The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced more than $1.2 million in federal grants to help protect, restore and enhance wetlands and associated habitats across the Midwest Region under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Small Grants Program. The federal grants are matched by more than $3.6 million in partner funds.

"The NAWCA Small Grants Program facilitates public-private partnerships that benefit wetlands and other vital habitats, which contribute to our water quality and overall ecological health," said Service Midwest Regional Director Tom Melius. "The continuation of this funding source provides outdoor recreation opportunities while educating the public on the importance of wetlands and wetland-dependent species to our environment and our economy."

NAWCA Small Grants Program approved projects in 2012 –

Iowa
Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area, Mangold Addition
Grantee: Pheasants Forever
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$125,000
This project will protect 40 acres adjacent to Buffalo Creek Wildlife Management Area in Delaware County, Iowa. The property will be converted from row-crop agriculture to native prairie and wetlands will be restored.

Iowa Prairie Pothole Upland Habitat Enhancement II
Grantee: Pheasants Forever
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$75,000
This project will restore or enhance over 1,440 acres of wetland-associated grasslands throughout the Prairie Pothole region of Iowa. Project activities will include a combination of tree removal and seeding of native grasses and other prairie plants.

Minnesota
Minnesota Lake Waterfowl Complex Addition
Grantee: Pheasants Forever
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$225,000
This project will protect 78 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat adjacent to Minnesota Lake and 1,323 acres of existing habitat complex in Faribault County, Minn. The area hosts a large colony of American White Pelicans and is part of a regionally significant migratory bird stopover site.

Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge Wetland Restorations
Grantee: Rydell/Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuges
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$249,499
This project will restore or enhance 245 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat on two recently acquired tracts of refuge land. Project activities will include ditch plugging and berm construction, tree and invasive species removal, and seeding using native plants.

Fergus Falls Wetland and Grassland Restoration
Grantee: Fergus Falls Wetland Management District
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $50,000/$170,000
This project will restore or enhance 381 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat on Waterfowl Production Areas in the Fergus Falls Wetland Management District. Multiple small wetland basins will be restored throughout the area, and larger existing basins will be enhanced with the replacement or installation of water control structures. Grasslands will be restored and enhanced through tree removal, herbicide and seeding.

West Central Minnesota Grasslands II
Grantee: Pheasants Forever
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$120,000
This project will restore 250 acres of wetland-associated grasslands on 18 Waterfowl Production Areas and protect more than 74 acres of predominantly wetland habitat via fee-title acquisition.

Windom Area Wetlands
Grantee: Ducks Unlimited
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$359,973
This project will enhance water quality at three large, shallow wetland basins totaling 358 acres. These basins have been degraded due to invasive species. Installation of water-control structures will provide managers with the capability to conduct periodic drawdowns, which will help rejuvenate water clarity and allow for emergent vegetation to re-establish.

Detroit Lakes Private Lands Wetland Restorations
Grantee: Detroit Lakes Wetland Management District
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $55,000/$175,000
This project will restore or enhance 122 acres of wetland and grassland habitat on several tracts of land that are adjacent to publicly-managed areas in northwestern Minnesota. Project activities will involve a combination of ditch plugging, sediment removal, seeding and tree removal.

Wisconsin
Marquart Addition to the Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area
Grantee: Pheasants Forever
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$120,000
This project will protect approximately 106 acres of habitat including a wetland basin surrounded by row-crop agriculture. This parcel is located directly adjacent to Hallie Marsh Wildlife Area. Agricultural land will subsequently be restored to grassland after acquisition, which will contribute to a larger intact habitat complex.

Meadow Valley Flowage Wetland Enhancement Project- Phase III
Grantee: Ducks Unlimited
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$75,000
This project will enhance 350 acres of wetland habitat and improve water-level management capacity at the Meadow Valley Wildlife Area, a key wetland complex in central Wisconsin. This project will build upon the previous two phases of this initiative to better manage a 3,000 acre wetland complex on this area.

Glacial Habitat Restoration Area Wetland Restoration Project
Grantee: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$81,856
This project will restore approximately 74 acres of row-crop agricultural land to wetland habitat and protect 140 acres of habitat.

Green Bay West Shore Preserve Acquisition
Grantee: Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $48,960/79,040
This project will protect 34 acres of predominantly wetland habitat along the west shore of Green Bay, Wis. This parcel contains high-quality wetlands and is in close proximity to other conservation-managed areas including the 570-acre Sensiba Wildlife Area.

Northern Empire Prairie Wetlands Initiative
Grantee: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$81,856
This project will protect and enhance 757 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat. Wetlands will be restored via a combination of installation of water control structures, dike renovation, chemical treatment, tree removal and seeding.

Indiana
Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge Wetlands Conservation
Grantee: Ducks Unlimited
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $42,416/$42,416
This project will protect 155 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat and restore approximately 63 acres of predominantly forested wetlands on four separate tracts of the Patoka River National Wildlife Refuge in southern Indiana. These areas were recently acquired by the refuge and were until recently in row-crop agriculture.

Illinois
Black Crown Marsh Restoration and Protection Project
Grantee: Ducks Unlimited
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$116,673
This project will protect 36 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat, and will restore 75 acres of former wetland habitat via a combination of earthwork, tree and invasive plant removal, and seeding. This project is part of a larger initiative to restore the 375 acre Black Crown Marsh complex.

Habitat Restoration at Hadley Valley Preserve
Grantee: Forest Preserve District of Will County
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$104,000
This project will restore or enhance 96 acres of former wetland and grassland habitat in Will County, Ill. Project activities will include locating and disabling drain tiles, tributary stabilization, and re-establishing native prairie and wetland plants on the area via seeding and invasive plant control/removal.

Ohio

Medina Marsh Protection Project
Grantee: Medina County Park District
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$1,189,000
This project will protect 91 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat in Medina County, Ohio. This area will connect two adjacent conservation-managed areas along the West Branch of the Rocky River, which drains into nearby Lake Erie.

Franklin Bog Protection Project
Grantee: Portage Park District
NAWCA funds awarded/match: $75,000/$262,760
This project will protect 56 acres of wetland and associated upland habitat in Portage County, Ohio. The property includes more than 17 acres of rare wetland and supports populations of several rare plant and animal species.

For additional information on the NAWCA Small Grant Program, visit http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Small/2012.shtm

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.

-FWS-

Today's Date:  June 12, 2012

Event Date:  Saturday, June 16, 2012

Who Will Survive the Teens' Hunger Games Party?

Teens, do you have what it takes to survive? Try to survive the challenges of brain and skill at the Davenport Public Library's "Hunger Games Party" on Saturday, June 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Eastern Avenue Branch Library (6000 Eastern Avenue.) You will be pitted against your peers in a tough Hunger Games trivia challenge and other fun and challenging trials. No one needs to go hungry though, there will be Hunger Games - themed snacks to help in your survival. Registration is required for this exciting FREE program. For more information or to register call 563-326-7832.

***

WASHINGTON, June 12, 2012-TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak to guests at the Partnership Arthur Davis Conference Center in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, about how the continuing demand for American food and agricultural products abroad has led to the three best consecutive years for U.S. farm exports in our nation's history. Vilsack will also highlight a report released earlier today by the White House Rural Council and the U.S. Department of Agriculture which notes progress that has been made in the agricultural economy and details steps the Obama Administration has taken to help strengthen the farm economy and support jobs in rural America.

 

U.S. agriculture continues to be a bright spot in America's economy and a driving force behind export growth, job creation, and our nation's competitiveness. Under the Obama Administration, U.S. agriculture accounts for 1 in 12 American jobs, provides American consumers with 83 percent of the food we consume, ensures the Americans spend less of their paychecks at the grocery store than most other countries, sustains a year-over-year trade surplus, supports record incomes for farm families in rural parts of our country, and is helping to support local and regional food systems as well as renewable energy markets. Just a few weeks ago, USDA forecast 2012 farm exports to reach the second highest level on record, after 2011, making the past three years the strongest collective performance in our nation's history.

 

Iowa's agricultural export success has played a major role in this American success story. Last year, Iowa exported a record $7 billion in agricultural products. Thus far in 2012, Iowa's farm exports show a 15-percent gain over last year's record total. Overall, Iowa's farm exports support the state's strong employment rate (Iowa's unemployment rate through April was 5.1%) and nearly 60,000 jobs on and off the farm.

 

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

1:30-2:30 p.m. CDT

 

WHAT: Remarks by Agriculture Secretary Vilsack on how U.S. agricultural exports are a bright spot in the American economy, and a strong agricultural industry has helped bolster Iowa's economy.

 

WHERE: Des Moines Partnership's Arthur Davis Conference Room

700 Locust St., Suite 100

Des Moines, Iowa 50309

 

RSVP: Credentialed members of the media may attend the briefing.

 

#

Hello America,

 

This is your prostate.

 

I'm here to tell you that I'm sick and tired of being ignored. I may not look great in a bikini, but I'm just as susceptible to cancer as breasts, and now I'm demanding some attention. ZERO's been working damn hard to make testing and education available to millions of prostate-oblivious men, and I'm here to help. I'll be making my debut in New York this week, telling people exactly who I am, where I live, and how to treat me right.

 

To kick off Father's Day weekend in the Big Apple, Skip Lockwood, CEO of ZERO, is going to be on the Today Show this Thursday, helping me preach my cantankerous gospel to end prostate cancer. Later on, I'll be at the ZERO testing van with a posse of 13 pro-prostate picketers, informing every passing man that I'm not a happy gland when I'm ignored. And to hit it home, I'm going to tell everyone that the 3rd Sunday in June is no longer Father's Day. It's Prostate Day.

 

To celebrate my new holiday, me and some of the other glands down where the sun-don't-shine put together a few videos that make me look like a movie star. Click here to check 'em out on my new ZERO homepage, and while you're there, share them with your friends. Then print and send uncle Max a Prostate Day card. The more people that hear my voice, the closer we get to keeping me healthy, and maybe then I'll shut up.

 

Don't let me be ignored!

 

Your Prostate



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Week 2 of Summer Reading

books on a plate illustration Summer Reading started last week at all Rock Island Libraries. If you haven't picked up your forms yet for the childrens, young adult or adult reading clubs, there's still lots of time to read and win! With themes such as Reading is So Delicious, Feed Your Mind: READ and Books are Brain Food, the library is cooking up a summer stacked high with fun and reading.

 

To see the entire list of events, see "Summer @ Your Library" on the library website. See below for events during Week 2 of our summer!

 

Summer Reading events and prizes sponsored by Friends of the Rock Island Public Library, Milan-Blackhawk Area Public Library District (Southwest Branch events) and the Rock Island Public Library Foundation (summer art and drama.)

Reading is So Delicious for Kids

 

The Reading is So Delicious summer reading club offers: A Read-to-Me club log for ages two to five, the I'm a Reader book club for ages six to eight, and the Ravenous Reader log for ages nine to 11. With each log, kids earn prizes for reaching age-appropriate reading goals at three levels, and an extra chance to win special prize baskets.  Fill out an ice cream cone iwth your name on it to be added to our summer reading wall! Events this week include :

 

photo of ventriloquist Kevin HornerVentriloquist Kevin Horner and friends: Thursday, June 14, at 2:30 pm, Main Library. Please note NEW time - schedule changed after publication of summer reading brochure!

 

Storytime at 30/31 Branch: 10:30 am, Tuesday, June 12

Storytime at Southwest: 10:30 am., Wednesday, June 13

 

Book Tasting at 30/31 Branch: 3:00 pm, Wednesday, June 13, 30/31 Children's Room. Offers a taste of new books to add to your summer reading list.

 

Legos at 30/31 Branch: 4:00 pm, Wednesday, June 13 , 30/31 Children's Room

 

Math Munch with Elizabeth: Build a taste for math with five weeks of fun projects! 3:15 to 4:00 pm, Tuesday, June 12 to July 10. Main Library Children's Room.

 

Max Reader's Birthday Bash, Friday, June 15, 10:30 am, Main Library Children's Room. Stories and birthday fun with our library mascot, Max Reader Mouse. (Replaces regular storytime.)

 

All programs are free. No library card required. Questions, call the Children's Room at 309-732-7360,

Teens: Feed your Mind - READ!

Teens ages 12 to 18 turn in a reading card when they complete at least six hours of reading, or a program card for attending any one of 20 events. You can enter multiple times, and earn more chances to win books, DVDs, gift cards, or the grand prize, an Amazon Kindle® eReader. This week, you can earn points for attending:

 

Teen Game Night: Thursday, June 14, 5:30 to 7:30 pm, Main Library Community Room, 2nd floor. Board games, Wii games and snacks.

 

The Chocolate Game, 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, 30/31 Branch, 3059 30th Street. Chocolate-bar eating contest with obstacles. Win a gift card!

Books are Brain Food for Adults

Adults 18 and up can win with the Books Are Brain Food reading club.  To enter the reading contest, adults fill out an entry form for every book they read between June 4 and July 27.  Entry forms and boxes at all Rock Island locations. Top prize is a new Sony® eReader.

 

Events this week include :

 

All About NuVal Numbers, 3:30 pm, Tuesday, June 12, Southwest Branch Community Room, 9010 Ridgewood Road. What do those numbers on the front of packages mean? How can you use them to eat better? Learn how with HyVee nutritionist Chrissy Walters.

 

Recipe Club Swap and Shop: A delicious program for adults! Bring a favorite recipe to share, and watch a cooking demonstration by cook Rachel Doumbia. This session will focus on breakfast foods. 2:00 pm, Wednesday, June 13, Southwest Branch Community Room, 9010 Ridgewood Road.

 

Southwest Branch Location

 

And next week, don't miss:

 

Dinner and a Movie Night, Tuesday, June 19, 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Bring dinner from a local restaurant or home and enjoy the free classic movie, "Fried Green Tomatoes." Rock Island Main Library Community Room, 401 19th Street.

Hungry for More Details?
Pick up the summer program brochure at any Rock Island Library, or visit the library website. Reading logs and entry forms are available at the Rock Island Main Library, 30/31 Branch and Southwest Branch. You have until July 27 to turn in your reading logs and entry forms!
Rock Island, Illinois > 309.732.7323 (READ) > www.rockislandlibrary.org Rock Solid, Rock Island.
This summer, Singin' in the Rain celebrates its 60th anniverary with a return to the silver screen for one day only on Thursday, July 12 at 7:00 p.m. local time, with special matinees in select theaters at 2:00 p.m.  Turner Classic Movies (TCM) Presents 'Singin' in the Rain' 60th Anniversary Event begins with a Turner Classic Movies original production, featuring TCM host Robert Osborne in an exclusive specially-produced interview with star Debbie Reynolds. In this interview, audiences will be taken behind the scenes of one of the greatest musicals of all time, as Ms. Reynolds shares memories of working with the late great Gene Kelly and Donald O'Connor.

Immediately following these exclusive behind-the-scenes extras, audiences will be carried away by the songs, story and romance of one of the greatest musicals of all time - fully remastered and more beautiful than it ever has been before.
Tickets for the Singin' in the Rain 60th Anniversary Event are available at participating theater box offices and online at www.FathomEvents.com.
Singin' in the Rain 60th Anniversary Event will be playing at the following movie theaters in your area on July 12 at 7:00 p.m.:
RAVE Davenport 53 18 with IMAX 3601 E 53Rd St Davenport IA 52807
Please visit www.FathomEvents.com for a list of theaters showing the special matinee at 2pm.
Here Are A Few Reasons You Might Want to Think Again!

I remember when the Internet first gained prominence and it became apparent that having a Web site was essential for any commercial enterprise.

Back then, Web designers were not plentiful and few people thought to hire a professional to create a Web site. They felt that ANY Web presence was better than none at all, and they found people they knew to help them who were "into the whole Internet thing."

As a PR professional, when I would see a Web site that didn't represent people well or looked amateurish, I'd ask who created it. Invariably, I'd get answers like, "My nephew did it," or "I bought Web Design for Dummies and did it myself," or "My son has a friend who just graduated with a degree in computer science."  While those days have passed for Web sites, I'm afraid I am seeing the same thing happen with regard to social media.

As social media has become a serious part of the foundation of the media in general, some people regard it the same way as they used to regard Web sites - as something that's a good addition to their marketing tactics, but not so essential that they need to approach it with a professional sensibility. As with any marketing outreach, social media done badly will actually set you back instead of move you forward. Here are some ways to know if you are taking the right approach or heading down the wrong path:

• My Daughter Does That For Me - If your daughter is a college graduate with a broad-based education that includes a degree in mass communications, I'd say you may be on the right track. However, if she's 18 and her primary qualification is that she has Twitter and Facebook accounts, I'd say you need to reevaluate your choice of marketing personnel here. Just because she's your daughter and can use Facebook and Twitter, doesn't mean she has the skills necessary to market a business using social media.

• I Hired a College Intern - While college students may be part of the social media generation, it doesn't automatically qualify them to do social media for you. Unlike traditional media, which is a communication to a broad audience, social media is one-to-one marketing outreach. You are communicating directly to individuals and anyone who has ever posted an opinion in an Internet forum knows the online audience is not to be trifled with. Understand that your reputation is on the line. With the variety of questions and comments you will receive, it is critical that they're handled with care and professionalism to avoid any repercussions to your name and brand. A social media marketing professional is an astute communicator who ensures each time the right tone, caring and message is delivered for maximum return and keeps your audience engaged. This dynamic is crucial for the success of the program.

• I Got 11 New Followers on Twitter This Week - Of course, building followers is important, but you'll never make a social media campaign work with the onesy-twosy approach. For myself, my company and our social media clients, we have a monthly benchmark for building followers. Now, this benchmark is not a gross number, but a net figure after we have weeded out spammers, chronic friend adders, and marriage proposals from men in foreign countries, and yes, I've gotten a few of those.

At the end of the day, social media is serious business.  Do it right and you can create a base of thousands of followers.  Do it wrong and you'll have spent a lot of time and energy, spinning your wheels and getting nowhere fast.  More importantly, you'll end up thinking that social media marketing is a complete waste of time, when in fact in today's world it is one of the most critical and fundamental components for any marketing strategy, which every company needs to put in place.

Here's to your successful social media journey.

About Marsha Friedman

Marsha Friedman is a 22-year veteran of the public relations industry. She is the CEO of EMSI Public Relations (www.emsincorporated.com), a national firm that provides PR strategy and publicity services to corporations, entertainers, authors and professional firms. She also co-hosts "The News and Experts Radio Show with Alex and Marsha" on Sirius/XM Channel 131 on Saturdays at 5:00 PM EST.

The Muscatine Art Center is pleased to announce the exhibit opening on June 17 and artist reception for Pieced Elegance: Quilts by Clara Oleson on Sunday, June 24 from 1 to 5 PM.

Oleson, who has been a quilter for several decades, uses color, texture and classic quilt patterns as tools of her artistic expression. Many of her quilts explore "the grid" which is deeply embedded in the American piecework tradition. For Oleson, "the grid is symbolic of the borders of our lives, the fences we work behind, the horizons we cannot escape, the principles which guide."  Oleson who quilts for several hours every day, always using 100% cotton, sometimes with Thai silk, is interested in adapting traditional patterns, often in a series of work based on a particular pattern.

"A quilt will always reflect the time of its creation, but the best of them also speak with the silence of eternity. Piecing, designing, quilting - these daily activities, rooted in the female dominated past, are my attempt to capture quietude, with a smile."

- Clara Oleson

. The Muscatine Art Center is open to the public Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM, Thursday from 10 AM to 7 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 PM Admission is FREE.

More than 37% of Iowa seniors have received preventive services at no cost

DES MOINES, IOWA - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) today announced that the Affordable Care Act helped 164,636 Iowa seniors with Medicare get at least one preventive service at no cost to them during the first five months of 2012. This includes 10,841 who have taken advantage of the Annual Wellness Visit that is available to seniors through the law.

In total, more than 37% of Iowa seniors with Medicare have taken advantage of this benefit that is part of the 2010 health care reform law.

Prior to 2011, people with Medicare faced cost-sharing for many preventive benefits such as cancer screenings. Under the Affordable Care Act, preventive benefits are offered free of charge to beneficiaries, with no deductible or co-pay, so that cost is no longer a barrier for seniors who want to stay healthy and treat problems early. The law also added an important new service for people with Medicare ? an Annual Wellness Visit with the doctor of their choice? at no cost to beneficiaries.

"Iowa seniors are staying healthy thanks to the Affordable Care Act," said Matt Sinovic, executive director of Progress Iowa. "This is proof-positive that the health care law is having a positive impact for Iowa's communities. These are real people who are seeing tangible health benefits as a result of the law. Our goal is to get information about the law to every Iowa senior so that we can bring the percentage of Medicare recipients receiving free preventive care services up to one hundred."

For more information on Medicare-covered preventive services, please visit:
http://www.healthcare.gov/law/features/65-older/medicare-preventive-services/index.html.

To learn what screenings, vaccinations and other preventive services doctors recommend for you and those you care about, please visit the myhealthfinder tool at www.healthfinder.gov.

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