Smart Living Rockford - October 20, 2022

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Feelings of Nostalgia

This past week, I’ve been reminiscing heav ily about former stages of my life. It’s partially because my husband and I spent a recent weekend traipsing around our alma ma ter — the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Even though it’s geographically close by, we hadn’t been back for a visit since 2019. (Be tween a global pandemic and the birth of our son, we’ve been pretty cloistered up these past few years).

Returning to a city that I love, where I lived such formative young-adult years, had me reflecting on a barrage of memories. For me, college was an overwhelmingly positive experience. Walking around campus felt pain fully nostalgic. I kept thinking, “Wow, that was such a great time.”

Snapping back to reality on Monday, I found myself reflecting on other life chap ters. In addition to being a magazine editor, I’m also a dance teacher. My students range in age from 18 months old to adults — though I mostly work with pre-teens.

And when I’m with the pre-teens… man. I feel for them.

Right now, the majority of my students are in a phase of life where all they want is to fit in. When I ask the dancers in my modern/contem porary class to improv (which is an important skill), they freeze up. They tell me they’re too embarrassed to try, but maybe they could do it if everyone else in the class turned around.

It’s a stark reminder of how easy it is to feel awkward and insecure at that age. It had me thinking about my own pre-teen years, where I fixated on every detail of my appear ance and overthought every conversation I had with my friends. I’m so glad life gets better than that.

I think it’s important to reflect on the past from time to time, so we can appreciate where we are now. Obviously we don’t want to re flect too much that we forget to live in the present, but occasional glimpses back can be helpful. I hope you can find some time to reflect fondly on your own memories. ❚

Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

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them you saw

Nobody Said It’s Easy

Forgiveness goes hand in hand with grace, and is a concept that sets Chris tianity apart from many world religions –but it’s not easy to internalize.

Above all, there’s God’s uncondi tional forgiveness toward his children, thanks to His plan for salvation and the obedience of Jesus Christ. That’s difficult to fathom. How can we forgive ourselves for the things we do, much less accept that God has wiped our slates clean?

If we confess our sins, He is faith ful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. – 1 John 1:9.

Perhaps the best way to comprehend this is to think of how willing we are to forgive our own children. They do foolish things often, and while we don’t approve, we love them so much that we easily for give and encourage them. The adhesive that makes this work is love; God is a loving God and wants us to be a loving people.

But how can we find the strength to forgive people we don’t love – people we may not even like very much?

There’s no getting away from Jesus’ two greatest commandments: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest command ment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two command ments.” – Matthew 22:37-40.

Sometimes we trick ourselves into believing we’re only required to forgive “righteous” people like ourselves. But who knows a man’s heart, except God? To judge others as unworthy of forgiveness is, in itself, sinful.

Jesus says: “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” – Luke 6:37.

In the end, it’s our love for God that gives us strength to genuinely forgive. Sometimes it takes much time and prayer. Jesus never said that imitating him would be easy.

“And be ye kind one to another, ten derhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” – Ephesians 4:32 ❚ -Janine Pumilia

‘Hairspray’ Kicks Off Broadway Series

By Lindsey Lukas, senior editor

Broadway-level talent is coming to our hometown thanks to the Coro nado Performing Arts Center’s Broadway Series Subscriptions.

This year, there are three shows in the subscription, including “Hairspray,” “A Magical Cirque Christmas,” and “The Book of Mormon.”

“With Rockford’s enthusiastic and ever-growing theater community, the Coronado Performing Arts Center is ex cited to present the 2022-2023 Broadway

Series for all musical lovers to enjoy,” says Panouly Moua, marketing coordina tor of the Coronado Performing Arts Cen ter (CPAC), at 314 N. Main St., Rockford.

“This is also the first time that ‘The Book of Mormon’ is in the Rockford area,” Moua adds.

The season kicks off Thursday, Nov. 3 at 7:30 p.m. with the Tony Award-win ning Best Musical, “Hairspray.” This mu sical tells the story of 16-year-old Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore as she sets out to dance her way onto TV’s most popular show. Can a girl with big dreams (and even bigger hair) change the world?

Featuring the beloved score of hit songs including “Welcome to the ‘60s,” “Good Morning Baltimore,” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” “Hairspray” is “fresh, winning, and deliriously tuneful!,” according to the “New York Times.”

“The Coronado Performing Arts Center and Nederlander National Mar kets are thrilled to announce the 20222023 Broadway in Rockford season, pre sented by Savant Wealth Management,” Moua adds. “This season features the eight-time Tony Award-winning ‘Hair

spray’ which will feature an all-new tour ing production that reunites Broadway’s award-winning creative team led by Di rector Jack O’Brien and Choreographer Jerry Mitchell. We are excited to help bring ‘Hairspray’ to a new generation of theater audiences in Rockford.”

“Hairspray” premiered at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theater in June 2002. The show was a smash hit when it transferred to Broadway, winning eight 2003 Tony

Awards including Best Musical, and be came the longest-running musical to play the Neil Simon Theater, running 2,642 performances from July 18, 2002, until January 4, 2009. It is the 22nd longest run ning show in Broadway history.

“Hairspray” is appropriate for age groups 14 and older, Moua adds.

After “Hairspray,” the Broadway se ries continues with a brand-new holiday tradition for the entire family, “A Magical

Cirque Christmas,” on Dec. 4, 2022. Closing the season is the Broadway me ga-hit, “The Book of Mormon,” on Jan. 20, 2023.

Individual tick ets for “Hairspray” can be purchased at coronadopac.org/ events/hairspray. Subscription pack ages for all three shows coming to the Coronado can be purchased at coronadopac.org/broadway.

“We are truly excited to present the 2022-2023 Broadway in Rockford se ries sponsored by Savant Wealth Man agement with our partner, Nederlander National Markets,” adds Doug Johnson, CPAC assistant general manager. “We welcome Rockford and surrounding ar eas to experience these timeless shows with rich traditions.” ❚

Prevent Vehicle Trouble with Maintenance

By Peggy Werner

If 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 conve nient for customers with more than one vehicle,” he says.

When he opened his business, he quickly outgrew the original 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 ex pansion in 2014, bringing the number of

work bays to 15. He employs a handful of certified techni cians in automotive services and diesel mechanics.

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,” he says. “Oftentimes, what people think is the main problem is really a symptom of something else gone wrong.”

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 foreign and domestic vehicles, warranties its work, 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 inspec tions. Learn more by calling (815) 8740800 or visit scottstruckandauto.com. ❚

RAM: Midwestern Biennial

Thru Jan. 30, Thur.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The latest iteration of this recurring display draws together a juried selection of works by Rockford and regional artists. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.com.

Friendship Through Flowers

Oct. 20, 7 p.m. Ikebana is a traditional art of floral arrangement that has been practiced in Japan for more than 600 years. Ikebana International is a cultural organization de voted to developing an appreciation for the art of Japanese flower arranging. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

RSO: Deconstructing Beethoven

Oct. 22, 7:30 p.m. Beethoven forced a reck oning on the musical world that continues today. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9650049, rockfordsymphony.com.

All Hallows Eve

Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. A living history sea

sonal event. Village tours given by historic interpreters in period costumes. Come in cos tume for treats, children’s activities and lots of family fun. Midway Village Museum, 6799 Guilford Road, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

“These Shining Lives” Nov. 3-6, Thurs.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A play based on the true story of people who worked for the Radium Dial Com pany. Maddox Theatre, Rockford Univer sity, 5050 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 2264100, rockford.edu.

“Dirty Dancing” in Concert Nov. 13, 7 p.m. Enjoy the digitally remas tered hit film on a full-size cinema screen with a live band and singers performing the film’s iconic songs. Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

“Sleeping Beauty” Nov. 23, 7:30 p.m. Presented by the State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine. Coronado Per

Rockford Choral Union performs “Messiah” Nov. 26-27 at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, in Rockford.

forming Arts Center, Rockford, (815) 9685222, coronadopac.org.

“Messiah”

Nov. 26-27, Sat.-Sun. 3 p.m. The first local performance of Frideric Handel’s holiday classic since the pandemic and the post poned 75th anniversary concert. Presented by Rockford Choral Union. Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 3rd Ave., Rockford, (815) 963-4815, elcrockford.org ❚

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