Smart Living Weekly October 3, 2018 by Northwest Quarterly Mag

Sm mart a r t L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • October 3, 2018

™

Right in Our Region

Klehm Hosts Autumn at the Arboretum

See Page 16

Car Care Tips Organize Your Home Avoid Neck Pain Savory Italian Recipes Fall Fun at Midway Village

FREE WIN!

$25 Gift Card from GreenFire Restaurant

See Pg. 28 Details

Best of Life Information for Our Region’s Residents & Visitors Proudly Serving the Needs of 326,000 Neighbors - For Your Home, Health & Fun!

Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1

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

Aug. 29

Rockton, IL

Treat Yourself www.gemshop.jewelry

Jingle Bell ROCKton

Christmas Open Houses | Exclusive First Looks

Friday & Saturday | November 2 & 3 4

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Find your

WIN. ALL THE LATEST SLOTS & TABLE GAMES AWARD-WINNING DINING LIVE ENTERTAINMENT LUXURY HOTEL AND MORE!

Get On THURSDAYS WIN A CARIBBEAN CRUISE!

Play with your Club card to earn entries Oct. 1–Nov. 15, with 3X entries on drawing days. Each Thursday night, 30 guests will win slot play and Caribbean cruise vacations! Drawing Dates & Times: Thursdays, Oct. 4–25 and Nov. 1–15 at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Learn more at paysbig.com/islandtime.

Tell them you saw it in ...

1721 WEST CANAL STREET | MILWAUKEE, WI 53233 | 1-800-PAYSBIG WINNERS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL TAXES

In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Autumn at the Arboretum Your Community .............................................. ..9 Teach an Adult to Read Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Organize Your Home Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Whom Do You Trust? Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Savory Italian Cooking Your Tech ............................................... .......... 19 All About Solar Panels Your Auto ............................................... .......... 21 Prevent Vehicle Troubles Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Avoid Neck Pain Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Olympic Tavern Your Money .............................................. ......... 29 A New Credit Union Location

Smart L iving Weekly â&#x201E;˘

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Assistant Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Behling Contributing Writer Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly. Copyright 2018 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.

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Apple of Your Eye

enry David Thoreau once noted, “It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.” Indeed, where adventurous people traveled, so went the apple seed. Depending on who you ask, the apple – a member of the rose family, believe it or not – is traced back to at least 6500 B.C., in Southwestern Asia. That’s about the time our hunter-gatherer ancestors were settling into an agricultural lifestyle. Prominent leaders like Egypt’s Ramses II (1303 B.C.) and many French kings influenced the development of apples, but most historians credit Roman horticulturists with transforming tiny, sour, seedy fruits into the big sweet ones more closely resembling what we eat today. By 1866, a publication known as “Downing’s Fuits” listed 643 apple cultivars. Europeans brought the apple seed to the New World and “Johnny Appleseed” – a Massachusetts man named John Chapman – really did help to establish apple nurseries from the East Coast to Ohio. I suspect most of us have happy memories closely associated with apples and the local orchards where they grow. If those places ha dollars for each good memory (and photo) made on their properties, the owners could all retire. As it is, apple growers work hard for every dollar they earn. Growing apples is risky. Harsh winters, the obliteration of natural bee populations, plant diseases and tornados have all played into the roller coaster history of our local orchards. It takes about five years before an apple tree may be harvested and it takes about 36 apples to produce one gallon of pure cider. While it’s true that apples purchased from a big box store are usually less expensive, it’s also true that they taste like cardboard. Now’s the time to stock up on those which aren’t mass produced or bred for shelf life over flavor. Locally grown fruit rocks. Buying local isn’t always cheaper, but memories made with family and friends – “the apple of your eye” – are priceless. See you at the orchard! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y C

Make a Difference: Teach an Adult to Read By Peggy Werner

f you truly want to make a difference, consider helping an adult to discover the joy of reading. Most people take for granted being able to read street signs, grocery store ads, instructions on a medicine bottle, the latest news or being able to fill out a job application. But for those who have limited reading skills, all they see are roadblocks to better living. Some English-speaking adults have limited reading skills because they had interruptions at a time when they should have been learning to read, whether caused by illness, relocation, problems at home or just not being able to learn in the style that was taught, says Debbie Lindley, program director for The Literacy Council, 982 N. Main St. “By the time some people are adults, they’ve gone through a lot in life and suffered greatly. Because they lack reading skills from having missed out on

so much, the result may be low self esteem and low self confidence,” she says. Volunteers who are willing to help one or more of the 50 individuals waiting to be paired with a tutor can attend one of several workshops scheduled in Rockford, Belvidere and Loves Park to learn how to work with adults who are learning to read. The Literacy Council asks volunteers to commit a minimum of two hours a week for a year per student. Volunteers don’t have to have teaching experience, but need to be at least 18 years old, have a GED or a high school diploma and complete training that meets twice weekly for three weeks. There are numerous Tutor Training

Tell them you saw it in ...

Workshops for volunteers at Ida Public Library, 320 N. State St. in Belvidere; North Suburban Library District (NSLD), 6340 N. 2nd St., Loves Park; and at The Literacy Council, 982 N. Main St. The workshop schedule and a registration form can be downloaded at theliteracycouncil.org or call (815) 963-7323 for more information. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H  G

Organize Your Home this Autumn By Janine Pumilia

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.

Tell them you saw it in ...

“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.

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

I  W

Autumn @

Who Do You Really Trust?

It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man. – Psalm 118:8

urely these words ring true to any believer who has lived in the world for any time at all. Who is trustworthy in this life? Even the people we love the most and who love us best are frail and imperfect. We are not wholly honest with ourselves, much less with others. And none of us is truly wise, despite our best intentions. What of the institutions and organizations of this world? Has any of us failed to be disappointed by them? Governments, corporations, schools, hospitals, workplaces, churches, society in general. Each is comprised of flawed individuals, some trying their best, some serving only themselves, none perfect. In short, we love people but we trust only God. And yet how difficult it sometimes is to trust in One we can’t see. What does it mean to trust in the Lord? First, there is the Word of God. For all the ways people twist and turn scripture to suit their own ideas, the basic truths taught by Jesus Christ can’t be obscured. The greatest commandment is to love God fully and faithfully. The next greatest is to love others as much as we love ourselves. Those are trustworthy concepts that should keep us busy for a lifetime. (Matthew 22:36-40.) Too, God’s trustworthiness and sheer brilliance is on display all around us every day; it’s in every sunrise and moonrise, every spring that brings new life, every inch of natural beauty, every miraculous interaction in the web of life which sustains us. It’s in the miracle of life itself, and in every breath we take. People didn’t create the Earth or the life upon it. God did. People who trust in people are always disappointed. People who love people and put their confidence in God find a peace that surpasses human understanding. ❚ – Janine Pumilia 12

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

the Arboretum

Sunday, October 14th 10:00 am - 3:00 pm

Pumpkin Painting

Scarecrow Building Pickles the Clown Horse Drawn Wagon Rides Face Painting Petting Zoo The Magic of Brian Holt

Performances by Bob Kann Princesses & Super Heroes

Once Upon a Dream Performances

Sponsors Fall food available for purchase.

Klehm Arboretum Botanic Presented to the & community by Garden

The Foundation 2715 S. Main St.DAO | 815 815-965-8146 8146 | klehm.org

Arboretum & Botanic Garden

2715 S. Main St. Rockford, IL 61102 | klehm.org | 815-965-8146

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

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y K

Cooking with Pesto: Savory Italian Cuisine

esto can be served hot or cold, so it’s easy to cook with or to add to dishes featuring fresh vegetables. Farmers markets are full of fresh basil right now, so make your own pesto or save time by trying Filippo Berio Pestos, including Classic, Sun Dried Tomato, Tomato & Ricotta and Hot Chili and Olive. Find more recipes at FilippoBerio.com.

Chicken Caprese Stuﬀed Squash

2 small spaghetti squash 2 TB Filippo Berio Robusto Extra Virgin Olive Oil, divided 3/4 tsp. salt, divided 3/4 tsp. pepper, divided 12 oz. boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1 small onion, ﬁnely chopped 1/3 cup Filippo Berio Classic Pesto 1 1/2 cups halved cherry tomatoes 8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 2 TB chopped fresh basil

Heat oven to 400 F. Halve spaghetti squash lengthwise and scrape out seeds; drizzle cut sides with 1 TB olive oil and season with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Bake, cut sides down, on parchment

Savory Zucchini and Fontina Muﬃns

paper-lined baking sheet 45-50 minutes, or until tender. Let cool slightly. Using fork, scrape strands of squash into bowl; reserve squash shells. In skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat; cook chicken, onion and remaining salt and pepper about 5 minutes, or until chicken is browned. Stir in pesto; bring to simmer. Cook about 5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Stir in cherry tomatoes; cook until slightly softened, about 1 minute. Toss spaghetti squash with chicken mixture; divide among reserved squash shells. Top with mozzarella cheese; broil 1-2 minutes, or until cheese melts. Sprinkle with chopped basil. Add chopped black olives or jarred artichokes.

Tell them you saw it in ...

2 1 1/2 1/4 1/2 1/3 3/4 1/4 1 1 2 12

cups all-purpose ﬂour TB baking powder tsp. salt tsp. freshly ground pepper cup Sun Dried Tomato Pesto, divided cup Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil cup milk cup granulated sugar egg cup shredded zucchini green onions, ﬁnely chopped cubes fontina cheese

Heat oven to 400 F. Line 12-cup muffin pan with large paper liners. Whisk flour, baking powder, salt and pepper. In separate bowl, whisk 1/4 cup pesto, olive oil, milk, sugar and egg; stir into flour mixture until moistened. Fold in zucchini and green onions. Divide half the batter evenly among muffin cups; place cube of fontina on top of batter. Top each with 1 tsp. remaining pesto; top with remaining batter. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. To make extra savory, add 1/2 cup cooked and crumbled bacon. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

(Source: Family Features)

Oct. 3

R  O R

Enjoy A ‘ utumn at the Arboretum’ Oct. 14 A By Peggy Werner utumn at the Arboretum is a free gift to the community and another opportunity for everyone to get outdoors and enjoy all the sights, sounds and scents of this much-loved season. This year’s event will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 14, at Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St. Activities will include a scarecrow building contest, pumpkin decorating, face painting, horse-drawn wagon rides, magic shows, a petting zoo and live storybook princesses and superheroes roaming the grounds. Executive Director Alex Mills says it’s one of the most popular times of the year at Klehm. “We love being able to have families throughout the grounds enjoying the many festival activities along with our beautiful fall colors and decorations as

Smart Living Weekly

the backdrop,” he says. Sarah Lorenz, marketing and administrative assistant at Klehm, says the staff also is hoping people will want to join Klehm as members and volunteers. Most volunteers work in the spring and summer months to plant, weed, water, feed and maintain plants and paths for the not-for-profit organization. The property is owned by the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County. Materials will be provided for the scarecrow and pumpkin decorating events, but people can also bring their own supplies. Brian Holt will be walking the grounds performing magic tricks and Bob Kann will entertain with storytelling, juggling, magic and audience participation at 11 a.m. and noon. Storybook princesses and superheroes will roam the grounds and there

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

will be a petting zoo with live farm animals, including goats. Sidewalk chalk will be available for kids and adults to create their own unique masterpieces on the Sidewalk Chalk Gallery. Fall-themed refreshments will be served including taffy apples, apple cider, doughnuts and hot dogs. The free annual event is open to everyone, thanks to the Dean Allen Olson Foundation. Dean and his wife, Nancy,

R  O R

were among the original contributors and supporters of Klehm. The Children’s Garden is named and funded by the Foundation, in Nancy’s honor. The Olsons wanted to provide a fun, family-oriented event at no cost to the community, giving them another reason to get outside and enjoy nature before the coldest winter days. Longtime Volunteer Audrey Johnson has been a forest commissioner with the Forest Preserves of Winnebago County since 2010. A direct descendent of the Atwood family that owned Atwood Vacuum Machine Tool Co., founded in Rockford

in 1909, Johnson has a love for the outdoors she wants to share with others. “I volunteer to help in whatever way I can because I believe in the benefits of being outdoors,” she says. “I like being part of the events going on at Klehm and love seeing the faces of the kids having so much fun. “We’re so fortunate to have Klehm and other forest preserve properties in our county and yet so many people are not aware of what we have and have never visited some of the places. I’ve been to other arboretums and none are more beautiful than Klehm,” she says, adding that people can also get inspiration for decorating as well as home gardening ideas. Enjoying fall means cooler temperatures, leaves changing colors, birds flying south, plants dispersing seeds for new growth next spring, crops getting ready

Tell them you saw it in ...

to be harvested and animals looking for mates and gathering food for the winter. People are encouraged to walk around the 155-acre arboretum, with its 2 miles of paved paths and 3 miles of wood chip paths, to take in the beauty of mature foliage, fall colors, blooming perennials, displays of mums, kale, tall ornamental grasses, berries, pods, and seed heads on trees and shrubs. Hay bales, pumpkins and corn stalks will decorate the grounds. Klehm features many specialty gardens and more than 500 labeled species and cultivars of trees, shrubs and vines. Klehm is also an educational institution that offers classes, workshops, lectures and events throughout the year to teach people about horticulture, nature, environmental issues and gardening. Lorenz is one of four new management staff members at Klehm this summer. She and other staff will be on the grounds during the festival to meet and greet people and talk to them about their experiences at Klehm. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y T

It’s a Good Time to Install Solar Panels By Peggy Werner

Z Satellite and Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St. in Loves Park, is known for helping people to save money on TV, phone, internet and home security services. Now it’s also helping them to save even more money by getting off the power grid. Owner and general manager Charles Zambrano has partnered with Aeos Energy in Franklin Park, Ill., to form another branch of his business called EZ Solar Energy, which will provide savings to homeowners who make the switch to solar energy. “This is the time to do it because there are incentives with deadlines by the federal and state government to help people save on the cost of producing their own energy,” Zambrano says. “Most people don’t have the cash to install solar panels, so our goal is to make it affordable to all.” EZ Solar helps a customer every

step of the way, with permits, applications and obtaining a fixed-interest loan, for those who qualify. The product has a 25-year warranty and takes only one day to install. Paperwork takes several weeks to process. The savings is made possible through federal Investment Tax Credits (ITC), which allow homeowners to deduct 30 percent of the cost of installing a solar energy system. The deadlines for the tax incentives have been extended many times and currently expire in 2022. State laws require utilities to produce a specific percentage of their electricity from renewable sources. Right now, for a limited time, the state is offering a rebate for homeowners who have installed solar panels, rewarding them for helping the

state to meet its goals. The federal government is requiring states to reduce carbon emissions or be fined. Illinois’ goal is to produce 25 percent of its electricity through renewable energy sources by 2025. Currently, most of the state’s electricity is produced by nuclear power, natural gas and fossil fuel, including coal. Learn more by calling Zambrano at EZ Solar at (815) 200-9075. ❚

OUT WITH CABLE. IN WITH SAVINGS. Call your authorized DIRECTV dealer for details. Ezsat and Wireless Inc.

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y A C

Prevent Vehicle Trouble with Maintenance By Peggy Werner

f you drive a car, truck, recreational vehicle, have a ﬂeet of trucks, or any other motorized transportation, chances are you can ﬁnd everything you need at Scott’s RV, Truck and Auto Repair at 3301 American Road. Owner Scott Adkins started out in a shop like his own, and when it closed he saw an opportunity to continue to service people in the way he was used to doing. “I wanted a fair, honest repair shop where people could get everything done in one place. We’re pretty diversified in what we do, and it’s especially convenient for customers with more than one vehicle,” he says. He opened his business 11 years ago and quickly outgrew the small shop located just a half mile from his current location. In 2009, he bought a lot and put up a building that underwent a major expansion in 2014, bringing the number of

work bays to 15. He employs five certified technicians in automotive services and diesel mechanics and a total of 11 employees. Adkins says it’s not too early to think about avoiding trouble down the road. “So many problems with vehicles can be prevented with routine maintenance. Oftentimes, what people think is the main problem is really a symptom of something else gone wrong,” he says. To get ready for winter, it’s a good idea to have the tires, battery, coolant, wipers, brakes and other moving parts checked. “Cars don’t need tune-ups as often as they used to, but it’s still a good idea to have a fall inspection. Everything works harder in the winter and you don’t want to have a breakdown on the coldest day,” he says. His business services every type of

Tell them you saw it in ...

foreign and domestic vehicle, warranties its work for 12 months or 12,000 miles, has the latest diagnostic equipment and a waiting area with WI-FI, provides free shuttle rides within a limited area and does Illinois and federal DOT inspections. Learn more by calling (815) 8740800 or visit scottstruckandauto.com. ❚

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

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y H

How to Prevent a Painful Neck Injury By Peggy Werner

ours of texting, desk work, reading and writing can put a strain on your neck and back, causing pain and changes in the spine that will force your head forward and lead to other problems, if not addressed, says Dr. Brittany McMullen, Chiropractic Physician with Chris Scott Wellness, 1752 Windsor Road, Suite 202. “Almost everyone I see has a flat neck from looking down too much. What happens is you begin to lose the natural forward curve of the spine in your neck and so the body does things to compensate for the change, which leads to more posture issues, neck and back tension, and headaches,” she says. To help alleviate pain and correct neck alignment, McMullen has started using the Posture Pump Disk Hydrator in her treatment regime. A patient places his or her head and

neck in the device. Straps are strategically placed around the head for stability. A hand pump controls the air pressure in the pillow-like part of the device under the neck to lift and lower the spine and lubricate the joints. McMullen says she has used the pump before and is happy to introduce it to patients at the Loves Park office. Meanwhile, people can do a lot to help themselves by paying attention to good posture, looking forward instead of down when reading, taking breaks from

Tell them you saw it in ...

looking down and doing neck stretches and shoulder rolls. Looking down much of the day puts a lot of strain on a small part of the anatomy. Studies have shown looking down at a cell phone for long periods of time is like putting a 60-pound weight on your neck. McMullen says the pump also helps with symptoms caused by budging discs, such as pain, tightening, and tingling in the arms and hands. “It’s very effective because we’re stretching the muscles and the ligaments and pushing the bones in the direction we want them to go, and it’s safe enough to use every day,” she says. McMullen’s office hours are from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays and from 1 to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Reach her by calling (815) 977-3747. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Never Too Old or Too Cool to Ride SMTD! Whether you’re riding to appointments, shopping, visiting friends, going to church...

We’re Here To Get You There

Rock On with SMTD!

Stateline Mass Transit District

“We’re Here To Get You There”

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Your Preferred Choice for safe and affordable transportation, serving the greater South Beloit, Rockton and Roscoe area since 2008. Phone: 815-624-7788 • Ride Scheduling: 877-561-3330 E-Mail: info@smtd.biz • Web: www.smtd.biz

Scan the code to visit our website

Y F Autumn just might be the best time of year. The sun is a little lower (and prettier), the air is a little crisper (and cleaner) and the leaves cascade down in colorful splendor. This fall, spend some quality time in the fun, nearby, value-packed Rockford Region. See stunning fall colors at

Real. Original. SM

Anderson Japanese Gardens, the finest in North America. Visit beautifully spacious Rock Cut State Park. Don’t miss Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, with more than 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines, all

ILLINOIS, USA

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.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau NWQ_fall.indd 1

102 N. Main St.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

Wings of Wonder – Lorikeet Exhibit Thru Nov. 11, Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Meet these always curious nectar-feeding birds known Rockford, IL 61101 playful 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com vibrant for their personalities, coloration and ability to mimic words and sounds. Nicholas Conservatory, 1354 N. 2nd St., (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict. org/ncg. 9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Listening Room Concerts Thru Dec. 21, Fri. 7 p.m. Sofia Talvik, Rupert Wates, Blues Boys, Emily Hurd, Marques Morel and Andrew Holm are some of the upcoming performers. Listening Room, 201 7th St., Rockford, (815) 965-8903, rockfordlisteningroom.com. 'You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown' Oct. 4-6, Thur.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 3 p.m. Charles Schulz’s comic strip comes to life, with Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Snoopy, Linus and Charlie Brown. Beloit Civic Theatre, Beloit Memorial High School, 1225 4th St., Beloit, (608) 362-1595, beloitcivictheatre.org. Nellie’s Barn Sale Oct. 5 & 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This vintage goods market at 10985 Main St., in Roscoe, Ill., features 55 peddlers from all over the Midwest, selling goods on a 2-acre field. There’ll be a beer garden and foods for sale. Admission is $5, $4 for parking. Learn more at NelliesKitchenBarnSale.blogspot.com. AE: 'Carrie, the Musical' Oct. 4-7, Thur.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun 2 p.m. Stephen King's teenage girl Carrie unleashes her wrath after being humiliated at the high school prom. Artists’ Ensemble, Cheek Theatre, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., (815) 226-4100, artistsensemble.org. Whose Live Anyway? Oct. 5, 8 p.m. Bring your suggestions for improvised comedy and songs. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. Claude Bourbon Oct. 6, 7 p.m. Known throughout Europe and the U.S., guitarist Bourbon performs in blues, Spanish and Middle Eastern traditions. Spring Creek UCC, Rockford, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org.

Hear the 'Jurassic Park' score by John Williams performed by Rockford Symphony Orchestra Oct. 6.

RSO: Jurassic Park Oct. 6, 7:30 p.m. Experience the actionpacked adventure film that pits man against prehistoric predators, projected in HD with the orchestra performing John Williams’ score. Coronado PAC, (815) 965-0049, rockfordsymphony.com. 30th Annual Fall ArtScene Oct. 6-7, Fri. 5-9 p.m., Sat. 4-9 p.m. Rockford Area Arts Council's ArtScene showcases original works of art at 40 locations. (815) 963-6765, artsforeveryone.com. Inherit the Wind Oct. 12-21, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. In the 1920s, a Tennessee schoolteacher is put on trial for violating a state law that prohibits public school teachers from teaching evolution. Two lawyers go head-to-head. Stage One, Janesville, janesvillepac.org. Grand Tour Fall Festival Oct. 13, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Ride in a covered wagon, visit with farm animals, bob for apples and decorate pumpkins. John Deere Historic Site, 8334 S. Clinton St., Grand Detour, Ill., (815) 652-4551, deere.com. The Antitones Oct. 14, 3 p.m. The jazz-fusion band from Rockford draws on musical styles ranging from blues and funk to swing and AfroCuban. MPAC, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org. 'Chesapeake' Oct. 18-Nov. 10, Thu.-Sat., see website for times. When a conservative candidate's criticism of Kerr’s government-sponsored art lands him a Senate seat, Kerr seeks revenge. [usual]Suspects, Nordlof Center. Info: rockfordpubliclibrary.org. ❚

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

Oct. 3

WDL

Craft Beers Always on Tap at Olympic Tavern By Janine Pumilia

eers and burgers have been central attractions at Olympic Tavern since it opened in 1945 at 2327 N. Main St. Just as the casual food menu has expanded to include full-course dinners, the full-service bar has expanded to please every customer, too. “I try to offer things other places don’t serve,” says Zak Rotello, general manager and third-generation co-owner. “It’s no fun to do the same things everyone else is doing.” He’s especially proud of the draught beer list, which changes two or three times a week and includes 28 options from lightest to darkest, along with a brief description of the flavor profile and alcohol content, which can range from 2.5 to 18 percent. “There are seven or eight house favorites that stay constant, but customers always find something new, often influenced by the season we’re in,” he

says. On autumn days you’ll find several options with pumpkin spice notes, crisp hard ciders, golden lagers, kombuchas (fermented tea) and more on tap. Rotello spent time working at a craft brewery in Portland, Ore., and formally studied the brewing process at Chicago’s Siebel Institute of Technology before coming back to the family business owned by his father, Tom, and founded by his late grandfather, Anthony, a U.S. Marine. Tom still works at the business every day and Zak recently became general manager. “I find unique craft beers by developing relationships with people who follow them,” he says. “Trending right now are New England-style IPAs. They’re softer and hazier, still hoppy but not as bitter.” Traditionalists are never disappointed, either. “We sell a lot of Pilsner and we go through 1.5 kegs of Guinness every week,” he says.

Food options include appetizers, sandwiches, salads, soups and full-course dinners, with daily appetizer and meal specials changed up to keep things interesting. Specials include $6 ½-lb. burgers on Mondays; $3 tacos on Tuesdays; $12 fried chicken dinners on Wednesdays; $14 New York strips on Thursdays; a $12 Friday fish fry and a $19 complete prime rib meal on Saturdays. Hours are Mon.-Thurs. 11 a.m.midnight and Fri.-Sat. 11-2 a.m. Learn about special events, catering and more at theOlympictavern.com. ❚

In the Spotlight Top Picks for Local Restaurants Baci’s Kitchen  Fast-Casual, dine-in, carry-out. 2990 N. Perryville Road, inside A Perryville Place. (815) 329-6922. Open 7 days/wk. at 8 a.m. BkLD. Complete menu at Baciskitchen.com. Backyard Grill & Bar  Casual/American. 5390 Elevator Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-6677. 2nd St., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 6369430. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 2am, Sun noon-10 p.m. $-SS. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Capital House  Lunches, fine dining, sushi bar, gourmet coffee & pastries, martini bar. 308 W. State St., Rockford, (815) 708-8989. LD T-Th 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11 am-10pm. $-$$$. Ciao Bella Ristorante Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill. (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 5-10 p.m. $$ Cucina di Rosa  Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant  Casual/Mexican. 5855 E. State St., (815) 227-4979. LD $-$$. Fresco at the Gardens.  Casual/American Café. 318 Spring Creek Road, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ Giordano’s  Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) 26

Smart Living Weekly

398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm. GreenFire  Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. Live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) 3163473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$. Hearthrock Cafe  Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-3pm. $-$$. Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria  Casual. Pizza, Italian favorites, beer & wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 633-7500; and 5801 Columbia Pkwy., Rockford, (815) 2275577. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. Olympic Tavern  Upscale-Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., (815) 962-8758. Extensive beer list. LD M-Th 11 a.m.-midnight; Fri-Sat. to 2 a.m. $-$$. Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$. Rock Cut Concessions  Casual American. BkLD. Daily 8 a.m.-7 p.m., open to 9 p.m. on Friday for fish fry. Taco Betty’s  Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. Union Dairy  Ice cream treats, grill food. Locally sourced. 126 E. Douglas, Freeport. LD Daily 11am-10 pm. Grill closed Sundays and after 8 pm. $$. ❚

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Union Dairy

he Union Dairy, 26 E. Douglas St., Freeport, sells old-fashioned treats like cones, sundaes, banana splits and handmade sodas, malts and root beer floats, made with 51 flavors of ice cream. It also has a grill that serves 19 kinds of hamburgers, plus hot dogs, brats and sandwiches, and Freeport-made Mrs. Mike’s potato chips. It fries up onion rings, cheese curds, dill pickles, sweet potato waffle fries and more. The burger meat is ground fresh daily at family-owned Harbach Meats, in Freeport since 1929. The cheese is made at Springrook Cheese Factory in nearby Davis, Ill. Union Dairy also sells customized ice cream cakes, cookie ice cream sandwiches and hand-packed ice cream quarts. Hours: Tues.-Sun. 11 a.m.-9 p.m. The grill closes at 8 p.m. daily and is closed on Sundays. ❚

Tell them you saw it in ...

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

e-Subscribe to Smart Living Weekly Now! You Will Be Automatically Entered into This Week’s Giveaway! Save Smarter • Live Better • Every Week

Get Started at NorthwestQuarterly.com/Contest

Enter This Week’s Giveaway, and Receive Smart Living Every Week For FREE! Become an E-Subscribers Today! Visit northwestquarterly.com!

This Week’s Giveaway Winner To Be Announced

October 10 on the 13 WREX Morning Show $25 Gift Card

Greenfire

Enter Now At: www.northwestquarterly.com/contest Contest Giveaway may take 4-6 weeks to be processed.

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

For contest rules go to NWQSmartLiving.com

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y M

New Credit Union Location in South Beloit

By Janine Pumilia ocally owned and managed Cornerstone Credit Union is focused on providing the latest e-services to members, but it also knows some folks like to bank in person. For that reason, it maintains four staffed locations. On Sept. 20, it will open its relocated South Beloit, Ill. branch in an extensively remodeled building at 640 Blackhawk Blvd. A grand opening celebration will be held the week of Oct. 22, with a ribbon cutting on Oct. 23. Visitors will be met with specials, gifts and warm greetings from branch manager Barbi Ortiz and her staff. Anyone who lives or works in one of nine northwestern Illinois counties or in Rock or Green counties in Wisconsin can join member-owned Cornerstone Credit Union, the only financial institution in South Beloit. “This new location is larger and more convenient for customers,” says David Hoffert, vice president of operations. It features three drive-up lanes; a

sunny, welcoming lobby and coffee area; a pod-style layout with stand-up and sitdown customer service representative stations; management offices and a selfservice coin-counting machine. There’s also a conference room for community workshops, something Lorna Cote, marketing director, appreciates. “Helping people to find the right financial solutions is important to us,” she says. “And it’s a service the credit union provides that online banks just can’t offer.” Hoffert likes the way the new facility’s design maximizes efficiency.

Tell them you saw it in ...

“The better we do, the more we’re able to pass it along to members in the form of lower loan rates and better dividend returns,” he explains. While Cornerstone offers old-fashioned in-person service, it also caters to tech-savvy customers. Mobile check deposits, transfers and online applications are among its offerings. “Members also have access to thousands of ATMS throughout the nation and can conduct business in person at many credit unions because of our participation in Shared Branching,” says Hoffert. Because it’s member owned, Cornerstone can provide services like mortgages, personal and small business loans and investment products like IRAs and CDs, at less cost. All deposits are federally insured. “We pride ourselves on making safety and security a priority,” adds Hoffert. PG Architecture led the extensive remodeling effort. Stop by the new branch or learn more at CornerstoneCU.org. ❚

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

Smart Living Weekly

Oct. 3

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Smart Living Weekly

Issue 1