Smart Living Weekly June 26, 2019

Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • June 26, 2019

™

Right in Our Region

55 Years of Petunia Festival Fun in Dixon

See Page 16

New Babe at Summerfield Zoo Why Real Butchers are Still the Best Need Yard Tools? Consider Renting Beautiful Amish-Made Furniture Tasty, Easy Pantry Suppers

FREE WIN!

4 tickets to Alpine Park Pool 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!

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Made in America

Sale 60

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* Prices reflect discount for cash, check, or debit purchase. Made in America Sale has savings based on a percentage discount on all items that are listed by the vendor as “Made in America (USA)”. Minimum discount for the Made in America sale is 20%. Promotions cannot be combined. Hot Buy items cannot be combined with additional discounts. In store offer valid through 07/30/19 or while supplies last. Same day pick up or express delivery on in stock items.

Stock levels vary due to fluctuations in sales. No guarantee exists that “In Stock” items are always in stock. Floor models are one of a kind items. Although every precaution is taken, occasionally errors do occur in print. We reserve the right to correct any such errors.

10am to 2pm Gustafson’s Furniture 6651 East State Street

Fun for the whole family!

• • • •

Train Rides for the Family 3 Bounce Houses FREE Hot Dogs* Giveaways & Contests!

*0% APR for 5 Years with Equal Payments: $4000 minimum purchase required.

0% APR from date of eligible purchase until paid in full. Monthly payment is the purchase amount divided by the number of months in the offer. Last payment may vary due to rounding. On-time payments will pay off the promotional balance. Advertised monthly payment amounts excludes taxes, delivery, or other charges. Other transactions and charges affect total monthly payment amount.

Prior purchases excluded. Account must be in good standing. Limited time offer.

Standard account terms apply to purchases that do not qualify. New accounts: Standard Purchase APR 29.99%. Minimum interest charge $1. Existing accounts, see your credit agreement for applicable terms. Subject to credit approval.

Renovate account issued by TD Bank, N.A See store for full details.

The Gustafson Family 4th of July Bash 2nd Annual Customer Appreciation Event is open to the public. It will be hosted at 6651 East State Street, Rockford IL, from 10am to 2pm. Additional information is available on Facebook or at our store. All entrants to Gustafson’s contests must be 18 years of age or older. 1 Entry per person. Winner must be present to win. Prize is non-transferrable and has no cash value. One (1) winner will receive an England Sofa (4635). At the time of this printing additional prize details are unavailable. See store for full details.

Smart Living Weekly June 26 6651 East State St. • Rockford, IL • 815.636.8608 • www.gustafsonfurniture.com

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Fifty-five Years of Dixon Petunia Festival Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Amish Furniture at Benson Stone Co. Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Trusting God With Your Real Life Your Kitchen ...............................................15, 19 Tasty Pantry Suppers; A Real Butcher Knows Best Your Outdoor Living .........................................20 Need Yard Tools? Consider Renting Your Outing ............................................. .......... 21 New Babe at Summerfield Zoo Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Benefits of Better Nutrition Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25 Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Mary’s Market Opens in Roscoe, Ill. Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26

Smart L iving Weekly ™

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 2019 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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To Infinity ... & Beyond?

T

he first moon landing was 50 years ago this summer and I remember the excitement of adults all around me. The 1960s were filled with tragedy and turmoil, but this was a moment of hope and pride. It made us believe the better future of “Star Trek” could be real.

I recently enjoyed a CNN program about Apollo 11 that includes lots of never-seen archival footage. Most young folks I know are more familiar with Buzz Lightyear than Buzz Aldrin, so it’s a good time to review the basics of this American achievement with them. Our Space Age Moment is their Ancient History, after all.

The NASA Saturn V rocket launched from Kennedy Space Center on July 16 and the moon landing was July 20. Thousands of people in VW buses and pop-up campers lined Florida beaches to watch history unfold.

At Mission Control in Houston, men in white dress shirts nervously wielded cigarettes and women in cat-eye glasses studied clipboards. There wasn’t a personal computer, Internet connection or cell phone in sight.

Apollo’s digital integrated-circuit computer was still brand new technology and the Apollo program would spawn countless new ones.

The astronaut crew of three splashed down safely on July 24, ending the Space Race with the Soviet Union and fulfilling the goal set by President John F. Kennedy, in 1961, to land a man on the Moon by decade’s end.

While Commander Neil A. Armstrong and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin “Buzz” E. Aldrin Jr. made history by walking around the moon together collecting rocks, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins was all alone in the Columbia (the living quarters portion of the spacecraft) orbiting the moon. Imagine being that close to the moon and not touching it.

I sometimes mourn the lack of progress our world has made in 50 years toward improving quality of life for humans and all living things. Tragedy and turmoil still reign. But I stand in awe of the American ingenuity and sheer determination that got us to the moon.

I wonder what we’d achieve if we ever committed ourselves to uplifting Earth with equal determination.

What a moment that would be! To infinity and beyond, indeed. ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Beautiful Summer Blues!

More Than You Can Imagine

Dinner & Luncheon Plates

孴孳孵季學宷宫季宄容宨孯季宑宨宺季宊宯室宵宸家季季孹孳孻孱學孵孺孱孷孻孺孻季 宺宺宺孱宗宫宨宅宵室宰宥宯宨宓室宷宦宫孱宥宬宽季 Tell them you saw it in ... Smart Living Weekly

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Y H  G

Find Simply Amish at Benson Stone Co.

By Janine Pumilia

M

any of us fondly remember a standalone Simply Amish store that sold heirloom-quality furniture in Rockford. After it closed, we had to travel for hours to find a Simply Amish showroom. Now the popular brand is on display inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St. “We’re very proud to be the exclusive dealer in northern Illinois for Simply Amish,” says Andy Benson, third-generation owner. “Their nearest showroom outside of ours is north of Madison.”

Superior workmanship and a willingness to customize has made Simply Amish a rock star in its field, says John Otto, Benson Stone’s furniture manager.

“These solid wood, hand-finished pieces are some of the best in the entire furniture industry,” says Otto. “All Amish furniture is not the same. Even among the Amish, the Simply Amish brand is considered top quality.”

Headquartered in Arcola, Ill., Simply

Amish was founded in 1979 when two businessmen linked a modern distribution system with a network of Amish craftsmen living on 50 Midwestern farms.

Arts & crafts style is often associated with the Amish, but they also apply their skills to traditional, modern farmhouse, transitional and contemporary furniture styles, explains Otto.

“They can fully customize any piece, not only the style, wood species and stain options, but even the measurements,” says Otto. “Do you want a nightstand that’s 6 inches taller or shorter than standard?

That’s no problem for them.”

Turn-around time averages four weeks; some pre-made “quick ship” items are available, too.

Benson Stone’s 80,000-square-foot store offers one-stop shopping and design services for furniture and mattresses; flooring; kitchen and bath cabinetry; granite and quartz countertops; fireplaces; grills; landscaping materials and gifts. It

also houses the region’s largest lighting gallery and Hearthrock Café.

Benson Stone Co. opened in 1930 as a stone fabrication shop. In 1999, it purchased and renovated the former Rockford Standard Furniture building.

“We bought this building for $250,000 and enjoy a low overhead,” says Benson.

“That allows us to offer very competitive pricing. We sell good, better and best brands to accommodate all budgets. The only thing we don’t sell is cheaply made stuff that nobody should be buying.”

Benson Stone Co. is open Mon. 9 a.m.8 p.m. and Tues.-Fri. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Learn more at Bensonstone.com. ❚

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I  W

Trusting God with Reality I

n the middle of our Bibles is a collection of 150 psalms that offer a jarring roller coaster ride of human emotion. Several authors wrote the psalms over a period of about 1,000 years; King David penned roughly half of them.

While we tend to gravitate toward the psalms that reassure us (like the 23rd), many were composed during times of deep disappointment with God. Feelings of abandonment, anger and frustration are laid bare.

If we’re honest, all of us have been disappointed with God. Most of us have experienced or witnessed hardship, oppression, sickness, injustice, unanswered prayers. We may feel that our acknowledgement of reality conflicts with our faith life.

This is when the emotional poetry of the psalmists shows us what a healthy relationship with God looks like, suggests author Philip Yancey. We’re like third parties “peering over the shoulders” of these diary-writers. We witness their rants, but we also see them “talk themselves down from the ledge” as they journey from rage to a calm acknowledgement of what they know for sure about God: He is good, wise, powerful, loving.

The psalmists force themselves to recall the times God rescued ungrateful Israel from its self-inflicted messes. They regain perspective. Without God they would be nothing, have nothing, and they know it. They find God in the starry skies and fertile earth. Their rants turn to flights of praise – in spite of everything.

In “The Bible Jesus Read,” Yancey writes: “The odd mixture of psalms of cursing, psalms of praise and psalms of confession no longer jars me as it once did.

Instead, I am continually amazed by the spiritual wholeness of the Hebrew poets, who sought to include God in every area of life by bringing to God every emotion experienced in daily activity. One need not ‘dress up’ or ‘put on a face’ to meet God. There are no walled-off areas; God can be trusted with reality.”

To experience Psalms is to feel kinship with people through the ages whose struggles were not so different from our own. ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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You Deserve Jill’s Unsurpassed Service Jill Jarek, Gambino Realtors Here’s What Jill’s Customers Have to Say:

“I could not be happier with my new home purchase! My Gambino Realtor Jill Jarek was with me every step of the way. She was absolutely amazing. She found homes in my price range and with the amenities I wanted and was able to point out the details I was missing good and bad when we would walk through the homes I was considering. I could not have done this without her. She had our best interests at heart! I can’t possibly thank her enough.”

Tonia Kennedy 815-621-5255 • jjarek@gogambino.com See more of my testimonials at my website: GoGambino.com/jjarek

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Y K

Pantry Staples Make Dinner a Snap

A

pantry stocked with canned ingredients is also a source of recipe inspiration. Staples such as canned chicken, corn, green chilies, olives, beans and tomatoes atop lettuce combine to create a wholesome Chicken Burrito Salad the whole family will enjoy. Likewise, Pasta with Spinach Pesto can be made in a snap with pantry staples.

For more recipes, inspiration and facts about the benefits of canned foods, go to CansGetYouCooking.com.

Chicken Burrito Salad

Prep time: 15 minutes Serves: 6 Salad: 1 small head romaine lettuce, torn into small pieces 1 cup cooked brown rice 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, drained and rinsed 1 can (14 ounces) diced tomatoes 1 can (10 ounces) chicken breast chunks, drained and flaked 1 can (10 ounces) corn kernels, drained

1 can (4.25 ounces) diced green chilies, drained 1 can (2.2 ounces) sliced ripe black olives, drained Dressing: 2 Tb fresh-squeezed lime juice 1 Tb fresh chopped cilantro 3 Tb extra-virgin olive oil Salt and ground black pepper, to taste In large platter or individual bowls, place lettuce leaves. Top with brown rice, black beans, diced tomatoes, chicken, corn, green chilies and black olives.

In small bowl, combine lime juice and cilantro; whisk in olive oil. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Drizzle dressing over salad.

Pasta with Spinach Pesto Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes

Serves: 4

1 can (13.5 ounces) spinach, well drained 1 cup fresh parsley leaves 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup walnuts or almonds 1 large garlic clove

1 tsp dried basil 1/4 tsp salt 1/8 tspground black pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1 box (16 ounces) fettuccine noodles In food processor, combine spinach, parsley, cheese, nuts, garlic, basil, salt and pepper; blend well. In slow, steady stream, add olive oil until mixture is blended and smooth.

Cook fettuccine as package directs.

Drain. Toss spinach pesto with fettuccine. ❚ (Source: Family Features)

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R  O R

Lots of Music & Fun at 55th Petunia Festival

By Peggy Werner he 55th annual Petunia Festival, always celebrated in conjunction with the Fourth of July, has grown into a major musical venue with a long list of other activities to mark the occasion.

This year’s event will take place Tuesday through Sunday, July 2-7 in downtown Dixon and along the riverfront.

Jenna Dempsey, vice president of marketing for the Dixon Petunia Festival, has worked with the festival for 14 years, serving as its president in 2012. Many of her childhood memories are related to Petunia Festival.

“I always remember the festival as being very family friendly and that hasn’t changed,” says Dempsey. “We have just grown through the years, mainly in our ability to bring more and better entertainment to our community.”

At least 24 artists will perform at this year’s event on two stages; the

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Bud Light Stage on the corner of River Street and Galena Avenue; and the Slain Construction Stage, in front of the President Ronald Reagan statue on River Street and Hennepin Avenue.

Headliners this year include American singer/songwriter Marc Broussard, who combines his southern style with a mix of funk, blues, rhythm & blues, rock and pop music, performing at 8 p.m. Wednesday. The popular Two White Crew of Chicago is unlike any other group, with its six-piece band, it’s own Master of Ceremonies, and dancers that pay tribute to the hip hop and party anthems of the ’80s, ’90s, and 00s. They will perform at 9:30 p.m. Thursday and are sponsored by Ken Nelson.

Friday is Country Night, sponsored

by River Country 101.7, and will spotlight North Carolina’s Chris Lane singing his brand of modern country songs at 8:30 p.m. Lane launched his career

June 26 To advertise call 815-316-2300

as one of Nashville’s new artists in 2016 with his album, “Girl Problems,” and is on a national tour promoting his second album, “Laps Around the Sun,” which reflects his quest for self discovery through song.

Fifteen-year-old guitarist Brandon “Taz” Niederauer has played with some of the country’s most prominent musicians and has built up his own reputation in the music world. He will perform at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, sponsored

by Sky 95.7. Classic Country star Lyle Grobe, performing for more than 50 years, will be back with his Rhythm Ramblers at 5:30 p.m. Sunday followed by the seven-piece ensemble, Downtown Rhythm Kings, one of the area’s premier Rhythm & Blues bands, performing at 6:30 Sunday. All headliners will be at the Bud Light Stage. Arthur’s Garden Deli is also a music sponsor Wednesday and Sunday.

R  O R Traditional features of Petunia Festival will include tours of the late President Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home; Pancakes in the Park; the 35th annual KSB Tennis Classic; Ultimate Air Dogs Show presented by Quality Inn and Suites; Cruise in Style Car Show presented by Ken Nelson Auto Group; a food tent, bags tournament, games, and amusement rides by North American Midway Entertainment Carnival.

The Dixon Dish presented by Dennis Electric will feature pizza, tacos, corn dogs, elephant ears, and more along the riverfront from 5 to 11 p.m. Wednesday and Friday; and from noon to 11 p.m.

Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday.

The Dixon High School Athletic Boosters will open the festival Wednesday through Sunday with “Pancakes in the Park,” serving up pancakes and sausage from 6 to 11 a.m. Cost is $7 for adults and $3 for children.

“Follow the Yellow Brick Road” is the theme of this year’s parade, sponsored by ComEd, honoring the “emerald” year of the festival with floats, bands,

dancers, clowns, jugglers and local businesses at 1 p.m. Sunday. Fireworks presented by KSB Hospital will be launched near the ComEd site on Second Street and people can tune into River Country 101.7 to hear the synchronized music during the display at 9:30 p.m.

The festival began as a carnival and beer garden in a store parking lot in 1964, in conjunction with the planting of petunias to beautify the city after Dutch Elm Disease destroyed most of the tree canopy over Galena Avenue. The Dixon in Bloom Committee was formed and hung 20 flowering baskets on the Peoria and Galena bridges, as it was becoming

more difficult to maintain the ground petunias due to soil issues. Today, there are about 300 hanging petunia baskets lining the two bridges, downtown streets and the riverfront.

The Dixon In Bloom Committee plans and plants the baskets. The Rock River Garden Club assists with the plantings, which get their start at Nichols Greenhouse in April.

On Memorial Day weekend, the baskets are hung and routinely watered by the city. The baskets cost about $17,000 each year, with funding provided by Rock River Garden Club, the Dixon Area Garden Club and individual donations.

Anyone wanting to contribute to the project can send donations to Dixon in Bloom, P. O. Box 127, Dixon, IL 61021.

Festival tickets are $8 per day for those 13 and older. Children under 12 are admitted free. A five-day ticket can be purchased for $25 at the Dixon Welcome Center on Main Street, the Chamber of Commerce, or online at petuniafestival. org. Go to the website for a complete line-up of events and entertainment. ❚

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Y K

Why a Real Butcher Still Knows Best

By Peggy Werner

R

emember the days when you could walk up to a meat counter in a grocery store and talk to a butcher who knew about cuts of meat, how to prepare them, and how to fill a custom order?

Well, that kind of customer service is – and always has been – a top priority at Countryside Meats & Deli, 781 Highgrove Place, Rockford, because owner Jarrod Bush, with more than 20 years in the business, takes pride in giving people what they can’t get anywhere else.

“A lot of supermarkets don’t need butchers any longer because all meats come prepackaged from the wholesalers to the retailers and you don’t always know where the meat comes from,” he explains. “My job doesn’t really exist anymore, so that’s why people love coming in to talk to me – they don’t always know what they want or how to prepare it.”

Countryside is a full-service meat market that specializes in Midwestern beef, poultry and pork for individuals and large parties. Its fully stocked, very organized, spotless 20-foot-long display case of fresh meats is a thing to behold. ”I want this meat case to be the best one anyone has seen anywhere,” Bush says.

One of the most popular cuts on the West Coast recently debuted at Countryside. It’s the exceptionally tender and versatile Tri-Tip Steak, which is a bottom sirloin.

“It has great marbling, fantastic flavor and can be used for a lot of things such as fajitas, stroganoff and steak sandwiches,” he says.

The store offers weekly advertised specials, in-house specials, and has “oven ready” meals such as lasagna, stuffed green peppers, meatballs, Italian beef, pulled BBQ pork, chicken pot pie and chicken Kiev.

There are also cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, dressings, marinades, chicken, egg, tuna and crab salads, as well as coleslaw, broccoli slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, creamed and pickled herring, Boar’s Head luncheon meats and 25 varieties of bratwurst. Gourmet items include stuffed chicken breasts, stuffed mushrooms, crab cakes, twice-baked potatoes and garlic cheese bread. All food is prepared onsite. ❚

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O L

Outdoor Projects: Renting Often Makes Sense

By Peggy Werner

W

hen tackling those exterior home projects, you’re not always sure what kind of tool you need or whether you’ll use it enough to make it worth buying. Renting a tool for a specific job can be a good alternative.

Whether you’re a do-it-yourselfer or a licensed professional, chances are Lincoln Rent-All & Sales, Inc. has the tools you need to get the job done. It’s located at 6635 E. Riverside Blvd. and 3110 Auburn St. “New homeowners don’t always know what they need,” says Tim Kinney, manager. “Others want to try out equipment before they buy it. Some people won’t live in one place for long and don’t want to go to the expense of buying it.

And, some jobs are done so infrequently, it’s not worth purchasing a piece of equipment.”

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The company services everything it sells, including Toro and Stihl lawn equipment.

Rental equipment available at both locations includes lawn and garden tools, fans, generators, augers, miter saws, skid loaders and much more. Accessories available for sale include blades, gloves, safety glasses, sandpaper, shovels and rakes, and parts for Toro, Stihl, Snapper, Honda, Kohler, Kawasaki and Briggs and Stratton machines.

In business since 1956, Lincoln Rent-All & Sales prides itself on being one of the most complete rental businesses in the Rockford area, with an emphasis on quality equipment, customer service and trained staff members who can show you how to use equipment before you take it home.

June 26 To advertise call 815-316-2300

For more information, go to lincolnrent-all.com or call the east side store at (815) 633-9322 or the west side store at (815) 968-0931. ❚

Y O

Summerfield Zoo Welcomes Bobcat Cub S

ummerfield Zoo in Belvidere announces a very special new arrival.

“We’re thrilled to announce the arrival of a male bobcat kitten named Rufus,” says Rick Anderson, owner of Summerfield Zoo. “We spent a lot time looking for the right mate for our female bobcat Montana. Montana has a lot of attitude and needed a mate that could handle that! We feel that Rufus has just

enough spunk! For now, Rufus is available for viewing in the zoo’s animal nursery and in our animal shows. We invite the public to come see him while he is still a part of our animal shows and can be seen up close.”

Wildlife photographer David Olson, owner of Olson Photography in Rockford, got a sneak peek at Rufus this week while photographing at the zoo.

Admission is $10 per adult, $8 per senior, and $6 per child and all proceeds go to the care of all the animals, many of which are rescues. Enjoy animal presentations, pony rides, the petting zoo, bottles for baby goats, a snack shop and The Flying Reindeer Gift Shop all while at the zoo.

Summerfield Zoo specializes in providing an up-close and personal animal experience for the whole family. As a small zoo, visitors can get up close and meet many of our animals.

For more information about Summerfield Zoo and the exotic animals visit us on the web at summerfieldfarmandzoo.com, check us out on Facebook, or contact us at (815) 5474852. Summerfield Zoo is located at 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere, Ill. ❚

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

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Y H

Benefits of Better Nutrition

By Peggy Werner

C

ircle of Wellness, 3626 E. State St., is expanding its staff and programming to help clients make better nutrition a top priority in their lives.

Free monthly seminars, health screenings, individual care plans and support groups to help people make positive lifestyle changes are in the works, says Leila MacQueen, owner.

“This year (2019) is our wellness year and we’re focused on the wellness part of our name,” says MacQueen.

“We’re going to help people realize just how good they can feel.”

To aid that effort, Karen Radtke, a holistic nurse practitioner for 18 years, board-certified health coach and founder of Integral Health Solutions, is partnering with Circle of Wellness. She often speaks on topics like “Food is Medicine.”

“The downfall of the American diet is

all the sugar, saturated fats and processed foods we consume and it has a negative impact on our mental and physical wellbeing,” says Radtke. “By the time people decide they need help, they’re usually pre-diabetic, diabetic or have high blood pressure and want to manage or reverse their health condition with minimal or no medications. My job is to help them create an individualized road map to reach their goals.”

Diet, movement, stress management and sleep habits are interrelated and work together to produce optimum health, she says. People are most successful when they take a gradual approach, changing bad habits one at a time to make sustainable lifestyle changes.

“Statistics tell us that more than half of Americans are obese and have or will have health complications because of it,” Radtke says. “We used to describe Type II Diabetes as ‘adult onset diabetes,’ but

now we’re seeing it in teens, and most cases are reversible or preventable.”

Circle of Wellness is “a body transformation center,” where people find treatment for pain and other conditions, via acupuncture, chiropractic services, cupping therapy, ionic foot detox, myofascial release, migraine therapy, stretching, breathing techniques, deep tissue massage and other specialty techniques.

Learn more at circleofwellnessrockford.com or call (779) 423-1700. ❚

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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

ILLINOIS, USA

Garden, with more than 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines, all 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

102 N. Main St.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

'Joseph & Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat' June 26-29 & July 31-Aug. 4, various times.

The timeless Biblical story of Joseph, who is blessed with special dreams. Starlight Theatre, Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com RVC, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

NWQ_fall.indd 1

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

4th

RAM: Annual Art in Bloom June 26-27. An imaginative display of live florals based on the Rockford Art Museum's feature exhibition 'Chance Encounter: Julie Heffernan + Shelly Mosman.' RAM, 711 N. Main St., rockfordartmusuem.org.

Music in the Park - California Guitar Trio June 27, 7 p.m. The trio explores the intersections of rock, jazz, classical and world music. Sinnissippi Band Shell, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford. Rain site: Guilford High School.

'Laughter on the 23rd Floor' June 28-29, 7:30 p.m.; June 29, 2 p.m. A Neil Simon comic drama. Winneshiek Players Theatre, Freeport, (815) 232-7023, winneshiekplayers.org.

Murder & Mayhem Bar Crawl June 28 & July 26, 6:30-9 p.m. Tour downtown Janesville’s saloons while hearing gruesome and scandalous stories from Rock County’s past. Tickets online. Courthouse Park, 51 S. Main St., Janesville, (608) 756-4509, rchs.us.

Groove Hotel with Gina Meeks June 29, 7 p.m. Groove Hotel's award-winning repertoire emphasizes rhythmic variety – bossa nova, funk, rock, samba, gospel, and Cuban – sometimes combining several styles in the same tune. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org.

Baltic Mill Stage - Silver Creek Band June 30, 7 p.m. Enjoy a country music concert before the Heritage Days fireworks. Free. 920 W. Lincoln Ave., Belvidere, Ill. boonecountyarts.com, (815) 544-6242.

'The Mousetrap' June 27-30 & July 5-7, Thu.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Agatha Christie’s play sees a group of strangers stranded in a boarding house during a snowstorm. Stage Coach Players, DeKalb, Ill., (815) 758-1940, stagecoachers.com.

International Mud Day June 29, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Put on some old clothes and connect with nature through the

Enjoy free outdoor concerts each Sunday night at Baltic Mill in Boone County, Ill.

earth. Muddy activities, games and more.

Bring a change of clothes for the ride home.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, Rockford.

An Evening with Agatha Christie June 29, 6-7:30 p.m. 'Agatha Christie' discusses her literary career, including “Murder on the Orient Express” and “The Mousetrap.”

Brought to life by local historian/actress Chris Brookes; tour and glass of wine included.

Black Point Estate, Lake Geneva. Tickets at (262) 248-1888, wisconsinhistory.org.

Art Guild Show June 29-30, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Art by members of the Momentum Art Guild, Freeport. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, Rockford, (815) 9878858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg.

Music in the Park - 'America' July 2, 7 p.m. Performed by the Rockford Concert Band, Mark Rose, Conductor; Jim Martindale, Cornet and Patte Armato-Lund, Vocalist; $5 donation. Sinnissippi Band Shell, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford. Rain site: Guilford High School.

Tuesday Nights AJG - The Suffers July 2, 5:45 p.m. The Suffers (Houston) with Jordana Talsky (Toronto, ON) opening. Doors open at 5 p.m. Food & drink for purchase or BYO food (not drink). AndersonGardens.org.

'Star Spangled Spectacular' July 3, 8 p.m. Join Rockford Symphony Orchestra at Starlight Theatre for a celebration of our nation's birthday. (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

Tuesday Nights AJG - The Suffers July 9, 5:45 p.m. Pieta Brown with Andrew Robinson opening. ❚

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June 26

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WDL

Mary’s Market Opens Location in Roscoe

By Peggy Werner

M

ary’s Market is making some changes and has opened a new location at 4866 Bluestem Road in Roscoe.

“We were looking to open a location in the Roscoe area to expand our products and catering services toward the Southern Wisconsin regions and in the Stateline area,” says Executive Chef Kayla Zeimet. “The community of Roscoe is very family-oriented and so is Mary’s Market.”

A new menu is in the works and will debut at all locations later this summer.

“We’re not only adding new items, but we’re in the process of creating a new, modern look and updated pictures to help guests become more knowledgeable about our made-from-scratch processes,” says Zeimet. “Some of the dishes people will recognize as specials we ran for a limited time and found they were popular with customers.”

Most of the new menu items will be vegan and gluten-free.

“There’s been a huge increase in people who want to go vegan and glutenfree because it’s good for their health and the environment. People just feel better and are healthier if they eat what’s good for them,” she adds.

Among vegan and vegetarian options will be Vegan Quiche made from tofu, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagusm and vegan mozzarella, on an oil-based flaky crust.

An Asian Crunch Salad will include carrots, cucumbers, shredded cabbage, edamame, mandarin oranges, quinoa, baby kale and spinach mixed with sesame ginger salad dressing.

A Chicken Pot Pie will consist of thick and creamy chicken soup with carrots, peas and potatoes topped with puffed pastry.

The much-loved Roasted Beet Salad

will become an entrée.

Customers will be able to create their own flatbreads and omelets with a choice of ingredients for one price. New taco options will include Honey Chipotle Chicken, Blackened Shrimp and State Street Steak Taco.

“Our goal is to keep our customers happy, while drawing attention to what’s new so we can attract even more people,” says Zeimet. “We really care about what we serve our customers. We make fresh bread daily and everything is made from scratch.” ❚

In the Spotlight Top Picks for Local Restaurants Baci’s Kitchen E 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.

Hearthrock Cafe E 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. $-$$.

Backyard Grill & Bar E 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.

Lino’s E Italian/American. 5611 E. State St., Rkfd. (815) 397-2077. D M-Sat 4:30am-10pm; Sun. 4:30am-9 pm. $$.

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, S. Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $.

Capital House E 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 EUpscale-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. $$ Cucina di Rosa E Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Mexican. 5855 E. State St., (815) 227-4979. LD $-$$.

Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. 318 Spring Creek Road, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.

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Maciano’s E Casual Italian. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 633-7500; & 5801 Columbia Pkwy., Rkfd., (815) 227-5577. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $-$$.

Olympic Tavern E 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 E Upscale-Casual/American.

200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Salamone’s North E Italian-American. 2583 N. Mulford Road, Rkfd. LD. Sun. noon-10 p.m.; Mon.-Th 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sat. noon-11 p.m. (815) 639-1200 Stockholm Inn E Casual/American, Scandinavian emphasis.

2420 Charles St., Rockford, (815) 397-3534. BkLD M-Sat., Sun. brkfst. only. M-Th 7a.m.-7 p.m.; Fri. & Sat. 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Sun. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekend brunch. Large menu, Swedish pancakes specialty. $$ Taco Betty’s E Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rkfd., (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. ❚

June 26 To advertise call 815-316-2300

D

Dos Reales

os Reales, 5855 E. State St., Rockford, has been serving up authentic Mexican fare and signature margaritas, along with some American fare, since 1998.

Its recently updated menu features a burrito cheesesteak and chimichangas, along with newer items such as torta Mexicana, a Mexican style of sandwich filled with grilled chicken or steak; sopes Mexicanos, a traditional Mexican dish served with rice and beans; and molletes, a traditional Mexican meal with toasted bread covered in refried beans and grilled steak. Dos Reales offers glutenfree options, and dishes are mild unless a guest requests spicy.

“We prepare everything from scratch and purchase our products from local sources,” says Jose Gonzalez, Dos Reales’s manager.

Dos Reales is open Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fri.-Sat. until 10:30 p.m. ❚

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