10 Apr 2015

LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Friday Announcements - 04/10/2015

By LeClaire Chamber of Commerce

RIBBON CUTTINGS!

April 11th - Unique Creations & Gifts Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting - 10:00 a.m. Grand Opening April 10-12. We will be giving away several gift baskets and of course a couple of our unique chalk boards! 118 N. Cody Road, LeClaire. Everyone welcome!

April 23rd - Mindfire Communications - Ribbon Cutting - 11:30 a.m. Come see the beautiful new location! 126 S. Cody Road, LeClaire.

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENT

April 14th - Chamber Networking Event - El Rio Spa and Wellness Lunch, noon. A representative from the LeClaire Police Department will give a presentation on "Safety".  Everyone Welcome!

CALENDAR

April 11th - Unique Creations & Gifts Grand Opening - Ribbon Cutting - 10:00 a.m. Grand Opening April 10-12. We will be giving away several gift baskets and of course a couple of our unique chalk boards! 118 N. Cody Road, LeClaire. Everyone welcome!

April 11th - LeClaire Community Library Edible Book Contest 11a.m.-1pm to kick off National Library Week. http://www.leclaire.lib.ia.us/adultser.../edible-books-contest

April 11th - Turpentine Wine performing at Antique Archaeology 1-2p.m. 115-1/2 Davenport Street.

April 11th - Trivia night to raise money for the River Valley Optimists' Club (RVOC). 6:30p.m. Gather friends, bring snacks and drinks to the LeClaire Civic Center, 127 S. Cody Road. 50/50 raffle, Mulligans and door prizes. Doors open at 6:30 and trivia will start at 7:00pm. Cost is $10 per person with a $50 minimum per table (up to 8 people per table). All proceeds go towards the RVOC programs for children in the community. Message them here to reserve a table: https://www.facebook.com/events/798739273514369/

April 11th - Turpentine Wine performing at Bierstube, 8p.m.1001 Canal Shore Dr. SW.

April 14th - Chamber Networking Event - El Rio Spa and Wellness Lunch, noon. A representative from the LeClaire Police Department will give a presentation on "Safety".  Everyone Welcome!

 

April 15th - The Friends of the Library Annual Spelling Bee 6pm. This year's event will be taking place at City Hall (325 Wisconsin Street) to make more room for participants and their families.

 

April 18th - Blue Iguana will be open early at 10:00 am for Cars & Coffee.

 

April 18th - "Wine Hop" in Downtown LeClaire 4-6pm Enjoy samples of wine and/or food at Isabel Bloom with Steventon's, Faithful Pilot, Wide River Winery, LeClaire Information Center with Bierstube, 129, Blue Iguana and Grasshoppers. No advance ticket sales. Start at the LeClaire Information Center, 122 N. Cody Road. $20 gets you a souvenir wine glass and sampling. Proceeds to benefit Christmas in LeClaire.

April 18th - 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 Riverfront Farmer's Market. Call Debbie at 563-349-4403 or email Smith5Grand@gmail.com to reserve a table.

April 22nd - LeClaire Community Library - Adults Book Club 'My Name is Mary Sutter' by Robin Oliveira.

April 23rd - Mindfire Communications - Ribbon Cutting - 11:30 a.m. Come see the beautiful new location! 126 S. Cody Road, LeClaire.

 

April 24th-25th - 5th Annual LeClaire Girls' Getaway Weekend! Grab your gal-pals and get registered for the "5th Annual LeClaire Girls' Getaway Weekend". The event includes a style show featuring fashions from LeClaire shops and dinner at the award-winning Steventon's Restaurant overlooking the Mississippi River. Aubrey Jackson from KWQC and Paula Sands Live will be the evening's emcee. $50 per person includes Dinner, Style Show, Door Prizes, Special Offers and Demonstrations from participating LeClaire Shops. A portion of the ticket proceeds will go to "Winnie's Place", helping women in need in the Quad Cities. This event is limited to 125 participants, so make your reservations today! El Rio Spa and Wellness, a new spa offering ultimate relaxation and wellness, is coordinating the event this year. Other participating businesses and sponsors include Artswork, Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium, Bierstube, Blackhawk Bank & Trust, Dwellings, Everfield, The Faithful Pilot Café & Spirits, First Central State Bank, Grasshopper's, Happy Joe's Pizza & Ice Cream, Isabel Bloom, LeClaire Canning Company, LeClaire Chamber of Commerce, LeClaire Olive Oil Co., Mississippi River Distilling Company, Razzleberries, Reusable Usables, Steventon's, Style with P.M. Interiors, Unique Creations & Gifts (10% off purchase), Vignette's, Wide River Winery, and Wild Horse Canvas Prints.   There will also be plenty of time to shop in the unique stores in downtown LeClaire, catch a demo on window coverings at Style with P.M. Interiors, tour the Mississippi River Distilling Company, enjoy wine tastings at Wide River Winery and Grasshoppers, get creative with a fun re-purposed craft class at Reusable Usables, and much more. Complete details and registration can be found at www.leclairegirlsgetaway.com or visit www.visitleclaire.com, or call 563-289-4242 x61135 • info@visitleclaire.com

April 24th - Steventons will be closed to the General Public to kick off the Girls Getaway Weekend with a special dinner and style show.

April 26th - Faithful Pilot - Blind Wine Tasting $15.00 for 15 wines from 3:00-5:00.  A Blind Tasting where the better you taste the wine, and guess the grape you get a better chance at wining prizes!

 

April 27th - Economic Development Meeting City Hall, 8:00a.m.

SAVE THE DATE

 

May 1st - First Friday in LeClaire

 

FYI

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 and Thrivent Financial are co-sponsors of the event.  There will be coffee and dessert included.  There will be no fee to play, just enjoy a fun afternoon near the Mississippi.

 

LeClaire Community Library Teen Advisory Group (TAG): Join our Youth Services Coordinator every 3rd Thursday of the month from 4-5pm for TAG. Help make the library improve their services and programs for teens AND earn service learning credits for school. Email Emily Arnold at eaarnold@leclaireiowa.gov for more details.

 

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.

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.

LeClaire Information Center Volunteers Needed! Contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963 to volunteer.

PROPERTY LISTINGS

House for Rent - LeClaire 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, nice kitchen, dining, living and great neighbors! No garage, off street parking. Water/sewer paid. $1100/month plus deposit. PV Schools. Available Mid-April 2015. Call Sherry - 563-210-5754

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!

April 18th - Cars and Coffee on the Levee

April 18th - LeClaire Wine Hop!

April 24th-25th - Girls' Getaway Weekend!

June 5th-6th - City Wide Garage Sales

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS - EVERYONE WELCOME!

April 14th - El Rio - Lunch - noon

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

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

10 Apr 2015

COMER, BANDITS SHUT DOWN CHIEFS IN COMEBACK WIN

By Marco LaNave
Quad Cities capitalizes on seven walks to erase early 3-1 deficit and spoil Peoria's home opener

PEORIA, Ill. (April 9, 2015) - Designated hitter Sean McMullen homered and drove in three runs, first baseman Jamie Ritchie had a team-high two hits and an RBI on his 22nd birthday, and right-hander Kevin Comer pitched four hitless relief innings to help the Quad Cities River Bandits win a 7-3 season opener over the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park Thursday night.

After trailing 3-1 through the first three innings, Quad Cities scored once in the fourth and two unearned runs in the fifth to take the lead for good. All nine spots in the team's batting order had at least a run or a hit, with seven players having hits, and seven scoring a run. Center fielder Derek Fisher drew three of the team's seven walks against five Peoria pitchers.

Each team missed an early scoring opportunity. River Bandits left fielder Bobby Boyd led off the season by hustling out a double to left-center field against Chiefs right-hander Jack Flaherty. Second baseman Mott Hyde had a foul-bunt strikeout, and Fisher walked. Boyd was thrown out trying to steal third base by catcher Steve Bean. Third baseman Nick Tanielu reached when shortstop Oscar Mercado dropped a popup, putting Fisher at third base and Tanielu at first. But Bean threw out Tanielu trying to steal to end the inning with no runs.

In Peoria's half of the second inning against left-hander Chris Lee, designated hitter Nick Thompson drew a leadoff walk and Hyde mishandled a grounder by right fielder Collin Radack. Bean bunted into a fielder's choice that put runners at first and third, but Lee got first baseman Alex DeLeon to ground out to Hyde, who started an inning-ending double play to keep the game scoreless.

The River Bandits took the game's first lead in the third inning. Third baseman Kristian Trompiz led off with a sinking blooper that evaded Chiefs left fielder Blake Drake. After left fielder Bobby Boyd's sacrifice moved Trompiz to third base, right-hander Jack Flaherty struck out shortstop Mott Hyde but then threw a pitch in the dirt to Fisher, allowing Trompiz to score the season's first run.

In the bottom of the third, Drake led off by striking out but reahing first base on a wild pitch. Second baseman Darren Seferina lined a single to right field, and center fielder Magneuris Sierra hit a game-tying single to left field. Seferina scored the go-ahead run on a groundout by third baseman Danny Diekroeger, and Sierra scored on Thompson's single to right-center field for a 3-1 Peoria lead.

Flaherty allowed one run on two hits with three walks and three strikeouts but came out after warm-up pitches in the fourth inning and was replaced by right-hander Will Anderson. Ritchie then grounded a leadoff double down the first-base line, went to third base on right fielder Ryan Bottger's single and scored on McMullen's sacrifice fly to center field. In the bottom of the inning, Lee escaped a bases-loaded jam when Sierra popped out to catcher Jacob Nottingham. Lee allowed three earned runs on four hits and three walks in a four-inning start.

In the pivotal top of the fifth inning, Chiefs right-hander Fernando Baez walked Boyd, Mercado made an errant throw to second base on a fielder's choice, and Fisher walked to load the bases. Hernandez hit a game-tying sacrifice fly before Ritchie walked to load the bases. Bottger struck out before Nottingham was hit in the back by a 2-2 curve ball to force in a run and give Quad Cities a 4-3 lead.

Comer began the fifth inning and retired the first 11 batters he faced, only allowing one baserunner when he hit Thompson with a pitch in the eighth. The lead grew with McMullen hitting a two-run home run to right field off right-hander Zach Loraine in the eighth inning and Fisher, Hernandez and Ritchie hitting three consecutive singles in the ninth inning. River Bandits right-hander Ryan Thompson allowed one hit in a scoreless ninth inning to finish the victory.

The River Bandits continue their opening series in Peoria at 7 p.m. Thursday. Left-hander Bryan Radziewski faces Chiefs left-hander Austin Gomber. Pregame is at 6:45 p.m. on Real Country AM 1170 KBOB, 1170kbob.com and www.riverbandits.com.

UP NEXT: The third annual Bandits Race to Home 5K presented by Palmer Chiropractic Clinics is at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 11. Registration remains open at riverbandits.com/5k through Friday. The post-race party will have live music, free bounce houses, games and food in the Party Plaza. All proceeds benefit the Bandit Scholars Program. Opening Day is Sunday, April 12, at Modern Woodmen Park! 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: 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! A new Ferris wheel, standing 105 feet over the playing field, opened May 24, Space Camp opened June 20; the new Drop'N Twist debuted in July; and the newly expanded 300-foot long zip line also reopened.

*****

10 Apr 2015

RECORD STORE DAY , SATURDAY , APRIL 18TH, 2015.

By Bob Herington

Ragged Records, located at 418 East 2nd Street, Davenport , Iowa will be open from 9am to 5pm.

Record Store Day is a national event held once a year on the third Saturday of April.  For one day only, over 400 limited-edition titles will be released, on LP, EP, 45 and box set.

A complete list of titles is available at recordstoreday.com

Ragged Records, as usual, will have painstakingly searched out  as much of the Record Store Day's  titles as possible.

Ragged Records will have live entertainment all day including:  Seth Knappen (indie rock from the Quad Cities), Jack Lion (fusion/rhythm & blues from Iowa City), OnYou (post-punk/psych from Chicago),  Owen (indie rock from Chicago), Ice Hockey (screamo from the Quad Cities), and LiL iFFy (wizardcore/hip hop from Knoxville, Tennessee).

DJ sets from Mr. Daytrotter Sean Moeller,  Pat Stolley of Future Apple Tree Too Studios and the DJ's of Just Let Go.

The first 80 people to purchase Record Store Day items receive a Record Store Day goody bag.

Ragged Records will also have 20% off all used merchandise - including records, CD's, stereo equipment, and more.

Trash Can Annie vintage clothing (located next to Ragged Records) will have 50% off all used clothing and merchandise.

Ragged Records will be hosting a FREE Record Store Day after-party at Rozz-tox, located at 2108 3rd Avenue, Rock Island, Illinois  from 8:00 PM - 1:00 AM.  It will feature a repeat performance from LiL iFFy, iconic 1980's Boston garage rockers The Lyres, and a special record/dance party with the DJ's of Just Let Go.

For more information, please call Ragged Records at 563/324-3579, during store hours (Monday thru Saturday, 10am to 5pm), or follow us on Facebook.
10 Apr 2015

Celebrate National Library Week with local history, money-saving programs

By Lisa Lockheart
When you begin at the Rock Island Library, you open up worlds of unlimited possibilities. And conveniently enough, that's also the nationwide theme for National Library Week, April 12-18, 2015.  Follow the stories below for a look at the wonderful possibilities for learning and personal enrichment next week: 

Monday: Read with Rover, and a special history program on a World War I flying ace from Illinois, Howard Knotts. 

Tuesday: Toddler Tales at 30/31, and a wonderful Spring craft just right for families at Southwest. 

Wednesday: Toddler Tales and LEGO time at Southwest, a Children's Make-It Craft on marshmallow engineering at Main, and another special local history program, this one on the history of the Rock Island Library. 

Thursday: Teen Superhero Night at Main.

Friday: Toddler Tales at Main.

Saturday: The kick-off to Money Smart Week, with a free Community Shred Day event at Main. Plus, a second chance to make a colorful kite wall hanging at Southwest.

Check it all out on our website calendar!
10 Apr 2015

Saint Mary's College Fall 2014 Dean's List

By Gwen O'Brien

NOTRE DAME, IN (04/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Saint Mary's College announces the Fall 2014 Dean's List. A student must achieve a semester grade point average of at least 3.6 on a 4.0 scale with at least 12 graded credit hours to earn academic honors at Saint Mary's.

Rachel Moore of Davenport (52807)

Caitlin Poster of Davenport (52807)

About Saint Mary's College: Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame, Ind., is a four-year, Catholic, residential, women's liberal arts college offering five bachelor's degrees and more than 30 major areas of study, such as business, nursing, art, chemistry, and social work. By the fall of 2015 Saint Mary's College will offer two graduate degrees: a Master of Science and a Doctorate. All programs that fall under these degrees are co-educational and include a Master of Science in Data Science, a Master of Science in Speech Pathology, and a Doctorate of Nursing Practice. Founded in 1844 by the Sisters of the Holy Cross, Saint Mary's College's mission is to educate students, develop their talents, and prepare them to make a difference in the world. Saint Mary's College ranks among the top 100 Best National Liberal Arts Colleges for 2015 published by U.S. News & World Report

09 Apr 2015

Illinois Soldiers compete for title of Best Warrior

By Illinois National Guard Public Affairs Office

Illinois Soldiers compete for title of Best Warrior

Pentagon-level Leader visits competiton

MARSEILLES, IL (04/09/2015)(readMedia)-- The Illinois National Guard conducts the Best Warrior Competition to select the non-commissioned officer and enlisted Soldier to represent the Illinois Army National Guard at regional and national competitions in 2015.

WHO:

Illinois National Guard

Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, National Guard Bureau Senior Enlisted Avisor

WHAT:

• The Best Warrior Competition pits Soldiers against each other in warrior tasks, weapons qualification, land navigation and physical fitness. Key events include a 12-mile road march with a 40-pound rucksack, a confidence course race, and an interview board.

• During the Best Warrior Competition, Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush will visit to speak with Soldiers. Brush is the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the National Guard Bureau. He advises the Chief, National Guard Bureau on all enlisted matters affecting training, health of the force, and enlisted professional development.

WHEN: Saturday April 11, 2015 at 01:30PM Central Time (US & Canada)

WHERE:1700 Army Road
Marseilles, Illinois 61341

09 Apr 2015

Aubrey Kohl to present research at Student Symposium

By Jamie Kelly

MOUNT VERNON, IA (04/09/2015)(readMedia)-- Aubrey Kohl of Bettendorf (52722) is one of more than 60 students who will present their independent research at Cornell College's 19th Annual Student Symposium on April 25.

Kohl is giving an oral presentation on "What Do You Do When Life Give You Lemons?"

Students will present independent research on topics ranging from Pablo Neruda's poetry and politics and Beyonce's status as a feminist icon to an examination of ACL tears in female athletes and a look at the climate of ancient Iberia at the symposium, which has been an academic highlight at Cornell College since 1997 and features students' original research through oral and poster presentations. Each student participant works closely with a faculty sponsor in developing the presentations. The projects, many of which are initiated by students, generally take several months to prepare.

One of the 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, is a national liberal arts college with a distinctive One Course At A Time curriculum. The One Course schedule provides students the chance to dive into their studies, focus more intensely on the disciplines of their choice, and learn authentically with the unique freedom to shed the confines of the traditional classroom to study off-campus, pursue research, or accept an internship - all without missing out on other classes.

Cornell has been recognized by numerous publications for the value its education offers and for academic excellence. This year it was named of the 100 best values in liberal arts education by Kiplinger's, one of the "Best Value Schools" among national liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report, and one of the 100 Affordable Elite Colleges by Washington Monthly. Ninety-three percent of Cornell graduates earn their degrees in four years. In 2013 Cornell was named one of the 25 colleges with the best professors by the Center for College Affordability and Productivity.

For more information, visit www.cornellcollege.edu.

09 Apr 2015

Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 THIS Weekend. Purchase your tickets TODAY!

By Q C S O

Inside the Music TODAY at 4:00 p.m.
Inside the Music will have a one-time revised start time with doors opening at 4:00 p.m. and the program led by our charismatic Music Director Mark Russell Smith will begin at 4:30 p.m. TODAY at the Hotel Blackhawk.

Learn more about James Stephenson, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Arnold Schoenberg by reading the program notes written by Dennis Loftin and Jacob Bancks for this weekend's grand finale Masterworks performance.

QCSYEs Spring Festival Concert
Sunday, April 26
Centennial Hall, Rock Island
3:00 p.m.

Our talented QCSYEs will perform classical favorites like Bach, Rutter, Tchaikovsky, and Copland.

Solo by Gabrielle Hartman, bassoon, 2015 QCSYEs Concerto Competition Youth Symphony Orchestra Prizewinner

09 Apr 2015

This Week in Downtown Davenport: 4/10 - 4/16

By QC Chamber
Former Good Morning America host, Joan Lunden, speaks at the RiverCenter tomorrow during the Gilda's Club Annual Fundraiser presented by Genesis Cancer Care Institute. Join this award-winning journalist, motivational speaker, successful entrepreneur, and mom of seven as she brings insight to top issues in America. For fun of a very different kind on Saturday, you'll find unlimited beer samples, a commemorative glass, live entertainment, and tons o' bacon at the RiverCenter during the Bacon & Beer Festival!
 Right next door, the Quad City Symphony Orchestra performs Masterworks VI at the Adler on Saturday. With the help of multiple choirs, this performance highlights Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 and Schoenber's Friede auf Erden. Be sure to get your tickets for Ballet Quad Cities': The Sleeping Beauty next Saturday and Jersey Boys April 21 - 26 while you're there.

 The smell of hot dogs, popcorn, and springtime fill the air this weekend as the Quad Cities River Bandits celebrate their Opening Day! Kick-off the 2015 baseball season the right way by cheering the Bandits to a win on Sunday. If you can't make it Sunday, have no fear! The Bandits will also be home Monday and Tuesday evening as they take on the Clinton LumberKings. Check out some awesome promotions scheduled for the 2015 season here.

 What do you get when you fuse together jazz, classical, bluegrass, southern rock, and Indian ragas? The Galactic Cowboy Orchestra! Hear how they combine these sounds with their own original style Saturday at River Music Experience. Singer/songwriter Mason Jennings also returns to the Redstone Room tomorrow performing a show of rugged, acoustic-guitar-driven indie-folk.
 Whether you're looking to paint your own piece or peruse the works of others, there are plenty of resources downtown to get your art fix in. Create a masterpiece of your own by participating in Vino van Gogh or classes at Re-Cre8 Studio. Support local artists by exploring works at Art on Third or Bucktown Center for the Arts. Don't forget to swing by the Figge Art Museum and German American Heritage Center for their many exhibits open now, too.
See you downtown! Sponsored by the River Cities' Reader
for more events, click here
09 Apr 2015

Americans With Disabilities Act Still Important 25 Years Later

By Ginny Grimsley
Former Miss Deaf America Says Act Helped Tear Down Barriers

The day the Americans With Disabilities Act passed in 1990, U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin delivered a speech from the Senate floor in a way most of his colleagues didn't understand.

Harkin, the bill's sponsor, used sign language for the benefit of his brother who was deaf and had taught Harkin this lesson: "People should be judged on the basis of their abilities and not on the basis of their disabilities."

With the country marking the Act's 25th anniversary, Brandi Rarus, a former Miss Deaf America, remembers how important it was for people with disabilities to make it known they would no longer allow others to set limits on what they could achieve.

"Those of us with disabilities face many barriers," says Rarus, co-author with Gail Harris of the book "Finding Zoe: A Deaf Woman's Story of Identity, Love and Adoption." (www.brandirarus.com)

"Some of those are unavoidable. I can't listen to the radio as I drive to work in the morning. Often, because of communication barriers, I have to work twice as hard as a hearing person. Instead of taking me five minutes to make a doctor's appointment, it takes me 10."

But some barriers are avoidable, Rarus says. And that's why the Americans With Disabilities Act has played such an important role in people's lives for the last 25 years.

The ADA prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals with disabilities when it comes to employment issues. The Act also requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for a disability unless it causes an "undue hardship."

Harris, a professional storyteller and Rarus' co-author, says that although Rarus is deaf, her life struggles are similar to everyone's.

"We can all relate to finding our place in the world and fitting in, about self-acceptance, about being judged and judging others, and how we must look past all that to fulfill our dreams," says Harris. (www.gailharrisauthor.com)

The U.S. Department of Labor says many concerns about the ADA never materialized. According to the department:

•  Complying isn't expensive. The majority of workers with disabilities do not need accommodations, and for those who do, the cost is usually minimal. In fact, 57 percent of accommodations cost nothing, according to the Job Accommodation Network, a service from the Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy.

•  Lawsuits have not flooded the courts. The majority of ADA employment-related disputes are resolved through informal negotiation or mediation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which enforces the ADA's employment provisions, investigates the merits of each case and offers alternatives to litigation. The number of ADA employment-related cases represents a tiny percentage of the millions of employers in the U.S.

•  The ADA is rarely misused. If an individual files a complaint under the ADA and does not have a condition that meets its definition of disability, the complaint is dismissed. While claims by people with false or minor conditions may get media attention, the reality is these complaints are usually dismissed.
Rarus, who became deaf at age 6 when she contracted spinal meningitis, was making strides toward success even before the passage of the ADA.

Winning the Miss Deaf America crown in 1988 led to numerous opportunities. She signed the National Anthem at a Chicago Cubs game. She spoke at corporate conferences and traveled the country speaking out for deaf children and building awareness of what it means to be deaf. She was understudy for Marlee Matlin in the play "Children of a Lesser God."

Her latest project is "Finding Zoe." The book Rarus and Harris joined forces to write tells the story of Rarus' early years as she learned to live with being deaf, but the focal point becomes her effort to adopt Zoe, a deaf infant caught in the foster care system.

Harris, upon collaborating with Rarus on her story, was on a mission to help bring it forth, as everyone is deserving of basic human rights. "People don't realize what the deaf have gone through," she says.

Working with Rarus and the anniversary of the ADA have reminded her of the challenges all people face, whether black or white, deaf or hearing, gay or straight.

"It's how we deal with them that counts," Harris says. "Brandi's courage and tenacity can get us thinking about our own vulnerabilities and how they can make us strong."

About Brandi Rarus and Gail Harris

Brandi Rarus (www.brandirarus.com), who lost her hearing at age 6, has traveled the country speaking out for deaf children and building awareness of what it means to be deaf. She was Miss Deaf America in 1988. She and her husband live in Austin, Texas, with their three sons and adopted daughter.

Gail Harris (www.gailharrisauthor.com) is an award-winning writer and teacher of the intuitive process who also adopted a child. In addition to co-writing "Finding Zoe," she is the author of "Your Heart Knows the Answer." She lives with her husband and son in Framingham, Mass

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