CASI is having our annual Valentine's Day Dance this Friday, February 14, 2014 from 7:00-10:00 p.m.  at CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly Road, Davenport.  Music provided by the Tony Hamilton Orchestra.

Light snacks and cash bar! Tickets are $10 at the door. Singles are welcome!

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Have you ever wondered how members of the same family, from aunts, uncles and cousins to siblings born of the same parents and raised in the same household, can be so very different?

"We see it in every family - Grandma's so easygoing and her son be so strict; Mom's a zany beatnik and her sister's a corporate v.p. Anyone with brothers and sisters will even see it within their own sibling group," says Lynn Shafer, award-winning author of "Stories from Brooklyn: Ancient Voices, Ritual Chants," (www.jo-anbooks.com), a timeless look at the interplay of disparate members of an extended 1940s family.

A ground-breaking study by researcher Robert Plomin in the 1980s is still the preeminent resource for psychologists seeking to understand personality diversity within families.  Even among siblings, the study showed, while physical traits may be very similar, personalities can be as varied as random individuals from the general population.

"Expand that to the extended family, including the vast non-traditional extended families we see today, and you're likely to see more differences than similarities," says Shafer. "Still, many of these families are tight-knit and cohesive. They serve as an inspirational example for humanity as a whole. Despite a union of very different people, we can all love, learn and grow together."

How can you build a strong family? Shafer shares timeless tips:

• Establish a solid foundation based on shared values. It's no secret that very religious families tend to be close-knit and strong. Why? "Because religion provides a structured means of sharing beliefs and values, a process that begins in infancy, when babies are taken to worship services and undergo the rituals that mark their membership in the religion," Shafer says.  While fewer American families are religion-focused than were in decades past, they can all still strive to emphasize the importance of family values and their role in reuniting every family member. Creating rituals and traditions are one way to emphasize values.

• Make your family history a story to celebrate. The story about how brave Uncle Joe once rescued a dog from a well; the singing talents of the three great aunts who performed at county fairs as little girls; the one-cheek dimple that is the family hallmark -- these are the stories that make your family special. "It's not about memorizing the family tree, but about ensuring children know that they are part of something greater than themselves - and that is both a privilege and a responsibility," Shafer says. A child who is constantly reminded, with fondness, that she's the spitting image of wonderful Aunt Bessie will feel a bond with Aunt Bessie - even if she's bee gone for decades.

• Commit to attending, or hosting, family gatherings. Often, the places for sharing those stories are family gatherings - weddings and funerals, holidays and anniversaries. "It may be a question of the chicken or the egg," Shafer says. "Strong families tend to have many shared family stories. Strong families also tend to gather together frequently - and that's where those stories are most often shared." Family gatherings are also a good place for family members with very different personalities to learn to find common ground and practice getting along for the sake of everyone at the special event.  "Imagine what a more peaceful world it would be if we were all forced to play nicely with our obnoxious cousin as children!" Shafer says.

About Lynn Shafer

Lynn Shafer is a Brooklyn native and a graduate of Brooklyn College. A veteran English teacher in New York City schools, she has utilized oral history to create a body of work that can be read aloud. The story "Ancient Voices, Ritual Chants" was runner-up in the fiction category of the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society annual competition in 1995 for previously unpublished work, portions of which she has read aloud at the prestigious 92 Street Y in Manhattan. She has also written and performed poetry at the Truro Center for the Arts on Cape Cod, where she attended workshops for many years. "Stories from Brooklyn" is published by Jo-An Books - "Books that are making history." Find it at www.jo-anbooks.com and anywhere books are sold.

Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association Annual Meeting & Conference

Area hay and forage producers are invited to attend the 31st Association (EIHPA) Annual Meeting and Conference on Thursday, March 20, 2014 at Buzzy's in Welton. Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the program scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m.

This year's conference features two ISU speakers, plus regional updates from Virgil Schmitt, ISU Extension Field Agronomist, and Denise Schwab, ISU Extension Beef Specialist. Ryan Drollette, ISU Extension Farm Management Specialist, will kick off the event with an overview of the cattle industry and market outlook, and its impact on forage demand. Following lunch and a brief annual meeting to elect officers and directors, Dr. John Sawyer, ISU Extension Soil Fertility Specialist and Professor in Agronomy, will speak on Nutrient Considerations with Corn Stover Harvest. Sawyer has focused his research on efficient fertilizer use and nutrient, manure, and limestone management.

Registration for the conference is $30 and includes a membership to EIHPA and meal. Tickets can be purchased at the door. Certified crop advisor credits have been applied for. This conference is sponsored by EIHPA, Iowa State University Extension & Outreach, and the Iowa Beef Center.

The Eastern Iowa Hay Producers Association provides educational workshops and field days for forage producers in Jackson, Jones, Clinton, Cedar, Scott and Muscatine counties. However, forage producers from other counties are also welcome to participate. For more information contact Denise Schwab at dschwab@iastate.edu or Kevin Brown at brofarm@windstream.net or 563-872-4475.

ISU Offers New Horse Program 24/7

Want to learn the science of horse management on your time schedule? Begin by visiting the Master Equine Manager website at www.extension.iastate.edu/masterequine/. You will find a complete program description and registration information for easy access to begin learning The Master Equine Manager program is designed to enhance Iowa's broad-based horse industry.

Dr. Peggy Miller-Auwerda, ISU Extension and Outreach Horse Specialist, says "we designed the new Master Equine Manager Program to inform and educate people on quality horse care and responsible horse ownership."

Horse owners, enthusiasts, boarding facility managers and industry employees benefit from increased knowledge and networking with others in the horse industry. The program combines focused learning opportunities with a hands-on practical evaluation.

The learning modules and topics include : Welfare of Horses: Understanding Horse Behavior, Facilities and Equipment, Equine Quality Assurance; Horse Nutrition: Forages for Horses, Feeds and Feeding; Horse Health: Equine Emergency Treatment, Vaccinations for Horses, Understanding Horse Parasites, and Hoof Care; Selection of Horses: Conformation and Evaluation, Unsoundness's and Blemishes.

Registrations are accepted from junior and senior high school students and adults with an interest in horses. Graduates of the program will become a certified Master Equine Manager and are encouraged to share their skills and knowledge with others. Continuing Education Units are available upon request.

For more information, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/masterequine/, contact Dale Miller, State Coordinator Master Equine Manager Program, at dmill@iastate.edu, (641) 842-2014.

Calendar

March 5, 2014 Ornamental and Turf Applicators, Scott County Extension Office, 1:30-4:00 pm

March 21, 2014 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension Office, 10:00-2:00 pm

March 25, 2014 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

March 26, 2014 Certified Handlers, Scott County Extension Office, 9:00-11:30 am

Visit our events calendar at our web site: http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

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Sip on martini samples from 25 bars and restaurants and help a great cause tonight at the RiverCenter during HAVLife's Martini Shake Off! Presented by Bush Construction, this year's event features a night of live entertainment, an assortment of appetizers, and more. Grab your dancin' shoes and head back to the RiverCenter Saturday for Unity Point Health's Day of Dance 2014. Stick around afterward to cheer on the QC Rollers for their home-opener!