21 Mar 2014

Governor Quinn Proclaims National Service Week March 23 - 29

By Rick Martin

Encourages Residents to Volunteer in their Communities and Take Part in April 1, 2014 Day of Recognition

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today proclaimed March 23 - 29 National Service Week in Illinois and encouraged people across Illinois to find ways to give back to their communities. Governor Quinn also reminded residents to take part in recognizing national service programs in their communities during the Mayors Day of Recognition of National Service on Tuesday, April 1. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to encourage volunteerism in Illinois.

"There is no better way to give back than to donate your time by volunteering," Governor Quinn said. "Volunteers contribute a great deal to Illinois both locally and throughout the state at our historic sites, state parks, care facilities and institutions. I encourage everyone to participate in National Service Week and recognize the valuable gifts that volunteers provide."

"As John Maxwell once stated, 'The bottom line in leadership isn't how far we advance ourselves, but how far we advance others,'" Serve Illinois Commission Chair Frederick Nettles said. "In the line of service, our job is to empower others."

People across Illinois can find volunteer opportunities in their communities by visiting Serve.Illinois.gov. The website is run by the Serve Illinois Commission?a 40-member, bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor to improve Illinois communities by enhancing traditional volunteer activities and supporting national service programs.

The Mayors Day of Recognition is a special initiative from the Corporation for National and Community Service to highlight the value and impact of volunteering and to encourage residents to participate. The second annual Mayors Day of Recognition will take place on April 1, 2014. Mayors across Illinois have registered to participate and those interested in signing up can visit NationalService.gov.

AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and the Social Innovation Fund are the national service programs that will be recognized in numerous Illinois communities during Mayors Day of Recognition of National Service on April 1. Mayors and city and county managers will hold public events and use traditional and social media to highlight the value and impact of national service in their communities. Mayors who would like to participate should register through Serve.Illinois.gov.

The Governor today also saluted the many service organizations that contribute daily to making Illinois a better place to live and work.

AmeriCorps includes AmeriCorps VISTA, AmeriCorps State, AmeriCorps National and AmeriCorps NCCC. Together they provide opportunities for 80,000 citizens across the nation, including approximately 3,600 in Illinois, to give back to their communities, states and nation. AmeriCorps in Illinois last year recruited 53,600 volunteers and raised more than $4.7 million in in-kind resources.

Senior Corps includes the Foster Grandparents Program, Senior Companions Program and Retired & Senior Volunteer Program. Each year the program places more than 14,000 volunteers in communities throughout Illinois. These volunteers have helped more than 7,000 Illinois children to read, assisted more than 18,000 seniors to stay in their homes, supported more than 5,800 veterans and 8,300 veteran family members, served more than 200 special needs children and supported more than 2,000 community organizations. Approximately 3.1 million Senior Corps hours contributed annually is valued at $70 million.

The Social Innovation Fund mobilizes public and private sector resources to grow promising, innovative, community-based solutions in the areas of economic opportunity, healthy futures and youth development. The program has awarded $177.6 million in grants since 2010 that have yielded another $423 million in private commitments. Eleven Illinois organizations have received $1.3 million in grants.

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21 Mar 2014

Rock Island Board Urges Springfield to Pass Fair Tax Act

By Neal Waltmire

Board says Fair Tax needed to lower taxes for the majority of Rock Island County families and save communities from devastating and unprecedented cuts to local services

 

Rock Island, IL -By an overwhelming majority, the Rock Island County Board passed a resolution this evening calling on lawmakers in Springfield to pass the Fair Tax Act (HJRCA 33/SJRCA 40) as a necessary first step to bring fairness to Illinois' tax code and to avoid devastating and unprecedented cuts to local services.  Right now, Illinois has an unfair tax system in which low and middle income families pay a rate that is twice the rate of the very rich, when factoring in all state and local taxes paid.

The resolution specifically endorses a "Fair Tax - with lower rates for lower incomes and higher rates for higher incomes" that would "lower taxes for the majority of Rock Island County residents and put more money into our local economy."

"Springfield's cheating our middle class families, holding back our economy, and jeopardizing our way of life here in Rock Island County,"said board member Brian Vyncke. "It's time for fundamental budget and tax reform that includes a Fair Tax, which means a tax cut for Rock Island families."

Vyncke noted that Rock Island County competes with its neighbor to the west.  He referenced data presented at last week's Governmental Affair Committee meeting that showed Iowa, which has a Fair Tax, has an unemployment rate that is half of Illinois'.  Scott County, IA has sales and property tax rates that are much lower on average that those in Rock Island County.

"We need to grow on this side of the river.  We need to make sure families choose to work, shop, and live here in Rock Island County and not head over the bridge to Iowa, which has a Fair Tax," said Vyncke.

Board member Don Jacobs noted that the county has already lost $500,000 from the state this year, which included cuts to the state's attorney's office.

"Today it's cuts to public safety. Tomorrow it will be more cuts to public safety and also to our schools, and our roads, services for our seniors, and all the other things that drive Rock Island County's economy and make our communities livable," said Jacobs.  "That's unless Springfield moves forward on the Fair Tax Act."

Mike Malmstrom attended this evening's hearing to offer his support for the Fair Tax resolution.  Mike is a veteran who is concerned about cuts to state programs that assist Illinois' veterans and those who have served in our Armed Forces.  Mike works to make sure Illinois' veterans are not homeless.  His son earned free college tuition from the state after serving in Afghanistan.

"Middle class folks like me will get a tax cut with a Fair Tax and could use one, but the state should not abandon our veterans just because millionaires want a tax cut too," said Malmstrom.

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A Better Illinoisis a statewide coalition of civic and community organizations, small business, labor and faith leaders, educators, service providers, and tens of thousands of ordinary taxpayers seeking to modernize Illinois tax structure to create greater fairness and long-term economic growth.
21 Mar 2014

Area residents named to dean's list at Olivet

By Laura Warfel

BOURBONNAIS, IL (03/19/2014)(readMedia)-- Olivet Nazarene University announces that the following students from this area have been named to the dean's list for the recently completed fall 2013 semester:

Emily Arnold of Prophetstown

Lydia Bilyeu of Fulton

Zachary Bozman of LeClaire

Peter Davies of Bettendorf

Derek Delgado of Sterling

Trevor Delgado of Sterling

Liza Dollenbacher of Bettendorf

Zackry Everett of Sterling

Miranda Geever of Moline

Jordan Hirl of Clinton

Cory Holloway of Moline

Kathleen Marston of Clinton

Jacob Mellinger of Moline

Hannah Milby of Sterling

Emily Mills of Milan

Ainsley Ports of Sterling

Sonia Smith of Bettendorf

To qualify for inclusion on the dean's list, a student must have been enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student and must have attained a semester grade point average of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 grading scale.

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.

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21 Mar 2014

Simon joined by neighboring Lt. Governors in fight for education and waterway reforms

By Ted Nelson

SPRINGFIELD - March 19, 2014. Lt. Governor Sheila Simon is backing a package of resolutions with the lieutenant governors of Indiana and Wisconsin aimed at combating the spread of nuisance species in Midwest waterways and encouraging the completion of college. The bipartisan resolutions backed by Simon, Sue Ellspermann (R-IN) and Rebecca Kleefisch (R-WI) will be taken up at the National Lieutenant Governors Association's Federal-State Relations Meeting  this week in Washington D.C.

"We may be Lieutenant Governors from different states, but education and protecting our waterways are important to us all," said Simon. "Good things happen when we work together. Through our continued partnerships, I believe we can make significant progress toward improving college completion and fighting the Asian carp problem."

Working closely with Indiana Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, Simon is encouraging states to implement Guided Pathways to Student Success to increase the number of students completing college degrees and certificates. Their resolution specifically recommends that other lieutenant governors work with their respective higher education boards, colleges and universities to provide simple, easy to navigate routes to degree completion.

To address the growing challenge of aquatic nuisance species in the Great Lakes Region, Simon partnered with Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to take on problems that pose a danger to both the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River Basin. The Simon and Kleefisch resolution calls for cooperation and support of a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly means to preserve regional waterways while maintaining trade and commerce.

"It's important that the Great Lakes states work together to protect our waterways and the thousands of family-supporting jobs that rely on them for shipping, commercial and sport fishing, and tourism," Kleefisch said. "This resolution is one example of the multi-state partnership that's vital to solving this problem in a smart, cost-effective manner."

As the state's point person on education reform. Simon is working to increase the proportion of working-age adults with college degrees or certificates to 60 percent by 2025. Simon also chairs three River Coordinating Councils charged with the mission of reviewing state and federal programs that impact the watersheds and working with local communities to raise awareness of and address watershed issues. Copies of both resolutions can be found here.

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21 Mar 2014

Lewis University student Samantha Glackin of Moline partners with Joliet Area Historical Museum to create new exhibit

By Kathrynne Skonicki

ROMEOVILLE, IL (03/19/2014)(readMedia)-- Dr. Dennis Cremin, history professor and director of the Lewis University History Center, recently described how Lewis University has partnered with the Joliet Area Historical Museum for the "The Emergence of Modern Joliet: Art, Industry & Urbanization" exhibit on display until June 8. His presentation about the JAHM exhibit kicked off a lecture series that continues through April.

As part of an assignment for Cremin's Public History class, students conceptualized how Lewis University's extensive collection of historic images by local journalist and artist Adele Fay Williams could be utilized to provide visuals of the Joliet area from 1870-1930. The Public History students encouraged combining her images with the Museum's Harold Whiteside tool collection to highlight the transition of the Joliet area from a rural community to an industrial town, then eventually to an urban city.

Dr. Cremin's History of Illinois class researched the topics and drafted text for the exhibit panels. The exhibit's scheme was a group effort by students in the Advanced Design class directed by Leslie Colonna, Lewis University instructor of art and design. Since Williams used the Joliet courthouse in many of her images, students took current photos of the building as it stands today to use as comparison for showing the transition of the area.

Samantha Glackin of Moline, Ill. contributed to the exhibit.

The lecture series on the exhibit continues through April at the JAHM:

March 19: "How to Read a Work of Art," an event taught by Colonna, will teach the elements and principles that make each work of art unique and affect how it is interpreted at 1 p.m.

April 2: "The Life, Times and Art of Adele Fay Williams," will showcase artist Teri Lesniak who will portray Adele Fay Williams and complete a painting in the style of the renowned artist.

April 12: "An Afternoon with Dr. Sterling," author of Joliet history books and retired professor at Joliet Junior College, Dr. Robert Sterling will discuss the exhibit and sign books.

Those who participated in the History of Illinois class included: Sean Barber, Nicholas Czerwinski, Jocelyn Davila, Joshua Dittman, Patrick Franks, Samantha Glackin, Adrienne Gonzales, Michael Hines, Sarah Langheld, Anthony Larocca, Zeferino Martinez, Kelsey O'Brien, Tyson Polack, Alan Rosas, Brittany Russell and Zachary Zalewski.

Advanced Design students who contributed significantly to the exhibit included: Elizabeth Apostolos, Lauren Kill, Connor McLennan, Kendra Mills, Cory Seng, Lauren Trzeciak and Sandra Zuchara.

The original collection of Adele Fay Williams' drawings and prints was donated to the Howard and Lois Adelmann Collection in 1989 by Katherine Woodruff Barnes. An additional 88 drawings and prints were donated to the Collection in August 2011 by Dr. Robert E. Sterling. The drawings can also be seen at the Howard and Lois Adelmann Regional History Collection website at www.lewisu.edu/imcanal.

Lewis University is a Catholic university in the Lasallian tradition offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,600 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit www.lewisu.edu for further information.

21 Mar 2014

Cloud Voice Makes Small Companies Look Like Big Business Midland Communications Shares the Power of the Cloud with Customers

By Aj Odish
DAVENPORT, IA - February 28th, 2014 - Small businesses have been drawn to VoIP technology because of the substantial cost savings they gain when making the switch. However, as VoIP has continued to evolve over the years and moved into the "cloud", small businesses have begun to leverage VoIP in new ways to gain competitive advantages in their respective industries. The growth of virtual companies and remote workforces has brought everyone to the same playing field and customers across every industry are looking to work with credible, prestigious, large companies. Here are some ways in which cloud voice can make your business look bigger than it is today.

Your Office Just Got a Receptionist You Don't Have to Pay For  - Cloud based phone systems today include features that completely eliminate the need for a receptionist. Systems can be configured in order to route calls directly to the intended employee via a unified auto-attendant. Also, if your office doesn't have a receptionist, systems can distribute incoming calls among specific groups. This goes beyond simply sending sales calls to salespeople and admin calls to support employees. For example, you can use Caller ID to send specific accounts directly to the CEO's cell phone. Or if none of the salespeople answer an incoming call, it goes to the Sales Manager's cell phone.

Unlimited Locations, 1 Office Number - With the rampant growth of startups and virtual companies, many businesses need to have a communications system that supports both in-house and remote workers while maintaining a professional image across the board. With cloud voice, calls to the main office can be sent out anywhere simply by asking the customer to dial an extension, just like how large corporations are doing.

Seamless Conference Calls and Lightning-Fast Voicemails - Conference calls or online meetings are often a source of frustration for most companies. This is due largely to the tendency to bolt-on collaboration tools in the hopes that things will work smoothly during the meeting. However, they rarely ever do. Cloud voice solutions enable businesses to host conferences during meetings so you can be "face-to-face" even when you can't be in the same location. Furthermore, all technology is hosted through a single solution so when it's time to host a meeting, businesses can rest assured that the technology will perform as promised. Another way in which cloud voice accelerates collaboration is through its ability to convert voicemails into MP3 files, which can be sent as email attachments. Additionally, voice calls can be converted to text and vice versa for easier retrieval and communication.

Collaborate on the Fly. - Today's employees need to be constantly connected. Collaboration can't always be planned out in advance and when a good idea strikes, everyone needs to be in the loop. Cloud technology has made it easy for employees to see from their desktop what their co-workers are doing and how to best access them (e.g. instant message, voice, or email) so communication can happen immediately.

There are many advantages to moving a company's using cloud voice. For small business, the rewards are plentiful because they can utilize the same technology as large enterprises for a fraction of the cost and make them look just as big.

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS

Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.

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21 Mar 2014

Modern Woodmen of America reports another strong year in 2013

By Amber O’Brien

2013 was a strong year financially and fraternally for Rock Island-based Modern Woodmen of America, according to recently released results for the year ending Dec. 31, 2013.

Life insurance in force grew by more than $1 billion for the third straight year. Assets surpassed the $13 billion mark, and surplus exceeded $1.5 billion, an increase of 13.7 percent.

"In addition to having a strong year financially, I'm proud of the fraternal contributions Modern Woodmen made to our members' lives, their families and their local communities in 2013," W. Kenny Massey, president of Modern Woodmen, said. "Through our fraternal benefits for members and fraternal programs that enrich members' lives and communities, Modern Woodmen's fraternal expenditures grew to $20.04 million."

Continued growth in life insurance in force

Life insurance in force, the total amount of life insurance owned by members to protect their families in case of premature death, increased to $36 billion. This is the third year in a row in which life insurance in force has increase by more than $1 billion.

"Unfortunately, the fact is Americans today are underinsured," said Massey. "It's important for our financial representatives to help individuals and families acquire the life insurance coverage they need and protect their loved ones."

 

Assets exceed $13 billion

 

Modern Woodmen's assets increased 8.2 percent over 2012, reaching nearly $13.4 billion. Assets are primarily invested in high-quality, low-risk corporate and government bonds.

"Our first obligation is to be fiscally responsible," said Massey. "We must protect the promises made to our members nationwide."

Annuity assets under management equaled $7.6 billion.

Total life insurance and annuity certificate reserves, which are funds held to guarantee future benefits to members, increased 5.7 percent to nearly $10.5 billion. Compared to 2012, variable annuity certificate sales increased 52 percent, and variable annuity premiums increased by 79 percent.

 

Strong operational results

 

Total premium income was $1.05 billion in 2013.

Payments and benefits to members in 2013 increased 6.2 percent to $756.9 million. This includes death benefits, annuity payments and surrender benefits. An additional $14.1 million in dividend payments was refunded to life insurance and annuity certificates.

Net gain from operations after dividends was nearly $31 million with total net income surpassing $104 million, an increase of 10.7 percent in 2013.

 

Total surplus and special reserves surpassed $1.52 billion; an increase of 13.7 percent over 2012. Surplus and special reserves provide additional safety for members and ensure Modern Woodmen's ability to meet unforeseen events, continue the organization's fraternal programs and provide funds for future growth.

Modern Woodmen's solvency ratio of 112.75 percent means that for every $100 of liabilities (promises made to members), Modern Woodmen has $112.75 of assets to back up those promises.

Fraternal programs support communities nationwide

 

Modern Woodmen has a nationwide membership of more than 770,000. Fraternal expenditures supporting Modern Woodmen's family-oriented member benefits and programs grew to $20.04 million. These benefits and programs include disaster relief assistance, college scholarships, social and volunteer service programs by adult chapters and youth service clubs nationwide, and educational programs for schools and youth groups.

Key fraternal results included:

- More than 1.5 million people attended social, educational and volunteer events sponsored by Modern Woodmen chapters.

- 195,137 hours of volunteer service were recorded by youth service club members and 312,472 hours of volunteer service were reported by chapter and Summit chapter members.

- 1.7 million children were educated through free Modern Woodmen youth educational programs.

- $9.5 million was contributed through Modern Woodmen's Matching Fund Program. The Matching Fund Program meets needs in member communities across the country. The fundraising projects, matched by Modern Woodmen, were conducted by the organization's 2,162 adult chapters, 249 Summit chapters and 916 youth service clubs.

Modern Woodmen of America is a member-owned fraternal financial services organization. Since 1883, the organization has brought people together, supported families and strengthened communities nationwide. Modern Woodmen - touching lives, securing futures.

Securities offered through MWA Financial Services Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Modern Woodmen of America

 

 

 

21 Mar 2014

Ruskowski, Mallards Among CHL's Best of the Best

By Rick Martin

Ruskowski Voted Best Coach, Mallards Hardest Working Team

 

Nagy Recognized as Most Underrated

 

Mallards Among Top Three in 13 Categories


MOLINE, Ill. (March 19, 2014) - Quad City Mallards coach and general manager Terry Ruskowski has been voted the Central Hockey League's best coach and the Mallards have recognized as the league's hardest working team while Mallards forward Gergo Nagy has been tapped as the CHL's most underrated player in the CHL's annual "Best of the Best" poll of players, coaches and operations staff, the Mallards announced today in conjunction with the CHL.

In all the Mallards finished in the top three in 13 different on- and off-ice categories.

Ruskowski has piloted the Mallards to a 28-20-10 record and 66 points over 58 games this season.  The Mallards, who are in sixth place in the CHL, are on course to claim a playoff berth for the second time in as many seasons under Ruskowski.  The veteran bench boss has gone 651-462-118 over the course of his 19-year professional head-coaching career.  Ruskowski has posted a record of 437-248-79 over 12 years in the CHL and in November moved into third place in league history in career coaching wins.

The Mallards have been voted the league's hardest working team for the second time in their four seasons in the CHL and have now finished either first or second in that category each of the last four years.  The Mallards came in second in the voting for hardest working team both last season and in 2011-12 after finishing first in 2010-11.

Nagy has scored 18 goals and picked up 30 assists for 48 points while posting a plus/minus rating of +14 in 56 games with the Mallards this season.  He is tied for second in the CHL in shorthanded goals (3).  Nagy earlier this month made his American Hockey League debut with the Chicago Wolves.

Nagy is not the only Mallard player recognized in the Best of the Best poll.  Vladimir Nikiforov, who has scored 11 times and totaled 36 points in 55 games this season, was voted the league's second fastest skater while Thomas Frazee finished third in the best rookie voting.  Among first year players, Frazee ranks fourth in goals (20), fifth in points (39) and eighth in assists (19).  He is also tied for second overall in shorthanded goals (3).  Frazee has registered a plus/minus of +6 in 52 games.

The Mallards have also been recognized for off-ice excellence.  The team's fans have obviously made an impression on opposing players, who- for the second straight season- voted them the third most annoying in the CHL while the iWireless Center was voted the third most difficult building in which to win.  As hostile as its environment has been for visiting teams, the iWireless Center has certainly proven welcoming to fans- the Mallards' home finished third in voting for best concessions.

A pair of longtime Mallard stalwarts are also among those honored.  For the second consecutive year, Mo Mallard finished second in the polling for best mascot while Guy Perry was voted the league's second best public address announcer.  There is league wide recognition as well for Mallard newcomers- still in their first season, the Mallards' Bud Light Ice Girls finished third in voting for best cheerleaders/dance team.

The Mallard received high marks for artistic impression.  The club's logo was voted third best in the league.  After being revamped at the start of this season, myqcmallards.net finished third in voting for best website.

About the Quad City Mallards
A proud affiliate of the National Hockey League's Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League's Iowa Wild, the Quad City Mallards are in the midst of their seventeenth season their fourth in the Central Hockey League.  One of the winningest teams in all of minor league hockey, the Mallards competed in the United Hockey League from 1995 through 2007 and in the International Hockey League in 2009-10.  The Mallards' proud history has seen them capture the UHL's Colonial Cup Championship three times (1997, 1998, 2001) and secure that league's Tarry Cup four times (1998, 2000, 2001, 2002) for the best overall regular season record.  In 2001, the Mallards made professional hockey history, recording their sixth consecutive season with 50 or more wins, a feat that has yet to be matched.  The iWireless Center provides a unique environment for hockey and features one-of-a-kind seating areas such as the Nest for groups and functions and the exclusive Drake Club.  For more information on the Quad City Mallards or for Mallards tickets go to www.myqcmallards.net.  Fans can also follow the Mallards via Twitter at twitter.com/myqcmallards and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/quadcitymallards.

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21 Mar 2014

Spring Has Sprung in the Quad Cities

By QCCVB

The Quad Cities River Bandits' opening day is Thursday, April 3, at the #1 Minor League Ballpark in the country, according to USA Today. Modern Woodmen Park in downtown Davenport, Iowa, is consistently ranked among the top minor league ballparks for its stunning view of the Mississippi River.

Niabi Zoo opens on Monday, April 7, 2014, for their season. Get a passport to Africa to see the graceful giraffes, the King of the Jungle lion, colobus monkeys and more, or take an Australian Walkabout with wallabies and lorikeets. Visit the Jungle Trek for hands-on activities about rainforests and the place for frog-lovers. Niabi Zoo, 13010 Niabi Zoo Rd. in Coal Valley, Ill., is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and longer hours in the summer.

The 850-person capacity Celebration Belle riverboat starts its cruises the first week of April. It is the largest non-gaming luxury excursion vessel on the upper Mississippi River. The boat offers lunch and dinner cruises, big band cruises, sightseeing, and specialty cruises. Contact 800-297-0034 or celebrationbelle.com for its schedule and more information.

The Twilight riverboat offers two-day overnight cruises from LeClaire, Iowa, to Dubuque, Iowa. Cruises include all meals, activities, and lodging.

Walnut Grove was a Scott County cross-roads settlement and stage coach stop in the 1860s. The Walnut Grove Pioneer Village now includes 18 historic buildings to tour, some relocated from rural Scott County. It is open daily April through October 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Village is located in Scott County Park, 18817 290th Street, Long Grove, Iowa.

According to folklore, springtime is the BEST season for pixie spotting! Children are invited to the Pixie Tea on Sunday, April 6th from 1:00-4:00 p.m. at the Quad City Botanical Center in Rock Island, Ill. In the lush enchanted garden, find tea and pixie treats. There will be magical crafts for the children and the gift of a pixie wand for remembering the day! (Reservations are required.)

Ballet Quad Cities premieres their interpretation of Igor Stravinsky's famous Rite of Spring, one of the most inspiring and challenging ballets ever written. International renowned director and choreographer Elie Lazar will also premier his new piece set to Appalachian Spring. Performances are Saturday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with live music provided by Orchestra Iowa at the Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd Street in Davenport, Iowa.

Join in the inaugural Tour de Brew of the Quad Cities on Saturday, April 12. Registration starts at 12 noon at the Front Street Tap Room at the Freight House, 421 W. River Dr. in Davenport. This bicycle ride follows the bike trail to visit 5 different stops before returning to Front Street by 5 p.m. It's a poker ride format with a donation of your choosing to the LIVESTRONG Foundation.

Look for spring crafts at the German American Heritage Center in Davenport on Saturday, April 12, during their Eiermarkt (Egg Market) and Spring Craft Fair. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local and regional vendors sell their springtime wares including decorated eggs, carvings, baked goods, and more!

Celebrate with the Easter Egg Scramble 5K Run on Saturday, April 19. The 9:00 a.m. start/finish is in the Historic Village of East Davenport. Those who choose to run or walk the event will receive a swag bag. Brunch-style breakfast items will be available along with your typical refreshments. A live band rocks the 11th Street Precinct, and don't forget photos with the Easter Bunny. There is also an Easter Egg Hunt for children 8 years of age and younger.

The annual free Stroll Through Springtime is Saturday, April 26th from 7:00 a.m. until noon at the Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave. in Rock Island, Ill. All events are free, and participants can come for any or all of the events. Birds will be the focus of groups going in the field from 7-9 a.m. Expert leaders will help to locate both resident and migratory birds. At 9 a.m., enjoy refreshments inside the Lodge, including wild violet jelly and a short program about invasive plants. At 10:00 a.m., participants will walk outside to observe and identify wildflowers.

21 Mar 2014

Pancake Breakfast

By Blue Grass American Legion Post 711

American Legion Post #711, Blue Grass, Iowa, is hosting an All You Can Eat Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, April 5, 2014. Serving will be from 6:30am until 10:00am at the Blue Grass Legion Hall, 106 S Juniata St.

The menu includes pancakes, scrambled eggs, sausage, homemade syrup, potatoes, biscuits & gravy, cinnamon rolls, juice, milk and coffee.

The event is open to the public. Cost is $7 for adults, $3.50 for children ages 4 thru 12, and free for those under 4 years old.

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