Smart Living Weekly - June 14, 2017

Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • June 14, 2017

™

Right in Our Region

Heritage Festival in Belvidere

See Page 18

Big Cat Quest Fishing Tourney in Rock Falls Do Your Ducts Need Cleaning?

NEW Glaucoma Treatment Don’t Overpay for Tech Family Fun at Midway Village Museum

FREE WIN!

2 Tickets to Magic Waters

See Pg. 28 Details

Best of Life Information for Our Region’s Residents & Visitors Proudly Serving the Needs of 326,000 Neighbors - For Your Home, Health & Fun!

Smart Living Weekly

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The Yard Care Experts

MOWING FERTILIZING HYDROSEEDING MOSQUITO CONTROL Call Today for a Free Estimate

815.877.3500 EwaldServices.com 4

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Imagine the possibilities The right mortgage, at a great interest rate, with a payment you can afford!

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Belvidere Heritage Festival Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Are Your Ducts Dirty?

Inspiration & Worship .......................................12 Earning God’s Trust Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Are You Getting Enough Protein?

Your Outdoor Living ..........................................21 Catfish Tourney in Rock Falls Your Health .............................................. .......... 23 New Treatment for Glaucoma Your Outings ............................................... .......24 Summer Camp Fun at Midway Village Museum Your Fun ................................................... .......... 25 Restaurant of the Week .................................... 26 Hearthrock Cafe Your Tech ................................................... ........29 Are You Paying Too Much?

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Janine Pumilia Assistant Managing Editor Lindsey Gapen Deputy Editor Jermaine Pigee Graphics Director Blake Nunes Graphic Designer Samantha Ryan Contributing Writer Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes 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 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.

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POTUS Birthdays

W

hen he took office, Donald Trump promised to be a different kind of president. Fans and foes alike agree that’s a promise kept. But did you know that even the month of his birth sets him apart? The new president turns 71 today, June 14, making him just the second president born in June.

Only George H.W. Bush, who turned 93 on Monday, shares a June birth month.

This means June no longer ties with September for fewest presidential births. Out of 44 men (Trump is No. 45 but Grover Cleveland is both No. 22 and No. 24) only William Howard Taft was born in September, in 1857.

In February, we honor George Washington (Feb. 22) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12), but it’s also the birth month of Ronald Reagan (Feb. 6, 1911) and William Henry Harrison (Feb. 9, 1773).

Which month has the most POTUS births? October, with these six: John Adams, Rutherford B. Hayes, Chester Arthur, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight Eisenhower and Jimmy Carter. Next is November, with five.

The list of spring-born presidents (April & May) is small but mighty: Thomas Jefferson, John F. Kennedy, James Monroe, James Buchanan, Harry Truman and our own U.S. Grant of Galena, Ill. Our 30th president, Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge, had the most ideal birth date of all, for a politician: July 4 (1872). Averse to showboating, he once wrote: “The words of a President have an enormous weight and ought not to be used indiscriminately.”

Both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson also are associated with July 4, dying just hours apart on that date in 1826, the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Close personal friends despite bitter political rifts, they exchanged thoughtful letters about good governance to the end of their days.

And onward history marches.

Here’s to celebrating this beautiful June week as if it were your birthday! ❚ Janine Pumilia Managing Editor

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Experience Downtown Rockford

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How Dirty are Your Ducts?

Y H  G

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor

M

ost people would be surprised to see how much dirt builds up inside the air ducts of their homes, but not James Wells. As owner of Air Quality Management, which specializes solely in duct cleaning, he knows the dirt on ducts.

“The main reason people have their ducts cleaned is to reduce allergens and dust in the home,” says Wells. “The furnace or air conditioner sucks air in through its lines, heats or cools it and distributes it back into the rooms. It’s the return ducts that are dirtiest. The pet dander and other debris build up and some of it gets redistributed throughout the home.”

Air Quality Management uses a 20-horsepower vacuum to pull debris outside the home as it cleans.

“It’s powerful enough to pick up a 16-pound bowling ball,” says Wells.

“That’s important because it means the

dirt is not going back into the home as we disturb it.”

Wells recommends cleaning ducts every five to seven years, depending on your allergy sensitivity and how many pets and people live in the home making dander and dirt.

“Sometimes owners of a newly constructed home will hire us to clean the drywall dust and other debris from a home before they move in, too,” he adds.

The cost of cleaning ducts in a typical ranch home is about $350 and requires 2 or 3 hours. A larger two-story home is $450 to $550 and takes 3 or 4 hours.

Air Quality Management also professionally cleans dryer vents.

“This is important because a plugged dryer vent is a fire hazard,” says Wells.

“Also, when a dryer hose is plugged, clothing takes a lot longer to dry and en-

ergy costs increase.”

Air Quality Management cleans ducts in residential, commercial and industrial structures.

To get an estimate on cleaning your ducts, call Wells at (815) 962-9007. ❚

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I  W The Rockton Lions Club presents

Earning God’s Trust

T

Give yourself a little extra time and park at Hononegah High School this year!

June 15-18 Rockton, IL

For information or to purchase tickets visit

Handicapped Parking

Main Street

W

Entrance* Entrance

N

E

S

Hawick Street

* There are no tickets sales available at this location.

OldSettlersDays.com Festival Grounds

SMTD is there to help you get to the grounds AND back to your car. Rain or shine. Avoid the hassle and take the bus. IT’S FREE! Public Transportation serving the Rockton, Roscoe and South Beloit area.

Stateline Mass Transit District

“The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.” – Proverbs 11:3 (NIV) – Janine Pumilia

Smart Living Weekly

Information Booth

PARKING

Hononegah H.S.

Entrance

While none of us is perfect, we can choose to develop a stronger habit of honesty. But to habitually lie is to spit in God’s face and lay the foundation for selfdestruction.

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i

Tickets & Badges

Salem

Bridge

Hwy. 75

Union Street/Rockton Road to Rt. 2 Hwy. 251 & I90

Blackhawk Blvd.

here are so many moments in life when it seems easier and more profitable to lie than to tell the truth. But to follow Christ is to resist what is dishonest and self-serving. God works with those He trusts.

“The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy,” says Proverbs 12:22 (NIV).

Abe Lincoln said, “You can fool some of the people all the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.”

More importantly, we can’t fool God any of the time. By grace, God loves each of us unconditionally, but only by honest behavior do we earn His trust.

“Honest Abe” is said to have walked three miles to return 6 cents he mistakenly overcharged a store customer. Impeccable honesty in the smallest of matters, including money, often earns us the opportunity to be entrusted with greater things, including the care of people.

Jesus said in Luke 16:10-15 (NIV), “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else’s property, who will give you property of your own?

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus.

He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.”

FROM YOUR CAR TO THE GATE...

DON’T BE LATE!

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www.SMTD.biz

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Y K

Are You Getting Enough Protein in Your Diet?

D o you pay attention to how much protein you eat at each meal? A new study suggests that when it comes to weight loss and healthy aging, getting enough protein at mealtimes is important.

Duke University researchers found obese women who ate adequate or high amounts of protein, including nutrientrich lean pork, as part of a six month weight-loss diet, not only lost weight, but improved their ability to get around, too.

Researchers suggest there could be benefits to spreading protein throughout the day. In this study, women ate 30 grams of protein at each meal, with two of the meals including lean pork. Choices like tenderloin, low-sodium ham, chops and lean ground pork are among the seven cuts of pork that meet the USDA guidelines for “lean” by containing less than 10 grams of fat, 4.5 grams of saturated fat and 95 milligrams of cholesterol per 100 grams of meat.

The next time you fire up your grill,

try these lemon-basil pork chops. Serve up 30 grams of tasty protein for dinner, while tapping into the flavors of summer.

Visit porkbeinspired.com and Smithfield.com for more recipes.

Grilled Lemon-Basil Pork Chops with Lemon-Basil Orzo

4 bone-in ribeye (rib) pork chops, about 3/4-inch thick 3 small lemons 2 tablespoons olive oil 5 cloves garlic, minced 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped 8 ounces orzo salt, to taste pepper, to taste Zest and juice lemons. In small bowl, combine lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and basil. Set aside 3 tablespoons of mixture. Transfer remaining mixture to large resealable bag and add

pork. Set aside for 30 minutes, turning occasionally.

Meanwhile, prepare orzo according to package directions. Drain and return orzo to pot. Stir in reserved lemon-basil mixture and salt and pepper to taste. Set aside to cool to room temperature.

Prepare a grill to medium-high heat and lightly oil grate. Remove pork from marinade; discard marinade. Season pork with salt and pepper and grill until internal temperature reaches 145 F, about 4 minutes per side. Remove chops from grill and let rest 3 minutes. Serve chops with orzo.❚ Source: Family Features

JASON SNORECK 630-239-8545

© 2017 Allstate Insurance Co.

215295

10006 W 190TH PLACE MOKENA

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R  O R

Belvidere Heritage Days Bring Community Fun B y To n i R o c h a

F

or more than 45 years, Belvidere has celebrated its unique history and diversity on the weekend before the Fourth of July.

While the event has always featured the community’s signature parade and fireworks, the past few years have seen a “wildly” successful expanded three-day Belvidere Heritage Days, says Mayor Michael Chamberlain.

“Heritage Days has been observed continuously, but it’s really taken off in recent years,” he says. “Last year, we estimated 22,000 attended. Thanks to tremendous cooperation, supporters and partnerships, we’re not only able to put on a huge variety of activities and attractions, but also have finished in the black.”

This is impressive, since there are no gate or admission fees. And the fees for attractions that do charge are minimal.

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Heritage Days starts early on Friday, June 23, in downtown Belvidere, with an invitation to paint wooden panels that will be assembled and displayed as murals on downtown buildings. Later in the evening, families can tie-dye T-shirts in patriotic colors to wear the rest of the weekend and on the Fourth.

The Vine will host open-mic at 6:30 p.m., and children can enjoy carnival rides in Jack Wolf Auto’s parking lot. The movie “Minions” will play in the park.

Downtown, there will be a street dance and laser light show.

Out at the Boone County Fairgrounds, there will be an SCA-sanctioned steak throw-down cooking up good times at 4 p.m., followed by a steak dinner for $20, hosted by the Belvidere Athletic Alumni Club.

Keeping with the interactive art

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scene, Saturday will feature the Brick Art Fair, Paint on State and a continuation of the mural painting. A carnival and dozens of vendors selling products and promoting businesses will be open. Visitors can tour the car show, shop the vintage flea market and catch some excellent musical performances, including regional favorite Clutch Cargo. The quirky group Gramps with Amps will take the stage for fun and good sounds. For children, Dairy Ripple offers pony rides, face painting and wax handcraft works.

Meanwhile, back at the fairgrounds, the Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned cook-off will draw chefs from across the region, who’ll smoke chicken and pork from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Last year, some folks were disappointed that only the judges got to taste the results,” Chamberlain says. “This

R  O R

year, after the judging, the participants will sell their entries so everyone can enjoy more than the aroma.”

Other attractions at the fairgrounds on Saturday will include a truck show and tractor pull. Add to that a pig roast at the Mobile Quick Stop from 1 to 5 p.m., and plenty of chances to work up an appetite, such as Diamond Classics baseball. Scottish Heavy Athletics participants will be

hoisting weights and throwing hammers at the fairgrounds.

The downtown scene will heat up – or cool down – as regional firefighters compete in an old-fashioned water fight from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. And, runners will get involved with the Heritage Days 5K walk or run, along with a 10K elite run. On Sunday, the Belvidere community and guests will enjoy a patriotic worship service at 10 a.m., before bed races kick off at noon.

“The bed races started about eight years ago, with public works employees who put together two beds and enlisted participants from the onlookers,” Chamberlain explains. “This year, it’s grown to where groups wearing outlandish

costumes participate with the same two beds or bring their own. They race across the Main Street Bridge. So far, Belvidere’s firefighters have won every year.”

At 3 p.m. Sunday, the huge Belvidere Heritage Days parade begins its march through the downtown.

“We started with about 60 entries a few years ago,” Chamberlain explains.

“Now the parade has grown to almost 100 entries and takes about 2.5 hours to complete.”

While all of the other attractions and activities continue in the city and at the fairgrounds, the grand finale at the fairgrounds will feature a concert from 7 to 9 p.m., followed by one of the largest fireworks displays in the region.

“Our fireworks rival Rockford’s, thanks to the support of a donor,” Chamberlain adds.

For more information, visit Belvidere Heritage Days online at its Facebook page or go to ci.belvidere.il.us/news-andevents/heritage-days. ❚

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O L

Catfish Tournament Returns to Rock Falls

By Jermaine Pigee, deputy editor

C

atfish anglers will assemble in Rock Falls, Ill., later this month, to participate in the Bass Pro Shops Big Cat Quest Tournament.

Not only are bragging rights and $10,000 in cash and prizes on the line, this tournament, which will take place June 24-25, is also the Midwest qualifier for the 2017 national championship to be held in New Madrid, Mo. The two-day tournament is open to both amateurs and pro fishermen.

The fishing area is from the Rockton dam to the Rock Island dam, just short of the state line at the Mississippi River.

Joe Dyer of Rock Falls won the tournament last year, the first time it was in Rock Falls. He corralled nine catfish over two days totaling just under 80 pounds. He beat out 47 teams and 105 contestants.

To make thing interesting, anyone who sets the Illinois State record for largest catfish caught by hook and line can win a truck worth more than $31,000 from Majeski Motors in Sterling.

According to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Jim Klauzer of Springfield currently holds the state record, which he set in 2015. He caught an 81-pound, 6.4-ounce flathead catfish at Sangchris Lake State Park, near Springfield.

To put that into perspective, the largest catfish hooked during last year’s tournament was 22.30 pounds.

Fish will be weighed in on both days, beginning at 11 a.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy watching the anglers weigh in the biggest catfish of the day.

Visit visitrockfalls.com or kenfreemanoutdoorpromotions.com for more information on the tournament or to sign up. ❚

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Y H

New Treatment for Glaucoma Available

By Lindsey Gapen, assistant managing editor

O

n May 2, Dr. Edward Yavitz became the first stateline surgeon to perform a new procedure to treat glaucoma.

Yavitz, an ophthalmologist, conducted the painless 10-minute procedure called “canaloplasty” at Yavitz Eye Center, 4105 N. Perryville Road.

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, glaucoma is an eye disease that usually results from fluid building up in the front part of your eye.

The extra fluid increases the pressure in your eye, causing damage to the optic nerve. If untreated, this damage can lead to blindness. In fact, glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness for people over age 60.

By performing canaloplasty, Yavitz restores the eye’s natural drainage system by threading a tiny tube through blocked channels and clearing them.

“The procedure is similar to angioplasty – where you treat a heart that’s blocked,” Yavitz says. “Basically, all the fluid in the eye drains out through a circular channel.”

With this procedure, patients are often able to stop taking one or more of their expensive glaucoma eye drops – the usual method for controlling glaucoma. Canaloplasty adds to the broad repertoire of glaucoma procedures Yavitz offers, including iStents, ECP laser, trabeculectomy and shunts.

Yavitz urges people to not take their eye health for granted. Glaucoma is an especially stealthy disease, as there’s no way to notice that your eye pressure is above normal.

“Your brain fills in the holes in your vision,” Yavitz says. “You may have vision like Swiss cheese, but your brain fills

in the blank spots so it appears that your visual field is full, even though it isn’t.”

The only way to be sure that you don’t have glaucoma is to have a routine annual checkup with an eye care professional, Yavitz says. Blindness can be prevented with early treatment. ❚

Get SLW Health articles every week. Visit smartlivingweekly.com and start your e-Edition today.

Want a second opinion?

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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 O

Enjoy Summer Camp at Midway Village M

idway Village Museum, 6799 Guildford Road, Rockford, will offer another wonderful summer of camps and family fun. It’s a great chance for children to explore, discover, make new friends and learn, while participating in arts, crafts, activities, games and other fun.

Each week is a brand new adventure at Midway Village. Weeklong campers will receive their own camp T-shirt for free on the first day of camp and family members are invited each Friday for a picnic lunch and exhibit of what their campers have been learning during the week.

Camp will kick off June 19 with “It’s Elementary, My Dear,” a week-long camp that explores various elements.

Camp is for children who have finished kindergarten through age 11. Register online at midwayvillage.com or at the museum.

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New this year, the museum is offering one-hour camps once a week for younger visitors. Pre-K Adventures is open to those who have not yet completed kindergarten.

With a parent/adult companion, each child will explore topics in a fun-filled hour of arts, crafts, games and more.

Camps are $10 per child (adult companion included). Each camp starts at 10 a.m.

Week-long Camps • It’s Elementary, June 19-23 • For Everything there is a Season, June 26-30 • Storybook Quests, July 10-14 • Dirty Jobs, July 17-21 • Weird History, July 24-28 • Blast from the Past, July 31-Aug. 1 • Wagon Train Adventure, Aug. 7-1

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One-Hour Camps • Animal Planet, June 23 • Digging in the Dirt, June 30 • Messy Art, July 14 • Pioneer Life, July 21 • Around the World, July 28 • Five Senses, Aug. 1 • Water World, Aug. 11 Learn more at MidwayVillage.com. ❚

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

Wilco June 14, 7:30 p.m. This Chicago-based alternative rock band produces an eclectic indie rock sound. Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Starlight Presents “Peter and the Starcatcher” June 14-17, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m.; July 12-16, Wed.-Sun. 8 p.m. This Tony-winning production upends the century-old story of how a miserable orphan comes to be Peter Pan. “Peter and the Starcatcher” playfully explores the depths of greed and despair and the bonds of friendship, duty and love. Starlight Theater, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

Old Settlers Days June 15-18, Thurs. 5-10 p.m., Fri. 4-11 p.m., Sat. noon-11 p.m., Sun. 2-9:30 p.m. Benefitting the Rockton Lions Club Charities, this festival features a midway, a rent-a-firefighter silent auction, live entertainment, a parade, food booths and a beer tent. Blood Drive Thurs.; Sat. 5K Run/ Walk. Guests are invited to bring a pair of eyeglasses for the Lions Club to recycle. Location: Settlers Park, 100 E. Hawick St., Rockton, Ill. Info: Rockton Lions Club, Rockton, Ill., (815) 206-8525.

Midway Village: Spectacular Saturday July 15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Travel to France this month to investigate the art, culture and food of this country. Try your hand at impressionist art like that of Monet. Midway Village Museum, Rockford, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

Music on the Mall: After 5 Jazz June 16, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Enjoy local musicians performing their latest tunes. Seating is limited, so bringing your own chair is encouraged. Edgebrook Shops, Rockford, (815) 2260212, edgebrookshops.com/events.

Concerts on the Creek: One Less Tenor June 17, 7-9 p.m. Pizza from Mamma Mia’s, canned soda, bottled water and popcorn available. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 8772576, springcreekucc.org.

Klehm Woodsong Concert: Corky Siegel June 18, gate opens 4 p.m., concert 6 p.m. Blues harmonica master Corky Siegel will be joined by special guest jazz violinist Randy Sabien.

Wilco, a Chicago-based alternative rock band, performs at the Coronado on June 14.

Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, Klehm. org.

Music in the Park: Broadway in the Park June 20, 7 p.m. Rockford Concert Band performs. Sinnissippi Park Music Shell, 1401 N. 2nd St., Rockford. Info: (815) 987-8800, rockfordparkdistrict.org.

AJG Tuesday Evenings in the Gardens: Miles Nielsen June 20, Doors open 5 p.m., performance 5:45 p.m. Western-influenced Indie Rock and Classic ‘60s Soul. Anderson Japanese Gardens, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org.

International Day of Yoga June 21, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Celebrate with the rest of the world on International Yoga Day with Womanspace. Just bring yourself and your yoga mat. Registration requested. Womanspace, 3333 Maria Linden Dr., Rockford, (815) 8770118, womanspace-rockford.org.

Starlight Theatre Presents “Sister Act” June 21-24, Wed.-Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m.; July 19-23, Wed.-Sun. 8 p.m. When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be found: a convent. Starlight Theater, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.

2017 Wildflower Walkabout Series June 21 & 27, 6 p.m. The Natural Land Institute and Severson Dells invite you to experience the Illinois landscape in a variety of preserves. Walk where flowers carpet the forest floor and birds fill the air. Check website for locations. Info: naturalland.org/docs/2017_Walkabout.pdf. ❚

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

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WDL

Hearthrock Café Menu Evolves Under New Chef

B

enson Stone Company’s Hearthrock Café is keeping all that’s good and introducing new and more home-style menu items, more bakery choices, a new web site and new people.

Leading the way is Head Chef Todd Cooper, hired in September, who has an energetic determination to raise the bar even higher on what it means to entice and satisfy customers.

“I feel I’ve taken the café to the next level of quality. I want to continue to develop the menu. I don’t want it to sit still. I want to grow and have the restaurant grow with me,” he says.

Cooper is following the farm-totable trend so popular in restaurants today, working with seasonal and fresh ingredients as much as possible. He plans to introduce new foods as specials before making them a part of the menu.

One of his most popular creations so far is the Smoked Andouille Sausage Flatbread, made with a homemade Marinara sauce, fresh mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, red pepper and fresh portabella mushrooms.

Other new dishes introduced by Cooper include a Mutated Reuben sandwich, made with a homemade sauce and pickled red cabbage; a roast beef sandwich smothered in muenster cheese and a homemade mushroom sauce; and a Cordon Bleu sandwich made with his version of a honey Dijon sauce, piled high with chicken, ham, and Swiss cheese.

A new computerized menu board above the café counter, where people place their orders, will help customers to keep pace with what changes Cooper

Samantha Ryan’s photos

By Peggy Werner

Todd Cooper

is introducing, such as daily and weekly features, which won’t be repeated for weeks at a time.

The many signature dishes the café already is known for will remain, including the BBQ pulled pork, which is smoked in-house, and the tender, savory pot roast sandwich.

Eventually, there will be a wide variety of quesadillas, flatbreads, more soups, and a larger variety of seasonal salads and wraps. The soups will be made with homemade stock and lots of fresh vegetables and meat. ❚ ❚

Top Picks for Local Restaurants 9 East Coffee E Casual/Coffeehouse. Specialty coffees, pas- GreenFire E Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. Seatries, breakfast, lunch. 9 E. Stephenson St., Freeport, (815) sonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) 233-7300. BkL M-F 7am-3pm, Sat to 2pm. $ 316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$.

Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Authentic Mexican. 107 W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm, Local Dough Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, breakfast, lunch, dinner, beer, wine. 202 W. Main St., Rockton, Ill., T-Th to 9pm, F to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. $.

(815) 957-0584. BkLD W-Sun 7am-6pm. $.

Bravo Pizza E Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. Hearthrock Cafe E Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Cannova’s Italian Cuisine E Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., FreeRockford, (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8amport, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$.

3pm. $-$$.

Costa’s Ristorante E Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint E Fine Dining. Ironworks Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Hotel, 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, (608) 313-0700. D Sun-Th Dickey’s Barbecue Pit ECasual/BBQ. 845 S. Perryville Road, 4:30-9pm, Fri-Sat to 10pm. $$.

Rockford, (815) 599-1110. LD Daily 11am-9pm. $-$$.

Prairie Street Brewhouse E Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant E Casual/Mexican. Authen- Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, tic dishes, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 227- Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

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

Taco Betty’s E Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Fresco at the Gardens. E Casual/American Café. Fresh, lo- Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am $$. cal-sourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, Thrive Café E Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Giordano’s E Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, Drive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm. sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) Vito’s Ristorante E Casual/Fine Dining. Carry-out, steak & 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm. seafood, Italian specialties, pizza. 4866 Bluestem Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 312-5080. D M-Sat 4pm. $-$$. ❚ 26

Smart Living Weekly

June 14 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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June 14

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Y T

Reduce the Cost of Monthly Tech Bills

By Peggy Werner

W

hile thinking about all the money you have to spend this holiday season, why not also think about ways to save money on your monthly tech bills?

EZ Satellite & Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St., Suite B, in Loves Park, can help with that.

“People are paying too much for phone, internet, and television services by using just one company,” says Charles Zambrano, owner. “You don’t have to choose just one company to save money.

People get excited when they see promotions because they’re just looking at the price, which will jump up dramatically after the special offer ends. Plus, they don’t always know exactly what they’re getting – and what you don’t know can hurt you.”

When you purchase TV and internet service through EZ Satellite & Wireless, you’ll get a $100 gift card when you share the news with someone else.

EZ Satellite & Wireless is an authorized dish network retailer and also is licensed to offer services from any other provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, such as Comcast, Frontier, HughesNet, DishNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, and Vivint.

The company also offers the highly rated Protect America home security service for $19.95 per month.

EZ Satellite specializes in helping people make the right choices based on what they need and where they live, so they can save money.

The family-owned business opened in 2011, in Roscoe, and moved to a larger, more visible location in Loves Park last May, adding a new bill-paying center for customer convenience. EZ Satellite & Wireless is a full service retailer for satellite TV and internet, and can also help people to acquire cable services. About 80 percent of his business is working with residential customers in Southern

Wisconsin and Northern Illinois. The company also works with businesses.

After working for many years as a satellite dish installer for one of the local providers, Zambrano decided to go out on his own to be more in control of his life and to help others do the same.

“I love to see people’s faces when they find out how much money they can save,” he says.

For more information, contact EZ Satellite & Wireless at (815) 957-4335 or stop by the office. ❚

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