Ryan Peterman of Bettendorf has received an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy. Peterman will enter the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, this fall.

"I'm proud to announce Ryan Peterman's acceptance to the U.S. Naval Academy," Braley (D-Iowa) said. "With his excellent academic record and his history of community involvement, Ryan will be a valuable addition to the Naval Academy. I'm happy that Ryan will have the opportunity to further his education while continuing to serve his country at Navy."

Ryan Peterman will graduate from Bettendorf High School this spring, where he maintained a 3.9 grade point average while participating in student council, football and the Student Hunger Drive. Ryan is the son of George and Carolyn Peterman.

Each year Congressman Braley nominates students to the military service academies, including the U.S. Naval Academy. Nominees must demonstrate upstanding character, academic achievement, physical fitness, and leadership skills. A nominating committee comprised of community leaders reviews all applicants, with Congressman Braley recommending top candidates to the respective academies. Final acceptance decisions are made by the service academy. Students interested in applying to military service academies for enrollment in fall of 2010 should contact Congressman Braley's Waterloo office at (319) 287-3233.

YMCA Offers A Unique Way To Put Some Distance Between You and Those Unwanted Pounds! 

At 2,360 miles, the Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world.  So if you could, how long would it take you to swim the entire thing?  The Scott County Family Y is giving you the opportunity to answer that question with its Swim the Mississippi fitness program.

"Swim the Mississippi is new twist on an old favorite - aquatic fitness," said Emily Jacobson, Aquatics Director, Davenport Family YMCA.  "It gives participants a visual image with a start and stopping point, which in turn gives them a goal to reach and that helps keeps them on track and motivated."

So how does this work?  You don't actually get to swim the Mighty Mississippi but for every one mile you swim in the pool, the Scott County Family Y will count it as 40 miles of the Mississippi, which means your total mileage will be 59 miles (2,124 laps or 4,248 lengths of a 25 meter pool).  Sound like a lot?  Not so, you have until June 30 to take this amazing journey - one that will benefit your spirit, mind and body.

Swimming is one of the most beneficial forms of exercise because involves the use of almost all the muscles required for movement, without the weight of your body pounding you with each move like when you are walking or running.  Regular swimming builds your muscle strength, endurance, and cardio-vascular fitness. The longer you swim, the more your endurance and speed will improve.

Anyone interested in participating in the Swim the Mississippi program can register at the Davenport Family YMCA, 606 West Second Street.  Registration fee for this program is $15 per person.  Mileage can be completed at any Scott County Family Y branch location but the official record will be kept and charted at the Davenport branch.  All participants completing the distance by Tuesday, June 30, will receive an official "I Swam the Mississippi" t-shirt and a certificate of completion.  For more information about this or other health and wellness programs, visit www.ScottCountyFamilyY.org or contact any Scott County Family Y branch location.

Davenport, IA - What could be better on a cold mid-winter night than a warm evening of Mozart! The Quad City Symphony celebrates the 253rd birthday of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart with its annual Mid-Winter Chamber Music concert at the Outing Club in Davenport on Saturday, January 17, at 8 pm. The concert features Concertmaster Allen Ohmes, Associate Concertmaster Dawn Marino-Ohmes, Principal Viola Deborah Dakin, new Principal Cello Hannah Holman, and, for his first time performing cello in the Quad Cities, new Music Director Mark Russell Smith. The evening repertoire will include Mozart's Quartet in B-Flat Major and Schuberts's String Quintet in C Major.

You can turn the evening into a feast for your taste-buds as well as your ears with a pre-concert dinner at the Outing Club, available for $30. The cash bar opens at 5:30, with dinner served at 6:30. The dinner includes hearts of romaine with fresh mozzarella and roasted red peppers with stone ground mustard vinaigrette, tenderloin of pork with caramelized onions and Sonoma kiln-dried apricots, sweet carrot reduction, wild mushroom risotto, broccolini, and cherry bon bon with Grand Marnier crème anglaise.