Smart Living Weekly - July 19, 2017

Sm mart a r L iving mar Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • July 19, 2017

™

Right in Our Region

‘The Local’ Fundraiser for Burpee Museum

See Page 16

Hottest 2017 Kitchen Trends NEW Lasik Eye Treatment Can Acupuncture Help Addicts?

Don’t Overpay for Tech Services Dining at HearthRock Cafe

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2 Tickets to Magic Waters

See Pg. 28 Details

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 ‘The Local’ Fundraiser for Burpee Museum Your Style ............................................................9 Shine: A New Shop in Town Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Hot Trends for Kitchen Updates Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Who Was Jacob?

Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Baseball Pancakes Your Technology .................................... .......... 21 Are you Paying Too Much?

Your Health ............................................. .......... 19 Why LASIK is So Popular Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Acupuncture: Can it Help Addicts Recover?

Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Hearthrock Cafe Your Outdoor Living ................................ ......... 29 Extend the Life of Your Pavement

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

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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.

Burpee on the Rise

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n the process of writing this week’s cover story about The Local fundraiser for Burpee Museum of Natural History, I had the pleasure of meeting the new leadership team there – and it really was a pleasure. They’re super nice folks and they’re also extraordinarily well qualified for the positions they hold.

In my view, Dr. Dennis Harezlak, a retired school superintendent, is a local hero of the best sort. As a Burpee board member, he used his administrative skills to tackle a financial mess made by others (including the state).

By volunteering his time as unpaid executive director the past two years, he’s made it possible for the museum to get its budget back on track without missing a beat in programming.

He’s now happy to shift the executive director mantle to Anne Weerda, while he assumes the role of Burpee board chairman and continues building the museum’s financial health.

Weerda has served on the board since 2014 and holds two Master’s degrees – one an M.S. in education & social policy from Northwestern U. and one a M.Ed. in leadership & supervision from National Louis U. in Chicago.

Her undergrad majors at Northwestern were in molecular biology and media. Even more importantly, Anne is PASSIONATE about all things science and all things Burpee. A wife and mother of three small children – ages 2, 4 and 6 – she somehow finds time to breed monarch butterflies in her kitchen, including a disabled one that she hand feeds each day.

“He has a muscular problem, so he’s not in the breeding pool, but we take care of him and feed him Gatorade,” she explains, pulling up on her phone an image of this tiny household member.

To be sure, that butterfly hit the jackpot when he found Anne Weerda, just as Rockford hit the jackpot when Harezlak and Weerda devoted themselves to our beloved gem of a natural history museum. Meet the other two members of the impressive leadership team inside this issue.

Tickets for The Local always sell out fast, so don’t drag your feet if you plan to go.

And if you haven’t seen Jane and Homer lately, be sure to stop in and explore all that’s new. Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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Y S

Shine: New Shop Sells Polish Pottery, More

By Connor Carynski

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lthough it just opened in early June, Shine is already gaining a reputation as a shop that carries extraordinary merchandise.

Located at 6730 Broadcast Parkway in Loves Park (across Perryville Road from Peak Sports Club), the specialty store offers an eclectic array of goods, including Polish pottery, home & garden decor, jewelry and fashion accessories, kitchen utensils, socks and towels made from bamboo, and much more – all with a socially responsible, eco-friendly and healthful emphasis.

Minda Woith and her daughter, Elizabeth Burkholder, co-own Shine and are pleased with the amount of customer traffic they’ve seen so far. Some shoppers have already returned to the store to stock up on natural soaps and lotions or healing crystals, geodes and gemstones.

The two owners say they’ve searched diligently for uncommon items that customers would have a hard time finding at other shops and would never find at big-box stores. Locally sourced and U.S.made products receive a high priority.

“We don’t want to be the same as everyone else,” says Woith. “We work hard to bring in merchandise people haven’t seen before in Rockford. We have a large selection of items that I guarantee cannot be found anywhere else in the area.”

One of the featured products Shine carries is an extensive line of hand-painted Polish pottery.

“People cannot get enough of this pottery,” Woith says. “The intricate designs and quality craftsmanship make any plate, cup or bowl a work of art. Along with being beautiful, this stoneware is extremely durable, dishwasher-, micro-

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wave- and oven-safe, and very easy to clean.”

Working closely with her daughter is a pleasure for Woith, and they both get a kick out of watching customers find unique items they truly enjoy.

“Elizabeth and I are both very excited about the shop opening and how well it’s doing so far,” she says. “We worked very hard to get everything going, and we’re both excited to see people enjoying the goods we offer.” ❚

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Y H  G

2017 Kitchen Trend: Calmness Prevails

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor

T

he kitchen is the heart of the home and the most important room to upgrade for improved resale value. In 2017, texture is in and busy-and-bright are out.

Calm hues prevail. Easy maintenance is a must, and there’s an interesting mix of rustic and elegant qualities afoot.

“We see more emphasis on texture contrast than color contrast right now,” says Erin Meyers-Knabe, kitchen and bathroom design consultant at Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Rockford. She points to a showroom model kitchen with white cabinets and soft gray-blue walls.

The marble-topped island has subtle gray vein movement.

Overhead, a glass chandelier sparkles. Underfoot is a dark wood floor with a rustic finish. Other countertops in the room are solid gray quartz. A gorgeous laser-cut marble tile backsplash climbs the wall to the ceiling, framing the stove

hood. Ribbons of gray-blue in this tile offer subtle interest.

“A white kitchen can feel too stark if you don’t have texture and some movement,” explains Knabe.

Classic white-painted cabinets are always in style, but she describes today’s white as “creamier, not stark.”

Medium-brown wood tone cabinets are on trend. Favorite species include maple and cherry, but not oak.

“Neutral brown and gray stains are in, but not reddish browns,” she says.

“Very dark cabinets aren’t out of date, but they’re losing ground. Gray is still very popular, but is moving toward a warmer shade, closer to a taupe.”

Mixing wood stains and paint colors is a good idea, such as using a navy blue painted island in a white kitchen. Likewise, a maple wood cabinet may com-

plement gray-stained cabinetry. Today’s designers strive to break up monolithic cabinetry in favor of a more furniturelike look.

For countertops, granite and quartz remain top-sellers at Benson Stone Co. To maintain a home’s optimal value, designers recommend updating the kitchen at least every 10 years.

“We try to do things in ways that make the room as timeless as possible,” says Knabe. “When people get tired of the look, there are often ways to change things up without a major overhaul.” ❚

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I  W

Who Was Jacob?

NEW THIS YEAR! SPECIAL THURSDAY NIGHT CONCERT!

Scriptures: Genesis chapters 25-49.

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early a quarter of the book of Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament, concerns Jacob (“deceiver”), who God renames Israel (“wrestles with God.”) The grandson of Abraham & Sarah, and the son of Isaac & Rebekah, Jacob fathers 12 sons whose offspring form the 12 tribes of the nation of Israel.

Jacob was the second-born twin of Esau and was favored by his mother; his dad favored Esau. Under Rebekah’s guidance, Jacob tricked his way into receiving Esau’s larger inheritance.

Fearing Esau’s rage, Jacob flees to his Uncle Laben’s house at Haran. Along the way, God renews His promise of divine protection for Jacob, in a dream.

At Laben’s home, Jacob falls deeply in love with his cousin Rachel. In exchange for the right to marry her, he works seven years managing Laben’s flocks. Those years “seemed but a few days because of the love he had for her.”

(Gen. 29:20) At the wedding, however, Laben dupes Jacob by substituting his elder daughter Leah as the bride. A week later, Jacob also weds Rachel, after agreeing to work seven more years for Laben.

Many years and 11 sons later, Jacob moves his large family and flocks back home to Hebron. Before making peace with Esau and settling back into his ancestral home, however, Jacob engages in a night-long struggle with an angel near the river Jabbok, after sending his party ahead. The encounter transforms him for the better and he says, “I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved.”

Afterward, God changes Jacob’s name to “Israel.” The “wrestles with God” meaning proves to be an apt name for a nation that both follows and rejects God time and time again.

Much more happens, including the rape of Jacob’s daughter Dinah and the death of his beloved Rachel in childbirth, when her second son, Benjamin, (Jacob’s 12th son) is born.

Jacob was a flawed human being who sincerely honored God and rejected idolatry; God kept His promise to Jacob by continuing his lineage, which resulted in the nation of Israel and the birth of the Messiah, Jesus. ❚ 12

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July 19

Grammy Award Winning

Lee Ann Womack August 3, 2017

Doors open at 6 pm Show starts at 7 pm $30 per ticket plus receive a free weekend pass to Festa Italiana!

August 4-6, 2017 • Boylan High School festaitalianarockford.com

To advertise call 815-316-2300

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Y K

Hit A Home Run With Essential Nutrients for Active Kids

W

ith summer in full force, kids are busy with physical activities, whether it’s little league baseball games, swim team or summer camp.

Moms, nutritionists and pediatricians know active kids, developing bones and muscles need essential nutrients to grow strong, but The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say most Americans, including children, aren’t getting enough fiber, calcium, vitamin D and potassium in their diets.

Milk is a great choice when moms want to serve delicious and natural, highquality protein for their kids. Milk can also help hydrate after exercise due to its natural electrolytes and fluids.

Milk plays an important role for kids’ meals and snacks, providing three of the four nutrients most Americans, including kids, aren’t getting enough of: calcium, vitamin D and potassium.

One way to hit a home run for your kids is by stepping up to the breakfast

plate with delicious baseball pancakes. Served with an 8-ounce glass of milk, this breakfast is the perfect combo to help kids fuel up with protein in the morning.

Home Run Pancakes Servings: 4

1 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 1 large egg 1 cup fat free milk 1/4 tsp. vanilla extract nonstick cooking spray 8 strips turkey bacon (optional) 2-3 Tb. raspberry or strawberry syrup (optional) Whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Mix egg, milk and vanilla separately. Add wet ingredients

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to dry ingredients and whisk gently until just combined.

Heat griddle to medium heat and grease lightly with cooking spray.

Using 1/3-cup measuring cup for each pancake, pour batter onto pan. Cook until bubbles form, then flip and cook another 30-45 seconds.

Cook bacon on griddle 3-4 minutes on each side, if desired, until desired crispiness is achieved.

Place cooked bacon next to pancakes for “baseball bats.” Drizzle syrup onto pancakes to make baseball stitching. ❚ Source: Family Features

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R  O R

‘The Local’ Fundraiser Supports Local Gem R

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor tour and other extras. ockford is among very few cities of “All attendees receive a cup when its size to possess a local treasure as they enter the event and can fill and refill extraordinary as the Burpee Museum of it with local beers throughout the night,” Natural History. So it’s appropriate that Weerda explains. “There’s also a cash the museum’s major fundraising event – bar, wine tastings and a silent auction, simply called “The Local” – celebrates with items donated by local businesses.” all things homegrown, including bands, Local bands Stevee Nix and Clutch beers and foods.

Cargo will fill the evening air with music.

“It’s held in our own backyard amNorthern Illinois brewers donating phitheater, along the Rock River,” exbeer to support the museum include Praiplains Anne Weerda, the museum’s new rie Street Brewhouse of Rockford, Pig executive director. “It’s an absolutely Minds Brewing Co. of Machesney Park, gorgeous place to spend a summer eveGenerations Brewing Co. of Freeport and ning.” This year, The Local is on Aug. 26 Lena Brewing Co. of Lena. from 6 to 10 p.m.

Among local restaurateurs who’ll Because The Local always sells out donate pizza and other yummy bites are in advance, it will be expanded to accomLino’s, Tavern on Clark, Stone Eagle, modate a few more guests this year. The Gulotta’s, Oscar’s Pub, Capri, Zammurain-or-shine event costs $55 and tickto’s and Sugar Jones. ets are sold online at Burpee.org. There All proceeds from the event beneare also $75 VIP tickets, which include a fit the museum, which is regaining solid museum membership, behind-the-scenes

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financial footing after some challenging years.

“Financial problems arose from a downturn in the economy, state grant money that was awarded but not paid out, an aggressive expansion of the museum and costly traveling exhibits that underperformed,” explains Dr. Dennis Harezlak, president of the Burpee board of directors. He adds that an ever-decreasing donor base doesn’t help, either, as corporations flee Illinois.

A retired school superintendent, Harezlak served as volunteer executive director the past two years and led a successful effort to stabilize Burpee’s financial picture. He’ll continue to oversee the museum’s budget in his role as board chairman.

Meanwhile, Harezlak and the Burpee team haven’t wavered in carrying out the museum’s mission.

R  O R Among recent successes: 75th

• Produced a anniversary exhibit that features endangered species displays and seldom-seen Native American artifacts • Produced Paleofest events that attracted top-tier global scientist speakers • Dedicated the Jay and Barbara Brost Paleontology Viewing Lab • Opened the Fossil Lake exhibit • Increased senior citizen programming • Led fossil digs in Utah and Montana • Established a process to build more partnerships with schools and businesses • Increased the Burpee volunteer base • Prepared to open “Windows to the World II” this summer, an exhibit about the conservation of animals across the world • Laid groundwork to open a bugs exhibit this fall in partnership with Rockford U. • Developed the concept of SPROUTS Learning Lab for children under age 8; it will open after another $40,000 is raised

Along with these successes, Harezlak has assembled a highly qualified leadership team that includes Weerda as executive director, Josh Mathews as

director of paleontology and Alexandra Benson Koch as education director.

Koch holds a Master’s in Anthropology from NIU and has taught anthropology classes at Wilbur Wright College in Chicago.

Mathews is working toward his doctoral degree at NIU and has been part of digs around the globe. He first volunteered at Burpee in 2004 and helped to discover Homer, Burpee’s triceratops.

Weerda holds a Masters of Science in Education and Social Policy from Northwestern U. in Chicago; a Masters of Education in Leadership and Supervision from National Louis U. in Chicago; and a B.S. in Molecular Biology, with a second major in Media, from Northwestern.

She’s been on Burpee’s board since 2014.

Weerda worked at the Chicago Field Museum; taught high school science in Chicago for six years; mentored teachers in Edison science curriculum at charter schools across the nation; and served as curriculum director for Winnebago Public Schools for five years, where she met

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The Burpee leadership team: Standing are Anne Weerda and Dennis Harezlak. Front: Josh Mathews and Alexandra Koch.

Harezlak, then superintendent. She’s also the founder of Kids at the Core LLC, a professional development company for teachers. She’s married with three young children and breeds monarch butterflies in her kitchen … just because.

“The natural world around us is precious,” says Weerda. “Understanding it through science is a critical part of being good stewards of it. I’m so excited to be a part of Burpee Museum. It’s my passion.”

Learn more about The Local and buy tickets at Burpee.org. ❚

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Y H

Acupuncture Can Help Addicts to Recover

By Peggy Werner

A

cupuncture, as part of a treatment program, can help drug addicts kick the habit, says Leila MacQueen, founder and owner of Circle of Wellness, 3626 E. State St. “Acupuncture is becoming more and more popular as an alternative method to treat drug addiction, rather than using other drugs to get off drugs,” she says.

“Acupuncture helps patients get through the rehabilitation process and reduces symptoms of nausea, pain, and cravings.”

Circle of Wellness is observing its ninth anniversary this summer. Dr. James Morgano is a chiropractic provider who practices in Rockford, Ill., and performs acupuncture procedures for the wellness clinic.

Acupuncture is a holistic health technique that is thousands of years old and stems from traditional Chinese medicine.

It involves placing thin needles just under the skin to stimulate nerve paths.

“Acupuncture follows meridians throughout the body like rivers and affects organs and certain functions of the body,” MacQueen says.

For treating drug addiction, needles are placed in specific parts of the outer ear.

MacQueen says the center has seen success with this treatment and hopes to help more people free themselves from the grip of addiction.

One patient fought her way through the worst stages of heroin drug withdrawal with the help of acupuncture.

“We treated her and she has stayed away from drugs for four months now,” MacQueen says.

Success in treating drug addiction is determined by many factors, including how long a person has been using drugs,

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their current mental state, and how their overall health has been affected by the habit.

In addition to acupuncture, Circle of Wellness offers chiropractic treatments, cupping therapy, medical massage, laboratory tests, nutritional counseling, reflexology and more.

For more information or to make an appointment, contact the center at circleofwellnessrockford.com or call at (779) 423-1700. ❚

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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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Y H

Positive Feedback for LASIK Surgery

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor

W

hen it comes to advertising, wordof-mouth recommendations have a high credibility. The free opinion of a trusted friend or family member carries more weight than any paid-for commercial.

Thanks to strong word-of-mouth, Dr. Edward Yavitz, an ophthalmologist, attracts patients from across the Midwest for LASIK eye surgery – a procedure that involves reshaping the cornea in order to treat farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism.

“I have 10,000 happy LASIK patients, which creates quite a sales force,” Yavitz says. “All you have to do is go to the Internet and see the comments.”

With such positive word-of-mouth feedback, Yavitz spends less on advertising and keeps fees for LASIK up to 50 percent less than other offices.

“People like to go to someone who has a lot of experience,” Yavitz says, “And I’m operating on second and even third generations of family members now since I began. That’s real experience.”

Yavitz completes three steps during a LASIK procedure. First, he precisely creates a flap and folds back a thin layer of the cornea. Second, using an excimer laser, he removes an exact amount of corneal tissue in seconds. Finally, he folds the corneal tissue back into place, allowing it to adhere without the need for stitches.

Yavitz performs more than 100 LASIK eye surgeries per month and has taught LASIK around the world. He even has several patents for devices used to

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make LASIK a safer, more predictable surgery.

To schedule a free consultation regarding LASIK, call (815) 395-8338 or visit Yavitz Eye Center at 4105 N. Perryville Road, Loves Park. ❚

Get SLW Health articles every week. Visit smartlivingweekly.com and start your e-Edition today.

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July 19

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

Children's Performances in the Park Through July 21, Artists’ Ensemble interns take their show "Tall Tales Small Tales" to 11 area parks. See online schedule for locations.

Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com Artists' Ensemble Theater, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Pec Playhouse Theater: 'Bye Bye Birdie' Through July 30, Fri.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 2 p.m.

It’s the late 1950s and teenagers from across the U.S. are going crazy for the handsome rock star Conrad Birdie. Meanwhile, his manager, Albert Peterson, is going into debt and has staked his financial future on Conrad’s success. Pec Playhouse Theater, 314 Main St., Pecatonica, Ill., (815) 239-1210, pecplayhouse.org.

Flashback Movie Night: 'Wizard of Oz' July 20, 6-9 p.m. Enjoy a viewing of "The Wizard of Oz" at the Anjali Pavilion. Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, (815) 8770118, womanspace-rockford.org.

Portland Japanese Garden: The Journey Continues July 20, 7-8:30 p.m. For more than 50 years, Portland Japanese Gardens has been a haven of tranquility nestled in the scenic West Hills of Portland, Oregon. Garden Curator, Sadafumi Uchiyama, will cover the two major projects currently in progress at Portland Japanese Garden: The International Institute and the Cultural Crossing. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

Starlight Theatre Presents 'Sister Act' July 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 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) 9212160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

When I Grow Up July 21, 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. What will you be when you grow up? Talk to the real women and men who work in our town and find out what they do for a living. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

George Lopez July 21, 7 p.m. George Lopez’s multi-faceted

George Lopez brings his talent to the Coronado Performing Arts Center on July 21.

career encompasses television, film, standup comedy and late-night television. Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, (815) 9680595, coronadopac.org.

Concerts on the Creek: Dave Rudolf July 22, 7-9 p.m. Pizza from Mamma Mia’s, canned soda, bottled water and popcorn available. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 8772576, springcreekucc.org.

Midway Village Community Picnic July 23, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit more than a dozen buildings in The Victorian Village, where a costumed interpreter helps you discover the secrets of each home and business. Families can enjoy lawn games and craft projects. Bring a blanket and picnic or buy lunch at the village cafe.

Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

AJG Tuesday Evenings in the Gardens: Antony & the Tramps July 25, Doors open 5 p.m., performance 5:45 p.m. Main artist Antony & the Tramps. Opening act Patchouli. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

Tunes on the Terrace: Steve McClanahan July 26, 5-7:30 p.m. Relax and listen to this local musician perform on the terrace along the bank of the Rock River. Beverages and food are available for purchase. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 9878858, nicholasconservatory.com. ❚

For More Attractions & Events Visit GoRockford.com Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Weekly

July 19

25

WDL

By Peggy Werner

B

enson Stone Company’s Hearthrock Café is keeping all that’s good and introducing new and more home-style menu items, more bakery choices, a new web site and new people.

Leading the way is Head Chef Todd Cooper, hired last September, who has an energetic determination to raise the bar even higher on what it means to entice and satisfy customers.

“I feel I’ve taken the café to the next level of quality. I want to continue to develop the menu. I don’t want it to sit still. I want to grow and have the restaurant grow with me,” he says.

Cooper is following the farm-to-

table trend so popular in restaurants today, working with seasonal and fresh ingredients as much as possible. He plans to introduce new foods as specials before making them a part of the menu.

One of his most popular creations so far is the Smoked Andouille Sausage Flatbread, made with a homemade Marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, red pepper and fresh portabella mushrooms.

Other new dishes introduced by Cooper include a Mutated Reuben sandwich, made with a homemade sauce and pickled red cabbage; a roast beef sandwich smothered in muenster cheese and a homemade mushroom sauce; and a Cordon Bleu sandwich made with his version of a honey Dijon sauce, piled high with chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese.

A new computerized menu board above the café counter, where people place their orders, will help customers to keep pace with what changes Cooper is introducing, such as daily and weekly

Samantha Ryan photos

Hearthrock Café Menu Evolves Under New Chef

Todd Cooper is head chef at Hearthrock Cafe.

features, which won’t be repeated for weeks at a time.

The many signature dishes the café already is known for will remain, including the BBQ pulled pork, which is smoked in-house, and the tender, savory pot roast sandwich.

Eventually, there will be a wide variety of quesadillas, flatbreads, more soups, and a larger variety of seasonal salads and wraps. The soups will be made with homemade stock and lots of fresh vegetables and meat. ❚

In the Spotlight

Top Picks for Local Restaurants

Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, 9 East Coffee E Casual/Coffeehouse. Specialty coffees, pas- sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) tries, breakfast, lunch. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport, (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.

233-7300. BkL M-F 7am-3pm, Sat to 2pm. $ GreenFire E Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. SeaArturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Mexican. 107 sonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm, live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) T-Th to 9pm, F to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. $.

316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$.

Big Papa’s Barbecue E BBQ Specialties. 5811 Forest Hills Road, Hearthrock Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, Rockford, Ill., (815) 904-6612. LD M-Th 11 am-9 pm, F-Sat 11 am- breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., 10 p.m, Sun 11 am-7 pm. $.

Rockford, (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Be- 3pm. $-$$. loit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Free- Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, (608) 313-0700. D Sun-Th port, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat to 10pm. $$.

Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Cucina di Rosa E Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, Rockford, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. Homemade gelato, baked Taco Betty’s E Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am $$. goods, pasta, frittatas, more. M-Sat 7am-9pm $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Mexican. Authen- Thrive Café E Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, tic dishes, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227- smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm.

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

Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. Fresh, lo- Vito’s Ristorante E Casual/Fine Dining. Carry-out, steak & cal-sourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, seafood, Italian specialties, pizza. 4866 Bluestem Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 312-5080. D M-Sat 4pm. $-$$. ❚ (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ 26

Smart Living Weekly

July 19

To advertise call 815-316-2300

C

Cannova’s

annova’s has been serving up authentic Italian dishes and pizza since Anthony and Philippina Cannova started the restaurant in 1921.

Today, their granddaughter, Linda, and her husband, Patrick Beckman, carry on the tradition, at 1101 W. Empire St. They use many original recipes for pizza, spaghetti sauce, Italian beef, fresh bread and pizza dough.

House specials include a Sicilian filet, marinated in olive oil and red wine; Italian-style baked cod; and seafood Alfredo. Linda’s made-from-scratch desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate spoon cake.

Then there are the award-winning pizzas: the Classic; the New York; the double-crusted Gloria Read, named for a longtime customer; and the Sicilian.

Cannova’s is open Sun.-Tues. 5-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. until 11 p.m. ❚

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July 19

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To advertise call 815-316-2300

O L

Why Pavement Maintenance Pays Off

By Peggy Werner

L

arry Lazzerini opened Premier Pavement Solutions, 5059 Contractors Drive, in Loves Park, 12 years ago. The full-service asphalt company specializes in sealcoating, infrared repairs, striping and other markings, asphalt maintenance, crack filling, pothole repair and repair of collapsed drains. The company also does snowplowing/salting, during the winter, for the City of Rockford and other customers.

When it comes to sealcoating, ingredients matter, says Lazzerini. A specially formulated Seal Master Brand sealcoat is made exclusively for his company by a manufacturer in Streamwood, Ill., and comes with a letter of authenticity. Latex and sand are added to the product to make it 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 sealcoating should be done between May and November.

What sets him apart from the competition is customer service, or the “Premier Difference,” says Lazzerini. He personally visits each home or other work site before and after a job is completed.

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

Being proactive about caring for your pavement can save you money in the long run, says Lazzerini. Watch for discoloration, the top of the driveway pull-

Tell them you saw it in ...

ing away from the garage, deep cracks and holes where water can seep in, loose rock and broken edges.

And beware of scam artists who offer this line of work. What sounds like a great deal may be just the opposite, if you’re not careful.

“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. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

July 19

29

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