Smart Living Weekly May 1, 2019

Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • May 1, 2019

™

Right in Our Region

Restaurant Week in Lake Geneva

See Page 16

Benefits of Home Automation Tips for a Smoother Remodel Learn About Invasive Species Springtime Bliss at Starved Rock There’s Music on the Menu!

FREE WIN!

4 Tickets to Nicholas Conservatory

See Pg. 28 Details

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

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You Deserve Dale’s Unsurpassed Service Dale Williams, Gambino Realtors Here’s What Dale’s Customers Have to Say:

“Great service!”

Garren & Khaylan Rainer 815-519-2243 • dwilliams@gogambino.com See more of my testimonials at my website: GoGambino.com/dwilliams

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Restaurant Week at Lake Geneva Your Home ................................................... ..... 11 Tips for a Smoother Remodel Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 Revolutionary Jesus Your Kitchen ......................................................15 Light & Tasty Blueberry-Pecan Scones Your Community ...............................................21 Volunteer May 4 with National Land Institute Your Outing ............................................. .......... 19 Springtime Bliss at Starved Rock State Park Your Tech .................................................. ......... 20 The BeneďŹ ts of Home Automation Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Walk-in Chiropractic Now Available Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Cucina di Rosa: Music on the Menu Your Money .............................................. ......... 29 Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Smart L iving Weekly ™

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes

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 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 2019 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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May Day, May Day!

T

oday is May Day, celebrated with maypole dances, flowers and sweets.

It’s also International Workers Day, so named in 1904 to recognize the Haymarket Affair of May 4, 1886, when a bomb exploded during an otherwise peaceful labor rally in Chicago at Haymarket Square. Several people were killed, including police officers.

In the late 1800s, laborers were pushing back against 100-hour work weeks, child labor and dangerous workplaces. A half million workers across the U.S. had gone on strike and chanted “8-Hour Day With No Cut in Pay” on May 1, 1886. Industry titans were panicked.

The May 4 Haymarket bombing gave these titans and their partner politicians the excuse they needed to crack down hard on labor. They rounded up hundreds of labor leaders before arresting eight, despite a lack of evidence connecting them to the bombing. The jury, stacked with industry sympathizers, found the defendants guilty. Four were hanged; one killed himself. The labor movement stalled and the 8-hour workday didn’t become U.S. law for another 54 years.

Today, the Haymarket Affair is widely regarded as a gross miscarriage of justice.

It’s therefore a bit ironic that May 1 also is Law Day, so proclaimed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1958, who said, “In a very real sense, the world no longer has a choice between force and law. If civilization is to survive, it must choose the rule of law.” Ever since, U.S. presidents have issued Law Day proclamations praising the Rule of Law and Separation of Powers.

Last year’s proclamation read in part: “…The Framers of our Constitution created a government with distinct and independent branches – the Legislative, the Executive, and the Judicial – because they recognized the risks of concentrating power in one authority. As James Madison wrote, ‘The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands ... may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.’”

As the Haymarket travesty revealed, the Rule of Law is only as good as those who uphold it in good faith.

We’re all its guardians.

Happy May Day! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Y H  G

Tips for a Smooth Kitchen or Bath Remodel

By Janine Pumilia

T

od Chapman, owner of C & H Design Center, has coordinated a lot of kitchen and bath remodels during the past 10 years and has some advice to share.

First, be wary of do-it-yourself projects.

“We often have to go in and fix problems people created for themselves by taking on more than they really knew how to do,” says Chapman. “They’re trying to save money, but it ends up costing them more. Take advantage of the knowledge and experience people like us can offer.”

Chapman’s 6,000-foot showroom at 6506 Logan Ave., in Belvidere, Ill., contains all the elements needed for any size job, from design help to cabinets, counters, tile, hardware, fixtures, shower systems, flooring and more. C & H Design serves customers within a 65-mile radius, including Rockford, Freeport, southern

Wisconsin and Chicago suburbs.

“Some people think they’ll save a lot of money buying from big-box home centers but don’t realize those materials are often rejects or factory seconds that may not be great quality,” says Chapman. “Our pricing is comparable to home centers, but we carry a bigger selection of quality products at all price points. Plus, you don’t have to stand there and figure out all the aspects of the job yourself.”

Chapman is glad he can offer a onestop experience to customers because he knows how many phone calls and headaches can be involved when coordinating a job.

“Someone has to do all the scheduling for the various subcontractors,” he says. “We can handle everything so that you only have one interface, or we’ll work with you if you want to use a particular subcontractor. When you do a re-

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model with us, you’ll get a schedule of who is going to be there, on which day, doing what.”

Chapman advises people to make sure they feel comfortable with the contractor they hire and to be sure all subcontractors are licensed and insured. Ask to see photos of completed jobs and check references. Businesses with longevity and a local street address are more likely to be reliable.

Learn more at candhdesigncenter. com or call (815) 547-8453. ❚

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I  W

Revolutionary Jesus

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

– I Samuel 16:7

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hen the Messiah came, he didn’t issue Kingdom Invitations only to the Who’s Who of his society; he issued them to everyone. He went out of his way to speak to children, lepers, women, the disabled, Roman soldiers, tax collectors and other people despised or ignored by his society – even the dreaded Samaritans.

Then he told followers to do likewise, “unto the uttermost parts of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) This was revolutionary behavior and we still struggle to accept it today. Tragically, devaluing certain people is engrained in human cultures, even our own, despite a charter that declares all men to be “created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”

It wasn’t easy for Christ’s most avid early ambassadors to accept that all people are loved by God, either. Paul, the son of a Pharisee, from the elite Tribe of Benjamin and elite city of Tarsus, gave up his social status and wealth to preach Christ to people he once gladly would have killed. He deliberately changed his thinking to conform to Christ’s, which could not have been easy.

And, he scolded other leaders when they failed to view people through God’s eyes and succumbed to peer pressure.

“When Peter came to Antioch, I challenged him to his face, because he was wrong. Peter ate with the non-Jewish people until some Jewish people sent from James came to Antioch. When they arrived, Peter stopped eating with those who weren’t Jewish, and he separated himself from them.

He was afraid of the Jews. So Peter was a hypocrite, as were the other Jewish believers who joined with him …” Galations 2:1113 (NCV), Following Christ means conforming our thinking to God’s, no matter what.

Romans 12:2: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.” ❚ – Janine Pumilia

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Y K

Light & Tasty Blueberry-Pecan Scones W

ake up the family with the smell of blueberry-pecan scones baking in the oven.

Step 1

Ingredients

Step 2

1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup sugar 2 TSP grated lemon zest 1 TSP vanilla extract 1 large egg 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 TBS baking powder 1/2 TSP salt 3 TBS chilled butter, cut into small pieces 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries 1/4 cup chopped pecans Cooking spray 1 large egg, lightly beaten 2 TBS sugar (to sprinkle over scone before baking)

Preheat oven to 375°.

Combine milk, sugar, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and egg in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Cut in butter with a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Gently fold in blueberries and pecans. Add milk mixture, stirring just until moist (dough will be sticky).

Step 3Turn dough out onto a floured surface; pat dough into an 8-inch

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circle. Cut dough into 8-10 wedges, then place the dough wedges on a coated baking sheet. Brush egg over dough wedges; sprinkle evenly with 2 tablespoons sugar. Bake scones at 375° for 18 minutes or until golden.

Serve warm.

Recipe adapted from Cooking Light. Source: Family Features ❚

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R  O R

Lake Geneva’s Restaurant Week Returns

By Lindsey Gapen, managing editor

W

hen you imagine Wisconsin, you oftentimes picture beer, cheese and brats. But every year since 2015, Lake Geneva has hosted Restaurant Week to showcase the area’s expanded palette of unique, savory and creative cuisine.

“We were farm to table before it was hip,” says Stephanie Klett, president and CEO of VISIT Lake Geneva. “The Lake Geneva area has some of the best dining establishments in the United States, and Restaurant Week is going to give people a chance to sample that.”

From June 1-9, Restaurant Week features specially priced, multi-course menus at 23 participating restaurants in the Lake Geneva area. Fixed breakfast menus are $8; two-course lunches are $10; and three-course dinners are $25/$35. All 23 restaurants participate for the full nine days.

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The restaurants run the gamut from upscale dining with a view to casual tavern-style dining.

“If there’s ever been that restaurant that you wanted to try, but you didn’t know if it was affordable, or if it would be your kind of thing, this is the perfect week to try it out,” Klett says. “And, since you get two or three courses, if you try something that your palate finds unusual, you know there’s another course coming. It really is a win-win.”

Klett promises that visitors will feel full, after multiple delicious courses, during Restaurant Week. She encourages diners to stroll part of Geneva Lake’s 21mile lakeshore path after finishing their meals.

“That’s really one of the things Lake Geneva is famous for – it’s so unique,” she says. “The path brings you all around

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Geneva Lake, where you’re literally walking past history.”

Sites on the path include the Morton Salt Mansion, the Wrigley Estate and the Maytag Mansion.

“All of these folks built these incredible mansions after the Chicago Fire, and you get to basically walk through their backyard,” Klett says. “So you’ll definitely be able to exercise off anything you’ve eaten.”

While Restaurant Week allows chefs

R  O R

to display their culinary prowess and creativity, the week also is about promoting local charities. Each year, Lake Geneva Country Meats donates $5,000 to the top nonprofit that diners voted for during Restaurant Week.

“Wherever you dine, when they bring you your check, there will also be a ballot you can fill out,” Klett explains.

“So you can vote for the charity that you think should win the $5,000 prize.”

This year’s contending nonprofits include Alzheimer’s Association, Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association, Lake Geneva Food Pantry, MyTeam Triumph, and New Beginnings APFV. “New Beginnings APFV supports

services for victims of domestic violence,” Klett explains. “Lake Geneva Fresh Air Association sends at-risk or disadvantaged youths to camp – getting them outside. And MyTeam Triumph creates inclusive athletic teams for people with physical disabilities.

“They’re five really worthy charities. So not only do you get great food during Restaurant Week, but you’re helping one of these charities win $5,000.”

Last year’s winner was Kisses for Keegan and Friends – an organization that grants wishes and joyful experiences to local kids fighting cancer. In 2017, the winner was Lakeland Animal Shelter, which cares for more than 3,000 homeless animals annually in southeastern Wisconsin.

In 2016, Agape House for Girls took home the grand prize, furthering its mission of providing counseling, mentoring, education and a safe home to girls and their families.

“So every year it goes to a top-notch

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organization,” Klett says. “Lake Geneva Country Meats has been around since 1965, and [owners] Nick Vorpheel and his father started the donation because they just really wanted to help their neighbors.

Lake Geneva really is a small town, so bottom line, it’s small-town America.”

For many Lake Geneva residents and visitors, Restaurant Week is the kickoff to summer, Klett says. She finds Restaurant Week an ideal way to welcome warmer weather and escape day-to-day routines.

“We work hard, so when we get a couple days off, we want to get to a place where we can relax, have fun – whatever it is we specifically desire. Lake Geneva is the perfect escape.”

This year’s list of restaurants includes 240° West at The Abbey Resort, Pier 290, Champs Sports Bar & Grill, Crafted Americana at The Ridge Hotel, Fiddlesticks, Sopra and many more. Find a full list of restaurants and information on related Restaurant Week events at visitlakegeneva.com/restaurant-week. ❚

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Y O

Waterfalls & Wildflowers at Starved Rock

By Kathy Casstevens

S

pringtime is perhaps the best time to visit Starved Rock State Park and Lodge. Seasonal waterfalls come to life in deep sandstone canyons and wildflowers pop into bloom along 13 miles of hiking trails. The array of Virginia Bluebells in Illinois Canyon becomes the highlight of Mother Nature’s handiwork.

A fairyland of varying hues of purple flowers makes this hike much better than a mere walk in the woods. Throughout May, Waterfall and Canyon Tours are offered on Monday and Saturday. The tour includes lunch from a special menu in the rustic Main Dining Room, a ride on a Starved Rock Trolley and guided hike to French, St. Louis and Ottawa Canyons.

Details and departure times are listed on the Lodge’s website.

Located in LaSalle County, less than 90 minutes from Rockford and the Chicago Suburbs, historic Starved Rock Lodge

is the only hotel located within scenic Starved Rock State Park. Parking is free and guaranteed for all hotel guests who can also enjoy an indoor pool complex, WiFi, a café, a full-service restaurant, the Back Door Lounge and outdoor dining with an amazing view on the Veranda.

Trailheads Concessions is located at the Visitor Center, which is accessible from a steel staircase on the east end of the Veranda.

Attendance at Starved Rock State Park has risen, so midweek getaways are the best way to enjoy an overnight stay, since the park is less crowded.

The Lodge’s annual Mother’s Day Buffet welcomes guests on Sunday, May 12. Reservations and advanced payment are required for this event.

The Main Dining Room is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Sunday Brunch is a crowd pleaser, so make

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reservations.

Live music makes the Back Door Lounge an especially fun place to be on Friday nights from 8 to 11 p.m. Gorgonzola Nachos and Signature Ale are among the most popular choices on the menu.

Classic Rock and Roll fans will be entertained by Patty Waszak and her “Rock Around the Clock” show on May 20-22.

To learn more about spring events at Starved Rock Lodge, visit starvedrocklodge.com or call (815) 667-4211. ❚

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Y T

Home Tech Can Make Your Life Easier

By Peggy Werner

D

o you often wish you could be in two places at once? This may be your answer.

Charles Zambrano, owner of EZ Satellite and Wireless, 6239 N. 2nd St. in Loves Park, has expanded his business as part of his mission to help people save money, time and energy.

He’s now working with Nest to bring the conveniences of home automation into the lives of his customers. He says it’s not a difficult change to make.

“I’m finding out that a lot of people are afraid of technology, but if they try it and find out how much easier life can be, they enjoy the benefits. Everyone has a smart phone, 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.

This allows people to monitor and access their homes and businesses remotely.

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For example, cameras can allow you to see what’s going on 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.

“In this age of e-commerce, your phone can let you know when someone is at your door, when a package is delivered, and other notifications about what’s going on at home,” Zambrano says.

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 also is an authorized dish network retailer licensed to offer services from any provider using dish, cable, internet and home secu-

May 1

To advertise call 815-316-2300

rity, such as Rise Broadband, Comcast, Frontier, HughesNet, DishNet, DirectTV, Digitenna and Vivint.

The EZ Solar Energy branch provides savings to homeowners who switch to solar power. There’s no down payment and fixed-rate financing, discounts and rebates are available. EZ Solar helps with permits, applications and obtaining a fixed-interest loan, for those who qualify.

Contact EZ Satellite & Wireless at (815) 957-4335 or EZ Solar at (815) 200-9057 or stop by the office. Learn more at EZsatellitenow.com and EZsolarenergynow.com. ❚

Y C

NLI Spring Community Service Day May 4 T he Natural Land Institute will hold its annual Spring Community Service Day this Saturday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Burr Oak Valley Preserve in Roscoe, Ill. May is Invasive Species Awareness Month in Illinois. Find out what invasive species mean and why plants that invade areas create an undesirable impact on a natural environment. Learn to identify the non-native, invasive garlic mustard plant and learn the best way to pull it from the soil.

Anyone interested in helping nature is welcome to participate. Volunteers may start and end anytime between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. All ages will enjoy this land stewardship day. It’s a great outdoor activity for individuals, families, Scout Troops, 4H clubs, homeschoolers, church, school and corporate groups.

Participants will experience wildlife

habitat, see native spring wildflowers, birds, butterflies, other insects and animal signs. Volunteers play a vital part in the conservation of this unique natural area.

Dress for the weather. Gloves, long sleeves, pants and sturdy shoes are recommended. Snacks and water will be provided.

Registration is requested for this free activity by Friday, May 3. Call (815) 9646666 or register online at naturalland.org.

Burr Oak Valley Preserve is located at 7405 Elevator Road in Roscoe and there’s limited parking at the site. Look for flags at the entrance on the south side of the road, one-tenth of a mile east of Cross and Crown Lutheran Church, 7404 Elevator Road. Additional parking is available at the church.

A Girl Scouts Troop will hold a plant sale at the church on Friday, May 3, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 4, 9

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a.m.-2 p.m.

Natural Land Institute holds monthly volunteer stewardship days at Burr Oak Valley Preserve on the first Saturday of every month. Call (815) 964-6666 or email info@naturalland.org for more information about this and other community stewardship days. ❚

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Y H

Walk-In Chiropractic Care Now Available

By Peggy Werner hen Jon Chesak woke up one day with a sharp pain shooting down his leg, he sought help from his chiropractor and got relief after just a few adjustments.

“That experience made a big difference in my life and changed my life. I was able to break the debilitating cycle of pain and am now able to do the things I enjoy, like exercising and living a healthy lifestyle,” says Chesak.

The former restaurant manager is now the new franchise owner of The Joint at Forest Plaza, next to Kohl’s, at 6139 E. State St. The business is one of 440 locations nationwide that does chiropractic work differently – and better, according to Chesak.

The Joint offers more affordable and more convenient adjustment appointments by not accepting insurance and

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passing those savings along to the customer. The Joint accepts walk-ins from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Chesak says that when people are in pain, they want immediate relief and don’t want to wait around for an appointment that doesn’t fit into their schedule because an office isn’t opened evenings or weekends.

“I’m passionate about The Joint’s business model because we are providing something people need and it will help the quality of life for so many,” he says.

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Current specials include a $29 new patient offer for a consultation, exam, and adjustment, as well as a “wellness package” of four visits per month for $59 – good at any location. New patients may call to schedule an appointment, but follow-up visits are walk-in only.

Regular chiropractic adjustments can help relieve neck and back pain as well as pain caused from arthritis, fibromyalgia, headaches, stress, sciatica and specific areas of the body like the knee, ankle, foot, shoulder and elbow, he says.

Routine visits can aid the early detection of other problems, he adds.

The Joint staff includes Clinic Owner and Director Dr. Dan Cammarano of Aurora and Illinois board-certified Chiropractors Dr. John Staranko and Dr. Kory Spear.

For more information, visit thejoint. com or call the clinic at (815) 977-4316. ❚

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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.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau NWQ_fall.indd 1

102 N. Main St.

Rockford Area Convention & Visitors Bureau

Tourism

Attractions & Events

'Finding Neverland' May 2, 7:30 p.m. Playwright J.M. Barrie is struggling for a story until he meets four young brothers whose make-believe adventures Rockford, IL 61101 1.800.521.0849 gorockford.com inspire him to create Peter Pan. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

Branson Duo Gordy & Debbie May 2-3, 11:20 a.m. The award-winning Branson couple entertains with a variety of country, '50s, '60s and patriotic music. White Pines, Mt. Morris, (815) 946-3817, whitepinesinn.com.

A Night with the Monarchs May 2, 6-8:30 p.m. Dr. Karen Oberhauser speaks about the decline of the monarch butterfly population, citizen science and the challenge posed by monarch conservation. RSVP online. Severson Dells, Winnebago, Ill., (815) 335-2915, seversondells.com.

Eric Lambert May 3, 7 p.m. Most recently with the award-winning Chicago bluegrass group, the Henhouse Prowlers, Lambert entertains with songs from his new CD. Listening Room, (815) 965-8903, rockfordlisteningroom.com.

Northern Wind Trio May 3, 7:30 p.m. Contemporary world music fusion. MPAC, 406 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org.

Hunter Hayes May 3, 7:30 p.m. The multi-genre star from Louisiana entertains with his new single, “Heartbreak.” Coronado PAC, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

Native Plant Sale May 4-5, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wild Ones of Rock River Valley offers native woodland plants just in time for spring planting. Nicholas Conservatory & Gardens, 1354 N. 2nd St., (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg.

Celebrate the Earth May 4, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Bring friends and family to share the beauty of the gardens. Enjoy offerings from local food trucks; community exhibits; family education and activities for children. Raptor programs at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Rotary Botanical Gardens, 1455 Palmer Dr., Janesville, (608) 314-850, rotarybotanicalgardens.org.

Celebrate the Earth at Rotary Botanical Gardens in Janesville, Wis., on Saturday, May 4.

Echos of My Ancestors May 4, 1 p.m. Janice Rice, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, invites you to envision a walk in the beauty of her ancestral homeland, formerly called Ke-Chunk, at the confluence of Turtle Creek and the Rock River. Nature at the Confluence Learning Center, 306 Dickop St., South Beloit, (815) 200-6910, natureattheconfluence.com.

Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery Fundraiser May 4, 8 p.m. The comedic duo put a spin on songs from Broadway to The Barry Sisters to the Swingin’ Sixties in the show “Two Lost Souls.” The Bodacious Shops of Block 42, JPAC, 408 S. Main St., Janesville, (608) 758-0297, janesvillepac.org.

Star Wars Day May 4, 1-2 p.m. Celebrate all things Star Wars.

Make X-wing origami, create your favorite characters and more. RPL, Rockton Centre Branch, 3112 N. Rockton Ave., Rockford, (815) 965-7606, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

Children’s Tea May 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Decorate and take home a tea cup and plate as well as a sachet, crown and fan. Dress up and learn how to set a Victorian table; enjoy refreshments. Midway Village, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com.

Rockford Peaches Vintage Baseball May 5, 1 p.m. The Rockford Peaches living history group plays an exhibition game as part of the opening weekend festivities of the Victorian Village. Midway Village Museum, (815) 397-9112, midwayvillage.com. ❚

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WDL

Music is on the Menu at Cucina di Rosa

By Peggy Werner ose Mary Leggio believes in changing things up and having some fun at Cucina di Rosa, 1620 N. Bell School Road. That’s why she’s offering live music, including the following, all playing from 6 to 9 p.m. unless noted. Learn more about each group at thecucinadirosa.com.

• May 3: After Five Jazz • May 4: Universal Joint • May 10: Hip Pocket • May 11: The Rocksurfers • May 17: Stages • May 18: Tribute • May 24: Acoustic Juice • May 25: That Gurl • May 31: Firelight Dimmers (6:309:30) • June 1: Vince Chiarelli & Band Sicilian-born Leggio began her restaurant career in 2006, after friends who tasted her cannoli begged her to start

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selling the creamy, crunchy Italian dessert made from a 100-year-old family recipe. She opened Cannoli Café at 1620 N. Bell School Road and in 2016 opened Cucina di Rosa (Rosa’s Kitchen) in the same location.

“It’s my kitchen, and that allows me to be creative and to prepare food as I would for my own family,” Leggio says.

Leggio serves beers and Italian wines. Her daily specials are much anticipated by regular customers eager to see what she’s cooked up that day.

The core menu consists of soups, salads, panini and entrees such as fried rice balls filled with mozzarella cheese and ham or meat sauce and peas. Favorite entrees include eggplant Parmigiana, ravioli, tortellini and a special Sicilian lasagna made with peas and slices of hard-boiled eggs.

Leggio offers an array of desserts,

including 16 flavors of homemade gelato, plus cannoli, cannoli cake, eclairs, cream puffs, biscotti, croissants with various toppings and an assortment of Italian cookies.

Cucina di Rosa is available for private parties on Sundays and Mondays and also caters special events.

Regular hours are Mon. thru Thurs.

9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Fri. and Sat. 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. ❚

In the Spotlight 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.

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. $-$$.

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.

Lino’s  Italian/American. 5611 E. State St., Rkfd. (815) 397-2077. D M-Sat 4:30am-10pm; Sun. 4:30am-9 pm. $$.

Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, S. Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $.

Capital House  Lunches, fine dining, sushi bar, gourmet coffee & pastries, martini bar. 308 W. State St., Rockford, (815) 708-8989. LD T-Th 11am-10pm, Fri.-Sat. 11 am-10pm. $-$$$.

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. $$ 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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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. $-$$.

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.-2 p.m.

Sun. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekend brunch. Large menu, Swedish pancakes specialty. $$ Taco Betty’s  Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rkfd., (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. ❚

May 1

To advertise call 815-316-2300

Higher Grounds

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or 10 years, this coffee shop at 1709 S. West Ave., Freeport, has helped area residents to get their days off to a great start. Owner Cynthia Faulkner uses choice specialty coffee beans and prepares food fresh daily, using only top quality ingredients.

Breakfast items include scones, muffins, quiche, cinnamon rolls and pastries; at lunchtime there are soups, chicken and tuna salad wraps, panini and flatbread sandwiches.

Naturally the shop is best-known for its specialty coffee drinks: lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, mochas and house blend coffees. Other beverages include hot chocolate, teas, Italian soda, frozen smoothies and frappes.

Higher Grounds is open Mon.-Fri. 6:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sun. 8 a.m.-1 p.m. ❚

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Y M

Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

By Peggy Werner

I

dentity theft affects millions of Americans each year and is a growing problem. One only need look at recent data breaches that have occurred through retailers, financial institutions and medical providers to know this is true, says Matt Lynch, marketing director for MembersAlliance Credit Union, 2550 S. Alpine Road.

Identity theft and data breaches go well beyond financial theft or fraud. Identity theft is not only related to credit and finances, but also to personal information that can be used to falsify medical and criminal records or to create or use online or social media profiles, emails and more.

“You could be pulled over by the police for a minor traffic violation and find out there is a warrant out for your arrest for something you didn’t do,” says Lynch.

“Or, someone could use your information to apply for a job, loans, or to get medi-

cal treatment. This could cause income tax issues for you, which you might not know about for quite some time after the actual fraud has taken place.”

If you’re not doing anything to protect your identity, you should consider changing that, says Lynch.

“Your information could be sold and used by a criminal tomorrow or years later, and that’s not a good feeling,” he says.

To combat the problem, MembersAlliance Credit Union has partnered with LegalShield to offer members identity protection called IDShield, which focuses on monitoring, protecting, repairing and restoring people’s identities.

“What sets IDShield apart from other monitoring systems is its employment of licensed professional investigators who will take care of problems, should any arise, minimizing the time and effort spent by you,” says Lynch.

“Whether or not people choose to

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use this product, it’s really important to consider some form of identity protection service. At a minimum, look at your accounts and monitor your credit on a regular basis,” he says.

Learn more at membersalliance.org or visit any of the five locations, including the main branch at 2550 S. Alpine Road; 6951 Olde Creek Road; or locations inside Wal-Marts at West Riverside and Walton Street in Rockford, and at 4781 E. Rockton Road in Rockton. ❚

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