Following WWII, the Abstract Expressionism's movement spread internationally from New York. Artists, like Quad City's Gene Brack, have taken inspiration from this American movement and applied it to their body of work. "I love the rich texture of oil paints. There is something sculptural about the way they adhere to the canvas. The vivid and rich colors give me a variety of choices as I manipulate them into compositions that are, at times, geometric and, at other times, subtle and restful," said Brack recently in an interview.

Coming from a theatrical background as a set designer, Brack captures his dramatic effects best in harsh diagonal lines and almost comedic curving lines. There is drama in the clash of design elements; lines and color create a rich contrast that tips the balance of the composition and frees one's imagination.

Along with Brack's southern roots in central Florida, faith, education, and service in the US Air Force have affected Brack's journey. His use of color and texture open a viewer's eyes to this innovative work.

It is Atom Studio + Gallery's privilege to welcome Gene Brack as one of our own. We cordially invite you to the opening of his show, Variations: Conflicting Harmonies, which will be sure to enchant the public. A reception in his honor will be held March 27th from 6 to 9 p.m. The show will continue through April 19th, and affter the 19th, a selection of Brack's work will be included in the gallery, which is located at 225 E. 2nd Street, downtown Davenport.

Atom Studio + Gallery has a full selection of summer courses and classes available for all ages and abilities. Please contact the gallery at atomstudiogallery@gmail.com or Pat Bereskin at 563-508-4630 for further information.

As part of Augustana College's expanded educational opportunities for its students and faculty, The Rev. Dr. Nancy Wilson will speak on Saturday, March 21, 2pm, on the topic, "A Faith Big Enough for an Epic Climate Crisis!" at Ascension Chapel.

Dr. Wilson is the global moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) which was founded in 1968 as a church which welcomed, and was led by, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Christians.  MCC today has a presence in over 40 countries.  Dr. Wilson was part of the first LGBT faith delegation to meet with White House staff in 1979, and served as a member of President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.


MCC was the first to publically celebrate same-sex marriages and were the originators of World AIDS Day. Today, MCC is breaking new ground by working across all lines of difference and at the intersection of issues to make the world a better place for all living creatures. In 2014, Rev. Wilson was named as one of the spokespeople for Blessed Tomorrow, a team of twenty-one top ecumenical and interfaith leaders to spearhead an effort to mobilize religious communities to address environmental concerns. Blessed Tomorrow emerged from EcoAmerica MomentUs, a group that invited Rev. Wilson to join in 2013 as they began to formalize their strategy to secure grassroots support through faith groups to work toward climate solutions in their congregations, communities, and homes.


As Dr. Wilson writes,


"The question for us today is, can we unpack our own queer stories to read the signs of the times and become leaders in this movement to make this planet home for every living creature -- not just human creatures?"


There will be an opportunity for students and the public to meet Dr. Wilson and ask questions after the presentation.

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner today announced he has filled openings on the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, the Illinois Criminal Justice and Information Authority, the Illinois Employment Security Review Board, the Illinois Pollution Control Board and the Illinois Labor Relations Board.

 

 

Illinois Commerce Commission

 

Name: John Rosales

Position: Commissioner - Illinois Commerce Commission

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected John Rosales to join the Illinois Commerce Commission as a Commissioner. Rosales brings years of management experience to the position.

 

Rosales is currently the Director of the south Chicago campus of Olive-Harvey College. He is responsible for the management and direction of the campus by managing students, faculty and staff. He also works to grow enrollment within Chicago's southeast side.

 

In addition, Rosales is also a Commissioner on the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board. He's held this position since 2011. This board considers the promotions of Cook County Sheriff's Police Officers and presides over disciplinary cases.

 

Prior to his work at City Colleges of Chicago, Rosales worked for more than 18 years at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Chicago and for Coca-Cola Enterprises. With the CCBC of Chicago he was the Sales Center Manager and Vice President of Community and Government Affairs. At Coca-Cola Enterprises, he was the Manager of Community Affairs and Business Development.

 

Rosales earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. He is a resident of Chicago.

 

 

Illinois Prisoner Review Board

 

Name: Craig Findley

Position: Chairman - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Craig Findley to be the new Chairman of the Prisoner Review Board. Findley was appointed in February 2001 and has previously served as the chairman from January 2003 to May 2004.

 

Prior to joining the Prisoner Review board, Findley served as the President of Craig Findley Associates, a consulting firm. He also owned and published three Illinois weekly newspapers. Findley previously served as Deputy Director of the Illinois Department of Transportation. He was also a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives and was a senior aide to Congressman Bob Michel.

 

Findley has long been active in organizations that advocate adoption and promote the best interests of children. Findley is a member and twice Chairman of the Lincoln Land Community College Board of Trustees, and member of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra. He has served as President of the Jacksonville Public Library and as Chairman of the Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

Findley is a graduate of Knox College.

 

 

Name: Donald Wayne Dunn

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Donald Wayne Dunn to the Prisoner Review Board. Dunn brings more than 45 years of experience in counseling to the position.

 

Most recently, Dunn served as a Mental Health Administrator with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, working out of the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg where he oversaw a staff of 20. In this role, he supervised the substance abuse program, the sex offender program, the post-incarceration program, and conflict resolution and anger management.

 

Prior to his work with the IDJJ, Dunn was the Director of Guidance and Counseling at Vienna High School for 25 years. He established a peer mediation program, established individualized career plans for all students, established the career guidance center and coordinated services for special needs children, among many other duties.

 

Dunn also worked as a District Guidance Counselor and Work Coordinator at Dongola Unit School, as a guidance counselor at Anna-Jonesboro Community High School, and as a Neighborhood Youth Corp Counselor at the Shawnee Development Council.

 

Dunn holds a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University in education. He also earned his master's degree from Southern Illinois University in guidance and educational psychology. Dunn lives in Cypress.

 

 

Name: Peter Fisher

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Peter Fisher to the Prisoner Review Board. Fisher brings 35 years of experience in law enforcement to the board.

 

Currently, Fisher is the Chief of Police at the Creve Coeur Police Department. He joined the department in 2010 and oversees the department's daily operations.

 

From 1980 to 2009, Fisher was a member of the East Peoria Police Department. He rose through the ranks to Deputy Chief of Police. In this position he was the commander of the operations division and oversaw patrol, the K-9 unit, scheduling and internal affairs.

 

Fisher attended Illinois Central College and is a resident of East Peoria.

 

 

Name: Vonetta Harris

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Vonetta Harris to the Prisoner Review Board. She joined the board in September 2013.

 

Harris began her career as a social worker for Gateway Outpatient Health Clinic and a Crisis Hotline Intervention Specialist for Call For Help: providing assessments and interventions for the dually-diagnosed, as well as, alcohol and substance abusers. She then transitioned her career from social work to education targeting displaced families and at-risk youth. Harris has served as an educational counseling specialist, program coordinator, and a director, organizing specific programs to delineate the stigma of low-income, first-generation youth and the rate of recidivism amongst juveniles.

 

Harris is an active board member for Call for Help, Inc., and a Planning Commissioner for the City of East St. Louis promoting community resources and job opportunities.

 

Harris earned a bachelor's degree in social work and a master's degree in public administration from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She also holds a master's degree in education administration from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri.

 

 

Name: Daryl Jones

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Daryl Jones to serve on the Prisoner Review Board. Jones is a veteran and brings 10 years of legal experience to the board.

 

Jones currently works for the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) as the Senior Legal Adviser and Agency Ethics Officer. He reviews court-ordered sentences to ensure legal compliance and provides legal advice to departmental personnel. He also worked as the Chief of Intergovernmental Relations at the IDOC and worked closely with local, state and federal officials on constituent-related concerns and legislative initiatives.

 

Prior to his work at the IDOC, Jones was an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County for seven years. He handled felony and misdemeanor trials for adults and juveniles.

 

Jones is a veteran, serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant. He was awarded two United States Embassy special duty assignments and named battalion "Marine of the Quarter."

 

Jones graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a Bachelor of Arts in speech communication and a Bachelor of Science in career and organizational studies. He earned his law degree from Southern Illinois University. Jones is a resident of Chicago.

 

 

Name: Adam Monreal

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Adam Monreal to the Prisoner Review Board. He was first appointed in 2010.

 

Monreal began his legal career as an Assistant State's Attorney for Cook County. Later he became the Assistant to the Mayor for Public Safety of the City of Chicago, where he was the liaison from the Mayor's Office to all City of Chicago departments for public safety related matters. After leaving the Mayor's Office, Monreal was a trusts, estates and real estate attorney. In February 2010, he became the supervisor of the Workers' Compensation Fraud Unit for the Illinois Department of Insurance.

 

Monreal received his bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1990 from Loyola University of Chicago and his law degree from Northern Illinois University College of Law in 1994.

 

 

Name: Aurthur Mae Perkins

Position: Board Member - Prisoner Review Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Aurthur Mae Perkins, 75, to the Prisoner Review Board. She brings more than 30 years of experience as an educator and administrator to the position.

 

Perkins began working as a Pre-K and kindergarten teacher in Peoria Public Schools in 1983. She eventually became principal of Harrison Primary School in 1993. Under her leadership, her students had some of the highest reading, writing and math scores among Peoria Title I schools. She has been recognized by the Illinois State Board of Education for her accomplishments as an educator.

 

Perkins is very active in her community, working for the Peoria Housing Authority. She also worked for the Peoria Public Library Board.

 

Perkins is a graduate of Bradley University, earning her bachelor's degree in education and master's degree in education administration. She lives in Peoria.

 

 

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Name: Elizabeth Robb

Position: Chairman - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected former Chief Circuit Judge (11th Circuit) Elizabeth Robb to become the chairman of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). She brings more than 30 years of legal experience to the ICJIA.

 

Robb served as a trial judge for 22 years on the 11th Judicial Circuit Court of Illinois, and was the Chief Judge from 2004-2014. In that role, in addition to presiding over trials, she had administrative responsibility for the 20 judges in the court, oversaw court reporters, probation officers and other court staff.

 

Prior to becoming a judge, Robb was an attorney at Reynard & Robb Law Offices (1982-1987) and the Robb Law Office (1987-1993).

 

Robb earned her bachelor's degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and her law degree from Loyola University of Chicago. She lives in Normal.

 

 

Name: Paula Wolff

Position: Board Member - Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Paula Wolff to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. Wolff has focused much of her career on justice policy.

 

Wolff is currently the Director of the Illinois Justice Project, which is a civic organization that works to reform the criminal justice system. She is responsible for research and policy development and seeing through its implementation. From 2000-2014, Wolff led the Justice and Violence Group of Metropolis Strategies, which was the predecessor to the Illinois Justice Project.

 

From 1992 to 2000, Wolff served as President of Governors State University. She was responsible for the management of the university, oversaw faculty, students, the budget and strategic direction. During her tenure, enrollment grew by 22 percent to more than 9,000 students.

 

Wolff also worked for former Governor James Thompson as the Director of Policy and Planning. She directed development and implemented policy at all levels of Illinois state government. She also worked for former Governor Richard Ogilvie.

 

Wolff earned her bachelor's degree from Smith College and has her master's degree and doctorate in political science from the University of Chicago. She lives in Chicago.

 

 

Illinois Employment Security Board of Review

 

Name: Jack L. Calabro

Position: Chairman - Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Jack L. Calabro, 73, as the Chairman of the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Calabro is the President and founder of Encore Partners, which focuses on change management and labor relations consulting.

 

Calabro previously worked at DeVry Inc. where he was the Corporate Vice President of Human Resources. There he led change management initiatives and oversaw acquisitions. His other human resources experience includes City Colleges of Chicago, Executive Synergies, Inc., Helene Curtis Industries, Inc., and Maremont Corporation.

 

Calabro earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from City University of New York, and he holds a master's degree in business management from the University of Illinois. Calabro lives in Chicago.

 

 

Name: Raymond Nice

Position: Member - Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Raymond Nice to the Employment Security Board of Review.  Nice has served on the Board since December of 2013.

 

Nice is a career public servant, retiring as Deputy Recorder of Deeds for Cook County in 2011.  He is a lifelong resident of Chicago.

 

Nice earned his bachelor's degree in accountancy from DePaul University in 1978.

 

 

Name: Nicholas Elias Panomitros

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Nicholas Elias Panomitros, 50, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Panomitros is a doctor of dental surgery and owner of Chicago All Care Dental Group.

Along with his dental practice, Panomitros is an adjunct professor of political science at Harper College. He has also worked as a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois, College of Dentistry. Panomitros has previously served on the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority.

Panomitros received a bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois and graduated from the University of Illinois, School of Dentistry in 1989. He received his law degree from John Marshall Law School in 2010. Panomitros lives in Chicago.

 

Name: Henry Winfield

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Henry Winfield, 62, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review.

 

Winfield spent his 30 year career at the Illinois Department of Revenue where he was the Special Agent Supervisor of criminal investigations. His tasks included preparing comprehensive investigative reports, testifying at criminal trials and coordinating joining investigations with other agencies. He was instrumental in establishing training programs for special agents and supervised their implementation. Winfield retired in 2005.

 

Winfield earned his bachelor's degree in accounting and his master's degree in criminal justice from Chicago State University. Winfield lives in Lansing.

 

 

Name: Michael James Woodward

Position: Employment Security Board of Review

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Michael James Woodward, 63, to the Illinois Employment Security Board of Review. Woodward brings more than 20 years of experience in the public sector to the position.

 

Currently, Woodward is the managing partner of Woodward Group, Inc., where he has worked since 2005. His firm specializes in traffic, real estate and probate matters.

 

Prior to that, Woodward was elected as the City Clerk and Secretary of the Public Board of Health for the City of Berwyn from 2001 to 2005. He served as Director of Community Development for the City of Berwyn, Assistant Attorney General at the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, City Attorney for the City of Berwyn and numerous positions with the Illinois Secretary of State.

 

Woodward earned his bachelor's degree in mathematics from Saint Joseph's College, and he holds a law degree from John Marshall Law School. Woodward lives in Berwyn.

 

 

Illinois Pollution Control Board

 

Name: Gerald Keenan

Position: Illinois Pollution Control Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Gerald Keenan, 61, to the Illinois Pollution Control Board. He brings years of experience as a regulator, entrepreneur and consultant in the electric, natural gas and telecommunications industries to the position. He also has experience working for the Illinois Commerce Commission.

 

Keenan is currently the Managing Director of Palmer Bellvue and advises many European utility companies on business in Central America. He focuses on management consultation, project development and evaluation.

 

Prior to that, Keenan was the lead partner for the energy strategy group at PriceWaterhouseCoopers. He led a group of 80 professionals in the electricity, natural gas and petroleum sectors. Keenan also worked at PwC's predecessor, Coopers & Lybrand Consulting. He was a partner of the utilities practice, focusing on development and implementation of business, regulatory and financial strategies for utilities, power companies and telecommunications firm.

 

Keenan earned his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University. He also holds a master's degree from the Catholic Theological Union. Keenan lives in Glencoe.

 

 

Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Name: Michael Coli

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

Governor Bruce Rauner has reappointed Michael Coli, 62, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Coli has served on this board since 2006.

 

Coli previously served as Trustee and President of the Teamsters Local Union No.727. During his time there, Coli negotiated contracts, supervised business agents, oversaw grievance and arbitration cases, and handled Labor Board hearings, elections, and changes at a federal and local level.

 

He has been an active member of many boards and committees including the Parking Industry Labor Management Committee, Turnberry Country Club and the Racing Industry Charitable Foundation.

 

 

Name: John R. Samolis

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected John R. Samolis, 68, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Samolis brings over 30 years of human resources experience to the board.

 

Samolis is currently the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Exelon. His duties include employee and labor relations, talent management and labor strategy. Previously, Samolis spent 18 years with United Airlines where he ultimately served as Vice President, Labor Relations and Vice President, People Services. He was responsible for interactions between the company and the unions that represented more than 55,000 employees. He was also responsible for oversight of employment, diversity, international personnel and training for employees nationwide.

 

Samolis earned his bachelor's degree in psychology from John Carroll University.

 

 

Name: Keith A. Snyder

Position: Board Member - Illinois Labor Relations Board

 

Governor Bruce Rauner has selected Keith A. Snyder, 55, to the Illinois Labor Relations Board. Snyder currently serves as the Mayor of the City of Lincoln, a community of 14,500.

 

Snyder also serves as the Associate Vice President at Lincoln Christian University, managing endowment fundraising along with developing monthly performance review processes for the school.

 

Previously, Snyder worked as a procurement specialist for State Farm Mutual Insurance Companies and an ethics officer for the Illinois State Senate. He also served as a board member of the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board for six years under Governor Jim Edgar.

 

Snyder earned his bachelor's degree in political studies from the University of Illinois at Springfield, and he earned his master's degree in business administration from Illinois State University.

 

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A space odyssey among the stars... Team up with three tweenaged flies and sneak on board the legendary Apollo 11 spacecraft for a mind-blowing experience that puts you in the middle of the action and fully engages all of your senses. Shake, rattle and hold on to your seat as the rocket boosters blast you off into space! Once you adjust to zero gravity, you'll see what it really feels like to walk on the Moon! A sensational breathtaking experience like you've never experienced before... This 17 min. space odyssey of the 3rd kind is based on nWave Pictures first full-length 3D animated feature film, Fly Me to the Moon.
At just 17 minutes, Fly Me to the Moon is the perfect film for younger viewers.
View the official trailer for Fly Me to the Moon!
Fly Me to the Moon and all other movie show times can be found on our new website!
WHO: The Armenian Genocide Remembrance Committee of the Quad Cities, Jewish Federation of the Quad Cities, Augustana College and St. Ambrose University Campus Ministry
WHAT: 100th Anniversary of The Armenian Genocide
WHEN: Sunday, March 22; Tuesday, March 24; Wednesday March 25
WHERE: March 22 (Figge Art Museum); March 24 (Christ The King Chapel - St. Ambrose); March 25 (Wallenberg Hall - Augustana College) - Details Below
WHY: The Armenian Genocide began in April 1915 leading to the deaths of 1.5 million Armenian Christians at the hands of the Ottoman Turks. Historians view this event as the influence of Hitler's ethnic cleansing program leading to the Holocaust.

Sunday, March 22 - Documentary Film "The Armenian Genocide" - 4 PM at Figge Art Museum Auditorium - Adults $7; Seniors and Military $6; Students Free. Armenian American and Quad Citian Raelene Ohanesian Pullen will provide an intro to the movie.

Tuesday, March 24 - Interfaith Prayer Service - 7:00** at Christ The King Chapel - St. Ambrose. Free and open to the public. Armenian Priest Aren Jebijian of St. Gregory Parish leads with a homily from Bishop Martin Amos of the Diocese of Davenport. **From 6-7 PM, Armenian Food and Music will be available in the lobby.

Wednesday, March 25 - The Families of The Armenian Genocide - 7:00-8:15 PM - Wallenberg Hall - Augustana College. Free and open to the public. Fr. Jebejian will be the keynote speaker along with Armenian American and Quad Citian Raelene Ohanesian Pullen who will share her family's story.

Lt. Governor Sanguinetti to chair task force

CHICAGO - Governor Bruce Rauner announced today the members of the newly created Local Government and Unfunded Mandates Task Force. The task force is comprised of municipal and county leaders, representatives of school districts, state legislators, and experts in consolidation. They represent all areas of Illinois. The task force is chaired by Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti.

This task force will identify ways to help local governments consolidate and eliminate duplicate governmental bodies, school districts and taxing authorities. Streamlining these services will help prevent waste and use taxpayer dollars more efficiently. It will also find ways to reduce the number of unfunded mandates the state imposes on local communities.

"Illinois has an excessive number of local government units and the state severely limits local governments' ability to control their own costs," Gov. Rauner said. "Consolidating local government and reducing the burden of unfunded mandates imposed by the state will reduce costs, increase efficiency and improve delivery of services."

"Streamlining local governments will help them better provide core services to the hard-working families in Illinois," Lt. Gov. Sanguinetti said. "I am honored to work for the taxpayers by helping their local governments become more efficient so they can better serve the people they represent."

Members of the Local Government Consolidation and Unfunded Mandates Task Force are as follows:

Chaired By:  Lt. Governor Sanguinetti

Rep. Tom Demmer, Former Lee County Board Member

Rep.  Mark Batinick

Rep. Jack D. Franks

Rep. Emanuel Chris Welch

Sen. Dan Duffy

Sen. Dale A. Righter

Sen. Martin A. Sandoval

Sen. Linda Holmes

Karen Darch, Barrington Mayor

Karen Hasara, Member of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees, Former Mayor of Springfield, Chair of Sangamon County Citizens Efficiency Commission

Brad Cole, Executive Director of the Illinois Municipal League, Former Carbondale Mayor

Ryan Spain, Peoria City Council Member

Dan Cronin, DuPage County Chairman, Former Member of the Illinois General Assembly

Michael Bigger, Former Stark County Chairman

Mark Kern, St. Clair County Chairman, Former Alderman and Mayor of Belleville

John Espinoza, Whiteside County Board Member

Rev. James T. Meeks, Illinois State Board of Education

Dr. Darlene Ruscitti, DuPage Regional Superintendent of Schools

Steffanie Seegmiller, Arthur School Board Chairman

M. Hill Hammock, Senior Fellow - Metropolitan Planning Council, Former Chief Administrative Officer for Chicago Public Schools

Char Foss-Eggemann, Park Ridge Library Board of Trustees

Warren L. Dixon III, Naperville Township Assessor, Former DuPage County Board of Review

George Obernagel, Chairman - Kaskaskia Regional Port District

Serving in an Advisory Capacity: Clayton Frick, Deloitte Services LP

###

Doctor Says More Americans Realize The Effectiveness Of Remedies Found In Nature

A fever, stomach pains or a simple case of the sniffles can send people rushing to the pharmacy for a drug to battle their symptoms.

But Mother Nature provides a number of medicinal plants with healing properties that also can nurse you back to health, a fact more Americans are beginning to discover.

"The use of herbal medicine, although traditional in many Eastern cultures, had been only a minor fad in Western medicine until recent decades," says Dr. Virender Sodhi, founder of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic (ayurvedicscience.com), which provides complementary and alternative medicine.

That trend has been shifting as a growing body of studies and research has demonstrated the effects of traditional remedies on chronic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, says Sodhi, author of the new guide, "Ayurvedic Herbs: The Comprehensive Resource for Ayurvedic Healing Solutions" (www.ayush.com).

That's not necessarily news to ailing people in other parts of the world, such as Asia and Africa. For centuries, they have found relief through herbal medicines derived from shrubs, vines, trees and other plants, Sodhi says.

Here are four examples, a couple of which are recognizable by better known names and purposes.

•  Glycyrrhiza glabra. Most people would recognize this plant by its more common name - licorice. It has been used for centuries in the traditional and folk medicines of Asia and Europe to treat ailments ranging from the common cold to liver disease, Sodhi says. Most Americans likely encountered licorice as children because the sweet root of the plant is used to make candy. Licorice can cure more than a sweet tooth, though. It can protect people from the influenza virus. In cell line studies it was shown to reduce titer of the influenza virus by 90 percent and have strong immune modulation properties. It's an important ingredient in many herbal preparations, Sodhi said, especially for bronchial conditions. Because of its expectorant properties, powdered licorice has been used for centuries to treat coughs. Modern cough syrups often contain licorice extract.

•  Piper nigrum. This flowering vine's berries, when still unripe, are used to produce black pepper, but spicing up food isn't its only talent. Piper nigrum has anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-spasmodic properties that make it ideal for treating digestive disorders, Sodhi says. It doesn't stop there. Drug resistance is a major concern in cancer patients. Piper nigrum can reverse multiple drug resistance many fold and significantly increase the apoptotic effect of many pharmaceutical drugs.

•  Boswellia serrate. Commonly known as Frankincense, this herb has powerful anti-inflammatory effects. Several patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's colitis have gone in to remission using a Boswellia preparation. In brain tumor patients it has reduced cerebral edema by 75 percent. Sodhi has mentioned case studies of many patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and ulcerative colitis who went into remission.

•  Bael. This fruit-bearing tree indigenous to the hills and plains of central and southern India has numerous uses. The fruit promotes healthy digestion and is used medicinally to treat such conditions as diarrhea, dysentery and cholera. The leaves, roots and bark of Bael also have medicinal value. They help relieve acute bronchitis, heart palpitations, intermittent fevers and many other ailments. Dr. Sodhi has observed 100 percent success in treating patients of clostridium difficile, who did not respond to standard medical protocol of metronidazole (Flagyl), Dificid (fidaxomicin), or vanconycin.

About Virender Sodhi, M.D., N.D.

Dr. Virender Sodhi was the first Ayurvedic and Naturopathic physician in the United States. He is the author of "Ayurvedic Herbs: The Comprehensive Resource for Ayurvedic Healing Solutions," (www.ayush.com) and founder of the Ayurvedic and Naturopathic Medical Clinic, (ayurvedicscience.com). Dr. Sodhi earned his M.D. (Ayurved) in 1980 from the Dayanand Ayurvedic Medical College in Jalandar, India. He served as a college professor in India until 1986, when the Indian government selected him to share Ayurveda with Western society as part of a cultural exchange program. He finished his fellowship in Integrative Oncology with Dr. Mark Rosenberg in 2012. Dr. Sodhi is a visiting professor at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy, and at Des Moines University in Iowa.

Registration is now open to sign-up student teams & volunteers for the following K-12 student events.

Students in K-3 - Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo #3Junior FIRST LEGO League Teams registered with FIRST are invited to participate in 3rd Quad Cities Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo on April 11 from 12:00 - 2:00 PM at the Putnam Museum.  Each team will have space to setup their Show Me Poster and LEGO Model sharing what they have learned with attendees and a Judge Reviewer Team.  Participates on all new teams (not attended QCESC Expo in December), will receive a certificate and QCESC JrFLL Mento.   The Junior FIRST LEGO League Expo will be part of the celebration of National Robotics Week planned at the Putnam with area FIRST Teams from all four programs expected to have displays from 1:00 - 4:00 PM along with the Putnam Exhibit Alien Worlds and Androids. Link to Register Team (Free)

Students in Grades 6- 8th - Mousetrap Racecar Engineering & Design Competition April 11 Mousetrap Racecar Engineering and Design Competition is free and open to any Quad City and surrounding area middle level student (Grades 6, 7, and 8). Competing teams must include no less than three students and cannot exceed six students. Multi-age teams are certainly welcome.Link to Register Team or Volunteer (Free)

Students in Grades 9-12 - Trebuchet Egg Throw CompetitionLocal high school teams of 3-8 students design & build trebuchets to launch raw eggs at targets at three, specified distances.  In addition, the teams will give a presentation to local QCESC Engineers.  Prizes are awarded for the teams with the top three scores, team with the longest throw (current record is 286.5 feet), and team with the most innovative design.  Trebuchet is 2nd of three events for the QC Tech Challenge with traveling trophy for winning school and $1,000 scholarship for winning individual.Link To Register Team or Volunteer (Free)

Other Upcoming STEM Events which are free and open to the public:

  • March 18-21 - Central Illinois FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Regional - Peoria
    38 Teams from the US and one team from Turkey will be competing to qualify for the FIRST World Championship.  The QC Elite Team #648 from the Quad Cities will be competing.  
    2nd Annual regional being hosted at Bradly University in Peoria.  The event is free and open to the public.
  • Link to Volunteer

    March 26-28 - FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) North Super-Regional - Des Moines
    Free and open to the public, 2nd annual North FTC Super-Regional being hosted at Iowa Event Center in Des Moines.  72 teams from 11 States will competing including teams from Davenport West and Pleasant Valley High School.  20-25 Teams from the event will qualify for the FIRST World Championship April 22-25 in St. Louis
    Link to Information on Volunteering

  • March 26-27 - State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa - Ames
    Free and open to pubic.  World's premier pre-collegiate science fair. The SSTFI is open to any student in the state of Iowa in grades six through twelve.   During the event nearly 500 student research projects presented by nearly 600 students are judged.  The event culminates with the Grand Award Ceremony where over $70,000 in scholarships and prizes awarded to students for their excellence in research
    Information on Volunteering

  • March 30 - Iowa Statewide STEM Summit - Des Moines
    The Statewide STEM Summit is an examination and discussion of the statewide programs and task-forces underway through the Governor's STEM Advisory Council aimed at providing the best STEM possible to the preK-12 students of Iowa.
    Link for Further Information or to Pre-Register (Limited Capacity)
  • April 1-5 - Midwest FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Regional  - Chicago
    54 Teams from four states (IA & IL) and two countries will be competing to qualify for the FIRST World Championship including the QC Elite team #648 from the Quad Cities.  The event is hosted at the University of Illinois Chicago.
    Link to Volunteer

For further information or questions, please contact Carl Loweth, QCESC STEM Coordinator at carl.loweth@gmail.com or via phone at 563-505-1196

June 13, 2015 - 7 pm
On Sale Friday, March 27 at 10 am

PUEBLO, Colo. - The Professional Bull Riders announced that Moline's iWireless Center will be the host for the BlueDEF Velocity event on June 13.

For one night only, the best up and coming bull riders in the world will face foes nearly 10 times their weight during the most thrilling 8 seconds in sports. Each rider will face one bull in Round 1 and then the Top 10 scoring riders of the night will come back for one more ride in the championship round. At the end of the competition, the rider with the highest combined score will be crowned the champion.

The action begins at 7 p.m. CT.

Tickets, ranging in price from $18 to $68, go on sale Friday, March 27 to the general public and are available at www.ticketmaster.com , the iWireless Center box office, or by phone at 800-745-3000.

The Quad Cities will be the 16th stop of 24 on the 2015 PBR BlueDEF Velocity Tour. The tour kicked off in Clovis, New Mexico at the L.J. Jenkins Invitational on Oct. 31, 2014. As the last event of the BDVT season, the BDVT Finals will take place in Louisville, Kentucky two weeks prior to the PBR World Finals and offer a total purse of $100,000.

The overall winner of the BDVT season will be the rider who earns the most world points at the BDVT level. He will receive $50,000 and qualify to compete at the PBR Built Ford Tough World Finals.

Visit PBR LIVE for details about watching online streams of the 2015 BlueDEF Velocity Tour season.

The PBR's BlueDEF Velocity Tour is a collaboration between the PBR and AEG, the leading sports, entertainment and venue operator in the world, which offers established and up-and-coming bull riders the opportunity to gain the valuable points needed to qualify for the PBR's elite Built Ford Tough Series.

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