SPRINGFIELD - April 17, 2013. An advocate for rural communities, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today urged farmers' markets to join her in fighting food deserts in Illinois. Simon urged markets to apply for a federal grant to purchase wireless machines that accept debit and credit cards, and Link cards. The machines enable low-income residents to purchase fresh, locally-produced food sold at farmers' markets.

To date, 31 markets have received the Illinois Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) Wireless Project grants coordinated by Simon's office, and most of the markets will start accepting Link cards this spring. One of the newest recipients, EP!C Market, of Peoria, discussed its expansion plans during today's Governor's Rural Affairs Council (GRAC) meeting in Springfield.

"All Illinois families should have access to fresh, local foods," said Simon, who chairs the GRAC. "With so many Illinoisans currently receiving food stamp benefits, expanding Link access is good policy. I encourage markets to apply for the federal funding that is helping us bring healthy, local food to our underserved communities."

EP!C market provides employment opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. Approximately 40 individuals currently work in the greenhouse, and plants are sold at local retailers. The organization looks forward to adding an outdoor garden, doubling the number of workers. EP!C will hold its first outdoor farmers' market in May.

"We are thrilled to be a part of the Illinois EBT Wireless Project," said Vice President of Development Kristen Berchtold. "It will make EP!C market more attractive and accessible to a broad customer base, and will enable us to provide more employment opportunities and vocational training for those we serve."

Through Simon's EBT wireless project, Illinois farmers' markets receive free wireless machines that enable consumers to pay with debit and credit cards, or with Link cards. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the number of Midwestern farmers' markets accepting Link cards increased by around 65 percent between 2011 and 2012. Chicago alone saw a 56 percent increase during that period, meaning more low-income families can purchase fresh produce at farmers' markets.

Applications for the EBT wireless project are still being accepted. For more information, please click here.

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Rock Island, IL: In the minute it takes you to read this sentence, 19 people will fall victim to identity theft, according to Trans Union credit bureau. To help you keep your personal information private, the Rock Island Public Library will offer a free Community Shred Day next week.

The 6th annual drive-up and drop-off event on Thursday, April 25 runs from 3:30 to 5:30 pm outside the Rock Island Main Library, 401 19th Street. Participants should pull up along the south side of the library, entering from 20th Street onto the one-way alley. Representatives from Document Destruction and Recycling Services will be on hand to take custody of documents. All materials will be secured in locked bins and shredded in bulk under monitored conditions at the DDRS plant in Davenport. The service is free and open to anyone, regardless of library affiliation or city of residence.

The Rock Island Library collected 5,192 pounds of paper at its 2012 Shred Day event. Additional library Shred Days are available at the Davenport Fairmount Branch Library on Saturday, April 20, Bettendorf Public Library on April 24 and Moline Public Library on April 27. The projects are part of Money Smart Week Quad Cities. For additional events, please visit www.moneysmartweek.org.

Document Destruction and Recycling Services, an affiliate of City Carton Recycling, has provided confidential materials destruction services since February 1996.

For more news about Rock Island Public Library events, 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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COMING SOON!

 


The Earth Wins



In honor of Earth Week,
the new documentary:
The Earth Wins
April 17 - 24
Click here for details!










Cub Souts: Math Maniacs
April 19, 6-9 p.m.
Sound of Music



Classic Film Series:
The Sound of Music
April 23, 1 p.m. & 7 p.m.






Brownies & Juniors:
Global Girls
April 26, 6-9 p.m.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar Story Time and Mom's Morning Out:
Saturday, May 4;
10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Summer Camps!
Registration NOW OPEN

RICHMOND, KY (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- Michael Bales of Clinton, majoring in Occupational Safety, is one of 85 Eastern Kentucky University juniors, seniors and graduate students who were inducted into the EKU chapter of The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi during a special ceremony on April 5.

Bales is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine, Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 campuses in the United States, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

Membership in Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence, Baylor University head women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey-Robertson, writer John Grisham and Netscape founder James Barksdale. The Society has awarded approximately $11.5 million in fellowships and scholarships since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $800,000 is awarded annually to qualifying members and non-members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. The Society's mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

Today, the Iowa Judicial Branch posted information for the Iowa Business Specialty Court Pilot Project on the Iowa Judicial Branch website at http://www.iowacourts.gov/Business_Court_Pilot_Project/

In addition, the Iowa State Court Administrator has approved a form for parties to submit qualifying legal disputes to the jurisdiction of the business court. The "Joint Consent for Case Assignment to the Business Court Pilot Project" form is also available in the Business Court Pilot Project section of the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

The business court will begin accepting cases on May 1, 2013.


http://www.iowacourts.gov/Business_Court_Pilot_Project/

BATON ROUGE, LA (04/17/2013)(readMedia)-- The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is pleased to announce that Joseph Rives of Moline, Ill., was recently initiated into Phi Kappa Phi--the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines--at Western Illinois University.

Rives is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

More About Phi Kappa Phi

Since its founding, more than 1 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad scholarships, member and chapter awards and grants for local and national literacy initiatives.

April 17, 2013 - Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  For Immediate Release: Reserve your seat at
the Theatre Cedar Rapids Ladies Luncheon .

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to the annual Theatre Cedar Rapids Ladies Luncheon.
Now in its ninth year, the Ladies Luncheon is set for Thursday, May 2, 2013, at
the Cedar Rapids Country Club.

Attendees will shop in the exclusive garden and gourmet marketplace, have lunch
with friends and enjoy a live performance by cast members of the upcoming TCR musical
The Wizard of Oz.  The market, known for its unique fare from potted herbs to specialty
items for your home to homemade gourmet food delicacies, opens for shopping at 10:30
followed by lunch and the program beginning at noon.

The event goals are to:

·        raise $30,000 in operating funds for Theatre Cedar Rapids

·        support Theatre education and programming especially for youth

·        celebrate and support the community relationships inherent in TCR's mission

·        increase community awareness of TCR's current and upcoming season

Sponsors of the Ladies Luncheon are Neil Boudreaux Salon, CarePro Health Services
and The Wright Touch Bake Shoppe.
Individual tickets are $60 and are available at www.theatrecr.org [http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001pUTQ_mcA1BoKxCtnhoZJ1gSA9GiwDpRJeDVr4KTVWZw1limkiLB-YeQOWg1GNkQQqQZvzHdzMciP_HNRBoGYMvCVbAqSlssU68KfmEUnKheSTam7Fwvphg==]
or by calling the TCR box office at 319-366-8591. For information on hosting a table,
email info@theatrecr.org [mailto:info@theatrecr.org].

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Friday, June 7 - 8 pm

His First Appearance in the Quad Cities

On Sale Friday April 26 at 10 am

Don't miss an unforgettable night of classic hits on Friday, June 7 at 8 pm when Motown Legend Smokey Robinson performs at the i wireless Center for one night only. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26 at 10 am.

 

Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Robinson founded The Miracles while still in high school. The group's single of Robinson's "Shop Around" became Motown's first #1 hit on the R&B singles chart. In the years following, Robinson continued to pen hits for the group including "You've Really Got a Hold on Me," "Ooo Baby Baby," "The Tracks of My Tears," "Going to a Go-Go," "More Love," "Tears of a Clown" and "I Second That Emotion." Smokey's solo career included top hits "Cruisin", "Being With You"," Just to See Her" and "One Heartbeat".

 

During the course of his 50-year career in music, Robinson has accumulated more than 4,000 songs to his credit, became Vice President of Motown Records and continues to thrill sold-out audiences around the world with his high tenor voice, impeccable timing, and profound sense of lyric.   In 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Two years later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter's Hall of Fame. In 1991 he won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards. In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts. Never resting on his laurels, Smokey Robinson remains a beloved icon in our musical heritage.

 

Ticket prices are $29.50 and $49.50 with a limited number of $69.50 tickets also available. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 26 at 10 am and are available at the i wireless Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone at 800-745-3000, or online and www.ticketmaster.com. A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit Genesis Health Systems.

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– Historic buildings at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site are closed as a precaution against flooding. Due to high rainfall, Hoover Creek, the small creek that runs through the historic site, is in flood stage. Because additional rainfall is expected, the historic buildings will remain closed as a safety precaution. The Visitor Center will remain open for business 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Visitor Center parking lot is closed due to flooding; park at the Village Green parking lot across the street. Visitors are encouraged to stay away from the creek banks.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

Coal Valley, IL - April 17, 2013 - Niabi Zoo announced today that it will be holding its annual Earth Day celebration, Party for the Planet, on Sunday, April 21. The event, which will be held from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM at the Zoo, will feature a variety of activities and information to help both kids and adults alike learn how they can make every day Earth Day.

This year's Party for the Planet theme is "Habitats at Home," and the event will focus on the many ways in which Quad City residents can help the countless wildlife habitats that surround them on a daily basis. Niabi Zoo will be distributing 150 conifer tree saplings for attendees to take home and plant, as well as 250 limited edition Niabi Zoo 50th Anniversary reusable grocery bags. The reusable bags can be used in place of disposable plastic bags which frequently end up in landfills. Zoo guests will also learn what they can do in their own backyards to create and sustain vital habitats for native wildlife.

Niabi Zoo will also be supporting the conservation of Monarch butterflies in a variety of ways. Zoo staff and volunteers will be distributing seeds from the milkweed plant, which is vital for the growth and development of Monarch butterflies. Event attendees will also have a chance to learn about the amazing Annual Great Migration of Monarch butterflies, in which millions of these beautiful creatures travel thousands of miles. Researchers have been tagging and tracking these butterflies in order to learn more about their incredible journey.

Niabi Zoo will be open from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Regular admission rates will apply.

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