01 Apr 2014

Spring workshops, craft fair, and more!

By Melissa Wright
Scherenschnitte - Paper cutting craft workshop on Sunday, April 6th
Try out this traditional German craft and creative a festive spring design with expert teacher Keith Bonnstetter! Two sessions:12:30-1:30 and 2:00-3:00. Pre-registration and pre-payment required! Call Kelly at 563-322-8844 today!
member: $15, non-member: $20
ages 12 & up - materials provided

Eiermarkt Spring Craft Fair!
Saturday, April 12th 10-3pm
Free admission to the fair, many vendors!
Featuring: Pysanky Eggs with Zion Eggheads, Alpaca yarn and English Angora Rabbits with Chanin Schallert, Wood carvings by Dennis Carlson, terrariums & book art by Meghan Hollister, Jewelry from Pauline Wagner, Mary Talbert's crafts, hot cross buns from Anita Holst, Sausage from Tony's Market, Decorated eggs by Marilyn Miller, Pies & cookies from Janice Claeys, hot pretzels, carved eggshells from Gloria Fine, Jill Larkin representing Jamberry, hand-crafted baby items from Kathy Cooper, and more!

Osterbrunnen- German Easter Fountains presentation by Kathi Hofmann on 
Sunday, April 13th 2pm
Learn about German Easter Traditions and see beautiful images of Osterbrunnen- elaborated decorated fountains!

01 Apr 2014

QC River Bandits Opening Night Is Salvation Army Night!

By Holly Nomura

Quad Cities, USA: Have you ever heard 500 bells ring at the same time!? Come to the season opening game of the RiverBandits to experience it! The first 500 fans to purchase a tennis ball for the evening's ball toss onto the field will receive a bell to help cheer on our hometown team.

Major Gary Felton, Quad Cities Coordinator and 30-year officer with The Salvation Army, will be honored with throwing out the first pitch of the season.

Your support of The Salvation Army will help to continue their work all around the Quad Cities. The Family Service Center in downtown Davenport is the Quad Cities' only family shelter serving single fathers and two parent families, and houses 105 homeless people each night -- 65% of the residents are children. An additional 75-130 community members go to the Family Service Center each night for their evening meal, Monday through Saturday. In Rock Island County, Salvation Army services including rent and utility assistance, clothing vouchers and food boxes have served the area's less fortunate.

WHAT: Salvation Army Night at the Ballpark

WHERE: Modern Woodmen Park, inside the stadium at the tennis ball table

DATE: Thursday, April 3, 2014

TIME: Game begins at 7pm

01 Apr 2014

U.S., South American Soybean Farmers Unite in China

By United Soybean Board

U.S. soy family works to continue to build U.S. soy's relationship with China

ST. LOUIS (April 1, 2014) - Farmers representing countries that produce 90 percent of the world's soybeans recently met with the customers who buy 25 percent of the world's soybeans. As part of the International Soy Growers Alliance (ISGA), leaders from the soy checkoff, American Soybean Association (ASA), and the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC) met with customers and government officials in China to discuss the farmers' commitment to providing a safe and abundant supply of soybeans and the importance of eliminating trade barriers.

"China is without a doubt the largest importer of U.S. and South American soy, so it's really powerful when we can stand side-by-side with farmers we usually consider competitors to deliver a message," says Jared Hagert, soybean farmer from Emerado, N.D., and United Soybean Board (USB) treasurer. "Our common goal is to build on these partnerships and strengthen trade relations so we can remain the premier supplier of soy for China."

One trade barrier that concerns soybean farmers is the approval of soybeans improved through the use of biotechnology. While in China, the ISGA delegation will highlight the importance of timely, transparent approval processes of new biotech soybeans to help keep trade moving smoothly.

"There's really no way to overstate just how important the Chinese market is for soybean farmers, not only here in the U.S., but in South America as well," added Ray Gaesser, ASA president and soybean farmer from Corning, Iowa. "The cooperation and coordination of our three organizations - ASA, USB and USSEC - makes our partnership with our South American counterparts possible, and the more we're able to stand together as the world's primary producers of soy, the stronger we can make this trading partnership and the more each of our countries stands to benefit. That's why we're all here, together, in interest of farmers, consumers and stakeholders in each country."

ISGA brings together soybean farmers from South America and the United States to address common issues. Its members include Argentine, Brazilian, Paraguayan, Uruguayan and U.S. soybean farmers.

The 70 farmer-directors of USB oversee the investments of the soy checkoff to maximize profit opportunities for all U.S. soybean farmers. These volunteers invest and leverage checkoff funds to increase the value of U.S. soy meal and oil, to ensure U.S. soybean farmers and their customers have the freedom and infrastructure to operate, and to meet the needs of U.S. soy's customers. As stipulated in the federal Soybean Promotion, Research and Consumer Information Act, the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service has oversight responsibilities for USB and the soy checkoff.

For more information on the United Soybean Board, visit www.unitedsoybean.org
Visit us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/UnitedSoybeanBoard
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/unitedsoy
View our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/UnitedSoybeanBoard

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01 Apr 2014

Chinese Calligraphy Class

By Lynn Bartenhagen

Xi-Ma, an instructor from the Confucius Institute, a branch of the University of Iowa's International Programs, will conduct a class at the Muscatine Art Center on the ancient art of calligraphy. Assisting Ma will be Erin Mullins of the Confucius Institute.  There is no experience necessary and all supplies will be included in the registration fee. Class size is limited so be sure to register now!

The Chinese Calligraphy class will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2014. Class will run from 5:15 through 6:45.  The registration fee is $10.00.  All class supplies will be provided however,  you may also purchase your own brush for the class for $5.00. Both instructors were here last year for the class. Call us at 563.263.8282 to get signed up now!

Chinese calligraphy is one of the most ancient forms of written communication. It has developed over thousands of years, and is a very fluid language. Chinese calligraphy, unlike the letters based on the Roman system of writing, does not separate each individual character that forms a word. Chinese writing uses the painted character to express an idea or word in its entirety. This calligraphy must be both functional and beautiful. It is a true art form.

Xi Ma is the Curriculum Coordinator at the Confucius Institute.  Ma also teaches Confucius Institute courses. She is a returning Iowa Alumnus, moving to Iowa City in 2012 from Bronx, New York where she coordinated the Mandarin Language Program for Fordham University.  Ma holds an MA in Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures from the University of Iowa, an MA in Foreign Language and Applied Linguistics and a BA in English from Anhui University.

Erin Mullins is the Program Coordinator at the Confucius Institute. A graduate of the University of Iowa, Mullins holds an M.A. in Counselor Education and a B.A. in Elementary Education.  Joining the Confucius Institute at the University of Iowa in 2011, Mullins previously provided outreach education and services to area schools and community agencies.

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Chinese Calligraphy Class

Who: Xi Ma of the Confucius institute

When: Thursday, April 3, 2014

Time: 5:15-6:45 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this program is FREE. Please contact, Lynn Bartenhagen, Office Coordinator, with any questions or concerns at 563-263-8282 or by email atlbartenhagen@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday,Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

01 Apr 2014

Quanex Completes Sale of Nichols Aluminum

By Quanex Building Products Corporation
HOUSTON, April 1, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quanex Building Products Corporation (NYSE:NX), a leading components supplier for the global window and door industry, today announced that it completed the sale of its interest in Nichols Aluminum, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary, to Aleris for $110 million in an all cash transaction. Nichols is an aluminum sheet producer with facilities in Davenport, IA, Lincolnshire, IL and Decatur, AL.

"Going forward, our full focus will be on growing our position as a leading window and door componen supplier both domestically and internationally," said Bill Griffiths, Quanex chairman, president and CEO.

Evercore Partners acted as financial advisor and Norton Rose Fulbright acted as legal counsel to Quanex Building Products Corporation.

Quanex Building Products Corporation is listed on the NYSE under the symbol NX. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.quanex.com.

Statements that use the words "estimated," "expect," "could," "should," "believe," "will," "might," or similar words reflecting future expectations or beliefs are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, future operating results of Quanex, the financial condition of Quanex, future uses of cash and other expenditures, expenses and tax rates, expectations relating to the company's industry, and the company's future growth. The statements in this release are based on current expectations. Actual results or events may differ materially from this release. Factors that could impact future results may include, without limitation, the effect of both domestic and global economic conditions, the impact of competitive products and pricing, the availability and cost of raw materials, and customer demand. For a more complete
discussion of factors that may affect the company's future performance, please refer to the company's Form 10-K filing on December 18, 2013, under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act"), in particular the section titled, "Private Securities Litigation Reform Act" contained therein.
01 Apr 2014

EPILEPSY AND MEDICAL CANNABIS (MARIJUANA) SENATE BILL - SB2636

By Rick Martin

QUAD CITIES - The Epilepsy Foundation is in support of Illinois Senate Bill 2636 which adds seizure conditions, including those characteristic of epilepsy, to the list of qualifying medical conditions in Illinois' Medical Cannabis Program.  Currently the law does not allow minors to qualify for medical cannabis.  SB 2636 would allow both adults and minors to have access to medical cannabis to treat seizure conditions.  The Epilepsy Foundation's national office issued a press release on 2.20.2014 calling for increased medical marijuana access and research:  

http://epilepsyfoundation.org/news/Epilepsy-Foundation-Calls-for-Increased-Medical-Marijuana-Access-and-Research.cfm

  • 1 in 26 have or will have epilepsy at some point in their lives - that means over 14,700 people in the Quad Cities Metro Area currently have or will develop epilepsy, a neurological condition that include recurring seizures. 
  • Approximately 1/3 of those will live with uncontrolled seizures.
  • People living with uncontrolled seizures live with the continual risk of serious injury and loss of life.
  • Illinois has a law that lists 35 conditions for which medical marijuana may be prescribed. 
  • Unlike 18 of the other 20 states that permit the use of medical marijuana, epilepsy is not included in the conditions for which marijuana may be prescribed under Illinois law.  

   

  •  In vitro and in vivo evidence exists of the impact that cannabidiol ("CBD") can have on seizures, as well as anecdotal human evidence.  

   

  •  For epilepsy, the useful form of marijuana is an oil; it is not smoked.  

  • It is high in CBD and low in THC, the hallucinogenic component of marijuana. 

  • There is no alternative recreational use for this form of marijuana; it is formulated to treat seizures.

  • It is appropriate to allow patients, parents and physicians the ability to determine collectively if the compassionate use of medical marijuana is reasonable in each individual epilepsy case, including intractable pediatric cases.  

  • Illinois residents suffering from seizures should be afforded the same benefits available to those suffering from any of the 35 conditions included in the Illinois medical marijuana law. 

  • Illinois families shouldn't have to split up and move out of state in order to gain access to a viable treatment for intractable seizures.

  • Senate Bill SB2636 Adds "Seizures, including those characteristic of Epilepsy" to the list of qualifying conditions. 

  • Senate Bill SB2636 also adds pediatric patients, under the age of 18, suffering from "Seizures, including those characteristic of Epilepsy" as qualifying patients. 

For more information contact the Epilepsy Foundation - Quad Cities at 309.373.0377 or email to efqc@efncil.org. 

Epilepsy affects 65 million people worldwide.  Epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder in the U.S. after migraine, stroke, and Alzheimer's disease. Its prevalence is greater than autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease combined. 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy at some point in their lifetime:  that translates to over 14,700 individuals in our Quad Cities region.

It's time to talk about epilepsy.

01 Apr 2014

Exploration of Food and the Great Migration at Moline Public Library

By Jennifer Christiansen

The Moline Public Library welcomes Illinois Humanities Council Road Scholar Donna Pierce, as she presents Meals on Wheels: Great Migration Recipes Ride the Rails North on Wednesday, April 9th at 7:00 p.m.  This program is free and does not require registration. 

Meals on Wheels is presented as part of the six-week series Created Equal and Changing America, which explores our nation's civil rights history through film, exhibition, and presentations.  More information about the series can be found at molinelibrary.com/createdequal or by contacting the Moline Public Library at 309-524-2470.

Before the Great Migration, 90% of all African Americans in the U. S. lived in Southern states. Between 1915 and the Civil Rights Movement in the 1970s, six million black people changed their address from the segregated and "separate but equal" Jim Crow South to the urban north. Several Illinois cities have come to be known as destinations of the Great Migration including Alton, Peoria, and Chicago.  Using cookbooks and oral history, Ms. Pierce will explore migrated recipes such as smothered chicken, chitterlings, black-eyed peas, barbecue, biscuits, grits, greens, banana pudding, caramel cake, and peach cobbler. For many Illinois children and grandchildren of uprooted families, these recipes transplant them back to a South (with ties to Africa) many of them have never known, except through stories and photographs.

Donna Pierce, former Assistant Food Editor and Test Kitchen Director for the Chicago Tribune, is a Chicago-based contributing editor for Upscale magazine and a columnist for the Chicago Defender.  At the Tribune, she shared the first place award for Best newspaper Food Project in 2008 with Bill Daley, having won two first place awards for her columns in previous years. Meals on Wheels, a Road Scholars program, is presented by the Illinois Humanities Council, which is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Illinois General Assembly (through the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency), as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.  

   

Created Equal: America's Civil Rights Struggle is made possible through a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, as part of itsBridging Cultures initiative, in partnership with the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History.

Changing America is presented by the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. The traveling exhibition is made possible by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the human endeavor.

Local support for Created Equal and Changing America has been provided by Friends of the Moline Public Library, WQPT, and The Moline Dispatch/Rock Island Argus/QCOnline. 

# # #

01 Apr 2014

No Fooling - No Fees to Checkout DVDs Now at Rock Island Library

By Lisa Lockheart

Rock Island, IL: Effective today, April 1, you can keep your dollar when checking out a feature-length seven-day DVD or Blu-ray movie from the Rock Island Public Library. The same is true when you're trying to catch up on past seasons of True Blood, Mad Men or Game of Thrones.

The Rock Island Public Library has eliminated the $1 checkout charge on its entertainment collection, which includes both feature-length movies and collected seasons of television series on DVD and Blu-ray. The library's educational (non-fiction) collection of DVDs and Blu-rays never had a checkout fee.

Cardholders may check out up to five DVDs/Blu-rays from the entertainment collection, in any combination of movies and television series. Movies check out for seven days; television series for 21. The change applies only to DVDs and Blu-rays owned by Rock Island Public Library, including collections at the library's Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches.

Late fees do still apply, so cardholders will want to return those DVDs on time. To help you remember that due date, sign up for free phone, email or text courtesy reminders from the library. Cardholders can change their notification preferences by visiting the library, or by using the "My Account" feature in the online catalog.

For more information about services and programs for children, teens and adults, visit the library's online branch at www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-READ (7323) or follow the library on Facebook or Twitter.

Founded in 1872, the Rock Island Public Library serves the area through three locations, which include the Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branches, community outreach efforts, and online opportunities that provide resources to enhance personal achievement and stimulate the imagination.

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01 Apr 2014

HRB AND ME&V AD AGENCIES ANNOUNCE COMPLETION OF MERGER; NEW ENTITY IS NOW AMPERAGE

By Lori Blackburn

Unique Combination of Capabilities and Expertise Amplified to Energize Business Growth

CEDAR RAPIDS/CEDAR FALLS, Iowa?Henry Russell Bruce (HRB) and ME&V Advertising + Consulting, two of Iowa's top advertising agencies, today reported the completion of a merger first announced on March 3. The new entity is now AMPERAGE Marketing.

AMPERAGE, a company of more than 50 people with offices in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, Dubuque and Bettendorf, Iowa, creates a unique combination of capabilities and expertise to provide clients with evidence-based marketing and communications strategies that generate proven results. The tagline for the new agency is, "Move the Needle."

"Our goal is to forge a powerful connection for our clients to energize business growth," said Bryan Earnest, former president of ME&V, and now AMPERAGE president and CEO. "We will move the needle for our clients by connecting with their target audiences, motivating action, measuring effectiveness and reporting proven results."

Earnest also announced AMPERAGE's senior management team today: Jim Thebeau, former CEO of HRB, will be chairman of the board; Steve Erickson, former president of HRB, will be chief creative officer; Mark Mathis, former director of cool of ME&V, will be chief strategy officer; and Jim Infelt, former creative director for ME&V, will be chief digital officer.

The combined agency represents more than 200 clients across 10 states and offers branding, marketing, advertising, public relations, corporate communications, Web and digital marketing, media buying, fundraising and complete video services. Clients represent the healthcare, higher education, financial, manufacturing and nonprofit industries. Combined capitalized billings are approximately $33 million.

"We've already begun to see a positive response to the merging of our combined brands and reputations," said Earnest. "Companies and organizations are contacting us to gain the benefit of our depth of experience, consulting expertise and marketing capabilities. We're excited about the recognition of the merger in our markets and verticals."

Earnest also revealed that the actual merger of the two firms was almost a full year in the making, with both sides taking time to ensure that becoming a single business was right for all the clients, employees and owners.

"We found we had a lot in common," explained Earnest, "and that we had the same goals to grow our businesses. Just among the partners, we have more than 150 years of marketing, advertising and nonprofit fundraising experience. We all wanted to use that experience to achieve a new level of service offerings and dynamic results for our clients."

The alliance creates one of the largest advertising agencies in eastern Iowa and the largest fundraising consulting firm in the state, with more than $100 million raised for nonprofits over the last 15 years.

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About AMPERAGE:

AMPERAGE is a full-service advertising and marketing consulting company offering comprehensive services to business-to-business and business-to-consumer clients across the U.S. Its primary focus areas are branding, marketing and communications services for the healthcare, financial, higher education and manufacturing sectors, and nonprofit fundraising. The origins of the company date to 1973. For more information, visit www.AMPERAGEmarketing.com,or call 800-728-2656.

Background on ME&V and HRB:

ME&V Advertising + Consulting started in 1996. It is a two-time Inc. Magazine 500 fastest-growing companies designee and an Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year. ME&V has category specialization in healthcare, higher education, financial and nonprofit fundraising.  ME&V also includes a video production arm. ME&V currently operates in offices in Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

Henry Russell Bruce (HRB) just celebrated its 40th anniversary in Cedar Rapids. HRB was voted best ad agency in the Corridor by Corridor Business Journal readers six times. HRB has category specialization in healthcare, medical device marketing, higher education, fashion, retail, manufacturing and transportation. HRB currently operates offices in Cedar Rapids and the Quad Cities.

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01 Apr 2014

Freedom Salute Ceremony for Peoria aviation unit that deployed to Afghanistan

By Illinois National Guard PAO

April 5 ceremony recognizes 238th General Support Aviation Battalion

PEORIA, IL (04/01/2014)(readMedia)-- Approximately 60 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized April 5 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The ceremony for 2nd Battalion of the 238th General Support Aviation Battalion in Peoria, Ill. will be at 10 a.m. at the Army Aviation Support Facility #3, 2323 S. Airport Road in Peoria.

The unit mobilized in January 2013 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, returning home Dec. 14. The aviation unit includes members from across Illinois.

While deployed, the 238th flew CH-47 Chinook helicopters for heavy helicopter air movement and air assault missions. The company was also in charge of re-supply operations and aviation maintenance support. The 238th moved personnel and cargo across the battlefield to decisive points at critical times.

The company flew more than 3,100 combat hours, moving more than 14,000 people and three million pounds of cargo during its rotation.

"I cannot speak highly enough of this company and its Soldiers," said Maj. Clarence Pulcher of Morton, Ill., commander of the 238th. "We executed all of our missions without fail and without a single serious accident."

Pulcher highlighted his maintenance section's performance after several of the unit's aircraft were damaged by a hailstorm in April, just weeks after the unit arrived in Afghanistan.

"It was a hailstorm of biblical proportion dropping anywhere from pea-sized to baseball-sized hail," Pulcher said. "Living most of my life in Southern Illinois, tornado alley, I have never seen anything like it."

Pulcher said his maintenance teams worked around the clock to get the Chinooks airborne within two weeks.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-Soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated. On behalf of the National Guard Bureau, the Illinois Army National Guard will present each eligible Soldier with an encased American flag, as well as a sequentially-numbered commemorative coin, certificate of appreciation and lapel pin. Families will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them while deployed.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and are asked to contact the Public Affairs Office to gain access to Camp Lincoln.

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