Illinois Partners with Six Nations to Share Best Practices, Stimulate Exports and Promote Tourism 

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today unveiled a website highlighting the Illinois Sister Rivers/Lakes Initiative today in honor of United Nations World Water Day 2013, whose theme is "International Year of Water Cooperation." The website is part of Governor Quinn's commitment to protecting our natural resources and driving Illinois' economy forward. This is the 20th Anniversary of World Water Day, which highlights sustainable management of freshwater resources. Illinois has built partnerships with officials in six nations to share creative solutions to common problems, such as run-off, silt and invasive species.

"The Illinois Sisters Rivers/Lakes Initiative celebrates the spirit of 'water cooperation,' as we share our successes with and learn from our partners across the world," Governor Quinn said. "Each nation has unique challenges, but we have common priorities: clean and healthy waterways, improved commercial and recreational opportunities, and we all are working hard to leave a better watershed than we inherited."

The goals of UN World Water Day's "Year of International Water Cooperation" are to spark concrete, innovative action and foster partnerships and dialogue around water. Dozens of events have been organized worldwide, such as 6,000 students in 21 nations who will walk six kilometers (3.7 miles) while carrying a water-filled backpack to dramatize the inaccessibility of fresh water for many of the world's children.

Governor Quinn has crafted Lake Michigan and Illinois River "sisterships" with Brazil's Capibaribe River, China's Huangpu River, Ireland's River Lee, Israel's Lake Kinneret, Poland's Vistula River and South Korea's Han River.

The new Illinois Sister Rivers/Lakes website (SisterRivers.Illinois.gov) is designed to share best practices with not only our partners, but advocates for waterways worldwide. The website details successful initiatives such as Governor Quinn's innovative Mud-to-Parks project, Dam Removal and Safety Initiatives and the Clean Water Initiative to modernize drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. The new site will also help boost tourism and export opportunities among the Sister Rivers/Lakes partners.

The website also helps Illinois residents planning a trip abroad with information on Illinois' Sister Waterways. For example, you can fish for salmon in Ireland's Lee River, pedal along Seoul's Han River or Israel's "Jesus Trail," or kayak on Poland's Vistula River. The skylines of Shanghai and Recife, Brazil, may best be seen from a boat on the Huangpu or Capibaribe Rivers.

Governor Quinn also invited tourists in China, Israel, Poland, South Korea, Brazil and Ireland to enjoy all that Illinois waterways have to offer.  For tourism information, visit EnjoyIllinois.com. For information about fishing, boating, paddling and birding, visit dnr.illinois.gov.

Healing Lotus Acupuncture and Moline Chiropractic Clinic will be giving a seminar on non-prescriptive treatment options for chronic headaches on March 27th, 2013 from 6pm - 7:30pm.

Some of the highlights of this seminar will include a short discussion on the differentiation of headache types (tension, migraine, cervicogenic, etc.), diagnosis, and the selection of treatments that are available from both an Eastern & Western perspective.

Seating is limited, so please call to reserve your place.

Contact:

Moline Chiropractic Clinic

4300 12th Avenue

Moline, IL. 61265

(309) 764.4753

www.qcchiro.net

or

Healing Lotus Acupuncture

www.healinglotus.co

healinglotustcm@gmail.com

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WELCOMING NEW MEMBER!

Minuteman Press - Davenport, Sue Grant, Owner.  563-386-4566. http://www.davenport.minutemanpress.com/ Full service print shop, in business for 21 years.

CALENDAR

March 23^rd - Tug Fest Trivia Night - LeClaire Fire Station. Doors open at 6 p.m. Trivia starts at 7 PM. $10 per person. 8 person max per team. Bring your own snacks and drinks. (alcoholic beverages are allowed but limited to beer and wine coolers only please) Contact Kari Long iatugfestfan@gmail.com or Barry Long bal400@aol.com for more details or to reserve your table.

March 26th - Civic Club Annual Corporation Meeting that was originally scheduled for Feb. 26th, is now rescheduled for March 26^th at the LeClaire Civic Center. Pot Luck at 6:30 PM and Annual Meeting at 7:00PM. All Civic Club members and their guests are encouraged to attend. Also, anyone interested in joining the Civic Club may attend as my guests.

March 26th - Reusable Usables - Women's Full Moon Circle Yoga - 7:30-8:45 p.m. Full Moon Circle is our opportunity to explore and learn from each other, and yoga will be led by Jennifer Vondracek.  We look forward to this opportunity to learn from a wonderful group of women, and to celebrate our strength, wisdom & love. $8 or donation. Ongoing event and for more info you can visit our website at www.reusableusables.org or our facebook page or call 563-289-3946

March 30^th - Wide River Winery Easter bonnet Contest! Be creative and have fun! Judging at 3:30p.m. Tasting room is open 11AM-7PM

March 31^st - Bier Stube - Special Easter Sunday Brunch - 9am - 12pm. Seatings begin on the hour.  Price $13.99 for buffet or $19.99 per person with unlimited Bloody Mary's and Mimosas. Also taking reservations for Mothers Day Brunch (May 12th). 1001 Canal Shore Dr., LeClaire. 563-289-2121

Save the Date

April 3 - "Dinner with Mrs. Dawley" The museum's fundraiser at the Dawley Home (Crane & Pelican Café) is SOLD OUT! Dinner in a riverboat pilot's home, joined by the couple's friends and family. It will be an enjoyable evening!  If you would like to be contacted if any reservations are cancelled, please send an email to: BuffaloBill@iowatelecom.net, or message the museum on FaceBook:  Buffalo Bill Museum LeClaire IA (Please include your phone number, and number in party).

April 5^th - First Friday in LeClaire!  5:00-8:00 p.m.

Food and Beverage Samples at Mississippi River Distilling Company www.mrdistilling.com 5:30-8:00 p.m.

Wine samples at Wide River Winery www.wideriverwinery.com

Karaoke at Sneaky Pete's Every Friday Night 9:00 P.M.-1:00 A.M. 207 North Cody Road Le Claire, IA (563) 289-4277.

Aunt Hattie's Fanciful Emporium will be open late - go in for a free red velvet cupcake!

Razzleberries will be open late. Come in to shop and get free samples of booze cake (while it lasts)!

Restaurants and several other shops will be open late, too!

April 6^th - Zion Lutheran Church, Princeton Announces - One Show Only!

Benefit Performance of "Johnny Cash and the Sun Rocket Railway: A Tribute to the Music of Sun Records 7:00 P.M. Enjoy AJ Haut performing the songs of Johnny Cash, as well as Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley accompanied by Tristan Tapscott and Kyle Jecklin. Tickets: $10 each, available at the door. Princeton Community Center, 428 S. River Dr. Princeton, Iowa. Doors open at 6:30 PM

FYI

Grace Marine and Captain's Quarters, a 3rd Generation Family Tradition boat dealer, specializes in Crownline, Skeeter, Alumacraft, Manitou, Yamaha, and Mercury. We not only sell boats, but we also buy boats and repair boats. We now offer Pontoon, and Jet Ski rentals. We can be found at www.gracemarine.com, and also on Facebook.

The Buffalo Bill Museum offers admission discounts for group tours!   School groups, 4-H, fraternal and civic clubs, family reunions, etc. Call 563-289-4603 for more information and schedule a guided tour! Reservations are required and can be made months in advance! 

"LIKE" the LeClaire Chamber of Commerce on FaceBook Visit the chamber's Face Book page and discover a great source of news, business announcements, events, and other information that is updated frequently. It's a useful source of updated information for all members and non-members!

(ext 1135) or email Cindy Bruhn, Tourism Manager, at Info@VisitLeClaire.com

Chamber 2013 Networking Events - Everyone welcome to attend!

April 9 - Wide River Winery - after hours - 5-8pm (tentative)

May 14 - Great River Financial - after hours

June 6 - Black Watch Room - after hours - 5-8pm (1st Thursday)

July 9 -  Blue Iguana - Lunch -noon

August 13 - Big Dave and Holly's - lunch -noon

September 10 - Steventon's - after hours - 5-8pm

October 8 - Hungry Hobo - lunch - noon

November 12 - Faithful Pilot - after hours -5-8pm

December 10 - Happy Joes - lunch -noon

January 14, 2014 - Sneaky Pete's - lunch -noon

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

Meet and greet Pastor Melody any Wednesday from 1-3 pm at Happy Joe's. Pastor Melody from First Presbyterian Church of LeClaire, will be at Happy Joe's in LeClaire, every Wednesday, from 1-3 pm, sipping on a soda, reading and waiting to visit with you and your friends. Stop by and say hi. Or, if you have a prayer request or a question, just let her know.  Meals for Seniors at the church every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 noon. Good food and a time to visit with others. Please call 563-289-3646 and make a reservation 2 days in advance.

Trivia Nights in LeClaire at the LeClaire Civic Center

2013 Trivia Nights:

April 6 - LeClaire Little League

May 4 - LeClaire Lions

June 8 - Buffalo Bill Museum

July 13 - Hosted by First Presbyterian Church - Hurricane Sandy Victims

LeClaire Trivia Nights have raised over $95,000 for local non-profit organizations! Thank you for your continued support!

LeClaire 2013 Events Calendar

Spring - Spring Fling Easter Egg Hunt (Hollyhock Park)

May 5 - Cinco de Mayo

May 17-18 - French Market Days

June 7-8 - LeClaire Garage Sale Days

June 21-22 - Girls' Getaway Weekend - Details to come!!

Summer - City-Wide Water Explosion (Hollyhock Park)

Summer - Bike Parade & Decorating

August 8-10 - Tug Fest - www.tugfest.com

October 6 - Dogtoberfest (rain date - Oct. 13)

October 13 - Apple Fest

October 24 - Hallowine

October 26 - Witches' Walk

December 6-8 - Christmas in LeClaire

www.LeClaireChamber.com and visit the Chamber on FaceBook!

CHICAGO - The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) and the Active Transportation Alliance will launch the Earth Day Rideshare Challenge next month to increase awareness and appreciation by encouraging commuters to consider an alternative form of transit.

The new challenge encourages companies and their staff to participate in a free, team-based carpooling and vanpooling competition for Chicago-area employers by logging on to www.drivelesslivemore.com and tracking their trips. The website features a unique, interactive trip-tracking calendar, which can rank competitors and display statistics, such as greenhouse gases prevented, fuel and money saved, and calories burned. The Earth Day Rideshare Challenge begins April 8 and runs through Earth Day, April 22.

"Ridesharing is a great option for commuters who don't have easy access to transit or safe cycling routes to their job," said Richard Kwasneski, Chairman of the Pace Board of Directors. "Getting involved in ridesharing saves commuters money and is easy to do using our free, online matching service at www.PaceRideShare.com."

The Earth Day RideShare challenge will offer employers the tools to organize their workforce and participate in a fun competition that can encourage environmental and social change.

"Drive Less Live More has proven to be a groundbreaking program for the Chicago region," said Joe Costello, RTA Executive Director. "We're very excited how this contest has engaged our transit riders, companies and their employees to leave their cars at home and choose an alternative form of transportation,"

Challenge participants must register at drivelesslivemore.com, and then either create a team or join an existing team for their employer. Each team competes for the highest percentage of carpoolers and vanpoolers among similar-sized organizations.

Teams will find everything they need at the website to prepare their teams including: easy sign-up process, automated trip logging and team ranking, posters, and online resources. Team members can also choose to sign up as an individual participant, track their trips and be eligible to win prizes.

The companies with the highest percentage of employees who log rideshare trips at the website during the challenge win?and all teams will be publicly recognized!

A company wins if it has the highest percentage of employees logging an eligible commute to work in its category during the challenge time-frame. The winning team receives public recognition, a virtual winner's certificate, and the satisfaction of being the healthiest and greenest workplace in northeastern Illinois.

The RTA's transit system makes a significant impact on the region's environment by saving approximately 150 million gallons of gas annually. And as saving money continues to be on everyone's mind in this economic climate, the drive less live more challenge is another means to encourage travelers to see the value in public transportation and other alternative methods of greener travel.

Learn more by visiting www.drivelesslivemore.com. For all your travel plans, visit www.RTAchicago.com.

The RTA provides financial oversight, funding and regional planning for the three public transit operations in Northeastern Illinois: The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) bus and train, Metra commuter rail and Pace suburban bus and paratransit.  For more information, visit www.RTAchicago.com.

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit safe, convenient and enjoyable. We advocate for transportation that encourages and promotes safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, and resource conservation. The Active Transportation Alliance is supported by more than 7,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

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