Smart Living Rockford- April 2024

Freedom of the Press

Iwant to address something that’s often heavy on my mind.

You’ve probably read that journalists are losing their jobs in alarming numbers this year, particularly from major outlets such as the Los Angeles Times, Forbes and TIME Magazine. After thousands of journalists were laid off in 2023, you wouldn’t necessarily imagine that the hemorrhage would continue into 2024. But it has. And as these jobs disappear, paywalls are going up. Just this morning as I type this, a newsletter I’ve read for free every day for the past seven years (The Flip Side) will have a paywall starting next month.

I understand why many people have lost trust in journalists. Headlines have become more click-baity. Bias is oftentimes easy to identify. Politicians have flat-out told you not to trust “the media.”

I would like to gently remind people that journalists are in service-oriented jobs. They have a huge responsibility for oftentimes very little pay. With fewer jobs in the field, the stakes just get higher. There’s more responsibility on a handful of people to do the in-depth reporting and fact-checking alone, on extremely tight deadlines. I don’t see things improving.

“Freedom of speech” is a core American value. So when people criticize “the media” as a blanket statement, I cringe. The first amendment is so important. I used to think this was obvious, but now I question where we’re at as a society.

So many Americans already live in news deserts, so I would caution you to be weary of the demise of the free press. A free press is essential to democracy. It’s what allows us to make informed decisions and hold leaders accountable. Look at countries where a free press doesn’t exist… and it’s scary.

I urge you to support our local news organizations -— print, radio, television, etc. — by subscribing, reading, listening and viewing.

I hope to see my kids and grandkids grow up in a thriving democracy where freedom of the press is still protected. ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

Nobody Said It’s Easy

Forgiveness goes hand in hand with grace, and is a concept that sets Christianity apart from many world religions – but it’s not easy to internalize.

Above all, there’s God’s unconditional forgiveness toward his children, thanks to His plan for salvation and the obedience of Jesus Christ. That’s difficult to fathom. How can we forgive ourselves for the things we do, much less accept that God has wiped our slates clean?

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9.

Perhaps the best way to comprehend this is to think of how willing we are to forgive our own children. They do foolish things often, and while we don’t approve, we love them so much that we easily forgive and encourage them. The adhesive that makes this work is love; God is a loving God and wants us to be a loving people.

But how can we find the strength to forgive people we don’t love – people we may not even like very much?

There’s no getting away from Jesus’ two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” – Matthew 22:37-40.

Sometimes we trick ourselves into believing we’re only required to forgive “righteous” people like ourselves. But who knows a man’s heart, except God? To judge others as unworthy of forgiveness is, in itself, sinful.

Jesus says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37.

In the end, it’s our love for God that gives us strength to genuinely forgive. Sometimes it takes much time and prayer. Jesus never said that imitating him would be easy.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32 ❚ -Janine Pumilia

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An Eco-Friendly Way to Discard Appliances

By Steven Bonifazi, assistant editor

Where most appliance dealers focus exclusively on brand-new products, Erika Cedillo and DJ Wilson, owners of Home by Afrodita, 5205 N. Second St., Loves Park, aim to give appliances a second life.

“We don’t like to see any appliances go into the landfill, so we’re always collecting as much as we possibly can,” Wilson says. “We want to always offer used appliances and refurbished components instead of strictly new stuff, because there’s always a need for the used stuff. Not everyone can afford a new washer or refrigerator.”

Afrodita’s business model is built on three components: retail, wholesale and recycling. The idea is to collect used and unwanted machines, refurbish them, and distribute them to customers who want a good, operable product offered

at a lower price point. The company’s warehouse in Machesney Park accepts used appliances of all kinds, regardless of their condition. These units may come from individuals who’ve purchased new appliances, local retailers who are disposing of customers’ old products, and even landlords who’ve just updated their properties. Most units arrive looking tired and broken. It’s up to a team of 17 technicians to assess these units and get them into working order.

Cedillo and Wilson have also developed a drop-off area at their warehouse, the Love Machine Recycling Center, where people can discard unwanted appliances. These machines then have a

shot at a new life, rather than heading straight to a landfill or scrap dealer. However, Cedillo’s sights are set on a grander scale.

“My new dream is to be able to grow the recycling company and be able to send truckloads and semis to Canada, Puerto Rico, Mexico and so many other places where these machines can be used,” she says. ❚

Erika Cedillo and DJ Wilson, owners of Home by Afrodita

Klehm Arboretum’s 30th Annual Garden Fair

By Peggy Werner

Through the years, proceeds from the annual Garden Fair at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., have helped the organization become a top outdoor destination for families in northern Illinois.

Klehm’s Executive Director Alex Mills says the 30th anniversary of the Garden Fair takes place from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, June 1, and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, June 2, and features about 70 regional vendors.

“More than ever, we have reached out to vendors who will be a great fit for this event,” Mills says. “We have new and returning plant and flower vendors, garden tools for sale, and decorative items.”

Attendees can also stop by Klehm’s Fountain Garden, which turns into a weekend-long “Learning and Education Garden” where nonprofit organizations

with a focus on gardening, nature, conservation and the environment offer demonstrations and information about their work. Live music and a food court are also on site.

Visitors can see many of the recent changes at Klehm, including a bioretention basin filled with wetland plants near the Nancy Olson Children’s Garden. The basin helps prevent erosion and slows down the flow of storm water through the property.

“The pond was finished last spring and looks even more spectacular as the plants grow and flourish around it. It’s a beautiful focal point and a breathtaking view as people come into Klehm,” Mills says.

One of the new vendors at the Garden Fair this year is Anthony Nied, CEO and president of Flowering Lawn, Inc. in

Eau Claire, Wis. A businessman, horticulturist and former owner of an organic lawn care company, he invented Flawn Seed Kits® that turn yards into flowering lawns.

Eight varieties of low-growing wildflowers and clover are designed to blend with grass and create a “flawn,” a flowering lawn that can take anywhere from six to 24 months to mature and is beneficial to people, pets and the environment, he says.

“It’s a trend growing in popularity because it’s an innovative solution to traditional lawn care that merges the utility of grass with the ecological benefits of wildflowers,” Nied says. “This is how lawns looked in the early 1900’s through mid-century before homeowners started using pesticides and lawn chemicals.”

People use the seed kits for different reasons, he says.

“Retirees like it because it is low maintenance. Other people like it because it is chemical-free and safe for the envi-

ronment, people and pets, and attracts pollinators like Monarch butterflies,” he says.

Angie Acosta, founder and owner of Branching Out, Inc., has been a vendor at the Garden Fair for 15 years. This year, she’ll feature items for sale at her new Garden Center opening this month at her business at 6538 Ill Rt. 173 in Poplar Grove (formerly Lane’s Country Market). It’s a seasonal shop that will be open every spring and fall or by appointment.

In addition to the plants, trees, shrubs, flowers and stone she normally brings to the fair, she’ll also have home décor, garden art, benches and more.

“I love plants and have an artistic side,” she says. “I love designing landscapes and putting plants together for seasonal beauty. What began as a hobby turned into a business and the next step is the Garden Center so we can share more living things and unique items with the public.”

What began as an opportunity to

promote her business has now grown into something more meaningful, she adds.

“We come back every year because we like the arboretum and the people who attend the fair. Everyone is so interested in nature and wants to have a good time. Many people come back year after year and everyone comes away with ideas on how to enhance and enjoy their own gardens,” she says.

Presale tickets are $8 each beginning April 23 at various locations, including Gensler Gardens, 8631 11th St., Davis Junction, and their location at 102 Orth Road, Loves Park; Village Green at 6101 Riverside and 2640 N. Main St., in Rockford; Didier Greenhouse, 4601 W. State St.; The Landscape Connection, 4472 S. Mulford Road; Meridian Nursery, 7219 Cunningham Road; and Pepper Creek, 7295 Harrison Ave. Tickets are $10 at the gate and free for Klehm members and kids under 12 years old. All money raised goes to improve the arboretum’s grounds and gardens. ❚

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MAY

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Kiwanis Club Gala Helps Young Artists

By Jim Taylor, managing editor

For more than a century, the Kiwanis Club of Rockford has tirelessly served youth in Rockford and the surrounding area. Founded on Jan. 20, 1917, the Rockford branch of this global organization is one of the oldest of 6,000 Kiwanis Clubs around the world.

“The very first Kiwanis Club was founded in Michigan in 1915, so we were pretty close after that,” says Lana Dresser, a Kiwanis Club of Rockford member.

This year, Dresser and fellow Kiwanis member Heather Hall Wang are co-chairing one of the Kiwanis Club of Rockford’s biggest fundraisers. The Budding Artists Gala is scheduled for Friday, May 10, at the Radisson Conference Center in Rockford. This annual event gives young artists in the region a unique opportunity to showcase their talent and earn money for their artwork.

“We select 30 students from 10

Rockford high schools,” says Hall Wang. “They each create some type of art piece.”

Students are free to choose their medium and the type of art piece they’d like to create.

“In the past we’ve had paintings, jewelry and sculpture,” says Dresser. “We even had a beautiful coffee table.

The art is auctioned off during the gala, with the artist taking home 50% of the proceeds. The other half goes to Kiwanis Club of Rockford to be distributed to area organizations that help children in the community.

“People start bidding and it’s a lot of fun,” says Hall Wang. “The auctioneers are just fantastic. The kids love it because they can make some money as well. Last year, our No. 1 piece was sold to the highest bidder for $2,500.”

For the artists, it’s a thrill to see the art that they’ve worked so hard to create

become the focus of a spirited bidding war. It’s also a chance for many young artists to experience the excitement of making their first art sale.

“It’s really exciting for the students because they get a chance to watch people bid over and over for their artwork,” says Hall Wang.

Tickets for the Budding Artists Gala are available for $75 and can be purchased from a Kiwanis Club of Rockford member, online at kiwanisclubofrockford.com or by sending a check to Kiwanis Charities, P.O. Box 8472, Rockford, IL, 61126. ❚

Treatment Options for Arthritis

By Stephanie N. Grimoldby

Dr. Dimitrios Fanopoulos is a rheumatologist with a geriatric specialty at Beloit Health System. One of the most common reasons patients come to see him is because of pain, connected with their loss of ability to do activities that were easy for them in the past.

A lot of those symptoms can be associated with arthritis, an inflammation of joints that typically affects the aging population, though there are some forms that do affect young people.

In fact, 95% of elderly patients have degenerative arthritis, but that doesn’t mean they all feel debilitating pain, Fanopoulos says. Some might have severe arthritis but not much pain.

When patients do complain of pain, there are always treatment options. Pain medication is not always the first option.

Physical therapy should come first, Fanopoulos says, because it can improve function without the side effects that often accompany medication.

Other treatment plans can include steroid injections to joints, tendons or muscles, or, especially for knees, lubricant injections in the joint. Both types of injections can provide temporary relief –sometimes lasting for months – and can be repeated if necessary: steroid injections every four months, lubricant injections every six months.

“If they work or they work partially and a patient is feeling comfortable with daily activities, this is an option,” Fanopoulos says.

If arthritis continues to worsen, it might be time to see an orthopedic surgeon for joint replacement – typically knees, hips or shoulders, he says. ❚

Dr. Dimitrios Fanopoulos

Discovery Town Exhibit

Through May 19, during museum hours. Kids are in charge of this city. Fly a plane, put out a fire, do a checkup on a pet, perform in the theater, deliver the mail and make a pizza. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Ken Ludwig’s ‘The Game’s Afoot’

April 18-21, Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. It’s December 1936 and Broadway star William Gillette, admired for his leading role as Sherlock Holmes, has invited his fellow cast members to his Connecticut castle for a weekend of revelry. But when one of the guests is stabbed to death, the festivities quickly turn dangerous. Cheek Theatre, Rockford College, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu.

Ken Stein Quartet

April 21, 3 p.m. This local favorite brings a signature blend of smooth grooves, infectious energy and inspired improvisations to the stage. Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Songwriter’s Workshop

April 23, 6 p.m. If you like to write songs and

learn more about this art, here’s your chance to connect with local songwriters and expand your toolbox while studying the tricks behind great songs. Be ready to perform, write and present in this community of artists. Rockford Public Library, Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., (815) 987-6641, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

Celebrating 41 Years of Costume Design

April 28, 2-5 p.m. This costume-style show spotlights the designs of Jeff Hendry, award-winning costume designer and former professor at Rockford University. Models include local dignitaries. Maddox Theatre, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu.

‘Annabella In July’

May 9-26, see website for times. Vanessa and Brian are a middle-aged couple taking an anniversary trip when they lose their way in the mountains. Finally, they come upon a ski lodge where, to their surprise, everyone immediately recognizes Vanessa as the glamorous, dazzling Annabella, who visits the resort every January. Artists’ Ensemble, Cheek Theatre, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org.

‘Soundscapes’

May 11, 7:30 p.m. The orchestra shares time-

Entertainment & Events

less works by composers who found inspiration in the awe-inspiring landscapes around them. Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-0049, rockfordsymphony.com.

Rockford Peaches Playdate

May 11, noon-4 p.m. Reenactors play an exhibit baseball game dressed like the Rockford Peaches. Wear your own 1940s gear and complete this trip through time. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com. ❚

The Rockford Symphony Orchestra shares natureinspired work May 11 at the Coronado.