Smart Living Rockford - November 18, 2021

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • Nov 2021 • No. II

Right in Our Region

Stroll on State!

See Page 20

75th Performance of “Messiah” Reindeer Land at Summerfield Zoo Peppermint Shortbread Cookie Recipe Start Now for Spring Remodeling Projects

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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Give The Gift of

tickets available for purchase at the coronado box office, at the bmo harris bank center box office, by phone 815.968.5222 visit Tell at them you saw it in ... or Smart Livingticketmaster.com.

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .........................Cover & p. 20 Stroll on State!

Your Home ................................................... 13, 35 Start a Spring Remodel Now; Fireplace Options Inspiration & Worship ....................................... 14 How Thankful?

Your Kitchen ...................................................... 17 Peppermint Shortbread Cookies Your Outing ....................................................... 25 Rockford’s 75th ‘Messiah’ Your Health ........................................................ 31 Spinal Health Your Community ............................................... 33 Reindeer Land at the Zoo! Your Fun ............................................................ 36

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia 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, Lisa Brandt, 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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What is Thanksgiving?

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often hear people say Thanksgiving is their favorite holiday because it involves togetherness and good food without the frantic commercialism of Christmas. I love both holidays and believe they’re what we make of them.

To me, Thanksgiving is about gratitude and Christmas celebrates the arrival of light to a dark world – the Messiah, whose behavior we’re told in scripture to imitate. One behavior Jesus modeled was humble gratitude.

Giving thanks for the harvest is an ancient concept in no way exclusive to Judeo-Christian culture. The U.S. holiday, however, is distinctly Christian in origin. The 1600s New England Puritans commonly set aside days for thanksgiving and fasting. In 1621, Gov. William Bradford, of Plymouth, Mass., organized a three-day celebration after the colony’s first successful corn harvest, inviting American Indian friends to join. Indeed, those new friends had taught critical survival skills to the colonists, who arrived just before winter in 1620.

Of the 102 Mayflower passengers, 45 died the first winter and many others suffered badly.

Survival was far from guaranteed.

Much later, and not necessarily related to Bradford’s event, the Continental Congress designated one or more days of thanksgiving per year. Then, in 1789, President George Washington issued the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, asking Americans to thank God for their new country and to ask His blessings upon it. John Adams and James Madison did likewise, but no official date was set.

Perhaps the greatest champion of a national U.S. Thanksgiving holiday was author Sarah Josepha Hale (composer of “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”) For nearly four decades, she urged politicians to set aside one day each year for Americans to give thanks for their country.

Hale’s request was finally answered by Abraham Lincoln, in 1863, during the Civil War. He chose the final Thursday in November. In 1939, Franklin D. Roosevelt moved it up a week to spur retail sales during the Great Depression. Critics complained about “Franksgiving” and, in 1941, he moved it back to the fourth Thursday in November.

Thanksgiving is often reduced to food & football, but it began with fasting & prayer. ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Your Home & Garden

Start Now for a Spring Remodelling Project

By Peggy Werner

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f you’re thinking about a spring home improvement project, it’s time to get started, says Todd Chapman, owner and president of C & H Design in Belvidere, Ill. “If you want that kitchen or bath remodel done by April, it’s not too early to start planning and ordering supplies to avoid future price increases,” he says.

Planning ahead is always a good rule of thumb, but with labor and supply shortages, looking to the future has become a necessity.

A C & H remodelling project will involve a free consultation and measuring, choosing a design, picking out colors and materials for flooring, countertops, cabinets, lighting and plumbing fixtures.

Chapman says his customers are mostly choosing clean lines, few details and neutral colors such as cream, white or

grey for kitchen and bathroom remodels.

For flooring, luxury vinyl checks many of the boxes people care about. This flooring can be “floated” over another floor or glued down. It’s water resistant yet softer than tile, easy to clean and comes in a variety of colors and looks that mimic tile, marble and hardwood. It holds up in extreme temperatures, making it a good choice for screened-in porches, sunrooms and other unheated rooms in the home.

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Chapman opened C & H Design in 2002 and has been at the current location at 6506 Logan Ave. since 2006. Since then, he’s expanded his showroom twice; it now includes 6,000 square feet of display space.

Chapman started out as a homebuilder. When a financial downturn in the economy ocurred, he anticipated that people would be choosing to remodel homes rather than to move, so he chose to focus on home improvement for homeowners.

Chapman describes his business as a “one stop shop” offering all the materials and services needed to complete a home remodeling project from beginning to end, including plumbing, drywall, painting, electricity, construction and financing.

Learn more by calling (815) 5478453. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

How Thankful?

Every faculty you have, your power of thinking or of moving your limbs from moment to moment, is given you by God. – C.S. Lewis

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ew habits improve our personal happiness more than seeing what’s good and being thankful for it. This is true for all people, but for Christians, it’s central to being an imitator of Jesus Christ.

Most of us know that gratitude to God is a good habit. But backing up our gratitude with loving obedience to God is quite another thing. We like the word “thankful” much more than the word “obedient.” Gratitude is an attitude – a very important one. But obedience is action born from that gratitude. It involves changing our way of thinking to God’s way of thinking as we become a “new creature in Christ.” (2 Cor. 5:17) Dozens of scriptures show Jesus living in gratitude. He began and ended his prayers with words of thanks and taught us to do the same (Matthew 6:9-13). But his gratitude ran much deeper than words.

No moment of his life better illustrated his loving obedience than his darkest hour in the Garden of Gethsemane, when he knew that pain and death were imminent. “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” (Luke 42:22 NIV) If we say we’re thankful for the blessings God gives us, yet we selfishly hoard those blessing, are we truly thankful? If we say we love God but allow ourselves to despise other people, are we truly thankful? Do we really believe “The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, The world, and those who dwell in it,” as King David – “a man after God’s own heart” – proclaimed in Psalm 24:1?

We all face pain at some point. But even in the darkest moments we can choose to be grateful for our countless blessings. And, we can act on that gratitude by obeying the two greatest commandments identified by Jesus Christ: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”

(Matthew 22:37 & 38) ❚ 14

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Your Kitchen

Peppermint Shortbread Cookies - Yum! H

oliday celebrations call for recipes of all kinds, but perhaps the most popular area at many parties is the dessert table. Add flavor to your get-togethers with a festive treat like these Peppermint Shortbread Cookies, which call for the seasonal taste of peppermint and the versatility of dairy for a sweet bite after a holiday meal.

Find more recipes for the holidays at milkmeansmore.org.

Peppermint Shortbread Cookies Recipe courtesy of Rachel Gurk of “Rachel Cooks” on behalf of Milk Means More Prep time: 15 minutes, plus 30 minutes freeze time Cook time: 15 minutes Servings: 40

Ingredients: 2-2 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, softened 3/4 cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 teaspoon salt 2 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 cup peppermint crunch baking chips Preparation: In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, cream butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and salt until smooth.

Gradually add flour and mix on low until combined. Add baking chips and continue mixing on low until fully combined.

On wax paper or parchment paper, form dough into 12-14-inch log and freeze at least 30 minutes, or until firm.

Heat oven to 350° F. Cut shortbread dough into 1/4inch slices; bake 13-15 minutes on parchment-lined baking sheets. ❚

Source: Family Features

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Right in Our Region

Stroll on State Returns Live in Rockford A

nearly decade-long tradition in Rockford will return on Nov. 27, the Saturday following Thanksgiving, as Stroll on State brings thousands of people together downtown for a parade, live music, a visit from Santa, fireworks and much more. Last year’s event was virtual due to the pandemic.

“We’re excited to have a traditional in-person Stroll on State event planned for this year,” says Rockford Mayor Tom McNamara. “It’s one of my favorite events because it’s a powerful example of the welcoming nature of Rockford, as we unite for an entertaining and enjoyable kickoff to the holiday season. Most importantly, Stroll illustrates the diverse and progressive spirit of our city, providing a unique opportunity for visitors and residents alike to join together in celebration.”

The unofficial event kick-off is the

Dasher Dash, a holiday-themed 5K Run/ Walk through Rockford’s downtown district. It starts at noon on Nov. 27. The event officially kicks off with a parade at 2 p.m. followed by all sorts of fun until 9 p.m. The parade will feature floats, festive music and costumed characters including Mr. and Mrs. Claus. This is a family-friendly parade that combines balloons, bands, princesses, elves, antique vehicles and more. At 8 p.m., a fireworks display will be launched from the Jefferson Street Bridge.

As in previous years, the Stroll on State team will transform downtown Rockford into a winter wonderland. Visitors will enjoy new and traditional attractions including live entertainment, vendors and special activities like s’more

stations and ice carvings. The free event is made possible by 22 sponsors.

One major change this year involves the tree lighting. Instead of focusing on one giant tree in the heart of downtown, the tree-lighting ceremony will be divided into three events at 5, 6 and 7 p.m. at three locations. This will allow crowds to spread out and families with young children to work around their own schedules

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Right in Our Region

more easily. Each stage will host a holiday story-time reading, a visit from Santa, live music and the tree lighting.

The 5 p.m. tree-lighting ceremony will take place at the Silver Bell Tree and Stage at Eddie Green Place on the corner of 1st and East State streets; The 6 p.m. ceremony will be at the Rockford City Tree, sponsored by the Northwestern Illinois Building Trades, at Davis Park; and the 7 p.m. ceremony will take place at the Jingle Bell Tree and Stage at the corner of North Main and Mulberry streets.

Live music by local artists will begin at 2 p.m. and will conclude at 9 p.m. on

several stages.

Santa visits will be done differently this year to help keep kids healthy. In prior years, kids and families waited in line for up to an hour to visit with Santa. This year, Santa Claus will explore the grounds of Stroll on State. He plans to see kids during story time readings at the three stages and he may even be seen serving hot chocolate and s’mores, visiting his reindeer or riding a Zamboni.

Even after the Stroll festivities wrap up, Santa Claus will make his way through Rockford on a City of Rockford fire truck, spreading Christmas cheer on three Saturdays – Dec. 4, 11 and 18.

Routes and approximate times will be released each week on GoRockford.com and Stroll on State Facebook pages.

Sky Lights Fireworks will launch from the Jefferson Street Bridge this year at 8 p.m. They’ll be visible from anyplace in the festival that’s within view of the bridge.

Other Stroll on State attractions

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include the showcasing of ice sculptures

by Randy Finch and the Ice Brigades outside the Rockford Register Star building, and Fire & Ice, a spectacle of ice blocks dissolving into beautiful bonfires that create an enchanting display at the corner of East State and North 2nd streets and outside of Veterans Memorial Hall.

S’mores stations will be set up in four locations throughout the event.

Horse & Wagon rides will make a continuous loop on the west side of the Rock River with pickup and drop-off locations near the corner of Wyman and Elm streets. Two holiday markets will host local retail and food vendors.

Stroll on State takes place in conjunction with Small Business Saturday, an annual holiday tradition that urges shoppers to support locally owned retailers and restaurants. Locally owned businesses throughout the River District will offer holiday specials and fun events.

Find a full list of events and attractions at strollonstate.com. ❚

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Your Outings

75 Years Faithful: ‘Messiah’ Still a Gift

By Janine Pumilia

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he annual performance of George Frideric Handel’s “Messiah” has been a special gift to our community since 1945, when the Rockford Choral Union first presented it as an expression of gratitude at the end of World War II. This Nov. 27 & 28 will bring the 75th performance at 3 p.m. both days at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 920 3rd Ave., Rockford, the original location.

“Every single word is directly from the King James Bible,” says Webb Stevens, vice president of the board of governors for the Rockford Choral Union.

“The singers really focus on diction so people can understand the words and the message.”

“Messiah” is an important Christmas tradition for generations of local family members, whether they’re in the audience or up front participating as singers.

Among the latter is this year’s featured

mezzo soloist, Claudia Holen, who began singing “Messiah” with her grandfather Peter Thomas and mother Julie Holen when she was 11 years old. She later attended the Boston Conservatory and then earned her Master’s in Musicology at Tufts University. Today she works for the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in Madison.

“Experiencing this beautiful piece of music and being surrounded by a supportive community at such a young age nurtured her love of classical music,” says proud grandfather Peter Thomas.

Other highly accomplished soloists with local ties will be featured as well.

Susan Nelson will return as a soprano soloist. She sings with Music of the Baroque and the Lyric Opera and Grant Park Choruses of Chicago. Nicolai Janitzky, a Belvidere resident and frequent soloist with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, will

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Soloist Claudia Holen began singing ‘Messiah’ with mother Julie and grandfather Peter Thomas.

perform as baritone solist. Michael Day, a Rockford native who frequently performs in New York and Chicago, will be featured as tenor soloist.

Michael Beert will direct the performance for the third time. He’s been involved as a cellist with the group since 1985 and was named its sixth director after Nat Bauer retired from that role in 2017. There’s no charge to attend. Learn more at RockfordChoralUnion.com. ❚

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Your Health

Wellness is the Focus of Chiropractic Care

By Jermaine Pigee fter working as an independent general chiropractor for nearly 10 years, Dr. Brittany Sullivan last year opened Elite Spine & Wellness, 6833 Stalter Dr., Suite 203, in Rockford.

“Our office has a modern and hip vibe to it. That’s part of what makes our experience pretty great,” she says. “I’ve been in this field for eight years, and my massage therapist has been massaging for more than 10 years. We like to call ourselves a one-stop shop because you can come here, get everything done and go home feeling better.”

“Dr. B,” as patients call her, spent four years at MedPlus Neck & Back Pain Center in Rockford before becoming an independent contractor under Chris Scott Wellness in Loves Park, Ill. After four years there, she was ready to launch her own practice.

“I knew I wanted to be a doctor, and

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I didn’t want to deal with surgery or prescribe a bunch of drugs,” Sullivan says.

“I took the chiropractic lane and I got lucky that I loved it. Musculoskeletal is our alley.”

Sullivan works with patients who suffer from any type of pain in the back, including pain caused by muscle strains, misalignments, arthritis and lifting injuries. She also specializes in flexion/ distraction, which helps decompress the spine after a disc injury.

Sullivan uses the activator method of chiropractic and a unique hand-held tool that allows her to do manual adjustments with low force.

“It’s a tool that’s used for people who don’t like the crack, or for people with brittle bones,” Sullivan says.

Sullivan emphasizes wellness through all of her services.

“We start with acute care. We’ll do adjustments, and we’ll do passive thera-

pies like muscle stimulation, ultrasound and massage just to keep their pain down. Once their pain goes down, we’ll do rehabilitative treatment where they’re Dr. Brittany Sullivan doing strengthening exercises to get them back to being functional again.”

The Rockford native earned her bachelor’s degree from Rockford College before attending Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa. She transferred to its sister campus in Florida before starting her career back home in Rockford.

Developing relationships with her clientele is important to her.

“They can talk to me, she says. ❚

Listening to you is where we start every visit.

Accepting new patients

(815) 242-0678

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Your Community

Santa’s Reindeer Land at Summerfield Zoo

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ome very special guests have landed at Summerfield Zoo in Belvidere, Ill. For a fourth year, the zoo will be open at Christmastime for special opportunity to meet Santa’s live reindeer.

“We’re so excited to invite everyone back to Christmas Town at Summerfield Zoo,” says Rick Anderson, zoo owner.

“Come watch Santa’s sleigh team prepare for their magical fight on Christmas Eve. This is the only place you can come meet Santa’s entire sleigh team of reindeer! These are truly amazing animals that provide not only a magical, but also an educational, experience for kids and adults of all ages.”

The public will be able to visit the entire sleigh team of reindeer in the openair reindeer barn.

Children can with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus on Saturdays or Sundays at his cottage. Kids will earn an official stable elf diploma.

Baby reindeer flight school training sessions will happen during the day.

There’ll be lots of magical photo opportunities and delicious snacks will be sold at Mrs. Claus’ Kitchen Snack Shop, where Olaf and the Grinch may stop by.

The Flying Reindeer Gift Shop offers “some of the best Christmas shopping south of the North Pole – ranging from Christmas décor and gifts to gourmet snack and baking mixes and kids’ gifts,” says Anderson.

Admission is $14 per person. The zoo is open Friday through Sunday until Dec. 19 and then Dec. 20-23 with special hours. Until Dec. 19, hours are Fridays 3

to 6 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Dec. 20-23, hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Pre-purchased reservation tickets are available through the website.

Learn more at summerfieldfarmandzoo.com or call (815) 547-4852. The zoo is located at 3088 Flora Road, Belvidere, Ill. ❚

SWEET STREAMS.

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Your Home & Garden

What to Know When Choosing a Fireplace

By Paula Hendrickson

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nuggling up in front of a cozy fire is one of the true joys of Midwestern living, but most homeowners don’t want to chop wood or clean up ashes.

“We still do some wood-burning units, but the majority of people want gas,” says Kevin Obee, general manager of Benson Stone, Rockford. “Gas units have come a long way in the past 20 years to the point where they look very real.”

Most modern units can be vented through an exterior wall or be retrofitted into existing fireplace openings.

Along with deciding what your new fireplace will look like and where to put it, your most important choice is whether you want an open-vent fireplace, a direct-vent insert, gas logs or an electric fireplace.

A new fireplace is a brand-new unit where one never existed; inserts are sealed systems that pull air from outdoors (in-

stead of your furnace-heated room air) and send exhaust directly outdoors. Gas logs with glowing “embers” can be found in both open-vent and direct-vent systems.

Each system has pros and cons and a sales expert can explain them to you.

While both open-vent and direct-vent systems will exhaust fumes outdoors, open vent systems – like traditional masonry fireplaces – draw in room air to feed the flames. This approach is less efficient than a sealed, direct-vent system that pulls air from outside your home.

Obee estimates that, given current natural gas prices, running 80,000BTU gas logs in an open-vent fireplace adds about 30 cents per hour to your gas bill.

“They’re roughly 0 percent efficient, because a typical masonry fireplace is gaining as much heat as it’s losing, but you’re only paying a dollar every three hours to enjoy a fire. You turn it off, set

your damper and it’s no big deal.”

On the other hand, direct-vent gas inserts in the 25,000-40,000BTU range are between 80-85 percent efficient. He usually runs his own fireplace on the high setting and says it doesn’t cost a penny to run.

“The fireplace essentially serves as a zone space heater and it reduces how long the furnace runs. It actually saves me money every single time I use it, versus using my furnace to heat the same space,” says Obee. ❚

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Your Fun My Way: Art from the Black South Through Jan. 23, Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Nearly 156 artworks show the styles and practices of 50 black artists with ties to the American South. Includes eight original quilts. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

Josh Turner Nov. 21, 7:30 p.m. Holidays and the Hits is the first-ever Christmas tour by this American country and gospel singer/actor. Special guest Mo Pitney. Coronado PAC, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

Martina McBride Nov. 26, 7:30 p.m. The country music superstar has sold more than 18 million albums, including 20 Top 10 singles and six No. 1 hits.

This is part of her “Joy of Christmas” tour.

Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

Handel’s ‘Messiah’ Nov. 27 & 28, 3 p.m. both days. The 75th annual performance from Rockford Choral Union features professional solists, a regional chorus, chamber orchestra, pipe organ and harpsichord. Emmanuel Lutheran Church,

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Entertainment & Events

920 Third Ave., Rockford. rockfordchoralunion.org. Free to public, masks required.

Music on Mondays Nov. 29, 5:30 p.m. Rockford resident and piano enthusiast Andy Strong interprets the music of dance forms from Gavottes to Fox Trots, Courantes to Charlestons. Mendelssohn PAC, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

RSO: ‘The Nutcracker’ Dec. 4, 3 p.m. Rockford Symphony Orchestra joins forces with Rockford Dance Company to stage Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet in the elegant Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

2nd Thursday Concert Series Dec. 9, 7 p.m. The Trinadora Duo perform a holiday special in an intimate café environment. Doors open at 6 p.m. Full drink and food menu. Katie’s Cup, 502 7th St., Rockford, (815) 986-0628, katiescup.com.

Pangelic Duo Dec. 10. 7:30 p.m. Steelpan virtuoso Liam Teague and harpist Faye Seeman team up to

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Beloved longtime RSO Maestro Steve Larsen finishes his RSO career with ‘Holiday Pops’ on Dec. 18.

share a fresh blend of classical compositions, jazz and other familiar tunes. Mendelssohn PAC, Starr Center, 415 N. Church St., (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Jim Brickman: The Gift of Christmas Dec. 11, 8 p.m. The multiple Grammynominated songwriter and piano player brings a blend of holiday classics and heartwarming originals. Coronado PAC, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.

RSO: Holiday Pops Dec. 18, 7 p.m. Maestro Steve Larsen closes his tenure at Rockford Symphony Orchestra with an annual tradition, as the symphony and Nielsen Chorale provide an evening of inspiring holiday classics. Coronado, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org. ❚

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