Let’s look at what the manufacturers say constitutes severe driving conditions, and let you draw your own conclusions:

• Most of your trips are less than four miles
• Most of your trips are less than ten miles and outside temperatures are below freezing
• The engine is at low speed most of the time — not on the highway
• You operate your vehicle in dusty areas
• You regularly tow a trailer, carry heavy loads or a car-top carrier
• Stop and go driving
• Driving in very hot or very cold weather

So you can see that a lot has to do with how you drive, but some has to do with where you drive. Some areas of the country will be more or less severe than it is here in DeKalb County.

For many, normal driving includes elements of severe service driving. So how do you know? Picture a line with “regular” on one end and “severe” on the other, and make a judgment on where you fall.

If your regular oil change recommendation is 5,000 miles and the severe service recommendation is 3,000 — when should you change your oil? For some, it’s closer to 3,000 miles. For others, it’s closer to 5,000 miles. Your service advisor will be happy to have this discussion with you and help you sort it out.

If you drive where the air is dusty or polluted, fluids will become contaminated and filters will get dirtier more quickly.

So make an honest evaluation of your driving conditions in and around Sycamore and DeKalb. You’ve made the commitment to take care of your vehicles, so it only makes sense to follow the right schedule.

Give us a call for advice for your car based on our local driving conditions. We’d be happy to discuss your driving habits and conditions and help you determine what maintenance schedule you should be following.

Bockman’s Auto Care
2158 Oakland Drive
Sycamore, IL 60178
www.bockmansautocare.com
815.756.7413

Each BioLife center is a vital part of its community. The donors not only contribute the source of life-saving therapeutics, but also contribute to the commercial vitality of their neighborhoods. The fees donors receive for their commitment to the BioLife program are used to support church, civic and charitable organizations and activities for their families. These dollars are then spent and re-spent in the community, multiplying their impact and the benefits to the donors, neighboring businesses and the community at large.

BioLife Plasma Services is part of Baxter Healthcare Corporation, the principal domestic operating subsidiary of Baxter International Inc. (NYSE: BAX).

To learn more about our life-saving program or to schedule a plasma donation, visit www.biolifeplasma.com. The DeKalb BioLife center is located at 1455 County Farm Road, near Walmart. The phone number is 815-754-5777. Donors can enjoy the convenience of free wireless Internet and a free supervised playroom for donor’s children.

• Low or spongy brake pedal
• Hard brake pedal
• A brake warning light that stays on
• Constantly squealing or grinding brakes
• Vibrations or clunking sounds when you apply your brakes

There are two types of brakes: disk and drum. Disk brakes have a rotor that’s attached to the axle. Calipers straddle the rotor, kind of like the brakes on a bicycle. Drum brakes are more common on back wheels. Pads, called shoes, push against the inside of the drum to slow the vehicle.

There are several things that need to be serviced on the brake system. First, the brake pads and shoes wear out with use, and become too thin to really help. If the brake pads wear away completely you can damage the rotors. The calipers can grind grooves in the rotor. Then the rotor must either be resurfaced or replaced and that can be expensive. But putting it off is dangerous because your vehicle won’t stop as quickly. Sometimes rotors warp or crack and must be replaced.

Brake fluid is also important. When the brakes are applied, the pressure in the fluid activates the brake pads or shoes. Not enough fluid, not enough pressure to brake properly. Also, water builds up in the brake fluid over time, which leads to corrosion, leaks and brake damage, and with hard use, the brakes could severely fade or even fail. You should change the brake fluid when your manufacturer recommends it.

There are different grades of brake pads. There are regular, metallic and ceramic — higher grades cost more, but give better braking performance and smoother operation. It’s OK to upgrade your brake pads. But, never use a grade that’s lower than what the manufacturer recommends.

Be sure to properly maintain your brakes because it’s a lot cheaper than paying your nearest Chicago area body shop after an accident. Make an appointment today at Bockman’s Auto Care to have your brakes checked. Visit us at www.BockmanAutoCare.com or call 815-756-7413.

Motor oil is normally made from heavy, thick petroleum hydrocarbons found in crude oil. Some oils, however, are entirely synthetic (derived from mineral or non-mineral based oils) or a synthetic blend (or hydrocarbon-based oils and synthetic-based oils).

But which motor oil is best for your vehicle and what’s the difference between all the different types, weights and other options?

First, you should always use the weight and type of motor oil as specified by your vehicle’s manufacturer as noted in your vehicle’s owner’s manual. Your vehicle’s engine has been designed to exact standards and to perform in a manner that is designed to give it a long life. Using the specified type of motor oil will help to extend the life of your vehicle’s engine and make sure everything performs to specifications.

On every bottle of motor oil, there are three pieces of information: the API service rating, the viscosity grade and the “Energy Conserving” indicator (the oil either is or it isn’t).

API service rating
This is a two-letter rating that tells you the type of engine the oil is designed for (i.e. gasoline or diesel) and the quality level. The “S” designation (standing for “service”) indicates oil suitable for typical passenger cars and light trucks featuring gasoline engines. The “C” designation (“commercial”) is usually suitable for diesel equipment. A newer API rating is “SN,” which indicates that is appropriate for gasoline automobile and light truck engines. There are other designations as well, but these are the major ones you might experience.

Viscosity grade
This is the somewhat bewildering combination of numbers and letters, such as 10W-30. It tells you the oil’s thickness or viscosity. A thinner motor oil — indicated by a lower number — flows more easily. Conversely, a thicker oil — with a larger number — is thick and resistant to flow. An oil’s viscosity needs to be high enough to maintain lubrication, but low enough that the oil can flow around the engine without any problems.

Viscosity grades of oil are designated (from low to high viscosity) by the numbers 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 40, 50 and 60. Certain numbers — 0, 5, 10, 15 and 25 — might have the letter “W” after them, indicating they are “winter” or cold-start types of oil, designed to work at colder temperatures.

So what about the second number we sometimes see (e.g. 10W-30)?

Oils designated in this manner are multi-grade, meaning they meet the viscosity grading of both 10W- and 30-grade oil.

Fuel additives
Some oil manufacturers will add in chemicals that improve the oil’s viscosity. Other types of additives include detergents and dispersants to help keep the engine clean, corrosion inhibitors and other additives that protect metals in the engine and aid in minimizing wear and tear.

How often should I replace my oil?
The plain and simple answer is, per your vehicle’s manufacturer’s instructions, taking into account your driving habits, condition of your vehicle and the environment you typically drive in. The real-world ability of an oil to crank or pump when cold is potentially diminished soon after it is put into service and its ability to lubricate, clean the engine, and draw off heat steadily declines over time.

Some types of vehicles — mainly European models such as Volkswagens and Mercedes-Benz as well as more exotic brands such as Porsche, Peugeot and Citroen, may require specialty oils including those that are identified as “long life.” Again, your vehicle’s owner’s manual will give guidance here and it’s best to bring vehicles like this to a qualified service provider.

For more questions about motor oils and which one is right for your vehicle’s engine, your driving habits and the conditions you drive in, contact Bockman’s Auto Care at (815) 756-7413 or visit http://www.bockmansautocare.com/
category/maintenance/.

What makes us special?

Trevor’s Lawn Care is a new business in the DeKalb County area, but Trevor Elliott is a DeKalb native.  Trevor was gone from the area while serving 8 years in the Army, including 2 deployments to Iraq.  After serving our country, Trevor and his wife moved back home to be close to their family and to provide a top quality area in which to raise their daughter.

While working on an Interior Design degree, Trevor formed and interest in Green Design and the Environment, which ultimately led to the creation of Trevor’s Lawn Care.  Currently Trevor is working on an Associate Degree in Landscape Design.  With that kind of training, Trevor’s Lawn Care can make your yard a showplace in your neighborhood!!!  Give Trevor a call today – 815-751-5249.

Did you know that this year alone one in four people in our community will need mental health or substance abuse help?  Please pledge your support today for mental health and behavioral care services for DeKalb County residents.

Send a check to:  Ben Gordon Center Foundation – 12 Health Services Drive, DeKalb, IL  60115. Or, donate online at: www.bengordoncenter.org

What started out many years ago as a small unnamed and unofficial picnic for the faithful of St. George Greek Orthodox Church in DeKalb, has over the years experienced great growth and popularity and is now a major annual community event in the DeKalb Sycamore area. It is now known simply as Greek Fest.

The two day festival features authentic Geek food, lively Greek and American music,  dance performances by the Chicago based Ellas Dance Troupe which will be performing on Saturday at 1:00, 3:00 and 6:00 for your entertainment pleasure. They will perform dances popular from the different islands of Greece and made famous by the motion picture movie Zorba the Greek. You will not want to miss this! There will also be games for the kids, a Greek grocery store and commercial vendor booths and arts & crafts for your shopping pleasure.

The menu for the festival definitely has something for everyone’s appetite and includes some of the all time favorite authentic Greek dishes including Grecian style chicken, Slovakia (Shish Ka Bob), Lamb, Gyros, Pasticho (delicious Greek style lasagna), Spanakoptia, (chopped spinach, feta cheese and spices baked in phyllo dough), Greek salad and the ever popular combination platter as well as Saganaki (flaming Greek cheese), the best appetizer. OPA! Most of the food is prepared by the areas Greek owned restaurants using receipts brought over from Greece that have been passed down through generations.

Pastries galore! You will find a large selection of fresh homemade irresistible pastries for you to select from to compliment your dinner. These delicious desserts are handmade by the ladies of the church, including the ultimate Greek pastry Baklava (layered phyllo dough with ground nuts, cinnamon and dribbled with honey), as well as, Galaktobouriko (honey drenched custard in flakey phyllo dough), Koulourakia (the best Greek dunking cookie ever), Kourambiedes (melt away rich cookies covered with powered sugar), Melomacarona (a moderately spiced cookie hand dipped in honey), Diples (spiral flaky pastry dipped in honey and sprinkled with finely chopped walnuts) and the ever so popular Loukoumades (hot, freshly make, honey puffs topped with warm honey and cinnamon).

The Greek grocery store has been expanded on again this year. A number of popular items in demand have been added including, Feta Cheese, Greek Olives, Virgin olive oil, Greek coffee, Greek spices for cooking.

Don’t forget –  this is an affordable family event for the whole community that is free and open to the public. In the event of inclement weather all food and pastries will be available for drive up pick up at the shelter house.

Greek Fest 2012 dates this year are Saturday, June 23^rd Sunday, June 24^th from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and will once again be held at Hopkins Park in DeKalb. We hope to see you there.

It’s sure to be a Hellenic of a good time!

a. 18 years
b. 78 years
c. 163 years
d. 275 years

And the answer is….

d. 275 years.

At 275 years, Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s Central Market is the oldest U.S. market still in operation. When Andrew and James Hamilton laid out the town in 1730, they designed a 120 foot square lot in the center of town to be a public market.

Central Market is home to stands that have been owned and operated by the same families for many, many generations. The Stoner Family’s vegetable stand has been there the longest — well over 100 years.

1. This player had the longest career in baseball history which lasted from 1966 to 1993 and carried him through four teams where he struck out the most batters by sneaking balls past 5,714 players.
2. This player has the highest lifetime batting average of .367.
3. This player is the King of grand slam homers, hitting 23 in the span of his career.
4. This player hold the record for most games won (511) and most games lost (316) in his career.
5. This player competed in 22 World Series games, pitched 146 World Series innings, and was on the winning team for 10 World Series games.
6. These players were the first father/son team to play together. They added to their records by hitting home runs “back-t0-back” in the same game.
7. This player showed his bravery by capturing the title of Cy Young Award for four consecutive years.
8. This player stuck it out for 2,131 consecutive games (that’s a lot of baseball!), breaking Lou Gehrig’s record of 2,130 games.
9. This pitcher for the Rangers was studying medicine off-season and was able to save a fan’s life when the man had a heart attack.
10. This 17-year-old baseball star struck out 15 batters in the first show of the major leagues in 1936.

Think you know the answers? Here they are:

1. Nolan Ryan
2. Ty Cobb
3. Lou Gehrig
4. Cy Young
5. Whitey Ford
6. Ken Griffy, Sr. & Ken Griffy, Jr.
7. Greg Maddux
8. Cal Ripken Jr.
9. Don Medich
10. Bob Feller

First, though, a bit about why you should always wear sunglasses.

Just as the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage your skin, they can also harm the lens and cornea of your eye. Long term (as in years — the sun’s damage is cumulative) exposure to UV radiation increases your odds of getting cataracts and has been linked to macular degeneration, a degenerative (though treatable) disease of the macula that is essential for sharp vision.

And while you mainly think of sunlight as it travels from the sun, through the air and into your eyes, just as important to guard against is sunlight that bounces off of highly-reflective surfaces such as water, sand and pavement.

Sunglasses play a pivotal role in shielding the eye’s fragile tissue from UV radiation. Like sunscreen, sunglasses should be worn whenever you’re outdoors, year round.

Look for sunglasses with complete UVA/UVB protection
Choose sunglasses that provide full protection from UV light. Ask one of our opticians or make sure that the sunglasses clearly state one or more of the following:

• Lenses block 99% or 100% of UVB and UVA rays
• Lenses meet ANSI Z80.3 blocking requirements
• Lenses feature UV 400 protection

Choosing the right hue
The coating that blocks UV protection is clear, so a darker lens doesn’t always indicate better protection than a lighter one. Hue does play an important role, however, in color perception. Gray, green or brown lenses minimize color distortion, while lenses that are yellow or rose in color may make it difficult to detect changes in traffic light colors.

Polarized lenses for added clarity
While polarized lenses have nothing to do with UB protection, lenses with this feature can reduce glare by filtering out the reflected sunlight that bounces off of surfaces like pavement and water. The downside is these lenses can make it hard to read your cell phone, GPS device or liquid crystal displays like on dashboards and ATM machines.

Quality is key
You’ll notice that we only carry brand-name sunglasses at Spex Expressions. While you may experience some protection with discount brands, consistency is a concern with lower-priced glasses. Your best bet is to buy a trusted brand from a certified eye care practice, like Spex Expressions.

If you have any other questions about sunglasses, be sure to give the eye health experts at Spex Expressions a call at (815) 758-1039 or visit us at www.SpexExpressions.com. Our trained opticians would be happy to answer any of your questions.

Another opportunity with our classes includes unlimited classes for as low as $35 per month. And current class members who sign up for third quarter classes by July 1st can save $10.

Interested? Come on in to learn more — and take advantage of our free classes through this Saturday. If you have any questions, call us at (815) 756-1188 or visit us online at www.FitWorkz.com.

Also be sure to visit our web site throughout the coming weeks — we’ll have great stories and articles from our advertisers, updates on community events and much, much more.

One of the most common conditions affecting older Americans is age-related macular degeneration or AMD. It’s the leading cause of blindness in adults over age 55. AMD results from the breakdown of the macula or small area in the retina at the back of the eye. Contributing factors to AMD include exposure to sunlight, smoking and even everyday contaminants in your environment.

One preventative solution to AMD are antioxidants. Research over the past decades has shown that eye health is linked closely to diet and lifestyle. Being overweight, diabetic, smoking, eating a high-fat diet and consuming alcohol excessively can all contribute to poor eye health. Eating a diet low in fruits and vegetables is also shown to be detrimental.

So, what should you eat?
We all grew up hearing that carrots were important for eye health, but there’s actually more evidence that other color foods may have an even bigger impact on our eyes. Specifically, foods that are naturally green and yellow in color have been shown as more effective at reducing the risk for AMD and cataracts than orange-colored foods.

Why does color matter?
Green and yellow fruits and vegetables are packed with two chemicals — lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients that seem to protect the retina against oxidative damage and decrease the risk for AMD.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are found in foods containing natural fats, such as egg yolks, pistachios and avocados. Corn, spinach, squash, collard greens, kale, tomatoes and lettuce are all also good natural sources of these two nutrients.

While there is no current recommended amount of lutein and zeaxanthin to ingest to help protect your eye’s health, eating the recommended five to eight servings of fruits and vegetables a day will help to ensure that you get enough. If you have a family history of eye diseases or have any questions, please be sure to give Dr. Frank or Dr. Marczewski at call at (815) 758-1039. They would be happy to answer any of your questions.

They’re a clouding of the lens inside the eye. They’re detected during a normal eye exam and are somewhat common with adults over the age of 40 (and increasing as we age). As they are so common and tend to progress slowly, your eyecare physician should monitor their progression as you grow older.

One of the first symptoms of a cataract can be glare, especially when looking into lights at night. They may appear as haze, but actually they represent a loss of clarity of vision or loss of sharp perception of images. It’s hard to remember what good vision is like compared with gradual acuity loss that occurs with a cataract. This is especially true when cataracts develop in both eyes at the same rate — there’s no good standard of comparison in this case.

Cataracts can be successfully treated in about 98% of cases. In fact, cataract surgery is the most commonly-performed surgery in the United States with an average age for cataract surgery of 73 to 75 years old. During surgery, a small incision is made, a tiny instrument is inserted to break up and remove the lens, then a intraocular lens is replaced in the eye.

There is now the technology to even insert a lens that has progressive properties. When this type of lens is used, the patient often does not have to wear corrective eyeglasses — the bifocal corrective lenses are actually integrated into the prosthetic lens in your eye!

The surgery is normally not painful and takes 20 minutes or less to perform. Recovery begins immediately, but you must have someone to drive you home from the surgical center. You’ll be given a pair of sunglasses to wear when you leave — wear them even if it is not sunny out.

You’ll also have a protective shield placed over your eye after the procedure. Your physician will give you instructions on the recovery process and answer any questions you may have.

Interested in learning more about cataracts and corrective surgery? Contact Dr. Frank or Dr. Marczewski at Spex Expressions at (81) 758-1039 or by visiting www.SpexExpressions.com/cataracts.

Allergies, metabolic by-products, anxiety, emotional distress, genetic and metabolic disorders, excessive fat, sugar or protein in one’s diet, nutritional deficiencies, environmental poisons, heavy metals, infectious agents, smoking, lack of sleep and other noxious agents are all toxic components in everyone’s daily pattern of living that increase an individual’s susceptibility to a variety of maladies, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and stroke. These factors bring oxidative stress and depress the immune system.

Harmful manufactured substances that remain unrecognized by the body tend to linger in the cells of our body, lodged in organ tissues as noxious elements. These poisons tend to lie dormant while they accumulate and the human body has no real way to remove them on its own.

Detoxification, such as through an ion treatment, will rid the body of actual physical pollutants including toxic metals, harmful industrial chemicals, dead cellular materials and other bodily waste products.

The ion treatment generates alternating positive and negative ions that helps to eliminate the toxic overload in your body. These toxins are attracted out of the tissues through the feet and go into the water’s ionic components. The foot bath changes color as the body’s cells are flushed.

Detoxification usually takes about 20 to 30 minutes and multiple procedures over a period of weeks are recommended to completely flush your body’s cells. We are currently featuring a special on ion treatments: The first one is $20 or two for $40. These are normally $30 procedures. If you’re interested in feeling better and helping your body to regain a natural metabolic stability, please call our office to make an appointment at (815) 748-3900 or visit www.BarratChiropractic.com.

You may be a survivor and in various stages of recovery or remission. You may be a caregiver, family member or a friend of someone affected by cancer.

Cancer was once considered a deadly, incurable disease. For many, cancer is now survivable and curable. Still, it is the second leading cause of death in the United States.

DeKalb County has several wonderful events that help raise awareness as well as funds for cancer research. Ladies Night Out in downtown Sycamore on June 9th draws large crowds — dress in pink! Relay for Life is another annual event (held this year, June 17th and 18th).

Make plans to attend and enjoy these events.We all can help make a difference.

Extended exposure to UV rays has been linked to eye damage, including these conditions:

Cataracts: Lab studies have implicated UV radiation as a cause of cataracts. It has also been shown that certain types of cataracts are associated with a history of higher ocular exposure to UV — and especially UV-B — radiation.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Exposure to UV and other types of intense visible radiation is damaging to retinal tissue. It has been speculated that chronic UV exposure may contribute to degenerative processes in the retina.

Pterygium: This is a non-cancerous growth of clear, thin tissue that lays over the white of the eye and can extend onto the clear cornea where it can block your vision. While the cause is unknown, it is more common in people with excess outdoor exposure to sunlight.

Photokeratitis: This is a reversible sunburn of the cornea, resulting from excessive UV-B exposure. It can be extremely painful for one to two days and result in a temporary loss of vision.

Fortunately, adequate eye protection is an effective preventative for eye damage caused by the sun’s rays. Quality sunglasses should block out 99% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. There are other options for everyday eyewear, including UV-blocking lens materials, coatings and photochromatic lenses.

For more information and resources about safeguarding your vision from UV rays, please visit our web site at www.SpexExpressions.com/uv or call Dr. Frank or Dr. Marczewski at (815) 758-1039.