Archive for December, 2009

Knowing Return Policies Is Part of Thoughtful Gift Giving

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Knowing Return Policies Is Part of Thoughtful Gift Giving

Rockford, Ill., — December 23, 2009 -Simply buying an appropriate gift in the final days leading to Christmas may be considered a success.  However, it is important to pay attention to the return policies at the stores where you are making purchases.  Doing so will help ensure your thoughtfulness continues even if the original item needs to be returned.

The Better Business Bureau reminds consumers that too many people assume anything can be returned.  This is not always the case.

“Even though this is one of the busiest shopping periods of the year, consumers should always ask what a store’s return policy is,” said Dennis Horton, Director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau of Chicago and Northern Illinois.  “Asking before you buy is always a good idea to avoid the problems and embarrassment of a nonreturnable gift.”

Horton noted that some stores give refunds; some issue store credits only; some consider all, or some, sales to be final.  He added that a store is not legally required to accept items for refund, exchange, or credit unless the merchandise is defective or was misrepresented.

The following are some hints from the Better Business Bureau on how to help make this Christmas merry and worry free.

  • Ask what specific return policy applies to the item you are purchasing. Do not assume the regular return policy applies to sales or clearance items. Some merchants consider sales items to be final.
  • Save your receipts.  They are usually needed for returns.
  • Ask for a gift receipt and enclose it with the present.
  • Don’t remove electronics or similar products from their boxes before wrapping as the original packaging may be required for a return.
  • If you are shopping online, read the posted return policy before buying. If returns are permitted, be sure to print a copy of what procedures and timeframe need to be followed, along with complete contact information for the business from which you are ordering.
  • You don’t have to brave the crowds the day after Christmas, but don’t wait too long to return the item. Pick a time when the store is not likely to be crowded and be polite when talking to customer service. If you are a regular customer, or have a store credit account, mention that fact as you discuss your return options. Merchants are usually willing to accommodate loyal customers.
  • If you are the gift-recipient, do not assume you have the right to return or exchange an unwanted present. Like the shopper, you are bound by the merchant’s return policy.
  • Health regulations, which can prohibit the return of certain items like hats and intimate apparel.

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As a private, non-profit organization, the purpose of the Better Business Bureau is to promote an ethical marketplace. BBBs help resolve buyer/seller complaints by means of conciliation, mediation and arbitration. BBBs also review advertising claims, online business practices and charitable organizations. BBBs develop and issue reports on businesses and nonprofit organizations and encourage people to check out a company or charity before making a purchase or donation.

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Harmony Riley reunion show this Saturday, Dec. 26

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writer

For the first time in more than five years, the band that launched the careers of Rockford natives, Miles and Daxx Nielsen, will reunite this weekend for a special holiday show.

Harmony Riley will play Saturday, Dec. 26, at Giovanni’s. The show will be in the ballroom.

Harmony Riley featured Miles Nielsen on guitar and vocals and Daxx Nielsen behind the drums. The group had a large local and regional following and toured with several bands, including dates with Cheap Trick. It recorded an 11-song CD in 2002 before disbanding.

Since parting from Harmony Riley, Miles Nielsen has launched an up-and-coming solo career fueled by the debut, Miles, and joined Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons as the band’s bass player. The Wandering Sons recently released their first full-length album, Death Won’t Send a Letter, on the RCA subsidiary, Black Seal.

Now living in Nashville, Tenn., Daxx Nielsen has worked as a drummer with a host of national acts such as Dick Dale, A Fine Frenzy, Billy Corgan and Cory Chisel and The Wandering Sons.

Show starts at 9 p.m. Giovanni’s is at 610 N. Bell School Rd. The club can be reached at (815) 398-6411.

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Big holiday weekend planned at Big Cities Lounge

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Paul Green's School of Rock All-Stars play Big Cities Sunday, Dec. 27.By Jim Hagerty
Staff Writerd

Downtown’s Big Cities Lounge will be closed Friday, Dec. 25, for Christmas. Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 26-27), the club will re-opens its doors for two shows.

Saturday, blues favorite, Brother K, featuring bassist Dave Kaye (Dave Hole, Bo Diddley, Barstool Bob, others) and guitar player, Dave Wood (Joe Moss Band, etc.). Wood also plays with the Barstool Bob band. Show starts at 9 p.m.

Paul Green’s School of Rock All-Stars, now in their 11th year on the road, will take the  Big Cities stage Sunday, Dec. 27.

The holiday tour consists of 17 shows in 14 cities and includes stops in New Jersey, Pittsburgh, Ohio and New York. Rockford is the only Illinois date on on the Paul Green School of Rock All-Stars tour.

The All-Stars consist of the best musicians and performers from the nationwide Paul Green School of Rock Music, which has locations in 18 states, including Washington D.C.

Show starts at 7 p.m. Cover charge information can be obtained by calling Big Cities at (815)965-6026.

Big Cities Lounge is at 905 E. State St., across from Uncle Nick’s. A complete music schedule can be found by clicking here.

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Staff Column: Winning the ‘real war on Christmas’

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Susan Johnson

Copy Editor

One of our columnists, Stanley Campbell, wrote a well-meaning but misleading column about
the real war on Christmas.

To clear up any misunderstanding, allow me to address the points he raised and correct the misconceptions.

On one point, he was right—there is a
real war on Christmas.

But it doesn’t stop there. Unfortunately, in our increasingly secular society, some people feel threatened by a public nativity scene, the Boy Scouts’ adherence to scriptural standards, Army or Navy chaplains praying
in Jesus’ name,

a veterans’ memorial cross at Mt. Soledad, Ga., or even a student saying grace over his school lunch. The opponents direct their ire at practicing, sincere Christians. All of the above-named instances have been the subject of lawsuits, many of which have been brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Some of these real Christians who felt that their civil liberties were being abrogated have been defended (often successfully) by organizations such as the Alliance Defense Fund, the Rutherford Institute, and the American Center for Law & Justice (ACLJ).

Stanley says,
those who purport to be Christ’s biggest defenders are leading

the charge in the war against real Christianity. He also accuses Fox News and right-wing Republicans of leading
an attack on health care for the poor, shelter for the homeless, want us to war against the Muslims and put everybody in jail.

That covers a lot of territory, but let’s look at the individual points.

Admittedly, there are false Christians and make-believers among the true believers. Jesus decried the hypocrites of His day and illustrated the problem with the parable of the wheat and the tares (weeds). But notice that when the workers of the landowner asked whether they should immediately cut out the troublesome weeds, the farmer said no, because some of the good grain might be destroyed also. He instructed them to let both grow together until the harvest and then sort them out. In effect, God is saying,
Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!

Yes, Jesus was concerned about the poor, for whom He showed never-failing mercy. But that wasn’t the main focus of His mission. He listed it first in the Beatitudes—
Blessed are the poor in spirit

—the spiritually hungry who feel their need for God’s grace. He came to fill that need, as He called Himself
the Bread of Life.

Jesus explained His mission to Nicodemus, an honest seeker of truth among the Pharisees, who came to Him one night for answers. Jesus told him about being
born again,

for
that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Jesus summarized His mission in the verses of John 3:16, 17:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

(KJV) He then added,
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

Less often do we hear verse 18 quoted:
He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God.

That applies to everyone—rich, poor, middle class, educated, illiterate, Hollywood celebrities, people on welfare. Certainly, Jesus had regard for the poor, but He put it in the proper context. Knowing that His time on earth was limited, He used every available moment for teaching what was most important. When a woman came into a dinner party and anointed the Master’s feet with expensive ointment, Judas objected that the money might have been better spent on the poor. What did Jesus tell him?
Let her alone; against the day of my burying hath she kept this. For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

(John 12:3)

It’s easy to condemn the church for the things they do wrong. The church on earth, at least, is people—very human people who are still sinners. But let’s also give credit where it is due.

Dr. Gary L. Cass, in his book Christian Bashing and the Christian Anti-Defamation Commission (2007), says:
History shows that the pagans in ancient Rome ‘thrust aside anyone who began to be sick, and kept aloof even from their dearest friends, and cast the sufferers out upon the public roads half dead, and left them unburied, and treated them with utter contempt when they died.’ [Dionysius, Works of Dionysius, Epistle 12.5] This is quite contrary to the practice of Christ, who ministered to the lepers. When epidemics broke out, the Romans ‘often fled in fear and left the sick to die without care.’ [Howard W. Haggard, The Doctor in History, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1934)] In this time, there were no hospitals, and Christians would invite the sick into their homes. Later in history, Christian leaders decreed a hospice be built in every city that had a cathedral.

Locally, organizations such as the Rockford Rescue Mission and the Salvation Army minister to the homeless, the needy, and those who have no other recourse. Many people who have been beneficiaries of the services of these Christian organizations can testify how they were helped in a time of need.

Would Obama’s health care reform improve the U.S. system? Ask Shona Holmes, a Canadian citizen who in 2005 began having vision problems. Under Canada’s state-run system, she faced up to six months’ wait just to get to a doctor for a diagnosis. Fearing the delay, she contacted Mayo clinics in the U.S. and traveled to one in Arizona, where within days, she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Knowing that time was critical, she took the diagnosis back to her country but was still unable to get the treatment she desperately needed. So she and her husband returned to the U.S., where the necessary surgery was performed. As reported in the August 2009 Impact, newsletter of Coral Ridge Ministries,
if Holmes had played by the rules of Canada’s government-run health care system, ‘the absolute best-case scenario that would’ve happened to me is I would’ve been permanently blind…the worst-case scenario is I wouldn’t be sitting here today,’ she said.

Do real Christians want to declare war on Muslims? Not if they follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. But Islam itself shows a dichotomy of beliefs, depending on where in the world it is practiced. Fritz Ridenour, in his book So What’s the Difference? A Look at 20 Worldviews, Faiths and Religions and How They Compare to Christianity, states: “A distinction needs to be drawn between the friendly image Islam projects in the West as a religion of love, tolerance and justice with the uncompromising nature of Islam as it has consistently been practiced in history and continues to be practiced today, as a political religion in the East. …  This means that everyone in Islamic societies, including non-Muslims, must either conform to Islamic laws, economics, politics and customs or suffer heavy consequences.


Historically, in countries where Islam has gained political power, people of all rival religions are either wiped out or, in the interest of ‘tolerance’ and ‘open-mindedness’, permitted to exist as second-class citizens.

Coral Ridge Ministries reports that in a school in the U.K., children were told to bow down to Allah—and those who refused were subjected to suspension. A Muslim mob has reportedly assaulted and robbed Christians in Pakistan, then burned more than 100 of their homes—incited by the local imam urging people to
teach the Christians a lesson.

At least 85 Sharia courts are now operating in Britain, judging people according to Islamic principles. But the American Center for Law & Justice has defended several Muslim converts to Christianity who sought asylum in the U.S. because they faced certain death if deported to their native countries.

Under the circumstances, we have more serious things to worry about than whether to say
Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.

Like hanging onto the First Amendment.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Charles Story: District 205 war zone

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Posted in Charles Story | 1 Comment »

Arts & Theater Calendar: week of Dec. 23-29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Ongoing Attractions

Rockford Art Museum – 711 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., noon-5 p.m. Free for everyone every Tues. Info: 815-968-2787.

Kortman Gallery – 107 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: 815-968-0123.

Funktional Arts – 412 N. First St. Furniture & sculpture. Info: 815-969-7942.

Village Gallery – Stewart Square. Artists’ co-op. 45 artists. Open Wed.-Fri., 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Info: 815-963-ARTS.

Bonzi Productions Theatre Group – Family theater, plays, musicals. Info: 815-394-8987.

Wright Museum of Art – 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Info: 608-363-2677.

Logan Museum of Anthropology – 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Info: 608-363-2677.

Galena Artists’ Guild Gallery – 324 Spring St., Galena. Thurs.-Mon., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 815-777-2870.

NIU Art Museum – Hall Case Galleries, 1201 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.; Sat., noon-4 p.m. Free. Info: 815-753-1936.

Rockford College Art Gallery – Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. Tues.-Wed., 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat., 3-6 p.m. Free. Info: 815-226-4034.

Womanspace New Dimensions Art Gallery – Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Drive. Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Info: 815-877-0118.

Beloit Fine Arts Incubator – 520 E. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Other hours by appointment. Info: 608-313-9083.

Monroe Arts Center – 1315 11th St., Monroe, Wis. Info: 608-325-5700.

ArtSpace West – 1426 N. Main St. Tues.-Fri., 3-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Info: 630-546-4727 or 815-988-1501.

Age Quake Theatre – Plays for and about those 55 and older performed in the greater Rockford area. Info: 815-398-8090.

A Movable Feast – Edgebrook Center, 1641 N. Alpine Road. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 815-227-0102.

Jarrett Center – Byron Forest Preserve District, 7993 N. River Road, Byron. Info: 815-234-8535.

Cholke Photography & Fine Art Gallery – 2211 E. State St. Fri., 7:30-10 p.m.; Sat., 4:30-10 p.m.; Sun., 2-5 p.m. Free. Info: 815-226-9398.

Freeport Art Museum –121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., noon-5 p.m. Featuring: Silent Echoes through July 11. Info: 815-235-9755.

DeKalb Area Women’s Center – 1021 State St., DeKalb. Fridays 7-9 p.m. Info: 815-758-1351.

Ingrid Dohm Studio Gallery – 839 N. Perryville Road. Appointments/Info: 815-519-6492.

Midtown Marketplace – 203 Seventh St. Info: 815-961-1269.

The Gallery At JustGoods – 201 Seventh St. Currently seeking local artist to present works in the Community/Art room. New art shows monthly. Info: 815-965-8903 .

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Poetry for the Soul – Bar 3, 326 E. State St. Info: 815-968-9061.

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

Thursday, Dec. 24

Poetry & Open Mic Night – Borders, 199 Deane Drive. 7 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-399-2898.

Scottish Folk Dancers – 2110 Birchwood. 7:15-9 p.m. Every Thurs. Beginners welcome. Info: 815-229-0107.

Poetry & Open Mic – The Lyric Live, 3023 N. Rockton Ave. 7-9 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-519-8458.

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

Friday, Dec. 25

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

Saturday, Dec. 26

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

Sunday, Dec. 27

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

Michelle Coakes Exhibition – Rockford College, Clark Arts Center, 5050 E. State St. 6 p.m. Info: 815-226-4000.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

Monday, Dec. 28

Poetry for Change – Bless the Mic – Your Solelution, 323 N. Church St. 8-10 p.m. Every Mon. Info: 815-969-7359.

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

International Poetry Reading – Pearson Hall, Beloit College, 700 College St., Beloit, Wis. 7 p.m. Info: 608-363-2137.

NIU School of Art Faculty Exhibit – Northern Illinois Art Museum, 1425 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-753-1000.

Hollis Sigler: Expect the Unexpected – Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-2787.

Regional Juried Exhibition VI – Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. Info: 815-235-9755.

“Fable: Explorations of the Fantastic” featuring the artwork of Betsy Youngquist – Kortman Gallery, 107 N. Main St. Info: 815-968-0123.

“The Egyptian Theatre: 80 Years of History” – Nehring Gallery, 164 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Info: 815-758-6363.

Please have your free listing in to The Rock River Times the Thursday preceding our Wednesday publication. Call (815) 964-9767 to report an inaccuracies in these calendars.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Tilted Kilt open inside Clock Tower

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Beth and Paige at the Tilted Kilt inside the Clock Tower Resort, 7810 E. State St., Rockford. Photo by Daniel Jenkins

By Jim Hagerty

Staff Writer

The nationally-known Celtic sports pub and eatery Tilted Kilt is now open inside the Clock Tower Resort. The establishment served its first official guest Friday, Dec. 18. Thursday, Dec. 17, a packed VIP party helped the fresh Tilted Kilt staff get acclimated with a live operation and introduce Rockford to the establishment.

The restaurant features Irish, Scottish and English dishes, which makes it unique, and, according to General Manager Erin Colombi, “tilted.”

The menu includes an extensive selection of appetizers, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and pizzas, averaging from $6 to $10, plus specialty entrees. It is also the first Tilted Kilt in the country to offer a kids’ menu. The staff from this paper will vouch for the desserts, especially the New York Style Cheesecake and the Chocolate Cake.

“My favorite dish is the ‘Kilt-Burner Chicken Wings,’” said Kitchen Manager Mike McKillip. “Our Flannery’s TK Steak and Fat Bastard’s Meatloaf Sandwich are also very popular.”

Thirty-two different beers, a full line of liquor and an array of Celtic cocktails make up the beverage selection. A sign above the bar reads, “Just one more, I swear.” Limericks and classic pub art adorn the wall and make for a warm atmosphere.

With seating for 150 people, the room still caters to smaller groups, with a common bar, “The Captain’s Table,” where singles can sit and mingle in the middle of the room.

Servers, mostly female, are dressed scantily in kilts, which inches at least one natural comparison to the fore. While Tilted Kilt has been referred to as Hooters with a Scottish theme, the difference is significant. Despite the provocative look of the wait staff, the operation is more about a true pub experience, marked by a variety of perks for each guest.

“Great food and cold beer,” Colombi said of what makes a Tilted Kilt experience worth returning for. “The girls are just an added bonus.”

Tilted Kilt servers endure more than just an interview process. Each goes through a rigorous training program.

Aside from 32 beers on tap and a strong staff, Tilted Kilt boasts 32 plasma televisions, plus a 110-inch projection television and aims to be a premier sports venue in the Rockford area. Photo by Daniel Jenkins

When recruiting its first team, management searched for more than good looks and the ability to fill out a uniform. The result, Colombi said, is a staff thoroughly familiar with the menus—food and beverage, and able to help make each guest feel welcome and have a good time.

“It’s about more than just being good-looking,” Colombi explained. “We aim to make a connection with every guest that comes in, and we have a great team.”

Aside from 32 beers on tap and a strong staff, Tilted Kilt boasts 32 plasma televisions, plus a 110-inch projection television and aims to be a premier sports venue in the Rockford area.

“That’s one of our real claims to fame. You can see at least six TVs from each seat,” Colombi said. “All sports, all the time.” She also said the pub will offer the Pay-Per-View UFC Fight Nights.

A game room offers games of pool, darts and the online golf game, Golden Key.

The pub also features a small stage where acoustic acts and small bands will perform. Columbi said she’s a big fan of Dueling Pianos and bagpipers, and she intends to book them soon. Live music also will be featured on Tilted Kilt’s 84-seat patio, which will open next spring

Tilted Kilt is open Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m. to midnight; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Providing 100 new jobs for the area, although Tilted Kilt and Clock Tower have mutual ownership, the franchise is owned independently from the resort.

The Clock Tower Resort and Tilted Kilt are at 7801 E. State St. More information about Tilted Kilt can be found online at www.tiltedkilt.com or by calling (815) 229-4139. The restaurant is in The Clock Tower, online at www.clocktowerresort.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Vibe Entertainment News | 1 Comment »

Guest Column: Holiday indulgance

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Dr. Jonathan Taylor

Northern Illinois Medical Group

It’s the holiday season once again, and that means celebrations of the season have begun. Many of my patients are asking me how they can follow their diets during the holidays. The reality is that everyone is going to cheat on their diet to some extent over the holidays. The key to surviving on a diet during the holidays is to prepare for the temptations before they arrive.

If you are going to a party or dinner where you know they will be serving sweets, prepare by eating a healthy snack or small meal before you go so you are not as likely to overindulge at the party. When we are very hungry, we tend to overindulge and to eat too fast. The signal from your stomach to your brain to tell you it’s full takes time, usually up to 20 minutes.

One method to try to decrease overeating is to take three or four large bites of whatever you are eating and then completely stop eating for 10 minutes. This will give your stomach a chance to tell your brain you’ve had enough.

Another pitfall of holiday parties is the abundance of sweets. Eating too many sweets will cause your blood sugar to rise and fall quickly, which is stressful on your body. Try to increase your servings of foods high in fiber, like vegetables, as the fiber will help to slow the release of sugars into your bloodstream.

An ideal diet would include 10 servings of vegetables per day, with a variety of different colors of vegetables. Divide your plate into thirds, with one-third salad or raw vegetables, one-third cooked vegetables and one-third protein. As for starches, take a small handful or less, or skip them entirely so you can have a similar-sized portion of a healthy dessert. Remember to drink plenty of water, especially if drinking any alcohol. Water is needed for your body to process your food and to avoid dehydration and hangover symptoms.

Whatever you are going to do this holiday season, just remember to use moderation, and don’t let your indulgence discourage you from returning to your diet after the holidays. All of us at Northern Illinois Medical Group wish you and your families the best for the holiday season and the coming new year.

Dr. Jonathan Taylor of Northern Illinois Medical Group, 5301 E. State St., Suite 101, Rockford, IL 61108, can be reached by phone at (815) 397-8500 or e-mail at drtaylor@nimedgroup.com, or visit www.nimedgroup.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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1 green thing: Twelve eco-ways to get ready for Christmas

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Jan Herbert

Rockford Park District

Whether you were “green” before the color was fashionable or whether you’re just ready to find the “shade” that works best for you, here’s information about doing just “one green thing.”

1. Start saving newspapers so you will have plenty of eco-wrapping paper.

2. Pick up the pinecones in your yard (they will be handy for decorating, wrapping, and even starting fires in the fireplace!)

3. Use last year’s holiday cards as “tags” for gift-giving.

4. Did you save ribbons from last year?

5. If you are knitting, crocheting or making any fabric gifts, save the scraps of yarn and fabric to use while you are wrapping gifts.

6. Clean the fireplace and toss the ashes under the pine tree or on the compost pile. Avoid adding to your garbage can.

7. Empty the aluminum can bin.You can drop them in the big wagon on Hawick Street in Rockton (money goes to Wimpy’s Fund) or cash them in and donate them. Makes you feel good to be helping the environment and people who need it!

8. Pick up the sticks in your yard and stash indoors so you will have plenty of kindling for the winter.

9. Trim the pine tree and use the boughs to make something for your front door. Put it together with string instead of wire, and when the season is over, you can just toss it onto the compost pile (or separate the boughs and slip under the pine tree for mulch).

10. Stock up on organic ingredients for your cookie baking (they will taste better than ever).

11. If you receive electronic gifts (computers, printers, monitors and televisions) for the holiday, you can recycle the old ones at American TV on East State Street on Dock No. 4 in the back.

12. Check the Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful Web site (www.knib.org) for details about the other recycling, including the locations of the 13 sites for your holiday tree.

For more information, e-mail Jan Herbert at JanHerbert@RockfordParkdistrict.org.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Renewable Energy | No Comments »

The Four Babes return to Coronado March 26

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

The Four Bitchin’ Babes will return to the Coronado Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m., Friday, March 26. The Babes are showcasing their musical and comedic talents in a new show called “Diva Nation…Where Music, Laughter and Girlfriends Reign!”

Tickets are $35 for orchestra level or lower balcony and $25 for upper balcony. They can be purchased at the Coronado Box Office, online at www.coronadopac.org or charge by phone at (815) 968-0595.

After seven recordings and nearly 20 years, the multi-talented gal pals (Sally Fingerett, Debi Smith, Deirdre Frint and Nancy Moran) who brought you “Hormonal Imbalance…A Mood Swinging Musical Revue!”, unveil their new entertainment destination, “Diva Nation…Where Music, Laughter, and Girlfriends Reign!”

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

Community Calendar: Week of Dec. 23-29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Ongoing Attractions

Burpee Museum of Natural History – 737 N. Main St. Mon.-Fri.; noon-5 p.m. Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Donation days every Mon. Info: 815-965-3433.

Discovery Center Museum – 711 N. Main St. Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Info: 815-963-6769.

Tinker Swiss Cottage – 411 Kent St. Tours 1, 2, 3 p.m., Tues.-Sun. Info: 815-964-2424.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden – 2715 S. Main St. Sun.-Thurs. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission Mon. Info: 815-965-8146.

Anderson Japanese Gardens – 318 Spring Creek Road. Info: 815-229-9390.

Memorial Hall – 211 N. Main St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m.Mon-Fri., or by appointment. Info: 815-969-1999.

Camp Grant – 1004 Samuelson Road. 8 a.m.-2 p.m., Tues.-Sat. Restaurant on premises. Info: 815-395-0679.

Lewis Lemon Community Center – 1993 Mulberry St. Mon.-Fri., 5:30-11 p.m. Free. Info: 815-987-8800.

Ethnic Heritage Museum – 1129 S. Main St. Sun., 2-4 p.m. Info: 815-962-7402.

Pine Tree Pistol Club – Info about club & classes: 815-874-7399.

Graham-Ginestra House Museum – 1115 S. Main St. Sundays, 2-4 p.m. Info: 815-968-6044.

Midway Village – 6799 Guilford Road. Mon.-Sat., noon-4 p.m. Info: 815-397-9112.

Stone Quarry Recreation Park – 6845 N. German Church Road, Byron. Mon.-Fri., 4-8 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., noon-8 p.m. Info: 815-234-8900.

Health Classes/Seniors Meetings/Support Groups – OSF Saint Anthony Center for Health. Call for specific meetings/dates/info: 815-395-4505.

Support Groups/Youth Drop-in Hours – Diversity of Rockford, 117 S. Third St. Free. Weekly. Call for specific meetings/dates/info: 815-964-2639.

Alcoholics Anonymous – Call for locations/times/info: 815-558-4582, 815-227-4633 or 815-968-0333.

Narcotics Anonymous – Call for locations/times/info: 815-964-5959 or 888-656-7329.

Support for Retired Grievers – Zion Lutheran Church, 925 Fifth Ave. 10-11:30 a.m. Free. Every other Wed. Call for dates/info: 815-636-4750.

Overeaters Anonymous – Various locations/dates. Call for prices/info: 815-397-8512 or 815-547-5932.

Rockford Public Library Used Book Shop – Rockford Public Library, 215 N. Wyman St. Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 815-965-7606.

Ken-Rock Community Center – 3218 11th St. Various activities throughout the year. Info: 815-398-8864.

Womanspace – 3333 Maria Linden Drive. Various activities throughout the year. Info: 815-877-0118.

Heritage Farm Museum – 8059 N. River Road, Byron. Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Info: 815-234-8535, ext. 217.

Poplar Grove Vintage Wings and Wheels Museum – 5151 Orth Road, Poplar Grove. Open weekdays 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Info: 815-547-3115.

Rock River Valley Blood Center – 419 N. Sixth St. Mon.-Thurs., 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.; Fri., 6:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Info: 815-965-8751 or 866-889-9037.

Kishwaukee Valley A.B.A.T.E. Meeting – V.F.W., 2018 Windsor Road, Loves Park. Second Sunday of each month, 2 p.m. Info: 815-544-3088.

Open Doors – Court Street United Methodist Church Chapel, 215 N. Court St. 12:30-1 p.m. Every Wed. Enter north end. Info: 815-962-6061.

Historic Auto Attractions – 13825 Metric Drive, Roscoe. Tues.-Sat., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Info: 815-389-9999.

Angelic Organics Learning Center – 1547 Rockton Road, Caledonia. Various classes & activities throughout the year. Info: 815-389-8455.

Byron Museum of History – 106 N. Union St., Byron. Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info: 815-234-5031.

The Bridge Center of Rockford – 4861 American Road. Games & classes for beginners through experts. Info: 815-873-9334.

Becca’s Closet – One In Christ Church, 1502 Parkview Ave. Accepting donations of gently-used formal wear. Donations accepted Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at: Machesney Park City Hall (300 Machesney Road), Classic Formal Wear (Colonial Village Mall), United Way of Rock River Valley (612 N. Main St.), Crusader Clinic (1200 W. State St.) & Harlem Roscoe Fire Station (Bridge & Main streets, Roscoe). Info: 815-289-3551.

Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off – Rock River Water Reclamation District, 3333 Kishwaukee St. Sat., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sun., noon-4 p.m. Info: 815-387-7400.

Club Round: A Clubhouse for Round People – 7120 Windsor Lake Pkwy., Suite 202, Loves Park. Various activities throughout the year. Info: 815-639-0312.

Rockton Township Historical Society Museum – Corner of Blackhawk Blvd. & Green St., Rockton. Open for tours every Sat. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Info: 815-624-4830.

Having Trouble Hearing on the Phone? – Center for Sight & Hearing, 8038 Macintosh Lane. Mon.-Fri. Free amplified phone program. Must be Illinois resident and have standard phone service. Application/info: 815-332-6800.

Stretch & Belly Dance Combo Beginner’s Class – Club Round, 7120 Windsor Lake Parkway. 7:30-9 p.m. Classes every Mon., Wed. & Fri. Registration/info: 815-639-0312.

Adventure Club – Jarrett Center, Byron Forest Preserve District, 7993 N. River Road, Byron. 9-11 a.m. or 1-3 p.m. Ages 3-6. Info: 815-234-8535, ext. 200.

Representative Ron Wait Office Hours – Zeke Giorgi Building, 200 S. Wyman St. Every Thursday. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Info: 815-987-7483.

Toddler Time – Mount Olive Lutheran Church, 2001 N. Alpine Road. 9:15 -10:15 a.m. Every Mon. and Tues. Free. Info: 815-399-3171.

Donations for the Carrie Lynn Center – Drop off locations: Boves Auto, 1118 Ferguson St; Bargain Barn Antiques, 11951 Main St., Roscoe. Accepting donations through Jan. 31, 2010. Info: 815-987-3169.

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Weekly Preschool Storytime – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Ages 3-5. Every Wed. Info: 815-332-5161.

Cruisers’ and Walkers’ Storytime – Rockford Public Library, 215 N. Wyman St. Children younger than 2. Every Wed. 9:30-10:15 a.m. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Bingo – Baltic Star Lodge, 1524 Ninth St. Doors open 9 a.m., first bingo 11:45 a.m. Every Wed. Info: 815-965-8132.

Preschool Story Time – Beloit Public Library, 409 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. Every Wed. 10 a.m. Ages 3-5. Info: 608-364-2915.

Lapsit Storytime – Beloit Public Library, 409 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. Every Wed. 10 a.m. Ages 12-24 months. Info: 608-364-2915.

Garden Tour – Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St. 1, 2 & 3 p.m. Riding tours, reserve a week in advance. Self-guided walking tours also available. Info: 815-965-8146.

Pre-Read – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. 9:30 a.m. For children ages 3-6 and a caregiver. Info: 815-332-5161.

Comedy Night – Whiskey’s Roadhouse, 3207 N. Main St. Info: 815-877-8007.

Creature Feature and Music Nights – Otto’s Nightclub & Underground, 118 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. Every Wed. Info: 815-758-2715.

Community Advent Services – Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St. Noon. Every Wed. through Dec. 23. Info: 815-962-6061.

Cheerleading Class – Ken-Rock Community Center, 3218 11th St. 6-8 p.m. Info: 815-398-8864.

Gentle Yoga – OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St. 12:10 p.m.-12:55 p.m. Info: 815-395-5036.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

Victorian Christmas – Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum, 411 Kent St. Info: 815-964-2424.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Advent Celebration – Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St. Noon. Info: 815-962-6061.

Thursday, Dec. 24

Comedy Night – Chubby Rain House of Tunes, 4210 Countryside Estates Drive, Poplar Grove. 9-11:30 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-765-1884.

Swing Dancing – St. Edward Church, 3004 11th St. 8-10:30 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-914-7441.

Support for Grief After Suicide – Zion Lutheran Church, 925 Fifth Ave. 7 p.m. Free. Every other Thurs. Call for schedule/info: 815-636-4750.

2-Year-Olds’ Storytime – Rockford Public Library Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St. 9:30-10 a.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815- 965-7606, option 5.

Shall We Dance Ballroom Dance – Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road. Beginners 6 p.m., Intermediate/Advanced, 7 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-718-1814.

Pre-School Storytime – Rockford Public Library Rock River Branch, 3128 11th St. 11 a.m.-noon. Ages 3-5. Every Thurs. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

A Ministry of Restoration Bible Study – Montague Branch Library, 1238 S. Winnebago St. 5:30 p.m. Every Thurs. Prayer every Tues. 6:30 p.m. For prayer or info: 815-966-6322.

Pre-Read – Blackhawk Fire Station, 4919 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley. 10:30 a.m. For children ages 3-6. Info: 815-332-5161.

Wee Read – Blackhawk Fire Station, 4919 Blackhawk Road, Cherry Valley. 9:30 a.m. For children up to age 3 and a caregiver. Info: 815-332-5161.

Kids Craft Night – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. 6 p.m. Info: 815-332-5161.

Rockford Tai Chi Club Traditional Tai Chi Chuan Classes – Rockford Tai Chi Club, 7131 Windsor Lake Pkwy., Loves Park. 5 p.m. Info: 815-494-9483.

Gentle Yoga – OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St. 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Info: 815-395-5036.

21st Annual Holiday Festival of Lights – Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. Second St. 5 p.m. Info: 815-965-0768.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Friday, Dec. 25

Drop-In Storytime – Rockford Public Library Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St. 10-10:30 a.m. Every Fri. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

Gentle Yoga – OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St. 12:10 p.m.-12:55 p.m. Info: 815-395-5036.

21st Annual Holiday Festival of Lights – Sinnissippi Park. 5 p.m. Info: 815-965-0768.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Saturday, Dec. 26

Free Tae Kwon Do Lessons – St. Patrick’s Church, 2505 School St. 3-4 p.m. Every Sat. Info: 815-965-9539.

Public Ice Skating – Carlson Arctic Ice Arena & Indoor Playground, 4150 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park. Info: 815-969-4069.

Rockford Tai Chi Club Traditional Tai Chi Chuan Classes – Rockford Tai Chi Club, 7131 Windsor Lake Pkwy., Loves Park. 7 p.m. Info: 815-494-9483.

Weiskopf Observatory Public Viewing – Byron Forest Preserve District, Weiskopf Observatory, 7993 N. River Road, Byron. Every Sat. Info: 815-234-8535, ext. 216.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

21st Annual Holiday Festival of Lights – Sinnissippi Park. 5 p.m. Info: 815-965-0768.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

IceHogs vs. Milwaukee Admirals – MetroCentre, 300 Elm St. 7 p.m. Info: 815-968-5222.

Sunday, Dec. 27

Good God Questions – Zion Lutheran Church, 925 Fifth Ave. 9:15 a.m. Every Sun. Free. Info: 815-964-4609.

Brew ’n’ View Movie Night – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. 7 p.m. Every Sun. Info: 815-965-0931.

“The Way” – Trinity Lutheran Church, 200 N. First St. Every first & third Sun. 5 p.m. Info: 815-963-4446.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

21st Annual Holiday Festival of Lights – Sinnissippi Park. 5 p.m. Info: 815-965-0768.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Rockford Rampage vs. Baltimore Blast – MetroCentre, 300 Elm St. 5 p.m. Info: 815-968-5222.

“Why We Love War and Hate Peace” – Court Street United Methodist Church, 215 N. Court St. 1:30 p.m. Info: 815-964-7111.

Monday, Dec. 28

Story Time – Rockford Public Library Lewis Lemon Branch, 1988 Jefferson St. 10-10:30 a.m. Ages 5-9. Every Mon. Registration/info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Pub Quiz – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. 5-8 p.m. Every Mon. Info: 815-965-0931.

3-Year-Olds’ Storytime – Rockford Public Library Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St. 10-10:30 a.m. Every Mon. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Wee Read – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. Every Mon. 9:30 a.m. For children younger than 3 w/adult. Info: 815-332-5161.

Starlight Storytime – Rockford Public Library Rock River Branch, 3128 11th St. Every Mon. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Teen Gamers – Rockford Public Library Montague Branch, 1238 S. Winnebago St. 4-7 p.m. Ages 13-17. Every Mon. Registration/info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Chocolate City Nightlife – Bar 3, 326 E. State St. 9 p.m. Every Mon. Info: 815-621-4319.

Wee Read – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. 9:30 a.m. For children up to age 3 and a caregiver. Info: 815-332-5161.

“Go” Game Club – Beloit Public Library, 409 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. 6:30 p.m. Ages 8 and older. Every Mon. Info: 608-364-2915.

Gentle Yoga – OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St. 12:10 p.m.-12:55 p.m. Info: 815-395-5036.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Drawing with Melinda: Dinosaurs – Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St. Noon. Info: 815-965-3433.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Baby TALK – Rockford Public Library Rock River Branch, 3128 11th St. 11-11:45 a.m. Every Tues. Info: 815-965-7606, option 4.

Goodnews Addiction Program: Now Living Free – First Assembly of God, 5950 Spring Creek Road. 6:30-9 p.m. Free. Every Tues. Info: 815-877-8000.

Story Time – Rockford Public Library Montague Branch, 1238 S. Winnebago St. 10-10:30 a.m. Ages 5-9. Every Tues. Registration/info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Real Estate Investing Informational Class – Century Building, 7210 E. State St. 7 p.m. Free. Every Tues. Reservations/info: 815-639-9278.

“Group Hope” Depression Support – Grace Episcopal Church, 10 S. Cherry St., Freeport. 7-8:30 p.m. Every first and third Tues. Info: 815-235-6171.

Barks & Books – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. 6 p.m. Info: 815-332-5161.

Family Story Time – Cherry Valley Public Library, 755 E. State St., Cherry Valley. Every Tues. 6:30 p.m. Info: 815-332-5161.

Teen Gamers – Rockford Public Library Lewis Lemon Branch, 1988 Jefferson St. 3-5 p.m. Every Tues. Ages 13-17. Registration/info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Look, Listen & Learn Storytime – Rockford Public Library Rockton Centre Branch, 3112 N. Rockton Ave. 11 a.m.-noon. Ages 3-5. Every Tues. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

4- to 6-Year-Olds Storytime – Rockford Public Library Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St. 10-10:45 a.m. Every Tues. Info: 815-965-7606, option 5.

Drop-In Storytime – Rockford Public Library Rockton Centre Branch, 3112 N. Rockton Ave. 3:30-4:15 p.m. Every Tues. Info: 815-965-7606, option 4.

Molly’s Black & White Movie Nights – 505 Lounge, 505 E. State St. Free. Every Tues. Classic movies on projection screen with drink & dinner specials. Info: 815-962-3354.

Rockford Tai Chi Club Traditional Tai Chi Chuan Classes – Rockford Tai Chi Club, 7131 Windsor Lake Pkwy., Loves Park. 5 p.m. Info: 815-494-9483.

Edgar Cayce A.R.E Meetings – Highland Place, 2222 E. State St. Every other Tues. 7-8:30 p.m. Info: 815-234-2394.

Babysitting Class – Ken-Rock Community Center, 3218 11th St. 6-8 p.m. Info: 815-398-8864.

Gentle Yoga – OSF Center for Health, 5510 E. State St. 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Info: 815-395-5036.

“Paws for Pets” Pet Food Drive to Benefit Kibble Korner – Various drop off locations. Info: 815-963-6449.

Busy Winter Days – Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Info: 815-963-6769.

Rockford Park District’s Summer Job Splash Event – Indoor Sports Center, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Info: 815-289-0748.

Please have your free listing in to The Rock River Times the Thursday preceding our Wednesday publication. Call (815) 964-9767 to report an inaccuracies in these calendars.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Community Calendar | No Comments »

What’s Brewin’? Arcadia IPA a diamond in the rough

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Tyler Estabrook

Staff Writer

As a wheat beer and stout nerd, I have only begun to realize there are other worthy beer styles I have neglected to cover in my column. One of these is the India Pale Ale (IPA).

What sets IPAs apart from regular pale ales, first and foremost, is the hop bitterness, an artifact of times when ale had to survive long sea voyages to keep the thirst of Her Majesty’s troops quenched. These days, IPAs tend to be especially well hopped, and in some cases that’s all there really is to taste. However, this is mostly a tendency of the newer American versions, since the traditional British ones are more nuanced. Still, the hallmark of a good IPA is a diverse spread of flavors to counterbalance the bitter hops. Some American IPAs are simply too tart and bitter to be enjoyable.

Arcadia Brewing Company of Battle Creek, Mich., makes a more English-inspired IPA with low bitterness, medium body and a well-rounded flavor.

After pouring into a glass, this IPA becomes a beautiful, hazy-orange-hued brew with a thick, vibrant head. There are pronounced nutty and woody flavors, with a pinch of citrus, alongside the hops, and a shockingly “wet” (as opposed to dry) aftertaste for an IPA.

This brew is built on a base of traditional English IPAs, but with a modern reinterpretation. And while the style is English, the hops are American, and fortunately the brewers didn’t load down this IPA with them. My verdict is Arcadia IPA is a rich and palatable version of the style, on par with Dundee IPA in terms of high drinkablility, although the latter is an American-style IPA.

This makes me eager to try the rest of Arcadia’s line, because American interpretations of English ales usually turn out to be quite tasty.

Send questions or beer recommendations to Tyler Estabrook at whatsbrewin@gmail.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in What's Brewin'? | No Comments »

The Second Half: My shopping challenge

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Kathleen D. Tresemer

Columnist

I figured with the Christmas season starting around Halloween this year, I could relax a little—you know, shop the sales, wait for the best deals, no rushing around like a maniac. Then, I read my November Horoscope by Susan Miller on the Astrology Zone Web site (www.astrologyzone.com):

“You would be wise to get your holiday shopping done no later than Dec. 7, so that means starting now. If you put it off until the last minute, you will run into deep trouble, for Mercury will be sending out his little gremlins early in December, and you won’t be able to pull a rabbit out of a hat as you often do at holiday time. Times have changed, and stores will be low on stock this year. …Do yourself an enormous favor and begin now.”

I never had a horoscope be so darn specific—and accurate—about my shopping habits, causing me to get all superstitious and run right out with my checkbook. I actually went shopping with my son on the day after Thanksgiving, although I still can’t figure out how he convinced me to go out on Black Friday…or how he conned me into driving!

Nevertheless, we slept in and didn’t leave until 8 a.m.—imagine that! The good news is: we got started about the time those super bargain hunters who shop before dawn were going home, and before the afternoon “I just recovered from eating too much and feel like walking it off” crowd. I even found parking spots within visual distance of the stores, a Christmas miracle!

Usually, I am a lousy shopper, slow to make decisions and ready to stop for lunch after the first hour, whining, “Too much input!” Fortunately, my 20-something son is used to my shenanigans, and tried heading me off at the pass: “Could we stop real quick at the gas station, Mom?” he asked, jumping into my car. “I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and a muffin!”

Smart kid. It might not have been the greatest breakfast, but it kept me from sliding into a corner in a trance, overwhelmed by all the red and green sparkling stuff. When we were done, we stopped at Happy Wok for lunch. That way, I went home feeling refreshed and full of garlic shrimp, instead of wiped out and cranky.

Instead of getting wildly creative this year, I set some limits. I am only giving gifts in two categories:

1.) Stuff people need; and

2.) Stuff people want, but won’t buy for themselves.

I know, I know…that seems logical, but how many gifts have you given that are neither? I have handed out countless boxes of cheese- and sausage-type foods with the affiliated crap that no one needs or wants, like glass domes or cheese knives shaped like reindeer. For heaven’s sake, have you never gone to a garage sale and seen that holiday debris priced at “10 cents for the entire box”?

Or how about those bath collections of rose-scented bath beads and lotion and soap that you find on the discount table? Honestly, if it doesn’t have a name brand on it, the recipient is more likely to have a rose-colored rash than to smell good. Unless they totally LOVE the product (you know this because they always have some in their bathroom or on their dresser), DON’T GET THEM ANY! Leave the junky gifts, like Santa-shaped candy or “as seen on TV” stuff, to the younger-than-10 set. In my Second Half, I like to think I can pick out a decent gift, so here’s some last-minute guidance.

Stuff people need:

υ Food products—I gave young people in their own apartments gift cards for the butcher shop one year, but be sure they have a freezer bigger than a shoe box. I also like steak boxes or pheasants—just be sure the recipients will eat this fancy stuff, not pawn it off on their in-laws.

υ Clothing—Family members usually get some winter clothing item, since we live in the country and spend so much time outside (RULE: No socks or underwear, not even the good stuff.) Try shearling moccasins and earmuffs, or good-quality hoodies.

υ Tools—I am a fan of little tools that folks never think of, like flashlights and kitchen shears. Get only good-quality tools that are meant for work, though, not cheap holiday stocking stuffers that fall apart the next day.

Stuff people want but won’t buy for themselves:

υ Harley-Davidson products—Although to be fair, half the biker folks I know will buy this stuff in lieu of groceries or electricity.

υ Personal care products—My gal friends will go without pampering if life dictates, so I’m a big fan of spa treatments or high-quality nail care kits…I got one of these last year from my “little sis” and LOVE it!

υ Books—Includes magazine subscriptions like the Smithsonian or National Geographic.

“How’d she do?” you wonder. “Did she beat the astrological clock?”

I had all but stocking stuffers bought and wrapped by Dec. 7, even covered the two December birthday kids on my list. Now, I’ll never know what would have happened if I ignored my horoscope, but what I do have is time for a facial—I’m pretty and serene.

Merry Christmas to all, from me and mine!

In her second half of life, Kathleen D. Tresemer is both a journalist and an award-winning fiction writer. She lives with her husband on a small ranch in rural Shirland, Ill. Kathleen can be contacted by e-mail at kdt-insights@hotmail.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in The Second Half | No Comments »

Hampshire wins Harlem tourney; Lutheran also undefeated at tournament

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Matt Nestor

Sports Columnist

Hampshire and Lutheran seemed to be on a collision course during the 32nd Annual Harlem Holiday Tournament.

Both went undefeated in pool play, dominating all three opponents to go 3-0 in their pool. Sycamore, however, also went undefeated in pool play.

Playing in the same pool as Lutheran, the two teams did not meet. The tiebreaker for these situations is the team that allowed the fewest points goes on to the title game.

For Lutheran, who likes to play a fast-paced game, the tiebreaker was unkind. Despite beating their three pool opponents by an average margin of 23 points, Sycamore allowed 11 fewer points and were able to make it to the championship game.

Lutheran coach Joni Carlson said she knew the tiebreaker rules and that it could come down to that. But she did not want to change their game plan or anything that was working to try to make the title game.

That worked to Sycamore’s advantage. Sycamore applies a slower pace to the game and used good defense to play their way into the title matchup with Hampshire.

Once there, however, the Spartans were thoroughly dominated by Hampshire. The Whip-Purs pressed their way to a dominant performance in the championship game.

Hampshire only allowed one basket in each of the first two quarters, racing out to a 28-4 halftime advantage. They would go on to collect the title with a 66-20 win.

Alex Dumoulin of Hampshire was named the tournament MVP. She scored 11 points in the championship game. Jessica Van Dorin hit seven 3-pointers and scored 21 points in the title game win.

For Lutheran, it was not all bad news. They did defeat Christian Life 69-26 to take third place in the tournament and to stay undefeated for the season.

Lutheran guard Laura Rushing scored a game-high 17 points on her way to a spot on the all-tournament team.

Share your thoughts with Matt Nestor via e-mail at sportsnest@gmail.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Doug Furze leaves big legacy

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Local musician and community activist Doug Furze passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 50. Furze played with a number of bands, including the Boulas Trio, Blunatics and others. A memorial service and celebration will be Dec. 27 at Lyran Hall in Rockford. Photo courtesy of Kathy Ryan

Memorial service, celebration Dec. 27 at Lyran Hall for musician who passed away last week

By Jim Hagerty

Staff Writer

Even those who didn’t know musician Doug Furze have likely attended an art- or music-related event the lifelong Rockford resident had his hand in over the last two decades. Furze passed away Thursday, Dec. 17, after a six-month battle with cancer. He was 50.

As a musician, Furze played with a host of bands, including the Boulas Trio—a name he chose after his first name, Douglas, was repeatedly misspelled by the local daily—Blunatics and others. Doug performed as an acoustic solo and duo act, teamed with many area notables, for hundreds of performances on just about every stage in the Rock River Valley.

Although he loved to play guitar and sing with his own acts, his baby is Concerts for Charity, a fund-raising organization he founded with friends to help those in need by hosting several festivals where the music comes from a cadre of performers.

Furze’s Catfish John Memorial Music Festival helped raise money to buy guitars for local schools. Hot Fest for Hospice, a day-long concert and salsa-making contest, donated proceeds to Hospice and other charities.

When a fellow musician or friend—and Doug was never short of those—was in need, it was often Furze who rallied to fill whatever gap he could. Doug spread his love through the power of song, regardless of who’d be performing it. He even opened up his home to friends and just about anyone who needed a place to hang their hat.

When Doug was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this summer, it didn’t take long for hundreds to turn out and organize a string of benefits for him, while thousands attended to champion for the man who did the same for countless others in the last 25 years. Shortly after his diagnosis, Furze said if he were going to leave this world, he knew of only one way to go, and promised he would “go out singing.” Doug made good on that promise, taking the stage at each of the benefits in his honor, despite being in extreme pain and, at times, unable to hold down food.

During a Furze-led Blunatics set at Deli Italia Lounge last month—his 50th birthday party—Doug didn’t miss a note and sang in the same jovial tone he’s been charming local audiences with for more than two decades. Most everyone who knew him understands what kept him going for such a strong battle. Furze even kept playing dates at area nursing homes, performing for seniors, doing his last shows just a few weeks before he died.

Furze also worked with the Rockford Area Arts Council, City of Rockford and other organizations to promote and keep the arts alive in Rockford.

The Doug Furze Legacy

As legacies go, charities are remembered for the dream and vision of those who start them. For Concerts for Charity, the vision packs more than an idea and road map to raise a few bucks for those in need. Doug’s vision was as far-reaching as his friendships, which included political figures, fellow musicians, business owners and artists. Doug loved people, and it didn’t matter from where they came or where they were going. He lived for a peaceful today and harmonious tomorrow—one where people could depend on one another and enjoy a few melodies along the way.

Music was more than just sounds to Furze. It brought people together and helped them forget life’s stresses, if only for just a few hours. Although he didn’t sell millions of records, or pack arenas, Doug Furze defined passion when it came to the things one loves and holds dear. He didn’t care if he played for 10 people or 10,000. The show always went on—“As long as the people that are here are having a good time,” he’d say.

A show never went on without a group toast, as Doug often called everyone in attendance to raise their glasses for a “social!”

Furze was given an annual Rockford Mayor’s Arts award in October. Besides his 2001 Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) Award for Best Acoustic Performer, Furze was presented with an award for Lifetime Achievement in July.

Doug’s memorial service is Sunday, Dec. 27, at Lyran Hall. A eulogy service will begin at 3 p.m., followed by a musical celebration of his life. Lyran Hall is at 1115 Fourth Ave., Rockford.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

Resolve tough holiday stains with expert tips

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Courtesy of ARA Content

According to a recent survey of 50 top parenting, style and entertaining bloggers, 94 percent plan to entertain this holiday season. Decorating the house with seasonal decor and linens is part of the holiday tradition for many families. However, more than 84 percent of hosts anticipate they’ll have to throw away linens following the celebration.

The holiday dinner table is a buffet of tough stains waiting to happen. Survey respondents reported red wine as the toughest stain challenge, followed by cranberry sauce, gravy and dark-colored juice. You may want to consider investing in a red tablecloth so stains can blend in.

To keep the holidays festive and garments and decor fresh year after year, the stain fighting experts at RESOLVE fabric care offer the following tips for fighting holiday stains:

• Always dab spills and treat as soon as possible.

• Pre-treat stains while they’re still on the table. A product like RESOLVE MAX Power Stain Stick ensures the spot will come out in the wash, even after sitting in the laundry basket for a week.

• If stains are found after the party, treat with a stain fighter specially formulated for dried-in stains like RESOLVE MAX Trigger. These products help to eliminate set stains.

• Read the labels on garments and linens, as they contain useful information about an item’s tolerance and often include water temperature instructions.

• To keep holiday tablecloths looking new year after year, use RESOLVE Bright & White In-the-Wash Laundry Booster, keeping colors bright and whites white after every wash load.

Rather than tossing clothing or holiday tablecloths, try fighting the stain first. The RESOLVE fabric care portfolio, formerly called Spray ’n Wash, leverages 40 years of stain-fighting experience to break through the toughest holiday spots and spills. Look for the familiar green bottle—now with a red RESOLVE label—in the laundry care aisle. The products are safe to use on holiday linens, as well as everyday pieces, though you should always read the label first. For more information, visit www.PowerOfResolve.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Home & Garden | No Comments »

Superintendent responds to Educational Office Personnel letter

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Editor’s note: The following letter from Rockford Public School District 205 Superintendent Dr. LaVonne M. Sheffield is addressed to Mary Beth Mickelson, president, Educational Office Personnel Association, IEA-NEA. Sheffield’s letter, which was sent to Mickelson Dec. 1, 2009, is in response to a letter sent to Sheffield Nov. 25, 2009, signed by Mary Beth Mickelson/Unity 205, AFSCME Locals, 262 paraprofessionals, 1,275 school bus drivers, 3,210 Food Service Workers IEA/NEA Locals, Educational Office Personnel Association, Educational Interpreters Association, Rockford Education Association and Rockford Building Maintenance Association. Mickelson’s letter was printed in the Dec. 2-8, 2009, issue of The Rock River Times as a letter to the editor under the headline “Letter to Dr. LaVonne Sheffield.” Sheffield’s letter is presented here as a response to Mickelson’s letter to the editor submission.

December 1, 2009

Dear Ms. Mickelson:

I am in receipt of your letter of November 25 and must say that I am troubled by its content. In many respects, I am confounded.

You seem to call into question the efforts to improve the appearance and functionality of the Administration Building. I’m quite surprised that, as the president of an employee bargaining unit, you would oppose measures to create a more vibrant, customer friendly and inviting work environment. The improvements being made to our District headquarters are modest in scale and cost, but they send a strong message—that we are a professional organization that cares about its public appearance.

Surely, it has not escaped your attention that we also are setting the same tone in all of our schools. The concept that clean and safe schools are a precursor to learning is well-established. I know you are not suggesting that our students should be in dirty buildings with uncut grass and overgrown shrubs? I want our students, parents and the community to have pride in our schools. That won’t happen if we don’t dress for success.

As well, your assertion that building a leadership team to advance instruction represents spending that is “far removed from the classroom” couldn’t be farther removed from the truth. If we are serious about providing quality education and moving student achievement, we must establish the administrative structure necessary to deliver resources and support teachers. I have said before and will say again that having 52 principals reporting to a single administrator is a recipe for failure. My focus is and will continue to be teaching and learning.

Finally, I do not understand the logic that equates a student art contest and the sending of holiday greeting cards to parents and staff with a lack of collaboration or good-faith bargaining. More importantly, I am disappointed in the mischaracterization. You call me with requests that I evaluate and honor when reasonable. We negotiated in good faith today with the paraprofessionals union and the District is committed to a good faith process with all of its bargaining unions. We are in the process of scheduling two sessions with your union, EOPA, on December 8 and 11, 2009.

And finally, I appreciate your thoughts about student art in the Administration building lobby. I am in total agreement. That is why we have developed a plan to refresh the student art on a regular basis. As you know, the art on display in the Administration lobby and Board room had been there for well over six months. The new plan will provide an opportunity for more of our children to display their work.

We have important work ahead of us, and I ask that you focus on what is in the best interest of children. Know that I do value and respect the work you and members of your union perform every day in our schools. I look forward to positive interactions going forward.

On behalf of our children, thank you for your letter.

Respectfully,

LaVonne M. Sheffield, Ph.D.

C: Board of Education

Superintendent’s Cabinet

AFSCME Locals

IEA/NEA Locals

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Rockford News | 2 Comments »

Chocoholic Frolic Feb. 18 at Clock Tower

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

Are you struggling to find that perfect stocking stuffer for that special someone? How about a little bit of
chocolate and charity

this gift-giving season? Tickets are now on sale for The Arc of Winnebago, Boone & Ogle Counties’ Third Annual Chocoholic Frolic.

The $25 tickets are now available for
Rockford’s Sweetest Night of the Year,

which will take place Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at the Clock Tower Resort.

The evening begins with a wine and cheese social hour at 5:30 p.m. with doors to the chocolate festivities opening at 6:30 p.m. The event will feature an all-you-can-eat-sampling-extravaganza from 35 chocolate providers (celebrities, individuals and area restaurants), silent auction, 50/50 raffle, Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is people’s choice awards, carry-out containers, and much more!

Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Special pricing for multiple tickets are Sweet Deal—Buy 5, get one free (six for $125) or Baker’s Dozen—Buy 10 and get three free (13 for $250). They can be purchased by calling The Arc at (815) 965-3455, online at arcwbo.org or at The Arc office (1222 E. State St., Rockford).

Since 1966, The Arc has served this community, providing support and advocacy to people with developmental disabilities and their families. Whether it’s helping parents to raise their child with autism or cerebral palsy at home, or helping an adult with mental retardation live safely, close to family, friends and work, The Arc staff is there.

State funding covers 30 percent of cost of services. Individuals and organizations in this community provide the other 70 percent through contributions and participation in The Arc fund-raisers.
We literally wouldn’t be able to survive without continued support from the local community,

said Executive Director Jacki Neil Boss.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

Music Calendar: week of Dec. 23-29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Wednesday, Dec. 23

Vinyl Voodoo – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. 10:30 p.m. Free. Every Wed. Info: 815-962-7944.

1st Entertainment Karaoke – Club Impulse, 132 W. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. 6p.m.-2 a.m. Every Wed. Info: 608-361-0000.

Rob Tomaro Jazz Trio w/Special Guest Artist – Café Belwah, Beloit Inn, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. 6-10 p.m. Free. Every Wed. Info: 608-363-1110.

KJ Laurie & 5 Star Karaoke – Shooters Bar & Grill East, 7171 CherryVale Blvd., Cherry Valley. 9 p.m. Info: 815-332-5229.

Reggae Night with DJ Tommy Tsunami – Bar 3, 326 E. State St. Info: 815-968-9061.

Open Mic Night – The Hope & Anchor, 5040 N. Second St., Loves Park. Info: 815-633-2552.

The Blueheels – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. Info: 815-965-0931.

Thursday, Dec. 24

Open Stage – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. 9:30 p.m. Free. Every Thurs. Info: 815-962-7944.

The Monday Morning Dixie Band – FIBS, 105 W. Main St., Rockton. 6-9 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-624-6018.

Madman John & 1st Entertainment Services Karaoke Contest – Shooters Bar & Grill, 4007 E. State St. Info: 815-399-0683.

DJ/Hip-Hop – Chubby Rain House of Tunes, 4210 Countryside Estates Drive, Poplar Grove. 8 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-765-1884.

Karaoke – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. Every Thurs. Info: 815-965-0931.

Harlan Jefferson – Rockton Inn, 102 E. Main St., Rockton. Info: 815-624-8877.

Acoustic Open Stage with Boulas – Cronies Grill, 9032 N. Second St., Machesney Park. Every Thurs. Info: 815-282-2262.

KJ Monte & 5 Star Karaoke – JD’s Sports Bar & Grill, 908 W. Riverside Blvd. 9:30 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-639-9488.

Karaoke w/Mike – Scoobie’s Redneck Bar & Grill, 2942 11th St. 9 p.m. Every Thurs. Info: 815-742-9511.

Sweeney & Culhane – Cliffbreakers River Resort, 700 W. Riverside Blvd. Every Thurs. Info: 815-282-3033.

DJ/Karaoke – Whiskey’s Roadhouse, 3207 N. Main St. Info: 815-877-8007.

Latin Night – Bar 3, 326 E. State St. Every Thurs. Info: 815-968-9061.

Friday, Dec. 25

Miles Nielsen & Friends – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. Info: 815-962-7944.

Tabby & Company – The Gun Club, 1122 E. Colley Road, Beloit, Wis. 7 p.m. Info: 608-362-9900.

Joey – Northwoods Bar & Grill, 200 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Every Fri. Info: 815-636-8560.

Line Dancing with Kelly – Boonie’s Roadhouse, 7940 S. Main St. Info: 815-962-1567.

Madman John & 1st Entertainment Services Video DJ Show – Club Impulse, 132 W. Grand Ave. Beloit, Wis. Info: 608-361-0000.

DJ – Sports Page Bar & Grill, 3907 Broadway. 9 p.m. Info: 815-399-3185.

DJ – Miranda’s Pub & Grill, 6116 Mulford Village Drive. 9 p.m. Free. Info: 815-381-0073.

DJ – Oscar’s Pub & Grill, 5980 E. State St. 9 p.m. Free. Info: 815-399-6100.

DJ – Manor Nightclub, 293 Executive Pkwy. 9 p.m. Free. Info: 815-394-0077.

DJ – Brewsky’s, 4414 Charles St. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-399-9300.

DJ – Cousin’s Bar & Grill, 510 S. Perryville Road. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-316-2660.

DJ – RBI’s, 3870 N. Perryville Road. 9 p.m. Info: 815-877-5592.

DJ – Tad’s, 10 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. 9 p.m. Info: 815-654-3500.

DJ – The Office Niteclub, 513 E. State St. 9 p.m. Info: 815-965-0344.

DJ Jonny – Shooter’s Bar & Grill, 4007 E. State St. 8 p.m. Info: 815-399-0683.

DJ – Casey’s Pub, 77307 N. Alpine Road. 10 p.m. Free. Info: 815-316-2274.

DJ Mark & Lana – FIBS, 105 W. Main St., Rockton. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-624-6018.

DJ – JD’s Sports Bar & Grill, 908 W. Riverside Blvd. Info: 815-639-9488.

DJ/Karaoke – Whiskey’s Roadhouse, 3207 N. Main St. Info: 815-877-8007.

DJ/Karaoke – Jayne’s Place, 2229 Anderson Drive, Belvidere. Info: 815-544-5153.

DJ Foley – The Breeze Sports Bar & Grill, 3801 N. Perryville Road. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-633-4141.

RPM’s DJ Service – Backstop Bar & Grill, 1830 Union Ave., Belvidere. 8:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-547-8100.

Saturday, Dec. 26

Brother K – Big Cities Lounge, 905 E. State St. Info: 815-965-6026.

The New Avatars – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. Info: 815-965-0931.

The Goodyear Pimps, The Sons of Many Bitches, Popeye Jonesin’ – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. Info: 815-962-7944.

The Blues Hawks – Shooter’s Bar & Grill East, 7171 CherryVale Blvd., Cherry Valley. Info: 815-332-5229.

Kashmir – Chubby Rain House of Tunes, 4210 Countryside Estates Drive, Poplar Grove. Info: 815-765-1884.

Wykkyd Vykkyr – Rocky’s Bar & Grill, 5314 N. Second St., Loves Park. Info: 815-298-8638.

Matter of Fact – Big Al’s Bar, 610 N. Bell School St. Info: 815-398-6411.

– Grant Park Tavern, 3015 Kishwaukee St. Info: 815-397-9819.

Smoking Gunz – The Grove, 100 E. Grove St., Poplar Grove. Info: 815-765-1002.

X51 – Rascal’s, 5223 Torque Road, Loves Park. Info: 815-636-9207.

– The Hope & Anchor, 5040 N. Second St., Loves Park. Info: 815-633-2552.

Val Eddy, Maxine Holler and Bob DeVita – The Gun Club, 1122 E. Colley Road, Beloit, Wis. 7 p.m. Info: 608-362-9900.

Open Stage Night – Northwoods Bar & Grill, 200 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park. Info: 815-636-8560.

DJ – Swilligan’s Pub, 200 N. Church St. Info: 815-965-6414.

DJ – Oscar’s Pub & Grill, 5980 E. State St. 9 p.m. Free. Info: 815-399-6100.

DJ – Manor Nightclub, 293 Executive Pkwy. 9 p.m. Free. Info: 815-394-0077.

DJ – Brewsky’s, 4414 Charles St. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-399-9300.

DJ – Cousin’s Bar & Grill, 510 S. Perryville Road. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-316-2660.

DJ/Karaoke – Jayne’s Place, 2229 Anderson Drive, Belvidere. Info: 815-544-5153.

DJ – Casey’s Pub, 77307 N. Alpine Road. 10 p.m. Free. Info: 815-316-2274.

DJ Mark & Lana– FIBS, 105 W. Main St., Rockton. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-624-6018.

DJ with Double D – The Breeze Sports Bar & Grill, 3801 N. Perryville Road. 9:30 p.m. Free. Info: 815-633-4141.

Sunday, Dec. 27

Karaoke Joni, Madman John & 1st Entertainment Karaoke Show – Club Impulse, 132 W. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. 6:30 p.m.-2 a.m. Every Sun. Info: 608-361-0000.

Maxine Holler – The Gun Club, 1122 E. Colley Road, Beloit, Wis. 5 p.m. Info: 608-362-9900.

– Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St. 3 p.m. Info: 815-965-0049.

Paul Green’s School of Rock – Big Cities Lounge, 905 E. State St. Info: 815-965-6026.

Monday, Dec. 28

Vinyl Voodoo – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. 10:30 p.m. Free. Every Mon. Info: 815-962-7944.

Movin’ Mondays: Open Turntables Night – Club 505, 505 E. State St. Every Mon. Info: 815-962-3354.

1st Entertainment Services Karaoke Workshop and Recording Night – Club Impulse, 132 W. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. 6 p.m. Info: 608-361-0000.

Dave Potter & The Alley Kings Open Blues Jam – Suds O’Hanahan’s Irish Pub, 435 E. Grand Ave., Beloit, Wis. Info: 608-369-1933.

Tuesday, Dec. 29

Open Stage – Mary’s Place, 602 N. Madison St. 9:30 p.m. Info: 815-962-7944.

Harlan Jefferson – Big Al’s Bar, 610 N. Bell School Road. 6:30-10:30 p.m. Free. Every Tues. Info: 815-398-6411.

Kamikaze Karaoke – Krypto Music Lounge, 308 W. State St. 9 p.m. Every Tues. Info: 815-965-0931.

After Work Mixer/All City Jam – Big Al’s Bar, 610 N. Bell School Road. Mixer 5:30-7:30 p.m., jam follows. Free. Every Tues. Info: 815-398-6411.

KJ Laurie & 5 Star Karaoke – Pee Wee’s Pub, 9461 N. Second St., Roscoe. 7 p.m. Info: 815-282-9448.

Open Stage Night – Red Lion Ale House, 501 E. State St. Every Tues. Info: 815-963-0099.

Please have your free listing in to The Rock River Times the Thursday preceding our Wednesday publication. Call (815) 964-9767 to report an inaccuracies in these calendars.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Music Calendar | No Comments »

Beware of online ads for teeth-whitening products

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) is warning consumers to be extremely wary of pervasive online ads offering the promise of a whiter, brighter smile.

BBBs around the country have received a number of complaints from consumers who thought they were signing up for a free trial of teeth whitening products but were repeatedly billed for products and services they didn’t want.

The ubiquitous ads for teeth whiteners can be found on popular sites such as FOXNews.com, CNN.com and ABCNews.com. The ads typically link consumers to phony blogs and fake news sites that are designed to look like impartial third-party endorsements of the products. The phony endorsements then direct the consumer to a main Web site that claims the product sold is “As seen on” ABC, Forbes.com, CBS News, CNN, and USA Today—and includes the logos of these news outlets.

Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau, serving Chicago and northern Illinois, said: “From the complaints we’ve received, it’s obvious that many consumers are unfortunately letting their trust in respected news outlets influence their level of trust in the products being advertised on their Web sites. While it may be true that advertisements for the teeth whiteners were placed on major news Web sites, reporters for USA Today or CNN did not write stories about the efficacy of the specific products being sold.”

The countless Web sites for various teeth-whitening products claim to offer a no-risk, money back guarantee, free trial of the product. To sign up, customers must provide a credit or debit card number to cover shipping. Complainants to the BBB state they are billed before their trial ends, and continue to be billed after they have told the company they want to cancel. Complainants also may find mystery charges for other companies and services they didn’t realize they were signing up for with their “free” trial.

William Truscott of Plainfield, Ill., fell victim to this scam: “I got an e-mail about free samples of a teeth-whitening product. I printed the offer, and it did not say anywhere that you had to sign up for monthly shipments. I got a bill for $70 and said—wait a minute— and called them. They told me that I signed up for this. I had saved the ad, and it does not say this anywhere. I said that I wanted credit for the samples. They stopped the shipments and the bills, but I did not get credit.”

Another victim, Ann Thoele of Elmhurst, Ill., said: “I ordered the free sample by phone for what was supposed to be $1.99. I was billed for around $78 that I never expected. I filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General and my credit card company. I really don’t intend to pay.”

The BBB nationally has identified several companies that are behind the teeth-whitening ads and Web sites online, including the following:

Advanced Wellness Research—The BBB serving West Palm Beach has received thousands of complaints from consumers regarding Advanced Wellness Research’s acai berry supplements and has begun to receive complaints from consumers about their teeth whiteners sold under the names of Max White, My Whitening, Gleaming White Smile and many others.

Dazzle White, White Smile, Teeth Smile and Dazzle Smile—The BBB serving Edmonton has received 587 complaints in the last 12 months from consumers in 47 states, five Canadian provinces, and the United Kingdom, about Dazzle White, White Smile, Teeth Smile and Dazzle Smile. Complainants report being billed as much as $79 for the free trial and are charged for several other services—such as a weight loss program.

Ivory White—The BBB serving Denver has received 625 complaints from consumers in 46 states. Complainants say they were charged as much as $78 a month for their free trial. Other related companies include Ortho White and Bella Brite, which are mounting complaints as well. All three companies have been asked to add more disclosure to their Web sites regarding the free trial offer. The BBB has not yet received a response to these requests.

BBB offers the following advice to consumers about purchasing teeth-whitening products online:

• Beware of supposed third-party endorsements. Be extremely cautious of any ad that links to a blog or Web site news articles. The blogs and supposed news articles were likely created by the company and are not the unbiased endorsement of real consumers or reporters.

• Always read the fine print. Many Web sites offering a free trial of a teeth whitening product do not disclose the billing terms and conditions or do not have such details prominently displayed on their Web site. Before giving the company any credit or debit card information, review the Web site fully and be aware that free trials typically result in repeated billing.

• Check the company out with your BBB first. Before signing up for any free trial, review the business’ Reliability Repor online at www.bbb.org to see if the BBB has identified issues with the company.

• File a complaint with BBB if you feel you’ve been ripped off. Consumers who feel they are being deceived by a business selling teeth-whitening products online can file a complaint with their BBB at www.bbb.org.

For more information about teeth-whitening products or online shopping, go to www.bbb.org.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Online Exclusives | No Comments »

Xocai chocolate can assist with your health treatment plan

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

Nine out of 10 people eat chocolate and 50 percent of them say they can’t live without it. The average American eats 12 pounds of chocolate per year.

Xocai, which is pronounced “showsigh,” is a delicious, dark Belgian chocolate.

Health benefits of dark chocolate

Double-blind, peer-reviewed and published clinical studies by major universities have shown the following with regard to the health benefits of dark chocolate: assists cardiovascular health; helps with joint inflammation; works as an appetite suppressant; increases serotonin levels; decreases LDL—bad cholesterol; controls bloodsugar; regulates blood pressure; works as a natural antihistamine; and helps with chronic fatigue.

Antioxidant potency

Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) is a significant industry standardized test, adopted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a way to measure the total antioxidant potency of foods and nutritional supplements. ORAC values measure the capacity of a food to absorb oxygen-free radicals.

The USDA recommends we have 3,000-5,000 ORAC (or units of antioxidants) per day. For example, 3 1/2 ounces of blueberries or 6 1/2 pounds of tomatoes contain 2,400 ORAC points.

Xocai chocolate

According to Brunswick Labs (http://brunswicklabs.com), one piece of Xocai chocolate contains 5,100 ORAC points.

Xocai is different from all other chocolate on the market. MXI Corporation and their manufacturer of raw, unprocessed cocoa, invented a patented “cold-press process” that keeps all the antioxidants, flavonoids and nutrients intact. This chocolate contains no preservatives, waxes, fillers, processed sugar, trans fats or added caffeine. The chocolate uses raw can sugar, and contains natural cocoa butter from the cocoa bean.

The typical heat processing method destroys up to 80 percent of chocolate’s vital nutrients. That’s the process used in chocolate products found on store shelves.

Chocolate products found on store shelves also use processed cocoa powder and processed sugars, along with bad fats, fillers, waxes, preservatives and high amounts of calories.

Dr. Richard Cutler of the Anti-Aging Research Development of the National Institute of Health in Washington, D.C., said, “The amount of antioxidants in your body is directly proportional to how long and healthily you will live.”

Xocai products are independently tested by Brunswick Labs to verify their advertised antioxidant ability to fight free radicals, or their ORAC. Each product has the number of grams of ORAC printed on its wrapper.

If you suffer from poor heart health, arthritis, weight problems, mood problems, bad cholesterol, diabetes, high or low blood pressure, allergies or low energy levels, and are interested in learning more about Xocai, contact Rocky at (815) 641-6496. Dr. Eliot Brinton, M.D., a University of Utah scientist, reminds people, however: “This is not a drug, it’s a food. It is not intended to replace medications or medical care, but to support a treatment plan.”

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Earth Talk: The cost of losing tropical rainforests

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

Dear EarthTalk: Do you have current facts and figures about how much rainforest is being destroyed each day around the world, and for what purpose(s)?

—Teri, via e-mail

Pinning down exact numbers is nearly impossible, but most experts agree that we are losing upward of 80,000 acres of tropical rainforest daily, and significantly degrading another 80,000 acres every day on top of that. Along with this loss and degradation, we are losing some 135 plant, animal and insect species every day—or some 50,000 species a year—as the forests fall.

According to researcher and writer Rhett Butler, who runs the critically-acclaimed Web site, Mongabay.com, tropical rainforests are incredibly rich ecosystems that play a key role in the basic functioning of the planet. They help maintain the climate by regulating atmospheric gases and stabilizing rainfall, and provide many other important ecological functions.

Rainforests are also home to some 50 percent of the world’s species, Butler reports, “making them an extensive library of biological and genetic resources.” Environmentalists also point out that a quarter of our modern pharmaceuticals are derived from rainforest ingredients, but less than 1 percent of the trees and plants in the tropics have been tested for curative properties. Sadly, then, we don’t really know the true value of what we’re losing as we slash, burn and plant over what was once a treasure trove of biodiversity.

According to the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), overall tropical deforestation rates this decade are 8.5 percent higher than during the 1990s. While this figure pertains to all forests in the world’s tropics, researchers believe the loss of primary tropical rainforest—the wildest and most diverse swaths—has increased by as much as 25 percent since the 1990s.

Despite increased public awareness of the importance of tropical rainforests, deforestation rates are actually on the rise, mostly the result of activities such as commercial logging, agriculture, cattle ranching, dam-building and mining, but also the result of subsistence agriculture and collection of fuel wood. Indeed, as long as commercial interests are allowed access to these economically-depressed areas of the world, and as long as populations of poor, rural people continue to expand, tropical rainforests will continue to fall.

Some scientists see light at the end of the tunnel. Joseph Wright of the Panama-based Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute says the tropics now have more protected land than in recent history, and believes large areas of tropical forest will remain intact through 2030 and beyond: “We believe that the area covered by tropical forest will never fall to the exceedingly low levels that are often predicted and that extinction will threaten a smaller proportion of tropical forest species than previously predicted.”

Only time will tell whether Wright’s optimistic predictions ring true, or whether a more doomsday scenario will play out. To stay informed and be part of the solution, stay tuned to the Web sites of Rainforest Action Network, Rainforest Alliance, the Rainforest Site and, of course, Mongabay.com.

CONTACTS: Mongabay, www.mongabay.com; Rainforest Alliance, www.rainforestalliance.org; Rainforest Action Network, www.ran.org; Rainforest Site, www.rainforestsite.com; FAO, www.fao.org.

SEND YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS TO: EarthTalk, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php. EarthTalk is now a book! Details and ordering information at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalkbook.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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To the Editor: Veterans’ program is also socialist

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Editor’s note: The following letter is in response to Charles Story’s editorial cartoon from the Dec. 9-15, 2009, issue.

I thought your Story cartoon with the Republican elephant sawing health care reform from the tree was great; however, you missed the most socialistic program of all. It’s the veterans’ health care program. This program owns facilities, hospitals and equipment while also employing doctors, staff and administrators. As well, the administrators negotiate all contracts for services, supplies and prescription drugs. The

birth to death

ownership of all phases makes this the only true Socialist program. I’ve yet to see the Republicans attack this program, which could be privatized.

Layton Hoel

Rockford

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Letters to the Editor | 1 Comment »

Eureka! Classifieds for week of Dec. 23-29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

REAL ESTATE

FOR RENT

Apartments

STUDIO- Haight Village, lower. Restored Victorian, A/C, tenant pays electric. Charming. 815/988-5385. 12/30

LARGE 1-BEDROOM Apartments 2010 Kishwaukee, 150 N 9th St. Very Nice! Starting at $395. 815-964-6270.12/30

2202 SALMON ST. $385/month, & $385 deposit. 815/963-9198, 224/388-0286.1/6

STUDIO APARTMENT- $350/month. All utilities except electric. 1407 N. Main St. 815/964-4400. 12/23

NORTHWEST, 1-bath apartments: 1- bedroom, $485 & 2-bedroom from $550. On bus line near stores, library, & hospital. A/C, coin laundry. HEAT, WATER, & GARBAGE included. No pets. Pay rent for January, and get 1/2 month’s rent in February free. Some Sec. 8 OK. Discount for handyman manager. 815/382-7667. 1/6

524 LAFAYETTE AVE. – 2-bedroom apartment, hardwood floors, good neighborhood. $495 plus deposit. 815/964-0102. TFN

IMMACULATE 2-BEDROOM -East side. Stove, refrigerator, full basement $650/month. Available Jan. 15. 815/968-9781. 1/6

LARGE 1-BEDROOM APT. - East Rockford. Quiet neighbors, nice convenient location, low-cost utilities, near bypass 20 & 11th St. $410/month, $410 deposit. 815/520-4909, 563/505-2661. 1/6

NORTHEAST, 2-BEDROOM, 1-bath apartment. Across from golf course. Air conditioning, carport, coin laundry, heated, non-smoking. From $595/month. Water and garbage included. Get 1/2 month’s FREE with good credit! 815/262-4332, 815/382-7667. 1/6

BEAUTIFUL, LARGE 2-BEDROOM New appliances, washer/dryer, large basement, new efficiency furnace, $550 + deposit. 1821 7th St. 815/540-6757. 12/30

2-BEDROOM- Hot water furnished, upper unit. No pets. 409 9th St. 815/226-8644. 12/30

2-BEDROOM - $500/month, no deposit. Nice, newly renovated unit. Tenant pays all gas & electric. Laundry, parking, storage. 815/964-0344. 1/6

3-BR, LARGE ROOMS- Recently remodeled, hardwood floors. $575/month. 815/914-1337. 12/23

SPACIOUS SE 3½-BEDROOM -Washer/dryer in unit, remodeled. $550/month. 815/914-1337. 12/23

Condos

CONDO- SE ROCKFORD. 2-BEDROOM 2-BATH: Beautiful, large, spacious with fireplace, balcony, sliding glass doors, storage, & parking. Available immediately. $725/month. 773/203-7370. 12/23

Townhouses

RENT SPECIALS! 2-Bedroom, 1.5-bath, townhomes. 3324 Sablewood, NW Rockford. Clean, smoke-free building, new flooring, seperate basement, washer/dryer hook-up, off-street parking, pets considered. $595. Call for current offers. 815/334-7747. M.R.A.A. 1/6

Houses

1-5 BEDROOM HOUSES & APARTMENTS. All Areas,  All Prices 815-964-6270. 12/30

2-BEDROOM HOUSE FOR RENT: Clean. Quiet area. $500/month + deposit. 815/979-7559. 12/23

3-BEDROOM MACHESNEY PARK – $550/mo. & $550 deposit. Pets extra. 815/397-6901. 12/23

LARGE 5-BEDROOM 2.5-Bath House- Nice NW neighborhood, remodeled $1050. 815-964-6270. 12/30

HOMES FOR RENT: ***FREE Foreclosure Listings*** Over 400,000 properties nationwide.  LOW Down Payment.  Call NOW!  1-800-785-4121. (MCN)

Roommate Wanted

ONE MILE FROM CHERRYVALE MALL - MALE roommateS wanted. Quiet neighborhood, furnished appliances, utilities. $325/$365. 815/299-1703. 1/6

$400 2-BEDROOM BASEMENT SHARED HOUSE with pets, hot tub, gym, laundry storage. NW Rockford. 815/912-2613. 1/6

Commercial Rental

FREE RENT FOR 2 MONTHS! 408 Mulberry. Large window, near bus stop, just off Church St., 352 sq.ft. raw office/retail space available—you finish to suit, plus 162 sq.ft unfinished basement. Single bathroom. Includes water, A.C. and heat. You pay electric. Dumpster negotiable. Application, credit check, criminal background, rental references, résumé required. $500 deposit and $500 per month rent after 2 months. 2 year lease. Call Frank or Marilyn, 815-964-9767.                TFN

FOR LEASE: OFFICE/RETAIL SPACE - N. Second St., Machesney Park. 815/558-9019. 12/30

3 storefronts available. Will build to suit. 917 S. Main. Each space 1,400 sq.ft. mol. Contact Kerry Knodle, CCS, Inc. 815/963-6236, kknodle@youthbuildrockford.org .             TFN

Timeshare

TIMESHARE OWNERS. Ready to sell? Start today with a FREE market analysis and price report.  Call Toll-Free 1-866-323-5671 or visit www.FreeResortReport.com Vacation Property Resellers. (MCN)

SELL/RENT YOUR TIMESHARE FOR CASH!!! Our Guaranteed Services Will Sell/Rent Your Unused Timeshare for CASH! Over $78 Million Dollars Offered in 2009. www.SellATimeshare.com 1-877-494-8246. N-12/23

TIMESHARE RESALES SAVE 60%-80% OFF RETAIL!! Worldwide Locations! Call for Free Magazine! 1-800-639-5319  www.holidaygroup.com/flier . N-12/23

Homes For Sale

INVESTMENT PROPERTIES FOR SALE in Freeport, IL. 5 single-family homes & 1 duplex. Great cash flow & tenant history. $110,000 takes all! Call Nate for more info – 815/291-6225. 12/30

ALL-BRICK FLAT – 2-bedroom upper, 2-bedroom lower, full basement, good rental history. Call 815/963-1376. 1/6

FORECLOSED ONLINE HOME AUCTION 800+ Homes / BIDS OPEN 1/11 Open House: 1/3, 9 & 10. View Full Listings & Details www.Auction.com REDC / Brkr 078.0012986. (ICAN)

FORECLOSED HOME AUCTION ILLINOIS STATEWIDE 100+ Homes / Auction: 1/16 Open House: Jan 3, 9, 10 REDC / View Full LIstings www.Auction.com  RE Brkr 078.0012986. (ICAN)

Lots for Sale

BIG BEAUTIFUL AZ LOTS! Golf Course, Nat’l Parks. 1 hour from Tucson. Guaranteed Financing. $0 Down, $0 Interest. Starting $129/mo. Foreclosures online @ www.sunsiteslandrush.com Pre-Recorded Message (800) 631-8164 mention code 5063. N-12/23

“ARIZONA LAND” Kingman, 10 acres: Spectacular hilltop views, well & power. $5,000 down, $926 monthly. ARMAGEDDON SPECIAL: One acre, $149/MO. Other properties available. www.DoneRightLand.com  928-718-1364. N-12/23

Houses Wanted

WANT TO BUY HOME- Cheap fixer-upper to buy on land contract by renting to own. 815/713-9934. 12/23

AUTOS

Autos For Sale

1992 HONDA CIVIC - 4-door, mostly highway miles, super clean! $1,795. 815/262-9096. 12/23

2000 GRAND MARQUIS LS – $3,600. Very clean. 106,000 miles. 815/962-8063, 815/964-8214. 12/23

2000 FORD RANGER- Crew cab, off-road 4×4 package XLT. Cassette/CD player, cruise, 41,000 miles, excellent condition. $8,900. 815/633-5079. 1/6

Motorcycles

2001 BUELL BLAST- 1100 miles. $4,500 OBO. Candy-apple red, mint condition. 815/962-7763. 12/23

WANTED OLD JAPANESE MOTORCYCLES KAWASAKI Z1-900 (KZ900)1972-1976, KZ1000 (1976-1980), KZ1000R (1982,1983), Z1R, S1-250, S2-350, S3-400, H1-500, H2-750, HONDA CB750 (1969-1975), SUZUKI GS400, GT380, CASH PAID, FREE NATIONWIDE PICKUP. 1-800-772-1142, 310-721-0726. (MCN)

Auto Parts and Accessories

TIRES 245-70-R19.5 MICHELIN XZE Pilot Regroovable. Like new, load 4080 lbs, 4 for $550. Rockford. 815/988-6411. 1/6

SET OF 4 TIRES for cargo van or truck. Firestone Transforce HT. 9.50R16.5LT. $200. 815/573-7300. 12/23

TIRES SET OF 4 Bridgestone Dueler H-L 400. Size 245-55-R19. $450. 815/704-5903. 12/23

TRAILERS & MORE: www.fortdodgetrailerworld.com “Web Specials.”  TAX Break “SPECIALS,” Order now SAVE on your taxes, pickup in January or pickup one of our many in-stock trailers.  Skid Steer SNOWBUCKETS 6’, 7’, 8’ & 10’.  515-972-4554. (MCN)

Auto Appraisals

AREA’S HIGHEST CREDENTIALED CERTIFIED ANTIQUE AUTO APPRAISERS. Established 1966. Collector Car Appraisals, Toll free New number 888/724-3211 ext. 100118. Credit cards welcome. On the web at www.carappraisals.com. TFN

Autos Wanted

DONATE YOUR CAR Truck or Boat to HERITAGE FOR THE BLIND Free 3 Day Vacation, Tax Deductible, Free Towing, All Paperwork Taken Care Of. 1-877-212-0046. (MCN)

WANTED: FULL SIZE cheap Chevy pickup. Automatic, 4×4, V-8 motor. Condition not important. 815/703-6616. 1/6

WANTED: MONSTER TRUCK 1976-96, mechanically sound. Call 815/312-1532. 12/23

WANTED: USED MINI-VAN or 4×4 vehicle. Also, snow blower, running or not. 815/997-7593. 12/30

AAAA ** DONATION Donate your Car Boat or Real Estate. IRS Tax Deductible. Free Pick-up/Tow. Any Model/Condition. Help Under Privileged Children. Outreach Center. 1-800-928-7566. N-12/23

DONATE YOUR CAR – HELP CHILDREN WITH CAMP AND EDUCATION.  Quickest Towing.  Non-Runners/Title Problems OK.  Free Vacation/Cruise Voucher.  Special Kids Fund  1-866-448-3865. N-12/23

DONATE YOUR CAR! Breast Cancer Research foundation! Most highly rated breast cancer charity in America! Tax Deductible/Fast Free Pick Up. 800-771-9551 www.cardonationsfor
breastcancer.org. N-12/23

DONATE YOUR CAR…To The Cancer Fund of America.  Help Those Suffering With Cancer Today.  Free Towing and Tax deductible.  1-800-835-9372 www.cfoa.org. N-12/23

BUYING PRE-1985 VEHICLES. Junkers to showcars. Please don’t scrap your older car – we can pay more. Finders’ fees paid for successful purchases. New number: 815/243-1130. TFN

Classic Cars

MIDWESTCLASSICCARS.COM 19 Different Classic Car Clubs, 80 Classic Car Events and over 900 different classic and hard to find vehicles for sale. Check out MIDWESTCLASSICCARS.COM. (ICAN)

FOR SALE

Appliances

RANGE GE HOTPOINT - White, electric, $125. 779/423-0530. 1/6

MOBILE HOME FURNACE - Like new, Red T Product. 22,000 BTU’s with digital thermostat, $700. Used only 2 seasons. 815/389-4601 or 608/290-5699. 1/6

ELECTRIC STOVE 220V, dryer 220V, washer 110V, & freezer long floor model, 110V, needs freon. $200 for all OBO. 815/865-5892. 12/23

SMALL WOOD STOVE, $75. Nice conversation piece. Black & Decker nailer/stapler, 18 gauge, new, $60. 815/397-1406.12/30

Electronics

TOM TOM GPS - Still in box! $80. 815/979-8154. 12/30

TOM TOM GPS NAVIGATION- Only used twice with original box, instructions, accessories, etc. $105 OBO. Blackberry, $40 OBO. 779/537-8520. 12/30

60” BIG SCREEN TV - Phillips, 10 years old, works perfect! $650 OBO. 815/621-7991. 12/30

OWER STEREO SPEAKERS pair – (2) 14” woofers each, as new, $250. 815/637-2811. 12/23

SINGER SEWING MACHINE, baby crib, lamps,  coffee tables, antique tables, display racks. 815/721-6318. TFN

ORECK 2 in 1 VACUUM - With charger, never used. $40. Call 815/977-4443. 12/30

JVC VHS CAMCORDER, $85. Memorex karoake machine, $50. Magnavox 27” TV/DVD/VHS combo, $95. 815/997-7593. 1/6

Used XEROX 5028 black and white office copier. Includes storage base; 15 page sorter; two letter size, one legal size and one 11”x17” size paper trays; one extra toner. Copy cartridge partially used. Automatic doc. feeder needs repair. $500 OBO. Call 815/964-9767 M-F, 9:30-5:00 and ask for Marilyn or Frank.       TFN

Fashion & Accessories

ANIMAL PRINT throws, pieces, & coats. 815/877-4498. 12/23

Furniture

FUTON, $50. Dresser, $75. Great condition. 815/742-1513. 1/6

6 RESTAURANT-STYLE dining room arm chairs, $20 each. Meat slicer, $100. 815/871-7511, after 5pm. 1/6

HOWARD MILLER GRANDFATHER CLOCK, $925. 815/316-1979. Must See! 12/23

5 PIECE FULL-SIZE MAPLE WOOD BEDROOM SET, very good condition, $450, call 724-651-0126. 1/6

CHERRY BEDROOM SET Solid Wood ENGLISH DOVETAIL New in factory boxes! NEVER BEEN USED! Originally $4500  FOR ONLY $795  Can deliver!  312-238-8607. (ICAN)

MEMORY FOAM THERAPEUTIC NASA VISCO  MATTRESSES WHOLESALE! T-$299 F-$349 Q-$399 K-$499 ADJUSTABLES – $799 FREE DELIVERY 25 YEAR WARRANTY 90 NIGHT TRIAL 1-800-ATSLEEP 1-800-287-5337 WWW.MATTRESSDR.COM. N-12/23

DOUBLE BEDROOM SET - Dark cherry wood, box spring, mattress and headboard. $125. 815/332-4034. 12/30

LARGE DRESSER WITH MIRROR, all wood, very nice. $75. 815/742-1513. 12/30

FULL-SIZE MAPLE WOOD COMPLETE BEDROOM SET, excellent condition – $450.  724/651-0126. 12/30

ANTIQUE CLAWFOOT TABLE, hutch, & sideboard, six chairs, Depression glass. Norman Rockwell plates. Together/Separate. 815/262-3365. 12/23

MAPLE HUTCH, $95. Triple dresser with mirror, $50. 3/4-size mattress, $45. 815/871-7511. After 5pm. 12/23

HUGE SEMI-OVAL OAK TABLE: 4’x6’ with leaf, $100. Our family table for 20 years – Great Condition!  815/389-4601 or 608/290-5699. 1/6

ENGLANDER PLUSH QUEEN MATTRESS - Paid $1,000, asking $500. Nautilus Queen mattress, $150. 2 antique dressers, $175 & $150. 815/601-5802. 12/23

BROWN LEATHER SOFA & love seat, dining room table, big screen TV, trunk-style coffee table. 815/516-3848. 12/23

Industrial Products

1ft3 ELECTRIC CEMENT MIXER on wheels, $110. 2 heavy-duty engine stands on wheels, $50 each. 815/988-5713. 1/6

1100 CFM Dust KOP COLLECTOR, 55gal drum, lots of misc. duct work fittings, $350 for all. 815/988-5706. 1/6

Jewelry

GREAT CHRISTMAS PRESENT! Wedding ring set – 17 round diamonds, excellent condition. Bought from Zales. $800. 815/494-1775. 12/30

Misc. Items For Sale

25 TOP COUNTRY STAR CD’s, like new, $25 takes all! 815/226-3676. 1/6

MAYTAG WASHER, utility trailer, 6ft. birdcage for sale. Call 815/978-6044. 1/6

LOCKERS FOR SALE – Set of 4, $150. 815/380-5292. 12/30

1900’s HORSE-DRAWN PLOW, Jewelry 500 pieces! DVD/VCR player, 100 cookbooks, leather indian dress, space heater. 815/962-5376. 12/23

BEAUTIFUL 21×15 WHITE CERAMIC PLATTERS. $13.00 each. 815/968-9781. 12/23

FIVE 1 IN. THREADED BRASS BALL VALVES, never installed. $100 OBO. 815/519-6311. 12/23

FIREWOOD- 95% hardwood, oak, hickory, & walnut. Now taking orders, selling out at low price. 847/217-1829. 12/23

2 STORM DOORS - Aluminum, Rh 36×80. $100 set. 815/566-9286. 12/23

GET DISH WITH FREE Installation – $19.99/mo  HBO & Showtime FREE -  Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices -No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full  Details – 877-883-5731. (ICAN)

SELLING 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s LP’s. 45’s, 78’s picture sleeves. Rock, Jazz, Country, Soul. 815/765-2489. 12/23

GERMANY WALL CLOCK – $200. Electric scooter, $200. 815/997-7593. 12/23

MUSICIAN STORAGE BOXES on wheels, $100 each OBO. (3) Snow blowers, heavy-duty, $300 each OBO. 847/971-5988. 12/23

OUTSIDE CANDLES – 2 with lights inside, 32” tall. Both $20. 815/865-5892. 12/23

Sporting Goods

TROPHY HEADS- Bear, elk, boar, deer. Best offer. 815/227-4807. 1/6

NORDIC TRACK ELITE MODEL, $250. 4-place bike carrier, $25. 815/988-5796. 1/6

Sports Clothing

ATTENTION SAN FRANCISCO 49er FANS - Over 50 items. Please call 815/229-5992. 12/30

AUTHENTIC NFL JERSEYS – All names & numbers are stitched on. $75 each 0r 2 for $120. 100% authentic. All teams, most players. 815/494-6666. 1/6

Tools

CRAFTSMAN TABLE SAW SANDDUST collection kit, $35. Small Sears sandblaster with hooded shield, $35. 815/633-4999. 1/6

Yard Equipment

JOHN DEERE SNOW BLOWER 32”, $125 OBO. 815/968-1780. 1/6

JOHN DEERE SNOW PLOW BLADE – 42” with mounting bracket, $150 OBO. 815/968-1780. 12/23

CRAFTSMAN 10HP RIDING MOWER - non-working, 42” deck, snow blade with hardware & wheel weights, $300 OBO. 815/962-8483. 12/23

Thrift Store

SECOND CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH THRIFT SHOP.318 North Church Street. Open Tuesday 9am – 1pm. Christmas items ½-OFF anything over 50¢. FREE Beanie Baby with $10 Order. TFN

CRUSADER THRIFT SHOP, 310 7th Street – open Mon.  through Sat. from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Christmas items 75% off anything more than 50¢. 10¢ kid’s rack. We accept donations. Happy Holidays to You & Yours!  TFN

BROOKE ROAD THRIFT SHOP, 1404 Brooke Rd. Lots of clothes, shoes, knick knacks, and misc. Open Wednesday’s, 9-12. TFN

FHC  THRIFT SHOP, 710 Broadway. 815/299-3615, Open 9-5, Mon.-Sat. Call for emergency after-hour appointments. TFN

SERVICES

Adoption

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? We can help you!  Housing, financial, medical assistance available.   You can choose adoptive family and be involved in plans.  Call 24/7.  Forever Blessed Adoptions. 1-800-568-4594. (MCN)

UNIQUE ADOPTIONS, LET US HELP! Personalized Adoption Plans. Financial Assistance, Housing, Relocation and More.  Giving the Gift of Life? You Deserve the Best.  Call Us First!  1-888-637-8200. 24-HR Hotline. (MCN)

PREGNANT? CONSIDERING ADOPTION? Call Us First! Living expenses, Housing, Medical and continued support afterwards. Choose Adoptive Family of Your Choice. Call 24/7. ADOPT CONNECT 1-866-743-9212. (MCN)

ADOPTION- Loving home, sweet dog, all NYC has to offer awaits baby to adopt.  Expenses paid.  Call or email Ellen Toll Free: 888-868-8778, ellen@eeadoption.com, eeadoption.com. (MCN)

ADOPTION Fun, family-oriented couple promises unconditional love, comfortable home, lots of opportunities and bright future. Your child will be welcomed by adoring grandparents, cousins, aunts / uncles. Call Marci and David 888-477-6292 MarciDavidAdopt@gmail.com. (ICAN)

ADOPTION Loving Dad & stayhome Mom can’t wait to welcome a baby into our fun loving family.  We’re friendly & down-to-earth. Expenses paid. 1-877-607-5890 hello2julie@gmail.com          LCFS Lic. #012998. (ICAN)

Appliance Repair

WE REPAIR REFRIGERATORS, WASHERS, DRYERS, STOVES, MICROWAVES, DISHWASHERS, & MORE! 815/968-2060.  1/6

Cleaning

R&M COMMMERCIAL CLEANING - Guaranteed lowest rates! Free estimates! Commercial/ Residential. All supplies included. Fully insured. Best cleaning available! 815/319-2381. 12/23

BIKINI MAIDS CLEANING SERVICE- We clean your house in our bikinis. Try us out: 779/772-6171. 12/30

Computers

ROCKFORD PC, LLC – Computer & Game System Repair, Virus-Removal $39.99. Specializing in PS3 Repair. 815/977-5182. 6817 Elm Ave., Loves Park, IL 61111. www.rockfordpc.com . 12/30

OWN A NEW COMPUTER – Payments starting at ONLY $29.99/week. Act Now! FREE GPS! FREE Printer! FREE MP3! Call Computer Funding 1-866-949-0201. (MCN)

GEEKS-IN-ROUTE & On-site Computer & Computer Networking Services by A+ & Microsoft or CISCO Certified Technicians.  If We Can’t Fix It, It’s Free!  MC/DIS/AMEX/VISA. 1-866-661-GEEK (4335). N-12/23

Education

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home.  *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal,  *Accounting, *Criminal Justice. Job placement assistance. Computer available. Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800-401-2385 www.CenturaOnline.com. (MCN)

EARN COLLEGE DEGREE ONLINE *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice.  Job placement assistance.  Computer available.  Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com . N-12/23

ATTEND COLLEGE ONLINE from Home.  *Medical, *Business, *Paralegal, *Accounting, *Criminal Justice.  Job placement assistance.  Computer available.  Financial Aid if qualified. Call 800-510-0784 www.CenturaOnline.com. N-12/23

Handyman/ Handywoman

PROFESSIONAL HANDYMAN SERVICE: Snow removal, gutter cleanout and repair, tree
trimming & removal, roofing, flooring, plumbing, electric, painting, doors & windows, & much more. FREE estimates. 815/975-4268.  1/6

DIAMONDS HANDYMAN SERVICE - Remodeling, Painting, Window Washing, Gutter Cleaning, & Much More. For a FREE Estimate, Call Mike Diamond – 815/601-5802. 12/23

Hauling

CHAD’S HAULING SERVICE. Free estimates, yard waste, summer cleanup & removal of anything unwanted. Solid 6-year reputation, 15% senior discount, fully licensed & insured.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Call Chad, 815/979-7593.12/30

Health & Medical

NEW FEATHER-WEIGHT MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIRS - AT NO COST TO YOU IF ELIGIBLE!! WE COME TO YOU!! ENK MOBILE MEDICAL 1-800-693-8896. N-12/23

Viagra-Cialis $2.47 per pill, 40 Pills $99.00! Hablamos Espanol! Newhealthyman.com 1-888-735-4419 credit card required. N-12/23

Lega l Services

$$ ACCESS LAWSUIT CASH NOW!! $$$ As seen on TV. $$$  Injury Lawsuit Dragging?  Need $500-$500,000++ within 48/hrs?  Low rates.  APPLY NOW BY PHONE!  Call Today!  Toll-FREE 1-800-568-8321, www.fastcasecash.com. (MCN)

Massage Therapy

CREATIVE TOUCH THERAPY: Alleviate stress, muscle tension, improve circulation, encourage overall well-being. Techniques meet your needs. Contact Glenn LMT 815/965-1787. itreasurefinds@yahoo.com. 6/16

Misc. Services

REACH 2 MILLION HOUSEHOLDS! Do you have a product, service, or business that would be helped by reaching over 2.7 million households throughout Iowa and the surrounding states? The Midwest Classified Network will allow you to reach these potential customers quickly and inexpensively. For more information concerning a creative classified ad call this publication or Midwest Free Community Papers at 800-248-4061 or get information online at www.mcn-ads.com. (MCN)

WANT TO ADVERTISE TO THE MIDWEST? Place your classified ads in the Midwest Classified Network anytime online at www.midwestfreeclassifieds.com. (MCN)

SEARCH THOUSANDS OF CLASSIFIED ADS FROM AROUND THE MIDWEST! Give it a try! Go to http://www.mw-ads.com. Ads from Free Papers offer you great bargains. (MCN)

REACH OVER 30 MILLION HOMES with one buy. Advertise in NANI for only $2,795 per week! For information, visit www.naninetwork.com. N-12/23

GET DISH–FREE Installation-$19.99/mo HBO & Showtime FREE–Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices–No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details 877-883-5726. N-12/23

GET DISH – FREE Installation – $19.99/mo. HBO & Showtime FREE-Over 50 HD Channels FREE.  Lowest Prices – No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details 877-242-0983. N-12/23

* REDUCE YOUR CABLE BILL! * Get a 4-Room All-Digital Satellite system installed for FREE and programming starting under $20. FREE Digital Video Recorders to new callers, SO CALL NOW. 1-800-795-8649. (MCN)

DIRECTV SAVE $26/ mo FOR A YEAR! Ask How! No Equipment to Buy NO Start Costs!  Free DVR/HD Upgrade!  Other Packages Start $29.99/ mo! Details Call DirectStarTV 1-800-973-0138. (MCN)

DISH NETWORK. $19.99/mo, Why Pay More For TV? 100+ Channels. FREE 4-Room Install. FREE HD-DVR. Plus $650 Sign-up BONUS. Call Now! 1-877-478-1894. (MCN)

GET DISH with FREE Installation – $19.99/mo. HBO & Showtime FREE – Over 50 HD Channels FREE Lowest Prices – No Equipment to Buy! Call Now for full Details 1-877-287-7760. (MCN)

DIRECTV FREE MOVIES 3 Months!  Ask How! NO Equipment to Buy NO Start Costs! Free DVR/HD Upgrade! Other Packages Start $29.99/mo! Details Call DirectStarTV 1-800-206-6525. (MCN)

DISH Network.  $19.99/mo, Why Pay More For TV?  100+ Channels.  FREE 4-Room Install.  FREE HD-DVR.  Plus $600 Sign-up BONUS.  Call Now!  1-888-430-9664. N-12/23

HOLIDAY SPECIALS! New Approved DIRECTV Customers Save $26/mo FOR A YEAR! Order by 12/31/09 Get $100 Visa Card & FREE HD/DVR Upgrade!  Ask How! DirectStarTV 1-800-279-5698. N-12/23

**ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS ARE NOT THE SAME. Monthly programming starts under $20 per month and FREE HD and DVR systems for new callers.  CALL NOW 1-800-799-4935. N-12/23

DIRECTV FREE MOVIES 3 MONTHS! Ask How!  NO Equipment to Buy NO Start Costs!  Free DVR/HD Upgrade! Other Packages Start $29.99/mo! Details Call DirectStarTV 1-800-620-0058. N-12/23

RECEIVE $1000 IN GROCERIES! Real relief program helping people just like you!  Pay only $4.90 for your grocery voucher. Use on your favorite brands!  Consumer Advocate Response introductory price. 1-800-430-9507. N-12/23

Remodeling

JONATHAN CARMACK’S HOMEWORKS of ROCKFORD & SURROUNDING AREAS –
All your home needs. Exterior- Roof, siding, windows. Interior- Bathrooms, kitchens, basements, etc. FREE ESTIMATES. Insured. 815/633-2540, 815/904-3145. Ask for Jonanthan or Johnny. 12/30

Repairs

SMALL EQUIPMENT REPAIR- Snow blowers/ mowers, etc. Pick up & Delivery. 815/543-7181. 01/27

BECK’S SMALL ENGINE REPAIR All mowers and snowblowers. 1547 Windtrace Ct., Rockton, IL 61072. 815/540-0091. 12/30

Santa Claus

FREE!  WRITE TO SANTA on the Internet!  From now until Christmas Eve this paper and their regional association, MFCP, are offering free letters to and from Santa.  Go to  www.mfcp.org and  click on the “Letters to Santa” box, and then follow the instructions.  We hope you have fun and thank you for reading our paper. (MCN)

Therapy

ROCKFORD LAUGH CLUB. Meeting Tuesdays 7p.m. and Saturdays 10a.m. for stress relief. To join call 815/979-1944.                        TFN

Towing

WE BUY COMPLETE CARS/trucks. Any condition! 815/378-3489.                 6/17/10

Weddings
& Occasions

NEED A CARING MINISTER for counseling or for your special occasion? Inexpensive. 815/342-6064. TFN

JOBS

Courtesy of The Rock River Times - Warning from the Better Business Bureau.

Work-at-home and fraudulent employment opportunities. Work-at-home and business opportunity scams are frequently found online as well as  in the classified sections. They promise high income for minimal work and minimal effort. However, when an interested consumer “applies”, they almost always ask for money up-front to pay for materials, training kits, or investment money. After sending payment, most consumers either have their checks deposited and never hear anything again, or obtain something that is completely useless- essentially junk mail. Internet employment opportunities, mostly found on job boards, looking for “shipping” or “billing managers”, “payment processors”, or anything with a financial sounding name, very frequently turn out to be fraudulent listings that are in actuality looking for victims to commit money laundering by accepting and forwarding payments.

Mystery/secret shopping scam. Fraudulent mystery shopping promoters frequently use newspaper ads and internet solicitations to create an impression that they are affiliated with or work for respectable and reputable companies. The website that you will be led to often asks that you “register” and pay a fee in order to receive information about a certification program, a directory of mystery shopping companies, or baseless guarantees of obtaining mystery shopping positions. Most don’t exsist, have already expired, or have nothing to do with legitimate secret shopping offers.

Help Wanted

I TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO MAKE $500-$1000 extra per month. Don’t believe it, don’t call. 815/914-3429. 12/30

FLOOR HELP- Must be experienced in retail & all aspects of the hardware business. Day/evening approximately 35 hrs/week. CASHIER evenings & weekends. Must be over 16. Apply in person only. Ace Hardware  – 3118 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford. 12/23

AIRLINE MECHANIC – Train for high paying Aviation Career.  FAA approved program.  Financial aid if qualified – Job placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 866-854-6156. N-12/23

$$$ START TODAY $$$ Earn $1,400 – $4,600 Weekly Working From Home Assembling Information Packets. No Experience Necessary! Start Immediately! FREE Information. Call 24hrs. 1-888-255-2802. N-12-23

GET PAID TO SHOP! Mystery Shoppers Needed to Pose as Customers! Training Provided. FT/PT Call 800-720-3708. N-12/23

EARN UP TO $30 PER HOUR.  Experience not Required.  Undercover shoppers needed to judge retail and dining establishments. Call 800-742-6941. N-12/23

$$$ START NOW $$$ Earn Extra Income. Assembling CD Cases from home! No Experience Necessary. Call our Live Operators for more  information! 1-800-405-7619 Ext 2181 www.easyworkgreatpay.com . N-12/23

$$$HOME WORKERS NEEDED$$$ Earn Up To $3,800 Weekly Working from Home assembling Information packets. No Experience Necessary! Start Immediately! FREE Information. CALL 24hrs. 1-877-224-0207. N-12/23

EARN UP TO $500 WEEKLY ASSEMBLING our angel pins in the comfort of your home. No experience required. Call 813-699-4038 or 813-425-4361 or visit  www.angelpin.net. N-12/23

AIRLINES ARE HIRING – Train for high-paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA-approved program. Financial aid if qualified – Housing available. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888) 686-1704. N-12/23

OWN A COMPUTER, WORK FROM ANYWHERE. Two Step Process. Request Online Info, Review. Set-up phone interview. $1500PT / $5000FT.  Serious people ONLY:  WWW.RJDGLOBAL.COM. (ICAN)

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED!!! Hourly Pay + Commission! By helping others save on their NiCor and ComEd bills! Make Your Own Schedule! No start up kits, No hidden fees or costs! SANTANNA     ENERGY SERVICES 1-877-705-9385 ext 242 www.santanaenergyservices.com. (ICAN)

AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Train for high-paying Aviation Maintenance Career. FAA-approved program. Financial aid if qualified – Housing available.  CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance (888) 349-5387. (MCN)

MAKE $384 DAILY! Data entry positions available Now! Internet access needed. Income is Guaranteed No experience required. Apply today. www.datamoney.net (VOID IN SD). (MCN)

SUNNY CALIFORNIA!!! NO Experience, FREE to Travel, GREAT Pay/ Bonuses. Live, WORK, Play in USA!!! Call Today!  1-877-223-3181. (MCN)

TRAVEL NEEDED 10 Guys/Gals over age 18 Travel Entire USA demonstrating “Citrus Clean.” Transportation. Expenses Paid. High Earnings. Immediate employment. 1-800-898-6229 or 407-221-2929. (MCN)

Drivers

ATTN: FLATBED DRIVERS: Great home time, Benefits, Vacation, Holiday Pay and More Terminals in Grand Island, NE and Rensselaer, IN. Dedicated Flatbed Carrier for Chief Industries, Inc. Class A CDL / 1 Yr. OTR Exp + 1-Yr recent flatbed exp req’d. Call or visit   1-866-483-5318  www.gicc.chiefind.com. (ICAN)

$$$ YOUR FUTURE TOMORROW STARTS TODAY  $$$ 100% APU Equipped. OTR Drivers Wanted. Pre-Pass EZ-pass. Every 60K mile raises. 100% NO touch. Butler Transport. 1-800-528-7825. (ICAN)

Seeking Employment

WILLING TO SHOVEL SNOW, sidewalks, and driveways. And other odd jobs. Rockford only. Call 815/708-7905. Mon-Sat 6:30am – 7:30pm. 12/30

Business Opportunity

NEED EXTRA MONEY? We Pay CASH for Gold! Get Paid in 24hrs Using Our FREE Gold Kit! Insured, No Risk, Licensed, Bonded.  www.NationalGoldTraders.com, 1-877-822-3GOLD. (MCN)

BE YOUR OWN BOSS! Potential of $2,000-$4,000/week, owning your own business. Small Investment for HUGE RETURNS! Call 1-800-507-7222 for details. Must use Code# CL30685 (VOID IN SD). (MCN)

ALL CASH VENDING! Do you earn up to $800/day?  Your own local candy route. Includes 25 Machines and Candy All  for $9,995.  1-800-453-5882 AIN#BO213. (ICAN)

$LOW START UP – HUGE Profits$ iHeater Dealers Wanted! #1 Portable Infrared Heater. As Seen on TV. Don’t Miss This HOT Opportunity! Call NOW! 1-800-714-8425. (MCN)

MUSIC

STUDIO 3- Discover, Explore, Develope. A new, innovative approach to music lessons. Call 815/988-3021. 1/6

BALDWIN ORGA-SONIC ORGAN 2 rows of keys, 18 music section plus foot pedals, $200. 815/988-6411. 1/6

CONTEMPO KEYBOARD/BENCH, $30. 815/398-7153. 1/6

HEAVY METAL BAND seeks guitarist, drummer, and keyboardist. Influences are Otep, Slip Knot, Him. 815/994-0078. 12/30

ELECTRIC GUITAR - Peavy “Tracer”. Solid body, old US-made, plus hard case. $300. 815/865-5892. 1/6

PERSONALS

YOUNG MASSAGE THERAPIST - Female, available. 815/977-0149. No weirdos! 12/30

SWF seeks male 60-65 for travel, camping. No smoking, no drinking. Reply: Box 205, Kingston,IL 60145. 1/6

NEW IN THE AREA. DSM, Italian, mature gentleman, kind, generous, honest, professional, self-employed who likes to dance, dine out, travel, good conversation, & more. Looking for an attractive lady under 50yrs.  815/621-5406. 12/30

AFRICAN-AMERICAN ATTRACTIVE TRANSSEXUAL: Educated, outgoing, wants to meet gentleman. Race unimportant. Age 30-60. Serious calls only! 815/209-7989. 1/6

BISEXUAL MALE looking for a male roommate to share my place with extra things. Call 815/312-0018 for more info.          12/30

SWM, 46 seeks sexy female for dating & fun. Call 815/312-1532 fo info.                     12/23

Public Announcement

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS? Try Bible call. 24-hour automated service- 815/316-2650. (Church of Christ).   TFN

AL-ANON, support group for families and friends of alcoholics. Help-line: (815) 399-0456. TFN

POSITIVE IMAGE CHURCH – Basic Life Skills Programs. Free. 1408 Elm Street. For information: 815/967-9061.     TFN

WELCOME  TO ST. SEBASTIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH. Traditional liturgy every Sunday, 10:30 a.m., 2415 Charles St., Suite 20×1, Rockford, IL. Call 815/520-4374. TFN

PRE-VATICAN II CHURCH is alive and well. St. Sebastian. Call 815/520-4374.     TFN

In Loving Memory

THE COLONEL PLAYS ON- Website for astonishing guitar player David Leis. www.thecolonel.info .  TFN

Organ, Blood,
& Tissue Donation

26-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER desperately needs kidney Type A+. Waiting 6½ years. (630)400-6849. TFN

55-YEAR OLD MOTHER desperately needs kidney Type A, waiting 3 years. 815/978-3422 or 815/282-2551. TFN

SINGLE YOUNG MOTHER with 2 children desperately needs kidney donor. Blood type O positive/negative. 815/397-6703. TFN

LOVING HUSBAND, father and grandfather in need of a kidney. Type O. 968-8517, 963-3734, 316-2793. TFN

The Rock River Times
is now offering a special classifieds section reserved for
individuals or families seeking organ donations.
This is a totally free service for those who
are in need. Please feel free to call: (815)964-9767,
fax: (815)964-9825,  or e-mail: contact@rockrivertimes.com
your FREE 15-word ad for this special section.
For more information on organ & tissue donation,

visit www.giftofhope.org
To  contribute to
The Angela Rushford Children’s Organ Donation Fund, visit the
foundation of Northern Illinois’ web site:
www.cfnil.org .  .

PETS

For Sale

CHINCHILLAS- 2 babies, parents on site. Ready for adoption! Serious inquiries only. 815/962-5376. TFN

CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES – Males & females, $300-$350. 608-436-4355. 12/30

3 CHIHUAHUA PUPPIES $250 ea. 815/962-9385. 1/6

2 WHITE ANGORA BUNNIES- Male & female, $15 each. Cage & accessories sold seperately, price negotiable. 779/537-8948. 1/6

WEST HIGHLAND WHITE TERRIOR PUPPIES - See at 330 Belteberg, Loves Park. Dec. 20-31. $700. 815/985-2504. 1/6

PITBULL - White male, 5 months old, $100. 815/298-2287. 1/6

SHIH ZU PUPPIES, $400. Yorkie puppies, $600. 815/213-0239. 1/6

CANARIES – Colorful, young singing males, $70 each. Females, $30 each. Rockford. 815/639-9818. 1/6

Wanted For Pets

WANTED: LOVING & CARING FOSTER HOMES for rescued kittens & cats. If you can help, please call me at 815/980-7863. Thanks so much. – Lori. TFN

Pet Services

DO YOU KNOW A CHAINED OR LONELY DOG? Go to www.dogsdeservebetter.org. 12/23

DON’T BREED OR BUY while homeless pets die. Adopt from  shelters or rescues. www.wcasrock.org. 12/30

SEE LIVE ELEPHANTS on the elecam at www.elephants.com. 1/6

WANTED

GAS STOVE – Oven must work. Ladies snow mobile suit size LG. Folding card table. 815/399-2473. 12/23

WANTED: SNOWMOBILES AND PARTS from the 70’s and 80’s., Kitty Cats and other small snowmobiles. 815/623-6591. TFN

WILL PAY MORE FOR silver & gold than anyone. See our ad in the “At Your Service” section, page D4. 815/547-7111. 1/6

WANTED: WHITE ELECTRIC STOVE in excellent condition near Rockford. 815/382-7667. 1/6

CASH! FOR ANYTHING OF VALUE. CALL 815/558-1900. 12/30

I MAKE TALKING BOOKS FOR THE BLIND- In need of donated mini-tapes and tape recorder. 815/742-2781. 12/30

WANTED: DIABETIC TEST STRIPS. Any type. Any brand. Will pay up to $14 a box. Quick & local. Nancy. 815/519-9966. TFN

NEEDED FOR MY SON who is a nursing home resident: his favorite music artist, Bob Seger- albums, records, CDs, etc. Thanks for calling, Don, 815/262-0214.                 TFN

WOMAN WITH MS WANTS - Chihuahua puppy, electric or manual wheelchair, electric scooter. Also, collecting gorillas. 779/770-3858. 12/23

OLD GUITARS WANTED! Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, Prairie State, Euphonon, Larson, D’Angelico, Stromberg, Rickenbacker, and Mosrite. Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1930’s thru 1970’s TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440. N-12/23

I WILL BUY YOUR OLD CD’s. Top prices paid.815/218-3054. 1/6

WANTED DIABETES TEST STRIPS Any Kind/Any brand Unexpired. Pay up to $18.00 per box. Shipping Paid. Call 1-800-267-9895 or www.SellDiabeticstrips.com. N-12/23

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Classifieds | No Comments »

This week in The Times: Santa Claus

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Santa Claus

Vitals: As part of an ongoing holiday tradition, The Rock River Times once again sat down with Santa Claus and presented him with questions from children from the Rock River Valley. Though we could not use every question submitted, the staff of The Rock River TImes would like to thank all the boys and girls who contributed their questions for “Old Saint Nick.”

1. From Jack, age 9, of Rockford: Where do your reindeer sleep? My eight tiny reindeer, and Rudolph, of course, sleep in a state-of-the-art facility every night. I make sure that they are happy, especially before the big night. They order room service every night and get carrots for dinner and peppermints for dessert. Bedtime is at 9 because they need their rest!

2. From Allison, age 6, of Rockford: Do your elves live with you and Mrs. Claus all year at the North Pole? My elves actually live with me for only 10 months of the year. They get the first two months after Christmas off to celebrate a job well done and another successful Christmas. Most of them go to the South Pole, but this year, one of my good friends, Collin the Elf, is going to the Bahamas. He is going to look so silly in his jingle bell swimsuit!

3. From Jake, age 5, of Byron: How do you deliver all the presents in one night? Motivation. When people share in the holiday spirit and anticipate me coming, it only drives me more to speed up. Another thing is that the reindeer are trained to go their fastest, and this year we are planning to make it in record time.

4. From Alex, age 6, of Rockford: How many people leave cookies and milk for you each Christmas Eve? I would say 95 percent leave cookies and milk every Christmas. I always look forward to seeing all of the different types of cookies, and I don’t think I could ever have enough cookies or milk. My favorite is the sugar cookie…in case you were wondering. Don’t forget carrots for the reindeer!

5. From Darby, age 7, of Stillman Valley: How do you decide whether all the boys and girls have been naughty or nice for the past year? Well, you know the song: “He sees when you’re sleeping / He knows when you’re awake / He knows if you’ve been bad or good / So be good for goodness sake.” In reality, though, I have an alarm that goes off when a child has been moved to the naughty list. If you get a third strike, you’re automatically moved to the naughty list for a year, but I always give second chances to make it up because I want everyone to have a merry Christmas!

“This week in The Times” is a weekly survey of people selected by The Rock River Times staff. The column does not accept unsolicited submissions.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in This week in the times | No Comments »

The Drowsy Chaperone takes Coronado stage Jan. 31

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

The most celebrated musical of the 2006 Broadway season, The Drowsy Chaperone, a completely original musical comedy, is coming to the Coronado Performing Arts Center at 2 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010.

Original direction and choreography by Tony Award nominee Casey Nicholaw (Spamalot), with music and lyrics by Tony Award winners Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison, and a book by Tony Award winners Bob Martin and Don McKellar.

Tickets, starting at $31.50, are on sale and can be purchased at the Coronado box office, online at www.coronadopac.org, or charge by phone at (815) 968-0595. Discounts are available for subscribers and groups of 20 or more.

The Drowsy Chaperone tells the story of a modern-day musical theater addict known simply as “Man in Chair.” To chase his blues away, he drops the needle on his favorite LP—the 1928 musical comedy, The Drowsy Chaperone.

From the crackle of his hi-fi, the musical magically bursts to life on-stage, telling the tale of a pampered Broadway starlet who wants to give up show business to get married, her producer who sets out to sabotage the nuptials, her chaperone, the debonair groom, the dizzy chorine, the Latin lover and a pair of gangsters who double as pastry chefs. Man in Chair’s love of The Drowsy Chaperone speaks to anyone who has ever been transported by the theater.

The cast includes Roberto Carrasco (Aldolpho), Marc de la Concha (Gangster No. 2), Matt David (Underling), Lindsay Devino (Kitty), Tim Hackney (Super), Britt Hancock (Feldzieg), Patti McClure (Drowsy Chaperone), Robert Micheli (George), Kristin Netzband (Mrs. Tottendale), Elizabeth Pawlowski (Janet Van De Graaff), Jen Percival (Trix), Dennis Setteducati (Gangster No. 1), Leigh Wakeford (Robert Martin), and John West (Man in Chair). Rounding out the cast are Erin Edelle, Lauren Gemelli, Brian Padgett, Corey Scheys and Jake Warnecke.

The Drowsy Chaperone received more Tony Awards than any other musical of the 2006 season, including Best Book (Bob Martin and Don McKellar); Original Score (Lisa Lambert and Greg Morrison), Costume Design (Gregg Barnes) and Scenic Design (David Gallo).

The creative team for The Drowsy Chaperone includes direction recreated by Jay Douglas and choreography recreated by Tiffany Haas, sound design by Shannon Slaton.

Visit www.drowsychaperoneontour.com for more information.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in News | No Comments »

Members of ’85 Bears at Hoffman House Jan. 16

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Doug Halberstadt

Sports Columnist

Unlike this year’s Chicago Bears team, there once was a time when they were actually very good. That may be difficult for those of you younger than 30 years old to believe. It’s true, though. They won the Super Bowl in 1985.

Now, there is a chance for fans young and old to relive some of that Super Bowl glory. The Great Bears Blitz is coming to the Hoffman House Saturday, Jan. 16, 2010. The evening includes an opportunity to meet and greet and get autographs from several members of that championship team. Steve “Mongo” McMichael, Jimbo Covert, Dave “Double D” Duerson, Shaun Gayle, Keith Van Horne and William “The Refrigerator” Perry will be in attendance.

If you’re looking for that last-minute Christmas gift for the Bears fan on your list, tickets to the Bears Blitz are on sale at the Score Board inside the Holiday Inn at East State Street and Bell School Road in Rockford. They can also be charged by phone at 800-595-4849 or online at www.tix.com.

The $85 ticket includes a prime rib sandwich buffet and one autograph from each player. In addition to the dinner and autographs, local sportscaster Scott Leber will be on hand for a question-and-answer session, and he’ll be showing some video highlights from that memorable season.

Since this year’s Bears team won’t be playing in any postseason games, I’d like to suggest they purchase a ticket to this event and come out and see what a real Chicago football team looks like. It might actually do them some good. By the way, that goes double for Lovie Smith and Ron Turner.

Doug Halberstadt can be reached via e-mail at Dougster61@aol.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Tips to protect your home from severe weather

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Courtesy of ARA Content

When people think of winterizing their homes, most often their heating bills spring to mind—along with insulation and weather stripping. The winter months bring not only high energy bills, but also an increased chance of certain kinds of damage to your home and its contents.

A few precautions can help protect you from serious losses and disruptions this season.

Indoor floods

While home fires make headlines, water damage is more common and often just as severe. The most frequent cause is faulty or broken pipes. In fact, Fireman’s Fund Personal Risk Consultants see a surge in water damage during the first three months of the year, when pipes are most likely to freeze and burst. Be sure to insulate exposed pipes.

If you leave your home to spend time in warmer climates or even just a weekend on the ski slopes, always leave the heat on in your home and set it to at least 55 degrees. Don’t let high fuel prices tempt you into going lower. The pipes that come in through your foundation or run through external walls can reach temperatures much lower than the setting on your thermostat. Have someone check on your home while you are away.

A foolproof way to protect your home from broken or leaking pipes at any time of year is to install an automatic water shutoff system. Attached to your home’s main incoming water line, the device senses increased water flow caused by a burst pipe and automatically shuts the system off. Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company recommends the Leak Defense System from Sentinel Hydrosolutions. A 5 percent premium discount is available to policyholders who use this system, so let your insurance agent know if you install one.

Chimney and furnace fires

While fire presents a year-round risk, certain causes of fire occur more frequently during the winter. Chimneys, boilers and furnaces are particular risks. Approximately 25,000 residential fires begin in a fireplace or chimney every year, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Why so many? Over time, a layer of unburned carbon-based residues (sometimes referred to as fireplace creosote) builds up along the inside walls of your chimney and can eventually catch fire. The solution is to have a trusted, professional chimneysweep clean and inspect your chimney annually.

An annual inspection is just as important for those with furnaces and boilers. And, remember, your furnace room should never be used for general storage. Wood scraps, old books, paint, solvents and other flammable liquids are significant fire hazards and should be removed and stored elsewhere.

Ice dams and old trees

Snow and ice storms can create a number of potential threats to your home. One of these is ice damming, which occurs in the days after a snowstorm.

Icicles hanging from your eaves, while they may be beautiful, usually indicate that a dangerous ice dam has formed. An ice dam is a build-up of ice that can form at the edge of your roof when snow melts but is blocked from draining. When more snow melts and is trapped behind this ice, the resulting water backup can soak through your roof and cause damage to ceilings, walls and more. The most common causes of ice dams are clogged gutters and insufficient insulation, both of which are easy to remedy.

Mature trees on your property represent another potential hazard during storms. Strong winds or frozen water that covers old branches with a heavy coat of ice can lead to failure and collapse, a clear threat to your home or other nearby structures. Have a trusted horticultural expert take a look at your property’s mature trees and prune or cut down unstable specimens.

For more advice about how to protect your home from winter’s severe weather, visit www.firemansfund.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Home & Garden | 1 Comment »

Rural America more prosperous than expected

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

URBANA, Ill.—For many people.
rural

is synonymous with low incomes, limited economic opportunity and poor schools. However, a recent study at the University of Illinois found that much of rural America is actually prosperous, particularly in the Midwest and Plains.

The study analyzed unemployment rates, poverty rates, high school dropout rates, and housing conditions to identify prospering communities. According to the study, one in five rural counties in the United States is prosperous. They do better than the nation on all these measures.


Growth and income are the conventional measures of community success,

said U of I economist and planner Andrew Isserman.
But, in talking with farm groups, elected leaders and rural development professionals from across the country, I realized how few were happy. Some worried about growing too much, and the others fretted about growing too little.

Isserman decided to focus on outcomes instead of growth. Do communities keep their kids in school? Are their unemployment and poverty rates low? Are housing conditions good and the folks healthy?


When we started our research, people wondered whether we would find any prosperous rural communities at all using those criteria. But more than 300 of the nation’s rural counties did better than the nation.

Why Some Rural Places Prosper and Others Do Not was coauthored by Isserman, Edward Feser, and Drake Warren and published in the International Regional Science Review in July 2009.

Counties in America’s Heartland came out on top with half its rural counties prospering. USDA defines the Heartland as Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa, and parts of six adjacent states.

In the Southeast and Southwest, fewer than one in 20 rural counties prosper.

Prosperous rural counties have more off-farm jobs, more educated populations, and less income inequality than other rural counties. Geographical factors like climate, topography, distances to cities and airports, and interstate highways are unimportant in distinguishing prosperous counties from others.


Instead, the results supported what many rural people believe to be truecivically engaged religious groups and a common ancestry can really matter,

Isserman said.

The prosperous rural counties in 2000 averaged 2 percent growth over the previous decade. The worst-off counties, which met no prosperity criteria, averaged five times the growth at 11 percent, and had much lower incomes.
This finding supports our view that growth and prosperity are different dimensions, and much can be learned from studying rural prosperity.

Having analyzed the data on 1,300 rural counties, the research team is studying communities up close to learn the story behind the statistical results.
We want to figure out how and why these places prosper in order to help other rural places do well, too.

Mallory Rahe, a member of the research team, recently completed a master’s thesis on two prosperous rural counties.
Her findings are strikingly consistent with the statistical results. They suggest that local action can make a big difference,

Isserman said.
She returned with impressive stories that link local churches, a shared ethnic identity, small colleges, locally-owned manufacturing, innovative farmers, and extraordinary cooperation and civic engagement to job creation, education, and housing. Now we are working on a research design to help us determine more conclusively whether local action really can bring sustained rural prosperity.

The research team also wants to study the few prosperous rural counties with a minority concentration. According to the published study, only six rural counties are prosperous of the 260 where African-Americans are 10 percent or more of the population, only one county out of 98 for American Indians, and only 17 of 181 for Hispanics.

Isserman said these numbers have important implications for broader policy.
The strong empirical findings for rural places with American Indian and African-American populations are forceful reminders that the United States has not overcome the legacies of its original racial policies,

he said.
Rural development policy cannot ignore race. Conditions are worse in those rural communities than other factors predict. How some rural places succeeded against those odds might have important lessons for all rural places trying to prosper.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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On Real Estate: Unemployment pounds commercial market

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Jim Hagerty

Staff Writer

As unemployment rates inch higher, the need for commercial real estate continues to shrink. Property values are dropping quickly, according to stats released this month.

Officials predict a dip in vacant office spaces may exceed 20 percent by the middle of next year, with the jobless tallies largely to blame. Until more people return to work, scores of brokers will keep their fingers crossed in hopes the commercial market doesn’t follow the residential sector into the proverbial toilet.

Another factor that could burst the commercial bubble is a wave of commercial loan defaults that are said to be on the horizon come 2010. The result could be devastating on all fronts.

First, property owners will be forced to walk away from high-dollar assets that will likely fall to banks, which, by turns, will face a mountain of virtually unmarketable properties. Tax revenues would see an even bigger kink in the pipeline.

For some brokers, the silver lining could present the same carrot that is keeping the residential market afloat. Dwindling values mean lower sales prices, and, coupled with an FDIC effort to help lenders keep commercial loans on the books without increasing debts, things could at least remain calm moving into the New Year. The measure will also keep banks from falling.

In short, most of the swelling negativity is likely coming from property owners who, in theory, are losing millions in equity as commercial property values fall. But, experts say, things can only look up as most would agree keeping loans from going into default should be the main concern, regardless of what is happening to values.

At press time, there was about $1.5 trillion in commercial mortgages on the books across the country. About half of that was attached to property values that have fallen below what’s owed on notes. The vast majority will come due within the next five years, representing a significantly scary situation—one that welcomes an improvement on the jobless front and more lending opportunities for enterprisers to start businesses.

Locally, some developers have shelved major projects, some dependent on construction financing and TIF funds. With some financing difficult to come by, some developers are doing what they can to sell to create cushions for when the sun, again, begins shining on the industry.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Charles Story: The Godmother

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

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Community News and Notes: week of Dec. 23, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Mary Hotlen, a Rockford writer and poet, was honored at the Illinois State Library in Springfield by Secretary of State Jesse White. Hotlen won third place in the Illinois Emerging Writers Competition, a statewide program to promote creative writing and for discovering and recognizing new literary talent in Illinois. Her award-winning poem, “year of psalms,” can be read and heard at the Illinois’ Poet Laureate’s Web site at www.poetlaureate.il.gov. … Boy Scout Troup 187 of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints of Byron conducted a Court of Honor for Dallin Robertson and Stephen Denton. Robertson and Denton performed a skill presentation on tying the square knot, clove hitch, timber hitch and the bowline. Scoutmaster Kelly Robertson presented both with Merit Badges at Camp Bradley, Idaho. Robertson earned three Merit Badges at the Stake Merit Badge Roundup and six Merit Badges at Camp Little Lemhi in Idaho. Robertson presented his mother, Sonya Robertson, with a “Star” pin acknowledging her support in his achieving the new rank. … Nine students from Keith Country Day School were recently named Illinois State Scholars. Those who were recognized for their outstanding academic achievement were Lamise Al-Basha, Farzeen Harunani, Sarah Ikenberry, Anne Jaconette, Jessica Ross, Katie Schulz, Dan Stephenson, Samantha Stephenson and Hyun Yi.

Send your “Community news and notes” to The Rock River Times, ATTN: People In Our Times, 128 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61101; e-mail contact@rockrivertimes.com; call (815) 964-9767; or fax (815) 964-9825.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Mail-in rebates: Now available in paper or plastic

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

Once the excitement of the holidays wears off, people turn to the promised rewards of mail-in rebates. However, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises that it’s more important than ever to read the fine print when filing for a rebate because retailers and manufacturers are changing the way they issue rebates.

According to CreditCards.com, retailers and manufacturers are increasingly opting to provide rebates in the form of pre-loaded cards as opposed to paper checks. Unlike checks, which can be deposited in a bank and used to pay bills, consumers must spend the rebate. These cards can often only be used where credit cards are accepted. In most cases, the cards can be used at any merchant—much like a debit card—but some retailers are also handing out rebate cards that can only be used at their stores. The cards may also have expiration dates and added fees that could whittle down their value.

“Rebates are a great way to get a deal, but they can also be a great source of frustration for consumers,” said Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the BBB serving Chicago and northern Illinois. “By acting quickly to redeem the rebate and reading the mail-in instructions carefully, consumers can significantly reduce any disappointment associated with redeeming rebates.”

In the previous 12 months, 70 percent of consumers have taken advantage of manufacturer rebates on products, according to a recent survey by Consumer Reports. The national telephone survey also found that, of those who applied for a rebate, 21 percent of people were unsuccessful. Typically, consumers didn’t receive anything or were turned down because of a technicality.

The BBB offers the following advice to holiday shoppers about how to make the process of redeeming rebates as painless as possible:

• Don’t wait. Some rebates have a time window in which they can be redeemed or must be redeemed within a certain amount of time following purchase. Waiting also increases your chances of misplacing necessary receipts or packaging.

• Read the instructions carefully. The guidelines for redeeming a rebate can be extensive and missing steps may delay the process or result in loss of the rebate. Be sure to indicate how you want to receive the rebate—such as if a gift card is the default option—and include all the necessary paperwork and proof of purchase. Also make a point to thoroughly read the fine print details that are included when you receive your rebate card or check in the mail.

• Keep the packaging. Rebates often require UPC bar codes or other parts of the packaging to be included with the paperwork for processing, so don’t throw boxes away until you’re sure you don’t need them.

• Make copies of everything. Keep a copy of all the paperwork you mailed back to the retailer or manufacturer for the rebate. It’s the only record you’ll have of the transaction if anything goes missing.

• Contact the business if the rebate doesn’t arrive. Some retailers and manufacturers use third-party fulfillment companies for processing rebates, so keep in mind that you might be dealing with a different business when it comes to tracking down your rebate.

• Help is available if you need it. If the rebate never arrives or is significantly late, file a complaint with the BBB, the Federal Trade Commission or your state Attorney General.

For more advice about being a savvy consumer this holiday season, visit www.bbb.org.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Book Review: Creating Your Legacy: Remembering the past with fondness

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Susan Johnson

Copy Editor

Ray W. Empereur grew up in the Rockford area and came to appreciate the value of family, home, heritage, goals and career. His new book, Creating Your Legacy: A Do-It Yourself Guide for Baby Boomers, will help you record and preserve your memories for generations to come.

As the promo says:
This is a guide and self-help book for members of the baby boom generation to aid in development of a written legacy for their heirs. The baby boom generation comprises the 77 million Americans born between 1946 and 1964, representing the children born in the post-World War II era. Boomers, raised in an era of unprecedented prosperity, have become the American ruling class, though most are just average citizens.

The book is divided into 24 brief chapters (
essays

) containing bits of interesting information about the author’s childhood, his family, places they went, things they did, careers, etc. Many personal anecdotes will keep you entertained along the way. Interspersed with descriptions of Empereur’s family life are bits of personal philosophy that helped him to achieve success in reaching his goals. He also includes photos from his family album, identifying the people and places they went.

The author gives simple instructions for keeping a personal journal and includes an excerpt of one of his entries as a sample. He tells how he stores entries for each year on computer and files them for reference. This is an autobiographical how-to book that remembers the past with fondness and expresses optimism for the future. It will undoubtedly inspire some readers who’ve always wondered if they could write something meaningful to try Empereur’s methods. Each reader can write his or her own unique story and achieve success on a personal level, finding a new way to enhance family relationships and share acquired wisdom with the next generation. Go to it!

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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NFL week 16 picks: Vikings, Packers will win

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Doug Halberstadt

Sports Columnist

And then there was one. Thanks to the Dallas Cowboys upsetting the New Orleans Saints last Saturday night (Dec. 19), the Indianapolis Colts are the lone remaining undefeated team entering week 16 of this year’s NFL season. The Colts host the New York Jets this Sunday, and will make it to 15-0.

The Saints should be able to get back into the win column; they are at home against their NFC South division opponent and one of the worst teams in the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

On Christmas night, the San Diego Chargers are in Tennessee to take on the Titans. After starting the season 2-3, the Chargers have wheeled off nine wins in a row. The Titans also had a slow start to their year. They lost their first six before winning their first game. In what should be a decent game, I like the Chargers to make it 10 in a row.

Back to the Sunday games. Buffalo plays at Atlanta. I like the Falcons in the Georgia Dome. The Bengals are at home to play the Chiefs. Even though the Bengals have lost their last two games, I still like them over Kansas City. Oakland travels to Cleveland. Neither team will be playing in the postseason. Oakland has shown some signs of life recently. Cleveland scored a ton of points last week against the Chiefs. I think Oakland’s defense will be much stingier and hold the Browns’ offense in check. I say the Raiders by a touchdown.

Green Bay lost on the final play of the game last week in Pittsburgh. They return to Lambeau this week to host the Seahawks. Seattle has lost their last two and is 1-6 on the road this season. Green Bay should bounce back from that heartbreaking loss and put up a “W” against Seattle.

The Ravens are in Pittsburgh facing a must-win situation to keep their playoff hopes alive. Following their Super Bowl season last year, Pittsburgh has been somewhat of a disappointment this season. They showed they still have some fight left in them with a last-second, come-from-behind win against the Packers last week. I look for the Steelers’ roller-coaster season to continue as they head back downhill this week. I like the Ravens in a close game.

Miami hosts Houston. Both teams have identical 7-7 records. I’m hoping the home-team-advantage comes into play, and I’m taking the Dolphins. The Patriots are a perfect 7-0 at home this season. They host the Jaguars. Jacksonville is only 2-4 on the road. I look for the Patriots to improve to 8-0 at Gillette Stadium.

The New York Giants are home for the holidays when they take on Carolina in Giants Stadium. I like the G-Men at home. Denver is in Philly to face the Eagles.

The Eagles have won five in a row and seem to be peaking at the right time of the season. They are the better team, and will win easily over the Broncos.

Arizona will have no problem at home as they host the team with the worst record in the NFL, the 1-13 St. Louis Rams. Sorry, St. Louis, you drop to 1-14. Speaking of teams who are bad, the Detroit Lions haven’t won a game away from Michigan this season. They are in San Francisco to take on the 49ers. I don’t see them getting their first road win of the season against San Fran. The Lions will drop to 2-13.

In the Sunday night game, the Cowboys and the Redskins play in prime time. Dallas is coming off the huge win over the Saints. I think that momentum should help them parlay back-to-back wins.

The Bears host the Vikings in the Monday night game. The Vikings will win. The only question in this game is, will Brett Favre throw more touchdowns than Jay Cutler throws interceptions?

Merry Christmas to all! (Except Lovie Smith and Ron Turner).

Doug Halberstadt can be reached via e-mail at Dougster61@aol.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Calls made for superintendent’s resignation

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Approximately 30 Rockford Public School District 205 students, all from Auburn High School, marched in protest Monday, Dec 21, in front of the Rockford School District 205 administration building, 201 S. Madison St. The group was protesting the removal of former Auburn High School Principal Dr. Richard Jancek, removed last week after two students were arrested at both campuses for concealing loaded handguns. Students called for Jancek to be reinstated and Superintendent Dr. LaVonne Sheffield to resign. Photo by Jim Hagerty

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Literary Hook: ‘Midwest Winter’: A poem filled with originality and playful quality

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Christine Swanberg

Author and Poet

Perhaps you have a friend who likes literature. A delightful Christmas gift could be The Rockford Review: Pooling Our Talents. Perfect bound with a lively, full-color cover, this collection includes poetry and prose sure to stretch your imagination. To quote outgoing Editor David Ross: “Writers come in all ages, stages, sizes and shapes. The same could be said of individuals who gather together at swimming pools. In that context, the Gala edition of The Rockford Review surfaces as a symbolic pool party where all levels of talent make a splash. The names of those who take the plunge are swimming in the iridescent water on the cover of this book.”

The 124-page book has two sections. The first, Part I, includes the work of members of the Rockford Writers’ Guild, a thriving writers’ support group that has a longstanding history in Rockford and has nurtured many success stories. Part II features the Ides of March contest winners. It’s easy to locate writers in Part I since it is alphabetical by author’s last name. The collection also includes information about the Rockford Writers’ Guild itself.

The Rockford Review is published twice a year by the Rockford Writers’ Guild, P.O. Box 858, Rockford, IL 61105. Single copies are $9. In addition, copies are available at Rockford Area Arts Council, Poska, Katie’s Cup, Enders Flowers, J.R. Kortman, Coronado Gift Shop, Stone’s Hallmark, North End Coffee Bar and Just A Second.

As promised in last week’s column, here is a poem by contributing long-time member Cindy Guentherman. This poem seems very appropriate since winter came early this year. Cindy’s poems sparkle with originality and a playful quality sure to delight.

Midwest Winter

I am thirsty for bugs.

There has been too much snow

and this wind is too angry

to romanticize.

I want that drone of bee buzz

dripping over me thicker

than the honey itself.

I crave cricket sounds

in a sweet licorice night,

a flutter of little brown moths

against the porch light.

I know that tulips wait underground

like backstage ballerinas.

I dream their sensual sway,

their bold red, yellow, orange calls

to the iridescent fairy wings

of bugs.

* Used by permission of the author, Cindy Guentherman.

** Copyright © 2009 by Rockford Writers’ Guild. Used by permission.

Christine Swanberg has published about 300 poems in 70 journals and anthologies. An interview with her appears in the 2008 Poet’s Market. She is available for mentoring through Jane’s Stories Foundation. Part of her mentoring is suggesting possible journals. Her books include Who Walks Among the Trees with Charity (Wind Publishing, Kentucky), The Red Lacquer Room (Chiron Publishing, Kansas), The Tenderness of Memory (Plainview Press, Texas), Slow Miracle (Lakeshore Publishing, Illinois), Invisible String (Erie St., Illinois), Bread Upon the Waters (Windfall, Wisconsin) and Tonight on this Late Road (Erie St., IL). She teaches writing at The Clearing in Door County, Wisconsin, and gives workshops and readings thoughout the United States.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Is Lovie on the hot seat with the Bears?

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By S.C. Zuba

Sports Columnist

It’s no surprise the Chicago Bears have had their fair share of woes this season.

The 2009 season will be remembered as a season of disappointment—one where nothing went quite as we had all imagined.

The Bears have been nothing short of a trainwreck. From their “franchise-saving quarterback,” Jay Cutler, to their “franchise running back,” Matt Forte, to their defense that was supposed to be revitalized by the addition of Rod Marinelli and the demotion of Bob Babich, everything has been a disaster.

After the 31-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Cutler had thrown a league-leading 25 interceptions this season. When the Bears traded for Cutler, they knew he would take risks, but no one could have predicted how few of those risks would pay off.

The Bears rank 32nd in the league in rushing with 86.5 rush yards per game and only six touchdowns on the season—a far cry from what they were last year when Forte had a break-out rookie season.

The defense, under Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator Lovie Smith, is tied for 14th in the league with the Carolina Panthers, giving up 329.7 yards per game.

When a team has played this poorly and failed to make the playoffs for three years in a row, all fingers point to the head coach. Yet, up until just before the game last Sunday, it seemed as though Smith’s job was safe. That assumption was partly because Smith is still owed $11 million on his contract.

However, in a pregame meeting with reporters in the M&T Bank Stadium press box, Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo said finances would not factor into Smith’s future with the organization.

“I don’t look at money in those times. It’s not about money. It’s about doing what we need to do to be a good football team,” Angelo said.

When asked if the final three games of the season would affect the way Angelo evaluates Smith’s future, Angelo had the following response: “Very much so. We need to get a win. That’s very important right now. I feel we’ve been competitive, we just haven’t been able to win.”

The Bears have played awfully this season; that is no secret to anyone. The last three seasons the Bears have been 7-9, 9-7, and this season, their best-case scenario would be 7-9. That is simply unacceptable.

If Angelo is watching the same football team the rest of us are, it is difficult to find an argument to keep Smith around. If the Bears are going to make a coaching change, they need to do it now while proven head coaches are still around, like Bill Cowher and Mike Shanahan.

Angelo said it’s about winning. Now, let’s see if he really means it.

Share your thoughts with S.C. Zuba via e-mail at samuelczuba@yahoo.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Chickens as part of a sustainable lifestyle

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Drs. Robert & Sonia Vogl

President and Vice President

Illinois Renewable Energy Association

Renewable energy is one aspect of sustainability. The other even more important aspect is a sustainable lifestyle. We have installed a hybrid photovoltaic and wind system, burn wood cut from our property and have a small garden. This year, we decided to try chickens. To our surprise, we found many articles about others who were doing the same.

Last spring, after going online to find a reputable breeder, we placed our order. We were cautioned that novices might lose a fair percentage, so we bought twice the minimum order of 25.

They arrived healthy and happy via the U.S. Postal Service. At first, postal workers enjoyed the cheerful cheeping, but by the time we picked them up, the noise annoyed them.

We brought them home, placed them in a newly-made brooder box under a heat lamp, and taught them how to drink by tapping each little beak into the watering pan that we had filled with marbles to prevent their drowning.

Feed went into and out of them with amazing speed. We erected a small chicken yard for them to play in while we cleaned their enlarged pen. The chicks grew as did the Two Chicks Chicken Ranch. They soon moved into a larger room in an old converted hog house.

The chicks grew and filled their quarters at night. We walked through wall-to-wall chickens in the morning as we let them out. During the day, they ate and played in their much larger yard.

We purchased bag after bag of chicken feed and scratch. Fortunately, the chicks enjoyed eating weeds from their yard. As the supply dwindled, we picked more for them, then supplemented with fruit and vegetable scraps, stale bread, and as summer wore on, overripe tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers. By fall, the operation was as sustainable as possible, with more excess garden produce including squash, pumpkins, apples and pears. As we transition to winter, we still provide stored produce, bread and kitchen scraps.

It soon became apparent that we had two basic categories of chickens—big ones and not-so-big ones. As novices, we read anything we could find about chickens. We learned that the large, white ones were Rock cornish crosses, bred almost entirely for meat. As they seemed to outgrow their legs, we planned butchering day. With the help of friend and neighbor John Barnhart and his two children, we spent an entire day preparing poultry for the freezer. By weighing a typical dressed bird, we calculated that we would share more than 400 pounds of meat. Our share should last a year-and-a-half.

The remaining pullets, at least nine beautiful breeds, soon began laying eggs, at first tiny, now medium to large. By laying time, we had added another dozen hens with a friendly rooster, donated by another friend. What the chickens eat is more than compensated for by their prolific egg laying.

The chickens enjoy sunlight, freedom to run and fresh food. Friends and we enjoy the tastiest, most tender eggs we have ever experienced. We may hatch some of our own in spring. If we raised more vegetables and grains, the Chicken Ranch would be sustainable.

If you decide to raise chickens in an urban setting, be sure to check local ordinances. Some communities ban roosters; some limit flock size.

Drs. Robert and Sonia Vogl are founders and officers of the Illinois Renewable Energy Association (IREA) and coordinate the annual Renewable Energy and Sustainable Lifestyle Fair. The Vogls and the IREA are members of the Environmental Hall of Fame. Dr. Robert Vogl is vice president of Freedom Field, and Dr. Sonia Vogl is a member of Freedom Field’s Executive Committee. The Vogls consult on energy efficiency, renewable energy and green building. They have 3.2 kW of PV and a 1 kW wind generator at their home. Forty acres of their 180-acre home farm are in ecological restorations. They are active in preserving natural areas and are retired professors from Northern Illinois University. E-mail sonia@essex1.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Teen bands encouraged to audition for 2010 RAMI Youth Charity Jam

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) is inviting teen-aged bands from Winnebago, Boone, Ogle, Stephenson and Rock counties to audition for the 2010 RAMI Youth Charity Jam. Auditions will be Saturday, Feb. 27, 2010, at the Tebala Shrine Temple, 7910 Newburg Road, in Rockford. Application deadline is Jan. 30, 2010.

For a band to be eligible, at least two-thirds of its members must be 19 years of age or younger and enrolled in high school in one of the designated counties.

The top seven bands, as determined by the auditions, will perform at the 2010 RAMI Youth Charity Jam Saturday, March 27, 2010, also held at the Tebala Shrine Temple. In addition, the first-place winner will receive $250, recording time donated by Darkhouse Productions, and will be invited to perform at the 19th Annual RAMI Awards Ceremony Thursday, April 29, 2010. The second-place winner will receive $200 and the third-place winner $150. The band selling the most tickets to the Youth Charity Jam will receive $100 as well.

Proceeds from this event will be applied to the Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Scholarship Fund, administered by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. Each year, the recipient of the scholarship is chosen from nominations submitted by music teachers. The student must be a graduating senior from Boone or Winnebago County who has a GPA of at least 2.5; plans to pursue a degree in music performance, education or composition; and is actively involved in school or community musical groups. Nominations will be accepted until Feb. 1, 2010.

To obtain an Application Form to audition for the Youth Charity Jam, go to www.ramiawards.com. For more information, e-mail missinglinks64@comcast.net or call (815) 847-8228. For information about the Gary S. Wilmer Memorial Scholarship, contact the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois at (815) 962-2110.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Comedy All-Star Tour at Coronado Jan. 22

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

The Bob & Tom Show and WXRX 104.9 will present “The Canadian Mist Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour” at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Jan. 22, 2010, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center.

Scheduled performers include Greg Hahn, Greg Warren and Donnie Baker & the Pork Pistols. Emcee will be Kristi Lee of The Bob & Tom Show.

Many of the best comedians in North America appear daily on The Bob & Tom Radio Show. A number of these comedians are headliners and often have TV credentials ranging from Comedy Central to Late Night with David Letterman. The Canadian Mist Bob & Tom Comedy All-Stars Tour was created to bring a rotating ensemble of these great headline comedians to single stages across America.

To purchase tickets, call the Coronado Box Office at (815) 968-0595 or visit Coronado’s Web site, www.coronadopac.org.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Hanging Out in Rockford: A good party

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Mike Leifheit

Columnist

We aren’t selling a lot of gift certificates this year. We haven’t booked a lot of Christmas parties, either. The few we have, have bucked the trend. My friend John Gradick, a Rockford police officer, asks me what kind of deal I can offer him if he wants to throw a party for his fellow officers. I give him a really good price, since I don’t have anything else going on.

I work out the details, and give him an estimate. I knock off about 30 percent from my normal pricing because it is John and because it is the Rockford police coming to the party. John just keeps saying over and over that he thinks people just really need a good party right now.

I write the menu. We are going to serve roast beef, wood oven-herbed roast chicken, homemade lasagna (we even make the pasta from scratch), liver pâté, smoked salmon (in our wood oven, too), assorted focaccia (like pizza), grilled gray squash, blue cheese-stuffed mushrooms, ceviche and chips, barbecued pork chops, fresh green bean salad, an Italian salad we call Mike’s salad made with fresh oregano, potato salad with homemade jalapeno mayonnaise and chocolate mousse.

Sunday morning, I get up early to get my work done and go to the YMCA before the event. On the way, I notice that Brenda and Greg are open at the Sugar and Spice. (This should be the greatest place to have breakfast on a Sunday morning. One of the reasons I don’t like breakfast out in Rockford is all the food tastes the same. They all use that awful butter-flavored hydrogenated soybean oil to cook their eggs and potatoes, and everything winds up tasting the same. Greg only uses real butter for his eggs. It is better tasting and much more healthful. You need to know how bad hydrogenated soybean oil is for you.) I pull the Kia to the curb. I haven’t seen them in a couple of weeks. I apologize for not coming to eat, but I find it difficult to go to the Y afterward. I usually just want to take a nap.

In our conversation, Greg observes that the present financial woes didn’t just start, that this economic downturn really started three or four years ago but that the press has lately blown it all out of proportion. As he is talking, I have a personal epiphany. He is absolutely right. I knew that all along. It has only really gotten bad since they began beating it to death. If the media would back off a bit, we could get back to some semblance of normalcy. It’s just like John said, we all need a really good party!

At the YMCA, in the locker room, a bunch of the guys are discussing the health insurance bill. Some senator has been bought out to get his cooperation for 60 votes. One of my fellow Y members is a doctor. He wants tort reform. He says that malpractice insurance in Indiana is about $100,000 cheaper in Indiana than it is in Illinois, because they have a board of experts that reviews malpractice suits. I say to him that he must favor more regulation (yeah, I know, but I just couldn’t help myself). He winces as I say this, and says “No.” I reply that a board of experts is regulation. (I cannot help but wonder if he plans on giving that savings back to his patients?) I think there are improvements that can be made, but malpractice reform would only produce about 10 percent overall, and we are 100 percent off the mark. We need to be pragmatic, not ideological.

After the Y, I drop in to Deli Italia. I need something to eat, and I don’t want to bother my people because they are too busy getting ready for the party. Tracy waits on me. It is her last day before leaving to have her baby boy. She is due Jan. 4. She is such a beautiful woman and an even lovelier mother. I tell her how good she looks, and she positively glows.

Back at the Rose, the party starts, and the place is full of cops. They are a good-looking bunch, our police department, both the officers and their spouses. My waitresses are checking out all the good-looking young men. John greets people at the door, and talks them through the food offering. Everyone seems to be having a really good time.

Afterward, when I finally let John buy me a drink, I congratulate him about how on the mark I think he was and is with this idea. We all need a good party. We need to get rid of the doom and gloom. Maybe the press will get bored with all the negative talk and decide things are getting better, and we all can just get on with life.

Mike Leifheit’s “Hanging Out In Rockford” reviews locally-owned restaurants, businesses and Rockford life. Leifheit is owner of the Irish Rose restaurant in the downtown River District.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Vibe Entertainment News | No Comments »

Ruling in rodeo case possible in January

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Stuart R. Wahlin

Staff Writer

Winnebago County officials say Enrique Jaime Jr. has been operating a commercial rodeo on his ranch at 14852 Hauley Road in Shirland Township. But Jaime, through attorney J.F. Heckinger, instead argues the facility is only meant to simulate a rodeo atmosphere for the purpose of training animals for friends and family.

Both sides were heard Dec. 15 by retired Associate Judge Richard A. Lucas, who was recalled to the bench in November. The hours-long hearing on a motion to dismiss and a petition for injunction resulted in no decision by Lucas, however.

During sworn testimony, Assistant State’s Attorney Sara Hohe first called Winnebago County Planning & Zoning Officer Troy Krup for direct examination.

Krup explained that Jaime’s ranch is zoned for agricultural use, in which rodeos are not allowed without a special-use permit (SUP).

Jaime, however, told The Rock River Times, “I still contend what I’m doing is Ag—horses and cows—and I don’t need a special-use permit, unless…I open it up to the public and charge admission.

“When I went to apply for my special-use permit, it was never a rodeo,” he noted. “I was asking for an equestrian center. For whatever reason, the county said there was no wording for an equestrian center, so they opted to put the rodeo in themselves. I never asked for a rodeo.”

Although a year has passed since his SUP request was denied, Jaime said he has no plans to try again.

“I’m not gonna reapply, ’cause I don’t want it open to the public anymore. I just want to keep it for friends and family, and that’s it,” he explained. “The only reason I applied for my special-use permit was ’cause the county said I had to. I wish I wouldn’t have applied for it, and I should have fought ’em last year.”

The first complaints from area residents were forwarded to the zoning division by the Sheriff’s Department in the summer of 2008, Krup said, noting a letter advising Jaime of the alleged ordinance violation was issued July 18, 2008.

Jaime then visited the zoning office to discuss possible remedies, but Krup indicated a second letter was issued after Jaime allegedly failed to act on the suggestion that he apply for an SUP.

In September 2008, Jaime submitted his permit application “to allow a recreational facility/commercial entertainment/tourist establishment for an outdoor rodeo facility and equestrian riding trails.”

After a staff report was conducted, outlining facts and recommending conditions, Jaime’s petition went before the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) for a public hearing, which lasted two nights.

The ZBA ultimately recommended denial of the requested permit, and the matter was passed on to the County Board’s Zoning Committee, which sustained the ZBA’s findings.

The full County Board voted down the petition Dec. 11, 2008, but Krup noted, “We again started receiving complaints that spring and summer.”

Heckinger takes aim at Krup’s interpretation of the code

During cross-examination of Krup, Heckinger noted the county’s zoning code does not specifically prohibit rodeos, but Krup maintained such a venture would fall under a special use.

During re-direct examination, Hohe and Krup noted that the zoning ordinance related to agricultural use does not list prohibited activities.

According to another portion of county code, special uses include: “Private and public recreational facilities and commercial entertainment and tourist establishments, including, but not limited to, picnic and recreational campgrounds…dining and dancing establishments; archery clubs; gun clubs; Par-3 golf courses; automobile, cycle, snowmobile race tracks or courses; commercial stables and riding trails; and commercial fishing ponds or lakes and/or similar tourist facilities.”

Although rodeos are not specifically cited in the code, Krup emphasized the phrase “including, but not limited to.”

Heckinger argued the code could encompass just about any sort of recreational activity, but Krup agreed that no SUP is required to train animals for personal use, given that no money changes hands.

Heckinger then suggested that Jaime’s friends had simply left their animals in his care. Taking the position one step further, Heckinger wondered, “What happens if he has some friends over?”

Heckinger noted there is no limit specified in the zoning code as to the number of friends or animals that may be present on Jaime’s ranch, and that there is nothing prohibiting construction of the facility for personal use by Jaime, or family and friends.

When Heckinger suggested Jaime’s arena could simply be used for training their animals, Krup noted the alleged rodeos had been advertised and admission was charged, constituting a commercial operation requiring an SUP. He also pointed to outdoor lighting, accessory structures, and the frequency of activity as indicators of a commercial rodeo.

Heckinger noted the code does not specify how infrequent an activity must be to not require an SUP, and Krup acknowledged there is no specific number stated in the ordinance, but described the frequency of events as only one factor hinting at a commercial venture.

Krup also noted the presence of portable toilets on-site, which he said indicated “larger-than-typical crowds” and “more than just a group of friends.”

Additionally, Krup pointed to the large number of animals brought from off-site for events, adding, “He was doing more than training animals on-site.”

Krup argued the arena, complete with bleachers he described as “large in capacity,” was constructed like a commercial rodeo facility. He estimated the grandstands could accommodate 250 spectators.

Heckinger, however, responded by suggesting the facility is only meant to replicate a rodeo arena for training purposes, and Jaime reportedly told Krup the facility is an “equestrian center,” not a rodeo.

Pressed by Heckinger for what staff had determined in its report, Krup acknowledged Jaime’s permit request was recommended for approval with conditions, to which Jaime had agreed to most, if not all, Krup said.

Krup reported having personally visited the property in December 2008, during which time he observed three alleged zoning violations, including the large arena and accessory buildings that had been constructed without zoning clearance or permits.

After establishing the arena is at least one-quarter of a mile from the nearest road or neighboring residence, Heckinger pressed Krup to concur that no SUP is required for social events attended by friends and family.

Furthermore, Heckinger referenced permitted uses in an agricultural district, which include “animal and poultry husbandry,” as well as “pasturage,” to assert that raising horses is allowed.

Arguing agricultural use versus entertainment, Krup responded, however, “A rodeo is typically done for entertainment purposes.” He noted raising animals for food is considered an agricultural use, but rodeos are not.

Heckinger asserted that training horses for off-site rodeos would theoretically be permitted, concluding that county code does not quantify Krup’s interpretations regarding frequency of events and the number of people allowed, for instance.

After the hearing, Jaime argued, “There is nothing on the books that says I can’t do what I do.

“These politicians can have parties and have contributions at their stuff,” he added. “Years ago, at Yale Bridge Road, [Winnebago County Board Chairman] Scott Christiansen [R] had the same events I’ve got. [Former County Board member] Randy Olson [R] still has them now. His horse ranch had one in November.”

Jaime estimated at least a dozen nearby ranches have arenas and similar horse events.

“Why aren’t these other events being stopped?” he wondered. “Why just me?

“It just seems to me that I’m being harassed when all these other ones aren’t being harassed, and they’re doing pretty much the same thing I’ve been doing,” Jaime added. “They’ve been doing it longer than I have.”

In August, Christiansen explained: “The big difference between what we did there and what this other one’s doing is we didn’t charge. There was no entry fee there. That was all just a bunch of people getting together.”

Detective infiltrated event

After a short recess, Hohe called to the witness stand Nicholas Cunningham, a sheriff’s detective.

To establish credibility and knowledge of equestrian events, Cunningham explained he’d grown up on a cattle farm and had participated in rodeos.

He reported that in June 2008, the Sheriff’s Department began receiving complaints of a Mexican rodeo that was “suspicious in nature.”

June 21, 2008, Cunningham and two other plain-clothed officers visited the site for an event, posing as spectators.

He indicated signs had been plastered along area roadways to direct attendees and participants to Jaime’s “Rancho Escondido.”

Upon reaching the property, Cunningham said he observed a person with a metal cash box working the gate, and that he and his fellow undercover officers were charged $10 each before being admitted.

In August 2009, Jaime told The Rock River Times his equestrian events are not open to the public.

“If the guy at the gate don’t know ’em, they don’t come in, or they give me a call to come up and see who it is,” he asserted.

Once inside, Cunningham added, he observed an announcer booth, a mariachi band, a concession stand, arena, bleachers and numerous stock pens typical of rodeos.

The following Monday, Cunningham submitted his report to the county’s zoning division, as well as another to the Health Department, because he’d witnessed food being prepared and sold on-site. The Health Department indicated no permit had been applied for, or issued.

A search warrant was subsequently executed Sept. 30, 2008, during which Cunningham snapped photos used as exhibits in the Dec. 15, 2009, hearing.

When the county board voted to deny Jaime’s request for an SUP a year ago, however, board members agreed little could be done to prevent future events, as long as they are not advertised and no money changes hands. And continue they did.

May 9, 2009, another complaint alleging a rodeo was submitted by county board member Steve Schultz (R-2) after receiving a call from a constituent.

After an event on Jaime’s ranch July 11, Cunningham said, deputies recovered a flier advertising another alleged rodeo from a vehicle involved in an alcohol-related accident. The flier reportedly provided Jaime’s address and two of his phone numbers.

Jaime has indicated that no alcohol is sold during his events, but that visitors are welcome to bring their own.

Jaime further asserted the July 11 event was only his birthday party, however. Cunningham testified that he witnessed no money changing hands, but that he observed a taco stand, outdoor lighting, portable toilets, bleachers and animal events in the keyhole arena.

“They’re telling me I can’t have a birthday party on my property, which I think is going overboard,” Jaime told The Rock River Times.

Pressed by Heckinger during cross-examination, Cunningham conceded that there was no evidence to prove the event was anything more than a private party, but interjected, “It looked like a rodeo to me.”

July 23, 2009, Jaime met with Cunningham and Deputy Chief Dominic Iasparro to discuss plans for an event scheduled for Aug. 1. During the meeting, Cunningham reported, Jaime argued it would technically not be a rodeo, because there would only be one equestrian event per day.

Calf-roping, cow-tailing, speed events, team penning and cattle cutting are typical rodeo competitions.

When Jaime was asked about charging admission, Cunningham reported that Jaime referred to it as a “donation” to offset the costs of livestock and a $300-per-hour mariachi band. Also during the meeting, Jaime reportedly acknowledged that he allows people to sell food during the events.

Additionally, Cunningham said Jaime claimed to know all of the participants, but that he conceded he doesn’t know all of the spectators.

During cross-examination of Cunningham, Heckinger suggested the flier was given privately, and that the event was not advertised.

“It’s not a flier that I pass out or hang out anywhere,” Jaime said in August. “It’s just for the people who come in.”

The flier, however, was enough for the county to secure an injunction, thereby causing cancellation of the planned Aug. 1 event.

Permanent, or temporary?

Heckinger argued the facility is not a “permanent structure,” despite Cunningham’s assertion that bleachers and other components are “about as permanent as they can be.”

Even the large concrete blocks that make up the walls of the arena can be moved with equipment, Heckinger noted.

“You’re not gonna have to destroy it to remove it,” he said. “It comes apart in pieces.”

Cunningham acknowledged that, like the word “rodeo,” the term “permanent” is subject to interpretation.

By the end of the afternoon Dec. 15, both sides had rested without Jaime being called to testify.

The case will resume Jan. 13, at which time Jaime said he expects a decision.

“What I want to do is have private parties for friends and family—no different than if anybody else has a party,” he asserted. “If the judge says I can’t take donations, I won’t do donations.

“If it comes down to that, I don’t mind. But I still think if you want to chase cows, if my friends and family want to get together, I’d say: ‘Hey, you know what? Let’s get the cows,’” he added.

“I’ll get together 30, 40 people and say, ‘Let’s go rent 20-head of cow, 30-head of cow, and bring ‘em out here and rope them and practice with ‘em,’” Jaime said. “I don’t see that we’re doing anything wrong. No one’s being bothered.”

Jaime said if the court rules he cannot throw parties or accept donations, the same should apply to everyone else in the county.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Winnebago County News | No Comments »

Lunch with Marjorie: Keep going no matter what, and be content—part two

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Marjorie Stradinger

Columnist

Editor’s note: The following is the second in a three-part series. Part one appeared in the Dec. 9-15, 2009, issue.

Tina Hall’s childhood, in a small German town was happy and not especially eventful. At 17, her life took on some drama, challenging her to apply teaching from her parents to rise above her circumstances.

As Tina Hall and I enjoyed lunch at Café Belwah, in Beloit, Wis., she continued her story, starting with her first marriage.

“I met my first husband when I was 17,” Hall said.

“We women don’t always make the best choices at 17,” I said.

“You are so right,” she said. “I had my first child, Thomas, at 19. A year later, my daughter, Sabrina. A year later, I got divorced. He drank a lot. It got worse and worse. The paycheck went straight to the bar. I couldn’t live like this. I knew the bar owner, told him: ‘I have two kids; he (my husband) has to take care of his kids, not your family.’”

“My dad’s Italian…didn’t want me to be a single mom,” she continued. “I thought it wasn’t like the ’50s…but, I got fire from everywhere, my grandmother, the whole family.

“I met a very nice guy, took it slow, but married him in 1986,” she said.

“Your kids?” I asked.

“I was always honest with my kids, had them maintain a good relationship with their father,” she said.

“How did the stepfather treat them?” I asked.

“Very well. That was key for me—until after his son was born; it changed…there were a lot of issues with his family…always something about his family,” she said. “I found out later his father abused his sisters. That very much upset me, because when he picked up the kids, he picked up all of them. I found out (something) he had done with my daughter. I flipped out. Later when this came out, my husband’s sister talked to me. She was always in psychiatric care, finally told me what had happened to her. They kept her away by locking her in a room so he couldn’t get to her. I thought, ‘My God, was anyone thinking of telling me this?’”

“Now, it’s 1989. You’re divorced again, but three kids,” I said.

“When my youngest son was born, I started working as a waitress in a club,” she said. “My best friend moved in with me; she watched my kids when I worked. She worked daytime; I worked nights until 5 a.m.”

“Were you angry?” I asked.

“I went through stages, angry, upset, depressed,” she said. “With my first husband, I was happy with the divorce. With the second, all the stuff I got hit with—when it didn’t work anymore, we were talking about separating, and he beat the crap out of me. He did not want me to leave him. He said, ‘It’s over when I tell you.’ He only hit me once. He never had a second chance. He locked me up for three days. My youngest son, his son, witnessed it, still remembers it. My nose was broken. My face…after three days…I looked like a clown with all the colors on my face, I went to my sister’s and said, ‘You watch the kids.’ I went to the doctor, took pictures, then to the cops, filed a report—a waste of time. Dispute between husband and wife. Really! ‘Do I look like this was a dispute?’ Then, I went to a lawyer and filed for divorce. He came after me; I kept calling the cops. My lawyer got him out of the apartment, said I needed to move back in. After work, there was always a taxi driver…someone would take me home, walk me to my door; he was stalking me. I thought restraining orders were a joke. What do you do when he comes around?”

“How long did that continue?” I asked.

“He actually met someone—sort of let me alone, paid child support, but not out of free will,” she said. “We garnished his wages.”

“You were proactive,” I said.

“Oh, yeah. My mom said I’m like a cat, always fall on my feet,” she said.

“You were afraid, not helpless,” I commented.

“Correct.”

“Did your parents help?” I asked.

“They only knew half of it,” she said. “I didn’t want to worry them. I was happy the two years by myself, but the kids wanted a daddy, missed the male role model, and I was working a lot. I did a lot with my kids. Traveled. I was fortunate enough to see a lot of the world. I made my way. Had a beautiful apartment. Beautiful kids.”

By then, home was in Worms, about 10 miles from her parents.

“Were you religious?” I asked.

“When I was little,” she said.

“And, when trouble came?” I asked.

“I prayed day and night, but then, where do I go from here?” she said.

“You had to be self-sufficient; you didn’t want to be dependent, even on God,” I commented.

“You’re exactly right,” she said. “It’s very hard for me. I go my own way.”

Marjorie Stradinger is a free-lance writer residing in Roscoe. She has covered food, drama, entertainment, health, and business for publications in California and Illinois for the past 25 years. She can be reached via e-mail at stradingerm@dishmailnet.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Your Horoscope: Week of Dec. 23-29, 2009

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

This Week: Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! The “blue” full moon Dec. 31 is an enlightening time. Energy and spirits begin to lift, and restrictions diminish. There has been an outpouring of argumentative behavior among loved ones and friends because of restrictive planetary influences. Now is a good time to dust yourself off and let go of negative comments and attitudes. Hanging on to these aspects will only hurt your long-term connections.

Aries (March 21 to April 19)—You have done a good job removing negative elements from your personal life the past few months. Now, you may find some of these situations trying to re-establish themselves within your circle. Pay no attention to this, and do not react. This is a temporary test that will move away from you quickly. Hold your head high, and accept a gracious compliment or reward for a job well done through the workplace. Midweek brings a surprising positive aspect.

Taurus (April 20 to May 20)—You have made your point, now you need to allow another to absorb what you have presented. This takes time, so let it be for now. Once this is set in motion, it will turn out in your favor. Taking a crowbar to this will not benefit you. A woman from your past has interesting news for you. Set time aside to make that connection this week. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Gemini (May 21 to June 20)—Your dreams, hopes and ambitions will manifest during this month. There may be some frustrating moments that arrive prior to this aspect. Keep your cool and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. All eyes are on you this week, so put your best foot forward. You will stumble across a diamond in the rough during this time. The weekend calls for a celebration.

Cancer (June 21 to July 22)—Romance begins to establish itself within your personal relationship sector. Keep your eyes and ears open for what is not said, and read between the lines. Actions speak way louder than words. You will find your heart’s desire within your own back yard. You will need to clear the air about your past behavior shortly. No matter how you slice it, this needs to be resolved.

Leo (July 23 to Aug. 22)—The fit that you have stumbled into does appear to be working for now. You are still in a learning process, and any “free schooling” you can get will only benefit you in the long run with your long-term goals. Sit back and let this happen. Avoid focusing on the daily frustrations in life. Friends and loved ones are ready to party. Enjoy time spent with others at week’s end.

Virgo (Aug. 23 to Sept. 22)—Out with the old and bring in the new. Doors open to align new friendships and business relations. You are done wasting time and energy with stale connections. Your calender becomes very full this month. You will be mixing business and pleasure in an unexpected way. When news arrives regarding a past romantic element, let it go for good.

Libra (Sept. 23 to Oct. 22)—Your week starts off with a bang, and it may be difficult to keep up with phone messages and communication. Try not to allow this to frustrate you too much. You’re in high demand. You will need to schedule your time and energy wisely. As the week progresses, you will find time for your own personal needs to be met. Take time for a little self-indulgent behavior. A haircut or massage will do the trick.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 to Nov. 21)—Have you been avoiding someone because you’re afraid he or she may be able to see through you? It’s possible he or she could have the answer for the emotional dilemma you’ve been struggling with. This really is not an aspect you need to tiptoe around. In fact, if you really push into this space, you can resolve this once and for all. This is a really good time to address any health concerns you may be having. A simple solution to a problem is on the way.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22 to Dec. 21)—It was probably a good idea to take a break from your usual connections for a while. This allowed you the time and energy to work on yourself and your surroundings. Too much negativity has been trying to work its way into your inner circle. This week, you can look at your accomplishments with pride. New business connections are on the way. Your personal life kicks up a notch in your favor.

Capricorn (Dec. 22 to Jan. 19)—A side job or hobby could become very financially lucrative during this month of unexpected offers and events. This puts a spring in your step, and you can see the positive effects this activity provides. You’re able to balance work and home in a positive, productive manner. Loved ones can see a significant change for the better.

Aquarius (Jan. 20 to Feb. 18)—Changes or expansion with career aspects are on the table. Take advantage of new possibilities that cross your path. Don’t overlook a diamond in the rough this week. This situation has presented itself to you for a good reason, and you can feel your energy levels shifting for the better. By Friday, you’re crossing the finish line with everything accomplished.

Pisces (Feb. 19 to March 20)—Don’t beat yourself up too much about what you have not accomplished. Instead, try to look at the activities you have completed. You have made an enormous impact on friends and family members this past week. This will become more apparent over the weekend. You can bask in the sunlight of your own heart and mind.

For an extended astrological forecast or psychic consultation, contact Denise at (815) 398-3983.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Twelve days of holiday safety from Rock River Chapter Red Cross

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

With last-minute gifts to buy, social events to attend and family and friends to visit while the weather outside is frightful, the American Red Cross has 12 days of health and safety tips to make the holiday season safe, happy and bright.

1. Prepare your vehicle for traveling to grandmother’s house. Make an emergency kit and include items such as blankets or sleeping bags, jumper cables, fire extinguisher (5-pound, A-B-C type), compass and road maps, shovel, tire repair kit and pump, extra clothing, flares and tow rope.

2. Drive your sleigh and reindeer safely. Avoid driving in a storm, but if you must, keep your gas tank full for emergency use and to keep the fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, route and when you expect to arrive.

3. Help prevent the spread of the flu. Wash hands with soap and water as often as possible, or use hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Use sanitizing wipes to disinfect hard surfaces such as airplane tray tables, luggage handles, cell phones, door handles and seat armrests.

4. Prevent hypothermia by following Santa’s lead. Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing, which will keep you warmer than a single heavy coat. Wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears. Seek medical attention immediately if you have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering.

5. Use a Red Cross-trained babysitter when attending holiday festivities. Red Cross-certified babysitters learn to administer basic first aid; properly hold and feed a child; take emergency action when needed; monitor safe play and actively engage your child; and some may be certified in Infant and Child CPR.

6. Avoid danger while roasting chestnuts over an open fire. Stay in the kitchen while you are cooking and be alert. Keep anything flammable—such as potholders, towels or curtains—away from your stove top. Have a
kid-free zone

of at least 3 feet around the stove and areas where hot food or drinks are prepared or carried.

7. Be a lifesaver during the holidays and always. The Red Cross recommends at least one person in every household should be trained and certified in first aid and CPR/AED. Your local Red Cross chapter has conveniently scheduled courses and can have you trained and certified in a few hours.

8. Designate a driver or skip the holiday cheer. When you designate a driver who won’t be drinking, you help make sure a good party doesn’t turn into a tragedy. A good host ensures there are non-alcoholic beverages available for drivers. The designated driver should not drink any alcoholic beverages, not even one.

9. When the weather outside is frightful, heat your home safely. Never use your stove or oven to heat your home. Never leave portable heaters or fireplaces unattended. Install smoke alarms on every floor of your home and outside all sleeping areas, and test them once a month.

10. Cut down on your heating bills without being a Grinch. Get your furnace cleaned by a professional; change the filters regularly. Make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture. Close off any rooms you aren’t using, and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround your windows and door moldings. Put up storm windows or storm doors to keep the cold out.

11. Don’t move a muscle, until they buckle. Each person in your  vehicle should have their seatbelts securely fastened before driving off. Ensure children are buckled up and their car seats are installed appropriately based on their age and size. Children 12 and younger should always sit in the back seat.

12. Resolve to be Red Cross ready in the New Year. You can take one or more actions to prepare now, should you or your family face an emergency in 2010. Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday from the Rock River Chapter!

Visit rockriver.redcross.org to learn more about the Rock River Chapter and the services they provide to our community.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Health & Fitness | No Comments »

Jefferson comes back to win, keeps pace with Boylan

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

By Matt Nestor

Sports Columnist

For most of the first three quarters, the Jefferson J-Hawks had trouble putting the ball through the hoop in their NIC-10 game against Belvidere North.

Things did not look good entering the fourth quarter down 7 points, but a quick 8-0 Jefferson run gave them the lead, and Jefferson was able to outlast the Blue Thunder in overtime 63-59 to stay undefeated and tied for first place in the conference.

“We clearly did not play our best basketball,” Jefferson coach Todd Brannan said. “But we played good enough to win.”

Both teams were cold for much of the first half. A decent first quarter that saw both teams tied at 13 led to a cold-shooting second quarter that had the game tied at 22 going into the half.

Brandon Schwebke came out for Belvidere North (1-2 NIC-10) in the third quarter, however, determined to shoot his team to victory. The junior, who finished with a game-high 30 points, came out and knocked down several 3-pointers to help the Blue Thunder race out to a 42-35 lead going into the fourth quarter.

“Belvidere North is a lot better than people give them credit for—they execute very well,” Brannan said of the Blue Thunder. “We struggled against the zone in the first half. They’re a difficult matchup for us, and they played their butts off, but so did our kids.”

Once the fourth quarter started, Jefferson’s Mario Manns decided to take the game over. His athleticism bothered the Blue Thunder all game long, and much of his damage came off several key fourth-quarter turnovers that were converted into most of his team-high 17 points.

The main reason the game went to overtime, however, was the inability of the J-Hawks to convert free throws down the stretch. Belvidere North pounded the J-Hawks on the glass, but Brannan said the difference for most of the game was Jefferson’s struggles to convert.

“Their size certainly bothered us a little bit, it’s the biggest team we’ve seen,” he said. “But we’ve got to make free throws. It was our inability to shoot for the first three quarters, and when we get fouled that much, we’ve got to make free throws when we get in those situations.”

Jefferson followed the victory up the next night with a much smoother performance in a 79-48 victory over Chicago North Grand. Mershon Wilkes, who scored 12 in the victory over Belvidere North, had a game-high 27 in the non-conference win.

Despite the two drastically different performances, the most important things for Jefferson is they were wins. Brannan said they still have plenty to work on, but as long as they keep winning, he’ll take them however he can get them.

“It shows the character of our kids,” he said. “We made enough plays. Our defensive intensity got us going a little bit. We struggled from the free-throw line. But like we’ve been preaching all year, the only thing that matters is the final score.”

In other NIC-10 action:

υ The Boylan Titans (4-0 NIC-10) overcame a sluggish start and a 19-15 halftime deficit to out-slug the Hononegah Indians 48-43 in a match-up of conference unbeatens. Armani Flannigan scored 9 of his 14 points in the first half to keep the Titans afloat in the game. Hononegah’s Stanley Moore led all scorers with 16 points. The Indians drop to 3-1 in conference play.

υ Auburn (3-1) bounced back from their first conference loss and finished strong, topping Belvidere 60-46. Anthony Strickland scored 19 points for the Knights. Everett Fitts led Belvidere (1-2) with 13 points.

υ Guilford (1-3) picked up their first conference win against East (0-4), using strong second and fourth quarters in the 63-51 win. Junior Brandon Blankenship torched the E-Rabs, leading all scorers with 25 points for the Vikings.

υ Senior Austin Davis scored 17 points to help lead Freeport (1-3) to their first conference win, 51-48, against the Harlem Huskies (1-3). Bo Andrews led Harlem with 12 points.

Share your thoughts with Matt Nestor via e-mail at sportsnest@gmail.com.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Sports, Sports News | No Comments »

Consumers choose locally-grown, environmentally-friendly apples

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

From press release

URBANA, Ill.—When asked to compare apples to apples, consumers said they would pay more for locally-grown apples than genetically-modified (GMO) apples. But in a second questionnaire, consumers preferred GMO apples—that is, when they were described, not as GMO, but as having a Reduced Environmental Impact. The research conducted by University of Illinois economist Michael Mazzocco and Augustana College marketing professor Nadia Novotorova demonstrated that product labeling makes a difference when it comes to consumer acceptance.

Mazzocco said it’s about selling the benefits. “When GMO crops were first introduced, people called them ‘Frankenfood’ and emphasized the laboratory processes used in breeding. The benefit seemed to be for farmers who saved money by not having to spray their crops with chemicals,” Mazzacco said.

The reality is that apples can be bred to be disease-resistant, so they don’t have to be sprayed with fungicides and other chemicals 15 to 20 times per growing season. This attribute gives them reduced environmental impact, and that’s a benefit consumers can wrap their teeth around, as well as their wallets.

“One thing we learned was that if you’re going to get any benefit from technology, you’re going to have to communicate the benefits of it,” Mazzocco said. “People aren’t willing to pay you for the technology just so they can have another attribute. There’s an equal trade-off. But, when you don’t call it GMO and instead you communicate the benefit to the environment, it’s more than a one-to-one trade-off and consumers are willing to pay more for it.”

No apples were tasted, handled or even seen. “In both questionnaires, people rated apples based on a description. We were trying to identify where the trade-offs are between the attributes,” Mazzocco said. “People don’t want an apple. What they want is the attributes of the apple—nutrition, flavor, color, etc.

“But, an apple also comes with other attributes. Like the guilt from using all of that diesel fuel from transporting it from the state of Washington to Illinois or the fear of feeding your children what might be Frankenfood,” Mazzocco said.

Both surveys began by giving the participants the identical short lesson in apple growing, which included information about apple diseases and pests and how disease-resistant apples are developed. One apple is made through laboratory techniques where a naturally-occurring, scab-resistant gene from an apple was inserted into another variety of apple that’s your favorite—the one you would normally buy. This apple that has the gene inserted in a laboratory can reduce apple spraying 15 to 20 times per season in an orchard in the Midwest for an apple grower that’s susceptible to apple scab.

“A conventional apple, a non-cloned apple, grown in a typical apple-growing region in Washington, Michigan or New York, probably is not susceptible to apple scab and has fewer sprays. So, in order to have a locally-grown apple in the Midwest, you’re going to have to do something about apple scab, otherwise you may not have a crop,” Mazzocco said.

Given that information, 200 people rated 12 combinations of attributes of apples. For example, one might be $1.39 a pound, produced far away, and conventionally grown. Another apple might be $1.59, locally grown, and GMO. For the second study, a separate set of 200 people’s questionnaire described the attribute as “reduced environmental impact” rather than GMO. Everything else was the same.

“Looking at the rankings of all of the combinations of attributes, and the comparison of the weightings of the importance of the various factors—what it boils down to is that people will pay more for reduced environmental impact. When you call it a GMO, there are some who will steer away from it, but on average they’re indifferent. They’ll trade local for GMO,” Mazzocco said.

“We concluded that the benefits of genetic modification are something that consumers can get their arms around. People understand the benefit that with these apples you have fewer fungicide sprays around your neighborhood and your waterways in order to enable locally grown apples—grown in the Midwest.”

The study also found that people aged 65 and older have a stronger preference for conventional apples. Mazzocco said: “When we called it a GMO apple, the people aged 65 and older reacted to that. When you call it reduced environmental impact, they didn’t react to it as much and younger people trend towards it.

“The message is that we need to be careful what we label things and to communicate the benefits,” Mazzacco said.

“Consumer Preferences and Trade-Offs for Locally Grown and Genetically Modified Apples: A Conjoint Analysis Approach” appeared in a 2008 issue of International Food and Agribusiness Management Review.

“Impact of Product Attribute Wording on Consumer Acceptance of Biotechnology Applications in Produce” appears in the November 2009 issue of Journal of Food Distribution Research.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in Online Exclusives | No Comments »

To the Editor: Thanksgiving meal helped the homeless

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

We provided a meal and fellowship to over 1,300 hungry, lonely and homeless people in our Rockford community. This Thanksgiving Day Dinner could not happen without the hundreds of hours and gifts donated by Rockford citizens and businesses. Although sponsored by Court Street United Methodist Church, it’s an ecumenical project involving many churches and faiths.

We wish to thank the following donors: Second Congregational Church, First Presbyterian Church, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Muller-Pinehurst, Wesley Willows, Gray’s IGA, Logli Supermarket, Discovery Pre-School, U.S. Cellular, the Risley & Tunnell families, Jody Beach, Julia Schade, 320 Store, Earth Grains Baking, Maggio Trucking, and Fairhaven. Thank you also to the hundreds of individuals who donated their time in preparing, serving and cleaning up. We apologize if we have omitted anyone.

The Thanksgiving Dinner Committee,

DuWayne Stanis, Chairman

Lorelle Wandell, Publications Secretary

Court Street United Methodist Church

Rockford

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

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Leave No Child Inside: Half a snow day

Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009

Katie Townsend writes: "Snowy hillsides beckon the sledding enthusiast at Byron Forest Preserve, Aldeen Park and Twin Sisters Hill Park. Then you could just get outside and make up your own winter traditions. Don't forget to take a child and the family dog- they know the secret of good fun in the snow."

The Four Rivers Environmental Coalition, in concert with the national Leave No Child Inside campaign, is committed to ensuring the children of this region will grow up with a strong connection to nature, and, as a result, be healthier and motivated to become its caring stewards. This column is one of a bi-weekly series contributed by Four Rivers Environmental Coalition members to raise public awareness of the importance of access to nature for healthy childhood development, and to encourage families to explore our member organizations’ wondrous places and programs, such as camping, learning projects, and programs for schoolchildren. Visit www.fourriver.org.

By Katie Townsend

My dreams were white last night—snowy white, to be exact. The impending blizzard was enough to have snowflakes falling everywhere in my subconscious. In my arctic bliss were memories of being gloriously “snowed in,” and I not-so-secretly hoped for this experience at dawn’s light. I am unrepentant about my experiential makeup when it comes to the first big snow of the season. I closed my eyes, and longed for a magical tomorrow…a 24-hour time period where normal activity slows down and everything feels clean…so I slept, and winter arrived.

At the sound of my alarm, I shot out of bed like a child on Christmas morning. I lunged for my electronic communication device without turning on the light. The text message from my supervisor could be likened to opening a holiday present. What would it be—a work day or a snow day? The answer came…half a snow day. For the first part of the day (until noon), work would be cancelled to dig out from the winter storm. The last half of the day (the instructions read) “…use your own judgment about going in to work.” Then, a statement about the agency policy on how to make up time from a snow day. It appeared that Dec. 9, 2009, I was the captain of my own ship.

I glanced at my cozy bed…get back in…why not? A tabby cat and two good-sized dogs approached the bedside with wonderfully confused expressions. Like me, they were processing the implications of half a snow day. One of the animals must have sent a signal that was undetectable to human eyes and ears. It resulted in a simultaneous response from my furry family, with the outcome being them joining me under the covers. Reflecting on sharing those initial moments of relaxation with my version of the peaceable kingdom felt like heaven on earth. We could have a kinder, gentler society if we all began our days in this manner. Then, I reminded myself that life is rough and tumble. Use this winter reprieve to the fullest to recharge from the tyranny of the urgent.

I formulated my unwritten to-do list while watching snowflakes from my bedroom window. Wondering how to spend my time turned into an unexpected battle between task and seasonal celebration. The first thought to crash my tranquility was “I have to shovel out,” followed by the second, “Which neighbor did I lend my snow shovel to last year?” “The roof rake needs to be put back together—that snow needs to be scraped so it doesn’t form ice dams.” “I wonder if half a tank of gas in my car is enough.” So on and so forth, the details associated with “big snow” marched forward, revealing a whole new set of responsibilities. Although tempted to yield, I kept my resolve that, first and foremost, this morning would be about enjoying the blessing.

I am slowly learning that a checklist does not always hinder spontaneity, so I grabbed my journal and wrote out a snow day checklist.

Katie’s Snow Day Checklist

1. Keep the family tradition for the first big snowfall of the year (to be performed in snow 5 inches or greater). This revelry involves making a snow angel on your front lawn in your pajamas. Accomplished, 8:05 a.m. New neighbors look scared.

2. Text my nieces and nephews about following the snow angel tradition. Text message reads, “Hi big snow time 4 s angels in pj celebrate life ur never 2 old to revel in the snow.” Accomplished, 8:11 a.m. Immediate reply from nephew Jake at Northwestern University. “Will do!!!” I hope he introduces this to a few other engineering majors, as finals are intense and everyone needs a little “carpe diem.”

3. Take a long bubble bath while drinking hot chocolate. Accomplished, 8:50 a.m.

4. Make homemade vegetable soup. Accomplished, 9:30 a.m.

5. Pull out Christmas CDs and play them one by one. Work in progress.

6. Begin decorating the Christmas tree. Start time, 10 a.m.

7. Read. Selections of the day…topical text about snow, winter and whiteness from the New American Standard Bible and excerpts from Aldo Leopold’s Sand County Almanac. Accomplished, 11:00 a.m.

8. Write something…I have not written a story since my summer vacation last August. Doing it now.

9. Use your own judgment about tasks, returning to work, or, in other words, re-entry to weekday schedule. The time on the computer is 12:11 p.m., and the decision is pending.

End Note: Begin a “half a snow day” restart work mode by accessing work computer from home for the purpose of professional communications. Alternate this activity with tasks surrounding shoveling out and home maintenance. (I jest, thinking that I can easily step away from routine and responsibilities.) However, I did choose the best things in life for four excellent hours on a snowy day…healthy food choices, peace of mind, connection with family, spiritual renewal, and developing a hobby.

End Note II. Repeat items on the Katie’s Snow Day Checklist!!!!

Extend that snow day mindset by enjoying winter activities in the stateline. Friends of Frosty can choose from organized programs in the great white north such as the Ornithological Society Kishwaukee Christmas Bird Count, Winter Solstice Celebration at Severson Dells, and an assortment of cabin fever-themed events as listed in the Four Rivers Environmental Coalition Calendar. Then, for a little “swoosh” of cross country skiing, check out Klehm Arboretum, Welty Environmental Center, Rock Cut State Park, or Rockford Park District’s Sinnissippi Golf Course. Snowy hillsides beckon the sledding enthusiast at Byron Forest Preserve, Aldeen Park and Twin Sisters Hill Park. Then, you could just get outside and make up your own winter traditions. Don’t forget to take a child and the family dog—they know the secret of good fun in the snow.

From the Dec. 23-29, 2009 issue

Posted in No Child Left Inside | No Comments »