SPECIAL HOLIDAY ANNOUNCEMENTS!

November 30th - Shop Small Business Saturday! Remember our unique and wonderful local businesses, restaurants and services! Thank you for shopping locally!

Strolling Santas and Characters needed for Christmas in LeClaire! Santas and characters from All Over the World welcome children and the young at heart to Christmas in LeClaire, December 6, 7 and 8!  Male and female volunteers are needed for all 3 days and for 2 evenings.  Please contact Kim DeWall at kimberleedewall@gmail.com for dates and times!

LeClaire businesses, attractions, churches, clubs, and LeClaire Chamber members: Would you like an opportunity to promote your business or group during the holiday season? For $15 you can display a decorated Christmas tree or decorated wreath at the LeClaire Information Center (LIC). Here are the guidelines for your tree or wreath: 1) size of tree should be 3 ft. or smaller; wreath should be normal door size or smaller; 2) we will allow up to six small decorated trees and six decorated wreaths; 3) design/decorations are subject to Tourism Board's approval; 4) you can put the name of your business/group somewhere on the tree or wreath; 5) your business/group will be thanked publicly in the Chamber Friday email and on the Tourism Facebook page for having provided decorations at the LIC; 6) proceeds will go to the Christmas in LeClaire committee.  DEADLINES: Reserve your spot by Wednesday, November 20th. Drop off your decorated tree or wreath with payment to the LeClaire Information Center no later than Tuesday, November 26th at 3:00pm. This is limited to the first 12 businesses/groups that respond and reserve a spot (six trees and six wreaths) and is open to all LeClaire businesses, attractions, churches, clubs, and LeClaire Chamber members. TO PARTICIPATE: Contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com or 563-650-7963.

Enjoy extended shopping hours until 8pm on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at many LeClaire stores starting Friday, November 29th and going until Saturday, December 21st. And, many stores will be open until at least 3pm on Christmas Eve for that last minute gift or stocking stuffer!

WELCOMING NEW MEMBERS!

The Shameless Chocoholic and Sweet Dreams Guest House 200 Jones St., LeClaire.  Specialty chocolates and confections - indulging never tasted so good! And, indulge in a great night's sleep by reserving the Guest House! Call Jen or Rebecca, 563-289-1339.  www.theshamelesschocoholic.com

Valley Bank 2102 Spruce Hills Dr., Bettendorf, IA 52722 - 563-344-8960At Valley Bank, we are committed to making a meaningful and positive contribution to the communities in which we are located. This community spirit and involvement has been at the root of Valley Bank since its founding in 1993 and continues today in the 18 communities that we serve. www.valleybank.com

CALENDAR

By November 15^th - Grace Marine needs your help! Grace Marine has applied for a $250,000 grant from Chase (the bank/credit card company) as part of a newly launched program, Mission Main Street Grants. In order to be eligible, we had to submit a grant application outlining our plan that would result in the growth of our business and how it would benefit our community. We also have to receive at least 250 votes on Facebook to be eligible to win. If you would, please click on the following link and vote for us before Nov. 15. And if you are willing, pass this along to any friends who may be willing to support us as well. https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/46890 If we can get the 250 votes we need we'll be considered for one of 12 grants they'll award in January 2014. Thank you!

November 17th - Faithful Pilot Brunch 3 courses for $25.00 seating at 10:00am & 12:30pm

November 18^th - Economic Development Meeting. Great River Financial Services. 8 a.m.

November 19^th - BUNCO! LeClaire Civic Club will be having BUNCO - 10 am - 12:30 pm. It will be free this month. Dessert and prizes will be provided. Come play! It's easy!! Come and join the fun!

November 20^th - Straight Talk with Liz Ann Sonders 12:00pm - Eric Johannes, Charles Schwab - 5345 Elmore Ave #300 - Davenport, IA  52807. Please RSVP 563-275-3659

November 21^st - LeClaire Community Library - Endowment Reception for the Green Tree Library Fund, a special endowment planted for the long-term benefit of the library and our community - 6:00-8:00 P.M. The Black Watch Room at Pebble Creek, 3851 Forest Grove Drive, LeClaire, Iowa. Enjoy live music, hors d'oevres and tastings from Wide River Winery and Mississippi River Distilling Company. RSVP Encouraged by November 18th, Walk-Ins Welcome; 563-505-6703 or chris@ccx.net Hosted by the Friends of the LeClaire Community Library.

November 22^nd & 23^rd - Enright's LeClaire Super Car Wash - Annual Holiday Promotion The weekend of the 22nd and 23rd, offering $2.00 Automatic Car Washes or a Free Wash with purchase of tokens.  This event kicks off our "Holiday Token Sale", now through January 12^th. 8 tokens for $30. Each token has a value of $6.50. Tokens Make Great Gifts! Stock up for Winter!

November 22^nd & 23^rd - Mississippi Cottage Antiques and Fine Art's "Beat the Holiday Rush" Two-day Sale! Spend $50 - $99 and receive 12% off. Spend $100 or more and receive 15% off. These discounts are good on everything except paintings and quilts that are on consignment. http://www.mississippicottageantiques.net/

November 23rd - Faithful Pilot Cooking Class! Chef Robert will be doing a cooking class once a month!  Class is at noon and cost is $20.00 and you receive a complimentary glass of wine with the class!

November 23rd - River Valley Optimist Club Trivia Night - LeClaire Civic Center - Gather your friends together, bring some snacks and drinks and come for a little friendly competition! Doors open at 6:30pm and trivia will start at 7pm. Cost is $10 per person with a $50 minimum per table (up to 8 people per table). All proceeds will go towards the River Valley Optimist Club and programs for children in the community. 50/50 raffle, Mulligans and door prizes. Call Josselyn Smith at 563-723-1877 or email josselyn.e.smith@gmail.com for you table Reservation.

Save the Date

December 4^th - Why Everyone Needs an Estate Plan 12:00pm - Eric Johannes with Charles Schwab - 5345 Elmore Ave #300 - Davenport, IA  52807. Please RSVP 563-275-3659

December 6th- First Friday in LeClaire! 5-8pm

Mississippi River Distilling Company Food and Spirit Tastings www.mrdistilling.com

Wide River Winery Wine Samples.

Faithful Pilot Live Music, 8:00p.m., with LeClaire's very own Bobby Ray Bunch!

Aunt Hatties - Come in for a red velvet cupcake!

Razzleberries - Booze cake while it lasts!

Restaurants and several shops will be open late!

December 6th-8th - Christmas in LeClaire 2013!

Friday - 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Crafts and Silent Auction at Civic Center

Free Trolley Rides

Strolling Santas

Cookie Tin Sales

Bazaars and Craft Fair

Baked Goods

Saturday - 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Breakfast with Santa - 8-10 a.m.

Santa's Playhouse - 12-3 p.m.

Strolling Santas

Crafts and Silent Auction

Cookie Tin Sales

Bake Sale

Free Trolley Rides

Sunday - 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Free Trolley Rides

Strolling Santas

Local Stores Open

Crafts and Silent Auction at Civic Center

For more information, contact Joyce 289-4205, Diane 370-3509, Vicki 289-3882

December 7th - Santa will be at the LeClaire Bierstube 1-4pm. Bring a gift to be donated to Star Gifts for Kids and receive a free kid's meal! http://bier-stube.com/

December 7^th - First Saturday in LeClaire!

Mississippi River Distilling Company - open till 8 p.m.

December 8th - Faithful Pilot - 392 Caffe from Clinton Coffee TakeOver! The Faithful Pilot will be open for lunch as well!

December 10th - LeClaire Chamber of Commerce Networking Lunch - Hungry Hobo, noon. Everyone welcome!

December 13^th - Bier-Stube starts celebrating 12 days of Christmas specials! http://bier-stube.com/

December 15th - Faithful Pilot Wine Tasting 3:00-5:00p.m $15.00 for 15 wines.  All wines purchased will be here for your Christmas Dinner Table!

December 19^th - Market Snapshot with Liz Ann Sonders 3:00pm - Eric Johannes, Charles Schwab - 5345 Elmore Ave #300 - Davenport, IA  52807. Please RSVP 563-275-3659

December 31st - Faithful Pilot - New Years Eve - 7 courses includes champagne toast at the end of your meal.  Seatings at 6:00 & 8:30 for $100.00 per person (no coupons or discounts) $50.00 for a wine pairing will include 5 glasses of wine per person.

FYI

Visit the NEW LeClaire Chamber of Commerce website www.leclairechamber.com and see our updated Facebook page!

Locals Love Us - Quad Cities has presented Aunt Hattie's an award for 2013/2014 Best Gift Shop! Aunt Hattie's is the winner of 4 out 18 voter groups: Education, zip code 51265, Household income of $40 K to $69,999, and gender - female. Congrats, Aunt Hattie's!

LeClaire Antiques and Appraisals current hours are Friday through Mondays 12-4pm or by appointment until Dec. 23.

Faithful Pilot - Every Wednesday 1/2 priced wine night with Chef Tapas menu to go along side. Don't forget to book all of your holiday parties with The Faithful Pilot or bring Chef Robert into your home and let us cater your holiday event! Now open for lunch, 12-2, Wed-Sat.

"Something NEW" at the LeClaire Civic Club - BUNCO! Every third Tuesday from10:00 AM through 12:30PM!  Call Debbie for details - 563-289-4458.

Buffalo Bill Museum Expansion "It's an exciting time in the museum's almost 57 year history," said Robert Schiffke, Executive Director of the Buffalo Bill Museum & River Pilots' Pier, "as we start another expansion of our facility."  The women who were members of the LeClaire Women's Club, who founded the museum in 1957, wouldn't recognize the building today, but they would see many of the items first exhibited in its original location at 114 North Cody Road, LeClaire. Included will be an Archival Workroom allowing careful access to the museum's extensive print and photograph collection, a "hands on" classroom for children visiting the museum, and exhibits that highlight LeClaire's role in the region's economic growth through its shipyards, button factories, and river pilots who opened the region to river commerce.  An architectural drawing of the expansion is available for public view at the museum during regular hours, and donations towards the expansion are being accepted. "We appreciate the support of the community in this project, and donations of artifacts and funds are always welcome.  We are truly a community institution, and volunteers have grown the museum into the LeClaire landmark that it is today" said Connie Curlott, President of the Board of Directors.  The museum is open 9am - 4pm, Mon.-Saturday; 12noon - 4pm, Sundays. Call 563-289-5580 for more information or to donate to the project.

Last call to get your Business Artwork hanging in the LIC before the busy holiday shopping season! There is canvas artwork hanging on the walls of the LeClaire Information Center (LIC) of several businesses including Wide River Winery, Style with PM Interiors, Steventons, Blue Iguana, Grasshoppers, Mississippi Cottage Antiques, Mississippi River Distilling Co., First Central State Bank, Twilight Riverboat, The Shameless Chocoholic, Riverview Dental, and Bierstube. This opportunity is available to all LeClaire businesses that want to make arrangements with Margo Moffitt and pay a one-time fee of $125 to have the artwork produced. It also costs you $100 per year to have the artwork displayed in the LIC. This is an inexpensive way to showcase your business to everyone who comes into the LIC (we have had about 19,500 visitors in the LIC over the last 14 months). It also helps visitors find your business (especially if you aren't right downtown), and aids the volunteers when answering visitors' questions. If you are interested, please contact Margo before Nov.15 at 563-355-6400.

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Primitive Cottage is collecting food for the Princeton Presbyterian Church's Food Pantry which is in great need of food donations. They have helped alot of people, and now they need our help.  Donations can be dropped off at Primitive Cottage in LeClaire. Please check the expiration date on items because anything that has expired can't be given away.

First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire Meals for Seniors at the church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone welcome to attend!

December 10th - Hungry Hobo - lunch - noon

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar:

First Fridays each month 5:00-8:00 P.M.

December 6-8 - Christmas in LeClaire

Family Nights at the LeClaire Rec Center: Details at www.leclairereccenter.com

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

LEE BRICE

COLE SWINDELL

February 6, 2014

iWireless Center

Moline, IL

Tickets On Sale Friday, 11/22 at 10am!!

Tickets available at www.LiveNation.com , the venue box office, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Author Joan Engelhardt Nielsen has crafted an immensely emotional tale of love and sisterhood

PRESTON, Iowa- A common issue in the world today is the huge population of orphaned children. From countries like Cambodia to the USA millions of orphaned children suffer and die due to starvation and exploitation. These children are left to fend for themselves in a cold uncaring world without guidance or support of any kind. In "Without Mama'" author Joan Engelhardt Nielsen has written a touching story of four sisters who were orphaned at a very young age and survived despite the harsh realities of life.

"Without Mama" is a true story of survival. It depicts how Helen and her sisters are abandoned by their alcoholic father after their mother's death. Without guidance of either parent, during their childhood they are physically alone, hungry, and needing affection. Geraldyne, 12, is in a wheelchair. Thelma, 9, wants the sisters to always be together. Helen is a mystified five year old who does not understand death, nor what Christmas is all about. Ethel, the baby, is 8 weeks old. This sad yet inspiring story shows the sheer courage it took for these four young girls to live life without parents and the immense effort it took to keep a family together.

This book is based on the true to life story of Helen who was interviewed by the author in her capacity as a nurse. The story is all true and is an accurate depiction of Helen Hunter and her sisters struggle to go on in life. "Without Mama" is a true testament to the strength of the human spirit

For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to www.Xlibris.com

About the Author

Joan Engelhardt Nielsen is a free lance writer and has loved writing since she was a small child. She has done feature articles for newspapers, short stories for a variety of publications, and has written several poems. Working as a nurse she, cared for Helen, who shared her life story with Joan. As she cared for Helen, Joan learned how vibrant and determined Helen was. Some of the obstacles Helen endured were similar to Joan's experiences. Joan has been a type 1 diabetic for 58 years. Like Helen, she had severe problems with her legs and feet.

Without Mama* by Joan Engelhardt Nielsen

Publication Date: October 14, 2011

Trade Paperback; $19.99; 140 pages; 978-1-4653-5281-1

If you like your health plan you can keep it.  It was a nice soundbite; it also wasn't true.

My constituents have learned that the hard way.  Like one from Perry, Iowa who wrote to me saying:

QUOTE  My husband and I are farmers. For nine years now we have bought our own policy.  We recently received our letter that our plan was going away and effective Jan 1, 2014 it will be updated to comply with the mandates of Obamacare.  We did not get to keep our current policy. We did not get to keep our lower rates. I now have to pay for coverage that I do not want or will never use.  We are the small business owner that is trying to live the American dream.  I do not believe in large government that wants to run my life. END OF QUOTE

The President's failed promise is hitting home.  But, more importantly, if the President promises something and doesn't keep that promise, it goes way beyond a promise to hurt an individual.  It goes to the lack of credibility of all government.  We instead need to build up the credibility of government and create trust. This in turn will strengthen our country.

So, where do we go from here?