10 Apr 2013

Fire Safety Project Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Davenport, American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area and the Davenport Fire Department

By Rick Best
The Rotary Club of Davenport is partnering with the American Red Cross and the Davenport Fire Department to distribute educational materials for fire prevention and safety and emergency procedures in the home.
Rotary volunteers will work in conjunction with Red Cross volunteers and the Fire Department this Saturday,  April 13 from 9 am to noon to hand out materials in three Davenport neighborhoods. Volunteers will meet at a designated spot to park and then the Red Cross will provide vehicles and volunteers to transport everyone around the community.
Davenport Rotarian Eloise Graham is coordinating the project with two other Davenport Rotarians, Betsy Pratt, CEO of the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area, and Davenport Fire Chief Lynn Washburn.  The Rotary club has been collecting funds that the Red Cross uses to provide supplies to families that have experienced a fire. Through this new partnership project, we hope to prevent those tragedies by providing information about fire safety to Davenport residents.
"Fire safety is an important part of the mission of the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area. We're honored that the Davenport Rotary has chosen this project that can help us save lives in our community," said Betsy Pratt.
Additional volunteers are needed, and they do not need to be Rotary members.  To volunteer, contact Eloise Graham at grahamjg64@gmail.com, or call 563-359-8696.
10 Apr 2013

Pop Sensation Carly Rae Jepsen Completes Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

By Lori Chappell
Grandstand Tickets on Sale May 4

DES MOINES, IA (04/10/2013)(readMedia)-- Carly Rae Jepsen will perform at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand on Saturday, August 17, with special guest The Wanted. The show completes this year's Grandstand line-up. Tickets for all shows will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, through all Ticketmaster outlets. The 2013 line-up is presented by U.S. Cellular.

With 9.1 million singles sold and a record-breaking nine consecutive weeks at number-one, Jepsen's "Call Me Maybe" catapulted the Canadian singer's success and made her an over-night viral sensation. The multi-platinum song earned two Teen Choice Awards and two Grammy Award nominations as well as over four hundred million hits on YouTube. British pop artists The Wanted will open the August 17 show.

Grammy Award-winning rock artists Train will perform hit songs like "Drops of Jupiter," "Calling All Angels" and "Marry Me" on August 16. They will be joined by double-platinum contemporary artist Matt Nathanson.

Country superstars Alan Jackson and Gary Allan will take the stage August 18. Jackson's authentic lyrics and connection to traditional country roots helped him produce anthems like "Chattahoochie," "It's Five O'clock Somewhere" and "Small Town Southern Man." Allan's ten studio albums have produced hit song after hit song including "Nothing on but the Radio," "Watching Airplanes" and "Every Storm."

Shows featuring Dierks Bentley and Toby Keith round out this year's country selections. Bentley will perform with special guest Justin Moore on August 11. Kip Moore will open for Keith's August 15 performance.

Contemporary Christian artists Casting Crowns will bring their soulful tunes to the stage opening night, August 8. They will be joined by special guest Jeremy Camp.

Launched into stardom with her hit show on Nickelodeon, Victoria Justice has quickly made her mark on the music scene. She will be joined by The Sing Off's season three champions, Pentatonix, on August 13.

Former Saturday Night Live stars Dana Carvey, Kevin Nealon and Dennis Miller will offer their own unique flavor of comedy in a stand-up routine that's sure to have Fairgoers laughing on August 10.

The Grandstand will be filled with hits from the 60s and 70s on August 9 with the Happy Together Tour 2013 starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Chuck Negron, Mark Lindsay and Gary Lewis.

Motor sports action kicks into high gear August 12 with the Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models. The Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull roars into the Grandstand August 14. The Demolition Derby and Figure Eight will tear up the track for a morning session on August 17.

Tickets for all concert and track events will go on sale Saturday, May 4, at 10 a.m. through all Ticketmaster outlets, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800/745-3000. All concert events are reserved seating. All track events are general admission. Beginning July 8, the Fair's Ticket Office will be open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to Noon on Saturday for walk-up orders only (no mail, phone or fax orders). Convenience charges will apply to all tickets. Grandstand tickets do not include admission to the Fair. Gate admission must be purchased separately.

A complete listing of event dates, times and ticket prices follows:

2013 Iowa State Fair Grandstand Line-up

presented by U.S. Cellular

Thursday, August 8 Casting Crowns with special guest Jeremy Camp, 8 p.m., $30

Friday, August 9 Happy Together Tour 2013 starring The Turtles featuring Flo & Eddie, Gary Puckett & the Union Gap, Chuck Negron, Mark Lindsay and Gary Lewis, 8 p.m., $25

Saturday, August 10 Dana Carvey, Dennis Miller and Kevin Nealon from SNL, 8 p.m., $38

Sunday, August 11 Dierks Bentley with special guest Justin Moore, 8 p.m., $39

Monday, August 12 Deery Brothers Summer Series for Late Models, IMCA Sport Mods, IMCA Stock Cars, IMCA Hobby Stocks and Karl Chevrolet Dirt Trucks, 5:30 p.m. Hot Laps, 6 p.m. Races, $17 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Tuesday, August 13 Victoria Justice with special guest Pentatonix, 8 p.m., $29

Wednesday, August 14 Grand Outlaw National Tractor and Truck Pull sponsored by Iowa Farmer Today, 2 p.m., $20 Adults, $10 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Thursday, August 15 Toby Keith's Hammer Down Tour presented by Ford F-Series with special guest Kip Moore, 8 p.m., $49

Friday, August 16 Train with special guest Matt Nathanson, 8 p.m., $39

Saturday, August 17 Demolition Derby: Modified Weld, Stock Weld and Compact Weld; Figure Eight: Front Wheel Drive and Rear Wheel Drive, 11:30 a.m., $15 adults, $5 children ages 6-11, free for ages 5 and under

Saturday, August 17 Carly Rae Jepsen with special guest The Wanted, 8 p.m., $35

Sunday, August 18 Alan Jackson and Gary Allan, 8 p.m., $39

"Nothing Compares" to the 2013 Iowa State Fair, August 8-18. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

* * *

10 Apr 2013

Lt. Gov. Simon to be featured speaker at University of Chicago

By Kara Beach

CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Simon will be the featured speaker at the University of Chicago's Institute of Politics' "Poultry and Politics" on Wednesday. Simon will talk to students about her commitment to public service, which has led to her serving as the state's second highest-ranking official.

"Our students are the next generation of leaders," Lt. Governor Simon said. "I look forward to sharing my background with them, and hearing their perspectives on today's pressing issues."

As Lt. Governor, Simon serves as the state's point person on education reform and as an advocate for victims of domestic violence and military families. Simon will also discuss her work with the General Assembly on high-profile issues such as marriage equality and concealed carry - all over Harold's Fried Chicken, an institution on Chicago's South Side.

DATE: Wednesday, April 10

TIME: 6 p.m.

PLACE: University of Chicago's Institute of Politics, 5707 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago

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10 Apr 2013

Grassley works to try to educate the EPA about agriculture, rural America

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - Senator Grassley weighed in this week with the President's nominee to serve as the next administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

A Senate hearing to consider the nomination of Gina McCarthy is set for Thursday morning in the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

"From EPA attempts to regulate farm dust and spilled milk and conduct aerial surveillance of farming operations, Iowans are concerned about how the EPA operates," Grassley said.

In a meeting by telephone with McCarthy, Grassley said he raised these issues as well as concern about the EPA's release of names, addresses and possibly other personal information about livestock producers to political activists who requested the information.  "Livestock producers are understandably concerned that the sort of information provided could be used to harass or possibly vandalize their operations," Grassley said.

Grassley said he also raised concerns directly with McCarthy about the impact of EPA regulations on electricity costs and manufacturing, including the EPA's efforts to undermine coal-fired electricity.  Rural electric cooperatives (RECs) receive 80 percent of their power from coal, well above the national average of 50 percent.  According to the Iowa Association of Electric Cooperatives, RECs provide electricity to consumers in every one of the state's 99 counties.

McCarthy visited Iowa in 2009 with Grassley at his request after Grassley learned that the EPA official, Margo Oge, who was writing guidelines for indirect land use had never set foot on an American farm.  At the time, proposed rules from the EPA relied on incomplete science and inaccurate assumptions to penalize biofuels for indirect land-use changes.  Grassley said he appreciated McCarthy and Oge making the trip.  McCarthy was Assistant Administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation at that time.

"The issues I continue to raise with the EPA deserve attention," Grassley said.  "Common sense seems to be in short supply at this federal agency when it comes to its handling of issues in agriculture and the rural economy."

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10 Apr 2013

Loebsack Helps Lead Fight to Keep Student Loan Rates from Doubling

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack today joined Rep. Joe Courtney (CT-02) in introducing legislation that will keep student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent for an additional two years.  On June 1, 2013, interest rates on student loans are set to double to 6.8 percent from 3.4 percent if Congress does not act.  Last year, as the only member of the Iowa delegation to serve on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, which has jurisdiction over this legislation, Loebsack helped lead the fight to ensure students did not see a similar raise in interest rates.

"I grew up in poverty, and I would not have been able to attend college and have such amazing opportunities without student aid," said Loebsack.  "At a time when middle class and working families are still struggling, we should not pull the rug out from under them and saddle them with additional debt.  Education is critical to securing a good job and economic security for families, and educating our future workforce is key to boosting our economy."

As a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, Loebsack has championed numerous pieces of legislation to increase access to higher education, including:

·         College Cost Reduction and Access Act (CCRAA) Loebsack helped craft and pass this legislation, which makes college more affordable and accessible for all Iowans by increasing the maximum Pell Grant scholarship and expanding eligibility;

·         Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act Loebsack was a cosponsor of this bill, which will save American taxpayers $61 billion by making the student loan process more efficient.  The bill further expanded the maximum Pell Grant available from $5,550 in 2010 to $5,975 in 2017, granting Iowa students more than $291 million for higher education. This bill was the largest single investment in student aid in America's history, and will make college more accessible, transform the way student loan programs operate and strengthens community colleges.

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10 Apr 2013

Rivermont Collegiate 3rd Quarter Honor Roll

By Rachel Chamberlain

Middle School (Grades 6-8)

High Honors (All grades B+ or higher or B or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Elizabeth Decker

Clayton Douglas

Faith Douglas

Giavanna Eckhardt

Jessica Elliott

Andrea Gamble

Olivia Gamble

Aislinn Geedey

Mahum Haque

Megan Lindle

Naina Ninan

Benjamin Nordick

Manasa Pagadala

Elizabeth Paxton

Emilia Porubcin

Collin Smith

Honors (All grades B- or higher or C+ or higher for courses designated as Upper School level)

Genevieve Solange Bolger

Adam Chamberlain

Hema Chimpidi

Shivani Ganesh

Azariah Hughes

Molly Lewis

Mary Aisling McDowell

Maryam Rasheed

Lauren Schroeder

Natalie Springborn

Nikhil Wagher

Jack Westphal

 

Upper School (Grades 9-12)

Headmaster's List (GPA 3.85-4.00)

Adam Dada

Anastasia Eganova

Summer Lawrence

Victoria Mbakwe

Amanda McVey

Grace Moran

Michal Porubcin

Shravya Pothula

Kelsey Qu

Suhas Seshadri

Alexander Skillin

Loring Telleen

Distinction (GPA 3.50-3.84)

Vishal Bobba

Rebecca Cupp

Christian Elliott

Tejasvi Kotte

Margaret Martens

Nell Meier

Darsani Reddy

MingSui Tang

Merit (GPA 3.00-3.49)

Jennah Davison

Jesus Fuentes

Alejandra Martinez

Nathan McVey

Hayley Moran

Alexis Shaheen

Ashish Tadepalli
10 Apr 2013

THE MOLINE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES THIRTEEN ELEMENTARY VAN ARSDALE MUSIC AWARDS

By Linda Martin
Thirteen Moline elementary school students have been chosen to receive an award from the Hazel F. Van Arsdale Memorial Scholarship Fund administered through The Moline Foundation.

The 13 elementary students are: Mia Burrill, Madison Rhea, Adriana Hernandez, Nicole Ellis, Derek Burgin, Carissa Gonzalez, Kate Schaechter, Madelaine Jacobs, Manuela Chavez, Kayla Veto, Allison Van, Izabel Jernigan and Lillian Driscoll.

The fund was started in honor and memory of Hazel F. Van Arsdale to perpetuate the importance of music in elementary and secondary education. The fund supports two types of annual awards. One award is given to selected elementary students, and one scholarship is given to a high school senior. The 13 elementary students were chosen by an individual school committee made up of teachers and music professionals through The Moline Foundation.

Hazel Van Arsdale was a public school teacher for 36 years. She was known for her strict, but fun, manner of bringing music into the classroom. She made sure all of her students knew every verse of all of our patriotic hymns, and wanted them to strengthen their music interest beyond elementary school. A fund was established and is now administered through The Moline Foundation's scholarship program.

Founded in 1953, The Moline Foundation is a community-based, non-profit organization which provides grants to health, human services, education, community development, the arts, and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of the Quad City region. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and has current assets of approximately $17 million. For more information contact Executive Director Joy Boruff at (309) 736-3800 or visit The Moline Foundation Web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

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10 Apr 2013

Governor Quinn Joins Nationwide Effort to Recognize Impact of National Service

By Erin Wilson

Illinois #1 in the Nation for Most "Cities of Service" and #1 Among the Nation's 10 Largest States for Volunteer Rate

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today saluted the efforts of more than 600 mayors across the country for the first-ever Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service. Today's action is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to strengthen communities across Illinois. This commemorative day is a nationwide bipartisan effort to highlight the impact of national service in tackling municipal problems.

"Service to others is the rent we pay on God's earth," Governor Quinn said. "AmeriCorps members, Senior Corps participants and all other national service volunteers have a positive and lasting impact, making Illinois a better place to live. Illinois is grateful for the dedication and sacrifice of these individuals who represent Americans at their best."

Thanks to the Governor's Serve Illinois Commission and its many partners across the state, Illinois continues to be a leader in service. According to the latest Volunteering and Civic Life in America (VCLA) report, Illinois has the highest volunteer rate?27.2% of residents?among the nation's 10 largest states.

"Illinoisans possess a deep-seated ethic of service," Brandon Bodor, executive director of the Serve Illinois Commission said. "Across ages, abilities, backgrounds and interests, volunteerism makes us more resilient as individuals, as communities and as a state. The benefits of service are more than just social - last year's Illinois volunteerism was valued at over $8 billion."

The outreach efforts of the 40 governor-appointed Serve Illinois Commissioners have also propelled Illinois to #1 in the nation's Cities of Service rankings. Cities of Service, a co-sponsor of the April 9 Mayors Day of Recognition, is a national coalition of mayors committed to using volunteerism as a viable tool to achieve measurable impact on pressing local issues. Illinois leads the nation with 25 such cities.

The Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service is a way to recognize the positive impact of national service in cities, to thank those who serve and to encourage citizens to give back to their communities. The day is sponsored by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the National League of Cities and Cities of Service.

Across the country, mayors are participating in a variety of activities including visiting national service programs, hosting roundtables at their respective city halls, issuing proclamations and communicating about national service through social media. By shining the spotlight on the impact of service and thanking those who serve, mayors hope to inspire more residents to get involved in their communities.

Current list of Illinois Participants in Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service:

Rahm Emanuel - Chicago

Vivian E. Covington - University Park

Frederic Brereton - Belvidere

Keith Snyder - Lincoln

Lawrence Morrissey - Rockford

David Kaptain - Elgin

Bill McLeod - Hoffman Estates

Rick Reinbold - Richton Park

Bill Wilkey - Dwight

Scott Punke - Eureka

John Mohr - Lexington

Bob Russell - Pontiac

Arlene J. Mulder - Arlington Heights

Terry Weppler - Libertyville

Steve Stockton - Bloomington

Chris Koos - Normal

Joel Fritzler - Carbondale

George Gaulrapp - Freeport

Nina Epstein - Kankakee

Donald Corrie - Chenoa

Ron Mool - El Paso

Bob Webster - Lacon

John Heinz - Metamora

Bob Huschen - Roanoke

For more information on the Mayors Day of Recognition for National Service, including background and a list of participating mayors, please visit nationalservice.gov/mayorsforservice.

For more information on the Serve Illinois Commission, please visit serve.illinois.gov.

 

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10 Apr 2013

Post-Obama Visit, What's Next for Peace between Palestine, Israel?

By Rick Martin
3 Obama Accomplishments and 3 Ways Israel Can Jumpstart the
Peace Process, Noted by Jewish Peace Activist

Given how low expectations were prior to President Obama's recent visit to Israel, it may not be saying much to declare that he exceeded expectations. But he did, says Israeli-Palestinian peace advocate Michael Cooper, and the centerpiece was his speech  to the Israeli people.

"His speech carried broad historical perspectives, a fair and moral worldview and showed warmth and friendship toward Israel, allaying fears that he was somehow anti-Israeli," says Cooper, the  author of "Foxes in the Vineyard," (www.michaeljcooper.net), an Indie Publishing grand prize-winning novel that explores Israel's birth through historical fiction.

The Jewish-American pediatric cardiologist, who regularly visits Israeli-occupied territories to provide medical care for the underserved children there, reviews the accomplishments of the president's trip to Israel:

· The president's first accomplishment was successfully resuscitating the two-state solution ? a democratic and Jewish state of Israel living alongside a viable and independent state of Palestine. He emphasized the possibility and necessity of peace, and the justice and hope it provides for Israelis and Palestinians. He humanized those who aspire to live in peace with each other. At the same time, he marginalized the uncompromising extremists on both sides who promise only conflict. In promoting this vision of peace to the people of Israel, Obama was preaching to the choir. A recent poll in The Times of Israel reported that 67 percent of Israelis support a two-state solution based on the 1967 borders with land swaps, a demilitarized Palestine, and the Old City of Jerusalem jointly administered by Israel, Palestine, and the U.S.

· President Obama convinced Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to call his counterpart in Turkey and to apologize for the killing of nine Turkish activists during the Gaza flotilla fiasco. Now, Israel and Turkey are moving to restore diplomatic relations and Israel can look forward to resuming her strong military and economic ties with Turkey.

· A third positive development took place two days after the visit; Netanyahu released frozen Palestinian tax funds, transferring hundreds of thousands of dollars to the desperately cash-strapped Palestinian Authority.

Building on these positive steps, Cooper points to three things Israel might do to immediately ignite the peace process, "without waiting for outside pressure from the 'Quartet on the Middle East' (the United States, the European Union, Russia and the United Nations), Israel can seize the initiative," he says.

· Stop expansion and apply the rule of law: Stop the expansion of all settlements in disputed territory and begin to dismantle illegal settler outposts. The latter involves nothing more than applying Israel's own laws to outposts that are illegal according to the Israeli Supreme Court.

· Quell violent Jewish settler groups: An EU report found that settler violence had more than tripled in the three years up to 2011. Israeli police and military personnel should identify and arrest violent Jewish settlers and prosecute them in a court of law. Many prominent Jewish religious figures and high-ranking government officials have already condemned the brutal acts perpretrated by extremist settlers.

· Implement good will: Establish a cabinet level Ministry of Reconciliation to oversee the establishment of good-will cultural and economic missions between Israelis and Palestinians.

"The democratic state of Israel is strong enough to defend itself against internal enemies who undermine the rule of law. Israel's future as a secure and democratic homeland for the Jewish People demands no less," Cooper says.

"If Israel were to implement positive initiatives tomorrow - peace talks could start the day after tomorrow."

About Michael Cooper

Michael J. Cooper emigrated to Israel after graduating high school in Oakland, Calif. Living in Israel for more than a decade, he studied at Hebrew University in Jerusalem and graduated from Tel Aviv University Medical School. Now a clinical professor at the University of California San Francisco Medical Center and a practicing pediatric cardiologist in Northern California, he returns to Israel several times a year, volunteering on medical missions under the auspices of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund. Cooper's novel, "Foxes in the Vineyard," historical fiction set in 1948 Israel, was the 2011 grand prize winner of the Indie Publishing Contest. A second novel, The Rabbi's Knight, is due out soon.

10 Apr 2013

Time To Register For GAIN Camp

By Craig Cooper
DAVENPORT, Iowa -- April 9, 2013 -- The Genesis Adventures in Nursing Summer Camp (GAIN) for young people who may be interested in a nursing career will be June 24-28.

Applications for GAIN will be accepted through April 15th. Cost for camp is $195. A limited number of scholarships will be available.

Campers (12-18 years old) attending the day camp will be introduced to different specialties in nursing. They will tour the hospital, observe a mock trauma in the emergency department, visit an operating room, visit the simulation lab and learn first aid and CPR.

Campers also will learn basic anatomy and physiology of the heart and brain and will learn about health assessment.

To register, call Lori Ruden at (563) 421-1354.

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