Along The Rock

Season 2, Episode 54

In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris talks with AJ Querciagrossa, Regional CEO, and Jackie Kernan, President of Saint Katherine Medical Centers, about the recent merger between KSB Hospital and OSF Healthcare.

They dive into:

• Why rural hospitals are merging

• How OSF plans to keep healthcare local

• New innovations like telehealth, wearables, and Health at Home

• Education partnerships with Sauk Valley C...

Season 2, Episode 53

In this episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris talks with Carrie Melton, Executive Director of April House Children’s Advocacy Center, about how the center provides a safe, trauma-informed space for children involved in abuse investigations in Whiteside County. Learn how April House supports children and families through difficult times.

To learn more, visit their website:www.aprilhouse.orgCheck out The Rada...

In the latest episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sat down with Rashaad Lane of the Sauk Valley Diversity Alliance to talk about the organization’s upcoming Juneteenth Celebration and recent accomplishments that continue to make a positive impact in the Sauk Valley community.

To learn more, visit them on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/DiversitySV/Check out The Radar Free Press at https://theradar.online/Follow us on all s...

In this week’s episode of Along the Rock, host Kaitlyn Blum dives into one of the most anticipated summer events in the Sauk Valley area—Summer Splash—with guest Sam Kersey, who helps coordinate the annual celebration.

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Season 2, Episode 50

In the latest episode of Along the Rock, host Kaitlyn Blum welcomes Keri Olson and Ashley Richter, Executive Directors of the United Way chapters serving Whiteside County and Lee/Ogle Counties, respectively. Together, they shine a spotlight on two impactful local programs that ensure children have access to nutritious meals during the summer months: Feed Our Children in Whiteside County and Summer Eats in Lee/Og...

Season 2, Episode 49

In the latest episode of Along the Rock, host Kaitlyn Blum sits down with Brenda Helms, Director of Community Education at Sauk Valley Community College, to discuss one of the region’s most beloved annual events: the Sauk Valley Child Fair.

To learn more, visit the website:

https://www.svcc.edu/community/community-education/child-fair.html

Check out The Radar Free Press at https://theradar.online/

Follow us on all s...

Season 2, Episode 48In the latest episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Karstin Howard, Child Welfare Resource Supervisor at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI), for a candid and insightful conversation about the foster care system in Illinois and the vital role that foster parents play in shaping the lives of vulnerable children.To learn more, visit the website:https://www.lssi.org/foster/Check out The...

Season 2, Episode 47

In this week’s episode of Along the Rock, host Mark Morris sits down with Sata Prescott, the Baron of Carraig Ban, to explore the vibrant world of the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), a community dedicated to reliving the past, not just watching it.

To learn more, visit the website:https://carraigban.midrealm.org/

Check out The Radar Free Press at https://theradar.online/

Follow us on all social media platfo...

Discover all the fun coming to Dixon this spring and summer! In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris chats with Jennifer Lang from Discover Dixon about exciting upcoming events — including the June 7th Summer Block Party, Dixon City Market on Wednesdays, Friday night concerts, and the Brush and Bloom event on July 4th during Petunia Fest.

#illinois #il #sauk valley #along the rock #podcast #the radar #radar free press #fr...

Season 2, Episode 45In this episode of Along the Rock, Kaitlyn Blum sits down with Duis Center manager Stephanie Milnes to talk about Water Safety Month, which is May.The Duis Center offers swimming lessons all year-round for people anywhere from 6 months old to adults. They have both group and private lessons. If you’ve completed all swimming lessons and are looking for more, the Duis Center has its own competitive swimming team, ...

Season 2, Episode 44In this episode of Along the Rock, Kaitlyn Blum talks with Neddie Watts and Jaime Vos about the Tri-County Opportunities Council and its 60th anniversary event.The Tri-County Opportunities Council (TCOC) is a community action agency that was started in 1965 by 3 or 4 concerned citizens who wanted to work together to eliminate poverty. They started out serving 3 counties but eventually grew to 9. The 9 counties T...

Season 2, Episode 43In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Melinda Jones, director of Rock Falls Tourism, and musical director Josh Duffee about the upcoming Bellson Music Fest.The 4th annual Bellson Music Fest will be held on June 7. The event celebrates the legacy of the famous drummer Louie Bellson. Bellson Music Fest will kick off at 11:30am with a drum clinic at the McCormick Event Center conducted by Buddy ...

Season 2, Episode 42In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris sits down with Jimmy Ferraro, artistic director at Dixon Stage Left, to discuss upcoming shows, auditions, and more.Dixon Stage Left’s first fundraiser this year will by their production of “A Bullet for The Boss” which will be performed on June 6- 8 at 5:30pm. Due to renovations, this show will instead take place at Lena’s Social Club, across the street from Dixon ...

Season 2, Episode 41In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Annette Hackbarth and Paul Ausman about the Sterling Municipal Band's upcoming concerts.The Sterling Municipal Band will be starting their season on June 4 at the Grandon Civic Center in Sterling. After that, they will do weekly concerts until August 6. They also plan on having many guests throughout the season. Their first guest will be Barry Houser ...

Season 2, Episode 40In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with Jon James about the Dixon Municipal Band's upcoming concerts.The Dixon Municipal Band, led by director Jon James, performs 10 concerts over the summer, with the first being at 7:30pm on June 5 at Page Park Band Shell in Dixon. They will then do a concert every Thursday at the same time and location through August 7. The type of music the band plays wi...

Season 2, Episode 39In this episode of Along the Rock, Nicole Bollman talks with club members Shirley Vivian and Laurie McBride about Rock River Garden Club, Dixon in Bloom and Beautify Dixon, all events relating to cleaning up and planting flowers across Dixon.The Rock River Garden Club (RRGC) was the first of these organizations, which began in 1957 as a women-only club. They meet in the evenings to plant and maintain flowers acr...

Season 2, Episode 38In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris talks with theatre manager Tori Highley about the recent renovations done to The Dixon: Historic Theatre and some upcoming events.The Dixon: Historic Theatre recently underwent a $150 million renovation. Some of the changes include added waterproofing on the roof and walls, newly plastered and painted walls, a permanent concession stand, and the theatre has received...

Season 2, Episode 37In this episode of Along the Rock, Quinn Stahr sits down with retiring District 13 superintendent Dan Arickx and incoming superintendent Kelli Virgil to discuss the upcoming switch and planned changes.Arickx has been in the district since 1996 and has held the position of superintendent for the last 15 years. His last day will be June 30, and Virgil will be taking over the next day, July 1. Virgil comes from a j...

Season 2, Episode 36In this episode of Along the Rock, Mark Morris speaks with the Regional Spelling Bee Champion, Parker Zimmerly, and his mom, Joanie Zimmerly, about his win and upcoming trip to Washington D.C.With the word “illicitly”, Amboy student Parker Zimmerly recently won the Regional Spelling Bee, and in a few weeks, he will travel to Washington D.C. to compete in the National Spelling Bee! It begins on May 25 and Parker ...