2013 theme aimed at leading cause of home fires

April 22, 2013 - The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced the 2013 Fire Prevention Week theme:  "Prevent Kitchen Fires." NFPA selected this theme to encourage greater care when cooking and an awareness of kitchen fire dangers. As cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home fire injuries, NFPA will use the week of October 6-12 to promote safe kitchen habits with stoves, microwaves and other appliances. Remaining attentive while cooking and managing how close children and pets are to anything hot will help keep families safe.

NFPA is announcing the theme of Fire Prevention Week 2013 to coincide with the opening of the Fire Department Instructors Conference (FDIC). Thousands of firefighters from across the globe will gather for this conference in Indianapolis to train, network and learn. Conference attendees are invited to stop by NFPA's booth to view new campaign materials that will be on public display for the first time.

Video:  Sparky the Fire Dog® and Ken Willette, NFPA's division manager of Public Fire Protection announce the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2013.

"On average, firefighters respond to more than 400 kitchen fires every day" says Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. "By making kitchen fire safety the theme for 2013 Fire Prevention Week, we can raise the awareness of the leading cause of fires, unattended cooking, and provide life saving safety tips to improve the safety of everyone in the home."

The 2013 Fire Prevention Week campaign materials prominently feature Sparky the Fire Dog®, NFPA's mascot. Sparky's Wish List is an online registry where fire departments request much needed educational materials and individuals or businesses purchase items for them. Nearly 700 fire departments have registered.

NFPA is providing important kitchen safety tips to homeowners that align with the Fire Prevention Week theme:

  • When you fry, grill, or broil food, stay in the kitchen.
  • Maintain a kid- and pet-free zone at least 3 feet away from the stove.
  • Turn pot handles away from the stove's edge.
  • Keep a lid and oven mitt nearby when you're cooking to use in case of a grease fire. If you have a grease fire, slide a lid over the pan. Turn off the burner and leave the pan covered until it is completely cool.

Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more information and safety tips.

About Fire Prevention Week
NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation proclaiming a national observance each October since 1925.

About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)

NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. NFPA develops more than 300 codes and standards to minimize the possibility and effects of fire and other hazards. All NFPA codes and standards can be viewed at no cost at www.nfpa.org/freeaccess.

 

Monday, April 22, 2013

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa today made the following comment on the Securities and Exchange Commission's announcement that Acting Director George Canellos and former federal prosecutor Andrew Ceresney have been named co-directors of the Division of Enforcement.  Media reports have described Ceresney as the "longtime lieutenant" of new SEC chairman Mary Jo White as a corporate defense lawyer at the law firm Debevoise & Plimpton.

"With the head of the SEC and one of the co-directors of enforcement coming from the same firm, both might be recused from many cases involving that firm's clients. The SEC will have to ensure that cases don't fall by the wayside because of potential conflicts of interest and recusals. The commission can't give any impression of favoritism toward former clients of the chairman and co-director of enforcement's former law firm."
Boston, MA - The DREAM Action Coalition stands with all Americans in coming together not only to mourn the loss of life stemming from recent events in Boston, but also in coming together to celebrate our country's resilience to stand firm in the face of tragedy.  We condemn Republican efforts to instill fear and division in the American people for the sake of their own political agenda to kill immigration reform. Their deceptive tactics have been apparent to many including the NYTimes who accurately illustrated that Republicans like Iowa Sen. Grassley, Rep. Steve King no longer have any good arguments to oppose immigration just that "about all they have left is scary aliens" and fear.
We are seeing Republicans like Sens. Sessions (R-AL) and Grassley (R-IA) are exploiting and rushing to judgment trying to instill fear and division in the American people. Just last week Senator Grassley said, "given the events of this week, it's important for us to understand the gaps and loopholes in our immigration system," apparently ignoring the fact that the Boston culprits were legal permanent resident and a U.S. Citizens.
But we must remember that modernizing our immigration system will allow people to step out of the shadow and be identified further increasing the government's understanding of who and why someone is in the U.S. Indeed, the Senate's bill - S.744, Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act - is primarily about public safety and national security. The national security force of SB 744 is recognized by Republicans such as Republican Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (S-SC).
Sen. Grassley is demonstrating a utter disregard of the wishes of the American people who, in record numbers, are supporting a pathway to citizenship.  Despite the fact that the very tough town of Boston has gone back to life as normal, Sen. Grassley and others outside of Boston are trying to inject an un-American sense of fear and division into the nation to gain political leverage on the immigration debate. Republicans on immigration are looking very much like Republican Arizona firebrands like Joe Arpaio and Jan Brewer for misleading their Arizonans with notions like there being beheaded bodies in the desert (there were none).
Caught in the middle of all this are 11 million people who had nothing to do with this act of terrorism, but it is their lives that will be the most intensely and intimately affected by dragging the Boston incident into the debate and painting every immigrant with the same terrorist brush:
"Hey fb friends! I know we are all scared, hurt, and confused right now but we need to be careful. Let's not jump to conclusions or spread misinformation. I have already seen posts on Facebook blaming "illegals" (please stop using that word), immigrants, and Muslims. Your comments are hurting me, especially since I am an undocumented immigrant. I may not have been born here but this is still my home just like it is for many others who are not originally from here. I love the city of Boston and the people in it. I want to protect it. I don't have all the answers on how we can prevent this from happening here or the rest of the world. But I know the answer is not with hate, suspicion, or more violence." - Renata Teodoro, a young undocumented immigrant or DREAMer from Boston.
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Dream Action Coalition serves as a voice for undocumented youth and lobbying arm of the dream movement. Our work ensures that undocumented youth are represented in the halls of power and are correctly and directly informed of the actions of Congress, Executive Agencies, and the Courts.

Reserve your table for Derby Day today

On May 4 you can experience the grace and excitement of Churchill Downs right here in the Quad Cities. You'll love the horse races, the buffet loaded with authentic Derby favorites, the live auction, elegant hats, mint juleps, and happy winners - all to benefit youth music education!

This afternoon of food, fun, and live music at the Arsenal Island Golf Club begins at 2:30 p.m. and includes a bourbon tasting, entry into three horse race contests, a commemorative Derby Day mint julep glass, and a buffet overflowing with traditional Derby cuisine like hot browns and Derby pie.

This year's party also features a blue grass band led by Ben Lorentzen and featuring members of the Quad City Symphony Orchestra and the Quad City Symphony Youth Orchestras performing side-by-side.

 

Reservations can be made today by clicking here.

The Art of Bill Marsoun.


Closing event.


Bill will be present to close his show at The Phoenix for this current year.

He will address the group at 7.00 for a short time...

On : 
His Art.  What Art means to him.
Bill will discuss the following topics:

  • Which artists influence him the most today, and which artists have influenced him the most over this most formative years in his art career.
  • Technique.  How he learnt his technique.*
  • His painting habits and routine.
  • American  Midwest art as a genre. Its importance and reach.
  • His message to other artists.
  • The places and galleries he has shown, and how he feels about them.

At the Phoenix Fine Art Gallery:
1530 Fifth Avenue. Moline. Illinois 309-762-9202 or 762-8547

Cocktails and Hor's Devours


Doors open at 6.00 p.m.
Free and open to the public.
Dress code: business casual.

The Phoenix Fine Art Gallery specializes in

AMERICAN MIDWEST ART

and

CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL CONTINUATION IN AMERICAN MIDWEST ART: Please visit the Phoenix Art Gallery on line gallery:  www.atthephoenix.com

 

Please stop by to see the work of  the artists represented by The Phoenix Fine Art Gallery:

Photography by DARREN MILLER at the Dragon, adjacent to the Phoenix. 

Artist showing at the Moline Commercial Club on the 2nd floor and in the Artisan Adventure are:
ANNA ENGELBRECHT: Midwest scenes: photography, gauche on canvas.
AMBER WILLIAMS: mixed media Midwest scenes
EKKEHARD STOEVESAND: The Mississippi river in our area. Tractors. Oil on canvas. Genre: German Expressionist Abstract.

ELSA ROMERO :  Bolero Unique jewelry.
HUGH LIFSON: mixed media
ROBERT KAMECZURA: photography, ink and pencil on paper, and giclee.

The galleries will be open at 6.00 p.m. to 9. 00 p.m.

The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, LTD is a 501(c)3 at State and Federal level organization under US laws since 1996. Please visit
www.qcinstitute.org to see our archives.

Contributions may be sent  to:
The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd.
1530 Fifth. Avenue. Moline. IL 61265

Contributions are tax deductible up to the limits of  the law.

Documentation Will Support Request for Federal Assistance

MEREDOSIA - Governor Pat Quinn today asked the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with damage assessments in several Illinois counties devastated by flooding and severe storms. The assessments, which will begin on April 29, will provide the documentation necessary to support a request for federal assistance.

"We have seen some of the worst flooding damage to neighborhoods and homes across our state in Illinois history," Governor Quinn said. "The state will continue to take every step to secure assistance from the federal government that will help our communities recover."

Since Thursday, Governor Quinn has surveyed damage on the ground and from the air and met with local officials in some of the hardest hit communities, including Elmhurst, Des Plaines, River Forest, Bellwood, Riverside, Moline, Quincy, Bartonville, North Aurora, Marseilles, Ottawa, North Utica and Morris.

Personnel from FEMA, IEMA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and local emergency management agencies will begin assessing damage to homes and businesses in Cook, DuPage and Lake Counties on April 29. The teams will move to other affected counties as floodwaters recede so they are able to accurately assess the damage. Governor Quinn has declared a total of 44 counties state disaster areas.

Counties included in the state disaster declaration are Adams, Brown, Bureau, Calhoun, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Douglas, DuPage, Fulton, Greene, Grundy, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Jersey, Jo Daviess, Kane, Kendall, Knox, Lake, LaSalle, Livingston, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, Mercer, Morgan, Ogle, Peoria, Pike, Putnam, Rock Island, Schuyler, Scott, Stark, Tazewell, Whiteside, Will, Winnebago and Woodford.

The state disaster declaration makes available a wide variety of state resources that can help affected communities respond and recover from flooding. It came after assessments by emergency officials and the governor, and begins the process of securing federal relief.

As of today, the state has fulfilled more than 80 requests for assistance from counties including:

Department of Transportation

  • More than 240 IDOT personnel and 153 trucks and equipment have been deployed to deliver sandbags, plastic, pumps, hoses, trucks and drivers to communities.
  • Conducting flyovers of flooded areas for situational awareness.
  • Providing guidance to communities on pumping equipment needs.

Department of Corrections

  • Inmate crews are assisting with sandbagging efforts in several communities.
  • Over 660 inmates have worked around the clock to fill more than 80,000 sandbags since Friday.

Department of Natural Resources

  • DNR boats and conservation police officers have assisted with home and medical evacuations, transportation, river rescues, missing person searches and other flood-related responses.

Illinois Emergency Management Agency

  • Provided 40 StarCom radios to the Algonquin Police Department for emergency communications.
  • Deployed liaison teams to Quincy and Milan to coordinate response efforts along the Mississippi River.
  • Coordinating requests for assistance from affected counties with state resources.

Illinois National Guard

  • UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter and two crew members assisted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers with overflight of the Des Plaines and Little Calumet Rivers to survey integrity of flood control systems and infrastructure.

Illinois State Police

  • Continue to assist motorists and local public safety agencies with flood-related issues.

Department of Public Health

  • Provided information on tetanus shots to local public health departments, hospitals and medical offices.
  • Monitoring situations at nursing homes and long-term care facilities affected by flooding.

Department of Central Management Services

  • Procured work gloves for inmate crews assisting with sandbagging.

Governor Quinn activated the State Incident Response Center on Thursday to coordinate the deployment of state personnel and assets to assist local governments in the affected areas. The state's flood response is coordinated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

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iBIO Report Shows Illinois at the Core of the Most Vibrant Bioscience Hub in the United States

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that a new independent study has ranked Illinois at the top of the nation's biotechnology industry, and the state is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience hub in the United States. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to create jobs and drive Illinois' economy forward. Citing "The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois," a new report from iBIO conducted by Ernst & Young LLP, the announcement comes during the BIO Conference in Chicago.

"This report shows that Illinois is a national leader in biotechnology jobs and economic impact," Governor Quinn said. "Public and private investments have fueled our strong track record of innovation and success in biotechnology. As this report makes clear, Illinois and the Midwest are well positioned for ongoing growth."

The report demonstrates that Illinois stands out as a significant player in the biotechnology industry in three ways. First, Illinois is at the core of the most vibrant bioscience cluster in the United States; second, biotechnology is a critical component and driver of the state's economy; and third, the state of Illinois is committed to fueling this growth and advancing the biotechnology industry.

"The Economic Engine of Biotechnology in Illinois" shows the Midwest Super Cluster, which includes Illinois and the surrounding eight-state region, surpasses California and the East Coast in biotechnology-related employment, number of establishments and research and development expenditures. Its four key findings are:

·         Within the Midwest Super Cluster there are more than 16,800 biotechnology establishments employing more than 377,900 people. By comparison, California has 7,500 biotechnology establishments that employ 230,000 people, and the East Coast cluster employs 253,000 among its approximately 7,100 biotechnology establishments.

·         The overall economic output of Illinois' biotechnology industry is more than $98.6 billion with 81,000 direct jobs and more than 3,500 biotechnology companies in the state. In fact, Illinois residents employed by biotechnology companies earn up to 91 percent more than the average Illinois resident. The biotechnology industry in Illinois has demonstrated the strongest revenue growth in recent years among all of the states analyzed in this study, an average annual growth of 13.3 percent.

·         During the past decade, the top seven universities in Illinois have steadily increased their research and development expenditures, creating new opportunities for biotech startups. Expenditures have nearly doubled since 2001, growing from $727 million to more than $1.3 billion.

·         The ability to secure early-stage funding is spurring innovation and growth among startup biotechnology companies in Illinois. Venture capital funding in Illinois has seen a 209 percent increase between 2009 and 2012.

Ernst & Young LLP conducted direct interviews with senior industry leaders throughout the Midwest region to create the report. Data was also gathered from reports by Battelle Memorial, information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the National Science Foundation, various university technology transfer offices, biotechnology organizations, publicly available data sources and reports, as well as proprietary databases. The nine-state Midwest Super Cluster includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin.

The full report may be viewed at ibio.org/illinoisbiotechreport.

"Ernst & Young is committed to helping the Midwest become one of the top biotechnology communities in the world," Ernst & Young's Midwest Health Sciences Leader Jo Ellen Helmer said. "To succeed, our region must continue to invest in the industry, and increase collaboration and partnerships, as well as facilitate ongoing research, recruit the talent needed to ensure growth and emphasize the ease and ability to secure early-stage funding."

iBIO, which commissioned the study, aims to make Illinois and the surrounding Midwest one of the world's top life sciences centers, a great place to do business and a great place to grow new technology ventures. iBIO advocates for sound public policy at the local, state and federal levels; improves our region's ability to create, attract and retain businesses; and orchestrates industry involvement to help restore America's leadership in math and science education. To find out more about iBIO, please visit ibio.org.

The national Biotechnology Industry Organization named Governor Quinn "2011 Governor of the Year" at their international conference in Washington, D.C. Additionally, Illinois is home to several multinational bioscience companies, including  Abbott, Baxter, Takeda, Astellas, Valent BioSciences, Tate & Lyle, Hospira and Lundbeck. According to iBio, Illinois is home to more than 440 corporate R&D facilities and more than 200 academic, government, and nonprofit research institutions.

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Amana- Become part of the magic this summer in Camp Creamery's Merlin's Apprentice and the Deadly Dragon, The Old Creamery Theatre's weeklong theatre camp!

Merlin's Apprentice and the Deadly Dragon is a new musical full of magic and madcap fun. This weeklong workshop is for children ages 7 and up who are interested in exploring the exciting world of theatre. Children work and perform with professional actors from The Old Creamery Theatre Company while they rehearse and present this play.

Merlin's Apprentice and the Deadly Dragon will be held at The Old Creamery Theatre in Amana July 8 through 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Campers will need to bring a sack lunch each day. Cost is $65 per child and includes the workshop and a T-shirt. No prior experience is needed but the cast is limited to 60 actors and participants must be able to
attend rehearsal every day. Registration is first come, first served and everyone that signs up will be cast in the show. Final performances of the show will be on July 12 at 7 p.m. and July 13 at 11 a.m. on The Old Creamery's Main Stage.

For more information or to register visit www.oldcreamery.com or contact Jackie McCall at 319- 622-6034 or jmccall@oldcreamery.com. Scholarships will be available for those in need thanks to the generosity of this year's camp sponsor, Transamerica.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 42 years of bringing live, professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

 

DES MOINES, IA - The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Iowa State Conference has become the 12th union to endorse Bruce Braley for US Senate. State Conference President Bill Hanes announced that the Delegates to the Conference voted unanimously in favor of this endorsement. The IBEW State Conference represents 8,500 electrical workers from manufacturing, utility, inside construction and outside line locals in the state of Iowa.
Braley announced in February that he had formed a committee to run for the Senate seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Tom Harkin.
Bill Hanes, President of the IBEW Iowa State Conference, said, "We're proud to endorse Bruce Braley for Senate. Bruce works hard for working families because he knows that by providing the ladder of opportunity to more Iowans, we can strengthen the middle class and strengthen America. Bruce has never forgotten where he came from, growing up in a middle class family in Brooklyn, Iowa, and working hard his whole life. He'll be even more effective in the Senate."
Braley said, "I'm honored to have the endorsement of the IBEW Iowa State Conference. I'm running for Senate to bring people together to rebuild the middle class, create economic opportunities, and make America stronger. I'm thrilled to have these hard working men and women standing with me."
Braley has received a wave of endorsements in recent weeks, highlighted by the endorsement of Sen. Tom Harkin on Saturday.  In February, Rep. Dave Loebsack (IA-02) and former Rep. Leonard Boswell announced their endorsement; in March, Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller and Treasurer Michael Fitzgerald endorsed; on April 3rd, 71 Iowa legislators announced their endorsement of Braley. Eleven other Iowa labor organizations have also endorsed Braley.
Last week, Braley reported he had raised $1.07 million for his Senate campaign and has over $1 million cash on hand as of March 30th. Iowans from all 99 counties have contributed to Braley for Iowa.
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WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard announced that tuition assistance is reinstated for the remainder of fiscal 2013 but with revised eligibility requirements.

The Coast Guard revised eligibility requirements for members seeking assistance in order to ensure the $4.6 million set aside for the program is enough to sustain it to the end of the fiscal year.

The new requirements for eligibility include the member must be on active duty at the rank of petty officer 1st class or below and pursuing undergraduate courses, only.  Reservist members on extended active duty also qualify. For eligible members, benefits are restored to pre-suspension levels of $250 per individual credit hour and an annual cap of $4500. 

The U.S. Coast Guard has averaged nearly 10,000 enrollees a year for the last three years and expected around the same number this year. 7,000 members had participated this year prior to suspension.

The Coast Guard joins the other military services in reinstating tuition assistance after an amendment to the Appropriations Bill directed all military services to do so. The initial decision to suspend tuition assistance was a result of the service's attempt to meet the provisions of the Budget Control Act.

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