A new era unfolds for the Nielsen Chorale as the organization presents its first standalone concert under new Artistic Director Joel Ross, performing 'Voices of Hope and Promise' on Sunday, April 19 at 3 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. The event is free and open to the community.

Honoring the rich choral heritage of the Rockford community, the program features John Rutter’s 'Mass of the Children' and other selected works. The performance will feature the newly formed Nielsen Chorale Chamber Choir, composed of approximately 40 singers, along with professional instrumentalists and soloists, including members of the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and area natives Ben Ross, baritone, and Aria Beert, mezzo-soprano.

Celebrating voices of innocence and experience, the Nielsen Chorale has invited youth singers from Kantorei, the Auburn High School CAPA Treble Choir, and the Guilford High School Treble Choir to perform alongside the professional ensemble.

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.

An exhibition of twenty-four original paintings created by the Plein Air Painters of Rockford depicts Rockford iconic scenes and surprises. Artworks include views of Klehm, Sinnissippi Gardens, Midway Village, Indian Hill Manor and many more. The exhibit is located in the Visitor Center at Klehm Arboretum.

The Black & White PLUS Photography Show is a juried exhibition celebrating the strength and versatility of monochrome photography. This show invites photographers to explore imagery created without full color (including traditional black-and-white, sepia-toned and cyanotype), focusing instead on composition, contrast, light, shadow, texture, and visual storytelling.

The gallery is open Wednesday-Saturday 10-4 or by appointment.

Illinois Elks Children’s Care Corporation in cooperation with Dixon Elks Lodge 779 will sponsor a free children’s podiatry assessment clinic on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Morrison Podiatry, located at 841 N. Galena Avenue Suite 300 Dixon IL with Dr. David Yeager as the clinician in charge.

The Clinic starts at 8:00 AM and is by appointment only. To make an appointment call the Illinois Elks Children’s Care office at 1-800-272-0074 between the hours of 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. There are no charges for any services at this clinic.

No medical referral is necessary for the clinic, but physicians are welcome to refer patients to the clinic for a specific reason or second opinion. School nurses are welcome to refer children and families to the clinic. The clinic is an ideal time to have a child reviewed for bone and joint development.

April is Citizen Science Month, and the Library invites the community to take part in hands-on projects that contribute to 2.5 Million Acts of Science, a national America250 initiative celebrating civic participation and discovery. Citizen science empowers everyday people to support real scientific research by observing and sharing information about the world around them.

Featured projects include Stream Selfie, which helps document the health of local streams through shared photos; Globe at Night, an international effort to measure and raise awareness of light pollution; and iNaturalist, a global platform for recording plants and wildlife to help scientists monitor biodiversity. Information on how to participate in all three citizen-science projects is available at the Library. All projects are free and open to the public and are suitable for adults and families alike.