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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • May 2022 • No. II
Right in Our Region
It’s Garden Fair Time at Klehm Arboretum! See Page 20
How to Prevent Water Damage When You Just Need a Little Help Reserve a Table at Dinner on the Docks Maximizing Space in a Kitchen Remodel
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 What’s New at Klehm Garden Fair? Your Home ................................................. 13 Saving Space in Kitchen Remodels Inspiration & Worship ................................ 14 Taming Our Tongues Your Community ....................................... 25 Dinner on the Docks Your Health ................................................ 31 When You Need a Little Help Your Home ................................................. 33 How to Prevent Water Damage 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 Stephanie N. Grimoldby, Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Website www.SmartLivingStateline.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 2022 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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Facing Up to Root Rot
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engaged in mortal combat today with a wisteria vine I’ve tried to kill for nearly 18 years. The thing refuses to bloom. Its roots spread deep underground where I can’t dig them up without killing the lovely lilacs above. Its tendrils choke other plants 20 feet away. The best I can do is keep this menace under control by trimming back its aggressive, woody vines. The garden is a great teacher. As I hack away at vines, I mull the parallels to our USA. John thinks Jane’s political party is destroying the country and Jane thinks the same of John’s. Both are sincere patriots. This is nothing new. The question is this: How far will John and Jane go to sabotage one another’s parties? In the process, will they destroy the very thing they each cherish and are trying to protect? Extremism in partisan politics might be our undoing, our brilliant Founding Fathers warned. They knew history and they knew human nature. They knew our freedom would be fragile. To thrive, lilac bushes need branches for structure and strong roots for nutrition. What provides structure and nutrients to our free society? Fair elections. Informed voters. A non-partisan Dept. of Justice, Supreme Court and military. A free press. A Rule of Law applied equally to all. A U.S. Constitution that outranks all human personalities and provides continuity. A system of checks and balances in the executive, legislative and judiciary branches that public servants uphold in good faith. This is the ideal. This is American Civics 101. Lilac branches work together for the health of the plant. U.S. branches must respect one another’s powers while also performing their Constitutional check-and-balance duties. Public good is the sole priority. Anything that puts party or self before country is root rot. Root rot makes us vulnerable to pests, disease and all forms of dictatorship, whether from right or left. Two things are true at once in the USA: We’re great and we’re flawed. We must constantly trim back our worst extremist tendrils. Some say of our system, “It’s corrupt! Blow it up!” I ask them: With what exactly would you replace it? Anyone can tear things down. I’m with Winston Churchill. “Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.” ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor
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Your Home & Garden
Custom Options Matter in Kitchen Design By Stephanie N. Grimoldby
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acktown Construction has been busy with whole-home remodels recently. “The housing market is crazy right now – there aren’t enough houses to buy,” says Tony Bonnet, who owns the designbuild-remodel company in Machesney Park with wife Cassie. “After having people work from home the past two years, a lot of companies are deciding that’s what they’re going to continue to do, so we have a lot of people wanting to remodel their basement as a home office,” says Cassie. The business began searching for a new cabinet supplier when orders were taking too long to arrive. They discovered Custom Wood Products (CWP) of St. Marys, Kan., a fully customizable line. Many cabinet lines are restricted in size, with most standard heights and
widths only changeable by 3-inch increments. That typically means filler pieces are used, creating wasted space in rooms where space is precious. CWP can customize cabinetry down to 1/8th of an inch. It also joins multiple cabinets into one large box, which increases storage space and eases installation. “For the most part, it’s reducing our field staff’s time by 60 percent because there aren’t so many individual box cabinets,” Cassie says. Ginger Lamm, an interior designer for Macktown, enjoys the flexibility CWP gives her to design exactly what her clients want – such as a customized pantry with a bottom cabinet filled with vertical cookie sheet dividers, roll-out trays and upper adjustable shelves. “I drafted a custom wine bar that’ll
be constructed as one piece, so it looks like furniture,” she says. “This will set it apart from the other cabinets. I was able to add embellishments on it and decorative features. This cabinetry line has pretty much infinite possibilities, and I really love the door styles and variety of color choices.” Macktown Construction’s showroom is located at 9957 N. Alpine Road. Learn more at macktownconstrution.com. ❚
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Inspiration & Worship
Taming Our Tongues T
hroughout the Bible we’re told to control our thoughts and control our tongues. Reckless words cut like a knife and can’t be taken back. They can fracture friendships, divide citizens, spark wars, ruin marriages, shrivel a child’s spirit and offend God. As we endure much world stress and uncertainty, it’s a good time to practice self discipline. Being “right” is seldom more important than being kind. Expressing a contrary opinion is one thing, but demonizing people is unacceptable, says scripture. Each of us is made in God’s image, after all. Self-control is a very basic qualification of being a good leader, says Timothy. It takes practice. No one reaches spiritual maturity without it. In I Corinthians, Paul compares spiritual self-discipline to the training needed to win an athletic competition: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (I Cor. 9:25 NIV) When we don’t control our thoughts and mouths, we sin against one another and therefore against God. From James 3:3-9 (NIV): “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell ... “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” Here's to taming our tongues! ❚
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From Downtown Rockton to the Jack R. Cook Jr. Pavilion/ Nygren Wetland Wildlife Overlook!
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MEMORIAL DAY SALE MONDAY, MAY 30 | 20% off storewide
Excludes Vintage, GreenSheen Paint, MBS Products, Maxlite & Greenlite Bulbs.
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Right in Our Region
What’s New at 29th Klehm Garden Fair? By Peggy Werner
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he Garden Fair is the biggest fundraiser of the year at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden. Visitors will notice some new features and vendors this year, and improvements to the arboretum itself, located at 2715 S. Main St. About 70 regional vendors will participate. Hours will be 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 4, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 5. “More than ever, we’ve reached out to vendors who will be a great fit for this event,” says Klehm Executive Director Alex Mills. “We’ll have new and returning plant and flower vendors, more garden tools and decorative items.” Klehm’s Fountain Garden will turn into a weekend-long Learning and Education Garden, where non-profit organizations with a focus on gardening, nature, conservation and the environment will
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offer demonstrations, talks, and information about their work. Live music and a food court will also be present. Garden Fair attendees can also check out the improvements at Klehm. A new pond and water feature is under construction at the arboretum’s entrance, with a waterfall and patio. Solar panels will be installed on the back roof of the Visitor’s Center to make operations more environmentally friendly. And a bioretention basin has been completed to slow down the flow of storm water erosion through the property, Mills says. It’s located near the Nancy Olson Children’s Garden and will be filled with wetland plants to keep water under control. Also in the works are plans for a major seasonal summer exhibit. Klehm will host Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks, June 11-Sept.
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11. This award-winning exhibition will be composed of 15 large garden and nature themed sculptures composed entirely of LEGO bricks. “Some things are more noticeable than others, but we’re always at work continuously improving Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden,” Mills says. One of the new Garden Fair vendors is Little Black Rake of Gladwin, Mich. David and Mary Moore, owners of Stone Cottage Gardens, said they stopped at
Right in Our Region Klehm after a visit to Wisconsin. They introduced Klehm to the rake, which is now for sale in the gift shop, and have a booth at Garden Fair this year. “We’re coming to Garden Fair because we want people outside of Michigan to discover what a great product we have and the many ways people use it – to rake leaves, pick up acorns from grass, take out debris in garden beds without disturbing plants. Farmers use it to clean out animal pens,” Mary says. The lightweight but sturdy doubletined rake is made from all recyclable materials in the USA. Michelle Cox, owner of The Landscape Connection, says her business has been at the Garden Fair every year since 2013. The fair is a win-win for everyone, she says, since it promotes businesses like hers, supports Klehm and gives customers a chance to get outdoors, socialize and find good deals. “We’ll be featuring all those wonderful items you need to create your own
personal outdoor space, whether that’s just on the porch or out in the yard,” says Cox. “We try to be different and offer things other vendors are not selling.” Cox is always on the lookout for unique items to stock her store at 4472 S. Mulford Road. She’s also the owner of Image Pros, which specializes in asphalt, concrete and landscaping. Stem Floral, a full-service floral shop, is housed inside The Landscape Connection. Among items for sale at the Garden Fair this year is repurposed glass and garden art from Artsy Garden Glass & Metal Art; plants from Bloom and Grow Gardens, Inc.; trees, shrubs, flowers and landscaping materials from Branching Out, Inc.; yard art, tree trellises, obelisks and birdhouses by Creekside Peddler; honey and one-of-a-kind handmade jewelry from Designs by Jeff; hand-poured soy candles from Emily’s Candles & Bath; Stone art for home and garden from Filigree Studios; nature photography by Griffin Photo and Design; succulents,
houseplants and planters from John’s Plants; gourmet dip mixes and handmade wicker dip chillers by Dip’n Good Dips; hair accessories for gardening by Lilla Rose Hair Accessories; air plants, terrariums and fairy gardens by Mama T’s AirPlants; paintings and handmade cards by Peony Girl; Wooden signs and stakes by Sign After Sign; hand-cast garden stones from Stonecrete; statues, windchimes and lawn art by What’s New; and native plants from Wild Ones. Presale tickets are $7 at Gensler Gardens, 8631 11th St., Davis Junction, and 102 Orth Road, Loves Park; Village Green, 6101 Riverside and 2640 N. Main St. in Rockford; Didier Greenhouse, 4601 W. State St.; The Landscape Connection, 4472 S. Mulford Road; Meridian Nursery, 7219 Cunningham Road; and Pepper Creek, 7295 Harrison Ave. Tickets at the door are $10 and admission is free for Klehm members and kids under 12. All proceeds will be used to improve the arboretum’s grounds and gardens. ❚
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Your Community
Reserve Your Table for Dinner on the Docks By Janine Pumilia
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wo Dinner on the Dock seasons were cut short by the pandemic, but now it’s time to come together again on Thursday nights for live regional music, good food and tasty craft beer made on-site at Prairie Street Brewing Co. An exciting lineup of regional bands features both returning favorites and some that are new to the venue. “‘Come Together’ is our theme this year,” says Reed Sjostrom, chief brand and products officer. “It’s a nod to the Beatles song, but it’s also our way of saying we want people to come relax with us and just enjoy being together again.” Three Good Men performed the Beatles classic on May 19, the opening of the 2022 season. New this year is an expanded number of tables that can be reserved online
up to 48 hours before the event. While reserving, you can pre-order appetizers not otherwise available. “You select the date, pick the table you want, choose your appetizer and find it delivered to your table at the selected time,” explains Sjostrom. “It’s nice to offer this convenience to folks. Maybe you want to be right next to the band or maybe a little further away so it’s easier to talk.” The cost is $40 for a table for four, $60 for a table of six. For larger parties, call the events team to book a private room that overlooks the excitement. Another change is the addition of the Sizz N Fizz food truck on Thursdays, which will ease lines at the walk-up hot food tent. “It should be operating by mid to late June,” says Sjostrom. Among the most popular return-
ing bands on the 2022 lineup are Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts, The Jimmys, The Trippin Billies (a Dave Matthews cover band) and Unity the Band. Live music and food aren’t limited to Thursdays. Monday night Dockside Live features all-local bands from 6-9 p.m. and is presented in partnership with WNIJ radio. Admission is free. “It’s a lower-key, more relaxed, intimate night,” says Sjostrom. Learn more or make reservations at psbrewingco.com. ❚
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SWEET STREAMS.
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Your Health
When You Just Need a Little Bit of Help By Peggy Werner rowing older doesn’t have to mean giving up your home. You may just need a little help. That’s why Comfort Keepers exists. “Our goal is to make sure every client stays at home as long as possible, while feeling safe and comfortable,” says Sarah Hass, territorial manager for Comfort Keepers. “Living independently despite disease and age-related conditions is important for physical and mental health.” Hass works out of the Freeport office at 116 W. Exchange St., which is fully operational again after a three-year slowdown during the pandemic. The office serves people in Stephenson, JoDaviess, Carroll, DeKalb and Ogle counties and parts of Winnebago County. The Rockford office at 4855 E. State St. serves Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, South Beloit and Beloit-Janesville.
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Hass says her typical client has had one or more surgeries or is simply unable to keep up with normal home maintenance and self-care due to aging. “It’s hard for people to admit to themselves what they can’t do,” she says. “It usually takes a crisis for people to realize their limits.” Aging baby boomers need to understand they’re trendsetters, says Hass, who’s worked in healthcare for 17 years. “Home care wasn’t popular 30 years ago and the resources weren’t available like they are today. Today we’re all working together to deliver the best care. That’s a real gamechanger.” Comfort Keepers accepts private pay, VA medical insurance and long-term care insurance and doesn’t require a doctor’s referral. As the need for care grows, so does opportunity for caregivers. Comfort
Keepers is always looking for compassionate people who want to help clients with housekeeping, running errands or other tasks of daily living. Apply in person or online. Caregivers may work as few as four hours a week or provide around-the-clock care. Clients may set up an at-home visit to discuss their needs. Learn more by calling Comfort Keepers at (815) 229-9100 or go to comfortkeepers.com. ❚
Listening to you is where we start every visit. Accepting new patients
(815) 242-0678
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Your Home & Garden
How to Prevent Indoor Water Damage By Peggy Werner
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ater damage can be incredibly destructive to your home. A few preventative steps can help you to avoid unwelcome surprises, damage, and expense. “People going away on vacation, whether for days or months, should turn off the water to their whole house,” says Chris Picot, vice president of Flood Pros, 11137 Bertram Road in Rockford. “People don’t always think to do that, but it only takes a couple hours to cause thousands of dollars worth of damage because of water.” Frozen pipes, worn-out appliances, and leaks or breaks in water lines, roofs and windows can all lead to water damage. Picot also suggests having a plumber change out water supply lines from plastic ones to rubber hoses encased in braided stainless steel, which prevents flexing.
Plastic ice maker water lines can be changed to copper. Copper water lines leading to the outside in unheated areas of the home should be shut off in the winter. Water lines in exterior walls should be well insulated. Flood Pros has been in business since 1992 and works around the clock to respond to water problems quickly. A water damage specialist explains to customers the process of water damage restoration and helps with processing an insurance claim, if needed. The company has state-of-the-art equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to determine the source of water damage. It also uses high-powered dehumidifiers and large air movers to reduce drying time to three days or less, in most cases. By recording
data on each damaged area, Flood Pros can determine what progress is being made. Totally drying an area eliminates mold or other pathogenic growths from developing. For more information, visit floodpros.net or call the Rockford office at (815) 398-2379. The Janesville location is at 2811 Milton Ave. and its phone number is (608) 756-9300. ❚
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Your Fun
Entertainment & Events
‘The Sound of Music’ Through May 22, Fri-Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Main Street Players, 111 W. 1st St., Belvidere, (800) 741-2963, mainstreetplayersofboonecounty.com. Secret Life of Butterflies & Moths Through May 29, Tue.-Fri. 10-4, Sat.-Sun. 10-3. Nicholas Conservatory, 1354 N. 2nd St., (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict. org/ncg.
Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., (815) 235-9755, freeportartmuseum.org. ‘Run For Your Wife’ May 20-28, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A taxi driver gets away with having two wives in London because of his irregular working schedule. Janesville Performing Arts Center, 408 S. Main St., (608) 7580297, janesvillepac.org. 2 Annual Pelicanfest May 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. in downtown Rockton, Ill. Celebrate the return of the American White Pelicans at this family-friendly fest. Free shuttle service to Nygren provided by Stateline Mass Transit. Learn more at naturalland.org, sinnissippiaudubon.org or jillraefinallyart.com. nd
Buzz Spector: Reading Matter Through May 29, Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.5 p.m. A rarely exhibited body of work related to books. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org. 18th Regional Juried Art Exhibition Through July 30 Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. noon to 5 p.m. Recent works by juried artists from six Midwest states. Freeport
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Klehm Garden Fair Weekend June 4-5, Sat. 9-5 p.m., Sun. 9-4. Shop for plants and garden items; enjoy live music
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Enjoy Klehm Garden Fair June 4 & 5.
and food. 2715 S. Main St., (815) 9658146, klehm.org. Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! June 4, 6:30 p.m. A whimsical family-fun event. CPAC, 314 N. Main St., (815) 9680595, coronadopac.org. ‘The Little Mermaid’ June 8-11 & July 13-17, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Starlight Theatre, RVC, 3301 N. Mulford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu. ❚
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