New lanes start to open between Elgin-Rockford 

The Illinois Tollway announced last week that it is beginning to open three new lanes in each direction between Rockford and Elgin as part of the $2.5 billion Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) Rebuilding and Widening Project, which is building a new state-of-the-art interstate from the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-39.

The Tollway is nearing completion of the first phase of project, rebuilding and widening 37 miles of roadway to three lanes in each direction within budget and on schedule in just two years.

Construction on the segment of I-90 from Randall Road in Elgin to the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) is underway and scheduled to be completed by the end of 2016.

To date, an estimated 8,480 jobs have been created or sustained as part of the project spanning 62 miles of roadway in Northern Illinois.

RU television ad series wins district awards  

Rockford University’s Rock Solid television advertising series has been recognized with a Gold Award for Best Video PSA or Commercial Spot by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE), an international association of education advancement officers, who include alumni administrators, fund raisers, public relations managers, publications editors, and government relations officers.

The Pride of CASE V Awards Program honors institutions and individuals who demonstrate outstanding achievement in the concept and execution of advancement programs and communications throughout District V, the Great Lakes District, which encompasses Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. CASE V includes 400-plus member institutions with more than 2,500 representatives. This year, the awards program generated 453 entries from 78 institutions.

The Best Video PSA or Commercial Spot category includes Video PSAs and commercial advertisements for institution-wide or specialized programs and must be 60 seconds or less. Entries were judged on the program’s success in meeting its stated goals, use of resources, creativity, and impact on communications and marketing program and institution.

Rockford University’s campaign consists of three different 30-second commercials that highlight the look and feel of the University’s current Rock Solid branding campaign, while featuring a variety of current students and alumni. Each spot focuses on a specific theme that uplifts the diverse programming options offered at the institution to include traditional undergraduate, adult accelerated, and graduate programs through a uniform, branded approach.

SwedishAmerican offers quick, painless lung scans 

Lung cancer is the second-most-common cancer in both men and women. It often goes undetected until the cancer has reached an advanced stage, which can affect survival.

SwedishAmerican–among the nation’s first hospitals to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval for Lung Cancer–now offers a quick, painless lung scan that could save your life!

Although this scan normally costs $150, during the months of November and December it is available for FREE, thanks in part to generous support from Radiology Consultants of Rockford. A doctor’s referral is not needed, but certain criteria must be met:

• Age 55-74

• Current or former smoker

• At least a 30-pack year history of smoking (cigars, cigarettes, etc.)

• Former smokers must have quit within the last 15 years

• No history of lung cancer in the past

SwedishAmerican performs lung scans using the industry’s most cutting-edge computer tomography (CT) scanner machine, the Optima CT660. The low-dose scanner is a 128-slice machine, meaning it reduces the radiation dose by 40 percent, providing diagnostic accuracy at a significantly lower dose of radiation than traditional scanners. The machine is twice as fast as older CT units and produces the clearest images possible, allowing experts to diagnose with greater accuracy, providing early detection and prevention across a wide spectrum of procedures.

Convenient times are available at Swedish-American facilities in Rockford and Belvidere. A limited number of appointments are available. Call  (779) 696-7099 for more information.

Park District invites kids to ‘skate after school’ 

The Rockford Park District continues its popular After School Ice Skate weekly sessions for boys and girls in grades Pre-K through 12.

Youth have the opportunity to enjoy some fun recreation and exercise after school hours, while learning basic ice skating skills and gaining confidence on the ice.

The Park District’s Learn to Skate staff will provide 15 minutes of instruction at each session. Sessions are scheduled Thursdays through May 28, 2015 from 3:30 to 4:50 p.m. at Riverview Ice House, 324 N. Madison St., Rockford.

The fee for students and adult/chaperones is $3 per person including skate rental; family and friends are also welcome.

This program is one of many low-fee activities offered by the Rockford Park District. For more information about Rockford Park District ice facilities, as well as skating programs, events, and birthday parties or private rentals, visit www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/iceskate or call 815-969-4069, where information on accessibility and adapted equipment for people with disabilities is also available.

–News Bulletin news sources