The Progressive Action for the Common Good Peace Forum is holding its final Peace Vigil on Saturday, September 28th from 11 am to noon on the Slumberland corner of John Deere Road and 16th Street  by Southpark Mall.  The group has been gathering there pretty much every Saturday for the past eight years in heat and cold, rain and shine, exept for the past two winters when they wore matching "End the War" t- shirts and walked the mall.

New $10 Million East Moline Logistics Facility Will More Than Quadruple Company's Illinois Workforce  

EAST MOLINE - Governor Pat Quinn today was joined by executives from Material Control Systems, Inc. (MATCON) to announce the business is building a $10 million logistics facility in East Moline and adding 150 new jobs, more than quadrupling their Illinois workforce as their business grows. The announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward.

"MATCON is a company with a long history in Illinois going back to the 1930s," Governor Quinn said. "Its commitment to grow here in the heart of the heartland is a testament to Illinois' skilled workforce and our longstanding role as the nation's central transportation and distribution hub."

The new 100,000-square-foot East Moline warehouse will assist in the distribution of the company's packaging and shipping products. MATCON was established by the Larson family in the 1930s as a wood packaging company primarily for a local manufacturing firm. They have since expanded into the manufacturing of plastic returnable packaging systems and urethane products for shipping. The company is headquartered in Port Byron with another production facility in Cordova, Illinois and other facilities in Iowa and North Carolina. MATCON currently employs 37 people in Illinois.

"I'd like to thank the State of Illinois, the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, and THE National Bank for making this new facility a reality and in the process creating 150 new jobs for the Quad Cities area," MATCON owner and president Donn Larson said.

MATCON will receive a $1,015,000 loan through the state's Advantage Illinois program, which helps small businesses gain access to capital and is federally funded. The Advantage Illinois loan is part of a total $10.15 million loan package through a private bank and the Small Business Administration. Funding for Advantage Illinois is provided by the U.S. Treasury through the State Small Business Credit Initiative, which was created as part of the Small Business Jobs Act signed into law by President Obama in 2010.

Since Advantage Illinois debuted in October 2011, Illinois has committed $48 million in federal funds to leverage $370 million in private investment for 154 projects, creating or retaining almost 2,800 jobs in Illinois. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO).

MATCON is also eligible for Economic Development for a Growing Economy (EDGE) tax credits, which are issued based on job creation. The EDGE tax credits are performance-based, meaning a company is not eligible for them unless it meets its commitment to create new jobs, keep existing jobs and make the agreed upon private investment.

"Small and medium sized business like MATCON play a vital role in creating jobs and fueling economic growth in Illinois," DCEO Director Adam Pollet said.

Under Governor Quinn's leadership, the state of Illinois has worked relentlessly to identify and recruit companies with strong potential to bring jobs and economic growth to Illinois. The state has added 251,000 private sector jobs since January 2010, when job growth returned to Illinois following a two-year period of declines during the recession.

For more information on why Illinois is the right place for business, please visit illinoisbiz.biz.

As we recognize World Rabies Day on September 28, we are reminded that our furry feline friends  -- cats -- are a serious rabies risk.  While that may be surprising to some, the fact is that cats remain the top carrier of rabies among domestic animals in the United States. The number of rabid dogs has declined by 37% since 1999?according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)?but the number of reported rabid cats has actually increased and now surpasses dogs by a ratio of over 4 to 1.

Wild animals?such as raccoons?still harbor rabies far more frequently than cats. However, a study published this year by researchers from the CDC stated that "cats pose a disproportionate risk for potential human exposures compared with wildlife...in part because people, especially children, are more likely to approach them."

It is critical to vaccinate all domestic cats for rabies and keep those vaccinations current, but any cat that roams outdoors is at a much higher risk of contracting rabies than cats kept safely indoors. Feral cats, in particular, present a major public health risk. Feral cats are outdoors all the time, and the management of feral cat colonies through Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) programs "[does] not provide effective rabies vaccination coverage or cat population control," according to the CDC-led study. On the contrary, TNR only increases the likelihood of interaction between feral cats and rabid wildlife.

In honor of World Rabies Day and for public health, we must recognize the risks posed by domestic cats roaming outdoors and effectively protect communities by removing feral cats from the landscape.

Dr. George Fenwick

President, American Bird Conservancy

1731 Conn. Avenue

Washington, D.C. 20009

Rock Island, IL-Domestic violence is a pervasive problem in our community.  It is a silent predator that affects one out of every four women and, typically, impacts several generations of family members.  In recognition of national domestic violence awareness this month, Christian Care and Diamonds on the Avenue are teaming up to provide an exclusive offer that is available only in October but will help raise awareness all year long.  Diamonds on the Avenue designed a one-of-a-kind necklace just for this occasion: a purple pendant that changes color in the sun and houses a floating diamond with a very special meaning.

Purple is the color of domestic violence awareness.  The floating diamond signifies the domestic violence survivor who is a diamond in the rough, yet still shining through her pain.  The necklace design pays homage to all who are currently suffering from the effects of domestic violence, those who survived and are thriving, and those who, sadly, did not survive.  This necklace is sure to be a conversation started and, when people ask about it, both Diamonds on the Avenue and Christian Care hope that the story behind the necklace's design will raise awareness for a lifetime. 

Take a stand against domestic violence: join Christian Care and Diamonds on the Avenue by purchasing a pendant from this special collection.  Wear your purple pendant and floating diamond close to your heart.  Pendants start at $49.00.  Diamonds on the Avenue will donate $10 from every purchase of these rare pendants to Christian Care's domestic violence shelter.  

Every dollar donated makes a difference.  98% of the women who complete Christian Care's holistic programs go on to live independent lives, free of their abusers.  Purchase your pendant now at Diamonds on the Avenue located at 3320 East Kimberly Road in Davenport, right down the road from Red Lobster.

Christian Care's services are available in the Quad Cities to a growing number of homeless men and abused women and children 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Through their two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for abused women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men?they provide safe shelter, nutritious meals, clothing, counseling, referrals and guidance to anyone in need. They serve homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and the mentally ill. Their vision is to transform the lives of those they serve by providing their residents with an opportunity to start a new, more
productive life. For more information contact Lindsey at 309-786-5734 or visit Christian Care's website at www.christiancareqc.org

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