Smart Living Rockford - May 5, 2022

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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • 95¢ • May 2021 • No. I

Right in Our Region

Dinner on the Dock!

See Page 20

Grilling Tips Irrigating Your Lawn Tips

Hair Solutions to Lift Your Spirit Tips for Finding the Right Insurance Agent

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

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region .................Cover & p. 20 Dinner on the Dock!

Your Home ................................................. 13 Pet Odors Need Your Attention Inspiration & Worship ................................ 14 No Matter What Your Kitchen .............................................. 17 Grilling Tips Outdoor Living .......................................... 25 Irrigating Your Lawn Your Style .................................................. 29 Hair Solutions Your Money ................................................ 33 How to Choose an Insurance Agent Your Health ................................................ 31 When You Need a Little Help Your Fun ..................................................... 36

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Managing Editor Jermaine Pigee Editor Emeritus Janine Pumilia Multimedia Editor Jim Taylor Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Ashley Smith Contributing Writers Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones, Nita Lasky Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Website www.SmartLivingStateline.com Published by Hughes Media Corp.

222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 lhughes@northwestquarterly.com Smart Living. Copyright 2022 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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LEGO Art at Klehm

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o you remember your first encounter with LEGO sets?

I do. My cousin Danny, from New York, brought one to our Loves Park home during a family visit in the late 1960s. I thought that LEGO set was the greatest invention since the Easy-Bake Oven. We played with it nonstop.

It was a very sad day when those bright little bricks were packed into his family’s station wagon for the trip home.

After some shameless begging, my folks bought me a LEGO set of my own. Little did I know then how many LEGO sets I would purchase for my own children in coming decades.

To this day, my grown kids and their cousins (we’re talking 20-, 30- and 40-somethings) build one complex LEGO set together at our Christmas bash each year.

Like so many moms, I’ve cursed the stray LEGO brick I stepped on in the dark and the one that clogged up my Hoover. But I’ve also trekked with my kids to the fancy LEGO store in Chicago and been awed by the giant LEGO sculptures at Disneyworld’s Boardwalk. So imagine my delight when Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden announced it will host “Sean Kenney’s Nature Connects Made with LEGO Bricks,” an exhibition of art that explores animal endangerment, the balance of ecosystems and mankind’s relationship with nature – through LEGO bricks. It runs June 11 to Sept.

11 and I won’t miss it. “… just as LEGO bricks interconnect, everything in nature is interconnected in a delicate balance,” reads a press release.

As much as I love LEGO sets, I love trees even more. Klehm is a “living museum of trees” that began as William Lincoln Taylor’s private nursery in 1910. World exploration and botanic discoveries went hand in hand in that era. Taylor experimented with plantings that shouldn’t have thrived in our climate but are still living today.

The Klehm family donated this magical 155-acre property to our community in 1985, after purchasing it from the Taylor family in 1968. What a gift to our community!

Spring is finally here, so let’s go explore the natural and man-made wonders all around us. Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Your Home & Garden

Pet Odors Need Your Swift Attention

By Peggy Werner

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here are many reasons why pets do their business in places they shouldn’t. Sometimes the solution is treating a pet’s physical problem, such as clearing up a urinary infection with antibiotics. Other times there are behavioral reasons that may take longer to resolve.

Either way, the result is the same – soiled floors and carpets.

Once Fluffy or Fido has soiled an area of the home, chances are good they’ll return to that spot and do it again.

This may become a chronic problem, unless addressed completely and quickly, says Chris Picot, general manager of Advantage Kwik Dry, 11137 Bertram Road, Machesney Park, a full-service restoration and cleaning company.

It takes more than surface carpet cleaning to eliminate the odor, he says.

Advantage Kwik Dry takes extra steps to deep clean the carpet, padding and floor.

“The better an area is cleaned, the less likely it is that a pet will return to that spot,” he says.

After carpets have been cleaned, homeowners should keep air circulating in the home to allow carpets to dry within the recommended 24 hours.

Advantage Kwik Dry is a family-owned business that’s operated in the Stateline area for more than 25 years. All technicians are certified, licensed, bonded and insured, and the business guarantees its work. The company is also a member of the Carpet and Fabric Care Institute and takes advantage of educational opportunities to stay on the cutting edge of technology.

The company is experienced in all types of professional cleaning processes, wet and dry, for homes and businesses. It

cleans draperies, carpets, area rugs, upholstery, tile and grout. It also cleans and recoats hardwood floors and specializes in fabric and fiber protection, pet odor removal, major odor treatment, water removal and sewage cleanup.

For more information, coupons, and to schedule an appointment, go to advantagekwikdry.com or call (815) 332-3299 in Illinois and (608) 758-2379 in Southern Wisconsin. ❚

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Inspiration & Worship

No Matter What

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he Bible is full of verses that tell us all things are possible with God. Yet we’ve all been disappointed by unanswered prayers. Why? Many Christians have grappled with that question and concluded this: We don’t really understand God and never will, in this life. We can’t comprehend Him. But to give up just because we see only a tiny fraction of what He sees is foolish.

“Ye have not because ye ask not,” states James 4:2-3.

In other words, we don’t stop praying.

We keep on praying. No matter what.

Paul addresses this in his first letter to the believers at Corinth: “For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” (I Corinthians 13:12) When Jesus was preparing his disciples for his death, resurrection and the arrival of holy spirit, he encouraged them to bring their requests to God in his name.

“And in that day you will ask me no question. Truly, truly, I say unto you, if you shall ask the Father for anything, He will give it to you in my name. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full.” (John 16:23-27) Praying to God, both to praise Him and to ask for what we need, is always a good thing to do. How should we do it? Jesus provided examples, including a prayer we call commonly call The Lord’s Prayer. He asked God for God’s will to be done; praised God; acknowledged God as the master of Heaven and Earth; and acknowledged our need for forgiveness – a prayer that was answered after Jesus was raised from the dead. Finally, Jesus asked God for protection from Satan.

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” (Matthew 6:9-13) Our prayers aren’t always answered in the way we wish. But we pray anyway.

– Janine Pumilia No matter what. ❚ 14

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Your Kitchen

Grilling Tips from 640 Meats

By Peggy Werner

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ew scents are more welcome than fragrant smoke coming from a barbeque grill. The anticipation of tangy flavors hot off the grill is hard to beat, as simple pleasures go.

Doing it right is another thing, says Peter Lentz, owner of 640 Meats, 6410 E. Riverside Blvd. in Loves Park. As temperatures rise, so do the sales of meats and marinades and requests for advice.

“Grilling is an art,” says Lentz. It starts with good maintenance and cleaning of the grill, inside and out. If using a gas grill, check for any leaks or disconnections that may have occurred during winter months, he says.

The racks should be free of any rust or charcoal from previous grilling. Remove debris with a wire brush and a wet soapy rag. Top it all off with a swipe of freshly cut lemon, if you wish.

“Once you start cooking, you don’t want to play with the food too much,” Lentz advises.

Start with a hot, clean grill to sear in the flavor and juices of whatever you’re cooking; when you can see juice coming out of the top of the meat, it’s time to flip it over. If you want that diamond pattern of grill marks on the food, turn the meat 90 degrees before flipping.

Grilling is a fast way to cook food, but that means it’s easy to lose track of time and overcook food. Watch meat closely unless you want it hard and charred black.

Don’t try to speed up the process by smashing down hamburgers or cutting into steaks to see if they’re done. Foods that are grilled should rest for a few minutes after cooking so juices can evenly redistribute.

It takes about four minutes for most

burgers and brats (pre-boiled) to cook and a little longer for thicker cuts of meat, depending on how you want them done.

Just a touch with the utensil will help you decide the temperature of the meat.

Meat has a soft touch to it when cooked rare and is firmer when well done.

Fish, which gets flaky when cooked, is best wrapped in a foil while grilling so you don’t lose it down the grates. ❚

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You Belong Here!

Join our Concordia School Family

We have a place for you!

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7424 North 2nd Street Machesney Park, IL 61115 815-633-6450 www.ConcordiaMP.com/School

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Right in Our Region

‘Come Together’ at Dinner on the Dock

By Janine Pumilia

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wo Dinner on the Dock seasons were cut short by the pandemic, but now it’s time to come together again full force on Thursday nights for live regional music, good food and tasty craft beer made onsite at Prairie Street Brewing Co. An exciting lineup of regional bands features both returning favorites and some that are new to the venue. “‘Come Together’ is our theme this year,” says Reed Sjostrom, chief brand and products officer. “It’s a nod to the Beatles song, but it’s also our way of saying we want people to come relax with us and just enjoy being together again.”

Three Good Men will perform the Beatles classic on May 19, the opening of the 2022 Dinner on the Dock season.

New this year is an expanded number of tables that can be reserved online up to 48 hours before the event. While reserving, you can pre-order appetizers not

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otherwise available.

“You select the date, pick the table you want, choose your appetizer and find it delivered to your table at the selected time,” explains Sjostrom. “It’s nice to offer this convenience to folks. Maybe you want to be right next to the band or maybe a little further away so it’s easier to talk.”

The cost is $40 for a table for four, $60 for a table of six. For larger parties, call the events team to book a private room that overlooks the excitement.

Another change is the addition of the Sizz N Fizz food truck on Thursdays, which will ease lines at the walk-up hot food tent.

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“It should be operating by mid to late June,” says Sjostrom.

Walk-up bar service from the Pub, Dockside Taproom and Ice Cellar bar will be available as in previous years.

Among the most popular returning bands on the 2022 lineup are Miles Nielsen & the Rusted Hearts, The Jimmys, The Trippin Billies (a Dave Mat-

Right in Our Region thews cover band) and Unity the Band.

Some acts new to the Dock lineup are Blackberry Jam, Gavin Arnold Music, Minimal, Student Body and Zac Matthews.

Live music and food aren’t limited to Thursdays. Monday night Dockside Live, which began in 2017, features all-local bands from 6-9 p.m. and is presented in partnership with WNIJ radio. The new Dockside season opens May 23 with musician Lief Sjostrom. Admission is free.

“It’s a lower-key, more relaxed, intimate night,” says Sjostrom. “We offer our normal service with first-come, firstserved seating, and it’s more of a listening experience than the ‘I just have to get up and dance’ vibe of Thursday nights.”

The Prairie Street Brewing Co. building was erected by British immigrant and brewer Jonathan Peacock in 1849, the inspiration behind the company’s green peacock logo.

Learn more or make reservations at psbrewingco.com. ❚

Dinner on the Dock 2022

Dockside Live 2022

Thursdays 5-10 p.m. Music starts at 6 p.m.

Mondays 6-9 p.m.

May 19: Three Good Men

May 23: Lief Sjostrom

May 23: Zac Matthews

May 30: Kraig Kenning

June 2: The Student Body

June 6: Earthmother

June 9: Minimal

June 13: The Lone Canary

June 16: Boom Boom Boom

June 20: Clark Kelly

June 23: Dirty Pop

June 27: Three Good Men

June 30: That Gurl

July 4: Holiday / no bands

July 7: Unity the Band

July 11: Ben Mulwana

July 14: The Trippin Billies

July 18: Honey Cellar

July 21: That 70s Band

July 25: Mana Kintorso

July 28: Sunset Strip

Aug. 1: Whiskey Mil

Aug. 4: Dirty Fishnet Stockings

Aug. 8: David Hayes

Aug. 11: The Jimmys

Aug. 15: Kelly Steward

Aug. 18: Miles Nielsen & The Rusted Hearts

Aug. 22: Kayla Seeber

Aug. 25: Blackberry Jam

Aug. 29: Emily Hurd

Sept. 1: Gavin Arnold Music

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Outdoor Living

Protect Your Landscape by Irrigating

By Janine Pumilia beautiful home landscape takes time and money to achieve. But weather is unpredictable. Those new bedding plants that thrive so well today may shrivel under hot sun a month from now.

That’s why many homeowners are installing lawn irrigation systems they can count on to keep lawns and gardens healthy, no matter what the weather does.

“It’s an investment in your property that you might not think much about until drought strikes,” says Jeff Page, coowner of RainMaster Irrigation, located in Loves Park. “But when it doesn’t rain, you’re awfully glad you have it.”

Page designs, installs and maintains irrigation systems with his business partner, Kim Schuler. The pair purchased RainMaster Irrigation in 2019 from former owner Jim Johnson, who retired after running the business for three decades.

“We’re still servicing irrigation sys-

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tems installed 30 years ago,” notes Page.

“When they’re regularly used and maintained, they hold up well over time.”

Regular maintenance involves a visit in the fall to remove water from pipes before a hard freeze, and a visit in spring to reopen the system and fix problems like broken sprinkler heads or rodent damage.

“Like most everything else these days, you can buy a system that’s as simple or as ‘smart’ as you need it to be,” says Page. Some people use a phone app to remotely control their wireless system.

A system controller with timer is often located in a garage and plugs into a regular electrical outlet with no special wiring required.

So, what does it cost?

“Installation of an irrigation system for a typical yard that’s a quarter- to halfacre in size runs from $4,500 to $9,000 depending on specific needs,” says Page.

Flower beds have different needs than lawns and should be designed to run separate cycles, he says.

Will the installation process cause a big mess in the yard?

“No,” says Page. “We basically make very narrow slits to install the pipes and wires. It’s not obtrusive. Within 10 to 14 days, you won’t know we were there.”

RainMaster Irrigation serves homes and businesses within a 50-mile radius.

Learn more at rainmasterirrigation. net or call (815) 885-2566. ❚

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Your Style

Hair Solutions that Make You Feel Better

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By Peggy Werner hen licensed cosmetologist Cindy Genrich saw her mother go through the emotional impact of losing her hair after cancer treatment, she also saw an opportunity to help women look and feel their best at a difficult time.

“People can go through a lot, but if their hair looks good, they feel better,” she says.

Today Genrich owns Wigs by Cindy, located inside of Permanent Cosmetics, 421 S. Mulford Road, Suite 203. She’s been in business for more than 25 years.

“Wigs have improved so much through the years. The fibers look and feel more natural and there are so many styles to choose from,” she says.

Today’s average wig weighs only about 2 ounces and is very breathable.

Modern wigs are made either from easycare synthetic fibers or real human hair,

or a blend of both. They’re heat-friendly and can be styled.

Synthetic wigs are more affordable and durable but human hair wigs offer more styling options, she says.

Toppers, which clip onto your own hair, can add volume and style, while blending seamlessly with your own hair.

It’s important to consult with a professional when buying a wig. Getting the proper fit is important.

“Most of my clients are women, but some men, especially if they’re still working, while going through cancer treatment, want something to keep their look,” she says.

Cancer treatment is not the only reason for hair loss. Stress, hormonal changes, medications, diet, genetics and other issues can cause hair loss. Genrich has seen COVID-19 patients lose hair, too, usually a few months after being sick.

Some women just want good hair on demand, especially when they travel.

Genrich is a certified hair loss consultant, a member of the American Hair Loss Council, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society, and a designer for ‘Beauty in You’ classes for cancer patients.

For an appointment, call (815) 2225187 or email her at cindygenrich@yahoo.com. ❚

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Your Health

When You Just Need a Little Bit of Help

By Peggy Werner rowing older doesn’t have to mean giving up your home. You may just need a little help. That’s why Comfort Keepers exists.

“Our goal is to make sure every client stays at home as long as possible, while feeling safe and comfortable,” says Sarah Hass, territorial manager for Comfort Keepers. “Living independently despite disease and age-related conditions is important for physical and mental health.”

Hass works out of the Freeport office at 116 W. Exchange St., which is fully operational again after a three-year slowdown during the pandemic. The office serves people in Stephenson, JoDaviess, Carroll, DeKalb and Ogle counties and parts of Winnebago County. The Rockford office at 4855 E. State St. serves Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, South Beloit and Beloit-Janesville.

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Hass says her typical client has had one or more surgeries or is simply unable to keep up with normal home maintenance and self-care due to aging.

“It’s hard for people to admit to themselves what they can’t do,” she says.

“It usually takes a crisis for people to realize their limits.”

Aging baby boomers need to understand they’re trendsetters, says Hass, who’s worked in healthcare for 17 years.

“Home care wasn’t popular 30 years ago and the resources weren’t available like they are today. Today we’re all working together to deliver the best care.

That’s a real gamechanger.”

Comfort Keepers accepts private pay, VA medical insurance and long-term care insurance and doesn’t require a doctor’s referral.

As the need for care grows, so does opportunity for caregivers. Comfort

Keepers is always looking for compassionate people who want to help clients with housekeeping, running errands or other tasks of daily living. Apply in person or online. Caregivers may work as few as four hours a week or provide around-the-clock care.

Clients may set up an at-home visit to discuss their needs.

Learn more by calling Comfort Keepers at (815) 229-9100 or go to comfortkeepers.com. ❚

Listening to you is where we start every visit.

Accepting new patients

(815) 242-0678

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We have sales every single day! Save more. Shop the ReStore.

7141 Harrison Ave, Rockford IL | 815-713-3184 | rockfordhabitat.org @restorerockford

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Your Money

How to Find the Right Insurance Agent

By Janine Pumilia nsurance is a confusing subject, which is why it’s important to work with an insurance agent who can explain what we need to know. When choosing a company, read online customer reviews, suggests Lisa Radant, agency owner of Shelter Insurance, 7445 Newburg Road, Rockford.

“Find out how long an agent has been in business and read the reviews to learn how accessible they are and how well a company stands by you when claims are filed,” says Radant. “You have to take reviews with a grain of salt, but you can read between the lines and learn a lot.”

People are naturally suspicious about being sold more insurance than they need.

“And sometimes there’s good reason for that. But there’s also a danger of buying less coverage than you need and learning this the hard way. As insurance agents, we have a responsibility to inform customers about the minimum coverages

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they’re required to have, but we should also explain the consequences of having too little insurance.”

For example, should your auto liability coverage fail to cover the cost of another party’s vehicle, you could find yourself with garnished wages or a lien placed on your property, she says.

“And bumping up your liability coverage doesn’t cost that much more.”

A good agent not only helps you find the best fit for your situation, but also offers advice on how to avoid making claims that could raise rates. In her 30year insurance career, Radant has seen people make some expensive mistakes.

“This time of year, we see a lot of claims related to water damage that could have been avoided,” says Radant. “I always tell my customers to be sure the pipes in outside walls are not in danger of freezing, which can cause flood dam-

age.

Something as simple as leaving cabinet doors open underneath a sink can prevent a big headache.” Make Lisa Radant sure hoses are unhooked from outside spigots in cold weather and turn off the water in your home if you go on vacation, she adds.

“And make sure your heat is on, even when you’re away from home. It shouldn’t be lower than 50 degrees.”

Radant sells insurance for home, farm, business, life, auto, health, boat, ATV, motorcycle, RV and personal articles.

Learn more by calling her at (815) 332-9312. ❚

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Your Fun

Entertainment & Events

Secret Life of Butterflies & Moths Through May 29, Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Nicholas Conservatory 1354 N. 2nd St., (815) 987-8858, rockfordparkdistrict.org/ncg.

Trinadora at Cucina Di Rosa May 8, noon-3 p.m. The musical duo performs during Mother’s Day Brunch. 1620 N. Bell School, (815) 395-5040 to reserve.

Buzz Spector: Reading Matter Through May 29, Thurs.-Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Rockford Art Museum, 711 N. Main, (815) 968-2787, rockfordartmuseum.org.

‘Anastasia’ May 9, 7:30 p.m. Be transported from the twilight of the Russian Empire to the euphoria of 1920s Paris. CPAC, 314 N. Main St., (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.

‘We Are Pussy Riot’ Through May 15. West Side Showroom presents a play about women who stood up to Vladimir Putin. 1414 W. State St., Rockford. WSSR.org.

Veterans Memorial Hall Tour May 9, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Explore one of the most historic buildings in Rockford. Register at rockvalleycollege.edu/CLR. (815) 921-3931.

Macktown: It’s All About Fiber May 7-8, Sat. 9-5 p.m., Sun. 10-4. Learn about natural fibers and how to use them.

Registration required for some events.

2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, (815) 2183874, macktownlivinghistory.com.

AE: ‘Murder on the Air’ May 12-22. It’s 1938 and radio station WBFR has plenty of troubles, including a murdered leading lady. Maybe. Artist’s Ensemble Theater, Cheek Theatre, 5050 E. State, (815) 394-5004, artistensemble.org.

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Celebrate pelicans in Rockton on May 21.

Rockford Dance Co.: ‘Cinderella’ May 14, 2 & 6:30 p.m. A new version of the classic fairy tale. J.R. Sullivan Theater, (815) 987-6641, rockfordpubliclibrary.org.

RSO: Shakespeare and the Silk Road May 14, 7:30 p.m. RSO Music Director finalist Alastair Willis conducts “Ascending Bird.” CPAC, rockfordsymphony.com.

2nd Annual Pelicanfest in Rockton May 21, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn more at naturalland.org, sinnissippiaudubon.org or jillraefinallyart.com. ❚

SWEET STREAMS.

WATCH 23 NEWS ANYTIME. ANYWHERE.

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