One Small Donation Returns Flowers for a Year

Christian Care, in cooperation with Colman Florists and Greenhouses, is offering a unique fundraising opportunity. For a one-time donation of only $20, you will receive a seasonal bouquet of flowers each month for a year and half the proceeds will go to Christian Care to provide shelter and services for the homeless and survivors of domestic violence in our community. This outstanding value means that you will have the opportunity to brighten up your home or office with flowers while you brighten up the lives of others?all year long. This opportunity only lasts from October 1 to November 30, so please act quickly.

Every month has its own theme. For example, February's bouquet is Love Bunch, July offers the Sizzling Summer Bouquet and November features the Harvest Bouquet. Each bouquet is sure to bring color, fragrance and beauty to even the darkest day. Becoming a part of this select group allows you access to other great values at Colman. For example, when you buy a half dozen roses, you will receive the second half dozen FREE! You can also opt to trade your monthly bouquet for $10 off a purchase of $35 or more. Do this twice and you've made your original investment back. Colman also offers a free Mylar balloon with a purchase of $25 for participants in this offer only.

For more details, please contact Rebecca at 309/786-5734 or email rwheeler@christiancareqc.org. Colman Florist and Greenhouses is located at 2754 12th Street, Rock Island, Illinois and in the East Village in Davenport, Iowa. You can also visit them on the web at colmanflorist.com. Monthly bouquets must be redeemed at the Colman location in the state in which you reside.

Christian Care is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose vision is to transform lives. Through its mission of providing safe shelter, support and resources, Christian Care empowers both the homeless and survivors of domestic violence to make positive changes in every aspect of their lives. Christian Care's two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for men?serve homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illnesses. If you know someone in need, call the Christian Care Crisis Hotline at any hour of the day or night at 309/788-2273.

For more information about Christian Care, please go to their web site at christiancareqc.org or to Facebook at facebook.com/christiancareqc.

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Kicks off affordability summits with UIC work study students

 

CHICAGO - Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will call for state, federal and higher education leaders to work together to keep college affordable for all students during College Affordability Summits this fall at public universities across the state.

 

Simon will meet with University of Illinois at Chicago work study students on Thursday morning and advocate for stronger transparency, targeted student aid and a federal tax credit for middle class families. The students are conducting brain research in the UIC chemistry lab.

 

The average costs for a public university education have outpaced family incomes and available aid, increasing 128 percent since 1980 when adjusted for inflation. "We've set a goal to have 60 percent of working-age adults hold college credentials by 2025. To reach our completion goal, we must make college more affordable. Higher education costs should be a higher priority for our leaders," Simon said.

 

The Governor's point person on education reform, Simon is backing legislation for College Choice Reports, a standardized report for all degree-granting institutions that would help students analyze cost, debt and graduation rates across institutions. Simon also serves on the state's MAP Eligibility Task Force that was created to provide the Illinois General Assembly with recommended MAP rule changes to better target the need-based assistance to students. Their report is due January 1, 2013.

 

The College Affordability Summits will begin Thursday, Oct. 11 at University of Illinois at Chicago and continue next week at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale on Monday, Oct. 15, Illinois State University and Western Illinois University on Thursday, Oct. 18 and Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville on Friday, Oct. 19. Additional dates and locations will follow.

 

EVENT: University of Illinois at Chicago, Affordability Summit

TIME: 10:15 a.m.

DATE: Thursday, October 11

PLACE: Science and Engineering South Building, Room 4444, 845 W. Taylor St., Chicago

NOTE: Media should assemble in the chemistry lab for the press conference with Simon and the work study students. Immediately following the press conference, Simon will work alongside the students in the lab. The job shadow is for photo and video spray only.
ROCK FALLS, IL - Blackhawk Hills Regional Council, in conjunction with the Carroll County Soil and Water Conservation District, is sponsoring a Prevailing Wage Workshop to be held October 16, 2012 at 10:00 am. Tom Whalen, Conciliation and Mediation Manager at the Illinois Department of Labor, will be presenting on the Illinois Prevailing Wage Act. The workshop will help explain how this state law impacts local communities and organizations.

The workshop is open to the public and there is no fee to attend the event. To obtain additional information or to register for the event, please contact Blackhawk Hills by phone at 815-625-3854 or email at info@blackhawkhills.com

About Blackhawk Hills

Blackhawk Hills is a not-for-profit corporation based in Rock Falls, IL, that serves Carroll, Jo Daviess, Lee, Ogle, Stephenson, and Whiteside counties in northwest Illinois. Services include community planning, development assistance, natural resources  conservation and protection support, and grant writing and administration. Blackhawk Hills is sponsored by local county boards and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and is overseen by an 18-member council, consisting of three representatives from each of the six counties.

Questions about Blackhawk Hills may be directed to Theresa Wittenauer at (815) 625-3854 or theresa.wittenauer@blackhawkhills.com.

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The United Soybean Board (USB) continues to drive demand for U.S. soy, thanks to a partnership with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. Goodyear recently announced field tests for a new tire featuring U.S. soy that the company says may offer consumers increased tread life and a greener alternative to those manufactured solely with petrochemicals."The soy checkoff welcomes the opportunity to partner with Goodyear in bringing this tire to the market," says Russ Carpenter, a soybean farmer from Trumansburg, N.Y. and chair of the USB New Uses program.

Click here to watch.
LITA Music's song, "Waves of Grace" written by David Noble, continues to make "waves" by being the only song included in Nowhere But Up:  The Story Of Justin Bieber's Mom, a new autobiography by Pattie Mallette with A.J.Gregory.  The book is currently #17 on the New Times Bestseller list.

In her book, Pattie notes the importance of that song to her son and includes those well-crafted lyrics.  LITA Music's Justin Peters comments, "We are honored to have 'Waves Of Grace' included in Pattie's book and pleased to have played a part in her son's success."

Nowhere But Up:  The Story Of Justin Bieber's Mom looks at Pattie's sexual abuse as a child as well as her own struggles with drugs and alcohol and her suicide attempt.  She discusses her decision at seventeen not to abort her baby and how she found her way with the help of a Christian counselor.  With strength and courage Pattie eventually found a place of faith and peace filled with "waves of grace" - this is truly an inspirational story for all.

Undoubtedly, Justin Bieber is one of today's hottest artists and most watched celebs.  His rise to fame came at an early age and one of the songs that helped garner him his first record deal was the song, "Waves Of Grace."  That song holds a special place in his heart and is often performed during his concert appearances as shown by the numerous videos posted on youtube.com.

Published by Revell (a division of Baker Publishing Group), the book is now available at bookstores everywhere and is being heavily promoted on shows like The View, The Today Show, Ellen, The Huckabee Show, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, Huffington Post and DisneyDreaming.com.

"Waves of Grace"

Written by David Noble

The walls are high, the walls are strong
I've been locked in this castle
That I've built for far too long
You have surrounded me, a sea on every side
The cracks are forming and I've got nowhere to hide

Now I see the walls I've built are falling
And Your waves of grace are washing over me

Lord please reign in every part
I give my life to You, I open up my heart
I want to be like You, I want to seek Your face
O Lord please wash me in Your awesome waves of grace

(Lyrics as printed in the book)

Copyright 1995. LITA Music (ASCAP). Administered by Justin Peters/Songs for the Planet, Inc..,

P.O. Box 40251, Nashville, TN 37204.  International Copyright Secured. All Rights Reserved.
(Moline, Ill) -- On Thursday, October 11, Quad City residents will join to support Congressional Candidate Cheri Bustos at WQAD TV station in Moline as Bustos debates Mr. 1% candidate Bobby Schilling.

"We have to stop Bobby Schilling (IL 17) from getting re-elected, not because he's a bad man, but because he does not understand the issues and instead votes for tax cuts for millionaires," said Lynda Harper, a Rock Island resident. "He calls himself a moderate but the truth is he voted with the Republican Party 92% of the time.  He won't sign the Bring Jobs Home Act and is currently allowing good jobs to be shipped overseas.  He hasn't stood up for seniors or children and says he will support a Romney/Ryan healthcare bill and economy --he is out of touch.  Whereas Bustos has promised to represent working families and make the richest 1% pay their fair share in taxes as well as keep middle class jobs here in the U.S."

For months, constituents of Rep. Bobby Schilling have asked him to back an economy that works for everyone but he just keeps rubberstamping a 'trickle down' economic approach that only makes the rich richer.  Schilling says he will support a Romney Economy and this means one thing: profits before people.

WHO:  99% Voters" from IL 17 Congressional District

WHAT: Rally to Support Bustos for Congress (IL 17) - Say "No" to Mr. 1% Candidate Bobby Schilling

WHEN: 5:45 p.m. Thursday, October 11, 2012

PLACE: In front of WQAD TV Station, 3003 Park 16th Street, Moline, Illinois

NOTE: This effort by 99% Voters in the community and members of Action Now Illinois is NOT
authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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Moline, Illinois  -  WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is happy to include another series to our lineup - "William and Mary," Sundays at 9:00 pm beginning October 21st.

Starring Martin Clunes (Doc Martin, Men Behaving Badly) and Julie Graham (Dirty Tricks, Butterfly Collectors) as William Shawcross and Mary Gilcrest.  The series follows two single parents looking for love through dating services- and perhaps they have found it. The only glitch - she's a midwife - bringing new people into the world and he's an undertaker, who is seeing them out.

About WQPT

On-air, online and in the community, WQPT plays a vital role in the cultural and educational enrichment of residents throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois. WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University and is located in Moline, Illinois. Throughout its nearly 30-year history, WQPT has been known for its local productions, public affairs programming, its quality educational family and children's programs, its outreach and community services and its website, wqpt.org. WQPT is a donor-supported community institution. For additional information about WQPT productions, programming schedules for both WQPT and our second channel, MHz Worldview, and community events, please visit wqpt.org.

Burlington, VT - Today, Democracy for America (DFA), endorsed Christie Vilsack for Congress.  Vilsack, a native Iowan, will stand up for women's rights and make sure healthcare is accessible and affordable for all Iowans. Not only has Christie created a seven-point plant to make healthcare more affordable she has also created a plan to bring jobs back to the region.  Each plan she created is thorough and sound.

"Christie has a long history supporting and acting in the best interest of Iowans," said Jim Dean, Chair of DFA. "By electing her to represent their interests in Washington, Iowans will have a strong advocate for the people - not the extremist tea party agenda.  She'll work to bring jobs back to America's Heartland and create a political climate where a Farm Bill can pass Congress without hurting those in need. Christie is the real deal and the right direction for the Hawkeye State."

Christie Vilsack responded to the DFA endorsement with enthusiasm:

Christie Vilsack: "Thank you to DFA for recognizing the importance of this election and the clear choice in front of Iowa voters.  I'm running for Congress because we need to rebuild the middle class and create jobs in small towns and cities like those in the 4th district.  The American people don't need another partisan fighter in Congress, they need someone who is willing to work across party lines to do the right thing for the middle class."

Link to this statement on democracyforamerica.comhttp://bit.ly/Oo7jxY

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ABOUT DEMOCRACY FOR AMERICA
Democracy for America is the people-powered Democratic Political Action Committee. With over one million members nationwide, DFA is a grassroots powerhouse working to change our country and the Democratic Party from the bottom-up.

Expert Offers Tips to Save Money & Hassles

For most of our household shipping needs, the Post Office, UPS or Fed-Ex delivers. But what do you do when you want to get a motorcycle across the country - without you on it? Antiques from your grandmother's estate? Or your whole house packed up in boxes?

"That's where freight shipping comes in as a great, economical alternative," says Matthew Brosious, president of FreightCenter.com (www.freightcenter.com), a company that brokers freight-shipping, much like websites such as Expedia broker air travel and hotel stays.

"Freight shippers can handle anything too heavy for the standard package shippers, basically anything from 100 pounds to 8,000 pounds," he says. "For these items, LTL shipping - which stands for Less-Than-Truckload - is the easiest and most economical way to get your big, bulky item moved.''

Since, for many people, that might be a once- or twice-in-a-lifetime event, Brosious offers some suggestions to ensure your shipping experience is smooth sailing.

• Pack properly and label each separate package or item. Unless your freight carrier includes packaging in its service, be sure your goods are all carefully and properly packaged, crated or secured to pallets with shrink-wrap or banding. If you've never built a crate, there are plenty of companies that will do it for you. If you shrink-wrap your item or boxes to a wooden pallet, start at the base and pull the wrap tightly so it's secure. Your stack should not wobble when you're done. "If it's not packed correctly and something gets damaged, your carrier may not be liable for that," Brosious warns. "Sometimes, they won't even transport it." A sofa wrapped in plastic, for instance, is not considered "packaged."

• Label each separate bundle or item. Attach a clear, printed label to the top of every box or item in your shipment. The label should include your name and the recipient's, as well as addresses and telephone numbers for both of you. It should also include the bill of lading number, carrier's name, and date shipped.

• Provide accurate information about contents, weight, etc. If you guesstimate, you may end up with a bill for more than the price you were quoted! Shipping quotes are based on the information supplied by the customer, but freight companies may choose to weigh your item. If you're wrong - for instance, if your freight weighs more than you thought - you will likely see a bigger bill.

• Expect to pay more for residential delivery. If you're in a non-commercial area, residential delivery fees may apply, even if you run a business out of your home. That's because the streets are usually harder to find and navigate. Residential delivery applies to apartments, farms and houses - and sometimes to schools and churches. You can save money by having your item shipped to an airport terminal and picking it up yourself, if you have a vehicle that can transport it. If you're having your freight delivered to a limited-access area, such as a military base or a storage unit facility, you might also incur an additional fee.

Freight-shipping is an economical way to move items, Brosious says. He advises people to shop around for quotes, or use a broker to handle that part for you.

About FreightCenter.com

FreightCenter.com is a third-party freight logistics company that uses web-based tools to help businesses and individuals with their shipping needs. It has garnered numerous awards, including Best Companies to Work For (2011, Florida Trend); Service Industry of the Year (2010, Pasco Economic Development Council) and Top 10 Websites (2010, BtoB marketing news magazine.) Matthew Brosious and his father, James, co-founded American Freight Cos. - the parent company of FreightCenter - in 1998 to facilitate freight-shipping for one-time, occasional, and small-business shippers. The service enables customers to compare carriers' rates, book online and track paperwork in one location.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 10, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Cyclists are signing up for the ride of their lives next summer, seeking to end the cycle of poverty in North America and around the world.

The Sea to Sea 2013 Bike Tour is a nine-week, 3,900-mile cycling trek across North America designed to raise awareness and funds in support of those living in poverty around the world. The tour is hosted by the Reformed Church in America, Partners Worldwide, and World Renew--an agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

The tour begins June 21, 2013, in Los Angeles and ends nine weeks later in New York City. Stops include Phoenix, Colorado Springs, Chicago, Pella, Grand Rapids, Toronto, and Montreal. Organizers expect this will be the largest bicycle tour to ever cross the United States and Canada, and applications are already coming in. Riders have the option of going the full distance or registering for one to five week segments. It is recommended that riders register by December 1, 2012.

The challenge includes nine weeks on the road, cycling an average of 68 miles per day, and resting only on Sundays. Each rider is also required to raise at least $10,000 toward the cause.

The 2008 tour, which rode through the U.S. and Canada, sent over $1.5 million to local, national and international agencies fighting poverty.

"We have been able to make a difference in fighting poverty, locally and abroad, before. But there is so much more to do. The needs today are greater," said Claire Elgersma, chair of the tour's steering committee.

Funds generated through the tour will be used to support new or ongoing initiatives in the areas of business and community development, and will provide people around the world with access to clean water, immunizations, and other vital medical services.

Additionally, 35 percent of the tour proceeds will be distributed to local programs that assist the poor.

For more information about Sea to Sea, go to www.seatosea.org.

 

Christian Newswire

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