Smart Living Weekly - September 10, 2014 by Northwest Quarterly Mag

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Right in Our Region

Awesome Area Apple Orchards

By Peggy Werner othing says fall like a visit to an area apple orchard. Everyone looks forward to the crisp apples, the cold cider and fresh doughnuts, the cool breeze and the crunch of fallen leaves underfoot, while enjoying a petting farm, wagon ride, or just a break from the fast pace of life. “It’s all about family and making memories,” says Lynn Edwards, owner (with husband

Mike) of Edwards Apple Orchard West, 8218 Cemetery Road, Winnebago. “People feel like it’s a fun place to come and spend time in the country, just to get away from it all.” The orchard is celebrating its 25th year, while the original Edward’s Apple Orchard in Poplar Grove is boasting a 50-year run, with lots of new things to enjoy this year. Continued on p. 20

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Music ‘Instrumental’ in School Success • Apple Pie in a Bag • Credit Card Traps What to Expect from Pain Management • Good-Tasting Gifts • Quality Gutter Protection

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Issue 1

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region: .....................Cover & p. 20 Fall Fun at Local Orchards Your Home ........................................................11 Keep Your Gutters Clear This Fall Inspiration & Worship .....................................12 The Symbolic Apple Your Kitchen .................................................... 15 Brown Paper Bag Apple Pie Your Style .........................................................17 Taste-Filled, Heartfelt Gifts Your Health ...................................................... 25 What to Expect from Pain Management Your Fun .......................................................... 27 Dining Locally ................................................. 29 Tips ................................................................... 31 How Children Benefit from Music Your Money ...................................................... 33 Beware of Credit Card Traps

Smart L iving Weekly â&#x201E;˘

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor Janine Pumilia

Managing Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Associate Editor/Special Projects Editor Karla Nagy Senior Staff Writer/Promotions Coordinator Paul Anthony Arco Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writers Peggy Werner / Jim Killam General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes General Manager/Northwest Business Magazine Dave Marino Account Executives Steve Blachford, Brian Hughes Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.NWQSmartLiving.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly. Copyright 2014 by Hughes Media Corp., 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107. 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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Sept. 10

Apple-Time Facts

ats off to three local apple orchards celebrating major anniversaries – 50th for Edwards East and 25th for both Curran’s and Edwards West. If they had a dollar for every happy family memory made on their properties, each would be richer than Midas. Growing apples is risky work. Harsh winters, the demise of natural bee populations and even a devastating tornado have played into the recent roller coaster history of our local orchards. Still, they relentlessly welcome us each season. Peggy Werner tells us about some of the newer apple varieties we’ll find this autumn, in our cover story. Henry David Thoreau once noted, “It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.” A member of the rose family, apples date back to 6500 B.C., in Southwestern Asia. That’s about the same time our ancestors were swapping a hunter/gatherer lifestyle for life on the farm. Prominent world leaders like Egypt’s Ramses II (1303 B.C.) and many French kings influenced apple development, but historians credit Roman horticulturists with transforming tiny, sour, seedy fruits into the big, sweet ones we know today. By 1866, Downing’s Fuits listed 643 apple cultivars. Europeans brought the apple seed to the New World, and the real “Johnny Appleseed” – a Massachusetts man named John Chapman – established apple nurseries from the East Coast to Ohio. Today there are some 7,500 apple varieties, about 2,500 grown in the U.S. Each has a unique balance of sugar, acid, tannins and 250 natural trace chemicals. It takes about five years before a new apple tree can be picked and it takes 36 apples to produce one gallon of pure cider. Keep that in mind, if prices at local orchards cause your heart to skip a beat. Buying local isn’t always cheaper, but fresh flavors and memories made with loved ones – “the apple of your eye” – are priceless. Happy autumn! Janine Pumilia Executive Editor Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 10

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This Fall, ‘Leave’ Gutter Debris Behind I

f you’re tired of clogged gutters, of risking your neck climbing a ladder to clean them, or of paying someone else to do the job, it’s time to consider a more permanent solution: gutter covers. A quick Internet search yields a host of options – drop-in, snap on, hinged. Screens, channels, mesh, ﬁlters. Plastic, vinyl, aluminum. DIY or professional installation. With so many choices, how do you determine which is best for your home? Let’s start with the material. Plastic and vinyl may cost less up front than aluminum, but they’re not the most durable choice in the long run. First of all, the asphalt used in manufacturing asphalt shingles can break down plastic products, including vinyl gutter covers. Once the asphalt gets on the cover, it doesn’t wash off, and leaves, dirt and other debris will actually stick to it. Also, plastic has a greater tendency to expand and contract than metal, which means extreme temperatures can cause it

to shrink or expand, which weaken its structural integrity. Plastic gutter covers may sag or buckle as a result, allowing for gaps that let in debris. In addition, plastic naturally hardens over time, becoming brittle and prone to cracks and breaks. Some screens are made of metal, but vertical openings eventually become clogged or allow debris in. Gutter Helmet makes gutter guards made of high-quality, heavy gauge aluminum, that doesn’t crack, bend, fade or weaken over time – as long as 20 years. It ﬁts over existing gutters with a noseforward design that keeps insects and animals out and directs debris away from the gutter. It’s attached with a premium alloy, anti-corrosive bracket that bears up under heavy snow and pounding rain. The textured surface uses the principle of surface tension, allowing water to ﬂow freely into your gutters through a small slit, while leaves and other debris fall to the ground.

Fall is a good time to check into gutter protection. Family-owned Lask Rooﬁng & Siding, 1101 22nd St., Rockford, is a leading Gutter Helmet dealer. Call today for more information, (815) 964-5170. ❚

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The Symbolic Apple

enesis 3:6 says that Adam and Eve succumbed to temptation in the Garden of Eden by eating an apple, right? Well, not quite. And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. – Genesis 3:6 (King James) Popular tradition, not scripture, has made the innocent apple a symbol of the downfall of man. While the Hebrew-toEnglish translation of the word “apple” is found several places in the Bible, it’s nowhere present in Genesis. Instead, the English word “fruit” is used here, translated from a Hebrew word pronounced “peree” that also means, well, “fruit.” So how did we come to replace the word “fruit” with the word “apple” in our minds? Some theorize that apples began showing up in the work of Renaissance painters, who needed some kind of specific fruit to depict in those Garden of Eden scenes, and perhaps chose apples because of the important role that fruit played in many Greek myths. What’s more, until relatively recently (17th century), the English word “apple” referred to most any fruit or tree nut, except berries. Its root is traced to the Old English “aeppel” derived from ProtoGermanic “aplaz.” Adding to the confusion is the fact that, in Latin, the words for “apple” and “evil” are similar. Mālum is the word for apple; mălum is the word for “an evil or a misfortune.” No matter what fruit Adam and Eve ate, the lesson of the story is clear: Things go better for us when we do things God’s way. He wants good lives for us, but He also wants our loving obedience. If we’re reminded of that truth, while enjoying apples this fall, perhaps the fruit is well served by its “un-apeeling” reputation, after all. ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Great Homemade Apple Pie is in the Bag A

pple pie recipes are abundant, but The Elegant Farmer Farm Kitchen Bakery, Deli & Market, in Mukwanago, Wis., has a version that’s known nationwide.

Brown Paper Bag Apple Pie Ingredients

Directions

Bottom Crust 1 cup all-purpose flour 1 ½ tsp white sugar 6 tbls unsalted butter 4-5 Tb ice water

Pie Filling

Owned by John Scheel and Dan Bauer, its apple orchards are a big draw in fall, although it’s open year-round. Along with fresh fruits and vegetables, u-pick berries and apples, a fall pumpkin patch and spring planting supplies, The Elegant Farmer also sells deli items, lunch and baked goods. Its award-winning “Apple Pie Baked in a Brown Paper Bag,” named Best Pie in America by The Wall Street Journal, brings folks back season after season. In 2008, in an episode of Food Network’s “Throwdown with Bobby Flay,” the world-class chef went head-to-head in a cook-off of the signature dish. The Elegant Farmer won. The tough part about duplicating The Elegant Farmer’s pie is that it requires two different crusts. The top crust is a cross between a sugar cookie and a streusel. The brown paper bag allows the apples to cook thoroughly and keeps them juicy, while keeping the crust from getting too done. At The Elegant Farmer, once the apples are done, a circle is cut out of the top of the bag to let the top crust brown. It’s then served right in the bag. The Elegant Farmer sells hundreds of its fresh-baked pies daily, and as many as 1,000 apple pies in a bag for Thanksgiving. The Elegant Farmer has trademarked the name of its popular pie, but the baking method is tried-and-true. Try it at home with this recipe.

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5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced ½ cup brown sugar 2 Tb all-purpose flour 1 tsp ground cinnamon ½ tsp ground nutmeg 1 pinch ground ginger 2 Tb lemon juice 2 Tb graham cracker crumbs

Topping ½ cup all-purpose flour ½ cup softened butter ½ cup superfine sugar

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bottom crust: Stir flour and white sugar together in a bowl until well-combined. Cut butter into the flour until the mixture is coarse and crumbly. Add ice water 1 Tb at a time, mixing with a fork until it barely holds together. Form the dough into a ball and roll it out to a 12-inch circle about ⅛-inch thick. Gently ease the dough into an 8-inch pie dish. Cut off any excess pastry with a knife. Finish the edge with the tines of a fork. Set aside. Filling: Stir together apples, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and lemon juice in a large bowl; set aside. Topping: Mix ½ cup of flour, ½ cup of butter and ½ cup superfine sugar until moist and sticky. Cover bottom crust with light, even layer of graham cracker crumbs. Fill with the apple mixture. Pinch off and flatten pieces of the topping mixture with your fingers and cover as much of the filling as possible. Place pie in brown paper bag, fold and staple closed. Bake on cookie sheet for 1 hour. Carefully cut bag open, watching out for steam. Optional: Instead of paper bag, use two stapled pieces of parchment paper, cut with three or four slits to allow release of steam (parchment isn’t as porous as paper).

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Good Tasting Gifts from the Heart By Peggy Werner

or about 20 years, Cookies by Design, 6415 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, has been baking up delicious gifts that can also touch the heart. Here, cookies in all shapes and sizes can be personalized to say Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Congratulations, Thank You, Get Well, Thinking of You and more. Owner Tasha Nafranowicz knows the impact of a personal message that tastes good. “My absolute favorite is the personal reaction we get from people, when someone has put together a cookie bouquet with a theme of things important to that person,” she says. “Personalized orders are my favorite, because people come to us with something important they want to say to someone, and we do it.” When sending a gift from the heart, consider what the recipient likes. “Think about the occasion and the interests of the person being celebrated,” Nafranowicz says. “The only limits are people’s imaginations.” With more than 350 cookie cutters, and a staff of 14 that creates, bakes, decorates, assembles and delivers, Cookies by Design is hard at work each day to make a statement in good taste. For example: flowers, watering cans, butterflies and bees for a gardener; kitchen items and utensils for a cook; a high school graduate, a diploma, grad cap and stars for a graduate. Kids bouquets could be an assortment of dinosaurs, tulips and hearts, phone apps and more.

Cookies can be personalized with names, dates, ages, newborn weights and more. The most popular is the birthday cake, which some use in place of a greeting card. A variety of options can fit any budget, and most orders can be completed within 24 hours. And people truly appreciate the thoughtfulness of such a gift. Nafranowicz recalls getting a letter about the tear-filled reaction of an elderly Swedish man, when he was presented with a birthday bouquet of cookies in the shapes of things most important to him. “It’s meaningful to know people’s stories and the emotions that go into gift giving,” she says. “That’s why I love what I do, and why it’s not a job to me or any of my staff.” About 80 percent of the business is special orders, but Cookies by Design also has a small gift shop, and cookies, specialty pastries and other items are ready for purchase. The store is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays. ❚ Get SLW Style articles every week. Visit NWQSmartLiving.com and start your e-Edition today.

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Apple Orchards Continued from Cover

(Kim Guare photo)

Edwards West offers specialty food products like apple butter, corn relish, jams and jellies, local honey and other items. “Our customers like the quaintness and smaller setting of Edward’s Orchard in Winnebago,” Edwards says. Still, there’s an abundance of fun available to people of all ages. Pony and wagon rides are offered on the weekends. Children can also enjoy a petting farm and a play area with a wooden train and bus, corn crib, school house and wagon slide. Parents, grandparents and others can take a food break, with choices of doughnuts, awardwinning homemade cider, cheese, sausage, popcorn and apples at outside picnic tables. Folks can shop for fall food items, fall décor, Christmas decorations and other gift items for all ages. Prime apple season is from mid-September to mid-October, Edwards says, and people can pick their own apples until the end of September.

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The best way to know is to call the orchard at (815) 963-2261. New apples this year include the Sansa, which is an early sweet apple similar to the popular Honey Crisp. There’s also the Zestar, a sweet, tart apple. “Both varieties are produced early in the season and will only grow in popularity,” Edwards predicts. Edwards Orchard offers a variety of apples, not just to appeal to different tastes, but also to provide new choices throughout the season. Familiar varieties include Gala, Jonamac, McIntosh, Honey Crisp, Jonathan, Jonagold, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Fuji, and late-in-the-season Granny Smith. “Every week we’ll have a new apple,” Edwards says. Visitors can also pick their own raspberries up until the first frost, and pumpkin picking season will begin later this month. Edward’s West is open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., until Nov. 1, when it will close at 5 p.m. The orchard closes for the season after Thanksgiving. Pat Curran, owner of Curran’s Orchard, 6385 Kilburn Ave., Rockford, is also celebrating 25 years in business. Curran produces 13 types of apples, each ripening at different times. Gala, McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Jonathan and Empire are typically ready first, followed by Delicious (Golden and Red), Jonagold, Northern Spy, Blushing Gold, Rome Beauty and Granny Smith. Apples are available U-Pick or already bagged. His orchard is known for its super-sized Honey Crisp caramel apples and its award-winning apple cider. This year, at

R  O R the Annual Illinois Cider Contest in January, held in conjunction with the Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism and Organic Conference, Curran’s Orchard produced the No. 2 overall rated cider in both the National and Illinois contests. Last year, his cider took first place in both contests. The taste of the cider changes throughout the season, depending on which apples are ready and the blend of apples used. “Cider gets sweeter each week,” Curran says. “The cider I use in competitions is usually blended about mid-October.” One thing Curran is especially proud of is the minimal amount of fungicide and pesticide sprayed on his apples. “I kept cutting back on the apple spray each year, until I found that I can produce apples using roughly a quarter of the typical amount of chemicals used in other orchards,” he explains. Another claim to fame at Curran’s is the authentic, non-commercial country atmosphere. “We’re a smaller orchard, family-oriented, and we keep to the basics, emphasizing the country atmosphere, while having a good time,” Curran says. For years, one of the top attractions has been

the glass observation beehive, where thousands of honey bees are visible. Everyone has fun trying to find the queen bee. People come to Curran’s just for the oversized caramel apples, which are about three times larger than most caramel apples. Curran hand selects the larger apples to top with caramel and nuts, which then weigh in at about 1 to 2 lbs. each. Folks can also choose from a variety of baked apple treats; apple cider doughnuts; sandwiches, hot dogs and barbeque; glazed pecans, almonds, and cashews; popcorn; cider slushies and more. Children’s activities include a petting farm, straw bale mini maze, corn tunnel, straw tunnel, hay bale climb, and a haystack. Hit a target with with the apple slingshot and win a dozen doughnuts. Take a hayride to the pick-your-own pumpkin patch later this month. Pick-your-own raspberries until the first freeze. Curran’s gift shop offers kitchen items, wall hangings, candles, Christmas décor, fall décor, soaps, jams, jellies, salad dressings, salsa, honey, mixes, and real maple syrup from Michigan. There’s a special section just for teacher gifts. Curran’s Orchard is open 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday until Dec. 1. ❚

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Relief is Just One Goal of Pain Management By Craig Schmidt

ain is real and it is physical, and everyone’s pain is different. Pain can be an annoyance, like a nagging backache, or it may be severe. People who are depressed, anxious or fearful of pain experience it differently and more severely than others. If you’re in pain, you want it to stop. That’s understandable. Chronic pain sometimes causes people to quit exercising, working, walking or even sleeping in their own beds. Pain relief is not the only goal in treating chronic pain. Full recovery means being able to resume normal functioning, such as sleeping without waking from pain, returning to work, walking without help and climbing stairs. The key is ﬂnding the right balance between your goals and the treatments needed to achieve those goals. There is a range of health care practitioners who are trained to manage pain and minimize its impact on your life. People

with chronic pain often rely on a team of professionals that they feel comfortable with and have conﬂdence in. A typical team might include a primary care doctor, pain specialist, clinical pharmacist, physical therapist, mental health worker and specialists in other disorders. Drug and nondrug treatments can be successful in alleviating pain. The list of approved pain relievers is very long. Many non-steroidal anti-in‡ammatory drugs – aspirin, ibuprofen and others – are available in stores. Other medications require a prescription, particularly those with opioids. Proper exercise slowly builds tolerance and reduces pain. Exercise done incorrectly can worsen pain. A physical therapist can tailor the right exercise regimen to prevent overdoing it and giving up because it hurts. Different approaches can address both the physical and emotional aspects of pain.

Hypnosis and meditation have been shown to work for some patients. These methods are often used together with medications and other “traditional” treatments. With the right treatments and a good health care team, most people can return to the activities they enjoy. ❚ Source: Medical Pain Management Services

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The Importance of Being Ernest Through Sept. 21, see website for days/ times. Oscar’s Wilde satire, with characters trying to maintain fictitious identities to escape social obligations. Artists’ Ensemble, Cheek Theatre, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org. Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall Sept. 11-14, around the clock. Fri. 7 p.m. Candlelight Remembrance Service. 250 feet, half the size of the original,with a fold-out semi-trailer museum. Available for viewing 24 hours, from sunrise Sept. 11. Field of Honor, 100 Heart Blvd., Loves Park, vvmf.org/Wall-of-Faces.

See antique, vintage, classic, muscle and exotic cars and vehicles, at the 38th Annual Beloit Lions Autorama Sept. 20-21, Preservation Park, Beloit, Wis.

Twilight in the Garden at Klehm Sept. 13, 6 p.m. Five-course gourmet meal and wonderful wines in beautiful surroundings. $100. Benefits Klehm’s programs. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org.

Folk & Blues Festival 2014 Sept. 13, 8 p.m. The Folk and Blues Festival, This annual Beloit College tradition welcomes a variety of musical acts. Open to the public. Beloit College Campus, Pearsons Hall Quad, Beloit, Wis., beloit.edu.

Peace Film Festival: Amandla! Sept. 18, 6 p.m. This 2002 documentary tells the story of black South African freedom music and the central role it played against apartheid. For ages 13 and over. Presented as part of Peace Month in Rockford. Nordlof Center, Rockford. Welty Whimsies: Paint Pumpkins Sept. 20, 1-4 p.m. Paint, stencil, bead, stripe or even polka dot a pumpkin and create a beautiful finish that will be the envy of all. $35 includes all materials. Little Cabin in Big Hill Park, Afton & Big Hill Roads, Beloit, Wis., weltycenter.org.

Greenwich Village Art Fair Sept. 13-14, Sat 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun to 5 p.m. More than 120 juried artists in a variety of media display and sell their work. Children’s activities, live music, food & drink. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

Night Hike Sept. 20, 7-9 p.m. Find out how animal senses work at night. End the evening around a campfire and making s’mores. Free. Atwood Center, 3685 New Milford School Road, Rockford, (815) 874-7576, rockfordparkdistrict.org/atwood.

66th Annual Grand Detour Arts Festival Sept. 14. Juried fine arts event. Music throughout the day. John Deere Historic Site (on Route 2 between Dixon and Oregon), Grand Detour, Ill., (815) 652-8663, thenextpictureshow.com.

RSO: Celebrating International Peace Day Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Steven Larsen, conductor; Bella Hristova, violin. Coronado Performing Arts Center (CPAC), 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

Peace Film Festival: The Singing Revolution Sept. 16, 6 p.m. This 2006 documentary highlights the thousand-year singing tradition of Estonia. Part of Peace Month in Rockford. For ages 13 and over. Limited to the first 150 persons. Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford.

WW II Days at Midway Village Museum Sept. 20-21, Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.4 p.m. Over 1,000 re-enactors; camps; vintage tanks & 1940s military vehicles; realistic battles. 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 3979112, midwayvillage.com.

Andrew Hurley Presents Sept. 17, 7 p.m. History professor at UM-St. Louis on the decline of manufacturing and the rise of “junkyard economies” in America. MorseIngersoll Hall, Beloit College campus, beloit.edu.

38th Annual Beloit Lions Autorama Sept. 21, 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. Car show & swap meet. More than 1,200 cars last year. Concessions, music, door prizes. Preservation Park, 3444 S. Riverside Dr. (Hwy. 51), Beloit, Wis., autorama.com. ❚

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Sept. 10

Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 10

WDL

Smart Dining Weekly Our Top Picks for Terrific Local Restaurants Legend: D Dinner, L Lunch, Br Brunch, Bk Breakfast, $ under $12.50, $$ $12.50-$25, $$$ $25+ 9 East Coffee  Specialty coffees, pastries, breakfast & lunch items. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport. (815) 233-7300. $ abreo  Upscale-Casual. Tapas menu. 515 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 968-9463. D M-Th 5-10pm, F-Sat to midnight. $-$$. Amici Italian Grill  Upscale-Casual/Italian. Fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. 5506 Clayton Circle, Roscoe, (815) 6237171. LD Sun-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11am-10-pm. $-$$. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American favorites, full bar. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Beloit, Ill. (815) 624-7900. LD M-Th 11am10pm, F-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun11am-10pm. $. Butterfly Club  Upscale-Casual/Fine Dining. 5246 E. Co. Road X, Beloit, Wis. (608) 362-8577. LD T-Th 5-9:30pm, F 4:30-10pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun noon-8pm. Live bands. $$. Cafe Fromage  Artisan sandwiches, soups, cheese plates, baked goods. 431 E. Grand, Beloit, Wis. (608) 207-3094. $ Cannova’s Pizzeria & Fine Italian Cuisine  Casual. Pizza, pasta, steak, seafood. 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. Ciao Bella Ristorante  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. $$. Costa’s Italian Ristorante  Upscale-Casual. 133 Blackhawk Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. Open daily. D Sun-Th 4-10pm, F-Sat to midnight. $-$$. Dos Reales  Casual/Authentic Mexican. 5855 E. State St., Rockford. LD M-Th, Sun 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm$. Franchesco’s Ristorante  Upscale/Italian-American. Sommelier, live entertainment, weddings, Sinatra Lounge, Benny’s Bar. 7128 Spring Creek Rd, Rockford, (815) 229-0800. LD M-Th 11am-10pm, F to 11pm, Sat-Sun 4pm. $$. Giordano’s  Casual/Italian. Pasta, deep-dish pizza, specialties. 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford, (815) 398-5700, LD 11 a.m.-midnight $. JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar  Upscale-Casual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat 2:30pm; D M-Th 5-9:30pm, F-Sat 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$. Joey C’ Cucina & Cocktails  Upscale-Casual/Italian. 2583 N. Mulford, Rockford, (815) 639-1200. LD M-T 4-10pm, W-Th 11am-9pm, F to 10pm, Sat-Sun 4-10pm $.

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Leombruni’s Italian Village Pizza & Restaurant  Casual. 110 W. 2nd St., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-2696. D T-Th 5-9pm, F-Sat to 11pm, Sun to 10pm. $. Lucha Cantina  Casual/Mexican. Fresh ingredients, no MSG, steaks, mac ‘n cheese, burgers. 1641 N. Alpine, Rockford, (815) 977-4319. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat 2am. $. Main Street Bistro  Fine dining, full bar, live music Th&Sat. 109 S. Galena Ave., Freeport, (815) 232-2322. M-Sat 2pmmidnight. $$ Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria  Casual. Italian favorites, beer & wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 963-7869. LD Sun-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint  Fine Dining. Ironworks Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. (608) 313-0700 Sun.-Th 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat. to 10pm. $$. Mulligans  Casual/American. 2212 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-7869. LD M-Sat 11am-2am, Sun to midnight. $ Napoli Pizzeria III & Top Dollar Slots  Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, appetizers, dinners, desserts. Takeout/delivery. 6560 N. Alpine, Loves Park, (815) 877-9888. Sun-Th11am10:30pm, F-Sat to 11:30pm. $-$$. Olympic Tavern  Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 962-8758. LD M-Sat 11am-2am. $-$$. Prairie Grass Pub  Burgers, wraps, pork chops, steaks, pasta, daily fish fry. Craft beer, wine, signature cocktails. Deck, banquets. Prairie View Golf Course, 6734 German Church Rd, Byron, Ill. (815) 234--8535. LD daily 10am. $-$$. Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. Riverside dining, handcrafted beers, banquet rooms, marina. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Tavern on Clark  Casual/American. Tavern-style fare, big burgers, steaks, fries, flatbreads. Full bar; banquets. 755 Clark Ave., Rockford, (815) 708-7088. LD daily 10am. $-$$. This Is It Eatery  Ribs, burgers, pasta, salads. 16 N. Chicago Ave., Freeport, (815) 616-5449. LD T-Th 11am-8pm, F-Sat to 10pm. $ Vito’s Ristorante  Casual/Italian. Authentic fare from family recipes. Sauces, soups, mama’s meatballs, desserts fresh daily. 1620 N. Bell School Rd., Rockford, (815) 312-5080. LD T-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. ❚

Visit online to see our Expanded Dining Guide at NorthwestQuarterly.com/Dining.

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Sept. 10

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Sept. 10

T  I

How Music Benefits Kids L

earning to play a musical instrument helps children in many ways. While they may grumble about practice time and lessons, they’re gaining skills and sensibilities that will serve them throughout their lives. Here are just six of those many beneﬁts. • Improves Academic Performance A 10-year study indicates that students who study music achieve higher test scores, regardless of socioeconomic background. Little wonder. The very act of playing requires math, memorization, rhythm and interpretation. • Fosters Creativity & Problem-Solving A two-year study at UC-Irvine indicates that 3- and 4-year-olds who were given weekly music lessons over one year improved puzzle-solving skills by 34 percent over their peers. • Builds Self-Confidence Overcoming the challenges of learning a musical instrument can boost a child’s sense of pride and accomplishment. • Teaches Discipline By practicing regularly and working on the difficult sections rather than the fun, easy ones, students experience personal satisfaction and learn about the rewards of commitment and perseverance. • Promotes Social Skills Playing an instrument provides opportunities for students to develop relationships based on a shared interest. • Relieves Stress Making music has the power to soothe, refresh and invigorate mind, body and soul. Explore musical options through instrumental rentals and music lessons. Randee’s Music, 4116 Morsay Dr., Rockford, specializes in piano and guitar, and has several instructors who can provide expert guidance in choosing and pursuing a musical interest. ❚

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Sept. 10

Y M

The Traps of Low-Interest Credit Card Offers By Jim Killam

ou can’t do better than zero percent interest on a credit card, right? Be careful with those special offers, advises Christine Erickson, Vice President of Lending at Members Alliance Credit Union, 2550 S. Alpine Road. The rate usually lasts six months, or maybe a year. And time flies. “That’s an area where people get tripped up,” she says. “They lose track of when that zero percent is going to end, and then all of a sudden it gets put into a much higher interest rate.” Losing track can prove especially expensive for people who carry heavy credit-card debt and move balances in and out of those zero-percent offers. Credit card companies simply buy mailing lists from credit bureaus, listing people with a certain credit score or higher. Let’s say your credit score is 700, but you’re recently unemployed. The card company doesn’t know that, so it may offer you a “pre-approved” card with a

to their income,” Erickson says. “That becomes a pattern, and then it becomes a cycle, and it’s hard to get out of that sometimes.”

high credit limit and a low interest rate. Step carefully. “Someone who’s unemployed might go ahead and accept that pre-approval and then get into that cycle of dependence on using those credit cards as a supplement

Other Pitfalls • Study the disclosure portion of any credit card application. Is there an annual fee? If you make a late payment, is there a charge, and will it cause your interest rate to rise? What’s the grace period between date of purchase and getting hit with a finance charge? • Cash advances are expensive loans. There’s no grace period; you’ll start paying interest immediately, from the day of the cash advance. Interest rates on cash advances often are much higher than on purchases. ❚

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