Davenport, Iowa, May 31, 2012 - Beginning June 4, the store at Vander Veer Conservatory will close temporarily for the Enabling Garden construction project. The Conservatory will remain open for regular hours. The closing is necessary for work on a new
entrance as part of the Enabling Garden project.

The Enabling Garden is an accessible garden and features plantings that stimulate all the senses, and includes planting beds and containers raised for comfortable reach. This accessible garden can be used by persons of any age or ability and includes garden elements that appeal to all five senses. The gardens are designed to improve and maintain the physical mental and social health of everyone.

An artist's conception of the completed Enabling Garden can be found on the Parks and Recreation's website on the Vander Veer Botanical Park page. The web address is: www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks.

Construction is expected to be complete sometime in August. Patrons should check the

Parks and Recreation website for any notice on closure during the construction period.

June 17th, POLYRHYTHMS brings piano Great Willie Pickens; the same Willie Pickens who performed five years ago at the very first Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee event. A celebrated educator performer, Pickens returns to the Redstone Room, in the RME on the corner of 2nd & Main, Davenport, IA, to see where his jazz demystifying teachings have taken us 66 Third Sundays later. Third Sunday Jazz Events begin with a workshop at 3 pm and is followed by a matinee concert from 6 - 8 pm.

"As our inaugural performer, Mr. Pickens set the bar for artistry and teaching at the Third Sunday Jazz Workshop & Matinee series", said Nate Lawrence of Polyrhythms.  "Generous in sharing the benefit of his experience, his counsel imprinted upon us the importance of providing top quality content and to not insult the kids by dumbing it down.  How could we go wrong?"

A piano powerhouse, WILLIE PICKENS began his career on Eddie Harris' 1961 national hit record, Exodus, since then playing with James Moody, Roy Eldridge, Max Roach, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Elvin Jones, Joe Henderson, Quincy Jones, Bunky Green, Ira Sullivan, Wynton Marsalis, and so many more. But instead of joining the national and international jazz scene, Willie chose to make his home in Hyde Park, becoming a public school teacher, an active member of the Hyde Park Union Church, and a mentor to scores of upcoming musicians. Just passing his 81^st birthday, Pickens is more in demand and playing better than ever. The Chicago Tribune's Howard Reich writes that Willie's intense dramatic performances result from his "large and complex chords, his great splashes of color and dissonance in the right hand and his barrelhouse octaves in the left." Pickens is joined by Ron Wilson on bass and Manuel Lopez III on drums.

Pickens was born into a Milwaukee family that valued music. Willie's mother, herself an amateur pianist, saw to it that Willie's emerging talent was developed by encouraging his formal study of the instrument. His stepfather, an avid jazz fan and alto sax player, introduced him to the music of Art Tatum via the radio; as there were few jazz venues in Milwaukee.  Pickens also discovered the likes of Nat "King" Cole and Bud Powell?artists that would have a profound influence on his musical development.

In 1954, Pickens earned a teacher's certificate from the Wisconsin Conservatory of Music in Milwaukee and went on to the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, in 1958, to receive his B.S. in Music Education.  Ultimately, Willie's love of jazz would drive his musical career. Having "caught the bug" playing with saxophonist Bunky Green and pianist Billy Wallace, Pickens moved to Chicago as soon as he'd finished his degree. "Chicago was where the action was," he says, and started his baptism by fire in the city many regarded as the hub of the jazz piano world.

Although Pickens met with moderate success as a young musician, he married and started a family in 1959 and quickly realized that "if you've got kids, you've got to be sure how much money is coming in every week."  Since then, Willie has had distinguished dual careers as a performer and educator: he has served as band director for Lindblom and Wendell Phillips high schools and as Chair of the Department of Music at Phillips; he started Kenwood Academy's first jazz band; he has also directed the City of Chicago's All-City High School Band and taught at the American Conservatory of Music.  Today, he continues to teach piano part-time in the Northern Illinois University's jazz program and serves in the Ravinia/Chicago Public School Jazz Mentors Program.

At 81, Pickens continues to be one of Chicago's most in-demand pianists for visiting artists.  He has performed several times at the famed Chicago Jazz Festival, to rave reviews, and has been the featured pianist on impresario Joe Segal's Jazz Cruises.  He has also performed with fellow pianist Marian McPartland, both in concert and on her well-loved NPR show, "Piano Jazz".

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Matinee & Workshop Series at the RME's Redstone Room is scheduled for, June 17th, and features an all-ages workshop at 3 pm, followed by the matinee performance from 6-8 pm.   Admission to the workshop session is Free for Kids, $5 for adults.  General admission for the 6 - 8 pm concert is $10 or $15 for reserved seating.  For ticket information, call Polyrhythms: 309 373-0790.  For more information, visit our website: www.polyrhythms.org.

Sunday June 17th, Doors open at 5:30 pm.  Come and experience great jazz with the legendary Willie Pickens Trio "live" at the Redstone Room.

Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Series is made possible with major support of the Riverboat Development Authority, the Scott County Regional Authority, and the RME as well as the support of AT&T, the Doris & Victor Day Foundation, West Music, Davenport Clarion Hotel, KALA, IL Senator Mike Jacobs, Peeples Heating & Air Conditioning, the Austin Family Charitable Fund, Greatest Grains, Skylark Recording Studio and DJ Mixxin Mel.

 

at The 1,000 Mile Journey

CLINTON, IOWA - June 1, 2012 - The 1,000 Mile Journey is a one mile walk for the end of child abuse going from the Courthouse to Bandshell Park in Clinton, Iowa. This is the inaugural event for Iowa in partnership with The Rainbird Foundation, a 501(c)(3) committed to the end of child abuse in all forms for all children everywhere. (www.rainbirdfoundation.org)

On Sunday, June 10th, at 1:00 pm Clinton teenager McKenzley Morris and Hanna Roth, Founder of The Rainbird Foundation will be speaking to those walking in The 1,000 Mile Journey. The event is sponsored by Brenton Williams Financial and Ashford University as well as other local businesses. Local non-profits working in the area of ending child abuse will have booths including the Discovery Center, YWCA, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
 
Live music by David Smith and activities for children from the Discovery Center make for a fun day for the kids. Proceeds go to the local participating non-profits and to the local Iowa affiliate of The Rainbird Foundation, a 501(c)(3) committed to the end of child abuse.

"Every step someone takes, large or small towards the end of child abuse matters," says Walk Director Shirley Darsidan. "We're asking Clinton, the Quad Cities, and surrounding communities to join us by walking one mile and create a mass of people in our state who care about this issue and Registration for children 12 and under is free, teens are $10, twenties are $20, and adults 30 and older are $30. Each participant has the opportunity to raise pledges and prizes will be given to the top pledge earners. Organizers are asking people to register online in advance at www.1000milejourney.org or from 6-8pm Friday the 8th at Riverside Restaurant on 2nd Street. For more information, please contact Shirley Darsidan at shirleydarsidan@rainbirdfoundation.org.

ELDRIDGE, Iowa - When Iowa author Jason L. McLaughlin was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, he knew it was going to be a lifestyle adjustment, but he didn't realize just how much. He quickly got tired of testing his blood sugar levels and injecting insulin. So he decided to do something about it.

After months of research, developing a systematic plan, and actual application, he was free from his dependence on insulin injections. He shares how others can become insulin-free in just one month in his new book releasing nationwide this month, "Diabetes: How I Got Off Insulin In 30 Days."

The book takes readers through the daily routine, the rules that govern diabetic lifestyles, and the best way to get in control. McLaughlin hopes that, by following the proper eating habits and engaging in a regular exercise plan, readers too can tell their families and friends they are insulin-free in just 30 days.

Published by Tate Publishing and Enterprises, the book is available through bookstores nationwide, from the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visiting barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com.

McLaughlin lives in Eldridge, Iowa. For more information, visit kickinsulin.tateauthor.com.