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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • May 2021 • No. I
Right in Our Region
Got Golf? Tips to Improve Your Game See Page 16
Caring for Spring Flowers How to Avoid Costly Legal Errors Does Your Lawn Need Dethatching? What to Do if Your Child Breaks a Bone
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 Golf Tips from Local Pros Your Home ..........................................................13 Does Your Lawn Need Dethatching? Inspiration & Worship ........................................14 About Peace Outdoor Living ...................................................25 Caring for Your Container Flowers Your Health ........................................................ 31 What to Do When a Child Breaks a Bone Your Fun ..............................................................36
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Fort Wayne General Manager Sherri Cassedy Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living. Copyright 2021 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
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Update from Pet Central
I
n case you missed it, National Pet Day was April 11 (who decides these things?). A few years ago, I told you how devastated we were to lose our 4-year-old Viszla pup, Quincy, to leukemia. Here’s an update. Like many pet parents, we struggled with whether to get a new pup. It seemed somehow disloyal to “replace” our Quincy boy. We decided to proceed mainly because Quincy’s brother Brody was even more depressed than we were. At age 4, he was acting like a tired old geezer with no spring in his step. We visited our breeder, unsure whether we’d take the leap. A quirky, bold little Viszla girl with a crooked tail immediately picked us out as her new pet parents. Gracie has a rascally sparkle in her eyes much like Quincy did. We brought her home, not sure what to expect from Brody. Would he accept Gracie? For the first few weeks, Brody refused to acknowledge Gracie. He turned his head away as if she did not exist, no matter how hard she tried to engage him. She persisted. Brody gradually allowed her to sleep close to him, then on top of him, which she does to this day. Within a month he was romping and playing with her, his inner puppy-self revived. Today Gracie and Brody are best buddies. Daphne cat is less enamored and lost no time teaching Gracie to respect felines. We’re so glad we adopted Gracie shortly after losing Quincy. We did all we could to save him but simply couldn’t. I share this because I know some pet parents feel guilty moving on to a new pet after losing a dear one. I don’t pretend to know what’s right for others, but I wanted you to know how well it turned out for us. Today it’s hard to imagine life without our goofy Gracie. She’s brought us a thousand laughs during the past year of quarantine. As much as we love them, pets are not people. There’s no reason to deny ourselves the joy of their companionship if we’re prepared to give them loving, forever homes. By the way, International Dog Day is coming up on Aug. 26! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor
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Your Home & Garden
Is Your Lawn in Need of Dethatching? E
arly season lawn maintenance can include two rejuvenating processes: dethatching and aerating. Thatch is that layer of dead grass, leaves and roots atop the soil. A little is OK, but spring is a great time to remove most of it and start over. “That just kind of brings the yard back to life,” says Tim Kinney, general managaer at Lincoln Rent-All & Lawn Equipment Sales, Inc., 3110 Auburn St., Rockford. “It gets all the wet, heavy stuff off of it and lets it breathe a little better.” Dethatching can be accomplished ei-
ther with a thatch rake or a power rake. If you don’t enjoy hacking at your lawn for hours on end with something akin to a long-handled hairbrush, rent a power rake. It looks like a lawnmower but has a series of spinning, vertical blades. (Before you start, be sure to mark any sprinkler heads in your lawn.) Once you’ve removed the thatch, hand-rake it away with a leaf rake. Now light, water and nutrients can easily reach the soil. This also is a good time to check for bare spots and plant grass seed. Kinney says some thatch in a lawn is healthy, acting like mulch in the warmer, drier months. “Basically, you know you have too much if you walk on your lawn and it feels like a sponge,” he says. Aerating is especially useful for harder, clay soils, or where the soil is compacted by foot or vehicle traffic. An
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aerator looks something like a rototiller, either as a self-contained machine or as an implement that pulls behind a lawn tractor. It pokes holes in the soil and extracts “plugs.” The small holes then allow water and nutrients to reach deep into the soil. There’s no need to rake up the dirt plugs, Kinney adds. After a rain or two, they break down and are reabsorbed into the lawn. ❚
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Inspiration & Worship
A Promise of Peace
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n the book of Isaiah, written more than 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ, Isaiah prophesied the coming of the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In Galatians 5:22, we see “peace” listed among the fruit of the spirit that Christians reap when they follow the ways of God. The word is translated into English from the Greek “eirene,” (“pax” in Latin), which appears more than 90 times in the New Testament. (The name “Irene” comes from eirene.) Throughout the Gospels, Jesus cautions that this world will never be a place of peace. “Don’t suppose that I’ve come to bring peace on the earth,” he says in Matthew 10:34. In fact, the very act of following him will stir turmoil, not peace, he warns. (Luke 12:51) So if this earth isn’t a peaceful place, why is peace promised to us? Because God’s peace is internal, not external. Jesus knew what the Old Testament proclaimed about peace: “You [God] will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You,” (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Jesus promised that God would send the gift of holy spirit, a “comforter,” to live inside each believer. That promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentacost. This supernatural kind of peace only comes from God. “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Paul wrote in Philippians 4:7. Shortly before the darkest moment of history – Jesus’ betrayal and execution – he told his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I don’t give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your hearts be troubled and don’t be afraid.” (John 14:1). “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33). God has already delivered peace to us through Jesus Christ, whether or not we “feel” it. Studying how the word "peace" is used in scripture is a great starting point for helping us to internalize this precious gift. ❚ – Janine Pumilia 14
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En H ds urr So y, on !
4FELDCO.COM 866-4FELDCO
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4322 Maray Drive, Rockford Feldco’s 33% off promotion represents a 33% savings off the full retail price of windows, siding and/or doors only, as detailed in the Feldco retail price list and does not apply to discounts on installation, woodwork and/or other options/materials (Model #1655 Thermal Replacement Windows, minimum 4 windows). List prices may not necessarily be the price at which the product is sold in the trade area. Installations performed by factory trained independent contractors. Promotion cannot be combined with any other offer, coupons or promotions. Finance promotion is subject to credit approval and will require a 10% down payment on total purchase price. Interest accrues during a 12-month promotional period, but all interest is waived if the purchase amount is paid before the expiration of the promotional period. All sales, promotions and offers may be discontinued at any time at the sole discretion of Feldco Factory Direct, LLC. Offer expires 05/31/2021.
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April C A B2021 I N E T R•YNo. A N III D F L O O R I N19 G
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Local Pro Tips for a Better Golf Game By Jermaine Pigee, managing ur region is rich with excellent and affordable golf courses. It’s never too late to learn this fun game or to refine your skills. Here, local pros offer tips for beginners and experts alike. “Take one shot at a time and if you have a bad hole, let it stay on that hole and move on,” says Jordan Zellman, manager of golf instruction and programs at Rockford Park District. “You can’t dwell on the bad, especially while playing.” Andrew Schlupp, head golf professional at PrairieView Golf Club in Byron, Ill., is always reminding golfers about the PGA – that is: posture, grip and alignment. “Those are three very important things that help beginners get in a good setup position,” he says. Schlupp teaches good posture by positioning golfers in a stance where their
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editor knees are slightly flexed with a good bend at the waist. There are three grips that golfers can use. There’s a baseball grip, where all 10 fingers are on the club. There’s an interlock grip, where right-handed golfers interlock their left index finger with their right pinky finger; this also works for left-handers. In the overlap grip, a righthanded golfer’s right pinky finger overlaps between their left index and middle fingers. “I explain these three grips and let the golfer dabble with all three of them,” Schlupp says. “It’s imperative that whichever grip you choose feels the most comfortable to you.” For alignment, golfers should make sure their feet, hips and shoulders all work together and are aimed parallel to the intended target.
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Jeff Hartman, golf pro and manager at Park Hills Golf Course, Freeport, starts lessons by urging students to focus on the right equipment. “Even though there are 14 clubs in your bag, you only have one swing,” he says. “The driver is more difficult to hit, so we never start with the driver. Instead, we always start with a 9-iron and, in the next lesson, we may go down to a 7-iron.”
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Once golfers get comfortable with those clubs, which are suited for shorter distances, Hartman explains how to use the driver and fairway wood, both of which impact their long game. “Golf takes some talent and some hand-eye coordination,” he says. “If you also have athletic ability, you can learn the fundamentals and basics to become a really good golfer.” Lynn Blevins, head golfing professional at Ingersoll Golf Course in
Rockford, compares the proper golf swing to skipping rocks. “So, if you’re a good rock skipper, you’re on the way to a successful golf swing.” Why’s that? Because both activities require successful rotation, balance and repetition. Strong abdominal muscles make all the difference. A proper golf swing is about much more than your arms. Your entire body needs to work in one fluid motion. “Think of standing in a barrel and if you hit the side, you’ll get shocked,” Blevins suggests. “Turn – don’t lift and chop.” Pre-play warm-up is important. Stretch and loosen your muscles so they’re ready to move, advises Blevins. “It’ll help keep you from injury and allows your body to rotate better to make a correct golf swing.” It’s also important to have a plan of action before playing each hole, says Zellman. Close your eyes and envision
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where you want the ball to go. “It’s crazy to me that, with just a couple of seconds, you can create a smart or poor shot,” he says. “It’s a lot easier to execute a great shot when you have a good routine, because all the guessing is gone before you swing.” Of course, none of these tips matter unless golfers practice. That means working out the kinks at the driving range, the park or in your backyard. Remember, golf’s greatest legends are always honing their skills. Duncan Geddes, head golf professional and general manager at Aldeen Golf Club in Rockford, says all players can benefit from the help that a professional provides. “Find a good instructor that you’re comfortable with and set goals for where you would like to see your game go,” he says. “Make sure you play and you practice. Time on the course and time on the range will make you a more well-rounded player.” ❚
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THE AFTERNOON’S
FOUR QUEENS.
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Outdoor Living
Caring for Those Beautiful Baskets & Pots Y By Peggy Werner ou know that the danger of frost has passed when you see colorful potted flowering plants hanging from front porches and placed around homes and yards. The general rule of thumb is to wait for Mother’s Day before putting out plants, so that danger of frost has passed. Once you do purchase and place flowering plants outdoors, be sure to care for them so their beauty lasts all season, says Jamie Swanson, owner of S & H Nursery, 5956 McCurry Road in Roscoe. “In order to keep those hanging baskets as beautiful as when you purchased them, you need to check them daily to see if they need to be watered,” she says. “The object of watering is to find that ‘happy medium,’ neither too wet nor too dry, because too much or too little water can be detrimental.” In hot, dry and windy conditions, extra watering may be needed and plants should be checked more often. Carefully
read labels to make sure your plant is in the right location for the lighting condition it needs – full or partial sun or shade. Most flowering plants need to be fertilized and deadheaded weekly to look their best. Deadheading means snipping off withered blooms at the first notch in the stem. This signals the plant to send nutrients to new blooms, Swanson says. If you enjoy attracting wildlife, select plants accordingly. “Some flowers, like lantana, an annual with multi-colored blooms and sweet aroma, are a huge draw for hummingbirds and butterflies,” she says. Colorful Wave petunias also attract birds and butterflies and are one of the most popular flowers used in sunny-location hanging baskets because of the fullness and variety of colors they offer. Potted arrangements look more in-
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teresting if they contain a variety of color, texture and fullness, she says. Spikes and other upward-growing plants give height, while big-leafed or colorful foliage plants such as coleus provide fullness. Trailing vines and flowers like creeping Jenny and lobelia add dimension and fullness. Other popular flowers for baskets and pots include begonia, fuchsia, million bells (also called calibrachoa or trailing petunia) and many varieties of geranium. It’s nearly time to put flowers outdoors, so have fun planning and see you at the greenhouse! ❚
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Your Health
What To Do When Your Child Breaks a Bone C
hildren are active, adventurous and not always careful. That combination, unfortunately, often leads to broken bones or fractures – common injuries sustained by children and a leading reason to see an orthopedic surgeon. In children, broken bones are often the result of an accidental fall, a sports injury or a vehicle accident. Fractures often happen during summertime, when kids spend more time outdoors. Children’s bones are different from adult bones in many ways, which calls for different treatment than adults. For example, children’s bones have a remarkable ability to heal quickly and the younger the child, the more this is true. This capacity for healing allows orthopedic specialists to cast or splint children’s bones as they heal, rather than operating surgically, which is more common in adults. Because children are growing, their bones contain growth plates where new
bone cells divide quickly. A fracture in or near a child’s growth plate can have major long-term effects. Children’s bones are also extremely pliable, which means a bone could bend, rather than break, during an injury or accident. The following are types of fractures that could occur in children: • A single fracture: The bone is broken in one place only. • A comminuted fracture: The bone is broken into two or more pieces or crushed. • A complete fracture: The bone is completely broken into two pieces. • A greenstick fracture: The bone is cracked only on one side, not completely through. • An open fracture: The bone is sticking through the skin. • A bowing fracture: The bone bends but doesn’t break; this can only happen in children.
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With most severe breaks, your child will experience sharp pain and you will most likely be aware that a bone is broken. However, there are many cases – especially if the fracture is small – when your child may not feel pain at all and you won’t know if a bone is broken. If an accident or injury has occurred, it’s best to bring your child in for an examination and X-rays. Without timely treatment of a fracture, the bone will begin to heal itself – often in a compromised position. If immediate help is needed, take your child to your 24-hour hospital emergency room or Immediate Care clinic.
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Your Fun
Entertainment & Events
Editor’s Note: Please call or check website for any updates before attending events due to fluctuating COVID-19 restrictions. Go Public Gardens Days May 7-14, daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. The week’s activities include a spring smartphone tour and scavenger hunt, an educational webinar “Mini Meadows” on Monday and a Botanica presentation and workshop on Wednesday. Free admission. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org. Janesville Renaissance Faire May 15-16, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Take a trip into an Old World experience, watching and interacting with the many performers; many vendor offerings. Please bring non-perishable food item. Proceeds support local community groups and scholarships. Traxler Park, 600 N. Main St., Janesville, (608) 289-0699, janesvillecvb.com. Blue Man Group May 18-19, 7:30 p.m. A joyful evening of signature drumming, colorful moments of creativity and quirky comedy, along with
surprise audience interaction. Coronado Performing Arts Center (Coronado PAC), 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. Civil War Living History Days May 21-23, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Featuring virtual and in-person events with activities for all ages. Milton House Museum & North Goodrich Park, 18 S. Janesville St., Milton, Wis. (608) 868-7772, miltonhouse.org. Rockford City Market May 21-Sept. 24, Fri. 3:30-8:30 p.m. through Labor Day; to 7:30 p.m. after Labor Day. Enjoy craft beer and local musicians as you shop for vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, cheeses, flowers, baked goods, wine and more. Rockford City Market, Water & State Street, (815) 9775124, rockfordcitymarket.com. Rock River Wine Walk May 22, noon-5 p.m. Walk and shop while sipping. Downtown Janesville, 15 S. Jackson, (608) 728-3322, Janesville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, 20 S. Main St., Janesville, (800) 487-2757, janesvillecvb.com.
Enjoy Blue Man Group at Coronado May 18 & 19.
Scared Scriptless May 28, 7 p.m. “Whose Line is it Anyway?” stars Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood entertain with their live improv show, taking audience suggestions and welcoming audience participation. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. Simply Spring: The Butterfly Exhibit Through May 30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A magical world of butterflies at Nicholas Conservatory, 1354 N. 2nd St., (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg. ❚
Care for the environment. Care for your community. Donate to the ReStore. Drop off your donations at the ReStore or call 815-580-1205 to schedule a FREE pickup. Store Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Donation Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-3pm 7141 Harrison Ave, Rockford IL | 815-713-3184 | rockfordhabitat.org
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