Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes
Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden
Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas
Managing Editor Jim Taylor
Assistant Editor Steven Bonifazi
Graphics Director Samantha Behling
Graphic Designer Ashley Smith
Contributing Writers Janine Pumilia, 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
There’s something magical about summer that never fades, no matter how old I get. It’s more than just the warm weather and longer days. Summer feels like permission to exhale… to slow down. As a mom to two toddlers, I love the change of pace. We can walk to the park every day, or even just play in the backyard. Life feels calmer.
We typically spend weekends (and occasional week nights) looking for familyfriendly outdoor activities. Luckily, the Rockford region has an incredible lineup of festivals. From June through August, there’s something fun, cultural and lively happening nearly every weekend.
Most festivals throughout our region are completely organized by volunteers, which never ceases to amaze me. Maybe it’s my current phase of life, but I can’t even imagine volunteering for a few hours right now, let alone sacrificing multiple nights throughout the year to plan an entire festival. If you’re involved in organizing one of these events for our community, I truly thank you! I see your hard work paying off year after year.
Of course, there’s Petunia Fest and Rhythm of the Heart -- two incredible events that are covered within the pages of this issue. By the time you read this, Old Settler’s Days will have already passed, but I feel I should give it an honorable mention since it’s always one of my favorites.
August, in particular, is rich with cultural celebrations. Festa Italian brings bocce, limoncello demos, Italian food, carnival rides and live entertainment. Polish Fest at St. Stanislaus highlights heritage through pierogi, music and folk dance. Meanwhile, the Winnebago County Fair offers agricultural exhibits, rides and nightly entertainment. Creative floats flood the Rock River for the “Anything That Floats” race, a quirky favorite capped off with a party at Prairie Street Brewhouse. Plus, there’s so much more. Summer here is truly the best!
Wishing you wonderful days ahead,
Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor
Solomon was the richest man of his day. The son of King David and Bathsheba, he ruled a vast empire and knew every pleasure in the world. He constructed the first Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem and is remembered for his wisdom, a gift he asked for and received from God when he was young.
Solomon told God, “I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties … So give your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?” – 1 Kings 3:7-9
God answered Solomon’s prayer, but Solomon eventually squandered this great gift. He forgot Whose people he governed and, over time, began treating them badly. He denied God the one thing God really wanted from Solomon: a loving and obedient relationship.
“For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father … And the Lord was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned from the Lord God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice.” – I Kings 11:4-9
How many of us have longed to see God in person just once? Solomon saw God twice and still managed to put worldly things ahead of Him. For all his wisdom, Solomon was no David because his heart was not right with God.
David behaved very badly at times, but he desperately loved God and always returned to Him with humility. He spent time with God, dancing and singing for Him, and writing love poems to God, something frowned upon by the joyless religious class of the day. David experienced joy with God beyond anything Solomon ever knew and God called David “a man after my own heart.”
Solomon built an impressive Temple, but David built an unshakable place for God inside his heart. Who was the richer man? Who does God tell us to emulate?
Humility matters and God is not fooled by man’s hubris. ❚ – Janine Pumilia
By Peggy Werner
In its third year, the Rhythm of the Heart Festival continues to grow with more music, food, activities and vendors than ever before.
The festival takes place July 26 from 1-10 p.m. on the Loves Park Festival Grounds, east of City Hall at 100 Heart Blvd., Loves Park. Gates open at noon.
Live music fills the air with NautiNauti performing from 1-2:30 p.m., Tennessee Whiskey – A Tribute to Chris Stapleton from 3:30-5 p.m., Petty Kings – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers Tribute from 6-7:30 p.m., and Funky Monks –The Ultimate Red Hot Chili Peppers Experience from 8:30-10 p.m.
The festival expands as attendance increases, says Alyssa Thompson, marketing and communications specialist for the festival. Attendance last year doubled from the previous year to about 5,000 visitors.
“We want to have new and different things each year, but what we have done in the past is clearly working,” Thompson says. “The festival is a vibrant event with so much to do and see. You can do it all or just sit back and listen to the music.”
New this year is a presentation by Steve Gryb, “the pied piper of percussion,” who entertains and educates kids about percussion instruments while letting them try their hand at making music.
The numbers of vendors has grown to 75, featuring arts and crafts, pet items, clothing, jewelry, soaps, treats and desserts, woodwork, crocheted items and more.
Other activities include the VFW Color Guard and the National Anthem at 12:45 p.m., A Gentlemen Car Club Show from 1-5 p.m., a K-9 demonstration at 5 p.m., a magic show for kids at 5:30 p.m. and fireworks at 10 p.m.
Parking is available at Sand Park Pool, around City Hall, on the festival grounds and along nearby side streets.
Rhythm of the Heart Festival began as a celebration of the city’s 75th birthday party, Thompson says.
“Our goal is to get everyone together for a free day of entertainment as our gift to the community to show our appreciation for our residents and visitors,” she says. “We just want everyone to come together and enjoy each other.” ❚
By Peggy Werner
The 61st annual Petunia Festival returns to Dixon July 3-6, bringing four days of live music, carnival rides, food vendors, contests, family-friendly activities and more.
This year’s festivities – centered around the playful parade theme “Fun at the Beach” – unfold near Dixon High School, 300 Lincoln Statue Dr., and stretching between the bridges and throughout downtown Dixon.
It’s a labor of love for all those who are involved.
“The Petunia Festival is when the entire community joins together to celebrate our nation and Dixon,” says Jenna Dempsey, vice president of marketing. “Most of the town’s 15,000 residents have attended an event, volunteered or been involved in some way at some point in their lives.”
“The entire community gets together and rallies behind the festival that brings in a record number of visitors to our downtown,” Dempsey continues. “It’s the biggest event of the year and is a private, not-for-profit event, with all money raised going into the next year’s festival.”
A couple new events this year occur outside of festival hours, including a 3v3 soccer tournament on June 28 and a 3v3 basketball tournament on July 26. Both events require registration at petuniafestival.org.
Musical entertainment performs on two stages; the Main Stage on the corner of River Street and Galena Avenue, and the Reagan Stage, in front of the President Ronald Reagan statue on River Street and Hennepin Avenue. This year’s headliners are Blind Melon on Thursday, Too Hype Crew on Friday, Tyler Braden
on Saturday and Brushville on Sunday. Other entertainers scheduled to perform are Out of Storage, Baja, The Smoking Popes, Hard Love, Two Stroke Johnson, Kirkland, Sheezit, Marques Morel, VeryGently, Loess Hills, and Rosbrook Hall.
One of the festival’s most beloved events, the parade, steps off at 1 p.m. Sunday from St. Mary’s Catholic School,
704 S. Peoria Ave., and heads north, concluding at Dixon High School. Capping off the day, a dazzling fireworks show lights up the sky over the Rock River at 9:30 p.m., with live coverage on River Country 101.7 FM.
Festival traditions run deep, with a daily pancake breakfast served from 6:30 a.m. to noon in the Dixon High School cafeteria. Visitors can also enjoy tours
of President Ronald Reagan’s boyhood home and the historic Old Settlers Log Cabin.
The schedule is packed with activities for all interests, including arts and crafts, an ice cream social, bingo, a tennis tournament, fishing derby, volleyball and disc golf tournaments, and the popular Cruise-in-Style Car Show.
A Family Fun Night on Friday includes a reading of the Declaration of Independence at 6:30 p.m., followed by a performance by the Dixon Municipal Band Concert at the Old Lee County Courthouse.
The daily carnival lights up Lincoln Statue Drive, stretching between Dixon High School and the scenic riverfront. The carnival’s special needs quiet hours are from 2-4 p.m. Thursday. Participants must pre-register online or at the office to get the correct wristband.
The Dixon Dish food vendors in the entertainment area feature pizza, tacos, corn dogs, elephant ears and more from
5-11:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and from noon-10 p.m. Sunday.
Entertainment entry is $15 per day. However, four-day passes are available in advance for just $25 if purchased by June 13, or $35 by July 2. Tickets are available at the Petunia Festival headquarters, 77 S. Hennepin Ave. Presale carnival wristband vouchers are also available for $30.
For a full schedule of events and activities, visit petuniafestival.org. ❚
By Chris Linden, executive editor
It’s a curious paradox about our decks and patios: We love to bask in the summer sunshine, but eventually we crave the shade.
Most of us turn to a deck umbrella, and yet it sometimes feels imperfect, particularly when the sun hits the right angle. That’s where awnings provide a satisfying alternative.
Bill Lapins, owner of ZNL Window Coverings in Loves Park, Ill., has seen the difference many times in his 15 years as a dealer of retractable awnings. There are many benefits, but there’s one that homeowners most seek.
“It almost acts like air conditioning,” says Lapins. “If it’s 80 degrees out and you have your patio door open with the screen, the air coming into your house will feel about 15 degrees cooler. It’s pretty amazing.”
For the past 15 years, ZNL has been a dealer for SunSetter, a Wisconsin-based leader in retractable awnings. SunSetter awnings come in a variety of styles, each one custom-built from fabrics that resist water, fading, mold and mildew.
Generally, awnings are 8 to 20 feet wide and about 13 feet long, which is just enough to satisfy most homeowners’ patios and decks, says Lapins.
Perhaps the best way to learn more about retractable awnings is to call ZNL or visit their display at Costco. Next, ZNL’s in-home consultant can take measurements, show samples and explain the product. Installation usually comes about three to five weeks later, because every unit is manufactured in McAllen, Texas.
SunSetter’s retractable features are available in many applications, including screened-in porches and garages, so
people can enjoy the outdoors with more shade and fewer bugs.
“There are a lot of options you can put on the awning,” says Lapins. “There’s even a wind sensor that’s very popular. It will automatically close the awning during windy conditions.”
ZNL Window Coverings is located at 2120 Harlem Road, in Loves Park. Call (815) 654-0870 for an estimate. ❚
By Peggy Werner
When someone is sick or wants to be proactive in managing their health, they need an advocate. And that someone needs to know you, your family health history, and where to turn for more help.
It should be your primary care physician.
“Primary care is the cornerstone of a family’s good health,” says Timothy McKevett, president and CEO of Beloit Health System. “There is nothing more important to us. The new Gold Family Care Center will ensure that we retain and attract the best providers to our community, who will deliver the best care to our patients. They deserve it.”
The $6.2 million Gold Family Care Center is one of the largest expansions and renovations in Beloit Health System’s history, according to John Wong, co-chairman of the Gold Family Center
campaign and Beloit Health System trustee. To date, about half of the money has been raised and bidding will take place within the next couple of months to complete phase one.
The entire fourth floor of Beloit Clinic, 1905 Huebbe Pkwy., will be transformed into a modern family medicine hub with upgraded technology, improved accessibility, enhanced privacy and expanded space to accommodate more physicians and staff.
“Meeting with a primary care doctor is where most patients begin their relationship with the Beloit Health System,” Wong says. “The importance of that relationship cannot be underestimated.”
Too often, people avoid going to the doctor because they think they are young and invincible or because they don’t have a health problem, Wong has observed.
“You can’t get away with that at-
titude,” he says. “The body is an engine and needs to keep running. It’s important to have a relationship with a doctor you know and trust, who you can communicate with in order to catch problems when they are small.”
The center is named in honor of Dr. Kenneth Gold, who worked as a primary care physician with Beloit Health System for more than 50 years and was known for his personal connections with patients and strong work ethic.
“The Gold Family Care Center is a tribute to his amazing work ethic and his commitment to patients, medical students and the entire community,” Wong says. ❚
By Janine Pumilia
The arrival of spring brings an opportunity to get our homes in order. Better organizing in our personal lives can lower our stress levels and reduce frustration.
Joe Weller has seen this firsthand many times since he began installing closet systems 40 years ago. Back then, options were pretty limited.
“When I started in this business in 1985, most everything was shelf and pole construction and closet design wasn’t talked about much. That has changed,” says Weller, the owner of Shelving & Bath Unlimited.
Today, almost 80 percent of Weller’s customers opt for custom laminate closet systems that look like finished
wood cabinets. Along with more than 50 melamine colors and textures, there also are options for granite surfaces, glass shelves, motion-activated LED lighting – even LED lights inside the drawers if you like – built-in mirrors, jewelry trays, removable laundry bags, a foldout ironing board, adjustable cubbies made for shoes, boots and handbags and much more.
“Many people are using fewer or no dressers in their bedrooms and are choosing instead to maximize their closet space,” Weller explains.
While some people go so far as to convert spare bedrooms into luxurious walk-in closets, others double or triple the efficiency of their reach-in closets by having them professionally designed. Either way, design expertise offered by Shelving Unlimited makes it possible to meet organization goals.
“It’s all about good design,” says
Shelving Unlimited offers designed storage for closets, pantries, garages and more.
Weller. “You can have the largest Taj Mahal-type closet in the world, but if it’s not functioning well it can become just one more mess to deal with. Good organization saves you time and prevents frustration.”
Weller also designs storage solutions for the pantry, garage, laundry room, home office and basement.
Along with adjustable-shelf laminate storage, Shelving Unlimited offers wire-shelving systems by Rubbermaid, the No. 1 brand in the storage industry. Learn more at ShelvingUnlimited. com or call (815) 654-3000. ❚
Starlight: ‘The Wedding Singer’ June 25-28, Wed.-Sat. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 p.m. The hit Adam Sandler film comes to life on the stage, complete with the comedian’s laugh-out-loud lyrics and unforgettable 1980s rock ‘n’ roll. Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu.
Buddy Guy
June 27, 7:30 p.m. At 87, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee has eight Grammy Awards, a Lifetime Achievement Grammy Award and a ranking as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, coronado.asmrockford.com.
Latino Fest
June 28, 1-9 p.m. Celebrate the vibrant cultures of South America and the Caribbean while enjoying empanadas, mojitos, pina coladas, Pinchos and more. Listen to the rhythms of Salsa, Merengue, Reggaeton and Punta, with many entertaining surprises throughout the day. Former K-Mart parking lot, 5909 E. State St., Rockford, tamalefest815.com.
Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons
June 29, 7 p.m. The group sold more than 100 million records and continues to tour the world,
playing to packed houses and receiving standing ovations from generations of fans. Hard Rock Casino, 7801 E. State St., Rockford, (779) 2699010, casino.hardrock.com.
ByronFest
July 11-13, events daily. The community festival features nonstop music on two stages, a beer garden, 5K run/walk, carnival rides, car show, parade, bags tournament, ByronFest Idol and quilt show. Location: Various spots in downtown Byron, Ill. Info: Byron Chamber of Commerce, 232 W. 2nd St., Byron, Ill., (815) 234-5500, byronfest.org.
Alpine Kiwanis Brat Days
July 11-12, Fri. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. to 6 p.m. This annual fundraiser for Alpine Kiwanis offers Johnsonville brats, Johnsonville all-beef hot dogs, meatless vegetarian barbecue, vegan brat and an Impossible brat, chips and beverage. Cherryvale Mall (upper level facing Perryville Road), 7200 Harrison Ave., Rockford; Blain’s Farm & Fleet, 7300 E. Riverside Blvd., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 200-9652, bratdays.org.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
July 12, 8 p.m. Their album “Nashville Sound” won the 2018 Grammy Award for best
Americana album. The newest album, “Foxes in the Snow,” was released in March. Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9685222, coronado.asmrockford.com.
German Valley Days
July 18-20, events daily. Celebrate more than 50 years of festivals and the 177th anniversary of the town’s settlement. Live music, car show, historical tours, coloring contest, parade, food vendors, Run the Valley 5K, basketball shooting contest, bags tournament, fireworks and more. Ben Miller Park, College and Church streets, German Valley, Ill., (815) 362-2979, germanvalleydays.com. ❚
