Smart Living Rockford - February 25, 2021

Smart L iving Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • Feb. 2021 • No. II

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Right in Our Region

Burpee PaleoFest 2021 Goes Virtual!

See Page 16

New Options in Home Technology Beware Damage Caused by Ice Dams Start Planning Your St. Pat’s Celebration Let’s Support Local Shops and Restaurants!

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

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In This Issue Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 PaleoFest Goes Virtual!

Your Home ................................................... .....11 All About Ice Dams Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Compassion: A Quality of Jesus Christ Your Kitchen .....................................................15 A Tasty Irish-American Entree Your Technology ........................................ ...... 23 You Have Options

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

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

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

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Squirrels, Beware!

O

ur universe has been smaller these past 12 months as husband Gary and I follow pandemic restrictions, our being at high risk.

While I can stay home happily for days on end, lost in projects, never bored, Gary is different. I tease him about “getting the shakes” if he’s home more than 8 hours in a row. Thankfully, his favorite hobby is an outdoor one, tending to our two horses who live nearby at Lockwood Park.

Snowy, cold February isn’t great “horse weather,” however, so we find ourselves focused on household minutiae. I’ve strewn family photos and postcards from five generations across three upstairs bedrooms, in an endless sorting process, and Gary has taken up leatherworking in his basement cave.

The day’s highlight, yesterday, was ordering a neato-keen battery organizer advertised on TV, after exhaustive online comparison shopping that saved us 5 bucks. We’ve lived with jumbled batteries for decades, but suddenly it seemed urgent to lasso and wrangle them into neat rows, organized by size.

Our pets seem bored, too, so we place squirrel food just outside of our floor-length living room windows, for pet entertainment.

Each morning, our two dogs and Daphne the Cat quiver and whine with outrage as brazen squirrels just a few inches beyond the glass taunt them while nibbling nuts. Our pets watch the squirrels and we watch our pets as we ponder big ideas like: “Why do squirrels understand the concept of glass?” and “Why do dogs NEVER give up on catching a squirrel?”

We also make note of the always-dirty window panes (pet nose prints) and shrug.

“No one but us sees them anyway.”

We yearn for two-legged companionship beyond Zoom and a reason to wash our windows again, but we refuse to risk our lives in the final stretch of this marathon. The virus will pass, and we will go gallivanting again and we will dress up in actual clothing again.

Squirrels, beware: You’ll have to fend for yourselves next winter.

Hang in there! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Your Home & Garden

Prevent Ice Dams from Causing Leaks I

f snow and ice is not cleared from your roof, you could struggle with leaks in your home, says Toby Lask, executive vice president of Lask Roofing & Siding, 1101 22nd St., Rockford. The company offers assistance and advice on roofing needs year-round and recently added inhouse financing options for customers.

Ice dams form when water freezes in the eaves of your roof, preventing drainage. If left untreated, ice dams will continue to build up. Water backed up from an ice dam can leak into your house through the windows or ceiling. Cleared gutters allow rainwater and melting snow to drain properly.

“After a snowfall, try to use a roof rake to pull down snow along gutter edges to help water flow and help prevent ice damming,” Lask says. “Also, chop or chisel thicker ice dams to create drain trenches along valley bottoms and gutter

edges to help allow air flow.”

Ice dams may be removed by spreading roof-friendly salt along the ice dams, Lask says, but be sure to choose the right ones. “Lots of ice melt salts on the market today are not roof-friendly. Be sure to check prior to applying the salt.”

Homeowners should remove leaves, sticks and other debris from valleys, gutters and downspouts before the first snowfall, but should use extreme caution. Never climb a ladder to reach a roof if you feel unsafe doing so.

“There are many dangers and risks involved in roofing and winter weather,” Lask says. “Personal safety is most important. Always seek a professional opinion prior to attempting any roof services.”

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There are things that can be done to prevent such situations.

“Have a professional roofing contractor install a high-grade, self-regulating heat cable along sections of your home to help reduce build-up of ice and snow,” Lask suggests. “A roofing contractor also can install a gutter protection system that helps to prevent the buildup.” ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Compassion: A Quality of Jesus Christ C

hristians know that Jesus Christ lived among people for 33 years and set the example of how to be “imitators of God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2) The gospels convey how he did that and what it looks like in practical application. One quality often on display was compassion.

All four gospel writers tell us that Jesus felt compassion for people and took action to help them. He did this even when he was physically and mentally weary from travel, rejection or temptation.

Jesus met the needs of disabled, sick, demon-possessed, grief-stricken, hungry, rejected and sin-burdened people.

In Matthew 15, we see that he was sensitive to peoples’ physical needs.

“Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.’” (Matthew 15:31 NIV)

He fed them.

Jesus was sensitive to peoples’ state of mind, too.

“Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-38, NIV)

Jesus set the example for loving all kinds of people, regardless of gender, age, race, or station in life. He asked us to imitate his behavior, which means it must possible to do.

Doling out compassion is not something we do because people “deserve it.”

In truth, we never deserved the compassion Jesus showed to us, either. We love others because God first loved us.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.” Ephesians 4:32 NIV ❚

-- Janine Pumilia

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Your Kitchen

Celebrate St. Pat’s Day with American Irish Stew E

specially during the pandemic, it’s nice to make the most of every holiday we celebrate, safely, at home.

Here are some ways to plan ahead for a special St. Patrick’s Day coming up March 17.

• Decorate with purpose. Incorporate green into banners, streamers, candles or even use green light bulbs.

• Plan some simple activities to help the fun flow. Games like a “treasure hunt” for gold coins, limerick-writing competitions or even just turning up Irish-themed music can be fun.

• Eat festively. Turn your family’s food and drinks into true Irish dining with some delicious recipes like this American Irish Stew, which includes beef, onion, carrots and potatoes for a tasty cultural meal. Also find corned beef and cabbage recipes online.

Find more tips at culinary.net.

American Irish Stew

Reprinted with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research

Servings: 6

1 Tb. extra-virgin olive oil 1 1/4 pounds beef, top round, cut into 3/4-inch pieces 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces 2 medium parsnips, cut into large chunks (optional) 3 cups low-fat, low-salt beef broth 4 medium russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks 1 Tb. chopped fresh rosemary 1 leek, coarsely chopped 2 Tb. chopped fresh parsley Salt and pepper to taste

In large pot over medium-high heat, heat oil. Add beef and garlic. Cook, gently stirring until meat is evenly browned.

Season with salt and pepper.

Add onion, carrots and parsnips.

Cook 3-4 minutes. Stir in broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer about 75 minutes, or until meat is tender.

Stir in potatoes and simmer another

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30 minutes. Add rosemary and leeks.

Continue to simmer, uncovered, until potatoes are tender. To avoid potatoes falling apart, do not overcook.

Serve hot and garnish with parsley, if desired.

Nutritional information per serving: 370 calories, 8 g total fat (2 g saturated fat), 43 g carbohydrate, 32 g protein, 6 g dietary fiber, 427 mg sodium. ❚ Source: Family Features. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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Right in Our Region

Burpee’s 23rd PaleoFest Goes Virtual

By Peggy Werner

F

or the first time, Burpee Museum of Natural History’s annual PaleoFest will be all-virtual, allowing scientists, families and students everywhere to interact from around the globe.

What hasn’t changed in this year’s 23rd annual event is the impressive lineup of guest speakers and researchers.

“We’re excited that PaleoFest fans can attend from around the world without having to travel this year, while networking with scientists and researchers, listening to great talks and having fun despite the pandemic,” says Anne Weerda, Burpee Museum’s executive director. “The talks are designed for the public and for dinosaur and fossil enthusiasts of all ages.”

The event begins Friday, March 5, with a symposium for students age kindergarten through high school.

Teachers can bring their students face-toface with world-famous paleontologists

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through classroom or remote access. The first 1,000 registrants are free.

A simple, no-software-needed login will allow students to connect with worldwide teams of scientists from Argentina to Australia. The talks are pre-recorded, but scientists will answer questions live. Burpee Museum staff will moderate the discussions and keep the audience engaged.

More research talks and activities happen Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Families can enjoy hands-on workshops, lectures and activities through an easy-to-use online platform.

A virtual museum opens at 10 a.m.; the Mighty T. Rex Workshop is at 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; a Wolf Puppies & Ice Age Workshop is at 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; and a research lecture begins at 3:30 p.m.

Burpee Museum is most famous for its juvenile T. Rex, Jane. During PaleoFest, people can learn about

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the history of the carnivore and the tiny animals who ran about under her feet. Viewers will “travel” back to the Cretaceous era and learn how recent discoveries are helping today’s scientists to understand it.

The Ice Age was marked by many amazing animals, some that have descendants living today. At PaleoFest, people learn about animals and other living things that roamed around 2.8 million years ago during the Pleistocene era in what’s now Illinois.

“The event attracts people who are curious about what the world was like before we walked this earth,” says Weerda. “The new platform Burpee is using creates new ways to interact and exciting ways to learn.”

One of PaleoFest’s 12 keynote speakers is Associate Professor Dr. Julie Meachen, a vertebrate paleontologist from Des Moines University. Her research focuses on how climate change

Right in Our Region and the extinction events at the end of the Ice Age (11,500 years ago) have affected the morphology and ecology of living and ice age species. She studies the ecology of species such as coyotes, dire wolves and saber-tooth cats.

Her talk centers around the discovery of “Zhur.” In 2016, a gold miner named Neil Loveless uncovered an ancient wolf pup from the permafrost in the Klondike goldfields near Dawson City, Yukon, Canada. It’s among the most complete and best-preserved fossil mummified carcasses ever found in the region.

Zhur, which means “wolf” in the native language where she was found, is the oldest and best-preserved late Pleistocene wolf specimen known. Radioactive dating revealed the pup died more than 50,000 years ago. When found, she was a nearly completely intact specimen of a seven-week-old pup, complete with fur, skin, soft tissue and a digestive system.

Ancient DNA analyses confirm she was a gray wolf and closely related to other wolves that lived in Siberia, Alaska and Northern Canada during the Ice Age.

More importantly, her relatives are not closely related to the wolves that are alive today in the region.

PaleoFest also draws keynote speakers like Steve Salisbury of Queensland University at Brisbane, Australia.

He’s a vertebrate paleontologist who studies dinosaurs and crocodilians from Gondwana. Caitlin Colleary, of Cleveland Museum of Natural History, studies molecular taphonomy. Vertebrate paleontologist Thomas Holtz, from the University of Maryland, studies theropod dinosaurs. Vertebrate paleontologist Diego Pol Museo, of Argentina, studies the evolution of dinosaurs and crocodilians of Patagonia.

“Even before COVID-19, we explored online learning and hosting virtual events, so it was a natural progression since the pandemic changed how we

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do things,” Weerda says. “We’re very happy with what we have accomplished this year and expect virtual learning to be a permanent part of our offerings even after the pandemic.

“This is a do-not-miss event and an opportunity to see some of the greatest minds of our time coming together to talk about science. We should all be very proud that Burpee is an intellectual center in our community,” Weerda says.

Find a complete schedule, learn about admission costs and register at burpeemuseum.org, or call (815) 9653433 or email burpee@burpee.org. ❚

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Your Technology

Technology Made Easier with Service

By Janine Pumilia

W

hen a company is focused on providing personalized and reliable customer service, everything goes a little easier for customers. This is especially true when it comes to new technology, which can be frustrating to learn.

“We take whatever time is needed to make sure a customer is comfortable using our services,” says Manuel Reyes, owner of Servi-Satellite Inc., an AT&T affiliate located at 2245 Anderson Dr., Belvidere, Ill. “This is very important to us. Once people are comfortable with it, they really love it. We want to keep people happy year after year.”

The business offers TV, phone, Internet and home security services.

Customers can choose satellite TV services from the AT&T brand, DirecTV; satellite from DISH; or cable TV from Comcast Xfinity. Servi-Satellite staff members explain the wide range of chan-

nel packages for each.

“We find out what the individual’s needs are, recommend a package best suited to them, install everything ourselves and make sure the customer is comfortable knowing how to use the technology,” says Reyes. “If a problem arises, we provide service calls free of charge, with our own fleet of 12 on-staff technicians.”

By contrast, some providers charge for every service call or add a service fee onto your monthly bill, notes Reyes.

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Servi-Satellite serves residents in a 50-mile radius of Belvidere and offers in-home appointments to those who prefer not to make a store visit.

As an affiliate of AT&T, Reyes offers not only AT&T promotional discounts, but also his own company specials.

“Right now, new customers who sign up with us for phone service can buy an iPhone 11 for $5,” he says.

For home security, AT&T is aligned with Vivint, which Reyes describes as “a very good product that allows you to do things like install front door cameras, raise or lower your garage door remotely and more. It’s good to be able to keep an eye on the perimeter of your property, to watch for package deliveries and to lock up your house with remote access.

“One people have these capabilities, they just love them.” ❚

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‘Snow Doubt About it:

Your FIRST ALERT to Winter Weather DAYS in Advance.

AARON WILSON

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MARK HENDERSON

ETHAN ROSUCK

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