Posts filed under 'Contest'
December 30th, 2009
I received 64 entries for the Rockford Peaches “Boost the Peaches” T-shirt by Vintage Blue. You all kept my in-box full over the holidays!
The winner is Karen Puckett. This is what she wrote, coincidentally, in her e-mail (the drawing was random, not merit-based):
Oh my God, I have to have that shirt! I was born and raised in Rockford, and frankly, I think we’ve bypassed too many things about Rockford that make it a great city. There’s tons of history here, and the biggest part to me is the Peaches. As a feminist, I’ve tried to bring to light some of the things women haven’t gotten enough credit for. Thank you, Penny Marshall for a HUGE contribution!
In 2007 I attended a reunion of the Peaches here in Rockford. I was shocked that a lot of them still live here. I bought a poster and got some autographs. What a great day! … Anyway, I hope whoever gets the T-shirt appreciates it and realizes what it’s all about. Thank you.
Thanks to all who entered. I think we might end up with a story about people’s connections to and affections for the Peaches. Of course, I had the pleasure of taking a phone call from Helen Waddell Wyatt, a former Peach who lives in town and saw what I wrote. Emily Tropp wrote about her in 2007; re-read the story here.
December 23rd, 2009
If you love to be “green” and you love the Rockford Peaches, this is right up your alley.
Vintage Blue makes All-American Girls Professional Baseball League shirts with eco-friendly fabrics and dyes. The East Coast company’s owner, Liza Goncalves, emailed to alert me that the Rockford T-shirt is one of the most popular.
She agreed to give one away. I have a size L for random drawing; e-mail me at jpollock@rrstar.com by noon Dec. 30.
Below is a Q&A with Goncalves:
1. So how did you get into the whole AAGPBL thing for your shirts?
“It was an evolution, actually. I began taking my husband’s throwback jerseys and deconstructing them for women. They were such a hit that we began to notice there was a niche in the market for fashionable women who love sports. After much research ,I stumbled upon the AAGPBL, was inspired by the era, the first ever women’s baseball league, and sought after the license.
We saw the AAGPBL as a starting point for a brand to acquire licenses from various sports genres throughout the eras. Vintage Blue coins their clientele as “The All-American Rebel.” The term describes the company’s belief that every woman has the ability to be powerful, independent, unstoppable and fashionable. The AAGPBL collection is a representation of women breaking the boundaries of society throughout history. The line reflects a vintage feel with a twist of today’s style for women who want to feel comfortable and look good while fighting for their ideals in whatever way they choose, the true essence of an All-American Rebel.”
2. Why do you think the Rockford shirt is so popular? Because of “A League of Their Own”?
The Rockford Mae graphic T-shirt ($24 online) has a nostalgic feel and has been a favorite since we launched the line. I think a large part has to do with the movie. Everyone remembers that team because that was the team Madonna, Rosie O’Donnell, Geena Davis and Tom Hanks were a part of.
3. What’s green about your business, and why did you go that route?
All of our tees are made of 100 percent organic cotton and are printed with nontoxic inks. The hangtags are made from recycled paper, printed with soy inks and hang from jute string tags. Not only do we produce chemical-free garments, but we are a sustainable company in all aspects, using eco-friendly materials when creating items like line sheets, catalogs and more.
The company transitioned into an eco-friendly business because ethically we feel the best way to run the business is with as little harm to the environment as possible. We live in a time where many of us are consumed with our personal needs and wants — which is a part of what fashion inevitably is — but we also want to be a part of taking responsibility.
September 30th, 2009
Michelle VanSchelven of Rockton has won the bottle of Nature’s Source natural laundry stain remover and will review it for us! Thanks to all who entered.
May 1st, 2009
Jan Fox of Rockford has won my extreme giveaway: “Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things” by Cy Tymony and the “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, Vol. 4 and 5? DVD set.
Thanks to the dozens of folks who entered all four giveaways.
April 24th, 2009
L. Sue Tucker of Rockford, Holly Baker of Machesney Park, Jan Pauly of Rockford, Pat Henninger of Garden Prairie and John Connell of Rockford have won the green City of Rockford reuseable bags. Thanks to the more than two dozen folks who entered.
April 23rd, 2009
For Round 4, the last week of the Earth Month giveaways, I’ve chosen an odd set.
You can win “Sneaky Green Uses for Everyday Things” by Cy Tymony, which is pretty self-explanatory, and the “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, Vol. 4 and 5″ DVD set.
The “Sneaky Green” book reminds me of the “Worst Case Scenario” survival handbooks and ReadyMade magazine, which both show how you can do stuff, though the former is more humorous and the latter is more practical.
So I have my own combo. The book is inventive. The DVD is goofy. If you’ve never watched “MXC,”this is how Spike channel describes it:
This critically acclaimed comedic series is a combination of Fear Factor, Jackass and Iron Chef, with a touch of Mystery Science Theater 3000. Using the actual footage from one of the most popular primetime Japanese reality game shows, Takeshi’s Castle, the new series is re-written to create an entirely new comedic storyline. The series is not dubbed and there is not a single trace of literal translation from the original show.
I will draw one winner at random. Email me at jpollock@rrstar.com by noon Friday, May 1. I need your name, daytime phone number and city of residence in your note.
April 17th, 2009
Tori McKay of Roscoe has won the Better than Rocks giveaway.
FYI, she wrote: “My wonderful husband just built me four beautiful cedar planters that are going to hang as window boxes on the front of our home, and I think it would be great to use this product for drainage.”
April 16th, 2009
In Round 3 of my Earth Month giveaways, I have not one but five items up for grabs.
Ruth Miller at the Rockford Park District’s City of Gardens has graciously offered five green reusable bags with Rockford’s beloved purple coneflower on the side.
The bags are perfect for use at the grocery store or on the go every day. A pretty easy way to go green.
I will draw five winners at random. Email me at jpollock@rrstar.com by noon Friday, April 24. I need your name, daytime phone number and city of residence in your note.
Of course, while writing this, the lyrics to “Little Green Bag” got stuck in my head: “Lookin’ back on the track for a little green bag, Got to find just the kind or I’m losin’ my mind.” So I pasted the YouTube video below for your enjoyment. This song is on the soundtrack for “Reservoir Dogs,” so I hear it from time to time.
April 15th, 2009
Last week, I had the pleasure of sitting inside the 2009 Smart Car Passion Coupe.
Why? Because it’s the star of the latest fundraiser.
Blackhawk Learning Connections is kicking off its first annual Smart Car Raffle, with a winner drawn July 4.
Buy tickets at blackhawklearning.com, 815-962-8853 or Alpine Bank, Logli and Meg’s Daily Grind locations. They are $20 or 4 for $50 in April.
The car, valued at $14,600, is “little on the outside but big in the inside.” Having been inside one twice, I tend to agree. There’s enough room in the back for a week’s worth of my groceries, and it has a cubby in the trunk door, for example. The glass top also gives a more open feel.
Lisa Bartholme swung by to show me and said she’s felt like the gas gauge has been on a quarter-tank for a while!
What is Blackhawk? Its mission is to provide quality, affordable child care. According to its site:
Blackhawk Learning Connection provides quality affordable child care for low-to-moderate-income families throughout Rockford and its surrounding areas. Since 1969, Blackhawk Learning Connection has cared for over 2,500 children.
April 10th, 2009
That question is out there a lot, but one company is making it a contest.
BCI Burke, a playground equipment maker based in Fond du Lac, Wis. (my hometown, which is why I got a Google alert on it), is asking for e-mail essays on “how green are you?” all month.
You could win a bike rack or a portable litter container (the company makes these, of course).
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