07 Aug 2013

West Music Quad Cities to Host Steinway Artist BK Davis

By Kelly Goerdt

Davenport, Iowa - August 18 - West Music Quad Cities is proud host Davenport, Iowa native and Steinway piano artist, BK Davis, for a special performance at the Redstone Room at River Music Experience (RME) on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at 6:00PM. Come enjoy an evening full of swingin' music for a one night only event. This exciting concert will be full of jazz, gospel, pop music and more. After the performance, CDs will be available for purchase, as well as a special opportunity to meet Mr. Davis.

Tickets are $10/person and all proceeds benefit RME's fundraising campaign for a new Steinway family piano . Tickets may be purchased in advance at RME or West Music Quad Cities. RME is located at 129 Main Street, in Davenport, Iowa. Contact Patrick Downing at West Music Quad Cities at 309-764-9300 or pdowning@westmusic.com to learn more.

About BK Davis

Davis is currently on a nationwide tour, visiting many Steinway piano dealer locations. Born in Davenport, Iowa, home of 20th century jazz great Bix Beiderbecke, Davis was raised in a musical household. He has been composing and performing music for 40 years. Davis and his band are currently headliners at the Fox Restaurant in Tampa, FL, which is rated by Downbeat magazine as one of the 214 best jazz cafes in the U.S.

Davis' latest project is to pursue the one accolade he hasn't received: a Grammy nomination. He is in the studio composing a new album and negotiating with a major record label for representation so the new album may be eligible for honors by the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, the body that bestows Grammy awards.

About Steinway and Sons Piano Company

Since 1853, Steinway pianos have been handmade to last for generations. A treasured possession that grows in value over the course of time. Steinway is the choice of 99% of concert artists, and it is, quite simply, the standard by which all other pianos are compared. Details about Steinway & Sons may be obtained by calling (800) 366-1853 or by visiting www.steinway.com.

About West Music Company

Founded in 1941, West Music's mission to "Enrich peoples' lives through participation in music" is at the root of its success and continued growth. West Music specializes in pianos, guitars, drums and percussion, band and orchestra instruments, and print music as well as offers music instruction, repair and music therapy services. West Music has six retail locations in eastern Iowa and western Illinois. For more information, visit West Music's comprehensive online website at www.westmusic.com or call 1-800-373-2000.

 

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07 Aug 2013

GreenTech courted Obama's Solyndra aide

By Rick Martin

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe and three top GreenTech advisers met with the key White House aide responsible for helping bankrupt solar-panel maker Solyndra win federal loans and high-profile presidential support, a Watchdog investigation has revealed.

What they discussed in the Oct. 12, 2010, meeting with Obama "green energy" aide Greg Nelson is a mystery - the White House visitors log offers no details. But the confab came seven months after a stock transfer made McAuliffe a GreenTech majority owner and company chairman.

Months before the GreenTech meeting at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., White House officials already knew Solyndra was on the ropes - failing an independent audit and headed toward a predicted default on its federal $535 million loan. Despite warnings from allies and staff, the president visited Solyndra in May 2010, pointing to the company as a model of his new economy.

Whatever happened in the White House meeting apparently wasn't enough to stave off some misfortune. Eight months later a GreenTech lawyer was emailing U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Director Alejandro Mayorkas, begging his agency to fast track approval of lagging visa applications for the company's foreign investors under the federal EB-5 program.

In addition to Nelson and McAuliffe, the White House meeting included GreenTech finance director Gary Yi Tang, immigration and EB-5 attorney Steve Yale-Loehr and Northwestern University economist Michael K. Evans.

Yale-Loehr was on retainer for Gulf Coast Funds, which raises EB-5 funds for GreenTech. Evans had written a report detailing the impact of locating a GreenTech manufacturing plant in Tunica, Miss. He has also analyzed other projects seeking EB-5 funding.

If the GreenTech group was looking for funding, they wouldn't have had a better friend in the White House than Nelson. He was responsible for the Obama meet-and-greet

at Solyndra in May. GreenTech didn't fare as well: a year and a half later it settled for former president Bill Clinton at its grand opening in Mississippi.

Nelson, whose official White House title was deputy director of Public Engagement, was by his own accord "the member of the Public Liaison team charged with reaching out to the environmental community."

A series of emails obtained by the media show his role in the Solyndra debacle.

In a March 2009 email, Nelson wrote Solyndra's CEO that his company's solar panel "looks like a great product, and the (manufacturing plant) plans for Fab 2 are inspiring."

Within a few days, Solyndra's $535 million loan was approved by the Obama Energy Department, according to the New York Times.

Nelson then met with Solyndra investor David Prend who had emailed him on March 13, 2009, saying, "In the current economic environment, they could use all the positive publicity they can get."

Prend replied, "I look forward to working with you to get the message out and to affect real change in the Energy Industry."

But as Obama was touring the facility a year later, Solyndra was secretly unraveling. A news story detailing its poor financial health ran the following month. In an email obtained by The Associated Press, Nelson dismissed the article as "Seems like B.S." In communications with Nelson, Solyndra execs put on a brave front, writing, "things are going well...and our plan puts (us) at cash positive later this year."

"Fantastic to hear that business is doing well keep up the good work! We're cheering for you," Nelson replied.

We all know what happened next. The FBI raided Solyndra for cooking its books, it filed for bankruptcy and employees sued. Taxpayers were left funding the whole debacle.

GreenTech's Solyndra connection won't surprise Kimberley A. Strassel. Back in April, the Wall Street Journal columnist wrote, "GreenTech is the latest proof (after Solyndra, Fisker, A123 and others) that the political class is adept at hooking up cronies and investors with taxpayer dollars. But creating jobs? No can do."

Documents released last week reveal that that Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating GreenTech's sister company Gulf Coast Funds, stating that there's "possible fraud" in the firm's pursuit of EB-5 investors, primarily those in China. GreenTech is behind schedule in rolling out thousands of electric vehicles while as many as 81 foreign nationals who invested at least $500,000 each are awaiting visas.

McAuliffe faces a tough battle to become Virginia's governor, Tang still has his job and Yale-Loehr has been replaced by another attorney on Gulf Coast's web site.

And Nelson? He was promoted, of course, and is now chief of staff for the White House's National Economic Council.

Nelson did not respond to detailed a voicemail request for interview. A message was also left at the campaign office of McAuliffe, but no call was returned.

Contact Tori Richards at  tori@watchdog.org and on twitter @newswriter2.

07 Aug 2013

Physicians Share Tips To Prevent And Correct Signs of Aging

By Ginny Grimsley
Some Vitamins Do Work From The Outside-In

Women's worries about wrinkles, dark spots and other aging skin concerns aren't all vanity, a new poll reveals.

Forty-two percent of women ages 50 to 59 believe they need to look young to be successful at work, according to a recent poll by Penn Schoen Berland.

"Increasingly, both men and women have anxiety about looking older, but the good news is that science has developed natural tools to help us look younger longer," say Drs. Rick and Arlene Noodleman, the husband-and-wife physician team at Silicon Valley's Age Defying Dermatology, (www.agedefy.com), national leaders in medical and cosmetic dermatology and integrative medical treatments.

Something we all battle daily is damage from free radicals, a term that has entered the public lexicon with little understanding by most people.

"Free radicals are oxygen molecules that have lost electrons through oxidation, making them unstable. If your body doesn't have enough antioxidants to stabilize them and render them harmless, they can damage cell membranes, which eventually breaks down the proteins that support and plump the skin," explains preventive medicine specialist Dr. Arlene Noodleman.

"We're bombarded by free radicals every day", she says. "We produce them when we metabolize food and even when we breathe. They're also in the environment - diesel exhaust, air pollution, UV radiation (from the sun) and cigarette smoke are all major producers."

"What's worse, those free radical oxygen molecules are always looking to stabilize themselves by swiping electrons from stable molecules, which creates even more free radicals," says dermatologist Dr. Rick Noodleman.

"We have lots of natural defenses against free radicals, but as we age, we begin to lose them," he says.

Some vitamins are antioxidants, meaning their molecules provide electrons that stabilize the free radicals.  Clinical studies have found that certain of these are effective in preventing damage, or correcting damage such as reducing wrinkles and dark spots.
In certain cases, "taking your vitamins" means applying them on your skin so they can work from the outside-in, the physicians say.

• Vitamin A - "There is significant scientific evidence that the form of vitamin A called retinoid, when applied topically, can treat damage caused by sun exposure," says Dr. Arlene Noodleman. "It can soften fine lines and wrinkles and lighten dark spots." In one study, subjects had significantly fewer fine wrinkles after applying a prescription-strength retinoid cream (0.1 percent isotretinoin) once a day for 36 weeks. "Of the over-the-counter retinoid products, Retinol appears most effective", Dr. Noodleman says.

• Vitamin C - "Vitamin C applied topically is much more effective than taken orally", says Dr. Rick Noodleman. "That's because vitamin C is relatively unstable -- it quickly oxidizes when exposed to air and in certain other conditions. So, to get the full benefit, you would need it in much greater amounts than you would normally consume in a tablet. You can get that benefit by using a topical formulation," he says. "Look for 'stable' vitamin C of the L-ascorbic variety, which offers the best protection against sun damage", he states. "It reduces lines and wrinkles, protects against sun damage, and encourages production of collagen, one of the proteins susceptible to free radical damage. Importantly, collagen makes up 75 percent of our skin and gives it support and volume."

• Vitamin B3 - "As a 'damage corrector', test-tube studies have shown that vitamin B3 boosts collagen production and clinical studies have shown that it reduces dark spots", says Dr. Arlene Noodleman. In one significant study, 50 Caucasian women applied a 5 percent vitamin B3 solution to one side of their faces every day for 12 weeks. They had a marked reduction in dark spots, redness and yellowing, and increased elasticity.

The two doctors advise that, for best results, people should buy these topical vitamin products at concentrations that have proved effective - and use them for the length of time recommended.

About Drs. Rick and Arlene Noodleman

Dr. Rick Noodleman, a board-certified, Stanford-trained dermatologist, is an expert in the medical and surgical management of skin disease, aging skin, and advanced cosmetic techniques. Dr. Arlene Noodleman, board-certified in preventive medicine and fellowship-trained in integrative medicine, is a healthy aging expert who focuses on the whole person and strategies that facilitate the body's innate healing response. Together, Drs. Noodleman created the Revercel cosmeceutical and neutraceutical product line (www.revercel.com), which includes products containing vitamins in the amounts and forms scientifically proven to be effective. They include Eye Perfection and Intensive Repair Serums with Retinol and Vita-C Emulsion.

07 Aug 2013

APPEL'S FIRST WIN PUTS BANDITS IN FIRST PLACE

By Marco LaNave

Bobby Borchering and Brian Blasik homer to lift Quad Cities past Cedar Rapids by one-half game

 

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AUG. 6, 2013) - Quad Cities River Bandits right-hander Mark Appel retired the first 10 Cedar Rapids Kernels he faced Tuesday night in a career-high five innings and his first professional victory, while the offense continued its hot hitting to push the club into first place in the second-half standings following a 7-2 win at Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

 

For a second straight game, Quad Cities (27-16 second half, 65-47 overall) gave its starting pitcher a 3-0 lead before he took the mound. Center fielder Teoscar Hernandez again led off with a single, and shortstop Carlos Correa's one-out double to center field put runners at second and third bases against left-hander Josue Montanez (4-5). Left fielder Danry Vasquez flied to center field to drive in Hernandez, and first baseman Bobby Borchering followed with a towering blast to left field for his third home run as a River Bandit and a 3-0 advantage for the visitors.

 

The River Bandits added another run in the fourth inning, when catcher Roberto Pena doubled off the wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by designated hitter Brian Blasik, who added the next run with his third home run of the season to left field. Montanez lasted through seven innings, allowing five hits and five earned runs with no walks and five strikeouts.

 

Appel (1-0) cruised through the first 10 batters with only one ball hit to the outfield. In the fourth inning, he issued a one-out walk to Kernels first baseman Niko Goodrum for the home team's first baserunner. In the fifth inning, left fielder Max Kepler grounded a ball that second baseman Tony Kemp dropped for an error. Two batters later, catcher Tyler Grimes lifted a one-out single to right field for the Kernels' first hit. After a groundout by designated hitter Bo Altobelli, second baseman Joel Licon hit a two-run single to right-center field for the Kernels only runs, slicing the lead to 5-2. But Appel retired the next batter to complete five innings and make himself eligible for his first professional win.

 

Right-hander Patrick Christensen made his Quad Cities debut starting the sixth inning. He retired nine of the 10 batters he faced, striking out five and allowing one hit. Quad Cities added a run on an eighth-inning RBI double by Correa, who had 12 hits in the four-games series, and a ninth-inning tally on right fielder Jordan Scott's RBI single. Left-hander Mitchell Lambson got the final three outs.

 

Tuesday's victory put Quad Cities one-half game ahead of the Kernels (27-17, 67-45) for first in the Western Division second-half standings and also means The Captain's Table at 4801 River Drive in Moline will offer The Captain's Table Victory Discount on Wednesday, Aug. 7. Anyone who mentions the River Bandits victory can receive a free appetizer or dessert with the purchase of two lunches or dinners with beverages on Wednesday, Aug. 7.

 

The River Bandits open a six-game home stand on Wednesday at 7 p.m. against the Clinton LumberKings. River Bandits right-hander Lance McCullers (6-5) will face LumberKings right-hander Victor Sanchez (3-5).

 

UP NEXT: Modern Woodmen Park is a nominee for the "Best Minor League Ballpark" in the 2013 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, and fans can vote once per day at 10Best.com until the winner is announced Aug. 14. The River Bandits return to Modern Woodmen Park Wednesday, Aug. 7. Single-game tickets are on sale at the River Bandits box office at Modern Woodmen Park, by phone at  563-324-3000 and online at www.riverbandits.com. Season ticket and mini-plan packages start at just seven games and begin at less than $50. Call a River Bandits account representative today to choose your seats and get the details of our various mini-plan packages.

 

ABOUT THE BANDITS: The River Bandits ownership is making one of the biggest improvements to Modern Woodmen Park since the ballpark was first built back in 1931! A new Ferris wheel, standing 112 feet over the playing field, is planned for next spring, along with a carousel and other new games and attractions. This season, the team just unveiled a new 300-foot long dual zip line, a rock climbing wall, a Mediacom Frog Hopper, and a number of new bounce houses . The team also boasts a new major league affiliate, the Houston Astros, and fans can see the first team in Minor League Baseball history with back-to-back No. 1 overall draft picks - 2012 top pick Carlos Correa and 2013 top pick Mark Appel, as well as 2012 first-round draft choice Lance McCullers. With new rides, new attractions, new improvements, a new affiliate and future major league stars, the second half of this season is one every fan will not want to miss!

 

*****

07 Aug 2013

Local high school students win Saint Michael's College Book Award

By Buff Lindau

For Leadership in Volunteer Service & Academic Achievement

COLCHESTER, VT (08/06/2013)(readMedia)-- The following local high school students were awarded the 2013 Saint Michael's College Book Award for Academic Achievement with a Social Conscience:

David Harb of Davenport, a student at Assumption High School.

Molly Monroe of Davenport, a student at Assumption High School.

The award recognizes students who demonstrate a commitment to leadership in volunteer service and academic achievement. Saint Michael's, located in Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top 10 college towns, was founded on the belief that serving others is part of its Catholic tradition, and through the award seeks to honor those who demonstrate the true spirit of volunteerism.

Award recipients, named at schools throughout the country, are high school juniors who are inductees of the National Honor Society or an equivalent school-sponsored honors organization. They must demonstrate a commitment to service activities in high school or community organizations, taking leadership roles in these activities.

Winners were presented the book First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers (HarperCollins 2000) by Loung Ung, a 1993 Saint Michael's College graduate who has become a widely acclaimed author. In "First They Killed My Father," Ung gives a powerful autobiographical account, from a child's perspective, of surviving captivity during the genocidal Pol Pot regime in Cambodia. She reveals an indomitable spirit in the face of profound suffering, including the loss of both her parents and two of her siblings. Ung has written a riveting memoir about a family's survival, and in turn, about the development of Ung's on-going crusade for a landmine free world.

About Saint Michael's

At Saint Michael's College www.smcvt.edu students are challenged to do their best, find their niche, take on opportunities to grow, and immerse themselves in academic pursuits. Intellectual rigor, compassion, teamwork, caring-these characterize a Saint Michael's experience. A residential Catholic college, Saint Michael's is steeped in the social justice spirit of its founding priests, the Edmundites. Saint Michael's is located three miles from Burlington, Vermont, one of America's top 10 college towns. Headed by President John J. Neuhauser, the college has 1,900 undergraduate students and 500 graduate students. Identified by the Princeton Review, 2014 as one of the nation's Best 378 Colleges, and included in the Fiske Guide to Colleges 2014, Saint Michael's students and professors have received Rhodes, Woodrow Wilson, Goldwater, Pickering, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and other grants and awards. The college is one of the nation's top-100, Best Liberal Arts Colleges as listed in the 2013 U.S. News & World Report rankings.

07 Aug 2013

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Tuesday, August 6, 2013**

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 576

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Provides that water and sewer rate suppliers must provide three additional notices to consumers when rates are set to increase.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1, 2014

 

Bill No.: HB 1052

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Allows advanced practice nurses to provide primary health treatment as long as they are performing within the scope of their training and removes restrictions on doctors' ability to collaborate with advanced practice nurses.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1, 2014

Bill No.: HB 1192

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Authorizes a municipality to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with a local health district for the purposes of regulating and inspecting retail food establishments for the municipality.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediate

 

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07 Aug 2013

Loebsack Statement on Reduction of Furlough Days

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that the number of furlough days civilian employees, including Rock Island Arsenal employees, must take was reduced to six.  Earlier this year, the Secretary had set the number of furlough days at 11 due to budget cuts that were created by sequestration and other budgetary factors. Loebsack has been opposed to these drastic cuts since they were created by the Budget Control Act, which he voted against.   He has repeatedly called on Congressional leaders to work to find a balanced, commonsense way to replace sequestration and responsibly deal with the fiscal situation facing the nation.

"While today's announcement by Secretary Hagel is encouraging news for the men and women at the Rock Island Arsenal, it is unconscionable that civilian workers were forced to take a pay cut because of dysfunction in Washington. I opposed the creation of sequestration and I adamantly opposed the decision to furlough any dedicated individuals who work every day on behalf of our troops and national security.  I remain committed to working on a bipartisan basis to replace sequestration with responsible deficit reduction that grows the economy and creates job.  I will continue to fight for the hardworking men and women at Rock Island Arsenal and the people who sequestration has affected most."

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07 Aug 2013

Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds and State Historical Museum partner to bring Floppy to the Iowa State Fair

By Office of the Governor of the State of Iowa

Museum artifact to be on display at Governor Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds's State Fair booth

(DES MOINES) - Floppy is going to the Iowa State Fair. The Governor's Office and the State Historical Museum of Iowa today announced that Floppy, a beagle puppet from the locally produced children's television program from 1957- 1987, will be on display at Governor Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds's booth in the Varied Industries Building during the Iowa State Fair from August 8-18, 2013.

"The Lt. Governor and I are proud to partner with the State Historical Museum to host Floppy at the Governor's Office State Fair booth," said Branstad. "Floppy is back by popular demand and we encourage all Iowans to stop by our booth to see an old friend at this popular attraction."

"As many people know, Duane Ellett and Floppy had a strong relationship with the Iowa State Fair, so this is a perfect opportunity to let Floppy be seen at the Governor's booth," said Mary Cownie, director of Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees the State Historical Museum.

Ellett and Floppy hosted and performed on the "The Floppy Show" and other locally-produced television programs on WHO-TV in Des Moines. Ellett carved Floppy from Balsa wood and brought him and other puppet characters to life through ventriloquism, creating memories for children who "beeped" his nose and told riddles, such as "Why did the man put his car in the oven? Because he wanted a hot rod." The programs also featured vintage cartoons.

Ellett died in 1987 and his family donated Floppy and his puppet friends - Uncle Taffy, The Inspector, Scary Mary, Matilda the Bookworm, and a Floppy prototype - to the State Historical Society of Iowa, a division of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, in 1993. The artifacts were on display in the State Historical Museum of Iowa's "Where's Floppy?" exhibition from 1994 until June 2013.

After the Iowa State Fair concludes, Floppy will be transported to the Gerald R. Ford Conservation Center, a nationally-renowned conservation laboratory in Omaha, Nebraska, where conservators will conduct an in-depth examination. After its completion, the conservators will consult with Museum staff to develop a preservation treatment plan for Floppy and his puppet friends.

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The State Historical Museum has served the citizens of Iowa for more than 120 years as a forum for cultural and civic engagement, a hub for hands-on-education, and a one-of-a-kind destination for visitors and citizens alike to interact with the stories of Iowa. Today, the Museum is home to more than 100,000 artifacts in its collections with more than 50,000 square feet of exhibit space showcasing Iowa's rich history and cultural legacy.  For more information visit www.iowahistory.org.

The Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs is responsible for developing the state's interest in the areas of the arts, history and other cultural matters with the advice and assistance from its two divisions: the State Historical Society of Iowa and the Iowa Arts Council. DCA preserves, researches, interprets and promotes an awareness and understanding of local, state and regional history and stimulates and encourages the study and presentation of the performing and fine arts and public interest and participation in them. It implements tourism-related art and history projects as directed by the General Assembly and designs a comprehensive, statewide, long-range plan with the assistance of the Iowa Arts Council to develop the arts in Iowa. More information about DCA is available at www.culturalaffairs.org.
06 Aug 2013

Find out more about our Mildred Fish Harnack Exhibit and Documentary Film Showing Tomorrow on Talk of Iowa at 10:40 am!

By Kelly Lao
Joel Waldinger from WPT on Talk of Iowa from Iowa Public Radio!
Tune in on Wednesday, August 7th at 10:40 am to hear Joel Waldinger from Wisconsin Public Television speak on Mildred Fish Harnack, the exhibit featuring her at GAHC, and the documentary on her life that he helped create.

In the QC? Listen at 94.5 or 102.1 fm
or listen online at http://iowapublicradio.org/

Missed the program? Visit our facebook page at www.facebook.com/gahc712 where we will post the podcast after it airs!

Thank you for your support!

 
German American Heritage Center
712 W Second Street
Davenport, Iowa 52802
563-322-8844
06 Aug 2013

Help Us Use Our Noodles

By Caroline J Hicks
St. James Food Pantry Spaghetti Luncheon
1705 Oak St, Bettendorf
August 17, 2013
11:30am til 2:00pm

Cost:  free will donation

Fundraiser Mission: Raise funds to continue the
St. James Food Pantry's mission of feeding
the hungry in the Bettendorf area.

Help us to help others.

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