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Save Smarter • Live Better • Rockford Region/Freeport 95¢ • March 5, 2014
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Right in Our Region
PaleoFest 2014: The World After Dinosaurs
By Paul Anthony Arco rehistoric fans unite. It’s time once again for PaleoFest, a popular two-day event hosted by the Burpee Museum of Natural History, Rockford. One of the keynote speakers this year is Dr. Scott Sampson, host of Dinosaur Train, a popular PBS TV show. Started in 1999, PaleoFest draws many
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internationally-recognized paleontologists and about 3,000 visitors. The weekend event includes lectures, hands-on activities and a dinner that brings together prehistoric enthusiasts and industry experts. This year’s event is March 8 and 9 at Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main St. and Memorial Hall, 211 N. Main St.
Continued on p. 20
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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-
We at FHN are committed to a safe patient experience, and are proud that
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In This Issue
Right in Our Region: .....................Cover & p. 20 PaleoFest Your Home ........................................................11 Fridge Up, Freezer Down Inspiration & Worship .....................................12 Mysterious Jesus Your Kitchen .................................................... 15 Heart Healthy Dinners Your Outings ....................................................17 RSO:“Songs of the Wayfarer” Your Health ...................................................... 25 How to Be Happier Your Fun ........................................................... 27 Dining Locally ................................................. 29 Tips ................................................................... 31 Photographers Invited to Interact at FAM Your Money ...................................................... 33 Motivating Children to Save Money
Smart L iving Weekly ™
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 Writer Jim Killam General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Account Executives Steve Blachford, Brian Hughes Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.NWQSmartLiving.com Published by Hughes Media Corp. 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly. Copyright 2014 by Hughes Media Corp., 728 N. Prospect St., Rockford, IL, 61107. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.
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Famous Youngsters
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lastic dinosaurs went everyplace my nephew Ryan went. They visited church sanctuaries, parks, restaurants and all of our homes. It wasn’t unusual to be attacked by a creeping dinosaur, from behind the sofa, who would boldly annouce, with a lisp: “I’m a Prosauropod from the Triassic period!” (Not so easy to say, when your two front teeth are missing). A certain T. Rex toured Disney World with us more than once, and went on many other vacations, too. In fact, those dinosaurs probably piled up more frequent flier miles than I did. Today, Ryan is a graduate student at Northwestern U. (As a public policy student, he studies another animal that’s going extinct: civil discourse.) I often think how much he would have loved Rockford’s PaleoFest, if it had existed when he was little. His 5-year-old second cousin Michelle, an avid Dinosaur Train fan, has already purchased her PaleoFest ticket. She (and her parents) will travel from Chicago to attend. We’re unbelievably fortunate to have a first-class natural history museum in our midst. And I mean first class. There’s plenty for kids at PaleoFest, but it also draws the best minds from scientific circles across the nation, as you’ll read in our cover story. Rockford came by its dino-fame honestly, after an SUV-full of local science buffs and Burpee staff went to “a dig” in Montana’s Badlands, in 2001. They stumbled upon beautiful Jane, the most complete, best-preserved juvenile T-Rex ever found. In 2006, lightening struck twice, when they found Homer, the only juvenile Triceratops skeleton in the world. Now Burpee is home to two juvenile skeletons, making it the envy of paleo circles. If you’ve not yet done it, visit Burpee to meet Jane and Homer. After all, it’s not every day that you meet a couple of kids who are 66 million years old. Happy digging!
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Kitchen Trend: Fridge up, Freezer Down I By Jim Killam
f you’ve been paying attention the past several years, in appliance stores, you’ve noticed a trend in refrigerators: freezer on the bottom, refrigerator with French doors on the top. “Probably two-thirds of everything we offer is a bottom freezer,” says Brad Born, Vice President of Al Grace Appliance, 811 W. Riverside Blvd., Rockford. “The side-by-sides seem to be falling out of favor. Top freezers – only for the lowbudget models. Otherwise, people just love bottom freezers.” The idea isn’t new. Amana has made bottom freezers since 1960. But for years, Amana was the only company making them and the idea never really caught on. “It always used to be a little bit more of an expensive refrigerator to buy,” Born says. “So expense could have had something to do with it. There was only one
manufacturer that was making it in earnest, so there was a limited supply available. I think people just finally discovered that they’re opening the fresh food section 60 to 70 percent of the time. So, seeing it at eye level is convenient.” Features have evolved, too. Glide-out, stacking freezer shelves now keep the bottom freezer neat and items more accessible. A refrigerator’s French doors don’t stick out into the room so far when opened. Perhaps most significantly, Born says, through-the-door ice and water dis-
pensers now can be part of the refrigerator rather than the freezer. “They never used to have those kind of features on bottom freezers,” he says. “Icemakers need freezing, of course, and originally the thought was to get the ice from an icemaker, they had to go through a freezer door.” The manufacturers’ solution was to create an icemaker – in effect a small freezer – inside the refrigerator. “Once they put their heads together and came up with that, it just took off,” he says. ❚
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Mysterious Jesus
In this series, we look at the qualities of Jesus Christ revealed during his ministry on Earth.
Enigma: “Something hard to understand or explain.” -- Merriam-Webster. People who met Jesus face to face knew he was different. Some were instinctively drawn to him; others felt threatened. Jesus knew his presence would bring division, not peace, to the world. (Luke 12:49) In the opening of his gospel, John writes, “The light shines in darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.” (John 1:5 NIV) “He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1: 10-13).
Let’s face it, being born of God is a mysterious concept. “Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit,” Jesus told Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. “The
wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you can’t tell where it comes from or where it’s going. So it is with everyone born of the spirit.” (John 3:6,8).
Our worldly smarts won’t help us to unfold the mysteries of God, Jesus says, urging childlike humilty, instead. “Whoev-
er then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Mat-
thew 18:4). Paul observes, “For God has chosen the
foolish of the world to shame the wise, and he has chosen the weak of the world to shame the mighty.” (I Cor. 1:27) He later adds that
things will become clearer to us in the future. “For now we see only a reflection as in a
mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (I Cor. 13:12)
We don’t fully know Jesus, but he fully knows us (and loves us anyway!) “My sheep listen to my voice,” Jesus says. “I know them, and they follow me. I give
them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:27-28). ❚ -- Janine Pumilia 12
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Heart Health Begins in Your Own Kitchen W ith risk factors for heart disease on the rise, it’s never been more important to incorporate heart-healthy meals into your family’s diet. According to recent statistics, heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the U.S. With this in mind, Campbell Soup Company is on a mission to help women care for their hearts. With a diverse portfolio of foods that balance taste and nutritional value, Campbell offers nearly 100 options that meet the criteria for the American Heart Association’s Heart-Check mark. Creating balanced meals for the family doesn’t have to be difficult. This recipe for Sante Fe Chicken Saute is a simple, one-skillet dish that combines lean chicken breast, black beans and corn with a spicy picante kick. For more easy-to-prepare and hearthealthy recipes, and for nutrition information, visit campbellskitchen.com. A strong heart starts with a healthy diet and lifestyle. According to the American Heart Association, following these seven health and behavior factors can make a huge difference in your heart’s health. For more heart-healthy tips, visit heart.org. 1. Don’t smoke. 2. Maintain a healthy weight. 3. Engage in regular physical activity. 4. Eat a healthy diet. 5. Manage blood pressure. 6. Take charge of cholesterol. 7. Keep blood sugar, or glucose, at healthy levels.
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s Healthy Request Condensed Healthy Request Tomato Soup 1/2 cup Pace Picante Sauce 1/2 cup water 1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained 1 cup whole kernel corn 4 green onions, minced (about 1/2 cup) 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Stir chili powder and cumin in small bowl. Season chicken with chili powder mixture. Heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook for 6 minutes or until browned on both sides. Add garlic and onions and cook; stir for 1 minute. Stir in soup, picante sauce
and water and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add beans and corn. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle with cilantro. ❚ (Source: Family Features)
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RSO Presents “Songs of a Wayfarer” March 8 “M usic that Ignites Your Passion” is the theme of Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s (RSO) 2013/14 season. The next concert is titled “Songs of a Wayfarer” and will be presented Saturday, March 8, at the Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford. The pain of loving someone but being rejected is the inspiration behind “Songs of a Wayfarer.” Is there any greater pain? Three composers offer musical answers, starting with Jean Sibelius’ Pohjola’s Daughter, from an ancient story told in the Finnish national poetry epic, the “Kalevala.” The pain of rejection was more personal for 24-year-old Gustav Mahler, who poured his youthful distress into a song cycle, Songs of a Wayfarer, parts of which inspired his First Symphony. In Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra’s novel Don Quixote, an aging Spanish
gentleman becomes obsessed with the chivalrous ideals touted in books he has read, and decides to become a knighterrant, defending the helpless, destroying the wicked and seeking the hand of the beautiful and virtuous Dulcinea, who exists only in his imagination. Richard Strauss, the supreme master of the tone poem, brings “The Knight of the Sad Countenance” to life in his Don Quixote, with the title character played by RSO principal cellist Mike Beert; Quixote’s sidekick, Sancho Panza, will be played by principal violist Ben Weber. Tickets for this concert are available online at rockfordsymphony.com or by calling the RSO box office at (815) 9650049. Ticket prices range from $20 to $58; students get in for $7. The RSO is in its 79th year of offering vibrant music experiences that enlighten, educate and entertain. Under the artistic leadership of Music Director Ste-
Mike Beert
ven Larsen, RSO is a leading arts organization in the Rockford region and the third largest symphony orchestra in Illinois. ❚
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PaleoFest 2014
fers visitors the chance to meet some of the top scientists, explore the time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and engage Continued from Cover in learning about our natural world.” “It a celebration of science,” says The theme for this year’s event is Hillary Parks, Burpee’s grants and proj“PaleoFest 2014: The World After Dinoects coordinator. “We bring together the saurs.” The focus will be on the Cenozoic general public, who may have some inera – the time period immediately followterest in dinosaurs, paleontology or natuing the dinosaur’s extinction, to the presral history, with experts who work in the ent. The event will center on how mamfield. It’s a family-friendly event that ofmals and non-mammals filled ecological niches previously occupied by dinosaurs. “People can expect to do and see things they wouldn’t normally get to do at the museum,” says Parks. “There will be things to touch and experience, along with extra staff and docents on hand to answer questions. It’s a really great time to experience the museum for the first time. It’s a lot of fun. It’s us showing off the museum at its best.” Children interact with a “baby triceratops” during Paleofest.
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Sampson, who is making his third appearance at PaleoFest, will host a breakfast presentation and workshop on Saturday, and a book signing and children’s presentation on Sunday. All events will be held at Memorial Hall. The TV show “Dinosaur Train” teaches viewers about various prehistoric animals, from sauropods to theropods, as well as time periods such as the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous, all of which fall in the Mesozoic Era or the Age of Dinosaurs. “He has a large impact in the paleontology community,” Parks says. “He relates to experts, students and young children, and engages people of all ages. He’s a huge advocate of science literacy, which is something we support as well.” This year’s dinner speaker is Dr. Kirk Johnson, Sant Director of the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian Institution. Johnson is a paleontologist who has led expeditions that resulted in the discovery of more than 1,400 fossil sites on all continents. He
R O R is known for his scientific two workshops. The books and articles, popular first is called “Megabooks, museum exhibits, lodon – Monster of the presentations, and collaboCenozoic Seas,” which rations with artists. will focus on MegaIn 2010-11, Johnson lodon sharks. The led the Snowmastodon workshop will explore Project, the excavation of questions like where a an ice age site near SnowMegalodon tooth can mass Village, Colo., which be found and what othwas featured in the NOVA er sharks were alive in documentary, “Ice Age that time. Children will Death Trap,” and in Johneven be able to create son’s book, Digging Snowtheir own Megalodon mastodon, Discovering an tooth cast. Dr. Kirk Johnson Ice Age World in the Colorado The Sunday workshop, Rockies. Johnson will speak about his “Stop! Danger: Entering the Cenozoic findings. Era,” explores the world of mysterious “We’re a medium-sized museum and mammal predators, like snakes, carnivoto have someone like Dr. Johnson come rous flightless birds, and terrestrial crocohere is impressive,” says Parks. “It shows diles. Kids will meet powerful mammal that our paleontology program here has predators like Entelodonts, an apex terchops, and that it’s recognized by the minator pig and creodonts who preyed on leading experts throughout the country.” the strange chalicotheres and herbaceous In addition, PaleoFest will feature placental mammals.
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Admission for the weekend is $15 for non-members and $7 for members. This includes access to the Megalodon exhibit and PaleoPassport activities, where children and families can visit stations throughout the museum and get a passport stamped at the end of each activity. Doors open at 8:45 a.m. on both days for those attending the daytime lectures. On March 8, a mixer will begin at 4:30 p.m. and a dinner presentation will start at 6:30 p.m. on the lower level of the museum. Zammuto’s restaurant will sell food items during the day, and shuttles will transport visitors between Burpee and Memorial Hall for lectures. “You don’t find other museums that do this type of an event,” Parks says. “It really helps us to grow our programming, every year, and heightens our notoriety in the paleontology community. PaleoFest is something that Rockford can be proud of.” Call (815) 965-3433 or visit burpee. org to learn more. ❚
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Turn March Madness into March Happiness By Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D., LMHC
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here’s a lot of hype about March MADness, and if you’re an NCAA fan (or married to one) you know it well. But let’s think in terms of March Happiness; training mind and body, just as those basketball players train, to remain positive, even when faced with stress or sadness. You can create a habit of happiness. During March Madness, 68 teams in the College Basketball Association compete the national championship. This March, compete against yourself. Train your mind and body to be healthier and happier than ever before. You can do it. Here are three tips for being happy in March and all year long: No More Toxic People: Waving goodbye has never made you smile so big. In a world where everyone faces uncontrollable stressors and negativity ev-
ery day (no matter how happy of a person you are), you must get rid of the things and people that bring you further down, the haters and the hurters. If you can’t completely rid yourself of them, at least set boundaries to minimize your interactions with them. Take Time to Decide: One way to be unhappy is to go around making promises or commitments you can’t live up to or, if you do live up to them, you despise every moment. Don’t over-commit to someone else and then under-commit to yourself. When you make an impulsive decision, it’s typically based on intense emotions and made with little thought. In most cases, quick decisions are not only poor decisions, but also reduce your control and even ruin your credibility. Forgive: When you hold grudges, possess anger or find yourself always looking backward, it’s hard to move for-
ward. The great thing about forgiveness is you don’t have to feel it, you just do it and don’t look back. If you’re angry with someone, your attention and energy is given to them, not you. This March, turn your Madness into Happiness. ❚ Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D., LMHC, is the author of Type ‘S’uperWoman – Finding the Work-Life Balance: A Self-Searching Book for Women.
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www.classiccinemas.com
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Rabbit Hole March 6-8, 7:30 p.m. Winneshiek Playhouse, 228 W. Clark St., Freeport. Becca and Howie Corbett have everything a family could want, until a life-shattering accident turns their world upside down. Adult Content. Tickets by e-mail: tickets@wplay.org. $15. (815) 232-7023. Little Red Schoolhouse Revisited March 7, 8 & 9, 7:30 p.m. (also Sun. 9th 2:30 p.m.) Friday and Saturday: 7:30 pm; Sunday: 2 pm. Enjoy this original piece of Americana from the mid 1900s. $20. Tickets: (815) 8191310. Mighty Richland Players Dessert Theater, 203 W. High Street, Orangeville. PaleoFest 2014 March 8-9, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. “The World After Dinosaurs” focuses on the Cenozoic era, immediately following the donosaurs’ extinction. Dr. Scott Sampson, host of PBS’ “Dinosaur Train,” gives a breakfast presentation, workshops and lectures. See our cover story. Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-3433, burpee.org. 11th Annual Moonlight Serenade March 8, 7 to 10:30 p.m. The Freeport High School Jazz Ensemble and the Highland Community College Big Band perform an evening of fabulous “big band” tunes, jazz music and dance selections. $7.50. Freeport Masonic Temple Ballroom, 305 W. Stephenson St., Freeport. (815) 990-1739. SOFIA with Sarah Scoles March 11, 6:30-8 p.m. Grades 3-8 with adult. Hear what it’s like to fly on SOFIA, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, from a passenger, Astronomy Magazine editor Sarah Scoles. See photos, demos using infrared camera. $5/$15 per family. Yerkes Observatory, Williams Bay, astro.uchicago.edu. Amsoil Snocross Series Championship March 14-16, Sat. 9:30 a.m., Sun. noon. Top pro snowmobiliers race in the season-ending championships. Monster Slednecks Invasion
(Lincoln Center photo)
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Image & Word March 6 & 13, 6 p.m. Enjoy this two-night class in which you’ll use acrylic gel medium to transfer images and text to a gessoed panel. Create your own poetic pairing of picture and word inspired by the work of Scott Cavanah and Matt Buedel in the exhibition “Every Other: A Photo Journal”. Ages 17 and up. E-mail education@ freeportartmuseum.org. Freeport Art Museum, 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport.
Hear Wynton Marsalis and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra perform at the Coronado performing Arts Center on March 27.
Tour freestyle showcase Friday night. Grand Geneva Resort, Lake Geneva, grandgeneva. com, isocracing.com. Bubble Festival March 15, shows 9 & 10:30 a.m., noon, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. Bubble-Palooza Playground; bubble and art activities; shows by bubble celebrity Geoffrey Akins (reserve tickets early). $4/$3 members; $5/$4 door. Museum admission extra. Discovery Center, Rockford, Discoverycentermuseum.org. AJG: Exploring Hostas in Japan March 20, 7 p.m. Mark Zilis, owner of Q & Z Nursery in Rochelle, Ill., will talk about highlights from his trips to diverse Japanese hosta habitats, from the rocky outcrops at the edge of rushing rivers on Shikoku to the grasslands at the base of Mt. Fuji. Zilis has introduced more than 300 hostas to the nursery trade and has studied them in gardens throughout the U.S., Netherlands, Belgium and Japan. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, AndersonGardens.org. Spring Awakening Gathering March 22, 1-8 p.m. Outdoor activites; barn dance; community supper; live music. The Pec Barn, Pecatonica River Forest Preserve, 7260 Judd Road, Pecatonica, Ill., (815) 335-2915, wcfpd.org. Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra March 27, 7:30 p.m. Enjoy 15 of the best soloists, ensemble players and arrangers in jazz, widely regarded as one of the best big bands in the world today. Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, coronadopac.org. ❚
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Smart Dining Weekly Our Top Picks for Terrific Local Restaurants D Dinner, L Lunch, Br Brunch, Bk Breakfast. Cost: $ under $12.50; $$ $12.50 - $25; $$$ $25+ 2nd Cousin’s Bar & Grill Casual/American. Full bar. 6246 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 637-2660. LD M-F 11am-2am, Sat-Sun 8am to late. $. abreo Upscale-Casual. Tapas menu. 515 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 968-9463. D M-Th 5-10pm, F-Sat to midnight. Bar open late. $-$$. Amici Italian Grill Upscale-Casual/Italian. Fresh, authentic Italian cuisine. 5506 Clayton Circle, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-7171. LD Sun-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11am10-pm. $-$$. Backyard Grill & Bar Casual/American. 5390 Elevator Rd., Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-6677. 201 State St., Cherry Valley, Ill., (815) 332-4176. 6473 N. 2nd St., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 636-9430. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 2am, Sun noon-10pm. $-$$. Bravo Pizza Italian/American favorites, full bar. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Beloit, Wis. (815) 624-7900. LD M-Th 11 am-10 pm, Fri. & Sat. 11 am-11 pm, Sun. 11 am-10pm. $. Butterfly Club Upscale-Casual/Fine Dining. 5246 E. Co. Road X, Beloit, Wis. (608) 362-8577. LD T-Th 5-9:30pm, F 4:30-10pm, Sat 5-10pm, Sun noon-8pm. Live bands. $$. Cannova’s Pizzeria Casual. 247 N. Main St., Galena, Ill., (815) 777-3735. LD daily. $. Ciao Bella Ristorante Upscale-Casual/ItalianAmerican. Extensive wine list; daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill., (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 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm, Sun to 10pm $-$$. Fifth Alarm Firehouse Pub Casual/American. 120 N. Union St., Bryon, Ill., (815) 234-7000. LD daily 11am. $-$$. Giordano’s Casual/Italian. Authentic stuffed pizza, salads, sandwiches, entrees, desserts. Pick-up/delivery available. 333 Executive Pkwy., Rockford, (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 9am-11p.m, F-Sat to midnight. $.
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JMK Nippon Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar Upscale-Casual/Japanese. Food cooked at your table. 2551 N. Perryville Rd., Rockford, (815) 877-0505. L T-F 11:30am-2pm, Sat to 2:30pm; D M-Th 5-9:30pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm, Sun 4:30-9:30pm. $$. Joey C’ Cucina & Cocktails Upscale-Casual/Italian specialties. 2583 N. Mulford, Rockford, (815) 639-1200. LD M-T 4-10pm, W-Th 11am-9pm, F to 10pm, Sat-Sun 4-10pm $. Leombruni’s Italian Village Pizza & Restaurant Casual. 110 W. 2nd St., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-2696. D T-Th 5-9pm, F-Sat to 11pm, Sun to 10pm. $. Lucha Cantina Casual/Mexican. Fresh ingredients, no MSG, steaks, mac ‘n cheese, burgers. 1641 N. Alpine, Rockford, (815) 977-4319. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat 2am. $. Lydia’s Café Casual/American. Your friendly neighborhood café. 1710 Rural St., Rockford, (815) 2290322. BkL T-F 7am-1:30pm, Sat to 1pm, Sun 8am-1pm. $. Maciano’s Pizza & Pastaria Casual. Gourmet pizza, Italian favorites, beer & wine. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 963-7869. LD Sun-Th 11ammidnight, F-Sat to 11pm. $$. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint Fine Dining/ American. Ironworks Hotel (formerly Beloit Inn), 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, Wis. (608) 313-0700 D. Sun.-Th 4:309 p.m, Fri-Sat. to 10 p.m. Bar open later. $$. Mulligans Casual/American Pub. 2212 N. Main St., Rockford, Ill. (815) 963-7869. LD M-Sat 11am-2am, Sun to midnight, F-Sat to 2 a.m. $ Murphy’s Pub & Grill Casual/Irish-American. 510 S. Perryville Rd., Rockford, Ill. (815) 986-0950. LD M-Sat 11am-2am, Sun to midnight. $-$$. Olympic Tavern Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 962-8758. LD M-Sat 11am-2am. $-$$. Slanted Shanty Vintage Pub (formerly Jezebel’s) Upscale-Casual/American. Vintage/Burlesque-themed pub and eatery. 6731 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 708-7879. D M-Th 3:30pm-11pm, F 11am-midnight, Sat 3:30pm-midnight. $$. ❚
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Public Invited to Submit Photos to FAM Exhibit
“E
very Other: A Photo Journal” will be open through April 5 in the main galleries of Freeport Art Museum (FAM), 121 N. Harlem Ave., Freeport. This collaborative effort was inspired by New York-based photographer Craig Cutler’s CC52 project, in which Cutler was given a word each week and took photographs and videos based on the week’s theme. Through a similar process, Peoria photographers Matt Buedel and Scott Cavanah began creating their photo journal “Every Other,” in 2012, one week and one image at a time. Each week, Cavanah and Buedel exchanged words and took turns producing a photograph. By the end of the year, both artists had selected 26 words for the other and produced 26 photos from their assigned words. The final result is an exceptional collection of 52 photographs illustrating 52 corresponding words. In conjunction with the FAM exhibition, Buedel and Cavanah will invite collaboration through a Tumblr account. They’ll post a word a week, giving people an opportunity to respond with a photographic interpretation of their own. Images can be uploaded to the account for posting. A video installation within the FAM galleries will showcase the online activity, allowing the public response to become part of the exhibition. Visit FAM’s online Tumblr account at http://everyotherfam.tumblr.com. Cavanah, who teaches interactive media and photography at Bradley University and owns Studio Cavanah in Peoria, struggled to make time for personal work. “I’m no Craig Cutler and neither is Matt, but I liked the idea,” Cavanah said. “If you sit around all day and wait to be inspired, it will never happen.” ❚
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Rewarding Children for Saving Up Money By Jim Killam
T
raining kids to save money isn’t exactly a new idea. But it’s an uphill fight, given that 27 percent of American adults have no savings at all, according to a 2013 Bankrate.com survey Lori Perkins, Director of Marketing at Rock Valley Credit Union, 1201 Clifford Ave., Loves Park, says her institution’s youth accounts are successfully teaching kids the realities of saving and spending. For ages 5-12, the credit union offers a “Wags to Riches” club. The mascot, Wags the dog, appears at events geared toward encouraging kids to save. When kids deposit money in savings, they earn Wags Bucks – points toward prizes like gift cards at stores or theaters. The program has proved to be a big incentive for kids – more so than when the credit union used to offer toys as prizes.
“If they get a gift card to Target, they can go buy whatever they want,” Perkins says. “And they know they received that because they were saving the money.” Teens ages 13-17 are eligible for the credit union’s mPower accounts, which include savings, plus an optional checking account and ATM VISA Debit card. That order of progression is important, Perkins says. “When my daughter turned 13 she got the teen checking account,” she says. “So now when she gets money – whether it’s for Christmas, birthdays, whatever – she still will put a little bit into savings.” The credit union encourages parents to stay involved in that process with their teens, especially as the ATM VISA Debit card is introduced. “The kids are not necessarily getting information at school about finances and
how to balance a checkbook,” Perkins says. “Kids a lot of times see their parents with these plastic cards. And then they think, hey, we can buy whatever we want because we have this little plastic card.” ❚
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