01 May 2013

SMIDDY HOSTING SENIOR CITIZEN TECHNOLOGY WORKSHOP

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) is hosting a Senior Citizen Technology workshop in partnership with AT&T on Monday, May 6 at 11:00 am at the UAW Hall located at 630 19th Street (at Moline Drive) in East Moline.

"It can be difficult to keep up with the newest technology, especially for senior citizens," said Smiddy. "This workshop gives seniors an opportunity to learn about how technology can enhance their lives, instead of becoming a barrier."

At this event, which is free and open to the public, senior citizens can learn about using technology in daily life, ranging from cell phones to wireless pacemakers. The workshop is designed for seniors of all levels of technology literacy and awareness. Attendees may also bring their own devices to receive one-on-one assistance.

"In our increasingly high-tech world, embracing technology increases opportunities for seniors from staying in touch with friends and family to managing their finances," Smiddy said. "I encourage all local seniors to attend this workshop and learn practical ways to incorporate technology in their lives."

For more information or to RSVP, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

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01 May 2013

Johnny's Italian Steakhouse Special Mother's Day Brunch!

By Rick Martin
Special Brunch on Sunday, May 12 from10am-2pm

Johnny's Italian Steakhouse is hosting a special Mother's Day Brunch on Sunday May 12th, 2013

from 10a-2p. The brunch will feature; Chef carved prime rib, Baked ham, Chicken Madeira, Lasagna, Waffle and Omelet Stations, Seasonal fruits, Gourmet desserts and much more!

Johnny's is located in John Deere Commons, 1300 River Dr, Moline, Il.

Make your reservations today at 309-736-0100

For more information visit us online at Johnnysitaliansteakhouse.com/Moline/

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01 May 2013

Statement from Governor Pat Quinn on House Committee's Passage of Comprehensive Pension Reform

By Nafia Khan
CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn issued the below statement following today's House Committee vote to enact comprehensive pension reform that will stabilize the pension systems, eliminate the unfunded liability, and preserve the pensions of hard-working state employees and teachers. More than a year ago, the governor proposed a comprehensive solution that includes the key elements of Senate Bill 1:

"I commend the nine members of the House Committee who today voted to address the biggest challenge facing our state.

"Illinois' economy will not fully recover until the General Assembly passes this comprehensive pension reform and sends the bill to my desk.

"Now is the time to take this major step to restore fiscal stability to Illinois.

"Every day that goes by, the unfunded liability grows by $17 million.

"The taxpayers of Illinois are waiting. Let's get the job done."

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01 May 2013

PORT BYRON NONPROFIT ANNOUNCES PLANS FOR 2ND ANNUAL 5K

By Holly Larson

PORT BYRON, IL - The Nick Teddy Foundation is pleased to announce its second annual "Nick Teddy 5K." The event starts at 9:00 AM on Sat., September 14, 2013, and offers a fun day for participants and their families.

This annual family event is held in memory of Nicholas Theodore Strub, a native of Port Byron, Ill., a 2000 graduate of Riverdale High School, and a 2004 Alumnus of Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Nick fought a courageous battle against the pediatric cancer, Ewing's sarcoma, for more than 5-years, until he died at age 29.

Proceeds from the "Nick Teddy 5k" will benefit the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative (www.sarcomahelp.org), which works to award sarcoma research grants to expert investigators around the world. Several area children currently are affected by this disease. Last year, the 2012 NT5k registered more than 450 runners and raised over $17,000 to be used exclusively for Ewing's sarcoma research.

Photos and interviews are available for 5k preview stories. You can find us online at: http://www.NickTeddy.org, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NickTeddyOrg) and on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NickTeddyOrg).

We appreciate your consideration in covering Nick's story and our mission to make a difference in Ewing's sarcoma research.

Race Director/Contact: Holly Larson
309-798-3081 / foundation@nickteddy.org

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01 May 2013

Conservation Stewardship Program Applications Due by May 31

By USDA Office of Communications
Voluntary program allows producers to maintain or increase productivity of their operations while also conserving natural resources

WASHINGTON, May 1, 2013 - Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) will provide nearly $175 million in funding for up to 12.6 million additional acres of enrollment this year.

"The Conservation Stewardship Program is different than other USDA financial assistance programs," said Vilsack. "CSP offers payments to producers who maintain a high level of conservation on their land and agree to adopt higher levels of stewardship. It's about conservation activities on the entire operation focusing on multiple resource concerns."

Vilsack explained that although applications are accepted all year, farmers, ranchers and forestland owners interested in CSP should submit applications by May 31 to their local NRCS office to ensure they are considered for this year's funding.

The voluntary program allows producers to go the extra mile in conserving natural resources while also maintaining or increasing the productivity of their operations.

Playing a significant part in conserving and improving our nation's resources, producers enrolled an additional 12.1 million acres in CSP last year, bringing the total number of acres to more than 50 million.

Many of the CSP enhancements improve soil quality, which helps land become more resilient to extreme weather.

Several other improvements are available for producers, including intensive rotational grazing, intercropping and wildlife friendly fencing.

Because of the extreme weather in 2012, more interest and participation in the cover crop enhancements is expected this year, according to NRCS experts.

A CSP self-screening checklist is available to help producers determine if the program is suitable for their operation. The checklist highlights basic information about CSP eligibility requirements, stewardship threshold requirements and payment types.

For the checklist and additional information, visit the CSP website

(http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/csp/) or visit your local USDA NRCS office.

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USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (866) 632-9992 (Toll-free Customer Service), (800) 877-8339 (Local or Federal relay), (866) 377-8642 (Relay voice users).

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01 May 2013

Kayaking Event Planned

By Mike Granger
On Saturday, May 11th at 10:00 P.M. the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will be hosting a Kayaking Event at Allen's Grove Park

11th ~ Mud Creek Kayak Exploration ~ 10:00 A.M. ~ Allen's Grove Park ~ Join Wapsi River Center naturalist Mike Granger to explore Mud Creek a backwater of the Wapsipinicon River. Participants must be 12 years of age (accompanied by an adult) or older. Space is limited to 12 individuals. Allen's Grove is located 4 miles north of Donahue, Iowa on County Road Y52. Float is dependent on water levels. Please call (563) 328-3286 to reserve your spot by May 9.
01 May 2013

River Bandits Game Preview and Notes from 4-30-13

By Marco LaNave
FIRST VISIT TO SOUTH BEND SINCE 2011 KICKS OFF SIX-GAME EASTERN DIVISION TRIP: After taking two
of three games each from the Lansing Lugnuts and Great Lakes Loons at Modern Woodmen Park, the River Bandits head to South Bend for the first of a pair of series at Eastern Division ballparks. The Silver Hawks, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks since the major league franchise debuted in 1998, took two of three games in Davenport last season by sweeping a doubleheader May 1. Quad Cities lost two of three games in South Bend in 2011 and two of three in Davenport in 2010. The River Bandits last won a series in South Bend July 9-11, 2008 - also the last year Quad Cities won the season series, taking two of three at each team's ballpark.

BANDITS POUND LOONS TO TAKE SERIES: The River Bandits took the final two games of a three-game home series against the Great Lakes Loons to finish a 4-2 home stand. On Sunday, every Great Lakes Loons batter contributed at least one of the team's 18 hits in a 10-6 victory despite the first triple play by the Quad Cities franchise since 2007. On Monday, River Bandits left-hander Brian Holmes set a career high and a season high for a River Bandit with 10 strikeouts in five innings, and right-hander Jordan Jankowski struck out four more in four shutout innings of a 6-1 home win. The 14 strikeouts set a Quad Cities single-game season high. In the Tuesday rubber match, the River Bandits scored a season-high 17 runs, and catcher Jobduan Morales hit the team's first grand slam of the season as part of a team-high five RBIs in a 17-6 win.
30 Apr 2013

Grassley urges Administration to consider formal protest of European Commission action against U.S. ethanol exports

By Grassley Press

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

WASHINGTON - Senator Chuck Grassley has signed onto a letter urging the U.S. Trade Representative and the Acting Secretary of Commerce to consider initiating a challenge at the World Trade Organization regarding the recent decision by the European Commission to impose an anti-dumping duty on exports of ethanol from the United States.

"The administration ought to take a very aggressive position against this penalty because of the way it violates trade law standards and practices that are well established," Grassley said.  "What's happened is an unfair trade practice, and the negative impact on the U.S. renewable energy industry is already measurable."

The penalty is "unprecedented" with the Commission's "failure to make any particular finding of dumping by any producer or marketer investigated in connection with the case," wrote the bipartisan group of 15 senators led by Senators John Thune and Amy Klobuchar.  "We believe this rule sets dangerous precedent for trade and trade remedies in advance of the well-publicized state of important trade talks between the United States and the European Union, and will dramatically and unilaterally change the boundaries and limits of international dumping law," they wrote.

In addition to trade case precedent that has required findings of actual dumping, the senators' letter said there isn't an adequate finding by the European Commission that any injury was suffered in the European ethanol industry, noting it is another requirement of international anti-dumping trade law.

Certain member states of the European Union represent significant export markets for U.S. ethanol producers.  In 2012, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands represented the second and fourth largest importers of importers of U.S. ethanol.

-30-
30 Apr 2013

REP. SMIDDY HOSTING EDUCATION FORUM

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - To gather feedback from the community on issues in education, state Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) is hosting an education forum on Saturday, May 11 at 10 a.m. at West Carroll Primary School, located at 2215 Wacker Rd. in Savanna.

"As I continue to work in the state legislature to improve the quality of education, it is important that I come home and listen to local residents and educators on these issues," said Smiddy. "Understanding the concerns of this community and collaborating on innovative for education reform will help me make the best decisions on behalf our students and educators."

At this forum, which is free and open to the public, members of the community will have the opportunity to share their concerns and ideas for education policy with Smiddy. Residents are also encouraged to join Smiddy's Education Citizens Advisory Committee to more frequently meet with him and share ideas on education.

"Education and quality schools are vital to our community," Smiddy said. "I hope that local residents, teachers, and parents will continue to work with me to provide better opportunities for our children."

For more information, to RSVP, or to join Smiddy's Education Citizens Advisory Committee, contact Smiddy's constituent services office at RepSmiddy@gmail.com, (309) 848-9098, or toll-free at (855) 243-4988.

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30 Apr 2013

Quad City International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) Presents a FREE Seminar on May 13, 2013

By Kat Riley

The Quad City International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) will be presenting a FREE Seminar on Monday, May 13, 2013 at the MRA Administrative Offices located at 3800 Avenue of the Cities - Suite 100 in Moline, IL.   The speaker will be Dr. Jill M. Bjerke.  She will be presenting "Cut The Clutter".

 

Networking/Gathering begins at 5:30 PM, Dinner at 6:00 PM (reservation is required - meal cost is $8.00) and the speaker will begin at 6:30 PM. Following the presentation, a short chapter business meeting will be held.

To register, please contact Stephanie Noyd by 11:00 AM by Friday, April 5, 2013 at (309) 235-5775 or email her at paranoyd5@frontier.com.

 

For more information, go to our website at www.iaap-quadcity.org/quadcity/meetingsevents. 

 

IAAP is the world's largest international association of administrative professionals. IAAP offers professional development, leadership training and networking opportunities for administrative professionals. IAAP is a non-profit, volunteer association.

Joining a professional organization demonstrates your commitment to your career. Work is most rewarding when we do it with enthusiasm and give it our best. Through IAAP you will gain knowledge, confidence and contacts that will help you advance professionally. IAAP works to build a professional image of administrative professionals in the workplace.

IAAP membership is open to all persons working in the administrative field, along with business educators, students, firms and educational institutions. There is no test of sponsorship required. Through IAAP qualified professionals can test for the certification rating, the benchmark of excellence in the administrative profession.

For more information please contact Kathy Riley at (309) 489-6122.

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