Will meet with volunteer first responders and discuss legislation to provide them with tax credits

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack announced today that he will visit volunteer fire departments in Eldridge and Camanche, TOMORROW, Saturday, January 9th. Loebsack will highlight the importance of our local volunteer first responders and the impact they have in our communities. He will also discuss legislation he helped introduce last Congress that would provide a tax deduction for volunteer first responders as well as help Volunteer Fire Departments and other public safety organizations recruit and retain volunteers.

Eldridge Fire Department

120 N. 2nd St.

10:00am

Camanche Fire Department

720 9th Ave.

11:30am

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

Green Tree Brewery - 309 N. Cody Rd., LeClaire, will be a Small brewery that makes handcrafted beer right on the premises. We will have a quiet atmosphere where people can sit and enjoy a pint or samples of our product. For anyone that would rather try our beers at home, we will offer, single bottles, six packs, and growlers to take out. Recently, we secured a coffee supplier for our beers that are infused with coffee. As my wife and I love coffee, and we will have all the equipment anyway. We will have coffee available for anyone that wants some. Whether it's for someone that doesn't like beer, is the designated driver, or they just love coffee!

LiveFiT With Lupus is a nonprofit organization formed to raise awareness for autoimmune diseases. Our foundation offers nutritional guidance and resources, specialty physician support, health education, and psychological and emotional support to patients and their loved ones. We hold many annual fundraising events in the community to create awareness. Our main event is our Race Event, which is held at The Black Watch in May, featuring a 1 mile, 5k, 10k and half marathon, along with a health fair, kids' activities, local vendors and live entertainment! www.livefitwithlupus.org

ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER

The LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner

Saturday, January 31, 2015

Steventon's, LeClaire.

5:30-6:30 p.m. - Cocktails (Cash Bar) and Silent Auction

6:30 p.m. - Annual Awards

7:00 p.m. - Dinner

8:00 p.m. - Live Auction

6-10 p.m. - Live Music, Keep Off the Grass

RSVP by January 23, 2015 to First Central State Bank, or email dmulvania@firstcentralsb.com $35 per person paid in advance.

Checks payable to:

LeClaire Chamber of Commerce

PO Box 35

LeClaire, IA

If you would like to donate items for the Silent or Live Auctions, please contact dmulvania@firstcentralsb.com or take your items to First Central State Bank, LeClaire!

CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP

It is time to renew your membership for 2015! Membership forms have been mailed out, or you can renew your membership by going to www.leclairechamber.com and pay via Pay Pal. If you did not receive a letter and form by mail, please contact the Chamber at LeClaireChamber@gmail.com and they will be immediately sent to you!

CALENDAR

January 12th - Economic Development Meeting City Hall - 8:00 a.m.

January 13^th - Chamber Networking Lunch - Crane and Pelican Café noon. Stephanie Hasakis will give a presentation on the use of Instagram, hash tags and Social Networking in the business place.

January 15^th - LeClaire Community Library Family BINGO Night 6-7:30 p.m. Bring the whole family down to have fun and win prizes at this all-ages event. Drop-in or stay the whole night!

January 16^th-19^th - Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard! Look for the LeClaire specials here: http://www.qcbeatourist.com/#city-LeClaire/alpha Bierstube, Blue Iguana, Steventon's, Buffalo Bill Museum, and Mississippi River Distilling Co. will have specials that you can enjoy. The Faithful Pilot Café and Spirits will be open Sunday, noon-5pm for lunch. Isabel Bloom will have a drawing for a free Eagle sculpture.

January 17^th - Trivia Night at the LeClaire Civic Center. 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. Call Debbie at 563-349-4403 or email Smith73075@aol.com to reserve a table.

January 18^th - Bald Eagle Day - Medic EMS Building 107 N. Cody Road. At 1:30pm, wildlife photographer, Burt Gearhart, will give an all-ages slide presentation and lecture that will reveal interesting discoveries about Bald Eagles and their everyday lives in Iowa. At the conclusion of the presentation, attendees may join Burt at Lock & Dam 14 to view and photograph the Eagles of LeClaire. Burt's prints that celebrate Bald Eagles, the Mississippi River, and the historic beauty of LeClaire will also be on display. This program is free and open to the public.

January 18th - Faithful Pilot - Dress for Success Charity Wine Tasting beginning at Noon bring in a gently used dress for women who need to "dress" up for job interviews and receive $5.00 off a wine tasting of a selection of our wines.  We will also be open until 5:00, and serving lunch.

January 20^th - Vino Van Gogh at Go Fish 6:00pm. Sign up on line at Vino Van Gogh on or after December 20, 2014.  Featured Artist, Tom Vaccaro. $38 per person - $5 off wine while you paint! We are painting Moonlit Blooms.

January 21^st - LeClaire Community Library. Come Drive with Me: The Adventures, Perils, and Insights of a Driving Instructor: Bill Mueller has been teaching Driver's Education for the Mississippi Bend AEA for 10 years. His fun, 30 minute presentation on safe driving will have his audience rolling in the aisles as he shares his entertaining, real-life experiences as a driving instructor while also sharing practical advice for new drivers, or soon-to-be new drivers, and their families.

January 22^nd - Bunco at the LeClaire Civic Center 10:30am - 12:30pm: $2 to play - bring a dessert to share if you like.

January 24^th - LeClaire Community Library - Gizmos & Gadgets: eReader and Tablet Workshop 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Want to learn how to download eBooks onto your iPad? Not sure how to use that new Kindle? Area librarians will be answering questions or troubleshoot issues on a variety of devices. No registration or pre-appointments necessary.

Sunday, January 25: Faithful Pilot Wine Tasting 15 wines for $15 and a selection of Chef Robert's small bites. Call 563-289-4156 for reservations.

January 31^st, 2015 - LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Dinner - Steventon's.

(See information above).

SAVE THE DATE

Friday, February 6: First Friday in LeClaire

February 21^st - Scott County Freedom Rock Chili Cook-Off Fundraiser at the Riverview Road House. Proceeds will help provide lights, a sign, maintenance, and paver installation for The Freedom Rock. So dust off your best chili recipe and bring your appetite. A perfect way to warm up and have some fun on a cold winter night!

FYI

Riverbend Signworks We receive many questions about vehicle graphics.  So, we assembled some basic information here:  http://riverbendsignworks.com/2014/12/30/a-guide-to-a-good-vehicle-wrap/

It is time again for the River Valley Optimist Club to offer their FREE basketball clinic to children grades 3-6 in the LeClaire/Bettendorf area. The clinic will be held Saturdays beginning January 31, 2015 and ending on March 7, 2015. The sessions are one hour in length and will teach basketball fundamentals while having FUN! Registration is limited so sign-up soon! Please contact Josselyn Smith at josselyn.e.smith@gmail.com or call 563-723-1877, or check out the RVOC Facebook page under River Valley Optimist Club for more information. We hope to see you there!

Tired of dealing with messy entryways? Perhaps NOW is the time to put in a tiled floor that is both beautiful and easier to take care of. Call LeClaire Home Improvement and Construction at 563-381-7778 today to schedule a meeting to discuss ideas and solutions. We have an artisan tile layer on staff who will transform your entryway or any other room into a thing of beauty.

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 4^th Tuesday of each month, 8a.m. at LeClaire City Hall.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

From the First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire to you and your family: May you and your family receive God's deep blessing, Love, this year and throughout 2015! Please join us at the First Presbyterian Church in LeClaire, 200 S. 12th Street; across from Bridgeview Elementary School. We dress casually and welcome children of all ages. Noisy babies and children are welcome in worship (we consider their noise to be a joyful song to the Lord) or, if parents prefer, in our nursery, which is staffed by 2 loving adults.

First Presbyterian Church, LeClaire Men's group Saturday at 7:30 am at church; there are donuts, coffee, discussion and Bible Study, plus really great guys! What more could you ask?

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

PROPERTY LISTINGS

Commercial Property for Sale 510 N. Cody Road. Contact William Robertson (563) 940-1517 billrobertson@ruhl-ruhl.com

For Rent 118 N. Cody Road, includes employee parking and trash service.  Contact Terri Applegate at 563 271-6800 or 563-289-2525.

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

Park Run Apartments/Newbury Living complex - 1, 2, & 3 Bedrooms Available - 1701 Iowa Drive, LeClaire, Iowa 52753. 1 BR, 2 BR or 3 BR unit. Call (563) 289-5159 more information today!

LECLAIRE EVENTS COMING UP!

January 16-19 - Be a Tourist in Your Own Backyard

January 31 - LeClaire Chamber Annual Awards Dinner - Steventon's

CHAMBER NETWORKING EVENTS - EVERYONE WELCOME!

January 13 - Crane and Pelican - lunch - noon

The Mississippi Valley Blues Society invites the public to attend a FUNraiser /Trivia Night on Thursday, January 15th at the River Music Experience, 129 Main Street, Davenport, IA. Doors for competitors and spectators open at 6:30pm, and competition begins at 7:00pm.  Proceeds from the event will go to defray expenses for two Quad-Cities groups chosen to attend the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN January 20-24:  The Mercury Brothers will represent the entire state of Iowa at the competition, and Sarah Hanson and Jesse Barger will participate in the International Youth Showcase.

Those wishing to test their music trivia knowledge can enter the competition by registering their team of 5 at the door for $75. Or, there is a $20 buy-in for each individual member that would like to attend. Individuals are encouraged to participate even if they do not have a team. Donations also will be accepted at the door. Paid admission will include trivia, prizes, live music, and complimentary hors d'oeuvres.

The 2015 International Blues Challenge, held in downtown Memphis in the Beale Street Historic District, marks 31 years of blues musicians from around the world competing for cash, prizes, and industry recognition. The world's largest gathering of blues acts represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its  affiliated organizations for blues bands, solo/duo blues acts, and youth ready to take their acts to the international stage.

As affiliates of the Blues Foundation, The Mississippi Valley Blues Society (Quad Cities) and Central Iowa Blues Society (Des Moines, IA) are proud to be sending Mercury Brothers to compete in the International Band challenge. They won both the preliminary round and the final round of the Iowa Blues Challenge in the Spring of 2014.   Sarah Hanson (17), and Jesse Barger (16) were chosen to represent the Mississippi Valley Blues Society in the International Youth Showcase by exhibiting exceptional artistry and dedication to playing the blues during the Iowa Blues Challenge Solo/Duo Competition.

Trivia questions will be selected from various versions of music history books, and will combine general music content with some exclusively blues subjects. Sample questions: "Which 'King of the Blues' came from Texas?"  "Which Chuck Berry tune did The Beach Boys steal for their worldwide hit 'Surfin' USA'?"

Trivia Night is fun competition and entertainment for the whole family.  If you are not a "Music Wisenheimer" you are still welcome to come to observe and cheer on your favorite team! All proceeds for the MVBS Trivia Night will go towards the Mercury Brothers and Sarah/Jesse for IBC expenses, and are tax deductible.

Any questions call: 563-349-0594.

MOLINE, Ill. (January 8, 2015) - Quad City Mallards goaltender Parker Milner has been named an alternate for the 2015 ECHL All-Star Classic, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the ECHL.

Milner, 24, will play in the January 21 All-Star Game in Orlando if one of the three goaltenders selected to compete for the ECHL All-Stars- Ontario's Joe Cannata, Greenville's Jeff Malcolm and Idaho's Olivier Roy- against the host Orlando Solar Bears is unavailable.

Milner earlier today signed a professional tryout agreement with the AHL's Iowa Wild for the fifth time this season.  The 6' 1", 197-pound Pittsburgh native ranks fourth in the ECHL in save percentage (.920) and fifth in goals against average (2.39) and has gone 9-6-2 in 17 games with the Mallards this year.  Milner last night made 37 saves while backstopping the Mallards to a 4-3 overtime victory over the Wichita Thunder.

"We knew when we signed Parker this summer that he was a quality goaltender so we were very happy to get him," said Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski.  "Since he's joined us he's shown just how good he really is so we're very proud of him for earning this recognition."

Milner last season went 4-2-0 and turned in a 2.95 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in eight AHL games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.  Milner spent the bulk of last year with the ECHL's Stockton Thunder, for whom he posted a 2.84 goals against average, a .907 save percentage and two shutouts while going 9-14-2 in 25 games.

Milner's is the seventh AHL call-up for a Mallard this season.  Milner will join defenseman Benjamin Dieude-Fauvel, who was called up from the Mallards last month, when he arrives in Des Moines.

Milner turned professional last season after winning two national championships in four years at Boston College.  Milner went 64-20-5 while turning in a 2.23 goals against average, a .919 save percentage and six shutouts in 93 games over the course of his standout collegiate career.

Milner helped Boston College to the NCAA title as a freshman in 2010 and again as a junior in 2012.  He acted a backup during BC's run to the 2010 championship before taking a leading role in the 2012 triumph.  Then a junior, Milner was named the Most Outstanding Player of the 2012 NCAA tournament and also earned NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament honors after going 4-0 with a 0.50 goals against average, a .982 save percentage and two shutouts during the tournament.  Milner's goals against average was tied for the best in tournament history while his save percentage was the highest since the tournament expanded beyond four teams in 1972.  He capped off his superb tournament effort by making 27 saves in BC's 4-1 victory over Ferris State in the national championship game.  The NCAA title was the crowning achievement of a season that also saw Milner and his teammates win the Hockey East regular season and tournament titles as well as the Beanpot and Icebreaker tournaments.

Over the 2011-12 campaign as a whole, Milner went 29-5-0 while registering a 1.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and three shutouts in 34 games.  His .853 winning percentage was the best in the nation.  He completed his college career in 2012-13 by playing in all but one of the Eagles' 38 games, going 22-11-4 and recording a 2.66 goals against average, a .911 save percentage and two shutouts.

During Milner's time in Chestnut Hill, BC not only claimed a pair of NCAA crowns but also secured three Hockey East postseason titles along with two conference regular season championships, made four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and won four straight Beanpots.