UPDATE:

We just received additional information from the US Postal Service detailing some of the proposed changes to postal operations in the current First Congressional District of Iowa.

In short, the Postal Service is proposing to keep open post offices that were previously at risk for closure.  Instead, the Postal Service is proposing to limit the hours of operation at a number of post offices.  View a detailed breakdown of the proposal - including the specific post offices affected (in the First District of Iowa only) - at the following link:

http://go.usa.gov/VvP

At 3pm CDT, the Postal Service will release a nationwide list of the proposed changes at the following link:

http://about.usps.com/news/electronic-press-kits/our-future-network/welcome.htm#

 

Announcement is "a major victory for rural Iowans"

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today after the US Postal Service announced that it was abandoning its plan to close thousands of post offices across the county and will instead reduce service hours at as many as a tiird of all post offices:

"This announcement is a major victory for rural Iowans who depend on their post offices to do business and connect with the world.  Post offices are a vital part of the rural Iowa economy, and we've worked for months to protect small town post offices from closure.  I'm glad that the Postal Service has heeded our call and will keep our post offices open.

"However, I am concerned about how severe the service cutbacks will be under the new proposal.  I'm going to closely evaluate its effect on post offices in Iowa."

The Postal Service has faced severe budget shortfalls and has weighed closing thousands of post offices across the United States for the past year.  In December 2011, bowing to public pressure, the US Postal Service announced a moratorium on all post office closures until May 15th, 2012.

The announcement likely means that 234 post offices in Iowa "under review" for closure will remain open.  In Iowa's First Congressional District, 22 post offices "under review" for closure will likely remain open.

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BREAKTHROUGH TECHNOLOGY TO FREEZE AWAY BODY FAT NOW AVAILABLE

DAVENPORT, Iowa -- May 9, 2012 -- CoolSculpting®, an innovative technology that freezes away unwanted fat, is now available at Genesis Plastic Surgery Specialists, making the medical practice the first in the region to offer this breakthrough in non-invasive fat reduction.

"CoolSculpting is an exciting new approach that is non-invasive and has shown significant results in clinical studies for removing fat without the potential risks and downtime of invasive procedures," said Anne Cramer, M.D., who is in practice with John Searles, M.D. "We have found the procedure to be extremely effective, especially on resistant, localized areas such as back fat, love handles and the isolated belly fat. CoolSculpting is comfortable and patients are highly satisfied."

Cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CoolSculpting cools unwanted fat cells in the body, thereby inducing a natural, controlled elimination of fat cells. Based on science developed by the Wellman Center for Photomedicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Mass., this breakthrough is based on thorough research that demonstrates fat cells are more susceptible to cold and are selectively, painlessly and permanently destroyed. Starting several weeks after the procedure, cooled fat cells begin a process called "apoptosis" and begin to shrink and disappear. The body proceeds to naturally and gradually eliminate the cooled fat cells, reducing the thickness of the fat layer.

Unlike many other methods of fat reduction, CoolSculpting involves no needles, surgery or long periods of recovery. During the procedure, a non-invasive applicator delivers precisely controlled cooling to the treatment area, specifically targeting fat. Treatments last one hour. Some patients will benefit from a repeat procedure to the area.

On average, each CoolSculpting procedure results in an undeniable reduction of fat in the treated area, and patients can start to see results as soon as three weeks following treatment, with the most dramatic results occurring over a period of two to four months in most patients.

Surgeons Dr. Anne Cramer and Dr. John Searles provide board-certified services in breast surgery, body contouring, liposuction, face and eyelid surgery and post-bariatric plastic surgery. They also specialize in breast reconstruction after cancer, skin cancer and burn care.

Genesis Plastic Surgery Specialists is located at 5335 Eastern Ave., Davenport. For more information, call (563) 323-0026 or www.genesishealth.com/pss. For information about CoolSculpting, go to www.thefatfreeze.com.

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Adult children of Alcoholics support group at the Bettendorf Public Library, upstairs (room will be listed ) on May 10th, 24th, and 31st.  From 6pm until 7pm. FREE. Come and join us to share your inspiring story and help each other to overcome/deal with  characteristics of ACOA! Contact miyoshij@yahoo.com with questions.

MOTHER'S DAY BRUNCH

Sunday, May 13 • 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. $13.00 per adult / $7.50 per child (ages 4-12)

Brunch entrees include a variety of quiches, breakfast casseroles, brown sugar bacon, roasted pork, herbed potatoes, hearty lasagna, fresh-baked pastries including our popular cinnamon rolls, fruits, cheeses, desserts and more!

GRADUATION CATERING

Our catering options will make your high school or college graduation a unique, fun and memorable experience! We offer a wide variety of gourmet sandwich trays, supberb side dishes, custom cakes and cupcakes to accommodate any of your needs! Stop in to pick up a catering menu or visit whiskawaycafe.com

COOKING CLASSES

ADULT CLASSES

Perfect Picnics
Thurs., May 17, 7-9 p.m. • $25.00
Whether it's a romantic date or you're just feeling adventurous, picnics are the perfect way to enjoy a meal during the spring and summer months. Learn everything from how to plan the menu to how to prepare the dishes in this class.

Pies of all Kinds
Thurs., May 31, 7-9 p.m. • $25.00
Want to know the secret to making a flakey pie crust? This class is for you! We will teach you to make sweet and savory pies that will impress everyone at your next gathering.

ALL KIDS (3-18)

Mother's Day Gifts
Thurs., May 10, 6-7:30 p.m. • $15.00
Kids of all ages are invited to this event where we will create beautiful and fun edible Mother's Day gifts.

JUNIOR CHEFS (ages 9-14)

Oh the Pastabilities!
Mon., May 21st, 6-8 p.m. • $15.00
In this hands-on class kids will learn the basics of making their own fresh pasta, fillings and sauces. They will also learn to use vegetables to color pasta, making it fun and healthy!

TINY CHEFS (ages 3-8)

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Sun., May 27th, 3-4:30 p.m. • $15.00
It will be raining homemade meatballs, spaghetti cupcakes and more during this class for tiny chefs.


Location:

919 6th Avenue, DeWitt, Iowa 52742 (MAP IT)

Find us on Facebook!

Facebook.com/whiskaway

Loebsack Amendment to Save the 132nd Fighter Wing Passes Committee on Bipartisan Vote

Language prevents retirement of F-16s in Des Moines

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack released the following statement after his amendment to prevent the retirements or transfer of Air National Guard aircraft, including the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines, passed early this morning.  As the only Member of Congress from Iowa on the House Armed Services Committee, Loebsack offered this amendment to the FY 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The Loebsack amendment was cosponsored by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and was passed with strong bipartisan support.

"This is great news for the men and women of the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines and Air National Guard units across the country. The Air Force's original proposal made no sense for our national security, our ability to respond to emergencies here at home, or for the taxpayers. I am pleased that the Armed Services Committee agreed on a bipartisan basis and joined me in ensuring that our dedicated Airmen did not see their positions eliminated."

Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), the Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee, applauded Loebsack's efforts to ensure this amendment was passed.

"The hard work and dedication of Dave Loebsack helped save the jobs of over 370 Iowa National Guard Airmen and the Iowa National Guard fighters. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, he immediately went to work to prevent the Air Force's proposed cuts from moving forward.  His hard work paid off and his commitment to the men and women of the National Guard and the Iowa Air Guard could not have been stronger," said Smith.

For specific information about the amendment, click here.

Also included in the NDAA, was Loebsack's legislation that prohibits reductions in the rate of Basic Allowance for Housing for members of the National Guard who transition from full time National Guard duty to active duty or from active duty to full time National Guard duty. Under current policy, some National Guardsmen who make this transition see their benefits reduced at a time when they and their families can least afford it because of a policy that changes how their benefits are calculated.

Loebsack also strongly supported a provision to reauthorize National Guard Counterdrug Schools like that the Iowa Guard runs at Camp Dodge (the Midwest Counterdrug Training Center).

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Washington, D.C. - Congressman Dave Loebsack will offer an amendment today that would prevent the retirements or transfer of Air National Guard aircraft, including the 132nd Fighter Wing in Des Moines.  As the only Member of Congress from Iowa on the House Armed Services Committee, Loebsack offered this amendment to the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.  The Loebsack Amendment has bipartisan support from members of Committee, including the Ranking Member, and is expected to be voted on and accepted later today.

"I am very proud to offer this amendment.  The men and women of the 132nd Fighter Wing have proven time and again they are some of the hardest working and most experienced in the National Guard.  Their performance is second to none.  The proposal to move the F-16s out of Des Moines was short-sighted and wasn't a good deal for taxpayers or our national security. I am pleased the other members of the House Armed Services Committee agree and I strongly encourage the passage of this amendment," said Loebsack.

Earlier this week the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee voted to include funding for keeping the 132nd in Des Moines, but without this amendment, the program would still have been retired or transferred.

 

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Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre will host an open reading of The Merchant of Venice on Wednesday, May 16 at 7:00 p.m. at Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert Street, Iowa City. The Merchant of Venice is one of two plays that will be produced for Riverside Theatre's summer season, Riverside Theatre in the Park.

 

Come for a behind-the-scenes look at an early phase of the production's artistic development: the company's first read-through of the play with the director, Kristin Horton. Afterwards, audience members will be invited to respond?and audience feedback will help shape the production.

 

The event is free and open to the public; no tickets are required.

 

Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, directed by Horton and  As You Like It, directed by Theodore Swetz will be performed at the Riverside Festival Stage in Lower City Park June 15 - July 8.

 

The Merchant of Venice and related audience education/outreach efforts are supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

 

For more information 319-338-7672 or www.riversidetheatre.org.

 

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A Discussion of As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice 

Iowa City, IA - Riverside Theatre will host a Thursday Theatre Talk to complement its upcoming summer season, Riverside Theatre in the Park.

The hour-long discussion will be held on Thursday, May 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Riverside Theatre, 213 N. Gilbert Street, Iowa City. The event is free and open to the public.

Join Shakespearean scholar Miriam Gilbert, Professor of English at the University of Iowa, as she discusses Shakespeare's As You Like It and The Merchant of Venice with directors Theodore Swetz and Kristin Horton.

As You Like It directed by Swetz and The Merchant of Venice directed by Horton will be performed at the Riverside Festival Stage in Lower City Park June 15 - July 8.

For more information 319-338-7672 or www.riversidetheatre.org.

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Washington, DC - Congressmen Bobby Schilling (IL-17) and Dave Loebsack (IA-02) today announced that U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has accepted their April 26 invitation to visit the Quad Cities' structurally-deficient I-74 Bridge, and is going to be joining them there the afternoon of Friday, May 11.  

"We are happy to welcome Secretary LaHood to the Quad Cities, so he can see firsthand the important part the I-74 bridge plays in the local community, region and states," said Congressmen Schilling and Loebsack.  "The bridge has never met Interstate standards, but with 77,800 vehicles crossing daily, its replacement is truly needed.  The I-74 Bridge project will not only spur economic growth, create construction jobs, reduce traffic backups and aid in commerce, but would- most importantly - improve safety for Americans traveling between Iowa and Illinois."

"The I-74 bridge is an important reminder that there are big transportation projects that need our attention across the country," said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.  "We can't afford to keep kicking the can down the road with extensions.  We need Congress to pass a long-term, bipartisan transportation bill, so states and cities have the funding and the certainty they need to tackle big efforts like this."

Sec. LaHood, Schilling, and Loebsack will be viewing the I-74 Bridge at 2:00pm CST on Friday May 11 at 12th Street East of Leach Park.  Also expected to join them are Moline Mayor Don Welvaert and Bettendorf Mayor Bob Gallagher.  Friday afternoon's Bridge viewing is open to press.

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President called for program in January's State of the Union address

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) introduced legislation today to create a national Veterans' Jobs Corps, a program that would seek to put unemployed veterans back to work using skills they developed in the military - to improve national parks, serve as police officers and firefighters, and work in communities.  Braley is the highest-ranking Democrat on the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.

In his January State of the Union address, President Obama called on Congress to create the Veterans' Jobs Corps.  Yesterday in Albany, New York, Obama included the Veterans' Jobs Corps on a Congressional "To Do List" to create jobs.  Braley consulted with the White House while crafting the bill.

"One out of every four veterans who served in Iraq or Afghanistan is out-of-work.  The Veterans' Jobs Corps will reduce that number," Braley said.  "Men and women who've put their lives on the line for our country deserve every opportunity when they return home.  Why not provide them the chance to keep contributing to the nation they love, whether as firefighters, cops, or park rangers?  They've already rebuilt Iraq and Afghanistan.  It's time to give them the chance to help rebuild America."

The Veterans' Jobs Corps Act would allow the executive branch to create the Vets Jobs Corps program as a cooperative project between federal agencies.  Members of the jobs corps could be employed to improve public lands and national parks, prevent forest fires, work in public safety jobs like police and fire departments, and control floods.  Participation in the corps would be open to unemployed veterans and unemployed widows of veterans.

In his capacity on the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, Braley has worked to reduce unemployment among veterans and create jobs for returning servicemembers.  Last October, Braley co-hosted a series of bipartisan field hearings on veterans' unemployment with Indiana Republican Marlin Stutzman.  In November, President Obama signed into law a pair of tax credits Braley had championed to give businesses incentives to hire unemployed veterans.  In February, Stutzman and Braley held another veterans' unemployment hearing in Washington.

A copy of the Veterans' Jobs Corps Act can be downloaded at the following link: http://go.usa.gov/Vpi

Audio of Braley discussing the Veterans' Jobs Corps can be downloaded at the following link: http://www.mydigitalmanager.com/index.php?a=ViewItem&i=7523

# # #

Greetings!

 

It has been another busy week here at the Republican Party. We had a very successful Lincoln Dinner on Saturday at Veterans Auditorium. We got to hear from a number of speakers including Congressman King, Congressman Latham, Senator Grassley, Lt. Governor Reynolds, Secretary of State Schultz, Senate Minority Leader Behn, Majority Leader Upmeyer and of course our featured speaker, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. Mr. Cuccinelli spoke about his challenge to Obamacare and how we must defeat President Obama in November and repeal this atrocious law. Our nation can never hope to recover if it is saddled down by Obamacare. He also spoke about the need for individuals to fight for limited government at the local as well as national level.  I particularly enjoyed seeing lots of old and new friends and want to thank our speakers and everyone who attended for helping to make it a great event.

 

The committees for our state convention in June also met this past weekend. I would like to thank all the grassroots individuals who served on the platform, nominating, rules and credentials committees. The nominating committee put together a slate of delegates and alternates for the national convention. This slate will be voted on by delegates to the state convention in June.

 

The slate of delegates is as follows:

 

Terry Branstad- Boone

Chuck Grassley- Butler

Margaret Stoldorf- Montgomery

Michelle Bullock- Polk

James Mills- Floyd

Steve Anders- Pottawattamie

Roger Leahy- Jefferson

Mark Hansen- Pottawattamie

Will Johnson- Dubuque

Lexy Nuzum- Madison

Andrea Bie- Allamakee

David Fischer- Polk

Drew Ivers- Hamilton

 

The slate of alternates is as follows:

 

Kim Reynolds- Clarke

Cody Hoefert- Lyon

Sam Clovis- Plymouth

Jeff Jorgenson- Pottawattamie

Lisa Smith- Wapello

Brad Zuan- Polk

David Wiederstein- Cass

Mmike Gresham- Fremont

Jennifer Bowen- Dallas

John Bowery- Page

Ruth Long- Union

Tracee Knapp- Ringgold

Therese Davis- Guthrie

 

Just a reminder our monthly Chairman's Lunch is May 30th at the Republican Party of Iowa headquarters. The event begins at noon and will feature guest speakers Lt. Governor Reynolds and Senate Minority Leader Behn. The cost is $20 and you can reserve your spot by emailing rsvp@iowagop.org. Please consider joining us for this event. It is vital to have open communication between elected officials and Iowans if we are to succeed this fall.

 

To Victory,

A.J. Spiker

Chairman, Republican Party of Iowa

Paid for by the Republican Party of Iowa and not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

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