From press release

SPRINGFIELD, Ill.—House Republican leader state Rep. Tom Cross (R-84) presented the Illinois Fair Map Amendment before a House Committee April 27. Fair Map has received the endorsement of nearly every major newspaper throughout the state. It was suggested by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn’s (D) reform commission and championed by a plethora of reform groups, including the League of Women Voters, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Better Government Association.

Democrat committee members voted against the reform proposal. Meantime, the state will continue the process of allowing legislators to hand pick their constituents through Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 121.

The Illinois Fair Map Amendment would significantly reform Illinois’ redistricting process by removing General Assembly members from the process of drawing their own district boundaries. Allowing political parties and individual legislators the opportunity to determine who they will represent to maintain their political power is an inherent conflict of interest.

Under the Fair Map Amendment, an independent commission, aided by public participation, would be charged with drawing compact, contiguous districts that no longer take into account political data such as constituent voting records or the addresses of current politicians. The measure includes strong protection for minority rights—in fact, the language mirrors the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and does away with the ridiculous tie-break method of drawing a name out of a hat.

From staff reports

The best in local music were honored at the 19th Annual Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI) Awards Ceremony Thursday, April 29, at Tebala Shrine Temple in Rockford.

Following are the 2010 RAMI award recipients, by category:

Album of the Year—Miles Nielsen

Blues—Steve Ditzell & Blue Lightning Band

Cabaret/Broadway—Mike Williamson Trio

Choral Group—Rock Valley Community Chorale

Christian—Epiphany

Classical Ensemble—Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra

Classical Instrumentalist—Katie Schulz

Community Service—Guzzardo’s Music Emerging Artists Competition

Composer of the Year—Miles Nielsen

Country/Bluegrass—Southern Heritage

DJ—DJ Jordan Chance

Folk/Solo Pop—Sarah Ambramowitz

Funk/R&B—The Usual Suspects

Gospel—Awe Struck

Jazz, Contemporary—Dan Voll

Jazz, Traditional—Cocktail Party

Latino—Revolucion De Amor

Lighting Technician—Erik Myles

Live Sound Engineer—Tori Peterson

Musical Outreach Organization—Phantom Regiment

New Act—Dirty Fishnet Stockings

Outstanding Achievement—Tracy Silverman

Rap/Hip Hop—Young Jilla

Recording Studio—Barker Studios

Rock, Acoustic—Cover Story

Rock, Classic—The Crunchy Frogs

Rock, Hard/Metal—Shuvlhed

Rock, Modern—The Stevee Nix

Rock, Oldies—Vintage Vinyl

Rock, Pop/Retro—The Sensations

Rock, Punk/Indie/Alternative—Mulligan Stu

Song of the Year—Silver

Stage Manager—Luis Lara

Studio Sound Engineer—Dwayne Barker

World Music—Pipes and Drums of Clan MacAlpine

Hall of Fame

Steve Shannon (drummer, DJ, radio personality), Ernie & the Po’ Boys (longtime blues act) and Harlan Jefferson & Rick Burns (blues, jazz and funk artists) were inducted into the RAMI Hall of Fame.

Lifetime Achievement

Joe Paluzzi, Vincent Chiarelli and the late Doug Furze (Kathy Ryan accepting) received Lifetime Achievement Awards.

In Memoriam

Kevin Peterson, a longtime hornist who played with Clutch Cargo, Moonlight Jazz Orchestra, Opan Jii and Bonedaddyz before his untimely death last year, was the recipient of the first-ever In Memoriam Award (Sandy Peterson accepted on behalf of her husband).

Performers

Performers included Too Deep, River City Sound Chorus, Jeff Keefer, Silver, Dean Moriarty Jazz Band, Joie DeVivre, AudioDrive and 2009 Youth Charity Jam winner Hope Despite. The ceremony was hosted by Jodi Beach and emcee Jim McDowell.

More about RAMI

For more about RAMI, visit http://ramiawards.com/.

From press release

Saturday, May 1, will be opening day at Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford.

In addition to being able to walk through the entire garden for the first time this year, the garden has planned an exciting day of events.

Opening day hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Cost is $7 adults, $6 seniors (62 and older), $5 students and free for children 4 and younger.

Opening day activities include the following:

9 a.m.-6 p.m.—Japanese Art & Antiquities Exhibit; and Bonsai Display and Demonstration

9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.—Origami and brush painting classes (scheduled every other hour during the day, first come first serve, 16 participants per class)

10:45 a.m.-11:45 p.m.—Koto Music Performance by the Spring Valley Koto Ensemble

1:45-2:45 p.m.—Koto Music Performance by the Spring Valley Koto Ensemble

Call (815) 229-9390 for information about the day’s activities or to register for a class.

The gardens are open May 1-Oct. 31, 2010, during the following hours: 9 a.m.-15 minutes prior to sunset, Monday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday.

The 12-acre Anderson Japanese Gardens serves more than 40,000 annual visitors from 36 countries and all 50 states.

For more information, visit andersongardens.org.

From press release

Rock House Kids, a nonprofit charitable and non-denominational organization that reaches out to at-risk children ages 4-18, is having its first pancake breakfast fund-raiser Saturday, May 1, at North Suburban Women’s Club, 6320 N. Second St., Loves Park, Ill., from 7 to 11 a.m.

Pancakes, sausage and coffee or juice will be served for a donation of $6 for ages 13 to adults, $4 for ages 6-12 with kids 5 years old and younger eating free. A bake sale and special items such as an outdoor pool as well as other home décor will be for sale to further help in fund-raising.

Rock House Kids has been serving at-risk children in the Rockford community for more than 10 years. It exists to provide food, safe shelter, encouragement, and instruction in basic life skills to children in one of Rockford’s most impoverished and high-crime neighborhoods. Rock House Kids opens its doors each Wednesday night to any and all children for a hot meal and teaching of basic life skills, as well as providing an after-school program with free snacks, tutoring, and Bible-based instruction on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

For more information, contact Rock House Kids, 1325 Seventh St., at (815) 962-5067 or visit www.rockhousekids.org.

From press release

BELVIDERE, Ill.—Summerfield Zoo, 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere, Ill., has announced its opening weekends will be Saturdays and Sundays, May 1-2 and May 8-9.

The public is invited to see all of the spring babies—reindeer, wallabies, prairie dogs and more.

Summerfield Zoo is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturdays, May 1 and 8, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Sundays, May 2 and 9. Admission is $5 per person and all proceeds go to the care of all the animals.

Margaret Tyler, volunteer at Summerfield Zoo, said: “Mountain lions, monkeys, camels, zebras and more! There is always something new going on at Summerfield Zoo, and with all the new babies at this time of year, now is a great time to come out and see them for yourself. It’s also a great chance to see what you have been missing if you haven’t been here.”

Enjoy animal presentations, hayrides, a petting zoo, have lunch at the lunch stand, and shop for gifts at the gift shop and new specialty vendors.

Summerfield Zoo is a not-for-profit organization providing an up-close and personal animal experience for the whole family. As a small zoo, visitors can get up close and meet many of the animals.

For more information about Summerfield Zoo and the exotic animals at the zoo, click here or call (815) 547-4852.

From press release

Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful’s (KNIB) Spring Metals & Electronics Drive will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, May 1, at the Machesney Park Mall parking lot (south of the JCPenney Outlet Store).

Volunteers are still needed. Shifts are short, and volunteers assist with getting cars unloaded and the recycled items to where they are supposed to be. Volunteers are also needed for KNIB’s clothing drive May 8 at seven Hilander locations. Sign up or get more information at www.knib.org, or call KNIB at (815) 637-1343.

In 2009, more than 193,000 pounds of metals and electronics were collected for recycling in KNIB’s spring and fall Metals & Electronics drives, which helped to conserve natural resources and saved vital landfill space.

The following items are accepted at a minimal fee to cover the cost of decanting and tagging for the EPA:

• $10 each for refrigerators and freezers

• $10 for propane tanks

• $10 for air conditioners

• $10 for dehumidifiers

TVs are no longer accepted.

Items accepted at no cost at the Spring Metals & Electronics Drive are virtually everything made of metal, including:

• Scrap metal

• Metal filing cabinets

• Copy machines

• Fencing

• Metal desks & shelving

• Appliances

By Luan Dean
Director, PAWS Humane Society

My name is Luan Dean, and I am the director for the PAWS Humane Society here in Winnebago County.

I have six really, really, REALLY cute spots for adoptions and spay neuter…but I need help getting them tagged with local info.

I need help in getting them tagged with local PAWS Humane Society info at the end.

Can you please help?

What’s in it for you? Homemade dog biscuits for your dog!  (YEAH!)

Thank you!

Luan Dean
Director, Paws Humane Society
815-289-0345

Aloha hula girl. (Photo provided)

From press release

Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens will host the Third Annual Tinker Hukilau, a dinner/dance that will feature the Clutch Cargo Band and the Aloha Hula Girls.

The Tinker Hukilau will be Saturday, May 1, at Giovanni’s on Bell School Road in Rockford, from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. The Luau theme of the event was chosen in celebration of the Hawaiian birth of Robert Hall Tinker, former Rockford mayor and co-founder of the Rockford Park District.

Robert Tinker built the historic Swiss-styled cottage in 1865 that became a museum in 1943. The cottage contains an intact collection of all of the art, artifacts and furnishings of the Tinker and Dorr families, including many Hawaiian artifacts.

Casual attire with a tropical theme is encouraged, and comfortable shoes are recommended for dancing to the music of the Clutch Cargo Band and for joining in with the Aloha Hula Girls.

The tickets for this fun-filled event are $50 per person, $90 per couple, and a table for eight may be reserved for $350.

The buffet dinner will include passed hors d’oeuvres, tropical minted fruit salad, pineapple-glazed ham with rolls, chunks of chicken and vegetables in teriyaki sauce with stirfy rice and vegetables. A cash bar will offer special Hukilau drinks, including an Aloha, Mai Tai and Blue Hawaii.

The Clutch Cargo Band. (Photo provided)

The Tinker Hukilau is a major fund-raising event for the nonprofit organization with the proceeds benefiting the Tinker Cottage and Gardens, tours, activities and educational programs offered by Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens.

Reservations are required and can be made by calling (815) 964-2424.

For more information about the Third Annual Tinker Hukilau or about Tinker Swiss Cottage Museum and Gardens, e-mail bbroyles@tinkercottage.com or visit the Tinker Web site at www.tinkercottage.org.

From press release

DEKALB, Ill.—Kickstand Productions presents groundbreaking hip-hop star Brother Ali, making his debut in DeKalb, Ill., at Otto’s Nightclub Friday, April 30.

Ali hails from Minneapolis, and is a member of the world-famous Rhymesayers label, along side artists such as P.O.S. and Atmosphere. Tickets for the event are $13 in advance and $15 at the door; advance tickets are available at www.yourticketstand.com.

This spring, acclaimed rapper Brother Ali will set out on his second extensive North American tour in support of his latest critically-acclaimed album, Us. The “Breakin’ Dawn Tour” also features California-based MC Fashawn, one of the biggest new hip-hop acts to break in 2009, as well as Rhymesayers labelmate (and Ali DJ) BK-One. The trek starts March 29 in Fargo, N.D., winding its way through Canada and hitting new cities in the southern and eastern regions of America.

Brother Ali’s heavy sound and socially conscious rhymes have created a high demand by listeners from the farthest reaches of the continent. Upon completion of these dates, Brother Ali will have played a total of 77 North American cities in support of Us, which debuted on Billboard’s Top 10 Independent Albums chart the week of its release, his biggest leap yet in his decade-long recording history. Pitchfork gave the album high marks (7.8/10) and called it “the most deeply thought-provoking work of Brother Ali’s career.” Us also features tight, soulful production work by Atmosphere’s Ant and guest appearances by such notable rap icons as Freeway, Stokley Williams of Mint Condition, and Chuck D of Public Enemy.

For information about advance tickets or for all other inquiries, visit kickstandproductions.net or call (815) 758-2715.

From press release

Do you know a young, aspiring artist between 14-18 years old who would benefit from spending the summer developing artistic skills, increasing self-confidence and learning what it takes to become a responsible and valued employee? Encourage him or her to apply to ArtsPlace, the Rockford Area Arts Council’s arts apprenticeship program for youth.

ArtsPlace, in its 16th year, is an arts apprenticeship program in which youth work in teams instructed by professional artists to create art that is sold or performed for the public. The youth share in the proceeds made through ticket sales and purchase of the artwork. The ArtsPlace program runs June 14-July 27.

Applications are available at the Rockford Council, 713 E. State St., or through the Arts Council’s Web site, www.artsforeveryone.com. Youth from Winnebago and Boone counties are eligible to apply. The deadline to return applications is Friday, April 30.

The mission of the Arts Council is to support, promote and develop the arts for everyone. This year, the Arts Council will initiate “pay-what-you-can” tuition for ArtsPlace apprentices. Donations to ArtsPlace by individuals and area business are needed and appreciated. Contact the Rockford Area Arts Council for information about sponsorship possibilities: (815) 963-6765.

Prairie with grey-headed coneflowers at Nygren Wetland Preserve. (Photo provided)

From press release

ROCKTON, Ill.—Natural Land Institute (NLI) is asking for volunteers to help transplant grey-headed coneflower, butterfly milkweed and June grass from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., May 1, at Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton. Children and adults are welcome to help with the transplanting.

Greg Keilback, stewardship director with NLI, said there will be tasks for all ages to do in preparing the seedlings for planting later this spring in the 721-acre preserve.

“The help of volunteers will make a real difference because the plants will increase the diversity of wildflowers and grasses in the prairie and wetland restoration areas that are critical for the birds, mammals and other wildlife to meet their habitat and nesting needs,” Keilback said.

The Spring Planting Day is sponsored by NLI, a not-for-profit group conserving land in northern Illinois since 1958. The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. For information, call (815) 964-6666 or go to www.naturalland.org.

Spring Planting Day at the Nygren Wetland Preserve is part of Celebrate Earth, a multi-week Earth Day celebration organized by the Four Rivers Environmental Coalition. For other Celebrate Earth events, visit www.fourriver.org.

By Joe McGehee
Staff Writer

The University of Illinois Extension offices in Winnebago and Stephenson counties recently opened registration for the Openfields Spring 2010 Farm Tour, allowing area farmers to register as a Farm Destination. The Openfields Spring 2010 Farm Tour is scheduled for Sunday, May 16, from noon until 5 p.m.

The second annual event is a rare, one-day opportunity in which participating farms and ranches collectively open their land to the public, and visitors get a glimpse into a rural world unfamiliar to most Americans. The event will also provide greater understanding of our local foods systems and allow the opportunity to ask questions and learn about the craft, history and economics of farming from the men and women producing local foods in our area.

Farm Destination registration is open all farms in North-Central Illinois. Those interested in signing up for this year’s event or those interested in further information can visit http://extension.uiuc.edu/winnebago to complete the online registration form.

The cost of registration is $25. For further information, contact Andrea Hazzard, local foods systems coordinator, U of I Extension-Winnebago County, at (815) 986-4357 or ahazzard@illinois.edu.

From press release

John Bradley, the author of several books of poetry and the editor of numerous anthologies, will read his poetry in a free event at 6 p.m., April 29, in the Rockford College Lion’s Den.

Bradley is the winner of the 2009 Cleveland State University Poetry Center’s Open Competition for his book You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know. He is also the author of Terrestrial Music and War on Words and editor of Eating the Pure Light: Homage to Thomas McGrath, a poetry anthology. He is the recipient of two NEA fellowships in poetry and a Pushcart Prize. Bradley teaches at Northern Illinois University.

The reading and presentation is sponsored by the college’s literary magazine, Black Hole, White Light. For more information, e-mail Ed Phebus at ephebus@rockford.edu.

From press release

RAMP (www.rampcil.org) is partnering with Eilerts (www.eilerts.com) to host a Beer and Wine Tasting and Silent Auction to benefit RAMP services and advocacy for people with disabilities. The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Thursday, April 29, at Eilerts, 1100 W. Galena Ave., in Freeport, Ill. Admission is $10 per person at the door. The evening will include beer tasting, wine tasting, hors d’oeuvres provided by Eilerts, a silent auction featuring unique gifts and a Bowling Pin Contest.

Bowling Pin Contest

• The bowling pin contest is for teams or people in the community who wish to buy a bolwing pin for $25, decorate it by April 26, and enter it into the contest—act fast because there are only 10 pins available!

• The day of the Uncorked & Bowled Over event you could win a bowling package for 200 people! Simply get all of your friends to the event to vote!

• One voting slip will be given out for each $10 admission. (Yes, more than one admission may be purchased to receive more votes!)

• You have the option to enter your pin in our silent auction to benefit RAMP—someone may purchase your work of art!

To make a donation, make checks payable to RAMP and send to: RAMP, 2155 W. Galena Ave., Freeport, IL 61032, or online at www.rampcil.org, simply click on the Donate Now button at the top right corner of the page.

Contact RAMP Stephenson County Manager Tiffany Vondra at (815)233-1128 or tvondra@rampcil.org for more information.

RAMP is a not-for-profit that is a passionate partner for people with disabilities desiring to live a useful and rewarding life. RAMP empowers people with disabilities to realize there are no limits to what they can do. This is accomplished by assisting them to live independently, make changes in their lives, seek peer support, obtain resources and remove barriers that threaten their dreams of independence. RAMP advocates the implementation of current laws, promotion of needed legislation and improvement of existing systems for people with disabilities while working to diminish negative attitudes that threaten to impede equal access. RAMP advocates for and serves people with disabilities out of four offices in Boone, DeKalb, Stephenson and Winnebago Counties. RAMP is a United Way Member Agency.

From press release

The Violence Prevention Collaborative’s fourth annual Essay, Poetry and Art Contest awards luncheon will be at noon, Thursday, April 29, at Patriot’s Gateway, 615 S. Fifth St. Students in Rockford School District elementary schools, middle schools and after-school programs answered the question, “What does kindness look like?” in essay, poetry or art format. The question posed to high school students: “What is teen dating violence?”

For the past three years, the Violence Prevention Collaborative has given youth an opportunity to voice their opinion about a violence-related topic. The winning essays, poems and art will be on display at various locations throughout the year, including the Winnebago County Health Department, University of Illinois College of Medicine, and both the Ellis Heights and Kishwaukee Corridor Weed and Seed sites.

For more information about making reservations for the April 29 luncheon, or to express interest in displaying the winning entries at your organization or business, contact Karen Lytwyn at (815) 720-4261 or (815) 978-8368, or e-mail her at klytwyn@wchd.org.

From press release

University of Illinois Extension-Winnebago County office will host a program on “Harvesting Illinois Timber” at 1:30 and 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 29. Jay C. Hayek, University of Illinois Extension Forestry Specialist, will offer details on this commonly sold, but poorly understood commodity. Topics covered include timber marketing, quality, tree species and market demand, common timber sales mistakes, timber sale contracts, administration and taxation, and short- and long-term forest management objectives.

The sale of hardwood timber is a multi-million-dollar industry in Illinois. With more than 170,000 forest landowners controlling more than 4 million acres of forest land, it is vitally important to provide technical resources to the caretakers of our state’s greatest renewable resource. This hour-and-a-half presentation will focus on the details of marketing and selling standing timber that plague many landowners who engage in the sale of standing timber. The ultimate goal of this seminar is to make woodland owners aware that selling timber is much more involved than simply shaking hands with the first logger who shows up at the doorstep. There is a $5 fee to participate; pre-registration is required.

This program will be presented through the University’s long-distance learning Telenet System, which allows University educators and specialists to give presentations to multiple Extension offices throughout the state via PowerPoint presentations, with the opportunity for live questions at the end of the program.

To pre-register for this program or for additional information, visit www.extension.illinois.edu/winnebago or call U of I Extension-Winnebago County at (815) 986-4357.