Des Moines - January 22, 2013

Learn more about the team, visit the web site Runablaze.com that includes the resume of the 34 team members and past running highlights.  1300 of the best Iowa runners, race directors, coaches, volunteers & fans receive this e-mail.
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Runablaze Iowa is sponsored by:

Iowa's best running specialty stores:
Fitness Sports - Des Moines
Runners Flat - Cedar Falls

Iowa's on-line registration leader:
GetMeRegistered.com - Bettendorf

Iowa's best races:
2013 races will be announced soon
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And now for the "News" . . .

Mason Frank won his first trail race, Rocks and Roots 10K in 40:53 (Columbus, OH, Jan. 20). Mason relates, "It was a gorgeous single track trail that had a lot of switchbacks and looped around a beautiful lake."

Chris Robertson ran a 5000 meter 15:32.07 at the ISU Open indoor track meet (Jan. 18).  Chris states, "Coming off of some piriformis and achilles problems and haven't been training properly. Motivated to get healthy and work hard for the rest of the season now."  Also running the 5000 was Rob Duncan 15:56.97 and Nate Hoop 16:07.30.  In the mile race Kristy Harken (Feldman) ran 5:10.95.

Nate Hopp won the Amana Freezer Run 5K (Jan. 26) in 16:08 better than his winning time last year in 16:18.

Iowan's in the news - Lisa Uhl is moving to Des Moines, she ran the Houston Half-Marathon (Jan. 13) in 1:13:28, PR.  Diane Nukuri-Johnson is included in the elite runners signed up to run Boston Marathon (Apr. 15).

A computer glitch (user error) and a southwest vacation delayed these e-mails.  Featured in this e-mail and the next ones will be Danna Herrick, Kristy Feldman, Mason Frank and Jason Flogel, all Runablaze Iowa 2012 Runners of the Year.

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2012 FEMALE Runner of the Year - Danna Herrick (Kelly)
It was a banner year for Danna, too.  The year started out with a 2:45:42 at
the Olympic Marathon Trials and ended with another solid marathon in
2:46:24.  Danna other road times were just as good, 8K in 29:15, 10 mile in
59:22, 20K in 1:15:38 and 1:19:41 in the Half-Marathon.  All of Danna times
were PRs or almost best times too.

* What made 2012 a great running year for you?
I have noticed a trend in the past busy years: I am happiest when I am busy and am challenged by time management skills, ultimately producing optimal outcomes in all areas of my life. 2012 proved this to be DEAD ON. I started the year out with the biggest race of my life, at the Trials, and seemed to propel that motivation and excitement into the entire year. With many big changes to come within the year, I had made a lengthy list of goals on my iphone. I disciplined myself to focus on one-at-a-time, knocking off one goal before looking ahead to the next. The great thing was, that each goal I crossed off only snow-balled mental and physical drive to attack the next goal. By the end of the year, it is hard to believe how many things can be accomplished with just a little discipline and a lot of balance in life.

* How did you start running and what was your HS/College running career?
I used to run loops of 0.6 miles around my neighborhood in 5th grade because I wanted to beat every boy in the "1 mile test" at school. (Now, I still do that... just longer loops, in order to beat my husband). I was a 4 sport athlete and active in dance during my high school career. I enjoyed cross and track, but it was never super intense at Boone High School.  I suffered a torn ACL in basketball as a sophomore and gave golf a try, missing my spring Track season that year. It really put my athletic drive and appreciation for running into perspective. During my senior year in HS, I knew I wanted to participate in a sport in college and realized that I had could improve my running, a lot, while still being a part of a team.  I ran at Truman State University (Kirksville, MO Division II) obtaining my goal of All-American in cross country and All-American in the steeplechase during track season, finishing 3rd in the nation at my last collegiate career race. I seemed to really improve each year of college, with smart training and coaching.

* How do you train during the winter?
I like to brave the cold days outdoors, I think it makes you tough and is a challenge, mentally. With not-so-safe footing, I will resort to the tready if the workout requires speed, though I highly dislike the rolling belt. I have begun to enjoy alternate options, such as spin classes and getting in the pool. The winter is the best time for me to let the body and mind relax from intense running, and try out other aerobic fun...before specific race training begins.

* What Iowa race is special to you?
Dam to Dam. 2 weeks after ending my collegiate career, I decided to run (2009) and finished 5th. Robyn Friedman pulled me aside after awards and encouraged me to apply for Runablaze Iowa... the rest is history. Thanks Rob!

* What race distance do you enjoy the most?
Currently, 26.2  ... give me a few years, and that may change.

* If no one was listening, tell us your secret to running success?
Easy. CHOCOLATE MILK.

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About Runablaze Iowa
Runablaze Iowa athletes are based throughout Iowa.  Formed in 2006, the purpose of the team is to improve post-collegiate Iowa distance running. Major Iowa running specialty stores, Iowa races and Iowa runners at those races support Runablaze Iowa.

Davenport, IA - Walkers will go around the track in the battle against cancer when the annual American Cancer Society Relay For Life® of Scott County gets underway with teams of residents gathering at the Davenport River Center on Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.

During Relay For Life events individuals and teams "camp" out with the goal of keeping at least one team member on the track or pathway at all times throughout the day. Teams do most of their fundraising prior to the event, but some teams also hold creative fundraisers at their camp sites during Relay. Relay brings together friends, families, businesses, hospitals, schools, faith-based groups . . . people from all walks of life - all aimed at furthering the American Cancer Society's efforts to save lives by helping people stay well, by helping them get well, by finding cures and by fighting back.

Last year our two Walmart teams, lead by team captain's Tony Flemming and Terri Benner, raised approximately $16,000. The stores are located on Elmore Avenue and West Kimberly Road in Davenport.

Please consider being a sponsor of this great event; we have sponsorships for every budget. Call Sara at 563-785-4554 for more information. And, consider forming a team to raise money and participate. Register your team today by visiting www.RelayForLife.org/scottcountyia or by calling Allie at 319-430-9648.

"Relay For Life is great opportunity for everyone who has been touched by cancer to come together and Celebrate Survivors, Remember those we have lost, and Fight Back together to end this terrible disease," says event chair, Allie Lamb. "I encourage all Scott County residents to get involved, from forming a team and spending the day enjoying activities and entertainment to just  stopping by for a few minutes to see what it's all about. The event is open to the public and we encourage everyone to attend."

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; by helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

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LeClaire, Iowa's town motto "It's all there... In LeClaire" appears to hold true. With increasing growth in retail, attractions and housing, LeClaire has gained national attention and become a model community for many other small towns throughout the Midwest. With an increase in visitors to LeClaire, hotel/motel tax collections increased approximately 18% from 2011 to 2012. With growth and diversity of many new retail stores, attractions and restaurants, retail sales tax increased approximately 25% during the same time frame. As a small town with no large industrial base for tax support, LeClaire has managed to be successful with tourism as their cornerstone of growth in a down economy.

City Administrator, Ed Choate, attributes this success to "creating a business friendly atmosphere that encourages entrepreneurship and risk taking."

A new business that was launched during the down economy in 2010, Mississippi River Distilling Co., owned by brothers Ryan and Garrett Burchett is thriving and already expanding. Ryan says their growth has been spurred by "a genuine entrepreneurial spirit that is encouraged and supported by the community and its leaders."

Former LeClaire Chamber President and revitalization expert, Dr. Rick Reed, attributes LeClaire's success to its spirit of community and strength in volunteers. "LeClaire's rich history and recent downtown revitalization in 2007 helped lay the foundation for future growth and expansion. In many small communities, the downtown is the location for important human interaction, business development, culture, and history. The identity of a small community is closely tied to the sustained development of commercial area revitalization. This always stimulates the local economy through planned economic development and growth. In LeClaire, the success of the historic downtown area is a vital link to its future".

For more information, please contact Cindy Bruhn at info@visitleclaire.com.

HUNTINGTON, IN (02/01/2013)(readMedia)-- Valerie Van Ee of Eldridge, IA was named to the Dean's List at Huntington University for the fall semester of the 2012-13 school year.

Van Ee is a senior Animation and Computer Science major.

The Dean's List is published two times per year at Huntington University. The honor recognizes students for outstanding academic achievement during the previous semester. Honorees must be classified as regular students, be enrolled full-time with a load of 12 hours or more in graded courses, and must achieve a semester grade point average of at least 3.50 on a four-point scale.

Huntington University is a comprehensive Christian college of the liberal arts offering graduate and undergraduate programs in more than 70 academic concentrations. U.S. News & World Report ranks Huntington among the best colleges in the Midwest, and Forbes.com has listed the university as one of America's Best Colleges. Additionally, Princeton Review has named the institution to its "Best in the Midwest" list. Founded in 1897 by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Huntington University is located on a contemporary, lakeside campus in northeast Indiana. The university is a member of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU).

It is that time of year again to promote the Feinstein Foundation to help raise money for Churches United's Hunger Ministries.

Last year, $12,000 was raised for Churches United by our local community donations between the dates of March 1 and April 30th, 2012. Our goal this year is $13,000. We hope that you can participate in this endeavor. The Feinstein Foundation is not a match dollar for dollar but he does give a proportion of his one million to each agency that participates. Last year, the average amount received in Iowa and Illinois for groups like ours was $280.00. with a guarantee of $250.00 for very little effort.We can purchase approximately 4300 pounds of extra food simply by participating with the Feinstein Foundation . Won't you please help us and send an additional contribution of any size during this 60 day period to help us participate with the Feinstein Foundation? Thank you so very much!

Churches United of the Quad City Area, 2535 Tech Dr, #205, Bettendorf, IA 52722

For more info on Alan Feinstein simply go to his website at: www.feinsteinfoundation.org

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after Cobham announced they would be adding an additional 60 jobs at their plant in Davenport.

"Today's announcement by Cobham is great news for Davenport and the Quad City area. These are good jobs that will be a boost for the Quad City economy and families.  I look forward to continuing to work with Cobham to ensure our servicemembers have the equipment they need and will continue to work to support good jobs like these in the Quad Cities."

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By: Rick Rodgers, CFP

Every year, our politicians talk about the need to simplify the tax code and every year, they make it more complex.

The average taxpayer will spend an estimated 23 hours completing their return this year.  Eighty percent of taxpayers will hire someone to do the work, or buy tax software, even though 64 percent of taxpayers don't owe anything.

There are six definitions of a child; more than a dozen educational credits, and 16 different types of tax-favored savings plans. That may seem daunting, but with some basic knowledge and planning, you can avoid costly mistakes.

Here is a list of the seven common mistakes and missed deductions to help you prepare your 2012 tax return.

1. Charitable deductions - cash. Did you make a contribution to charity last year? The IRS is cracking down on bogus deductions, so be sure to follow the donation tax rules.  One of the most important rules is that you give to a charity with an IRS tax-exempt status. Don't forget to take the mileage deduction when it applies. The IRS allows 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

2. Charitable deductions - in kind. Your used clothing donated to charity may not be seem worth much, but consider using valuation software to determine how much to claim. You may be pleasantly surprised. The same applies for furniture and other household items donated.  Clothing must be in good condition or better to take the deduction.

3. Social Security number. Privacy concerns caused the IRS to stop putting taxpayer Social Security numbers on tax package labels. Most of your tax information is keyed to your tax ID number.Tax ID number errors raise red flags with the IRS, which attempts to match reported income to tax returns.  This number is also important when claiming the Child Tax and Additional Child Tax credits and credits for educational expenses. Take time to verify that your tax ID number is correct on 1099s, W-2 forms and all tax documents to avoid delays processing your return.

4. Dividend reinvestments. Each time a stock or mutual fund reinvests dividends, it's the same as making a new purchase of shares. The amount of the reinvested dividend adds to your tax basis when you calculate your taxable gain from a sale. Make sure you don't overpay the IRS. Mutual funds generally track the average basis of shares and automatically include reinvested dividends in the calculation.  Ultimately it's up to you to make sure you calculate the gain properly.

5. Unused deductions from 2011. The tax code allows capital losses to offset capital gains. When losses exceed gains, the taxpayer can use only $3,000 of losses against other income. Any excess loss can be carried forward into future tax years. Don't forget to carry the unused losses over to your 2012 tax return. Charitable deductions are capped based on the type of property donated and your adjusted gross income.  Excess deductions can also be carried into future years. Don't let carryovers get lost in the shuffle.

6. Excess Roth contributions. Single taxpayers whose modified adjusted gross income is between $110,000 - $125,000 ($173,000 - $183,000 for joint filers) cannot make a full Roth IRA contribution. Check this number when you complete your tax return.  Excess contributions are subject to a 6 percent penalty on the amount you contributed.

7. Overlooked medical deductions. Health insurance premiums are an often overlooked deduction.  The portion paid by the employee is a deductible expense when you itemize. This includes the portion you pay to Medicare which is usually deducted from Social Security. Transportation expenses for trips to medical facilities or doctors' offices are also deductible. The IRS allows 23 cents per mile driven for medical purposes in 2012.

If you have made a mistake or missed a deduction you can file an amended tax return to correct the problem. Some taxpayers worry filing an amended return will increase their chances of being audited. Amending the return doesn't focus the IRS's attention on your return but it will extend your exposure to their challenges. The IRS looks back three years from the date you file a return. When you amend your tax return you reopen the three-year window.

No one likes to deal with the IRS and taxes, but you could be leaving money on the table by not filing an amendment. If the total amount of tax you owe is smaller than your original return, the IRS will refund the difference.

Also file an amended return if the correction results in additional tax owed. The IRS will add interest to the amount if you amend after your filing deadline, but it rarely adds penalties. Correcting the mistake early saves interest and can avoid penalties.

About Rick Rodgers

Certified Financial Planner® Rick Rodgers is president of Rodgers & Associates, "The Retirement Specialists," in Lancaster, Pa., and author of "The New Three-Legged Stool: A Tax Efficient Approach to Retirement Planning." He's a Certified Retirement Counselor and member of the National Association of Personal Financial Advisers. Rodgers has been featured on national radio and TV shows, including "FOX Business News" and "The 700 Club," and is available to speak at conferences and corporate events (www.RodgersSpeaks.com).

Hardee's just announced their new Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich with a little help from Sports Illustrated model Nina Agdal.

The swimsuit model stars in the new menu item's commercial, first premiering this weekend during Super Bowl XLVII. A behind-the-scenes look at the spot can be viewed on Hardee's YouTube page.

The Charbroiled Atlantic Cod Fish Sandwich features a charbroiled fillet of Atlantic cod, creamy tartar sauce and sliced tomato and lettuce on a honey wheat bun. Together with sister brand Carl's Jr., the national fast-food chain is the first to offer a charbroiled fish sandwich - not battered and deep fried - on the menu. At only 420 calories, the charbroiled sandwich offers a healthy and flavorful new meal option.

More information, including a behind-the-scenes photo of Nina at the commercial shoot, is available here.

Amana - It's out with the old and in with the new, lights that is, at The Old Creamery
Theatre! This week the theatre started work to replace the majority of lights that have
been a huge part of every production on the theater's Main Stage since the 1970s.

Nicholas Hodge, master electrician at The Old Creamery Theatre said not only are the
new lights much more energy efficient but the light blubs have a longer lifespan.
Hodge, who is also a performer, said the new lights will also do something very
important - help to keep the performance space cooler. "Thanks to the newer technology,
90% of the heat generated doesn't travel to the stage," he said.

Because each of the new lights can serve various functions, Hodge said greater artistic
flexibility will be another benefit. "The older lights were limited," he said.

The lights were purchased from BMI Supply of Queensbury New York and CLE of Des
Moines for $31,000. A combination of grants at $5,000 each helped to pay a portion of
the cost. Grants came from The Gethmann Foundation of Marshalltown and the Iowa
County Community Foundation.

The non-profit professional theatre also sold raffle tickets at $100 each to raise the funds
for the new lighting system, so The Old Creamery was not the only one to benefit from
the year-long raffle. 

Jesse Cooksley of Cedar Rapids was enjoying G. I. Holiday Jukebox last December with
his girlfriend when he decided to purchase a raffle ticket. Cooksley, 32 won the grand
prize of $5,000 and was notified on December17 of his good fortune. "I was surprised,"
he said. "It helped to pay for some Christmas gifts for the family."

Various other prize amounts and names of winners are listed on The Old Creamery's
website at www.oldcreamery.com

Others that are benefitting from The Old Creamery's lighting project are some smaller
theatres who are happy to be able to use the old lights.

Coe College, Mt Vernon/Lisbon Community Theatre and ACT I in Vinton all plan to
use some of the older lights on their stages.

The Old Creamery Theatre Company is a not-for-profit professional theatre founded
in 1971 in Garrison, Iowa. The company is celebrating 43 years of bringing live,
professional theatre to the people of Iowa and the Midwest.

New corporate logo and product label refreshes corporate brand for the future

Rock Island, IL - Mama Bosso Pizza has launched a new corporate logo, marking the most dramatic change in its visual identity in over 50 years. The updated version of the company's name includes a deeper color of red, reminiscent of the color of the original recipe sauce but the iconic image of "Mama" remains unaltered. The new layout and logo refreshes the corporate brand as it heads toward the future.

"Our new logo represents what Mama Bosso stands for today," said Scott Florence, CEO of AFS Classico, LLC., the company (located in Rock Island, IL) that purchased Mama Bosso in August 2012. "We've kept visual elements that reflect our heritage and emphasize our forward-thinking mindset."

AFS Classico plans to achieve strong growth by maintaining the high quality of items in the current line-up but also creating new and exciting lines of authentic, all-natural and healthy foods for the family. The new packaging protects the pizzas from lights and fading, making it more visually appealing to the consumer and emphasizes the simple, authentic pizza for which Mama Bosso is known.

"We believe our pizza is the best tasting frozen pizza in the market due in large part to our authentic hand-made crust.  We use simple recipes, fresh ingredients and REAL cheese." According to Florence, "Fancy photographs are great but they can't compete with what ultimately comes out of the oven."

Look for several new additions to the Mama Bosso family of quality food over the coming months beginning with plans to introduce a spicy, Mexican Style pizza with chorizo sausage, refried beans, green peppers, onions and both cheddar and mozzarella cheeses followed by hand-made breadsticks with fresh roasted garlic and real butter.

Designed by MindFire Communications in LeClaire, Iowa, the new visual identity presents the company as modern and evolving, reflects the strength and direction of its brand portfolio, and underscores its commitment to quality and focus on natural products.

Mama Bosso pizza enjoys a 60-year history in the Midwest.  Mama Bosso's restaurant and bar, once a downtown Moline, IL fixture, became one of the first establishments to offer pizza in the region back in the 1950's.  Mama Bosso pizza is currently sold in all the major grocery stores in Eastern Iowa, including the Quad Cities, Iowa City/Cedar Rapids and Des Moines.

 Mama Bosso New Product Logo January 2013.jpg

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