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Save Smarter • Live Better • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • March 25, 2015

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Right in Our Region

Maple Syrup Time in the Midwest By Karla Nagy, associate editor

t’s maple sugaring time, and on Saturday, March 28, from 9 a.m.-noon, folks can see the process ﬁrsthand, at Welty Environmental Center’s Annual Sugar Maple Festival, Big Hill Park, Afton and Big Hill roads, Beloit. The free event includes a tour of the sugarbush, seeing trees that have been tapped, and observing how the sap is cooked down to produce the syrup. People can also pay to indulge in a pancake brunch featuring the sweet, gooey liquid. “The brunch is in the Girl Scout building near the entrance to the park,” explains Lena Verkuilen, Welty Center director. “For those who want to go from the brunch to the sugarbush, we offer horse-drawn wagon rides.” Continued on p. 20

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Inside: Uses for Maple Syrup • Beloit Health System’s Top Stroke Care • Springtime Mower Maintenance Anderson Japanese Gardens Lecture Series • Restaurant of the Week: Sisters Thai Café

Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1

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March 11

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 20 Welty Center’s Sugar Maple Festival Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Spring Lawn Mower Maintenance Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 What is Palm Sunday? Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Delicious, Nutritious Maple Syrup Your Outings ...................................................17 2015 Events at Anderson Japanese Gardens Your Health ............................................. .......... 25 Beloit Health System Provides Top Stroke Care Your Fun ................................................... ......... 27 Restaurant of the Week ................................... 29 Sisters Thai Café Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 29 Tips ........................................................... ......... 31 Questions to Ask a Home Health Care Agency Your Money .............................................. ......... 33 Debunking 6 Tax-Filing Myths

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 Writers Jim Killam, Toni Rocha 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 2015 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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Each One Unique

like that new Android TV commercial that says “be together. not the same.” It shows animals from two species playing – sheep with elephant, bear with tiger etc. It’s a reminder that we don’t have to be the same to enjoy and value one another. (Take that, Fox News and MSNBC!) Last week I wrote about the signs of spring and asked if you’d spied a robin yet. I’d barely pushed “send” before I looked out the window and saw a big one bouncing along a branch. It made me irrationally happy, as first robins, chipmunks and wild chives of springtime always do. Husband Gary, however, is unfazed by robins, dislikes chives and eyes the first chipmunks with wary suspicion: Will they chew through the hot tub wires again this year? And yet he thrills to other spring markers. He recently walked through the kitchen and said, “The horses are shedding and the flies are out. And the deer are running all over the place.” That was his way of saying, “I can see spring coming, too, and I’m excited I’ll soon have more time out on the trail.” For daughter Rebecca, spring arrives “when I can start to smell things outdoors again.” (And when M.A.C. introduces its spring line of lipstick colors.) A friend told me spring arrives for her when she sees kids playing in the neighborhood again. In our cover article, you’ll meet people whose spring begins when maple trees can be tapped for sap. Not so long ago, my son Blake knew spring was here each year when his high school tennis team gathered for its first meeting in the cafeteria. Some people love watching for the first crocus to bloom or the first willow tree fronds to yellow up or creeks to fill with snowmelt. The snow is falling as I write, but I know it won’t last. And even after a long winter, I marvel that each snowflake is remarkably unique, as are we. Our differences make our lives so much richer. Whatever sign of spring you cherish, embrace it this week! ❚ Janine Pumilia Executive Editor

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Y H  G

The Springtime Art of Mower Maintenance By Jim Killam

s the snow thaws, your lawnmower awaits in the garage, undisturbed since fall, the remnants of last summer still clinging to its underside. Now is a great time to give it some attention, before that first spring mowing. Tim Kinney of Lincoln Rent-All & Lawn Equipment Sales, 3110 Auburn St., Rockford, offers a little maintenance advice. • Air filter: Change it once a year. The air filter allows the engine to run properly. If it’s dirty, the fuel-to-air mix gets out of balance and the engine will run roughly. On a lawn mower, the air filter also catches grass, dust and bugs before they reach the engine and cause damage. It’s a quick, inexpensive fix. If you need a tool at all, it will just be a screwdriver. • Spark plug: Change this annually, too. The spark plug ignites the gasoline to run the engine. If it’s gunked up, it

will misfire and the mower will run roughly or not at all. Again, it’s an easy fix. All you need is an inexpensive spark-plug socket wrench. • Fuel: If you stored the mower with gasoline in it, that needs to be drained. Gas degrades after a month or two. • Blade: Check to be sure it’s sharp. If not, you’ll need a socket wrench to remove it from the mower for sharpening or replacement. If you have a grinder and a vise, you can sharpen the blade yourself. Otherwise, places like hardware stores and Lincoln RentAll will sharpen it for you. If you perform all of these basics and the mower won’t start, that probably means old gas has turned to varnish inside the carburetor, which now needs to be cleaned. If you’re mechanical, you can

buy a rebuild kit and tackle it yourself. Otherwise, have the mower serviced. To have your mower engine serviced or to buy a new mower, and for all your small engine repair needs, visit Lincoln Rent-All on Auburn, or at its eastside location at 6625 E. Riverside Blvd. ❚ Get SLW Home & Garden articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving.com and start your e-Edition today.

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I  W

Wave the Palms

his Sunday, Christians worldwide will celebrate Palm Sunday. What is it? It’s the Sunday before Easter and commemorates Jesus’ arrival in Jerusalem, as recorded in Mark 11:1–11, Matthew 21:1–11, Luke 19:28–44 and John 12:12– 19. It marks the start of Holy Week, the days and events that led up to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Crowds in Jerusalem welcomed Jesus enthusiastically. They waved palm fronds at him as he entered the city on a donkey, as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9, NIV: Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. The people had heard of the great miracles done by Jesus and dared to believe he was the long-awaited redeemer of Israel. Little did they know he would soon emerge not only as savior to Israel, but also as Messiah to all people who choose to believe on him, then and now. Why didn’t they know he would offer eternal life to all people? Because Jesus didn’t spell out the full plan during his ministry, not wanting Satan to stop the dark events that would unfold during Holy Week. Paul explains in I Corinthians 2:8: None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Powerful government and religious rulers, threatened by Jesus’ popularity, chose to humiliate, torture and execute him. Jesus endured their cruelty, even though he had the power to stop them. “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than 12 legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?” (Matt. 26:53-54 NIV) By one man’s disobedience (Adam’s) the world fell; By one man’s obedience it is redeemed. (Romans 5:19) Palm Sunday celebrates the beginning of the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth – and our joy of being in his presence. Because of Jesus, we may approach God not as timid servants of a king, but as sons and daughters of a loving parent. Rejoice! ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Y Y K K

Delicious, Nutritious Pure Maple Syrup P

ure maple syrup is a natural, nutritious and delicious sweetener. Unlike many syrups and sugars, maple syrup is 100 percent natural and unrefined, retaining the inherent nutritional value of the sap taken directly from the maple tree. Pure maple syrup delivers more nutrition than other common sweeteners and has one of the lowest calorie levels. It contains mineral nutrients and vitamins which are an essential part of our daily diet. Native North Americans were the first to recognize pure maple syrup as a source of nutrition and energy. North America is the only place in the world to commercially produce pure maple syrup. Wisconsin is among the top 10 producers of maple syrup in the U.S., and in 2014 ranked fourth in thousands of gallons produced, surpassed only by Vermont, New York and Maine. Maple syrup is a smart choice as a topping or flavorful ingredient in a variety of recipes. Here are two from the Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association. Find more recipes at wismaple.org. ❚ Source: Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association

Maple & Cardamom Spiced Pears with Pecans Ingredients

Blueberry Maple Breakfast Bake Ingredients

1 loaf bread, crusts removed, cut into 1-inch pieces 4 oz. cream cheese, cut into small cubes 2 cups fresh or thawed frozen blueberries, divided 8 eggs, beaten 1½ cups milk ¼ cup melted butter ¼ cup maple syrup plus more for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 350° F. Grease an 8 or 9-inch square baking dish. Place half of the bread cubes in the dish. Sprinkle cream cheese cubes and half of the blueberries over the bread. Top with remaining bread cubes and blueberries. Combine eggs, milk, maple syrup and butter in a large bowl and pour over bread mixture. Bake until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cover with aluminum foil if you notice the edges browning too much during baking. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares to serve. Serve with additional maple syrup. Can be prepared the night before, and baked before serving.

From the Kitchen of: Wisconsin Maple Syrup Producers Association

Fine Oils, Vinegars, & Now Spices!

1 large ripe firm pear, peeled & chopped 1 tsp. butter ¼ tsp. cinnamon ¼ tsp. ground cardamom 2 Tb. maple syrup ¼ cup pecan halves

Directions

Melt the butter in a saute pan over medium high heat. Add the pears, cinnamon, cardamom, and syrup and saute for 3 minutes, until fragrant and warm. Stir in pecans. Serve warm over pancakes, French toast, yogurt, vanilla ice cream and more. From the Kitchen of: Wisconsin Maple

Syrup Producers Association

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Anderson Japanese Gardens 2015 Events A

(Karla Nagy photos)

nderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, provides a place of tranquility and peace for visitors throughout the year. The facility also hosts a variety of lectures, workshops, classes and events, both indoors and in the gardens, that enrich and enlighten. May 2 is the Opening Day Celebration, which coincides with Japan’s Children’s Day. The celebration allows Anderson Japanese Gardens to share an important aspect of Japanese culture with child and family-centered activities as it opens for a new season. All Opening Day Celebration activities are included with Garden admission. The Japanese Summer Festival is a two-day cultural event featuring exhibits, traditional demonstrations and unique performances that appeal to all age groups. It will be Aug. 22-23, during regular garden hours, and all Festival activities are included with Garden Admission. The Anderson Japaneses Gardens Lecture Series, which began on March 19, features regional and national experts in areas

such as horticulture, architecture and Japanese culture. They’re each third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Visitor Center. Lectures are free for members or $5 for non-members. Reservations aren’t required but are requested. Anderson Japanese Gardens 2015 programming also includes Adult Enrichment, offering Health & Wellness classes in areas such as meditation, yoga and tai chi, and Creative Arts classes that include Japanese lettering, watercolor painting, Japanese flower arranging and haiku writing. Youth Programs range from Haiku for Kids and origami to Japanese language tutoring and art. Tuesday Evening in the Garden, the summer concert series hosted by Anderson Japanese Gardens, begins May 26. It features both regional and national musical performers at the pavilion, along with local on-site food and beverage vendors. Picnic suppers are allowed, but no carry-in beverages are permitted. Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for teens. Members and children under 12 are free. Admission begins at 5:15 p.m. through the Visitor Center. Visit andersongardens.org for a full calendar of events and specific information on lecturers, performers and classes. ❚

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R  O R

(Welty Center photo)

Continued from Cover

For many in our region, the first harbinger of spring isn’t the first robin sighting but the first maple tapping. “The start of the season depends on the weather – anywhere from mid-February through the beginning of April,” explains Verkuilen. “The weather right now is perfect – around 20 degrees at night and upper 40s during the day.” The temperature changes produce pressure outside the tree that causes the sap to flow through the tree, and out of any tap or hole. Welty Center held a workshop for homeowners on Feb. 28, when about 14 trees were tapped for demonstrations and the festival. The amount of sap depends on the size of the tree and the amount of seasonal moisture. “My family and I have two trees at our home, and we get about a gallon over the length of the season,” says Verkuilen. “It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup.” The first thing needed to make your own syrup is a sap source. Among the thousands

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March 25

of maple species found worldwide, 13 are native to the U.S., and in the stateline, sugar, red, silver and black maples are common. “Sugar maples have the most sugar, but you can make it from just about any kind of maple tree,” Verkuilen says. “One Welty board member tapped her boxelder tree, and she said the syrup tasted just as good as maple.” Equipment for tapping trees includes a drill and drill bits, spiles (aka taps), a collection bucket and an evaporator. A 7/16inch drill bit is used for a traditional spile, and 5/16 for spiles with a smaller diameter. All of these are available from Blain’s Farm & Fleet. “Making your own maple syrup can be just one of the ways to create new family traditions and long-lasting memories,” says Kristin Mickelson, spokesperson for Blain’s Farm & Fleet. “The process is easy. Drill a hole about an inch deep at a downward angle. Tap the spile into the tree, attach the bucket and lid and wait. The bucket will fill with a clear sap that you can then boil to create syrup.” Processing the sap is also easy: “It just takes time and heat,” says Verkuilen. “You just need to boil the sap long enough to evaporate the water out of it. If you have a turkey fryer or a canning pot, those will work. You can buy a syrup evaporator, too, but a big steel pot and a heat source will work.” (DNR photo)

Midwest Maple Syrup Time

R  O R

(Welty Center photo)

To be tapped, the tree should be mature, at least 12 inches in diameter, and free of disease or damage. A very large tree can handle two taps, but the smaller ones should have only one. “Sugar maples can live up to 200 years, and people always ask if tapping hurts the tree,” says Verkuilen. “I tell them it’s like when we give blood. Our bodies have enough that we can spare it, and the puncture on our arms heal. The tree is the same way. The hole will heal itself. As long as we don’t take too much sap, and drill a new hole each season, the tree will be fine.” Welty Center’s Maple Sugar Festival kids’ activities include drilling holes, watching a video about tree tapping, and making leaves to hang on the trees, to signal the end of the tapping season. They can also follow the tapping process as it was performed more than 100 years ago. “Native Americans tapped sugar maples and cooked the sap in hollowed-out logs,” says Verkuilen. “The kids get to follow a Native American family and see the hollowed-out logs and the way they heated the sap.” If you haven’t started tapping your trees, you still have time. Blain’s Farm and Fleet carries all the equipment needed To get pure maple syrup, the sap is boiled to start your new hobby, until all of the water has evaporated. and it can be ordered

Facts About Maple Syrup • • •

• • •

Worldwide, pure maple syrup is made commercially only in North America. Illinois and Wisconsin are among just 17 states to which the sugar maple is native. Wisconsin is among the top 10 producers of maple syrup nationwide. In fact, in 2014, Wisconsin ranked fourth in thousands of gallons of maple syrup produced. It takes 40 gallons of maple sap to make one gallon of pure maple syrup. To make pure maple syrup, nothing is added to the sap. The water is merely evaporated away. Pure maple syrup is natural food. It contains no coloring, preservatives or other additives.

online, at farmandfleet.com, and shipped to your home or picked up at the store. “People can also get some background and information on the hobby from blogs on our website,” Mickelson says. Go to farmandfleet.com/maple-syruping. Welty’s Sugar Maple Fest is free. The brunch is $7/$5 members/$3 age 10-under. For a list of upcoming events and opportunities to learn about and appreciate nature, visit weltycenter.org. ❚

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Top Stroke Care from Beloit Health System

troke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. It occurs when a clot or ruptured vessel cuts off blood flow to the brain. Without an adequate blood supply, brain cells begin to die at the rate of 1.9 million neurons per minute and brain damage occurs. This why getting immediate medical care for a stroke victim is crucial. Fortunately, Beloit Health System now offers Telestroke, a new telemedicine service, in partnership with UW Health. Through this affiliation, a stroke neurologist is available within 15 minutes of a stroke patient’s arrival at Beloit Health System’s emergency room, via the Internet. By using a two-way camera, the stroke neurologist will perform assessments, interpret patient CT and lab results, and discuss options with the patient, family and clinical staff. Beloit Health System is now certified as an Advanced Primary Stroke Center by the American Heart Association. This achievement signifies its success in

improving outcomes for stroke patients. Statistically, one in 12 stroke patients will likely suffer a second stroke soon after the first, and one in four will die within a year. To help to reduce the risk of long-term disability, recurrent strokes or death, Beloit Health System follows these protocols: • Performing CT scans quickly. • Giving clot-dissolving medication, or intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). • Providing treatments to prevent deep vein thrombosis. • Educating patients and caregivers about stroke prevention and warning signs. • Providing smokers with smoking cessation information. • Offering stroke rehabilitation referrals.

(Mayo Clinic photo)

• Screening stroke patients for swallowing problems. To learn more, call Beloit Health System, (608) 364-1460. ❚ Source: Beloit Health System

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Y F

(RRVD-NMRA photo)

Memphis March 26, 7:30 p.m. Broadway at the Coronado. The story of DJ Huey Calhoun, a good ole’ local boy with a passion for R&B music and Felicia Farrell, an upand-coming black singer ready for her big break. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, coronadopac.org.

Charlotte’s Web: Silverman/ Futureman March 27, 7:30 p.m. Grammy The Rock River Valley Division of the National Model Railroad Award–winning drummer of Roy Association holds its 24th Annual Model Train Show & Sale March “Futureman” Wooten and elec- 28-29, at Jefferson High School in Rockford. tric violin virtuoso Tracy Silverman present electric violin concertos written for Why Do Leaves Fall and Trees Sleep Through and by Silverman, and a few de-rangements of Winter? Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, Beethoven and Bach. March 28, 1-2 p.m. Biologist/Educator Greg KeilMendelssohn Performing Arts Center, 406 N. back explains the complexity of shifting color Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendels- and the connections found through the seasons. sohnpac.org. Severson Dells Forest Preserve, 8502 Montague Road, Winnebago, Ill., (815) 335-2915. Symphony Saturdays March 28, April 5, 11 a.m.-noon. RSO musicians RSO: An American Salute perform three family-friendly concerts featuring March 28, 7:30 p.m. Steve Larsen, conductor; the instruments of the orchestra in a fun and Morton Gould: American Salute; Steve Heitzeg & engaging presentation. Musical Instrument Play- Amy Scurria: We Are Met at Gettysburg; Aaron ground offered following the performance, with Copland: Symphony No. 3. CPAC, Rockford, rockthe chance to play some of the instruments. Riv- fordsymphony.org. erfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 972-2800, riverfrontmuseumpark.org. 13th Annual Home & Garden Showcase March 28-29, 10 a.m. See tons of household Annual Maple Sugar Festival products and services to get ready for spring, March 28, 9 a.m.-noon. Tours to see maple and “Planters Row” with flowers, shrubs and trees being tapped and the evaporator as the plants. Free admission. Forest Hills Lodge, Rocksap cooks into syrup; fun games for the kids. ford, (815) 871-7469, showtimeproduction.net. Free admission. Buy an all-you can enjoy freshcooked brunch served with real maple syrup. Big 24th Annual Model Train Show & Sale Hill Park, South Afton Road & West Big Hill Road, March 28-29, Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 Beloit, (608) 361-1377, weltycenter.org. p.m. Includes 44,000 sq. ft. of layouts and displays, vendors selling new and used model train Mushing for Meals items and railroad memorabilia. Jefferson High March 28, 9 a.m.-noon. 5K, 10K run, 1-mile walk, School, 4145 Samuelson Road, Rockford, (815) kids’ fun run. USATF certified courses and chip 765-3135, (815) 874-6095, rrvd-nmra.org. timed. Fundraiser for Beloit Meals on Wheels. Horace White Park, Beloit College Campus, Be- Amphion String Quartet loit, Wis., http://www.active.com/beloit-wi/ March 29, 3 p.m. Internationally renowned running/races/mushing-for-meals-2015. young musicians. CPAC, Rockford, from RCCA, rccaconcerts.net. Organ Recital & Social March 28, 9:30 a.m. Refreshments, 10 a.m., re- Spring into Science cital, 11 a.m. open console. The Land of Lincoln March 30-31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Amazing science Theatre Organ Society hosts a free organ recital demonstrations, fresh art and creative crafts. by John Grune on Coronado Theatre’s Grand Not included with admission. Discovery Center, Barton Organ. Free refreshments. CPAC, Rock- 711 N. Main St., Rockford, discoverycentermuford, (815) 968-0595. suem.org. ❚ Tell them you saw it in ...Smart Living Weekly

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

Sisters Thai Café B y To n i R o c h a

or diners who love an adventurous, authentic dining experience, quality food and excellent customer service, Sisters Thai Café, inside the Clock Tower Resort at 7801 E. State St., is the place to go. Owner Chintana Sengchannavong emigrated from Laos with her family at age 5 and settled in the Rockford area when she was 16. The Guilford High grad says she’s always wanted to own a restaurant, following in the footsteps of her family, including two sisters who owned and operated Thai Kitchen at Harrison Street and Alpine Road for many years. “All of the dishes are based on family recipes,” says Sengchannavong. “I’m training my staff to take over some of the cooking, but as executive chef, I prepare all of the sauces and major dishes.” The result is a savory, authentic collection of Thai specialties. Spring rolls, chicken satay, crab Rangoon, crispy tofu and lettuce wraps are among enticing appetizers, along with soups such as Laos style chicken noodle or Mee Ped, an elegant duck noodle soup garnished with onion and cilantro. Entrées include eight pad Thai and seven curry dishes. Signature entrées include Laos homemade pork sausage; Laos larb with

(Samantha Ryan photo)

Sisters Thai Café owner Chintana Sengchannavong

sticky rice and soup; basil mussels; and tender, marinated roasted duck with ginger sauce. For dessert, choose a dish of green tea, mango or vanilla ice cream, fried banana a la mode or Thai custard. Sengchannavong’s goal is to become Rockford’s best Thai restaurant. “We’re working hard to elevate our food and service, so that we’re known as the best Thai food choice in the region,” she says. The restaurant offers dine-in, take-out, private party service and catering. Hours: Lunch 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mon.-Sat.; dinner 5-9 p.m. Sun.-Thurs. and until 10 p.m. Fri.-Sat. ❚

(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. $$.

Top Picks for Local Restaurants Amici Italian Grill  Upscale-Casual/Authentic Italian. 5506 Clayton Circle, Roscoe, (815) 623-7171. LD Sun-Th 11am9pm, F-Sat 10-pm. $-$$. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Rd., South Beloit, (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat 11pm. $.

Main Street Bistro  Upscale-Casual/Fine dining. Th&Sat. 109 S. Galena, Freeport, (815) 232-2322. M-Sat 2pm-midnight. $$. Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria  Casual. Beer/wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 963-7869. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat 11pm. $$. 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. 10pm. $$.

Café Fromage  Casual/American. Regional foods. 431 E. Grand Ave., Beloit, (608) 312-2070. BrLD M-F 7am-6pm, SatNapoli Pizzeria III & Top Dollar Slots  Takeout/delivery. Sun 8am-5pm. $. 6560 N. Alpine, Loves Park, (815) 877-9888. LD daily 11am. Cannova’s Italian Cuisine  Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. Pearl Bistro  Casual. Brick oven pizza, burgers, sandwiches, appetizers, steak, seafood, signature cocktails. 6876 Spring $-$$. Creek, Rockford, (815) 654-3400. LD daily. $-$$. Ciao Bella Ristorante  Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Extensive wine list; daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside, Loves Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Park, (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11am-9pm, Sat 5-9pm. $$. Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Costa’s Ristorante  Upscale-Casual. 133 Blackhawk Dr., BySisters Thai Café  Casual/Thai-Laotian. Authentic cuisine. ron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. Open daily 4pm. $-$$. In Clock Tower Resort, 7801 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 229Dos Reales  Casual/Mexican. Authentic Mexican fare, 4545. L M-Sat 11am-2:30pm; D Sun-Th 5-9pm, Sat 10pm. $. lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227-4979. LD Tavern on Clark  Casual/American. 755 Clark Ave., RockSun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $-$$. ford, (815) 708-7088. LD daily 10am. $-$$. Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza  Casual/Italian. Pick-up/ delivery. 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford, Ill. (815) 398-5700. This Is It Eatery  Casual/American. 16 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport, (815) 616-5449. LD T-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sat 10pm. $. LD Sun-Th 9am-11p.m; F-Sat to midnight. $. JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar  Upscale- Vito’s Ristorante  Casual/Authentic Italian. 1620 N. Bell Casual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, School Rd., Rockford, (815) 312-5080. LD T-Sat 11am. $$. ❚

In the Spotlight Olympic Tavern

his family-owned restaurant, at 2327 N. Main St., has been a Rockford icon for 70 years, changing with the times, yet always giving the public what it wants. “Our business is about hospitality and making people feel welcomed,” says Zak Rotello, the third generation of his family to work in the restaurant. The full-service bar, which was remodeled, updated and expanded about three years ago, features a beer menu of 28 craft brews on tap, which changes daily. The Olympic is also about great food and friendly service. Daily specials, $14$19, are seasonal items not normally on the menu. Monday is burger night, with a half-pound burger and fries for $5, and Friday night is the $12 ﬁsh fry. Olympic hosts private events and offers patio dining seasonally. The kitchen is open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-midnight. The bar is open later. ❚

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March 25

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March 25

T  I

Choosing a Home Health Care Agency H

ome health care is an excellent, costeffective alternative to hospital or other institutional care. Service is based on the individual’s need as defined by his or her physician’s plan of care. In Illinois, most home health care is provided by certified and private-duty (or non-certified) agencies. Arranging for the care of a loved one can be a daunting challenge. The Visiting Nurses Association of Rockford (VNA) suggests some questions you may want to ask a prospective home health care agency. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

6. 7. 8. 9.

Does the agency have information explaining its services, fees and eligibility requirements? How does the provider select and train its employees? Are nurses or therapists required to evaluate the patient’s home care needs? If so, what does this involve? Will the provider consult the patient’s physicians and family members? Is the patient’s course of treatment documented, detailing specific tasks to be accomplished by each professional caregiver? Does the patient and his or her family receive a copy of this plan, and is the plan updated as changes occur? Will the provider take time to teach family members about the care given to the patient? Who can the patient and his or her family members contact with questions or complaints? How does the agency follow up on and resolve problems?

VNA, a part of Rockford Health System, is the largest and most widely recognized nonprofit home care agency in northern Illinois. To learn more about its services, visit rockfordhealthsystem.org or call (815) 9713550. ❚ Source: Rockford Health System

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March 25

EVERY MOMENT MATTERS

G R OW I N G TO S E RV E YO U OSF Center for Cancer Care expansion - Summer 2015 completion date.

Throughout a patientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cancer journey, every moment matters. Whether it be the moments spent living life and enjoying family and friends or the ones spent in treatment, those moments all make an impact on quality of life. That is why the team at the OSF Saint Anthony Center for Cancer Care puts the patient experience at the forefront of planning for the new cancer center expansion.

Center for Cancer Care Follow us on

E X PA N S I O N PROJ E C T

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Certified

Quality Cancer Care: Recognizing Excellence

Y M

Debunking 6 Tax-Filing Myths I

f you’re like most Americans, you don’t have all of the answers when it comes to tax filing. To help, here are six tax myths that the National Association of Enrolled Agents (NAEA), a group of federally licensed tax practitioners who specialize in taxes, encounters frequently.

1. Myth: “I’m filing an extension, so I don’t need to pay anything before the deadline.” Fact: Tax extensions only extend the time you have left to file, not the time you have to pay any taxes owed. If you owe money and file an extension, you have until April 15 to pay, regardless of the extended deadline date. Otherwise, interest and penalties begin to stack up. 2. Myth: “I had a really big loss in the stock market this year, so I won’t owe any income taxes.” Fact: Deduction of capital losses against ordinary income is limited to $3,000 per year. Also, whether you reinvest or receive dividends, they are technically still income and are taxed as such. 3. Myth: “They paid me in cash, so I don’t have to report it.” Fact: If it’s income, you must report it. You always report income, regardless of whether it’s cash, tips, bonuses or dividends. 4. Myth: “I’m too young to have to pay taxes.” Fact: Even dependents working part-time must file a tax re-

turn if they earned more than $6,200 in 2014, if they want to receive their refund or if their unearned income is more than $1,000. 5. Myth: “Income that I earned in a foreign country isn’t taxable.” Fact: The operative word is “income,” which means it’s taxable. The IRS requires taxpayers to report all earned income, even if it’s earned abroad. 6. Myth: “Tax preparers only fill out forms that I can do myself.” Fact: Licensed preparers know the intricate and constantly changing tax laws, regulations and codes, and how to apply them to save you money. Members of NAEA, America’s tax experts, receive annual continuing education, so they’re knowledgeable of tax laws and how they can apply to you. Enrolled agents not only specialize in tax preparation and tax planning, but they can also represent you before the IRS.

Make sure you get the most benefit from your 2014 tax return. Find an enrolled agent in your area on the “Find an EA” directory at naea.org. ❚

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Source: NewsUSA

March 25

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Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1