Smart Living Rockford - October 21, 2021

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • Oct. 2021 • No. II

Right in Our Region

‘Cinderella’ Ballet Comes to Coronado Save Money with Solar Energy Cooking for One? Treat Yourself Right Tips for Choosing the Best Flooring for You Women’s Heart Health: What You Need to Know

Best of Life Information for Our Region’s Residents & Visitors Proudly Serving the Needs of 326,000 Neighbors - For Your Home, Health & Fun!

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .........................Cover & p. 20 ‘Cinderella’ Ballet at Coronado Nov. 14 Your Home ................................................... 13, 29 What to Know About Flooring; Fall Gardening Inspiration & Worship ....................................... 14 Seeing the Sun Your Kitchen ...................................................... 17 Tasty Lactose-free Kebabs Your Outdoor Living ......................................... 19 Give Your Home Exterior a Lift Your Community ................................................ 25 OAKtober Hike Your Money......................................................... 27 Save Money on Your Tech Bill Your Health ........................................................ 31 Women’s Heart Health Your Shortcuts .................................................. 33 Are You Cooking for One? Your Fun ............................................................. 36

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Jim Taylor Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Lisa Brandt, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living.

Copyright 2021 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Too Little Blood I

t’s really easy to avoid thinking about donating blood.

Especially with flu shots and COVID-19 boosters on the mind, and many of us still catching up on routine appointments we put off during the darkest pandemic days, the last thing we want to think about is one more appointment that involves a needle. I get it.

But I also know what it feels like to stand helplessly in an ER after a loved one has suffered traumatic injury. Years ago, my parents were nearly killed a few days before their 50th wedding anniversary, when a Jeep jumped the median on North Second Street near Sinnissippi Gardens and hit them head-on. By the grace of God, they lived to see that anniversary and many more.

Most of us also know how it feels to wait in suspense as a loved one undergoes surgery.

Such procedures routinely involve the use of blood products donated by strangers.

Until we are personally impacted by the need for blood, we may not feel any urgency to donate it. But that doesn’t prevent people from needing it every day, whether because of auto or workplace accidents, surgeries or other reasons. And on any given day, the person needing it just may be someone we love.

“Right now the national blood supply is the lowest I’ve seen it,” Red Cross Communications Manager Isis Chaverri told me on Monday. “Less than a day’s supply of certain blood types has been available in recent weeks in many places.”

Our Rock River Valley Blood Center makes it easy and safe to donate blood. But it needs to collect more than 1000 units each week to meet the needs of our 10 hospitals.

Here, as in the rest of the U.S., our number of donors is too low. We all need to step up.

To learn about donating, go to rrvbc.org.

If there’s one thing we should know by now, it’s that we’re in this life together. None of us exists alone. We breathe the same air, drink from the same water supplies, drive the same roads. Every day, lives change in the blink of an eye, forcing reliance upon the goodness – and blood – of strangers.

Let’s just take care of one another. ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Support your community.

Shop the ReStore.

When you shop for vintage items, home goods, furniture, tools, hardware & more at the ReStore, you are supporting the work of Rockford Area Habitat for Humanity.

Store Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Donation Drop-Off Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-3pm *Donation drop-off is temporarily closed on Mondays* Have items to donate? We'll pick them up for FREE! Call 815-580-1205 to schedule a pickup.

7141 Harrison Ave, Rockford IL | 815-713-3184 | rockfordhabitat.org @restorerockford

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Your Home & Garden

Know the Basics When Shopping for Carpet S hopping for carpet can be very confusing, when so much of it looks the same to the untrained eye.

A good salesperson will first ask about your lifestyle as related to flooring.

First, what’s the setting for which you’ll be using this carpet? How many children do you have? What types of pets? Do you entertain?

“Everyone has specific needs,” says Kevin Rose, President of Carpetland USA, 326 N. Alpine Road, Rockford. “It’s nice to try to tailor the correct product for their needs – not pick something (salespeople) think is going to fit into everyone’s needs.”

Next, think about fiber. The most expensive, softest and most durable carpets tend to be name-brand nylons, Rose says.

Then, the next level would be polyesters, made from recycled plastic bottles.

They’re extremely stain-resistant and durable, with softness that has improved

vastly as plastics technology has changed in recent years.

Carpet quality can be measured – and even seen – in three factors: Density. That’s the number of stitches per inch. More means the fibers will support each other better and resist crushing.

Twist: How many yarn twists per inch. This is perhaps the key consideration, Rose says. The tighter a carpet’s twist, the springier and more resilient it will be.

Face weight: How many ounces of fiber are used per square yard of carpet.

Backings can help indicate a carpet’s quality, and especially its moisture resistance. If you have pets, Rose says, consider carpet with moisture-proof backing.

And, Rose says: Realize the impor-

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tance of good padding. Some carpet pads are even topped with a moisture-proof membrane. This is of special interest to pet owners.

“Pad is the best dollar spent in carpet,” he says. “It’s another vital element to the durability of the carpet. It takes the shock absorption, so it helps in resiliency of the fiber. If you’re going to save a buck or two, don’t do it in your pad.” ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Seeing the Sun

“We believe that the sun is in the sky at midday in summer not because we can clearly see the sun (in fact, we cannot) but because we can see everything else.”

– C.S. Lewis, Miracles

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ithout God’s goodness, would this broken world hold together at all?

Even in the midst of war, disease, famine, disaster, suffering and political strife, rays of light penetrate the gloom and give hope.

We slumber and wake to the dependable rhythms of night and day, sun, moon and stars. Spring returns. Babies are born.

People love. Tides roll in. Blooms unfurl and trees reach for the sky. Laughter, as well as sorrow, ripples persistently across the earth. All are reminders of the hope that belongs to those who choose to call Jesus Christ “Lord.”

God’s fingerprints are everywhere, encouraging us in our appointed work: to spread light to those in darkness. Prophets saw it coming. Jesus Christ set it into motion and handed us the power to reconcile people to God Himself.

Shortly before his resurrection, Jesus prayed not only for his disciples, but for all of us who would come to God through their work. Because of them, you and I have the option to believe. As we do our work, others will, too.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — I in them and you in me — so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” - John 17: 20-23(NIV) “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

– Revelation 21:4 (NIV) We have work to do, and our paths are lit by the sunlight of God’s will. ❚

–Janine Pumilia

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Your Kitchen

An Easy and Tasty Lactose-Free Meal D

airy foods are key ingredients in many at-home meals - provide nutrients for people of all ages to maintain strong bodies and minds. However, some bodies are unable to break down the sugar found in milk, known as lactose, which causes an upset stomach and bloated feeling.

Even so, people with lactose intolerance can enjoy real dairy products that are naturally low in or don’t contain lactose, such as: • Lactose-free milk, which is real milk with the same 13 essential nutrients as regular milk • Hard and aged cheeses, such as cheddar, colby, Monterey Jack, Parmesan and Swiss • Yogurt with live and active cultures, which make lactose easier to digest.

Visit MilkMeansMore.org to find more delicious dishes that fit a lactose intolerant meal plan.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Kebab Recipe courtesy of Rachel Gurk

Nonstick cooking spray 2 chicken breasts (6 oz each), cubed 1 ham steak (6 ounces), cubed 6 bamboo skewers (8 inches) 1 TB Dijon mustard 1 tsp pure maple syrup 1/4 tsp ground black pepper 1/4 tsp paprika 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil Sauce: 2 TB butter 2 TB flour 1 cup lactose-free 2% milk 1 tsp Dijon mustard 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese salt and pepper, to taste (optional) Skewers: Preheat broiler to 500 F. Line broiler pan with foil and spray with nonstick spray. Thread cubed chicken and ham pieces onto skewers. In small bowl, mix Dijon, syrup, pepper, paprika & oil.

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Brush mustard mixture on skewers.

Broil about 5 minutes, flip and cook 5 minutes, until chicken is cooked through.

Sauce: Over medium heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour and cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually add milk, whisking constantly. Add Dijon. Cook 5 minutes, or until thick. Reduce heat to low and stir in cheese, whisking until melted.

Add salt and pepper, to taste, if desired. Serve chicken and ham kebabs with sauce. Source: Family Features ❚

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Outdoor Living

Does Your Home Exterior Need Updating?

By Peggy Werner

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hen’s the last time you really studied the appearance of your home exterior? Is it time to consider replacing a roof, siding or windows? Sometimes even a small change can make a big difference.

For example, the color of a front door communicates a strong message.

Blue tones convey a place of refuge or retreat; green projects health, tranquility and harmony; red speaks of passion, energy and excitement; and brown tones convey warmth, stability and reliability, according to the Paint Quality Institute.

When it comes to changing out windows, bigger and brighter is on trend.

“Windows are getting more energyefficient all the time, so you can have the beauty of new windows with the benefit of more insulation, making the whole home more energy efficient,” says Liz McCarthy, senior marketing manager at

Feldco, Des Plaines, Ill. Maximizing natural light while providing good ventilation with patio doors and screen doors that are both attractive and functional is important.

Decorative glass on the front door makes the home more welcoming and changing window styles can create a lighter, brighter look. If it’s been a while since your home’s windows were updated, newer models made from quality products can do a much better job of protecting against ultraviolet light, cold and heat.

People today are interested in cutting their maintenance time and costs, says McCarthy. Because they want lowmaintenance, they often turn to vinyl replacement windows and fiberglass doors, which come in a variety of colors, including woodgrain looks.

Low-maintenance siding also comes in a variety of colors and styles, some of which imitate wood grain finishes.

“Replacing your siding or roof can make an old home look new,” says McCarthy.

She urges people to drive around and observe home exteriors they like.

Whether you’re selling your home soon or plan to stay awhile, updating the exterior can be a smart move. ❚

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4322 Maray Drive, Rockford Feldco’s 50% off Windows promotion represents a 50% savings off the full retail price of the windows only, as detailed in the Feldco retail price list and does not apply to discounts on installation, woodwork and/or other options/materials. (Model #1655 Thermal Replacement Windows, minimum 4 windows). List prices may not necessarily be the price at which the product is sold in the trade area. Installations performed by factory trained independent contractors. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer, coupons or promotions. Subject to credit approval. Interest accrues during a 12-month promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. All sales, promotions and offers may be discontinued at any time at the sole discretion of Feldco Factory Direct, LLC. Offer expires 10/31/2021.

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Right in Our Region

‘Cinderella’ Ballet Nov. 14 at Coronado

By Peggy Werner

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he State Ballet Theater of Ukraine returns to Rockford this fall to present “Cinderella,” the classic folk tale of a young woman who magically goes from rags to riches, swapping jealous and mean stepsisters for a new life of love and happiness with a handsome prince.

The performance will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14 at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St. “Cinderella” will be set to Sergei Prokofiev’s music and Vladimir Vasiliev’s choreography. Fifty-five of Ukraine’s finest artists will take the stage for a two-act performance of one of the most beloved stories of all time. This season, the ballet will perform in America and Canada, acquainting audiences with dancers who represent the highest level of classical ballet in the world, with the best performers and graduates

of prestigious Ukrainian and world choreography schools. Many of the dancers have been soloists in major international companies. The company has performed many masterpieces of classical ballet.

Cinderella will be the 12th production since the theater reopened in August after an 18-month shutdown due to the pandemic. By the end of this year, 21 performances will have taken place at the Coronado, says recently hired Assistant General Manager Doug Johnson.

“I’m just getting my feet firmly planted on the ground so we can walk before we run,” he says. “My job is to expand the list of promoters who want to bring entertainment to the Coronado. What we’re doing is good, but we need more diverse programming that can be

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achieved in a variety of ways to widen the cultural activities here. My goal is to make the Coronado a destination that attracts people from all over the region.”

The theater is now booking performances for next spring and summer.

The Delta variant of COVID-19 slowed things down for a while, he says.

“As COVID cases go down, our industry can literally breathe again,”

Right in Our Region he says. “We’re thrilled to be bringing live events back to Rockford, including the opportunity to see such a globally renowned dance company in our city.

We’re working to safely bring even more high-quality entertainment to the Coronado, including comedy, contemporary music, children’s shows, movies, and more.”

The Coronado Performing Arts Center is home to the Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO), the Broadway in Rockford series, and the Rockford Dance Company. The venue also hosts and partners with the Friends of the Coronado and the Land of Lincoln Organ Society, two non-profit organizations that help to maintain and preserve the historical assets of the theater and to educate the public about the Coronado – Rockford’s “crown jewel.”

Just a few weeks ago, The Friends of the Coronado Foundation added more excitement to the reopening of the Coronado by completing a restoration of the iconic and historic Coronado marquee

sign that is now lit up every night instead of only on show nights.

“The marquee was repainted with the original rich and vivid colors, equipped with all new mechanical systems, and updated with 2,808 LED lightbulbs,” explains Friends of the Coronado Executive Director Beth Howard. “The dancing lights towering 65 feet high are lighting up downtown once again. We’re over the moon to see our marquee glowing each evening.”

Since its opening in 1927, the Coronado has welcomed many dance companies, from Ballet Russe of Monte Carlo, the Joffrey Ballet, the Agnes DeMille American Heritage Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s Ailey II company, and the National Ballet Theater of Odessa, just before the pandemic shuttered venues nationwide.

Tickets for “Cinderella” and all upcoming events can be purchased at the theater, online at coronadopac.org or by calling the box office, (815) 968-5222. ❚

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Coming to Coronado: October

24: Straight No Chaser 26: Friends! The Musical Parody 27: Home Free: Dive Bar Saints World Tour 29: Chicago Live in Concert

November

4: Kevin James 5: Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood 15: Toby Mac: The Theatre Tour 19: Bert Kreischer: The Berty Boy Relapse Tour 21: Josh Turner: Holiday & the Hits with Mo Pitney 26: Martina McBride

December

4: RSO: The Nutcracker 7: Lindsey Stirling: The Christmas Program 18: RSO: Holiday Pops

2022

Jan. 7: Elvis Tribute: Birthday Edition Jan. 26: “Cats” Feb. 18: Simon & Garfunkel Story March 20: One Night of Queen March 27: “Waitress” In addition, Rockford Symphony Orchestra (RSO) has announced its 2022 Music Director Finalists Season. Learn more at rockfordsymphony.com.

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Your Community

Celebrate OAKtober with NLI Hike ctober has become known as OAKtober in the conservation community throughout the state of Illinois since 2015.

The purpose of OAKtober is to bring attention to the importance of oak trees, which clean our air and water, reduce air temperature and energy usage, and provide habitat for wildlife. Oak trees are strong and majestic and create a sense of place wherever they are. The White Oak is the Illinois State Tree.

The Natural Land Institute (NLI) will celebrate Oak Awareness Month with an OAKtober Hike on Saturday, Oct. 30 at 1:30 p.m. at Burr Oak Valley Nature Preserve, located across the street from Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, 7404 Elevator Road, Roscoe, Ill. Hikers will be led on a guided tour throughout the rolling hills of the preserve

by NLI staff, who will talk about the ongoing restoration work in the wooded areas and prairies, the importance of oak

(Jill Kennay photo)

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Hikers at an OAKtober Hike walk through a remnant dolomite hill prairie while surrounded by oak trees.

habitat, and the recent designation of the preserve as an Illinois State Nature Preserve and Buffer. The hike will last about 90 minutes.

Limited parking is available on site with additional parking at the church. The level of hiking is moderate to difficult.

Admission is free for NLI members, $5 for non-member individuals, and $10 for families. This includes a onetime 6-month introductory membership.

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Registration is required by Friday, Oct. 29 at: naturalland.org/event/oaktoberhike-2021/ or call: (815) 964-6666.

As one of the oldest private conservation groups in the Midwest, the NLI has managed, protected and restored 18.000 acres of prairie, woodland, forest, wetland and river corridor since 1958. The organization’s mission is to create an enduring legacy of natural land in northern Illinois for people, plants, and animals. ❚

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Your Money

How to Save Money on Your Tech Bills

By Peggy Werner

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nflation related to the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many of us to tighten our belts, and there are ways we can free up money in our budgets. One of the best is to make sure we’re not paying too much for tech services like phone, Internet, TV and home security. It’s easier than you think, says Charles Zambrano, owner and general manager of EZ Satellite & Wireless in Loves Park.

“I make sure the customers know exactly what they’re getting and aren’t paying for services they don’t want or need,” says Zambrano. He asks customers about the number of TVs and phones they have, favorite channels, streaming and recording habits, how they use high-speed internet and so forth.

“Most customers are paying too much, $250 or more for phone, TV and internet,” he says. “I can save them $50 to

$100 per month by offering them the best deals each company has to offer.

“A lot of people are not happy with their tech services, but are afraid to change or don’t have time to do the research. But it’s not that hard to start saving money.”

Zambrano also helps people to make better use of their smart phones to enhance their particular lifestyles. Products like the Google Nest Hub, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are ideal for those who want to monitor and access their homes and businesses remotely or with voice commands. Especially with holidays approaching, it’s useful to monitor package delivery and speak to people at your door remotely.

You can also switch lights on and off, change the thermostat settings and unlock doors remotely.

EZ Satellite & Wireless is licensed to offer services from any provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, including Rise Broadband, Comcast, HughesNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, Vivint, ATT and Nest products.

Zambrano’s store is regularly sanitized, social distancing is observed, masks are worn and interactions are contact-free.

Call (815) 957-4335 or stop by to see him at 6239 N. 2nd St. in Loves Park. ❚

SWEET STREAMS.

WATCH 23 NEWS ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

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Your Home & Garden

The Joy of Gardening Continues into Fall

By Peggy Werner other Nature isn’t finished producing beautiful and colorful displays for the home and yard, so don’t put away the gardening tools just yet.

Scott Gensler, co-owner of Gensler Gardens, says customers who’ve discovered the rewards of working in their yards because of the COVID-19 crisis are still enjoying this rediscovered pleasure.

“People found a lot of peace of mind working in their yards and will be heartbroken when the first freeze comes,” he says. Fall is a good time to experiment with a variety of plants and test one’s artistic talent.

Ornamental kale thrives in cool weather and the colors only intensify with each frost. Gensler Gardens, 102 Orth Road, Loves Park, carries about 10 varieties and each one has a purpose, he says, with some having height, others having width, some have a cabbage appearance. They come in shades of red, pink and white.

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Ornamental grasses are often used in spring and summer arrangements and can take on a new look when combined with fall plants, pumpkins, gourds, acorns and candles. When dried, they still hold up well and look good in arrangements all winter long. At Gensler’s, the No. 1 selling ornamental grass is purple fountain, which has green foliage that turns purple in the sun. Another popular variety, Ogon, has gold and green foliage that shimmers.

The longest lasting mums bloom naturally in September. There’s a difference between hardy mums, which come back year after year, and florist or garden mums, which last just one season.

Eric Akerlund, general manager of Ack Ack Nursery, 5704 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, says fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs for beautiful fall color, evergreens for privacy, and shrubs that produce berries to feed birds and animals during the winter.

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Start planning your spring landscape now, he suggests. “Nationwide, plant inventories are not complete. Planning ahead will enable you to beat the spring rush. You can leisurely research and think about a landscape design during the winter and be ready to pick out the best plants in the spring,” he says.

People often make the mistake of not watering as much when temperatures cool, but it’s important to establishing the health of new plants, trees and shrubs.

“Continue to water until you put that garden hose away,” says Akerlund. ❚

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Your Health

Women and Heart Disease: What to Know B y To n i R o c h a or decades, heart disease has been the No. 1 cause of death for men. More recently, it’s become a top concern for women, too. Dr. Shobashalini Chokkalingam, a cardiologist with Mercyhealth, says the disease is 80 percent preventable if women pay attention to their health.

“We used to see women develop heart disease mostly after menopause, when the estrogen levels that protected them diminished,” Chokkalingam says.

“Now, we’re treating an increasing number of women in their 20s, 30s and 40s.

While one in 31 women will be diagnosed with

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breast cancer, one in three will develop some form of heart disease.”

Risk factors such as smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure and cholesterol can lead to heart disease in all ages. Chokkalingam recommends women do two things starting at a young age.

First, they should understand their family health history. Heart disease in close family members may point to the same vulnerability in a younger woman.

“The other important item is to know their numbers,” Chokkalingam adds.

“By that, I mean they should know their weight, blood pressure, cholesterol count and blood glucose through regular physical exams with their primary doctors.”

Most of all, women need to stop ignoring their own health concerns.

“They often can’t seem to focus on their own needs, even to the point of not calling 911 when they might be having a heart attack,” Chokkalingam says.

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“Women experience different symptoms of an impending heart attack than men, who primarily suffer pain and crushing weight in their chests. About 40 percent of women have no chest pain at all. But they do experience heaviness, shortness of breath, joint aches, nausea, fatigue, low energy levels and other seemingly unrelated symptoms.”

Women need to step up their game, especially African-American women.

According to Mayo Clinic, one in every two U.S. black women over age 20 has some form of heart disease.

“Something as simple as reducing the amount of sodium in your diet can make a huge difference,” Chokkalingam says. “Just eating a handful of blueberries or blackberries three times a week can reduce the risk of developing heart disease by as much as 34 percent, according to a Harvard study. Unsalted almonds are also a benefit to prevent heart disease.” ❚

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Life Hacks

Being Single is No Excuse for Poor Eating B y Pe g g y We r n e r

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f your days of cooking big family meals are over because your kids are grown and have families of their own, or if death, divorce or other life circumstances have left you living alone, don’t let this be a reason to eat poorly.

You just have to plan and portion meals differently, learn to buy just what you need or freeze some for later. Countryside Meats & Deli Owner Jarrod Bush can help you make the transition. He’s located at 781 Highgrove Place, Rockford.

“The good thing about us is you can order one slice of bacon or a pound of bacon that we can package up in three-slice portions and that’s true of any other meats we sell,” says Bush. “We understand you may not need a lot all at once, but it’s always better to cook at home because you know what’s in your food and how you’re preparing it.”

If you’re in a hurry, grab a sandwich or wrap made with Boar’s Head luncheon meats or pick up a ready-to-bake meal for later that night.

There are cases full of “oven ready” meals such as lasagna, stuffed green peppers, meatballs, Italian Beef, pulled BBQ pork, chicken pot pie, chicken Kiev and 25 varieties of bratwurst. There are also cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, dressings, marinades, seasonings, chicken, egg, tuna and crab salads, as well as cole slaw, broccoli slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, creamed and pickled herring.

Gourmet items include four varieties of chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, fennel, cheese and Italian seasoning; traditional bread stuffing, ham and Swiss cheese; or apples and cranberries.

Large portabella mushrooms are filled with crab meat and Swiss or Ched-

dar cheese and bacon. Everything in the store is made onsite. Meats and many other products are purchased locally or regionally and all meat grinding is done on in house.

If you want to put something into the slow cooker for a tasty meal at the end of the day, choose from the well-stocked, clean and organized 20-foot meat case filled with Midwestern beef, pork, and poultry.

Eating well is a choice, whether or not you are a solo diner. Why not treat yourself right? ❚

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Handcrafted Hourly Prizes

Nov. 13th & 14th

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Midway Village Museum Tours Through Oct. 31, guided tours Saturday and Sunday at 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, and 3 p.m.

Stories of the past come to life as visitors explore life of the early 1900s. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

Savage Gardens Through Nov. 3, Tues.-Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily. Explore the bizarre and captivating world of carnivorous “meat-eating” plants, including pitcher plants, Venus fly traps, sundews and more. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg.

John Crist: Fresh Cuts Tour Oct. 22, 7 p.m. The comedy star delivers an all-new show. Coronado PAC, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

BJSO: Sara Lemen, Soprano Oct. 23-24, Sat. 7:30 p.m. Sun. 2 p.m. Lemen performs with the Beloit Janesville Symphony Orchestra, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment and Beethoven’s 250th birthday. On Saturday at Janesville

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Performing Arts Center, 408 S. Main St., (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org. On Sunday at The Castle, 501 Prospect Ave., Beloit, (608) 362-1583, thecastlebeloit.com.

Kenneth Drake Oct. 29, 7:30 p.m. This pianist plays a selection of Beethoven’s work with a fortepiano – an instrument with a singing, bell-like quality.

Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Oct. 29, 8 p.m. An outrageous assemblage of the most stereotyped science fiction movies, Marvel Comics, Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello outings & rock ‘n’ roll of all vintages. Egyptian Theatre, 135 N. 2nd St., DeKalb, Ill., (815) 758-1215, egyptiantheatre.org.

‘Friends, The Musical Parody’ Oct. 26, 7 p.m. The comedic musical lovingly pokes fun at TV’s “Friends,” celebrating the adventures of this group of 20-something friends as they navigate the pitfalls of work, life and love in 1990s Manhattan. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St.,

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The Venus Fly Trap is among carnivorous plants on display at Nicholas Conservatory until Nov. 3.

Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

Rockford Arts & Crafts Holiday Spectacular Nov. 13 & 14. Saturday Nov. 13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday Nov. 14 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Handcrafted items including home, holiday and yard decor; floral arrangements; crochet items; bath & body products; jewelry; pet supplies; woodcrafts; Adult and baby clothing and accessories; doll clothes; metalwork and more. Indoor Sports Center, 8800 E. Riverside Blvd., (815) 997-1744. Learn more at rockfordcraftshow.com. ❚

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October 2021 • No. II

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October 2021 • No. II To advertise call 815-316-2300

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October 2021 • No. II

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October 2021 • No. II To advertise call 815-316-2300