Rock Island, IL: Mobile apps can support your goals, make routine tasks easier, and provide access to educational and entertaining content on your tablet or smartphone. Learn more about them at monthly APPy Hours, presented by the Rock Island Library.

The Rock Island Library will offer "APPy Hour" at 7:00 pm on the second Wednesday of each month at Cool Beanz Coffeehouse, 1325 30th Street,  Rock Island. The informal gathering gives smartphone and tablet owners to way to learn about new apps and to share their personal favorites with the group. The next meeting is March 11.

APPy Hours are free and open to the public, and will focus on apps of interest to adults and teens. Refreshments will be available for purchase from the coffeehouse.

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Calendar of library programs: http://rockislandlibrary.evanced.info/signup/eventcalendar.aspx

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds and Iowa Sec. of Agriculture Bill Northey today encouraged Iowans to nominate farmers for the Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award who have taken voluntary actions to improve or protect the environment and natural resources of our state. Nominations are due by June 15, 2015 and the nomination form can be found at www.iowaagriculture.gov/EnvironmentalLeader.asp.

The award is a joint effort between the Governor, Lt. Governor, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to recognize the efforts of Iowa's farmers as environmental leaders committed to healthy soils and improved water quality.

"The Iowa Water Quality Initiative is growing due to farmers' engagement in the plan," Branstad said. "The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award is our chance to recognize producers who are going the extra mile in their land stewardship."

"Iowa's farmers are leading the way in environmental stewardship through collaborative, science-based practices," said Reynolds. "The Iowa Farm Environmental Leader Award allows the state to recognize the famers who feed the world and continue to drive Iowa's economy."

Farmers that are nominated should have made environmental stewardship a priority on their farm and incorporated best management practices into their farming operation. As true stewards of the land, they recognize that improved water quality and soil sustainability reaps benefits that extend beyond their fields to citizens of Iowa and residents even further downstream.

Nominations may be submitted on a year-round basis and are due by June 15th of the year to be considered for the award. Farm owners and operators are eligible for consideration.

"Iowa is leading the way in using voluntary, science-based practices to protect our soil and improve water quality.  This would not be possible without the thousands of farmers who have collectively invested millions in conservation practices on their farms.  This award is an opportunity to highlight those farmers that are leading the way and going above and beyond to adopt conservation practices on their farm," said Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey.

An appointed committee of representatives from both conservation and agricultural groups will review the nominations and select the winners. The recipients will be recognized at the Iowa State Fair.

Since creation of the award in 2012, 219 farm families have been recognized. Winners are presented a certificate as well as a yard sign donated by Monsanto. Hagie Manufacturing also sponsors a recognition luncheon for award recipients following the ceremony.

Governor Bruce Rauner announced today he has nominated Ramon Cepeda and Jill Smart for openings on the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees.

Name: Ramon Cepeda 

Position: Board of Trustees - University of Illinois

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Ramon Cepeda to the Board of Trustees at the University of Illinois. Cepeda is a graduate of UIC and is currently a senior vice president at Northern Trust.

Cepeda has worked at Northern Trust since 2007. Currently, he oversees the commercial real estate group, which he created in 2010. He also works as the managing director of the wealth management division.

Prior to his work at Northern Trust, Cepeda worked for LaSalle Bank (now Bank of America) as the first vice president in the commercial real estate group. He was responsible for construction and acquisition loans throughout the Midwest. Cepeda also worked for Second Federal Savings and Loan and Source One Mortgage.

Cepeda graduated from the University of Illinois in 1990 with a degree in criminal justice. He was also selected as a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow in 2011.

Name: Jill Smart

Position: Board of Trustees - University of Illinois

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Jill Smart to serve on the University of Illinois' Board of Trustees. She is a graduate of U of I and worked as an adjunct professor, and she was a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Smart also has nearly 35 years of experience in human resources. 

Smart worked for Accenture for most of her professional career. She retired from the company in 2014 as Chief Human Resources Officer. She was responsible for the full employee lifecycle at the global company. She was also a member of Accenture's Global Management Committee.

Currently, Smart is the president of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), a non-profit organization that recognizes individuals and institutions for their work in human resources.  

Smart holds an M.B.A from the University of Chicago. She earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Governor Rauner announced today he has made appointments to the Board of Trustees at Southern Illinois University, Eastern Illinois University and Chicago State University.

Name: John Gilbert

Position: Board of Trustees - Southern Illinois University

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected John Gilbert, 65, of Carbondale to the Board of Trustees at Southern Illinois University. Gilbert is a life-long public servant and is currently a United States District Court Judge (senior status).

Gilbert was appointed to the federal bench in 1992, and currently presides over criminal and civil cases. Prior to that, he was a First Judicial Circuit Court Judge for nearly five years.

Gilbert has also served the people of Illinois as a member of the State Board of Elections, where he set policy matters for the board and presided over election challenges.

Gilbert holds a law degree from Loyola University Chicago. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois.

Name: Joel Sambursky 

Position: Board of Trustees - Southern Illinois University

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Joel Sambursky, 32, of Carbondale to serve on the Board of Trustees at Southern Illinois University. Sambursky is a graduate of SIU and is the president of Liberty Wealth Management, LLC.

Sambursky has worked at Liberty Wealth Management since 2012. Currently, he manages the day-to-day affairs of the firm including financial and investment planning, marketing and client recruitment. He also advises clients on retirement and college savings plans.

Prior to his work at Liberty Wealth Management, Sambursky worked for Forbes Financial Group in Carbondale as a financial adviser. He advised clients and helped determine if they had adequate retirement assets and insurance policies. Sambursky also worked for the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce.

Sambursky graduated from Southern Illinois University in 2005 with a degree in science finance and earned an MBA in 2007. He was also recognized for his athletic accomplishments during his four years on the SIU football team.

Name: Amy Sholar 

Position: Board of Trustees - Southern Illinois University

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Amy Sholar, 43, of Alton to serve on the Board of Trustees at Southern Illinois University. Sholar is a graduate of SIU - Edwardsville and currently owns her own law firm.

Sholar has owned the Law Office of Amy Sholar, P.C. since 2004. Prior to owning her own law firm, Sholar worked for the City of Alton as a planning coordinator. She was responsible for community redevelopment, real estate acquisitions and zoning matters.

Sholar was also a recipient of the 2012 Women of Distinction award.

Sholar graduated from Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville in 1998 with a degree in business administration and holds a law degree from St. Louis University.

Name: Timothy Burke

Position: Board of Trustees - Eastern Illinois University

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Timothy Burke, 65, of Evanston to become a member of the Eastern Illinois University's Board of Trustees. Burke is a graduate of EIU and is currently a member of the EIU Foundation Board of Trustees.

Burke is currently a project risk manager at William Blair & Company. In this role, he works on financial risk management and internal control matters. For ten years until 2012, he was the company's CFO.

Prior to his work at William Blair & Company, Burke worked at Arthur Andersen & Company for more than 20 years. He became partner in 1987 in the audit practice of the financial services group. He also managed a World Bank project in Indonesia focused on reforming securities industry regulations.

Burke received his bachelor's degree in math and master's degree in counseling from EIU. While earning his MS, he also served the EIU community as a residence hall counselor.

Name: Rev. Dr. Marshall Hatch

Position: Board of Trustees - Chicago State University

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Rev. Dr. Marshall Hatch to join the Chicago State University Board of Trustees. Hatch has spent years in the community and in public service to help others.

Since 1993, Hatch has been the pastor of the New Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church on Chicago's west side. Prior to that, he served as the pastor of Commonwealth Baptist Church.

Throughout his work in the ministry, Hatch has created and developed a number of outreach programs. He is responsible for an interfaith affordable housing development project, which built more than 200 homes for Chicago families. He also established an annual mission trip for inner-city youth.

Hatch earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Western Illinois University. He holds a master's degree in government from Georgetown University. Hatch also earned a doctorate and masters degree in ministry and theological studies from McCormick Theological Seminary. He was also one of four Merrill Fellows at the Harvard Divinity School in 1998.

The Alzheimer's Association^® is proud to have played a role in bringing the film "Still Alice" to life. The movie tells the story of a woman coping with younger-onset Alzheimer's disease, and Julianne Moore's performance has helped raise public awareness of this terrible disease ? and also earned her an Oscar last night!

Along with many other amazing women including Executive Producer Maria Shriver, book author Lisa Genova, and Co-Producer Elizabeth Gelfand Stearns, I am honored to have worked behind the scenes on the film. As the science consultant, I guided the screenwriter and director team on the scientific accuracy of information about Alzheimer's disease, which is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States ? and the only cause of death among the top 10 that cannot be prevented, cured or even slowed.

Despite these statistics, current federal funding for Alzheimer's disease research is only a third of what is needed to reach the goal set by the National Alzheimer's Plan to prevent and effectively treat Alzheimer's by 2025.

The hope is that with the poignant portrayal of Alzheimer's disease, "Still Alice" will inspire more people to take an active role in the fight. Your donation will provide much-needed care and support services to other families facing this devastating disease ? and help advance research so that every family can hope for a future without Alzheimer's.