AT SAM'S FARGO LOUNGE SUNDAY FEBRUARY 9TH AT 5 PM

--COOKIE CONTEST NEW THIS YEAR

Iowa/Illinois Quad Cities - Where can you get all the homemade chili and fixings and dessert you care to eat for only $5? Only at the 25th Annual MCC QC Chili Cookoff! This year's event is being held at Sam's Fargo Lounge on Avenue of the Cities in Moline and the public is invited to come and enjoy all you can eat chili and fixings and homemade desserts for just $5.

In addition, there is no cost to enter your chili in the contest, which is judged by three independent judges. The church offers $75 for first place, $25 for second place and first, second and third place ribbons. This year the Church has added a cookie contest. Again, no charge for entry, just bring at least a dozen cookies - whether drop cookies or bar cookies or any other type of cookie. First, second and third place ribbons and bragging rights go with the cookie contest.

This year's judges are Tom Knocke, Biaggis; Jeff Simpson, QC Pride; and WHBF TV meteorologist, Anthony Peoples. Linda Nimrick remembers the very first chili cookoff we held ? and then she was asked to run it the next year. She reports, "We made $300 and I thought we were rich!" She also remembers inviting our MCC District Leader at the time, Judy Dale, who graciously agreed to take a pie in the face as part of the festivities. But when the time came, Judy ducked and someone else was surprised with the pie in the face. Linda chaired the Chili Cookoff for about 20 of its 25 years.

Pastor Rich Hendricks says, "This is our big annual fundraiser for MCC QC. We really appreciate the community's support, as we are currently having lots of expenses with renting worship space at Tanglewood Chapel in Bettendorf, renting storage space, and paying the mortgage and expenses on our new facility where we are just starting with renovations." Hendricks hopes that the new building at 2930 W. Locust in Davenport will be ready for use for worship by the end of March. "If I can help raise monies by taking a pie in the face, I am very glad to do it - what fun!"

Mary Todtz, event Chair, gushes, "I am so excited about all the items we have for sale this year, and about all the fun we are going to have!" There will be raffles and both silent and live auction items available for purchase, including original art, vintage heritage collection dolls, Elvis clocks, gift certificates to restaurants such as The Crane & Pelican and Azteca and gift certificates to J Michael's Salon, and for photography and D.J. services from Ash Entertainment Services, LLC.

MCC QC is a member church of Churches United of the Quad Cities Area and the Church is involved in feeding the hungry ministries and supporting the works of many area nonprofit organizations.

The annual Chili Cook-Off will be held on Sunday, February 9th beginning at 5 p.m. at Fargo Lounge, 4204 Avenue of the Cities, Moline, Illinois. Doors open at 4:30 and all entries must arrive by 5:00 p.m. to be included as the chili judging takes place promptly at 5:15 p.m., followed by a time of feasting and fellowship during which people can bid on silent auction items. At the close of the silent auction will be a live auction, featuring several special items.

For more information, please call the Church office at 563.324.8281.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Senator Chuck Grassley released the following statement after the Senate passed the Agricultural Act of 2014 by a vote of 68-32.  Grassley voted against the measure.

"I'm extremely disappointed that my provisions to place a hard cap on farm payments and better define who can receive those payments were stripped down to such a great extent that they likely won't have much effect.  Unfortunately, a few members of the House and Senate placed parochial interests above the broader good for the agricultural community.

"Currently 10 percent of the wealthiest farmers receive 70 percent of the benefit from the farm program.  This puts small- and medium-sized farms and young and beginning farmers at a disadvantage.  These are the very people the farm program is supposed to help.  The committee leaders negotiating the final bill struck my simple, common-sense and enforceable provisions from the final bill.

CORALVILLE, Iowa – City Circle Acting Company of Coralville is partnering with several local businesses to stage a clothing drive and auction to benefit the Domestic Violence Intervention Program (DVIP).

The DVIP provides support and advocacy to victims, many of whom are women in need of clothing to where to job interviews, work, or court appearances. Having access to quality professional clothing helps these women present a positive appearance and gain confidence as they rebuild their lives.

City Circle is holding the clothing drive and auction in tandem with its production of Nora and Delia Ephron's Love, Loss, and What I Wore, which runs Feb. 14-16 at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets for the show are $12 to $27 and are available online at coralvillearts.org, by phone at 319-248-9370, or in person at the CCPA box office.

"City Circle was inspired by the stories told within Love, Loss and What I Wore to partner with the DVIP to raise awareness about the victims and survivors of domestic violence and the meaningful work of the DVIP," says Emil Rinderspacher, Chair of City Circle Board of Directors.

Based on the best seller by Ilene Beckerman as well as the recollections of the Ephrons' friends, the show uses clothing and accessories and the memories they trigger to tell funny and often poignant stories that all women can relate to: mothers, prom dresses, mothers, buying bras, mothers, hating purses, and why we only wear black. Nine local businesses donated designer dresses, which the actresses will wear in the show, and the dresses will be auctioned off after the final production Feb. 16. All proceeds from the online auction will go to the DVIP.

Donations of gently worn professional clothing and accessories will be accepted at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts during the performances or at Catherine's Boutique  (7 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City) during regular business hours Feb. 10-22.

Catherine Champion, owner of Catherine`s, donated two dresses to the show and her shop is serving as a drop off location for the clothing drive. "We are big supporters of City Circle and the DVIP and the work they do. Please donate to this wonderful cause," Champion says.

Other local businesses donating dresses for the production and auction are: Dress Barn, Domby, Dulcinea, Francesca's, JC Penney, Revival, Textiles, and Velvet Coat.

More information: www.citycircle.org

Contact: Emil Rinderspacher, 319-331-7451 or emil@citycircle.org