Veterans Memorial Circle to look its best year-round thanks to Village Green Nursery
By Matt Hall
B103 Rockford
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ROCKFORD — Great things can happen when a community comes together.
A donation from a local nursery will help extend beautification of Rockford’s Veterans Memorial Circle at the North Main and Auburn streets roundabout into the holiday season and the rest of the year.
Village Green, a nearby garden center that supplies some of the flowers to Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle, is donating 32 emerald-green arborvitae trees. Volunteers will plant the trees behind four monument walls, providing year-round color and a foundation for stringing holiday lights.
Since 2019, the volunteer-run organization has been raising money to buy and plant thousands of spring and summer flowers to beatify the roundabout. Adding evergreens to the monument walls was a far-off milestone.
“After fall cleanup at the end of our first year, we were sad to see all the color disappear. Since then, our goal has been to keep this area looking its best all year round,” Ernie Redfern, co-chair of Friends of Veterans Memorial Circle, said in a news release. "Village Green has been with us from the beginning in our effort to make this part of Rockford a fitting tribute to our military veterans and their families."
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Although this project accepts no public money, Redfern, who is project manager of the annual plantings and summer-long maintenance of the 6,500 square feet of beautified grounds, provides regular updates to the city’s Public Works Department.
“Veterans Memorial Circle is such an important project to the community. Raising awareness for our veterans and honoring their service is something Village Green is proud to be a part of,” Jessica Salisbury, CEO of Village Green, said in a news release. “This project also has created such a bright and beautiful spot on the west side of Rockford. We knew that these trees were something they had wanted for a couple of years. Making this donation was something Village Green was thrilled to do!”
This spring’s Spruce Up Day at Veterans Memorial Circle is Saturday, May 14. During the daylong planting marathon – from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. – community volunteers will also be planting 10,000 flowers to beautify more than 6,500 square feet of streetscape near downtown Rockford.
According to Martin Bloom, special events coordinator for the city of Rockford, this is the city’s biggest volunteer- driven beautification project and the city’s biggest community service project.
Information about the project and how to help can be found at rockfordveteranscircle.org or follow Friends of
Veterans Memorial Circle on Facebook.
Legendary Chicago Broadcaster Les Grobstein Honored With Bobblehead
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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Chicago sports radio broadcasting legend Les Grobstein is getting the bobblehead treatment.
Today on what would have been his 70th birhtday, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled a limited-edition official bobblehead to honor the longtime Chicago sports radio broadcaster who passed away this past January. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also issued a proclamation declaring March 11, 2022, as Les Grobstein Day.
Wearing a press pass around his neck, the smiling Grobstein bobblehead is holding a microphone in his right hand and his trusty tape recorder in his left hand. He is standing on a circular base bearing his name along with the 670 The Score (WSCR-AM) logo. The bobblehead includes sound clips from Grobstein that play at the touch of a button. Each bobblehead will be individually numbered and they are only available through the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum’s Online Store. The bobbleheads, which are expected to ship in July 2022, are $30 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.
Grobstein is a Chicago native and had a career that spanned over 50 years on the Chicago airwaves. Grobstein served as 670 The Score’s weeknight overnight host since 2009. In addition to his time spent at 670 The Score, Grobstein was the Sports Director at WLS-AM Radio from 1979-89 and he also worked for WLUP-AM and WMVP-AM. He had worked for Associated Press Broadcasting since 1975 and ABC Sports Radio since 1980. His career play-by-play assignments included the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League, Northwestern University Wildcats basketball, Chicago Hustle women’s basketball, Chicago Sting soccer, Chicago Horizons indoor soccer, UIC Flames basketball and hockey, Chicago Cheetahs roller hockey, the Chicago Sky of the WNBA, and many high school football and basketball games.
Of all his amazing achievements in broadcasting, he may perhaps be most famous for recording an infamous obscenity-laced tirade by former Chicago Cubs Manager Lee Elia in 1983, in which he ripped Cubs fans for failing to support the team. The clip remains popular almost 40 years later.
Les’ family made the following statement on the release of the bobblehead, “The family is still reeling from the sudden loss of Les, but we are thrilled to see this bobblehead released on his birthday. He was a bobblehead fan and would have loved seeing his bobblehead unveiled today."
Neighborhood grants program open with Northwest HomeStart and The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
From news release
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Northwest HomeStart and The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois are accepting applications for the annual Neighborhood Grants Program.
Applications for the program — which is open to neighborhood-based groups and nonprofit organizations in Boone, Winnebago, Ogle and Stephenson counties — are being accepted until 5 p.m. April 4.
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The program funds projects that can include beautification, crime prevention, surveys, cleanups, newsletters, organizing, reforestation and education. The maximum amount for each grant is $2,500. Awards will be announced in April.
Applications must be submitted through CFNIL’s online grants application portal. HomeStart administers the Neighborhood Grants Program, including awarding the grant funds. To learn more about the program, view grant guidelines, and start your application, visit: cfnil.org/grants/neighborhood.
The CFNIL has operated a neighborhood grants program since 1995, distributing more than $775,000. This is the sixth year CFNIL and HomeStart are collaborating to better extend the opportunity to the four-county region.
Volcano Falls Adventure Park in Loves Park is open for the season
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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LOVES PARK — One of the sure signs that spring is here in the Stateline is the opening of Volcano Falls.
From go-karts and miniature golf to the laser maze and a virtual roller coaster that guests can design themselves, there is something for everyone at Volcano Falls, 7602 Rock Valley Parkway. Birthday parties and other group bookings are also available starting this weekend.
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The park will have limited hours of operation until the weather gets a little warmer. Right now, hours of operation are 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Fridays and noon to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sundays. When the park expands to seven days a week, the hours will be updated on all of their social media platforms and the website. Masks are also no longer required as per the latest Illinois mandates.
Get out and enjoy spring time.
Two Rockford attorneys named to 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Two Rockford-area lawyers are doing a super job.
Marc C. Gravino and Scott C. Sullivan have been selected by their peers to the 2022 Illinois Super Lawyers list. Fewer than 5% of lawyers in the state are selected each year by the research team at Super Lawyers for the honor.
Both Gravino and Sullivan are attorneys with WilliamsMcCarthy LLP, a full-service law firm headquartered in Rockford.
Gravino concentrates his practice in commercial and complex litigation, insurance coverage and defense, and personal injury and products liability. He has litigated matters for manufacturers, insurance companies, financial institutions, health care providers, governmental entities, and individuals in state, federal, and appellate courts in both Illinois and Wisconsin, according to a news release.
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Sullivan concentrates his practice on business law and commercial litigation. His clients ranges from small businesses to Fortune 100 companies. He has litigated business disputes at all court levels, including state, federal and appellate. He is an honors graduate of the University of Notre Dame and the Notre Dame Law School.
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Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented multiphase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.
For more information about Super Lawyers, visit SuperLawyers.com.
Learn to start or grow your business at ACE expo in Rockford
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — If you're looking to start or grow your business, you may want to check out the Accelerating Creatives & Entrepreneurs Conference & Expo this week.
The two-day conference brings together local entrepreneurs and business experts from restaurateurs to artists and tech businesses to cosmetologists.
“We want Rockford to be a place where new and young businesses succeed and existing business can thrive and grow,” said Spitty Tata, program manager at Transform Rockford, in a news release. “This conference will be a great opportunity for people to learn how to open their own business, grow their existing business, and connect with valuable people and resources in our region to help them on their journey.”
Related: 'You've got to start somewhere': Transform Rockford program works at neighborhood level
The first day of the conference on Wednesday is being held digitally. Day 2 on Thursday is in-person at the Discovery Center Museum in Rockford.
You'll have a chance to network and make connections with other local business influencers and creators.
The event is being put together in partnership with Transform Rockford, Discovery Center Museum, SupplyCore, River Front Museum Park, Woodward, the city of Rockford, Growth Dimensions, Eigerlab, SBDC and Greater Freeport Partnership.
Sign up/learn more
To learn more about how you can grow your business for the future, check out theaceevent.com for all the info and registration details.
Rockford BBB: That text may not be from your boss. Watch out for this new scam
From news release
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — That text you just got from your boss might not be from them at all. It may be something called "smishing."
That's a warning put out this week by the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau.
“Scammers find out where you work and pose as the CEO or other executive,” Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau, said in a news release. “Be on guard and don’t share money or information – be it your own or your company’s.”
Here's how it works
You may get a text from a number you don’t recognize, claiming to be from your boss. The sender knows your name, where you work, and your boss’s name. It seems so real. The text message might read something like this: “Hi Chris, I’m tied up in a conference call right now but let me know if you get this text. Thanks [your boss’ name].”
If you reply, you’ll be asked for more. This could be purchasing gift cards for a client or wiring funds to another business. In some cases, the scammer wants you to send personal information, often giving you a plausible reason to carry out the request. No matter how believable it sounds, always double-check before taking any action, the BBB says. Once you send the money, gift cards, or information, it will be in the hands of a con-artist.
How you can protect yourself
• Don’t trust unsolicited messages from unknown numbers. If your boss regularly communicates with you via text message, save their number. Don’t respond to potential impersonators reaching out from a different number.
• Be wary of unusual requests. If your boss has never asked you to buy gift cards, think twice, even if the request comes from a number you’ve saved. Scammers can potentially clone phone numbers and hijack your boss’s number.
• Double-check with your boss personally. If a request comes from an unknown number or doesn’t sound right, call or email your boss first, using their accurate contact information, rather than replying to the message. It’s better to double-check than to rush into a scam. Plus, your boss will want to know if they are being impersonated to
warn others.
• If you suspect a scam, don’t reply. Replying lets scammers know they have an active phone number and could leave you vulnerable to future attacks. Instead, block the number and delete the message.
For more info, you can read the BBB’s tips on how to spot fake text messages. If you’ve spotted a scam, whether or not you fell victim, report it at BBB.org/ScamTracker. Your report helps expose scammer tactics and boost consumer awareness.
Rockford Home Show aims to help you step up improvement projects
By Matt Hall
B103 Rockford
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LOVES PARK— Looking for some great ideas for a home renovation or project? Get them all and then some at the Rockford Home Show this weekend.
The 41st Annual Rockford Home Show is back this Friday through Sunday at Mercyhealth Indoor Sportscore Two, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd.
You'll be able to shop for new products, services, ideas, concepts and expertise on interior and exterior design for your home all while talking to the experts. Bring the kids because there will be fun and entertainment for the whole family all weekend long. Tickets are $6 for adults, kids 12 and younger enter free.
Hours: Friday 2 p.m.-7 p.m. | Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. | Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Garrett Mitchell Hat Day this Sunday at the BMO with the Rockford IceHogs
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — If you haven't been down to the BMO Harris Bank Center this year to check out the Rockford IceHogs, well what are you waiting for?
The Hogs are gearing up for the playoffs and could use your support. The best part about the IceHogs is that they are a very fan-friendly team and catching a game is such a great experience. They also have great giveaways for the fans, and this Sunday is Garret Mitchell Hat Day. The Hogs are taking on the Grand Rapids Griffins and the first 1,500 fans will receive a hat designed by team captain Garrett Mitchell, inspired by first responders in the Rockford area.
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"This is the second year where we've done a player hat design. Garret designed the hat for Sunday," said IceHogs General Manager Mike Peck. "It's a first responders hat. It turned out awesome and the first 1,500 fans will pick up one of those. It's really cool to see the players personality come out in these hat designs."
So make sure you get there early to grab a one of a kind hat designed by Garrett. Game time is 4 p.m. Sunday at the BMO. Get your hat and cheer on the Hogs!
IHSA girls bowling teams to compete for state finals in Rockford this weekend
By Matt Hall
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — The Illinois High School Association Girls Bowling State Finals are returning to the region this weekend at the Cherry Bowl in Cherry Valley.
Approximately 220 bowlers and 30 teams will compete in singles and team games.
“It’s inspiring to see youth bowlers throughout the state excel and reach personal bests in this tournament,” said Lindsay Arellano, Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau vice president of sales and servicing, in a news release. “The team at Cherry Bowl will continue to offer top notch accommodations so the coaches, bowlers and their families have an unbeatable experience while they’re in the Rockford region.”
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The tournament will also be a boost to the local economy, filling up 350 hotel room nights and bringing an estimated $158,000 in spending to the area.
Find more about the tournament HERE