This year the Quad City Arts Festival of Trees celebrates 30 years of holiday cheer! Festival of Trees at the RiverCenter features many beautiful, uniquely designed trees, stunning designer displays, handcrafted stockings and ornaments, a variety of miniature designs, special events, model train display, gingerbread village, and the North Pole children's activity center.

There are additional ticketed events that happen in conjunction with the Festival of Trees. NEW this year: "Cheers to 30 Years," a beer and wine tasting that will offer a "sneak peek" of the event. There is also the Silver Bell Social for seniors, Grand Premiere Party, Sizzlin' Soiree for a girls night out, Sugarplum Ball for dads and daughters, Celebrity Lunch, Jingle Jam teen dance, and Family Days for military families.

Then the Festival of Trees Holiday Parade on Saturday, Nov. 21 features over 20 large helium-filled character balloons, marching bands, the Distinguished Clown Corps, and participation from over 50 organizations. There are more balloons than Macy's! The parade begins at 10:15 a.m. and goes through the streets of downtown Davenport.

Back by popular demand, Cirque de la Symphonie returns with an all new show for the Holiday Pops at the Adler Theatre in Davenport on Nov. 20-21. The Holiday Pops includes three performances, one each night at 8 p.m. and a matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Artists include aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, and music by the Quad City Symphony Orchestra.

Enjoy a heart-warming performance of A Wonderful Life at Circa 21 Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island. George Bailey's story remains a timeless tale of dreams, love, and extraordinary lives of ordinary people. Based on the popular movie, A Wonderful Life performance dates are Nov. 13-Dec. 27.

More holiday performances include :

Christmas at the historic John Deere family mansions in Moline, Illinois, has become a holiday tradition. On Sunday, Dec. 6, step back in time for the free 19th Century Christmas celebration from 12-5 p.m. Also, visit with living-history volunteers, hear carolers, and participate in make-and-take activities.

Starting Friday, Nov. 27 visitors can also enjoy the upcoming holiday films at the Putnam Museum and Science Center. Watch The Polar Express 3D and Frozen 3D on the National Geographic GIANT Screen Theater. BRAND NEW this year is Frozen Sing-Along Sundays where you can see this adored film and sing along to the words on the screen each Sunday at 4:15 p.m. from Nov. 29 to Dec. 27!

The Amazing Advent Adventure exhibit at the German American Heritage Center features Advent calendars of all kinds?some by local artists, some by students in Davenport's Sister City (Kaiserslautern, Germany) and some from local collectors. The German American Heritage Center itself is turning its building into an Advent calendar! Starting December 1, they will light up a different window like an Advent calendar until the 24th.

BRIGHT BEGINNINGS PROGRAM RE-CREDENTIALED

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Nov. 13, 2015 -- The Iowa Department of Management and Public Health is pleased to announce that the Scott County Kids Nest of Scott County has earned the Iowa Family Support Credential.  The Scott County Kids Nest program is the 70th Iowa program to earn this important distinction.

Also, the Bright Beginnings program of Scott County has been re-credentialed by earning the Iowa Family Support Credential.  The program is only the third in Iowa to be re-credentialed.

The Iowa Family Support Credential is awarded to family support and parent education programs that are validated through an external evaluation to be in substantial adherence to the Iowa Family Support Standards.

The Iowa Family Support Standards are based on the most up-to-date, evidence- based practice in the family support field.  Adherence to the standards indicates that the program is providing high quality services that will result in positive outcomes for young children and their families.

Bright Beginnings and the Scott County Kids Nest diligently worked toward meeting all of the 138 standards over the course of more than two years with the assistance of a program specialist.  A peer review was conducted by trained peers from central Iowa to validate the program's adherence to the standards.  The Iowa Family Support Credential is valid for five years.

The two programs will celebrate the accreditations on Tuesday, Nov. 17 at 10:30 a.m. at Genesis VNA and Hospice, 2894 AAA Court, Suite 202, Bettendorf.

For additional information concerning the Scott County Kids Nest program, Genesis VNA and Hospice, Scott County contact Tera Weets, Scott County Kids Nest, 563-421-5070 or send email to weetst@genesishealth.com.

About Bright Beginnings Home Visitation Program:

Genesis VNA Bright Beginnings  Home Visitation Program provides family support and education services to pregnant and parenting families with children through age 5 years residing in Scott, Clinton or Jackson counties.  Goals include helping families establish a relationship with a primary physician, encouraging immunizations for children, preventing abuse of children; and, helping families achieve self reliance.

About Scott County Kids Nest Group Education Program:

Genesis VNA Scott County Kids' Nest Group Education Program provides family support and education services to pregnant and parenting families with children in first 13 months in Scott County.  Goals include increased numbers of healthy births by increasing the number of at-risk pregnant women who receive adequate care and services during pregnancy; increase confidence and competence in parenting abilities; and, increase healthy informal support systems of families.

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner has issued the following statement regarding Illinois' acceptance of Syrian refugees after the terror attacks in Paris:

"Our nation and our state have a shared history of providing safe haven for those displaced by conflict, but the news surrounding the Paris terror attacks reminds us of the all-too-real security threats facing America. We must find a way to balance our tradition as a state welcoming of refugees while ensuring the safety and security of our citizens. Therefore, the state of Illinois will temporarily suspend accepting new Syrian refugees and consider all of our legal options pending a full review of our country's acceptance and security processes by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security."

November 10, 2015 in female farmer project

It's a chilly October morning, I arrive just before her at The People's Garden and take the opportunity to enjoy the bees and many birds that are flitting around. Even though a few of the beds are being prepped for winter, there were peppers still on the bushes, vibrant chard, and beets in the ground. I was unaware this small, organic urban farm existed right here off the National Mall, open to all visitors, year 'round.

The People's Garden is on the grounds of the USDA building in Washington D.C. - it features a sampling of the agricultural commodities and tree samplings grown here in the United States. There is also a Three Sisters Garden featuring Native American heritage corn, beans and squash, rain gardens, an apiary, and a weekly farmers market.

I was surprised by her arrival - she found me crouched between the beds, entranced by the gorgeous vegetables and flowers in the shadow of our nation's capital building; "Hi, I'm Krysta" she said smiling as I stood to meet her.

'Krysta' is Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, of the United States Department of Agriculture. We have a POTUS, a FLOTUS and SCOTUS so in my mind, she's the FFOTUS; Female Farmer of the United States. She's a self-described daughter of peanut farmers and rightly proud of her heritage. Hailing from a multi-generational farming family, her parents still farm the mid-sized peanut, corn, cotton and vegetable farm in Georgia where she was raised.

The US Senate unanimously confirmed Deputy Secretary Harden in August of 2013. In the short two years since then, she's championed many causes from the Farm Bill to cultivating the next generation of farmers, but one that has a special interest to us both, and is what brought us together that morning -- Women in Agriculture.

As we wandered around the garden beds, sharing recipe ideas and enjoying the scents of fresh dirt as we unearthed a few carrots and beets, we talked of challenges in the public perception of agriculture and how she sees her role in helping to create access for female farmers.

You have implemented a lot of programs including the 2008 Farm Bill, the Hunger-Free Kids Act and the recent collaboration with NASA. What programs are you working on now that will affect women in agriculture?

At the end of October, I spoke at the National FFA convention and announced the launch of a new website to help farmers and ranchers get started, www.usda.gov/newfarmers. This site includes a discovery tool, specifically tailored to the needs of new farmers.