March’s New Values Magazine has arrived!


Keep an eye on your mail for the March issue of New Values Magazine. In addition to valuable coupons from local businesses, you’ll find community events announcements and information, news and more!

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A taste of the Middle East: Mediterraneo of DeKalb


Looking for something unusual when you’re stepping out to dine in downtown DeKalb? Check out Mediterraneo, one of the newest restaurants in DeKalb that caters primarily to vegetarians.

The restaurant specializes in Middle Eastern cuisine, which is vegetarian by nature. Moe Mroueh, one of Mediterraneo’s owners, maintains that one of the primary reasons for serving the food is to emphasize healthy eating.

So far, DeKalb seems to have taken to the concept.

“I go through so much falafel, it is not even funny,” Mroueh said. “I was surprised how many vegetarians there are [in DeKalb].” Mroueh explained that the shop does serve some meat, but most of the entrées are vegetarian, and many are even vegan friendly.

Mroueh also expressed that he has seen a lot of positive attention so far, including some of NIU’s resident vegetarians.

The restaurant recently expanded its menu and there is now an open buffet, every Sunday from 11 am to 3 pm. Priced at just $7.95 per person, it’s a great way to taste some very unusual foods (though you’ll also find many you’re completely familiar with, such as humus and gyros).

Mediterraneo is located at 122 E. Lincoln Highway in downtown DeKalb. They are open Tuesday through Thursday, 11 am to 9pm; Friday and Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm; and Sunday from 11 am to 9 pm. They can be reached at 815-758-8450 and offer carry-out service as well.

Check out their web site at www.mediterraneodekalb.com for more details, including a menu and map.

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August 2011 New Values Magazine arrives!


It’s back to school time! Check out the August issue of New Values Magazine for great Back2School values. The magazine is loaded with other great information like puzzles, trivia and community annoucements. Check out DeKalb County’s leading monthly coupon magazine.

And 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.

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What’s a cheese nugget and why do I want one?


Pizza ProsWhen the owner of Pizza Now went out of business, Artie Alberts had a choice to make. Go to work for someone else and possibly be in the same situation again, or start his own business. He decided to start his own business.

On September 4, 1991 he opened Pizza Pro’s at 110 East Hillcrest in DeKalb, providing carry-out and delivery service to the local area. Although the name tells you that you will get a great pizza, it didn’t prepare customers for the variety of sandwiches, pasta and their special “Cheese Nuggets.”

The carry-out and delivery business was a great hit with the college campus at Northern Illinois University. As the business grew additional space was needed. When the opportunity arose to move next to one of the busiest college bars in town, “Amenesia,” they moved to 928 West Lincoln Highway.

The business was expanded to provide dine in to the bar next door. This situation worked great for both businesses.

In 2007 the business was moved to its present location at 1205 West Lincoln Highway. With this move the business was expanded to include inside dining as well as a full service bar and private banquet room with a full catering menu.

Pizza Pro’s friendly staff, daily food and drink specials as well as the varied menu make it a popular venue for both the local residents and students at NIU and Kishwaukee Colleges.

Stop by or visit our web site at www.PizzaProsDeKalb.com for more information. Or scan the QR code in our ad in the printed version of New Values Magazine!

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Having trouble with your car’s fuel system?


Today we’re talking about fuel system cleaning. The first thing to know is how important it is to have a clean fuel system. You need fuel to go, and the cleaner your fuel system, the more efficiently the fuel will burn. That means more power and better fuel economy.

A clean fuel system saves money at the pump. We guess you could say, it all starts and ends at the pump. One of the most important things you can do to keep your fuel system clean is to buy good quality gas. Major brands have detergents that keep gum and varnish from rapidly building up in the fuel system.

So buying cheaper gas can actually cost you in the long run. Now, most cars on the road are more than five or six years old. That means they’ve had time for some dirt and rust to start accumulating in the fuel tank. This junk needs to be filtered out of the fuel before it hits your engine. That’s the fuel filter’s job.

When the fuel filter is clogged, the dirty fuel will bypass the filter and go on up to the engine where it can clog fuel injectors and get into the cylinders. That could do some damage. So you should have your fuel filter changed when recommended. Check your owner’s manual or ask your service advisor if your fuel filter is due for replacement.

The fuel then goes up into the throttle body. This is another area where varnish and gum can accumulate. A professional fuel system cleaning will use a combination of special cleaning chemicals and old fashioned swabbing to clean out the throttle body. Now, the fuel injectors are the last stop in the fuel delivery system.

It’s real important to keep those fuel injectors clean. The fuel injectors need to deliver a precise amount of fuel, at exactly the right time, in a particular spray pattern. They just can’t do that if they’re dirty. Dirty fuel injectors really rob power and waste fuel.

It is important for the fuel system proper, but there are a couple other things that will help keep your engine clean as well. Of course, air is mixed with the fuel before it’s burned. Dirty air means dirt gets into your engine, so you need to replace your engine air filter when it’s dirty.

The PCV value routes unburned fuel that escapes into the lower engine back up into the intake system to be burned. A sticky PCV valve needs to be replaced to make sure that system is working properly and the breather filter needs to be replaced if it’s dirty as well.

Do all these things and your engine’s air and fuel will be as clean as possible. You’ll get much better fuel economy and better power.

Having trouble with your fuel system? Bring your SUV into Bockman’s Auto Care for a check up. We’re located at 2158 Oakland Drive in Sycamore. Call 815-756-7413 for more information or to make an appointment.

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Look great on your special day: Two tanning options


To offer something to those not interested in UV tanning, SunWorkz has added Air Brush tanning. Air brush tanning offers tanners options beyond just UV tanning. Timing could not be better with Prom and Wedding season just around the corner!

Airbrush tanning: How does it work?
The tanning customer visits SunWorkz and can wear their bathing suit or shorts and a tank top. The tanning specialist will go through the basics of sunless tanning and answer any questions the tanner may have.

Next the tanning customer is air brushed. In a few short minutes they are tan. However, this initial tan is really just a bronzer that is airbrushed on so the tanning specialist can see where they have airbrushed and where they have not. In a few hours the customer will shower and wash this bronzer off.

The artificial tan takes 2 to 4 hours to begin appearing on the skin surface, and will continue to darken for 24 to 72 hours, depending on formulation type. Once a darkening effect has occurred, the tan will not sweat off or wash away with soap or water. Instead, it will fade gradually over 3 to 10 days, similar to the loss of a tan from being out in the sun.

So what causes this artificial tan?
DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) is responsible for this coloring of the skin. Since the 1960′s, DHA has been used as a topical tanning agent. In the 1970′s, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) added DHA permanently to their list of approved cosmetic ingredients. By the 1980′s, new sunless tanning formulations appeared on the market, and refinements in the DHA manufacturing process creating products that produced a more natural looking color and better fading.

Today, DHA is the main active ingredient in all sunless tanning skincare preparations DHA is considered the most effective FDA approved, sun-free tanning additive. DHA is the main ingredient used in the air brush tanning now offered at SunWorkz (located inside FitWorkz).

Why have it airbrushed on and not sprayed on in a booth?
Booths work great but often leave white spots on the sides of the midsection, under the arms and down the sides of the legs. Application by airbrush allows an even and complete tan to be applied. This is perfect if you are wearing a strapless dress or skirt and can not afford to have the sides of your shoulders, arms and legs white. The airbrush offers a more natural “out in the sun” tan.

SunWorkz, located inside FitWorkz, is offering tanning options this Prom and Wedding season! SunWorkz recently added two new Ergoline UV tanning beds along with a Suncapsule stand up bed. Tanners can tan in any bed with FREE upgrades for one low price.

Stop in for more information, call us at 815-756-1188 or visit our web site at www.FizWorkz.com.

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September 23rd to 25th • Sycamore Film Festival


Join us for 30-40 outstanding films from around the world, as well as intimate gatherings with filmmakers at parties, forums and our nightly LOUNGE wrap up. Be part of this exciting “Arts for the Arts Event” where audience members can participate in picking their favorite film of the Fest. For more information visit sycamorefilmfestival.com.

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Trivia Time! Answers to America’s Past Time


In addition to our normal Crosswordvertisers crossword puzzle, we added some trivia to the June issue of New Values Magazine. For those of you who missed it in the printed magazine, here are the questions again, with the answers.  See how much you know about auto history!

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High definition vision: What you need to know


Spex ExpressionsIf it’s been a while since you’ve seen an optometrist, there are a few surprises waiting you — at least at Spex Expressions of Sycamore. We’re now proud to offer iZon High Definition Lenses for your eyeglasses, which offers improved sharpness, contrast and clarity. It’s like hi-def TV for your eyes!

But how do iZon High Definition Lenses differ from other types of lenses? What’s the process which makes these lenses better than traditional ones? What will you experience with this new technology?

First, let’s talk about your eyes. Here are some facts you might find interesting, if almost unbelievable:

  • Your eyes deliver 36,000 bits of information per hour to your brain
  • They have more than 2 million working parts
  • They process over 24 million images over the course of a typical lifetime
  • Your vision accounts for up to 85% of the knowledge you will ever learn

Your eyes are like fingerprints — no two are alike — and even your two eyes differ from each other. They have tiny microscopic irregularities. These imperfections can affect things like depth perception, crispness, contrast, color perception and even nighttime vision.

iZon High Resolution LensesOlder measurement technology gave prescriptions that were alike for potentially thousands of people. Using iZon® eye exam technology, your eye’s unique ocular fingerprint — or iPrint™ — is created delivering a diagnosis with a level of data never available before.

Using the unique iPrint of each of your eyes, custom-created iZon High Definition Lenses are produced. Since these lenses take into consideration both traditional measurements and the unique aberrations of your eyes, your vision is truly optimized.

iZon High Resolution Lenses provide solutions for nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), mild astigmatism and prebyopia (the inability to focus on objects at all ranges of vision — near, intermediate and distant — that many people over the age of 40 suffer from).

These High Definition Lenses not only address acuity of vision (which line you can read on an eye chart), they also improve the quality of your vision. In fact, they are clinically proven to address the following common vision challenges:

  • daytime glare (driving on wet pavement towards the rising or setting sun)
  • nighttime glare (driving at night where glare, halos and starbursts may be a problem)
  • low light (seeing dark objects such as a deer at dusk)
  • low contrast (seeing a white golf ball against a light sky)
  • medium contrast (reading a street sign in a shadow)
  • varying distance (reading directional signage while walking through an airport)
  • varying print sizes (reading type of varying sizes, colors and fonts on sign)
  • nighttime driving difficulties (safety while driving at night)

Most eyeglasses are made for looking. iZon lenses are made for seeing.

Here are some common questions and answers about iZon High Definition Lenses, the examination procedure and other concerns about this new technology:

Q. Will I have to adjust to iZon Lenses and seeing things in high-definition?
A. Objects will appear clearer, sharper and with greater depth and dimension than before. As with other types of lenses, some patients may require a short adaption period.

Q. Are iZon High Definition Lenses available for contact lenses?
A. Currently, iZon Lenses are available for single vision spectacle lenses for the correction of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and mild astigmatism, and in progressive addition spectacle lenses (multi-focal, such as bi- and tri-focal prescriptions).

Q. Do iZon High Definition Lenses look different than regular eyeglass lenses? Are they thicker?
A. No, iZon Lenses are thin and lightweight, just like other top selling brands. You won’t be able to tell the difference between iZon High Definition Lenses and traditional lenses just by looking at them. They are also UV-blocking and include premium scratch-resistant, anti-reflective and super-hydrophobic coatings.

Q. I have had LASIK or PRK surgery in the past, and I notice that my vision is not as sharp or as clear as I would like. Can iZon Lenses help me?
A. iZon Lenses do improve the overall quality of vision because wearers will see objects more clearly, sharper and with greater depth and dimension.

Q. Does the examination for customizes iZon Lenses take longer?
A. No, the exam only takes about one minute. Using the special, Z-View® Aberrometer, we use the latest wavefront technology to measure the microscopic irregularities in your eyes. The process is fully automated and a highly precise measurement — your eyes’ iPrint — is completed in approximately one minute.

Q. What is wavefront technology?
A. Wavefront technology was originally utilized in the field of astronomy to aid in reducing aberrations or imperfections in the multiple lenses of telescopes, including the Hubble Telescope. The Z-View Aberrometer provides an accurate assessment of the optical imperfections found in the entire eye’s optical system.

Q. How does the Z-View Aberrometer map my eye? Will I feel anything during the exam?
A. The procedure sends a safe, painless, invisible, low-power light into the retina of your eye. The beam is reflected back out of the eye and is analyzed. Your custom iPrint is created from this analysis, showing the unique aberrations of the eye that can have an impact on the quality of your vision.

Still have questions about iZon High Definition Lenses or being able to see better than you have ever been able to before? Call Spex Expressions at 815-758-1039 or visit our web site at www.SpexExpressions.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Twitter, where we share eye care news, discuss new technologies and our patients even share their experiences. We hope to see you soon.

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Le Print Express moves to new location for better service, access by customers


DeKalb and Sycamore consumers looking for printing, copying and graphic design services now have a centrally-located source for all their needs. Le Print Express recently consolidated its Sycamore and DeKalb locations into one central storefront, behind Panda Express, right on Sycamore Road in DeKalb.

Le Print Express provides full color printing, copy services,  graphic design, binding, laminating and many more services and products. Invitations, award plaques, special promotional items and other products are all available through Le Print Express, a division of which produces New Values Magazine!

Come on into our new store and say “hi” to Nancy, Jim, Diane, David and Chris!

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Get your vitamin D, a break from the sunless grey sky or get ready for spring break!


SunWorkz from FitWorkzOne price tanning arrived!  SunWorkz, located inside FitWorkz, is now offering unlimited tanning.

All tanning upgrades are FREE!  Tan unlimited in any bed, 20 minute lay down to 10 minute high power stand up, for one monthly price. Stop in for more information, call us at 815-756-1188 or visit our web site at www.FizWorkz.com.

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Join us tomorrow at Kites Over Sycamore


New Values Magazine will be at Kites Over Sycamore tomorrow at Kar-Fre Flowers in Sycamore. Come join us and construct a kite and fly it in the fields behind Kar-Fre. We’ll be raffling off two prizes — a free Kites Over Sycamore t-shirt and a $20 gift certificate to Kar-Fre Flowers.

The Kites Over Sycamore event starts at 10 am and ends about 4 pm. Weather permitting, this a great family fun event that is free and a great spring event.

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Welcome to the first issue of New Values Magazine!


New Values MagazineGood morning!

What a wonderful day — the first issue of the New Values Magazine is being mailed and distributed today, we’re officially launching the printed magazine’s online counterpart, NewValuesMagazine.com and you, as a local, DeKalb-area consumer, have the chance to be a part of a new publishing and promotional effort that is the first in the country!

Keep an eye out in your mailbox for the March issue of New Values Magazine. If you remember the “old” Values Magazine, we’ve got a few new surprises for you! Yes, you’ll still get advertisements and promotions from our valued partnering advertisers. But, there’s so much more now, including puzzles and even contests.

You’ll see posts on our site now from select advertisers. When you get your magazine, you’ll note how the ads and the posts here tend to work “together.” Advertisers use our web site to educate and inform you indepth — something they can’t do with the limited space of an advertisement.

So enjoy you’re new issue and be sure to check out the posts as they come online over the next few days (and get updated throughout the month!). You will want to sign-up on our e-list to receive our monthly e-newsletter, receive valuable coupons and much more. Sign-up is over to the right. —>

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Scan me, baby!


QR code

What is this? It's a QR code!

It’s called a QR code and you’ll see it all over New Values Magazine, both on the cover and throughout the magazine — especially in some advertiser’s ads.

Although initially used for tracking parts in vehicle manufacturing, QR codes are now used in a much broader context, including both commercial tracking and convenience-oriented applications aimed at mobile phone users. They come to us from Japan, where they are very common.

A QR code is a matrix or two-dimensional barcode readable by mobile phones and smartphones with cameras. The code consists of block-like graphics arranged in a square pattern on white background.

Once the image is captured in your cell phone — with the assistance of any free, downloadable barcode reader app — it may direct you to a company web site, a coupon or special offer, show a movie trailer or video or something totally different.

Our advertisers use QR codes in their ads to bring you to their section of this web site, where their posts will grown into a library of expertise, information and promotions. Over time, you can return to these to learn more about them and the products and services they offer.

In each issue of New Values Magazine, you might also find QR codes used as clues in our puzzles and even to convey secret information only for readers who have a phone or smartphone that can scan and read the codes. They’ll be our little secret!

In the mean time, enjoy this new piece of technology and know that we’re one of the first magazine to ever incorporate QR codes on such a wide scale and with such a great amount of uses. See, now you’re part of the “in” crowd too!

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Answers to March’s Crossword Puzzle


So, how did you do this month? As you may have noted, we use the names of our advertisers in each issues’s crossword puzzle. Here are the answers to March’s puzzle:

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5 Tips to improve & maintain your health


Barrat Chiropractic

* Due to Federal regulations, this offer may not apply to Medicare/Medicaid or Federal Insurances.

Your health is a sliding scale — every second of every day we are either getting healthier or sicker. Your health is dependent on certain essential elements being present in the correct amount.

Local DeKalb chiropractor, Dr. Y.B. Evan Barrat of Barrat Chiropractic, offers these top five tips to improve and maintain your overall health:

1. Water
Dehydration makes everything more difficult and uncomfortable, from the noticeable (aches and pains) to the unnoticeable, but still very important (a rise in your blood pressure). Keeping hydrated is critical to your body’s health, no matter what time of day, week or year it is, and it helps to keep your body’s systems in balance. A good rule of thumb is that for every pound of body weight, drink a half ounce of water every day (i.e. a 200 pound person should drink 100 ounces of water). A gallon of water is 128 ounces.

2. Diet and supplements
What and how much you eat can maintain your overall health, but by making poor choice, your body is likely to spiral into disease. A planned, nutritious and well-balanced diet that consists of properly-portioned amounts is key to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. A diet high in grains and processed foods is pro-inflammatory. Inflammation is the precursor to all of the major disease states plaguing society today, so emphasize a diet containing lean, grass fed-meats, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetable, and use little to no flour or sugar.

Almost all Americans should consider supplements as a way to replenish that which even the best of diets are deficient in. Those that are proving to be invaluable are: A good multi vitamin, magnesium (400 mg a day), Omega 3 (1-3 grams a day) and vitamin D (1000-4000 IU a day).

3. Exercise
Regular exercise is an excellent way to maintain your body weight and also increase the anti-inflammatory processes in your body. It will also increase the natural “feel good” chemicals in your body, reinforcing the good decision you’ve made to exercise!

For most people, a half hour walk daily is sufficient, though others may need more than this to maintain a healthy weight. If you sit for long periods of time, for instance on a chair or couch at home or in your chair at your office, any physical straining should be preceded by a two minute walk to equalize the pressure on your intervertebral disc.

4. Sleep
Six to eight hours of good sleep is crucial to good health and to give your body adequate time to rest and repair. Your nervous system uses this time period to repair from the stresses of the day and to set you up to meet the challenges of tomorrow.

5. Chiropractic
You’ve heard the expression, “if you don’t use it you will lose it,” and nowhere is it proven more true than in the joints of the skeleton. Your spine protects your nervous system and makes it so you can do all the activities that bring you joy (playing with family and friends) as well as those that we just have to do (work and go to school).

When you’re body is not moving as it should, you’ll experience a lack of stamina, pain, sore or spastic muscles, numbness tingling and other symptoms. A chiropractor is uniquely trained to find, identify and correct these misalignments.

These five things, when done one at a time, will keep you alive. Done properly all together, however, they will get you living again. Your body has an incredible capacity to repair itself given the opportunity. Whether it is changing your diet, helping you find the right exerecise plan or providing diagnostics and corrective manipulation, Barrat Chiropractic’s goal is to improve the health of our overall community.

Start the habits to a healthier, happier life: Give Barrat Chiropractic a call today at 815-748-3900 or visit us online at www.BarratChiropractic.com.

These are guidelines for maintaining and improving health. However, there are conditions and situations that may need to be considered before altering lifestyle. If you have questions or concerns, contact your primary care physician.

*NOTE: Our advertisement in the March 2011 edition of New Values Magazine made reference to a free spinal screening. We mistakenly omitted that, due to Federal regulations, this offer may not apply to Medicare/Medicaid or Federal Insurances.

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Spring is just around the corner. Can you feel it?


Merry MaidsI was driving to a clients home last week and had to put on my sunglasses — it was so bright outside and the sun felt so good (OK, maybe I had my heat on high so it felt extra warm but it did the job — I felt great!). After parking outside her house for the FREE in-home estimate we offer all our new clients, I couldn’t help but noticing a robin sitting on her front stoop.  Spring, I thought to myself, is almost here!

When the weather begins to warm up it is common for people to want to clean out the winter blues, to start fresh with the promise of new beginnings. Merry Maids can help!

Our web site, www.merrymaids.com, has many helpful cleaning tips for do-it-yourselfers out there who want to take on their own cleaning jobs.  Maybe it’s that pesky grout you want to look white again (Just use a grout brush with a 1:5 solution of chlorine bleach:water and scrub. When you’ve finished cleaning, rinse the area well to remove all traces of bleach.).

Maybe it’s the soap scum on tubs and showers (Simply use a degreasing agent and lots of elbow grease. Get a good alkaline soap scum remover. Cover the affected area completely and soak for at least 15 minutes. Do it right after a shower when the walls will be wet. After soaking, use a stiff scrub brush or a white, nylon-backed scrub sponge to clean the walls. You may need to soak and scrub a couple of times to get rid of all the build-up. Then rinse well with clear water.).

Or maybe it’s a whole house cleaning done at one time, by someone other than you.  Let Merry Maids help you start this spring off right with a clean home.  Call 815-895-2211 for our Spring Special and to set up your FREE in-home estimate.

Happy Spring!

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Vehicle care tips for safety and to extend the life of your car or truck


Bill White's C.A.R. HospitalAccording to recent studies, five percent of all motor vehicle fatalities are clearly caused by automobile maintenance neglect. Here are some safety points and tips to remember about your car or truck:

Change the transmission fluid and filter every 15,000 to 18,000 miles. This will protect precision-crafted components of the transmission and transaxle.

Inspect the suspension system regularly. This will extend the life of the vehicle’s tires.

The cooling system should be completely flushed and refilled about every 24 months. The level, condition and concentration of coolant should be checked. A 50/50 mix of anti-freeze and water is usually recommended (refer to your owner’s manual).

Never remove the radiator cap until the engine has thoroughly cooled. The tightness and condition of drive belts, clamps and hoses should be checked by a pro.

Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual more often (every 3,000 miles) if you make frequent, short jaunts, extended trips with lots of luggage or tow a trailer.

Replace other filters (air, fuel, PCV, etc.) as recommended more often in dusty conditions. Get engine drivability problems (hard stops, rough idling, stalling, diminished power, etc.) corrected at a good shop.

A dirty windshield causes eye fatigue and can pose a safety hazard. Replace worn blades and get plenty of windshield washer solvent.

Have your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. Check the tire pressure once a month, but let tires cool down first. Don’t forget your spare and be sure your jack is in good condition.

Check your owner’s manual to find out what fuel octane rating your car’s engine needs, then buy that during your fill-ups.

Keep your tires inflated to the proper levels. Under-inflated tires make it harder for your car to move down the road, which means your engine uses more fuel to maintain speed.

Lighten the load. Heavier vehicles use more fuel, so clean out unnecessary weight in the passenger compartment or trunk before you hit the road.

Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital has provided motorists in the DeKalb area with comprehensive auto repair services for over 20 years. For more vehicle care tips, visit our web site at www.CarHospital.net or call us at 815-758-7425.

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Calling all buyers! Calling all sellers!


NIU Convo Center 3rd Annual Clean SweepAre you ready to kick off the garage sale season in an ENORMOUS way? Whether it’s antiques, collectibles, sports cards, arts, crafts, garage sale items, or anything else you want to sell, the NIU Convocation Center is hosting the 3rd Annual “Convo’s Colossal Clean Sweep” on Saturday, April 30th, from 9 am-3 pm and Sunday, May 1st,  from 10 am-3 pm.

Admission will be $1 for adults and free for children 6 and under. This year’s Clean Sweep is presented by Operation Lifesaver — Rail Safety Education.

Vendors are encouraged to register by Monday, April 25th. Only indoor space will be available for rent, and depending on whether you are a commercial or non-commercial vendor, rental fees range from $20-100. The rental fee covers both Saturday and Sunday. Assistance with loading in and loading out of vendor merchandise is available.

Reserve your spot today by downloading a registration form from the NIU Convocation Center website, www.niuconvo.com, or pick up a registration form at the NIU Convocation Center Box Office.

All vendors must fill out a registration form and return it to the NIU Convocation Center. Vendors can bring the registration form to the NIU Convocation Center Box Office, fax it to 815-752-6801, or mail it to: 1525 W Lincoln Hwy, DeKalb, IL 60115.

Items prohibited from sale include, but are not limited to: guns, knives, contraband, fireworks, drugs, tires, suggestive material, and animals.

Please call 815-752-6800 or visit www.niuconvo.com for more information.

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The restaurant with personality


The Junction Eating PlaceFans of antique memorabilia, vintage railroads and — oh, yeah — fantastic food will find the Junction Eating Place in DeKalb to be a wondrous experience. Their decor reflects the heyday of the railroad junction where all rail travelers could count in a good meal to refresh them on their trip.

Once through our doorway, you will surely never be bored by the surroundings! Inside, guests are always greeted with a warming welcome, a rustic potbelly stove and an on-site train that adds to our guest’s delight. Also, if you are seated in some parts of the dining area, you can see the guys at work over the cook fires!

There has been an awareness of nutritional health and concern in recent years and a growing market of people who now eat our culinary style of cooking regularly. Our responsibilities include the effect of our products on the health and well being of our customers, and inspiration for concepts come from within and also from trends we read about and see while traveling.

The menu is moderated sized, offering a collection of many of your favorites and a great celebration of American items with a common theme–healthy (low-fat, natural ingredients), flavorful, and familiar. Our goal is to create satisfying and still nutritious food. Fresh vegetables, choice cut meats and dairy products are used to create home cooked meals from scratch.

In our 40+ years of professional experience serving in the food industry, during which we coined the phrase “Make the Junction Eating Place Your Meeting Place”, we have proudly compiled a reputation and home for DeKalb County and its most popular family restaurant. Major attention has been devoted to decor and culinary aspects, with an ever-changing menu featuring dishes made with regional foods!

Excellent breakfast, great lunches, and pleasant dinners are available to diners, and we hope the output reflects our commitment to you!

For more information and to view our menus, go to www.JunctionEatingPlace.com or stop by for your next meal. We’re located at 816 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb.

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Join BioLife Plasma Services’s life-saving program


Biolife Plasma ServicesBioLife Plasma Services is an industry leader in the collection of high quality plasma that is processed into life-saving plasma-based therapies. BioLife operates and maintains numerous state-of-the-art plasma collection facilities throughout the United States and Austria. In order to provide high quality service and a high level of safety to our donors, as well as the patients who receive life-saving plasma-based therapeutics, BioLife is committed to safety.

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.

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