19 Sep 2014

KIRKWOOD COMM. COLLEGE SUMMER DEAN'S LIST

By Angela L. Parenteau

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 12, 2014)  -- Kirkwood Community College has released its Dean's List for the Summer 2014 semester. These students have achieved a 3.3 grade point average or higher after completing 12 or more credit hours with the college.

Kirkwood students from the area earning this distinction are listed below.

from Bettendorf, IA

  • Taylor Lampe, Pre-Business Transfer - AA
  • Chelsea Wehrle, Liberal Arts - AA


from Davenport, IA

  • Veronica Fleming, Horse Science Technology - AAS
  • Tyler Guzzo, Physical Therapist Assistant - AAS
  • Tyler Lightner, Agriculture Business - AAS
  • Joseph Roth, Liberal Arts - AS
  • Reed Stock, Liberal Arts - AS


-30-

19 Sep 2014

Chicago based unit receives Army Award for Maintenance Excellence

By Staff Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade

WASHINGTON, D.C.- (09/12/2014)(readMedia)-- The Illinois Army National Guard's 108th Special Troops Battalion based in Chicago received a national-level Army Award for Excellence in Maintenance (AAME) Sept. 10 during the 10th Annual United States Army Combined Logistics Excellence Award ceremony in Washington, D.C.

The 108th STB, which deployed to Kuwait in January under the 108th Sustainment Brigade in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, placed first in the large-unit category in the 2013 AAME competition. This is the second year since 2011 the unit has received the award.

"The AAME gives recognition and improves overall readiness," said Col. Drew Dukett of Roodhouse, Illinois, the 108th Sust. Bde. commander. "When you have a checklist of what needs to be done per the regulation you have to maintain a high level of readiness and maintenance."

This competition maintains the efforts and progress the 108th has already made in its stride toward efficiency, said Dukett.

"Especially in tough fiscal times, maintenance is vitally important. It preserves our ability to conduct military operations and saves the taxpayer the cost of having to replace Army equipment," said Dukett. "My Soldiers understand this and it has shown in their work. I'm proud of them and their dedication. The AAME award is a reflection of their efforts."

AAME evaluators from Fort Lee, Virgina, conducted onsite inspections in the final phase of the competition earlier this year. Evaluators visited the 108th STB's facilities in both North Riverside and the Northwest Armory near Humboldt Park.

The competition involves a thorough inspection in different areas of the unit including maintenance, supply, training and overall unit readiness. The AAME competition is divided into different phases spanning several months. The 108th STB won maintenance competitions at the state, regional and National Guard Bureau levels.

Competition categories are determined by the number of personnel assigned to a unit or command. Units with 300 or more personnel compete in the large category.

The 20-page nomination packet, required to enter the AAME competition, illustrated the unit's maintenance programs and Soldier readiness. The 108th STB is the first unit in the Illinois National Guard to win in the large category since the 232nd Combat Support Battalion out of Springfield in 2001.

The 108th SB as a whole is no stranger to logistical excellence awards. Units and Solders within the brigade have received awards and citations for excellence in supply, maintenance and combat support operations in recent years.

Capt. Alison Jacobs of Rochester, Illinois, the logistics officer with the 108th STB said the unit's success in the competition reflects the unit's overall dedication to mission readiness and support in Illinois and abroad.

"A major part of the AAME program revolves around units displaying that they are prepared for their mission for internal and external support," Jacobs said. "Being mission ready is especially critical for logistical support units."

Jacobs said it was the team effort that made the 108th STB successful in the AAME competition.

"Success doesn't come from the efforts of one person," said Jacobs. "It's a team dynamic, drawing support throughout the unit, from the leadership to Soldiers in the motor pool. It's not just about reaching the standard, but exceeding it and continuing to maintain that level."

19 Sep 2014

4 Principles for Staying Cool Under Pressure - and Succeeding

By Rick Martin
Athlete & World-Renowned Surgeon Shares Tips for Becoming a 'Super Performer'

We all ask ourselves the same desperate question from time to time: How am I going to make this work?!

"No matter how well we've done laying the groundwork for everything to run smoothly - becoming educated, choosing the right spouse, treating others well -- we all face situations that challenge us," says Dr. Robert J. Cerfolio, a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgeon known as "the Michael Jordan of lung surgery."

"If we can keep our cool and adhere to some basic principles, we can not only meet any challenge - we can perform with excellence."

A high-performance athlete in high school and college, Dr. Cerfolio parlayed his talents and focus into pursuing his medical career and creating a happy family with his cherished wife, Lorraine, and their three sons.

But after battling breast cancer, Lorraine recently passed away. Cerfolio, author of "Super Performing at Work and at Home: The Athleticism of Surgery and Life," (www.superperforming.com), shares the principles that helped him through that greatest of all challenges and lesser ones along the way.

"Apply these principles in work, sports and life in general, and you can become a super performer," he says.

•  Pressure equals opportunity. It's when something matters that the pressure starts to build; this is where the rubber meets the road for sports-to-life analogies.

"In sports as in life, remember your training; follow through just like you did during practice; visualize success; believe it will happen," Dr. Cerfolio says. "With friends, for example, high-pressure moments can be those times when they need you. The best way to have great friends is to be a great friend."

•  Strive to hit .400 every year - keep your eye on the prize; write it down. "My high school gave out an award each year to the best student athlete in each grade," he says. "I wrote down that I wanted to win the Klein Award in the ninth, 10th and 11th grades, and to win the most prestigious award at the senior graduation, the Deetjen Award.

He accomplished most of those goals, and a key to those achievements was writing them down and placing the paper where, for four years, he could see it every night.

"By writing them down, I had made my goals clear and objective."

•  Lean toward a "we-centered" ego rather than a "me-centered" one. "When I traded in my baseball uniform for surgical scrubs, I noticed the importance of stripping the many layers of the ego I once had," Dr. Cerfolio says. "This is really important: Your ego doesn't need to be visible to everyone -- or even anyone but yourself."

Being a top performer requires ego - it helps fuel self-confidence and provides some of the motivation necessary to achieve. But it should not hinder the performance of your team: your coworkers, friends and family. Over time, by keeping your ego to yourself, it becomes easier to enact a team-oriented ego, rather than a "me-oriented" one.

•  Time to quit? Rub some dirt on it. In life, work is unavoidable, so embrace it, go big, and appreciate the rewards. No matter how difficult the challenge you face or how much it may hurt to meet that challenge, push through and give it your all.

"Yes, there's a chance you won't succeed, or won't succeed to the degree you'd like. But you stand zero chance of success if you don't meet that challenge and give it everything you've got," Dr. Cerfolio says. "You owe it to yourself and your team, whether that's your ball team, your family team or your work team. When you sign up for any team, by definition you promise your time, effort and 100 percent commitment. You have to be at every game and every practice on time and ready to go."

About Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA

Robert J. Cerfolio, MD, MBA, is the James H. Estes Family Endowed Chair of Lung Cancer Research and Full Professor Chief of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He received his medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine, surgical training at the Mayo Clinic and at Cornell-Sloan Kettering hospital, and has been in practice for more than 26 years. The author of "Super Performing at Work and at Home," (www.superperforming.com), Cerfolio, who was a First Team Academic All-American baseball player in college, is a world-renowned chest surgeon and recognized as one of the busiest and best thoracic surgeons in the world.

15 Sep 2014

THE FIELDHOUSE OPENS AND HOLIDAY HIRING EVENTS AT NORTHPARK & SOUTHPARK MALLS

By Aleisha Chiesa

The FieldHouse is now open at NorthPark Mall!

WHO: The FieldHouse is new to the Quad Cities, but they have been in business throughout Iowa for over 80 years. They specialize in black and gold décor for those die-hard football fans in the Midwest.

WHAT: The FieldHouse is directly across from Skeffington's Formal Wear. A good place to park is in between JCPenney and Barnes & Noble. The FieldHouse has over 20 beers on tap with big screen TVs broadcasting the games, plus enjoy a family-friendly atmosphere that makes this spot appealing for youth sports teams after a big win. You can now enjoy burgers, chicken sandwiches, pizza and steaks made to order in the all new FieldHouse at NorthPark Mall.  Grand Opening festivities will take place on September 20 including entertainment and great specials.

NorthPark and SouthPark will host annual Job Fairs at both centers. Retailers and outside businesses will be available at NorthPark on September 12 from 4-6p and at SouthPark on September 19 from 4-6p.

For more information on great sales and events, visit www.north-park-mall-ia.com or www.shopsouthparkmall-il.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthParkMallIA or @SouthParkMallIL and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NorthParkMallIA or www.facebook.com/SouthParkMallIL.

WHEN: FieldHouse Grand Opening September 27, 2014 11a-1p

NorthPark Job Fair September 12 4p-6p

SouthPark Job Fair September 19 4p-6p

WHERE: FieldHouse - NorthPark Mall across from Skeffington's or at the outside mall entrance by JCPenney.

Job Fair, September 12 - NorthPark Mall in the common area between JCPenney and Younkers

Job Fair, September 19 - SouthPark Mall in the common area between Younkers and Dillard's

15 Sep 2014

SEPTEMBER PASSPORT EXTENDED HOURS & PHOTO SPECIAL

By Grace Cervantes

As a courtesy to our customers, the Scott County Recorder's Office will have extended passport hours and a discount on passport photos.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014 4:30-7 pm.

Saturday, September 27, 2014 9 am-1 pm.

*Photo Discount $5 each (Reg. $8)

www.scottcountyiowa.com/recorder

15 Sep 2014

Harkin Announces Nearly $2.78 Million for Community Health Centers in Iowa

By Sen. Tom Harkin

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today announced that 12 community health centers in Iowa have been awarded a total of $2,776,851 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase access to primary care ?services for Iowans. Harkin has been a staunch advocate of these centers and the services they provide through his dual role as both chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee that funds community health centers.

"Community health centers are a critical part of Iowa's health care system and on the front lines of providing care to more than 181,000 Iowans every year," said Harkin. "I have long fought to support the creation of community health centers because I know these facilities provide crucial healthcare for Iowa families in need. I congratulate these centers on today's funding and I look forward to improving access to health care for Iowans who lack access to affordable, comprehensive health insurance."

The health centers listed below are expected to hire 61 additional workers who will assist an estimated 12,135 new patients in Iowa with services, including extending facility hours and new services such as oral health, mental and behavioral health, pharmacy, and/or vision services.

Throughout his career, Harkin has worked to expand community health centers in Iowa by providing vital resources to ensure that all Iowans have access to affordable, quality health care. Under Harkin's leadership, national funding for CHCs has tripled from $496 million in 1989 to $1.5 billion in 2014. Building on this long legacy of expanding annual funding for community health centers, Harkin also successfully included an $11 billion Community Health Centers Fund in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to significantly expand the number of sites that provide preventative health services and primary care in underserved communities across the nation.  During this time, Harkin's support has helped to increase the number of CHCs in Iowa from only 2 in 1989 to 14 in 2014.  These centers now serve Iowans at over 85 different clinics throughout the state.

Details of the funding are below:

All Care Health Center - $209,876

Community Health Center, Inc.- $298,818

Community Health Center of Fort Dodge, Inc. - $205,432

Community Health Centers of Southeastern Iowa, Inc. - $242,114

Community Health Centers of Southern Iowa, Inc. - $211,212

Crescent Community Health Center -$205,714

Greater Sioux Community Health Center, Inc. - $196,584

Linn Community Care - $200,702

Primary Health Care, Inc. - $299,292

Proteus, Inc. - $195,767

River Halls Community Health Center, Inc. - $246,132

Siouxland Community Health Center, $265,208

###
15 Sep 2014

Did Rep. Bustos Forget She Cut Veterans Benefits By $6 Billion?

By Jon Schweppe
New Bustos ad claims she cares about veterans, but why did she vote to cut their benefits?

And where was Congresswoman Bustos during the VA crisis?

EAST MOLINE, Ill.?In an effort to inoculate herself from her heartless vote to cut veterans benefits by $6 billion, Cheri Bustos is up on air with a new commercial, paid for by liberal special interest groups and wealthy D.C. lobbyists.

Jon Schweppe, communications director at Bobby Schilling for Congress, released the following statement:

"Cheri Bustos voted to cut veterans benefits by $6 billion by voting for the Ryan-Murray budget in 2013. Six. Billion. Dollars. She can run commercials wrapping herself in the American flag all she wants, but veterans haven't forgotten her heartless vote that cut veterans benefits by $6 billion.

"On top of that, Congresswoman Bustos failed to lead when veterans needed her most during the VA scandal. While veterans were dying on wait-lists at a VA hospital in Arizona, Cheri Bustos said and did nothing.

"Bobby Schilling led first on this issue. Schilling introduced the Enhanced Veterans Health Care Experience Act back in 2011, a bill that would solve the VA wait-listing issue by allowing veterans to use their own doctors in their own hometowns. Schilling's bill was included as a provision in this summer's VA reform legislation that passed the House unanimously 426-0 and has now been signed into law.

"Cheri Bustos might say she cares about veterans on TV, but her actions have proven otherwise. It says something about a politician's priorities when they say cutting $6 billion to veterans benefits is 'right for America.' If Cheri Bustos truly cared about veterans, then she should have kept her promise to give back ten percent of her salary and given the $34,800 to a veterans charity?instead, she refused to keep her word and refused to help veterans."

Bobby Schilling (R-Colona) was born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. He has been married to his wife, Christie for 28 years and together they have 10 children. Schilling represented the Illinois 17th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011-2012, serving on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the House Small Business Committee. Schilling is seeking another term and is running against incumbent Congresswoman Cheri Bustos.

# # #
15 Sep 2014

One Month. One Cause. One Million Miles.

By Gillian Kocher

Alex's Million Mile Initiative enlists supporters to Run. Walk. Ride. One Million Miles this September to raise the profile of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

 

Philadelphia, PA (July 2014) - In an effort to raise the profile of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation will go the distance this September, launching Alex's Million Mile - Run. Walk. Ride. With firsthand knowledge of just how far parents of children with cancer would go to find a cure for their child, the Foundation will challenge supporters everywhere to go the extra mile this September, collectively running, walking or cycling one million miles to work toward better treatments and ultimately cures for all kids with cancer.

The brainchild of Foundation Co-Executive Director, Jay Scott, a running enthusiast, Alex's Million Mile invites ambitious individuals, as well as teams, to pledge to run/walk/ride and contribute to the one million mile goal during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Drawing from the inspiration of Foundation creator Alexandra "Alex" Scott, who set out to raise $1 million through lemonade stands in 2004, Jay Scott feels that through combined efforts, reaching one million miles in just thirty days is attainable. The initiative provides a fun, easy and free way for people across the country to make a difference in the fight against childhood cancer.

"I am thrilled to bring back Alex's Million Mile for the second annual initiative to help Childhood Cancer Awareness Month attain the same status that other awareness months have," says Scott. "Alex's Million Mile is as an easy way for runners, walkers and cyclists of all abilities to contribute to the fight against childhood cancer, build community support and get fit," says Scott.

Alex's Million Mile will utilize both the MapMyFitness applications and the ability for participants to manually enter the miles they log daily. Individuals and teams who participate can log as many or as few miles as their ability level allows, every mile will count toward the larger goal. For those wishing to push themselves to reach 100 miles throughout the month, individuals will need to average 3-4 miles a day, while teams can split up the 100 miles. For instance, a group of 4 employees can walk a mile at lunch every day and easily reach their goal.

In its inaugural year, Alex's Million Mile (formerly known as the Million Mile Run), mobilized more than 5,000 participants to log 250,000 miles and raise over $500,000 for the cause. Among the various ways that miles were logged by participants from coast to coast: parents walked their children to school each day, logging one mile each way; families walked to Friday night dinners and back; instead of taking public transportation, individuals ran to work or evening outings. The possibilities are endless, with each step being counted toward the ultimate goal of logging one million miles, and more importantly raising vital awareness of the number one disease killer of children under the age of 15 in the United States.

"September has become highly recognizable within the childhood cancer community as an important time of year," says Liz Scott, Alex's mom and Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. "However, for many, the cause September is attached to remains widely unknown. While we've made progress in the fight against childhood cancer within the past ten years of our existence, there is still a long way to go. We hope that through the collective efforts of Alex's Million Mile participants, we can close the distance between better treatments and ultimately cures."

New to the 2014 event, Booster, LLC  (www.booster.com) will provide participants a platform to easily launch their own t-shirt fundraising campaigns to support their Alex's Million Mile efforts. Participants who sign up for Alex's Million Mile will have the opportunity to use Booster to create their own designs and in turn sell custom t-shirts to raise money without buying in advance or holding any inventory.  To learn more, or to launch a Booster campaign to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit: https://www.booster.com/alexs-lemonade-stand.

Individuals and teams who are interested in participating or learning more about Alex's Million Mile can visit AlexsMillionMile.org where they will find a video detailing the effort, testimonials from those who participated last year, and starting in September - live updates from social media on efforts in 2014 utilizing the hashtag #Journey2aMillion.

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $80 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 450 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

How far is 1 Million Miles?

 

A trip to the moon and back, twice.

More than 40 times around the earth.

More than 3,000 trips from NYC to Los Angeles.

More than 38,000 Marathons.

###

 


15 Sep 2014

Veterans' Service Office Open House All Veterans Welcome!

By Rick Martin

Please join the Quad Cities Vet Center and the Jo Daviess County Office, Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs (IDVA) for an informative and fun Open House:

Location:  West Galena Township Building, 607 Gear St. Galena, IL 61036

Date/Time:   Weds, Sept. 24, 2014 from 2 - 4 p.m.

This is an informal opportunity to learn more about what Veteran benefits, programs, and activities are available for veterans and to meet key personnel in the State and County veterans' assistance offices.   Refreshments to be provided.

Veterans seeking additional information please contact Tina Paggi, Veteran Service Officer, Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs; tina.paggi@illinois.gov or 815-233-5092.

The IDVA helps veterans their family members navigate the many federal, state, and local resources and benefits earned through service. The IDVA's Veteran Service Officers - themselves veterans - are trained and certified to help with questions, benefit applications, disability claims and to identify programs for which veterans may be eligible.

IDVA invites all veterans to Stand Up And Be Counted, a state-wide effort to have veterans  provide current contact information and register their DD-214, helping IDVA and the entire veteran advocacy community to gain a better understanding of who and where Illinois' veterans are. This will helps the IDVA plan for future services, lobby for further federal VA funding and facilities, and generally serve Illinois' veterans better.

Stand Up And Be Counted, (http://www2.illinois.gov/veterans/Pages/StandUpCounted.aspx)

 

All postings in community events and calendars are welcomed and appreciated.  Media interested in pre-event interviews or on-site access with IDVA personnel, please contact Ryan Yantis, communication manager, IDVA, ryan.yantis@illinois.gov or 312-814-0778.

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15 Sep 2014

Wheaton College (Ill.) Alumni Association Congratulates 2014 Graduates

By LaTonya Taylor

WHEATON, IL (09/12/2014)(readMedia)-- The Wheaton College (Ill.) Alumni Association congratulates the College's most recent graduates, who join a worldwide network of 44,000 alumni. The following graduates are from your coverage area:

Cristina Michelle Cerny of Milan graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in English, with Teacher Certification in Secondary Education.

Katlyn Mae Hoeksema of Davenport graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Business/Economics, with a minor in Communication.

Evan Lasseter Rahn of Bettendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a Writing Concentration, with a minor in Spanish.

Mark Samuel Sy of Bettendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Spanish.

Matthew Samuel Sy of Bettendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a minor in Spanish.

Beau Daniel Westlund of Bettendorf graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, with a Writing Concentration, with a minor in International Relations.

Wheaton College (Wheaton, Ill.) is a coeducational Christian liberal arts college noted for its rigorous academics, integration of faith and learning, and consistent ranking among the top liberal arts colleges in the country. For more information, visit wheaton.edu.

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