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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Input Needed for Development of Upcoming Multi-Year Transportation Program

Dixon - Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider today announced that the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) will seek early input into the development of its upcoming Multi-Modal Transportation Improvement Program for fiscal years 2015-2020. Informational and feedback sessions will be held in communities throughout the state.

The public meeting for the District 2 area will be held on Monday, September 30th from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the District 2 Headquarters located at 819 Depot Avenue, Dixon, IL to give residents and businesses in the area a chance to better understand and weigh in on project priorities over the next five to seven years.

"As we proactively plan for the next multi-modal program, we want the public to know how valuable their feedback is to maintain and improve our state's infrastructure," said Secretary Schneider. "We encourage the public to take this opportunity to share with us what their transportation needs are to ensure our transportation system continues to serve them in the best way possible."

Also called the Multi-Year Program (MYP), this planning and programming guide for transportation is based on current estimates of local, federal and state funding, including funding from Governor Pat Quinn's Illinois Jobs Now! capital program, enacted in 2009. The MYP for the current FY 2014-2019 totals about $9.5 billion for the state road and bridge systems alone, and focuses on maintenance and improvement of the road system and any interconnected modal systems such as transit, rail, or bike facilities, as appropriate.

Public meetings will be conducted informally, with no formal presentation planned. IDOT staff will be present to answer any questions related to the multi-modal program, planning and project development process. The public will have an opportunity to comment in writing on the development of the proposed MYP, existing programming procedures and other information.

IDOT also will present the latest developments on the first ever statewide Illinois Bicycle Transportation Plan. This long-range planning document will guide future policy decisions and infrastructure improvements to make cycling a safer, more convenient, and more accessible transportation option for Illinois residents and visitors. For more information on the Illinois State Bike Plan, please visit www.illinoisbikeplan.com.  

Comment sheets will be provided for those in attendance who wish to provide a written statement on the MYP and the statewide bicycle plan. Comments received at this meeting or sent to the IDOT District 2 Office at 819 Depot Avenue, Dixon, IL by October 14 included in the meeting record.

These meetings will be accessible to individuals with disabilities. Anyone needing special assistance should contact Kevin Marchek at 815-284-5307 at least five days prior to the meeting.

For a complete list of meetings statewide, please visit http://www.dot.il.gov/opp/outreach/outreach.html.

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More and more small business owners are selling their companies, with sales hitting a four-year high earlier this year in the United States, and Canada predicting its largest small business turnover ever in the next five years.

"Many of our CEOs are baby boomers approaching retirement age," says Kathleen Richardson-Mauro, co-author with Jane M. Johnson of a practical new guide, "Cashing Out of Your Business," http://www.richardsonmauroandjohnson.com/.

"We're about to see a tsunami of ownership transitions and Kathleen and I worry that too many of  these small business owners are not taking steps early enough to plan for it," adds Johnson.

Richardson-Mauro, a Certified Financial Planner, and Johnson, a Certified Public Accountant, specialize in helping business owners successfully transition out of companies and achieve their goals. They recently launched an educational website, Business Transition Academy, to help owners plan their exits on their own.

"Most CEOs don't realize they need to start planning years before they might, potentially, be ready to sell or hand off their business," Johnson says. "And while a lot of that planning is to ensure they'll have the money to meet their lifestyle goals, there are other equally important considerations."

Small business owners tend to pour their lives into their companies and it doesn't take long before their identity is entirely defined by their job, the women say. In order to achieve a successful after-life, they need to start laying the groundwork early for their emotional separation.

Johnson and Richardson-Mauro suggest these steps for small business owners of any age to begin preparing mentally for their non-CEO future:

• Start now. You never know when you might receive an unsolicited purchase offer or what life events might rock your world. Most owners do not start thinking about transitioning out until some event gives them a jolt: a significant birthday; children graduating from college or starting their own families; illness or injury.

"Planning improves your chances for a successful outcome and gives you more control over the process," Richardson-Mauro says. "We sometimes don't realize just how much our lives revolve around our business - or we do realize it and don't want to think about it because the future looks scary."

With planning, you can ensure you still have a social life, a sense of accomplishment, challenges, and the other intangibles that make us satisfied and gratified.

• Identify what you want to get from your ownership transition. You'll have both financial and non-financial goals and objectives. Financial may include receiving enough money to live on for the rest of your life and creating a foundation to further a cause important to you. Non-financial may include regaining balance in your life and following a passion you gave up when you started your business.

Consider goals in every area of life, the authors say, from health, to family, to social connections.

"This is about remembering your true passions, determining what's most important to you, and deciding what you want to do when you can spend less or no time with your business," Johnson says.

"This will re-energize you and provide you with direction as you figure out the best way to transition the ownership of your business. It will also enable you to minimize any chance for regrets."

• Identify your fears, concerns and other barriers that prevent you from planning. Many owners fear what will come next and worry about losing their life's purpose. Most wonder if they will have enough money to live the lifestyles they desire, and they're concerned about their employees' futures, Johnson says.

"Take proactive action to address these concerns by having a family meeting; discussing the future with your spouse; and identifying your actual financial needs. That will allow you to find solutions and work through them," says Richardson-Mauro.

The two women say they've met many business owners who one day just decided they were tired of the headaches and ready to relax. They sold their business or otherwise transitioned out, only to discover they were bored, lonely and unhappy.

"After all of your years of work and sacrifice, you deserve a happy life after business," says Johnson.

"It's completely doable," adds Richardson-Mauro, "with planning.

About Kathleen Richardson-Mauro

Kathleen Richardson-Mauro, CFP, CBEC, CM&AA, CBI, has owned and operated five small companies and has successfully assisted more than 150 business owners in achieving their transition goals.

About Jane Johnson

Jane Johnson, CPA, CBEC, CM&AA, started her career in public accounting and finance at General Electric, then established her own practice. Fourteen years later, she negotiated the sale of her firm, retaining all of her clients and team members. In 2010, Jane received the Excellence in Exit Planning Achievement Award from Pinnacle Equity Solutions.