Venture back Into the Woods as City Circle Acting Company of Coralville presents the Tony Award-winning musical classic by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine, April 24-May 3 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts.

Follow a baker and his wife as they struggle to meet the demands of a vengeful witch so that they may have their hearts' desire?a child of their own. On their journey in and out of the woods, they meet a woman fleeing a ball, a girl with extraordinary hair, a cow-sick boy, a sweet-loving granddaughter, a couple of princes, and at least one giant.

"I remember listening to the cassette tape of the original cast in 1987 before ever seeing the show on stage.  I imagined what the show would look like--how the stories would be told in the theater.  I'm thrilled to be able to work with this all-star cast to bring this vision finally to life," says director Chris Okiishi. "Even though these are Fairy Tale characters and the stories are firmly based in the Brothers Grimm, I think our audiences will relate in a very real way to the characters' triumphs and struggles.  And who hasn't wondered what happens after 'Happily Ever After'?"

Tickets are $12-$27 and can be purchased online at http://www.coralvillearts.org/ or by calling 319.248.9370 or in person at the CCPA box office at 1301 5th Street and at the Coralville Recreation Center at 1506 8th Street. Into the Woods is sponsored by University of Iowa Community Credit Union.

BETTENDORF, IA - [April 9, 2015] - Triumph Community Bank, N.A. (www.bankwithtriumph.com) will hold a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the construction of its new branch location in Kimberly Commons at 3325 West Kimberly Road, Davenport, Iowa.  The event will be held Tuesday, April 14th at 2:00 pm.  The new 3,000 square foot building will be a full-service banking center, offering a wide range of deposit and loan products to local businesses and residents. This new branch will bring the total number of Triumph Community Bank locations to nineteen.

"We are excited to have a location in West Davenport to better serve our existing customers and attract new ones," said John D. DeDoncker, President and CEO of Triumph Community Bank.  "We believe that with this additional location, it will continue to show Triumph Community Bank's commitment to the communities that we serve."

ABOUT TRIUMPH COMMUNITY BANK

Triumph Community Bank, N.A. is a full service community bank headquartered in Bettendorf, Iowa.  Additional offices are located in Davenport, Iowa; Canton, Chadwick, East Moline, Elgin, Havana, Milan, Moline, Morrison, Mt. Carroll, Rapids City, Savanna, Silvis, and Sterling, Illinois.

New Hilton Garden Inn property expands in state of Iowa

BRISTOL, Va. and MCLEAN, Va. - Hilton Garden Inn, Hilton Worldwide's award-winning brand of upscale yet affordable hotels, announced today the opening of Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf/Quad Cities, representing an addition to the brand's growing portfolio of more than 600 hotels worldwide.

Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf/Quad Cities is owned by Middle Road Hotel Associates, LLC, and managed by Kinseth Hotel Corporation. It is the brand's first property in Bettendorf.

"We are excited to join one of Iowa's largest cities, and become a part of Bettendorf's family-oriented community," said Connie Schlichting, general manager. "Our property provides travelers convenience to area attractions. From the John Deere Pavilion, to local Palmer Hills' 18-hole golf course, this city has something for parents, kids and business travelers alike."

Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf/Quad Cities is situated minutes from the iWireless Center, Niabi Zoo, the Rock Island Arsenal and the Isle of Capri Casino. Guests can utilize approachable and dependable Hilton Garden Inn staff for additional area recommendations.

The Hilton Garden Inn brand is named "Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Upscale Hotel Chains" by J.D. Power and offers the high-end amenities and welcoming services for travelers to sleep deep, stay fit, eat well and work smart while on the road. All Hilton Garden Inn guests enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the hotel, 24-hour business center, state-of-the-art fitness center, outdoor fire pit and an indoor pool.  The hotel also features 2,400 square feet of flexible meeting space.

The Garden Grille and Bar® offers a full cooked-to-order breakfast and dinner, cocktails*, and evening room service. The Pavilion Pantry® is open 24 hours and features a complete selection of salty snacks, sweet treats, cold beverages, and frozen, microwaveable packaged items.

All 115 guest rooms boast the brand's signature bedding featuring fresh, white duvets and crisp linens; a spacious and clutter-free work desk with an ergonomic desk chair; and an in-room "hospitality center" with a mini fridge, microwave oven and Keurig coffee maker.

Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf/Quad Cities participates in Hilton HHonors®, the only hotel loyalty program that allows members to earn Points & Miles® on the same stay and No Blackout Dates on reward stays. HHonors members always get our lowest price, along with HHonors Points, digital check-in and no booking fees only when they book directly through Hilton.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit Hilton Garden Inn Bettendorf/Quad Cities, or call +1 563 265 2121.

13 States to receive support.

WASHINGTON, April 7, 2015 - Targeted conservation work in the Mississippi River basin will unite the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), farmers and local organizations to help clean waterways that flow into the nation's largest river. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $10 million this year in 27 new high-priority watersheds and 13 existing projects that will help improve water quality and strengthen agricultural operations. This investment is part of a commitment of $100 million over four years to address critical water quality concerns in priority watersheds while boosting rural economies.

"We know that when we target our efforts to the places most in need, we see stronger results," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. "These projects focus on watersheds in need, where we have opportunities to work with partners and farmers to get conservation work on the ground. "

NRCS worked with state agencies, farmers and other partners to identify high-priority watersheds that align with established state priorities and have strong partnerships in place ? and where targeted conservation on agricultural land can make the most gains in improving local and regional water quality. Conservation systems implemented in these areas will reduce the amount of nutrients flowing from agricultural land into waterways, curb erosion and improve the resiliency of working lands in the face of droughts and floods. This investment builds on $18.5 million already allocated to projects in the basin in fiscal 2015.

These projects are funded through the agency's Mississippi River Basin Healthy Watersheds Initiative (MRBI), which uses funding from several Farm Bill conservation programs, including the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), to help farmers adopt conservation systems to improve water quality and habitat and restore wetlands. Since MRBI's start in 2009, NRCS has worked with more than 600 partners and 5,000 private landowners to improve more than 1 million acres in the region. Through these partnerships, the initiative more than quadrupled the number of contracts addressing water quality concerns in targeted project areas.

New projects include :

  • Lower South Fork Root River Watershed, Minnesota: NRCS will work with the Root River and Fillmore soil and water conservation districts, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, Minnesota Agricultural Water Resource Center, Monsanto and others to achieve a 40 percent reduction in sediment and associated phosphorus by 2020. NRCS plans to invest $39,000 in fiscal 2015 as part of a $1.2 million commitment in the watershed over four years.
  • Headwaters-Big Pine Creek, Indiana: NRCS will work with the Benton and White county soil and water conservation districts, Big Pine Creek Watershed Group, The Nature Conservancy, Conservation Technology Information Center, Ceres Solutions LLC, Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, Indiana Soybean Alliance, Pheasants Forever and Indiana Department of Environmental Management to reduce nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment in this critical watershed to improve the conditions of waterways for recreational use and wildlife. NRCS plans to invest $50,000 in fiscal 2015 as part of a nearly $500,000 commitment over four years.
  • Long Lake, Mississippi: NRCS will work with Delta F.A.R.M., Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality to address water quality concerns in priority watersheds identified in the Delta Nutrient Reduction Strategy. NRCS plans to invest $710,000 in fiscal 2015 as a part of a total commitment of $4.3 million over four years.

See full list of watershed projects.

Projects will be funded in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee and Wisconsin.

"These projects put to work some of our core conservation practices, which we know are having tremendous impacts downstream," NRCS Chief Jason Weller said. "Putting to work NRCS-recommended conservation practices helps clean and conserve water, makes agricultural operations more resilient, and stimulates rural economies as this work often relies on help from biologists, foresters, pipe makers, dirt movers, welders, engineers and many more different professions to implement."

Conservation systems include practices that promote soil health, reduce erosion and lessen nutrient runoff, such as cover crops, reduced tillage and nutrient management; waste management systems that treat agricultural waste and livestock manure; irrigation systems that capture and recycle nutrients back to the field; and wetland restoration that increases wildlife habitat, mitigates flooding, and improves water quality.

Findings from a 2014 report by the USDA's Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) show that conservation work on cropland in the Mississippi River basin has reduced the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus flowing to the Gulf of Mexico by 18 and 20 percent, respectively. CEAP models have also shown that the targeted approach of MRBI has enhanced the per-acre conservation benefit by 70 percent for sediment losses, 30 percent by nitrogen losses, and 40 percent for phosphorus losses, when compared to general program activities.

Meanwhile, watersheds prioritized by MRBI have shown clear successes in helping to improve water quality. For example, two stream segments in the St. Francis River watershed in Arkansas have been removed from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's list of impaired streams.

MRBI is one of many landscape-level efforts to address water quality; similar efforts are ongoing in the Great Lakes region, Gulf of Mexico region, Chesapeake Bay watershed and California Bay Delta region.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

Mount Carroll–Timber Lake Playhouse, the professional summer theatre of Northwest Illinois, will host several programs this summer for area youth, including the opportunity to perform with the resident professional company in their productions of The Big Meal, Peter Pan, Big Fish and James and the Giant Peach. The company will also conduct its annual theatre education workshops for both children and teens.

Auditions will be held for children and teens for various roles on Saturday, May 2, beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the theatre in Mount Carroll. Full information about available roles, dates and audition requirements is available at the playhouse's website, www.timberlakeplayhouse.org. Anyone interested in auditioning should contact the theatre office for an appointment by calling 815-244-2035 or emailing info@timberlakeplayhouse.org.

The Magic Owl Children's Theatre at TLP has provided three generations of young people with their first experiences of live theatre. The tradition continues this year with two productions, The Commedia Pinocchio and James and the Giant Peach.

The Commedia Pinocchio is a 50 minute long adaptation of the famous story of the puppet who comes to life portrayed by five actors in the madcap style of commedia dell'arte. The production will be seen by over 1500 area school children and performances are also open to the public. Performances are May 6-9 at 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., and tickets are $6.00.

A stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved James and the Giant Peach will run for four performances only August 4, 6, 7 and 8. Tickets are $7.00 and will be available in May. TLP's annual one-day children's theatre workshop will take place on Saturday, August 8, and ends with the 2:00 p.m. performance of James and the Giant Peach.

Participation in the children's theatre workshop is open to kids ages 7-11. The three-hour workshop includes structured storytelling games, creating characters, team-building ensemble activities, and a chance to learn about all of the creative departments involved in putting on a show. The cost is $30 and includes a ticket to James and The Giant Peach.

A weeklong theatre workshop for teens (ages 12 and up) will take place July 13 - 17. This five day immersive experience will feature workshops in acting, dance and music, improvisation, playwriting, theatre design, and how to audition for schools and professional shows. The cost of the five-day workshop is $135 and includes daily lunch and a ticket to TLP's production of the new musical Big Fish.

In addition to the annual events for young people at Timber Lake Playhouse, the company has also added afternoon and morning performances of its mainstage production of Peter Pan to accommodate families and groups.

The programs presented at Timber Lake Playhouse are partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.

For more information or to register or purchase tickets to any TLP events, visit www.timberlakeplayhouse.org or call 815-244-2035 Monday through Friday between 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

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Scott County Health Department joins the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) in a new effort focused on improving human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates among Iowa's teens and pre-teens. Among adolescents aged 11 to 18, 66 percent have received the Tdap vaccine that protects against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis; by comparison, only 19 percent have received the three doses of HPV vaccine recommended for full protection.  In Scott County, 16 percent of 13 through 15 year olds have received three doses of the HPV vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer.

The "You are the Key" campaign targets parents, the decision-makers when it comes to vaccinating their children. "About 79 million Americans are currently infected with HPV. About 14 million people become newly infected each year," said Scott County Health Department's Clinical Services Coordinator Roma Taylor. "In most cases, HPV infection will go away and the individual will never know they had it; however, when HPV does not go away, it can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical cancer. Parents are encouraged to take action now to protect their child against a cancer that can be prevented with a simple vaccination."

Approximately 33,000 HPV-associated cancers occur annually in the U.S., including 12,600 HPV-associated cancers in males. The HPV vaccine protects against the most common types of human papillomavirus, which are responsible for approximately 90 percent of cervical cancers. Cancer often takes years to develop after a person is infected with HPV and an infected individual can spread the virus even when they have no signs or symptoms. The HPV vaccine works best when given in early adolescence, as it allows for immunity to develop and offer better protection as a child matures. Both boys and girls are recommended to receive three doses of vaccine for full protection.

If you have an adolescent that has not received the HPV vaccine, talk to your healthcare provider about how it can benefit your child. For more information on the HPV vaccine, visit http://bit.ly/1yrhxU0

For more information about Scott County Health Department, visit http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/health/.

Findings Suggest Amount of Time Spent and Social Comparison on Facebook Impacts Mental Health

The social media site, Facebook, can be an effective tool for connecting with new and old friends. However, some users may find themselves spending quite a bit of time viewing Facebook and may inevitably begin comparing what's happening in their lives to the activities and accomplishments of their friends.

According to University of Houston (UH) researcher Mai-Ly Steers, this kind of social comparison paired with the amount of time spent on Facebook may be linked to depressive symptoms. Steers' research on the topic is presented in the article, "Seeing Everyone Else's Highlight Reels: How Facebook Usage is Linked to Depressive Symptoms" published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology.

"Although social comparison processes have been examined at length in traditional contexts, the literature is only beginning to explore social comparisons in online social networking settings," said Steers, a doctoral candidate in social psychology at UH.

Steers conducted two studies to investigate how social comparison to peers on Facebook might impact users' psychological health. Both studies provide evidence that Facebook users felt depressed when comparing themselves to others.

"It doesn't mean Facebook causes depression, but that depressed feelings and lots of time on Facebook and comparing oneself to others tend to go hand in hand," said Steers.

The first study found an association between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for both genders. However, the results demonstrated that making Facebook social comparisons mediated the link between time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms for men only. Similarly, the second study found a relationship between the amount of time spent on Facebook and depressive symptoms was mediated by social comparisons on Facebook. Unlike the first study, gender did not moderate these associations.

The concept of social comparison is not new.  In fact, it has been studied in face-to-face contexts since the 1950's.  However, engaging in social comparisons on online social media sites may make people feel even worse.

"One danger is that Facebook often gives us information about our friends that we are not normally privy to, which gives us even more opportunities to socially compare," Steers said. "You can't really control the impulse to compare because you never know what your friends are going to post. In addition, most of our Facebook friends tend to post about the good things that occur in their lives, while leaving out the bad.  If we're comparing ourselves to our friends' 'highlight reels,' this may lead us to think their lives are better than they actually are and conversely, make us feel worse about our own lives."

Steers said that people afflicted with emotional difficulties may be particularly susceptible to depressive symptoms due to Facebook social comparison after spending more time on medium.  For already distressed individuals, this distorted view of their friends' lives may make them feel alone in their internal struggles, which may compound their feelings of loneliness and isolation.

"This research and previous research indicates the act of socially comparing oneself to others is related to long-term destructive emotions. Any benefit gained from making social comparisons is temporary and engaging in frequent social comparison of any kind may be linked to lower well-being," said Steers.

Steers hopes the results of these studies will help people understand that technological advances often possess both intended and unintended consequences. Further, she hopes her research will help guide future interventions that target the reduction of Facebook use among those at risk for depression.

To read the press release on the UH website, please visit http://www.uh.edu/news-events/stories/2015/April/040415FaceookStudy

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About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 40,500 students in the most ethnically and culturally diverse region in the country.

3 Reasons A Fitness and Wellness Regimen Can Empower Women
Celebrity Trainer Holly Perkins Says Women Should Look Great To Please Themselves, Not Others

From an early age, women have foisted on them images of the "ideal" female body, and self-esteem can plummet when they fail to measure up.

But celebrity trainer Holly Perkins says it's time women stop buying into those societal pressures.

"There's this perception that all women need to look like perfect runway models," says Perkins, a leading national weight-loss expert. "They can feel the anxiety building when they are trying to meet someone else's expectations. That's when the effort to lose weight or get fit can add to the stresses of life instead of relieving them."

Certainly, women should want to improve their health, get fit and look gorgeous all at the same time, says Perkins, who recently released a home-exercise system designed specifically for women called baladea (www.baladea.com), with regimens she developed to fuse fitness and wellness exercises.

But getting in shape needs to be something women want for themselves, and not an effort to mimic some airbrushed image on a magazine cover at the supermarket, she says.

Perkins realized several years ago that her clients met their weight-loss goals faster when she created programs that addressed both their fitness and wellness needs at the same time.

They also felt happier about themselves. So she incorporated yoga and other stress-relieving and relaxation techniques into the baladea program.

Perkins offers three reasons why the right fitness and wellness regimen can empower women and emancipate them from society's image pressures:

•  Because looking good makes you feel good. That's especially true when you're trying to look good to please yourself and not others, Perkins says. "There's this sense of empowerment when you exercise, eat a healthier diet and lose weight because it's what you want and not because of peer pressure or societal pressures," she says.

Self-esteem rises when you improve your image on your terms, she says, and as a result "looking gorgeous never felt better."

•  Because the science says so. Research shows that stress can keep you from losing weight and might even cause you to add pounds. Even if you eat well and exercise, an excessive amount of stress can counteract all your efforts. That's why meshing fitness and wellness works so well, Perkins says.

"Stress reduction and relaxation can significantly improve weight loss," she says. "That allows you to look and feel your absolute best."

•  Because while improving your look, you also become healthier. You will feel amazing not just because of elevated self-esteem, but because your body really is functioning better because of the diet and exercise, Perkins says. Your energy level will rise and "you will feel ready for anything," she says.

"You can look awesome and you can feel happy at the same time," Perkins says. "It's all about letting your true self shine."

About Holly Perkins

Holly Perkins is a national fitness expert and developer of baladea (www.baladea.com), a customizable fitness and wellness system for women. She holds a bachelor's degree in Exercise Physiology and is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), one of the most prestigious certifications in the industry. She believes that making fitness a fun lifestyle is the best way to achieve true change. As one of the nation's leading weight-loss experts and a highly sought-after celebrity trainer, she has been featured in numerous magazines, newspapers and on national TV shows.

(DES MOINES) - Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad today announced he will sign Senate File 227 on Friday, April 10, 2015, at 1 p.m. Senate File 227 is an Act relating to the school start date and to exception and penalty provisions and including effective date provisions.

The bill passed the Iowa House 71-29 on March 24, 2015. It passed the Iowa Senate 28-22 on March 25, 2015.

The following bill signing is open to credentialed members of the press:

Friday April 10, 2015

1 p.m. Gov. Branstad signs Senate File 227

West Steps

State Capitol

Des Moines, IA

Note: Should inclement weather prevent the bill signing from occurring outside, the bill signing will occur in the State Capitol Rotunda.

 

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DES MOINES, IA (04/07/2015)(readMedia)-- When it comes to our children, we all want the best for them and their futures. Watching them grow and develop, we observe them exploring with their imaginations and discovering the endless possibilities for success in life. Graduating with a college degree is a huge achievement, and one way to help set them up for that success is to save for their higher education. However, much like the April 15 deadline for taxes, the time to start saving for your children's college education is over before you know it, which is why I encourage you to take your 2014 refund and invest it in your children's future.

By investing your refund in College Savings Iowa you have:

  1. Tax savings. 529 plans were designed to provide families and friends a tax-advantaged way to save for higher education expenses. Participants are able to withdraw their investment free from both federal and Iowa state income taxes when used to pay for qualified higher-education expenses.* Additionally, the state of Iowa allows Iowa taxpayers to deduct contributions up to $3,163 per account from their 2015 state income taxes.**
  2. Flexibility. You have the ability to save for anyone: children, grandchildren, friends or even yourself. College Savings Iowa accounts may be used to pay for a variety of expenses, including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs, at any eligible college, university, community college, vocational/technical schools and graduate schools.
  3. Low minimum investments and low fees. Getting started is easy and doesn't have to be expensive! Enrollment is free. Accounts can be opened with a minimum of $25, and each additional contribution can be as little as $25. Investors have the option to contribute regularly or whenever it is convenient. College Savings Iowa also doesn't charge enrollment, annual, withdrawal or advisor fees or commissions, which other types of plans may charge. Your only expense is a low annual asset-based fee of 0.26%. That means that for every $1,000 you invest, you will only pay $2.60 in fees per year.

Although there are many ways to prepare a child for a successful future, none can bring greater lifetime rewards than a quality education. As I always say when discussing College Savings Iowa with families, by starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, you can make your college savings work for you and get the most out of these precious years. They grow up fast; you will be glad you planned for their tomorrow today!

About the Author: Michael L. Fitzgerald is the state treasurer of Iowa. He started the College Savings Iowa program in 1998 as a way to help families save for college and earn tax breaks at the same time. To date, College Savings Iowa has over $4 billion in assets and has helped over 68,000 families pay for college.

*The earnings portion of nonqualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state and local income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

**If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income. Adjusted annually for inflation.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

 

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

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