WHO Congressman Dave Loebsack

Davenport School officials

Parents

Mental Health Experts

WHAT Dave will facilitate a discussion about school safety with educators, school administrators, parents' organizations and mental health professionals.

WHERE Wood Intermediate School

5107 North Division Street

Davenport

TIME 10:00am

 

Ride Along with DeWitt Police Chief

WHO Congressman Dave Loebsack

Chief Dave Porter

WHAT Dave will ride-along with Chief Porter on a tour of DeWitt

WHERE DeWitt Police Department

606 9th Street

TIME Tour begins at 4:00pm

 

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Enjoy Tropical Warmth on a Budget with Rock Island Library/Botanical Center Partnership

Rock Island, IL: If gray winter skies have left you feeling down, a new partnership between the Rock Island Public Library and the Quad City Botanical Center could lift your spirits with some free tropical warmth. Library cardholders can now check out a seven-day family Botanical Center membership at the Rock Island Main, 30/31 and Southwest Branch Libraries.

Each pass provides free admission to the Botanical Center's tropical sun garden and other attractions for up to four people for seven days. The pass can be checked out with a valid library card at the Main Library Circulation and Children's Room desks, and at the front desks of the 30/31 and Southwest Branch Libraries. Because the passes are not suitable for placement in the book drop or inter-library delivery, they must be picked up and returned in person to the library branch listed on the back.

There is no charge for the seven-day pass, and each pass may be used multiple times within the check-out period. Passes are non-renewable and have a $1 per day late fee.

For more news about Rock Island Public Library events or services, visit www.rockislandlibrary.org, call 309-732-7323 (READ) or follow the Rock Island Library on Facebook and Twitter. A monthly calendar of library events is available online and at Rock Island Library locations.

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Join Dubuque County Fine Arts Society at the Community Block Party on Friday, February 1, 4-7 pm in the Roshek Building Lobby, 700 Locust Street. Learn about Dubuque's many dedicated nonprofits while enjoying food, drinks, and great entertainment. YOUR vote could help us win a $2,000 endowment from our host, the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. Win SWEET PRIZES by playing the DCFAS Trivia Game! Visit our booth at the Block Party to play!

Artist Applications due February 15

We're still accepting applications for the Fine Art Fair May 18 & 20

  • Application deadline is February 15, 2013

  • Application fee: $110

  • Jury fee: $15

  • Two Emerging Artist Scholarships are available.

Download your app today: dubuquefest.org.
Scholarship App is electronic: click here

Look what we've added for 2013!

Local Author Book Fair
Community Art Project w/ Tim Olson
Wood Fired Pizza
Electronic Scholarship Application
The Vinyl Record Fair Returns!

ROMEOVILLE, IL (01/28/2013)(readMedia)-- Lewis University announces Dean's List honorees.These following students were among those honored on the Lewis University Dean's List for fall semester 2012.

Erie resident Kimberly Teats was studying biology at Lewis University.

Rock Falls resident Jennifer Beck was studying elementary education at Lewis University.

To be eligible for this honor, students must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours of credit with a grade point average of 3.25 out of a possible 4.0.

Lewis University is a Catholic university offering distinctive undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 6,500 traditional and adult students. Lewis offers multiple campus locations, online degree programs, and a variety of formats that provide accessibility and convenience to a growing student population. Sponsored by the De La Salle Christian Brothers, Lewis prepares intellectually engaged, ethically grounded, globally connected, and socially responsible graduates. The seventh largest private not-for-profit university in Illinois, Lewis has been nationally recognized by The Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report. Visit http://www.lewisu.edu for further information.

LeClaire Resident Receives MSLS Degree

CLARION, PA (01/28/2013)(readMedia)-- Bianca Sierra of LeClaire, IA, received a MSLS degree in Library Science MSL during commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 at Clarion University.

Clarion University is the high-achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university that delivers a personal and challenging academic experience.

On the web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Bianca-Sierra-Graduates-from-Clarion-University/5466000.

West Des Moines, Iowa - When Medicare patients make an unplanned return to the hospital it delays their recovery, exposes them to infection, costs taxpayers money and consumes health care resources. The approach Iowa communities are taking to improve the transition between hospital and post-hospital care has been validated by research in the January 23, 2013 edition of JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The article describes projects in communities in 14 states that produced an average 6% decrease in hospitalizations and re-hospitalizations over two years. This CMS QIO project formed the foundation for Telligen's current care transitions work.

"Our data show that nearly one in five patients who leave the hospital today will be re-admitted within the next month, and that more than three-quarters of these re-admissions are potentially preventable," said Dr. Patrick Conway, CMS Chief Medical Officer and Center for Clinical Standards & Quality Director. "This situation can be changed by approaching health care quality from a community-wide perspective, and focusing on how everyone who touches a patient's life-whether part of the traditional 'health care team' or not-can better work together in the best interests of their shared patient population to prevent hospitalizations."

Telligen is working with communities focused on reducing avoidable hospital readmissions. Following the model described in the JAMA study, this work brings together consumers, hospitals, nursing homes, physician clinics, home health care, pharmacists and social service agencies.

"In our complex health care system people rely on many providers and services, so shared, local effort is important," said Kate LaFollette, Telligen Sr. QI Facilitator. "Communities are breaking down organizational boundaries to do what is best for the patient."

Telligen helps communities discover the reasons behind the readmissions rates. Medical research and best practices are identified and tailored to meet the community's needs. Telligen works with community partners to analyze data to gauge progress and impact.

Telligen's efforts are part of a national project to transform health care in more than 400 communities across the country. Called "Integrating Care for Populations and Communities," the project is part of the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization Program.

More details about this national effort are online at http://www.cfmc.org/integratingcare/.

About the QIO Program: The QIO Program is a major force and trustworthy partner for the continual improvement of health and healthcare for all Americans. The program achieves national health quality goals through a network of 53 QIOs located in every state, territory and the District of Columbia. QIOs bring together patients, providers, practitioners and other stakeholders to improve patient care, improve population and community health and lower the costs of care through improvement.

About Telligen: For over 40 years, Telligen has been dedicated to the delivery of innovative health management solutions that improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of healthcare for consumers and providers. Telligen serves commercial clients and government programs at the federal, state and local level, improving healthcare for millions of people nationwide. For more information, visit us at www.telligen.org.

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GALENA, Ill. - Tickets are available online now for Galena's extremely popular Grand Tastings during Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend. This year's event is slated for March 22-24, with Grand Tastings being offered on Friday, March 22 from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 23 from 3:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the Galena Convention Center, 900 Galena Square Dr., in Galena, Illinois.

"This year's Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend promises to be even more fun-filled," said event sponsor Tim Althaus, owner of Family Beer & Liquor. "We do highly recommend early purchase for Grand Tasting tickets as we have sold out quickly in past years."

After selling out three weeks before the event in 2009, the committee expanded to offering two Grand Tastings in 2010, both of which have also sold out in the past two years. Tickets are $35 in advance and must be purchased online at www.wineloversweekend.com. There will be no at-the-door ticket sales this year.

Why are the Grand Tastings so popular? They provide epicureans of all levels the opportunity to choose from more than 300 varieties of hand-picked wines and spirits to sample. Admission also provides you with a keepsake wine glass and an opportunity to win a wine-themed trip to San Francisco (including round trip airfare for two through American Airlines in the continental 48 states). Additional trip chances may be purchased for $15 each. The wine silent auction includes items such as vintage wines, artwork, large format wine bottles and related items of interest.

Now in its eighth year running, Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend is a community-wide celebration of good wine, good food and good friends. Wine lovers of all sorts are invited to enjoy three event-filled days of fine wine, culinary delight, celebrity chefs, wine makers, pampering packages and all of the stops Galena can possibly pull out.

Galena Wine Lovers' Weekend is a spirited way to warm the winter and add romance?whether it is for vino, gourmet cuisine or the love for a town with history and charm all on its own. Wine-inspired dinners, spirit tastings, spa experiences, history tours, cooking demonstrations and shopping welcome and enchant visitors.

Lodging specials and package deals fuel the passion. From dining packages to pampering in luxurious accommodations and the warmest of hospitality, Galena's finest provide a variety of options to cater to every taste and budget.

Visit www.wineloversweekend.com for a detailed listing of extended-weekend activities, links to lodging, and an opportunity to purchase tickets online. For information about room availability, shopping, dining, attractions, events and more, please go to galena.org, the Web site of the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or call toll-free 877.464.2536.

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The American Cancer Society's Discovery Shop in Cumberland Square invites you to bargain shop for a cause!  Sunday, February 3rd will be our annual super clearance sale EVERYTHING in the store will be half price.  

Mark you calendars and stop in to grab all of the bargains that you can find and be back home long before the big game starts.  We are clearing out the floor to make room for all of the new and beautiful donations that we have recently been receiving.  With the new things that we will be putting out on the floor starting Monday, February 4th the bargains will continue long after the game is over.

The Discovery Shop is an upscale resale shop selling gently used items donated by the community and staffed by over 100 volunteers.  All clothing is cleaned and ironed before it is sold and dry cleaning is donated by Burke's Dry Cleaners.  Proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, education, patient services and advocacy.

Donations are accepted anytime the shop is open and a tax receipt is always available.  Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm., Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm., and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Thank you for your help in getting the word out about this event!

How will your 2013 Valentine's Day be remembered? Good, bad, or, worse yet - indifferent!?

Fear not - there is a way of attaining the best outcome this Feb. 14, which is just around the corner.

Sadly, there are too many women - both single and attached - that feel especially lonely during this time of year. If you're responsible for the romance in a woman's life, you want to treat her right. Roses, a candle-lit dinner with atmospheric music and perhaps a post-dinner drive along Beach Avenue are sufficient details to cover the norm. These basics show your special lady that you are at least trying ... But how does one go about WOWing her?

No matter what she might say, dressing down the holiday, like staying home and ordering your sweet heart's favorite topping for takeout pizza, simply will not do.

While many men will not grasp the seemingly arbitrary importance of a typically frigid mid-February evening, the important thing to remember is you don't have to. It's not about you; it's about her, and this is the only idea you need to keep in mind.

As a relationship expert and chef with two published books on relationships and one on recipes, I recommend creating a lasting memory with new and novel ideas. The brain's feel-good "love" chemical - oxytocine - usually increases when women are presented with novel activities, beyond those established and preferred routines, according to recent studies.

Abandon old traditions and do something to sweep her off her feet with these five steps:

1. Before the big day, drive her wild with anticipation by telling her that you have the most amazing surprise for her. This promise will keep her guessing and make her think about your evening.

2. Know her favorite flowers. If you don't, don't panic. You can find out by making a comment, like "I've noticed plants blooming early this year ..." and steer the conversation from there. In a beautiful vase, arrange an exotic bouquet and hide it somewhere in your home on the special day. She'll like that you created the presentation.

3. Go to your local chocolate shop and select her favorite kinds of chocolate. Have it boxed and nicely wrapped to prevent her from knowing what it is when you present the chocolates to her.

4. Create a dish and name it after her. For example, if her name is Anne, you might call the dish "Tournedos Princess Anne." This step is the most important. I can assure you that after having spent time in some top-notch restaurants, food that is named after a person is a special honor. We all know how women love it when their men do the cooking. What I do is cut and precook the vegetables, and I even make the sauce beforehand to make sure I get it as perfect as I can. Leave everything in the fridge. Then, on Valentine's Day, I set the table before I start the cooking part. On both plates, place a fresh RED ROSE. The single rose is just part of making her think that that is all the flowers she will be getting (but we know differently). When she gets home, make sure to get her to promise you that she'll stay out of the kitchen. Tell her not to spoil the surprise!

5. When everything is ready, plate the food, cover it and take it to the dining table, and then ask her to come and sit. Before you uncover the lid, have her close her eyes. Retrieve the hidden bouquet, place the flowers on the table, and ask her to open her eyes. Pay attention to how she responds. Tell her what you've named the dish.

But that's not all - after the meal, take her by the hand, walk her to the living room and sit her down. Bring out the boxed chocolate, go on one knee and tell her, "This is for you," or, "You make me feel whole," or, "You are the most beautiful woman in the world and I love you."

Overkill? - Not at all. Remember, you don't have to know why this works, but only that it does work.

About Ernest Quansah

Ernest Quansah (www.relationshipadviceforsuccess.com) is a love relationship success expert with more than a decade of experience. He is the president of Relationship Advice for Success, and founder of Online Dating, Relationship, and Marriage School (ODRMS). After much research and experience with heartache - divorce, breakups and the devastating consequences - he has discovered the keys to finding and maintaining meaningful, long-lasting romantic relationships. He is also the author of Do's and Don'ts of Relationships: Nine Steps to a Deeper, Richer Love Relationship, 2nd edition.

By Jason Alderman

Many people file their income tax returns as early in the year as possible. Some are eager to claim their tax refund right away, while others are simply following their New Year's resolution not to procrastinate until midnight, April 15.

Let me add another good reason to file your taxes right away: tax refund identity fraud.

That's where someone uses your Social Security number (SSN), birth date and other private information to file a fraudulent income tax return in your name and then pockets the resulting tax refund. Often, a victim's first clue is a letter from the IRS contesting their legitimate tax return, saying one has already been processed under that name. It can take months - and mounds of paperwork - to unravel the mess.

This scam has proliferated in recent years thanks to a confluence of events:

  • There's a thriving black market in personal information stolen from healthcare facilities, nursing homes, schools, insurance companies and other institutions that require an SSN as identification.
  • The IRS is pressured to begin issuing refunds shortly after taxpayers start filing returns in mid-January, even though employers and financial institutions aren't required to submit withholding and income documentation until the end of March. Thus, disparities often aren't caught until months later.
  • The growing popularity of electronic filing, where hard-copy documentation (like W-2 and 1099 forms) isn't required.
  • Many people receive refunds via direct deposit and prepaid debit cards. Criminals open and close accounts using bogus addresses long before the theft has been detected.

Thanks to severe budget cuts and chronic understaffing - not to mention constantly playing whack-a-mole with thieves who dream up new schemes - the IRS is hard-pressed to keep up. In one extreme example, the agency issued more than $3.3 million in refunds for 2,137 tax returns filed to a single address.

But all is not lost. The IRS has significantly beefed up its fraud-prevention efforts. In 2011, they intercepted nearly 262,000 fraudulent tax returns seeking almost $1.5 billion in refunds related to identity theft. And they now issue special personal identification numbers (PINs) to impacted taxpayers to protect their future tax filings.

So what should you do if you've been victimized? Typically, the IRS will send you a notice that:

  • More than one tax return for you was filed;
  • You have a balance due, refund offset or have had collection actions taken against you for a year in which you didn't file a return; or
  • IRS records indicate you received wages from an employer you don't recognize. This could indicate that someone has used your personal information to get a job.

If you receive such a notice, don't ignore it. Complete an Identity Theft Affidavit (IRS Form 14039 at www.irs.gov) and return it with a copy of the notice to the address provided on the notice. If you did not receive a notice but believe you may be at risk, the form contains separate submission instructions.

The IRS's Identity Theft Protection website (www.irs.gov/uac/Identity-Protection) includes tons of helpful information, including ways to tell whether your identity may have been stolen, how to report a breach and tips to avoid identity theft.

And finally, file your tax return as early as possible to beat potential scammers to the punch. If you owe money, you can always file your return now and mail the payment by the April 15 deadline.

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