If Sydney Rose, 20, could talk to the young contestants wowing audiences on "The Voice" and "The X-Factor," she'd tell them: Even if you don't make it to the end, if you have a vision and a talent, don't ignore it.

The singer/songwriter whose debut pop single, "Breaking Rules," hit No. 21 on the national radio Top 40 chart in October, says she tried to put her dream on hold - and couldn't.

"I've been in love with music all my life," says Rose (www.sydneyrosemusic.com). "I've learned it's an important part of who I am and you can't ignore that, no matter what your age."

Rose grew up honing her singing skills, then learning guitar ("My first chord was D") and dancing. She overcame any lingering shyness about performing before audiences by joining two other girls in a pop/dance group called Rosemadayne.

But when it came time to attend college, she decided it was best to put her dream on a back burner.

"I was afraid," she says. "I wanted to experience college without the pressure of a music career, but I actually felt more pressure without my dream and I knew I had to nurture that passion that is so a part of me."

That's when she wrote her newest album, "Rise," an up-tempo celebration of life. It's getting airplay on radio stations across the country, a development that never ceases to amaze and delight the rising star.

"Listening to myself on the planet 96.7 right at this moment!!!" she posted recently on Twitter (@itssydneyrose). "This is surreal!!!! #bestdayeverever."

Rose offers tips for other young people who are determined to follow their dreams:

• Get your support team together: Whether it's parents, other family members, friends or teachers, you'll need people who encourage and help guide you. Coaches, mentors or instructors can help you improve - because no matter what your talent and how much of it you've got, you can always expand your abilities with help. Depending on your age, that may require financial and transportation support. "I started voice lessons when I was a tween, and to this day I get intensive voice training," Rose says. "But the more skills you have, the better, so I also started working on dance when I was 13 years old. No matter what type of creative talent you have - singing, acting, writing or painting - if you want to become a professional, you need training." Anyone who is supportive in your life, including friends, other family members and teachers, are reminders of why dreams matter to you.

• Set realistic goals: You may dream of being in the movies or on TV, but don't expect to start there! "I happily performed at bar and bat mitzvahs (bonus! - I met my manager through those), book stores, Best Buy stores, and at my vocal school," Sydney says. "These were great opportunities to get used to being in front of live audiences and learning how to interact with the audience." The smaller goals are there for you to reach the bigger ones - Rome was not built overnight, she says. Those who are supportive will remind you of the big picture.

• Remember, it's OK to be scared: Doing something for the first time can be really scary, and it's perfectly normal to be nervous. But don't let that stop you from getting out there and trying! "From experience, I know that almost anything that seems scary the first time gets much easier, and less scary, every time you do it," Sydney says. "Don't let fear keep you from ever taking the next step."

• Have fun! "With 'Rise,' I wrote songs that are fun and upbeat. I thought, 'If I'm going to do this for the rest of my life, I have to have an amazing time. Right?' she says. Part of what has helped the album's success is that she was genuinely happy and having a good time when she recorded it. No matter what you're doing, your true emotions tend to color your work - they're hard to hide, so work with them.

About Sydney Rose

Sydney Rose is a 20-year-old recording artist who has worked toward her success the old-fashioned way - through training, practice and dedication. She credits great coaches for helping her develop her talent for singing, dancing and songwriting, and she has become a rising star on the pop music circuit. Her new album, "Rise," is now available on iTunes.

THE AHA AND THE IOWA HOSPITAL ASSOCATION PRESENT SENATOR GRASSLEY WITH THE HEALTH CARE CHAMPION AWARD

Des Moines, Iowa  (October 11, 2012) - The American Hospital Association (AHA) and Iowa Hospital Association (IHA) today presented Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) the Health Care Champion Award for his outstanding contributions to health care public policy.

"This award recognizes Senator Grassley for his leadership in helping to strengthen rural hospitals," said Rich Umbdenstock, AHA's president and CEO. "He is very cognizant of the key role that rural hospitals play in providing and maintain access to health care in rural America."

During his tenure as chairman, ranking member, and a current member of the Committee on Finance, Senator Grassley has always made sure that rural hospitals had the resources necessary to provide patients with the right care in the right setting.  He helped to create, expand and improve programs for the most isolated rural hospitals whose size and patient fluctuations make it hard for them to remain financially viable, and is currently working to continue the important Medicare Dependent Hospital program.  Senator Grassley also led the effort to ban physicians from referring Medicare patients to specialty hospitals where those physicians have an ownership interest.

The award was presented at the Iowa Hospital Association's annual meeting.

"Iowa's hospitals appreciate the years of leadership and advocacy provided by Senator Grassley," said Kirk Norris, president and CEO of IHA.  "He understands the complex relationship between the federal government and health care providers, particularly those in rural areas, and he is a knowledgeable and fair arbiter when it comes to health care policy questions."

Senator Grassley is a member of the following committees: Judiciary, Finance, Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Budget and Taxation.

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About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the improvement of health in their communities.  The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include almost 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks and other providers of care and 42,000 individual members.  Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends.  For more information visit the Web site at www.aha.org.

About the IHA

The public is invited to join the Muscatine Art Center in welcoming Carol Ehlers, art history speaker, as she presents a 45 minute lecture on the art of Pablo Picasso. The lecture will take place Thursday, October 18 at 5:30 pm in the Muscatine Art Center's Music Room. Admission is free.

Pablo Picasso was a Spanish artist who spent most of his adult life in France. He is widely known for co-founding the Cubist movement, the invention of constructed sculpture, and the co-invention of collage. He is commonly regarded as one of the artists responsible for significant developments in paintings, sculpture, printmaking and ceramics in the early 20th century.

Pablo Picasso was born October 25, 1881 in Málaga, Spain, the first child to a middle-class family. At age 16, Picasso set off for the first time on his own in Madrid, but he disliked formal instruction and quit attending classes soon after enrolling at the Royal Academy of San Fernando. While in Madrid, Picasso especially admired the works of great masters such as        El Greco whose paintings had a great influence on him. Elements of El Greco's paintings, such as elongated limbs, stunning colors and mystical qualities are echoed in Picasso's later work.

Picasso's work is often categorized into periods. The most commonly accepted periods in his work are the Blue Period (1901-1904), the Rose Period (1904-1906), the African-influenced Period (1908-1909), Analytic Cubism (1909-1912), and Synthetic Cubism (1912-1919). In 1937 during a later period considered by many to be a return to classical ideals, Picasso painted Guernica, which would become one of his most notable works.

Picasso's final works were a mixture of styles and mediums and were more colorful and expressive than his earlier works. It was only after Picasso's death that the critical art community came to see that Picasso was ahead of his time stylistically. Picasso was exceptionally prolific throughout his long lifetime, producing an estimated 50,000 works of art, including paintings, sculptures, ceramics, drawings, prints, and tapestries and rugs. He died April 8, 1973 in Mougins, France at the age of 92.

In 1992 the Muscatine Art Center's collections were significantly enriched by a gift of twenty-seven works of art by Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Degas, Boudin, Chagall, Renoir, and other European artists. The collection was a gift from the estate of Mary Musser Gilmore in honor of her parents, Richard Drew Musser and Sarah Walker Musser. The paintings are on permanent display in the Laura Musser Mansion.

You're invited to attend a benefit for Johnny on Saturday, November 10 from 11am until 5pm at VFW Post 9128 at 2184 State Street in Bettendorf.

Come and enjoy hot chili, soda, etc and take part in our 50/50 drawing, silent auction and raffle.

All proceeds go to the remodel of Johnny's home to make it wheelchair accessible.