ROCKFORD

New energy supplier for some area residents

After a thorough bid process, the City of Rockford, along with the Village of Roscoe and Loves Park, selected Nordic Energy Services, LLC as the new supplier for the contract term September 2018 to September 2021. 

By combining the load of all consumers within the City and surrounding area, these municipalities are able to negotiate a discount on rates.

The City said that Rockford residents should have recently received a letter from the City regarding a new electricity supplier.

Residents have two options – a traditional option where the energy is supplied through traditional generation sources and a 100% renewable option where 100% of energy comes from renewable energy sources.  All participants will be automatically enrolled in the traditional program unless a request is made to enroll in the 100% Renewable or “Green” energy option.  If you do not want to participate in either program, you can choose to opt-out online at wwww.nordicoptout.com.

Residents will continue to receive one monthly bill from ComEd and will still be eligible for the same programs through the utility, such as Budget Billing, payment agreements and energy efficiency programs.   

ROCKFORD

Walker School demolition to begin on July 10

Demolition at Walker Elementary School will begin Tuesday, July 10. In the fall, the Rockford School Board approved a June 29 deadline for demolition. However demolition was interrupted because of a delay in moving computer fiber optic lines.

The school, 1520 Post Ave., has been vacant since the school closed after the 2015-16 school year. The School Board approved plans in October – based on community feedback – to tear down Walker and transfer the vacant land to the Rockford Park District.

Bricks from the school will be available for community members who want to save a piece of the building. Details will be announced as soon as they’re available.

Background: The School Board awarded the bid to Martin & Co. in February to demolish Walker for $259,500. The project was awarded to the lowest-responsible bidder, and the cost was included in the board-approved facilities plan.

Closing Walker is part of the district’s 10-year facilities plan , which includes building two elementary schools – Cherry Valley Elementary School and Constance Lane Elementary School – upgrading existing buildings and shrinking the district’s footprint.

A ribbon cutting at the new Cherry Valley Elementary School is set for 3 p.m. Friday, Aug. 17, followed by a community open house from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Then Cherry Valley Elementary School families are invited to an open house and PTO back-to-school picnic from 5-7:30 p.m. Principal Carolyn Timm will present information to families at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the school commons area.

ROCKFORD

‘Strong Neighborhood’ parties contine in July’

United Way of Rock River Valley continue to offer a summer series of Strong Neighborhoods Days block parties.

The block parties, which provide informal opportunities for residents to meet and engage with district police officers and their neighbors, occur on Wednesdays from noon-2 p.m. at the following locations:

• July 11, 2018 – Ellis Heights Neighborhood (2500 Green Street)
• July 18, 2018 – Summerdale Early Childhood Center (3320 Glenview Ave.)

Block party activities include giveaways, bomb robot demonstrations, and tours of the Rockford Police mobile command center and Strong Neighborhoods Houses. United Way will provide food, catered by Zina Horton from local favorite, Zammuto’s, and will also distribute free t-shirts to attendees.

For more information on Strong Neighborhoods Days, call 815-986-4802 or 815-986-4801.

STATE

Tickets for bicentennial bash on sale July 6

Illinois is the Land of Lincoln and of the Ferris wheel, cellphone, zipper, skyscraper, dentistry, the NFL and the Tootsie Roll. All of these accomplishments and more will be celebrated Dec. 3, during the state’s 200th birthday party.

The bicentennial celebration will be held at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago. The evening will honor the people, places and things that were born and bred in Illinois.

Tickets go on sale to the public at 10 a.m. July 6 at the United Center box office and ticketmaster.com, and will cost $50 and $75. The celebration is part of a yearlong commemoration of the anniversary that includes a U.S. Route 66 motorcycle ride, festivals and more.

The gala will be emceed by television journalist Bill Kurtis, and will feature talent including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Styx, the Chicago Bears, Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee and actor Joe Mantegna.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–