Mayor Tom McNamara joined Steve Summers on This Week in the Stateline to talk about everything from the economic impact of arts in the community to his own family's hunt for a Christmas tree.

He also discusses some upcoming initiatives in partnership with Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity and the Rockford Park District.

Listen to the full interview below.

By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas

Rock River Current

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ROCKFORD — The two-year coronavirus pandemic has created a steady stream of new scams trying to separate you from your money and personal information, according the head of the local branch of the Better Business Bureau.

From pop-up testing sites that rip people off, to counterfeit masks, counterfeit vaccine cards and other methods, the pandemic has created new reasons for consumers to be wary, said Dennis Horton, director of the Rockford Regional Office of the Better Business Bureau.

“Since the pandemic hit, we’ve had nothing but a steady stream, a river I should say, of pandemic scams,” he said on This Week in the Stateline. “We’ve taken to calling them scam variants because there are so many of them.”

Related: Better Business Bureau warns of travel scams

The most common scam revolves around online purchasing, with phishing tactics seeking personal information being the second most common, he said.

“There’s always something new," he said. "I’m frequently amazed at the brilliance of these con-artists and crooks."

Latest warning

Last week, Horton's office issued a warning surrounding quizzes on Facebook and other social media. Those quizzes can ask personal questions like “what high school did you attend” and “what is your mother’s maiden name” — the same type of questions you may use to protect bank accounts and other crucial data.

“I’m not saying all the quizzes you find on Facebook are data collection scams, but that’s how they begin,” Horton said. “They’re collecting this information and they can now build a profile about you and, frankly, steal your identity.”

He said always take a skeptical approach to anything asking for personal information online, and keep strong passwords.

“We’re telling people way too much about ourselves while we’re online,” Horton said.

Lastly, don't be embarrassed if you are conned. Contact the Better Business Bureau for help if you're the victim of a scam, he said. 

Listen to the full interview below:

[caption id="attachment_175429" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Riverside Community Church will have its drive-thru live Nativity scene Saturday and Sunday. (Photo provided by Riverside Community Church)[/caption]

By Steve Summers and Kevin Haas

Rock River Current

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MACHESNEY PARK — Riverside Community Church wants to take people back in time this weekend to experience the first Christmas.

The church's drive-thru live Nativity scene is back this year after being canceled in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The display, held outside the church at 6816 N. Second St., features about 45 characters — both human actors and animals. Among the live animals are donkeys, sheep, camels, goats and lambs.

"Just seeing the story of Christmas helps people understand what God did that first Christmas, when he sent his son to be born in a smelly manger," Pastor Bob Sheets said on This Week in the Stateline. "I think people get a good idea of what it might have been like that night in Bethlehem."

More Machesney Park news: Church moves in to former On The Curve restaurant

This is the ninth year for the A Night in Bethlehem live Nativity scene, which is presented for free.

"It's a crazy time of the year, people get busy," Sheets said. "We just want to give them the chance to slow down for a few moments and experience the true picture of Christmas as a gift from us."

Cars typically line up in advance of the 6 p.m. opening. Once on the church grounds, it takes roughly 10-15 minutes to move through the drive-thru display. The route is lined with about 400 luminaries.

"Our live nativity lets people travel back in time to Bethlehem to experience the story of Jesus' birth," Sheets said.

More seasonal news: Festival of Lights brings 'sheer joy' to Christmas season

If you go | A Night in Bethlehem

When: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 and Sunday, Dec. 12

Where: Riverside Community Church, 6816 N. Second St., Machesney Park

Listen to Pastor Bob Sheets interview with Steve Summers below.