Smart Living Weekly - May 18, 2016 by Northwest Quarterly Mag

Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • May 18, 2016

™

Right in Our Region

Young at Heart Festival Returns for 45th Year By Sarah Soenke, deputy editor

ne of the Loves Park-Machesney Park area’s most popular celebrations will kick off summertime on Memorial Day weekend. The 45th annual Young at Heart Festival (YAH), running May 27-30 on the Loves Park City Hall grounds, 100 Heart Blvd., returns with a lively mix of entertainment, rides, food, ﬁreworks, a two-hour parade, pageant and more. Chase Bryant, country singer and songwriter, will headline this year’s music lineup. “We booked him in February, just before his hit ‘Little Bit of You’ came out and topped country charts for awhile, so we got really lucky with that,” says Diana Johnson, festival chair and executive director of the Parks Chamber of Commerce. Continued on p. 22

Live a Better Quality of Life Reading & Using Smart Living Weekly Proudly Serving the Needs of 326,000 Neighbors - For Your Home, Health & Fun! Yard Work: Use the Right Tool • ‘Masks’ at Freeport Art Museum • All About Luxury Vinyl Flooring Protect Your Cell Phone • Tips for a Healthy Lawn • Thrive Café at Peak Fitness

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ge i @ m pa e g Bi to Se in a W w ta Po

n iving g Sm mart a r t L ivi ivin ng Weekly

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April 20

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .........................Cover & p. 22 Young at Heart Festival Outdoor Living .................................................... 8 Your Healthy Lawn Your Home .................................................. ...... 11 High-Function, High-Style Flooring Inspiration & Worship .......................................12 Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Outdoor Living ............................................17, 29 Your Health ............................................. ........... 25 Age-Related Macular Degeneration Your Fun ................................................... .......... 27

Dining Locally .......................................... ......... 28 Your Outings ............................................... .......30 MASKS at Freeport Art Museum Your Technology ...............................................33 Extend the Life of Your Cell Phone Battery Your Outings ............................................... .......34 Paulson’s Agricultural Museum in Argyle

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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden

HOME LOAN

PRING PECIAL

Extra .25 Rate Discount %*

on 15 or 20 year Fixed Rate Mortgage, Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit!* APPLY ONLINE

@ membersalliance.org or at any of our 5 locations

Your deposits are insured to $250,000 per account. This institution is not federally insured.

*.25% Special Interest Rate Discount valid on new loan proceeds to be held in MACU portfolio and for applications submitted during the promotional period of March 21 – May 31, 2016 only; disbursement must occur by June 30, 2016, to qualify. The Special Interest Rate Discount is applied on the Note Rate. The Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) loan has an adjustable rate feature and is subject to a $10 annual fee. For HELOCs, the Special Interest Rate Discount is applied to the initial interest rate for the first year and does not apply to later adjustments. The initial rate will be in effect for one year. If the index were used for the initial rate, the rate would be 3.375% APR. The interest rate is adjusted annually based on the Prime Rate as published in The Wall Street Journal. Consult your tax advisor regarding tax deductibility. Subject to credit approval. Rates may vary.

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Managing Editor Janine Pumilia Deputy Editor Sarah Soenke Assistant Editor Lindsey Gapen Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes General Manager/Northwest Business Magazine Dave Marino Account Executives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.NWQSmartLiving.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 2016 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.

Thanks, Balto I

t was too cold to work in the yard, Saturday, so the timing for an informal get-together at a neighbor’s house was perfect. We enjoyed the splendor of May from inside a cozy kitchen, fireplace crackling. Snacks and drinks in hand, we talked about everything from our jobs and kids to our favorite plumbers and the wildlife we cherish in our wooded neighborhood. The indigo buntings and Baltimore orioles are back! The wrens and bluebirds have moved into the homes we hung for them. Did you see the blue heron? We discuss the bat families dwelling in our rooflines; we love our mosquito-devouring bat friends. The excuse for this get-together was to bid farewell to a favorite local character – a handsome husky-mix named Balto. He’s been living with his “grandparents” while their grown daughter gets settled out of state and now it’s time for him to move. We empathize with our neighbors’ loss, most of us being dog owners. We all like Balto. Tales about Balto “unleash” other pet stories that set us howling. Turns out nearly all of us have owned a dog who absconded with a plateful of hamburgers or a Sunday dinner roast at least once. Walking home, we say, “That was fun. Why don’t we do this more often?” We’re all so darned busy. Before we know it, a decade has passed and our neighbors have never crossed our threshold. Enjoying neighbors was a way of life for our parents and grandparents. Now it’s a stated goal on the Transform Rockford formal plan. What happened? Surely our elders were as busy as we are today. Why is it so hard to find time for each other? Blame it on social media, TV, whatever. I don’t know the answer and I’m as guilty as anyone. But I suspect that “being neighborly” is a simple joy of life we shouldn’t give up so easily. We’re happier, healthier and safer when we make time for our neighbors and friends. Thankfully, the fix is as easy as inviting a few folks over for some s’mores or a beer ... or dog treats. Thanks, Balto, for the reminder. ❚ Janine Pumilia Executive Editor

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May 18

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New Tools Make Lawn Care Easier By Peggy Werner

f you’re looking for quality products to manage the care and feeding of your lawn, the experts at Cherry Valley Landscape Center, 7711 Newburg Road, can help. The family-owned business was in the landscaping and snow removal business for 16 years before it opened a “one stop shop” in 2010 that caters to landscape companies and contractors but also offers a wide variety of products to homeowners. One of the newest items on the showroom floor is the Hustler Raptor Flip-up zero-turn riding lawn mower. At the push of a button, the front deck can be raised and lowered for easy cleaning and blade changing. “This technology is revolutionary, when it comes to what’s new in mowing equipment,” says Rob Johnson, sales manager at Cherry Valley Landscape Center. “It’s especially nice for maintain-

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ing the mower and less storage space is needed.” When purchasing a mower, the size of the lawn determines the size of the lawn mower needed; quality of cut, comfort, durability and price range figure into the equation, too, he says. In addition to lawn care equipment, Cherry Valley Landscape Center sells snow removal equipment, salt spreaders, landscape materials, premium hardwood mulch, colored mulch, stone, fertilizer,

May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

grass seed, ice melt products and Unilock paver and wall system products. It also runs a full-service small engine parts and repair shop and will work on most brands of equipment, including snow plows. Ever introducing new lines of product, the business recently added TruckCraft, WeatherGuard and Buyers truck accessories to its showroom. For more information, contact Cherry Valley Landscape Center at (815) 977-5268. ■

O L

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REEL RANDOM JACKPOT WINS THIS SPRING:

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May 18

shoes, boots and handbags and much one, from traditional to contemporary. more.

for the pantry, garage, more laundry room helps to emphasize, thanroom, ever home office and basement.

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March 30 April April20 13

The Yard Care Experts

MOWING FERTILIZING HYDROSEEDING Call Today for a Free Estimate

815.877.3500 EwaldServices.com 10 4 4 14 10

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Y H  G

Luxury Vinyl Tile: Functional and High-Style By Janine Pumilia ust like other home materials, flooring is trending toward handsome but easy-care materials, says Kevin Rose, president of Carpetland USA Colortile, 326 N. Alpine Road, Rockford. “The most innovative new thing in the flooring world is luxury vinyl, which comes in planks (LVP) or in tiles (LVT),” says Rose. “People are thrilled with how good it looks and how well it wears.” Not to be confused with the plasticlooking vinyl floors of yesterday, luxury vinyl imitates natural wood and stone products with uncanny accuracy. The image on the surface of the vinyl is topped with a durable finish that resists stains, scratches and dents. Vinyl products are softer and warmer underfoot than real stone or tile and far easier to install, although Rose still recommends professional installation. Unlike laminate flooring, which can disintegrate in moisture, or solid wood

floors, which can warp in the Midwest’s fluctuating humidity, “Luxury vinyl is 100 percent waterproof, which means it can be used in basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens and anyplace moisture could be a problem,” says Rose. Trending now are much wider planks and much larger tile sizes. Hard surface flooring continues to gain ground over carpet. Luxury vinyl is taking market share away from laminate flooring, but solid wood and engineered wood floors are still wildly popular. We’re covering fewer square feet of our homes in carpet these days, but it’s still highly valued in certain rooms for its warmth, softness and beauty, especially in four-season climates like ours. “Carpet was probably 65 percent of our business 10 years ago and now it’s 50 percent,” says Rose. “We’re still laying a lot of carpet.” Rose says the durability of carpet

varies greatly and “you really do get what you pay for” when it comes to choosing a carpet of good fiber with adequate face weight, density and twist. Carpetland is the longest continually running flooring store in Rockford and has a second location in Sycamore, at 1719 Dekalb. ❚

Get SLW Home & Garden articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving. com and start your e-Edition today.

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MOWING FERTILIZING HYDROSEEDING Call Today for a Free Estimate

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I  W

Mining Your Pentecost Riches

ometimes we lose sight of the most important things we have. But much like finding old treasure in an attic, the rediscovery can be magical. So it is with the gift of holy spirit, first given to Christian believers on a Jewish Pentecost holiday more than 2,000 years ago. This past Sunday, Christians around the world celebrated Pentecost, which is 50 days after Easter and closes the Easter season. It marks the day God chose to equip His children with the spiritual power and courage needed to carry Christ’s message to the world. In Acts 1:4-5, just before he ascends to Heaven, the resurrected Christ tells his apostles to stay in Jerusalem and wait for the gift his Father has promised them. “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the holy spirit.” By Acts 2:1, when the day of Pentecost had come, miracles commenced. After receiving holy spirit and witnessing the miracles, Peter boldly quoted the prophesy of Joel about the coming of this day, then boldly preached Christ. Shortly before this, he had been denying Christ and hiding in fear of authorities. “Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about 3,000 were added to their number that day.” (Acts 2:41). It’s significant that God chose the Jewish holiday of Pentecost to bestow the gift of holy spirit on mankind. Also known as the Feast of Weeks, Pentecost (“penta” means five) commemorates the day Moses received the law (Torah) on Mt. Sinai, 50 days after death “passed over” the firstborn Jews in Egypt who painted their doorposts with the blood of a sacrificed lamb to escape the 10th plague wrought by God through Moses. Hence, the Age of Law began at Sinai 50 days after Passover; the Age of Love began in Jerusalem 50 days after Easter, when holy spirit was given to those who believe in Jesus Christ, “our Passover lamb” (I Cor. 5:7b), who spilled his blood, causing eternal death to “pass over” those who believe, even to this day. Enjoy your treasure hunting in Acts chapters 1 and 2. ■ – Janine Pumilia 12

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May 18

Y K

Impressive Fruit Pies and Tarts Made Easy B

erry season means colors, tastes and aromas that are sure to please. With a variety of gorgeous fresh fruits at your fingertips, why not whip up a fabulous fruit pie or tart to surprise family or share with friends? From family dinners to spur-of-the-moment picnics, pies are easy to make and easy for family and friends to appreciate. To save time in the kitchen, start with Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts for a flaky, tender base. Just unroll it into your favorite pie plate or tart pan, spoon in a delicious fruit filling, bake and enjoy.

Perfect Apple Pie Serves: 8

Ingredients:

Crust • 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box Filling • 6 cups thinly sliced, peeled apples • 3/4 cup sugar • 2 tablespoons all-purpose ﬂour • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/4 teaspoon salt • 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 1 tablespoon lemon juice

Crust • 1 Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, softened as directed on box Filling • 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened • 1/3 cup sugar • 1 tablespoon orangeﬂavored liqueur or orange juice • 4 cups assorted fresh whole berries • 1/3 cup red currant jelly, melted

Directions: Heat oven to 450ºF. Prepare pie crust as directed on package for one-crust baked shell using 9-inch tart pan with removable bottom. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool completely. In small bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and liqueur; beat until

smooth and well blended. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly in cooled baked shell. Top with berries; brush berries with melted jelly to glaze. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving. Store in refrigerator. ❚ Source: Family Features

Directions: Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom. In large bowl, gently mix filling ingredients; spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust. Wrap excess top crust under bottom crust edge, pressing edges together to seal; flute. Cut slits or shapes in several places in top crust. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown. Cover edge of crust with 2- to 3-inchwide strips of foil after first 15 to 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool on cooling rack at least 2 hours before serving.

Fresh Berry Cream Tart Serves: 8

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May 18

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O L

Is Your Lawn Mower Ready to Work Hard? By Peggy Werner

eautiful spring days may be calling you outdoors to get some sunshine and start working in the yard, but make sure that lawn mower is ready to do its best job for you. A spring tune-up can increase fuel efficiency by about one-third, extend the life of the engine, reduce repair costs, and decrease emissions by half, says Tim Kinney, manager of Lincoln Rent-All and Sales at two locations in Rockford; 6635 E. Riverside Blvd. and 3110 Auburn St. The business sells and services Toro, Lawn Boy and Snapper lawn mowers and will pick up any lawn mower and deliver it back to your home for $60, in addition to service costs. Getting a lawn mower ready for spring starts in the fall, when you make sure the engine is empty of fuel and the under deck is clean and free of grass build-up, Kinney says. Gas out of the pump lasts about

30 days before it starts to break down and collect moisture, especially with the addition of ethanol in recent years, says Kinney. Too much moisture in fuel will prevent an engine from starting. Other mower maintenance includes changing the oil once a year or every 25

hours of use, changing the spark plug and air filter, and sharpening the blade. Clean oil prevents the engine from getting clogged up. A spark plug’s health is directly linked to engine performance, including power and fuel economy. A clean air filter helps to maintain the proper air and fuel ratio, allowing the mower to have the best fuel efficiency. A sharp blade not only gives your lawn a clean cut, but also protects the lawn from weakening and being susceptible to disease. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact the business through its website at lincolnrent-all. com, call the Riverside location at (815) 633-9322 or the Auburn location at (815) 968-0931. ❚

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May 18

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May 18

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R  O R

Young at Heart Continued from Cover

“We also have a lot of local bands playing, everything from rock to country. We like to have a variety of music for everyone.” YAH starts off with classic rock performances by Redline 7000 and American English on Friday night. Saturday is Country Day, with Southern Charm and Ethan Bell performing before the fireworks and Chase Bryant’s 10 p.m. show. Sunday features jazz, gospel, R&B and rock with Rockford-native Harlan Jefferson, Missing Links and Audio Drive. Continuing the tradition, Clutch Cargo closes out the festival on Monday. Children have their own special entertainment to anticipate. “Kids Day, which is Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., has changed a little bit for us this year,” says Johnson. “We’re introducing a new nine-hole mini putt

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golf course, starting at 1 p.m., and we’ll have costumed characters on the grounds for kids to meet and take photos with. There’ll be Disney’s Cinderella and Belle, Wonderful Woman and Captain USA during the event.” Billy the Balloon Guy will again provide free balloons Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m., and Jim Gill, Brian Holt and Mr. Steve will perform throughout the afternoon. Ride wristbands for Kids Day are available for $20 at the gate and $15 in advance. “It’s really fun to see the kids just having a ball out there on Kids Day,” says Johnson. “When the weather’s nice, we can have almost 1,500 children here. It’s a lot of hard work to put together, but when you see the kids out, running around and having a good time, it’s all worth it.” Other cornerstone festival events will return, too. The two-hour YAH Parade steps off at Woodward at 9 a.m. on

May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Saturday. Then, the seventh annual Young at Heart Idol takes place Saturday afternoon from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Kids ages 10 to 18 and up can compete in their age categories for cash prizes. Last year, around 27 finalists performed, says Johnson. “Winners are based on applause, so the more of your friends and family you can bring in, the better,” she says. The main festival is preluded by two contest event favorites: YAH Pageant on May 14 and a Kids Fishing Derby on May 21, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. in Martin Park.

R  O R YAH’s festival food is a main attraction for the weekend’s estimated 25,000-30,000 attendees, as well. YAH welcomes 17 vendors serving up classic festival fare, including corn dogs, funnel cakes, Italian ice, mini doughnuts, beer, ice cream, barbecue ribs, fried Twinkies and Oreos, and the famous Loves Park Fire Department pork chop sandwiches and hamburgers. This year’s winning button design was created by Harlem High School senior Grant Hume and features a colorful festival scene underneath a plane-created,

heart-shaped cloud. Every year, Harlem High School art teacher Barb Kurilla has her students design buttons for the festival and helps the Parks Chamber of Commerce select the winning submission. The buttons are then produced by Easter Seals, a nonprofit that assists children and adults with autism and other disabilities. “Starting in 2003, Harry’s Buttons, in Tinley Park, began producing our buttons for us. That was later sold to Easter Seals, and they just opened up a branch in Rockford last year,” says Johnson. “We’re hoping to have a couple of members from Easter Seals join us for the opening ceremonies this year, too, to thank them for working on the buttons.” YAH organizers are committed to making the festival as family friendly as possible, from the entertainment and event choices to the admission

pricing and security. It takes so many members and organizations from the Parks area to put on the event, says Johnson, that anyone should be able to find something to enjoy at the festival. “We probably have close to 200 volunteers, including everyone from the people signing up for shifts during the event to the businesses that help sell our buttons for the weeks leading up to it,” she says. “I think that’s what I really like about Young at Heart. It’s a whole community of people putting this together – it doesn’t matter if you’re from Loves Park or Rockford or Machesney Park. It’s just nice to have people that really enjoy the festival that much.” Buttons for the festival are $10 at the gate and allow admission for all four days. They can also be purchased in advance for $7 at various locations. Children ages 6 and under get in free with an adult. For more information and a list of button sellers, visit parkschamber.com/ yah-home. ❚

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May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H

What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration? Y ou’ve probably heard the term, but exactly what is age-related macular degeneration? It’s an age-related change of the retina that can cause blurriness, distortion, or a gray spot in one’s central vision. This condition can be seen in up to 30 percent of people over the age of 50. It’s hereditary and more common in women and patients with blue irises. Smoking is a major risk factor. There are two types of AMD, each with very distinct features. Dry AMD evolves slowly over many years with gradual degenerative changes of the central retina, while wet AMD may progress quickly over days or weeks. Features of the wet form include bleeding or fluid collection, both of which arise from an abnormal growth of blood vessels underneath the retina.

How Is It Diagnosed? In the early stages, macular degeneration is best diagnosed by your physician during a dilated examination. As it increases in severity, the patient may notice distortion in her vision that hampers her reading. A checkerboard called the Amsler Grid can make it easier for a patient to detect early damage to their macula. Your physician may run a number of tests, including optical coherence tomography and flourescein angiography.

How Is Macular Degeneration Treated? Wet AMD can be treated with injections of medication that can stabilize vision in most patients and improve vision in some. Laser is occasionally used to treat patients resistant to medications. In patients with dry AMD, a proven combination of highdose vitamins can reduce the rate of

progression. Frequent monitoring of both types of macular degeneration has been found significantly effective in reducing the rate of blindness. ■ Source: Miller Eye Center, Rockford

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Learn more about Rockford and how it is the perfect getaway for

Chris Manuel, Dustin Koch, Reed Sjostrom

food, culture and outdoor adventure.

Prairie Street Brewhouse

Request your GoRockford guide at gorockford.com/vguide.

James Purifoy

Al Castrogiovanni

Zina Horton

15th & Chris

Alchemy

Zammuto’s

Real. Original. Delicious. Rockford, Illinois, is filled with Delicious Destinations that make it a can’t-miss culinary adventure. An impressive list of local chefs have been delighting diners and diverse palates for years. They know that to get the best tasting creations, fresh food is better and that farmers are a chef’s best friend. Whether you are grabbing some of the best burgers of your life from 15th & Chris, sampling the Real. Orignal. granita from Zammuto’s, trying the latest trends and fusion foods at Alchemy or having a pint of the “beer that made Milwaukee jealous,” the Nikelob, at Prairie Street Brewhouse, you’ll be In Good Company when you pull up a chair at our table – and you will be glad you did. Smart Living @gorockford Weekly 18 26 | May #gorockford | gorockford.com

Y F

AE: “Visiting Mr. Green” Thru May 22, Thu. 7:30 p.m., Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 4 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Mr. Green and Ross can’t stand one another, but the judge who ordered Ross to visit Mr. Green doesn’t want to hear it. Hearts are changed in this lively comedy/ drama. An Artists Ensemble production. Cheek Theatre, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org. Dinner On the Dock Opening May 19, Thu. 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Deck opens at 4 p.m. Enjoy live music, great food and drinks by the river. Prairie Street Brewhouse, 200 Prairie St., (815) 227-9427, psbrewhouse.com. The Art of Bonsai May 19, 7 p.m. Learn about what makes a bonsai: a dwarfed tree shaped like something found in nature. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815)316-3307,andersongardens.org. Budding Artists '16 May 20, 6-9 p.m. The Kiwanis Club of Rockford hosts a gala evening fundraising event with an opportunity to buy original art from the area’s best high school student artists. Mauh-NahTee-See Country Club, 5151 Guilford Road, Rockford, kiwanisclubofrockford.com. Rockford City Market Opening May 20, 3:30-8:30 p.m. Shop from local growers and vendors selling handmade products, including vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, cheeses, flowers, herbs, baked goods, wine and prepared food, as well as unique offerings. 100-200 Blocks of Water St., Rockford, (815) 977-5124, rockfordcitymarket.com. Concerts by the Creek: Truman’s Ridge May 21, 7-9 p.m. Truman’s Ridge Chicago-style Bluegrass Band opens this summer concert series. Concessions available. Spring Creek UCC, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 8772576 ext. 103, springcreekucc.org/#!concertson-the-creek/cecg. Spectacular Saturday Series: Danish Theme May 21, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. In this interactive learning series, parents help their children create projects and learn about different cultures in the Rockford community. A different ethnicity is highlighted in each session. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com. Tell them you saw it in ...

Tough Mudder comes to the Chicago Rockford International Airport on May 21 and 22.

Nature Fiesta May 21, noon-4 p.m. Learn about our local butterflies, birds, flowers, pollinators and rivers at this outdoor event with exhibits, crafts, activities, music and guided hikes. Displays and activities provide educational information in Spanish and English. Food available for purchase or bring a picnic. Blackhawk Spring Forest Preserve, 5360 Mulford Road, Cherry Valley, Ill., (815) 877-6100, winnebagoforest.org. Rockford Rage Women’s Roller Derby May 21, 7 p.m., doors 6 p.m. The Rockford Rage close their spring season. Participants in this skater-run, nonprofit league are dedicated to skating, competing and entertaining. A portion of the proceeds benefit local charities. MercyRockford Sportscore 2 Indoor Sports Center, Loves Park, Ill., facebook.com/pages/ The-Rockford-Rage. Tough Mudder Chicago May 21-22, start times vary. Tough Mudder brings 5-plus mile obstacle courses to Rockford as part of a two-day event. Chicago Rockford International Airport, 2 Airport Cir., Rockford, toughmudder.com/events/2016-chicago. Rhubarb Fest May 23, 6 p.m. All things rhubarb are on the menu during the Annual Rhubarb Fest. Carriage House Museum, 529 Green St., Rockton, Ill., (815) 6248200, rocktontownshiphistoricalsociety.com. Young At Heart Festival May 27-May 30. Enjoy live music, a beer garden, carnival rides, kids’ activities and food concessions. Loves Park City Hall Grounds, 100 Heart Blvd., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 633-3999, youngatheartfestival.com. ❚ Smart Living Weekly

May 18

WDL

High Nutrition Served at Peak’s Thrive Café

By Peggy Werner

eak Sports Club, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park, is offering yet another way to achieve good health. Thrive Café opened seven months ago and is open to the public as well as to Peak members. The menu consists primarily of freshly made salads, wraps, Panini sandwiches, cold-pressed juices and smoothies. All homemade items are prepared with fresh ingredients purchased locally. Jason Rager, owner and operator of Thrive Café, is a personal trainer who emphasizes the nutritional side of fitness. He says good carbohydrates fuel a workout and protein and other nutrient-rich foods like fruits and vegetables help the body recover and repair after strenuous activity. Rager describes the freshly made cold-pressed juices and smoothies as a

“meal-in-a-cup” because of the quantity of fruits and vegetables used in each 16-oz serving. Making the drinks on the spot allows for optimum nutrition you can’t find in processed foods. Juicing extracts the liquid from fruits and vegetables, leaving the fiber behind. Without the fiber, it’s easier to consume lots of fruits and vegetables and quickly get essential vitamins, minerals and enzymes into the blood stream for an energy burst. “Juicing changes the body at a cellular level. With new cells being generated all of the time and getting the nutrients they need, the body just functions better,” he says.

In the Spotlight

Top Picks for Local Restaurants Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Fresh Mexican. 107 W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm; Tue-Th 11am-9pm; Fri 11am-10pm; Sun noon-8pm. $. Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Rd., South Beloit, (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat 11pm. $. Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. Ciao Bella Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Extensive wine list; daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside, Loves Park, (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11am-9pm, Sat 5-9pm, Sun 4-7:30pm. Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual. 133 Blackhawk Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. Open daily 4pm. $-$$. Dos Reales E Casual/Mexican. Authentic Mexican fare, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227-4979. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $-$$. Giordano’s Famous Stuffed Pizza E Casual/Italian. Pick-up/ delivery. 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford, Ill. (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 9am-11pm; F-Sat to midnight. $. JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar E UpscaleCasual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat 2:30pm; D M-Th 5-9:30pm, F-Sat 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$. 28

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Smoothies are made with the whole fruit, giving the consumer the benefit of fiber, which is more filling. It allows for a slower release of sugar into the bloodstream and is good roughage. Because smoothies are blended, you can add other ingredients like nuts and seeds that can’t go through a juicer. Either way, people get daily servings of fruits and vegetables they otherwise might not consume, which helps to protect the human body from disease. Thrive Café is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sunday. ❚

Main Street Bistro E Casual/Fine dining. Th&Sat. 109 S. Galena, Freeport, (815) 232-2322. M-Sat 2pm-midnight. $$. Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria E Casual. Beer/wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 963-7869. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat 11pm. $$. Maxson Riverside Restaurant E Casual/American. 1469 IL Route 2, Oregon, Ill., (800) 468-4222. LD M-Sat 11am-8pm, Br Sun 10am-3pm. $$. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. (608) 313-0700. D Sun.Th 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat. 10pm. $$. Napoli Pizzeria III & Top Dollar Slots E Takeout/delivery. 6560 N. Alpine, Loves Park, (815) 877-9888. LD daily 11am. Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Tavern on Clark E Casual/American. 755 Clark Ave., Rockford, (815) 708-7088. LD daily 10am. $-$$. Thrive Café E Healthful, fresh salads, wraps, sandwiches, smoothies and cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park. 6 am-8 pm Mon-Fri.; 8 am-2 pm Sat.; Closed Sundays. This Is It Eatery E Casual/American. 16 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport, (815) 616-5449. LD T-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sat 10pm. $. ❚

May 18

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint

ocated at 500 Pleasant St., inside the Ironworks Hotel, the restaurant features mouth-watering steaks, along with a full-service menu of ﬁsh, chicken and and sea food selections. Named after the men who's 1858 foundry became Beloit Corp., Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint celebrates Beloit's rich industrial history. Many of its components are constructed with repurposed materials salvaged from historic buildings. Leather seats, hardwood ﬂoors and many historic photographs lining the walls give the space a rustic feel. Merrill & Houston's is available for private and corporate events. The main dining room seats 120 and the banquet room can accommodate 200 guests. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint is open daily at 4 p.m. ❚

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May 18

Y O

MASKS Exhibit Opens at Freeport Art Museum F reeport Art Museum opens an exhibition titled MASKS by the Momentum Art Guild on Friday, May 20th. The Momentum Art Guild is a regional arts organization dedicated to supporting individual artists and enhancing interest in the visual arts. In this exhibition, members have challenged themselves to construct a mask using the technique and medium of their choice, which culminated in representing the diversity of the group. These masks are celebratory, entertaining, decorative and thought provoking. During the first two weeks of the exhibiMask by Larry McCoy tion, the guild

Smart Living Weekly

will ask visitors to vote by ballot box for their favorite mask. The winning mask will receive a $100 cash prize. Meet artists and talk to them about their work during an opening reception in the 2nd floor Contemporary Gallery of the museum. Established in 1975, the Freeport Art Museum shares the visual and performing arts with the people of northwest Illinois. FAM’s mission is to promote an understanding of art and culture through its collections, exhibitions and education. The museum’s collection contains nearly 4,000 artifacts from all continents and all time periods including ethnographic objects from Egypt, Southeast Asia, and Papua New Guinea; PreColumbian and Native American baskets and pottery; excellent 15th to 19th century European painting, prints and sculpture; and a significant collection of contemporary American prints, paintings, and sculpture. The museum is located at 121 N. Harlem Ave. Hours are Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.

May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Dragon mask by Phyllis Wendt

to 5 p.m., Sat. noon to 5 p.m. Call (815) 235-9755 to schedule a tour. Exhibiting artists from Freeport include Ellen R. Bartels, Carrie Baxter, Phyllis Bergagna, Donna Burton Klapp, Roger Goodspeed, Larita Hawkins, Nanette Mosher, Fey Sanders Hughes, Amanda Spielman, Elle Wells, Phyllis Wendt and Kathleen F. Wilken; also participating are Larry McCoy of Davis, Ill. and Heidi Throp of Lena, Ill. ❚

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May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y T

Extend the Life of Your Cell Phone By Peggy Werner

atteries Plus Bulbs, 1825 S. Perryville Road, can help you protect your cell phone and get more life out of it. Broken glass screens and bad batteries generate a lot of business at the family-owned store, which also has locations in Loves Park and Sycamore, and will open a fourth store in LaSalle-Peru later this year. “If you’re losing power quicker than you used to or if your power is out in less than a day, chances are you need to replace the battery,” says Ashley Beto, commercial sales representative. To get the most life out of a cell phone battery, let the charge run completely out before charging it to full power again, she recommends. “So many people will plug in their phone for a few minutes when it is running low, and doing this all the time will

ruin the life of your battery. You are basically training your phone to perform at a low level when you don’t charge the battery properly,” she says. The business, originally known for

car and cell phone replacement batteries, has grown to include a wide range of services, including replacing broken cell phone screens, as well as replacing or repairing buttons, ports, speakers, headphone jacks, cameras and more on most smart phones, tablets, and MP3 players. People are often rough on their devices, leaving them in unsafe places or in unsafe hands. They can prevent disaster by protecting the glass screen with some form of cover, preferably a peel-on tempered glass product available at the store, as well as a variety of protective cases that encase the phone. “I’ve heard it all. People are always dropping their phones,” says Beto. “Parents who let their kids play with their phones are asking for trouble. I recently heard about a man who was working in his yard, left his phone on the driveway, and backed over it with his truck.” ❚

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May 18

Y O

Farm Life’s the Star at Paulson’s Ag Museum By Janine Pumilia

amily farms played a starring role in our region’s development and yet most of us today don’t know the difference between a pig and a plow. The late Warren and Helen Paulson believed there should be a place where people could take their families to learn about local historic farm life and the equipment so necessary to its success. “He had a real passion for this part of American life and wanted to preserve what he could so he could share it with others,” explains Lynette Wherley, secretary and spokesperson for Paulson’s Agriculture Museum of Argyle, 6950 Belvidere Road, Caledonia. The museum overflows with farm artifacts, large and small, including 50-plus antique tractors, 700 cast iron farming implement seats, cultivators, wagons, windmills, vintage advertising signs and novelties like milking equipment and hog oilers – yes, hog oilers. The Paulsons farmed from 1943

Smart Living Weekly

to 1989 in Argyle, an unincorporated area near Caledonia settled by Scottish Americans. Warren also sold, installed and repaired farm implements and sold DeKalb seed products. He established the museum in 2006, after amassing his collection over 40 years. The Paulsons donated these artifacts, along with about 15 acres of land and several buildings, to the museum in 2010. “Warren wanted the museum to live on for posterity so the public could enjoy it and learn from it,” says Wherley. “His heirs graciously honored his wishes.” Along with agricultural artifacts, the museum contains a model train replica of the Kenosha and Rockford Railroad line. There’s also a large collection of cast iron toys and a farm kitchen display with items commonly used by hardworking farm women. The museum is open for tours by appointment and the main building is heated and available to rent year-round

May 18 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Eugene Wheeler, museum president, atop an Allis-Chalmers tractor at the museum. Photo by Samantha Ryan.

for barn dances, fundraisers, birthday parties, company picnics, toy shows, auctions, cookouts, lectures or other events. To schedule a visit, to inquire about membership or to learn more about volunteering, call (815) 885-3846. “We always check our messages and return phone calls,” says Wherley. “This place tells an amazing story and we don’t want you to miss it.” ❚

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