Bettendorf, Iowa  - Longstanding Quad City restaurant was selected to be featured on the show, "Iowa Ingredient," for it's use and support of local foods.

Iowa Ingredient showcases Iowa foods, farmers, and chefs as they explore ingredients with an Iowa flavor. Each episode features a single Iowa ingredient, like eggplant, spinach, cherries, or wine. Viewers will learn where the food is grown in Iowa, learn more about someone who grows it, and see how to use the ingredient in unique and delicious recipes. An Iowa chef will be profiled before helping us make a delectable dish or two in the Iowa Ingredient kitchen with host Charity Nebbe.

The show will feature Ross' general manager, Melissa Freidhof-Rodgers making two of her favorite dishes using local eggs.  "It was so fun to highlight an ingredient that we serve so much of to our customers on a daily basis, we serve over 5,000 per week and are so proud to be using local, cage free eggs fresh from Iowa farms.  I am passionate about local foods was honored to be selected for the show by the producers.  I like to call the use of local food products a triple win:  better for local economy, they taste better and are better for your health."

There will be a live broadcast event of the Ross' segment at the Quad Cities Food Hub on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. and a sampling of one of the featured dishes that Freidhof-Rodgers made for the show as well as copies of the recipes from the show.  This will be part of a "Helping Hands Day" (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at the Quad Cities Food Hub, which will involve building a community demonstration garden at the Food Hub.

MOLINE, Ill. (April 23, 2014) - Bruce Graham had a goal and an assist, Jamie Schaafsma scored what proved to be the game winner in the third period and Bryan Pitton made 33 saves as the Allen Americans defeated the host Quad City Mallards 4-2 Wednesday night to take a two games to one lead in the best-of-seven Central Hockey League semi-finals.

The Americans survived a Mallard third period comeback bid that started when Jordan Mayer pounced on a loose puck in the goalmouth to cut what had been a 2-0 Allen lead in half at 8:40 of the third.  Schaafsma responded with the goal that would stand up as the difference by burying the rebound at 14:12 after Mallard goaltender Ty Rimmer (32 shots) foiled Graham's breakaway bid.  The Mallards closed the gap to a single goal a second time when Matt Boyd scored in a goalmouth scramble with two minutes and thirty-nine seconds remaining only for Greger Hansen's empty net goal to clinch victory for Allen with just 17.5 seconds left.

The Mallards never quite recovered after surrendering a pair of special teams goals late in the first period.  The Americans were on the power play when Bruce Graham swept the opening goal home from the slot at 15:38 of the first.  Jonathan Lessard's shorthanded breakaway goal doubled the Allen lead at 18:35.

The Mallards host game four Friday evening and game five Saturday night.  Each of those contests will face off at 7:05 p.m.  Should a sixth game be required, the series would move back to Allen on Tuesday night, April 29.  If the series goes the distance, the Americans would host the seventh and deciding game on Wednesday evening, April 30.

Friday evening brings not only game four between the Mallards and Americans but also the return of the Mallards' popular $1 Dog/$1 Dollar Beer Night presented by 97X.  iWireless Center doors will open at 6:00 p.m. Friday and $1 beers will be available at arena concession stands from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.  $1 hot dogs will be available throughout the game.

Tickets for Mallards home playoff games can be purchased in person at the iWireless Center box office, online at ticketmaster.com, at Ticketmaster outlets or through Ticketmaster charge-by-phone toll free at 1-800-745-3000.  The ticket office is open weekdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and on game days from 10:00 a.m. until the start of the second period.

Winterset, Iowa:  With construction underway on the long-awaited John Wayne Birthplace Museum, Duke's hometown is buzzing with anticipation. To kick off the project the entire community is joining together in presenting the 2014 John Wayne Birthday Celebration May 23 & 24. New to this year's lineup will be a Rodeo/Western Swing Dance on May 23 (admission $15 individually or $25 combined) and special appearances by screen star Lana Wood, who played young Debbie in the acclaimed motion picture classic, "The Searchers." Also new this year, the Iowa Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association present two shows where mounted contestants compete in a timed event using .45 caliber single-action revolvers. And authors Lana Wood and John Wayne's daughter Aissa Wayne will join New York Times best-selling authors Scott Eyman and Glenn Frankel in a book symposium to discuss their block-buster books on John Wayne and director John Ford.

Continuing event favorites are free screenings of classic John Wayne movies at the vintage Iowa Theater, this year featuring "The Searchers," "Stagecoach" and "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Visitors may also enjoy a Fireman's Pancake Breakfast, a 5K run/walk, Pie Squared dessert tasting and tours of Madison County's legendary Covered Bridges (nominal charges for each).

The exciting Birthplace Museum Benefit Dinner takes place Saturday evening at 5pm where guests will enjoy a meal along with music, celebrities and an auction of John Wayne collectibles and memorabilia hosted by the actor's daughter Aissa Wayne. Reservations are $125 per person.

For more information and reservations visit http://www.johnwaynebirthplace.museum/birthday or call 877-462-1044.

River Bend Foodbank will celebrate "Extreme Kids Helping Kids" on Saturday, April 26, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon.  This family and kid-oriented event will be held in their new and larger facility at 4010 Kimmel Drive in Davenport.  It is an opportunity to teach school-aged kids about service to others while having fun at the same time.

Since most food drives happen in the fall, the Foodbank is especially needy in the spring when supplies are low.  Families, school and other youth groups are encouraged to collect and bring non-perishable food items to the Foodbank where they can enter to win prizes for the largest contribution (by weight). There will be family entertainment by the area's top children's entertainers. Special stations will be set up with, face painting, clowning, balloon artistry, caricature drawing and more, in a carnival-like atmosphere.  Entry to the event is free.

River Bend Foodbank has been serving the greater Quad-City area since 1982.  In addition to larger warehouse space, the new facility now has industrial-sized refrigeration; making it possible to provide even more fresh and refrigerated foods.

 

River Bend Foodbank is the largest hunger relief organization in the Quad Cities and surrounding communities, distributing more than 8 million lbs of food annually to more than 300 charitable feeding programs throughout a 22 county service area in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. Childhood hunger programs include the Backpack Program which provides up to 1700 Quad City children with nourishing food to take home on the weekends during the school year, the Kids Café Program providing evening meals to children at three sites, and the Mobile Food Pantry which directly feeds thousands of families each month.

 

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