The Muscatine Art Center holds tens of thousands of objects in its collection. Like many museums, only a small percentage - as little as one percent - of the collection is on view at any given time.

On Thursday, September 11, 2013, the Muscatine Art Center will offer behind-the-scenes collection storage tours for those interested in seeing the storage area and learning how the staff documents, cares for and manages the collection. The tour is from 5:30 to 6:45 P.M.  Space is limited to 12 people  and registration is taken on first come, first served basis.

Don't miss this opportunity to see stored treasures from the Art Center's permanent collection. Join a tour group for a truly unique experience as you hear about how the museum operates from the inside out and have your individual questions answered by staff.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Rarely seen "cool stuff" from the Art Center - art objects and artifacts that tell fascinating stories about Muscatine and/or the region.
• Main collection storage areas and hidden storage areas in the Musser Museum.
• Textile and print storage.
• The original Musser Carriage House and Musser Museum basement.
• Explanation of how museums keep track of collections.

BOOKING INFORMATION:

• Tours are limited to a maximum of 15 people. Please indicate the tour time you would like to be a part of.
• Tours are for adults and children over 12 years of age (12-16 year olds need to be accompanied by an adult).
• Tour duration is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes.
• As a courtesy to other participants, please be on time.
• Physical accessibility is somewhat limited with the full behind-the-scenes tour including narrow stairs. Please notify us at the time of booking of any special requirements.
• For security reasons, you may not take mobile phones, cameras, videos, other electrical equipment, bags, food or drinks on the tour. All personal items must be checked before the tour departs.

Call NOW to reserve a place in the Muscatine Art Center's Behind-the-Scenes experience!

EVENT DETAILS:

What: Muscatine Art Center's Behind-the-Scenes Collections Storage Tour

Who: Hosted by MAC staff

When: Thursday, May 9, 2013

Times: 5:30-6:45 PM

Where: The Muscatine Art Center

Admission to this tour is FREE.

Please contact Melanie Alexander, Director, with any questions or concerns at

563-263-8282 or by email  at malexander@muscatineiowa.gov.

The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Go to www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.

Congressman: The Guard deserves the funding they need

Washington, D.C. - As a budget shortfall potentially threatens the Iowa National Guard's September training exercises, Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today pushed the House Appropriations Committee to approve a reallocation of funds that would allow the Guard to hold its scheduled drills.

A high participation rate in previous training exercises this year, along with higher than expected training costs, has contributed to a $2.4 million budget shortfall in the Iowa National Guard's budget. If that shortfall is not addressed, it could jeopardize Guard drills scheduled for September. It is expected that the National Guard will submit a reprogramming request that will allow them to transfer money between accounts, allowing the proposed drill to go forward as scheduled.

"It's important that the Iowa National Guard has the resources they need to conduct their scheduled exercises?and that members of the Guard who rely on income from this training aren't exposed to unnecessary financial hardship," Braley said. "The Iowa National Guard has done a tremendous service to our state, both domestically and abroad, and it's important that they have the funding they need."

Braley's letter to leaders of the House Appropriations Committee urges them to approve any reprogramming request made by the Guard that would allow them to carry out their currently scheduled exercises.

"After all the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, we should do everything in our power to ensure that the National Guard has the funds required to carry out their scheduled training sessions," Braley wrote.

Braley has been a consistent advocate for Iowa's National Guard. This year, he repeatedly fought proposed cuts to the Iowa National Guard, citing their work on behalf of Iowans in the aftermath of natural disasters and in combat deployments outside the United States. In December of 2012 he joined Rep. Tom Latham in efforts to block cuts to the Des Moines Air National Guard.

A copy of Braley's letter is available below.

September 4, 2014

The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen              The Honorable Peter Visclosky

Chairman                                                           Ranking Member

Subcommittee on Defense                                Subcommittee on Defense

Committee on Appropriations                            Committee on Appropriations

H-405 Capitol Building                                       1016 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515                                      Washington, DC 20515

Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky,

It has come to my attention that The National Guard has an approximate $101 million funding shortfall for the remainder of the fiscal year, with the Iowa National Guard's portion of the shortfall totaling roughly $2.4 million. This has raised the possibility of canceling scheduled training drills for the month of September.

The possibility of cancelling drills is extremely troubling and would lead to a loss of income for Guard members?many of whom rely on the income for basic necessities. After all the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, we should do everything in our power to ensure that the National Guard has the funds required to carry out their scheduled training sessions. I urge you to remedy this issue by swiftly approving any reprogramming request submitted by the National Guard.

Thank you for your consideration on this important matter and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

MOLINE, Ill., Sept. 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ruhl Mortgage and Quad City Bank & Trust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of QCR Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq:QCRH), announced today that they have formed a new joint venture to provide mortgage services and products to their clients.

The new venture is pending certain regulatory approvals and is anticipated to commence operation in the fourth quarter of 2014. The combined entity will operate as Ruhl Mortgage.

"Ruhl Mortgage, Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors and Quad City Bank & Trust all have their roots in the Quad Cities Region," said Caroline Ruhl, President of Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors. "Our companies share common philosophies: we are all relationship driven and focused on delivering extraordinary customer service."

"We are so pleased to be partnering with the market leader in residential real estate sales and services," stated John Anderson, President and CEO of Quad City Bank & Trust. "With this new partnership, Quad City Bank & Trust will be able to expand our product offerings and capitalize on the strengths of both companies' commitment to our clients."

Ruhl Mortgage offers purchase and refinance loans, including FHA, VA and Rural Development loans, second home loans, down payment and closing cost assistance programs, and loans for investment properties and relocations. Additionally because of the new partnership with Quad City Bank & Trust, Ruhl Mortgage will now be able to offer portfolio, bridge and new construction loans.

All mortgage staff from Quad City Bank & Trust and Ruhl Mortgage are being offered positions with the new venture. The new company will be led by Jane Schneider, President.

The staff of 22 professionals will include 10 loan officers or loan officer assistants, and 12 operations and support staff. The operations center will be located at 1701 52nd Avenue, Moline, IL.

The company will serve the same regional market as Ruhl&Ruhl Realtors, encompassing 13 MLS's (Multiple Listing Services) throughout eastern Iowa, northwestern Illinois, and southwestern Wisconsin. Loan officers will be located in Davenport, Bettendorf, Moline, Dubuque, Iowa City, Muscatine, Clinton, and Cedar Rapids, with travel to other locations as needed.

"We are a full-service mortgage banker dedicated to each relationship from application to closing," said Jane Schneider, President of Ruhl Mortgage.

Contact Ruhl Mortgage at 309-743-8061 or visit www.RuhlMortgage.com to contact a loan officer, to get pre?approved online, or for more information on home financing.

Thursday, September 11, 2014 -- 7:00 p.m. at The Muddy Waters

This Thursday, September 11, The Mississippi Valley Blues Society presents Stormcellar at The Muddy Waters, 1708 State Street, Bettendorf, IA. The show starts at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.

Stormcellar, from Sydney, is one of the top alternate music acts in Australia. This six-piece band, described as a mix of Urban Roots, Electric Blues, Modern Folk and Alt Country, is coming through Bettendorf in the middle of their second US tour.

Built on the bones of a straightforward lineup of bass, slide, guitar, drums and harp, Stormcellar should fit neatly into a typical band category. Add a mandolin, a singer with the range and power to travel from Gospel to Southern Rock, throw in the occasional fiddle, a bit of Folk, complex arrangements and lyrics that do more than just rhyme, and you have a very interesting beast: an original band indeed.

Americana bible No Depression magazine says "Stormcellar - The Rolling Stones fronted by James Taylor - a powerhouse songwriting act with a formidable live show. Straight up." They have been on the Australian Blues & Roots Charts for 22 months and have two #1 albums, along with positioning themselves in the top 50 on US National Blues Charts.

This event is being presented by The Mississippi Valley Blues Society. The objective of the Society is to educate the general public about the native art form of blues-related music through performance, interpretation and preservation, thus enhancing appreciation and understanding.

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