01 Mar 2013

Bacon - The Next Health Craze?

By Rick Martin
... And 4 More Unlikely Good-for-You Foods
Recommended by Celebrity Dietician

Bacon has always been popular, but now it's the standard by which many express affection with the ubiquitous online meme: I love you more than bacon.

It's considered by many to be the ultimate food indulgence, but according to Dr. John Salerno, a protégé of "Atkins Diet" creator Dr. Robert Atkins, bacon is one of the healthiest foods you can eat.

"Many think of bacon as one of the guiltiest pleasures possible, but it has also been shown to alleviate the effects of diabetes, heart disease and strokes," says Dr. Salerno, author of "The Silver Cloud Diet," (www.thesilverclouddiet.com). "Nitrate-free bacon is an excellent source of high protein, low-carbohydrate energy that helps to reset the metabolism, and it's filled with amino acids delivered without the risk of dangerous levels of mercury, which can be found in many fish."

Need more reasons to love bacon?

• It has a 4:1 ratio of protein to fat;
• It contains choline, which boosts memory and healthy brain function;
• It's composed of monounsaturated fats, the kind that contains lots of healthy fat-soluble vitamins and minerals
• It's a potent source of oleic acid and saturated fats, which help reduce levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL), lower triglycerides, and raise HDL - commonly referred to as the good form of cholesterol.

Dr. Salerno says there are other indulgent-yet-healthy foods out there, including:

• Butter: Butter contains the highest amount of butyric acid found in a natural food source. Butyric acid is recognized for its roles in cellular health, antioxidant protection and metabolic properties; it also increases energy and may prevent cancer. Butter derived from natural, grass-fed animals is recommended.

• Barbecue: Add sauces and condiments and this American favorite will have more starch and sugar than Salerno recommends. But the main ingredient - meat - speaks to the heart of a low-carb, high-protein diet. Grass-fed hamburger meat and organic, hormone-free chicken provides the nutrients your body needs. Stay away from the buns, sugary condiments, sauces and marinades, and you can enjoy a healthy barbecue.

• Omelets: Eggs contain lots of cholesterol and saturated fats, which have been demonized throughout the latter half of the 20th century. Fortunately, we know there is such a thing as good cholesterol and fat. Packed with vitamins, minerals and one of the best-absorbed proteins we can feed our body, any negatives associated with eggs are far outweighed by the benefits. Natural, unprocessed cheeses and cream add to the nutritional value of an omelet.

• Chocolate ice cream: Ice cream made with organic egg yolks, heavy cream and a small amount of stevia herb for taste, instead of sugar, is actually a healthy dessert. Fats are fine, with the exception of trans fats, so long as dieters control their carbohydrate intake. Humankind did not evolve with the vast amount of foods today that contain complex carbs and hidden sugar. Our bodies are used to high amounts of natural fat and a limited amount of unprocessed carbs.

About Dr. John Salerno

A board-certified family physician, Dr. John Salerno has been pioneering complementary medicine for more than 20 years. Best known for his Silver Cloud Diet nutrition program, anti-aging supplements, and natural therapies, Dr. Salerno has crafted original treatment plans to restore human health. His publications and professional studies have made him a popular expert on the physiology and assessment of many complex medical conditions. Dr. Salerno was a protégé and colleague of prestigious Dr. Robert Atkins and served as a clinical preceptor at the Yale University School of Medicine for three years. He has worked with Hollywood actress/author Suzanne Somers (bioidentical hormone replacement therapy pioneer); actor Steven Cannell; and president of the International Congress of Integrative Medicine, Dr. Hiroyuki Abe M.D.

01 Mar 2013

Loebsack: Keep Congress in Session Until Bipartisan Solution to Sequester is Reached

By Vonnie Hampel

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Loebsack released the following statement today after the House of Representatives left for the weekend only hours before the automatic, across the board spending cuts known as sequester go into effect.  Loebsack has been opposed to these drastic cuts since they were created by the Budget Control Act, which he voted against.  Earlier this week, he called on House leadership to keep the House in session and working until a bipartisan way to stop the cuts is reached.

"There are many things that go on in Washington that are baffling to both me and the American people. The fact that Congressional leaders and the White House have not yet sat down to discuss how to avert this self-imposed mess is only the latest.  Since the New Year, after the proverbial can was kicked down the road for two months, I called on everyone involved to come to the table and find a bipartisan solution.  But yet, we remain in the same position that got us here.  The American people deserve better and are demanding better.  These cuts will have real life effects on Iowans.  Congress should not be leaving town until a real, commonsense solution is reached."

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01 Mar 2013

Branstad issues statement on Iowa's move into the top 10 in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®

By Rick Martin

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry E. Branstad today issued the following statement upon learning Iowa had moved into the top 10 in the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®. Iowa increased 0.7 points to 68.1 in overall well-being in 2012, moving from No. 16 to No. 9 in the state rankings.

"I am excited about the progress we have made in making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation," said Gov. Branstad. "This ranking proves our efforts are working. We jumped seven spots in an effort we began less than two years ago. I want to commend all Iowans who are working on this important effort, and I want to encourage the people of this state to continue their great progress."

The following information was released by Wellmark, Inc., earlier today:

About the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index®

Gallup and Healthways conducted more than 353,000 surveys between January and December 2011. The WBI, which has been polling 1,000 Americans per day, 350 days a year, evaluates six key areas of well-being in an effort to better understand the overall state of well-being in the U.S. Approximately 1.5 million surveys have been collected since polling began in January 2008, making the WBI the largest database of behavioral economics and information concerning holistic well-being in existence. The WBI is calculated on a scale of 0 to 100, where a score of 100 represents ideal well-being.

The core questions that make up the WBI survey were scientifically designed by some of the world's leading experts in economics, psychology and health to thoroughly measure how respondents are faring in all aspects of their lives: physically, emotionally, socially and professionally, as well as to take a daily pulse of how Americans rate the overall quality of their current life and outlook for the future.

The data resulting from the WBI can be used to identify where communities are doing well and where communities are struggling to target policies and invest in initiatives to optimize well-being, improving the lives of people in America and reducing health care costs.

About Wellmark

Wellmark, Inc. (www.wellmark.com) does business as Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa. Wellmark and its subsidiaries and affiliated companies, including Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc., insure or pay health benefit claims for more than 2 million members in Iowa and South Dakota. Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Wellmark Health Plan of Iowa, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

About Healthways

Healthways (NASDAQ: HWAY) is the largest independent global provider of well-being improvement solutions. Dedicated to creating a healthier world one person at a time, the Company uses the science of behavior change to produce and measure positive change in well-being for our customers, which include employers, integrated health systems, hospitals, physicians, health plans, communities and government entities.  We provide highly specific and personalized support for each individual and their team of experts to optimize each participant's health and productivity and to reduce health-related costs.  Results are achieved by addressing longitudinal health risks and care needs of everyone in a given population. The Company has scaled its proprietary technology infrastructure and delivery capabilities developed over 30 years and now serves  approximately 40 million people on four continents.  Learn more at www.healthways.com.

About Blue Zones

Blue Zones employs evidence-based ways to help people live longer, better. The Company's work is rooted in the New York Times best-selling books The Blue Zones and Thrive?both published by National Geographic books.  In 2009, Blue Zones applied the tenets of the books to Albert Lea, Minn. and successfully raised life expectancy and lowered health care costs for city workers by 40 percent.  Blue Zones takes a systematic, environmental approach to well-being which focuses on optimizing policy, building design, social networks, and the built environment. The Blue Zones Project is based on this innovative approach.  For more information, visit www.bluezones.com.

About Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

The Iowa Healthiest State Initiative is the nation's first statewide comprehensive well-being improvement program. This business-led, government-endorsed effort is expected to help Iowans live longer, healthier and more productive lives, while also enabling the state to redirect billions of dollars currently spent on health care to efforts that will further grow the state's economy. The Healthiest State Initiative is designed to help Iowa become the number one ranked state for well-being within five years as measured by the WBI.

# # #
01 Mar 2013

Rep. Smiddy Invites Community Members to Join Economic Development Advisory Committee

By Rep. Mike Smiddy
PORT BYRON, IL - State Rep. Mike Smiddy (D-Hillsdale) invites local residents and business leaders to share their concerns and experience of the local economic climate at a meeting of his Economic Development Advisory Committee on Monday, March 11 at 7 AM. The meeting will be hosted by the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce, located at 622 19th Street in Moline, IL and is free and open to the public.

"The health and future of our state depends on our ability to create and retain good-paying jobs in our community," said Smiddy. "I am committed to finding the long-term, effective solutions we need to improve the business climate and encourage companies to invest in Illinois."

Recently appointed to the House Small Business Empowerment and Workforce Development Committee, Smiddy is working to shape the state's business and economic policies to help people get back to work, support small businesses as they struggle to stay afloat and to bring more opportunities to communities in the 71st District. The advisory committee allows him to meet in a small group setting with residents and business owners interested in economic issues to discuss legislative proposals and their impact.

"Advisory committees are another outlet for me to meet with residents to better understand the issues and priorities of this community," Smiddy said. "Collaboration with community leaders is a vital partnership to enable us to move forward as a stronger Illinois."

In addition to his Economic Development Advisory Committee, Smiddy has met with Advisory Committees focusing on senior citizen issues and education. He plans to form committees centering on other pertinent local issues in the coming months. He welcomes area residents to participate, or to share their concerns and questions at his full-time constituent service office, open from 8 AM to 4:30 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; from 10 AM to 6 PM on Wednesdays; and from 8 AM to 12 PM on Saturdays.

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 Mar 2013

Response to October 2012 NOSB Recommendations

By USDA National Organic Program
Greetings!

At its October 2012 meeting, the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommended that the National Organic Program (NOP) take several actions.

In advance of the April 2013 NOSB meeting, the NOP has published a response to these recommendations.

October 2012 NOSB Recommendations

The NOSB recommended that the NOP:
  1. Allow synthetic biodegradable biobased mulch film in organic crop production with restrictions.
  2. Prohibit rotenone, a natural substance, in organic crop production.
  3. Take multiple actions related to the use and review of inert ingredients.
  4. Allow L-Methionine in organic handling with restrictions.
  5. Encourage USDA research agencies to prioritize funding for emerging organic research needs as recommended by NOSB on an annual basis.
  6. Amend the NOSB Policy and Procedures Manual regarding the policy on public comments at NOSB meetings.

View NOP Response
About the NOSB

The 15-member National Organic Standards Board is made up of organic farmers and growers, handlers and processors, retailers, environmentalists and conservationists, consumer and public interest advocates, a scientist, and a USDA-accredited certifying agent. The NOSB advises the Secretary of Agriculture on allowed and prohibited substances in organic production and handling and other issues related to the implementation of the Organic Foods Production Act.

 
About the National Organic Program (NOP)

The NOP facilitates trade and ensures integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.
01 Mar 2013

Marking Territory Exhibition Opens Saturday

By Natalie Dunlop

Davenport, Iowa (February 28, 2013) - Beginning Saturday the Figge Art Museum will present the exhibition: Marking Territory: Cartographic Treasures of the Mississippi River and the World Beyond in the second floor print gallery.  

Curated by Rima Girnius, PhD, the exhibition features a selection of more than 25 historic maps that range from early representations of the world to more detailed examinations of America's vast interior west of the Mississippi. The exhibition explores how maps communicate highly complex ideas about identity, politics and culture.

American identity coincided with the evolution of maps. From the late 17th through the 19th centuries, cartographers and explorers recorded what they were learning about the United States interior west of the Mississippi. Never innocent of broader political objectives, these maps of the New World function as exercises in power, attempts on the part of one nation and race to exert control over another. For example, the shifting boundaries of Iowa in the 19th century demonstrate the American government's interest in solidifying borders and publicly laying claim on territories.

In documenting the fluidity and continuity between territories, maps suggest that the West is capable of being traversed and thus inhabited, conquered and exploited. Informed by political agendas and underlying values, maps function as important historical and cultural documents that offer a compelling look into the past. They remind the exhibition viewer to look for what is not only present in an image but also what has been hidden from view.

According to Girnius, "The featured maps contribute to our growing knowledge of the physical world by functioning as essential navigation and information-gathering tools and thus providing insight on what people knew (or thought they knew) about their environment."

The exhibition will be on display through June 16 and is sponsored by Humanities Iowa.

Companion Programming:

Collecting and Curating Reception and Talk

Thursday, March 7

6 p.m. Reception • 7 p.m. Talk

Presenters: Rima Girnius, PhD, and H. Dee Hoover

Introduction to the exhibition by Curator Rima Girnius followed by a gallery talk with map collector H. Dee Hoover about the maps featured.

Artist Talk

Personal Geography: Charting a Course

7 p.m. Thursday, March 21

Presenter: Maureen Bardusk

Join studio artist Maureen Bardusk for a presentation of her unique stitched paper work, during which she will discuss her ideas and technique. Bardusk also will describe her creative life in Galena, Illinois, after which she will provide audience members with a hands-on display of her work in various stages.

Free Family Day

Maps: Adventure, Fun & Family

10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Saturday, April 13

Find the fastest route to the FREE Figge Family Day, "Maps-Adventure, Fun and Family." Make a treasure map, learn about maps of all kinds, chart your family tree and more as you explore the wonderful world of maps!

Docent-led Tours

3:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, 9, 16 and 23

6 p.m. on Thursdays, March 7 and 21

1:30 p.m. on Sundays in April 7, 14, 21 and 28

Interactive Workshop

Given Space: Writing Your Own Cartography

6-8 p.m. Thursday, June 6

Presenter: E. Marie Bertram

Join poet and Augustana Professor E. Marie Bertram for this interactive workshop combining visual art and the written word. This workshop is free, but space is limited so registration is required. To register, contact Heather Aaronson at 563.326.7804 x2045 or haaronson@figgeartmuseum.org .

X Marks the Spot

March 9-June 16

Families can visit X Marks the Spot in Studio 1. Chart a route to learning and adventure, exploring everything from the trusty road atlas to genealogical maps that trace your family history. 

About the Figge Art Museum 

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday and Sundays 12-5 p.m. Thursdays the museum is open until 9 p.m. Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members. To contact the museum, please call 563.326.7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

-end-

01 Mar 2013

Loebsack Statement on Passage of VAWA

By Joe Hand

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed S. 47, The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA).  After a long delay, the House has finally allowed a vote on the Senate legislation which passed last year and again this year with the support every female Republican Senator and which has the support of over 1,300 domestic violence, sexual assault, and law enforcement groups.  Loebsack is a cosponsor of the bipartisan, comprehensive bill.

"I am very pleased that House leaders finally heard the public's call from women and men across the country, along with over a thousand organizations and groups and allowed a vote on the bipartisan, comprehensive Violence Against Women Act.  I was proud to stand with my colleagues and cosponsor this important legislation.  It was unconscionable that politics held up the reauthorization for as long as it has, it is long overdue.  Today is an important day for women and families in Iowa and across the nation."

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01 Mar 2013

Governor Quinn, AFSCME Announce Tentative Contract Agreement

By Leslie Wertheimer

Negotiators Send Proposed Three-year Agreement to AFSCME Members for Ratification

SPRINGFIELD - The Quinn Administration and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 31 have reached a tentative agreement on a new union contract covering some 35,000 state employees. Negotiations have been ongoing for more than 15 months.

"At a time when the state is facing unprecedented financial challenges, this agreement is fair to both hard-working state employees and all taxpayers of Illinois," Governor Pat Quinn said. "I want to thank the women and men who have stayed at the table for more than a year for their commitment to reaching an agreement."

"AFSCME is very pleased that we were able to reach an agreement that protects our members' standard of living, and is fair to them and all Illinois citizens, even in these very challenging economic times," AFSCME Council 31 Executive Director Henry Bayer said.

AFSCME members must ratify any contract negotiated by their elected bargaining representatives. The ratification process will get under way at worksites statewide during the week of March 4.

Details of the tentative agreement will be released after the union's membership has had the opportunity to review it.

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01 Mar 2013

East Moline teenager going to state to compete in POETRY!

By M. McNeil
(East Moline, IL) You always hear about football and basketball players making it to state....well, now a United Township High School senior is going to state for her poetry recitation skills. Brianna Gray won the UT "Poetry Out Loud" competition earlier this month and won the Regional competition last Saturday.   She will compete at the State competition on Friday, March 8th, in Springfield for a slot in the 2013 Poetry Out Loud:  National Recitation Contest in Washington, D. C., in late April. This is her second trip to state finals for Poetry out Loud.

Brianna says to competing at the state level has boosted her confidence level because you have to believe in yourself when you are standing in front of hundreds of people.  "I love poetry Out Loud because it has taught me how be confident in myself and that I am capable of great things. It has also taught me how to better understand poetry and to figure out what the poets were thinking when they wrote."

Brianna says her quest for state was helped along by UT staffers.  "I have my school librarians who are always willing to lend me their ear and help me understand what that poem is actually about, I have other teachers who are able to listen and critique my performance so it can be the best version when I preform, and I also have my family who listens through countless run-throughs and makes sure I am accurate in my poems."

Students study, memorize, and recite renowned classic and contemporary poetry at each level of competition, and a panel of writers, teachers, and performers judges the recitations.  Each state champion will receive a trip to the nation's capital to join a field of fifty-three students vying for the top prize, a $20,000 scholarship award.

"UT is very excited to be taking poetry to the next level and representing the Western Illinois region at state finals. This is our 3rd year participating and going to state finals in this program and we've seen many positive things come from this experience for our students." says UT's Poetry Out Loud coordinator, Lisa Carroll.

The Springfield Area Arts Council will host sixteen high school students from eight regions spanning Illinois.  They are the winners and runners-up from competitions held this month, starting in their own classrooms.  Contest organizer, Sheila Walk, "This program gives teenagers a way to compete, just as school athletes do, and the competition at the state level is intense.  Participating students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage.  Plus, they meet students from urban, suburban, and rural schools and interact with the judges who are language arts professionals.  It's a great event."
Poetry Out Loud is backed by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.  Now in its eighth year, the contest is designed to encourage interest in poetry at the high school level.  Last year, almost 6,000 students from 57 Illinois public and private high schools participated.

UT's Poetry Outloud is an afterschool enrichment class which is part of a "Lights ON" grant funded by the 21st CCLC grant, a partnership between the Rock Island County Regional Office of Education and UTHS.

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01 Mar 2013

Public invited to the Billy Davidson Breakfast

By Donald Crow

*** Reminder this Saturday, March 2nd ***

"Billy Davidson Breakfast"

-- Open to Public --

Bring your family and friends and have good fellowship

Bettendorf Masonic Center, 2412 Grant Street.

7:30 am - 9:00 am

$5:00 a person - children 6 years old or younger - $3:00

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