are selling fast, so make sure you reserve your place. Tickets will not be available at the door. Hoo Haven is a Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center. For over 30 years, they have been rescuing wildlife and rehabbing them back to health. They have become the designated Illinois Bald Eagle Recovery Center and have taken in over 70 American Bald Eagles. They are a great organization that relies on awesome people like you to keep going.

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Scoreboard: Country Night for the IceHogs

The Rockford IceHogs season is winding down. There are just five home games remaining in the 2016-2017 season and one of them is Saturday when the IceHogs play the Grand Rapids Griffins. Since their founding in 1999, the IceHogs have won one championship – a United Hockey League title in 2007. Rockford will not be adding to that total this year. With about a month left in the season, the Hogs are 22-31 and in last place in the Central Division. Saturday, they’ll be playing the league’s third best team in the Griffins. Grand Rapids is 40-18 and are led by Matt Lorito and Ben Street, who have 42 goals and 61 assists between them. Lorito was an undrafted free agent who has worked himself into being one of the league’s top players. Street has played well enough that he was called up to the NHL Tuesday by the Detroit Red Wings. Saturday’s game starts at 7 p.m. and it’s Country Night at the BMO Harris Bank Center. The first 1,500 fans in the arena will receive a cowboy boot mug. Ticket prices range from $9 to $28. To buy online, go to http://www.icehogs.com/tickets/individual/. Country Night is bound to be a great time. Although the match up may not be ideal, and there are no postseason possibilities for Rockford, an IceHogs game is always a good time and there are few chances left to enjoy them before summer – and who can’t use a cowboy boot mug? 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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Don’t Miss It!: Rural on Tap Spring Fling Tasting

Spring is in the air. It is finally here! Winter is gone, and it is going to keep getting warmer from here (or so we can hope). Amp up those great Spring feelings with Rural on Tap’s Spring Fling Tasting on April 1, 2017. From 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Rural will have more than 60 different Craft Beers, wines, and spirits for you to try out. That is a lot of tasting to be done! Make sure you have your booze expert cap on and see which brands and flavors you think are the best. Tickets for the event are $15 dollars in advance or $20 at the door. You can get your tickets by phone, by stopping in to Rural on Tap, or online HERE. A portion of each ticket sale goes directly to the Boys and Girls Club. The Spring Fling Tasting is all about having fun while giving back to the community. You can feel even better about your night out because you are helping the youth in our area. Get ready to test your palate and knowledge of good drinks when you have all of these different options in front of you. This thing is going to sell out fast, so make sure you reserve your spot today. You don’t want to miss this.

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Time For a Blind Date!

Blind dates can be fun and exciting. There is a certain mysteriousness about them as you never really know what you are going to get. You can leave having really enjoyed the experience, or you can leave knowing what to look for next. Whether you are into adventure, humor, romance, or anything in between, sometimes a blind date can open your eyes to something new. I am talking about books, of course. What did you think I was talking about? From now until March 31, 2017, The Rockford Public Library is hooking you up with a blind date with a book! They have selected a variety of books and wrapped them all up in brown paper so you won’t know the identity of your book until you open it! The book can be fiction, non-fiction, funny, informative, anything! The opportunities are endless. Just stop by the Main Library at 215 N Wyman and take a look at their dating display on the 3rd floor. Take a look at the clues on the outside of the package and find something that appeals to you. This is a fun program being put on by your library to celebrate the changing of the seasons. Our Rockford Public Library is always looking for new and unique ways to promote reading, and this is definitely one of them! If you decided to go on a blind date adventure, make sure you let us know what you get!

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Band & Brush: Apply For Summer ArtsPlace!

We here at Rockford Buzz love art and are huge fans of the art community here in Rockford. We believe that art helps to strengthen a community. On a personal level, it allows artists to express their feelings or make statements. It can also be just for fun! ArtsPlace is a great program that is put on by the Rockford Area Arts Council for kids ages 14-18. This summer, they have an intensive apprenticeship running from July 19 through August 7 on Mondays through Thursdays every week. It is held in various locations depending on your child’s area of art; The Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center or at the Rockford Dance Company. For the summer of 2017, there are four teams that your kid can choose from. The dance team will explore the evolution of dance and develop original choreography. The Short Film team will produce a short film. The Theater team will learn about improve, scene work, monologues, and film work. The Visual Arts Team will work with printmaking, collages, painting, and mixed media! ArtsPlace is an awesome program for kids who are really into their art. Their skills will continue to grow and develop while making new friends who are interested in the same things as them. If you are interested, you can call the Rockford Area Arts Council at 815-963-6765 or you can find more information and download an application HERE.

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I Am Rockford: Tabatha Endres-Cruz

If you didn’t know, Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (KNIB) recently named a new director. That title belongs to Tabatha Endres-Cruz. I had the opportunity to sit down with her and learn more about her and her family. Tabatha was born and raised here in Rockford. She lived on the far southwest side of town, so she went to Winnebago schools from kindergarten through her senior year graduation. After graduating, she went on to earn an undergrad degree in Environmental Studies from Lake Forest College and a Masters in Recreation Administration from Aurora University in the George Williams College. Her career path took her to William’s Bay, Wisconsin and then ultimately back here to Rockford with her husband in 2006. Her family being here along with the career opportunities made moving back an easy decision. As mentioned earlier, Tabatha Endres-Cruz is the new Director of Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful. She decided that she wanted to work with a smaller organization and she knew people that served on the board that spoke very highly of KNIB. Her passion for the environment and being involved in non-profit work has landed her in her current position. At KNIB, they work to ensure that they are making a positive impact on the community through education, events, and fundraisers. They also oversee the operating of our recycling center. Tabatha’s love for the environment and nature has been with her since she was very young. Where she grew up, her family had an acre of land. They were always outside, and they went camping very often. Her love of nature just continued to grow from there. Tabatha’s favorite thing about Rockford is the diversity in the community. She also loves our park district and museums and thinks they are fantastic. There are so many things that you can do indoors and outdoors. She also admires the passion that Rockford citizens have for our community. Transform Rockford and other initiatives set the tone for people working together to better our community. Fun Facts: Her favorite local restaurant is Prairie Street. Those cheese curds. . . She has a 13 year old daughter who is a competitive dancer. She has become a dance mom, but she isn’t as crazy as the ones you see on TV, of course. She loves reading and is a huge John Steinbeck fan. She loves stories about people overcoming obstacles in life. Favorite movie: The Color Purple Favorite TV Show: This Is Us Tabatha Endres-Cruz is very family-oriented. Her family is vital to her life. She also loves to have fun and laugh which is truly evident in how she carries herself. She is a great person to sit down and talk to, and she will make you laugh really hard. We are so lucky to have people like Tabatha here in town.

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List of Great St. Patrick's Day Events!

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Run Off the Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Shamrock Shuffle

St. Patrick’s Day is not exactly the healthiest of holidays. If you follow tradition, you are chowing down on corned beef and cabbage with a few glasses of green beer. That meal is at least 800 calories – and very high in sodium - and beer isn’t the greatest thing for you either, and that’s before the food coloring. St Patrick’s Day though – at least in the Midwest – also is the unofficial kickoff to running race season. In Rockford, the season begins this year with the Shamrock Shuffle 5K Run-Walk on Sunday. The race begins and ends at the Flodin Boys and Girls Club, 988 S. Lyford Road, in southeast Rockford. As running races go, it’s a very affordable option. If you register online, adults are $30 and children 13 and under are just $20. Online registration is open until 11:59 p.m. Thursday. If you register in person at packet pickup Friday or before the race on Sunday, the costs increase to $40 for adults and $25 for children. The race is a fundraiser for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, which is leading the efforts to research and find a cure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. About 20,000 children, mostly boys, are born with Duchenne each year. It is caused by a mutation in the gene that encodes for dystrophin. Without dystrophin, muscle cells are easily damaged, leading to progressive loss of strength. The muscle weakness leads to heart and lung troubles as those affected grow older and most with Duchenne typically don’t make it to the age of 30. The race starts at 9 a.m. and for those procrastinators the latest you can arrive and register is 8:30 a.m. Sunday. Those running are encouraged to find sponsors to add to the donations or if your running days are behind you you can sponsor a runner. To learn more about the Shamrock Shuffle, go to http://www.parentprojectmd.org/site/TR/Events/General?fr_id=4522&pg=entry.

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Don’t Miss It!: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Some people believe the 50’s were the greatest. A big reason for that is the music that came from that era. Now, you have the chance to relive that this weekend at Midway Village. On Sunday, March 19, from 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Speaker Amber Bruns will be leading an audience participation lecture "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin On", on the music of the 1950’s. Get your singing voices ready, because you will be singing along the words on the screen as she plays the music. Along with the singing, you will get an overview of the times and a lesson on the great composers and musicians that created the much-loved era of music. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for students, and $5 for Midway Village Museum members. You can purchase tickets at the museum’s gift store. Walk-ins are also welcome, but they encourage early registration so you make sure that you have a spot! Midway Village Museum is a great place for Rockford fans, history fans, or anyone looking to see something new and exciting. They have a bunch of events throughout the year that take you through different eras and introduce you to history in an exciting way. You don’t want to miss this!

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Free Indoor Racing School!

I am sure that you have heard of the Rockford Speedway, and you have probably given them a visit at some point. But, have you heard of Blackhawk Farms Raceway? What about the Midwestern Council of Sports Car Clubs (MCSCC)? If you are a fan of racing, we want you to know that we have these great resources for you. Whether you are looking to just attend events, or if you want to get in on the action, they have plenty of events for you. MCSCC is a regulating and coordinating body that oversees Sports Cars events in the region. Each year, they sanction about 10 to 14 events that are hosted by various clubs in the region. They also run instructional schools every year for those interested in getting involved with racing. Blackhawk Farms Raceway – 1.95 mile, 7 turn, private circuit racetrack. The track is used for road racing and motorcycle racing. With all sorts of cars and events, there are a bunch of awesome events for any racing fan to witness and appreciate. Both of these awesome organizations are coming together to bring you something really great. MCSCC is hosting a FREE Indoor Racing School on March 18, 2017 from 8:00 am – 5:00 pm at Blackhawk Farms Raceway. You can learn the basics about road racing. Track touring will be available for $20 weather-permitting. Pre-registration is open until 11:59 pm. With the free clinic, you get: the basics of road course driving – we do more than just turn left wheel to wheel racing – learn what it takes to get to your first green flag high speed autocross – learn how to get on track & race against the clock high performance driving experience (HPDE) – can you drive your car on track? race staffing – learn the sport from the inside and get the best seats in the house. If you are interested, you can check all the things HERE. If you aren't able to get to the online registration before the deadline, give them a call, and there may still be some spots open!

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Results Are In - The #1 Coffee Spot in Rockford!

Coffee. . . life juice. . . liquid life. . . heaven. Whatever you choose to call it, you know that we here at Rockford Buzz love our coffee. You could probably say that we consume more coffee than food and not be too far off. Intentional or not, our coffee consumption really puts the Buzz in Rockford Buzz. In these cold winter months, it is always nice to have that warm comfort of a nice cup of coffee. Who am I kidding? -30 degrees or 130 degrees, I will still be drinking coffee. So, we asked you where your favorite place in Rockford is to grab a cup of coffee. The winner is. . . WIRED CAFÉ Wired almost embodies what Rockford is. Located right on State street, the busy street entrance, street parking, and calm indoor atmosphere has the feel of a big-city café with the charm of a small town. The more we hear from our lovely community, the more we realize that the hybrid feel of our town really adds to the charm. Rockford is not small by any means, but the size will never compete with the major metropolis areas of our country. You get the benefits of a big city, but the tight knit community is really something special if you take the time to be involved. Wired serves up delicious coffee, and they have some great treats that really hit the spot on your lunch hour. Oh, and they have pizza on Friday. Yeah, that’s right. If you somehow haven’t make it down to Wired to enjoy some coffee, now is the time. Tell them we said hello while you are there! Also - the voting was incredibly close. We would like to give all of these fabulous places a shout out. Keep bein' awesome!

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National Pi(e) Day?

As you all know, National Pi Day is coming up on Tuesday. 3.14, get it? Now, unless you are really into math, National Pi Day may not mean anything to you. What if I told you that Kate’s Pie Shop was doing something special for the day? Now do I have your attention? Good. Along with the incredible amount of pick up orders they have gotten for the day (they have hit their limit, so if you want a full pie, you will have to pick it up later in the week), they will have pie slices for $3.14 all day – tax included! Their focus for the day will be on getting you some great pie slices and less on lunch. Stop in for a slice and a cup of coffee and just enjoy the day. You can celebrate National Pi Day with a slice of delicious pie, in an incredible cute atmosphere, for a discounted price. The “number” Pi is special because it continues infinitely without repetition or pattern. Similarly, our love for pie transcends time and space. It is one of the best things that you can eat, and when Kate is serving it up, you just know it is going to be fantastic.

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I Am Rockford: Marcos Lara

Marcos Lara is a comedian that was born and raised, and currently lives, right here in Rockford. He is an Auburn High School graduate with the class of ’95. Before getting into comedy, he was a teacher. He has taught at Lincoln Middle School, taught kindergarten in Belvidere, and led the Transitional Program of Instruction in Freeport. He has always been a fan of comedy, but he has been officially working on his craft for about ten years. He got started by doing an opening set for Jesus Correa. He has never attended a formal class for comedy, but he believes it is similar to Punk Rock – it is something that you learn by just doing it. That is how a lot of comedians do it these days, and that is the road he has followed. He now tours the comedy circuit and runs a comedy workshop. Marcos’s teaching background has come in handy for his weekly comedy workshop that takes place at the Blackhawk Housing Complex Community Room. It is open to the public and teaches attendees lessons in comedy as well as life skills that can be used in other professions and other aspects of one’s life. Marcos is passionate about our community and believes in giving back. He does it by using what he knows best – comedy and teaching. When he isn’t teaching or on stage making people laugh, he is a proud husband and father. He is also an avid comic book reader, and his knowledge and passion for super heroes is admirable. In just our short conversation, he had me wanting to go home and read comic books and do research on them. When you talk to someone who really loves what they talk about, it is contagious. His wife is a huge supporter of his and helps him out every step of the way. She functions as his co=producer and helps to keep him in line. When it comes to Rockford, Marcos likes to proximity of everything. You have pretty much anything you want in close range. He described Rockford as not necessarily a melting pot – but a pressure cooker. There is a lot of diversity here and you have to get along with people from all different walks of life and from all different backgrounds. In bigger cities, it is unfortunately easier for people to segregate themselves. You don’t get that here and that a big plus. If you want to catch Marcos performing, you can find him at Town Hall Lounge on March 15. You can also follow him on Instagram @Free.ki Fun Facts: He loves writing poetry. He enjoys punk rock and hip hop music He has been married for 8 years in May Coffee or tea? – coffee Restaurant: Town Hall Favorite Movie: The Matrix Favorite Novel Genre – Historical Non-fiction, American Civil Rights Era He is a huge Green Hornet fan Marcos has about 20 tattoos

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Practice Your Paddling with Rocktown Adventures

March in the Midwest is that awkward in-between time of the year where it’s difficult to plan anything outside. It could be 70 degrees one weekend and 35 degrees with flurries the next. Of course, summer is just around the corner and since there are no major running races or sporting events in Winnebago County this weekend, you could prepare for it by taking advantage of Rocktown Adventures Open Pool Session on Sunday. From 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Boylan Highschool, you can perfect your kayaking or canoeing skills or learn the relatively new craze of stand up paddleboarding. A Huffington Post piece titled “5 Reasons Stand Up Paddle Boarding Should Become Your New Hobby” lauded the activity for being easy to learn, perfect for yoga and a surprisingly good exercise because the constant balancing targets your core muscles. More than 3 million tried it in 2016, according to Paddlesports Report. The cost for Open Pool is just $30 per person or just $15 if you have your own equipment. Space of course is limited so Rocktown Adventures is limiting it to just 12 registrants. If you want to reserve the entire pool time for a group larger than that then you need to call RA at 815-636-9066 or send them an email at info@rocktownadventures.com. Walkups are not ensured of a space to paddle so you should register ahead of time. 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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Last Week To Nominate Rockford for Hockeyville!

We announced a few months ago that you have the opportunity to nominate Rockford for Kraft Hockeyville. If you haven’t taken the few minutes to do so yet, this week is your last chance! So, what happens if Rockford wins? The grand prize for the Kraft Hockeyville vote is $150,000 in arena upgrades plus the chance to host an NHL preseason game. There are also 3 runner up prizes - $75,000, $25,000, and $10,000 in arena upgrades. We as a community are coming together to nominate Riverview Ice House. Rockford is the home of the Rockford IceHogs, and now more than ever, there is a growing interest in hockey with our youth. If we have a great arena for them to learn the game and practice their skills, we could have the next generational NHL talent coming right out of Rockford, IL. Hey, it is worth a shot, right? Let’s get Rockford a great arena upgrade. Go to the website HERE and nominate Riverview Ice House! Voting ends Friday, March 10, 2017.

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Don't Miss It!: St. Patrick’s Day Parade & PaddyFest

It is March and march means St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick’s Day means a whole lot of fun events. This year, St. Patrick’s Day is on March 17, but you can get a head start on the fun this weekend! The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and PaddyFest are coming to Rockford! The St. Patrick's Day Parade and PaddyFest is on March 11, 2017. The parade lineup begins at 2:00 pm with it kicking off at 3:00 pm. You can find the parade route and all of the details HERE. The parade will make its way to Prairie Street Brewhouse where you will find PaddyFest! You will need a wristband for the event from 3:00 – 8:00 pm. Food service begins at 4:00 and the entertainment begins at 4:30 and will go until 8:00 when PaddyFest concludes. The performers you can expect to see are: Andreas Transø The Tooles Athas Danny's Gone Rogue City of Rockford Pipe Band McNulty Irish Dancers There is going to be a delicious Irish-themed menu available at the event. You know that Prairie Street has some great food, so you can trust this this is going to be great. Admission is $10 in advance (you can purchase HERE) and $12 at the door. This is a great celebration of Irish culture, and you don’t want to miss it. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade and PaddyFest is put on by the Irish Marching Society. Have you heard of them? If not, IMS promotes Irish Culture in the Greater Rockford Area. They aim to host celebrations of Irish culture here in our town and give back to our community.

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Band & Brush: Rock and Roll Institute

If there is one thing that you should know about Rockford, it is that we have so many talented people here in town. Our music scene is a lot bigger than you would expect, and the people involved are great. Many of these local musicians have put together the Rock and Roll Institute here in town. The Rock and Roll Institute is for Rockford area citizens that really want to rock! The camp runs in one-week increments and is available to kids and now even adults! The kids camp is a daytime event for grades 6 through 12. Your kid is taking part in rehearsals and classes all day with a short lunch break at noon. The adult camp is an evening camp. You can still rock and also keep your day job! You meet a few times per week over a two week period. This year, there are scholarships available for the 2017 kids camp season! There are actually more than five scholarships available, so if your child is interested, make sure you head on over to their website and apply! The scholarships this year will cover one full week of camp. That is a pretty good deal if you ask me. To be eligible: You must be a first time Rock n’ Roll Institute camper. You must be within the 6th – 12th grade age range. There is also a bit of writing and filming involved. A short essay written by your child explaining why they deserve the scholarship, a separate written part answering a few questions, and a short video of them performing. They must also have a functional instrument and be able to participate in all required rehearsals. You and your little star have a bit of time to prepare as the deadline for scholarship submissions is 11:59 pm on Saturday, April 1, 2017. Scholarships will be awarded on Saturday, April 8! You can find more info HERE. We wish all applicants the best of luck, and we hope that all campers have a fantastic time!

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Nom Nom Nom: Steam Plant Family Restaurant

Breakfast is important. A good breakfast can make the soul happy, and a good cup of coffee can leave you satisfied for the rest of the day. In my opinion, a great breakfast on a Sunday is a perfect way to get you ready for the week ahead! I decided to try out Steam Plant Family Restaurant in Belvidere. As one does, I read up on the place a bit before heading there because it was my first time, and I discovered that it was a pretty historic place. I was intrigued. Upon walking in, you can see photos all over the wall from historical Belvidere. Then, you can find the story about how the building was originally founded in 1883 to furnish steam heat for downtown Belvidere. The restaurant was established in 1993 and, since then, they have been making diners happy and filling them with yummy food! If there is one way to win my heart, it is to keep my coffee cup full. They were great at that. If it wasn’t our waitress, it was someone else coming around to check on us. Everyone was very attentive to the diners in the restaurant, and they made conversation every time. It really makes you feel welcome, and it enhances your dining experience. The food was delicious, and you can taste the fact that they use quality products and ingredients. I had a pretty simple meal of pancakes, bacon, eggs, and toast. But, if you go out for breakfast often, you know that there is a difference between a quality breakfast and one that is lacking. There is no lack of quality at Steam Plant, and I was really pleased. The great service, cute atmosphere, and delicious meal made this trip to Steam Plant a success, and I highly recommend it for all of you breakfast lovers. (They have other food too, but I know you all love your breakfast!)

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Don’t Miss It!: Night of Vinyl

So, here in Rockford, we have this community of music and vinyl lovers and it is very strong. It is led by the likes of Culture Shock, Kate’s Pie Shop, CD Source, and Toad Hall. They are always working on something to give music nerds likes us something to be excited about. There is always the annual Record Crawl. The other thing they have done is brought an annual Night of Vinyl which involves a pop-up record shop and a music documentary viewing party. This Friday, March 3, 2017, at the Nordlof Center, come out to enjoy a 4- store pop-up shop and a showing of the documentary Breaking A Monster. The pop-up shop opens up at 6:00 pm with performances by student musicians. The show begins at 7:00 pm. Not to worry, there will also be a cash bar for those of you who are 21 and over and wish to partake. The suggested admission is a $5 donation that will benefit the children’s music camp, Rock and Roll Institute! This is going to be a great event to celebrate music and to also give back to our local music students. You don't want to miss this! About the documentary: BREAKING A MONSTER begins as the three members of band UNLOCKING THE TRUTH are all in 7th grade, spending their weekends playing a blend of heavy metal and speed punk in Times Square–often drawing substantial crowds. They take on a manager: a 70- year-old industry veteran. With his guidance they are soon on their way to a 1.8 million dollar record deal and a precarious initiation into the music industry. Anything feels possible, and in some moments the band can almost feel the eyes of the world gazing upon them. The boys are coming of age, not only as they make the leap to being professional musicians, but also as they transcend childhood and take their first steps into the complexities of adulthood. The accelerated breakout of any band, let alone one of pre-teens, is an extremely narrow and specific period in time–BREAKING A MONSTER is the story of this rapid transformation.

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Scoreboard: Regional Title Games on Tap Friday

The winter high school sports season wraps up this week with the beginning of IHSA regional play. The Rockford area is home to two regionals this week, giving you a choice title games to visit Friday night. If you have never attended a high school regional championship, there is a different kind of energy in the stands. At Hononegah High School in Rockton, the Indians will play the winner of tonight’s game between Auburn and East. Hononegah finished second this season in the NIC-10 Conference with a 12-4 record and its win over Harlem last night improved it to 20-7. Auburn and East battled all season for third place with the Knights eventually taking the spot with an 11-5 mark and a 17-11 record overall. East finished 10-6 and 13-15. At Jefferson High School, Boylan is the clear favorite to win with Lutheran and Jefferson hoping to halt the Titans’ march. Boylan won the NIC-10 for the second straight season with a 16-0 record and is now 26-4 overall. Boylan is led by Zach Couper, the favorite to be named conference MVP for the second straight season, who will play college basketball at the Air Force Academy. Jefferson finished 9-7 and 17-13, while Lutheran, which plays in the Big Northern Conference, is 18-11. Jefferson and Lutheran play tonight with the winner advancing to Friday’s title game. Both regional title contests are scheduled to begin 7 p.m. Friday. Hononegah is located at 307 Salem Road in Rockton, while Jefferson’s address is 4145 Samuelson Road, Rockford. The IHSA charges $5 for admission. 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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Louie’s Tap House Grand Opening!

Roscoe is getting a brand new hang out, and it is going to be great. From the people who brought you Rookie’s Pub & Grill comes Louie's Tap House. Located at 5689 Elevator Road, Louie's Tap House is going to be serving up some delicious food and, of course, a grand selection of beer. With a bunch of beers on tap, you will have so many options, you will have to keep coming back. Seriously, they will have 40+ Craft Drafts. Also, they are serving breakfast daily. We know you love breakfast. The Grand Opening for Louie's is tomorrow, March 1, 2017! They will be serving up some breakfast from 6:00 am - 11:00 am! You can get in there early and get the first look of the brand new place. Louie's Tap House is also going to be a great destination for live music. They already have some great acts booked. March 3 – Jamie Campbell & the Redneck Romeos March 10 – Back Country Roads March 17 – Zac Matthews Band March 24 – The Stevee Nix March 31 – Rollin’ Whiskey April 7 – Destination Unknown And a bunch more! You can go to their events listings and check out all of the details HERE. Go pay them a visit, and take a picture while you're there. Use the hashtag #MYROCKFORD on Facebook or Instagram to share it with us!

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Positive News, Stories, & Rockford Buzz Polls

Page 46 | Positive Stories & Articles | Rockford IL

I Am Rockford: Brian Huels

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I Am Rockford: Brian Huels

The Rockford Network of Professional Women!

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The Rockford Network of Professional Women!

Nom Nom Nom: The Greatest Birthday Party

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Nom Nom Nom: The Greatest Birthday Party

Wine Tasting with an American Bald Eagle

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Wine Tasting with an American Bald Eagle

Scoreboard: Country Night for the IceHogs

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Scoreboard: Country Night for the IceHogs

Don’t Miss It!: Rural on Tap Spring Fling Tasting

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Don’t Miss It!: Rural on Tap Spring Fling Tasting

Time For a Blind Date!

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Time For a Blind Date!

Band & Brush: Apply For Summer ArtsPlace!

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Band & Brush: Apply For Summer ArtsPlace!

I Am Rockford: Tabatha Endres-Cruz

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I Am Rockford: Tabatha Endres-Cruz

List of Great St. Patrick's Day Events!

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List of Great St. Patrick's Day Events!

Run Off the Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Shamrock Shuffle

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Run Off the Corned Beef and Cabbage in the Shamrock Shuffle

Don’t Miss It!: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

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Don’t Miss It!: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On

Free Indoor Racing School!

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Free Indoor Racing School!

Results Are In - The #1 Coffee Spot in Rockford!

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Results Are In - The #1 Coffee Spot in Rockford!

National Pi(e) Day?

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National Pi(e) Day?

I Am Rockford: Marcos Lara

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I Am Rockford: Marcos Lara

Practice Your Paddling with Rocktown Adventures

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Practice Your Paddling with Rocktown Adventures

Last Week To Nominate Rockford for Hockeyville!

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Last Week To Nominate Rockford for Hockeyville!

Don't Miss It!: St. Patrick’s Day Parade & PaddyFest

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Don't Miss It!: St. Patrick’s Day Parade & PaddyFest

Band & Brush: Rock and Roll Institute

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Band & Brush: Rock and Roll Institute

Nom Nom Nom: Steam Plant Family Restaurant

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Nom Nom Nom: Steam Plant Family Restaurant

Don’t Miss It!: Night of Vinyl

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Don’t Miss It!: Night of Vinyl

Scoreboard: Regional Title Games on Tap Friday

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Scoreboard: Regional Title Games on Tap Friday

Louie’s Tap House Grand Opening!

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Louie’s Tap House Grand Opening!

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