Smart Living Weekly February 7, 2018

Sm mart a r t L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit 95¢ • Feb. 7, 2018

™

Right in Our Region

Midway Village Recalls the 1960s See Page 16

Sweet Valentine Cookies Know Your Window Terms Protect Your ID at Tax Time New Exhibit at Rockford Art Museum

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Recalling the 1960s at Midway Village Museum Your Home .................................................. ..... 11 What to Know About Buying Windows Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Love Your Enemies Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Indulge Your Sweet Side Your Outing .......................................................19 New Exhibit at Rockford Art Museum Your Technology .................................... .......... 21 Save Money on Tech Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 What to Know About Your Water Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Dos Reales Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26 Your Money .............................................. ......... 29 Protect Your Identity at Tax Time

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Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

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

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Recalling the ’60s

I

was born into that tumultuous decade and remember it through the eyes of a child.

Downtown Rockford was exciting because of all the stores. We bought ice cream sundaes at a drug store soda fountain and Mom always gave me her maraschino cherry.

We lived in Loves Park and shopped at Union Hall, Weise’s at North Towne Mall or Meadow Mart, which had a great toy store. Its owner gave us new, bendable-leg Barbie dolls in exchange for straight-legged ones.

The stores and restaurants were more special than today’s because most were locally owned. For big occasions, we dined at the Mayflower, The Manor, Pink Pony or the Wagon Wheel. Top Hat was our after-church go-to. Mostly we made meals at home with groceries Mom got at “the Pig” (Piggly Wiggly) or Pacemaker at Harlem & N. 2nd St. Always rumbling in the background were tensions about Vietnam, pollution, womens’ lib, voting rights, civil rights and a rising drug culture. My sister Linda was teaching high school in Washington D.C. then, so we worried as that city burned in riots. We also fretted terribly about my brother Rick, who joined the Army rather than risk the draft.

Living through that era made me highly fearful of unnecessary wars. It also made me appreciate hard-won progress toward cleaner air and water and fairer treatment for women and minorities. It’s painful for me to witness erosion of these advances because I recall life before them; we don’t want to go back there.

When I bought a home in the 1990s, I was horrified to discover the property’s previous Harlem Hills covenant forbidding sale to “any person other than the white or Caucasian race.” A copy of that covenant is part of the 1960s Special Exhibit at Midway Village.

This small but powerful exhibit evokes both carefree memories and solemn conversation about the progress we have and haven’t made in 50 years. I hope you’ll enjoy it as I did.

Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Y H  G

Understand Window Terms Before You Buy

By Janine Pumilia, managing editor

P

art of smart living is doing basic homework before you do a major project like window replacement. Two windows that look similar may be very different in quality. Better-quality windows save you money in the long run by reducing energy costs to heat and cool your home.

If you’re confused about the terms used to describe window efficiency, you’re not alone. Here, Window World of Rockford owner Scott Williamson explains terms you may encounter when you’re “window shopping.” Learn more during the April 29 grand opening of the newly expanded Window World Showroom at 6010 Forest Hills Road, Loves Park.

R-Value: “This is a measurement that refers to the amount of heat lost through a window’s glass panes,” Wil-

liamson explains. “A higher R-value means higher efficiency and an R-value rating of 3 is very good.”

U-Factor or U-Value: “This refers to the level of heat a window loses – how well it insulates,” he says. The lower the U-factor, the greater a window’s resistance to heat flow and the better its insulating properties. The U.S. Department of Energy recommends a U-Value of 0.25 or less for superior energy performance.

Low-E: A Low-emissive window redirects heated air back into your home.

“A very thin metallic coating applied to the pane traps heat, reducing the burden of your furnace,” Williamson explains.

“This is the newest improvement to energy-efficient windows and complements good U and R values. It also keeps an air-conditioned home cooler in summertime.”

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UV Factor: UV rays from the sun can bleach out your carpet and furniture.

“A window with high ultra-violate blockage is recommended,” says Williamson.

Williamson worked 10 years in the window replacement industry before he and wife Jen established the Window World of Rockford franchise in 2005.

The company serves residential customers in the Illinois counties of Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson, McHenry, DeKalb and LaSalle. Learn more at windowworldofrockford.com. ❚

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I  W

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.

Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.”

– The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Love Your Enemies

T

he following is an excerpt from a sermon delivered 60 years ago by The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King in Montgomery, Ala. Read or listen to the entire sermon at ipoet.com. The context is Matthew 5:43-44, when Jesus says: “Ye have heard that it has been said, ‘Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.’ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”

“Men must see that force begets force, hate begets hate, toughness begets toughness. And it is all a descending spiral, ultimately ending in destruction for all and everybody. Somebody must have sense enough and morality enough to cut off the chain of hate and the chain of evil in the universe. And you do that by love… “… hate distorts the personality of the hater …You begin hating somebody, and you will begin to do irrational things.

You can’t see straight when you hate. You can’t walk straight when you hate. You can’t stand upright. Your vision is distorted. There is nothing more tragic than to see an individual whose heart is filled with hate. He comes to the point that he becomes a pathological case.

“For the person who hates, the beautiful becomes ugly and the ugly becomes beautiful. For the person who hates, the good becomes bad and the bad becomes good. For the person who hates, the true becomes false and the false becomes true. “…Never hate, because it ends up in tragic, neurotic responses … And modern psychology is calling on us now to love.

But long before modern psychology came into being, the world’s greatest psychologist who walked around the hills of Galilee told us to love…” ❚ 12

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Show Off Your Sweet Side T

reat family, friends and co-workers this Valentine’s Day to impressive cookies. Start with your favorite roll-out cookie recipe or simply dress up storebought ones with icing details.

For more recipes, baking tips and inspiration, visit wilton.com.

Stackable Ombre Heart Cookies Ingredients: Favorite roll-out cookie recipe Royal icing (recipe on wilton.com) Rose Icing Color Heart Micro Mini Icing Decorations Preparation: Prepare and roll out cookie dough following recipe directions. Use 3 smallest cutters from 4-piece heart nesting cookie cutter set to cut out shapes. Bake and cool cookies.

Divide royal icing into three equal portions, and tint 3 shades of rose. Thin a portion of each shade following recipe directions. Use

Y K

tip 3 and full-strength tinted icing to outline cookies. Use thinned tinted icing in cut decorating bag to fill in cookies; gently tap to smooth icing. Let dry overnight.

Use icing to attach cookies, stacking largest to smallest; place icing decoration on top.

Scalloped Heart Cookies

Favorite roll-out cookie recipe Ready-To-Use White Creamy Decorator Icing Icing Colors: Burgundy, Red-Red and Christmas Red Preparation: Prepare and roll out dough following recipe directions. Use largest cutter from the 4-piece heart nesting cookie cutter set to cut out shape. Bake and cool cookies.

Divide icing into four equal portions. Tint one of each portion light burgundy, dark burgundy and combination of red-red/Christmas red. Reserve last portion white.

Starting from top edge of heart, use tip 102

and icing in dark burgundy, light burgundy, red and white to pipe V-shaped groups of two petals, one piped from left and one from right, to create row of petals in alternating colors. Repeat with second row between petals in first row. Continue to repeat pattern until cookies are covered. ❚

Source: Family Features

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R  O R

New Midway Village Exhibit: The 1960s

By Janine Pumilia hen the 1960s began, American women spent hours each week ironing their dresses and husbands’ shirts while Elvis Presley played on the radio.

By decade’s end, many had traded in their irons for loose-fitting “flower child” outfits or mini-skirts (or at least something made of no-iron polyester) and they were listening to Bob Dylan.

“Big ideas of any time period are reflected in the fashion, music and culture

W

Wildly popular Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy visited Rockford in 1960.

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of the times, and you really saw this in the 1960s,” says Kim Ortega, Midway Village Museum assistant curator, who put together this exhibit in conjunction with the museum’s Connecting with History: 1960s lecture series. “Early on, there was this ‘Leave it to Beaver’ look in fashion and culture, but it took a very different turn by decade’s end.”

The three-part 1960s lecture series, sponsored by AARP, begins Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. with “The Songs They Are-a-Changin’: Music of the 1960s,” presented by Amber Bruns. It will survey rock, Motown and country music, with discussion about The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Bob Dylan and others.

The series continues Feb. 25, at 2 p.m., with “JFK, Rockford and the Nation,” presented by Dr. Catherine Forslund of Rockford University.

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On March 11, at 2 p.m., Dr. Jennifer Langworthy, of Rockford University, will look at “Fashion of the 1960s” and its broader artistic and cultural context.

Learn more about making reservations at midwayvillage.com.

The 1960s saw a decade of rapid societal change as the idyllic post-war 1950s era ceded to conflicting values on war, race, wealth, and societal norms.

The special exhibit examines some of the major events that occurred during the

R  O R 1960s and how these impacted the Rockford area.

Artifacts will be displayed in the Special Exhibit Room through the end of February and the museum hopes to make a permanent display from it in the future.

If you have artifacts that represent the later decades of the 1900s, consider donating them to the museum.

“The museum does a great job of representing Rockford in the 1800s through the 1920s and ’30s, but we also want to build collections for more recent eras of history,” says Ortega. “Family stories and examples of national trends that impacted us locally are very important.”

Some who stroll the 1960s exhibit will chuckle at familiar memories it evokes, such as the aluminum Christmas tree, TV shows like “Gunsmoke,” date nights spent at the River Lane Drive-In and, of course, those polyester pantsuits.

Young visitors may not recognize some ordinary items like a turntable record player or Melmac dishes.

Other items in the exhibit invite more sobering reflection, such as dog tags worn by SP4 Michael Dagnon of Loves Park when he served in Vietnam.

Too, there’s a memory of the Rev. Eldridge H.E. Gilbert of Pilgrim Baptist Church, who, along with The Rev. Francis P. McNally of St. Patrick’s Church and Isadore Behr, a Jewish businessman, went to the Nelson Hotel in downtown Rockford expecting to be served dinner at the previously “whites only” restaurant.

The threesome was served dinner and another barrier was broken.

There are also photos and recollections about a visit to Rockford by

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then-candidate John F. Kennedy, a future president who would be deeply mourned just a few years later.

Ortega, 26, enjoyed learning about Rockford’s mid-century cultural pioneers as she pulled together the exhibit.

“It’s always interesting to see how local people broke tradition and stood up to say ‘this is wrong,’” she says.

She found a 1960 Department of Labor report showing that a man working as a manufacturing accounting clerk earned $103 per week; a woman in the same position earned $78.50. The situation improved only slightly after the Fair Pay Act of 1963 was passed.

Ortega earned her Master’s in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University and holds a history undergrad degree. Her ongoing 1960s research includes a recent interview with a former Black Panther member from Rockford.

“History keeps moving forward and we want to represent as much of the local experience as we can,” she says. ❚

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Y O

Laura and John Fraser Collection Opens at RAM R

ockford Art Museum (RAM) will open a new feature exhibition, The Laura and John Fraser Collection, on Friday, Feb. 9, with a preview reception for museum members from 5 to 7 p.m. It will include a gallery walk with the Frasers, followed by a free public opening from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at RAM, 711 N. Main St. The exhibition remains on view through May 28. The Laura and John Fraser Collection surveys one of the most recent major gifts to the RAM Permanent Collection in its entirety. The Fraser Col-

Ellen Pettengell, Untitled (Mark & John) 1981.

lection is a compilation of 122 contemporary paintings, prints, drawings, mixed media, sculptures and ephemera by an international roster of 57 artists, including several local and regional artists.

“We’re happy to share this art with the city of Rockford and visitors to the museum,” the Frasers wrote. “We hope these pieces are a welcome learning activity for young and old, and that visitors find something new and exciting when viewing the work.”

Artists represented include John Andrews, Anne Bach, Nelleke Beltjens, Steven Beyer, Gerd Borkelmann, Betty Cleeland, Jeffery Cote de Luna, Gordon Dorn, Jacob El Hanani, Heide Fasnacht, Lynn Fischer-Carlson, Joyce Gelick, Dorothee Joachim, Vadim Katznelson, Wayne Kimball, Barbara Koenen, Robert McCauley, Erik Neff, Bob Nugent, John Pittman, Katy Pittman, Gordon Powell, Richard Rezac, Brigitte Riesebrodt, Cherri Rittenhouse, Yuko Sakurai, Rebecca Shore, Eric Snell, Buzz Spector,

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Erik Neff, Pier, 2011.

Mario Trejo, Richard Tuttle, and more.

Concurrent exhibitions on view at RAM include the 77th Young Artist Show (opens March 4) and additional selections from the Rockford Art Museum Collection.

The Laura and John Fraser Collection is organized by RAM and curated by RAM Curator Carrie Johnson. ❚

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Y T

How to Stretch Your Budget a Little Further

By Peggy Werner

I

f you’re thinking it would be nice to have a little extra spending money about now, here’s a tip: take a close look at what you’re paying for tech services.

“Most people pay too much,” says Charles Zambrano, owner of EZ Satellite & Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St., Suite B, in Loves Park. “People are paying too much for phone, internet and television services by using just one company, and they often pay too much for home security protection, too,” he says.

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

Sometimes people are tricked by promotional offers that may jump up dramatically in price after a special offer ends.

“You should know exactly what you’re getting so that it doesn’t cost you a lot of money down the road.”

Zambrano also finds himself help-

ing residential and business customers to set up cost-effective but reliable security systems. He offers the highly rated Protect America home security service for as little as $19.95 per month.

The family-owned business opened in 2011. It’s a full-service retailer for satellite TV and Internet, and can also help people to acquire cable services.

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.

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

Zambrano can help those who drop their TV cable service to set up Sling TV for $20 a month. Sling offers 30 channels

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of live TV including CNN and ESPN. Sometimes a customer simply wants a TV antenna set up in order to receive local TV station programming including Chicago Cubs baseball games through WGN. Zambrano is happy to help them.

And, through DISH, he also offers the Amazon Echo Dot, a hands-free, voicecontrolled device that uses the same farfield voice recognition as Amazon Echo.

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

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Y H

What to Know About Your Water System

By Anna Girgenti

I

f there’s one thing you shouldn’t have to worry about, it’s your water. Having clean, accessible water in your home or business involves proper installation and maintenance, according to the experts at Affordable Water, 214 W. Menomonie St., Belvidere.

“The biggest mistake people make with their in-home water systems is misapplication of equipment,” says Samantha Strobel, general manager at Affordable Water. Without proper installation, your water system is susceptible to permanent damage.

Installing a water treatment system is more complicated than many people think. The slightest mistake may result in hard water, staining or the introduction of bacteria and viruses. Misapplication due to inadequate installation can ruin both the equipment and the water. If you’re thinking about installing your own water

system, you may be putting your system at higher risk of malfunction. Consider calling a professional water company to handle the entire process for you.

“We specialize in water purification equipment and chemical-free systems.

We also offer a complete lineup of equipment for rental, leasing, residential, commercial accounts and more,” says Stro-

bel. The family-owned business offers more than 35 years of experience, with certified service technicians.

“People commonly run into issues with their water softeners when they’re not keeping up with maintenance or when the system isn’t programmed properly,” says Strobel. Some types of water treatment systems need maintenance more often, and some require regular professional maintenance. Your water system will last longer if you rely on a company that can service all your needs.

“Affordable Water is an accredited business for the Better Business Bureau,” says Strobel. “Consumers looking to install or repair a home water system should check with the Better Business Bureau to know they’re doing business with a reputable company. ,” says Strobel.

Affordable Water is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (815) 544-0918 for more information. ❚

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Y F Autumn just might be the best time of year. The sun is a little lower (and prettier), the air is a little crisper (and cleaner) and the leaves cascade down in colorful splendor. This fall, spend some quality time in the fun, nearby, value-packed Rockford Region. See stunning fall colors at

Real. Original.

SM

Anderson Japanese Gardens, the finest in North America. Visit beautifully spacious Rock Cut State Park. Don’t miss Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, with more than 500 different species of trees, shrubs and vines, all

ILLINOIS, USA

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.

March 15, 2018

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau NWQ_fall.indd 1

102 N. Main St.

CHICAGO FLOWER &

GARDEN SHOW

$69 per person

(includes transportation)

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

Murder at the Prop Table Thru Feb. 11, Fri.-Sat., 7 p.m., Sun., 2 p.m. Actors, playwrites, a stage manager Rockford, 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com and aIL recipe for disaster with a splash of love, suspicion and one dead body. JPAC, (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

RCCA: Yamato – Drummers of Japan Feb. 8, 7:30 p.m. This high-energy troupe of performers creates and presents original compositions, captivating the distinctive, exhilarating sound of taiko drums.

CPAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

'Don’t Drink the Water' Feb. 9-11 & 16-18, Fri.-Sat. 7 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. One hiding priest, a family of tourists running from the Communist police, a botched spy exchange and an incompetent son provide the entertainment in this Woody Allen farce. Main Street Players, Community Building of Boone County, 111 W. 1st St., Belvidere, (800) 741-2963.

RSO: Classics 4: Beethoven Feb. 10, 7:30 p.m. Featuring Simón Gómez on percussion, with music from Prokofiev, Beethoven, James MacMillan and Kamyar Mohajer. Rockford Symphony Orchestra, CPAC, Rockford. Tickets: (815) 9650049, rockfordsymphony.com.

Chocolate Sundae Sunday Feb. 11, 2-4 p.m. Make a sundae while enjoying the tunes of Auburn’s Jazz Band; then make a Valentine or craft. Discovery Center Museum, Rockford, (815) 9636769, discoverycentermuseum.org.

Space is limited.

Call to register!

PAW Patrol Live! Race to the Rescue Feb. 14, 10 a.m. & 6 p.m. Based on the hit preschool series, everyone’s favorite pups come to the stage for a high-energy musical adventure. CPAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

815.387.9122

Justin Moore Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m. The Arkansas native is entertaining coast to coast with his “Hell on a Highway Tour.” BMO Harris Bank

Annabelle Johns enjoys Chocolate Sunday Sundae at Discovery Center. This year's event will be on Feb.11.

Center, Rockford, (815) 968-5222, thebmoharrisbankcenter.com.

The Wonder Bread Years Feb. 17, 7:30 p.m. Former Seinfeld writer Pat Hazell stars in this comedic salute to baby boomers. JPAC, Janesville, (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org.

Snow Viewing Tea Ceremony Weekend Feb. 17 & 18. Anderson Japanese Gardens will host three traditional Japanese snow viewing tea ceremonies Feb. 17 and a sweets-making workshop Feb 18.

Registration is required. Learn more at AndersonGardens.org/tea-gatherings.

Winner’s Recital Feb. 18, 3 p.m. Performances by young musicians who have won the Chandler Starr Miller Scholarship Competition.

MPAC, Mendelssohn Hall, Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Richard III Feb. 22-25, Thu.-Fri. 7:30 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. The tale of a ruthless, power-crazed Machiavellian who lies and cheats his way to the highest seat in the land through charm, deception and force of presence.

Maddox Theatre, Rockford University, (815) 226-4100, rockford.edu. ❚

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Dos Reales

By Paul Anthony Arco

D

(Samantha Ryan photos)

os Reales, 5855 E. State St., Rockford, has been serving up authentic Mexican fare since 1998, along with some American favorites and signature margaritas, in an intimate yet fun atmosphere.

Dos Reales features several Mexican signature items on its recently updated menu: burrito cheese steak, chimichangas and appetizers such as guacamole ranchero. Newer dishes include 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. There are nontraditional dishes, too, such as chicken wings, burgers and french fries.

“There’s a misconception that all Mexican food is hot,” says Jose Gonzalez, Dos Reales’s manager. “All of our dishes are mild unless guests request them to be spicy.

We prepare everything from scratch and Jose Gonzalez purchase our products from local sources.”

Dos Reales offers gluten-free options and has always used fresh, preservative-free corn tortillas, chips and vegetable oil in its cooking.

Recently, Dos Reales underwent a major renovation – its parking lot was repaved, the main dining room was repainted, new flooring and a new roof were installed and the kitchen received extensive upgrades.

There’s a new bar, where customers gather for what Gonzalez calls the “best margaritas in town.” Drink specials are popular on Monday and Tuesday evenings. Live music is featured every other Friday.

The main dining room seats 100, and the back dining area can be reserved for private events. Carry-out and catering are also offered. Dos Reales is open Sun.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and Fri.Sat. until 10:30 p.m. ❚

In the Spotlight

Top Picks for Local Restaurants Arturo’s Mexican Restaurant  Casual/Authentic Mexican. 107 tic dishes, lunch menu. 5855 E. State St., Rockford, (815) W. Main St., Poplar Grove, Ill., (815) 765-1144. LD M 11am-8pm, 227-4979. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 10:30pm. $-$$.

T-Th to 9pm, F to 10pm, Sun noon-8pm. $.

Fresco at the Gardens.  Casual/American Café. Fresh, loBaci’s Kitchen  Fast-Casual American and Italian specialties, cal-sourced ingredients. 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, dine-in, carry-out. 2990 N. Perryville Road, inside A Perryville (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$ Place. (815) 329-6922. Open 7 days/wk. at 8 a.m. BkLD. ComGiordano’s  Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, plete menu at Baciskitchen.com. sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815) Big Papa’s Barbecue  BBQ Specialties. 5811 Forest Hills Road, 398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm.

Rockford, (815) 904-6612. LD M-Th 11am-9pm, F-Sat 11 amGreenFire  Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. Sea10pm, Sun 11am-7pm. $. sonal cuisine; local-sourced ingredients; gourmet market; Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, South Be- live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) loit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. 316-3473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$.

Cannova’s Italian Cuisine  Casual. 1101 W. Empire St., Free- Hearthrock Cafe  Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, port, (815) 233-0032. D T-Th, Sun 5-9pm; F-Sat 10pm. $-$$. breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Ciao Bella Ristorante Upscale-Casual/Italian-American. Dai- Rockford, (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8amly specials. 6500 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill. (815) 654- 3pm. $-$$.

9900. LD M-F 11 a.m.-9 p.m., Sat. 5-10 p.m. $$

Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Costa’s Ristorante  Upscale-Casual/Italian. 133 Blackhawk Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am-10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Dr., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-4707. LD Daily 4pm. $-$$.

Cucina di Rosa  Italian Bistro/Bakery 1620 Bell School Road, Taco Betty’s  Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rockford, (815) 395-5040. BkLD. Homemade gelato, baked Rockford, (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. goods, pasta, frittatas, more. M-Sat 7am-9pm. $$

Thrive Café  Casual/Cafe. Salads, wraps, sandwiches, smoothies, cold-pressed juices. Inside Peak Fitness, 4401 Peak Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant  Casual/Mexican. AuthenDrive, Loves Park, Ill. BkLD M-F 6am-8pm, Sat 8am-2pm. ❚

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To advertise call 815-316-2300

Merrill & Houston's Steak Joint

L

ocated at 500 Pleasant St., Beloit, inside the Ironworks Hotel, the restaurant features mouthwatering steaks, along with a full-service menu of fish, chicken and and seafood selections.

Named after the men whose 1858 foundry became Beloit Corp., Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint celebrates Beloit's rich industrial history.

Many of its components are constructed with repurposed materials salvaged from historic buildings. Leather seats, hardwood floors and many historical photographs lining the walls give the space a rustic feel.

Merrill & Houston's is available for private and corporate events. The main dining room seats 120 and the banquet room can accommodate 200 guests.

Merrill & Houston’s Steak Joint is open daily at 4 p.m. ❚

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To advertise call 815-316-2300

Y M

4 Tips to Protect Your Identity at Tax Time T ax season is a busy time for everyone, including cybercriminals who use the flurry of activity to swindle sensitive personal information from unsuspecting victims.

According to research from Symantec, cybercriminals launched more than 1 million web attacks against internet users every day in 2015. Here are four things you can do to help protect yourself and your identity from cybercriminals.

1. File your taxes as early as possible. The sooner you file, the harder it will be for criminals to file taxes on your behalf for a refund, which a thief can do with only your date of birth and Social Security Number. If you want some extra protection this tax season, consider contacting the IRS to see if you’re eligible for an Identity Protection PIN. It’s a sixdigit code that is assigned to you by the IRS to help prevent misuse of your SSN

on fraudulent federal income tax returns.

2. If you’re filing your taxes online, use a secure Wi-Fi connection or a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN is an easy-to-use technology that ensures a secure connection.

3. Remember that the IRS only communicates through the U.S. Postal Service. They will never request personal and/or financial information through email, text messages or social media sites. If you receive a letter in the mail and you’re not sure if it’s legitimate, use the IRS lookup tool to find your letter:

Tell them you saw it in ...

www.irs.gov/individuals/irs-notice-orletter-for-individual-filers 4. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS, ask for their name, badge number and callback number. Report the call to the U.S. Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 1-800-366-4484 and provide this information to confirm the authenticity of the caller’s request.

If the caller isn’t willing to provide this information, hang up and report the incident to the IRS. If you believe you’ve been the victim of an IRS scam, you may also report this to www.treasury.gov/tigta/contact_report_scam.shtml. It’s up to you to protect your identity every single day. ❚ (Source: Brandpoint)

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Smart Living Weekly

Feb. 7

To advertise call 815-316-2300

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