Davenport, Iowa - Share the Power of a Wish®! Make?A?Wish® Iowa invites you to participate in the 4th Annual Walk for Wishes on Saturday, October 12, at Modern Woodmen Park in Davenport, Iowa. This event raises funds to help improve the lives of Iowa's children with lifethreatening medical conditions by granting them their one true wish.

Runners and walkers of all ages may participate in the 5k or 10k race that starts at 10 a.m. or the one mile walk which starts at 10:30 a.m. Awards go to the top three male and female finishers and to the top fundraising team. Registration is $25 and includes a t?shirt (same day race registration is available for $35 per person). Register as a team or as an individual by visiting www.getmeregistered.com and search for Make?A?Wish!

Join us at the post?race party for food, refreshments and the awards presentation. There will be plenty of family?fun activities including a bounce house, face?painting, children's games, raffle prizes, fire trucks, and a sno?cone truck!

Sponsors include : Alcoa, Online Freight Services, Illini Dental Associates, Hy?Vee, Panera Bakery & Café, River Bandits, Papa Murphy's, QC Family Focus, Quad?City Times, Barrel House and QC Golf Cars.

Make?A?Wish grants the wishes of children with life?threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. This past year, 179 wishes were granted to children from 2 ½ and up to 18 years all across the state of Iowa. Please visit www.iowa.wish.org for more information.

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Illinois Main Street celebrates 20 years in Historic Downtown Pontiac

SPRINGFIELD - October 2, 2013. As the ambassador of Illinois Main Street, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today honored the recipients of the Lt. Governor's Award for Excellence at this year's Illinois Main Street conference. The program is celebrating its 20^th anniversary with the "Driving into the Future" conference taking place Oct. 1 - Oct. 3 in Historic Downtown Pontiac.

"For 20 years now Illinois Main Street has been helping support communities throughout Illinois," said Lt. Governor Sheila Simon, who chairs the Governor's Rural Affairs Council. "I look forward to continuing to work to preserve these communities that often provide an important snapshot of our past and a vision for our future."

The conference, which is being hosted by Pontiac P.R.O.U.D. Main Street and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) - which administers the Illinois Main Street program - gives community and economic development professionals from around the state an opportunity to network, and learn about innovative new practices to rejuvenate Illinois' downtown business districts.

Simon honored individuals who have excelled in organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring of downtown commercial districts with the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Excellence. Awards were also presented for Main Street Innovation, Business, Property Owner, Innovation and Volunteer of the Year.

Recipients included:

·         Batavia Main Street for its River Street: "Woonerf," which is a European concept for shared space

·         Chicago Six Corners Association: Renovation of the Grayland Theater Façade and Tuck Point

·         Pekin Main Street: Converting the Elks Lodge into the Fusion Building/Sabella St. Station

·         Pontiac P.R.O.U.D.: Restoration of the historic Livingston County Courthouse

·         Aledo Main Street: Digital promotion project

·         Batavia Main Street: Creation of the Batavia Main Street Award for local residents and businesses

·         Jacksonville Main Street: 2013 Diamonds and Ice Masquerade Ball

·         Main Street Libertyville: Membership drive to promote local merchants

·         Chicago Six Corners Association: Six Corners BBQ Fest

·         Downtown Crystal Lake: 20^th Annual Johnny Appleseed Festival

·         Jacksonville Main Street: Art Fair on the Square

·         Main Street Orion: Band shell 100^th birthday celebration

·         Aledo Main Street: New Business Springboard

·         Batavia Main Street: Artisan Collective

·         Chicago Six Corners Association: Revitalizing vacant storefronts and streetscapes

·         Jacksonville Main Street: Creation of a Downtown Business Alliance

·         Volunteer of the Year: Meek Family, Jacksonville Main Street

·         Outstanding Main Street Business: Green Town Tavern, Waukegan Main Street

·         Outstanding Main Street Innovation: ShopDowntownQuincy.com

·         Outstanding Main Street Property Owner: Austin Properties, Quincy

Over the past 20 years, Illinois Main Street communities have created 9,300 jobs, opened over 1,200 new businesses, and represent public and private investment of over $750 million. In Illinois, 42 communities hold the Illinois Main Street designation.

Additional conference highlights include a 20^th anniversary celebration featuring Illinois products, walking tours of Historic Downtown Pontiac, the Lieutenant Governor's Award of Excellence Gala and a proclamation from Governor Pat Quinn in honor of Illinois Main Street's 20^th anniversary.

This year's keynote speaker is Valecia Crisafulli, who served as the first state director of the Illinois Main Street Program and most recently as the CEO of the National Main Street Center. The center works with a nationwide network of communities to encourage preservation-based economic revitalization, and has participated in the renewal of more than 2,000 older commercial districts during its 30-year history.

Click here for more information about Illinois Main Street.

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Dear Friend,

As you have probably heard, due to the reckless brinksmanship in Washington, the federal government has needlessly been shut down.

During this shutdown, my number one priority as your Representative is making sure your needs continue to be met. Just because it remains closed, does not mean that problems with federal agencies don't arise. My offices are open and ready to help any Iowan.

CLICK HERE IF YOU NEED ASSISTANCE DURING THE SHUTDOWN.

I will continue to work to help mitigate the impact that any dysfunction in Washington may have on you. I taped a short video to tell you about the various ways to get in touch with my office.

Click here to watch the video and find out how my office can help you.

Please do not hesitate to be in touch.

Sincerely,

Dave Loebsack
Iowa's Second District

Monticello, IA-- On Sunday, October 13, 2013, The East Central Federation and Cedar Valley Callers Association will sponsor the 24th Annual Square Dance Benefit for Camp Courageous. The calling begins at 1:30 p.m. and ends at 4 p.m. in the main lodge of Camp Courageous.

Callers and cuers from all over eastern Iowa and the surrounding areas are invited. Dance clubs as well as individuals and couples are welcome to enjoy the afternoon dancing or just observing in the spacious camp lodge. Tours will be available for anyone interested in seeing all that camp has to offer. Admission fee is a donation to camp. Participants are asked to bring cookies or a snack to share. Beverages are provided.

Located near Monticello IA, Camp Courageous is a year-round recreational and respite care facility for individuals with mental and physical disabilities. The camp was built and continues to operate on donations, without government support, without formal sponsorship, and without paid fundraisers. The camp serves over 6,500 individuals with special needs annually.

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