Representatives from the Rock River Multi Sport Group and Rockford Area Mountain Biking Alliance (RAMBA) presented the d RockforPark District Foundation with a $1,000 donation for the Silent Sports Trail Initiative.

ROCKFORD

Bus drivers, lunch servers, aides set to strike RPS

Rockford School District support personnel plan to go on strike.

The union representing around 900 workers — bus drivers, lunch servers and other paraprofessionals — have authorized a strike to begin on March 15.

Teachers are not involved in the job action.

Workers belonging to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 31 backed the job action after the school board approved the district’s final offer in January.

According to reports, the new framework had led to pay cuts for affected employees.

STATE

Red Cross seeks blood donations in March

March is American Red Cross Month and the Red Cross is encouraging all eligible donors to give blood over the next several weeks.

Donating is easier than ever with the Blood Donor App and RapidPass or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visiting redcrossblood.org.

With the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, donors can conveniently schedule and manage donation appointments, access their donor card, track the impact of their donations and earn rewards. Donors can also save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questions online at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass before coming to their appointments.

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also must meet certain height and weight requirements.

PARK DISTRICT

Donation for ‘Silent Sports’ trail initiative

Representatives from the Rock River Multi Sport Group and Rockford Area Mountain Biking Alliance (RAMBA) presented the d RockforPark District Foundation with a $1,000 donation for the Silent Sports Trail Initiative.

The money was raised during “Do the Kish,” a mountain bike race that took place in October 2016.

Currently, a dedicated citizens group is assisting the Rockford Park District Foundation in raising money for Atwood Silent Sports Trails Project. A silent sports facility would include activities such as: mountain biking, hiking, trail running, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife observation, and fat biking, to name a few. Completed trails will complement the existing outdoor recreational and educational programming.

The plan will be developed in phases, to coincide with fundraising efforts and to minimize reliance upon tax dollars. Phase I is roughly estimated at $464,000, and thanks to the generous donation, this brings Phase I funds raised to-date to $342,214.

“We are grateful to receive this donation, and can’t thank Rock River Multi Sport Group and Rockford Area Mountain Biking Alliance enough for their commitment to this project. Together, we are that much closer to connecting citizens to their natural environments. The development of silent sports amenities will provide citizens and visitors alike diverse recreation opportunities that are unique to the region,” said Rockford Park District Operations Director Laurie Anderson. The plans for Phase 1 include a multi-use beginner loop trail on the south side of Atwood Park that would also connect to a second trail that is approximately 3.3 miles of a multi-use intermediate trail on the northeast end of the park.

EXTENSION

Are local farmers ready for next big customer?

In Illinois, the demand for local food continues to grow, and people want to see more local products in more places, not just limited to farm stands or farmers markets.  So, as local food farmers build their businesses, they might need to think about some new kinds of customers.

“Lots of local food farmers start out selling at the farmers market, and that can be a good way to build an end-consumer following,” says Andy Larson, Local Food Systems and Small Farms Educator for University of Illinois Extension, “but as they expand, these farmers might need customers who can buy larger quantities with less time spent at the market.”

Area restaurants and retail stores are often the next logical step.

MarketReady is an Extension short course designed to help local food farmers prepare to scale up and professionalize their marketing so they can become consistent, high-quality providers to local restaurants, retail stores, and institutional food service.  The research-based training is built on best practices identified by food buyers who use local farm suppliers, and will cover everything from relationship-building to risk management to legal labels.

The MarketReady class will meet Thursday evenings from 5:30-8:30 on April 6, 13, 20, and 27 in the Rotary Room at the Belvidere Family YMCA, located at 220 W. Locust St. in Belvidere.  There will be additional online content for viewing between classes.  Registration is $50 (or $30 for a second registrant from the same farm) and can be completed online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo/.

For more information contact Judy Hodge at (815) 544-3710 or hodg@illinois.edu.

–Winnebago County News Briefs–