HILLSDALE, Ill. - As another school year comes to a close, state Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is encouraging residents to take a moment this week to thank local educators for their hard work and dedication in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.
"Too often, the commitment and inspiration that educators instill in young people goes unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of daily life, and I ask everyone to show their appreciation this week for a teacher who's made an impact on their life," Smiddy said. "As the father of two young boys, I know how critical a quality education is to their success, and I'm thankful for the teachers that work each day to give children everywhere a great start."
Teacher Appreciation Week is recognized nationally during the first full week in May to highlight the devotion of educators as they equip students with the knowledge they'll need for the future. According to the National Education Association (NEA), Eleanor Roosevelt was the first to advocate for an official day celebrating the contributions of educators. In 1985, the NEA dedicated the entire first week of May to honoring teachers.  Highlighting his own appreciation and respect for their perspective, Smiddy hosted a Community Education Forum on May 4th to start a dialogue with educators, parents and administrators about the fight to preserve Illinois' great schools.
"As I talk with teachers at schools in my district, I'm struck by their dedication to helping students learn and succeed," Smiddy said. "To all the educators reading this, thank you for helping our children grow and inspiring them to be all they can be."
For more information or for ideas for thanking a teacher making a difference in your community, visit http://www.nea.org/grants/teacherday.html.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS - Friday 05/08/2015

 

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

A Simpler Time - Old and New - Furniture and More Owner, Tammy Allen (formerly Primitive Cottage) 510 N. Cody Road, LeClaire.  Hrs: Monday -Closed, Tues & Thur -10-2, Wed.-Fri -Sat -10-5, Sunday 12-4. 563-289-1223

Kitzman Chiropractic and Acupuncture - Dr. Jay Kitzman - 1101 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. Dedicated to helping people regain and maintain control of their health through a holistic approach. 563-289-2166 http://www.kitzmanwellnesscenter.com/

Foxtail Hair Lounge - Owner, Holly Kitzman -1101 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. We believe in giving our customers the utmost care all the way down to smallest details. Services for men, women and children including haircare, facials and more. 563-289-2441 http://www.foxtailhairlounge.com/

CHAMBER NEWSLETTER

The June 2015 Chamber Newsletter will soon be in production to be delivered to Every Business and Home within the 52753 zipcode area!! Advertising rates remain: 1/8 page: $75; ¼ page: $100; ½ page: $125; full page: $250. If you commit to all 4 quarterly issues, receive a 10% discount off each ad! Ads can be modified per issue. Just send your ad information to LeClaireChamber@gmail.com and we will forward it on to House of Print for you. No cost assistance in developing an advertisement is available through House of Print. If you would rather work with House of Print directly, send your ad to HouseofPrint@mchsi.com, and please copy LeClaireChamber@gmail.com Deadline Wednesday, May 13th, 5:00 p.m. Chamber Members - Get the word out about your business or events and be ready for SUMMER!

 

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENT

May 12th - Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill 5:30-7p.m. Everyone Welcome!

 

CALENDAR

May 8th - Trivia Night Fundraiser at Snow Lodge 44 113 S. Cody Rd. 6p.m. Venture Crew 212, a youth organization for 14-21 year olds based in LeClaire, is raising money for a mission trip to Lima, Peru to build houses for families who live in poverty surrounding this South American Mecca. Please join them for a General Knowledge but with a Hippie themed costume contest - just for the fun of it! There will be a silent auction, raffles, and door prizes. Snacks will be available for purchase, but you can bring your own, too. Doors open at 6pm; trivia starts at 6:30pm. $10 per person; 8 people per table. Please reserve your table today: Emily@hammersofiowa.com or crousefamily@windstream.net or 563-940-8923.

 

May 8th - Bierstube - Karaoke 9pm-1am. Special Late Night Menu until 1a.m.!

 

May 9th - If you pre-ordered plants from The First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire,you can pick them up from 7:30-11:30 am. Plant Sale and Bake Sale, including egg rolls and chicken-fried rice. 7;30-11:30 am. 200 South 12th Street. Join us as we worship on Sunday, at 10 am!

 

May 10th - For Mother's Day - Isabel Bloom's new Garden Bloom Flowers! Available in pink, purple, green, turquoise and yellow! Or surprise Mom with their Angel with Roses or Bella - new designs that make a perfect addition to any home, patio or garden!

 

May 10th- Bierstube Mother's Day Brunch 7am- 1pm. Lunch menu at 11am

Adults (13+)- $13.95. 6-12 years old- $7.95. Kids 5 and under FREE. Bottomless mimosas available for $8 during breakfast!

 

May 10th - The Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits Mother's Day Brunch - 10am & 12:30pm seating. Three courses for $35 per person. Call 563-289-4156 for reservations.

 

May 10th - Steventon's - Mother's Day Brunch 10am.m-2p.m Please for reservations; 563-289-3600.

 

May 11th - 6 Week Outdoor Bootcamp at El Rio! Unlimited sessions throughout the week with a variety of workout formats starting May 11th.  Pre & Post assessments and pictures included. $49 for members and $99 for non-members.  Call or stop in and schedule with Lisa at "El Rio Spa & Wellness". 1000 Stagecoach Trail, 563-289-1344.

 

May 12th - Chamber Networking Event - Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill 5:30-7p.m. Everyone Welcome!

 

May 16th - Registration open for the 2015 LIVEFIT WITH LUPUS Race & Festival www.livefitwithlupus.org/ Click on 'Register Now' and select between the 1/2 Marathon, the new 10k race, the 5k or the Kids 1 Mile Fun Run! Sign up now to get the early bird rates.

 

May 16th - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center 127 S. Cody Road. Doors open at 6:30pm; Trivia starts at 7pm. 8-person teams; $10 per person. Everyone will be entered into a drawing for door prizes. Mulligans are 10 for $10. Each team may bring its own snacks, beer, wine, and soft drinks. Proceeds to benefit the LeClaire 4H Clovers. Call Debbie at 563-349-4403 or email Smith5Grand@gmail.com to reserve a table.

 

May 16th - Sketch & Improv Comedy Show - Princeton Community Center - 7:30p.m. Adult humor - ages 18+ only. Pre-Party and Post-Party at Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill. Tickets $20 online www.princtonplayers.org

 

May 18th - Economic Development Meeting City Hall 8:00a.m.

 

May 22nd - Bierstube Karaoke 9pm-1am. Special Late Night Menu until 1a.m.!

 

May 26th - An Afternoon of Euchre at the Princeton Community Center. Meet at 11:30 to order lunch from Go Fish! or just arrive by 12:45 for Euchre. Coffee and dessert provided. We play until 3:00p.m.  Bonnie Sparks-Gray 563-332-5951 for more information. Sponsored by Zion Lutheran Church and others.

 

SAVE THE DATE

 

June 5th - First Friday in LeClaire - 5-8p.m.

 

June 5th-6th - City Wide Garage Sales

Go to http://www.visitleclaire.com/garage_sale_signup.html by May 22 to list your garage sale. Garage Sale Guides will be available online at www.visitleclaire.com, at the LeClaire Information Center (122 N. Cody Road), LeClaire Community Library, and LeClaire City Hall by May 31st.

 

June 13th - Kid Picker's Flea Market More information to come. Rain date is June 14.

 

June 13th-21st - Buffalo Bill Museum is participating in Quad Cities' Museum Week. www.qcmuseumweek.com 199 N. Front Street, LeClaire, www.buffalobillmuseumleclaire.com Phone 563-289-5580.

 

June 12th - Bierstube - Karaoke 9pm-1am. Special Late Night Menu until 1a.m.!

 

June 20th - All You Need Is Love Music Festival LeClaire Pavilion and several downtown businesses - Live Music and more!

 

June 21st - Bierstube Father's Day Brunch 7am- 1pm. Lunch menu at 11am

Adults (13+)- $13.95.  6-12 years old- $7.95. Kids 5 and under FREE

Bottomless mimosas available for $8 during breakfast!

 

June 26th - Bierstube - Karaoke 9pm-1am Special Late Night Menu until 1a.m.!

 

June 27th - French Market Day

 

FYI

 

Bierstube New Summer Kitchen hours:

Sun- 7am-10pm

Mon-Thurs 1030am- 10pm

Also, our sausages to go for the Farmers Market are now 6 for $6 instead of a lb for $5.50.

 

Jones St. Java House has fresh, tasty wraps for lunch in addition to morning pastries, coffee, tea, and other beverages.

Go Fish Marina Bar & Grill Summer Dinner Specials have started! Monday: Burger Baskets Tuesday: Tacos - Wednesday: 50 cent Wings - Thursday: BBQ Ribs - All day Sunday: Jumbo Peel 'n Eat Shrimp

Princeton Community Center The fourth Wednesday of each month through October we will have An Afternoon of Euchre beginning around 12:30 p.m.  Anyone interested in lunch can meet at 11:30 a.m. and we will order from Go Fish (lunch is on their own) and have it delivered to the Center with Euchre to start after that. Zion Lutheran co-sponsors the event.  There will be coffee and dessert included.  There will be no fee to play, just enjoy a fun afternoon near the Mississippi.

 

Faithful Pilot - April, May, June, July, and August

Mondays - Half Priced Martini's

Tuesdays - Tequila Tuesday $5.00 unique, and interesting tequila cocktails for $5.00

Wednesday - Half Priced Bottle of Wine Night

Thursday - $1.00 Oysters & Buckets of Beer on the patio

Saturday - Saturday Brunch 11-2 - yes Brunch is back at The Pilot on Saturdays!

Sunday - reserved for wine tastings and private events.

 

Join Crane & Pelican Café every Thursday evening from 5-9pm for Sliders & Suds. For $10, you get three gourmet sliders with their house made chips, and for $5 you get three 8 oz. sample pours of beer!

 

The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation will host its first fundraising event with the Inaugural Paul Lensmeyer Golf Outing on Sept. 28, 2015 at the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club. The event will include a four-person scramble, box lunch and awards reception following the golf outing. Register now by visiting following the golf outing link on the foundation website located at www.ascentra.org/foundation.  Following the link, people can register to golf and companies may also partake in special sponsorship opportunities are still available. For more information, please contact Event Coordinator Ally Herr at 563-344-2279 or email mktg@ascentra.org.

 

Visit the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce website www.leclairechamber.com and see us on Facebook!

 

If you would like to attend a Chamber Board Meeting in order to present a topic, please contact the Board in advance at LeClaireChamber@gmail.com in order to be included an upcoming agenda. Board Meetings are held the 4th Tuesday of each month, 8a.m. at LeClaire City Hall.

 

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

 

First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire Wednesday evening program: Halftime! For kids, 5-11 years old. It's half way through the week - and it's a time of fun for the kids. We meet from 5:30-7pm, every Wednesday - there is school, through May 6. We serve dinner, play games, have a lesson and a craft. Have your child join us for a week or two to see what we are doing. We are located across from Bridgeview Elementary School, at 200 South 12th street. For more information, call Pastor Melody at 563-381-7777.

 

Pick up the new LeClaire information guide at the LeClaire Information Center. It has many photos and great information for everyone including residents, potential residents, visitors, realtors, relocation personnel, schools, and more! Summer hours have started: Monday-Saturday 10am-4pm; Sunday 1-4pm. 122 N. Cody Road. LIC Volunteers Needed! Contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963 to volunteer.

 

PROPERTY LISTINGS

 

Riverview Apartment for Rent - Downtown LeClaire. One Bedroom. $1250/month. Call 563-940-3742 for more information.

Commercial Property for Sale 613-617 N Cody Road, LeClaire IA 52753. Contact Jeff R. Heuer, NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, jheuer@ruhlcommercial.com, Office: 563-355-4000, Direct: 563-823-5107.

Commercial Property for Sale Cody Road, LeClaire IA 52753. Description: contact John G. Ruhl, NAI Ruhl Commercial Company, jruhl@ruhlcommercial.com, Office: 563-355-4000, Direct: 563-823-5126.

Commercial Property Available Eagle Ridge Road, LeClaire, Iowa. Please call: Mike Burke - Mel Foster Co. mburke@melforsterco.com, Mobile: 563-349-2705, Direct: 563-823-5272

Do you have Residential or Commercial property available? Please contact the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce, leclairechamber@gmail.com, with a property description, complete contact information including phone numbers and rental or purchase pricing.

 

LECLAIRE EVENTS COMING UP!

May 16th - Cars & Coffee - LeClaire Levee

June 5th-6th - City Wide Garage Sales

June 13th - Kid Picker's Flea Market (rain date, June 14th)

June 20th - All You Need Is Love Music Festival

June 27th - French Market Day

Tug Fest - August 13-15

 

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS - EVERYONE WELCOME!

May 12th - Go Fish - Evening - 5:30-7p.m.

June 9th - Big Dave and Holly's - Lunch - noon

July 14th - Blue Iguana - Lunch - noon

Camp Courageous will hold the 28th annual "Cruisin' for Camp Courageous" on Sunday May17, 2015 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Presented by the Cedar Valley Street Rods, it is one of Iowa's largest charity Car Shows featuring hundreds of show cars, race cars, motorcycles and trucks. Located at Camp Courageous just southeast of Monticello IA, this is a family event with a large silent and live auction, food, music, and a huge craft show. The Poker Walk is back with prizes for drawing the best hands.  Pin striping demonstrations will be available and kids will love the games, prizes, and camp's bouncy house! Also, the Camp Courageous train will be on the track to offer rides for all ages. Car enthusiasts from everywhere will want to attend this event with all proceeds going to Camp Courageous.
Pre-registration is open until May 12th for $10 per vehicle.  Registration after that date and the day of the show is $15.  Cars registration on the day of the event runs from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.  Participating cars receive 2 passes for the show.
Admission is $5.00 for adults. Children 12 and under are free when accompanied by an adult. This fee will admit you to all events including the car show, entertainment, and much more. Free parking is available.
Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational facility for individuals with special needs, serving nearly 7,000 in 2014. It is run on donations, without government assistance, formal sponsorship, or paid fundraisers. Camp Courageous is located at 12007 190th Street, Monticello, IA 52310. From US Highway 151, take exit 65 and follow the signs. The camp is located about five miles south-west of Monticello.
Camp Courageous™ is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization run on donations.
PO Box 418, 12007 190th St, Monticello IA 52310-0418 • 319-465-5916

BATON ROUGE, LA (05/07/2015)(readMedia)-- The following local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

Katie Noble of Bettendorf was initiated at Carroll University

Benjamin Wyant of Coal Valley was initiated at Western Illinois University

These residents are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

More About Phi Kappa Phi

Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.

Community invited to enjoy an afternoon of 1920's jazz entertainment
DAVENPORT, IA (May 7 2015) - Senior Star at Elmore Place is pleased to invite the Quad Cities community to its annual Spring Fling from 1:30 to 3 p.m. on Monday, May 18 at 4502 Elmore Avenue, Davenport.  Entertainment will be provided by local jazz artist Josh Duffee.
Regarded as one of the world's greatest 1920's style percussionist, Duffee brings his jazz quartet to Senior Star at Elmore Place for an entertaining afternoon of 1920's jazz music and dancing.  Duffee performs internationally with his various bands and also locally, at the Hotel Blackhawk in downtown Davenport every Sunday morning for their acclaimed jazz brunch.
"We welcome the opportunity to share this afternoon jazz dessert party with our friends and neighbors," said Marc Strohschein, executive director of Senior Star at Elmore Place.  "Presenting local artists and musicians is a great way to feature the tremendous talents in the Quad Cities," he added.
Seating is limited for this popular and free event so please RSVP no later than May 15 by calling 563.359.0100.
For more information about Senior Star at Elmore Place or to schedule a tour, call 563.359.0100 or visit the website at www.seniorstar.com.
About Senior Star at Elmore Place
Senior Star at Elmore Place, a Senior Star community, features 236 modernly decorated apartments spanning across 20 acres of beautifully landscaped property with many customized amenities to offer its residents three distinctive living experiences:  independent living, assisted living and memory care.  For more information, visit www.seniorstar.com.
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'100 Years, 100 Cellos' Project to Support the Music Education Programs of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra

IA/IL QUAD-CITIES - To raise awareness of the 100th Anniversary of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra (QCSO) and funds to support its Music Education programs, the 100 Years, 100 Cellos program of the Volunteers for Symphony (VFS) is now underway. One-hundred full-size cellos were transformed into beautiful works of art by artists from the Quad-City area and beyond. All funds raised from sponsorship and auctions of the cellos will benefit the QCSO and its education programs.

The 100 cellos used for the "100 Years, 100 Cellos" campaign arrived Feb. 6, 2015, at Asbury Methodist United Church in Bettendorf, IA, and from there they were distributed to the artists. Ninety of the final decorated cellos are being displayed throughout the Quad Cities at indoor locations selected by their sponsors from March to mid-May. Each cello is labeled, stating its art title, the name of its artist, and sponsor.

"The painted cellos displayed around the community make a beautiful statement about the link between the visual and audio arts," said Benjamin Loeb, Executive Director of the QCSO. "They bring a powerful general awareness of the arts in the Quad Cities."

According to Loeb, the QCSO's 100th Anniversary Masterworks Season opened with a spectacular appearance by acclaimed pianist André Watts and will end with an epic performance of Beethoven's glorious Symphony #9: Ode to Joy. "The 100 Years, 100 Cellos project will capitalize on the excitement of our 100th Anniversary Season to the benefit of our Music Education programs," he said.

"The Volunteers for Symphony is heading up the 100 Years, 100 Cellos project," said Laurie Skjerseth, who with Mary Kae Waytenick serve as Co-Presidents of the VFS. "Several exciting events will be taking place, and we invite the community to take part in this fantastic collaboration of the art world meeting the music world."

Waytenick and Skjerseth are both past music educators who believe in the importance of music education shaping a child's life. They see the 100 Years, 100 Cellos project as a source of funds that will anchor the music outreach program of the QCSO for many years to come.

"A collaboration between musicians and artists is not that uncommon, but the scope of this project is both mind-boggling and attention-grabbing," said Waytenick. "These artists are painting and using other techniques to create their visual representation of that cello. This could be, for example, its distinctive sound or its role in the orchestra. I'm calling this entire event a 'cello-bration.' Laurie and I are grateful that we have over 100 members in the Volunteers for Symphony. We are using every one of them to pull this project together."

QCSO Music Education Programs

The funds raised from this initiative will help support QCSO music education programs. These include School Engagement classroom visits, Symphony Day, Students@Symphony, Instruments for Kids, and the QC Symphony Youth Ensembles (QCSYEs). "Music education is a central part of the QCSO mission, and 100 Years, 100 Cellos will help us greatly expand our positive impact and eventually grow the audiences and patrons of the future," Loeb said.

Sponsors were offered the opportunity to decorate their individual cellos and to decide where they will be placed. "We compiled a list of artists, art educators and art students willing to volunteer their services to decorate a sponsored cello," Loeb said. "All cellos will be featured in a beautiful, collector's quality commemorative 100 Years, 100 Cellos book."

All of these efforts will culminate in a ticketed event at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, IA, on May 29, 2015, the actual 100th Anniversary of the QCSO. At this event, attendees will enjoy a display of all 100 painted and decorated cellos.

For more information on the 100th Anniversary Season, visit https://qcso.org/concerts. Performance tickets are available at the QCSO Box Office at 327 Brady St., Davenport. You can also call the QCSO for more information at (563) 322-7276 or visit www.qcso.org.

-- End --

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Describing the National Security Agency's (NSA) domestic spying program that collects data about virtually all telephone calls made in the United States as "staggering" in its scope and unauthorized by the Patriot Act, a federal appeals court has struck down the agency's surveillance program, ruling that the program violates a federal law authorizing more limited investigations in support of national security. The unanimous decision in ACLU v. Clapper vacated a ruling upholding the NSA's bulk collection of telephone metadata, which has continued since 2006, and instructed the lower court to consider whether to order the government to stop the surveillance. The Rutherford Institute filed an amicus curiae brief in the case likening the program to the abusive colonial-era general warrants and writs of assistance which prompted the Framers of the U.S. Constitution to adopt the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches and seizures.

The opinion and The Rutherford Institute's brief in ACLU v. Clapper are available at www.rutherford.org.

"James Madison, who was one of the primary drafters of our Constitution, once warned that we should take alarm at the first experiment with our liberties," stated John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. "While it is heartening that at least some Americans are starting to heed Madison's warning, this ruling doesn't alter the fact that the government not only views the citizenry as suspects but treats them as suspects, as well. The fact that the NSA is routinely operating outside of the law and overstepping its legal authority by carrying out surveillance on American citizens is a result of giving the government broad powers and allowing government agencies to routinely sidestep the Constitution."

In the weeks after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the NSA began a program of collecting telephone call records in bulk. After continuing the program without judicial authorization, in 2006, the government sought and obtained authorization from the FISC, a special court established to consider government applications for surveillance of foreign agents and which conducts its activities largely in secret. The 2006 order, which has been renewed several times since, allows the NSA to collect "telephone metadata," which includes the telephone numbers placing and receiving the call, the date, time and duration of the call, and other session-identifying information, and applies to every call placed or received within the United States. The government retains this information and has the ability to conduct computer analysis to determine patterns of behavior that can reveal personal information about citizens. The program remained secret until June 2013 when information leaked by former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was made public. That same month, the American Civil Liberties Union and affiliated entities filed a lawsuit alleging that the program violated statutory restrictions imposed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and the Fourth Amendment.

In December 2013, a federal district court in New York rejected the legal challenge to the government's surveillance and upheld the program, ruling that because telephone users "voluntarily" disclose information to telephone companies, the collection of information by the government does not constitute an illegal search. In weighing in on the case, The Rutherford Institute argues that "the bulk metadata collection order is no different from the abusive general warrants colonies suffered under and which were intended to be outlawed with the adoption of the Bill of Rights." Institute attorneys have asked the court to reverse the lower court decision on the grounds that it runs headlong against the principles and purposes that were the foundation for the adoption of Bill of Rights prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures.

This press release is also available at www.rutherford.org.

How Women Can Protect Their Bodies During Pregnancy

Many of us have been led to believe a piece of conventional "wisdom" that is taking a significant toll on our health - especially on women and children, says Robert Thompson, M.D., an OB/GYN and integrative medicine specialist.

The conventional wisdom, more accurately described as ignorance, is that we need an abundance of prescription drugs and vitamin supplements, including calcium, to have strong bones and overall good health.

"Bones are composed of at least a dozen minerals and we need all of them in perfect proportions in order to have healthy bones and healthy bodies," says Thompson, author of "The Calcium Lie II: What Your Doctor Still Doesn't Know," (www.calciumliebook.com). The new book, coauthored by health journalist Kathleen Barnes, details the roles minerals play in overall health and how to identify and correct deficiencies and imbalances.

"Osteoporosis is caused by a loss of minerals from the bones, not just calcium, and we cannot possibly replace minerals with calcium alone, which hardens concrete!"

Consuming too much calcium, through food sources or by taking supplements, set up individuals for an array of negative health consequences, including obesity, Type 2 diabetes, Type 2 hypothyroidism, hypertension, depression, problem pregnancies, dementia, heart disease, kidney stones, gallstones and more.

Mineral deficiencies are at the root of a host of health problems. Using flavor-of-the-month drugs or vitamins compounds the problem. Thompson reviews how this affects women, children and women who are experiencing menopause, and what they can do about it.

•  The mineral cost of pregnancy ... Women become very vigilant about their health during pregnancy, because they know it affects their babies. Although there are a lot of differences of opinion in the general public on what is best, it is a known fact that pregnant women lose about 10 percent of their total mineral supply to their babies. So, while pregnant, the average woman loses nearly four pounds of minerals to her baby with each pregnancy.

•  Don't underestimate the long-term benefit of using unrefined sea salt. Skilled and experienced farmers know that unrefined sea salt is essential to the health of his or her animals. For more than 50 years, farmers have known that sea salt, or rock salt, is essential for their stock to remain healthy and to breed without birth defects. While we're not farm mammals, all mammals do have similar physiology. It follows that unrefined salt, which is the best source of sodium and ionic minerals, may have similar benefits for pregnant women and their children.

"I want to emphasize that this is a long-term benefit," Thompson says. "Minerals gained from using unrefined sea salt - which yields 15 percent trace ionic minerals - should have similar benefits for human pregnancy in helping to prevent birth defects and miscarriage."

•  The problems women experience with menopause. It's estimated that up to 40 percent of perimenopausal (nearly menopausal) women have low thyroid function that adds to their symptoms when their hormones begin to fluctuate, "but I believe this is far too conservative of a figure," Thompson says. "More realistically, it's near 90 percent or more, and hypothyroidism is probably near 95 percent, especially if a woman is more than 20 percent above her ideal body weight. In addition to hypothyroidism, excessive calcium contributes to dementia and other menopausal problems." To be clear, excess calcium, usually from supplementation and fortification in foods leads to these problems.

•  Consider bioidentical hormones. There is overwhelming biological evidence that bioidentical hormone replacement is not only natural and safe, but it also improves the quality of life and reduces breast cancer incidence, heart disease, stroke, dementia, osteoporosis, high cholesterol and nearly all known chronic illness associated with aging. Balanced physiologic transmucosal bioidentical hormone replacement is the specific method to consider.

About Robert Thompson, M.D.

Dr. Robert Thompson is a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, and a nutrition specialist who helps patients get long-term relief from chronic disease, including obesity, diabetes, hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. His newest book, "The Calcium Lie II," is available for free at www.calciumliebook.com. Dr. Thompson received his medical training at the University of Kentucky and has been a leader in medical advances for more than 30 years.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (May 7, 2015) - Two new antenna prototypes are the first to be developed using a special class of thin film material which allows them to alter their shape using temperature and radiate at varying frequencies within the popular GHz range. A single reconfigurable antenna could replace two or more traditional antennas, including those in cell phones, Wi-Fi and numerous military devices.

The revolutionary new antennas developed at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, in collaboration with Michigan State University, were documented in the IEEE Antennas and Wireless Propagation Letters in February. They are made by integrating vanadium dioxide thin films, a type of "phase-change" material, meaning it is an insulator at room temperature and becomes metal when heated above 68 degrees Celsius. The heating-cooling cycle is repeatable and the phase-change is reversible.

Principal investigator and renowned expert Dimitris Anagnostou, Ph.D., of the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, led the research with his graduate student Tarron Teeslink, collaborating with Nelson Sepulveda, Ph.D., and his student David Torres, from Michigan State University.

Anagnostou, associate professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, has been working on reconfigurable and tunable antennas for the past 15 years. Common methods to date have resulted in non-linearities, high losses, expensive fabrication equipment and often complicated biasing mechanisms.

His exploration of vanadium dioxide has shown the material can be used in linear devices, has minimal losses and can be activated using a variety of heat transfer methods.

Linear devices for radio-frequency communications applications involve usually passive components such as antennas and (microwave) filters, as well as resistors, capacitors and inductors.

Often antennas are tuned or reconfigured using non-linear components such as diodes, but these distort the electrical signals, especially over a wide range of frequencies. Vanadium dioxide is a linear material, meaning it affects all radio frequencies by the same amount causing no distortion, and is therefore suitable for narrowband and wideband tuning.

Vanadium dioxide was investigated as far back as 1959, when an article described the insulator-to-metal transition at approximately 68 degrees Celsius. Since then, it has been almost neglected, as the need for reconfigurable components, wireless communications and antennas was not as significant, Anagnostou said.

In the past decade vanadium dioxide has received widespread attention from researchers due to its properties for applications spanning from information storage to stronger artificial muscles and missile guidance.

This is the only known success achieving reconfigurability by altering the antenna's geometry with the special class of material. Several other universities are currently working in the area, indicating the strong scientific interest in this area.

"The novelty lies in obtaining the know-how of the integration and application of the material in antennas in the GHz range. There are still many things to learn. These prototype antennas prove the material is capable for use and should be further investigated," Anagnostou said, adding the material can find application in general antenna and microwave component design but ultimately has the potential for many military uses. "Our ongoing experiments in using the material for cloaking and thermal camouflage are also very encouraging," he said.

The National Science Foundation funded the work over three years as a collaborative proposal between South Dakota Mines and Michigan State University. While Anagnostou and Teeslink did the design and characterization at SD Mines, Michigan State researchers fabricated the antennas at the clean room of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.

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Jordan Catholic School's Builders Club (middle school partner to Rock Island Kiwanis club) will present a check for $500 to Paws for Noah. Noah and his grandmother Betty will be at Jordan Catholic School, 2901 24th Street, Rock Island, on Friday May 8th (tomorrow morning) at 9:00am to accept the donation.

The 7th and 8th grade students have collected the money throughout the school year through fundraisers like a cheese sale and a pancake breakfast.

Eighth grade student and Builders Club president Emma Beardsley along with the other club members will present the check.

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