Campaign Encourages Support for Veterans and Military Families

CHICAGO - November 7, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today joined Operation Support Our Troops - America and MB Financial Bank to launch the "America has NOT Forgotten" awareness and support campaign in the days leading up to Veterans Day and the holiday season.

"Even as we bring our troops home, we must remember the many men and women who continue to serve our country throughout the world," Governor Quinn said. "We have a duty to support the men and women in uniform who sacrifice every day for our country."

The "America Has NOT Forgotten" campaign will include educational information as well as a "Call to Action" that asks each American to take small actions to show their support for our men and women serving. These actions can include writing a weekly note of support to servicemembers, and flying the flag at half-mast on the last Friday of each month in honor of those lost in the war during that month.

"The campaign is a national effort to remind Americans that thousands of young men and women continue to serve in dangerous places around the world," said Operation Support our Troops - America President Deb Rickert. "Now, more than ever, our military and their families need to know that America supports and cares for them."

All Chicago-area MB Financial Bank locations will serve as drop-off locations throughout the month of November for comfort items to be sent to troops. These items include : crackers, canned pasta and soup (28 oz or less), granola bars, foot powder (14oz or less), beef jerky, tuna, microwave popcorn, canned nuts (20 oz or less), individually-wrapped hot chocolate and coffee packets and one-pound bags of ground coffee.

Operation Support our Troops - America is a 501(c)3 volunteer-based organization that supports the morale and well-being of American forces by providing comfort, resources and education to them and their families while they are deployed and after their return. Since its inception the organization has shipped approximately 900,000 pounds of goods to troops around the world. Operation Support our Troops - America also provides financial support to military and veteran support organizations such as Fisher House and Hines VA Hospital.

For more information about Operation Support our Troops - America and other programs for our Veterans and servicemembers, visit www.OSOTAmerica.org and www.OperationHomefront.org.

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Davenport. Iowa, November 7, 2011 -The new Fejervary Learning Center will have an open house on November 15, 2011 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Fejervary Park is located at 1759 W 12th Street.

On display at the Learning center will be a show area of the 50 state trees. Tree saplings will be given away at the event as supplies last. The Davenport Public Library will also present a story time for children at 3:30 pm and again at 4:15 pm. There will also be an adaptive gardening seminar, and advice in preparing beds for winter. Visitors can also see designs for the natural playground and tree deck, and Juan Diaz Rancheros will discuss their program and give visitors an opportunity to pet a horse. Juan Diez Rancheros, which provides therapy through horses for students from schools across Davenport, has been a part of Fejervary Park for several years.

Fejervary Learning Center is ongoing project to rejuvenate the facilities at Fejervary Park. After the zoo at Fejervary Park closed, Parks and Recreation created a five year plan that included created a children's center focused on environmental education. This open house will showcase progress to date on the Learning Center.

"This facility will provide a great exposure to nature for children," said Greg Wolf, environmental education supervisor for Parks and Recreation.

What :  Fejervary Learning Center Open House

When:  November 15, 2011, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Where:  Fejervary Park, 1759 W 12th Street, Davenport IA

Iowa City, IA - November 7, 2011 - Original holiday stories sure to warm your heart.

Get out of the cold and enjoy an evening of heart-warming holiday storytelling with Riverside Theatre's production of Small Miracles, a moving, one-man show by Resident Artist and Production Manager Ron Clark, November 25-27.

"It's a nice thing to do on a holiday weekend with family and friends," Clark said.

Small Miracles takes the audience on a nostalgic, heartfelt journey as Clark shares his recollections of growing up in a small Iowa town where the mayor/street cleaner doubled as Santa, a courageous dog, a 10-cent silver bell that became a family heirloom, a terrifying audition for the fifth grade Christmas pageant, and his stint at a department store Santa.

"It's about as sentimental as you can get," Clark said.

Clark's vivid storytelling will captivate you and bring to mind your own fond memories. This show is perfect for the whole family.

"The joy of performing this piece comes from the collective memory between me and the audience. As I look at the audience I see a connection not just between me and the audience, but in the joy of the recollections of holidays past," Clark said. "In a perfect world I would have my own children and grandsons gathered around me for these stories."

In addition to Small Miracles, Clark's writing for the theatre includes the plays Kindred Hearts, Grocery Stories, and Coffee and Hope, as well as many monologues over the years for Walking the Wire, Riverside's annual monologue festival.

Clark, a professional actor and director, founded Riverside Theatre in 1981 along with Jody Hovland and Bruce Wheaton. Clark graduated from the University of Iowa with a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in 1980.  In addition to his work at Riverside, Clark is a Distinguished Artist-in-Residence at Cornell College.

Small Miracles features original composition by Dan Knight and lighting design by Zachary Begley and Rachel Dudley.

Tickets for Small Miracles, November 25-27, are $20 with discounts available for those over 60, those under 30, and youth. Tickets are available by phone at (319) 338-7672, online at www.riversidetheatre.org or in person at the Riverside Theatre Box Office, located at 213 N. Gilbert St., Iowa City, IA.

Small Miracles is sponsored by Lensing Funeral & Cremation Services.

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Davenport. Iowa, November 4, 2011 - The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) announced today that Davenport Parks and Recreation became one of only 104 park and recreation agencies accredited by the Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA). This distinguished accomplishment was announced during the NRPA 2011 Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

National accreditation through CAPRA is an extensive multi-year process, which includes the completion of an application and detailed self-assessment report, a site visit by a committee of experienced park and recreation professionals, and a final assessment completed by the agency and the Commission. Accreditation requires agencies to respond to 144 standards representing elements of effective and efficient park and recreation operations. To become accredited, agencies must fully meet 36 standards deemed fundamental to a quality agency and at least 92 of the remaining standards.

CAPRA accreditation is the only national accreditation for park and recreation agencies, and is a measure of an agency's overall quality of operation, management and service to the community. Accreditation is valid for a period of five years, renewed thereon for 5 years terms.

The Commission is comprised of representatives from NRPA, the American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration, the National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials, the International City/County Management Association, the American Association for Physical Activity and Recreation, the Armed Forces Recreation Society and the Council of State Executive Directors.

"I'm proud of the hard work and dedication from the department staff to achieve this recognition," said Seve Ghose, Director of Parks and Recreation. "The City can also be proud knowing that their Parks and Recreation department has been recognized for excellence in service and operations." "By successfully completing the CAPRA accreditation process, these agencies have proven their ability to provide the highest level services and programs. NRPA truly commends our 2011 accredited agencies for their overall excellence in serving their communities and contributing to the health and vitality of America" said Barbara Tulipane, CEO of NRPA.

Parks and Recreation joins Davenport Police, Fire and Public Works in achieving national accreditation status. With formal presentation to Parks and Recreation of accreditation status, Davenport is now the first city in the United States to achieve national CALEA, CFAI, APWA and CAPRA accreditation status, while operating libraries accredited at the state level.

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