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By Anusha Shrivastava

This weekend, we

a federal judge in Rockford has granted an injunction that will temporarily halt OSF HealthCare's acquisition of Rockford Health System.

Judge Frederick J. Kapala issued his ruling Friday in addition to a 45-page opinion on the case after hearing three days of testimony in early February from attorneys representing both health systems and the Federal Trade Commission.

the FTC challenged the acquisition last fall, saying the deal would be anticompetitive and could potentially raise prices on health care services for residents. But the health systems say they can address federal health care reform changes and diminishing state and federal reimbursements more efficiently as one entity, as well as bring more special services to the area.

according to Kapala's opinion, the preliminary injunction is granted in its entirety and the health systems are "restrained from acquiring each other's assets or other interests and are directed to return all confidential information received directly or indirectly from one another."

the systems are also directed to "maintain the status quo" until all legal proceedings by the FTC challenging the deal are complete – including all appeals.

Kapala's opinion comes down less than two weeks before a hearing on the acquisition is set to start in Washington, D.C. that hearing before an administrative law judge at the FTC begins April 17.

Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition, said in a statement that Kapala's ruling is a "victory for both competition and consumers."

"We continue to believe in the merits of our case, and that if this deal is ultimately allowed to proceed, the result will be less competition and higher health care prices in the Rockford area," Feinstein said. "We look forward to presenting our case before the administrative law judge later this month."

Leaders of both OSF and Rockford Health System said today that they also look forward to presenting their case in Washington.

"We're disappointed that after hearing what we believe to be compelling arguments on the benefits of the affiliation to the community that Judge Kapala granted the preliminary injunction," said Gary Kaatz, president and CEO of Rockford Health System.

David Schertz, president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, emphasized that Kapala's decision only addresses the requirements for issuing the injunction and that it's "not a final ruling on the merits of the FTC's case or the ultimate benefits of the proposed affiliation to the community."

Asked if they plan to appeal Kapala's ruling, Kaatz said he and Schertz hadn't had a chance to review the judge's written opinion yet.

Melissa Westphal can be reached at mwestpha@rrstar.com or (815) 987-1341.

a federal judge in Rockford has granted an injunction that will temporarily halt OSF HealthCare's acquisition of Rockford Health System.

Judge Frederick J. Kapala issued his ruling Friday in addition to a 45-page opinion on the case after hearing three days of testimony in early February from attorneys representing both health systems and the Federal Trade Commission.

the FTC challenged the acquisition last fall, saying the deal would be anticompetitive and could potentially raise prices on health care services for residents. But the health systems say they can address federal health care reform changes and diminishing state and federal reimbursements more efficiently as one entity, as well as bring more special services to the area.

according to Kapala's opinion, the preliminary injunction is granted in its entirety and the health systems are "restrained from acquiring each other's assets or other interests and are directed to return all confidential information received directly or indirectly from one another."

the systems are also directed to "maintain the status quo" until all legal proceedings by the FTC challenging the deal are complete – including all appeals.

Kapala's opinion comes down less than two weeks before a hearing on the acquisition is set to start in Washington, D.C. that hearing before an administrative law judge at the FTC begins April 17.

Richard Feinstein, director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition, said in a statement that Kapala's ruling is a "victory for both competition and consumers."

"We continue to believe in the merits of our case, and that if this deal is ultimately allowed to proceed, the result will be less competition and higher health care prices in the Rockford area," Feinstein said. "We look forward to presenting our case before the administrative law judge later this month."

Leaders of both OSF and Rockford Health System said today that they also look forward to presenting their case in Washington.

"We're disappointed that after hearing what we believe to be compelling arguments on the benefits of the affiliation to the community that Judge Kapala granted the preliminary injunction," said Gary Kaatz, president and CEO of Rockford Health System.

David Schertz, president and CEO of OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, emphasized that Kapala's decision only addresses the requirements for issuing the injunction and that it's "not a final ruling on the merits of the FTC's case or the ultimate benefits of the proposed affiliation to the community."

Asked if they plan to appeal Kapala's ruling, Kaatz said he and Schertz hadn't had a chance to review the judge's written opinion yet.

Melissa Westphal can be reached at mwestpha@rrstar.com or (815) 987-1341.

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Happy Easter, everyone! Let’s start it all off with the traditions of today. Many things have changed over the years. My Easter basket as a kid (45 years ago) always included a few molded chocolates from Gertrude Hawk’s. we sold them as fundraisers for years. they usually included a plane, a Volkswagen, an astronaut and, of course, a crucifix. we are now buying less candy for the Easter baskets and more goodies like computer games and clothing.

One of my buddies at work decided against a basket and bought his son a new bike. I guess you could say that the meaning behind the tradition of Easter is simply God and family. it could come in the form of a ring of kielbasi or a spiral cut ham and, then again, a day spent without the stress of daily life would be fine as well.

I choose to be with the people I love, eating the comfort food from memories past and just sitting around the kitchen table playing games. Eventually, the ham and kielbasi will be put back on the table and the eating will start all over. while some things have changed over the years, I choose to keep a little of my Easter tradition alive. May your day be filled with whatever makes you happy and may God bless you and your family.

Trout fishing

Let’s talk trout fishing. The trout season and tradition go hand in hand. The opening day of the trout season for our area is next Saturday, April 14. more than 850,000 anglers have bought a license this year and many of them will grab family and friends to head to a local stream or lake.

Every year, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stocks more than 3.2 million trout for anglers to cast. Many of those trout will be stocked in time for the 8 a.m. first cast next Saturday with the remainder being stocked throughout the season.

I always enjoyed the opening day when it took place the week after Easter. My lunch included Easter eggs, ham sandwiches and, of course, molded chocolates.

Fishing tips

This could be the part of the article where I try to give you fishing tips to help you catch the big ones. Well, guess again. I want you to go back to the basics. Grab a pitch fork and head to the garden. Be sure to take a coffee can along to hold the worms. Red worms are perhaps the best and cheapest bait you can use next weekend. I like fishing with them on a number 10 hook with a split shot and a swivel.

Picking bait before the fishing trip was as traditional as the trip itself. My brother and I were responsible for the worm bucket. we made sure it was always filled with worms of all sizes. Once that was done, we grabbed a $1 bag of salted shiners and bottle of salmon eggs and were ready to hit the stream.

Fishing holes

Be sure to check out your favorite first day fishing hole before the opening day.

Last year’s flood certainly played havoc with many of the streams. I helped the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission stock the Mehoopany Creek in Wyoming County this week.

it is hard to grasp the power of the water until you see the devastation first hand. The ball field at Forkston Corners doesn’t exist anymore. Many of the beautiful trout holes are now filled in and the farm fields have been claimed by rocks and other debris from the flood.

I’m not too sure how the trout will react when most of the natural structures are gone. but nonetheless, the trout are in there waiting for an angler’s juicy worm or shiny spinner.

Trout stocking

While most of the streams and lakes are already stocked with trout, a few will be stocked this week in anticipation of opening day. There is still time to follow one of the big white fleet as it makes its way to a stream for stocking.

Check the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission web page at www.fish.state.pa.us. Just click on the word trout and look for the preseason stocking schedule. Carrying a bucket to the stream for stocking is a great way to get children interested in trout fishing. I hope you consider taking a youngster fishing next week. I grew up excited about the opening day and other weekend trout fishing.

Good luck if you’re going out next Saturday.

Turkeys are talking

Part of my spring ritual includes spending time with my turkey hunting buddy, Dale Butler, scouting turkeys.

We spent last Sunday morning in Sullivan County, calling to turkeys and hiking a few of our favorite turkey hunting trails.

We started our adventure at 5:30 a.m. and pulled into our listening spot in Sullivan County at 6:15 a.m.

The morning started out misty, cold and breezy. we weren’t too sure that we would hear gobblers but the idea of our first scouting mission together was good enough for us. we waited until about 6:30 a.m. before making an owl call. Turkeys gobble to sound of an owl.

I gladly jumped on the opportunity to make the first call of the season. I said a little hoot-hoot and another hooty-hoo and, lo and behold, the turkeys started gobbling.

We left that spot after a few more gobbles and proceeded to the next listening post. Once again, a turkey responded to our calls. we managed to hear12 different gobblers that day, called in two hens and saw more than 20 deer on our travels. we are now convinced the turkeys are where we want them for the upcoming hunting season.

That, folks, is a mission accomplished with a smile. There is still plenty of time to get out and scout turkeys.

Be sure to watch Pennsylvania Outdoor Life tonight at 6:30 p.m. on WNEP-TV. we take you along on the trout stocking adventure on Mehoopany Creek. You won’t believe it until you see. Once again, happy Easter and may God bless you and your family.

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We have live score updates from the division two clash between Tyrone and Monaghan.

CLICK HERE FOR LIVE SCORE GAA UPDATES

Allianz National Football League Division 2 champions Tyrone have made four changes from the side which beat Meath two weeks ago.  meanwhile Monaghan hope leading scorers Tommy Freeman and Conor McManus can play some part against Tyrone in what is, for them a pivotal match.

The Brefni Men must beat the divisional champions to be sure of staying in Division 2.

McManus has been sidelined for months after undergoing surgery but manager Eamonn McEneaney has offered hope that his side will be able to field one of its star players:  “he might be an option.  Conor hasn’t played the whole national league but it might be a chance for that type of a run for him.  he is not far off being ready.

As for Tommy;  we are not sure about him yet.  A hamstring injury usually takes four weeks to fully recover from and it will be four weeks on Sunday since he sustained his.”

The game is of little consequence to Tyrone as they are already assured a play-off spot and manager Micky Harte is set to start a number of fringe players including Pascal McDonell who replaces John Devine in goal while PJ Quinn come in for Conor Gormley at left corner back.  Mickey Cassidy replaces Aidan Cassidy in midfield while Niall McKenna replaces Stephen O’Neill at full forward.

Tyrone (FL v Monaghan): Pascal McConnell, Aidan McCrory, Justin McMahon, J Quinn, Cathal McCarron, Peter Harte, Ryan McMenamin, Michael Murphy, Colm Cavanagh, Ronan McNabb, mark Donnelly, Sean Cavanagh, Kyle Coney, tephen O’Neill, Owen Mulligan. Subs: Jonathan Curran, Dermot Carlin, Aidan Cassidy, Ciaran Gervin, Conor Gormley, Jonathan Lafferty, Damian McCaul, Tommy McGuigan, Niall McKenna, Stephen McNally, Patrick McNiece – Oileán a’Ghuail

Monaghan are waiting on the fitness of their two leading scorers and will wait until Sunday to name their starting XV.

I bought my first Replacements album, their last, on December 27, 1990 at 8:47 pm. An obsession was born.

While I had lots of friends in college, none understood me like The Replacements did. It seemed as if they had a song for whatever mood I was in. They were losers, like me, who wore their heart on their sleeve. However, they weren’t emo. They were a rock band. A great rock band with an underage bass player named Tommy Stinson, his older, haunted by demons brother Bob on guitar, an artist named Chris Mars who happened to play drums, and a rebel with a soul writing the songs. The music drew me in but Paul Westerberg‘s lyrics kept me there.

For the next decade, I listened to at least one song once a day.

The one thing The Replacements didn’t have was a major following. They were successful, but not R.E.M. successful. They launched a thousand careers. Nevermind also just happens to be one of The Replacements best songs. according to a Rolling Stone article I once read, The Goo Goo Dolls’s Johnny Reznik once gave Avril Levine the entire Replacements catalog because she wanted to be just like him, and this was his way of telling her how to be . Craig Finn of the Hold Steady has always cited them as an influence.  Jeff Tweedy, during a live performance that made it’s way through many file sharing sites, once said everything Wilco did was based on The Replacements.   However, I never really had friends that listened to them. They truly were my band.

Until Color me Obsessed came to New Orleans.*

Gorman Bechard has made a movie about The Replacements. Actually, he made a movie about those of us who listen to The Replacements. And, he did it without using one Replacements song.

The movie is an oral history. no clips from live shows. no videos - not even “Bastards of Young” which only shows a speaker. Just friends of the band in the real sense of the word, and friends of the band in my sense of the word.  The director’s intention was that if the film was any good people would go out and seek The Replacements.

Many stories were told of The Replacements’ antics. The Replacements could probably drink any band in history under the table. Often they would play drunken sloppy shows that became part of their legend. also, they could just play great shows that left people amazed. There were tales of how certain songs were written.  Their were stories of how they signed to a major label and there are stories of the inevitable fall all told by people who knew the band. The best stories, however, were of people like me, just fans, who The Replacements became something more than a band. The star of the show, a thirtysomething, talked about how he would talk to an imaginary Tommy sometimes just because, you know, Tommy would understand. It didn’t come off crazy.

Not to me anyway.

This is what made The Replacements great. It’s what makes any band great. that feeling that you are part of something special. The fact that this band could make so many people who had trouble connecting at times connected without ever meeting each other was what made them great.

Until now. until Color me Obsessed.

*Color me Obsessed will be in Baton Rouge on March 9 at the Manship Theatre.

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Host your own Titanic “sinking party” dinner with the help of Chef Stephen Proctor and Chef Greg Ziegenfuss, who have shared heirloom period recipes along with one from the Campbell House Museum.

See related article: ‘Sinking Parties’  Commemorate Titanic’s Recipes

The following vintage recipes were featured on the Titanic’s last menu and are updated for home cooks who wish to prepare their own commemorative dinners.

Canapés A L’Amiral(Courtesy of Fox Executive Chef Stephen Proctor)

• 1/2 thin baguette loaf
• 1 teaspoon limejuice
• 10 small shrimp, halved lengthwise, cooked
• Fresh flat leaf parsley, or chervil
• 2 tablespoons flying fish roe, or your favorite caviar

Shrimp Butter

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 large shallot, minced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 8 ounces shrimp in the shell
• 1/4 cup brandy
• 4-ounce cream cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper
• Dash vanilla 

For the butter: in a sauté pan, heat the oil over medium heat, add the shallot and garlic, cook, stirring often for 5 minutes or until soft.  Add the shrimp, continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes or until the shells are pink and flesh is opaque. Remove shrimp mixture to bowl of food processor. Return pan to stove and add the brandy and reduce down to a glaze, Add to the shrimp Puree the shrimp mixture until finely chopped, add the cream cheese, butter, tomato paste, salt, pepper and vanilla. Process until almost smooth, press the mixture through a sieve set over a bowl, discarding the shells

Slice the baguette into 20 thin slices, place on baking sheet and toast under the broiler for about 1 minutes until lightly browned. 

Drizzle the limejuice over cooked shrimp halves and reserve.

Place shrimp butter in a piping bag fitted with a star tube.  Pipe the butter onto toasts.  Top each with a shrimp half and a parsley leaf.  Top each with the caviar or roe and serve.  makes 20 canapés

Chicken Fricassee(Courtesy of Greg Ziegenfuss, Executive Chef at Butler’s Pantry)

Combine flour, salt, pepper and thyme. Dredge chicken with flour mixture. Reserve unused flour. Melt butter in a heavy skillet; add chicken and brown on both sides. Remove chicken; add the onions, mushrooms and celery, sauté until just tender yet still crisp. Add garlic and sauté for a minute. Add reserved flour to mixture and slowly whisk in the chicken stock; cooking until thickened. Add cream, bring to a boil, add chicken, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and allow to simmer for 25 minutes or until chicken is tender and juices run clear (internal temperature should be 165 degrees). Transfer to a platter, garnish with chopped parsley. Served with rice pilaf or buttered pasta.  makes 4-6 servings

Haddock Veronique(Courtesy of Greg Ziegenfuss, Executive Chef at Butler’s Pantry)

Lightly season filets with salt and pepper. Place filets in a single layer on a shallow sauté pan. Combine the wine lemon juice, lemon zest and clam juice; then pour over the fish. Place over a medium high heat and bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and simmer until fish is almost cooked, about 4 minutes.

Remove fish and place in a baking dish to keep warm. Bring the poaching liquid to a boil; reduce by half, strain through a fine mesh strainer. In a small saucepan melt butter; add shallots and garlic, sauté for about a minute. Whisk in flour to form a blonde roux; cook for 2 minutes. Slowly whisk in reduced poaching liquid and bring to a boil. Stir in heavy cream, cook for 3 more minutes. Remove from heat, stir in tarragon, taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.  Pour sauce over filets, top with grapes and place in the broiler for about a minute or until sauce begins to lightly brown.  Serve immediately. makes 4 servings.

Roman Punch was part of the eleven course meal served on the Titanic. it was also a popular Victorian recipe and appears in the 19th century handwritten recipe collection of Virginia Campbell, housed at the Campbell House Museum.

Roman Punch(Courtesy of the Campbell House Museum and Suzanne Corbett, Food Historian) 

• 1 cup cold water
• 1 cup white sugar
• 4 large lemons
• 1 large orange
• 3 egg whites
• 6 ozs. champagne or sparkling wine

Place water in a heavy saucepan over a low heat; sprinkle in sugar and swirl until it dissolves. Bring to a boil for five minutes. Grate zest of lemons and oranges and add to sugar water mixture. Squeeze juice form lemons and orange, and add to sugar mixture. let stand until cool. Beat  egg whites with a whisk until foamy, but not to the soft peak stage. Add to sugar / juice mixture. Strain into a non-aluminum container, add champagne and freeze. When mixture begins to freeze, stir occasionally until completely frozen. Cover. Serve scooped into small glass bowls or saucer champagne glasses. Serves 4. will kept in the freezer for several days.