Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today participated in the USO Care Package Service Project in recognition of September 11^th being designated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  The event, hosted by the USO in the U.S. Capitol complex, brought together Members of Congress to assemble care packages, which will be delivered to Wounded Warriors.  Loebsack is a member of the USO Caucus and has participated in this event in past years.

"Twelve years ago our nation was attacked and we suffered one of the darkest moments of our history.  But just as the sun that was shining so brightly that Tuesday morning, in the minutes, days, and weeks that followed, our shared sense of unity, engagement and purpose shone through.  Whether it was the heroic first responders that rushed to the scene, the strangers who lined up to help survivors, or the communities that came together to mourn our tremendous loss but also reaffirm our country's strength, our country's enduring values and sprit were unshaken.

"As we pause to remember the events of that day, it is also important that we join together and play a part in moving our nation forward by participating in a service event in the community. Giving back to your community is a way to celebrate the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.  Whether it is giving back to the service men and women who so bravely serve our nation, helping clean up a park in your neighborhood, or serving food to seniors through Meals on Wheels, your service is a living reminder of hope and gives comfort to those whose lives were forever changed.

"Everyone remembers where they were that morning, but let's also remember the families of all those we lost, the first responders who rushed to the scene, the volunteers who cleared rubble or lined up to donate blood, and our men and women in uniform who have made incredible sacrifices in defense of our nation. Our nation may have been shaken that morning, but we remain unbroken."

A photo of Congressman Loebsack preparing care packages can be seen here.

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Centennial Park down by the river is a great place to spend your after school hours! We've got an outdoor skateboard park, basketball courts, and a concession stand offering snacks and refreshments for only $1!

With early school out days every Wednesday, it's a great place for your kids to spend an afternoon!  The concession stand will open early on school out days and early dismissal days.

Normal concession stand hours:

Tuesday 4-8,

Wednesday 2-8,

Thursday 4-8,

Friday 4-8,

Sat 12-8,

Sun 12-8

(Open early hours on school out and early dismissal days)

Teenagers pose many dilemmas for parents, and one of the biggest is determining how much freedom to allow.

"There's such a fine line - they have one foot in childhood and the other in adulthood, so you can't completely trust their decision-making. And yet, you need to allow them some independence because in a very short time, they will be adults," says George Karonis, a location-based services specialist.

"And, let's be honest, life is better when your teen is happy. It's nice to see them looking forward to something like a friend's party or a weekend camping trip."

Figuring out how to balance their need for a measure of freedom and independence against a parent's concern for safety can be difficult.

"It is important for teens to be social, but as teenagers, they have a tendency to test their boundaries, which can lead to trouble. The good news is, there are ways to give your teen the freedom that he or she needs, and the peace of mind you require," Karonis says.

He offers the following solutions for parents:

• LiveViewGPS, Inc.: This new service temporarily turns any cell phone into a location device. It's an economical solution for families that occasionally need to be able to pinpoint someone's location but don't want to download software to their phone or spend a lot of money on hardware, says Karonis, who is the founder and CEO of the company. The service requires the permission of the son or daughter whose phone would be tracked, which adds an element of honesty and transparency. Users pay a minimum of $19.95 for 30 locates and when they need to find the phone - and the person to whom it's attached - they simply log into the website, where tracking is instantaneous and displayed on a satellite-view map.

• Reward Responsibility: If your teen has already proven himself or herself to be reliable and punctual with multiple responsibilities - completing schoolwork in a timely manner; diligent with extracurricular activities like sports, band or theater; or has responded well to after-school employment - it's time to give him or her the benefit of the doubt when it comes to fun. Make it clear, you trusting them to use good judgment because they've earned that trust. But trust can also be lost.

• Set the example of consistency: Predictability is good when it comes to raising children, especially in terms of personifying virtues like honesty, punctuality and reliability. Teenagers are keenly aware of hypocrisy and are liable to use a parent's contradictions against them in rationalizing bad behavior. The "do as I say, not as I do" rule may be convenient, but teens see through it. Use a calendar, perhaps on your refrigerator or synch schedules on your family's smartphones, to encourage everyone to show up at expected times. If someone is going to be late, have a system in place for sending appropriate notification.

• Don't be strangers: Most parents assume they know who their child is, but teens are our most rapidly changing family members. They're eager to establish their own identities and try new experiences in their run-up to adulthood. Who are the most relevant people in their lives, and do you know his or her friends? The more a group of friends knows the teen friend's parents, the more responsibility those friends will feel in honoring the parent's rules.

About George Karonis

George Karonis has a background in security and surveillance, and has specialized in location services since 2005. A self-professed computer geek, one of his chief concerns is balancing the usefulness of tracking with the protection of individuals' privacy. He is founder and CEO of LiveViewGPS, Inc. (www.mobilephonelocate.com)

PORT BYRON, IL - The Nick Teddy Foundation collected nearly 150 teddy bears in August for its Teddy Bear Drive.  Several area locations accepted bears throughout the month.

Bears will be donated to pediatric patients at Children's Hospital of Illinois in Peoria, IL, http://www.childrenshospitalofillinois.org  and to grieving and traumatized children served by Rick's House of Hope in Davenport, IA.  http://rhoh.org

A contest at Riverdale Elementary in Port Byron netted 100 bears for the effort.  Classes competed to collect the most bears, with the winning classroom to be rewarded with its choice of either a root beer ?oat or a pizza party.  Drive coordinator Jamie Rice commented, "I think this is a great way to get the kids involved in giving back to the community."

A "Bear Tree" with a sample of the donations will be on display at the Foundation's 2nd Annual "Nick Teddy Fight Against Ewing's Sarcoma 5k" in Port Byron on Saturday, September 14 in Port Byron.

More information, can be found online at: http://www.NickTeddy.org, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NickTeddyOrg); on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NickTeddyOrg).

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