Smart Living Weekly December 4, 2019

Smart L iving Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • December 4, 2019

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Right in Our Region

Finding Santa ... on the Lake

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Where to Buy and Sell Tools 7 Ways to Reduce Risk of Stroke Holiday Cooking: Stick to Favorites New Menu Items at Hearthrock Cafe

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4 Passes to Discovery Center

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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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In This Issue Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Meet Santa on Geneva Lake Your Home ............................................ ........... 11 How to Buy and Sell Your Tools Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Who was Elijah?

Your Kitchen ...............................................15, 21 Mexican Wedding Cookies; Holiday Meal Success Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 7 Ways to Reduce Your Risk of Stroke Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Hearthrock Cafe Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26 Your Money .............................................. ......... 29 About Home Equity Loans

Smart L iving ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Lukas Assistant Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Behling Contributing Writer Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Distribution Kelly Fairbairn Website www.SmartLivingWeekly.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

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

Copyright 2019 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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Rudolph’s Back Story

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he 1964 stop-action film “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” spoke loudly to me as a kid (writers like me are generally oddballs in the herd) and still speaks loudly to countless children who feel like misfits for whatever reason. A musical based on the 1964 film is coming to Rockford Dec. 12.

“What makes you different also makes you special” is Rudolph’s timeless message and the poignant back story is worth knowing.

Robert L. May wrote catalog ad copy for Montgomery Ward department store in 1930s (gangster era) Chicago. He developed Rudolph’s story, in poem format, for a booklet the store gave to Christmas shoppers in 1939.

At that time, his young wife lay dying of cancer and his 4-year-old, Barbara, was losing her mother. May’s Jewish parents had lost their wealth in the Great Depression and Hitler’s evil disinformation campaign painting Jews as a “threat to superior races” had taken root.

Barbara loved deer at the zoo, so May chose a young reindeer as his main character.

The poor animal is persecuted by his own community just for being born with a red nose.

In the end, of course, it’s Rudolph’s nose that saves Christmas. May’s little deer triumphed years before the outcome of World War II would be known.

Montgomery Ward published the poem in 1939 and 1946. It was so lucrative for the store that grateful owners gave May ownership rights to Rudolph. In time, May’s brotherin-law, musician Johnny Marks, wrote the Rudolph song made famous by Gene Autry.

The 1964 Rankin/Bass stop-motion teleplay introduced new misfits like Hermey, a wannabe dentist stuck working as a toy maker. Hermey removes the scary Abominable Snowman’s teeth and welcomes him into polite society. (I wonder. Was this a Cold War message? By 1964, “defanged” Japan and West Germany had been welcomed by free societies while the USSR still dictated job assignments to oppressed citizens like Hermey.)

Rudolph offers a wonderful opportunity to discuss timeless values with children.

Courage, empathy, friendship loyalty, respect for individualism and the Golden Rule still matter.

Have a fun week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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You Deserve Ryan’s Unsurpassed Service Ryan Pearson, Gambino Realtors Here’s What Ryan’s Customers Have to Say: My first home buying experience was wonderful! I was very uneducated going into this and Ryan Pearson helped me to understand everything and was very patient. I could not have chosen a better home or Realtor!

Trisha S. 815-218-6923 • rpearson@gogambino.com See more of my testimonials at my website: GoGambino.com/rpearson

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Y H  G

Buy and Resell Your Tools

By Peggy Werner f you’re looking for the right tool for the job and want to save money or make some money while reducing clutter, your new best friend might be Retool of Rockford, 3622 E. State St. Retool of Rockford buys, sells, and trades new and used tools.

Owner Dave Stenberg is observing his 20th year in business and says Rockford is an ideal community for what he offers.

“There are enough people wanting to sell things and enough people who realize that secondhand tools are just as good as new ones, to keep me in business,” he says.

He offers quality used tools at about half the price of the original retail cost and everything in the store has a 30-day warranty for parts and labor. He will also buy back anything he sells for 60 percent of the cost.

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Many do-it-yourselfers and contractors purchase expensive power tools and hand tools for a specific job only to use them once or twice and then put them away forever. By selling what you don’t need, to ReTool, you not only make space for what you do need, you also make money and help someone else get what they need at a discount, he says.

The inventory includes hand tools, power tools and automotive tools as well as saws, bench grinders, drill presses, micrometers, calipers, levels, gauges, ladders, nail guns, air compressors and much more.

Within the past five years, ReTool has started stocking new items, mainly cordless products.

“Repairing a tool or machine is not cheap and is not always the best answer.

Sometimes it costs more to fix something than to get another one,” he says.

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Stenberg has worked his whole life in retail and says he enjoys helping people.

“Part of the fun is helping people to find what they’re looking for because they know what they want to do, but don’t always know how to do it,” he says.

ReTool was a franchise at one time, but went out of business in 2000, at which time Stenberg made the decision to keep the store going as a local business owner.

ReTool is open from 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Mon., Tues. and Thurs.; 9:30 a.m.5 p.m. Wed. and Fri.; and from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call Dave at (815) 398-4900. ❚

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Who is Elijah?

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any of the kings who led Israel oppressed their people. And, many of God’s people fell into idol worship.

During these times, God often raised up prophets, Elijah among them.

Elijah is often mentioned in the New Testament. In Matthew 17, when Jesus is transfigured on a mountain, Moses and Elijah converse with him there. In Luke 1, an angel predicts John the Baptist will have the spirit and power of Elijah.

Elijah was at times bold and colorful, at other times fearful and depressed by peoples’ rejection of the one true God. At one point he gives up and lays down, ready to die, until an angel tells him, “Get up and eat.” He does as he is told.

The majority of verses about Elijah (“Elias” in Latin) are found in I Kings chapters 17 to 19 and 2 Kings chapters 1 & 2. His name means “Yaweh is my God” and shouldn’t be confused with his successor, Elisha.

More than most people ever have or will, Elijah witnessed the fearsome power of God. Yet it is Elijah who realized, after thunderous winds, an earthquake and a great fire, that God’s voice was not in any of those, but in a still, small whisper.

When he recognized God’s voice, Elijah stopped feeling sorry for himself and found the will to keep going.

In the ups and downs of his human existence, Elijah did what God asked of him and God took care of him in return. In fact, at the end of his life, Elijah didn’t die a regular mortal’s death but was swept into Heaven by a chariot in a whirlwind.

Scriptures about Elijah are filled with direct conversations with God and supernatural events; Elijah correctly predicts a drought and later ends the drought with a dramatic miracle in a showdown with the prophets of Baal; ravens carry food to Elijah each day when he hides from evil King Ahab (husband to Jezebel); Elijah raises a child from the dead; a poor widow’s oil pot never empties, thanks to a miracle wrought by Elijah.

Elijah always remembers it’s God’s power, not his own, that makes wondrous miracles happen.

Before he’s swept off to Heaven, Elijah places his mantle on the shoulders of young Elisha, who takes up the important work of his teacher and also serves God well. ❚ 12

– Janine Pumilia Smart Living Weekly Dec. 4

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Y K

Tasty Mexican Wedding Cookies O

ver time, many families tend to return to the same holiday favorites, from ham and mashed potatoes to pies and cookie classics. This season, add a twist to tradition with a globally inspired dessert.

If you’re looking to steal the show at cookie exchanges, Mexican Wedding Cookies provide a crumbly, melt-inyour-mouth texture perfect for dipping in hot chocolate.

Find more holiday dessert ideas at walnuts.org/holiday.

Mexican Wedding Cookies Recipe courtesy of California Walnuts

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 38 minutes Servings: 36 2 cups California walnuts, toasted 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1/3 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar, plus additional (optional)

Heat oven to 325 F. Adjust oven racks to upper-middle and lower-middle positions. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mats.

In food processor, finely grind 1 cup walnuts, about 10-15 seconds. Transfer to medium bowl.

In food processor, pulse remaining walnuts about 5 seconds. Add to medium bowl with finely ground walnuts. Stir in flour and salt; set aside.

In electric mixer bowl, combine butter and granulated sugar. Beat 2 minutes, or until fluffy. Scrape sides of bowl. Add vanilla; beat 1 minute.

Add flour and walnut mixture; beat 30 seconds, or until combined. Scrape down sides of bowl and beaters; continue handmixing dough until well combined.

Working with 1 tablespoon dough at a time, roll into 1 1/4-inch balls and

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arrange 1 inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake until cookies are lightly golden brown, about 18 minutes, rotating baking sheets halfway through.

Remove cookies from oven and cool on baking sheets 10 minutes. Transfer to wire rack; cool completely. Roll cookies in powdered sugar.

Before serving, re-roll cookies in powdered sugar, if desired. Gently shake to remove excess. ❚ (Source: Family Features)

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A Magical Adventure to Santa’s Hideaway

By Jermaine Pigee, assistant managing editor

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ou can easily rub elbows with Santa Claus at a restaurant or the mall, but how much more fun would it be to visit him in the middle of a lake?

It sounds like a dream, especially this time of year, but a ride on Lake Geneva Cruise Line’s Santa Cruise makes it possible.

This winter, the cruise line – long famous for its summertime boat tours around Geneva Lake – will run its Santa Cruise through Jan. 4. See shining light displays along the shoreline and enjoy plenty of Christmas cheer along the way.

“We want people to enjoy the lake this time of year and find a new way to enjoy the holiday season,” says Jack Lothian, general manager of Lake Geneva Cruise Line.

Tours embark daily (except Dec. 24 and Dec. 25), departing every hour

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beginning at 4:30 p.m. from Gage Marine, in Williams Bay, Wis., near the Pier 290 restaurant.

Before boarding, be sure to walk through the Charities of Christmas Tree Festival with its eight decorated trees.

“That’s the place to be before the cruise begins,” Lothian says. “People can also sign up to win prizes while they’re waiting to board the boat.”

Leading up to the pier, you’ll walk through a polar vortex of swirling fog near the end of the pier. As you pass through, it magically transports you into your journey to see Santa.

The boat is hard to miss, decked out in bright lights and Christmas decorations. These boats provide a comfortable, climate-controlled ride.

“While people are walking to the boat, we try to keep them as warm as

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possible, as opposed to standing on a pier and getting cold,” Lothian says. “The boat is comfortable, so people can come on and take off their jackets.”

The 40-minute boat ride passes 25 shimmering displays assembled on the edge of the lake. A friendly narrator talks about each one.

“The homeowners are great, and we give them free trips on the boat and gift cards to Pier 290,” says Lothian. “We try taking care of them because they’re helping us out as well.”

The displays are owned by Santa Cause, a nonprofit organization that supports charities in Walworth County.

“They take care of the displays and pay for the installation and removal,” Lothian says. “We work hand-in-hand with them.”

Displays change from year to year.

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“We have a display of a snowman and his family, and this year it has snowflakes coming down,” Lothian says.

The magical Christmas cruise goes to the North Pole Pier, where riders can see Santa Claus from the boat, which stops about 100 feet from the shore. Riders get a good view of Santa emerging from his hideaway in the middle of the lake. Santa waves to everyone onboard and children who make his nice list can have their name announced.

“Santa is mic’d up, so the kids and

adults are able to hear him clearly while they’re on the boat,” says Lothian. “The kids light up and are amazed when Santa calls their name – which is pretty cool.

That’s one of the best parts of the whole experience.” Each child on the boat receives a boarding pass as they enter; once Santa calls their name, their pass is stamped to prove they’ve made Santa’s nice list.

“We double and triple-check everything,” says Lothian. “Just like Santa, we’re making the list and checking it twice, because we want to make sure we get every name.”

After they leave Santa’s hideout, families will see a few more displays before joining together in singing some unforgettable Christmas carols.

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Mixed drinks, beer, wine, soft drinks and hot chocolate are available.

“Once we get back on the dock, people can go right into Pier 290 and have a meal,” Lothian says. “They can make a full evening out if it.”

Parking is limited at Gage Marine, so plan ahead. On busier nights – especially weekends – overflow parking is available at nearby Williams Bay High School. A free, five-minute shuttle travels between the school and Gage Marine.

The Santa Cruise has grown each year, from about 6,500 riders in its 2016 debut to 18,000 riders last year.

“Many have made Santa Cruise a tradition, and come back year after year,” Lothian says. “Instead of going up to the North Pole, families can see Santa’s hideaway on the lake.”

For tickets, visit santacruiselakegeneva.com or call (262) 248-6206. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales benefits Santa Cause. ❚

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Experience Downtown Rockford

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Y K

Rely on Sure Favorites for Holiday Meals

By Peggy Werner

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ooking up memories with family and friends begins with good food.

During the holiday season, Countryside Meats & Deli Owner Jarrod Bush is hard at work filling special orders and working with customers to make sure that holiday meals are exceptional.

“There’s no guesswork during the holidays,” he says. “It’s always the same.

People don’t take chances when planning a holiday meal. They stick with what they know is good.”

Turkey is the headliner at Thanksgiving, but prime rib steals the spotlight at Christmas. Other popular holiday meats include beef tenderloin, crown pork roast, leg of lamb, ham and more turkey.

One of the biggest sellers for Bush during the entire holiday season is the Ho-Ka Turkey from Kauffman Turkey Farms in Waterman, Ill. Kauffman is one of the last remaining independent fami-

ly-owned and operated turkey farms and has its own federally inspected dressing plant. It’s provided fresh-dressed turkeys to our region for more than 80 years.

The big tom turkeys are range grown, hormone- and chemical-free. Because they’re grown naturally and thus more slowly, they have a richer flavor and texture.

“These turkeys are never frozen and the way they’re raised makes a big difference in flavor,” says Bush.

Locally owned and operated, Countryside is open seven days a week and has a well-stocked, clean and organized 20-foot-long meat case filled with top quality freshly cut Midwestern beef, pork and poultry. There are cases full of “oven ready” meals, cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, dressings, marinades, seasonings, chicken, egg, tuna and crab salads, as well as fresh cole slaw, broccoli

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slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad and creamed and pickled herring. There are many gourmet items and a full line of Swedish products such as crispbreads, sweet pickled ham, Korv and other sausages.

To place an order or for more information, call Countryside at (815) 3998660. Located at 781 Highgrove Place, the store is open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. ❚

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Y H

Prevent Strokes by Doing the ‘Simple Seven’

By Lindsey Gapen, managing editor

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oughly 800,000 Americans suffer strokes each year. About 25 percent of them are under age 65. Stroke is the leading cause of serious, long-term disability in the U.S. Can we do anything to prevent stroke?

Yes. “Actually, about 80 percent of all strokes and cardiovascular disease are considered preventable by the American Heart Association,” says Dr. Shawn Wallery, a neurohospitalist and the medical director of neurovascular and stroke care at Mercyhealth.

Dr. Shawn Wallery

“Risk factors are important to modify no matter what specific age you are.”

He finds The American Heart Association’s Simple Seven to be an ideal guide for living a healthy life. It details how to eat healthy, stay active, lose weight, stop smoking, manage blood pressure, control cholesterol and reduce blood sugar.

“If you can do at least five of those things, the American Heart Association has found a 78 percent risk reduction for heart-related death compared to people with no ideal metrics,” Wallery says.

“That’s really an incredible statistic because, when you think about how we are growing older as a society, the only real way that we’re going to be able to fund the burden of chronic disease is if we do [the simple seven] up front.”

Instead of recommending exercise for his patients, Wallery prescribes 150

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minutes of exercise per week, broken down into a daily routine.

“As physicians we prescribe medications, but do we prescribe methodologies as a way to keep people healthy? That’s not done as often,” he says.

That’s not to say medication is unimportant.

“You’d be surprised at how many people simply don’t take their medications, especially blood pressure medications,” Wallery says. “They can significantly reduce the risk of stroke.”

If a stroke does occur, time is of the essence. Any abrupt onset of symptoms should be taken seriously. Go to strokeassociation.org. to learn symptoms.

“Always assume it’s a stroke until proven otherwise,” Wallery cautions.

“We’ll be ready for you in the emergency room.” ❚

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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

Holiday Fun

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

Attractions & Events

'Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus' Thru-Dec. 8, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.

Inspired by a poignant letter written over 100 years ago by an 8-year-old girl named Virginia.

Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com Byron Civic Theater, 850 N. Colfax St., Byron, Ill., (815) 312-3000, bctmagic.com.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

'Every Brilliant Thing' Dec. 5-15, Thu.-Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 4 & 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. Artists’ Ensemble (AE), Cheek Theatre, 5050 E. State, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org.

Winter Concert: Silent Night, Holy Night Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m. The choirs of Rockford U. and Rock Valley College sing about night time, including Lauridsen’s “Sure on this Shining Night.” Maddox Theatre, (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu.

Christmas Show Dec. 6-8, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m.

Holiday spirit & fun. Mighty Richland Players, 203 W. High St., Orangeville, Ill., (815) 8191310, mightyrichlandplayers.org.

Janesville’s Jolly Jingle Dec. 6-8, see website for times. Ice skating, live reindeer, a lighted parade, fireworks, more.

(608) 755-3030, janesvillejollyjingle.com.

'It’s a Wonderful Life' Dec. 6-8 & 20-21, see website for times.

Clarence, Angel Second Class, is sent to Bedford Falls to help George Bailey. JPAC, Janesville, (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org.

Christmas on the Creek Dec. 7, 7 p.m. The Second City Chorus offers harmony & humor. Spring Creek UCC, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org.

RSO: The Nutcracker Ballet Dec. 7-8, Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 3 p.m. Rockford Dance Co. with professional lead dancers and Tchaikovsky's score performed by RSO. (815) 965-0049, rockfordsymphony.com.

Emerald Wind at Katie's Cup Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. These gifted sisters create serenity on harp and flute. Katie's Cup, 502 7th St., Katiescup.com, (815) 986-0628.

Julmarknad Dec. 7, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. The annual Christmas market offers Swedish foods and handcraft-

See Rudolph & friends Dec. 12 at Coronado.

ed items. Have breakfast, enjoy music and dance. Swedish Historical Society, Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, 3300 Rural St., (815) 9635559, swedishhistorical.org.

1800s Holiday Walk - Boone Co. Dec. 7, 5-8 p.m. Learn about Christmas on the prairie. Boone Co. Conservation District, bccdil.org.

Santa’s Visit Dec. 8, 2-4 p.m. See Santa, then enjoy cookies & cider while listening to the Belvidere High School Choraliers. Poplar Grove Vintage Wings & Wheels Museum, 5151 Orth Road, (815) 547-3115, poplargrovewingsandwheels.com.

Kenny & Dolly Christmas Tribute Dec. 10-11, 11:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Buffet available. Tickets online. Starved Rock Lodge, 2688 E. 873rd Road, Oglesby, Ill., (815) 220-7386, starvedrocklodge.com.

Nature Sprouts: Wonderful Winter Animals Dec. 10, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Look for animal tracks and make a bird-feeder garland for our feathered friends. Severson Dells Nature Center, (815) 335-2915, seversondells.com.

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Musical Dec. 12, 7:30 p.m. Your favorite characters from the TV classic show you that what makes you different can be what makes you special.

Coronado PAC, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac. org.

Trinadora Holiday Frolic Dec. 12, 7-8:30 p.m. Special seasonal selections by this versatile 12-instrument duo.

Katie's Cup, 502 7th St., Rockford, Katiescup. com, (815) 986-0628.

Jim Brickman – A Christmas Celebration Dec. 13, 7:30 p.m. Family-friendly holiday favorites. Coronado PAC, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. ❚

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

Hot Cider, New Items at Hearthrock Cafe

By Peggy Werner

de gallo and shredded lettuce.

A hummus platter is served with homemade red pepper hummus, naan bread and fresh vegetables.

Cold weather puts more focus on hot soups, so three per day are offered then, such as Shrimp Chowder, Poblano Chicken, Italian Wedding and FireRoasted Vegetable.

“Fresh” is the buzzword at the café and Cooper insists on working with seasonal and locally grown ingredients as much as possible.

“We’re going more ‘clean label’ all the time, which means using organic ingredients with no preservatives. We’ve done that across the board just in the past year,” he says.

Benson Stone Company is located at 1100 11th St., Rockford. ❚

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enson Stone Company’s head chef of Hearthrock Café, Todd Cooper, is always thinking up something new.

“My life is a blur,” says Cooper.

“Whenever I’m eating or cooking, I’m thinking about what I can do to make something different or better.”

The Christmas season is one of his favorite times. Every Saturday in December, beginning at 10:30 a.m., and until supplies run out, customers are treated to free, hot spiced apple cider and live Christmas music.

Owner Andy Benson recently walked up to the café counter to sample one of Cooper’s latest creations, a barbeque rib quesadilla, and gave it a thumbs up.

Benson staff members are usually the first people to sample Cooper’s creations.

This item got rave reviews.

“Everyone just freaked out,” says Cooper. “They didn’t think of putting ribs into a quesadilla.”

The barbequed pulled pork is smoked in-house and is one of the café’s signature items. Three homemade sauces – House Sauce, Brickyard and Pepper Pot (the spiciest) – can accompany the pork.Another favorite item is a Serrano Chicken Taco made with marinated freerange chicken, Cheddar cheese, fresh guacamole, sour cream, homemade pico ❚

Top Picks for Local Restaurants Baci’s Kitchen  Fast-Casual, dine-in, carry-out. 2990 N. Perryville Road, inside A Perryville Place. (815) 329-6922. Open 7 days/wk. at 8 a.m. BkLD. Complete menu at Baciskitchen.com.

Backyard Grill & Bar  Casual/American. 5390 Elevator Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-6677. 2nd St., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 6369430. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 2am, Sun noon-10 p.m. $-SS. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, S. Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $.

Ciao Bella Ristorante Upscale-Casual/Italian-American.

Daily specials. 6500 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill. (815) 654-9900. LD M-F 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 5-10 p.m. $$ Cucina di Rosa  Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant  Casual/Mexican. 5855 E. State St., (815) 227-4979. LD $-$$.

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

Hearthrock Cafe  Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-3pm. $-$$.

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

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

Mary’s Market Cafe & Bakery  Baked goods, sandwiches, salads. 2636 McFarland Road, Rockford, (815) 986-3300; 1659 N. Alpine Road, Rockford, (815) 394-0765; 4431 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 397-7291. BkLD Hours vary by location. $.

Olympic Tavern  Upscale-Casual/American. 2327 N. Main St., (815) 962-8758. Extensive beer list. LD M-Th 11 a.m.-midnight; Fri-Sat. to 2 a.m. $-$$.

Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American.

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

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

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

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

Dec. 4

To advertise call 815-316-2300

In the Spotlight Bravo Pizza

W

ith more than 40 years in the restaurant business, Joe Ocello knows how to create an authentic dining experience. Since opening the first Bravo Pizza & Italian Restaurant location in 2001 with wife Francesca, the couple has been refining its classic Italian fare.

Most items are made from scratch, ensuring a home-made meal with fresh ingredients. The Italian beef, served au jus or with tomato meat sauce, was named Best in the Stateline by MyStateline.com in 2013. Top sellers include Italian meatball sandwiches, fettucine Alfredo and fish specials.

“We make it all ourselves. Each meatball is about a quarter pound apiece, so they’re huge,” says Ocello.

Bravo has locations in South Beloit and Poplar Grove. Both offer a full-service bar, catering, carry-out and delivery services.

Learn more at Bravopizzarestaurant.com. ❚

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Smart Living Weekly

Dec. 4

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To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y M

Need Cash? Consider a Home Equity Loan

By Peggy Werner

P

eople agonizing over how to pay expenses may be overlooking a solution in their own backyard.

“Your home may be an untapped source of funds you could use to your advantage,” says Matt Lynch, Director of Marketing for MembersAlliance Credit Union, 2550 S. Alpine Road. “Most people are aware of home equity loans, but many don’t think of them as an option when they need money.”

Home equity loans can be used to pay for home renovations, debt consolidation, college or wedding expenses, vehicle purchases and more.

The advantages of home equity loans, in most cases, are lower interest rates and closing costs, with fewer regulatory restrictions and fees. This is because the homeowner is not making a new purchase so the regulatory environment is not as cumbersome.

People often make the mistake of thinking what they’ve already paid on the home figures into the equation, but that’s not necessarily the case. What you can borrow depends on the current value of your home versus what you still owe.

Every financial institution has different types of home equity offerings, interest rates and repayment plans. Rising home values are good news for people who want to access extra cash without paying prohibitively high interest rates.

When borrowing money using a home equity loan, you receive the money in a lump sum and have a fixed interest rate, explains Lynch. This type of loan is not to be confused with a home equity line of credit (HELOC), which is an available maximum amount you can draw money from multiple times whenever you need it. Unlike a home equity loan, a HELOC usually has an adjustable interest rate. It’s a revolving loan, operating similarly to a

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credit card in that you only repay based on what you choose to spend at any given time. The interest rate is much more favorable than a credit card’s interest rate.

Learn more by going to membersalliance.org or any MembersAlliance Credit Union location. MembersAlliance has Rockford locations at 2550 S. Alpine Road, 6951 Olde Creek Road, and inside the Wal-Mart Supercenters on West Riverside Boulevard, Walton Street and the Wal-Mart on Rockton Road. Experienced loan officers are available at all locations.

Preapproval applications are available online. ❚

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Dec. 4

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To advertise call 815-316-2300

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