Smart Living Weekly - November 23, 2016

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Sm mart a r t L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • November 23, 2016

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Right in Our Region

Kick Off Christmas with Stroll on State

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Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1

53

A downtown Rockford holiday tradition

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 26 | 3 – 9 PM strollonstate.com | #strollonstate Brought to you by the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 22 Stroll on State Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Organize Your Home Inspiration & Worship .......................................12 The Origins of Thanksgiving Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Add Balance to Family Dinners Your Outing ....................................................... 17 “Nutcracker” Your Health ............................................. ........... 25 Know Your Breast Cancer Risks Your Fun ................................................... .......... 27

Dining Locally .......................................... ......... 28

Your Technology ............................................... .33 Reduce Your Monthly Tech Bills

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Janine Pumilia Assistant Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Deputy Editor Jermaine Pigee Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Account Executives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly.

Copyright 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.

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Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Let’s Talk Turkey

T

here’s a lot of speculation that some holiday family dinners may erupt into food fights, given our recent nasty election. If you sense a tirade coming on among your tablemates, feel free to whip out the turkey trivia below for a quick change of subject. You can also learn about the origin of this uniquely American holiday, on p. 12.

The turkeys we eat are mostly raised on massive turkey farms, but wild turkeys still roam our local neighborhoods. This wasn’t the case, back in the early 1900s, when turkeys had been hunted nearly to extinction.

Thanks to intentional restoration programs, the birds made a healthy comeback.

We eat more than 675 million pounds of turkey each Thanksgiving, says the Butterball company. But how much do we really know about this bird and its wild cousins?

• Turkeys sleep in trees.

• The long wiggly thing hanging from a turkey’s forehead is called a “snood.”

• You can tell the gender of a turkey by the shape of its droppings. J-shape is female, spiral-shape is male.

• Benjamin Franklin admired turkeys for their courage. He joked that a turkey would never hesitate to attack an invading redcoat.

• A male turkey’s head and throat color can change with his mood.

• Turkeys can run up to 25 m.p.h. and, yes, they do fly – up to 55 m.p.h., in fact.

• Turkeys have strong social bonds.

• Although they have no external ears, turkeys have excellent hearing.

• Turkeys have a remarkable memory for geography and can relocate a place they were in a full year earlier. Their territories are up to 1,000 acres large.

• Turkeys can see in color and have a 270-degree field of vision.

No matter who you voted for, we wish you a wonderful holiday that’s full of both “thanks” and “giving”! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H  G

An Organized Home Decreases Your Stress

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor

W

hen Joe Weller began installing closet systems more than 30 years ago, options were pretty limited.

“When I started in this business in 1985, most everything was shelf and pole construction and closet design wasn’t talked about much. That has changed,” says the owner of Shelving & Bath Unlimited, 4337 S. Perryville Road, Cherry Valley, Ill. Today, almost 80 percent of Weller’s customers opt for custom laminate closet systems that look like finished wood cabinets.

Along with more than 50 melamine colors and textures, there are options for granite surfaces, glass shelves, motionactivated LED lighting – even LED lights inside the drawers if you like – built-in mirrors, jewelry trays, removable laundry bags, a fold-out ironing board, adjustable cubbies made for shoes, boots and handbags and much more.

“Many people are using fewer or no dressers in their bedrooms and are choosing instead to maximize their closet space,” Weller explains.

While some people go so far as to convert spare bedrooms into luxurious walk-in closets, others double or triple the efficiency of their reach-in closets by having them professionally designed. Either way, it’s the design expertise offered by Shelving Unlimited that makes it possible to meet organization goals.

“It’s all about good design,” says Weller. “You can have the largest Taj Mahal-type closet in the world, but if it’s not functioning well it can become one more mess to deal with. Good organization saves you time and prevents frustration.”

Weller also designs storage solutions for the pantry, garage, laundry room, home office and basement.

“Good organizational design plays a big role in making a home more functional and enjoyable,” he says.

Along with adjustable-shelf laminate storage, Shelving Unlimited offers wireshelving systems by Rubbermaid, the No. 1 brand in the industry. ❚

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

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I  W

A Regional Christmas Season Tradition Since 1945!

The Origins of Thanksgiving “… Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

– Ephesians 5: 19b

B

eing thankful is a healthy habit, whether or not you’re religious, and whether or not you have big problems.

The concept of “thanksgiving for the harvest” dates back to ancient times, in both Judeo-Christian and pagan cultures.

The U.S. holiday, however, is distinctly Christian. Setting aside days for fasting and thanksgiving was common among 1600s New England Puritans.

In 1621, Gov. William Bradford, of Plymouth, Mass., organized a three-day celebration after the colony’s first successful corn harvest, inviting Native American allies to join in the merrymaking. The colonists celebrated survival itself.

Much later, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving per year. In 1789, President George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, asking Americans to thank God for their new country and to ask His blessings upon it. John Adams and James Madison followed suit, but there was no official date.

Perhaps the greatest champion of a national U.S. Thanksgiving holiday was author Sarah Josepha Hale (composer of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”) For nearly four decades, she urged politicians to set aside an official day each year for Americans to give thanks for their country.

Hale’s cause was finally answered

by Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, during the Civil War. Lincoln chose the final Thursday in November and it remained so until 1939, when Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it up a week to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Critics referred to his action as “Franksgiving,” and in 1941 he reluctantly signed a bill making Thanksgiving the fourth Thursday in November.

Today, for many Americans, the holiday is all about food and football, but it began with prayers for our nation and gratitude for survival itself. ❚ 12

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Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

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Sweet Treats Worth Celebrating C

reating baked goods to show your love for family and friends is one of the most thoughtful ways to display care and friendship any time of year, but especially during the holidays when they are typically shared and enjoyed the most.

For a special brunch with loved ones this holiday season, consider serving a light, flaky option, such as this Strawberry Cheesecake Crescent Ring, or finish off a gathering with this Sugar-Dusted Apple Bundt Cake for dessert. These recipes are perfect for holiday entertaining, but easy enough to add a special touch to any meal throughout the year.

With Lucky Leaf Fruit Fillings as the key ingredient to these fabulous treats, you can make delicious sweets with ease.

The exceptional tastes of the fillings – which come in popular flavors like apple, blueberry, cherry and strawberry – give you multiple options with their convenience and versatility to serve up sensa-

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tional holiday treats.

Find more recipes featuring mouthwatering treats for all your holiday celebrating at luckyleaf.com.

Strawberry Cheesecake Crescent Ring Ingredients: 1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup granulated sugar 1/2 tsp. almond extract 2 tubes crescent rolls 1 can (21 ounces) Lucky Leaf Premium Strawberry Fruit Filling & Topping Icing: 1/2 cup powdered sugar 3 tsp. milk Preparation: Heat oven to 375 F. In mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar and almond extract.

Beat mixture until smooth. Unroll crescent dough and separate into triangles. On 14-

inch ungreased pizza pan, arrange triangles with points toward outside of pan and wide ends overlapping at center, leaving 4-inch opening in center. Press overlapping dough to seal. Spoon cream cheese mixture over wide ends of crescent rolls. Top with fruit filling. Fold pointed ends of triangles over filling, tucking points under to form ring. Bake 12-15 minutes, or until crescents are golden brown.

Cool 5 minutes. To make icing: In small mixing bowl, combine powdered sugar and milk; whisk until smooth. Drizzle over crescent ring and serve. ❚

Source: Family Features

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Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y O

See ‘The Nutcracker’ on Nov. 26-27

By Lindsey Gapen

“T

he Nutcracker” is a magical combination of ballet, Christmas and cute kids in mice costumes. This year, Rockford Dance Company (RDC) is performing the holiday classic at Rockford University’s Maddox Theatre on Nov. 26-27.

“We take cues from the community, and people have been loud and clear that they want a traditional Nutcracker – a magical performance that you take your family to see on a yearly basis,” says Emily Cooke, the company’s executive director. “We hope the community is pleased with this year’s production.”

“The Nutcracker” tells the story of a young German girl, Clara, who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince battling a ferocious mouse king. She proceeds on an enchanted journey and witnesses a world of cultures. Tchaikovsky’s timeless score leads the audience through this nostalgic

Christmas classic.

“The Nutcracker” is unique in that all members of the community are welcome to audition.

Although members of Rockford Dance Company receive the main roles, people from across the region have an opportunity to play a part in the production.

Milwaukee Ballet Company’s top dancers will portray the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Cavalier – two small, yet impactful roles. A stunning pas de deux (duet) between the two dancers is what closes the show.

“That is huge,” Cooke says. “It’s a moment for the audience to think ‘wow, these people are flawless.’ It’s a palpable moment when you can feel the energy

of the audience. And it’s also an inspiring moment for the dancers – they realize what’s possible.”

To purchase tickets, call (815) 9633341 or visit rockforddancecompany. com. ❚

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Stroll on State Rolls Out the Holidays

By Jermaine Pigee, deputy editor

S

troll on State, a holiday festival that brings more people to downtown Rockford than any other single-day event, will once again kick off the Christmas season.

The much-anticipated annual event brought an estimated record of 66,000 people to downtown Rockford last year, and will return for its fourth year from 3-9 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 26, two days after Thanksgiving. It will take place mainly along State Street in downtown Rockford, but festivities will be spread throughout 20 blocks.

Illinois Bank & Trust is the presenting sponsor of this free, family-friendly event.

“Stroll on State kicks off the holiday season for our city,” says Tana Vettore, director of Destination Development for the Rockford Area Convention & Visitors

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Bureau. “It’s becoming a great family tradition and it’s drawing visitors to our community.”

Visitors can stroll on State Street, from Third Street to Main Street, while witnessing the sights, sounds and smells of the holiday season.

When Stroll on State started in 2013, more than 30,000 people attended. Because of last year’s staggering attendance numbers, event organizers want to keep the event fairly consistent with last year.

“The feedback regarding the experience last year has been great,” says Josh Albrecht, director of marketing and public affairs for the RACVB. “We want to keep the same footprint this year and expand the events quality, not quantity.”

Daytime activities include outdoor and indoor ice-skating at the Riverview Ice House, 324 N. Madison St. and horse

Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

and wagon rides.

At Santa Land, guests are transported to Santa’s North Pole workshop. Kids can watch Santa’s elves work on toys for the season while they wait to meet Santa.

Kids can also get up close and personal with Santa’s reindeer.

Two outdoor markets will take place: one at the corner of North Main and Mulberry streets, and another at the City

R  O R

Market Pavilion, 212 N. Water St. One of the more popular events is the lighting of the city Christmas tree at the corner of West State and Wyman streets.

The lighting is followed by a fireworks display over the Rock River.

“The trees are always locally sourced,” Albrecht says. “They’re donated by a different family in the Rockford region each year.”

Another featured attraction is the Fire and Ice presentation, along with

Randy Finch and his Ice Brigades crew. Throughout the night, blocks of ice will be transformed into a variety of sculptures and creations.

Families can gather for a group photo at the holiday photo booth, which will be located inside Chase Bank, 401 E. State St. This is an opportunity to take photos with a variety of seasonal props. It’s the perfect way to preserve the evening’s memories.

“We’ve been thrilled at the response Stroll on State has received and we are grateful for our sponsors, partners and volunteers who help us maintain Stroll on State as a free event,” Vettore said.

In addition to Stroll on State activities, downtown businesses will accommodate guests with food, drink and shopping opportunities, as part of Small Business Saturday, the same day as Stroll on State.

“All the shops will be open with specials and there will be live music and

different activities,” Albrecht says. “The mom-and-pop stores can show what they have. The restaurants are full and jam packed on that day.”

Volunteers are already hard at work preparing decorations for the event. Volunteer work days, called Santa’s Workshops, are taking place from 8:30 a.m. to noon every Saturday morning and from 5:30 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday evening.

The workshops take place at 120 N. 3rd St., on the corner of East State and Third streets.

Children ages 12-15 may volunteer with an adult and a signed waiver; 16and 17-year-olds must provide a signed waiver.

“This is a big community undertaking,” Albrecht says. “Last year, 700 volunteers gave time for the event. They’re already meeting twice a week to create new decorations. All the decorations are created by volunteers.”

Visit strollonstate.com for more information or to sign up to volunteer. ❚

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Nov 23 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H

Health Advice All Women Need to Hear W ith all the caregiving women do for others, they often need a reminder to pay attention to their own health.

Aside from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among U.S. women. Each year, about 40,800 women died from it. Early detection greatly raises the odds of surviving cancer, which is why doctors urge women to have regular checkups and mammogram screenings, and to do breast self-checks.

While most women have some risk factors, most don’t get breast cancer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, some risk factors are: • Getting older. Most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.

• Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2.

• Early age at onset of menstrual period.

• Late age at or no pregnancy. Having the first pregnancy after age 30 and never

having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.

• Starting menopause after age 55.

• Not being physically active.

• Being overweight or obese after menopause.

• Drinking alcohol.

• Having dense breasts.

• Taking hormones to replace missing estrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years.

• Taking certain birth control pills.

• Personal history of breast cancer.

• Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases.

• Family history of breast cancer, meaning a first-degree female or male relative.

• Radiation therapy before age 30.

• Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), between 1940 and 1971, to prevent miscarriage, and women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them.

Guidelines and recommendations vary, with regard to when women should begin having mammograms and how often they should be repeated. Women should talk to their doctors about this.

Keep in mind that abnormal mammogram results don’t always mean cancer; they simply mean that further testing is required. Mammograms don’t take long and are covered by most insurance programs. Schedule yours at your hospital of choice. ❚

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glowing in autumn’s glory. Indoors, our concert and theater season will be gaining momentum at Coronado Performing Arts Center, a beautifully restored downtown vaudeville house. Plus, our Riverfront Museum Campus will be coming alive for the whole family. Visit gorockford.com today for a full list of autumn special events, festivals, gardens, golf and more.

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Attractions & Events

Holiday Parade and Tree Lighting Nov. 25, 5-8 p.m. Bundle up for a night of excitement as Santa makes his grand entry into Downtown Beloit, cheered on by large crowds Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com and a glittering procession of floats from businesses, civic organizations and spirit-filled families. Downtown Beloit, Grand Ave., Beloit, (608) 365-0150, downtownbeloit.com.

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Ernie Hendrickson Nov. 25, 7 p.m. Ernie Hendrickson performs at JustGood’s Friday Night Music Series. JustGoods Fair Trade Marketplace, 201 7th St., Rockford, (815) 965-8903, justgoods.info.

Science Cornucopia Nov. 25-26, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Turn turkey-day leftovers into zany science fun by experimenting with cranberry chemistry and engaging in fruitcake physics. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 963-6769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Holiday Festival of Lights Nov. 25-Dec. 25, Fri.-Sun. 5-10 p.m. See more than 50 holiday-themed displays at the annual Holiday Festival of Lights and hand-deliver your Christmas wish list directly to Santa. Sinnissippi Park, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford, rockfordfireandice.com.

“The Nutcracker” Nov. 26 & 27. Rockford Dance Company performs this holiday classic. A two-act ballet, “The Nutcracker” follows Clara, a young girl who takes an enchanted journey. Rockford University, Maddox Theatre, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 963-3341, rockforddancecompany.com.

Rockford Choral Union: “Messiah” Nov. 26-27, Sat. 4 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. Come enjoy the 71st annual presentation of “Messiah,” presented by Rockford Choral Union. The event features internationally known soloists, a large regional chorus, a chamber orchestra and a harpsichord. Trinity Lutheran Church, 200 N. 1st St., Rockford, rockfordchoralunion.org.

Stroll on State Nov. 26, 3-9 p.m. A spectacular holiday event with food, activities and decorations returns to kick off the holiday season. Downtown Rockford along State Street, Rockford, gorockford. com/stroll-on-state.

Rockford Dance Company performs Nutcracker" on Nov. 26 and 27.

"The

Music on Main: Songs Old and New Nov. 28, 5:30 p.m. Enjoy an intimate concert with Songs Old and New, followed by light refreshments. Emerson House, 420 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Fighting the Sex Trafficking of Minors Nov. 29, 7-9 p.m. Founded in 2006, Freedom Firm seeks to eliminate child prostitution in India by rescuing minors who have been sold into the commercial sex trade. Freedom Firm representative Becky Morris talks about the efforts employed in the fight to eliminate child prostitution. Rockford University, Fisher Memorial Chapel, 5050 E. State St., (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu/artslectures/ forum.

Christmas Love Light Angel Tree Lighting Nov. 29, 10:30 a.m. A Christmas tree with angel ornaments offers the opportunity to remember and honor loved ones during the holiday season.

Join in for the initial illumination. Presence Saint Joseph Center, 659 E. Jefferson St., Freeport, (815) 232-8935, presencehealth.org.

“Elf the Musical” Nov. 30, “Elf the Musical” is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toy-making abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

For More Attractions & Events Visit GoRockford.com Tell them you saw it in ...

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Nov. 23

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

‘Something Different’ At GreenFire Restaurant

By Peggy Werner

I

f you’re looking for a unique dining experience, look no further than GreenFire Restaurant, Bar and Bakery, 6795 E. Riverside Blvd.

Shendet Ismajlaj, owner for the past year, has a long history of working in Rockford area restaurants and is now carrying on the dream of late owner and founder Philippe Forcioli, who owned Café Patou and then opened GreenFire.

“I worked with Philippe for several years and never met anyone who could cook like him,” says Ismajlaj.

GreenFire is an American-contemporary farm restaurant, bar and bakery that uses only natural, fresh and seasonal ingredients, with everything cooked in stateof-the-art wood stone ovens.

“We offer something for everyone,

but we cater to the individual who wants to try something different,” says Ismajlaj. “People tell us there is nothing like it anywhere. We are known for our customer service, quality of food and unique flavor combinations.”

For breakfast, unique choices include tequila French toast, caramel apple pecan French toast, avocado eggs Benedict, wild berries crepes, and apple cider pancakes.

Appetizers include treats such as gorgonzola stuffed dates wrapped in applewood smoked duck bacon, with blackberry gastrique.

For lunch and dinner, there’s a wide selection of salads, meat entrees, seafood dishes, burgers, pasta, wood fire pizza and those delicious crepes made famous by Café Patou.

Shendet Ismajlaj, owner of GreenFire

On any given week, at least a dozen kinds of dessert are featured, the most popular one being a flourless, dense chocolate torte.There are regular and featured daily specials, as well as dinner pizzas for $10 after 10 p.m. every day. Learn more by calling GreenFire at (815) 316-3473. ❚ ❚

Top Picks for Local Restaurants

GreenFire EUpscale-Casual/American contemporary. Seasonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; 9 East Coffee E Casual/Coffeehouse. Specialty coffees, pas- live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) tries, breakfast, lunch. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport, (815) 316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am; Sat-Sun 8 am. Bar open late. $$.

233-7300, BkL M-F 7am-3pm, Sat 7am-2pm. $ JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar E UpscaleArturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Mexican. Casual. Food cooked tableside. 2551 N. Perryville, Rockford, 107 W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am- (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat to 2:30pm; D M-Th 8pm; T-Th to 9pm; F to 10pm; Sun noon-8pm. $.

5-9:30pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$.

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Be- Local Dough Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, breakloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat 11pm. $. fast, lunch, dinner, beer, wine. 202 W. Main St., Rockton, Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Free- (815) 957-0584. BkLD W-Sun 7 am-6 pm. $. port, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$.

Main Street Meat Co E Deli/bakery. Quality meats, seafood, Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk café/bakery with catering services. 9515 N. 2nd St., Roscoe, (815) 623-6328. BkLD M-F 8 am-6:30 pm; Sat. 8 am-6 pm; Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Sun. 9 am-5 pm. $.

Franchesco’s Ristorante E Upscale/Italian-American. Sommelier, live entertainment. 7128 Spring Creek Road, Rock- Mamma Mia’s E Casual/American. Pizza, pasta, sandwiches, wraps. 1139 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 399-6262. ford, (815) 229-0800. LD Sun-Th 4-9pm, F-Sat to 10pm. $$ LD M-Th 4-9pm, F 11am-10pm, Sat 4-10pm, Sun to 9pm. $$ Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. Fresh, localsourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, (608) 313-0700. D Sun-Th 316-2256 BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat to 10pm. $$.

Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkwy., Rockford, (815) Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11 am-10 pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.

Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Giovanni’s/Big Al’s Bar/Alchemy E Upscale-casual/American. Three dining rooms. 610 N. Bell School Road, Rockford. Thrive Café E Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, (815) 398-6411. LD M-Th 11a.m.-10 pm, F to 11 pm, Sat 3-11 smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm. ❚ pm. Live entertainment, open late. $-$$.

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In the Spotlight Bravo Pizza

W

ith more than 40 years in the restaurant business, Joe Ocello knows how to create an authentic dining experience. Since opening the first Bravo Pizza & Italian Restaurant location in 2001 with wife Francesca, the couple has been refining its classic Italian fare.

Most items are made from scratch, ensuring a home-made meal with fresh ingredients. The Italian beef, served au jus or with tomato meat sauce, was named Best in the Stateline by MyStateline.com in 2013. Top sellers include Italian meatball sandwiches, fettucine Alfredo and fish specials.

“We make it all ourselves. Each meatball is about a quarter pound apiece, so they’re huge,” says Ocello.

Bravo has locations in South Beloit and Poplar Grove. Both offer a full-service bar, catering, carry-out and delivery services.

Learn more at Bravopizzarestaurant.com. ❚

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Y K

Get ‘Home-Cooked’ Food on the Run

By Peggy Werner n the run, but want a good homecooked meal?

Stop in at 2nd Street Deli Grill and Catering, located in Main Street Meat Company, 9515 N. 2nd St., Roscoe, to grab a cup of homemade soup, plus salads, sandwiches and desserts, while relaxing in the home-like setting.

“We have so much to choose from.

We just want to provide the community with different choices for quality meat and homemade products,” says Amy King, who owns the business with her husband, Jim. Their son, Matt, runs the store, and daughter Hannah also works for them.

Signature sandwiches can be purchased as a halves or whole, with chips or a deli salad and a medium fountain beverage – or design your own creation from a large selection of meats, cheeses, toppings, sauces, and breads.

O

Some of the delicious tastes combinations include Little Italy, a sandwich made with prosciutto, capicola, pepperoni, and provolone cheese; Hononegah Indian Sub is made from smoked ham and smoked turkey, summer sausage and smoked Cheddar cheese. The Chicken Coup is made from homemade chicken salad, cranberries, pepper jack cheese and walnuts. Cold Corny Cow is made from slowly cooked in-house corned beef, with creamy cole slaw and Swiss cheese on a rye loaf.

From the Grill, there is Perfect Pastrami, made with brown mustard, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese on rye; the King Burger, a half-pound burger with onion rings, bacon, Cheddar cheese, mayonnaise and BBQ sauce. Squealler is made from the award-winning Pulled Pork – overflowing with juices and a smoky de-

licious flavor.

The deli also will provide trays of meats, vegetables, fruits and other food for parties or as gifts.

Some of the extras include French fries, Parmesan potato chips, cheese curds, macaroni and cheese, chicken tenders and corn dogs – all made on site.

The Deli is open during store hours from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. Sunday. ❚

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Reduce the Cost of Monthly Tech Bills

By Peggy Werner

W

hile thinking about all the money you have to spend this holiday season, why not also think about ways to save money on your monthly tech bills?

EZ Satellite & Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St., Suite B, in Loves Park, can help with that.

“People are paying too much for phone, internet, and television services by using just one company,” says Charles Zambrano, owner. “You don’t have to choose just one company to save money.

People get excited when they see promotions because they’re just looking at the price, which will jump up dramatically after the special offer ends. Plus, they don’t always know exactly what they’re getting – and what you don’t know can hurt you.”

When you purchase TV and internet service through EZ Satellite & Wireless, you’ll get a $100 gift card when you share the news with someone else.

EZ Satellite &Wireless is an authorized dish network retailer and also is licensed to offer services from any other provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, such as Comcast, Frontier, HughesNet, DishNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, and Vivint.

EZ Satellite specializes in helping people make the right choices based on what they need and where they live, so they can save money.

The family-owned business opened in 2011, in Roscoe, and moved to a larger, more visible location in Loves Park last May, adding a new bill-paying center for customer convenience. EZ Satellite & Wireless is a full service retailer for satellite TV and internet, and can also help people to acquire cable services. About 80 percent of his business is working with residential customers in Southern Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The

company also works with businesses.

After working for many years as a satellite dish installer for one of the local providers, Zambrano decided to go out on his own to be more in control of his life and to help others do the same.

“I love to see people’s faces when they find out how much money they can save,” he says.

For more information, contact EZ Satellite & Wireless at (815) 957-4335 or stop by the office. ❚

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