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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • December 2023
Right in Our Region
Festive Fun at Local Theatres See Page 20
How to Avoid Sports Injuries Inspiration: Who Was Martha? Lindsey’s Letter: Joyful Anticipation 10 Local Holiday Events
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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SOUTHERN WISCONSIN’S MOST CHARMING THEATER
The meticulously restored Stoughton Opera House is one of Wisconsin’s premier music theaters featuring legendary performers and cutting-edge contemporary musicians in the intimate atmosphere of an era gone by.
Your seat is waiting… Come early and enjoy our Ghost Light Lounge!
Delightful entertainers perform before the main show plus enjoy a selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to be enjoyed in the lounge before and during the show.
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Some of our Exciting 2024 Shows • Sam Bush • Willy Porter Band • On a Winter’s Night • Mia x Ally & Talisk • An Evening with Michael Perry • Victoria Victoria featuring Charlie Hunter • BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet • Cherish the Ladies • Aimee Mann with Joanathan Coulton • Steely Dane • Charlie Parr • Haley Heynderickx & The Westerlies • The Infamous Stringdusters • Armchair Boogie • ADDED! Los Lobos • Tim O’Brien Band • with special guests Martha Scanlan & Jon Neufeld • Los Lobos • Louisiana Calling with Sonny Landreth & The Iguanas
• Opera for the Young: Beauty & the Beast • Hot Club of Cowtown • Ladysmith Black Mambazo • Kruger Brothers • Michael Perry & the Long Beds • Them Coulee Boys • Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives • BoDeans • MadFiddle & Hwy 151 • Roy Rogers & the Delta Rhythm Kings • Kathy Mattea • Ray Wylie Hubbard • The Ballroom Thieves • Mama’s Broke • Corky Siegel’s Chamber Blues ... and More!
381 E. MAIN STREET STOUGHTON WI
608.877.4400 WWW.STOUGHTONOPERAHOUSE.COM
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Custom Design KITCHENS BATHS BASEMENTS ADDITIONS
Whether you are adding onto your home or remodeling your designfirst firstremodeling remodeling approach will current space, our design exceed your expectations.
FREE BUDGET & CONCEPT DESIGN 9957 N. Alpine Rd., 101, IMachesney Park macktownconstruction.com | 779-423-0354 Smart Living Live Ste. December 2023 To advertise call| 815-316-2300 4
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In This Issue
Right in Our Region .................Cover & p. 20 Holiday Entertainment at Local Theatres Inspiration & Worship ................................ 14 Who Was Martha? Your Health ................................................ 31 How to Avoid Sports Injuries
Your Fun ..................................................... 36
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas Managing Editor Jim Taylor Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Stephanie N. Grimoldby, Janine Pumilia General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Distribution Kelly and Larry Fairbairn Published by Hughes Media Corp. 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 www.SmartLivingRockford.com Smart Living. Copyright 2023 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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Joyful Anticipation
H
appy holidays, Smart Living readers! Hopefully, you had a great Thanksgiving a few weeks ago. We especially applaud all of you who were able to attend Stroll on State this year, and all of you who supported our local businesses across Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Our neighborhood storeowners supplied a whirlwind of deals all weekend long that personally helped me to get ahead on my Christmas shopping. (And I admit, I definitely treated myself to some new clothing items from Rockford Art Deli. I cannot express enough how much I love that store!) Now that Christmas is around the corner, we’re officially in the season of Advent, which, in a nutshell, is a time of preparation. Not only do we prepare to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord’s birth, but we also prepare our hearts and minds for Christ’s second coming. Normally, I would just buy a chocolate Advent calendar and call it good. But now that my son is getting older and starting to find joy in the holidays, I’ve found myself thinking more meaningfully about Advent. I keep coming back to how this is supposed to be a time of hope. In a season that can be especially chaotic, I think it’s good to remember that this is supposed to be a time of joyful anticipation. I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant, which puts “joyful anticipation” into a whole new perspective. It would be easy to cave into the anxieties (I still need to pack a hospital bag! What if I go into labor early again?!) but having been through this once before, I know for a fact that I’ll feel overwhelming peace, love and joy once I’m holding this baby girl for the first time. The “Advent” of my daughter will forever change my life, and my heart. So, if the second-coming of Christ even slightly compares to that, then I think it would be a pretty miraculous experience. Whatever season of life you’re in, I wish you and your families an abundance of joy this Advent season. ❚ Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor
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Inspiration & Worship
Who Was Martha?
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hose familiar with the 1985 dystopian novel “The Handmaid’s Tale,” by Margaret Atwood, recall that “Marthas” were a class of women required to cook and clean for ruling families of the repressive theocracy Gilead, which overthrew the United States. Martha is perhaps best known as the woman Jesus scolded for her misplaced priorities during his visit. Time spent learning at his feet was more needful than time devoted to chores, he told her, in a lesson we should all take to heart. What else does scripture tell us about Martha? From Luke 10:38-42 and John 11:144,12:2, we know Martha was a pragmatic disciple who loved Jesus and recognized him as the Messiah. Jesus likewise loved Martha deeply, along with her sister and brother, Mary and Lazarus. Martha and her siblings lived in Bethany, a few miles from Jerusalem, and Jesus sometimes stayed with them. “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is come into the world,” Martha tells Jesus in John 11:27. She says this even when she’s in mourning, deeply disappointed that Jesus didn’t respond when she sent for him to heal Lazarus, who died four days earlier. Jesus is deeply moved. He goes to Bethany despite personal risk. “But Rabbi, a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” his disciples ask in John 11:8. Ever-practical Martha worries her brother’s rotting body will stink when Jesus orders his tomb opened. Instead, Lazarus emerges alive and witnesses are in awe. The bond between Jesus and the siblings brings many Jews into the fold. Martha serves a dinner in Jesus’ honor six days before his final Passover. Lazarus reclines at the table with Jesus; Mary washes Jesus’ feet with perfume so expensive that it costs a year’s wages. Jesus knows his execution is near. Surely he draws comfort from these friends who love him so completely. Some scholars think Martha and Mary were among the women who discovered Jesus’ empty tomb. Who was Martha? A true disciple of Jesus Christ. ❚ -- Janine Pumilia 14
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Right in Our Region
Holiday Entertainment at Local Theatres
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Rockford’s equity professional theater is commemorating its 20th season, so its latest performance revisits some of the most memorable scenes and stories from the past two decades. Given that “Holiday Havoc” runs Dec. 15 and 16 at Rockford
University’s Cheek Theatre, this unique performance is intently focused on the holiday season. “It’s a mishmash of scenes from holiday shows and songs. It’s going to be a fun evening,” says Richard Raether, co-founder and producing artistic director. “And it’s a pay-what-you-can. There are no tickets to buy. You just show up, throw money in a jar and enjoy the evening.” This pay-what-you-can approach aligns with the theater’s mission of entertaining everybody, no matter their means. “We wanted to do something that anybody can come to,” says Raether. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money; you can just come and have fun.” Learn more and purchase tickets at artistsensemble.org.
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inter’s chill brings us back indoors, which means it’s prime time to frequent our region’s vibrant arts and entertainment venues. While many landmarks in our region cater to tribute bands and touring performers, there’s also a rich array of live theater, hosted by some talented players. Their stories make us think, cry and feel as they both dazzle and entertain us. Here’s a sample of what lies ahead for some of our region’s top live theater groups.
Artists’ Ensemble Theater
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December 2023
(Artists’ Ensemble Theater photo)
By Steven Bonifazi, assistant editor
Byron Civic Theatre
Since 1995, this all-volunteer, nonprofit theater group has presented both largescale and intimate works in Byron, Ill. Byron Civic Theatre celebrates the holiday season this year with a stunning rendition of the timeless “Nutcracker” ballet. Running Dec. 20-22 at 7 p.m. and Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. at Byron Middle School’s Theater, the performance brings
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(Fireside Theatre photo)
Fireside Theatre
to life the beloved score by Pyotr Tchaikovsky. In telling the story of Clara and her dream about a nutcracker doll come to life, the players of Byron Civic Theatre team up with the young performers of Byron Dance Academy and Gateway Performing Arts, in Loves Park, Ill. For its next production, Byron Civic Theatre is seeking talented middle school students to support the cast of “Freaky Friday,” the beloved Disney tale of a mother and daughter who switch places and must rebuild their relationship. The curtain rises Feb. 9 and 10. For more information and tickets, visit byroncivictheatre.com.
This Wisconsin theater remains focused on artistic excellence and Broadwayquality shows accompanied by fine dining and boutique shopping. Running now through Dec. 23, the theater presents “Scrooge: The Musical,” a Broadway adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol.” This stage version captivates audiences with a blend of musical scores, dancing, period costumes, uproarious comedy and heartwarming drama that cast a new light on this Christmas staple. Fireside caps off the year with a rock ‘n’ roll retrospective meant to leave you dancing your way into the new year. Matinee and evening performances of “Shake Baby Shake,” on Dec. 31, present a portrait of the golden age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, complete with hits from the 1950s and ’60s. To guide you through the journey, piano entertainer Lance Lipinsky brings the Lovers and The Lovettes. Grab tickets at firesidetheatre.com.
Beloit Civic Theatre
Beloit’s riverfront community theater troupe warmly welcomes audiences to enjoy timeless tales from the small stage this upcoming year. Beloit Civic Theatre begins the new year with “Steel Magnolias” from Jan. 25 through Feb. 3. The heartwarming tale, set in 1980s Louisiana, revolves around the lives of six women whose bonds are tested through joy and heartbreak. The play has many echoes of the 1989 film starring Julia Roberts and Sally Field, but it also has a few surprises and a simple aesthetic that’s anchored by a magnolia tree. “It’s classified as a ‘dramedy,’ because there’s a lot of drama and a lot of comedy,” says Doris Hunter Tropp, secretary for the theater’s board of directors. “Everybody knows women in their community who are like some of these women.” To learn more and purchase tickets, visit beloitcivictheatre.org.▮
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Your Health
How to Avoid Sports Injuries By Stephanie N. Grimoldby
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ports medicine doctors aren’t impressed with the specialization of young athletes today. “Kids are playing one sport yearround, and that’s really something that can lead to negative effects,” says Dr. Keith Corpus, a sports medicine specialist and surgeon at OSF HealthCare in Rockford. There’s a simple solution to that issue, Corpus says – and it’s beneficial to young athletes in more ways than one. “To prevent these overuse injuries, one of the biggest things is to play different sports, even if you’re somebody who knows you’ve got one sport to play,” says Corpus, who previously worked as an assistant team physician for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. “I’ve interacted with a lot of college coaches, and the biggest thing they look for is well-rounded athletes who can play multiple sports.”
The idea of cross-training has been around for ages. Physicians have long known that moving muscles in a different pattern improves athletic performance. In fact, athletes often find they excel in their primary sport by training in other sports. If an athlete is determined to stick with one sport, it at least helps to take the occasional break, says Dr. Derek Damrow, an orthopedic surgeon at Beloit Health System, Ortho Direct, who completed his fellowship at the University of Florida working with collegiate athletes. “Give your body time to recover,” says Damrow. “Kids now, they’re so subspecialized, and that can take its toll. If you’re focusing on baseball, take three months off. If you’re doing football yearround, take time off.” So, how can athletes prevent the injuries that keep them from playing their sport of choice?
Proper warmup and cool-down habits are essential, Damrow says. “The goal of practice is not to go out and play 100% full-out. It’s to develop your skills, develop your technique, develop your form, so when you go out and play your sport you go out with proper form and don’t have injuries,” he says. “If you notice you’re getting sloppy with your form during practice, move on to a new drill so that you don’t reinforce bad habits.” And don’t underestimate the importance of what you put into your bodies. “Keep eating right, drinking enough fluids,” Damrow says. “Don’t try to go out there and not have a balanced diet.” ❚
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Your Fun
Entertainment & Events
Laurent House Holiday Tours Thru Dec. 17, 1-3:30 p.m. The only building Frank Lloyd Wright designed for a client with a physical disability, this house is decorated for the holidays in the Laurents’ own treasures. Reg. req. Park at 4627 Spring Brook Road. Laurent House Museum, 4646 Spring Brook Road, (815) 877-2952, laurenthouse.com.
Sinnissippi Station Thru Jan. 28, during conservatory hours. The beloved garden train is back at the conservatory, transporting visitors to a magical world where miniature trains and trolleys pass all around as they wind through the greenery and past miniaturized Rockford landmarks. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg. Jim Brickman: A Joyful Christmas Live Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m. The pianist returns with a new holiday show that dazzles audiences with his signature piano style and soothing vocals. An evening of music fills the air with the sounds of Yuletide carols, holiday classics and Brickman’s biggest hits. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org.
(Rockford Park District/Jesse Fox photo)
All Aglow Holiday Display Thru Jan. 7, daily from dusk to dawn. See sparkling holiday lights in the outdoor gardens featuring familiar favorites like light-wrapped trees and shrubs, as well as new lighted features. View elegant stars and 50 jumbo lighted candy canes, all hand-made by staff. More than 300,000 lights cover the grounds, including many “glistening” lights adding to the sparkle. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., Rockford, (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org.
The Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens is all aglow for the holiday season through Jan. 7.
Luminaria Dec. 15-16, 6-9 p.m. This holiday favorite returns with candlelit trails that are handicap-accessible. The event also features winter nature activities and live music, including traditional holiday tunes from Canto Zenzero, a classical music trio from Chicago on Fri. and country rock by Swingbilly RFD on Sat. Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, (815) 3352471, seversondells.com. Christmas at Macktown Dec. 15, 2-4 p.m. Explore the traditions, revelry and observations of what the Christmas season meant to the early residents of Macktown. Mack-
town Living History Center, 2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, Ill., (815) 624-4200, macktownlivinghistory.com. Cirque Dreams Holidaze Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. The annual tradition wraps a Broadway-style production around an infusion of contemporary circus arts. As lights dim and the music swells, audiences have visions of sugarplums dancing in their heads as a cast of holiday storybook characters come to life on stage. With an original musical score, this show twists holiday classics with new sets, scenery and storylines. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronadopac.org. New Year’s Day Hike Jan. 1, 10 a.m. Start the new year on the right foot by joining Executive Director Ann Wasser as she talks about winter plants and animals. If the ground is snow-covered, animal tracks are also discussed. Dress for the weather. Reg. req. Severson Dells Nature Center, 8786 Montague Road, Rockford, (815) 335-2471, seversondells.com. RSO: Music by Candlelight Jan. 14, 3-4:30 p.m. The Rockford Symphony Orchestra presents a Sunday matinee chamber show that includes musicians playing by candlelight. Rockford Symphony Orchestra, First Lutheran Church, 225 S. 3rd St., Rockford, (815) 965-0049, rockfordsymphony.com.
Severson Dells Nature Center’s executive director Ann Wasser leads a New Year’s Day hike on Jan. 1 at 10 a.m. She’ll share her knowledge about winter plants, animal tracks and more.
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Charlie Berens: Good Old Fashioned Tour Jan. 27, 7 p.m. The Wisconsin native and bestselling author brings his latest comedy special, inspired by his book. Coronado Performing Arts Center, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9685222, coronadopac.org. ❚
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