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Save Smarter • Live Better • Rockford Region/Freeport 95¢ • Sept. 17, 2014

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Right in Our Region

RSO Opens with Peace Concert

By Karla Nagy, associate editor

Bella Hristova, RSO guest violinist

he upcoming season for Rockford Symphony Orchestra, titled “War and Remembrances,” is centered on converging anniversaries related to U.S. military conﬂict: July 2014 marked 100 years since the start of WWI; April 2015 brings the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War; and August 2015 will see the 70th anniversary of the end of WWII. Fittingly, RSO’s opening concert on Sept. 20 celebrates the United Nation’s International Day of Peace, ofﬁcially observed each year on Sept. 21. Steven Larsen , RSO music director and conductor, was asked to take part by friend Jim Keeling, one of the founders of the KeelingPuri Peace Plaza, a 2.5-acre park along Rockford’s Perryville Path. A Peace Day will be held there on Sept. 19. Continued on p. 20

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We’re h ere , for you.

Area’s best in patient safety FHN Memorial Hospital was recently recognized for a second year for our patient safety record by the world’s largest independent, non-profit product-

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region: .....................Cover & p. 20 RSO Celebrates International Day of Peace Your Home ........................................................11 Fall Furnace Tune-Ups Inspiration & Worship .....................................12 Of Human Value Your Kitchen .................................................... 15 Great Sauces from a Low-Sodium Base Your Outings ....................................................17 World War II at Midway Village Museum Your Health ...................................................... 25 Is Computer Use Ruining Your Eyes? Your Fun .......................................................... 27 Dining Locally ................................................. 29 Tips ................................................................... 31 Why Home PCs Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t Work as Business Servers Your Money ...................................................... 33 Outdated Fireplaces: Money Up in Smoke

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 Jim Killam, Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes General Manager/Northwest Business Magazine Dave Marino Account Executive 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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Lasting Impact L

oves Park, Ill., was largely built by veterans of WW II. That war’s shadow hung over the city as I grew up there in the 1960s and ’70s. My folks, Hal and Naomi Huffman, were in their 40s, when I was born, so they shared many firsthand wartime memories. They proudly displayed a large American flag on national holidays, but I can’t tell you that I felt any real connection to the WW II veterans I knew. They and their war seemed far removed from me; I was trying hard to make sense of Vietnam at the time. That all changed after I returned to Loves Park as editor of its weekly newspaper, in the 1990s – about the time we were celebrating the 50th anniversary of the city and WW II. Through personal interviews with veterans, I began to comprehend how the wounds of every war live on indefinitely, even impacting generations that follow. I spoke to men who were finally ready to talk about horrors they’d endured, nightmares they still experienced 50 years later, and their difficulties integrating back into life at home. The wartime homefront was no picnic, either. I marvelled at the selflessness it took for a group of local women to establish the North Suburban Library during WW II, as if they had nothing else to worry about in those difficult years. I also got to know Art Anderson, the force behind the Field of Honor Veterans Memorial in Loves Park. Art lost an eye in WW II and devoted the end of his life to helping thoughtless young people (like I had been) to connect the dots between veterans’ sacrifices and their own comfortable lives. I’m still trying to understand Vietnam, but on this point I’m clear: I thank God for all of the U.S. soldiers who did do and still do whatever it takes. We owe each of them a debt greater than we can ever hope to repay. Here’s to WW II Days at Midway Village, this weekend, and the peace-and-warinspired 80th season of Rockford Symphony Orchestra. Enjoy! Janine Pumilia Executive Editor

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Y H  G

Fall is Best Time for Tuning Up Your Furnace

he middle of a cold snap is the worst time for your furnace to die. A simple pre-season check-up can keep a furnace running smoothly all season, and lengthen its lifespan. Make sure registers are clean, air vents are open and equipment works. Air flow is essential; dirty air filters, leaky ducts and misplaced furniture disrupt the movement of warm air. Move beds away from vents and be mindful of where the drapes hang. Mark Buckner, co-owner, Rockford Heating & Air Conditioning, 1618 Magnolia St., Rockford, encourages customers to be proactive rather than reactive. “We send our customers reminder cards, saying ‘it’s time to check your unit,’” he says. “If they want us to do that service, they can just call. A lot of people do that on a very regular basis. Those pieces of equipment tend to last longer.” During a pre-season tune-up, technicians check for carbon monoxide leaks, damaged safety features and broken

equipment. They also educate homeowners on proper maintenance. For instance, many folks forget the value of changing filters. Dirty filters reduce a system’s efficiency, forcing it to work harder to pull air through a clogged filter. Depending on the household traffic and filter type, it’ll need to be replaced every month or two. Today’s high-efficiency units do a good job of heating homes, but small humidifiers can play a supporting role. “In the winter, if you add humidity to your home, it feels a little warmer,” Buckner says. “You can run your thermostat a little lower, just because it feels warmer.” Experts also recommend cleaning air ducts every three to four years. Keeping dust out of your furnace extends its life, and may improve your family’s health. Allergens build up in ductwork and are spread throughout your home when the furnace kicks on. As do many furnace dealers, Rockford Heating & Air Conditioning offers

(Rebecca O’Malley photo)

By Chris Linden, managing editor

fall specials for furnace maintenance. No matter the cost, however, a furnace checkup now can save you from laying out cold, hard cash this winter. ❚

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

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I  W

Of Human Value

n societies that tolerate slavery, human beings put prices on one another. This evokes a sense of outrage from those who don’t tolerate slavery, as well it should. And yet in “more civilized” societies, humans still tend to regard some people as more valuable than others. People with great wealth, beauty or talent, for example, are often treated with greater deference than the poor and plain, even in our churches. And how easy it is to simply dismiss some folks as being “beyond help.” This is the way of man, but it’s not the way of Jesus Christ, who taught his disciples to love people regardless of their social circumstances. “Love your neighbor as your self,” he instructed in Luke 10:27. Listening to this was an expert in the law “who wanted to justify himself.” He asked: “And who is my neighbor?” In reply, Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite [of priestly Hebrew lineage], when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan [Samarians were despised by Jewish leaders of that time period], as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

(Luke 10:30-37) And so must we, if we're to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Simple Steps to a Low-Sodium Diet S

odium is an element found in many foods and beverages, even water. Our bodies require a small amount of sodium, but most of us consume far more than needed. The recommended amount is 2,300 milligrams per day – about a teaspoon – so a lowsodium diet is one that contains fewer than that, about 1,300 milligrams. The bulk of our sodiuim intake comes from processed and packaged foods, and food in restaurants. There are a few simple steps you can take to begin to reduce the amount of sodium in your diet. As much as 80 percent of a person’s daily sodium comes from processed foods. To lessen this, read labels when shopping, and watch for low-sodium options in items such as canned soups, fruit and vegetable juices, packaged mixes and frozen meats and dinners. At home, use herbs and spice blends with no sodium to flavor your food, and opt for fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over canned. We’ve all heard the dangers of a diet high in sodium (salt) – high blood pressure, hypertension, increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Cutting our sodium intake in half, say from 4,000 milligrams to 2,000, significantly lowers blood pressure. You can find websites that list lowsodium foods and healthy alternatives to salt, as well as low-sodium recipes. Lowsodium cookbooks are available, too. This dry mix can be made in advance, stored on the shelf, and used when recipes call for cream soup. It’s a great way to quickly make low-sodium, low-fat thickened cream sauces and gravies. Use it as a substitute for canned cream soups in recipes.

Low Sodium Sauce Recipe Ingredients 2 cups nonfat dry milk powder ¾ cup cornstarch ¼ cup instant low- or reduced-sodium chicken or beef bouillon (optional or season to taste) 1 tsp dried crushed thyme* 2 Tb dried onion flakes* 1 tsp dried crushed basil* ½ teaspoon black pepper* (*substitute any herbs and spices you prefer)

Directions

Combine all ingredients. If you desire a fine, easy-to-dissolve texture, combine using a blender or food processor. Store in an airtight container or locking plastic bag. To use as a substitute for one can of condensed cream soup in recipes, stir together ⅓ cup dry mix and 1 ¼ cups water. Cook and stir until thickened on top of the stove. (You can also cook the mixture until thickened in the microwave.) Makes the equivalent of nine cans of condensed soup.

A dietitian at FHN’s Food & Nutrition Services can offer advice on healthy eating and other ways to reduce salt in your diet. Call (815) 599-6677 for more information. ❚ Source: FHN

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Y O

World War II Days at Midway Village By Janine Pumilia, executive editor

pril 15, 2015, will mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. This weekend, Sept. 20 & 21, visitors can experience the conflict firsthand, at the 18th World War II Days at Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford. It’s the largest WWII re-enactment in the U.S., with more than 1,000 uniformed re-enactors, dozens of vintage tanks and other 1940s-era military vehicles; elaborate and realistic battles; encampments of Allied and Axis troops; food and WWII memoribilia vendors and more. “Re-enactors are coming from Great Britain, Australia, Canada and all across the U.S.,” says Scott Koelling, overall event coordinator. “We require all reenactors to register with us, to make sure they’re part of a recognized and legitimate re-enactment society. We hold our authenticity standards very highs.” Spectators will see uniformed “soldiers” from the U.S., Great Britain, France,

Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Japan, Italy and Germany. Authentic vehicles from the war are many, including 70 to 80 tanks, halftracks, military side-cart motorcycles and more. Major battles will be re-enacted, complete with pyrotechnics; skits and skirmishes will take place in both the 1940s “European” village and in the woods. Spectators also will learn about specific events and battles of the war. “Spectators should feel free to ask the re-enactors a lot of questions” says Koelling. “It’s quite an educational event, but it’s also just a lot of fun.” Just like real war, battles will play out no matter what the weather brings. “We’ll be out there rain or shine,” says Koelling. “War doesn’t stop for bad weather.” One-day tickets are $14; $7 for ages

3 to 17; and free to WW II veterans and museum members. Learn more about the event, as well as a Saturday night 1940s era USO-style swing dance, at midwayvillage.com. ❚

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

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Peace Concert Continued from Cover

“This year, the music we’ll play examines these historic milestones and reactions of composers to these world-changing events,” Larsen says. “The music is meant to commemorate, not glorify war. What better way to open the season?” The Sept. 20 concert includes Sir Andrzej Panufnik’s Procession for Peace; Raymond Horton’s Make Gentle the Life of This World; Sergey Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major; and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable.” Larsen will conduct, and guest Bella Hristova will be featured on the violin. Larsen chose the music carefully, and each pieced has a compelling story behind its creation. Procession for Peace is by Andrzej Panufnik, a composer in Poland during the WWII Nazi occupation. “He had strong motivation,” Larsen explains. “He who wrote for and took part in underground

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concerts, in defiance of the Nazi ban on music. When the Soviets came in, everything he had written was destroyed, and the Soviets forced him to write patriotic, chest-pounding music that glorified its military. He escaped to England and cobbled this together from what he had been forced to write for the Soviets.” Make Gentle the Life of this World was written by Louisville, Ky., composer Raymond Horton, a member of the Louisville Orchestra, who put to music the speech Sen. Robert Kennedy made on the day Martin Luther King was assassinated. Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major and Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable,” finish the concert, featuring violinist Bella Hristova. “Prokofiev was a young boy in Russia during WWI,” says Larsen. “He was on the verge of going to England in 1915 but got stuck in Russia. He had violence and anger in his music during this time, and people were surprised by this violin concerto. It’s one of his most peaceful, tranquil works. I believe it was a subconscious reaction to the war and the violence within Russia.”

Sept. 17

According to Larsen, Prokofiev began his violin concerto in 1915 but had to turn to an opera based on Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s novel The Gambler. Following the civil unrest and government upheavals in Russia, Prokofiev decided to go to America in 1918. His violin concerto had yet to be performed. “It was a long and harrowing journey,” Larsen says. “He took the TransSiberian Express east to Vladivostok, a ferry to Japan, where he gave some concerts, and then a ship across the Pacific to San Francisco. When he arrived in the U.S., he was detained for a time as a suspected Bolshevik spy. He then traveled to New York on another train.” Critics and audiences gave the young composer mixed reviews, until he decided to go to the Midwest; he was met with more respect in Chicago. Still, his concerto wouldn’t be performed for the first time until 1923 in Paris. To close the International Day of Peace Concert, Larsen chose Carl Nielsen’s Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable.” “Nielsen was a Danish composer, and this was written during WWII,” he says.

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“Denmark was neutral, of course, but it was also very small, and there was great concern over what would happen if the wrong side won – not just in Denmark but the world. “‘The Inextinguishable’ refers to the power of the human will to live. The last movement is marvelous: A battle between two timpanists, reminiscent of artillery fire, gives way to a joyous chorale. It’s a striking moment.” The United Nations General Assembly established Peace Day in 1981, to encourage individuals, organizations and nations to perform acts of peace on a shared date. In 1984, the organization

Pathways to Peace, along with support from members of the UN, held the first major Peace Day in San Francisco, which included a Minute of Silence, Moment of Peace; businesses stopped using cash registers and a TV station went silent. Now, 23 years later, on Sept. 21, 2014, millions of people worldwide will participate in events and activities, ranging in scale from private gatherings with a handful of people, to public concerts and festivals attended by hundreds of thousands. At noon in every time zone, a moment of silence will be observed. On Sept. 19, from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., roughly 1,500 individuals, including 1,000 area 3rd-5th graders, will gather at Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza to celebrate Peace Day 2014. Events include musical performances and storytelling; actor portrayals of Frederick Douglas and Jane Adams; a puppet show; drum circles and

yoga; and opportunities to sing in a choir. Special guest Alicia Potter is a children’s picture-book author. Her latest, JUBILEE! One Man’s BIG, BOLD, and VERY, VERY LOUD CELEBRATION of PEACE, tells the story of Patrick Gilmore, the man behind the 1869 National Peace Jubilee, the largest and loudest concert the world had ever seen or heard. Dorothy Paige Turner; local musician and writer, will bring her book to life through a scripted play with interactive sounds, songs and spoken word. “Peace Day was initially begun as a day for warring countries to lay down their arms, enabling aid workers to freely tend to those in need,” Larsen says. “The day has grown in significance as both an effective tool for aid workers and also as a real example of the impact acts of peace can have on a community, nation and world. RSO is happy to be a part of it.” RSO’s Sept. 20 concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. For tickets, visit rockfordsymphony.com. For information on events at the Peace Plaza, visit keeling-puri-peaceplaza.com. ❚ The Only Full Time ABA Certified Group of Interventional Pain Management Physicians in the Rockford area

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Y H

Does Using Computers Ruin Your Eyes? By Jim Killam

“I

had great vision until my 20s, when I started working on computers 40 hours a week. Now I can’t see a thing without my glasses.” It’s a common refrain. But eye surgeon Dr. Richard Miller doesn’t buy it. Miller, of Miller Eye Center, 2995 Eastrock Drive, Rockford, says it’s just a variation on an old misconception. “If you look in the past, people said that about everything,” he says. “Reading in dim light would ruin your eyes, watching too much TV would ruin your eyes. It can’t hurt the eyes.” What’s happening, he adds, is that we use our eyes more today. When our vision declines during early adulthood, we simply notice it more. “Four hundred years ago, most people didn’t even read that much. So you didn’t need to have sharp vision for that. Computers are a little harder to look at temporarily – it’s harder to look at a computer

screen than it is a nice piece of paper. It’s not perfectly sharp. So your brain is saying, oh, it’s out of focus. Focus, focus.” Miller agrees that looking at a computer screen for hours is more difficult than reading a book for the same amount of time, and it does indeed cause eye strain. “But it doesn’t do any harm to the eye,” he says. “You go to bed, you wake up the next day and you’re back to normal.” While the body stops growing in adulthood, the eyes’ lenses keep getting thicker and harder, he says. Far-sighted people usually see their vision level out in their early 20s. Not so for nearsighted people. “You keep ending up getting thicker and thicker glasses,” Miller says. “But

don’t blame computers. Near-sighted people were complaining about that 80 years ago, and there were no computers.” ❚

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Sept. 17

Y F

Peace Film Festival: Amandla! (2002) Sept. 18, 6-8 p.m. The story of black South African freedom music and the role it played against apartheid. Ages 13 and over. Nordlof Center, Rockford, rockfordpubliclibrary.org. Garden of Phoenix Sept. 18, 7 p.m. Robert Karr, Jr. on the 120-year history of the Garden of Phoenix. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, andersongardens.org. International Day of Peace Plan to attend The River District Association’s Fall Cook’s Sept. 19, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A celebration Tour on Sept. 24, featuring eight downtown Rockford of this annual event, with live music, eateries. activities, puppet show, drum circle, presentations, more. Free. Keeling-Puri Peace The “Pec Thing” Antique & Flea Market Plaza, Perryville & McFarland roads, along Sept. 20-21, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Vendors selling Perryville Bike Path, Rockford, keeling-puri- antique tools, yard art, jewelry, stamps, peaceplaza.com. postcards, furniture, glassware, arts & crafts. Winnebago County Fairgrounds, 500 W. 1st St., Pecatonica, winnebagocountyfair.com. Fresh and Local: Local Meats Sept. 20, 2-4 p.m. Learn how to get your best meat from local sources and talk with a local WWII Days butcher. RPL, 6685 East State St., Rockford, (815) Sept. 20-21, Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. More than 1,000 uniformed re-enactors; 965-7606, option 2, rockfordpubliclibrary.org. camps; vintage tanks and other 1940s era military vehicles; realistic battles. Midway Jane Addams Festival Sept. 20, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 5K run/walk on Jane Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, Addams Trail; arts/crafts exhibit; demonstrations; (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com. folk songs; lunch. Cedarville Historical Museum, 8th Annual RDA Fall Cook’s Tour 450 W. 2nd St., Cedarville, (815) 563-4485. Sept. 24, 5-9 p.m. Sample foods at eight We Are One Peace Concert downtown establishments: Abreo; Bamboo Sept. 20, 1-7:15 p.m. Free performances by eight Asian Noodles & Tapas Bar; Chocolate by Daniel; bands. Food & beverage vendors, activities. Deli Italia; The Irish Rose Saloon; Social Urban Davis Park, 1401 S. Wyman St., Rockford, Bar & Restaurant; and Vintage@501. Tickets: connect2peace.org. $35, available at participating restaurants or at riverdistrict.com. Night Hike Sept. 20, 7-9 p.m. Find out how animal senses Ryan & Ryan work at night and end the evening around a Sept. 26, 7:30 p.m. Father-son piano duo campfire and making s’mores. Free. Atwood that blends classic and contemporary music, Center, 3685 New Milford School Road, Mendelssohn Performing Arts Center (MPAC), Rockford, (815) 874-7576, rockfordparkdistrict. 406 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, org/atwood. mendelssohnpac.org. RSO: Celebrating International Peace Day Sept. 20, 7:30 p.m. Steven Larsen, conductor; Bella Hristova, violin. Panufnik: Procession for Peace; Horton: Make Gentle the Life of This World; Prokofiev: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major; Nielsen: Symphony No. 4 “The Inextinguishable.” Coronado Performing Arts Center 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9680595, coronadopac.org.

Opal’s Million Dollar Duck Sept. 26-28, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m.; Sun. 2 p.m. Two summer-stock leads come across a painting that looks like an old master. Desmond and Queenie try to acquire the painting from Opal, who has other plans for it. Plum River Playhouse. $20. Mighty Richland Players Dessert Theater, 203 W. High Street, Orangeville, Ill., (815) 819-1310, mightyrichlandplayers.com. ❚

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

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.

Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

T  I

Back-to-school Health Tips S

tudents across Illinois are back in the classroom. The Illinois Association of School Nurses (IASN) offers this 5-step back-to-school checklist for health.

1. Get Required Physicals. Outside of any regularly scheduled checkup, remember that, in Illinois, physicals are required for students entering kindergarten, 6th and 9th grades, as well as for students participating in sports activities. 2. Make Sure Immunizations Are Current. Vaccinations are available to protect youths against 16 serious and potentially lifethreatening diseases, and many are required before students can begin classes. The state’s vaccination requirements have changed slightly this year – the full list is available atidph.state.il.us/about/pgci.htm. Beginning next year, additional boosters to protect against meningitis will be required. It’s never too early to start conversations with your doctor to learn more about these immunizations and ensure that all requirements are met. 3. Go See the Dentist. Regular dental visits are recommended, in Illinois, and are required for students entering kindergarten, 2nd and 6th grade. 4. Schedule an Eye Exam. Make sure any needed prescription eyewear is obtained before the first day of school. A vision exam is required for kindergartners. 5. Update Your School Nurse. Parents of children with chronic health problems such as asthma, diabetes, allergies, seizures, etc. need to make sure the school nurse is up to date on any changes to a child’s health or medications. IASN promotes wellness and educational success of school communities by supporting, developing and advocating for professional school nurse leaders. To learn more, visitiasn.org. ❚ Source: FHN Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

Y M

Don’t Let Your Money Go Up in Smoke By Jim Killam

t’s no secret that an older fireplace isn’t the most efficient home heating method. Worse, it can serve as an unwanted air conditioner during winter. “An open fireplace can actually have a negative efficiency, because of the amount of air it sucks out of the home,” says Brad Vander Heyden, owner of Advanced Chimney Systems, 3486 Lonergan Dr., Rockford. “Some fireplaces consume 300 to 400 cubic feet of air per minute out of the house. That’s one thing when it’s 40 or 50 degrees outside … but it’s another thing when it’s zero or 10 below zero. You just suck so much air out that your furnace is working overtime.” Some of the old, noncertified wood stoves do better – up to a 50- or 60-percent efficiency range, Vander Heyden says. But new technology in wood-burning appliances brings a huge improvement. Newer, cleaner-burning stoves are up to 80 percent efficient. “If you have an old, inefficient, non-certified stove, you’ll easily save a third of your wood (by replacing it with a new one),” he says. “I’ve had some people come in and say they’re getting the same heat and burning half the wood.” That’s largely because some new stoves or fireplace inserts cause secondary combustion – basically, they burn up the smoke before it ever enters the chimney. That not only equates to better heat transfer, it also reduces dangerous creosote buildup.

Fireplace inserts, either wood- or gas-fueled, can transform an older, warmth-stealing fireplace into an efficient heating option, Vander Heyden says. One big difference today is ceramic glass doors instead of tempered glass. The doors prevent warm air from being sucked out of the room, but in the past, tempered glass also blocked fireplace heat from entering the room. Today, homeowners get the ambience of a fireplace – and it even heats the room. ❚

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Smart Living Weekly

Sept. 17

Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1