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Smart L iving Weekly Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • Rockford Region/Beloit/Freeport 95¢ • March 6, 2019

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Right in Our Region

How Fish-Abled Just Makes Lives Better

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2019 Home Design Trends! How to Be Good to Your Toilet Throw an Ax During Macktown Event New Treatment for Kids with Incontinence Why You REALLY Need to Protect Your Identity

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In This Issue

Right in Our Region ........................Cover & p. 16 Learn Local History at Macktown Your Home ............................................ ..... 11, 19 2019 Home Trends; Be Good to Your Toilet Inspiration & Worship ......................................12 True Comfort Your Kitchen .....................................................15 Trendy Flavors for Supper Your Life Hacks .................................................20 Take Some Short-Cuts for Dinner Time Your Outing ............................................. .......... 21 Second Sundays at Macktown Your Health ............................................. .......... 23 Non-Surgical Incontinence Treatment for Kids Your Fun ................................................... ......... 25

Restaurant of the Week ................................... 26 Dos Reales Dining Locally .......................................... ........ 26 Your Money .............................................. ......... 29 Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

Smart L iving Weekly â„˘

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, Anthony Franklin 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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‘Ides of March’ “B

eware the Ides of March.” I’ve heard that phrase all of my life, but its significance is foggy to me. So I head to History.com to jog my brain cells. I recall that the first Roman calendar was a lunar one, with a 10-month, 355-day year that began with March, not January. Dates were set in relation to one of three moon phases, the Ides being the full moon that fell mid-month between March 13th and 15th. To celebrate the first full moon of the year, Romans partied hard along the banks of the Tiber River, presenting sacrifices to Anna Perenna, their goddess of long life and health. Science changed things, in 46 B.C., when the great Julius Caesar dared to add 10 days to the Roman calendar, after consulting with astronomers from Alexandria, Egypt, the hub of world scholarship. Since 45 B.C., each year has begun on Jan. 1, with a leap year every four years, all based on movement of the sun, not moon. Caesar took many other bold actions, some of them very unpopular with certain Roman senators who feared he was converting their republic into a monarchy, especially after he was declared Dictator for Life. A group of them stabbed him to death on March 15, 44 B.C., forever linking the Ides of March – a celebration of long life – with his premature death, in a kind of cosmic irony. This marked a turning point from the Roman Republic to Roman Empire. Opinions about Julius Caesar differ to this day, but no one denies he was a genius military leader and statesman who changed the course of world history. Perhaps it was the dramatic clash of life and death, on March 15, 44 B.C., that caught the imagination of William Shakespeare, who wrote “Beware the Ides of March” in his play, “Julius Caesar,” in 1599, some 1,643 years after the famous assassination. Julius Caesar, Shakespeare and the Ides of March all remain part of our consciousness. Have a great week! ❚ Janine Pumilia SLW Editor

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Y H  G

2019 Home Fashion Rule: Be Yourself By Janine Pumilia elling your own story is more important than “achieving” a look, in today’s home fashion. Extreme styles are out and mixed-material, one-of-a-kind looks are in. Comfort is all-important and quality matters. “There are no rules right now,” says interior designer Jaimie Baloun, Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., Rockford. “The only rule is to be sure it fits your own personality and feels warm and This buffet by Canadel can be used as a dining room comfortable to sideboard, a living room you.”

sofa table or to hold a TV.

She’s glad to see a movement away from extremes. “Too much of anything is not good, right?” she says. “For example, the industrial look was huge, and it’s still fun. But now it’s used more as an accent than an entire room theme. Every single light fixture does not have to be an Edison bulb.” Today’s case goods feature mixed materials and mixed styles – wood and metal, glass and metal, urban and country elements in one piece. Choosing paint and fabric colors should be about what you like, but there are some trends worth noting. Icy greys are finally on the downslope and warmer greys, taupes and tans are moving in. Baloun is glad to see grey warming up. “Grey is a really cold color and has to be done right,” she says. “Charcoal greys are warmer and the move toward tans and khakis is a good one.”

Men’s wear look for fabrics is huge, in lots of different textures. “We’re seeing nubby tweeds or soft flannels in patterns like herringbone, houndstooth, plaid and Argyle, in neutral browns, tans, greys and silvers.” Declining in popularity are bold geometrics, script and Boho prints like ikat or latticework. “If you still like them, that’s fine,” says Baloun. “But maybe confine them to an accent pillow rather than committing to them in a large upholstered piece.” Florals are making a fashion comeback, especially in abstract forms and muted colors. In the end, it’s all about pleasing yourself. Says Baloun, “I can put a beautiful room together, but if an individual is not comfortable in it, it’s not going to be right.” ❚

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I  W

True Comfort W

hy do we dread death so much? Is it because, deep down, we really don’t believe the bedrock of our faith? To be sure, the life we know now is much easier to cherish than the mysterious one beyond the grave. And yet our faith is rooted in the belief that, someday, we’ll be together with Jesus Christ, in our new, incorruptible spiritual bodies. At that time, our sorrow and terrible fear of mortality will end. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” -Revelation 21:4. (NIV) After his resurrection, Jesus Christ, in a new spiritual body, appeared to many people for 40 days before ascending and disappearing into a cloud. As his apostles watched, two angels told them, in Acts 1:11: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Knowing that Jesus Christ will someday return for us, in full glory, is an enormous source of hope and comfort. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 1:21, goes so far as to say that departing this life “is better by far” than remaining here, but we do have important work to accomplish here first. And, in his first letter to believers in Thessalonica, Paul writes: Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words. -- I Thessalonians 4:13-18. ❚ 12

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Y K

Trendy Flavors for Supper E

xotic flavors common in the Middle Eastern region of the world like harissa, za’atar and shawarma are having a moment. New global seasonings from McCormick Gourmet, with the spice combinations already blended, make cooking with them easy. Find more recipe ideas at McCormickGourmet.com.

Grilled Chicken Shawarma

Servings: 8 1 1/4 C plain Greek yogurt, divided 5 tsp. Shawarma Seasoning, divided 2 TB olive oil 1 TB fresh lemon juice 1 tsp. McCormick Gourmet Sicilian Sea Salt 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast 4 pita pockets, halved 1 seedless cucumber, thinly sliced 8 lettuce leaves

In small bowl, mix 1 cup yogurt and 1 tsp. shawarma seasoning. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. In small bowl, mix oil, lemon juice, remaining yogurt, remaining shawarma seasoning

and sea salt. Reserve 2 TB of mixture; set aside. Place chicken in large re-sealable plastic bag or glass dish. Add marinade; turn to coat well. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Heat grill or skillet to medium heat. Remove chicken from marinade. Discard remaining marinade. Grill or saute 6-8 minutes per side, or until internal temperature reaches 165 F, brushing with reserved marinade. Slice chicken into thin strips. Serve in pitas with cucumber, lettuce and yogurt dressing.

Shaved Carrot Salad with Pomegranate Harissa Dressing Servings: 5

1/4 C chopped fresh mint 3 TB pomegranate juice 1 TB honey 2 tsp Harissa seasoning 1/2 tsp. Sicilian Sea Salt 1/4 tsp. Black Pepper, coarse ground 3 TB extra-virgin olive oil 1/2 lb. multicolor carrots, washed and peeled

1/2 1/2 3 1/4

C shelled roasted pistachios C dried cranberries C baby arugula C crumbled feta cheese

In large bowl, mix mint, pomegranate juice, honey, harissa seasoning, sea salt and pepper. Gradually add oil while mixing with wire whisk until well mixed. Set aside. Trim carrot ends. Slice each carrot lengthwise into ribbons with vegetable peeler or mandoline. In medium bowl, toss carrots with 1/4 cup prepared dressing. Stir in pistachios and cranberries. Arrange arugula on serving platter. Drizzle with remaining dressing and top with carrot mixture. Sprinkle with feta before serving. ❚ (Source: Family Features)

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R  O R

A Leap of Faith: The Fish-Abled Foundation O By Peggy Werner ne man’s decision to change his life is impacting a whole community of disabled people as well as volunteers who, like him, have discovered the joy of service. Eric Fishe, founder of the Fish-Abled Foundation, a local faith-based nonprofit, organizes monthly social outings for people with mental and physical disabilities. As a driver for Rockford Paratransit for 19 years, he noticed that most of his passengers were only attending doctor appointments. The simple social events that most of us take for granted, like a dinner out or a baseball game, eluded them. It wasn’t until Fishe shored up his own faith life, however, that he found the courage to do something about it. He was entrenched in personal problems and playing in a heavy metal rock band, when one of his regular riders invited him to

attend her church. He stubbornly refused, but she stubbornly kept asking. She challenged him about his belief in God, his purpose on earth and where he was headed – all questions he had been asking himself. “She prayed for me, encouraged me with God’s words and my life was changed,” he says. “I quit going to bars, left the band, and started going to church every Sunday. Eventually, my wife and kids joined me.” As his life improved, he wondered how he could bring some fun and meaning into the lives of his passengers. One day, he invited a 40-year-old blind man to go with him on a Mississippi River fishing trip. The man hadn’t fished since before losing his sight at age 16. “We were catching fish like there was no tomorrow,” Fishe recalls. “He was

so ecstatic and having the time of his life. I knew I had to do more outings with him and others and so I started reaching out.” Thus, the Fish-Abled Foundation was born. Fishe organized a cookout in June 2012 for about 25 people. Last year’s picnic was attended by more than 150. They enjoyed eating grilled food together, listing to live music and taking part in wheelchair races, bingo, and other games and contests. There have been trips to apple orchards, Chicago Cubs games, the Shedd Aquarium, Medieval Times, Katie’s Cup, the Festival of Lights, various concerts, and annual events like a Super Bowl party, a Thanksgiving banquet and a bowling fundraiser. A quarterly newsletter goes out to about 300 people. Upcoming outings will include an

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R  O R attended a Fish-Abled event that just happened to be on his birthday. The man hadn’t celebrated a birthday in years, but on that day, 200 people he didn’t know sang “Happy Birthday” to him. It was his last birthday. Yolanda Nelson moved from Chicago to Rockford in 2003. An eye condition caused The simple joy of having fun with others is not taken for granted by those who benefit from the Fish-Abled by high blood pressure left her Foundation. legally blind in 2005. Fishabled has helped her get to know IceHogs hockey game, a movie night and Rockford and make new friends. a Rockford Rivets baseball game with “I wasn’t always disabled, so gobuffet supper. ing to these events makes me feel not “A lot of these people are sick and so alone and helps me to see how others have a lot of problems going on in their cope with their disabilities,” says Nelson. lives,” explains Fishe. “In some cases, “God was in my life before I was distheir physical health has taken a turn for abled, but was always on the back burner. the worst and they’re spending their last Not anymore.” days with us, just wanting to be a part of A core group of about 30 volunteers, life and to share the joy that comes from plus others who just show up, serve food, being with others.” unload buses, help with wheelchairs and He recalls a blind man whose wife walkers, get people signed in and seated, had left him when he became blind. He

and assist guests with personal needs. Ashley Minnick began volunteering three years ago and is now the organization’s financial manager. “It’s great to work with the other volunteers and those in attendance are so appreciative,” says Minnick. “When I go home at night, I feel really good and the feeling stays with me for a long time. This experience has really changed my life.” Fishe and his wife, Jenny, often are called “Mom and Dad” by their FishAbled extended family. Their teenagers, Andrew and Abby, recruit volunteers and help with events. Fishe says he is awed by the way God provides for FishAbled. Supporters include Milestone, Roma Bakery, The Blazer Foundation, Center of Hope, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois, MembersAlliance Credit Union, Oscar’s, the Lion’s Club and DaVita Dialysis Centers. “When you step out in faith, the bases are covered,” he says. Call (815) 494-4998 to learn more. ❚

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Y H  G

Be Good to Your Toilet and Save Money By Peggy Werner

hen a person has toilet trouble, it’s most likely because something went into the toilet that doesn’t belong there, says Don Howe, a licensed plumber and certified technician with Pearson, 2415 20th St., Rockford. “Using too much toilet paper is one of the main reasons people get clogged toilets,” Howe says. He recommends using one-ply paper, which dissolves right away in water. If you have a septic system, it’s all you should use. Those who prefer to use softer, double-ply tissue should understand that it absorbs water like a paper towel; in large amounts, it becomes too heavy to go through the trap, says Howe. If people have problems flushing even after they’ve consciously reduced paper usage, they might want to install a power-assisted toilet, which uses water and air pressure, rather than gravity alone, to flush.

Hard water is also an enemy for all plumbing fixtures in the home. “With hard water, a good flushing toilet will lose flushing capacity in just a couple years because lime builds up quickly and can lead to clogs,” Howe explains. Surprisingly, one of the most common reasons for calling a plumber these days is because a cell phone has been dropped down a toilet, says Howe. Resolving the problem can cost hundreds of dollars. “Just paying more attention to what you’re doing can prevent toilets from clogging,” he says. Small, everyday items can damage not just your own plumbing, but your neighborhood’s entire sewer system. Why? Because many items don’t dissolve or disintegrate easily. You can prevent problems like these by following one simple rule – only use

your toilet to flush toilet paper or organic waste material. Everything else, including old medications and grease, should go into the wastebasket. ❚ For more than 60 years, Pearson has served the Northern Illinois area. Pearson offers Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning, Pest Control and Remodeling services, among others. Call Pearson at (815) 398-8312, or visit PearsonGuy.com or Facebook.

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L H

How to Make Meals and Parties Easier By Peggy Werner

f you’re in need of a quick lunch, something to pop into the oven for dinner tonight, or you’re planning a special occasion, Countryside Meats & Deli, 781 Highgrove Place, has a wide variety of menu items from which to choose. And if you can’t make a decision, talk with Owner Jarrod Bush, who has more than 20 years of experience in his field. “We’re a full-service meat market and have food in small portions for home meals or we can cater for large special events and parties,” he explains. “People are not always sure what they’re looking for and that’s where I can help them make good choices.” Just walk into the store and you’ll be surrounded by options. Locally owned and operated, Bush’s store has a well-stocked, clean, organized and attractive 20-foot-long meat

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case filled with top quality, freshly cut Midwestern beef, pork and poultry. The store advertises specials every Wednesday. There are cases filled with oven-ready meals such as lasagna, stuffed green peppers, meatballs, Italian beef, pulled BBQ pork, chicken pot pie, chicken Kiev and 25 varieties of bratwurst. There are also cheeses and cheese spreads, sauces, dips, dressings, marinades, seasonings, chicken, egg, tuna and crab salads, as well as cole slaw, broccoli slaw, baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, Italian pasta salad, creamed and pickled herring. Gourmet items include four varieties of chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, fennel, cheese and Italian seasoning, traditional bread stuffing, ham and Swiss cheese, or apples and cranberries. Large Portabella mushrooms are

March 6 To advertise call 815-316-2300

filled with crab meat and Swiss cheese or cheddar cheese and bacon. Crab cakes, twice baked potatoes, garlic cheese bread and 25 varieties of bratwurst are also available. Boar’s Head luncheon meats are sold here. Everything in the store is made onsite with products purchased locally or regionally, and all meat grinding is done on site. ❚

Y O

Throw Spears March 10 at Macktown W

e seldom think about all the people who have lived on the very same land we live on, but generations of them have existed here since prehistoric times. Second Sundays events at the Macktown Living History Center, 221 Freeport Road, Rockton, Ill., are a family-friendly way to learn about many aspects of our local history, both historic and prehistoric. On Saturday, March 9, at 1 p.m., come to the Macktown Education Center and learn about the clothing styles people in our region wore during the early to mid 1800s. Did all women wear the same thing? What did men wear? Did they make their clothing or buy it? The event is free. On March 10, from 2 to 4 p.m., learn about spear throwing and other life skills of people in prehistoric times, during Atlatl Sunday, part of the Second Sundays

series. Learn how early inhabitants of this region used the natural world around them to meet their needs for food, shelter and clothing. See and handle the tools they used and learn how they were made. Chop wood with a stone ax and try your hand at bringing down dinner with an atlatl, a tool that uses leverage to achieve greater velocity. Kids can help to grind corn and take some home to make corn cakes. The forested bluff overlooking the Rock and Pecatonica Rivers in Rockton holds the remnants of Macktown, Winnebago County’s earliest settlement. It was founded in the mid-1830s by Stephen Andrew Mack, Jr., and his wife, Mary Hononegah. Macktown,

then known as Pekatonic, represents a time and place of change on the Illinois frontier, when the fur trade collided with a progressive world. The Winnebago County Forest Preserve District owns the land on which Macktown and the trading post once sat, and the Macktown Living History Education Center have undertaken plans to restore Macktown to its 1830 to 1846 historic condition. Learn more by visiting Macktownlivinghistory.com or calling (815) 6244200. ❚

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Y H

A New Treatment for Pediatric Incontinence By Lindsey Gapen, managing editor

ome 13 million U.S. children suffer from incontinence, a lack of control over urination or defecation. This common problem is just one of many that Dr. Patrick McKenna treats as the director of pediatric urology at Mercyhealth Physician Clinic-Riverside. McKenna and his team have created a three-pronged program. The Midwest Mercy Center for Reconstruction focuses on urological surgeries. The Antenatal Program manages urological problems detected in children before birth. And the Confidence Center provides non-surgical treatment for incontinence and more. McKenna speaks nationally about incontinence and has developed a nonsurgical biofeedback program that’s close to 100 percent effective. “I used to do about 130 to 150 ureteral surgeries in children per year,” he says. “With our program, I did zero last year.”

His program in part uses video games to aid biofeedback. “Biofeedback isn’t just the computer games – it’s 20 minutes of going over homework related to the education component, 20 minutes of teaching the children to control their abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, and 20 minutes of computer games that teach them how to relax their muscles when they void,” McKenna says. A chance meeting, nearly 25 years ago, with a developer of computer games used to rehabilitate children from sports injuries, led to his program. When a resident doctor came to McKenna in search of a research project, McKenna pulled out the games and suggested developing an incontinence biofeedback program. He didn’t have high expectations, not being a big believer in biofeedback, at that time. The resident completed his experi-

ment with 60 incontinent children and McKenna could hardly believe the results. “There was an 80 percent success rate with Dr. Patrick McKenna no medicine,” McKenna says. “You can image the amount of data I had him review again.” McKenna has refined and used the program for more than two decades now. “To be honest, we wiped out one of the biggest operations that pediatric urologists do, so it has a big financial impact and therefore many people don’t want to run the program,” McKenna says. “But I’ve always found it’s best to do the right thing … we’ve really solved a lot of problems for children.” ❚

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March 6

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

FAM: ‘I am American’ Now thru April 15, Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. noon-5 p.m. Immigrants and Native Americans explore the 1.800.521.0849 bicultural experience and the Rockford, IL 61101 gorockford.com meaning of being American. FAM, Freeport, (815) 125-9755, freeportartmuseum.org. 9/10/07 2:07:37 PM

'Run for Your Wife’ Now thru-March 10, Fri. 8 p.m., Sat. 2 & 8 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. A British farce sure to make you laugh. Pec Playhouse Theatre, 314 Main St., Pecatonica, Ill., (815) 239-1210, pecplayhouse.org. AE: 'Silent Sky' March 7-17, Thu.-Sat. 7:30 p.m., Sat. 4 p.m., Sun. 2 p.m. In 1905, the inspiring story of Henrietta Swan Leavitt, a woman who, quite literally, changed the way we see the universe. AE, Rockford University, Cheek Theatre, (815) 394-5004, artistsensemble.org. Discovery Center: Ag All Around Us March 9, 11 a.m. Ask a farmer, peek at live barnyard babies, explore plants and soil, and play with your food. National Agriculture Week is off and running at Discovery Center Museum, 711 N. Main St. Learn more at discoverycentermuseum.org. Macktown Living History March Events March 9 & 10. On March 9, 1 p.m., learn about clothing worn in our region during the early to mid 1800s. On March 10, 2-4 p.m., attend "Atlatl Sunday," to learn about survival skills used by prehistoric residents. Macktown Living History Center, 2221 Freeport Road, Rockton, Ill. Learn more at Macktownlivinghistory.org or call (815) 624-4100. Leah Zahn March 11, 5:30 p.m. Lifelong Rockford resident and violinist Zahn performs in the northern Illinois area; she is concertmaster of the Rock Valley College and Community Orchestra. MPAC, Emerson House, 420 N. Main St., (815) 964-9713, mendelssohnpac.org. 2019 St. Patrick's Day Parade and PaddyFest March 16, parade 3 p.m., PaddyFest 4-8 p.m, in downtown Rockford and at Prairie Street Brewhouse, presented by the Irish Marching Society. There will be a special limited menu featuring traditional Irish dishes and drinks, and live music.

Learn how 1800s residents of our region dressed, when you attend a March 9 event at the Macktown Living History Center in Rockton.

Trinadora’s Celtic Frolic March 16, doors open 6 p.m., concert 7-9 p.m. Jannie Nelson and Ron Holm sing and play keyboard, guitar, ocarina, harmonica and jazz, with music ranging from country to jazz. Pizza and snacks available. Spring Creek United Church of Christ, 4500 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 877-2576, springcreekucc.org. WWE: Road to Wrestlemania March 18, 7:30 p.m. Featuring WWE superstars, including AJ Styles vs Randy Orton and Charlotte Flair vs Smackdown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, and many more. BMO Harris Bank Center, 300 Elm St., Rockford, (815) 968-5222, thebmoharrisbankcenter. com. 'The Sound of Music’ March 26, 7:30 p.m. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical story of Maria and the Von Trapp family. Coronado PAC, Rockford, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org. Red Hot Chilli Pipers March 29, 8 p.m. With their signature “bagrock,” this nine-piece ensemble, consisting of pipers, guitarists, keyboardists and drummers, entertains with a fusion of rock anthems and tunes from the glens of Scotland. Egyptian Theatre, DeKalb, Ill., (815) 758-1215, egyptiantheatre.org. One Night of Queen March 30, 8 p.m. Gary Mullen and The Works re-create the look, sound, pomp and showmanship of the iconic rock band. Coronado PAC, (815) 968-0595, coronadopac.org.❚

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WDL

Restaurant of the Week

Authentic Mexican Cuisine at Dos Reales By Paul Anthony Arco

(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 menu, such as 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 purchase our products from local sources.” Jose Gonzalez Dos Reales offers gluten-free options

and has always used fresh, preservative-free corn tortillas, chips and vegetable oil in its cooking. During the past few years, 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 Baci’s Kitchen  Fast-Casual, dine-in, carry-out. 2990 N. Perryville Road, inside A Perryville Place. (815) 329-6922. Open 7 days/wk. at 8 a.m. BkLD. Complete menu at Baciskitchen.com. Backyard Grill & Bar  Casual/American. 5390 Elevator Road, Roscoe, Ill., (815) 623-6677. 2nd St., Loves Park, Ill., (815) 6369430. LD M-Th 11am-midnight, F-Sat to 2am, Sun noon-10 p.m. $-SS. Bravo Pizza  Italian/American. 376 Prairie Hill Road, S. Beloit, Ill., (815) 624-7900. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $. 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. $$ Dos Reales Mexican Restaurant  Casual/Mexican. 5855 E. State St., (815) 227-4979. LD $-$$.

398-5700. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11 pm. GreenFire  Upscale-Casual/American contemporary. Live entertainment. 6795 E. Riverside Blvd., Rockford, (815) 3163473. BkLD M-F 11am, Sat-Sun 8am. Bar open late. $$$. Hearthrock Cafe  Restaurant/cafe. Baked goods, coffee, breakfast, lunch. Inside Benson Stone Co., 1100 11th St., (815) 227-2000. BkL M-F 7:30am-3pm; Sat. 8am-3pm. $-$$. Lino’s  Italian/American. 5611 E. State St., Rkfd. (815) 397-2077. D M-Sat 4:30am-10pm; Sun. 4:30am-9 pm. $$. Maciano’s  Casual Italian. 6746 Broadcast Pkwy., Loves Park, (815) 633-7500; & 5801 Columbia Pkwy., Rkfd., (815) 227-5577. LD Sun-Th 11am-10pm, F-Sat to 11pm. $-$$. 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. $-$$. Prairie Street Brewhouse  Upscale-Casual/American. 200 Prairie St., Rockford, (815) 277-9427. LD Sun-W 11am10pm, Th to midnight, F-Sat to 2am. $-$$.

Fresco at the Gardens.  Casual/American Café. 318 Spring Creek Road, (815) 316-2256. BkL Daily 7am-3pm. $$

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

Giordano’s  Casual/Italian. Stuffed pizza, salads, entrees, sandwiches, desserts. 33 Executive Parkway, Rockford, (815)

Taco Betty’s  Casual/Mexican-American. 212 E. State St., Rkfd., (815) 977-5650. LD Daily 11am-1am. $$. ❚

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Cannova’s

annova’s has been serving up authentic Italian dishes and pizza since Anthony and Philippina Cannova started the restaurant in 1921. Today, their granddaughter, Linda, and her husband, Patrick Beckman, carry on the tradition, at 1101 W. Empire St., Freeport. They use many original recipes for pizza, spaghetti sauce, Italian beef, fresh bread and pizza dough. House specials include a Sicilian ﬁlet, marinated in olive oil and red wine; Italian-style baked cod; and seafood Alfredo. Linda’s made-from-scratch desserts include tiramisu, cheesecake and chocolate spoon cake. Then there are the award-winning pizzas: the Classic; the New York; the double-crusted Gloria Read, named for a longtime customer; and the Sicilian. Cannova’s is open Sun.-Tues. 5-10 p.m. and Fri.-Sat. until 11 p.m. ❚

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Protect Yourself from Identity Theft

By Peggy Werner

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

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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