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Your Better Quality of Life Magazine • $1.95 • July 2026
Festa Italiana July 31-Aug. 2 Food, Fun & Festivities
Lincoln Rent-All: 70 Years of Family Business Honest Work: A Family Legacy in Landscaping Inspiration: God Helps Those... Your Family Fun: 9 Upcoming Events
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In This Issue
Right in Our Region .................Cover & p. 20 Festa Italiana: Food, Fun & Festivities Inspiration & Worship ................................ 16 God Helps Those... Your Community ....................................... 33 Lincoln Rent-All: 70 Years of Family Business Your Outdoor Living ................................. 39 A Family Legacy in Landscaping Your Fun ..................................................... 44
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief Bill Hughes Executive Editor/Web Editor Chris Linden Senior Editor Lindsey Lukas Managing Editor Jim Taylor Deputy Editor Steven Bonifazi Graphics Director Samantha Behling Graphic Designer Olivia Costello, Brandi Fier Contributing Writers Janine Pumilia, Peggy Werner General Sales Manager Brent Hughes Sales Manager Brad Hughes Advertising Sales Representatives Brian Hughes, Jeremy Jones Administration & Circulation Manager Lisa Hughes Director of Corporate Happiness Hana Hughes Distribution Kelly and Larry Fairbairn Published by Hughes Media Corp. 222 Seventh St., Rockford, IL, 61104 (815) 316-2300, Fax: (815) 316-2301 www.SmartLivingRockford.com Smart Living. Copyright 2026 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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Ah, Summer!
S
ummer solstice has come and gone, and while the days are beginning to grow just a little shorter, there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy. The question is: are you making the most of it? Every summer, I keep a mental checklist of experiences I don’t want to miss before the leaves begin to change. If I can cross off most of them, I never feel like summer slipped away too quickly. Maybe you have a list of your own. Here are a few of my Rockfordarea favorites, in no particular order: • Spend a day at one of our community festivals. Whether it’s Old Settlers Days, Festa Italiana (more in our cover story), or another neighborhood celebration, these events bring people together in the best way. Great food, live music and familiar faces always beat another day spent staring at a screen. • Catch an outdoor concert. Summer evenings are made for lawn chairs and live music. From the Sinnissippi Music Shell to Klehm Arboretum’s Woodsong Concert series, there’s almost always somewhere to relax and enjoy great entertainment under the open sky. • Enjoy the outdoors. Take a walk through Anderson Japanese Gardens, hike the trails at Rock Cut State Park, paddle the Kishwaukee River or spend an afternoon along the Rock River Recreation Path. We have so many beautiful places to soak up the season without traveling far from home. • Browse a farmers’ market. There’s something special about fresh-picked produce, homemade baked goods and chatting with local artisans. The Rockford City Market is a favorite, and farmers markets throughout the area offer plenty of opportunities to shop local and enjoy the community. Whatever your favorite way to spend the season, now is the time to do it. Summer always seems to fly by, but the memories have a way of lasting much longer. Have a wonderful July and August! ❚ Lindsey Lukas Senior Editor
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Inspiration & Worship
God Helps Those...
I
t surprises some people to learn that “God helps those who help themselves” is not an idea found in the Bible. Neither is “Win at all costs,” or “Nice guys finish last,” or “He who has the most toys wins.” In fact, many of the social norms and even religious ideas we routinely accept stand in sharp contrast to Christ’s teachings. Each Christian makes this choice every day: Do I conform to the world or do I conform to Jesus Christ? Do I love or hate? Do I forgive or exact revenge? Do I put myself below or above others? Do I help the poor or scorn them? Unlike human tyrants, God doesn’t coerce us to do or think anything; He asks each of us to take time to know Him through scripture and to conform our thoughts to His ideas willingly and cheerfully out of love and gratitiude. Too often we do it backwards; we try to force God to fit into our social norms. It’s not easy, in our money-driven society, to keep a reasonable balance between serving God and serving our own greed. But we must try. Jesus said: No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon [money]. – Matthew 6:24 Apostle Paul said in 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.” It must be possible, then, to conform our thoughts and behavior to God’s will. When he was asked what the greatest of all commandments are, Jesus answered in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.” Every breath, every moment of life, every good thing under the sun comes from God. We owe Him everything. “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth,” Paul advises us in Colossians 3:2. “God helps those who help others” has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? ❚ – Janine Pumilia 16
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Right in Our Region
Festa Italiana Returns with Food, Fun & Festivities By Peggy Werner
F
orty-seven years ago, the inspiration for an annual Italian festival was born. Held each year on the first weekend in August, the celebration honors Italian traditions, food, music, and the lively spirit that turns the community into one big family reunion — whether you’re Italian or simply Italian at heart. This year’s Festa Italiana is July 31Aug. 2 on the grounds of Boylan Catholic High School, 4000 St. Francis Dr. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Friday; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday with Catholic Mass at 10 a.m. “It’s one big family reunion for the entire community, celebrating everything Italian,” says Joy Parlapiano, event coordinator and member of the Greater Rockford Italian American Association (GRIAA) board of directors. New this year are an additional bocce
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court, a Mega Ride Pass valid throughout the festival weekend, a reprinted edition of the popular GRIAA Italian cookbook available for purchase in the culture tent, and a special performance entitled “The Prince Experience,” featuring Gabriel Sanchez paying tribute to Prince. “Everything Veneto and Lombardy” is the theme for this year’s culture tent. Rosie Scalise Sheridan, GRIAA board member and culture tent organizer, says the purpose of having a culture tent is to entertain and educate people. “Every year, we focus on cities in two regions of Italy,” she says. “This year, we want people to come away knowing more about Venice, known for Murano glass and Venetian lace, and Lombardy, a highly productive agricultural area producing mainly wine, lemons, limes, figs and a multitude of vegetables.”
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Cooking demonstrations in the culture tent include “Risotto” at 5 p.m. Saturday with Marilyn Shigley, Joan Pfiefer and Anita Wetzbarger, and “Pesce Stew with Polenta” at 5 p.m. Sunday with Jay and Robyn Ferraro and Larry and Nancy Ferraro. In addition, GRIAA Hall of Famer and genealogist Steve Salvato can investigate your Italian family’s history at no charge, and the association’s cookbook, “Cucina Italiana,” is on sale for $35.
This year’s festival features 16 food booths.
Right in Our Region
Festa Italiana returns to Boylan Catholic High School July 31-Aug. 2. Activities include bocce tournaments, a carnival, kids’ crafts and more.
This year’s Festa features 16 food booths, serving Italian beef, Italian sausage and meatball sandwiches, pork chop sandwiches, Italian ice coffee, Italian margaritas, pasta, pizza, mozzarella sticks, fried zucchini, beer, wine, soft drinks and more. Activities include Bocce tournaments all weekend, a carnival, kids’ crafts and more. Entertainment begins Friday at 5:10 p.m. with the Amici Italian Troupe, which brings together Italian Americans of all ages and backgrounds to share the rich tradition of Italian folk dance. Open-
ing ceremonies take place at 6:30 p.m., followed by Cherry Pie at 7 p.m. The fun, family-friendly festival band plays “hairband hits” and ballads of the 1980s, in addition to anthems from other eras. Saturday’s lineup includes recorded Italian music at 12:45 p.m., followed by performances by the Amici Italian Youth Troupe at 2 p.m. and the adult troupe at 2:50 p.m. Vince Amore performs at 4:30 p.m., specializing in Italian songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Dewan Martin, Bobby Darren and Tom Jones. The popular local band Stevee Nix
takes the stage at 6:15 p.m. and is known for their high-energy performances, specializing in modern and alternative rock music. “The Prince Experience” closes the evening at 9 p.m. On Sunday, Jack Miuccio sings Italian classics at 11:15 a.m. The Amici Italian Youth Troupe performs at 1 p.m. and the adult troupe dances at 2 p.m. The Cal Stage Band from Sterling, Ill., performs at 3:30 p.m. and is known for their tight three-part harmonies and interactive stage shows. The Blooze Brothers play tribute to the music and comedy of the original Blues Brothers at 6 p.m. All festival proceeds go toward educational scholarships for those attending Catholic schools. General admission is $8 each day, with free admission to all military active duty, veterans and children ages 7 and under accompanied by an adult. Mega ride passes are available at festaitalianarockford.com, while food and drink tickets are available at designated booths. ❚
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Your Community
Lincoln Rent-All: 70 Years of Family Business By Steven Bonifazi, deputy editor
I
f Art Thomas could see what his sons have done with the company he founded seven decades ago, he’d be upset. Not at the work, but at how much they’re spending while continuing to grow the business. “He was very conservative,” says Brad Thomas Sr., Art’s son. “When he would buy equipment, he’d buy three broken pieces and make one whole instead of spending the money up front to get good equipment.” Art founded Lincoln Rent-All in Rockford in 1956 and spent decades building it into one of the region’s go-to equipment rental businesses. His sons, Brad Sr. and Jeff, returned full time in the late 1970s after college and eventually grew the company into two Rockford locations, 24 employees and more than 3,000 pieces of rental equipment serving
northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. As the company marks 70 years, the next generation – Brad Sr.’s son, Brad Jr., and Jeff’s son, Ted – are buying the storefronts from their fathers while continuing the family business. The brothers modernized the operation over the years, separating sales from rentals, adding a dedicated parts-and-service department and opening a second location at 6625 E. Riverside Blvd. in 1998. “A lot of people call with a problem, and we provide the solution, not just, ‘Here’s a rental item,’” Brad Jr. says. “If they need to do X, Y and Z, we’ll show them the things that work best and give them some knowledge on how to use them.” The store stocks rental-grade equipment that is serviced in-house, allowing customers to swap out machines quickly
Three generations of the Thomas family have helped make Lincoln Rent-All a trusted name in equipment rentals.
if something breaks. Brad Sr. also spent a decade on the board of the Chicagoland chapter of the American Rental Association, helping the company stay current with industry trends. More recently, Ted and Brad Jr. expanded the company’s online presence so customers can check equipment availability before visiting. Now, Brad Sr. and Jeff are preparing to step back, confident the next generation will continue the consistency and reliability that has kept Lincoln Rent-All thriving for 70 years. ❚
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Outdoor Living
Honest Work: A Family Legacy in Landscaping By Steven Bonifazi, deputy editor
E
ric Hawker learned his trade from his father, John. This August, Hawker Landscaping Solutions turns 11. The company grew from an after-hours mowing job while Hawker worked full time at GE Aviation into a year-round, family-run operation with two crews, five service lines and commercial accounts in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Ask Hawker what it means to pass the decade milestone and he doesn’t talk about revenue or trucks. Instead, he speaks of a trade, a family and the valuable advice his father gave him. From 2001 to 2005, Hawker worked alongside his father in Madison, Wis., building houses and rising to project manager. He enjoyed the heavy machines, grading and clearing raw land before anyone framed a single wall. Grad-
ing and stone walls became his passion and specialty. After his father retired, Hawker returned to Rockford. With landscaping out of financial reach, he took a job at GE Aviation Air Management Systems. In 2015, he started Hawker Landscaping Solutions on the side, picking up commercial mowing accounts after work. While Hawker worked at GE, his wife, Nataly, mowed the route herself and kept the company running. Referrals followed, the side business outgrew the day job, and Hawker left GE for good. Today, one crew handles mowing while another tackles hardscape and landscape installs. “We have a one-year warranty on all our work, and really, we don’t need it because we stand behind our work,” Hawker says.
Eric Hawker with his wife and two sons.
Nataly still pulls trailers, picks up equipment and runs the books. “Without her, there would be no Hawker Landscaping,” Hawker adds. This summer, his sons, Gabriel and Gavin, joined the mowing crew for the first time. “My dad said, ‘If you don’t want to do it at your house, don’t do it in someone else’s,’” Hawker says. “I’ve carried that with me through landscaping, mowing and hardscapes. Upfront and honest is the only way to be.” ❚
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Explore Explore ELKHORN
ELKHORN
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visitor guides & travel information 262-723-5788 WWW.VISITELKHORN.COM
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Your Fun Woodsong: The Sensations July 26, 6-8 p.m. One of the premier bands in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin, the group includes Holland Zander, Rick Pemberton, Dana Buck and Scott Ford. Bring blankets or lawn chairs and your own refreshments. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-8146, klehm.org. Rock County 4-H Fair July 28-Aug. 2, events daily. The fair includes a carnival, entertainment, 4-H exhibits, dog agility show, cat show, interactive lumberjack camp, visual arts contest, woodworking and more. Rock County Fairgrounds, 1301 Craig Ave., Janesville, (608) 755-1470, rockcounty4hfair.com. ‘The Addams Family’ Aug. 5-9, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday Addams has fallen in love with a “normal” boy, and when his family comes to dinner at the Addams house you can be sure chaos and comedy unfold. The story blends laughter and love while embracing what makes us unique. Starlight Theatre at Rock Valley College, 3301 N. Mulford Road, Rockford, (815) 921-2160, rockvalleycollege.edu. Wabi-Sabi Photography Experience Aug. 8, 9:30-11 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Guided by Japanese philosophy, you’ll learn to see beauty
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Entertainment & Events without striving for perfection. Anderson Japanese Gardens, 318 Spring Creek Road, Rockford, (815) 229-9390, andersongardens.org. Wildflower Walk Aug. 20, 6:30 p.m. Explore the gardens right outside the library. Learn about some of these plants’ prairie origins, historical uses in medicine and other traits. Beloit Public Library, 605 Eclipse Blvd., Beloit, (608) 364-2905, beloitlibrary.org. Jimmy Failla: ‘Escape from New York’ Tour Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m. This nationally known standup comedian, radio host and quick-witted personality brings a fast-paced, no-filter, crowdpleasing comedy experience. Coronado Theatre, 314 N. Main St., Rockford, (815) 965-0049, coronado.rockfordlive.com. Woodsong: RESPECT! Aug. 23, 6-8 p.m. This tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin, features a 10-piece orchestra fronted by Rockford native Da’Quela “Cookie” Payne. Klehm Arboretum & Botanic Garden, 2715 S. Main St., Rockford, (815) 9658146, klehm.org. Boyz II Men Aug. 28, 8 p.m. The popular band is known for its
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The Rock County 4-H Fair returns to the Rock County Fairgrounds July 28-Aug. 2.
smooth harmonies. Hear favorites such as “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweet Day” and “Motownphilly.” Hard Rock Casino, 7801 E. State St., Rockford, (779) 2699010, casino.hardrock.com. 17th Annual Crossroads Blues Festival Aug. 29, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., music begins at noon. Featured artists include the Stefan Hillesheim Band, a Chicago-based blues band; Crystal Thomas, an international soul-blues singer and trombonist; Anika Chambers, an American soul blues singer and songwriter; and Paul DesLauriers Band, a three-piece power blues group from Montreal. Lyran Park, 4781 S. Bend Road, Rockford, crossroadsbluessociety.com. ❚
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