28 Aug 2012

Rural school districts receive grants of up to $25,000

By Paul Spooner

Winners announced for America's Farmers Grow Rural Education?

BOONE, IOWA (Aug. 28, 2012) - Rural schools help grow the next generation by planting seeds of knowledge, passion and imagination in the youth of rural America. Now, local farmers and America's Farmers Grow Rural EducationSM are helping to prepare the next generation of industry leaders to meet the challenges that come with feeding an ever increasing population.
America's Farmers Grow Rural Education, sponsored by the Monsanto Fund, gives farmers the opportunity to nominate a public school district in their community to compete for a merit based grant of either $10,000 or $25,000 to enhance education in the areas of math and/or science. More than 1,000 nominated school districts submitted applications. The Monsanto Fund will invest $2.3 million in 176 rural schools through this program.
"School districts were innovative and creative in their applications," said Deborah Patterson, the Monsanto Fund president. "We are really looking forward to seeing the proposals come to fruition and learning how the students benefit from them."
After being nominated by local farmers, school districts completed an online application and finalists were chosen by math and science teachers from ineligible school districts. The America's Farmers Grow Rural Education Advisory Council, a group of 26 prominent farmers from across the country, then reviewed the finalists' applications and selected the winners.
"Who better to judge the practical content and quality of these applications from rural school districts than experienced, working farmers?" said Jim Andrew of Jefferson, Iowa, America's Farmers Grow Rural Education Farmer Advisory Council member. "We devoted many hours at home evaluating and scoring the applications and then met as a group in St. Louis for two days to discuss and select the schools we recommended to the Monsanto Fund for grants. It was personally very rewarding to read the creative and practical grant applications that were eventually selected by our advisory group to receive the grants."
There were 176 school districts in 35 states that received grants of up to $25,000. Winners are posted at www.growruraleducation.com and below. America's Farmers Grow Rural Education started with a successful pilot in Illinois and Minnesota in 2011, in which farmers were given the opportunity to nominate public school districts in 165 eligible counties in those two states. The Monsanto Fund awarded more than $266,000 to local schools in sixteen communities. Now, the program has expanded to 1,245 eligible counties in 39 states. 
America's Farmers Grow Rural Education is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to help farmers positively impact their communities and support local rural school districts. This program is part of the Monsanto Fund's overall effort to support rural education and communities. Another program that is part of this effort is America's Farmers Grow Communities, which gives farmers the opportunity to direct a $2,500 donation to their favorite community nonprofit organization in their county. Farmers can participate in this program through Nov. 30, 2012 by visiting growcommunities.com.

 

About Monsanto Fund
The Monsanto Fund, the philanthropic arm of the Monsanto Company, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the farm communities where farmers and Monsanto Company employees live and work.  Visit the Monsanto Fund at www.monsantofund.org.

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Colorado-Frenchman School District Re-3, Limon School District, No. Re 4J, Re-1 Valley School District, Walsh School District No. Re-1

Delaware-Smyrna School District

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Indiana-Clay Community Schools, Delaware Community School Corporation, Fairfield Community Schools, Flatrock Hawcreek School Co, Jennings County Schools, Oregon-Davis School Corp, Pike County School Corp, Salem Community Schools, South Central Com School Corp, Southwest Parke Com School Corp

Kansas-Bucklin, Girard USD 248, Hoxie Community Schools USD 412, Royal Valley, Scott County Schools, Sedgwick Public Schools, Sterling USD376, Wamego, Washington County Schools, Wellsville-USD 289

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Missouri-Community R-VI School District, Johnson Co. R-VII, Liberal R-II, Lone Jack C-6, Miami R-I School District, Monroe City R-I, Northeast Nodaway Co. R-V, Oak Ridge R-VI, Orrick, Pleasant View R-VI, Strain-Japan R-XVI

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28 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action **Tuesday, August 28, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO -August 28, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bill:

 

 

Bill No.: SB 1849

An Act Concerning: Gaming

Creates the Chicago Casino Development Authority and amends several other statutes to expand gaming in Illinois.

Action: Vetoed

 

 

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28 Aug 2012

GYM GIVES NEW MEMBERS OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT NICK TEDDY FOUNDATION

By Holly Larson
PORT BYRON, IL - The Nick Teddy Foundation, in partnership with Nelson Chiropractic, is excited to announce a new, long-term partnership with Core Fitness Bettendorf.

Core Fitness Bettendorf has provided generous contributions for the "Nick Teddy Fight Against Ewing's Sarcoma 5k." The gym will be giving away four 3-month gym memberships to 5k participants.

Additionally, 5k runners will have the opportunity to give five dollars each month to the Nick Teddy Foundation by signing up for a 1-year membership at Core Fitness Bettendorf. For each race participant who signs up for a 1-year membership during the 5k, Core Fitness Bettendorf has agreed to donate five dollars every month to the Nick Teddy Foundation for an entire year!

The "Nick Teddy Fight Against Ewing's Sarcoma 5k" starts at 9:00 AM on Sat., September 15, 2012. More information on how to register can be found online at http://www.NickTeddy.org, on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/NickTeddyOrg), and on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/NickTeddyOrg).
28 Aug 2012

Davenport Parks & Rec Fall Session Begins

By Davenport Parks & Recreation
Thrive this fall with the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation!
Fall Session begins September 10 - Sign up now!
Nothing kills a program quicker than everyone waiting until the last minute to register for it.  Please register well in advance of the registration deadline to make sure your favorite courses run!
Register at the River's Edge, 700 W River Dr. or
28 Aug 2012

Inspired by the Past - September 9 - October 7, 2012

By Lynn Bartenhagen

Muscatine Art Center Announces Opening of New Exhibit

The Muscatine Art Center will open the new exhibit Inspired by the Past on Sunday, September 9 with a reception hosted by Friends of the Muscatine Art Center from 1 to 5PM. The exhibit will continue through October 7, 2012.

Inspired by the Past includes the sculpture, paintings photographs,  drawings and assemblages of six area artists who based their work on that of Muscatine photographer, Oscar Grossheim. The participating artists: John Deason, Randy Elder, Charles Knudsen, Tony Ledtje, Randy Richmond, and Dan Rohde, chose four to six original Grossheim images that inspired them and used those images as a springboard to their own artistic interpretations.

Oscar Grossheim was born in Muscatine in 1862, the son of Theodore & Bertha Kirschbein Grossheim.

Grossheim's career as a photographer began when he was only 15 and continued until the late 1930s. Grossheim's work included much more than portrait photography.  He also left a legacy of over 50,000 images of life as it unfolded in Muscatine during a historically significant time.

The concept of the exhibition is to ask artists and the public to reflect on their past and, as a community, on our collective past, and how the process of self-reflection might lead to a heightened awareness as we map our future course.

28 Aug 2012

Governor Quinn Takes Bill Action Monday, August 27, 2012

By William Palmisano

CHICAGO- August 27, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:

Bill No.: HB 1261

An Act Concerning: Public Health

Adds zinc air button cell batteries to the list of merchandise which cannot be sold or distributed in Illinois.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 2582

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Makes technical changes to the Criminal Code.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan.1

 

Bill No.: HB 3366

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Reorganizes provisions in the Criminal Code of 1961 concerning harm to children, and incorporates provisions from certain other similar acts.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan.1

 

Bill No.: HB 4753

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Allows a board of trustees in a designated renewable energy district to set up and run a renewable energy facility as a business.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5033

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Creates a specific timeline for the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) to act upon applications to perform additional services submitted by currency exchanges.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5142

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Reinstates and expands the ability of hospitals to establish Freestanding Emergency Centers (FECs) throughout the state, particularly in rural areas.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: HB 5771

An Act Concerning: Certificates of Good Conduct and Relief from Disabilities

Amends the Unified Code of Corrections to make the criteria for receiving certificates of good conduct and certificates of relief from disabilities more inclusive.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 548

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Extends the completion dates for redevelopment of TIF projects in the cities of Carlyle and East Peoria.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2934

An Act Concerning: State Government

Restricts the employment of certain relatives of members of the Health Facilities and Services Review Board (HFSRB) at facilities under the HFSRB's purview. Also revises the process for issuing permits and making progress reports; expands HBSRB's powers and duties; and authorizes fines for permit holders who fail to comply with requirements.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 2937

An Act Concerning: Local Government

Creates the Northwest Metra Commuter Rail District for McHenry County.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3320

An Act Concerning: Revenue

Extends the Quality of Life instant scratch-off lottery game through 2017; creates three new tax check offs; and requires the Diabetes Research Check Off Fund to remain on Illinois tax returns permanently.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3349

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Creates the Offender Initiative Program, to enable state's attorneys to select non-violent felony defendants, without prior felony convictions, for an intensive 12-month program, and to offer legal services. Upon successful completion, the state's attorney shall dismiss the case.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1                             

 

Bill No.: SB 3399

An Act Concerning: Beer Wholesalers

Allows a beer distributor to seek arbitration if a brewer terminates a contract with a distributor when the product is 10 percent of the distributor's volume - instead of the existing 15 percent requirement.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3458

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law

Provides that the Illinois State Police (ISP) shall provide specified financial institutions detailed information regarding the conviction of a felony or crime of dishonesty, breach of trust or money laundering of applicants for employment or other specified individuals, and gives the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) the authority to seal records for certain Class 3 and 4 offenses.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Jan. 1

 

Bill No.: SB 3497

An Act Concerning: The Lottery

Allows Powerball tickets to be sold online; creates an Internet Lottery Study Committee; and allows the Illinois Department of the Lottery to hire investigators.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

 

Bill No.: SB 3631

An Act Concerning: State Government

Increases membership to the Choose Chicago Board to 35, and sets forth requirements for the Board.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3685

An Act Concerning: Regulation

Amends to the Boxing and Full-contact Martial Arts Act.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

Bill No.: SB 3746

An Act Concerning: Volunteer Emergency Responders

Creates Volunteer Emergency Responder Appreciation Day.

Action: Signed

Effective Date: Immediately

 

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28 Aug 2012

"What to eat or not to eat? That is the question ....." (apologies to Shakespere's Hamlet)

By Narveen Aryaputri
Moline and Rock Island were on the cover article of the Business Day section of last weekend's New York Times featuring the push against obesity, a national affliction, now growing worldwide.
 
The excellent article covers the work of area dietitians Dawn Blocklinger in the Moline Hy-Vee and Chrissy Watters in the Rock Island Hy-Vee showing clients how to shop for foood and teaching them what to eat.
The rest of our parody, with due appologies to Shakespere, and a copy of the article will be available for you to take home.
Open Discussion on the methods used, effective or otherwise, in attempts to stem the growing problem.
 
Independent Scholars' Evenings
7.00 p.m.
 
1530 Fifth Avenue.
Moline, Illinois. 61265
Doors open at 6.30 p.m.
 
DRESS CODE: Business Casual.

Elevators are located through the 16th. Street entrance.
Independent Scholars' Evenings are sponsored byThe Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd. a 501(c)3 organization at State and Federal levels since 1996. Please visit:  www.qcinstitute.org
28 Aug 2012

The Moline Foundation Announces Grant Deadline

By Linda Martin

A grants submission deadline has been announced by the Moline Community Foundation. Non-profit organizations are encouraged to apply if they serve the citizens of Moline and the surrounding region, including the Quad Cities. All materials necessary to receive funds are due in The Moline Foundation offices by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2012 or must be postmarked by or on Friday, September 28, 2012.  Any non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, including those who have never received Moline Foundation funding in the past, is welcome to apply.

An application should consist of eleven copies of a written request stating the name and address of the organization, its mission, names and addresses of Board members, income and expense statement, balance sheet, and the specific purpose for which any money received would be used including a project budget. The name, telephone number, and email of a contact person must also be included. The requested materials should be mailed according to the above deadline. Other important information about grant submission is available on The Moline Foundation's web site at www.molinefoundation.org.

The Moline Foundation offices are located at the Deere-Wiman House, 817 11th Avenue, Moline.

The Moline Foundation, founded in 1953, is a community foundation which provides grants to health, human services, education, workforce development, the arts and other charitable organizations which benefit the citizens of Moline and the surrounding area, including the Quad Cities region in both Iowa and Illinois. The Moline Foundation receives and administers charitable gifts and works with citizens to achieve their dreams to improve the community.

-30-

28 Aug 2012

In Iowa`s Interest: Rebuilding Our Middle Class this Labor Day

By Sen. Tom Harkin
By Senator Tom Harkin

On Labor Day, as we honor the contributions that generations of workers have made to the strength and prosperity of our great country, I am reminded of the struggles facing families in Iowa and around the country. America's middle class is the backbone of our economy, and yet, these families have not shared in the prosperity of the last thirty years. Today, they are not feeling the effects of the economic recovery that is in full swing on Wall Street. I have always believed that to grow our economy, we must strengthen the middle class by promoting the creation of good jobs, helping workers save for a secure retirement, making college affordable, and doing what we can to help families balance their budgets.

For these reasons, I introduced the Rebuild America Act earlier this year. This sweeping piece of legislation lays out what I believe our priorities must be in order to grow our economy and help more families achieve the American Dream. These proposals are not radical or revolutionary - they are the bold, forward-thinking policies of the mid-20th century, when America experienced an unprecedented expansion of the middle class. In fact, some of the investments made during that time were so forward-thinking that we still rely on their results today: the interstate highway system, Social Security, and federal student aid for higher education are some examples of investments that are critical to our lives today.

With this history in mind, I included many provisions in the Rebuild America Act that will return these priorities to the forefront. Firstly, we must invest in America to create good jobs and lasting growth. Targeted investments to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure and outdated schools; investments in teaching, manufacturing, and job training; improved trade policies; and funds for local governments to hire critical personnel like teachers, police, and firefighters will provide near-term stability and growth in our economy, and pay lasting dividends for future generations.

While economic recovery will undoubtedly help families' budgets, my plan also calls for new policies that will help families achieve financial stability. It would make child care more affordable, protect overtime pay, give workers the chance to earn paid sick days, update the minimum wage, and increase job opportunities for Americans with disabilities.  It would also protect the right to form and join a union - historically one of the most important paths for working Americans to join the middle class.  Additionally, the Rebuild America Act strengthens Social Security and the private pension system, to help workers save enough to enjoy their Golden Years in retirement.

All of these changes are important, but until we restore some fundamental fairness to our tax code, middle class families will continue to lose out. The Rebuild America Act would institute a rule to ensure that the very wealthiest Americans pay at least as much in taxes as middle class families.  It would also impose a transaction tax on Wall Street speculators and end tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas, among other things.  Combined, these measures would fully fund all of the other policies included in the Rebuild America Act, making it deficit-neutral.

I know that this plan sounds ambitious. But Americans have never been content to sit idly by.  Throughout our history, we have risen to every challenge that our great nation has faced. Our current challenges may be a little harder to define, but Iowa families feel them every day. This Labor Day, it is time to prioritize the middle class. It is time to put workers and their families first. It is time to Rebuild America.

A PDF version of the column is available by clicking here
28 Aug 2012

The 'Musical Chairs' Spiritual Trend

By Rick Martin
Polls Show More Non-Denominational Believers; Commingling Disparate Traditions is Good, Author Says

Growing numbers of Americans are changing their relationship with religion, recent Pew Research Center polls indicate.

Consider the stats:

• Forty-four percent of U.S. adults have either switched religious affiliation, or report "no affiliation"

• More than 16 percent report they are unaffiliated with a religion; that includes those who are spiritual but not religious, and agnostics and atheists

• Twenty-eight percent have switched from the religion in which they were raised

"A full-bodied understanding of the truth does not necessarily come neatly packaged in the form of a church or a scientific theory," says Eli Just, former physics teacher and author of Manny Jones and the Place (www.elijustsupernaturalwriter.com), which links quantum theory, biblical stories and the Mayan precession.

With science developing new concepts about the nature of reality; changing attitudes in institutional religions, and widespread sharing on the internet, more believers are creating their own spiritual narrative -- one that makes more sense to them, he says. Scandals involving sex and money in Christian denominations, which account for more than 78 percent of the faithful in America, have contributed to religious shifting, Just adds.

A recent Pew poll on religion reveals that nearly 40 percent of Americans say there is "too much" religious talk in politics. Many respondents think politicians use religion as a tool for their own benefit, which may serve to increase alienation to religion for the average American, Just says.

Despite wariness on some religious issues, most respondents polled say spirituality plays a significant role in their lives.

"Type in 'new religious movements' in Wikipedia and you'll see the hundreds of religions that have popped up since the 1800s, and those are just the registered ones," Just says. "As a man of science and faith, and I don't think the truths of these two traditions are mutually exclusive. After all, Newton was a fervent Christian."

One of the more recent registered religions was created in 2000 and is called Jediism - a movement based on the philosophical and spiritual ideas posited by Jedi characters in the "Star Wars" movies. Jedi churches often incorporate beliefs from mainstream spiritual traditions including Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism and Stoicism.

"Everything is connected, which is probably why so many people come up with such a variety of spiritual perspectives," Just says. "Personally, however, I don't think the interconnectivity of everything gives license to the notion that all religions are the same."

In addition to the new and fascinating data coming from sources like the Large Hadron Collider in Europe, it's important to remember ideas that are still alive after thousands of years, he says.

"Old religions like Christianity have withstood the test of time," Just says. "That's why the majority of Americans remain spiritual and religious in a traditional sense."

About Eli Just

Eli Just is the author of several books including the popular "Manny Jones" series and "The Eddy." He has a master's in history from Southeastern Louisiana University and is a self-taught student of physics, which he taught at the high school level. As a Christian, Just enjoys exploring themes involving physics and its relationship to religion. He lives in northern Georgia.

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