Oct. 6, 2011 - Gearing up for next year

It's never too early to nominate yourself or an associated business for the 2011 Fourth Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards. Continue on this page to view 2010 nominees and winners.

• 2011 Nomination Form

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2010 Winners of the 3rd Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards

Large Business: J.L. Clark
Small Business: Tyler's Landscaping Services, Inc.
Large Agency: Rockford Park District
Small Agency: Comprehensive Community Solutions/Youth Build Rockford
Public Policy: Rock Valley College, AAS Sustainable Energy Degree
Green Building: Rock Valley College – PEC Building
Continuing Improvement: Anderson Packaging
Honorable Mention: Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful

Left: Daniel G. Saavedra of Saavedra Gehlhausen Architects, right: Professor Stephen R. Fleeman of Rock Valley College.

Nomination forms for 2010:
Winner of the Green Dish Award (PDF)
Anderson Packaging (DOC)
JL Clark Introductory Letter (DOCX)
JL Clark (DOC)
SEDAC Summary for JL Clark (PDF)
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful (DOC)
Rock Valley College PEC (PDF)
RVC - PEC Presentation (PDF)
Rock Valley College (DOC)
RVC Professor Stephen R, part 1 (DOC)
RVC Professor Stephen R, part 2 (DOC)
Rockford Park District (DOC)
Tyler's Landscaping (DOC)
Youth Build (PDF)
Micro Hydro Generator Contest (PDF)
Green Dish Rules (PDF)

Non-award recieving nominees for 2010:

Anderson Gardens (DOC)
Burpee Museum of Natural History (DOC)
D&H Energy Management (DOC)
The City of Rockford's Energy Strategy (PDF)
FatWallet.com (DOC)
Green Tone (DOC)
Hoo Haven (DOC)
In-Balance Hypnotherepy (DOC)
Nazca Energy (DOC)
Severson Dells Nature Center (DOC)
Solergy (DOC)
Super Shredders (PDF)
Wild Birds Unlimited (DOC)
WIllow's Cleaning Services (DOC)

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For Immediate Release

October 20, 2010

Presentation of “Green Dish” Critics’ Choice Award and the People's Choice Award
Edgebrook Shopping Center Farmers' Market, 1639 North Alpine Road
Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2010,  10:30 a.m.

(Rockford, IL)  The winners of the Winnebago County Green Business (WCGB) Awards “Green Dish” Critics’ Choice Award and the People's Choice Award will be presented this Wednesday morning, Oct. 20, at the Edgebrook Shopping Center's Farmer's Market, North Alpine and Highcrest, at 10:30 a.m.
Since part of the judging criteria was that the "Green Dish" ingredients come from local sources, the WCGB Committee thought it fitting to present the awards at a local farmers' market.
Staying with the theme of "Green Business," Rockford Renewable Energy's Robert Bauer will also be on hand with a wind turbine that can be mounted on any home or building.
Winner of the Winnebago County Green Business “Green Dish” Critics’ Choice Award:
SOCIAL Urban Bar & Restaurant, 509 E. State St., Rockford. Chef Bob McCarty.
FOR--Pork Rillete: With Assorted Homemade Pickles, Mustard and Crostini: Eickman’s pork shoulder, minced shallots, minced garlic, minced fresh herbs, pork fat, homemade pork stock, salt and pepper to taste.
Slow braise pork shoulder at 300 degrees until falling off the bone. Sauté shallots and garlic in oil until softened and translucent. Shred meat when cool and put into mixing bowl along with sautéed shallots, fresh garlic, fresh herbs, pork stock, salt, pepper and pork fat. Combine well and pack in lined terrine and chill in refrigerator overnight. Unmold, slice and serve on crostini topped with finishing salt and dijon mustard.
Pickled Carrots: Organic carrots, vinegar, whole cumin, whole garlic cloves, fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, water.
Pickled Walla Walla onions: Organic onions sliced, cider vinegar, cloves, whole black peppercorns, water.
Pickled Beets: Organic beets peeled and sliced, red vinegar, bay leaf, whole black peppercorns, water.
Boil water along with herbs and spices. Let simmer until infused. Pour over vegetables and refrigerate overnight.
Mustard: Dried mustard and craft beer mixed with locally grown thyme, sage, oregano. Add salt to taste. Gluten free! Enjoy!

Winner of the Winnebago County Green Business “Green Dish” People’s Choice Award:
Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center and CoCo Key Water Resort, 7801 E. State St., Rockford. Executive Chef Randall Smith.
FOR--Winter Vegetable Sauté: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 cups kohlrabi in 1/2-inch dice, peeled and cooked; 2 cups butternut squash in 1/2-inch diced, peeled and cooked; 1/2 cup diced onions; 1-2 sprigs rosemary; salt and pepper.
Peel and dice squash and kohlrabi and put in separate pots. Cover with water and boil until just soft. Drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add onions. Cook for 5 minutes until onions soften. Add vegetables and cook over medium heat until warmed through. Pull needles from rosemary and sprinkle in pan. Salt and pepper to tastes and toss well. Serve immediately. All produce was acquired the morning of the Winnebago Green Business Awards, Oct. 7, 2010, at Roscoe’s Main Street Square Farmers’ Market.
Executive Chef Randall Smith is also the author of Farm Fresh Flavors: 501 Delicious Meals Using Local Ingredients. His website, www.cooklocalfood.com, says the book “is an invaluable guide for anyone wishing to cook and eat better. Whether you grow your own food, get your groceries from a CSA, love to shop at farmers' markets or just want to eat more fresh food the book will help you. An encyclopedia of more than 500 recipes arranged A to Z. Each chapter will outline a single item and show you how to get the most out of it. Preparation, recipes, storage and preservation are mapped out for the home cook.”

2010 2nd Place GREEN DISH WINNER – CRITIC’S CHOICE: Best Western Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center & CoCo Key Water Resort, Executive Chef – Randall Smith
2010 3rd Place GREEN DISH WINNER – CRITIC’S CHOICE: Giovanni's Restaurant & Conference Center, Chef Al Castrogiovanni and Chef David Au

2010 2nd Place GREEN DISH WINNER – PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Giovanni's Restaurant & Conference Center, Chef Al Castrogiovanni and Chef David Au
Tie! 2010 3rd place GREEN DISH WINNER – PEOPLE’S CHOICE: Wired Cafe, Crystal Douglas
Tie! 2010 3rd place GREEN DISH WINNER – PEOPLE'S CHOICE: Kiki B's, Chef Ted Petit

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October 7, 2010

For immediate release

2010 Winnebago County Green Business Awards and the Rock River Trail announce the "Micro-Hydro Power from the Rock River Contest"

Purpose: To challenge all people, schools and industries along the 285 miles of the Rock River to construct
an American renewable energy product-a working micro-hydro generating device that will produce electrical
energy from the flow of the Rock River.
Entry Fee: A fee of $ 25 per entry per classification
Prizes: First Prize cash award is for the device that produces the highest electrical power in loaded watts on
the day of the competition and least cost of commercial production. Second and third prizes are a cash award
from the same standard. Prize money will be derived from the pool of entry fees of $ 25 per entry and awarded
as follows: First Place, 60 percent; Second Place, 30 percent; and Third Place, 10 percent.
Judging: Will be done by a blue-ribbon panel selected by the Rock River Trail and Winnebago County
Green Business Awards community.
Scope: The scope of the contest will not be limited to current technology and/or technology that is in the patent
process. Technology that is patentable should have patent protection in place prior to the submission of the
contest application. All devices will compete for the highest loaded electrical output from a single standard
platform and will be judged by watts produced at the time of the competition. The platform (base that the "turbine"
is attached to) for the entry device will be limited to a dock or a pontoon attached to a dock. River speed will
be limited to a minimum of 1 mph and less than 5 mph, with no specific speed defined for the day of the contest.
The competition is open to all individuals, elementary, middle and high schools, technology schools/colleges,
junior colleges, universities and commercial companies that are within the boarders of the 10 counties of the main
stream of the Rock River. Address all inquiries to admin@rockrivertrail.com or (815) 964-9767.
The contest devices are not limited to kinetic transference devices but are limited to two specific categories of
non-ducted (no shroud, accumulation device) and ducted (shrouded, accumulation device). The device's inflow
(area that receives the river's flow) area can be no larger than the square inches in a 24-inch diameter or 434-square-
inch device. Contestants can enter either or both ducted and non-ducted systems categories with separate entry
fees. The diameter of the ducting cannot exceed 48 inches as a diameter or a total of 1,810 square inches.
The contest will use only the regular flow of the Rock River between a minimum of 1 mph and the maximum
of 10 mph. A standardized dock/pontoon attachment print will be provided to all entries. Electric connections
will be specified in the official rules. Testing site will be augmented by the City of Rockford, and the winning
product's production may be explored in conjunction with the resources of Eiger Lab.
The "Micro-Hydro Power from the Rock River Contest" entries must be postmarked by midnight, Saturday,
Sept. 10, 2011, and addressed to The Rock River Times, 128 N. Church St., Rockford, IL 61101. Ten finalists'
devices will be tested Sunday, Sept. 10, 2011. Finalists will be displayed and the winners announced at the
Fourth Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.

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2010 Winnebago County "Green Dish" Award

Winner of critics' choice award: SOCIAL
Urban Bar & Restaurant, 509 E. State Street.
Rockford. Chef Bob McCarty.

Pork Rillete with Assorted Homemade Pickles, Mustard and Crostini: Eickman's pork shoulder, minced shallots, minced garlic, minced fresh herbs, pork fat, homemade pork stock, salt and pepper to taste. Slow braise pork shoulder at 300 degrees until falling off the bone. Sauté shallots and garlic in oil until softened and translucent. Shred meat when cool and put into mixing bowl along with sautéed shallots, fresh garlic, fresh herbs, pork stock, salt, pepper and pork fat. Combine well and pack in lined terrine and chill in refrigerator overnight. Unmold slice and serve on crostini topped with finishing salt and Dijon mustard.
Pickled Carrots: Organic carrots, vinegar, whole cumin, whole garlic cloves, fresh rosemar,. fresh thyme, water.
Pickled Walla Walla onions: Organic onions sliced, cider vinegar, cloves, whole black peppercorns, water.
Pickled Beets: Organic beets peeled and sliced, red vinegar, bay leaf, whole black pepper corns, water. Boil water along with herbs and spices. Let simmer until infused. Pour over vegetables and refrigerate overnight.
Mustard: Dried mustard and craft beer mixed with locally grown thyme, sage, oregano. Add salt to taste. Gluten free! Enjoy!

Next week: the ingredients from the second-
place winner and the winner of the People's
Choice Award-Executive Chef Randall
Smith, and the Best Western Clock Tower
Resort & Conference Center and CoCo Key
Water Resort.
Reprinted from Oct. 13-19, 2010 issue ofThe
Rock River Times.

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Winner of the Winnebago County Green Business “Green Dish” People’s Choice Award:
Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center and CoCo Key Water Resort, 7801 E. State St.,
Rockford. Executive Chef Randall Smith.

Winter Vegetable Sauté:
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 cups kohlrabi in 1/2-inch dice, peeled and cooked
2 cups butternut squash in 1/2-inch dice, peeled and cooked
1/2 cup diced onions
1-2 Sprigs Rosemary
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
Peel and dice squash and kohlrabi, and put the squash and kohlrabi in separate pots. Cover the squash and kohlrabi with water and boil until just soft. Drain and rinse squash and kohlrabi with cold water to stop the cooking. Next, heat olive oil in a large skillet and add onions. Cook for 5 minutes until onions soften. Add vegetables and cook over medium heat until warmed through. Pull needles from rosemary and sprinkle rosemary needles in pan. Add salt and pepper to taste, and toss well. Serve immediately.

Fresh produce:
All produce was acquired the morning of the Winnebago Green Business Awards, Oct. 7, 2010, at Roscoe’s Main Street Square Farmers’ Market.

About the chef:
Executive Chef Randall Smith is also the author of Farm Fresh Flavors: 501 Delicious Meals Using Local Ingredients. His website, www.cooklocalfood.com, says the book “is an invaluable guide for anyone wishing to cook and eat better. Whether you grow your own food, get your groceries from a CSA, love to shop at farmers' markets or just want to eat more fresh food the book will help you. An encyclopedia of more than 500 recipes arranged A to Z. Each chapter will outline a single item and show you how to get the most out of it. Preparation, recipes, storage and preservation are mapped out for the home cook.”

Reprinted from Oct. 20-26, 2010, issue of The Rock River Times.

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2010 Green Dish Rules

Get ready to grow. Everyone will want to attend the Third Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards from 4:30 to 7 p.m., Oct. 7 at the Rockford Park District's Webbs Norman Center (the old Post Office) 401 S. Main St.

One of this year's special features:
Earth's "Green Dish"

Another special feature will be the new "Green Dish" competition for local restaurants and farmers. Winnebago County Board Chairman
Scott Christiansen and I relish the opportunity to be the official technical judges and taste testers. If you attend, you can vote for the "Green People's Choice Award." The judging criteria for the "Green Dish Award" include but are not restricted to:
1. Organic and/or natural ingredients
2. Sourced from locally-owned grocery stores or CSA farms
3. Free-range raised
4. Hormone and antibiotic free
5. Grown with sustainable energy sources
6. Biodegradable packaging and service dishes
7. Compost fertilized
8. Social justice and fair trade components
Judging will be based on an aggregate point system. All dishes should serve 20 to 30 people. All competitors should include an 8-inch by 12-inch sheet denoting their ingredients, process and presentation. If your organization would like to enter the contest, contact Andrew Kellogg at akellogg123@hotmail.com.
Brio and Social restaurants are providing biodegradable cups, plates, utensils and napkins for the public's use by VerTerra, Aspenware and other sources.

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2010 Pictures from the the 3rd Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards

Click the image to view slideshow

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Press Release
October 5, 2010

3rd Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards Presentation
“Wind, Rain, Earth, Sun and Stormwater”

Thursday, Oct. 7, 2010,

4:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Webbs Norman Center, 401 S. Main St, Rockford
Admission is free and the event is open to the public. 

(Rockford, IL) The Third Annual Winnebago County Green Business Awards (WCGB) will be held this Thursday, October 7, 2010, 4:30pm to 7:00pm, at the Webbs Norman Center, 401 S. Main St., Rockford.  Hosted by Brian Leaf, the award presenters Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott H. Christiansen (R) and City of Rockford Stormwater Program Manager Brian Eber, will begin the ceremony at 5:30pm.  The theme is “Wind, Rain, Earth, Sun and Stormwater,” focusing on the control of stormwater to prevent flooding.

Chairman Christiansen, Mr. Eber and guest speakers Matt Wieneke and Scott Gear from Second Rain Integrated Rainwater Collection will make brief remarks about efforts for rainwater control and the environment. A major announcement about a regional American renewable energy production challenge will also be made.

Be sure to come and see the most exciting and spectacular Green Business Awards so far, with various Universal Hovercraft (one even has wings), the Triton Trike, some of the newest green vehicles, several wind turbines, a micro-hydro generator, rooftop gardens inside and many other green vendors and displays, all in the vast hallway of the Webbs Norman Center.  Another special feature will be the new “Green Dish” competition for local restaurants and farmers.  If you attend, you can vote for the “Green People’s Choice Award.” The most natural and/or organic “Green Dish Award” will be complemented by various local companies’ organic teas, coffees, wine and beer. 

2010 Nominees Include

Anderson Japanese Gardens
Anderson Packaging
Barbara Olson Center for Hope – Super Shredders
Burpee Museum of Natural History
City of Rockford
Comprehensive Community Solutions/Youth Build Rockford
D&H Energy Management Company, LLC.
Fatwallet.com
Green Tone Environmental Design
Hoo Haven
In-Balance Hypnotherapy
J.L. Clark
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful
Nazca Energy
Rockford Park District
Rock Valley College, AAS Sustainable Energy Degree
Rock Valley College – PEC Building
Severson Dells
Solergy, LLC.
The Rock River Sweep
The Rock River Trail
Tyler’s Landscaping Services, Inc.
Wild Birds Unlimited
Willow’s Cleaning Services

2010 Sponsors Include

ComEd
Comprehensive Community Solutions/YouthBuild Rockford
Freedom Field
Friends of the Rock River
J.L. Clark
Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Rockford Park District
The Rock River Times
Tyler’s Landscaping Services, Inc.
Winnebago County
Cedar award plaques by Dean Mohring, Rockton Hardwood Products
Plaques finishing by Lawrence Morton of Morgan and Main Enterprises

WCGB is thankful to Comprehensive Community Solutions/YouthBuild Rockford for providing the following volunteers to help with set up, organization, and clean up of the event.  Students will be supervised by Pamela Echols, BSW, Community Service Coordinator for CCS.

Anderson Gardens
Anderson Packaging
Aqual Sockwell
Barbara Olson Center for Hope – Super Shredders
Bella Luna Bakery
Belles Firm of Architecture, Inc.
BN Balance Energy Solutions
Brain Eber, City of Rockford Stormwater Program Manager
Brian Leaf, Master of Ceremonies, Rockford Register Star
Brio
Burpee Museum of Natural History
Choices Natural Market
Chris Sanchez
Cindy Bacher, Rockford Park District
City of Rockford
Cliff Wright
ComEd
Comprehensive Community Solutions
D&H Energy Management Company, LLC.
Dean Mohring, Rockton Hardwood Products
Desiree Bradford
DiTullio's
Fatwallet.com
First Hand Harvest
Freedom Field
Friends of the Rock River
Gary Anderson
Giovanni's
Green Tone Environmental Design
Hoo Haven
Illinois Renewable Energy Association
In-Balance Hypnotherapy
J.L. Clark
Jada Bug
James Box
Jeff Propp
Jody Marshall
Joe McGehee
Joel Neumann, B N Balance Energy Soulutions
John Fayhee
John Peterson, Rockford Park District
Julia Scott-Valdez, City of Rockford
Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful
Keshad Dismuke
KiKi B's
Kovarick Beasley
Kristina Leftwich
Lawrence Morton, Morgan and Main Enterprises
Lou Bachrodt Chevrolet
Massbach Ridge Winery
Matt Wieneke and Scott Gear, Second Rain Integrated Rainwater Collection
Melissa Miller, Nextage Professionals Realty
Morgan Smith
Napleton Autowerks
Nazca Energy
New Life Green Furniture
Nita Lasky
Octane
Pamela Echols, CCS/YouthBuild Rockford
Pete Stankiewicz
Quentin Tolefree
Rock River Ford
Rock River Sweep
Rock River Trail
Rock Valley College
Rock Valley Culligan
Rockford Chamber of Commerce
Rockford Park District
Ron Butler, Rockford Park District
Scott H. Christiansen, Winnebago County Board Chairman
Severson Dells
Social
Solergy, LLC.
Stephanie Castillo
The Clock Tower
The Rock River Times
Tim Dimke, Rockford Park District - Executive Director
Tony Frazier
Tyler's Landscaping Services
Wild Birds Unlimited
Willow's Cleaning Services
Winnebago County
Wired Café
Youth Build Rockford

2010 Winnebago County Green Business Awards committee members:

Frank Schier, Editor and Publisher, The Rock River Times
Andrew Kellogg, Charlotte's Web - Board President
Jennifer Hall, Catalyst Business Solutions LLC
Raymone Roberts, Salvage Too - Re-use Center Manager
Drs. Robert and Sonia Vogl, Illinois Renewable Energy Association
Mike Kearney, Green Communities Coalition
Melissa Miller, RE/MAX Key

WCGB is a partnership of environmental agencies, professional associates, and the concerned public. We are working together to recognize and assist businesses that operate in an environmentally-friendly manner. For more information and to see past years. nominees and winners, go to www.winncogreenbiz.com.