Make sure your contractor is legally able to work in your area.

 

Des Plaines, Illinois, Nov. 13, 2012?The National Association of the Remodeling Industry offers tips for homeowners impacted by Superstorm Sandy to avoid home repair scams.

 

Con artists often show up at a homeowner's door after a disaster, offering an array of services and demanding a hefty down payment up front. They might offer a "great deal," based on using materials left over from a neighbor's job, but homeowners should remember that a "great deal" isn't always what it seems. Frequently, these fly-by-night operators drive vehicles with out-of-state license plates, or set up temporary offices from which they can move quickly once authorities start looking for them. Before writing that check, and especially before allowing any unknown individual into your home, NARI suggests that a homeowner:

 

• Get the name and address of the company that person allegedly represents.
• Get all details of the offer in writing and carefully review it. Be sure you understand everything in the contract and that any verbal promises made are included in the contract.
• Determine how long the company has been in business and call organizations with which the contractor is affiliated, such as NARI or other trade associations, to determine the firm's legitimacy.
• Ask for references and contact each one.
• Remember that any legitimate company that wants your business will be more than willing to allow you the time to do your homework. Don't fall prey to high-pressure tactics such as "this is the only chance you have" or "by tomorrow the extra materials will be gone."

Homeowners should be especially skeptical if they....

• Come to your door unsolicited.
• Use high-pressure sales tactics.
• Request full payment before completing the work.
• Give a post office box without a street address or phone number.
• Promise to begin and complete the work more quickly and cheaply than any other company.
• Say they just finished work on your neighbor's house and have just enough materials to do repair work on yours. They might say they can give you a better bargain if you let them do the work today since they have the supplies now.

 

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About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry. The Association, which represents 7,000 member companies nationwide?comprised of 63,000 remodeling contractors? is "The Voice of the Remodeling Industry."® To learn more about membership, visit www.NARI.org or contact national headquarters, based in Des Plaines, Ill., at (847) 298-9200.

Select Assortment Discount Grocer ALDI Opens New Silvis Store November 16

Grocer Keeps it Simple - Shoppers Save Big

Silvis, Ill. - Nov. 16, 2012 - Beginning Friday, Nov. 16, 2012, ALDI will offer grocery shoppers a smarter alternative as the select assortment discount grocer opens its newest Quad Cities-area store, located at 1210 18th Street in Silvis, Ill. The opening marks the addition of the Quad Cities' 5th location, allowing more shoppers to discover the store's premium ALDI exclusive brands and high-quality grocery items at unbeatable prices.

"As ALDI continues to grow in the Quad Cities area, we are pleased to open this new location to help more customers stretch their dollars even further," said Heather Moore, Dwight division vice president for ALDI. "As important as price is, there's only one way to attract and keep shoppers: You have to have quality products. When people try our ALDI exclusive brands, they are surprised by the savings and impressed by the quality."

To celebrate the opening of the new Silvis store, ALDI will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, to which the public is invited to attend to sample ALDI exclusive brand products, tour the store and shop for their favorite grocery items. Additionally, guests can enter an on-site sweepstakes for a chance to be one of five winners of a Thanksgiving prize pack, including ALDI gift certificates.

ALDI challenges customers to switch from national brands to its exclusive brands and save up to 50 percent^* on more than 1,400 items the store carries. To ensure its exclusive brands meet or exceed the national brands on taste and quality, ALDI conducts rigorous testing on all products. ALDI stands behind this quality with a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with a food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the customer's money.

A model of efficiency, ALDI eliminates overhead costs by offering smart practices, such as a cart rental system through which shoppers insert a quarter to release a cart and receive the quarter back upon the cart's return. Other cost-saving practices include a smaller store footprint, open carton displays and encouragement of customers to bring their own shopping bags.

ALDI also saves shoppers money by keeping stores open during prime shopping times. The Silvis location will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. ALDI accepts cash, debit and EBT cards.

The Silvis location showcases the "new look" of ALDI. With higher ceilings, improved natural lighting and environmentally friendly building materials - such as recycled materials and energy-saving refrigeration and light bulbs - the store will offer customers a simple and easy-to-navigate shopping experience.

A grocery retailer that has grown without merger or acquisition, ALDI opened 75 stores in the United States in 2011 and plans to open more than 80 stores in 2012. ALDI has more than 1,200 U.S. stores located in 32 states.

About ALDI Inc.

A leader in the grocery retailing industry, ALDI operates more than 1,200 US stores in 32 states, primarily from Kansas to the East Coast. More than 20 million customers each month save up to 50 percent^* on their grocery bills, benefiting from the ALDI simple and streamlined approach to retailing. ALDI sells more than 1,400 of the most frequently purchased grocery and household items, primarily under its exclusive brands, which must meet or exceed the national name brands on taste and quality. ALDI is so confident in the quality of its products, the company offers a Double Guarantee: If for any reason a customer is not 100 percent satisfied with any ALDI food product, ALDI will gladly replace the product and refund the purchase price. For more information about ALDI, visit www.aldi.us.

During the spring and into the hot summer months of 2012, a film crew was in the Quad-Cities making a documentary about children who live in poverty. The duo followed and filmed three local children: One in Davenport, one in East Moline, and one who ends up in Moline.

The renowned PBS series FRONTLINE presents the one-hour documentary "Poor Kids" at 9 p.m. Central Standard Time Tuesday, Nov. 20, on PBS's IPTV. The program can also be viewed on-line after its air date at http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/.

"As Americans prepare to celebrate Thanksgiving, one in five of the nation's children is living below the poverty level," said Major Gary Felton, Quad-Cities Coordinator. "One in 45 children in the United States is homeless."

"Poor Kids" travels to the Quad-Cities, an area described by PBS as "a great American crossroads along the border of Iowa and Illinois," to explore the lives of children living in the suburbs of the nation's heartland and growing up poor. Told from the point of view of the children themselves, the show offers a unique perspective on the nation's flagging economy and the impact of unemployment, foreclosure and financial distress as seen through the eyes of the children affected. The Salvation Army and other social-service agencies helped the filmmakers become acquainted with the families shown.

"This is an opportunity not only for viewers across the nation, but also the Quad-Cities especially, to see the homelessness through the eyes of a child," Major Felton said. "When viewers watch children face such difficult situations as those depicted here, people will better understand the work of The Salvation Army and how we meet the needs of both children and families."

To see a 30-second clip from the documentary or for more information, visit www.pbs.org/FRONTLINE/poor-kids, visit www.facebook.com/FRONTLINE or Twitter @FRONTLINEpbs #FRONTLINE.
 
"Especially at this time of year, with our annual bell-ringing fund-raising effort under way, we hope that Quad-Citians will open their hearts and remember the children who literally are their neighbors in need."

Davenport, IOWA (November 2012) - Downtown Davenport will be bustling this weekend with the Festival of Trees kick off parade. Spectators will have the opportunity to warm-up at the Figge Art Museum where FREE ADMISSION, sponsored by Butler Insurance, is being offered on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the parade festivities.

Visitors can check out the newly opened exhibitions including Quilts: Masterworks from the American Folk Museum featuring 27 priceless quilts from the beginning of the 19^th century to the end of the 20^th century. and Portrait of Maquoketa: The Dimensional View showcasing 180 oil painting portraits that Rose Frantzen created from July 2005 to July 2006 in Maquoketa, Iowa.

The Museum Store will be offering The Holiday Experience Package which includes a $10 Museum Store coupon, a $10 Thursdays at the Figge Café coupon, a $5 class coupon, a free private tour for up to 10 people and 2 guest admission passes. Normally valued at more than $115, members can purchase it for just $25 and non-members for $40.

The end of year gift membership sale also starts Saturday and includes deep discounts on yearly memberships to the Figge. This unique holiday gift can also be purchased online at www.figgeartmuseum.org.

About the Figge Art Museum

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m.  Thursdays the museum is open until 9pm. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit our website, www.figgeartmuseum.org.

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