Smart Living Rockford - January 28, 2021

Smart L iving Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • Jan. 2021 • No. II

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Right in Our Region

What’s Happening At the Coronado?

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Tips for Buying Furniture Tasty Apple Butter Sweet Treats Hot Wheels Race to Discovery Center Treating Cancer During a Pandemic

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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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 What’s Happening Inside the Coronado Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Tips for Buying Furniture Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Justice Needs Truth Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Sweet Apple Butter Treats Your Technology ........................................ ....... 19 Here’s How to Spend Less, Get More Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Treating Cancer During a Pandemic Your Community ...............................................29 Hot Wheels Race to the Discovery Center!

Smart L iving ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Sara Myers Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Fort Wayne General Manager Sherri Cassedy 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.

Copyright 2021 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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Not ‘One-and-Done’

T

he Coronado evokes endless good memories, but few were made in 2020. The pandemic lowered curtains on entertainment venues across the world. My daughter in Nashville says folks joke about how crowded the city seems with all the entertainers and their support staff home instead of on tour. It’s no joke for their bank accounts, though, or for the venues counting on ticket sales, like Coronado.

In our cover article, Beth Howard, executive director of Friends of the Coronado Foundation, reminds us how lucky we are that our community restored magnificent Coronado – an overhaul that’s already 20 years old!

Just think! An entire generation may have missed out on the magic of this majestic grand lady already, if we hadn’t pulled together to save her. But it’s not a one-and-done effort we can take for granted. If she’s to charm generations yet unborn, each generation must do its part to support her.

The list of non-profits in need of money is looooong. Organizations helping hurting people are stretched beyond limits. The gems of our community that depend on public visitors – museums, gardens, venues – also need help tiding them over until better days return. And they will return.

You’ll be pleased, as I am, to read how the caretakers of Coronado are using this downtime efficiently to make repairs and plan ahead.

No doubt those homebound entertainers are also working hard on spectacular new material we’ll enjoy when they hit the road again.

I recently found a diary written by my great grandmother Eva Plummer in 1945.

Mostly it describes each day’s weather (why?) but on one page she lists “theatres in Rockford.” Only the first few are familiar to me – Coronado, Times, Midway. The others are Rialto, State, Auburn, Rex, Capitol – all gone.

Many cities lacked the leadership or funds to save even one vintage theater.

We’re blessed!

Let’s each pay it back by doing our part to keep one another warm, fed and in business.

Stay cozy! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Your Home & Garden

Questions to Ask When Buying Furniture

By Janine Pumilia ou get what you pay for, when it comes to furniture, and there’s a growing demand nationwide for better quality furniture, says Mitchell Johnson, store manager at Gustafson’s Furniture & Mattress, 6651 E. State St. “Both across the U.S. and here in our region, people are tired of cheap furniture that falls apart,” says Johnson.

Leather furniture remains popular, but Johnson cautions, “Be sure to ask questions about leather quality, since there are many imitations on the market.

We also sell a lot of fabric sofas,” says Johnson. “There’s a trend toward more texture, with tweeds and corduroys and weaves. Today’s upholstery options are really wonderful – very durable but beautiful and comfortable. Most of today’s upholstery fabrics are made from PET, a highly durable polyester thread.”

Reclining furniture is very big, in ev-

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ery age group, across all demographics, says Johnson. “Don’t be afraid of electric mechanisms in recliners,” he says. “People worry too much about the motors breaking, but that seldom happens. You’re more likely to break a recliner that has to be manually raised and lowered. And electric motors give you a full range of motion rather than stopping at certain positions.”

When buying upholstered furniture, the important question is not how the surface looks but what lies beneath.

“Ask good questions,” advises Johnson. “Is the frame made from strong laminated wood or just plywood? Is there a reasonably good spring system that will distribute weight? Is the padding made of high-density foam or cheap fluff? Is the leather exterior real leather?”

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Reputable stores often have a cutaway model so you can see the materials below the surface.

Do business with people who are in it for the long haul, not fly-by-night chain stores with high turnover, suggests Johnson. “They have a real stake in making you happy and will deal with you more honestly.” ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

Justice Loves Truth

J

ustice is a concept of key importance in the Bible. God expects us to behave justly to all people.

Frequent companions of justice in scripture are truth and righteousness.

“For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.” – Psalm 33:4 & 5 “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 Without real commitment to “tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” justice is elusive. Truth is so important that God made the eighth commandment: “Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.” In fact, several of the commandments are related to honesty.

How many human souls languish in prisons, both literal and mental, unjustly convicted by the false witness of those who find lies more convenient than truth? Such obstruction of justice is an abomination to God. Both testaments tell us God wants justice meted out evenly to all people.

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly.” – Leviticus 19:15

This concept undergirds our Western Civilization belief that all citizens should receive a fair trial and legitimate defense.

As in all areas of life, the strong are expected to help the weak realize their God-given rights.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” – Proverbs

31:8 & 9.

God promises a future of justice to those with faith in Jesus Christ.

“In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” - Isaiah 42:4 Until then, our job is to uphold blind justice and truth, however inconvenient it is to us personally.

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” –Matthew 25:40. ❚ (All verses NIV) – Janine Pumilia 12

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Your Kitchen

Tasty Apple Butter Treats A

pple butter is a secret ingredient that makes these recipes easy. Find more at musselmans.com.

Caramel Crumble Bars 1 1/2 3/4 1 1 2/3 2/3 2

box (15.25 oz.) yellow cake mix cup soft butter plus 2 TB, divided cup + 3 TB Apple Butter egg pkg. (11 oz.) caramels, unwrapped cup walnuts, chopped cup flaked coconut, sweetened TB melted butter

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease 13-by-9-inch baking pan.

Beat dry cake mix and 1/2 cup softened butter until crumbly. Spoon 1 cup into medium bowl & set aside.

Add 3/4 cup apple butter and egg to remaining mixture. Beat on medium speed until smooth and creamy. Spread evenly into pan. Bake 20 minutes.

Place caramels, 2 TB butter and remaining apple butter in microwavable bowl. Microwave on high 3-4 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth.

Pour caramel mixture evenly over partially baked crust. If caramel has set, microwave 1 minute until pourable.

Combine walnuts, coconut and 2 TB melted butter with reserved cake mix mixture. Mix until crumbly.

Break up topping and sprinkle evenly over caramel. Bake 16-18 minutes. Cool completely before cutting into bars.

Easy Apple Pie Bars

Nonstick cooking spray 7 cups Granny Smith apples, diced 1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided cup brown sugar 1/2 2 frozen pie crusts, defrosted egg white 1 TB sugar 2 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1 cup powdered sugar 2 TB milk

Heat oven to 350 F. Grease 9-by-13 pan.

To diced apples add apple butter, 1 tsp. vanilla and brown sugar. Mix until apples are evenly coated.

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Slowly stretch out one crust to cover pan’s bottom. Cut some edges off, if necessary. Spread apple filling evenly.

With rolling pin, roll second crust to make it same size as pan. Place on top of filling and tuck down edges to cover.

Topping: Whisk egg white until foamy and brush over crust. Combine sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle on top.

Bake 50-60 minutes until crust is golden brown. Remove from oven and cool slightly before cutting.

Glaze: In small bowl, whisk until smooth powdered sugar, milk and remaining vanilla. Drizzle over cooled bars and serve. ❚ Source: Family Features

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Right in Our Region

The Coronado is Alive and Well!

B y Pe g g y We r n e r ven though the lights have been dimmed since March at the Coronado Performing Arts Center due to the pandemic, many projects are in the works, with a focus on keeping the future bright for the historic building, says Friends of the Coronado Executive Director Beth Howard.

“Performances are on pause because of the pandemic, but the Coronado is not empty or lifeless,” she says.

The 93-year-old building’s 20th restoration anniversary is this year. Coronado has received grants for ongoing Beth Howard

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repairs and educational/outreach programs, in part aimed at interesting future generations in preserving historic gems.

Currently, the preservation focus is on repairing the towering marquee, with its 2,300 chasing LED lights, and ornate architectural details on the building exterior. In 2019, a problem with the rainwater drainage system was causing water to seep into the marquee. The Friends commissioned a study and determined the basic structure of the sign is in top condition but it needs some attention to keep it operating for years to come.

Unseasonably dry and warm weather in late November made it possible to begin exterior work. Cast stone on the third floor was sealed and 210 feet of damaged and discolored terrazzo tile was restored.

“The Coronado is a place where our community’s memories are stored and

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will be cared for by future generations,” says Howard.

On the educational front, “Secrets of the Coronado” will be produced in eight, 20-minute videos that provide a behindthe-scenes look at what takes place in the historic building. A Coronado stage professional will rise 90 feet in the air to film the working of stage lights and the orchestra pit mechanicals in action. He’ll also climb through the attic to show how the original chandelier-lowering system over the mezzanine worked. The Rockford Area Arts Council gave the Coronado $2,000 toward its goal of $8,000 to produce the videos.

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois awarded a $16,000 grant to the Coronado for a new website that’s expected to debut in late spring.

“We’ve made small updates to our

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website all along, but this is a major overhaul with specific goals in mind to make the site more user-friendly, interactive, and engaging,” Howard says.

Friends of the Coronado is also exploring how to offer more low-cost events to the public.

“When the Coronado opened as a movie theater in 1927, there was a roaring economy,” says Howard. “Just two years later, the country was in a Great Depression and the theater was a place where you left your troubles at the door and escaped everyday hardships. Ticket

prices were extra affordable. The Coronado was one of 300 ornate movie palaces constructed in the nation during the 1920s and ’30s, designed to take people away from their hometowns to faraway lands.”

Howard envisions another opportunity for the Coronado to help people heal, through new events, celebrations and traditions, when the region fully recovers from pandemic restrictions.

The Coronado Classroom (CC) can’t wait to welcome children back, she says.

CC was the vision of a longtime friend and generous donor to the theater. It became its first education program, as third graders were invited to explore the Coronado and learn about its history.

“The kids love to hear stories about people from the past and are inspired by what they learn,” says Howard. “The history gives them a sense of community pride because others cared enough to

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preserve the theater for them. We hope future generations will continue to care for the Coronado.”

Another program, “Reach to the Stars,” allows fourth graders to attend a world-class production free of charge, including transportation.

Preserving the Coronado has made a statement to the community, says Howard.

“So many communities have struggled to save historic buildings, and some lost the battle. Great buildings are gone forever. To be on this side of a restoration and expansion is a gift we must never take for granted. The Friends are experts in historic preservation and are able to address every project with the highest standard of historic integrity.”

To give a one-time or recurring donation to Coronado projects, go to the website or mail it to Friends of the Coronado, P.O. Box 1976, Rockford, IL, 61110 or call (815) 847-6314. ❚

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Your Technology

How to Reduce Your Technology Bills

B y Pe g g y We r n e r any of us are spending more than we need to for technology simply because we don’t understand our options.

Tech services like phone, Internet, TV and home security evolve quickly and can be confusing, but it’s easier than you may think to figure out what works best for your situation, says Charles Zambrano, owner and general manager of EZ Satellite & Wireless in Loves Park.

“I make sure the customers know exactly what they’re getting and aren’t paying for services they don’t want or need,” says Zambrano. He asks customers about the number of TVs and phones they have, favorite channels, streaming and recording habits, how they use high-speed internet and so forth.

“Most customers are paying too much, $250 or more for phone, TV and internet,” he says. “I can save them $50 to

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(Sponsored Content)

$100 per month by offering them the best deals each company has to offer.

“A lot of people are not happy with their tech services, but are afraid to change or don’t have time to do the research. But it’s not that hard to start saving money.”

Zambrano also helps people to make better use of their smart phones to enhance their particular lifestyles. Products like the Google Nest Hub, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are ideal for those who want to monitor and access their homes and businesses remotely or with voice commands. Especially in the age of COVID-19, it’s useful to monitor package delivery and speak to people at your door remotely.

You can also switch lights on and off, change the thermostat settings and unlock doors remotely.

EZ Satellite & Wireless is licensed

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to offer services from any provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, including Rise Broadband, Comcast, HughesNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, Vivint, ATT and Nest products.

Zambrano’s store is regularly sanitized, social distancing is observed, masks are worn and interactions are contact-free.

Call (815) 957-4335 or stop by to see him at 6239 N. 2nd St. in Loves Park. ❚

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We can hardly mask our excitement!

FEBRUARY 7

MIKE GARRIGAN SHANNON KELLY

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Your Health

Treating Cancer During a Pandemic

By Lindsey Gapen Lukas

E

arly on in the pandemic, radiation oncologist Dr. Eric Xanthopoulos was tasked with triaging his cancer patients at Beloit Health System UW Cancer Center.

“We had to re-think how we were flowing patients through the clinic,” Xanthopoulos says. “So, if a patient had a low-risk breast cancer or a low-risk prostate cancer, we might say, ‘Hey, let’s see if we can delay your treatment by one or

two months, or maybe start some hormone therapy upfront,’ which wasn’t something we did before the pandemic.”

Now, the cancer center has adjusted its practices – picture hospital workers wearing masks and shields, constantly washing their hands, screening temperatures, and cleaning treatment rooms between every patient .

If a patient tests positive for coronavirus before treatment begins, their care is delayed to prevent complications.

“Delaying treatment by a little bit is often not a big deal,” Xanthopoulos explains. “What you don’t want to do is break treatment once you’ve already started. It’s kind of like stopping a course of antibiotics halfway through. If you do that, you’ve killed off the weaker cancer cells and you give the hardier cancer cells a chance to grow and take over, and you don’t want that.”

If a patient does happen to test posi-

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tive for COVID-19 during the middle of treatment, they’ll then have to receive cancer treatments at the end of the day, after other non-COVID patients have already Dr. Eric Xanthopoulos been treated, Xanthopoulos explains. Afterward, the treatment room gets an extra-thorough deep cleaning.

Xanthopoulos says most of his patients are good about wearing facial coverings and social distancing. Still, humans crave human interaction. He tells them to be careful.

“Wear a mask, social distance, steer clear of people who obviously have cold symptoms and are sniffling and coughing all over the place.” ❚

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Your Community

Hot Wheels Race to Discovery Center A

ll roads lead to Rockford as Discovery Center Museum opens “Hot Wheels Race to Win,” a new family exhibit with immersive activities for three generations of Hot Wheels fans that runs through May 16.

Be part of a dynamic race team working together to build and test the fastest (and safest) speed machines on the planet, using Hot Wheels die-cast cars to experiment and play. This behind-thescenes look at the thrilling world of racing investigates the scientific process for designing super-fast cars and helps families who have the need for speed understand how it is achieved.

“This family learning experience provides hands-on opportunities for parents to explain complex physics concepts in fun ways using the popular Hot Wheels toy cars as they experiment with different principles to see which makes a car

go fastest,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of the museum that produced the exhibit, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Children and Families will love the Pit Stop Challenge in which they can race the clock – and their family and friends – to change tires and refuel the car. A sixlane downhill speed track, booster power track, adjustable angles track, and timing track are just a few of the ways visitors

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will be able to test their theories regarding the science of racing and cause and effect.

Real race car parts, authentic artifacts, and captivating memorabilia will round out the experience.

“We’re excited to offer families something special with their museum visit,” says Sarah Wolf, executive director of Discovery Center. “Having an exhibit of this caliber is a great way to reopen and welcome guests back to Discovery Center,” she adds.

Introduced by Mattel in 1968, the “tricked-out” toy cars have come a long way. More than 800 models and 11,000 variations of Hot Wheels cars have been created and more than four billion Hot Wheels die-cast cars have been sold.

To schedule a visit to the exhibit, register online at discoverycentermuseum.org/reservations#Reserve.” ❚

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