Smart Living Weekly - August 16, 2017

Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • August 16, 2017

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Right in Our Region

South Beloit Goes Big for Its Centennial

See Page 16

Tips for Buying Furniture Chocolate Banana Muffins Fun at Summerfield Zoo Treating Eye Floaters Live Music at Prairie Street Brewing Co.

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4 Tickets to 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!

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 South Beloit Centennial Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Questions to Ask When Buying Furniture Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 God Loves Humility Your Kitchen .....................................................15 After-School Fuel for the Busy Family Your Outing .............................................. ......... 19 It’s Not too Late to Visit Summerfield Zoo Your Pet .............................................................21 Why Your Pet Needs Regular Grooming Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Learn About Eye Floaters Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Prairie Street Brewhouse Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26

Your Education ............................................. ....29 Upper Iowa University

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, Steven Wysong 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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Yay for Tourism!

W

e’re always happy to hear good news and Greater Rockford sure got some this past week.

During 2016, visitor spending in Rockford and Winnebago County reached an alltime high of $353 million, directly creating/ sustaining 2,888 jobs with $85.51 million in payroll, according to the Rockford Convention and Visitors Bureau.

An analysis of visitor spending since the Great Recession shows that tourism in Winnebago County is growing faster than in other major counties in Illinois. Spending in Winnebago County grew 39 percent since 2009, faster than 11 of the 12 other large counties examined and much faster than the set average of 29 percent. This growth was second only to growth in Chicago/Cook County.

“In more ways than one, Winnebago County is at the top in Illinois,” says Frank Haney, Winnebago County board chairman.

“As we work to grow investment and job creation in Winnebago County, let’s not forget that tourism is a quick, clean and efficient form of economic development.”

In 2016, local tax receipts generated by visitors – funds that help local governments pay for services residents rely upon – were $6.23 million and state tax receipts were $19.02 million.

Compared to 2015, visitor spending was up 1 percent, employment grew by 2.4 percent and wages grew by 5.6 percent. Importantly, local tax receipts grew by 5.5 percent and state tax receipts grew by 3.2 percent, according to numbers released by the Illinois Department of Commerce’s Office of Tourism and US Travel Association.

Clearly this is good news for all of us in the region, and it didn’t come about spontaneously. It’s the result of hard work on the part of many, many people who promote and maintain our best attractions, always believing Rockford is worth the effort.

Have a great Week! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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Amish Furniture

Final Weeks to get by Thanksgiving!

Bedroom and dining furniture from Daniel’s Amish Collection is DESIGNED TO INSPIRE! Daniel’s Amish features CUSTOM furniture built just for you with a nearly limitless selection of style, wood, finish, hardware, and size choices.

Our HEIRLOOM QUALITY furniture, constructed from sturdy North American hardwoods, is truly built to last a lifetime.

Choose your style. Coose your size. Choose your wood species. Choose your stain.

Gustafon’s Furniture is not responsible for delays from Daniels Amish and does not guarantee all orders placed these final weeks will arrive by Thanksgiving.

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Y H  G

Questions to Ask When Buying Furniture

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor Reclining furniture is very big, ou get what you pay for, when it in every age group, across all democomes to furniture, and there’s a graphics, says Johnson. “Don’t be growing demand nationwide for betterafraid of electric mechanisms in requality furniture, says Mitchell Johnson, cliners,” he says. “People worry too store manager of the new 6651 E. State much about the motors breaking, but St. Gustafson’s Furniture & Mattress that seldom happens. You’re more store. likely to break a recliner that has to “Both across the U.S. and here in our be manually raised and lowered. And region, people are tired of cheap furniture electric motors give you a full range that falls apart,” says Johnson. of motion, rather than stopping at certain Leather furniture remains popular, positions.” but Johnson cautions, “Be sure to ask When buying upholstered furniture, questions about leather quality, since the important question is not how the surthere are many imitations on the marface looks but what lies beneath. ket. We also sell a lot of fabric sofas,” “Ask good questions when shophe adds. “There’s a trend toward more ping,” advises Johnson. “Is the frame texture, with tweeds and corduroys and made from strong laminated wood or weaves. Today’s upholstery options are just plywood? Is there a reasonably good really wonderful – very durable but beauspring system that will distribute weight? tiful and comfortable. Most of today’s Is the padding made of high-density foam upholstery fabrics are made from PET, a or cheap fluff? Is the leather real?” highly durable polyester thread.”

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Reputable stores often have a cutaway model so you can see the materials below the surface.

Do business with people who are in it for the long haul, not fly-by-night chain stores with high turnover, suggests Johnson. “They have a real stake in making you happy and will deal with you more honestly.”

Along with the new East State Street location, Gustafson’s operates its original showroom at 808 W. Riverside Blvd. ❚

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I  W

God Loves Humility

S

ome things in scripture are crystal clear.

One is that God despises arrogance.

In hundreds of verses throughout the Old and New Testaments, God condemns arrogance and exalts humility. Indeed, it was Lucifer’s excessive pride that got him kicked out of Heaven. God told him:

“Since your vast business planning filled you with violent intent from top to bottom, you sinned, so I cast you away as defiled from the mountain of God ... Your heart grew arrogant because of your beauty; you annihilated your own wisdom because of your splendor.

Then I threw you to the ground in the presence of kings, giving them a good look at you!” (Ezekiel 28:16-19, ISV) Proverbs 11:2 tells us, “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.”

King David, the only human God referred to as “a man after my own heart” (I Sam. 13:14 & Acts 13:22), expressed humility. “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my

eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” (Psalm 131:1) Jeremiah 9:23 tells us, “... Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches …”

Jesus told his followers in Luke 14:11 (ESV): “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” When his disciples argued over

which of them was greatest, Jesus told them:

“If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (Mark 9:35) Paul instructs, in Philippians 2:3: “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

And in James 4:6: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

How are we to behave? “So be imitators of God, as his dear children. Live lovingly, just as the Messiah also loved us and gave himself for us as an offering and sacrifice, a fragrant aroma to God.” (Ephesians 5:1, ESV) ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Y K

After-School Fuel For Busy Families A

fter a long day at school, kids need a chance to unwind. Often that down time involves physical activity, and a nutritious snack is the perfect way to make sure kids are ready to take on their free time with gusto and recharge to keep going until bedtime.

A busy schedule may make the temptation for unhealthy convenience snacks strong, but it’s actually easier than you think to refuel with good-for-you foods on the go. One simple trick: use kids’ favorite ingredients in unexpected ways.

These Chocolate Banana Muffins show that a glass isn’t the only way to enjoy chocolate milk. When you use an option like TruMoo Chocolate Milk, you can feel better about serving up these muffins to your whole family.

TruMoo is made with fresh white milk sourced from local dairies, pure cocoa and just enough natural sugar to make it taste great; it’s a nutritious and delicious treat for adults and kids alike.

Find more delicious after-school and after-sports snack ideas at TruMoo.com.

Chocolate Banana Muffins

Ingredients 1 cup all-purpose flour or gluten-free allpurpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 2 tsp. baking powder 1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg 1/4 cup baking cocoa 1 1/2 cups TruMoo Chocolate Milk 4 Tb. butter, melted 1 tsp. vanilla extract 4 large eggs 3 medium bananas Old-fashioned rolled oats Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and cocoa. Add in milk, butter, vanilla and eggs. Continue mixing

until batter is formed.

Mix in bananas. Add spoonful of batter to greased muffin tins; fill about halfway then sprinkle batter with rolled oats.

Bake 25 minutes, or until golden on top. ❚ Source: Family Features

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R  O R

South Beloit Goes Big for Its Centennial

By Jermaine Pigee, deputy editor

R

esidents of South Beloit, Ill., are in the process of planning a celebration that’s 100 years in the making.

The community is ready to celebrate South Beloit’s Centennial by putting on a four-day celebration that takes place Aug. 24-27. The free festival gives residents and visitors a look back at the past 100 years and a look ahead to the future.

“This is a celebration of the town, its history and everything about it,” says John Patrick, a member of the Centennial Planning Committee. “This is something every town goes through. Our time has arrived, so we are going to have a little celebration.”

The centennial will include plenty of weekend activities, including an opening ceremony on Thursday, Aug. 24, at South Beloit City Park, at the corner of Dorr Road and Winnebago Avenue.

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A time capsule ceremony will precede the South Beloit High School football game on Friday, Aug. 25. Patrick says the capsule will be buried at the school, not to be opened again for 100 years. There also will be a fireworks display at the conclusion of the game.

Festivities on Saturday, Aug. 26, will include a guided paddle trip around the nearby waterways. It starts at Turtle Creek, in South Beloit, before entering the Rock River, where paddlers will enjoy a scenic voyage to Macktown Forest Preserve, located downriver in Rockton, Ill. A Centennial Parade will run through town starting at 10 a.m.

Saturday. Among other sights, the parade will include local drill teams, antique cars, various floats and local Shriners driving small, motorized

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vehicles. Patrick estimates the parade will last at least two hours.

The centennial celebration will run side-by-side with the annual South Beloit Corn Boil & Street Dance, which also takes place Aug. 26 at the park. It will include a sand volleyball tournament, bags tournament, flea market and fire truck display.

R  O R been restored, and it has all the city’s historical displays and memorabilia from the past 100 years.

There will also be tours and people will learn about the town and its history.”

The South Beloit Fire and Police Departments will also have open houses on Sunday.

While he wants them to have fun, Patrick hopes people can gain a better knowledge about South Beloit during the celebration.

“This was a little town with lots of industry at one time, and some of those industries have gone away,” Patrick says.

“Even though South Beloit was a town of only about 4,000 people 15 or 20 years ago, there is a new industrial park and they have a lot of new, smaller industries that have come into town.”

Patrick, a lifelong resident of South Beloit and director of the South Beloit Historical Society, also calls his hometown a community that’s “reborn.”

“There will also be live music in the park all day on Saturday,” Patrick says.

Saturday’s festivities conclude with a fireworks show, which will happen at the city park. It will honor the late Larry Cornellier, who died earlier this year and founded Cornellier Fireworks in 1972.

Sunday, Aug. 27, will feature an open house and car show at the historic Bushnell Wheeler House. Visitors can trace South Beloit’s history while viewing a car show and listening to live music.

“The big thing on Sunday will be the open house at the Wheeler House,” Patrick says. “It’s a 150-year-old home that’s

“In the past couple of years, all of a sudden, we’ve become a destination community,” he says. “We’ve grown from about 4,000 people up to 8,500 people, so that tells you people want to live here, they want their kids to go to school here and they like the town. There aren’t a lot of problems in South Beloit. It’s a good, clean town.”

There are some areas of the city park that still have standing water, due to recent storms. Patrick says that won’t have much of an impact on the celebration.

“It’s a big park and we’ll be fine,” he says. “We obviously wish there was no water in the park.”

The park normally provides ample parking, but due to flooding, visitors to the festival will have to park at the nearby high school. A shuttle service will be available for visitors to travel to and from the event at no charge.

Visit southbeloit.org for more information on the South Beloit Centennial, or call (815) 389-3023. ❚

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Y O

ummerfield Zoo closes for the season on Oct. 1 this year, so you still have plenty of time to visit on the weekends.

Through the rest of the season, when you visit on Saturday or Sunday, you can say “hi” to your favorite zoo residents and meet some zoo babies, including reindeer, goats and a kangaroo. Several more babies have made their debut this season, as well.

“This season we’re really looking toward the future,” says Rick Anderson, one of the owners of Summerfield Zoo, 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere. “We have several new faces joining our zoo family, including Rusty the red kangaroo and a pair of playful North American river otters. You can also see the Arctic Foxes in their new habitat, which was completed late last fall.”

More improvements to the zoo are in progress.

“We’re really excited for this year because we have a lot of new exhibits planned for construction, including new habitats for the grey wolves, African crested porcupines, North American river otters and others,” says Anderson. “The zoo is going to be expanding quite a bit.”

Summerfield Zoo specializes in providing a personal animal experience for all ages.

“As a small zoo, visitors can get up close and meet many of our animals,” says Anderson. “We have everything from A for alligator to Z for zebra. We also have everything in between, including mountain lions, hyena, wolves, monkeys and much more.”

Visitors enjoy seeing animal presentations, bottle-feeding baby goats, taking pony rides and touching animals in the petting zoo. There’s also Carmen’s Café and Prancer’s gift shop.

(David & Adrienne Olson photo)

See What’s New at Summerfield Zoo S

Baby Mountain Lion

For more information about Summerfield Zoo and its exotic animals, visit summerfieldfarmandzoo.com, call (815) 547-4852 or follow the zoo on Facebook.

The zoo is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.. Admission is $10 per adult, $8 per senior and $5 per child. All proceeds go to the care of the animals, many of which are rescue animals. ❚

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Y P

Healthy Pets Need Regular Grooming

By Peggy Werner

G

ood grooming for cats and dogs helps animals to feel better and can even make them look fashionable.

Angie Johnson, owner of All Paws Beauty Salon and Day Care, 130 N. First St., in Rockford since 2006, has been in the pet grooming business most of her life. Her mom worked as a veterinarian technician and recruited her daughter’s help when needed.

Johnson also grooms pets at no cost for Noah’s Ark, to help the animals get adopted.

Even if you want your animal to have long hair, it needs to be groomed on a regular schedule, year-round. Toenails left untrimmed can cause a dog to have arthritis. Cat claws can grow too long and grow into the soft pads of their paws. And ear infections are reduced with regular cleaning.

“Not all animals are crazy about being groomed, but if they stay on a schedule,

they feel loved and cared for,” Johnson says, adding that a gentle massage while bathing an animal can help the pet relax.

Neglect hurts.

“If the hair gets all knotted up, it can be painful when brushed, and matted-up hair can cause skin irritations, which can lead to infection, because the skin is not able to breathe,” Johnson says.

Regular grooming can also help pet owners to feel their breed is trendy. For

example, a dog Mohawk cut is popular.

Only those breeds with thick, curly or wavy hair can pull it off.

The lion cut looks good on Persians, Himalayans and other long-haired cats.

When trimming the fur, Johnson leaves a “mane” around the neck, “boots” on the feet and a “poof” at the end of the tail.

Depending on the breed, grooming may be needed monthly or, at minimum, four times a year. ❚

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Y H

Treating the ‘Little Insects’ in Your Eyes

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor

F

loaters aren’t usually a serious problem, but they can be annoying.

“They look like little insects flying around in front of you,” Yavitz says. “It bothers people – they think there’s something in front of them when there’s not. It’s actually a problem inside the eye.”

People often complain of floaters after they get cataract surgery, Yavitz adds. Floaters are also more common in people who are nearsighted or who have had inflammation in their eyes.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, floaters are tiny clumps of gel or cells that float inside the vitreous of your eye. These tiny clumps

looking at something plain, like a blank wall or blue sky.

Though floaters tend to fade away over time, ophthalmologists can remove severe occurrences by surgery. Yavitz removes floaters at his office, saving patients up to $500 in comparison to going to a surgery center.

“I use a laser to remove them,” Yavitz says. “I can see them by shining a light into the eye under a lens. They look like little white specks floating around, and I use the laser to disintegrate them.” ❚ (Paid Advertorial) look like small specks, dots, circles, lines or cobwebs in your field of vision. They deceivingly appear to be floating in front of you, and are easier to notice when

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

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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

Nature Kids Programs Through Aug. 22, Tues. 10-11:30 a.m. Bring the kids along for some natural fun. This program offers nature play time featuring water play, sand Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 play and stone art. Naturegorockford.com at the Confluence Environmental Learning Center, 306 Dickop St., South Beloit, Ill., (815) 200-6910, natureattheconfluence.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

City Market Paddle Through Aug. 25, 6 p.m. Kick off your weekend with a paddling adventure topped off by a visit to the Rockford City Market. Rocktown Adventures, 313 N. Madison St., Rockford, (815) 636-9066, rocktownadventures.com.

Winnebago County Fair Aug. 16-20. Family fun at the 96th annual fair includes mouthwatering food, exhilarating rides, petting zoo and livestock shows, entertainment, tractor displays, bull riding, barrel racing and demo derby. 500 W. First St., Pecatonica, Ill., (815) 239-1641, winnebagocountyfair.com.

RAM: Coffee with the Curator: David Potter Aug. 18, 10-11 a.m. Join a lively conversation with Rockford Art Museum Curator Carrie Johnson and Greenwich Village Art Fair Chair David Potter about the 69th annual art fair. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

Atwood’s Excellent Adventure Aug. 19, 9-11 a.m. Bring your team for an “Amazing Race”-style trip around Atwood Park.

Meet at the lodge before following a marked trail just over 1 mile long. There will be stops along the way, where staff will greet you with some challenges. Atwood Center, 2685 New Milford School Road, Rockford, (815) 966-8747, rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood.

Concerts on the Creek: Justin Gates and Daniel Souvigny Aug. 19, 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.

Japanese Summer Festival Aug. 19-20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Foster a better understanding of the Japanese culture. This year’s festival includes taiko drum performances, tea ceremonies, traditional Japanese dance, origami,

The Winnebago County Fair returns Aug. 16-20 with mouthwatering food, exhilarating rides, live entertainment and much more.

children’s games and more. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

Rockton Art and Craft Fair Aug. 20, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Visit artist booths to purchase unique items, and enjoy food available from multiple vendors. Proceeds provide scholarships to local female students pursuing the arts. Settlers Park, Blackhawk Blvd. & Hawick St., Rockton, Ill., (815) 509-7582, hononegahwomansclub.weebly.com.

Polish Fest Aug. 20, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. The 36th annual Polish Fest features Polish food, beer, dancers, bingo, pull tabs, live music, children’s games and more.

St. Stanislaus Church grounds, 201 Buckbee St., Rockford, (815) 965-3013, st-stanislaus.org.

Klehm Woodsong Concert: Trinadora Rocks Aug. 20, gate opens 4 p.m., concert 6 p.m.

Keyboardist Jannie Nelson and guitarist Ron Holm lead the band through a lively repertoire that includes original, standards and vintage songs ranging from country to jazz to Celtic.

Klehm Arboretum, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, Klehm.org.

AJG Tuesday Evenings in the Gardens: Cody Canada & the Departed Aug. 22, Doors open 5 p.m., performance 5:45 p.m. Texas-based group with a sound that’s a fusion of American Red Dirt/Southern Rock/ Alternative Rock. Opening act: The Harmaleighs.

Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org. ❚

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WDL

Dockside Live Mondays Run Through September

By Peggy Werner

P

rairie St. Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., Rockford, serves up delicious food, great beer and an unbeatable view of the Rock River. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner seven days a week, with a rotating lineup of 16 craft beers on tap.

The restaurant and brewery are located inside the 85,000-square-foot Prairie Street Brewhouse, a multi-use venue that was home to the Rockford Brewing Co., which operated from 1849 to 1939.

Restaurant decor features exposed original brick and ductwork.

“It’s a mix of old and new, and people like the natural look of the original building, with the warmth of wood,” says Chris Manuel, vice president of Prairie St. Brewing Co., and co-owner with Reed Sjostrom and Dustin Koch.

Using local and fresh ingredients as much as possible, the menu features appetizers such as Korean street tacos, short rib nachos, beer-battered cheese

curds and a rotating Poutine of the Day, with flavors like cubano or pastrami.

“Handhelds” are sandwiches or tacos filled with pulled pork, shrimp, turkey club ingredients or burgers, including black bean or country-fried portobello vegetarian options. There are soups and salads, flatbreads and sides, including smashed beets, onion rings, sweet potato fries and the “beer and cheese fondue chips,” using chips made by Ole Salty’s.

Entrees include roasted chicken with a sweet corn and tomato succotash; grilled Faroe Island salmon with cucumber, buttermilk, potato and dill; and a cured salmon poke bowl, with nori-rubbed and house-cured salmon, edamame, avocado, sesame seeds, fried shallots and house sriracha, served on a bed of sushi rice.

For dessert, there are root beer floats made with Prairie St.’s homemade root beer; tres leches; Johnnie’s cheesecakes; and a “beer ice cream sandwich,” made with rotating flavors of Dairyhaus ice cream.

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, (815) 904-6612. LD M-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11 am- breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., 10pm, Sun 11am-7pm. $.

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

Aug. 16

Head to Prairie Street for Dockside Live on Mondays through September.

Dinner on the Dock is on Thursdays from 5-10 p.m., through the end of this month, with a special sandwich menu and live music from 6-9 p.m.

The Prairie St. Brewing Co. Brewpub (located upstairs) is open Sun.-Wed. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Thurs. 11 a.m.- midnight, and Fri.-Sat. until 2 a.m. The Dockside Taproom (located downstairs) is open Sun.-Thurs. 11 a.m.-midnight and Fri.Sat. 11 a.m.-2 a.m. For reservations, call (815) 227-9427. ❚

To advertise call 815-316-2300

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, Ill. 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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F  E

Fast-Track Your Career Change at UIU

By Chris Linden, executive editor hifting your career path or reinforcing accounting, criminal justice, ing your income doesn’t have to health services administration, mean moving away to a college town or human services and psychology. spending long nights working online. At Small class sizes of 15 to 24 stuUpper Iowa University’s Rockford and dents are the norm at UIU, meanJanesville satellite campuses, back-toing students can enjoy personalschool adults are engaging in an accelerized, interactive learning and ated curriculum designed for eight-week guidance, unlike some schools terms and just one or two classes a week. with crowded lecture halls, or “In a diverse mix of traditional and conversely, purely self-motivatnon-traditional students – many of whom ed online learning. The accelerated curare single parents, or married-with-chilriculum helps students to earn their dedren, back-to-school employees – most gree in a reasonable timeframe. carry a full-time job, while also manag“If you just stick with it, you could, in ing a household and night classes,” says many cases, be finished within 18 months Darlene Curcio-Elsbury, an English into two years,” says Curcio-Elsbury. The structor at UIU. “One of the beauties of workload is designed for people with Upper Iowa is that you don’t have to give busy lives, yet doesn’t compromise learnup your job to earn a degree. You can do ing outcomes or academic standards, she it all.” adds.

Classes are available both in-person Unlike a four-year school or a comand online for nearly 40 majors, includmunity college, where general courses

S

may or may not apply to a degree, all UIU courses do apply. And, credits transfer from other colleges. Also unlike traditional schools, UIU has students who are highly motivated.

“They’re not here to waste time,” says Curcio-Elsbury. “They’re not here to pick up dates or to party hardy. They’re not trying to figure things out. They’ve figured out what they want and they’re going for the gold.”

To learn out more, visit uiu.edu. ❚

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