Smart Living Weekly March 4, 2020

Sm mart a r L iving mar Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • March 4, 2020

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Right in Our Region

‘The Music Man’ Opens in Rockford

See Page 16

The Key to Expert Carpet Cleaning Time to Think About Outdoor Spaces!

Super Easy Chicken Casserole Recipe Prehistoric Fun & Adventure at PaleoFest

Ben Johnson and Ellie Schneider as Harold Hill and Marian Paroo

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 The Studio Rockford Presents ‘The Music Man’ Your Home .................................................. 11, 19 Expert Carpet Cleaning; Updating Outdoor Spaces Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Taming Our Tongues Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Easy and Tasty Chicken Casserole Your Outing .........................................................9 Prehistoric Adventure at PaleoFest Your Community ...............................................20 Taking Pet Ownership Seriously Your Life Hacks .................................................21 Choosing a House Cleaner Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Water-borne Infectious Diseases Your Technology ..................................... ......... 24 Save Money by Embracing Technology Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Baci’s Kitchen Your Money ................................................ ....... 29 Is Your Insurance Coverage Adequate?

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 Multimedia Editor Sara Myers 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, Sherri Saleh 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 2020 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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Learning from History

W

ith a pandemic on our minds, I’m recalling what I learned about the Spanish Flu when I wrote an article titled “It Was Only the Flu” in winter 2018 for Northwest Quarterly magazine. The current coronavirus is NOT a flu and I’m NOT equating the two. But the science, local history and social history of that 1918 pandemic are well worth understanding.

Rockford was hard hit. Camp Grant housed thousands of young people training as World War I soldiers and nurses. Hundreds of noble local civilians rushed to help Camp Grant flu victims and carried the virus back to city neighborhoods. Some 2,300 people perished at the camp and many hundreds more died in Winnebago County in the span of five weeks. Globally, some 50 to 100 million died.

That freakish 1918 flu strain, H1N1-A, remains mysterious. Why was it so deadly?

Why were young, healthy people so vulnerable to it? Where did it start? (Hint: Not in Spain. One theory says a Kansas pig farm near Camp Funston was the origin.)

The social history is mystifying, too.

Many governments, including ours, lied about the magnitude of the Spanish Flu and the Sedition Act of 1918 made it illegal for newspapers to print anything “negative” related to the U.S. military. This is one reason the 1918 pandemic is not well documented.

In one tragic incident, a politically minded public health director in Philadelphia failed to cancel a big war bond parade despite high risk of flu contagion. Within 72 hours, every hospital bed in the city was filled and the city shut down. At least 4,500 Philadelphians died.

Government propaganda exacerbated the pandemic and fueled panic, writes John M. Barry, author of “The Great Influenza.”

“People could believe nothing they were being told, so they feared everything, particularly the unknown,” writes Barry. “With the truth buried, morale collapsed. Society itself began to disintegrate … in 1918, without leadership, without the truth, trust evaporated. And people looked only after themselves.”

Other good books about the Spanish Flu are “Pale Rider”

by Laura Spinney and “Flu” by Gina Kolata.

Have a good week and wash your hands a lot – which is always good advice! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Mariachi!

The ESO is excited to collaborate with Mariachi Acero for this one of a kind performance. Hailed from Las Vegas, Mariachi Acero takes pride in learning the most recent contemporary Mariachi “Exitos” of today, while preserving the classic “Canciones” of yesterday! Join us for a night of music, culture, and dance.

Saturday, March 7th @ 7:30 PM Hemmens Cultural Center

Box Office: 847-888-4000 www.ElginSymphony.org 8

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Prehistoric Adventure at PaleoFest March 6-8

By Peggy Werner

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he 21st annual PaleoFest at Burpee Museum of Natural History March 6-8 promises prehistoric adventure for adults and children alike.

“It’s a celebration of all things prehistoric,” says Anne Weerda, executive director of the Burpee Museum at 737 N. Main St., Rockford. “We bring in speakers from around the world to talk about their research. These speakers are internationally known scientists currently active in the field of paleontology.

“We have speakers who will talk about dinosaurs, and also some who will talk about reptiles of the sea. It’s not just dinosaurs.”

As an example, one speaker

will talk about amber, or fossilized resin from ancient forests.

“We’ll have a station where you can see some of the research and learn about why things get trapped in amber, how they get fossilized, and how research is done on amber,” Weerda explains.

The entire museum is transformed during PaleoFest and stations are set up throughout for both children and adults. Each one reflects a type of research currently occurring in paleontology.

The event also offers family friendly lectures and workshops in which scientists discuss their research in a more consumable way for children, Weerda says.

Last year, one speaker spoke on

Triceratops, and how researchers can tell how old the Triceratops is just from inspecting its bones.

A student symposium takes place Friday, March 6. A members-only reception is at 6 p.m. with a keynote presentation at 7 p.m. March 7 and 8 are the official festival days.

Learn more at burpee.org. ❚

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Y H  G

Expert Carpet Cleaning Requires an Expert

By Janine Pumilia

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rent Versendaal’s expertise in professional cleaning comes naturally.

He grew up in the carpet and upholstery cleaning business founded in 1972 by his father, Gerrit Versendaal.

After graduating college and working elsewhere, Versendaal purchased All Seasons Carpet Cleaning when his dad retired in 1997. He has since expanded services to include carpet repair, tile and grout cleaning, whole structure odor removal (such as post-fire or water damage) and expert area rug cleaning using off-site specialty equipment.

The business has grown to employ 10 people.

All Season uses hot water and powerful truck-mounted cleaning equipment.

“This is important because it leaves carpets as dry as possible,” Brent explains. “The longer they stay wet, the more problems can happen.”

He uses high-end cleaning agents that are Earth-friendly and gentle on our health. But it’s the quality of his well-trained staff that matters most, he says.

“The equipment wasn’t as good back in my dad’s day as we have now, so I had to learn to do it right even under more difficult conditions,” he says.

“Equipment is important but the person running the equipment is even more important. I feel that right now we have the best crew we’ve ever had. We’ve been blessed with a lot of good technicians.”

New employees are trained for two weeks and don’t go on a call without a mentor for their first three months. Ongoing one- and two-day training sessions are scheduled regularly.

How often does carpet need to be cleaned?

It depends on the household.

“A retired couple with no pets might get away with cleaning the carpet once every 24 months,” he says. “But a household like mine, with four kids, two dogs and a cat, needs it every three months.”

Attracting, training and retaining good employees is the key to his business success, says Versendaal.

“We’re not the cheapest carpet cleaning company but you get what you pay for and I guarantee it will be done right,” he says. “That’s why we’re still in business after nearly 50 years.”

Learn more at allseasoncarpetcleaning.com or call (815) 399-8690. ❚

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I  W

Controlling Our Tongues T

hroughout the Bible, leaders advise followers to control their thoughts and to control their tongues. Reckless thoughts lead to reckless words. These fracture fellowships, ruin lives, break hearts and even spark wars.

In particular, words used to hurt or demonize other people are a sin against God. Opposing the actions of people is one thing; demonizing them is quite another and is never OK, says scripture.

After all, God created everyone in His image.

Self-control is a basic qualification of a good leader, says Timothy. It takes practice and no one reaches spiritual maturity without it. In I Corinthians, Apostle Paul compares spiritual selfdiscipline to the training needed to win athletic competitions.

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever,” he writes in I Cor. 9:25.

When we don’t control our thoughts and mouths, we sin against one another and therefore sin against God. Here’s what James wrote about the power of the tongue in James 3:3-9 (NIV): “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell...

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Y K

An Easy and Comforting Chicken Casserole

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lmost nothing says comfort food quite like a freshly baked casserole. This Rotisserie Chicken-Biscuit Casserole comes together in a snap, with just a handful of ingredients. The bake time is less than 15 minutes but the result is highly satisfying.

Feel free to experiment with your favorite seasonings and combination of vegetables.

Consider adding lightly sauteed mushrooms, onion and/or garlic.

Find more comfort food recipes at Culinary.net.

Ingredients

1 whole rotisserie chicken 8 refrigerated biscuits 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) cream of mushroom soup 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sour cream

Discard the bones.

Cut the refrigerated biscuits into quarters; set aside.

In a medium saucepan, stir together the soup, milk, sour cream, chicken, vegetables, basil and pepper. Cook until boiling. Give it a taste and season to your liking.

Spoon the chicken mixture into a baking dish and arrange biscuits over the filling.

Bake 10-12 minutes, or until biscuits are golden brown. ❚ (Source: Family Features) 2 1/2 1/8

cups frozen vegetables tsp. dried basil tsp. pepper

Directions

Heat oven to 450 F. Remove the meat from a cooled rotisserie chicken and shred into pieces; set aside.

Watch this video for tips on making your recipe easy!

To view this video, simply: 1) Download the Wikitude app 2) Open the app and search “SLM” 3) Scan the Center of this Page

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R  O R

The Studio Rockford Presents ‘The Music Man’

By Janine Pumilia ome musicals hold up really well over time and “The Music Man” is one of them. If you haven’t seen it in awhile and could use the kind of contagious energy boost only youths can offer, you’ll soon have your chance.

Adam and Courtney Walsh, owners of The Studio Rockford (and self-confessed theater geeks) are grooming 140 local students ages 8 to 19 to present the lively musical later this month.

“It’s a very upbeat, fun and colorful show,” says Adam. “We’ve both taken part in performing it several times and have attended many renditions of it and it just never gets old.”

Eight public performances will be offered during the weekends of March 13 and March 20 at Maddox Theater, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St. “The Music Man” tells the story of charming-but-wily con man Harold Hill,

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Adam and Courtney Walsh

who poses as a band leader to convince Midwestern townsfolk to purchase uniforms and instruments from him. Although he promises to coordinate a big show, he secretly plans to take the money and run until skeptical librarian Marian Paroo awakens his better nature.

“It’s all very, very light-hearted,” says Adam.

Favorite songs include “Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Trouble,” “Lida Rose,”

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“Goodnight, My Someone” and “Pickalittle (Talk-a-Little).”

Except for lead roles, the show is double cast to allow more children to participate.

“We’re very blessed to have kids in place who can carry off these roles so well,” says Adam. “Some of them need very little direction – they just have this wonderful natural talent.”

Nurturing kids’ talent and confidence through creative arts, both performing and visual, was the reason the Walshes launched The Studio Rockford in 2014. They employ local musicians to teach private music lessons and personally direct four productions each year.

Auditions are open to all local children ages 8 to 19 and no prior experience is required.

This summer, The Studio Rockford will offer two more shows. The first is

R  O R “Frozen Jr.,” presented by children ages 8 to 12. Then, an original musical written by the Walshes titled “The Girls of Summer,” a tribute to the Rockford Peaches professional women’s baseball team, will be performed by children and adults age 14 and up. Auditions will be in May. This past fall the Walshes began offering dance lessons coordinated by Chelsea Gallivan, who has choreographed all of The Studio Rockford shows since 2014.

The Studio Rockford also offers summer camps, this year in August.

“We strive to put on very good shows but the quality of experience for the kids is our main focus,” says Adam. “We want them to enjoy it and to love learning and to gain confidence. We don’t shame kids.

It’s all about positive reinforcement.”

Courtney adds, “We created The Studio because we want kids to have a safe place to be creative, to belong, to figure out who they are.”

During the course of every show, the

Walshes coordinate some 100 parent volunteers who help to build sets, host parties, sew costumes, oversee the green room during shows and more.

The Walshes are parents to three children of their own – Sophia (18), Ethan (10th grade) and Sam (6th grade.) Adam is a musician and Courtney is the author of 11 novels. Her first one, “A Sweethaven Summer,” made the 2012 New York Times Bestseller list.

Both graduates of Bradley University, the Walshes worked in Rockford churches coordinating childrens’ music and ministry for 11 years before working for a publisher in Loveland, Colo. After moving back to Rockford, they felt called to work with children again, this time in a setting where they’d have full creative control. They quickly outgrew their basement home studio and leased a space at 7326 N. Cherryvale Mall Dr. Together they’ve written several full-scale musicals, including “The Great American Tall Tales,” “Hercules” and

“Grimm’s Fairytales.”

“I think the main thing we like to tell people is that, if you have kids or know kids who are always putting on shows in the backyard, making jokes, performing with a hairbrush microphone … or who love to paint or create things – send them our way,” says Adam. “We’ll figure out what they love to do and stick a spotlight on them so they can shine.”

See “The Music Man” on March 13 at 7 p.m.; March 14 at 2 or 6 p.m.; March 15 at 2 p.m.; March 20 at 7 p.m.; March 21 at 2 or 6 p.m.; or March 22 at 2 p.m.

Admission is $13/advance, $15/ door; children 12 and under $11/advance, $13/door; and seniors 55-plus $11/advance, $13/door. Learn more at thestudiorockford.com. ❚

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Y H  G

Project Time: How to Love Your Landscape S

o you have an idea of how you’d like your landscape to look, but you’re not sure how to get started. What to do?

“All you need to do is come in with a general idea of what you want to accomplish, and we can help you find the right materials and pieces to put it together,” says Andy Benson, president of Benson Stone Co. “Especially if you want to do the project yourself, we have employees here who have been doing this for 25 years and know the ins and outs of how to do it right the first time. You don’t want to put a lot of time and work into building your own retaining wall, for example, only to have it topple over in a few years.”

This fifth-generation family business carries many full product lines of landscaping materials in its main showroom, at 1100 11th St., from decorative gravel and mulch to patios and composite decking. Much of the business relates to paving brick, flagstone and steppers for

walkways, patios and driveways. Its masonry also extends to stone and concrete retaining, garden and seat walls; outcropping stone; and decorative boulders.

Benson Stone Co. also stocks a range of outdoor kitchen elements, fireplaces, fire pits, standard barbeque grills and outdoor lighting.

Outdoor kitchens and LED lighting are especially popular, these days, says Benson.

“LEDs are great because they don’t use nearly as much power, so you can wire more of them into a single transformer, spend less on electricity and replace the bulbs less frequently.”

The business houses one of area’s largest selections of advanced gas, charcoal and electric grills; smokers; pizza ovens; and a range of grilling accessories.

The outdoor kitchen of your dreams can be accessorized with additional storage, outdoor refrigerators and granite counter tops.

“For do-it-yourselfers, our staff experts are here to offer landscaping ideas, knowledge and advice,” says Benson.

“Of course, we can also refer customers to our own trusted contractors and designers that we know are the best in the area.” ❚

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Y C

Think it Through Before Adopting a Pet

By Peggy Werner

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wning a pet is a bigger responsibility than some people want to think about in advance.

Until all pet owners learn to take their responsibility more seriously, the number of stray and unwanted cats and dogs will only grow, says Stephanie Lauer, executive director of Noah’s Ark. She works with other agencies to help control cat overpopulation and to get eligible people the training, food, medicine and other services needed for their pets.

People are often impulsive and caught off guard by an animal’s cuteness, Lauer says. Before adopting a pet, people should think through why they want one, who is going to care for it, what it will cost long term, the breed characteristics best suited them, what training is needed, and if they are willing to ride out tough times with that pet for years to come.

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Brooke Pond, employed at Noah’s Ark for the past two years, went through some very tough times about three years ago, but that didn’t change her relationship with her four-month-old puppy, Ellie, a pit-bull mix.

Pond had been living with a friend.

When things didn’t work out, she was given a 24-hour notice to leave. She packed up her things and lived out of her car for about three weeks, more often than not staying overnight with a relative or friend, if dogs were allowed.

“Giving up Ellie was not an option for me,” she says. “It wasn’t her fault.

She was a part of my family and we were going to face whatever we had to face – together.”

When Pond found a place to live, she decided to dedicate her life to working at an animal shelter and applied for an open-

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ing at Noah’s Ark. It’s been an eye-opening experience, she says.

“I’ve learned a lot about people and how much they love or don’t love animals,” she says.

“What I do know is that if people want to keep a pet, they can. If you’re in a difficult situation and truly want to keep your pet, give me a call at Noah’s Ark and I will try to help you.” ❚

L H

What to Ask Before Hiring a House Cleaner

By Janine Pumilia

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iring someone to clean your house can be a real pleasure. Who doesn’t love coming home to a clean home? And who couldn’t use the time it frees up, especially now that two-income households are the norm? For the cost of one family dinner out, this pleasure could be yours.

Before you hand your house key to a stranger, however, be sure to ask these questions, suggests Paul Wheelock, owner of Merry Maids franchises in five local counties.

• What’s your security protocol?

Wheelock personally runs federal background checks on every person he hires.

“State background checks alone are not enough,” he says. “My guideline is that I won’t hire anyone I wouldn’t give my own house key to.”

• Can you provide proof of insurance? “If a company isn’t insured and bonded, you could be responsible for any

injuries that occur on your property,” says Wheelock. All Merry Maids employees are insured, bonded and covered by Worker’s Compensation.

• How well are your employees treated? High turnover is never good.

Companies that respect employees will attract better people who take more pride in their work.

“We offer a career experience to our employees,” says Wheelock. “We provide benefits like paid time off and a retirement plan. This helps us to find the best people and keep them onboard.”

• Is the work guaranteed? Expectations on both sides should be well communicated to avoid conflicts. “We’ll come back and make right anything that a customer feels was not properly done,” says Wheelock.

• How do pricing and payment options work? “We do a walk-through before a final price is set,” says Wheelock.

“Be wary of companies that skip this step and offer a ‘free cleaning,’ sight unseen, as a gimmick.” You get what you pay for.

As for payment methods, “We offer options for encrypted, secure online payment so you don’t have to bother with checks or cash.” Online software allows you to get a rough idea of how your cleaning job will be priced or you can get an estimate over the phone.

Merry Maids specializes in residential work. A typical cleaning schedule is 1.5 to 3 hours every two weeks.

Learn more at Merrymaids.com. ❚

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Y H

Understanding Water-Borne Diseases B y To n i R o c h a

C

oronavirus is in the news, but it’s only one kind of infectious disease.

Like staph and hepatitis, it spreads directly from human to human. Other diseases spread from animal/insect to human, such as Lyme and West Nile. Still others are water-borne, such as cholera and typhoid.

Of water-borne diseases, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 3 to 5 million people worldwide are infected with cholera; 130,000 cases prove fatal. About 12.5 million cases of typhoid are recorded annually, most commonly in Southeast Asia, causing Dr. Vijaya Somaraju, medical director of in149,000 deaths. fectious disease at BeU n d e r d e v e l - loit Health System.

oped countries are most likely to see water-borne diseases, but at least 400 cases are diagnosed in the U.S. each year. Numbers swell after massive natural disasters, when flooding pushes contaminated water into heavily populated regions, says Dr. Vijaya Somaraju, medical director of infectious disease at Beloit Health System. Both typhoid and cholera can cause diarrheal illness and death by severe dehydration if left untreated.

The bacteria specific to typhoid fever is salmonella typhi. Several other strains of salmonella cause food poisoning (salmonellosis) each year in the U.S. Cholera, a feco-oral infection, is caused by vibrio cholera, a toxin-producing bacteria. A tiny amount can cause severe illness.

“Patients must be constantly rehydrated until the diarrhea runs its course,” Somaraju says. “It is extremely contagious through one-on-one contact with

body fluids.”

Somaraju suggests that people visiting under-developed foreign countries drink only bottled water or local water that’s been boiled for 20 full minutes, and avoid undercooked foods.

“If you’re traveling to an underdeveloped country, start planning a few months in advance by scheduling vaccinations for cholera and typhoid at least 6 to 8 weeks prior to travel,” she says.

“This will give you enough time to develop protective immunity that can last for six months to one year.”

Travelers to Africa should be mindful of ebola. As recently as July 2019, an outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo caused an international health warning.

Another travel tip: “Book a hotel room on the third floor or higher,” she says. “It sounds weird, but mosquitoes don’t usually fly that high up.” ❚

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Y T

Technology Upgrades Can Save You Money

By Peggy Werner

W

ant to save some money each month? Technology upgrades may be the way to do that, says Charles Zambrano, owner of EZ Satellite and Technologies.

Zambrano has expanded his business and is now working with Nest to bring the conveniences of home automation into his customers’ lives.

“Everyone has a smartphone, but not everyone is using it to the fullest capacity,” he says.

The number of “smart” devices is growing, and so are options for connecting those devices to local area networks. Products like the Google Nest Hub, Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa are just a few of the most popular options for people who want to monitor and access their homes and businesses remotely or with voice commands.

Many of these devices connect to cameras showing you what’s going on

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inside and outside your home, and you can talk to people at your door when you’re away. You can also switch lights on and off, change or lock in thermostat settings and lock or unlock doors remotely.

Nest offers all services on one application, which is a one-time purchase for installation, with no additional charge for monitoring.

“We’re just keeping pace with what’s available to customers and helping people to manage their lives better by getting them to use technology that’s available to them,” says Zambrano.

EZ Satellite & Wireless is an authorized Dish Network retailer licensed to offer services from any provider using dish, cable, internet and home security, such as Rise Broadband, Comcast, HughesNet, DirectTV, Digitenna, Protect America, ATT and Nest Products.

Smart devices often plug into these systems for additional functionality.

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This story comes to life!

To view this video, simply: 1) Download the Wikitude app 2) Open the app and search “SLM” 3) Scan this entire page using the app’s AR Lens

EZ Satellite & Wireless maintains storefronts in Loves Park and Elgin, but its team also offers in-home consultations and full installation services.

Contact EZ Satellite & Technologies at (815) 957-4335. ❚

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

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Winter Fun Attractions & Events

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.

RAM: Sonic Disruptions: Buisch & Hogin Thru May 25, daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Thu. to 7 p.m. Beautiful yet bizarre landscapes and Rockford, IL 61101imagery 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.comof uneasy evocative with moments hilarity. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main St., (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Guided Winter Hikes Sat.-Sun. through March 29, 11 a.m. Discover winter beauty at Starved Rock State Park.

Starved Rock Lodge, Oglesby, (815) 220-7386, starvedrocklodge.com.

Four Icons March 1, 3-5 p.m. Doug Stivers, Chip Messiner and Trinadora Rocks perform music of Brenda Lee, Buddy Holly, Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison, Patsy Cline and John Denver.

Tickets/trinadora.com. or call (815) 979-1949.

Spring Creek UCC, (815) 877-2576.

‘Cry It Out’ March 5-20, Thu.-Sat. 7:30, Sat. 4 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. After a glamorous life as a corporate lawyer, Jessie finds herself hanging out in her backyard with other sleep-deprived new parents. Artists’ Ensemble (AE), Cheek Theatre, Rockford University, 5050 E. State St., (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org.

PaleoFest 2020 March 6-8. Prehistoric fun and learning for all ages. New research presented to adults by top scientists, family fun stations and workshops for children. Burpee Museum, 737 N. Main St., Rockford. Learn more at burpee.org.

‘Witness for the Prosecution’ March 6-14, Fri.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 & 7:30 p.m. The suspenseful Agatha Christie thriller in which Leonard Vole stands accused of murdering a rich widow. Winneshiek Players Theatre, 28 W. Clark St., Freeport, (815) 232-7023, winneshiekplayers.org.

RSO: Women Rock March 7, 7:30 p.m. Honoring female singers and songwriters who have changed Rock ‘n Roll, with the music of Carole King, Tina Turner, Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, Pat Benatar and Heart. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

Tastes & Tunes: One Human Band March 7, 7:30 p.m. Singer/songwriter Bryan Drewyor plays acoustic instruments that com-

Local singer Sophie Tucker performs March 7 during 'RSO: Women Rock' at the Coronado.

plement his original, soulful songs. Janesville Little Theatre, 906 W. Racine St., (608) 7564172‎, janesvilletheatre.org.

History of Sauk Nation & Black Hawk March 8, 2 p.m. Learn about the Saukenuk village near present-day Quad Cities, occupied before the Black Hawk War. Jarrett Prairie Ctr., (815) 234-8535, byronforestpreserve.com.

David Eisenrich March 9, 5:30 p.m. Featuring percussionist Eisenreich on the marimba. MPAC, Emerson House, 420 E. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9649713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Gospel Radio Awards March 9, 7 p.m. Hosted by Michelle Williams and Todd Dulaney, the show honors Mary Mary and Tye Tribbett. Performers include Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Travis Greene and more.

Heartland Community Church, 1280 S. Alpine Road, (815) 320-9005, soarradio.com.

Joe Bonamassa March 9, 8 p.m. Blues singer-songwriter and guitar great. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

Truman’s Ridge March 12, 7 p.m. Chicago-style bluegrass band. Katie’s Cup, 502 7th St., Rockford. Ticket info: charlotteswebofrockford.org.

Book Sale March 14, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Friends of Rockford Public Library host a 25-cent book sale at Hart Interim Library, 214 N. Church St. Learn more by calling (815) 966-2721. ❚

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March 4

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WDL

Creative Cuisine at Baci’s Kitchen

By Peggy Werner

S

tep inside Baci’s Kitchen, 2990 N. Perryville Road, (baci means “kiss” in Italian) and you’ll experience a clean, open, contemporary setting with lots of natural lighting. You’ll likely meet owner Nikko Castrogiovanni, who credits his father, Nick, and years of experience in Las Vegas kitchens, with helping him to hone his skills.

“I just fell in love with working in the kitchen and being creative,” Castrogiovanni says. He created every item on his menu, for breakfast, lunch, dinner and small bites and drinks any time of day.

Weekly specials include items like a 14 oz. New York strip steak topped with garlic herb butter and served with mashed potatoes and gravy or mostaccioli for $19; Halibut, grilled and topped with mango salsa and served with broccoli, zucchini and carrots for $27; and

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. $$ Gene’s Irish Pub  Casual/Irish Pub. American and Irish fare.

Over 21 only. 1025 5th Ave., Rockford, (815) 977-4365. LD T-Th 11am-10:30pm, F-Sat to midnight. $$.

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.

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Chicken Florentine, grilled chicken topped with mushroom sauce and spinach, served on a bed of fettuccine with garlic olive oil, for $14.95.

Popular regular entrees include Baci Salmon, a pan-seared filet topped with sautéed radishes, carrots, tomatoes and orange slices, served with coconut rice; Baci’s Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti, stuffed with ricotta and spinach, and topped with marinara and fresh mozzarella; and Lemon Chicken, freshly baked and served with garlic & olive oil fettucine.

Protein bowls are made with chicken, salmon, steak, tuna, shrimp or vegetables and include rice, quinoa, vegetables and homemade salad dressing or sauce.

The large breakfast menu includes weekly specials like a calzone stuffed with hollandaise sauce, hash browns, ham, bacon, sausage, Cheddar cheese and eggs.

Rock Valley College students and staff receive a 20 percent discount and

daily and weekly discounts, specials and coupons are available at baciskitchen. com.

Each Friday and Saturday night from 6 to 9 p.m., popular local artists like the Vince Chiarelli Band, Trinadora, That Gurl and Pistol Pete perform.

Baci’s Kitchen opens every day at 8 a.m. It closes on Sundays at 8 p.m.; on Mon.-Wed. at 9 p.m.; and Thurs.-Sat. at 10 p.m. Walk-in diners are welcome, but reservations are encouraged. Call (815) 329-6922. ❚

In the Spotlight 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. $-$$.

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.-8 p.m.

Sun. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekend brunch. Large menu, Swedish pancakes specialty. $$ ❚

March 4 To advertise call 815-316-2300

D

Dos Reales

os Reales, 5855 E. State St., Rockford, has been serving up authentic Mexican fare and signature margaritas, along with some American fare, since 1998.

Its recently updated menu features a burrito cheesesteak and chimichangas, along with newer items such as torta Mexicana, a Mexican style of sandwich filled with grilled chicken or steak; sopes Mexicanos, a traditional Mexican dish served with rice and beans; and molletes, a traditional Mexican meal with toasted bread covered in refried beans and grilled steak. Dos Reales offers glutenfree options, and dishes are mild unless a guest requests spicy.

“We prepare everything from scratch and purchase our products from local sources,” says Jose Gonzalez, Dos Reales’s manager.

Dos Reales is open Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fri.-Sat. until 10:30 p.m. ❚

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March 4

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March 4 To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y M

Do You Have Adequate Insurance

By Peggy Werner

W

hen Insurance Agent Danna Krischke isn’t teaching fitness classes at Peak Sports Club, she’s across the street helping people get financially fit.

Having started in the insurance business 15 years ago, she recently started working for State Farm and opened her own office at 6735 Broadcast Parkway on Dec. 1.

“I like getting to know people and helping them have the protection they’re looking for to feel secure,” she says. “To me, it’s not just about selling policies, it’s about customizing a program that works for each person.”

Careful thought should be given to coverage selection before a problem arises, she says.

“One of the big mistakes people make is not having enough coverage and then when an accident happens, thinking

there is nothing that can be done to them.

But people will fight back and lawyers will garnish wages, tap into your home equity, and come after anything you have,” she says.

Having worked for other insurance companies, she says the move to State Farm is great for her clients.

“State Farm is the No. 1 provider of home and auto insurance policies and they handle claims quickly and fairly,” she says. People are often surprised to learn that State Farm also offers banking products including checking and savings accounts, and other types of insurance for health, short- and long-term disability, small businesses, worker’s compensation, flood, and pets.

Insurance is a complicated business and people are not always aware of what they need and what’s available, she says.

And everyone has a different comfort level with the amount of coverage they

want and how much deductible they can handle.

“My job is to educate people, so when they walk out the door, they not only know what they’ve bought, they know why they bought a policy and what it means to them. I don’t make decisions for people; they decide what they want.

She has taught fitness classes across the street at Peak for 17 years.

Krischke is licensed to work in Illinois and Wisconsin. ❚

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March 4

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March 4 To advertise call 815-316-2300

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Issue 1