Smart Living Rockford - July 14, 2022

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • July 2022 • No. I

Right in Our Region

Rockford Cosmo Club’s Golf Outing See Page 20

The 75th Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Can Computers Hurt Your Eyesight?

Preventing Indoor Water Damage A Crowd-pleasing Brunch Recipe Where to Enjoy Coffee & Cars

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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Winnebago County Fair

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .................Cover & p. 20 Tee Up with Rockford’s Cosmo Club Outing ........................................................ 13 A trip to the Mendota Sweet Corn Festival Inspiration & Worship ................................ 14 About Character Your Kitchen .............................................. 17 A Bountiful Weekend Brunch Your Community ....................................... 27 Cars & Coffee in Midtown Rockford Your Health ................................................ 31 Does Using Computers Ruin Your Eyes?

Your Home ................................................. 33 Preventing Indoor Flood Damage Your Fun ..................................................... 36

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas Managing Editor Jim Taylor Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Website www.SmartLivingStateline.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 2022 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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An Introduction

I never take for granted the blessing it is to be able to write for a living. Stepping into a new role as the senior editor of Hughes Media, I feel now more than ever how fortunate I am.

My history with Hughes Media (and the Rockford region, in general) goes back to 2015. I moved to Rockford within two weeks after graduating from college, not knowing much about this new-to-me city except that there was a waterpark right off of the highway.

I quickly discovered the beauty of Klehm Arboretum, the fun of Dinner on the Dock at Prairie Street Brewing Co., and most importantly, the quality of amazing people to add into my life. Within weeks, I knew I’d be staying here for a long time.

My predecessor Janine Pumilia has been a mentor to me since the first day I started at Hughes Media, where I began my journalism career as a “meager” assistant editor. Back then, I was writing an avalanche of content and completing much of the “behind the scenes” work that doesn’t include a byline. Janine helped me to discover an authentic voice as a writer, and she always looked out for me as somewhat of a motherly figure. I admire her talent – I truly don’t think I know a better writer than her – but I also just admire her as a human being. I know I have big shoes to fill now that she’s passed the baton to me in her retirement, but it’s a challenge I’m excited to undertake. (And don’t worry! Janine will continue to write the inspiration column, which is something she feels compelled to continue).

My life looks a lot different now than it did in 2015. These past seven years have been filled with adventure, from ascending in my journalism career and developing a side-gig as a dance teacher to getting married and having my son, Elliot. Moving to Rockford proved to be one of the best decisions I ever made.

I look forward to continuing this adventure with you, where together we can explore our region and learn more about the secrets to “Smart Living.” Have a great week! ❚ Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor

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Your Outings

Mendota Sweet Corn Festival

By Randy Ruef

T

he annual Sweet Corn Festival celebrates its 75th anniversary this summer as it overtakes the streets of downtown Mendota, a community of just under 7,300 that’s located 2 hours southwest of Chicago.

“We close off roughly eight blocks of downtown,” says Shelby Weide, president and CEO of the Mendota Area Chamber of Commerce and the event’s chief organizer. “The street department does a phenomenal job getting the streets ready to roll. And we’ll get between 55,000 to 60,000 people for the weekend.”

This year’s celebration, set for Aug. 11-14, features carnival rides and food, vendors, a flea market, a beer garden, a craft show, a queen pageant, musical entertainment, a parade and the famous free corn boil.

At any age, the Sweet Corn Festival has been all about creating memories.

And, as evidenced by the thousands of people who attend the event every summer, the festival is not just for Mendota natives.

“We draw people from the Chicago area, Rockford, Bloomington, Ill., Normal, Ill., all over,” Weide says. “We’re one of the biggest harvest festivals in the area, and if you haven’t been here, it’s a great weekend to come.”

The biggest draw of the weekend is in the name: sweet corn. There are vendors throughout the weekend who sell it, but on Sunday, the festival offers all the sweet corn you can eat for free. The other big highlight of Sunday is the parade, which features local performers, floats, and antique and classic vehicles.

The Sweet Corn Festival opens at 6

p.m. on Aug. 11. The Carnival Midway is open 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, noon-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and noon-6 p.m. on Sunday. People can purchase a wristband for unlimited rides.

There are also daily passes available, and there’s a “mega pass” that covers the whole weekend. Those can be purchased online or at the Chamber of Commerce office. They’ll also be available throughout the weekend at the festival.

The festival website, sweetcornfestival.com, lists several hotels and motels, as well as campground information, for those planning an extended stay. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

About Character

C

haracter. What is it?

Some have said it’s what you do when no one is watching.

One dictionary definition is “The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing.”

What features and traits does God ask us to make part of our nature?

Those modeled by Jesus Christ.

Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. – I John 2:6 (ESV) Here are just a few of the traits Jesus modeled during his 33 years in the world.

Prayerfulness But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. – Luke 5:16 Student of Scripture “It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” Jesus tells Satan in Matthew 4:2-4 Courage, Love, Self-Control For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

– I Timothy 1:7 (ESV) Full of Grace and Truth We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. – John 1:1b (NIV) Compassionate, Ready to Teach When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.

And he began to teach them many things.

– Mark 6:34 Forgiving, Not Vengeful But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. – Luke 6:27 & 28 (NIV) Attitude of a Servant (NOT a bully) The son of man came not to be served but to serve. – Mark 10:45 Humble and Obedient to God “He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” ❚ – Janine Pumilia 14

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You Belong Here!

Join our Concordia School Family

We have a place for you!

7424 North 2nd Street Machesney Park, IL 61115 815-633-6450 www.ConcordiaMP.com/School

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From Farm to Shelf, We Do It All!

Fresh Grown Produce In Season Apples, Snap Peas, Beans Sweet Corn, Tomatoes & More

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We carry many locally sourced goods in our store, please come visit us for your weekly grocery needs!

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Your Kitchen

Whip Up a Bountiful Weekend Brunch

F

resh air, warm sun and delicious foods make brunch a favorite weekend event. Set the stage (and the table) for an inviting experience with recipes that cover all the bases from snacks and desserts to a mouthwatering main course.

Perfect for any brunch occasion is a delicious dish that can be made a day in advance, simplifying your morning prep work before guests arrive with growling stomachs.

Prepared the day before and chilled overnight, this Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole is ready to bake to perfection in the morning with a gooey interior and crisp exterior filled with mouthwatering flavor. Drizzle with glaze then dish out to loved ones for a delicious way to make brunch easy.

Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

Servings: 12 Nonstick cooking spray 1 package (20 ounces) French bread, cubed, divided 1 can (20 ounces) apple pie filling 9 eggs 1 cup half-and-half 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 cup powdered sugar, plus additional (optional) 2 tablespoons milk, plus additional (optional) Spray 8-by-8-inch glass baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In baking dish, add 10 ounces cubed French bread in bottom of dish. Pour apple filling over bread. Top with remaining cubed French

bread. Set aside. In medium bowl, whisk eggs, half-and-half and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread. Cover with aluminum foil and chill overnight.

Heat oven to 325 F. Remove foil and bake 50-60 minutes. Let cool 10-15 minutes. In small bowl, whisk powdered sugar and milk. Add additional, if needed, until pourable glaze is reached. Drizzle over casserole before serving. ❚

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Right in Our Region

Tee Up with Rockford’s Cosmopolitan Club

By Stephanie N. Grimoldby

T

he whole point of a fundraiser is to have fun, right?

The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club is ready to do just that during its annual golf fundraiser on Friday, Aug. 12, at MauhNah-Tee-See Country Club and Forest Hills Country Club, in Rockford.

Each course has a capacity of 144 golfers, says Greg Lundquist, golf outing event chair for the Cosmos Club. With the additional attendees who come just for the dinner, he expects to see roughly 325 people in attendance.

“We’re very blessed in the sense we have a large following with the club that enjoys our golf outing,” Lundquist says.

“With our size, scope and reach, to have two courses filled on a Friday in the middle of summer is a testament to the work that club president Chris Zion and the existing and previous Cosmos board mem-

bers have done to make the Rockford Cosmo the premier group in the area.”

In 2020, the club’s golf outing – plus its other major annual fundraisers – brought in $56,000, despite COVID-19 restrictions, Zion says.

This year, the Hard Rock Casino Rockford is joining the fun as a platinum sponsor. With the added benefit of a bigname sponsor, the club expects to have

The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club’s annual golf outing fills two local country clubs as it helps to raise money for charitable causes, including Crusader Community Health’s diabetes outreach program.

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another record fundraising year.

“The Hard Rock Casino and ROCK’N Vodka of Rockford are our copremier sponsors. The Hard Rock was instrumental in bringing along ROCK’N Vodka,” Lundquist says. “So, to have them see what we’re doing within the community and want to be the platinum sponsor tells us that we’re doing the right work.”

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Right in Our Region

This year’s golf outing is Friday, Aug. 12.

Geno Iafrate, president of Rockford Casino – A Hard Rock Opening Act, says it’s all about community.

“In addition to making our casino a great place to work and play, we’re committed to making our community a great place to live,” he says. “By partnering with and supporting amazing local organizations and events such as the Cosmo-

politan Club’s annual golf outing, we can help fulfill that commitment.”

From a golfer’s perspective, you can’t beat the deal you get by golfing with the Cosmos Club, says Zion.

“For the $160 a golfer donates, they get golf at the course, an open driving range, lunch, dinner, drinks, golf balls and golf towels, a T-shirt and opportunities to win raffle prizes like TVs and refrigerators,” Zion says.

Despite the fun, the crux is to give back to the community.

Rockford has the largest chapter in the entire international Cosmopolitan organization, with 214 members, Zion says. Last year, the club raised $103,500 through various efforts.

“That money pretty much all stays here,” he says.

A perfect example is the $600,000 the club raised for Crusader Community Health in the past nearly 30 years.

“We’re focused on fighting diabetes as an international organization,” Zion

says. “Locally, the money we raise to fight diabetes is given to Crusader Community Health. It completely funds the diabetes outreach program each year for Crusader.”

The Crusader Clinic Cosmopolitan Diabetes Program actively reaches out to the homeless – often utilizing a van purchased by the Cosmos – to offer diabetes test strips, testing devices and ongoing health education.

Zion, who is Type 2 diabetic, lauds Crusader Community Health but says his appreciation goes beyond typical health care.

“Having gotten to know Crusader Community Health and who they are as an entity is really what inspires me,” he says. “I see what they do with the community in terms of health care, with little government interference. Our local hospitals offer incredible care, but it’s a much more personal touch at Crusader.”

To learn more or sign up, visit birdease.com/rfdcosmo. ❚

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There are sales at the ReStore every single day!

Store Hours: Mon-Sat, 10am-6pm Donation Drop-off Hours: Tues-Fri, 10am-4pm & Sat 10am-3pm

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Your Community

Cars & Coffee in Midtown Rockford

By Jim Taylor, multimedia editor

Y

ou never know when inspiration is going to hit. For Michael Thomas, it was in 2018 while watching TV. “I saw a car show where the emphasis was coffee and car gatherings,” says Thomas, a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Rockford. “I went online and saw that Cars & Coffee wasn’t a registered trademark name.”

Thomas, who is also on the board at Katie’s Cup, a coffee shop at 502 Seventh St. in Midtown Rockford, immediately saw an opportunity to do something special. He reached out to several local car group organizers. When Curt Kellerman, a longtime car enthusiast, responded, the two met up at Katie’s Cup and looked across the street at the parking lot of Rockford Public Schools (RPS) headquarters.

“There are over 500 parking spots

around that wonderful building and another 120 or so on Seventh, Sixth and Fifth streets,” Thomas says. “I told Curt, ‘This is a great place to hold a car show,’ and he agreed.”

Thomas and Kellerman launched Cars & Coffee the following summer, and since then they’ve expanded the show to the first Saturday morning of the month, from 9 a.m. to noon, from April to October.

The show welcomes cars of all kinds, vintage and new, from dozens of car clubs and individuals in the Rockford area and beyond. For information on the latest shows, head to carsandcoffeerockford.com.

“The wonderful thing about Cars & Coffee is that there is no admission charge and no registration charge for car owners,” says Thomas. “If a car owner

wants to participate, they just need to call us or email us.”

In addition to showing or admiring the cars, Thomas and Kellerman are always looking for volunteers to help with registration, serve coffee and donuts, and just generally help out.

There are a variety of prizes handed out to the fan-favorite cars, everything from restaurant gift cards to car-related products and services.

“We’re really proud of our wonderful event,” says Thomas. “It’s pet-friendly, it’s bike-friendly and it helps bring people together in Midtown Rockford.” ❚

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SWEET STREAMS.

WATCH 23 NEWS ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

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Your Health

Does Using Computers Ruin Your Eyes?

By Jim Killam

“I

had great vision until my 20s, when I started working on computers 40 hours a week. Now I can’t see a thing without my glasses.”

It’s a common refrain. But eye surgeon Dr. Richard Miller doesn’t buy it.

Miller, of Miller Eye Center, 2995 Eastrock Drive, Rockford, says it’s just a variation on an old misconception.

“If you look in the past, people said that about everything,” he says. “Reading in dim light would ruin your eyes, watching too much TV would ruin your eyes. It can’t hurt the eyes.”

What’s happening, he adds, is that we use our eyes more today. When our vision declines during early adulthood, we simply notice it more.

“Four hundred years ago, most people didn’t even read that much. So you didn’t need to have sharp vision for that.

Computers are a little harder to look at temporarily – it’s harder to look at a com-

puter screen than it is a nice piece of paper. It’s not perfectly sharp. So your brain is saying, oh, it’s out of focus. Focus, focus.”

Miller agrees that looking at a computer screen for hours is more difficult than reading a book for the same amount of time, and it does indeed cause eye strain.

“But it doesn’t do any harm to the eye,” he says. “You go to bed, you wake up the next day and you’re back to normal.”

While the body stops growing in adulthood, the eyes’ lenses keep getting thicker and harder, he says. Far-sighted

people usually see their vision level out in their early 20s. Not so for near-sighted people.

“You keep ending up getting thicker and thicker glasses,” Miller says. “But don’t blame computers. Near-sighted people were complaining about that 80 years ago, and there were no computers.” ❚

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Your Home & Garden

How to Prevent Indoor Water Damage

By Peggy Werner

W

ater damage can be incredibly destructive to your home. A few preventative steps can help you to avoid unwelcome surprises, damage and expense.

“People going away on vacation, whether for days or months, should turn off the water to their whole house,” says Chris Picot, vice president of Flood Pros, 11137 Bertram Road in Rockford. “People don’t always think to do that, but it only takes a couple hours to cause thousands of dollars worth of damage because of water.”

Frozen pipes, worn-out appliances, and leaks or breaks in water lines, roofs and windows can all lead to water damage.

Picot also suggests having a plumber change out water supply lines from plastic ones to rubber hoses encased in braided stainless steel, which prevents flexing.

Plastic ice maker water lines can be changed to copper. Copper water lines leading to the outside in unheated areas of the home should be shut off in the winter. Water lines in exterior walls should be well insulated.

Flood Pros has been in business since 1992 and works around the clock to respond to water problems quickly. A water damage specialist explains to customers the process of water damage restoration and helps with processing an insurance claim, if needed.

The company has state-of-the-art equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and moisture meters to determine the source of water damage. It also uses high-powered dehumidifiers and large air movers to reduce drying time to three days or less, in most cases. By recording

data on each damaged area, Flood Pros can determine what progress is being made. Totally drying an area eliminates mold or other pathogenic growths from developing.

For more information, visit floodpros.net or call the Rockford office at (815) 398-2379. The Janesville location is at 2811 Milton Ave. and its phone number is (608) 756-9300. ❚

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Your Fun

Nature Connects with LEGO® Bricks Thru Sept. 11, 9 a.m.-7p.m. daily. This award-winning and record-breaking exhibition uses beautiful works of art made from simple toy blocks to explore animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and mankind’s relationship with nature.

Klehm Arboretum and Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9658146, klehm.org.

Entertainment & Events Road, Loves Park, Ill., (815) 633-1500, rockfordspeedway.com.

Tuesday Evening in the Gardens July 19, opening act 5:45 p.m., headliner Will Hoge at 6:30 p.m. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens. org.

‘The Little Mermaid’ July 13-17, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Starlight Theatre, Rock Valley College (RVC), 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

Vince Gill featuring Wendy Moten July 20, 7:30 p.m. Award-winning Country Artist Vince Gill and NBC’s ‘The Voice’ runner-up Wendy Moten. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac. org.

Summer Nights Rockford Speedway July 17, noon-9 p.m. A one-day music and extreme motor sport experience. Fully judged, family-friendly car show by day and multi-genre music festival at night.

Rockford Speedway, 9572 Forest Hills

‘Disaster’ July 20-24, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. Starlight Theatre, Rock Valley College, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

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Dress as your favorite princess, knight, villian or mythical creature for Fairytale Friday at Discovery Center Museum, in Rockford.

Fairytale Friday July 22, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Come in costume as your favorite princess, knight, villian or mythical creature. Design a castle, invent ogre ears, build a house for the three little pigs, climb a beanstalk, and make Humpty Dumpty fall. Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9636769 discoverycentermuseum.org.

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