THE BIX 7 WANTS YOU FOR A PATRIOTIC 40th ANNIVERSARY; AIMING FOR FIELD OF 20,000

USA 7 Mile Championship; Free Active Military Entries; Veterans Hospice Charity Highlight Event

BETTENDORF, IA - The 40th Anniversary of the Quad-City Times Bix 7 will be a patriotic celebration with the return of the USA Seven Mile Championships, free active duty military registrations and a program to assist veterans in hospice care as organizers aim for a field of 20,000. Race officials made the announcements in a media event at Isle of Capri Casino Hotel.

Participants return to Davenport on Saturday, July 26th, 2014. Registrations are being mailed in addition to availability at locations throughout the Quad City Area. Online entry is open at www.bix7.com with a valid Visa or MasterCard except for active duty military which will require a printed application.

Advance entries are only handled through the website, via mailed printed applications or those brought to the Quad-City Times building, 500 E. Third Street, Davenport. You can stay connected with news and training tips at www.facebook.com - Search Quad-City Times Bix 7 or www.twitter.com/@BixSeven.

For the fourth time (2002, 2009, 2010) the Bix 7 will host the USA Seven Mile Championships - part of the USA Running Circuit (www.runnerspace.com/USARunningCircuit).The yearly program is a development effort for athletes in training on road courses as they work toward opportunities to represent the country at World and Olympic competition through USA Track & Field.

Also, the Bix 7 will offer free entry to any active duty military. A printed application will be required which has a line to list the active military identification number. The entrant will also be required to present their military identification at packet pick up to confirm status.

Every paid entrant will be able to assist military veterans by adding a $2.00 contribution on the application to Genesis Health System Hospice's local chapter of the We Honor Veterans Program. Led by the Veterans Administration and hospice care providers, the national effort honors veterans nearing the end of life by celebrating their military service (www.genesishealth.com/services/home-health/hospice/we-honor-veterans/).

These activities complement the Premier Buick & GMC Dealers High School Challenge, the Quad City Bank & Trust Battle Up Brady, Alcoa Jr. Bix 7, Swiss Valley Farms Quick Bix, VictoryStore.com Gregg Newell and Eloise Caldwell awards for top local male and female area finishers, Rhythm City Casino Race for the Jackpot and Scott County Regional Authority All City Challenge.

As the country's best compete while saluting those who serve and sacrifice for our country, race director Ed Froehlich knows the Bix 7 is ready for a memorable 40th anniversary event.

"We're pleased to again host the USA Seven Mile Championships," said Froehlich, entering his 35th year guiding the race. "More importantly, the recognition of our service men and women that have and continue to make it possible for us to celebrate traditions like the Bix 7 since 1975 is one that our sponsors, volunteers and participants are thrilled to be involved with."

RICK McGRATH LEADS 2014 QUAD-CITY TIMES BIX 7 MILITARY SALUTE

13-year Committee Chair Joins Four Others as Assistant Race Directors

BETTENDORF, IA - Rick McGrath, a committee chair for 13 years with the Quad-City Times Bix 7, has been named as a new Assistant Race Director for the event by Race Director Ed Froehlich. Officials made the announcement in a media event at Isle of Capri Casino Hotel.

The 40th Bix 7 returns to Davenport on Saturday, July 26th, 2014. Registrations are being mailed in addition to availability at locations throughout the Quad City Area. Online entry is open at www.bix7.com with a valid Visa or MasterCard except for active duty military which will require a printed application for listing the active military identification number which will also be needed for packet pick up.

Advance entries are only handled through the website, via mailed printed applications or those brought to the Quad-City Times building, 500 E. Third Street, Davenport. You can stay connected with news and training tips at www.facebook.com - Search Quad-City Times Bix 7 or www.twitter.com/@BixSeven.

McGrath will head up the military initiatives for the event highlighted by free registration for active duty military. He joins Dan Breidinger, Ron Egger, Michelle Juehring and Paul Schmidt as Assistant Race Directors.

Along with his wife Laurie, the couple has coordinated musical entertainment on the course for race day. They will continue in that role. McGrath has a long relationship as a participant (35 years) and is excited to be serving the Bix 7 in this new effort.

"I have run the Bix which goes back to my days as a cross country athlete at Black Hawk College," said McGrath, a lifelong resident of the area. "I was friends with Nancy Kapheim who recruited me to the committee.

"We have several friends in the reserves," McGrath added. "However, my stepson joined the Navy to work toward his goal of medical school. So, with that first hand experience now I'm looking forward to this new opportunity to build a relationship with active duty personnel and the race."

Every paid entrant can join the patriotic excitement by adding a $2.00 contribution on the application to Genesis Health System Hospice's local chapter of the We Honor Veterans Program. The national effort honors veterans nearing the end of life by celebrating their military service (www.genesishealth.com/services/home-health/hospice/we-honor-veterans/).

These activities complement the Premier Buick & GMC Dealers High School Challenge, the Quad City Bank & Trust Battle Up Brady, Alcoa Jr. Bix 7, Swiss Valley Farms Quick Bix, VictoryStore.com Gregg Newell and Eloise Caldwell awards for top local male and female area finishers, Rhythm City Casino Race for the Jackpot and Scott County Regional Authority All City Challenge.

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Current Generation Asked To Bring New Perspectives to Annual Holocaust Remembrance Event

ROCK ISLAND, IL - The Quad Cities Yom HaShoah (Yahm ha-SHOW-uh) Committee announces a call for entries to the "Ida Kramer Children and the Holocaust" Essay Contest open to all Quad City Area students in grades 8-12. The deadline for entry is February 1^st, 2014.

Details are available online at www.jfqc.org or www.holocausteduqca.com. Completed entries may be mailed to the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, 2715 30^th Street, Rock Island, IL 61201. They can also be submitted electronically as an email attachment to aross@jfqc.org with "Yom HaShoah Essay" in the subject line.

A $500.00 scholarship is awarded for the winning essay while $200.00 will go to a classroom teacher that provides guidance for the entry chosen. The winning essay will be read during the annual Yom HaShoah Remembrance Service on Sunday, April 27^th, 2014 - 7:00 PM - at Tri-City Jewish Center, 2715 30^th Street, Rock Island.

Yom HaShoah is observed as a day of commemoration for the six million Jews (nearly 11 million people total) that perished during the Holocaust. It began in 1953 with the signing of an Israeli law by Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi. The essay contest bears the name locally of Ida Kramer, former Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities and a longtime Holocaust educator.

The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cites (www.jfqc.org) is a non-profit, 501 c (3) Illinois corporation founded in 1980. With other local organizations, JFQC addresses a broad range of needs to include cultural, religious, educational, family welfare, care of the elderly and interfaith relations. The Federation combats hate and anti-Semitism by supporting religious liberty and civil rights for everyone.

Its core mission is to preserve, protect, enrich and enhance Jewish communal life and the well-being of Jews locally, in Israel and throughout the world. It is a proud member of the Jewish Federations of North America (www.jewishfederations.org). The Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jewishfedqc.

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Davenport hotel retains esteemed national designation

DAVENPORT, IA - Hotel Blackhawk announces it has repeated as an AAA Four Diamond Award ® lodging award winner for 2014.

The hotel is part of a select group within North America. In 2014, just 4.8% of 30,000 AAA lodgings across the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean achieve this status and Hotel Blackhawk is just one of three in Iowa to hold this designation.

Lodgings at this level are refined and stylish, featuring upscale physical attributes, according to AAA. The designees typically offer an extensive array of amenities combined with a high degree of hospitality, personal attention and guest services. The program has been in existence for 76 years.

"Retaining an AAA Four Diamond Award is a point of pride for our entire company," said Tim Heim, VP - Marketing, Innkeeper Hospitality Services, corporate parent of Hotel Blackhawk. "Seeing the hip and historic experience we strive to deliver for our guests every day result in continuing with this prestigious designation is a tremendous honor."

Hotel Blackhawk celebrated its re-opening December 15th, 2010. The hotel retains its 98-year-old historic character while featuring modern conveniences throughout the 130 guestrooms and extended-stay suites, six meeting rooms and up to 300-person banquet capacity in the signature Gold Room.

Other features include wireless internet, a fitness center, business center, swimming pool, hot tub, Spa Luce (lu-CHAY), Milan Flower Shop, the Bix Bistro restaurant, the Beignet (been-YAY) Done That coffee shop and Blackhawk Bowl & Martini Lounge. The hotel is an AAA Four Diamond Hotel and is part of the Autograph Collection (www.autographhotels.com) and the Historic Hotels of America network (www.historichotels.org). For more, visit www.hotelblackhawk.com or find us on www.facebook.com (Search: Hotel Blackhawk).

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WHO: Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities-Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library (www.jfqc.org - www.facebook.com/jewishfedqc)
WHAT: "The Enigma of Iranian Politics" - A presentation by Yashar Vasef, Executive Director of the Iowa United Nations Association
WHEN: Tuesday, July 23rd - 7:00 PM - Free and Open to the public
WHERE: Bettendorf Public Library - 2950 Learning Campus Dr.
WHY: Yashar Vasef is a native of Iran who, along with his family, fled the country in the midst of the Iran-Iraq War of the 1980's.  Yashar has interned at the political think tank, The Stanley Foundation, and the Brooklyn-based BoomGen Studios, an entertainment studio that provides Middle Eastern media content to a Western audience.  He currently serves as the executive director of the Iowa United Nations Association.  In this capacity, Vasef regularly lectures on a multitude of topics involving the United Nations and was a featured speaker at the 2012 national UNA-USA conference in Washington. Yashar is an alumnus of the University of Iowa and currently resides in Iowa City.