Stressed out? What’s your fix?

Add comment November 6th, 2009

The first story I’ve written for our new GO Relax section that will run Saturdays in the newspaper deals with, well, ways to relax. Some laugh about it, others smell the roses (or rose oil, anyway), and the list goes on.

Tell here in comments about your stress-busters.

Shinedown, Papa Roach, Halestorm at MetroCentre Dec. 15

1 comment November 2nd, 2009

Hard rockers Shinedown, Papa Roach and Halestorm will play at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, at the MetroCentre, 300 Elm St., Rockford.

Tickets cost $32.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 6, at metrocentre.com, 815-968-5222 and the MetroCentre box office.

Shinedown is known for hits “Save Me,” “Devour,” “Second Chance” and “Sound of Madness.” Papa Roach’s hits include “Last Resort” and “Lifeline.” Halestorm, led by siblings Elizabeth and Arejay Hale,  has had one hit: “I Get Off.” A fourth band may be added.

Third Ghost Tour added at Coronado

1 comment October 29th, 2009

A third Ghost Tour by LOLTOS at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, has been added after two tours sold out.
The new tour will be at 9 p.m. Saturday.  Arrive by 8:45 p.m. Cost is $10. Reservations are required. 815-968-2722, ext. 12.

Weather changes at WREX

Add comment October 13th, 2009

You’ll see another new meteorologist by the end of the month at WREX-13 (Comcast 3).

Cyndi Kahlbaum, who has been working at KTEN in Denison, Texas, will be the weather forecaster mornings. She replaces Adam Painter, who left in July to return to his former meteorologist post at KECI in Missoula, Montana.
Justin Gehrts, weekend meteorologist who had been filling in mornings for Painter, left WREX Oct. 2 for KCRG in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he interned.
On Oct. 3, Aaron Brackett of Rockton, a graduate of Lutheran High School in Rockford who is finishing college at Valparaiso University in Indiana, started as  weather forecaster on weekends.
Eric Sorenson remains chief meteorologist and can be seen on evening news shows.

FUNdraising tallies

Add comment October 13th, 2009

Having fun while raising funds thrills local groups. Here’s the profit earned at recent shindigs:
Dancing with the Rockford Stars benefiting Family Counseling Services, Oct. 10, Clock Tower Resort, Rockford: $16,440 with 250 people attending (profit up 30 percent from its inaugural year last year)
Red Ball benefiting River District Association, Oct. 10, Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort, Rockford: about $5,000, with 90 attendees.
Canine Classic benefiting Winnebago County Animal Services Auxiliary, Sept. 27, Sportscore One, Rockford: $8,800
Night at the Museum benefiting Midway Village Museum, Aug. 15, at the museum: $22,000 with 250 attending.

Humdinger of a list about being a true Rockfordian

7 comments September 28th, 2009

Last Thursday, Steve Summers and Denise Pagano on their morning show on Q98.5 (WXXQ) compiled from listeners a list of 98 “things you need to know before you can call yourself a true Rockfordian.”

Check the list out and add your ideas here in the comments.

1. You have to live in Rockford should be the 1st rule!
2. You must go see a Rockford River Hawks game once.(they started as the Rockford  Expo’s, then the Rockford Reds, Rockford Cubbies and now the Rockford River Hawks)
3. You must know that “A League of their Own” was about the Rockford Peaches.
4. You must complain about how ugly the MetroCentre is.
5. You must talk about how cool the Coronado is.
6. You must know what a Maid Rite is and like them….

7. You must complain about how long the lights are at East State and Alpine.
8. You must know that Aiden Quinn’s dad was a teacher in the Rockford School District.
9. You must know E.J. Giorgi’s nickname was “Zeke” and try to have I-39 called “The Zeke” in the same way they call highways “The Ike” and “The Kennedy” in Chicago.
10. You must know that Charles Box may have been the mayor, but his family makes some of the best BBQ ever.
11. You must know that the Rockford Register Star building is called “The News Tower.”
12. You have to know that Marinelli Field has the most bugs of any baseball field in the world.
13. You know people still call it “The Rockford Airport” despite renaming efforts.
14. You must have your picture taken by the Orange Thingy, known as Symbol

15. You must go see WWII re-enactments at Midway Village
16.  Uncle Nicks Gyros at 2am
17.  Order a beef & cheddar at Beef-A-Roo!
18.  Eat a tub of Mrs. Fisher’s Chips that are made in Rockford!
19.  Order a Steak @ Maria’s on Cunningham
20.  Cheap Trick…need we say more!
21.  Order a Hi-Boy Burger at the old Hollywood’s Restaurant
22.  The old Alps drive-in on Charles Street
23.  Going to Stockholm Inn for Swedish Pancakes with Lingonberries!
24.  You have to know what an ERAB is…(East Red & Black!)
25.  Susan St. James, Scott Hamilton, Barbara Hale, Janet Lynn, Ginger Lynn & Ira Matthews all came from Rockford
26.  How much Rockford has given up because we don’t like noise! We could have had NIU in Rockford!
27.  The Sock Monkey originated in Rockford from the Red Healed Rockford Socks
28.  Knowing whom Jane the Dinosaur is and lives at the Burpee Museum
29.  Shopping at Union Hall in Loves Park or the one on East State Street
30.  Bings Drive-In Restaurant, known for their waffle fries
31.  Where the Army Base, Camp Grant, was by the airport
32.  Belford, River Lane, Sunset & the Robin Drive-in (especially the “dirty” movies at the Sunset Theater!) were they used to be
33.  Kiddyland on Forest Hills Road behind Woodward Governor
34.  Skeet’s Drive-in Restaurant
35.  Prince Castle had the square ice cream scoops!
36.  Have to know where the 5 Points intersection is
37.  President Nixon & his wife were here when they were opening East State Street during his campaign.
38.  Rockford is known as the screw capitol of the world! We manufacture more screws than anyone in the world!
39.  Rally’s Burgers was where Uncle Nick’s is, on East State Street
40.  Nylint Toys were manufactured in Rockford
41.  Testors Glue & Paint (model paint) was manufactured in Rockford
42.  Ole Salty Potato Chips are made in Rockford.
43.  Rockettes Drive-In down on 15th Avenue and they had the biggest pork tenderloin sandwiches!
44.  Hamilton Sundstrand makes parts for the Space Shuttle for NASA
45.  Rockford Ice Hogs…they are an affiliate of the Chicago Blackhawks
46.  Rockford Lightning…Norm Van Leer was the coach
47.  Jerry’s Hamburgers…had the best French fries in town
48.  1982 the Rolling Stones came to the MetroCentre
49.  Beekeys Drive-In on Auburn
50.  Frank Sinatra played at the Metro Centre
51.  Ing Roller skating Palace on North 2nd Street
52.  Time Museum…known now as the Clock Tower
53.  Faust Hotel & Towers – Al Capon stayed here & when JFK was campaigning he stayed at the Faust Hotel; was considered like a Ritz/Carlton
54.  Paris Bennet is from Rockford (American Idol)
55.  Martha Quinn from MTV broadcast live from Rick Neilson’s house in the 80’s
56.  Mr. Mustache was part of Rockford history, on channel 23…had the huff & puff game.
57.  Rockford had 2 Daily Newspapers…. Rockford Morning Star (came in the morning) and the Rockford Register Republic (in the afternoon) and they combined them to what we know now as the Rockford Register Star
58.  President Teddy Roosevelt came to Rockford & dedicated Memorial Hall back in 1903″ish” was the first kind ever built for Veterans of War
59.  Abraham Lincoln served as a lawyer in Rockford during the John Manney & McCormack
60.  Bill Murray and “Ground Hogs Day” movie filmed driving off the cliffs at Nimtz Quarry
61.  Lacey Underall from “Caddy Shack” used to work at WROK doing overnights
62.  The Concord landed at the Rockford Airport and took off one time!
63.  Blue Suede shoes and the Poison Apple
64.  The Ambassadors of Rockford are the Phantom Regiment Drum & Bugle Corp
65.  You had to pay a toll of a dime to cross the Riverside bridge
66.  Rockford was known as the 2nd largest city in Illinois…we were bumped by Aurora
67.  Known as the Forest City
68.  The oldest tree in Rockford is on the North East Corner of Spring Creek & Alpine
69.  Kishwaukee River is one of two rivers in the world that actually flows north instead of south!
70.  Estwing Hammers are made in Rockford (blue handled hammers)
71.  Kegel Harley Davidson is one of the oldest Harley Dealers
72.  Jodi Benson, the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid is from Rockford, went to Boylan High School
73.  The Green Flash Newspaper, and it cost a nickel!
74.  The Last Straw Ice Cream on South Alpine
75.  The Cobblestone is the oldest house in Rockford
76.  Michelle Williams, from Destiny’s Child, is from Rockford
77.  Rockford Dry Goods Department Store
78.  Toad Hall on Broadway
79.  The Root Beer Barrel Restaurant…little drive-in by the airport which is now the Machesney Park Mall
80.  Oprah Winfrey was on Dialing for Dollars $$ on Channel 13.
81.  John B. Anderson from Rockford ran for President in 1980
82.  Rollie Spondburg, used to do a magic trick when he did the weather on Channel 13
83.  Arlens Discount was on Sandy Hollow & 11th Street
84.  Top Hat Restaurant
85.  The Airbrush was invented & mass-produced in Rockford a little over 100 years ago. The company was called Rockford Airbrush and was located in the building that used to stand across the street from the downtown library.
86.  Anderson Gardens
87.  The Grinder Shop Restaurant, served Ingersol Burgers
88.  Danica Patrick, NASCAR driver is from Rockford area (Roscoe, actually)

89.  Chad Knauss, from Rockford,  is the crew chief for Jimmy Johnson
90.  Mark Martin used to race at the Rockford Speedway
91.  Nicole Manski went to Hononegah High School and is an ESPN reporter for NASCAR
92.  Deerys are one of the few speedway owners that still own their property
93.  Roddy Mack Show
94.  The Parrot in the basement of Goldblatts Dept. Store

95.  Ted Nugent played at the Rockford Speedway and could be heard all the way to the Rockford Airport.

96.  Chiclets are made at Warner Lambert

97.  Winnebago Co. Fair Grounds used to be on West State Street

98. Of course Rockford is home to Rockford’s Country Q98.5

And speaking of Waterfront winners …

Add comment September 21st, 2009

The River Key Subdivision’s S.S. River Key won first place in the Lighted Boat Parade Sept. 4 at On the Waterfront on the Rock River in downtown Rockford.

Those involved in lighting the pontoon boat were Mike and Pij Richter and grandchildren, Jill and Bill Callahan and Chuck and Jane Barber of the Rockford subdivision. Their boat beat out four other boats, and the group received $150.

Local playwright presents homeless story on stage

Add comment September 15th, 2009

Barbara Welch of Rockford, an ovarian cancer survivor and writer of about a dozen plays, is producing a play she has written, “From Rags to Riches,” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Ellis Arts Academy, 222 S. Central Ave., Rockford.

It is about the homeless. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Rockford Rescue Mission. Tickets cost $15 in advance, $18 at the door; $12 in advance or $15 at the door for ages 12 and younger. 815-963-8369.

If a kids’ book author came to Rockford, here’s what you would (will) get

Add comment September 10th, 2009

If you gave a well-known children’s author a chance to read from one of her books at the Rockford Public Library, she’d take it.
At least that’s if her name is Laura Numeroff. Numeroff is author of the “If You Give …” series, including “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” and “If you Give a Moose a Muffin.” She will appear from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 21, at the Main Library Auditorium, 215 N. Wyman St., Rockford, to promote her latest book, “What Sisters Do Best/What Brothers Do Best.” A book signing will follow the program, which includes kids doing a craft project.

The library is presenting the free storytime in cooperation with Wonderland Books and Toys of Rockford. Registration is not required. For more information: rockfordpubliclibrary.org, 815-965-7606, option 5.

QFL host interviews Drop Dead Diva star about no pressure to lose weight

Add comment September 3rd, 2009

Cindy Swanson, mid-day radio personality on 101QFL with “Cindy Swanson’s Mid-day Make-over,” today interviewed Brooke Elliott, the star of the Lifetime Channel’s new hit show, “Drop Dead Diva.”

Brooke dishes about body image, working with guest stars like Delta Burke and Liza Minelli, and what it’s like to have a job where she feels NO pressure to lose weight. By the way, Brooke is a Midwestern girl who actually spent some time doing theater in Chicago.