April 28^th event celebrates roots of locally-owned, third generation garden center

Coal Valley, IL - As the plants and flowers are coming into bloom, the Corn Crib Nursery welcomes the public for a 40^th Anniversary "Garden Party" on Saturday, April 28^th to celebrate its place as a perennial, locally-owned business.

The free events take place from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm at the nursery (6924 Route 150 - Hwy. 150, Coal Valley, IL). Besides the locally-grown, on-site selection in the green houses, the day salutes Corn Crib Nursery's knowledgeable staff, its full line of landscape design services as well as new products that complement your home and tempt your taste buds.

At 10:00 am, "Primo ® Paul" will begin offering samples cooked on the Primo ® Grills and Smokers that the Corn Crib Nursery added to the lineup this year. Also at 10:00 am, the Crib's Joe Sobaski will host a presentation on a recent trend - Vertical Gardening - including how to build your own "Succulent Fence."

Corn Crib Nursery is also proud to be a certified Best Proven Winner ® consultant. At 11:00 am, Susie Fesler-Vaughn teaches attendees how to build their own Best Proven Winner container and will give one away as a door prize. At 2:00 PM, Bob Towler of the Rock Island Horticulture Club caps off the activities with a Q&A session.

Throughout the day, there will be door prizes, complementary anniversary cake as well as samples of the Corn Crib Nursery's new in-house line of jams and preserves. It's a day worthy of a business built on personal attention and premier products. Together, it makes the Corn Crib Nursery a destination experience.

"Our business has certainly evolved during the last forty years," said Duane White, Owner/Partner of Corn Crib Nursery. "The 'Garden Party' will be a chance to celebrate working with the three things I love most - people, plants and family."

The Corn Crib Nursery began in 1972 as a seasonal, open-air market and sod farm. In 1980, the business constructed its first permanent buildings and became a year-round, full service garden center including design services. Locally owned during its 40-year history, it now welcomes a third generation from the White family to the staff. The nursery is open Monday through Saturday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm and 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Sunday. For more information, visit www.corncribnursery.com or "like" us on Facebook - Search: Corn Crib Nursery.

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SPRINGFIELD, IL (04/06/2012)(readMedia)-- Four members of the Illinois National Guard's Family Programs were recognized for their efforts and service to the Soldiers, Airmen and military families April 4 at Camp Lincoln in Springfield.

Kathy KozaK of Glendale Heights, Anita Yakle of Jacksonville and Shirley Dilworth of Springfield received a Military Medal of Merit and Annette Chapman of Pontiac received a trophy of achievement for their display of selfless devotion and support for Illinois National Guard Family Program's mission. Their efforts enhanced operational support and ensured the program met the needs of servicemembers and their families.

Kozak served as the hub for the Illinois National Guard's Family support system at North Riverside. She successfully maintained a 99 percent contact rate for outreach calls to family members of deployed servicemembers and also serves as a primary contact for the Service Member and Family Support Services for Informal Crisis Response Team.

Yakle was the primary member of the Servicemember Readiness Program team; processing more than 10,000 Soldiers. On a daily basis she works closely with all branches, establishing professional and supportive relationships, assists Survivors and the Survivor Outreach Services Team. She supports more than 30 units, more than 3,600 servicemembers in addition to their family members.

As the Springfield Illinois Service Member and Family Support Services Military Youth Coordinator, Dilworth successfully established events to assist more than 31,000 military youth of all branches within Illinois to cope with a parent's deployment and homecoming.

Dilworth facilitated more than 45 events with a year-end total of more than 3,300 youth

attendees at events such as deployment and reunion ceremonies, formal classes for youth ages 6 to 17 on how to cope with deployments and improving the State's Annual Easter Egg Hunt. She ensures all events are both enjoyable and educational.

Chapman assisted in the pre-deployment, deployment and return of more than 3,000 servicemembers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team and assisted their families through every step in 2008 to 2009. After that, she stepped up as the Family Readiness Assistant and finally the Senior Family Readiness Support Assistant for the Illinois National Guard Service Members and their families.

Growing strong STEM students

University of Iowa College of Education Assistant Professor Cory Forbes is helping teachers use existing curricular materials to promote inquiry-based science education. His research will help teachers improve their students' learning in the critical fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Forbes is working with elementary teachers in Davenport, one of Iowa's largest high-needs districts. The project, "Promoting Inquiry-Based Elementary Science through Collaborative Curriculum Co-construction," or PIESC3, helps educators adapt their current curricular resources to meet National Science Education Standards and the Iowa Core Curriculum.

Forbes works with teachers to evaluate videos of their own teaching to identify examples of inquiry-based instruction, that is, teaching structured around questions concerning scientific concepts and processes. Teachers involved in the project also participate in professional development courses to improve their science teaching.

Lori Bates-Heithoff, a first grade teacher at McKinley Elementary, said the process has made her a better teacher and made her students better scientists.  "They are much more enthusiastic about science when their curiosity drives the lesson," she said.

DID YOU KNOW?

UI College of Education faculty members are involved in STEM-related research and projects statewide. For example, Brian Hand and Bill Therrien are helping 7,000 Iowa students in grades 4-6 in 48 elementary schools located in Loess Hills (southwest Iowa) and Keystone (northeast Iowa) AEAs to improve their science literacy.

Education Grads Inspire Iowans, Improve Iowa Communities

When Alison Provin (BA '84, MA'92) saw her community struggling and students labeled as "troubled," she created an opportunity for both to shine and grow through service.

Provin, chair of the foreign language department at Newton High School, created an annual Community Service Day, when students and community volunteers work together to improve their town.

"Newton has gone through tough times," she said, noting that when Maytag, the town's largest employer left, many of the students' parents lost their jobs. "Not only does Community Service Day benefit the community in the obvious ways, but it also gives a visual boost of morale to the citizens of Newton."

"It is an excellent model for students in terms of cooperation, involvement, and practical application of skills," said Chris Noel (MA '74), Newton High visual arts teacher. "I'm always glad to be a part of the day."

Provin said that each year the project grows and the sense of pride and service builds at her school. "There is no greater gift to give than to inspire and create something that outlives you," she said. "I hope that is what we are doing."

DID YOU KNOW?

Almost 400 UI students annually complete the required course work for certification and teacher licensure with almost 4,500 teachers graduating from the UI in the past 10 years.

QUOTE/UNUQUOTE

Susan Lagos Lavenz, associate dean for Teacher Education, said there's no doubt College of Education students serve as area role models and provide leadership. "By providing our students with a cutting-edge preparation program with certification in the core competencies of assessment, technology, and school community, our graduates generate new ideas and create opportunities that bring communities together."