Calling all Junior Scientists! New this year, our Putnam Explorers Jr. program will take your young scientist on an adventure in science through stories, songs and exciting hands-on activities that are sure to spark curiosity and imagination. Each month we'll dabble in a different dimension to bring science to life with engaging experiments, fun activities, games and fun surprises!

Putnam Explorers Jr. is a once-a-month science club for kids Pre-K through 1st Grade (must be age 4 by September 30, 2012). We'll meet one Saturday each month from 9 - 10:30 a.m., October through April.

Purchase the fall season package of three classes for $22 ($15/Putnam Members) or the spring season package of four classes for $28 ($20/Putnam Members).  Individual class sessions may be purchased for $8 ($6/Putnam Members). For more information or to register, call 563-324-1054 ext. 266.


FALL SEASON

October 6: Weather Workx Jr.
It's not your typical forecast! Get ready to twist, rumble and get wet as learn all about how weather workx in our world.

November 3: Animation Exploration Jr.
Cartoons are cool! Learn how artists make our favorite animated shows and movies come alive with their talents in both science and art - and of course make your own piece too!

December 1: The Element of FUN Jr.
We're wearing lab coats and safety glasses because this good time is not magic-It's science! Potions that change color, gel that flows UP... anything can happen in this laboratory of FUN!

SPRING SEASON

January 5: Build it Bash! Jr.
We hope you join this engineering party! Building is great - but this party is also about the BASH. Learn how the things we build can be strong - or not - with lots of hands on fun!

February 2: Blast Off! Jr.
Come to our out-of-this-world workshop today and explore space. We'll rocket through the morning with exciting activities about planets, our universe and of course, rockets!

March 2: The Universe Within! Jr.
Your body is an amazing machine! Discover what we look like on the inside and how doctors and others help keep us healthy.

April 6: Eggstravaganza Jr.
Join us for tons of fun with this symbol of new life and spring. Egg anatomy, eggs-periments, and eggy creations. It'll be an eggs-ellent adventure!

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Don't miss out on our current and upcoming movies on the Putnam's Giant Screen!

Finding Nemo 3D - opening Friday, October 5

Meerkats 3D - opening Friday, October 19

Theater Throwback - half way through the series, don't miss out!

Classic Film Series - only three left!

World Adventure Series -Showing Tuesday, November 6: Prague to Paris & a Cruise Too
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is coming to Davenport and will stop here on Thursday, December 6th at 2pm at the Florian Keen parking lot (Western Ave @ West River Drive - by Modern Woodman Park).

That afternoon, the community will rally together and collect food and funds for Churches United's 24 food pantries and enjoy a special holiday experience right here in the Quad Cities! The train will stop in Davenport for an approximate 45 minute performance.

Admission is a food or cash donation. There will be a drive through area to drop off food and cash donations and see the decorated train.

Here's some information:
* The Holiday Train is 1,000 feet in length with 14 decorated rail cars including a modified box car that's been turned into a traveling stage for performers. Canadian recording artist Shaun Verreault of "Wide Mouth Mason" and Juno award-winning singer Melanie Doane will be the musical headliners on the US Holiday Train keeping the community warm with well known holiday tunes.
* Since 1999, the CP Holiday Train program has generated over 1000 tons of food donations and raised over $4 million for food programs.

Industry Leader to Lend His Expertise and Years of Experience to Help SMBs Avoid Getting Locked Into Telecom Contracts

DAVENPORT, IA - October 4, 2012 - A vicious trend has developed among prominent carrier service providers called auto-renewals also known as "evergreen" clauses. Evergreen clauses are essentially an agreement between two parties that is automatically renewed or after each contract term, until canceled by the either party. For businesses, this means that you can easily become locked into contracts with poor service providers. Imagine attempting to cancel your services with a current provider, only to find out that you are contractually obligated to continue paying another year for a service you're completely unhappy with.
Hidden in your carrier service contract is language that automatically renews your services, preventing any opportunity to explore options to optimize or reduce cost on your carrier services. Be wary of auto-renewal verbiage sent by the carrier along the lines of: "Unless notified within 90 days of contract expiration date of intent to cancel services, contract will automatically renew for the same term at the same time." Locating the auto-renewal clause can be like searching for a needle in a haystack. One way find this verbiage is to call the customer service line of your carrier service provider to obtain the termination date of your contract and request this in writing. This simple process alone can save you thousands of dollars.
Ironically enough, these contract restrictions are often avoidable. In the case of "evergreen" clauses businesses have two options. On the one hand, you can avoid being locked into contract by making sure that you notify your carrier that you'd like to cancel services in writing, prior to the expiration of the specified term. These can vary from one contract to the next. On the other hand, you can consult with a Unified Communications provider, like Midland Communications, who has been helping businesses deal with "evergreen" contracts for several years. Whichever approach you take, it's vital that you periodically review your carrier service contract and acknowledge the termination date.
"Small to mid-sized businesses are the backbone of our economy and they need all of the help they can get to continue fueling our nation's economic growth," states Jason Smith, Vice President of Midland Communications. "We get a great deal of satisfaction when we can help our customers get out of these contracts and get back on the fastrack to profitability." Midland Communications is a leading unified communications provider that specializes in:
*       Examining current connectivity (phone lines and internet) to analyze cost/effectiveness in order to make recommendations. If you're paying a long distance phone bill, we can eliminate it.
*       Evaluating specific business needs, as they relate to Voice and IT services, and customize solutions accordingly.
*       Most likely if your phone system is more than 3 years old we can cost justify a new system while eliminating the two risks of technology: Cost and Obsolescence.
*       Educating our clients on the advantages of new technology and partner with them to increase their profitability and give them a competitive advantage.
Midland Communications has earned its position as the market leader by educating its customers on technology solutions that either create competitive advantages for them or increase overall profitability.

ABOUT MIDLAND COMMUNICATIONS

Midland Communications began more than 60 years ago in 1946 as the Worldwide Marketing Arm of Victor-Animagraph Projectors. In 1977 a communications division was formed due to a partnership with NEC America. Today, As a distributor of NEC America, for 33 years, Midland Communications has a customer base of more than 3,000 satisfied customers that include general businesses, government agencies, Universities, colleges, hospitals, and hotels.
Midland provides a wide range of communication services including VOIP, PBX and key systems, Wide Area and Local Area networking, computers, Computer integration, voice mail, CCIS, and video conferencing and paging systems. Our philosophy is simple, provide quality products at a fair price, backed by an average emergency response time of twenty minutes, and the best service in the industry. For more information on Midland Communications, call (563) 326-1237 or visit www.midlandcom.com.

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Come join us for the 7th annual Classic Car Cruise hosted by Sergeant Peppers Auto Shop and benefiting Toys For Tots on Saturday, October 6, 2012.

The party starts at 3pm in the Northpark Mall parking lot by Sears and JC Penney's. A police-escorted continuous cruise will begin at 4:30pm and cruise down Welcome Way to 3rd Street, then back up Brady Street to the mall.  District 15 motorcycles will be positioned along the route.  Get out your lawn chairs and watch the classics drive by.

Please bring an unwrapped toy and help fill the Santamobile.  U.S. Marines will be on hand to collect the toys.  Door prizes.  50/50 raffle.  Food available from Hy-Vee.  Music provided by 3D Sound D.J. Dave Palmer.

And then join them on Sunday, October 7th and watch the parade of District 15 motorcycles as they make their annual Toys For Tots trek beginning at 1pm from the West Kimberly Wal-Mart, down Division Street, across 3rd Street, up Brady Street and then across Kimberly  Road to Hobby Lobby.

We request that these events remain alcohol-free.  Thank you for your support.

The Friends of Credit Island Park present the 2012 Haunted Island Hayrack Rides.

This family-friendly event will take place on October 12 and 13 at Credit Island Park, 2200 West River Drive in Davenport. The fun begins at 6:30pm with storytelling, hayrack rides and more. Concessions are available inside the Credit Island Lodge.

Cost is $12 for adults, $8 for kids 4 - 11, and kids 3 and under are free.

Rain date is Oct 19 and 20.

For more information, contact Bob at 563-529-3080.

Sponsored in part by Davenport Parks & Recreations, the Riverboat Development Authority, The Family Credit Union, Credit Island Park and the River Cities' Reader.

ON THE HEELS OF A HEATED ILLINOIS FORUM, U.S. HOUSE REP. DAVE LOEBSACK AND CANDIDATE JOHN ARCHER BOTH CONFIRM PARTICIPATION; STATE SENATOR SHAWN HAMERLINCK AND CHRIS BRASE ALSO CONFIRMED.

DAVENPORT, IA - How important is the Latino vote? "According to the Pew Hispanic Research Center, there are 52,000 eligible voters in Iowa who are Latino, making up roughly 2.3% of the state's voters," said Alvaro C. Macias, Programs and Events Chair for the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GQCHCC). "With many races being so close, the Latino vote may prove to be the deciding factor. From our local races to the presidential election, the implications may be huge."
To help Iowa voters to know where the candidates stand on issues that matter to our region, the GQCHCC, St. Ambrose University, and Scott Community College proudly present the 2012 Candidates Forum. This free public event will be held 5:30 to 8:30 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 7, at St. Ambrose University's Rogalski Center, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport.
The GQCHCC has been working with St. Ambrose University and Scott Community College to give students an opportunity to get involved in creating questions for this landmark event.
Confirmed participants include :
- For U.S. House Representative District 2: Rep. Dave Loebsack (D), John Archer (R)
- For State Senate District 46: Senator Shawn Hamerlinck (R), Chris Brase (D)
- For State Representative District 89: Rep. Jim Lykam (D), Bill Edmond (R)
- For State Representative District 90: Rep. Cindy Winckler (D), & Mike J. Riley (Nominated by Petition)
- For State Representative District 92: Rep. Ross C. Paustian (R), Frank B. Wood (D)
- For State Representative District 93: Rep. Phyllis Thede (D), Mark Nelson (R)
- For State Representative District 94: Rep. Linda Miller (R), Maria Bribriesco (D)
- For State Representative District 97: Rep. Steven Olson (R), Ted Whisler (D)
In addition to these confirmed participants, other local county candidates will also be present. Additional event highlights include the presentation of flags by the Mexican American Veterans Association and the singing of National Anthem. The event will feature an on-site voter registration table, coordinated by Davenport's League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council No. 10.
For more information about the event, or the Greater Quad Cities Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, visit www.gqchcc.com or call (309) 797-8650.
From Clearer Skin to a Stronger Immune System
Physician Touts 5 Hidden Benefits of Exercise

With more than a third of Americans classified as obese, everyone from first lady Michelle Obama to TV news anchor Katie Couric is advocating exercise to maintain a healthy weight.

That's great, says Dr. Eudene Harry, author of "Live Younger in 8 Simple Steps," (www.LivingHealthyLookingYounger.com), but the benefits of exercise go far beyond fitting into those skinny jeans.

For one, it will give you younger looking, more blemish-free skin.

"The increase in circulation and perspiration that occurs with exercise delivers more nutrients to your skin while allowing impurities and waste to be removed," says Harry, who combines years of emergency-room experience with holistic medicine in her private practice. "The result? A healthier complexion!"

She adds four more hidden benefits of a good workout:

• Natural "feel-good" chemicals: Exercise releases endorphins, the brain chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel happy, as well as relieve stress, and enhance your self-esteem and self-confidence. Exercise has also been shown to increase neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which gives us a natural high and allows us to sleep better.

• Constipation prevention: Exercise increases the contractions of the wall of the intestine, helping to move things along through the intestinal tract more easily, and decreasing the time it takes to pass through the large intestine. But wait an hour or two after eating before exerting yourself: Exercising too soon after a meal can divert blood flow away from the gut and toward the muscles, weakening peristaltic contractions (and slowing down the digestion process).

• Prevents brittle bones: Walking, jogging, dancing, weight training and yoga are all weight-bearing exercises that help strengthen bones. Swimming and bicycling are exercises that are considered non-weight bearing. During weight-bearing exercises, bones adapt to the impact of the weight and the pull of muscles by building more bone cells, increasing strength and density and decreasing the risk of fractures, osteopenia and osteoporosis.

• Enhanced immunity: Physical exertion increases the rate at which antibodies flow through the blood stream, resulting in better immunity against sickness. The increased temperature generated during moderate exercise makes it difficult for certain infectious organisms to survive.

Don't overdo your exercise, or you won't see all of these benefits, Harry says.

"Check with a physician who can advise you on the right activities and intensity level for your individual needs," she says.

"For all the benefits of exercise, there are down sides if you go at it too vigorously for your physical condition. For instance, you can actually increase stress hormones, which can make you more vulnerable to illness, rather than building your immunity."

About Eudene Harry, M.D.

Dr. Eudene Harry holds a bachelor's in biology from New York University and completed both her medical degree and residency training at Thomas Jefferson University. Currently the medical director for the integrative and holistic Oasis Wellness and Rejuvenation Center, she has practiced medicine for nearly 20 years, is board certified in both emergency and holistic medicine, and for more than a decade practiced emergency medicine as an attending physician in Level II trauma centers. In 2005 she opened Oasis for Optimal Health, a private practice focused on integrative, holistic wellness and empowering and educating the patient.

Of 192 entries in this year's two-day competition of the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp Art Contest, 17 entries made it through to the final round of judging.  Paul Bridgeford of Des Moines, Iowa, placed second with his acrylic painting of a pair of northern shovelers.

First place went to Robert Steiner, an artist from San Francisco, Calif. The announcement was made on September 29 by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Deputy Director Rowan Gould at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, during the annual art contest.

This is Steiner's second Federal Duck Stamp Contest win.  His art previously appeared on the 1998-1999 Federal Duck Stamp.

Steiner's acrylic painting of a common goldeneye will be made into the 2013-2014 Federal Duck Stamp, which will go on sale in late June 2013.  The Service produces the Federal Duck Stamp, which sells for $15 and raises about $25 million each year to provide critical funds to conserve and protect wetland habitats in the National Wildlife Refuge system for the benefit of wildlife and the enjoyment of people.

"We are very fortunate to have such a talented pool of artists in the Midwest Region," said Tom Melius, Midwest Regional Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "Congratulations to Paul and Robert, and all of the other artists who submitted their work.  These beautiful works of art are an inspiration for us all."

The judges for this year's Federal Duck Stamp Contest were: Dudley Edmonson, a wildlife photographer, filmmaker and author; Paul Higgins, an outdoor photographer; Don Paul, a wildlife biologist; Marjory Sente, a stamp collector; and Christine Thomas, dean and professor of natural resources at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.  The alternate judge was John Cornely, a retired Fish and Wildlife Service waterfowl biologist.

"Whether you buy a Duck Stamp to hunt waterfowl, add to your stamp collection, admire in a frame, or contribute to conservation, you are buying a piece of history," said Jerome Ford, the Service's Assistant Director for Migratory Birds.  "For nearly 80 years, hunters, wildlife watchers, and millions of other people who purchase Federal Duck Stamps have made a direct contribution to wildlife conservation through the protection of wetland habitats."

Federal Duck Stamps can be purchased at many national wildlife refuges, the U.S. Postal Service, or online at http://www.fws.gov/duckstamps/stamps.htm.

Electronic files of this year's artwork featuring brant, Canada goose, common goldeneye, Northern shoveler and ruddy duck can be downloaded from www.fws.gov/duckstamps.

The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.

Connect with our Facebook page at facebook.com/usfwsmidwest, follow our tweets at twitter.com/usfwsmidwest, watch our YouTube Channel at youtube.com/usfws and download photos from our Flickr page at flickr.com/photos/usfwsmidwest.

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