Smart Living Weekly - June 21, 2017

iving n g Smart L ivi ivin ng Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • June 21, 2017

™

Right in Our Region

53rd Annual Dixon Petunia Festival

See Page 18

Dining at Owly Oop Save Money on Tech Belvidere Heritage Days NEW Cataract Treatment Big Cat Fishing Tourney in Rock Falls

FREE WIN!

4 Tickets to the Forest City Queen or Trolley Car 36

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

Smart Living Weekly

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .........................Cover & p. 18 Dixon Petunia Festival Your Tech .............................................................9 Don’t Pay Too Much Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Premier Pavement Solutions Inspiration & Worship .......................................12 No Matter What Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Cooking with Cherries Outdoor Living ...................................................21 Golfing at Beaver Creek Your Outing ............................................. .......... 24 Big Cat Fishing Tourney; Heritage Days Your Eye Health .............................................. ...23 New Cataract Treatments Your Fun ................................................... .......... 25 Dining Locally .......................................... .........26 Owly Oop

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Janine Pumilia Assistant Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Deputy Editor Jermaine Pigee Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writer Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

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

Copyright 2017 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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June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

The Longest Day

W

ell, the longest day of 2017 has come and gone. Summer solstice was yesterday, June 20. That thought makes us sad, but also reminds us that summer is fleeting.

In the 13 years since we launched Northwest Quarterly Magazine, we’ve written hundreds and hundreds of stories about festivals, fairs, concerts, plays and other local happenings. I’m ever amazed at how many of these events just keep getting bigger and better. In this issue alone, you’ll learn about Dixon Petunia Fest, Heritage Days in Belvidere and a fishing tourney in Rock Falls. Byronfest and the Green Co. Fair in Wisconsin are around the corner; Festa Italiana and Winnebago Co. Fair, too.

Each of these events requires enormous effort to plan and produce and most of that effort is volunteer. To me, that says a lot about the personality and character of the Midwest. We still want to celebrate life together and we’re willing to get out and make some magic for one another. It also tells me we take a lot of pride in our heritage and love to show off our little corners of the world.

Much is written about our modern-day tendency toward plugged-in isolation. But it’s clear the desire to enjoy life collectively is strong, too. A newly released 75-year Harvard study about adult happiness concludes what most of us already know: the most important predictor for a happy life is neither wealth nor fame. It’s strong relationships with family members and friends. I would add that a sense of belonging within a community boosts happiness, too. The enormous response to events like City Market, Dinner on the Docks and Tuesday Evenings in the Garden, in Rockford, and Fridays in the Park, in Beloit, bears this out.

The best thing about these events is that they give us a special experience to share with loved ones.

Here’s to long summer days and nights ahead – and to making memories! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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DISH Hopper + Amazon Alexa Control your TV, hands-free “Alexa, go to HGTV.”

Hands-free TV for everyone. With Amazon Alexa, you can control your Hopper® Smart DVR with just your voice. It’s just another way DISH is Tuned In To You™.

Requires internet-connected Hopper® or Wally™ and Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, or Amazon Tap. All offers require credit qualification, 2-year commitment with early termination fee and eAutoPay. Hopper upgrade fee may apply. Restrictions apply.

Ask how to get a FREE Echo Dot with offer code: FreeEchoDot Free Echo Dot provided by DISH. Amazon is not a sponsor of this promotion.

Ezsatellite & Wireless Inc.

(815) 216-9152 6239 N 2nd St, Suite B, Loves Park, Il 61111 wwww.ezsatellitenow.com

Free Echo Dot requires credit qualification and new DISH activation with Hopper® with Sling® or Hopper 3™.

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Important Terms and Conditions: Qualification: Advertised price requires credit qualification and eAutoPay. Upfront activation and/or receiver upgrade fees may apply based on credit qualification. 2-year commitment: Early termination fee of $20/mo. remaining applies if you cancel early. Other: All packages, programming, features, and functionality and all prices and fees not included in price guarantee are subject to change without notice. After 6 mos., you will be billed $8.99/mo. for Protection Plan unless you call to cancel. After 2 years, then-current everyday prices for all services apply. For business customers, additional monthly fees may apply. Free standard professional installation only.

Amazon, Alexa, Echo Dot, and all related logos are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

BDRIVE_20397

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June 21

Y T

Reduce the Cost of Monthly Tech Bills

By Peggy Werner

D

o you spend too much money on your monthly tech bills? Chances are good that you do, and EZ Satellite & Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St., Suite B, in Loves Park, can help with that.

“People are paying too much for phone, internet and television services by using just one company,” says Charles Zambrano, owner. “You don’t have to choose just one company to save money.

People get excited when they see promotions because they’re just looking at the promotional price, which will jump up dramatically after the special offer ends.

But they don’t always know exactly what they’re getting – and what you don’t know can hurt you.”

EZ Satellite & Wireless is an authorized Dish network retailer and also is licensed to offer services from any other provider using dish, cable, Internet or home security, such as Comcast, Frontier, HughesNet, DishNet, DirectTV,

Digitenna, and Vivint.

Zambrano can help those who drop their TV cable service to set up Sling TV for $20 a month. Sling offers 30 channels of live TV including CNN and ESPN. For DISH users, he offers an integrated anntena service that delivers local TV station programming including Chicago Cubs baseball games through WGN. Through DISH, he also offers the Amazon Echo Dot, a hands-free, voicecontrolled device that uses the same farfield voice recognition as Amazon Echo.

It has a small built-in speaker and can connect to your speakers over Bluetooth or with the included audio cable.

Zambrano also offers the highly rated Protect America home security service for $19.95 per month.

EZ Satellite specializes in helping people make the right choices based on what they need and where they live.

The family-owned business opened in 2011. It’s a full-service retailer for satellite TV and Internet, and can also help

people to acquire cable services.

The company serves both residential and commercial clients.

After working for many years as a satellite dish installer for one of the local providers, Zambrano decided to go out on his own to be more in control of his life and to help others do the same.

“I love to see people’s faces when they find out how much money they can save,” he says.

For more information, contact EZ Satellite & Wireless at (815) 957-4335 or stop by the office. ❚

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June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H  G

Don’t Crumble in the Face of Challenges

By Peggy Werner arry Lazzerini sees opportunity where others crumble in defeat.

As the owner of Premier Pavement Solutions, 5059 Contractors Drive, in Loves Park, he has been in business for more than 30 years and knows how to reinvent himself and adapt to circumstances beyond his control.

In business for himself as Premier Pavement Solutions since 2012, Lazzerini brings a diverse experience to customers.

Premier Pavement Solutions is a full-service asphalt company specializing in sealcoating, infrared repairs, striping and markings, asphalt maintenance, crack filling, pothole repair, collapsed drains and snowplowing/salting, during the winter, for the City of Rockford and its residents.

A specially formulated Seal Master Brand sealcoat is made exclusively for his company by a manufacturer in

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Streamwood, Ill., and comes with a letter of authenticity. Latex and sand are added to the product to make it stronger, more flexible and durable.

Sealcoating improves the appearance of a driveway and protects it from the damaging effects of sun, water, salt and chemical spills like oil and gasoline from cars. The non-porous coating makes cleaning easier and provides a smooth surface for rain to wash away dirt and debris. Regular maintenance can double the life of a new driveway, Lazzerini says, and needs to be done between May and November.

What sets him apart from the competition is customer service, or what Lazzerini calls the “Premier Difference,” which consists of going to each home before and after a job is completed.

Repeat customers have priority on the schedule and get discounted pricing.

Signs homeowners need to watch out for, in order to know when to replace or repair a driveway, include discoloration, the top of the driveway pulling away from the garage, deep cracks and holes where water can seep in, loose rock and broken edges.

Lazzerini warns that many scam artists try to take advantage of homeowners.

“You don’t know where they’re from, if they will be around, what’s in their product and how watered down it is,” he says. ❚

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I  W

No Matter What

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he Bible is full of verses that tell us all things are possible with God. Yet we’ve all been disappointed by unanswered prayers. Why? Many Christians have grappled with that question and concluded this: We don’t really understand God and never will, in this life. We can’t comprehend Him. But to give up just because we see only a tiny fraction of what He sees, is foolish.

“Ye have not because ye ask not,” states James 4:2-3.

In other words, we don’t stop praying.

We keep on praying. No matter what.

Paul addresses this in his first letter to the believers at Corinth: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (I Corinthians 13:12) When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death, resurrection and the arrival of holy spirit, he encouraged them to bring their requests to God in his name.

“And in that day you will ask me no question. Truly, truly, I say unto you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in my name. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:23-27) Praying to God, both to praise Him and to ask for what we need, is always a good thing to do. How should we do it? Jesus provided examples, including a prayer we call commonly call The Lord’s Prayer. He asked God for God’s will to be done; praised God; acknowledged God as the master of Heaven and Earth; and acknowledged our need for forgiveness – a prayer that was answered after Jesus was raised from the dead. Finally, Jesus asked God for protection from Satan.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13) Our prayers aren’t always answered in the way we wish. But we pray anyway.

– Janine Pumilia No matter what. ❚ 12

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Y K

A Sweet and Delicious Cherry Season W

hether fresh cherries are a favorite or a treat you’ve yet to try, the time to enjoy them is now.

Orchards in the Pacific Northwest experienced a long, cool spring, which often translates into more time and energy a tree can put into the fruit. When combined with the superior growing conditions characteristic to the area, this season’s fruit showcases what Northwest cherries are known for: their large size and sweet flavor profile.

Popular cherry varieties include the mahogany-red Bings and super-sweet, yellow Rainiers. Rainier cherries, with their unique golden color and red blush, tend to ripen earlier in the year. Growers pick Rainier cherries over multiple weeks, selecting the ripest fruit each time.

Great taste aside, sweet cherries are a healthy addition to summer picnics, parties and barbecues thanks to their fiber, antioxidants and anti-inflammator power. They make for a snack that can be

enjoyed straight out of the bowl and can perk up appetizers, salads, desserts, sweet or savory sauces and more.

A cup of cherries contains only 90 calories along with a low glycemic index of 22 making their cold, sweet crunch a tasty way to satisfy hunger cravings.

Cherry Bruschetta Serves: 8 Ingredients:

18 slices (1/2-inch thick) baguette-style bread 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided 1 1/2 cups pitted Northwest fresh sweet cherries, coarsely chopped 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 1/4 cup diced yellow sweet pepper 2 tablespoons chopped green onions 2 tablespoons lime juice 1 teaspoon grated lime peel 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

1 tablespoon thinly sliced fresh basil Directions:

Heat oven to 350 F. Place baguette slices on cookie sheet and toast one side 5 minutes. Turn slices, brush with olive oil and bake 5 minutes longer.

Combine cherries, cilantro, sweet pepper, green onions, lime juice, lime peel, garlic salt, pepper and remaining olive oil; mix well.

Top each baguette with thin slice of cheese, 1 tablespoon cherry mixture and sprinkle of sliced basil. ❚ Source: Family Features

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R  O R

53rd Dixon Petunia Festival June 30-July 4

By Jermaine Pigee, deputy editor

T

he 5-day, 53rd annual Petunia Festival, an event Dixon residents look forward to all year, will run from June 30 to July 4 and will include live entertainment, a carnival, fireworks and a parade.

Depending on the day and the weather, between 10,000 and 30,000 people will converge for the event, says Jenna Dempsey, vice president of marketing for Dixon Petunia Festival.

“This weeklong festival showcases our community and it gives us the chance to roll out the best our community has to offer,” she says. “This community is proud to offer the best festival in the area and we have so many people who work tirelessly to put on this great festival.”

The petunia craze began in the late 1950s, when a combination of Dutch elm disease and highway expansion caused a massive tree removal along

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the community’s major roadways. The barren look was unappealing to members of the Dixon Men’s Garden Club, and by 1962, they’d planted nearly 10,000 petunias to brighten the town.

Today’s festival pays tribute to this spirited group, and provides a fun 4th of July weekend for residents and visitors alike.

Favorite festival events are making a comeback, with the return of Family Fun Night June 30 at 5 p.m., complete with games and prizes. An ice cream social and municipal band concert provide familiar entertainment during the night and Taste Trail will feature many returning vendors and some new ones.

June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Mouth-watering pizza, tacos, ice cream, corn dogs and those popular elephant ears will be among the many treats available.

A fishing derby, 5K run/walk and a craft show will take place throughout the day on July 1, while July 2 brings a community worship service and the annual parade.

Back by popular demand, Ultimate

R  O R Air Dogs will return to the festival from June 30 to July 4 and will feature man’s best friends jumping off a dock for prizes and glory.

The Rock River Raft Race will also return to the Petunia Festival. The race begins at 1 p.m. July 4, and competitors must register before the festival.

“People who participate have to make a homemade raft,” Dempsey explains.

There will also be plenty of live music. “American Idol” participant Alex Fischbach and Too White Crew will perform June 30 followed by Pete’s Sake and Big Wu on July 1; Dixon native and “American Idol” participant Gina Venier and Miles Nielsen and the Rusted Hearts on July 2; Joe Stamm Band and Drew Baldridge on July 3; and Lyle Grobe and the Rhythm Ramblers, along with the Lizzi Neal Band, on July 4.

The parade is set for July 2 with a “Heroes in Our Community” theme. It gives police officers, firefighters, teachers and other heroes in the city a chance to be recognized.

A carnival will be set up at Dixon High School.

The festival ends with a bang – literally – with a fireworks show on July 4.

The festival ambassador program for high school and college student volunteers will return this

year, providing students with a taste of how it feels to give back to their community. Students are not the only ones getting into the giving mood, however.

Dempsey says there are thousands of people who volunteer each year at the Petunia Festival.

“It’s exciting to watch everyone come together and display their interests and skills to help put on the best festival in the area,” Dempsey says.

Dempsey wants the festival to leave an impression about Dixon on visitors.

“Guests from out of town can see our beautiful community,” she says. “They can pick a day or two to see something they enjoy and plan a family day around that.”

Daily passes to Petunia Festival are $5, while weekly passes are $15. Passes include access to the festival grounds where the food and entertainment take place. Many events do not require passes.

Visit petuniafestival.org for a complete list of events or to volunteer. ❚

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O L

Hit the Links at Beaver Creek

By Randy Rueff

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ike a child becoming an adult, Beaver Creek Golf Course, nestled in rural Boone County, is showing more and more signs of maturity.

“Twenty-one years ago it was a cornfield,” says owner Brian Camp. “Now the little trees from the past are more than 50 feet tall. If you haven’t been out here in awhile, you’d be surprised at how much it has grown up.”

The par-35, 9-hole course, located at 19619 Leroy Center Road in Capron, has been called a “hidden gem” by many who’ve played it. It has four sets of tees ranging from 2,300 to 3,033 yards.

On seven of the nine holes, the winding Beaver Creek comes into play. And this year, the course joined the Chicago District Golf Association.

The golf course opened in 1997 and was run by the Ed Randall family, until they sold it to the Kelly Camp family four years ago. The Camps have contin-

ued develoing the course, and it shows.

“The conditions have improved with Mother Nature’s help,” Camp says. “We haven’t had any droughts, so our greens are always in good shape and our grass conditions are improving every year.”

One of the course’s biggest draws is its layout.

“It plays to all abilities,” Camp says.

“Your avid golfer will still find challenges, but it’s also playable for the beginning golfer.”

The other advantage at Beaver Creek is its availability.

“You can come out on a weekday morning and it’s not packed,” Camp says.

“If you’re looking for a nice quiet morning to watch the sunrise and play a round, this is the course.”

And Beaver Creek offers more than golf. It’s a popular place for fundraisers, thanks to a banquet room in the clubhouse basement that can accommodate

up to 60 people.

“We also do a lot of baby showers, birthday parties, class reunions and other events that are not golf- related,” Camp says. “You can have the girls holding a shower while the guys play a round or two.”

One of Beaver Creek’s popular staples is its Friday Night Fish Boil. For $24, a person can get a round of golf and an all-you-can-eat cod dinner.

For more information, including tee times, costs and reservations, call (815) 569-2427 or go to beavercreekgolfil. com. ❚

The Yard Care Experts

MOWING FERTILIZING HYDROSEEDING MOSQUITO CONTROL Call Today for a Free Estimate

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June 21

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Y O

Catfish Tournament Returns to Rock Falls

By Jermaine Pigee, deputy editor

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atfish anglers will assemble in Rock Falls, Ill., later this month, to participate in the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest Tournament.

Not only are bragging rights and $10,000 in cash and prizes on the line, this tournament, which will take place June 24-25, is also the Midwest qualifier for the 2017 national championship to be held in New Madrid, Mo. The two-day tournament is open to both amateurs and pro fishermen.

The fishing area is from the Rockton dam to the Rock Island dam, just short of the state line at the Mississippi River.

Joe Dyer of Rock Falls won the tournament last year, the first time it was in Rock Falls. He corralled nine catfish over two days totaling just under 80 pounds. He beat out 47 teams and 105 contestants.

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To make thing interesting, anyone who sets the Illinois State record for largest catfish caught by hook and line can win a truck worth more than $31,000 from Majeski Motors in Sterling.

June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Jim Klauzer of Springfield currently holds the state record, which he set in 2015. He caught an 81-pound, 6.4-ounce flathead catfish at Sangchris Lake State Park, near Springfield.

To put that into perspective, the largest catfish hooked during last year’s tournament was 22.30 pounds.

Fish will be weighed in on both days, beginning at 11 a.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy watching the anglers weigh in the biggest catfish of the day.

Visit visitrockfalls.com or kenfreemanoutdoorpromotions.com for more information on the tournament or to sign up. ❚

A New Cataract Treatment

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor natural lens and replaces it with an artifir. Edward Yavitz has always had cial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). a passion for innovation. With 37 Yavitz introduced a new IOL called the patents to his name and new ones pendSymfony lens, which is the first and only ing, the ophthalmologist at Yavitz Eye lens that provides continuous, high-qualiCenter, 4105 N. Perryville Road, Loves ty vision at any distance.

Park, values inventions that lead to an “There are limitations with other increased quality of life. Recently, he lenses,” Yavitz says. “The usual implant discovered a new way to use replacement provided by Medicare and health insurlens implants for people with cataracts. ers is focused just for distance – you still “Cataracts are a big topic,” Yavitz have to wear reading glasses to see at says. “They affect 50 percent of people arms length or closer. Multi-focal IOLs over age 60.” allow for both distance and reading viInside your eye, there’s a natural lens sion, but can cost up to $6,000 out of that helps you to see. The lens starts out pocket. Plus, distance vision isn’t quite as clear, but turns into a cataract after years sharp and there can be a glare at night. So, of sun damage that causes it to become the new Symfony IOL often solves these cloudy. According to the American Acadproblems.” emy of Ophthalmology, having a cataract Yavitz is writing a paper on the use of is like looking through a foggy car windthe Symfony lens in one eye only, which shield. Things are blurry, or less colorful. saves his patients thousands of dollars in To remove a cataract, surgery is necout-of-pocket costs. essary. An ophthalmologist removes your

Y H

D

Edward Yavitz M.D.

“I discovered that by putting a single-focus distance implant in the dominant eye and the Symfony implant in the non-dominant eye, the overall vision is vastly superior,” Yavitz says. “I’m always looking for a better result and a happier patient who isn’t burdened with extra expense.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 395-8338. ❚

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Y O

Heritage Days This Weekend in Belvidere B y To n i R o c h a or more than 45 years, Belvidere has celebrated its unique history and diversity on the weekend before July 4th.

Over the past several years, the activities have spread far beyond the signature parade and fireworks downtown.

“Last year, we estimated 22,000 attended,” says Mayor Michael Chamberlain. “Thanks to tremendous cooperation, supporters and partnerships, we not only are able to put on a huge variety of activities and attractions but also have finished in the black.”

Heritage Days starts early on Friday, June 23, in downtown Belvidere with an invitation to paint wooden panels that will be assembled and displayed as murals on downtown buildings.

Children can enjoy carnival rides in Jack Wolf Auto’s parking lot and the movie “Minions” in the park, while adults have fun with the street dance and

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laser light show downtown.

Out at the Boone County Fairgrounds, there’s an SCA-sanctioned steak throw-down cooking up good times at 4 p.m., followed by a steak dinner hosted by the Belvidere Athletic Alumni Club.

Saturday features the Brick Art Fair, Paint on State and a continuation of the mural painting. Visitors can tour the car show, shop the vintage flea market and catch musical performances. Dairy Ripple offers pony rides, face painting and wax handcraft works for children.

Out at the fairgrounds, the Kansas City BBQ Society-sanctioned cook-off draws chefs from across the region.

The competition downtown heats up, as well, with a 5K walk or run, a 10K elite run, and an old-fashioned water fight for regional firefighters, to be held from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.

On Sunday, a patriotic worship ser-

June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

vice will be held at 10 a.m. before the bed races kick off at noon.

At 3 p.m., the huge parade begins its march through downtown.

The grand finale at the fairgrounds features a pre-fireworks concert from 7 to 9 p.m., followed by one of the largest fireworks displays in the region.

“Our fireworks rival Rockford’s, thanks to the support of a donor,” Chamberlain says.

For more information, visit ci.belvidere.il.us. ❚

Y F Autumn just might be the best time of year. The sun is a little lower (and prettier), the air is a little crisper (and cleaner) and the leaves cascade down in colorful splendor. This fall, spend some quality time in the fun, nearby, value-packed Rockford Region. See stunning fall colors at

Real. Original.

SM

Anderson Japanese Gardens, the finest in North America. Visit beautifully spacious Rock Cut State Park. Don’t miss Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, with more than 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines, all

ILLINOIS, USA

glowing in autumn’s glory. Indoors, our concert and theater season will be gaining momentum at Coronado Performing Arts Center, a beautifully restored downtown vaudeville house. Plus, our Riverfront Museum Campus will be coming alive for the whole family. Visit gorockford.com today for a full list of autumn special events, festivals, gardens, golf and more.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau NWQ_fall.indd 1

102 N. Main St.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

Starlight Theatre Presents 'Sister Act' June 21-24, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m.; July 19-23, Wed.-Sun. 8 p.m. When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent. Starlight Theater, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

2017 Wildflower Walkabout Series June 21 & 27, 6 p.m. The Natural Land Institute and Severson Dells invite you to experience the Illinois landscape in a variety of preserves. Walk where flowers carpet the forest floor and birds fill the air. Check website for locations. Info: naturalland.org/docs/2017_Walkabout.pdf.

Music in the Park: Harlan Jefferson June 22, 7 p.m. Jazz, Neo-Soul and Funk Band.

Sinnissippi Park Music Shell, Rockford, (815) 987-8800, rockfordparkdistrict.org.

Family Friday: Konnichiwa Means Hello June 23, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Try your hand at calligraphy, learn to draw like an anime artist and pick up a few Japanese words while exploring the “Hello from Japan” exhibition. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Music on the Mall: Jodi Beach Trio June 23, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Enjoy local musicians performing their latest tunes. Seating is limited, so bringing your own chair is encouraged. Edgebrook Shops, Rockford, (815) 2260212, edgebrookshops.com/events.

Studio Rockford: Disney's Alice in Wonderland Jr. Travel down the rabbit hole and join Alice, one of literature’s most beloved heroines, in her madcap adventures. Cast consist of local talent aged 8-12 years old. Belvidere Performing Arts Center, 1500 E. Ave., Belvidere, (815) 332-2205, thesudiorockford.com.

Family Nature Day June 24, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Explore the wonders of the blooming prairies and wetlands. Visiting 10 learning stations to earn a Nygren Wetland Junior Naturalist Badge for children and a special reward for adults. Registration req. Nygren Wetland Preserve, 3190 W. Rockton Road, Rockton, Ill., (815) 964-6666, naturalland.org.

Bottle Rockets, a St. Louis-based band, fuses rootsy underground rock with country style on June 27 at Anderson Japanese Gardens.

Concerts on the Creek: Song Sisters June 24, 7-9 p.m. Pizza from Mamma Mia’s, canned soda, bottled water and popcorn available. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, Rockford, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org.

RAM: Art in Bloom June 26, Wine & Hors d’oeuvres Preview Party 6-8 p.m. Exhibit June 27-29, daily 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Rockford Art Museum is in full bloom as works of art from the RAM Collection are creatively interpreted through flowers and other organic material. RAM, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-2787, rockfordaratmuseum.org.

AJG Tuesday Evenings in the Gardens: Bottle Rockets June 27, Doors open 5 p.m., performance 5:45 p.m. This St. Louis-based group fuses rootsy underground rock with country style. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

Starlight Theatre Presents 'Godspell' June 28-July 1, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat, 2 & 8 p.m.; July 26-30, Wed.-Sun. 8 p.m. An eclectic blend of songs, ranging in style from pop to vaudeville, is employed as the story of Jesus’ life unfolds. Starlight Theatre, Rockford, (815) 9212160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

Dixon Petunia Festival June 30-July 4, events daily. The 53rd Petunia Festival is jam-packed with events, including a Midway Carnival, Pancakes in the Park, Taste Trail-Riverfront, handmade raft race, live music each day, bingo, and fireworks on the Fourth at 9:30 p.m. Various locations in Dixon, Ill., Info: petuniafestival.org. ❚

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June 21

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WDL

Owly Oop: A Slam Dunk in Downtown Rockford

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor

I

magine a 12-foot TV, a gigantic pretzel delivered on a baking sheet and a pint of craft beer in your hand. Then go find it at Owly Oop Sports Pub, inside the UW Health Sports Factory, 305 S. Madison St., Rockford. While you’re there, order a meal designed by Reed Sjostrom, Chris Manuel and Dustin Koch, the owners of Prairie Street Brewing Company who also run Owly Oops for Rockford Park District.

“The view of the river is the first thing people notice when they walk in,” says Sjostrom. “You can see Davis Park and the federal courthouse, which you don’t normally see from any other vantage point.”

On weeknights, the building is full of kids who participate in leagues for basketball, volleyball and other sports.

Owly Oop is perched above the courts –

a great place for parents to enjoy themselves while watching their children play below.

“It gets pretty crazy up here on weekends, especially if there’s a tournament,” Sjostrom says. “But it’s not just people who are using the facility – it’s also people who are simply coming to enjoy the space and to be a part of the atmosphere.”

Naturally, Owly Oop is a haven for sports fans. Whether you want to watch NFL football or Premiere League soccer, the pub broadcasts both common and obscure sports, and takes requests.

Having a craft brew from Prairie Street Brewing Company only enhances the experience.

“The beer here is mostly the same as it is there – we try to keep our staples on tap,” Sjostrom says.

Top Picks for Local Restaurants 9 East Coffee E Casual/Coffeehouse. Specialty coffees, pas- GreenFire E Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. Seatries, breakfast, lunch. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport, (815) sonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) 233-7300. BkL M-F 7am-3pm, Sat to 2pm. $ 316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$.

Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Mexican. 107 W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm, Local Dough Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, wine. 202 W. Main St., Rockton, Ill., T-Th to 9pm, F to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. $.

(815) 957-0584. BkLD W-Sun 7am-6pm. $.

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Hearthrock Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., FreeRockford, (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8amport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$.

3pm. $-$$.

Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, (608) 313-0700. D Sun-Th Dickey’s Barbecue Pit ECasual/BBQ. 845 S. Perryville Road, 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat to 10pm. $$.

Rockford, (815) 599-1110. LD Daily 11am-9pm. $-$$.

Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Mexican. Authen- Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, tic dishes, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227- Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

4979. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $-$$.

Taco Betty’s E Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. Fresh, lo- Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am $$. cal-sourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, Thrive Café E Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, Drive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm. sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) Vito’s Ristorante E Casual/Fine Dining. Carry-out, steak & 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm. seafood, Italian specialties, pizza. 4866 Bluestem Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 312-5080. D M-Sat 4pm. $-$$. ❚ 26

Smart Living Weekly

June 21 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Owly Oop serves family-friendly pub fare with items in all calorie brackets. There are salads, hummus, a quinoaand-black-bean burger and other nourishing options. There are also burgers, sandwiches and Prairie Street’s fan-favorite cheese curds. Sauces are made in-house, and ingredients are locally sourced as much as possible.

Hours for Owly Oop Sports Pub are Mon.-Thurs., 4-10:30 p.m.; Fri. 4-11 p.m.; Sat. 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m.; and Sun. 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Learn more at uwhealthsportsfactory.com/restaurant. ❚

In the Spotlight Vito’s Ristorante

V

ito Olszewski is a trained chef and third-generation master of all things delicious. His grandparents, Ferdinand and Frances D’Agostin, once ran D’Agostino’s, The Grotto, Auto Inn and The Stadium, so he grew up in the kitchen.

At his own fine dining restaurant at 4866 Bluestem Road in Roscoe, Vito cooks up traditional Italian and American dishes as well as fresh soups and sauces.

His signature Conchiglie alla Sarda is a shell pasta with ground sausage, tomato cream sauce and fresh peas. Other favorites include lobster ravioli, Saliccia con Pepperoni and Salmon with Seashell Pasta. From the grill, there’s Chicken Marsala, Red Snapper, a 20-oz. bone-in Cowboy Ribeye and much more.

Vito’s is open Mon.-Sat. starting at 4 p.m. Reserve a table via opentable.com or vitoristorante.net. ❚

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