PORT BYRON, IL–The office of state Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) is hosting Satellite Office Hours on Wednesday, April 17 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Colona Public Library, located at 911 1st Street in Colona.

"The 71st District is geographically diverse, and I want to make my office and our services accessible to everyone - regardless of which corner of the district they live in," said Smiddy.  "Satellite office hours are another opportunity for residents to reach out to our office and get assistance on state issues."

A representative from Smiddy's office will be available to answer resident questions about state issues or state programs.

"My office will continue to host satellite office hours throughout the area, and I hope that residents are able to make it out at least once to become familiar with our office," Smiddy says. "Being accessible to the community and making sure my door is always open are the most important things to me as state Representative."

The 71st District includes the towns of Albany, Cleveland, Coal Valley, Colona, Como, Cordova, Deer Grove, Erie, Fulton, Hampton, Hillsdale, Lyndon, Morrison, Port Byron, Prophetstown, Rapids City, Rock Falls, Savanna, Sterling, Tampico, and Thomson and portions of Carbon Cliff, East Moline, Moline, and Silvis.

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

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Former State Ward Observes National Foster Care Month in May
She's Helping Launch a Program to Replace Trash Bags with New Duffel Bags

We have some positive changes to applaud as the nation observes National Foster Care Month in May, says former foster child Margaret Iuculano.

"In Ohio, $3 million from a mortgage settlement the state won will help foster kids pursue higher education and expand court-appointed advocates. And in Florida, a new law is going to make it much easier for foster kids to do normal things like sleepovers with their friends and school field trips," she says.

"In Nebraska, they're close to boosting the pay for foster parents, which will mean the state can retain and attract more and better foster parents."

But Iuculano, spokeswoman for Duffels for Kids (www.floridafapa.org/duffelsforkids),
and founder of Angels for Foster Kids, says that sometimes, it's the smallest things foster children remember most.

"I was in foster care from age 11 to 16, when I aged out, and I was moved to 15 different homes in that time," she says. "Every time I moved, I had to pack my few belongings in a black trash bag.

"When you're already feeling abandoned, wondering whether anyone will ever want you or care about you, that trash bag seals it: No, they won't. You're a throwaway."

While workplace groups and communities have banded together and charities have sprung up across the country to address this problem, more foster care children than not continue to cart their belongings in trash bags.

"There just hasn't been enough," Iuculano says. "And often, the organizations gather used luggage. I know the intention is good, but we'd like to give these children something brand new; something all their own."

To that end, another positive to celebrate will be the first Duffels for Kids Walk, sponsored by the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association on May 18 in Miami.

It's the kickoff to the association's drive to provide new duffel bags to every child in that state's foster care system. As the program grows, its leaders hope to have new duffel bags for each child entering the system, Iuculano says.

Duffels for Kids will initially focus on Florida, but organizer LaShaun Wallace, who's on the board of the National Foster Parents Association, hopes it will eventually go nationwide.

It's in everyone's best interests to protect the most vulnerable in our society, children without the protection of loving, caring families, Iuculano says.

"When you look at the numbers, you quickly see why we desperately need more positive changes to applaud," she says.

These were compiled from various sources:

• In recent years, there have been more than 500,000 children in foster care nationally; per one annual count, 22 percent were available for adoption.
• In that year, 18 percent of children were adopted after waiting an average 42 months in foster care.
• More than half of the children who age out of foster care will be unemployed adults.
• Almost a third will be homeless.
• One in five will be incarcerated within two years.

To support Duffels for Kids by attending the walk or making a donation, visit the website.

Some of the supporters scheduled to participate in the May 18 walk include Esther Jacobo, regional director for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties for the Florida Department of Children and Families and Children's Trust board member; Dr. Kalyani Gopal, licensed clinical psychologist and author of "Foster Parenting Step-by-Step," to be released in May, which tackles the day-to-day issues in raising foster children; and Sidarth Singh and Shifali Singh, siblings who founded the former Duffels for Angels - renamed Duffels for Kids -- and Aid for Change to provide duffel bags for foster children in Indiana.

About Duffels for Kids

Duffels for Kids is a new program coordinated by the Florida State Foster/Adoptive Parent Association, which will coordinate distribution of new duffel bags with the help of the Department of Children and Families, private investigators, guardian ad litems and local foster parent groups. Caregivers will be able to request a duffel bag for a child by calling the state foster parent associations 800 line or request an online form.

DES MOINES, IA (04/11/2013)(readMedia)-- State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald is encouraging Iowans to make the most of their tax refunds this year by investing in College Savings Iowa. "Much like the April 15 deadline for taxes, the time to save for college is over before you know it," said Fitzgerald. "Put your refund to good use and start saving for a loved one's future educational needs today. By starting early, saving a little at a time and making smart investment choices, families can make their savings work for them."

College Savings Iowa is designed to provide families a tax-advantaged way to save money for their children's higher education. It only takes $25 to open an account, and anyone - parents, grandparents, friends and relatives - can invest in College Savings Iowa on behalf of a child. Participants who are Iowa taxpayers can deduct contributions up to $3,045 per beneficiary from their 2013 adjusted gross income, and there are no income or residency restrictions.* Earnings grow tax free and investors can withdraw their investment federally and Iowa state tax-free to pay for qualified higher education expenses including tuition, books, supplies and certain room and board costs at any eligible college, university, community college or accredited technical training school in the United States or abroad.**

Saving for a child's education is always a smart investment, and College Savings Iowa is there to help. To learn more about College Savings Iowa or to open an account, please visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com or call 1-888-672-9116.

*Adjusted annually for inflation. If withdrawals are not qualified, the deductions must be added back to Iowa taxable income.

**Earnings on non-qualified withdrawals may be subject to federal income tax and a 10% federal penalty tax, as well as state income taxes. The availability of tax or other benefits may be contingent on meeting other requirements.

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Investment returns are not guaranteed and you could lose money by investing in the plan. Participants assume all investment risks as well as responsibility for any federal and state tax consequences. If you are not an Iowa taxpayer, consider before investing whether your or the designated beneficiary's home state offers any state tax or other benefits that are only available for investments in such state's qualified tuition program.

For more information about the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan, call 888-672-9116 or visit www.collegesavingsiowa.com to obtain a Program Description. Investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other important information are included in the Program Description; read and consider it carefully before investing.

College Savings Iowa is an Iowa trust sponsored by the Iowa State Treasurer's Office. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa sponsors and is responsible for overseeing the administration of the College Savings Iowa 529 Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager and Vanguard Marketing Corporation, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group, Inc., assists the Treasurer with marketing and distributing the Plan. Upromise Investment Advisors, LLC, provides records administration services. The Plan's portfolios, although they invest in Vanguard mutual funds, are not mutual funds.

AMES, Iowa -- Understanding and using some simple tools can help cattle producers make the right selection for new herd bulls during upcoming bull sales. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach beef program specialist Denise Schwab said that's why a bull selection clinic is scheduled prior to the Friday, May 3, bull sale held by Iowa Cattlemen's Association (ICA) at the Tama Livestock Auction, Tama. There's no cost to attend and no preregistration is necessary.

"Sorting through performance measures and expected progeny differences doesn't have to be a chore or a mystery," Schwab said. "Staff from the Iowa Beef Center at Iowa State have scheduled the clinic so attendees can make use of the information they receive at the bull sale immediately following the clinic." The clinic will start at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 3.

The sale will feature bulls that have been through ICA's Bull Evaluation Program, according to ICA seedstock manager Kellie Carolan. She said bulls that go through this 112-day test are evaluated for growth, carcass traits, yearling weight, disposition and scrotal circumference, and are some of the breed's best pedigrees for calving ease, performance and carcass merit. The Tama sale will also include a group of replacement heifers for sale starting at 6 pm.

Schwab said Iowa Beef Center staff will break down the process of bull selection into simple steps and assist those attending with interpreting the EPD numbers in the catalog. Dr. Patrick Gunn, the newest addition to the ISU Extension beef team and statewide cow-calf specialist, will also present at this clinic.

"We can help you evaluate your cow herd and determine the economically relevant traits that you want to emphasize," she said. "With that information, you can use the index EPDs and visually appraise the bulls to identify some options that will help you get the most benefit from your cow herd."

To learn more about ICA's Bull & Heifer Program, including a listing of bulls that will be offered at the May 3 sale, go to http://www.iacattlemen.org/bullheifer.aspx

For more information on the bull clinics, contact your Iowa State beef specialist at www.extension.iastate.edu/ag/beef

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