Smart Living Weekly - August 23, 2017

Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • August 23, 2017

™

Right in Our Region

Harvard Balloon Fest

See Page 16

Midtown Ethnic Festival & Parade Tackle Pet Odors Successfully Golfing at Beaver Creek NEW Cataract Treatment

FREE WIN!

$25 Gift Card from GreenFire Restaurant

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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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Fri-Sat-Sun Harvardballoonfest.com Rides:

Balloon/Inflatables/ Extreme/Helicopter/Pony

Live Music: 16 Bands 2 Stages

Entertainment:

Shopping:

Magic Shows Balloon Night Glows Movies in the Park

Open Air Market Business Expo

Fun-Food-Beer

5K Run/Walk 10 Run

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Experience Downtown Rockford

In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Harvard Balloon Fest Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 Tackle Pet Odors Quickly Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Made in His Image Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Pack Fun and Nutritious Lunches Your Education .................................................29 Continue Your Education from Home Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 NEW Cataract Treatments Your Health ............................................. .......... 19 Got Bad Habits? Consider Hypnosis Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Bakery Bliss at Greenfire Your Outdoor Living ........................................ .21 Golfing at Beaver Creek Your Outing .............................................. ......... . 8 Midtown Ethnic Festival & Parade

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Janine Pumilia

YEAH BOY! This is thE Life!

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Assistant Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Deputy Editor Jermaine Pigee Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan 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, Steven Wysong Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com

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222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living Weekly.

Copyright 2017 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.

A ‘Mixed Marriage’

A

s business residents of the Midtown District, we’ve been delighted to witness many positive changes to this corridor during the past few years. If you haven’t driven down Seventh Street lately, I guarantee you’ll be pleasantly surprised, too.

By odd coincidence, my late motherin-law, June Pumilia, once lived in the same building we now occupy at 222 Seventh St., when she was a young girl. It was an apartment building then, and the street bustled with a lively community of ScandinavianAmericans. Her ancestors were Norwegian.

Seventh Street also was home to an annual festival that attracted people from across the city. It was during one of those festivals that June met her handsome husband, Vito Pumilia, whose ancestors were Italian.

It’s hard to believe now, but back then many people frowned upon “mixed marriages” like June and Vito’s. This daring duo took no small amount of heat from their families. Vito would also prove his daring in World War II Europe, where he earned the Distinguished Service Cross for exceptional bravery. Thankfully he returned home safely and, a few years later, my husband Gary – the great love of my life – was born. I’m so glad that the mind-boggling prejudices our parents and grandparents experienced have faded, though Lord knows our society still has a long way to go.

Our city and nation are so much richer for the many cultures that have contributed to them.

And that’s exactly what will be celebrated on Seventh Street Sunday, Aug. 27, during the Midtown Ethnic Festival and Parade. More than 50 cultures will be represented and Americans of all stripes will share the food, dance, music and crafts of their ancestry.

It’s an excellent chance for us to get to know the stories of our neighbors and friends across the city.

Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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Y O

Midtown Ethnic Festival & Parade is Aug. 27 B

oth our nation and our Rockford region are made up of people whose ancestors hail from all parts of the world, some many generations ago, some very recently. This blending of cultures has enriched us in countless ways.

To celebrate this phenomenon, more than 50 global cultures will take part in the fourth Midtown Ethnic Festival and Parade on Sunday, Aug. 27.

The colorful parade steps off at 1 p.m. on Wyman Street and follows West and East State Street to Seventh Street, ending at the festival grounds, which are at the Rockford Public School District 205 Administration Building, 501 Seventh St. In past years, the parade has included dancing dragons, bagpipe players, ethnic dance troops and more.

Festival activities will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Among them: • Music and dance • A geneology area, with a special dis-

count offer from Ancestry.com for festival attendees. DNA test signups will be available for $78, a 20 percent discount.

• Family games and crafts • Turkish painting • Woodcarving • Childrens’ activity area with bouncy houses, face painting and more • Beer garden for ages 21 and older • Cultural cuisine food booths Park at SwedishAmerican Renaissance Center and U.S. Bank parking lots on Seventh Street, and on surrounding streets. Shuttles will be available also.

Sponsors of this year’s festival include Midtown District, City of Rockford, SwedishAmerican Foundation, Midway Village Museum, Rockford Convention and Visitors Bureau, Rockford Public Schools, Warren’s Auto & Truck Repair, SWIFTT District, Allstate Insur-

ance, Comcast, Nicholson’s Hardware, Meijers and Zion Lutheran Church.

Learn more by calling (815) 9975888, going to midtowndistrict.org or connecting to Twitter (@rockfordmidtown).

Midtown District Inc. (better known as Midtown District Association) is an association of business owners, building owners, residents, organizations and individuals dedicated to the interests of the Midtown District Area. ❚

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Amish Furniture

Final Weeks to get by Thanksgiving!

Bedroom and dining furniture from Daniel’s Amish Collection is DESIGNED TO INSPIRE! Daniel’s Amish features CUSTOM furniture built just for you with a nearly limitless selection of style, wood, finish, hardware, and size choices.

Our HEIRLOOM QUALITY furniture, constructed from sturdy North American hardwoods, is truly built to last a lifetime.

Choose your style. Coose your size. Choose your wood species. Choose your stain.

Gustafon’s Furniture is not responsible for delays from Daniels Amish and does not guarantee all orders placed these final weeks will arrive by Thanksgiving.

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Y H  G

Tackle Pet Odors Quickly and Completely

By Peggy Werner

T

here are a lot of reasons why pets will do their business in places they shouldn’t. Sometimes the solution is as easy as treating a pet’s physical problem, such as clearing up a urinary infection with antibiotics. Other times there are behavioral reasons that may take longer to resolve. Either way, the result is the same – soiled floors and carpets.

Once Fluffy or Fido has eliminated in an area of the home, chances are good they’ll return to that spot and do it again.

This may become a chronic problem, unless addressed completely and quickly, says Chris Picot, general manager of Advantage Kwik Dry, 11137 Bertram Road, Machesney Park, a full-service restoration and cleaning company.

And it takes more than surface carpet cleaning to eliminate the odor, he says.

Advantage Kwik Dry takes extra steps to deep clean the carpet, padding and floor.

“The better an area is cleaned, the less likely it is that a pet will return to that spot,” he says.

It’s important to note that in hot and humid weather, carpets take longer to completely dry. When carpets have been cleaned, homeowners should keep the air conditioner on and the furnace fan setting on at least medium to keep air circulating in the home to allow carpets to dry within the recommended 24 hours.

Advantage Kwik Dry is a familyowned business that has been in the Stateline area for more than 25 years. All technicians are certified, licensed, bonded and insured, and they guarantee their work. The company is also a member of the Carpet and Fabric Care Institute, taking advantage of educational opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

The company is experienced in all

types of cleaning processes, wet and dry, for homes and businesses, including drapery cleaning, carpets, oriental and area rugs, upholstery, tile and grout, hardwood cleaning and recoating, fabric and fiber protection, pet odor removal, major odor treatment, water removal and sewage cleanup.

For more information, coupons, and to schedule an appointment, go to advantagekwikdry.com or call (815) 332-3299 in Illinois and (608) 758-2379 in Southern Wisconsin. ❚

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I  W

In His Image G

od is spirit and we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26). Spirit has no gender or appearance.

Our human bodies are wonderfully made, but temporary. God is far more concerned about the contents of our minds and hearts than the appearance of the physical shells in which we live.

Scripture has little to say about physical appearance except when it relates to the larger narrative. For example, Esau was hairy and ruddy, a fact which helped his twin brother, Jacob, to cheat Esau from his birthright; Goliath was “a giant,” which caused David to rely upon his faith when slaying him; Esther was a beautiful Jewess, which helped her to gain favor with a Jew-persecuting king.

The Bible records many instances when people are influenced by physical appearance (i.e. Jacob loved beautiful Rachel more than weak-eyed Leah), but in no place does God favor or disfavor people based upon their appearance.

It’s revealing that scripture provides no physical description of Jesus Christ.

Every way in which we’re told to emulate him is related to character, not looks.

How foolish it must seem to God that humans persecute one another on the basis of what no one can control; skin color, physical features, gender, stature.

After Christ came and made the holy spirit of God available to all who choose to believe and receive it, Paul wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:28 NIV).

In the Old Testament, when God sends Samuel to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king of Israel, Samuel assumes one of Jesse’s older, bigger sons is God’s choice. God tells him, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD SEES NOT AS MAN SEES: MAN LOOKS ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE, BUT THE LORD LOOKS ON THE HEART.” (I Samuel 16:7 NIV) If we’re to be imitators of Jesus Christ, we must do likewise. ❚ –Janine Pumilia 12

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Y K

Make Lunchtime Fun Time W

ith school back in session, many families are beginning to focus on smarter eating habits. Packing your child’s lunch helps to ensure their diet contains enough protein and calcium.

By letting your kids play a role in planning and packing their lunches, while tossing in a variety of appealing, fun options, you can make sure your students are set up for success.

“For lunches, I like to include minifoods, like blueberries, strawberries and Mini Babybel cheese, because there is no prep time needed and they are fun to eat with fingers,” said Amy Bellgardt, mother of two and founder of the lifestyle blog Mom Spark. “When lunchtime is easy and enjoyable, my kids are more likely to eat what we’ve prepared together.”

Bellgardt recommends these tips for creating back-to-school lunches.

Pick a theme Coming up with daily or even weekly themes based on types of foods can be

a great way to tap into your child’s creative side. For example, try Taco Tuesday with walking tacos, or send along several foods that are dip-able, like chicken strips and honey mustard, apple slices and honey, or carrots and ranch dressing. Another fun theme could be breakfast for lunch with eggs, mini-pancakes and yogurt.

Mix it up For winning flavor combinations, pack small amounts of many kid-friendly items from different food groups like crackers, carrot sticks and grapes in colorful bento box-style containers. An option such as Mini Babybel cheese, a 100 percent real cheese with a rich and creamy taste, can be paired with colorful fruits and vegetables – as well as lunchtime staples like sandwiches – to create a balanced and tasty meal.

Let kids help Involving children in planning and packing their own lunches can be em-

powering. Place a note on the fridge to remind your kids what should go in their lunchboxes and help with the more difficult parts, such as slicing fruit and veggies or sandwich prep. Creating a routine with your child every night can save you time in the morning, foster smart eating habits and create a sense of responsibility.

For more ways to make lunchtime fun, visit mini-babybel.com or find Mini Babybel on Facebook. ❚ Source: Family Features

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12oz 2/$3$1.59ea $1.29 Dutch Farms

Land O’Frost 7.5-9oz Lunch Meats

American Singles

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R  O R

Eyes on the Sky at 2nd Harvard Balloon Fest

By Chris Linden, executive editor

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yellow flame. The envelope of the balloon just glows. We expect about a dozen balloons at each glow.”

Also dependent upon the weather, the balloon glow gives visitors a good chance to get up close with the balloons and to meet the pilots.

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So long as skies are clear and wind is minimal, balloons will launch Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights starting around 5 p.m. as well as Saturday and Sunday mornings around 6:30 a.m. Kelly expects about 20 balloons to rise every morning and about 10 balloons to rise every evening.

Most of these balloons are operated by private pilots who, by law, can’t take the general public aloft. There will be an opportunity for about 20 paid passengers to enjoy tethered rides, however, in which the balloon rises about three or four stories into the air.

“After the ascension, around dusk each night, we have what’s called a balloon glow,” says Kelly. “That’s where, when the balloon is tethered to the ground, they can change the air and fuel mixture, and the burner will give off a

Main St.

ne of the region’s only hot air balloon festivals is returning bigger and better in its second year.

Nearly 60,000 visitors are expected to show up in Harvard, Ill., for this year’s Harvard Balloon Fest, which happens over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 1-3.

The fun starts on Friday night with a mass ascension of balloons starting around 5 p.m. Expect to catch four more launches at Harvard’s Milky Way Park throughout the weekend, all scheduled around sunrise and sunset.

“The reason they operate at these times is because the sun heats up the air and that creates wind currents, called thermals, that affect the safe operation of a balloon,” explains Mayor Michael P. Kelly, event founder and organizer.

“That’s why you don’t see a hot air balloon flying mid-day.

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ROCKFORD MASS TRANSIT DISTRICT

(815) 961.9000 –39rmtd.org

Sandy Hollow Rd.

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On Saturday, the Running with Balloons 5K and 10K race is timed to coincide with the morning’s balloon ascension. Although that ascension is dependent on weather conditions, the race goes rain or shine. Departing from Milky Way Park, the 5K route passes through downtown and back again, while the 10K route travels through downtown on its way to the northwest side of town, and back again to Milky Way Park. Competitors get a free race shirt and all-day event parking.

Balloons certainly are the main attraction, but they aren’t the only spectacle at Harvard Balloon Fest.

Daytime fun includes 15 inflatable games, 30 food vendors and at least four “extreme activities” including a zip line and something akin to television’s “Most Extreme Elimination Challenge.”

An open-air market and business expo promise to bring many more Cover Photo by Mike Schmidt from Crystal Lake

vendors from around the region.

Later in the day, visitors can catch 16 live bands playing throughout the weekend on two stages. A Movie in the Park runs every night at 8:30 p.m. – each film prominently featuring a hot air balloon.

Overnight camping is available at Milky Way Park for $35 per day, with electric and water access included.

Last year’s inaugural balloon festival drew nearly 45,000 people to Harvard, located in the northwest corner of McHenry County. Kelly, who was running for his first term as mayor, brought the idea to the city’s special events committee. About $38,000 of festival proceeds went back to local nonprofits.

“The city recognizes there’s a need for tourism and bringing in outside money to our city,” Kelly says. “Festivals are a great way to do that.”

(Peter Kamp - Marion, Iowa)

R  O R

There’s no admission charge for Harvard Balloon Festival, although fairground parking costs $20 per day. After noon, limited remote parking is available for $10 a day and includes a free shuttle.

Visitors coming from the east are encouraged to arrive by Harvard’s Metra line and ride the free shuttle.

Kelly suggests planning ahead, as parking fills quickly just ahead of the balloon ascensions.

“If you try and come in after 5 p.m., you’ll only be disappointed,” he says, “because it’ll be pure congestion.” ❚

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Y H

Hypnosis is ‘Meditation with a Purpose’

By Peggy Werner

P

eople often turn to hypnosis as a last-ditch effort to tackle a difficult problem or addiction. But it should be the first place to begin thinking about solving a problem, says Diana Barrar, owner of Barrar Hypnosis Center, 706 Bohm Ct. In Rockford since 1971, Barrar also has an office in Schaumburg, and says hypnosis has been misunderstood and misinterpreted as something mysterious and devilish, when it is really nothing more than meditation with a purpose.

“Anyone with a brain can be hypnotized. In fact, we are in and out of hypnotic states all day long and don’t even know it,” she says.

She has successfully used hypnosis to help people of all ages lose weight, stop smoking, get control of alcohol and drug addictions, overcome fears and phobias, reduce stress and anxiety, control

anger, and improve memory, study and speaking skills.

It’s all about the power of suggestion. In a controlled setting, it’s even more powerful, she says.

People are in a hypnotic state when they respond to someone else’s yawn by yawning; when the mention of a lemon causes salivary glands to respond; when you don’t think about being thirsty, but accept a glass of water when offered one; and when your mind is caught in a trap of thinking negative thoughts over and over again, she says.

Therapeutic hypnosis or hypnotherapy occurs when one or more people are in a setting where the goal is to relax, clear the mind, and respond to ideas at just the right time, she explains.

“Being in a hypnotic state is one thing, using that condition for change is another. Hypnosis is just another self help tool that, if used correctly, works well,”

she says.

Barrar is a certified hypnotherapist and has traveled the country giving lectures, workshops, and seminars for organizations, corporations, schools, businesses and private groups. Her lectures focus on the benefits of hypnosis for selfimprovement and meeting specific goals.

She educates people about various forms of hypnosis, which include clinical hypnosis, stage hypnosis and group hypnosis.

For more information, go to barrarhypnosis.com or call (815) 967-0034 or a 24-hour number, (815) 399-4900. ❚

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O L

Hit the Links at Beaver Creek

By Randy Rueff

L

ike a child becoming an adult, Beaver Creek Golf Course, nestled in rural Boone County, is showing more and more signs of maturity.

“Twenty-one years ago it was a cornfield,” says owner Brian Camp. “Now the little trees from the past are more than 50 feet tall. If you haven’t been out here in awhile, you’d be surprised at how much it has grown up.”

The par-35, 9-hole course, located at 19619 Leroy Center Road in Capron, has been called a “hidden gem” by many who’ve played it. It has four sets of tees ranging from 2,300 to 3,033 yards.

On seven of the nine holes, the winding Beaver Creek comes into play. And this year, the course joined the Chicago District Golf Association.

The golf course opened in 1997 and was run by the Ed Randall family, until they sold it to the Kelly Camp family four years ago. The Camps have contin-

ued develoing the course, and it shows.

“The conditions have improved with Mother Nature’s help,” Camp says. “We haven’t had any droughts, so our greens are always in good shape and our grass conditions are improving every year.”

One of the course’s biggest draws is its layout.

“It plays to all abilities,” Camp says.

“Your avid golfer will still find challenges, but it’s also playable for the beginning golfer.”

The other advantage at Beaver Creek is its availability.

“You can come out on a weekday morning and it’s not packed,” Camp says.

“If you’re looking for a nice quiet morning to watch the sunrise and play a round, this is the course.”

And Beaver Creek offers more than golf. It’s a popular place for fundraisers, thanks to a banquet room in the clubhouse basement that can accommodate

up to 60 people.

“We also do a lot of baby showers, birthday parties, class reunions and other events that are not golf- related,” Camp says. “You can have the girls holding a shower while the guys play a round or two.”

One of Beaver Creek’s popular staples is its Friday Night Fish Boil. For $24, a person can get a round of golf and an all-you-can-eat cod dinner.

For more information, including tee times, costs and reservations, call (815) 569-2427 or go to beavercreekgolfil. com. ❚

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A New Cataract Treatment

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor natural lens and replaces it with an artifir. Edward Yavitz has always had cial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). a passion for innovation. With 37 Yavitz introduced a new IOL called the patents to his name and new ones pendSymfony lens, which is the first and only ing, the ophthalmologist at Yavitz Eye lens that provides continuous, high-qualiCenter, 4105 N. Perryville Road, Loves ty vision at any distance.

Park, values inventions that lead to an “There are limitations with other increased quality of life. Recently, he lenses,” Yavitz says. “The usual implant discovered a new way to use replacement provided by Medicare and health insurlens implants for people with cataracts. ers is focused just for distance – you still “Cataracts are a big topic,” Yavitz have to wear reading glasses to see at says. “They affect 50 percent of people arms length or closer. Multi-focal IOLs over age 60.” allow for both distance and reading viInside your eye, there’s a natural lens sion, but can cost up to $6,000 out of that helps you to see. The lens starts out pocket. Plus, distance vision isn’t quite as clear, but turns into a cataract after years sharp and there can be a glare at night. So, of sun damage that causes it to become the new Symfony IOL often solves these cloudy. According to the American Acadproblems.” emy of Ophthalmology, having a cataract Yavitz is writing a paper on the use of is like looking through a foggy car windthe Symfony lens in one eye only, which shield. Things are blurry, or less colorful. saves his patients thousands of dollars in To remove a cataract, surgery is necout-of-pocket costs. essary. An ophthalmologist removes your

Y H

D

Edward Yavitz M.D.

“I discovered that by putting a singlefocus distance implant in the dominant eye and the Symfony implant in the nondominant eye, the overall vision is vastly superior,” Yavitz says. “I’m always looking for a better result and a happier patient who isn’t burdened with extra expense.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (815) 395-8338. ❚ (Paid Advertorial)

Want a second opinion?

We give you one at every visit!

The L.P. Johnson Family Health Center (FHC) trains resident physicians. Every time you see a resident physician, a seasoned family physician reviews your current condition. You benefit from the highest standards of family focused care. As the family medicine residency program for the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford, FHC has trained more than 400 family medicine physicians, many of whom continue to provide care in our community.

We accept most insurance and are open 8 am–8 pm Monday through Thursday and 8 am–5 pm on Fridays.

Call 815.972.1000 to schedule an appointment.

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

ILLINOIS, USA

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 NWQ_fall.indd 1

102 N. Main St.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

South Beloit Centennial Celebration Aug. 24-27, Th.-Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m., Sun. 10 a.m. South Beloit celebrates its 100th birthday with a four-day event. Enjoy a paddle trip, Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com parade, fireworks and more.

South Beloit City Park, 519 Blackhawk Blvd., South Beloit, (815) 389-3070, southbeloit.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Artist Panel Discussion: Sarah ReedMcNamara and Jenny Mathews Aug. 24, 7-8:30 p.m. Rockford Art Museum Curator Carrie Johnson gives insight into the process and practice of these two exhibiting artists, both based in Rockford. Come early to explore the exhibition free of charge. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

City Market Paddle Aug. 25, 6 p.m. Kick off your weekend with a paddling adventure topped off by a visit to the Rockford City Market. Rocktown Adventures, 313 N. Madison St., Rockford, (815) 636-9066, rocktownadventures.com.

Cherry Valley Festival Days Aug. 25-27, Fri. 5 p.m.-midnight, Sat. noonmidnight, Sun. noon-6 p.m. The 29th annual Festival Days features great food, a carnival, on-site activities and live music. Baumann Park, 218 S. Walnut St., Cherry Valley, (815) 332-2152, valleydays.com.

The 2017 Mosaic World Film Festival Aug. 25-27, Fri. 6 p.m., Sat. 11 a.m., Sun. 11 a.m.

View films created by professional and student filmmakers from around the world. Nordlof Center, 118 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9876611, mosaicfilmfest.com.

Enjoy food and drink pairings at The Local, Burpee Museum's annual fundraiser.

a competitive, timed twist. Chicago Rockford International Airport, 2 Airport Cir., Rockford, toughmudder.com.

Crossroads Blues Festival Aug. 26, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Music, food and more.

Lyran Park, 4791 South Bend Road, Rockford, (779) 537-4006, facebook.com.

The Local: Burpee Summer Festival Aug. 26, 5-10 p.m. Enjoy local food and drink pairings created especially for the night, plus dancing, live music, games, raffle prizes and more. Burpee Museum of Natural History, 737 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-3433, thelocalatburpee.com.

Concerts on the Creek: Colin O'Brien and Travis Burch Aug. 26, 7-9 p.m. Enjoy live music. Food availble. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org.

End of Summer Blast Aug. 26-27, Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. End summer with an action-packed blast at Magic Waters.

WYRB-FM entertains guests with interactive games, fast-pass rides with the DJ, giveaways and prizes. Magic Waters Waterpark, 7820 Cherryvale North Blvd., Cherry Valley, (815) 966-2442, magicwaterswaterpark.com.

Midtown Ethnic Parade and Festival Aug. 27, noon-6 p.m. The historic Midtown District hosts the 4th annual ethnic parade and festival with international food, entertainment and children's activities. Midtown District, 7th Street area, Rockford, (815) 997-5888.

Tough Mudder and Tougher Mudder Aug. 26-27. Tough Mudder is an obstacle course challenge designed to test physical and mental strength, stamina and teamwork, including various daunting obstacles. Tougher Mudder takes our signature Tough Mudder course and adds

Tunes on the Terrace: After 5 Jazz Aug. 30, 5-8 p.m. Relax and listen to local musicians along the bank of the Rock River.

Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 987-8858, nicholasconservatory.com. ❚

For More Attractions & Events Visit GoRockford.com Tell them you saw it in ...

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WDL

Dreamy Desserts at GreenFire Bakery

By Peggy Werner

P

astry Chef Nancy Bedows of GreenFire Restaurant, Bakery and Bar, 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, is the mastermind behind creations that are as much a feast for the eyes as for the palate.

The display case is filled with cakes, cupcakes, pies, cheesecakes, muffins, cookies and more that reveal her creativity, artistry and dedication to her work.

She credits two people for who she is today; her mom, Delores, and her former boss, the late Philippe Forcioli, who owned Café Patou and later opened GreenFire.

“My mom could just pull things out of the cupboard and make something out of nothing. I just can’t say enough about her. Philippe taught me to never give up and to experiment with flavors,” she says.

Today, she’s always thinking about what to bake next with the freshest of ingredients and seasonal items.

“I start out with one flavor, like a raspberry, and then I start thinking about what other flavors will go with it,” she says.

The results are amazing.

To name just a few, Cookies and Cream Cake is a chocolate layer cake with mascarpone cookie filling; Blackberry Lemon Cake is vanilla cake made with fresh blackberries, lemon custard and blackberry Italian meringue butter cream; Silky Bliss is a chocolate chip cookie cup filled with a Belgium chocolate mousse; and Peanut Butter Bomb is a chocolate cake with a salted caramel center topped with peanut butter mousse and nuts. Then, there’s Prickly Pear Wonder Cake, made with a vanilla cake soaked in prickly pear liqueur and layered with

fresh mixed berries. This recipe took three years to perfect, she says, and was inspired by her sister, who has a gluten allergy and is vegetarian.

GreenFire Owner Shendet Ismajlaj says the prickly pear cake is popular with everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions.

“When she makes it, it’s gone.

Nancy is a hard worker and I’m lucky to have her on my staff,” Ismajlaj says.

“Our desserts are about flavor and texture and are not made with a lot of sugar.” ❚

In the Spotlight

Top Picks for Local Restaurants

Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, 9 East Coffee E Casual/Coffeehouse. Specialty coffees, pas- sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) tries, breakfast, lunch. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport, (815) 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.

233-7300. BkL M-F 7am-3pm, Sat to 2pm. $ GreenFire E Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. SeaArturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Mexican. 107 sonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm, live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) T-Th to 9pm, F to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. $.

316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$.

Big Papa’s Barbecue E BBQ Specialties. 5811 Forest Hills Road, Hearthrock Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, Rockford, (815) 904-6612. LD M-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11 am- breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., 10pm, Sun 11am-7pm. $.

Rockford, (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Be- 3pm. $-$$. loit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Free- Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, (608) 313-0700. D Sun-Th port, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat to 10pm. $$.

Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Cucina di Rosa E Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, Rockford, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. Homemade gelato, baked Taco Betty’s E Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. goods, pasta, frittatas, more. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Mexican. Authen- Thrive Café E Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, tic dishes, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227- smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Drive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm.

4979. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $-$$.

Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. Fresh, lo- Vito’s Ristorante E Casual/Fine Dining. Carry-out, steak & cal-sourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, seafood, Italian specialties, pizza. 4866 Bluestem Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 312-5080. D M-Sat 4pm. $-$$. ❚ (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ 26

Smart Living Weekly

Aug. 23

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C

Cannova’s

annova’s has been serving up authentic Italian dishes and pizza since Anthony and Philippina Cannova started the restaurant in 1921.

Today, their granddaughter, Linda, and her husband, Patrick Beckman, carry on the tradition, at 1101 W. Empire St. They use many original recipes for pizza, spaghetti sauce, Italian beef, fresh bread and pizza dough.

House specials include a Sicilian filet, marinated in olive oil and red wine; Italian-style baked cod; and seafood Alfredo. Linda’s made-from-scratch desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate spoon cake.

Then there are the award-winning pizzas: the Classic; the New York; the double-crusted Gloria Read, named for a longtime customer; and the Sicilian.

Cannova’s is open Sun.-Tues. 5-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. until 11 p.m. ❚

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F  E

Fast-Track Your Career Change at UIU

By Chris Linden, executive editor hifting your career path or reinforcing accounting, criminal justice, ing your income doesn’t have to health services administration, mean moving away to a college town or human services and psychology. spending long nights working online. At Small class sizes of 15 to 24 stuUpper Iowa University’s Rockford and dents are the norm at UIU, meanJanesville satellite campuses, back-toing students can enjoy personalschool adults are engaging in an accelerized, interactive learning and ated curriculum designed for eight-week guidance, unlike some schools terms and just one or two classes a week. with crowded lecture halls, or “In a diverse mix of traditional and conversely, purely self-motivatnon-traditional students – many of whom ed online learning. The accelerated curare single parents, or married-with-chilriculum helps students to earn their dedren, back-to-school employees – most gree in a reasonable timeframe. carry a full-time job, while also manag“If you just stick with it, you could, in ing a household and night classes,” says many cases, be finished within 18 months Darlene Curcio-Elsbury, an English into two years,” says Curcio-Elsbury. The structor at UIU. “One of the beauties of workload is designed for people with Upper Iowa is that you don’t have to give busy lives, yet doesn’t compromise learnup your job to earn a degree. You can do ing outcomes or academic standards, she it all.” adds.

Classes are available both in-person Unlike a four-year school or a comand online for nearly 40 majors, includmunity college, where general courses

S

may or may not apply to a degree, all UIU courses do apply. And, credits transfer from other colleges. Also unlike traditional schools, UIU has students who are highly motivated.

“They’re not here to waste time,” says Curcio-Elsbury. “They’re not here to pick up dates or to party hardy. They’re not trying to figure things out. They’ve figured out what they want and they’re going for the gold.”

To learn out more, visit uiu.edu. ❚

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