28 Aug 2015

Governor Takes Bill Actions 8/24/2015

By Catherine Kelly

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Bruce Rauner took action today on the following bills:

 

Bill No.: HB 1

An Act Concerning Health

Action: Amendatory Veto

Note: Veto Message Below

 

Bill No.: HB 1336

An Act Concerning Liquor

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3237

An Act Concerning Liquor

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 3444

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 3484

An Act Concerning Public Employee Benefits

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 3485

An Act Concerning Finance

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3556

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 3841

An Act Concerning Regulation

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Bill No.: HB 3848

An Act Concerning Public Health

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: HB 4006

An Act Concerning Burn Victims

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 100

An Act Concerning Education

Action: Signed

Effective: September 15, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 418

An Act Concerning Public Aid

Action: Signed

Effective: January 1, 2016

 

Bill No.: SB 1800

An Act Concerning Local Government

Action: Signed

Effective: Immediate

 

Veto Message for HB 1

 

To the Honorable Members of

The Illinois House of Representatives,

99th General Assembly:

 

Today I return House Bill 1, the Heroin Crisis Act, with a specific recommendation for change.

 

House Bill 1 is a comprehensive effort to address opioid abuse from all angles. The bill is a result of the recommendations of the bi-partisan Heroin Task Force. I thank the sponsors of this bill and the members of the Task Force for their hard work over the past several years in addressing the growing heroin problem in Illinois.

 

First, the bill contains a number of important changes to increase the availability of an opioid antagonist and to provide for proper training on its use. It requires private insurance coverage for at least one opioid antagonist, as well as acute treatment and clinical stabilization services, which will be valuable in providing treatment for opioid users who need help in overcoming addiction.

 

The bill allows a licensed pharmacist, after completing a training program, to dispense an opioid antagonist in accordance with the procedures established by State agencies. It requires law enforcement and first responders to possess opioid antagonists and provide training on the administration of such antagonists. It allows a school nurse to administer an opioid antagonist to a student having an opioid overdose. It provides protection from civil liability to those individuals, including family members, who administer an opioid antagonist in good faith.

 

Second, in addition to the training requirements, House Bill 1 contains a number of substance abuse and mental health education requirements: the Department of Human Services and the State Board of Education will develop a three-year heroin and opioid prevention pilot program for all schools in the State; the Department of Human Services will also develop materials to educate opioid prescription holders on the dangers of these drugs; and the Department of Insurance will convene two working groups, one to discuss treatment of substance abuse and mental illness and another to educate consumers on parity between State and federal mental health laws.

 

Third, the bill addresses safety and public information concerns. It strengthens the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) to provide comprehensive information to physicians and pharmacists. Dispensers must report information to the PMP within one day, instead of seven days, of dispensing a controlled substance. To prevent medication shopping, the PMP may issue a report to the prescriber and dispenser when a person is identified as having three or more prescribers or pharmacies. The bill establishes a full-time Clinical Director of the PMP and an Advisory Committee to implement the PMP effectively. Physicians must now document in a patient's medical record the medical necessity of any three sequential 30-day prescriptions for Schedule II narcotics. To increase the safe disposal of medications, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is tasked with establishing a medication take-back program and providing information on the safe disposal of unused medication. The Department of Insurance will enforce parity between State and federal mental health laws. House Bill 1 also requires sharing of overdose information among law enforcement, physicians, and state agencies to ensure we have accurate data as we continue to look for solutions to this epidemic in Illinois.

 

Finally, the bill addresses criminal justice concerns and improves access to treatment by permitting multiple entries to drug court and no longer allowing a prosecutor to unilaterally block entry to drug court. It requires mandatory education for state's attorneys and public defenders on substance abuse and addiction. As a deterrent for individuals fraudulently acquiring controlled substances through "doctor shopping", it increases penalties for attempting to acquire or obtaining possession of a controlled substance through fraudulent means.

 

I support all of the above measures and applaud the multi-faceted approach to combating this epidemic in Illinois. Unfortunately, the bill also includes provisions that will impose a very costly mandate on the State's Medicaid providers. I am returning the bill with a recommendation to address that concern.

 

House Bill 1 mandates that fee-for-service and medical assistance Medicaid programs cover all forms of medication assisted treatment of alcohol or opioid dependence, and it removes utilization controls and prior authorization requirements. These changes would limit our ability to contain rising costs at a time when the State is facing unprecedented fiscal difficulties.

 

Importantly, the State's Medicaid programs already cover multiple forms of medication necessary to treat alcohol and opioid dependence. But without adequate funding to support mandated coverage for all forms of treatment, regardless of cost, this change would add to the State's deficit.

 

In addition, removing utilization controls and prior authorization requirements could undermine doctors' ability to manage treatment. Doctors should be able to work with individuals addicted to opioids to arrive at a reasonable, comprehensive treatment plan. The Department of Healthcare and Family Services has developed a utilization control process to work with prescribing physicians to support individuals struggling with addiction, ensure appropriate utilization of medications, and prevent waste. Removing any prior authorization or utilization control would inhibit a doctor's ability to responsibly manage the overall treatment program for Medicaid patients.

 

Therefore, pursuant to Section 9(e) of Article IV of the Illinois Constitution of 1970, I hereby return House Bill 1, entitled "AN ACT concerning health", with the following specific recommendation for change:

 

On page 125, by deleting lines 3-25.

 

With this change, House Bill 1 will have my approval. I respectfully request your concurrence.

Sincerely,

 

Bruce Rauner

GOVERNOR

 

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28 Aug 2015

Voter registration Deadlines for School Elections is Friday, August 28th.

By Roxanna Moritz

DAVENPORT - Scott County Auditor Roxanna Moritz is reminding those interested in voting in the upcoming school elections that the deadline to pre-register to vote is Friday, August 28, 2015.  Those interested can register at the Scott County Auditor's Office or at a driver's license station.  The Auditor's Office will be open until 5:00 p.m. on August 28th to accommodate voter registration.  Mail-in registrations post marked on or before August 26th, but received after August 28th, will also be accepted for pre-registration.  The school election will be held on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.


After Friday, those interested in voting, but who are not pre-registered, may register to vote at the polls on Election Day or at the Auditor's Office and vote an absentee ballot prior to Election Day.  Those registering in this manner are required to provide proof of their identity through a photo identity card, such as a valid driver's license, and proof of their residency if the identity card does not list a current address.  Details for Election Day registration are available on the Auditor's webpage, http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/auditor/.


Polling hours will vary by school districts.  For the Davenport and North Scott School Districts polls will be open from12:00 noon to 8:00 p.m.  Because there are no contested races or ballot measures voting hours were shortened in these two districts to reduce election costs.


For the Bettendorf and Pleasant Valley School Districts polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Voting will be at vote centers instead of at precinct voting locations.  Bettendorf School District voters may cast ballots at either St. John Vianney Church, 4097 18th Street, Bettendorf or Waterfront Convention Center, 2021 State Street, Bettendorf.


Pleasant Valley School District voters who reside in director districts three, four, five and six may cast ballots at the Pleasant Valley Schools Administration Building, 525 Belmont Road, Bettendorf.  Because there are contested races vote centers are used in this election to reduce election costs.


The Eastern Iowa Community College District (EICC) will have positions for director districts III, IV and V on the ballots in Scott County.  Voters who reside in the portions of the Pleasant Valley School Board Director Districts one and two which also fall within EICC District IV will vote at LeClaire Fire Station, 201 N 15th Street, LeClaire.  Voters who reside in the portion of the Pleasant Valley School Board Director District seven which also falls within EICC District IV will vote at Surrey Heights Fire Station, 5002 Crow Creek Road, Bettendorf.


There will be four positions up for election for the Bettendorf School Board, the Davenport School Board and the North Scott School Board.  The Pleasant Valley School Board will have positions for director districts three, four, five and six on the ballot.


For more information contact the Scott County Auditor's Office at 563-326-8631.
28 Aug 2015

BONIFAY NAMED MWL MANAGER OF THE YEAR; TWO BANDITS ARE MWL ALL-STARS

By Marco LaNave
A Quad Cities manager wins league's annual award for the first time since 1990
DAVENPORT, Iowa (August 24, 2015) - For the first time as a Houston Astros affiliate, the Quad Cities River Bandits have two Midwest League Postseason All-Stars, and for the first time in 25 years, a Quad Cities manager is the Midwest League Manager of the Year. Selected by the league's 16 field managers and announced on Monday, the team includes catcher Jacob Nottingham and third baseman Nick Tanielu - both Western Division starters in the All-Star Game in June - and first-year manager Josh Bonifay.
While the River Bandits have two postseason All-Stars for the first time since 2012 and postseason All-Stars in four consecutive seasons for the first time since 2002, the club has its first Manager of the Year since 1990. Bonifay becomes the third manager in Quad Cities franchise history to win the league's annual award. Previous Quad Cities winners (both winning in their only seasons as Quad Cities managers) were George Enright of the 1982 Quad City Cubs and Don Long, who led the 1990 Quad City Angels to the league title.
Two years after winning Appalachian League Manager of the Year in his first season as a professional manager with the rookie-level Greeneville Astros, Bonifay has led the River Bandits to their fourth playoff berth in six seasons and their best first half in franchise history (45-23) to win the Midwest Western Division first half this season. While using a franchise-record 32 pitchers this season, Quad Cities has the best record of any team in Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball at 35 games above .500 (79-44) through Sunday.
Nottingham, 20, played 59 games (39 as a catcher) with Quad Cities through June 27 before being promoted to Class-A Advanced Lancaster. The Astros traded Nottingham and teammate and 2015 River Bandits right-hander Daniel Mengden to the Oakland Athletics for major league left-hander Scott Kazmir on July 23. Houston's sixth-round pick in 2013 out of Redlands (Calif.) High School, Nottingham led the Midwest League in slugging percentage (.543) and extra-base hits (29), ranked second in batting average (.326) and total bases (125), and ranked fourth in RBIs (46) before his promotion to the California League. His 10 home runs are the most by a River Bandit this season. In addition to starting the All-Star Game and competing in the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, Nottingham was the Quad Cities Player of the Month in May, when he led the team with a .355 batting average, 13 extra-base hits, four home runs, 20 RBIs, a .591 slugging percentage and .997 on-base-plus slugging (OPS) in 23 games.
Tanielu, 22, carries a .311 batting average that currently ranks second in the Midwest League - to league Most Valuable Player Ryan McBroom of Lansing - and seventh among Astros minor leaguers. The Huntsville, Ala., native's team-high 64 RBIs rank fifth in the league, and his .790 OPS ranks sixth. Houston's 14th round pick in 2014 out of Washington State University, Tanielu also leads Quad Cities this season in at-bats (396), hits (123), extra-base hits (34), doubles (25), total bases (171) and slugging percentage (.432). In 104 games (tying the team high), Tanielu has played 85 games at third base, 11 at first base and six at second base. Tanielu was the Quad Cities Player of the Month in July, when he hit .340 (34-for-100) with 11 doubles, two home runs and 24 RBIs in 27 games.
The River Bandits have had six postseason All-Stars the past four seasons, including outfielder Anthony Garcia (2012), designated hitter Colin Walsh (2012), shortstop Carlos Correa (2013), and outfielder Brett Phillips (2014). In nine seasons as a Houston Astros affiliate, Quad Cities has had seven postseason All-Stars. In the River Bandits' first affiliation with Houston (1993-98), outfielder Richard Hidalgo (1994), left-handed pitcher Tony Mounce (1995) and designated hitter Jim Thomas (1998) were named postseason All-Stars.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits open a six-game homestand with Military Monday presented by 97X and ESPN 93.5. All veterans and active military may purchase up to four bleacher tickets for $1 each to attend the 7 p.m. game, with gates opening at 6 p.m. Monday. Individual tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office and online at riverbandits.com. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
ABOUT THE BANDITS: With the installation of the Ferris Wheel, the River Bandits ownership in 2014 made one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931, and this year the club is matching that effort by opening three new areas. A two-tiered special group deck immediately behind and overlooking the corn field opened in June. A new 11,000-square-foot concourse expansion down the third-base line will open late August. Finally, the club has expanded the children's play area by an additional 5,500 square feet down the right-field line, with additional bounce houses and the newest ride - Spin Zone Bumper Cars - as the latest attraction.
*****
28 Aug 2015

Governor Promotes Adjutant General and Selects Assistant Adjutant General

By Catherine Kelly

Commander-in-Chief Pins Second Star on Hayes and Appoints ISP Colonel to lead Army National Guard

 

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner, the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard, promoted Illinois Adjutant General, Richard J. Hayes Jr., to major general today, Aug. 24, and announced the appointment of Brig. Gen. Michael Zerbonia as the Illinois National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General - Army.

Rauner selected Hayes as the Adjutant General and for his second star in May based on Hayes' extensive military and civilian background. His eligibility for promotion was set in motion over a year ago through the Department of the Army and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate earlier this month.

"It is a great honor to serve as the Commander-in-Chief of the Illinois National Guard and to promote our state's top military officer.  Major General Hayes has the right combination of leadership and expertise to prepare the Illinois National Guard to tackle major emergencies both here in Illinois and overseas," Gov. Rauner said. "His experience commanding a battalion during the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, a brigade maneuver task force with NATO in Kosovo, and with his 27 years as a leader in the civilian engineering and construction sector illustrates why Richard Hayes epitomizes the true meaning a Citizen-Soldier."

Hayes' promotion coincides with the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the Gulf Coast of the United States, striking U.S. soil Aug. 29, 2005. Hayes led a battalion-sized relief task force in New Orleans. Many of the lessons Hayes and other leaders learned from Hurricane Katrina are being practiced this week, Aug. 24 to Aug. 28, during the simulated 7.7 magnitude earthquake Prairie Assurance exercise in Springfield. The exercise is being conducted with participation agencies from the State of Illinois, non-governmental organizations, National Guard Bureau, and US Northern Command.

"During my career I never concerned myself with becoming a general, never mind earning a second star," Hayes said. "I simply focused on excelling at every assignment I was given, sought to continually improve myself, and set a good example for my troops. I am humbled by this promotion and the opportunity to serve as the Illinois Adjutant General. I recognize the great responsibility bestowed on me and I will apply all of my talents to effectively lead the dedicated Soldiers and Airmen of the Illinois National Guard as we serve the Citizens of Illinois and our Nation."

Brig. Gen. Zerbonia will serve as the full-time Assistant Adjutant General - Army after a long and distinguished career with the Illinois State Police.

Zerbonia was serving as the Illinois National Guard's Land Forces Component Commander, a traditional National Guard position, while serving fulltime with the Illinois State Police as the Colonel of Operations. He will leave the State Police after 28 years to become the full-time Commander of the 10,000 Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard serving under Illinois National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Richard J. Hayes, who commands both the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois Air National Guard.

"For decades Mike Zerbonia has been a great leader and public servant with both the Illinois Army National Guard and the Illinois State Police," Governor Rauner said. "He has clearly demonstrated his ability to lead troops and build partnerships across state and federal agencies. He is a combat veteran of both Iraq and Afghanistan with more than 30 years of military experience who has the confidence and trust of his Soldiers. "

Governor Rauner selected Brig. Gen. Zerbonia on a recommendation from Maj. Gen. Hayes. "Brig. Gen. Zerbonia is the right officer to lead the Illinois Army National Guard as it continues to go from strong to stronger. He has proven his ability to lead and provide the strategic direction for the Illinois Army National Guard preparing for both our state and federal missions. I know that he loves serving as an Illinois State Police trooper and know it was a difficult personal and professional decision to leave the ISP to work at Illinois National Guard headquarters full-time. I am grateful to have Mike Zerbonia serve alongside me. ," Maj. Gen. Hayes said.

Brig. Gen. Zerbonia said taking off his Illinois State Police uniform is difficult, but he was honored to be asked to serve as the Illinois National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General - Army.  "Commanding the Illinois Army National Guard is both a great opportunity and challenge. The Illinois Army National Guard has a no-fail contract with the citizens of Illinois and the United States. We have met many great challenges and succeeded, but we have many more ahead. It is a great privilege and honor to lead our great men and women who have willingly committed to helping our neighbors, protecting our state and defending our nation."

Brig. Gen. Zerbonia's last military assignment was as the Illinois Army National Guard's Land Forces Component Commander, a position he was appointed to in June 2013. He enlisted as a military policeman in the Missouri Army National Guard in 1983 and later commissioned as a second lieutenant May 9, 1986 after completing the Reserve Officer Training Corps program at Northeast Missouri State University. In 1988, then Lieutenant Zerbonia transferred to the active Army as an air defense artillery officer. He later joined the Illinois National Guard in 1991 as the assistant air defense coordination officer with the 1st Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Brig. Gen. Zerbonia has served in many critical roles at all levels of command and staff in his career. He has served as a battery commander, commander of the 1st Battalion, 202nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, team chief of the 244th Army Liaison Team, commander of the 108th Sustainment Brigade and commander of the Bilateral Embedded Support Team (BEST) A10.

General Zerbonia supported military operations in Poland, Turkey and Germany. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from June 2005 to June 2006 and to Afghanistan from September 2012 to June 2013 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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28 Aug 2015

The BLT days of Summer

By Teresa Bjork
I finally picked the first ripe tomato from my garden last night. So you know what that means: BLTs for supper. My husband has perfected the BLT sandwich - a big slice of juicy tomato, crisp lettuce, smoky bacon, a smear of mayo and a couple sprinkles of hot sauce.

It's hard to beat the flavor of a garden-grown tomato. Yet my tomato plants look a little rough this year. With all the heavy rain we received in early summer, my tomatoes came down with blight and started losing leaves.

Luckily, the plants still blossomed and set fruit, but I learned that I should have sprayed the tomatoes with a fungicide early on to prevent blight.

A few years back, I attended a gardening seminar where an Iowa State University Extension entomologist discussed common pests in home gardens. He recommended prevention measures, such as sprays to combat Japanese beetles, which love to eat roses and fruit trees.

But the decision whether or not to apply chemicals in a home garden should depend on your "tolerance" for pests, he told us.

Personally, I don't care if I get a bumper crop of tomatoes. If the bugs get in the tomatoes before they're ripe, I choose not to spray, because gardening is my hobby and I can always buy tomatoes from the produce stand down the road.

Unfortunately, farmers don't have the luxury to just let their crops get eaten by pests. That's why farmers work with their agronomists to determine their "tolerance" for pests and apply any necessary chemicals at the right time, and at the right amount, using precision technology.

In this issue of the Iowa Dish, we take a closer look at how farmers use Integrated Pest Management to keep crops healthy. We'll also offer tips on how to properly wash fruits and vegetables to ensure they are safe to eat.

In addition, we'll learn about a Des Moines-area corporate garden project that is supplying garden-fresh veggies to Iowa food pantries. We will also meet the American Honey Queen, who hails from Iowa, and visit a unique restaurant in eastern Iowa where guests can dine in the hayloft of an historic barn.

So if you have any tomato-growing tips, or want to complain about how bad your tomatoes are looking too, send me an email. We gardeners are always hoping to grow the perfect tomato.

28 Aug 2015

Loebsack Announces Lottery for Tickets to View Pope Francis' Address to Congress

By Rick Martin

Additional information and lottery registration can be found at: https://loebsack.house.gov/popefrancis

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that his office has a limited number of tickets available to see an outdoor simulcast of his Holiness Pope Francis' address to a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, September 24th, 2015. Loebsack's office will be distributing a limited number of tickets via a lottery for general admission to the West Lawn of the Capitol where attendees will be able to watch His Holiness' address simulcast on jumbotrons. Following the address, it is expected that Pope Francis will make a brief public appearance on the steps of the U.S. Capitol facing the West Lawn.

For full details and to register for the lottery, please visit Loebsack's website at https://loebsack.house.gov/popefrancis. Please note, this lottery is only for admission to the West Lawn of the Capitol during the simulcast of Pope Francis' address. Ticket holders are responsible for their own transportation to and from Washington, D.C., lodging, and other trip expenses. For additional information, contact Brad Wilson at (202) 225-6576.

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28 Aug 2015

PR Network of the Quad Cities announces 2015-2016 officers

By Rick Martin

Davenport, Iowa (August 24, 2015) - PR Network of the Quad Cities, a local organization for communications professionals in the Quad Cities, has announced its officers for the 2015-2016 year.

Five new faces join the board of 14 communications and marketing professionals from across the Quad Cities. The 2015-2016 officers include :

  • President ? Diane Koster
  • Past President - Monica Wolfe
  • Vice President - Lindsay Thul, Hotel Blackhawk
  • Secretary ? Lindsey Lobur, iWireless Center
  • Treasurer ? Tiffany Stott, Edwards Creative
  • Membership Director ? Erin Wyant, Russell Construction
  • Student Membership Director - Hannah McInerney, Saint Ambrose University Student
  • Communication Director - Stephanie Carmichael, Hy-Vee
  • Publicity Director ? Joscelyn Stone, Bethany for Children and Families
  • Programming Director ? Ronna Walker-Johnson, Media Link, Inc.
  • Half-Day Workshop Director ? Amy Kolner, Integrity Integrated
  • Webmaster ? Doug Tschopp, Augustana College
  • At-Large - Amy Simler, Bush Construction
  • At-Large - Susan Flansburg, Benedictine Sisters of St. Mary Monastery

"PR Network has a long history in the Quad Cities as the premiere organization for communications professionals functioning at all levels," said Diane Koster, who is entering her first year as president. "Whether you are new to the field, a communications student, or a seasoned professional, PR Network has something for you. I personally invite you to check out our monthly program offerings and see what value we can bring to you. Join us today and enjoy a reduced price membership when coupled with registration to our September event. I guarantee you will find many educational and networking opportunities throughout the year for a minimal investment. I hope to see you soon at an upcoming event!"

PR Network of the Quad Cities holds monthly educational luncheons, a Half Day Workshop in April, and other networking opportunities throughout the year.

The first luncheon of the year will take place on Thursday, September 17. Hear about the process of landing Uber, the ride-sharing service, in the Quad Cities metro area from Young Professionals of the Quad Cities Director, Aiden Landman.

There will be a special first event registration membership deal available. New members may register for this event along with a yearly PR Network membership for $45. Current members may register for the event along with renewing their PR Network membership for $40. This special will only be available until September 14.

The event will take place at The Establishment, 220 19th Street, Rock Island, Ill., from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. RSVPs are required, which can be completed at http://www.prnetworkqc.org/events.php.

For more information about PR Network of the Quad Cities and to learn about membership opportunities, visit http://www.prnetworkqc.org/.

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About PR Network of the Quad Cities

PR Network of the Quad Cities, Inc. provides professional development, networking, and educational opportunities to individuals interested in the marketing/public relations/communications field.

28 Aug 2015

Amana Colonies Announce Apfelfest September 26, 2015

By David Rettig

AMANA, Iowa- You'll find everything from apple sauce to apple strudel in the Amana Colonies for their first Apfelfest (Applefest) on September 26, 2015.  The historic seven villages will be featuring all things apple on this special day with apple cider pressing, live music, food samples, special foods in restaurants and food shops, and more.

The village of Homestead (one of the seven Amana villages) is planning special events in the village apple orchard that are designed to treat all five senses. This event is a great family outing as there will be hands on activates for the youngsters including story tellers and apple bobbing.

For a complete list of special events taking place in the Amana Colonies for the first Apfelfest visit the Amana Colonies Visitors Center, www.amanacolonies.com or call 319.622.7622.
28 Aug 2015

Samantha Matt studies the culinary world in Spain

By Carole Custer

AMES, IA (08/24/2015)(readMedia)-- Samantha Matt, of Bettendorf majoring in pre-diet and exercise at Iowa State University, traveled to Valladolid, Spain for nearly two weeks to learn about the history and new trends in Spanish cuisine.

Matt and fellow students on the trip learned about the culture and traditional recipes as well as learned modern techniques in gastronomy in what is considered the hottest country in culinary arts. While in country, the group got 40 hours of hands-on experience in a new kitchen facility with renowned chef instructors seeing the diversity of traditional Spanish cuisine and new trends in gastronomy. In addition to learning culinary skills and techniques, students visited several food production facilities, noting the importance of the geographic locations in the marketing of traditional foods. All together these experiences provided the students with a whole new and unique view of food around the world.

The Agriculture Study Abroad Office in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers high quality international opportunities to students on all seven continents in a variety of programs open to all students in the college. Programs range in length and intensity of curriculum, and may be led by faculty or through an exchange program.

28 Aug 2015

Jaycees of the Quad Cities Supply Area Youth with Back-to-School Supplies

By Jamie Lange

(Quad Cities, IA) - Pencils and pens and notebooks - oh my!


Jaycees of the Quad Cities volunteers recently assembled back packs filled with school supplies to assist low-income children with starting the school year on the right foot. The volunteers consisted of a dozen members of Jaycees, a young professional service group with a self-proclaimed volunteering problem.


"Our members believe that service to humanity is the best work of life," said Christine Bruce, Vice President of Community Development and the project lead.


With the help of a dozen volunteers, 336 backpacks will be distributed this week and next to children in need at elementary schools in Davenport, Iowa; East Moline, Illinois; and Moline, Illinois.


Jaycees of the Quad Cities invested nearly $5,000 in the project and annually fundraises for this project and others through the upcoming Brew Ha Ha (September 19) and the Bridal Expo (January 30). All projects are completed 100% by volunteer efforts.


This is the 5th year for Back-to-School, a program of the Jaycees of the Quad Cities, which provides free school supplies and back packs to youth in need. Without the Jaycees assistance, many of these kids would go back to school unprepared. Teachers identify students with the most need and deliver their backpacks filled with supplies at unpack your backpack night.


"This is an excellent way to give back to our community," said Jennifer Kincaid, President, Jaycees of the Quad Cities. "There's no reason that a kid should feel like they aren't prepared on day one just because they may not have the financial means to get all they need."


The Jaycees of the Quad Cities supports this and other projects aimed at giving youth a head start on being successful in school and in life. Individuals and groups interested in volunteering with Jaycees of the Quad Cities should contact info@jayceesqc.org or call (563) 484-0041.


About Jaycees of the Quad Cities: Jaycees aim to build personal and professional relationships by work together on projects to strengthen and grow the Quad-Cities community. The Quad Cities Chapter is one of the oldest chapters in the state of Iowa and has grown to include young professionals from both sides of the Mississippi River. They pride themselves on blending social opportunities with service - like planning the annual Bridal Expo and the Brew Ha Ha that raise funds for charitable initiatives.

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