Smart Living Weekly - December 10, 2014

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Right in Our Region

Experience Cultural Holiday Traditions

By Karla Nagy, associate editor

W

e all have our own special holiday traditions, and often, they’re based on our ethnic heritage, which we naturally commemorate this time of year, when families often gather together to celebrate.

Thanks to a collaboration among three Rockford museums, we can discover the seasonal customs and traditions of several cultures, at Holiday Happenings, Dec. 14, noon-4 p.m. For one price, visitors can experience the sights, sounds, scents and tastes of immigrant groups that helped to settle Rockford, at Tinker Swiss Cottage, Ethnic Heritage Museum and the Erlander Home.

Each museum will be decorated in a manner befitting its subject: Victorian for Tinker Swiss Cottage; Swedish for Erlander; and six different cultures at the Ethnic Heritage Museum.

Continued on p. 20

This Christmas Season, Get Super SAVINGS from Local Businesses Inside Keep Kids Busy on Holiday Break • Save Money with Snow Blower Upkeep • Hearty Lentil Soup Recipe What You Need to Know about Sleep Apnea • Warm Up with these Fireplace Ideas

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ..................... Cover & p. 20 Museums Showcase Holiday Customs Your Home ....................................................... 11 Great Fireplace Ideas Inspiration & Worship .................................... 12 The Miracle Your Kitchen .................................................... 15 Recipe: Hearty Lentil Soup Your Outings ................................................... 17 Keep the Kiddies Busy Over Break Your Health ...................................................... 25 Do You Have Sleep Apnea?

Your Fun .......................................................... 27 Restaurant of the Week ................................... 29 Higher Grounds Coffee Dining Locally ................................................. 29 Tips ................................................................... 31 Fun-ctional Gifts for Kids Your Money ..................................................... 33 Prevent Costlly Snow Blower Repairs

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor Janine Pumilia

Managing Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Associate Editor/Special Projects Editor Karla Nagy Senior Staff Writer/Promotions Coordinator Paul Anthony Arco Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writer Jim Killam, Rhonda Mix General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes General Manager/Northwest Business Magazine Dave Marino Account Executive Brian Hughes Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.NWQSmartLiving.com

Published by Hughes Media Corp.

728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly.

Copyright 2014 by Hughes Media Corp., 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107. 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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Shopping Ideas

Help Local Kids!

O

ur holiday issue of Northwest Quarterly Magazine just went to press, which means we’re all up-to-date on holiday shopping opportunities in our region. Here are a few unique ones that caught my eye.

The Children’s Holiday Shoppe is a chance for children to feel independent and practice their budgeting skills, as volunteers assist them in choosing new gifts ($1-$8) for loved ones. Gifts will be wrapped and tagged and parents will get a little break.

The effort benefits Children’s Home + Aid’s MotherHouse Crisis Nursery and is made possible by more than 250 volunteers. Dates are Dec. 14, 17, 19, & 21, Tuesdays & Thursdays 3-7 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The “store” is at 5856 E. State St., between Valli Foods and Hancock Fabrics.

What a great idea, and it helps a charity that does very important work in our community.

The Holiday Gift Expo features one-ofa-kind gifts that are locally made or in some way highlight our local culture or history, offered by more than 100 vendors. The store is inside the Freeport/Stephenson County Visitors Center, 4596 U.S. Hwy. 20 East, Freeport, and is open through Jan. 4, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Choose from books, jewelry, scarves, mittens, Pretzel items, soaps, American Girl-sized doll clothes, purses, yarns and much more. Talk about buying local! We love it!

Buy-local shopping opportunities exist throughout our region in many great locally owned stores, of course, but also in places we don’t always think about, like the gift shops of local museums and art galleries.

Sometimes, the best gifts are not gifts at all, but experiences, like tickets to a concert or play, or golf course or ski passes, or a free stay at a bed and breakfast, or gift certificates to a great locally owned restaurant or wine shop.

Wherever your holiday shopping leads you, remember to enjoy the journey and think local. Every gift purchased from a local retailer rather than a big-box store is another step taken toward a stronger, more self-sufficient community. Enjoy!

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Smart Living

Holiday Shopping Guide

Smart Living

Holiday Shopping Guide

Y H  G

Cozy Up to a Warm Fireplace this Winter

By Janine Pumilia, executive editor

D

uring cold winter months, nothing says “cozy” like a fire crackling in the fireplace. Not everyone who has a fireplace takes advantage of its benefits, however.

“I have people come into the store all the time and tell me they haven’t used their fireplace in years, because burning wood is just too much trouble,” says Kevin Obee, of Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Rockford. “You don’t want your fireplace to be a big, empty box. You want it to be a source of energy, light and good feelings.”

You also want it to help heat your house – or at the very least, not cool it. A wood-burning fireplace sucks heated air up and out of your chimney by as much as 300 cubic feet per minute, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Many homeowners are converting their woodburning fireplaces to natural gas, not only for ease of use but for energy savings. “A direct-vent gas fireplace unit can’t be beaten for efficiency,” says Benson Stone Co. owner Andy Benson.

There are three main kinds of natural gas fireplaces: vented gas logs, vent-free gas logs and direct-vent fireplaces. Each has unique benefits. “It’s about finding the best fit with your particular space and circumstances,” says Obee.

Gas fires turn on and off with a switch or remote. Depending on the model, options like flame intensity, heat output and

even electric ambiance lighting can be adjusted.

And with direct vent, you don’t even need a chimney.

While gas fireplaces have many advantages, they’re not for everyone.

“We still see people who love wood fires best,” says Obee. “They love the beauty of the flames and the scent of burning wood.”

And if your fireplace works just fine but looks out-of-date, refacing it may not be as difficult as you imagine. Benson Stone Co. sells several varieties of thin stone and brick, made from stone and brick but in smaller versions. Stones are cut to just an inch or two thick, and bricks are formed to a smaller size. “No one will realize that it’s not full-sized,” Benson says. “You can just stick it right to the wall.”

See more full-sized fireplace displays, such as the one pictured, when you visit the showroom at Benson Stone Co. ❚

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I  W

The Miracle A poem by Claire S. Boyer

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nto each man’s life comes the miracle— The wonder of manger and star; But ‘tis only the wise men see the light, And the shepherds who watch afar; And only the wise men follow its gleam Through a desert of dusty days, And the purple murk of appalling nights, And the terror of Herod-ways; And only the shepherds hear the song Of “Glory to God on High;” For their hearts are rich with humility, And tuned to the heavenly cry.

Yet His star is hung for all to see, And each has the right to bring The gift of his soul in the palm of his hand To the manger that cradles the King.

For to all of the people of East and West Come the tidings of joy each year, But few are the shepherds and wise men With the faith to see and to hear.

Into each man’s life comes the miracle— The joy of the Christ Child’s birth— But human love alone can bring A second Peace to the earth. ❚ 12

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Y Y K K

Winter Soup Makes Supper Simple T

his robust one-pot dinner packs in lentils, sausage and plenty of vegetables, including mushrooms, spinach, onions and garlic.

A loaf of crusty bread is the only accompaniment you need for a splendid meal. ❚

Recipe: Hearty Lentil & Sausage Soup Ingredients 1 ½ ½ ½ 2 ½ ½ 1 2½

Tb. extra-virgin olive oil cup chopped carrots cup chopped celery cup chopped yellow onion cloves garlic, finely chopped lb. sweet or hot Italian sausage, casings removed lb. mushrooms, chopped cup dried lentils, picked through and rinsed cups low-sodium beef broth

2½ 1 1 1 ¼ ¼ ¼ 1 6

cups low-sodium chicken broth medium tomato, chopped, juice reserved cup dry red wine pinch crushed red chile flakes lb. baby spinach, thinly sliced tsp. fine sea salt tsp. ground black pepper Tb. chopped fresh thyme tsp. grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Directions

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add carrots, celery, onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until onions are translucent. Add sausage and cook, breaking into small chunks, until it begins to brown. Add mushrooms and continue to cook until mushrooms have released most of their liquid. Add lentils, beef broth, mushroom broth, tomatoes and their juice, wine and chile flakes; cover the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until lentils are tender, about 30 minutes.

Add spinach, salt and pepper, stir well, simmer 1-2 minutes more; stir in thyme. Ladle into bowls, garnish with cheese. Servings: 6 Nutritional Info:

Per Serving: 360 calories (140 from fat), 16g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 30mg cholesterol, 700mg sodium, 32g carbohydrate (10g dietary fiber, 5g sugar), 18g protein From the Kitchen of: Whole Foods Market.

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We’ re here , fo r yo u.

Area’s best in patient safety FHN Memorial Hospital was recently recognized for a second year for our patient safety record by the world’s largest independent, non-profit product-

We at FHN are committed to a safe patient experience, and are proud that

and service-testing organization. In their second U.S. study, in which safety scores were calculated for nearly 2,000 hospitals, only 6% nationwide – and only four hospitals in Illinois – earned a score

FHN Memorial Hospital, which scored higher than any other hospital close to the communities it serves.*

as high or higher as

It is our goal to offer our communities the best possible healthcare services we can provide, and recognition such as this confirms our commitment to your confidence in our processes and capabilities.

Whether you need surgery, cancer treatment or other specialty care close to home, a hand in welcoming a new baby into your life, help in handling a chronic health condition, or emergency care,

choose the best in the area for patient safety: FHN.

For more information, visit www.fhn.org or call 1-877-6000-FHN (1-877-600-0346).

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Keep the Kiddies Busy Over Break O nce the excitement of Christmas Day subsides, parents are left with almost two full weeks before the little ones return to the hallowed halls of learning. Luckily, our region offers many ways to avoid the “I’m bored!” routine. Here are a few ideas for keeping the kiddies happy and busy over the holiday break.

and his telescope, a movie, live creepy crawlies and much more. $10. Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-3433, burpee.org.

Winter Art Camp I: Dec. 26-27, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Add some creativity to the school break with challenging drawing classes and a mixed media project. Ages 7-12. $40. Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport, (815) 235-9755, freeportartmuseum.org.

Kids Day Out: Dec. 30, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Hiking, hot chocolate, marshmallows, games and art activities. Grades 1-5. Free, registration req. by Dec. 26. Severson Dells Nature Center, 8502 Montague Road, Winnebago, Ill., (815) 3352915.

Holiday Hoopla: Dec. 26-30, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Merge handson arts and crafts with amazing math. Fashion a snowflake, construct a kaleidoscope, find the hidden shapes. Included with museum admission. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Out With The Old, In With The New: Dec. 27, 11-11:45 a.m.

Ring in the New Year with fun stories and songs and make a brand new craft to take home. Free, no registration. Rockford Public Library, Main Branch, 215 N. Wyman St., Rockford, (815) 9657606, rockfordpubliclibrary.org A Night at Burpee Museum: Dec. 27, 7 p.m.-midnight. Special activities include storytelling, Gary Soper of the Dark Sky Society

Countdown to Fun: Dec. 31, 12:30-4:30 p.m. Make a party hat and noisemaker, get showered with confetti as you count down to midnight. A delightful blend of fun, art, and music from Kantorei, the singing boys of Rockford. Included with museum admission.

Discovery Center Rockford, discoverycentermuseum.org.

New Year Around the World: Dec. 31, 1 p.m. Welcome the New Year each hour as it occurs around the globe. Make crafts from around the world, see displays from other countries. Included with admission. Burpee Museum, Rockford, burpee.org.

Winter Art Camp II: Jan. 2-3, 9:30 a.m.-noon. Freeport Art Museum, Freeport, freeportartmuseum.org. ❚

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R  O R

Holiday Customs Event Continued from Cover

One ticket will cover all three museums, and guests can ride a special free shuttle between the venues: a horse-drawn wagon.

Volunteers will be on hand to explain the various customs and their meanings.

Each museum has a unique history. Tinker Swiss Cottage, 411 Kent St., was built in 1865 by Rockford resident Robert Tinker, who was inspired by architecture he had observed in Switzerland.

Perched on a limestone bluff overlooking Kent Creek, the cottage was surrounded by 27 acres of trees, paths, gardens and a barn.

Tinker wed Mary Dorr Manny in 1870, and the pair wintered at the cottage and spent summers in her family mansion on the opposite side of Kent Creek. Tinker family members, who lived in the cottage for 75 years, left it to the Rockford Park District in 1937. In 1943, it was opened to the public as a museum. It’s filled with original furnishings, artwork, diaries, clothing and household items from the Victorian Era. “We’ll be showcasing Victorian Christmas traditions,” says Ashley Downing, curator of collections at Tinker. “The home is decorated on the first floor only, as Victorians did, so the upstairs isn’t part of Holiday Happenings.”

Victorian Christmas cards

Ribbons, greens, garlands, poinsettias and candles are placed throughout the house, and a table displays Victorian Christmas cards. “We have two trees,” Downing says. “One is a full green tree displaying original ornaments from the Tinker family. The other is a German feather tree, made of goose feathers, about two or three feet high, decorated with apples, candy and presents. Its style was one of the first artificial Christmas trees.”

Visitors also will be entertained by the East High Madrigal Singers, and treated to apple cider and snacks.

The Erlander Home, 404 S. 3rd St., built for John Erlander and his family in 1871, is run by the Swedish Historical Society of Rockford. Founded in 1938, the Society began a small museum in the library in 1944, but moved it to the Erlander home the same year. The home was restored in 1985, and today is a cultural centerpiece of Rockford’s Swedish descended community.

Collections include Rockford-made furniture and many artifacts recalling Swedish immigration to northern Illinois and Rockford’s Swedish heritage.

For Holiday Happenings, St. Lucia will figure prominently at the Erlander Home. In Sweden, Christmas officially begins on St. Lucia Day, Dec. 13. Typically, the eldest female in a family portrays St. Lucia, by donning a white dress with a red sash round her waist and a crown made of Lingonberry branches and candles.

The home will have with traditional Swedish Swedish straw goat decorations, such as a Christmas tree hung with cookies, fruit and straw ornaments. Straw is used as a decoration in homes, to remind them that Jesus was born in a manger. Families sometimes have The Only Full Time ABA Certified Group of Interventional Pain Management Physicians in the Rockford area

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1235 North Mulford Road Suite 222, Rockford IL, 61107

815.397. 8400

Appointment by physician referral only

at

R  O R goats made of straw in the house to guard the Christmas tree. The Swedes favor red, adorning the house with poinsettias, red tulips and red or white Amaryllis.

Visitors will be able to sample some typical Swedish fare, learn about other Swedish characters, such as Tomte, a woodland version of Santa Claus, hear carols and see traditional decorations.

The Ethnic Heritage Museum, located at 1129 S. Main St., a modest home built in the 1850s, has galleries showcasing the Polish Szopki heritage of six different cultures: Lithuanian, Italian, African-American, Irish, Polish and Hispanic. The museum is staffed completely by volunteers who are excited about their cultures and want to share the history of their heritage.

The Lithuanian gallery includes a striking Nativity scene, hand carved from beeswax, a Lithuanian folk art. “This particular set is on loan from a Rockford resident, Anna Keraminas, who carved it herself using beeswax from her own hives,” says Sue Lewandowski, board president of Ethnic Heritage Museum. Also on display is jewelry made from amber, which is worn during the holidays.

The Irish gallery is draped with holly and mistletoe. Mistletoe was believed to have healing properties so powerful, that even enemies passing under it would lay down their arms and embrace – which contributed, no doubt, to the modern tradition of kissing under the mistletoe.

The focal point in the Polish gallery is Szopki (shop-key), an elaborate Nativity scene which sometimes reaches as high as six feet. This one is on loan from St. Stanislaus Church.

The Italian ceppo is a tiered pyramid-shaped wooden frame, also called “The Tree of Light,” with candles Traditional Hispanic ornaments and ribbons in the tapering corners. A Nativity scene is placed on the bottom shelf and fruit, candy and small gifts placed on the shelves above.

The Hispanic gallery features a tree decorated with traditional handmade straw and knit ornaments of bells, wreaths, the Star of Bethlehem and piñatas, and a Nativity scene from Guatemala.

“We cannot celebrate Christmas without a Nativity scene,” says museum volunteer Amalia Diaz de Leon. “It’s set up about midDecember, and Baby Jesus is added on Christmas.”

During Holiday Happenings, cultural representatives will be in each gallery to explain the customs. “We’ll have little samples of ethnic holiday snacks and some entertainment,” says Lewandowski.

Holiday Happenings is on Dec. 14 from noon-4 p.m. Tickets can be pre-ordered online, at ethnicheritagemuseum.org and tinkercottage.com, or purchased at any of the venues on event day.

One ticket covers all three venues. ❚

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Y H

Is Sleep Apnea Disrupting Your Sleep?

S leep plays a vital role in good health and well-being throughout our lives, yet millions of people suffer from poor and interrupted sleep every night.

Inadequate sleep is not only a nuisance, but if left untreated, can cause a number of health issues. It can muddle our thinking and memory, contribute to cardiovascular disease, and lead to weight gain. Ongoing disruption in sleep may be the result of a serious health condition known as sleep apnea. This sleep disorder can contribute to high blood pressure and can even be life-threatening.

Symptoms of sleep apnea include heavy snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness and fatigue, restless sleep, nighttime panics/ smothering attacks, irritability, impotence, and morning headaches.

The most prevalent is referred to as Obstructive Sleep, a condition that occurs when soft tissue at the base of the tongue collapses in the back of the throat. This creates an airway blockage, interrupting a healthy breathing rhythm and sleep cycle.

People with this form of sleep apnea stop breathing periodically during sleep, sometimes for more than a minute. This may occur hundreds of times throughout the night.

The FHN Sleep Disorder Center at FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport specializes in determining if Obstructive Sleep Apnea

or other types of sleeping disorders may be causing unhealthy sleep. If you have trouble sleeping, the “cure” could be as simple as losing weight, quitting smoking, avoiding sleeping on your back or not using drugs that cause drowsiness. In moderate to severe cases of sleep apnea, however, FHN providers offer multiple treatment options including Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) apparatuses, oral appliances, surgery and/or medication.

A sleep lab study and treatment by FHN providers may be able to put your sleep disorder to rest. ❚ Source: FHN

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Carols & Christmas Music at the Organ Dec. 10, 17, noon-1 p.m. Sing along with carols and Christmas songs played on the organ. Free.

Mendelssohn Hall, 406 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

A Christmas Carol: A Radio Play Through Dec. 21, see website for days/times.

Classic holiday tale of miserly Scrooge’s redemption. Marley’s dead, but everything else is live in this recreation of an old-time radio broadcast of the Dickens’ classic. Artists’ Ensemble Rockford Festival of Lights Through Dec. 28, 5-10 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Drive through Sinnissippi Park to view more than 50 spectacular lighted holiday displays created by local businesses and groups. Free/donation box at end. Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 494-2569, rockfordfireandice.com.

All Aglow Holiday Display Through Jan. 6, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Festive holiday light and floral displays, live holiday music, family fun activities. Included with admission. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, nicholasconservatory.com.

Holiday Dinner Theater Dec. 9-10, 15-17, 6 p.m. Enjoy an evening of great food and entertainment. Reservations required. $80. Cannova’s, 1101 W. Empire Street, Freeport, (815) 233-0032.

Greetings!

Dec. 11-13, 7:30 p.m. A young Catholic man brings his Jewish atheist fiancée to meet his very Catholic parents on Christmas Eve, with the inevitable family explosion and an out-ofleft-field miracle. Winneshiek Playhouse, 28 W. Clark St., Freeport, (815) 232-7023, winneshiekplayers.org.

J.R. Sullivan’s 19th Hometown Holiday Dec. 12-14, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Holiday variety show with storytelling, comedy and seasonal and popular songs, featuring local, regional and national performers. $30. Tickets: BMO Harris Bank Center, (815) 968-5222, or ticketmaster.com. Venue: Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford.

Little Big Town Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. This Grammy award-winning country group’s hits include “Little White Church,” “I’m with the Band,” “Kiss Goodbye.”

BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, thebmoharrisbankcenter.com.

Little Big Town brings its Painkiller tour to the BMO Harris Bank Center in Rockford, Dec. 13.

Holiday Happenings Dec. 14, noon-4 p.m. Cultural holiday decorations and entertainment at three Rockford museums. One ticket for all three. Tickets online or buy at the event. Ethnic Heritage Museum, 1129 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 962-7402, ethnicheritagemuseum.org; Tinker Swiss Cottage, 411 Kent St., Rockford, (815) 964-2424, tinkercottage.com; Erlander Home, 404 S. 3rd St., Rockford, (815) 963-5559, swedishhistorical.org.

Rockford Christmas Bird Count Dec. 14. Northwest Winnebago County. Annual census to better understand the populations and problems of birds, locally and nationwide.

Beginners welcome. To participate call Dan Williams, (815) 979-8335.

Christmas with Kantorei Dec. 14, 3 p.m. Familiar carols and songs of the season performed by Kantorei, The Singing Boys of Rockford. $20/$15 students. Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St., Rockford, (815) 963-2544, kantorei.com.

Luminaria Night Freeport Dec. 14, Dusk to 9 p.m. Enjoy the beauty of the soft light of luminaries. Stephenson Street and Lincoln Boulevard, Freeport. (815) 232-6431.

Downtown Churches Christmas Open House Jan. 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy the peace and beauty of the sanctuaries at these participating Freeport churches: St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 229 Washington Place; First Lutheran Church, 303 S. Galena Ave.; Christian Science, 429 W. Stephenson St.; United Presbyterian Church, 302 W. Stephenson St., Holy Cross Greek Orthodox, 607 S. Galena Ave.; Embury United Methodist Church, 515 S. Galena Ave.; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 813 S. State; Grace Episcopal Church, 10 S. Cherry; Faith Center, 203 W. Pleasant. Downtown Freeport. (815) 232-3109. ❚

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

Higher Grounds Coffee Marks 10 Years

By Rhonda Mix

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s she celebrates the 10-year mark of opening Higher Grounds Coffee, 1709 S. West Ave., Freeport, owner Cynthia Faulkner says it wasn’t her lifelong dream to open a coffee shop. After years in the insurance industry, the idea came to her as she was looking for a second career.

“One day a lightbulb went on in my head that Freeport could use a nice coffee shop on the south end, and everything then fell into place,” she says. She found the ideal location, headed to coffee school in Portland, Ore., and returned home to launch her new enterprise.

The name was chosen for its connotation of high quality, and the shop lives up to its name. Faulkner uses choice specialty coffee beans, and food is prepared fresh daily with quality ingredients.

Breakfast items include scones, muffins, quiche, cinnamon rolls and pastries; at lunchtime there are soups, chicken and tuna salad wraps, and a wide selection of panini and flatbread sandwiches. There’s also a seasonal menu.

The shop hosts events like book signings, wedding and baby showers, birthday and anniversary parties and Christmas parties – complete with custom drinks such as “True Love Lattes” or “Bundle of Joy Mochas.”

Higher Grounds is best-known for its full-service coffeehouse drinks: house blend coffees, lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, teas and specialty drinks, which can be served hot or over ice. Other

beverages include hot chocolate, Mexican spiced cocoa, Italian soda, hot spiced cider and frozen fruit smoothies and frappes.

Higher Grounds Coffee appeals to a wide range of people. “We serve everyone from blue-collar and white-collar workers holding business meetings, to college students,” Faulkner says. Her staff of 10, several of whom are certified baristas, are passionate about coffee, and her shop is known for its excellent customer service.

“Our motto is, we want to make a customer’s day better for having stopped by the shop.”

Higher Grounds Coffee is open Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. ❚

Costa’s Ristorante  Upscale-Casual. 133 Blackhawk Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. Open daily 4pm. $-$$.

9 East Coffee  Specialty coffees, pastries, breakfast & lunch items. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport. (815) 233-7300. $ Amici Italian Grill  Upscale-Casual/Italian. Fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. 5506 Clayton Circle, Roscoe, (815) 623-7171. LD Sun-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11am-10-pm. $-$$.

Bravo Pizza  Italian/American favorites, full bar. 376 Prairie Hill Rd., South Beloit, Ill. (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $.

Butterfly Club  Upscale-Casual/Fine Dining. 5246 E. Co. Road X, Beloit, Wis., (608) 362-8577. LD T-Th 5-9:30pm, F 4:3010pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun noon-8pm. Live bands. $$.

Café Fromage  Casual/American. Coffee, homemade baked goods, sandwiches, soups, regional cheeses. 431 E. Grand Ave., Beloit, (608) 312-2070. BrLD M-F 7am-6pm, Sat-Sun 8am-5pm. $.

Cannova’s Pizzeria & Fine Italian Cuisine  Casual. Pizza, pasta, steak, seafood. 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport, (815) 2330032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$.

Ciao Bella Ristorante  Upscale-Casual/Italian-American.

Extensive wine list; daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside, Loves Park, (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11am-9pm, Sat 5-9pm. $$.

Dos Reales  Casual/Authentic Mexican. 5855 E. State St., Rockford. LD M-Th, Sun 11am-10pm; F-Sat to 10:30pm. $.

Franchesco’s Ristorante  Upscale/Italian-American. Sommelier, live entertainment, weddings, Sinatra Lounge, Benny’s Bar. 7128 Spring Creek Rd., Rockford, (815) 229-0800. LD M-Th 11am10pm, F to 11pm, Sat-Sun 4pm. $$.

Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza  Casual/Italian. Authentic stuffed pizza, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts. Pick-up/ delivery available. 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford, Ill. (815) 3985700. LD Sun-Th 9am-11p.m; F-Sat to midnight. $.

JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar  UpscaleCasual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat 2:30pm; D M-Th 5-9:30pm, F-Sat 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$.

Leombruni’s Italian Restaurant  110 W. 2nd St., Byron, (815) 234-2696. D T-Th 5-9pm, F-Sat 11pm, Sun 10pm. $.

Main Street Bistro  Fine dining, bar, live music Th&Sat. 109 S. Galena, Freeport, (815) 232-2322. M-Sat 2pm-midnight. $$.

Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria  Casual. Italian favorites, beer & wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 963-7869.

LD Sun-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 11pm. $$.

Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint  Fine Dining. Ironworks Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. (608) 313-0700. D Sun.-Th 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat. to 10pm. $$.

Napoli Pizzeria III & Top Dollar Slots  Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, dinners, desserts. Takeout/delivery. 6560 N. Alpine, Loves Park, (815) 877-9888. LD Sun-Th11am-10:30pm, F-Sat to 11:30pm. $-$$.

Olympic Tavern  Casual/American. Family friendly, vast beer selection, great burgers, beer garden. 2327 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 962-8758. LD M-Sat 11am-2am. $-$$.

Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. Riverside dining, handcrafted beers, banquet room marina. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Tavern on Clark  Casual/American. Tavern-style fare, big burgers, steaks, fries, flatbreads. Full bar; banquets. 755 Clark Ave., Rockford, (815) 708-7088. LD daily 10am. $-$$.

This Is It Eatery  Ribs, burgers, pasta, salads. 16 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport, (815) 616-5449. LD T-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sat 10pm. $.

Vito’s Ristorante  Casual/Italian. Authentic fare from family recipes. Sauces, soups, mama’s meatballs, desserts fresh daily.

1620 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, (815) 312-5080. LD T-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. ❚

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T  I

Fun-ctional Gifts for Kids

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holiday gift that’s both fun and functional is ideal for the children on your shopping list this year.

Consider these unique but usable kid-friendly gift ideas:

• Bedding: For a child who has recently transitioned from a crib to toddler bed or toddler bed to big-kid bed, sheets are a way to honor this exciting milestone.

Choose an appealing design, such as a beloved character, to maximize the fun factor. You can easily find sets under $30 at nearly any major retailer.

• Pain management: Help soothe little ones’ pain and reduce fever with kidfriendly, cuddly, cooling and huggable heating packs. Thermal-Aid Zoo stuffed animals are available in seven animal characters kids will embrace. Find out more at buythermalaid.com.

• Storage: From canvas cubes with funny critter faces to brightly colored bins and shelves, there are numerous options that help to contain kids’ stuff in fun and funky containers.

• Outdoor gear: Send them outdoors in style with outerwear such as matching scarf and gloves, new snow boots or a warm, cozy coat.

• Activity books: For toddlers, age-appropriate books with activities such as connect-the-dots, coloring and mazes. For the older kids, activities that help them to practice phonics, math and other subjects.

You can find fun and functional gifts for the youngest kids on your holiday shopping list that they’ll be excited to receive, and you can feel good about giving them.

Source: Family Features

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Y M

Snow Blower Maintenance Prevents Costly Repairs

By Jim Killam

C

aring for your snow blower properly can save you a lot of money by preventing repair bills.

“The biggest mistake is not having fresh fuel in it,” says Tim Kinney of Lincoln Rent-All & Lawn Equipment Sales, Inc., 3110 Auburn St., Rockford. “These days, with the quality of gasoline used, the EPA gives 30 days before it goes bad.”

That’s not an issue with cars, where gasoline normally doesn’t sit in the tank for a month. But the small engine of a snow blower or a lawn mower relies on a carburetor, which processes a tiny amount of gas at a time.

Someone who readies a snow blower in late October may not actually use it until late December. By then, if it’s had gas in it, it may not start. “In late fall or early winter, the temperatures fluctuate so much, and that creates condensation,” Kinney says. “And when you get a little bit of water mixed with the gas in that little area, the snowblower won’t start.”

Beyond gasoline issues, owners should conduct routine inspection and maintenance. With a single-stage snow blower, expect the rubber paddles and scraper bar to last two or three seasons. That’s by design; soft, rubber parts don’t chew up the driveway and sidewalks. Check the paddles for wear, and if necessary, replace them.

Worn paddles won’t grab as much snow and won’t throw it as far.

Finally, clean up the yard and driveway before they’re buried under snow. “Quite a few times during the year, we see dog leashes

or newspapers or a garden hose stuck in the snowblower,” Kinney says. “Unfortunately, you’re in such a rush to get the snow cleaned up, it gets sucked up in there and wrapped up and around, and then you’ve got a mess on your hands.” ❚

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