Smart Living Rockford - February 11, 2021

Smart L iving Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • Feb. 2021 • No. I

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Right in Our Region

Hot Wheels Fun Rolls into Discovery Center See Page 16

Why We Stil Love Cozy Carpet Don’t Be a Victim of Heart Disease Paying Too Much for TV, Internet, Phones?

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 Hot Wheels Fun at Discovery Center Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Cozy Carpet Feels Pretty Great Right Now Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Psalmists: God Can Handle Our Reality Your Technology ........................................ ....... 21 Your Probably Pay Too Much for TV, Internet, Phones Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Preventing Heart Disease is the Best Cure

Smart L iving ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Sara Myers Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner, Paula Kalivoda Furniss General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Fort Wayne General Manager Sherri Cassedy 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.

Copyright 2021 by Hughes Media Corp., 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of any text, photograph or illustration without written permission from the publisher is strictly prohibited.

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We’re Almost There!

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ust think. Less than three months from now, our landscape will burst with new life.

Balmy green spaces will replace frigid white ones. Leaves and buds will unfurl, robins will hop on lush lawns and thrown-open windows will welcome fresh air.

There’s no season change more dramatic than the one we’re about to witness. The latent energy tightening its coil and eager to spring is invisible to us now, but we know it’s there.

Spring always returns.

So it is with the health of our country and community. The light at the end of the long pandemic tunnel is flickering into view. We’re not there yet – we still have to be careful. But there’s honest reason to believe better times are not far off. Finally the pandemic’s grip is loosening as vaccination rates rise and newinfection rates fall.

The Roaring ’20s followed the 1918 pandemic. Our pent-up demand, when we finally feel safe to “do normal” again, will ignite an explosion of economic growth and a new appreciation for what really matters to us – togetherness in all its forms.

So enjoy these last cozy moments near the fireplace, bowl of hot soup in hand. Finish up those indoor projects. The days of frigid cold and isolation are numbered, in more ways than one.

Meanwhile, the final stretch of the marathon looms. Businesses are existing on fumes.

Neighbors are hungry. Families are grieving.

Healthcare workers are exhausted. People waiting in line for vaccine are frustrated. This is an excellent time to support each other with extra doses of kindness.

Let’s “think local” this Valentine’s Day when dining and shopping. The big-box is thriving ... Mom and Pop shops, not so much.

Let’s also pay special attention to the vulnerable folks who’ve been holed up for a year and need a reminder that this, too, shall pass. A card or phone call on this Valentine’s Day will be appreciated more than ever.

Spring is faithful to return to us each year.

Let’s be just as faithful in our care for one another. Better times are coming.

Valentine hugs to you, from all of us at Smart Living! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Your Home & Garden

Cozy Carpet Still a Favorite in Bedrooms

By Jermaine Pigee ore people are using stylish hardwood and luxury vinyl tile in their living rooms these days, says Kevin Rose, owner of Carpetland USA, 326 N. Alpine Road, Rockford. But soft and cozy carpet isn’t leaving bedrooms any time soon.

“In the Midwest, we still have our frigid winters and the warmth and comfort of carpet as you step out of the bed in the morning is preferred,” Rose says.

Carpet also keeps the bedroom quieter.

Plush pile and berber carpet styles are popular and are made from many kinds of fiber. People who are more cautious when they walk may prefer shortlooped berber for its firmness; others prefer the luxurious density of pile carpet.

For homes with kids and pets, Rose recommends flooring that withstands moisture, such as spill-resistant hardwood and laminate.

You don’t have to shy away from

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carpet if you have pets and kids, however. Many newer carpets have pet-proof backings that don’t allow urine to soak into padding and subfloors. Some carpet is made from non-absorbent yarn, so spills can be easily cleaned without leaving stains.

No matter what type of flooring you purchase, Rose recommends doing your homework first.

“A common mistake that people make is purchasing a product solely on price and assuming it has a level of quality that will sustain your living space,” Rose says. “You get what you pay for, as the old saying goes. Our staff will explain the pros and cons that suit your family and your home, not what suits everyone else walking through the front door.”

When shopping for flooring, describe your space to the salesperson helping you. What kind of traffic and mois-

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ture conditions will the flooring need to withstand? What styles appeal to you visually? What expectations do you have for the longevity of this flooring?

“Make sure your salesperson understands what you want and make sure they’re listening to your needs,” he says.

A trained salesperson who thoroughly understands the flooring industry can provide a great deal of assistance as you winnow down the options that satisfy your criteria. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

The Psalms Journey

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n the middle of the Bible is a collection of 150 psalms (sacred sayings) that offer a jarring roller coaster ride of human rantings directed toward God. Several authors wrote them over a period of about 1,000 years, starting in the time of Moses (1500 B.C.). King David penned about half of them. They were passed down through oral tradition before they were written down.

We gravitate toward the psalms that comfort us, the 23rd being a crowd favorite.

Many of them, however, were composed during times of anguish and deep disappointment with God. Feelings of abandonment, anger and frustration are laid bare; They’re both timeless and oddly familiar.

If we’re honest, all of us have experienced anger with God. We see Christians suffer hardship, oppression, sickness, death. We see evil prosper and ask why.

The psalmists’ emotional poetry helps us to know what a healthy relationship with God looks like, says author Philip Yancey.

By “peering over their shoulders,” we witness both their rantings and the ways they talk themselves down from the ledge. They breathe deeply and then state what they know for sure about God: He is good, wise, powerful, tender. They also acknowledge their own yearning for closeness with Him. The psalmists force themselves to recall the many times God rescued ungrateful Israel from its self-inflicted messes.

With hearts softened by memories of their own weakness, they regain some perspective. God is mighty; they are needy.

The psalmists find wonder in the starry skies and fertile earth. Their ranting turns to flights of joyous praise they can’t contain.

Yancey writes in “The Bible Jesus Read”: “The odd mixture of psalms of cursing, psalms of praise and psalms of confession no longer jars me as it once did.

Instead, I am continually amazed by the spiritual wholeness of the Hebrew poets, who sought to include God in every area of life by bringing to God every emotion experienced in daily activity. One need not ‘dress up’ or ‘put on a face’ to meet God. There are no walled-off areas; God can be trusted with reality.”

To experience Psalms is to fellowship with all who have ever struggled with, and – Janine Pumilia deeply loved, God. ❚ 12

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Right in Our Region

Yes, Hot Wheels Can Be Educational A

nyone who grew up playing with Hot Wheels toy cars will enjoy “Hot Wheels: Race to Win” at Discovery Center Museum now through May 16. This new, family-friendly exhibit offers activities for all ages.

Visitors work together to build and test the fastest and safest speed machines on the planet, using Hot Wheels die-cast cars to experiment and play. This behindthe-scenes look at the thrilling world of racing investigates the scientific process for designing super-fast cars and helps families who have ‘the need for speed’ to understand how it’s achieved.

“This family learning experience provides hands-on opportunities for parents to explain complex physics concepts in fun ways using the popular Hot Wheels toy cars as they experiment with different principles to see which makes a car

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go fastest,” says Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of the museum that produced the exhibit, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Families love the Pit Stop Challenge in which they race the clock – and their family and friends – to change tires and refuel the car.

A six-lane downhill speed track, booster power track, adjustable angles track, and timing track are just a few of

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the ways visitors will be able to test their theories regarding the science of racing and cause and effect.

Real race car parts, authentic artifacts, and captivating memorabilia round out the experience.

“We’re excited to offer families something special with their museum visit,” says Sarah Wolf, executive director of Discovery Center. “Having an exhibit of this caliber is a great way to reopen and welcome guests back to Discovery Center.”

Introduced by Mattel in 1968, the “tricked-out” toy cars have come a long way, both in the die-cast and life-size varieties. More than 800 models and 11,000 variations of Hot Wheels cars have been created and more than 4 billion Hot Wheels die-cast cars have been sold.

“Generations of children have

Right in Our Region enjoyed the thrill and speed of racing with Hot Wheels, and this new interactive exhibit now brings families together to learn what brings racing to life in a fun and memorable way,” says Julie Freeland, senior director, Global Live Events & Attractions, Mattel.

To schedule a visit to the exhibit, register online at discoverycentermusuem.org/reservations#Reserve.

Admission to Discovery Center and “Hot Wheels: Race to Win” is $11/person for the general public and free to

Discovery Center Members and children ages 1 and younger.

Hot Wheels: Race to Win is produced by Mattel and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. The latter is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The exhibit is sponsored locally by SwedishAmerican-a division of UW Health, Illinois Bank & Trust and WTVO/Fox 39.

Discovery Center Museum is a children’s science museum providing math, science and art experiences for all ages, with more than 250 hand-on exhibits, a planetarium, a special area for children ages 6 and younger, and an outdoor science park. It’s the nation’s 5th Best Museum for Families according to USA TODAY/10Best.com, and one of 12 museums included in Forbes.

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com’s article, “The 12 Best Children’s Museums in the U.S.” In 2019, Discovery Center earned the Trip Advisor Hall of Fame distinction. The Museum is located inside Riverfront Museum Park, 711 N. Main St. General admission to the Museum is $9 adults, $9 children (ages 2 to 17); free to museum members and children age 1 and younger. Temporary hours: Thurs.Fri. 10 am to noon and 2-4 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 9:30-11:30 a.m., 12:30-2:30 p.m. and 3-5 p.m. Thurs. - Sun. ❚

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Your Technology

How to Reduce Your Technology Bills

B y Pe g g y We r n e r any of us are spending more than we need to for technology simply because we don’t understand our options.

Tech services like phone, Internet, TV and home security evolve quickly and can be confusing, but it’s easier than you may think to figure out what works best for your situation, says Charles Zambrano, owner and general manager of EZ Satellite & Wireless in Loves Park.

“I make sure the customers know exactly what they’re getting and aren’t paying for services they don’t want or need,” says Zambrano. He asks customers about the number of TVs and phones they have, favorite channels, streaming and recording habits, how they use high-speed internet and so forth.

“Most customers are paying too much, $250 or more for phone, TV and internet,” he says. “I can save them $50 to

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$100 per month by offering them the best deals each company has to offer.

“A lot of people are not happy with their tech services, but are afraid to change or don’t have time to do the research. But it’s not that hard to start saving money.”

Zambrano also helps people to make better use of their smart phones to enhance their particular lifestyles. Products like the Google Nest Hub, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are ideal for those who want to monitor and access their homes and businesses remotely or with voice commands. Especially in the age of COVID-19, it’s useful to monitor package delivery and speak to people at your door remotely.

You can also switch lights on and off, change the thermostat settings and unlock doors remotely.

EZ Satellite & Wireless is licensed

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to offer services from any provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, including Rise Broadband, Comcast, HughesNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, Vivint, ATT and Nest products.

Zambrano’s store is regularly sanitized, social distancing is observed, masks are worn and interactions are contact-free.

Call (815) 957-4335 or stop by to see him at 6239 N. 2nd St. in Loves Park. ❚

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Your Health

Be Vigilant to Prevent Heart Disease B y To n i R o c h a eart disease has been the leading cause of death in both men and women in the U.S. for many decades, 2020 being an exception due to COVID-19. Some 365,000 Americans die from heart disease annually – a rate of about 1,000 per day.

Making good lifestyle choices and seeking treatment early helps to prevent death by heart disease, says Dr. Haroon Chughtai, a cardiologist with Beloit Health System.

“In men, warning signs can be chest pain or shortness of breath with exertion,” Chughtai says. “But women may have a number of symptoms that include nonspecific chest discomfort, shortness of breath, fatigue, nausea and an overall feeling of unwellness. Symptoms in men are fairly straightforward, but we need to be more diligent in assessing women.”

Assessing impending heart disease

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includes checking for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and a family history of heart disease.

“Usually, general practitioners treat rising blood pressure and high cholesterol levels with medications,” says Chughtai.

“When those levels become too high or are not responding to the medications, then the patient is referred to me.”

Cardiovascular disease is not a single disease, but rather a spectrum of diseases involving the heart and vascular system.

Some conditions involve the heart exclusively, but others involve our vast network of arteries and veins.

“For example, blockages in the legs also impact risk of heart disease,” Chughtai says. “Assessing overall cardiovascular health is the goal in patients referred to me, and there are various tools and tests available for this including stress tests, ultrasounds, CAT scans and angiograms.”

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Recent advances in cardiovascular medications are proving helpful.

“The cholesterol medications now do an excellent job, and they’re not as likely to create problems with the liver and muscles,” Chughtai says.

“A healthy diet low in sugar and fat, consistent exercise, rest, not smoking and other good habits can go a long way toward keeping the heart and vascular system strong,” he says. “Knowing who in your close family has had heart disease is also essential to warding off trouble.” ❚

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‘Snow Doubt About it:

Your FIRST ALERT to Winter Weather DAYS in Advance.

AARON WILSON

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MARK HENDERSON

ETHAN ROSUCK

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