Go nuts as you rally 'round the Redbirds or Brewers

ST. LOUIS -- October 11, 2011-- The Cardinals once again have made it a "Red October" in St. Louis. The Wild Card Redbirds welcome fans heading to town for Games 3, 4 and 5 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The "beer town" rivals bring heady excitement to Major League Baseball's version of Oktoberfest with games slated for October 12, 13 and 14 at the beautiful Busch Stadium in downtown St. Louis.

Whether you've scored coveted NLCS tickets or not, you can still get in on the baseball action and fall events during a St. Louis visit. For information about St. Louis' red hot baseball sites, amazing dining and attraction options and to book a hotel room on-line, click on www.explorestlouis.com or call the St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission at 1-800-916-0040.

St. Louis is known as the "Red Sea on the Mississippi" for the thousands of red-clad fans filling the seats during a game. Join the crowd. Participate in a baseball heaven dream trip by visiting some St. Louis major league sites:

1. The St. Louis Cardinals have been making magic on the field in St. Louis since 1892. Squirrel away some Major League history at Busch Stadium as you rally 'round the statues of St. Louis' Hall-of-Fame players that grace the entry to the Team Store at 7th and Clark streets.  The action-poised figures include Redbird stars Bob Gibson, Dizzy Dean, Red Schoendienst, Rogers Hornsby, Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock and more. The "meeting place" at the Stan Musial statue is now located at the Third Base entry along 7th Street.

2.  St. Louis' baseball greats also are honored along Delmar Boulevard in The Loop neighborhood along the St. Louis Walk of Fame. Brass star-shaped plaques embedded in the sidewalks honor famous St. Louisans who have made their mark in baseball and the arts, science and history. Baseball is duly represented with markers and biographic plaques for Stan Musial, Yogi Berra, Joe Garagiola, Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Cool Papa Bell, Dizzy Dean, Rogers Hornsby, Branch Rickey and Red Schoendienst. Honorees also include fabled baseball broadcasters known for their work in St. Louis:  Jack Buck, Harry Caray and Bob Costas.

3.  Baseball personalities Yogi Berra and Joe Garagiola grew up on The Hill on the 5400 block of Elizabeth Avenue and Hall-of-Fame announcer Jack Buck lived there early in his radio career. The block's street sign now bears the name "Hall of Fame Place" in their honor. The Hill is St. Louis' Italian neighborhood that is filled with great Italian eateries, bakery shops, bocce clubs and even fireplugs painted in the Italian tri-color.

4.  Make your own Fredbird, the Cardinals' fluffy mascot, at the Build-a-Bear Workshop inside new Busch Stadium. The St. Louis-based company has mini-Fredbirds, special Cardinal teddy bears and other furry friends to make and deck out in Cardinals' uniforms complete with bats, gloves and hats.

5.  The Cardinals have been a sensational franchise. Experience a baseball-inspired taste sensation at the "never to be franchised" Ted Drewes Frozen Custard. The iconic refreshment stand on the St. Louis stretch of Route 66 dishes up a Cardinal Sin -  creamy vanilla custard topped with tart bing cherries and rich hot fudge. Or, purists may want to create their own Baseball Sundae served in a replica Cardinals baseball cap with the toppings of your choice.

6.  With more than a thousand one-of-a-kind restaurants, is there any wonder some dining hot spots serve up a sports theme along with tempting morsels?  Just a homerun-length from Busch Stadium, hungry baseball fans can find sustenance amidst baseball memorabilia at Mike Shannon's Steaks and Seafood and Al Hrabosky's Ballpark Saloon. Both restaurants are operated by former Cardinals players who now do play-by-play on Cardinals' radio and television broadcasts. West Port Plaza is home to the white-tablecloth Pujols 5. Downtown's Washington Avenue Loft District houses an establishment by Hall-of-Famer Ozzie Smith as well as former Cardinals' outfielder-extraordinaire Jim Edmonds' Fifteen restaurant. Trendy sports-themed dining experiences can be had at the two J. Buck's sites - one in toney Clayton and the other downtown near the ballpark. As the eponymous name implies, the restaurants are owned by the Jack Buck broadcasting clan - sports announcer Joe and his radio personality sister Julie and the name also pays homage to their late father, the great Hall-of-Famer Jack Buck. A fun collection of Cardinals' Mark McGwire and other Cardinals' memorabilia is on display on the pop culture-laden walls of Blueberry Hill in The Loop neighborhood.

7.  You can come out on top just like the Cardinals did in the National League Wild Card race with a trip to the top of the magnificent Gateway Arch. Get a bird's-eye view of new Busch Stadium from 630-feet high above the Mighty Mississippi. The Arch, officially named the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, honors President Thomas Jefferson, his dream of a continental United States and the thousands of men and women who helped open the American West. Beneath the Arch, in the Museum of Westward Expansion, the opening of the American West comes alive through displays that tell the story of explorers Lewis & Clark, pioneers, Native Americans and Buffalo Soldiers who shaped America as a nation "from sea to shining sea."

8.  There are cards and gaming excitement of a different sort at St. Louis-area casinos. Stake out a spot and meet up with Lady Luck at glitzy Lumiere Place on Laclede's Landing, within the classic riverboat gambler setting of the River City Casino, the Casino Queen and Alton Belle casinos across the Mississippi River in neighboring Illinois or the Missouri River-based gaming palaces at Harrah's in West St. Louis County and Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri.

9.  America's two great beer towns meet on the field at Busch Stadium this week. Take some time before the game for a complimentary tour of the original Anheuser-Busch Brewery.  Visitors can see the historic Brew House, the stained glass and brass décor of the Budweiser Clydesdale stables, the beechwood aging cellars and Bevo Packaging Plant. The tour concludes at the Hospitality Room where you can toast the Cardinals as you sample a freshly brewed glass of a product of the brewer's art in the Hospitality Room.

10.  Birds of every hue are on view at the world-famous Saint Louis Zoo. Stroll through the World's Fair Flight Cage, the world's largest walk-through aviary, located in the Bird Garden section of the free Zoo. The Flight Cage was the original Smithsonian Institution exhibit at the fabled "Meet Me in St. Louis" World's Fair and has been a favorite spot for bird-watchers ever since.

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Globetrotters Introduce Class of Newcomers, Highlighted by the Tallest Pro Basketball Player, the Shortest Globetrotter Ever, and the Team's
First Female in 19 Years

(PHOENIX, Oct. 11, 2011) - On the heels of signing one of the most extraordinary rookie classes in team history, the Harlem Globetrotters will bring their 2012 World Tour to i wireless Center in Moline on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012, at 7:00 p.m.

Tickets to see the world's most famous basketball team will go on sale on Monday, Oct. 17, at 10:00 a.m. Tickets start at $21.00 and are available at www.harlemglobetrotters.com, www.ticketmaster.com, the i wireless Center box office, or by phone at 800.745.3000. Information on group and scout tickets can also be found at www.harlemglobetrotters.com.
The outstanding rookies include Paul "Tiny" Sturgess, the world's tallest pro basketball player at 7-8, Jonte "Too Tall" Hall, the shortest Globetrotter ever at 5-2, and Fatima "TNT" Maddox of Temple University, the team's first female player since 1993 and ninth female in team history.
The new Globetrotters also feature the top three finishers from the 2011 College Slam Dunk Contest, including the reigning champ Jacob "Hops" Tucker. At 5-10, Tucker sports a 50-inch vertical leap, and his YouTube videos have garnered well over four million views.  Tucker joins slam dunk runner-up John "Jet" Williams of UNC-Asheville and semifinalist Darnell "Spider" Wilks of the University of Cincinnati.
The 2012 rookie class has a total of three seven-footers including 7-4 Jermaine "Stretch" Middleton, the third-tallest player in team history, and 7-foot Anthony "Biggie" McClain. At 7-8, Sturgess becomes the tallest Globetrotter ever after a career at Mountain State University (W.Va.). He is the 19th internationally born player in team history, hailing from Loughborough, England.
"The Globetrotters are excited to welcome a new generation of stars to carry on the storied tradition of the world's most entertaining basketball team," said Globetrotters CEO Kurt Schneider. "This year's rookie class features some of the most talented and promising players from across the world."
Current Globetrotters stars Special K Daley, Big Easy Lofton, Flight Time Lang, Dizzy Grant, Scooter Christensen, and many others will team up with the world class rookies for nearly 270 games on the North American portion of the World Tour, bringing the Globetrotter magic to over 230 cities in 46 states, the District of Columbia, and five Canadian provinces.
Player rosters in each city will vary and are subject to change.
Sponsored by Howard Johnson Hotels, Greyhound Lines, Spalding, and Russell Athletic, the Original Harlem Globetrotters will celebrate their 86th consecutive year in 2012, continuing a world famous tradition of ball handling wizardry, basketball artistry and one-of-a-kind family entertainment that continues to thrill fans of all ages. Throughout their history, the Globetrotters have showcased their iconic talents in 120 countries and territories on six continents, often breaking down cultural and societal barriers while providing fans with their first-ever basketball experience. Proud inductees of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, the Globetrotters have entertained hundreds of millions of fans?among them popes, kings, queens, and presidents?over more than eight thrilling decades. For the latest news and information about the Harlem Globetrotters, and to purchase tickets and team merchandise, visit the Globetrotters' official Web site: www.harlemglobetrotters.com.
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Proceeds go toward domestic violence prevention

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon will showcase the more than 2,000 phones collected last week during her HopeLine cell phone drive to benefit Springfield and Chicago domestic violence agencies. In exchange for the phones, Verizon will donate more than $10,000 to agencies and provide refurbished phones to survivors of abuse.

DATE: Tuesday, October 11
TIME: 2 p.m.
LOCATION: Lt. Governor's Office, 214 Capitol, Springfield

SATELLITE COORDINATES:
Slug: Successful Cell Phone Drive for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Media Avail
Date: 10/11/11
Time: 3:30 PM (CT) - 3:45 PM (CT)
Satellite: AMC 15KU
Transponder: 01
Slot: D9
Downlink Frequency: 11733.5
Downlink Polarization: V
Bandwidth: 9 MHz
Symbol Rate: 3.978729
FEC:  3 / 4
Data Rate: 5.5
For technical assistance please call IOCI Media Services - Satellite at 217-785-5499.

MILWAUKEE, WI - With busy schedules full of work, sports, and other activities, it can be difficult to get the family together for a meal.  October is National Eat Better, Eat Together Month, an opportunity for families to start new traditions, make time for one another, and eat healthy.  TOPS Club, Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly), the nonprofit weight loss support organization, provides ideas to make time for family meals and reap the rewards.

Enjoy the benefits

According to Martha Marino, M.A., RD, CD, and Sue Butkus, Ph.D., RD, of Washington State University and The Nutrition Education Network of Washington, there are many benefits of eating together.

• Family dinners promote healthy eating habits and are an ideal opportunity for parents to teach their children about nutrition and demonstrate healthy practices.  Kids who regularly eat with their families tend to consume more fruits and vegetables rather than junk food.  Parents can also broaden their children's horizons and introduce new foods during family meals.

• Time together can open the lines of communication between parents and children and help form stronger, healthier relationships.  Family members have a chance to share details about their day, plan, learn about one another, and more.  Table talk also allows children to express ideas and learn new vocabulary from adults' conversations.

• Studies show that eating together can contribute to higher academic performance and improved well-being.  The stability of family meals and conversation are essential for kids as they develop and learn.

• Food dollars can go further with large, homemade meals, rather than fast food or individual dishes.  Cooking one meal and preparing food in advance also saves time in the kitchen.

Put it on the calendar

The calendar fills up quickly, especially as kids get older.  It's important to make family time a priority and set a schedule that will work for everyone.  If there is only one day that works for each person, make it a weekly habit and work up to two or three times each week, if you can.  Breakfast and lunch count as meals, so don't limit family time to dinner.

Prepare meals ahead

To avoid falling into the common excuse that everyone's schedule is too hectic, make meals ahead of time.  Weekends are a great opportunity to compile a shopping list, purchase groceries, and prepare weekday meals.  If you have extra time, cook double servings and put the extra food in the freezer, to be used as a backup for busy nights.

Get the children involved

It's important to engage the kids and have them participate.  Give them the opportunity to provide input on what is served or assign tasks - setting the table, washing the produce, pouring beverages, and mixing ingredients.  Teenagers could even cook one of the meals.

Make it fun

Want to make meals more interesting?  There are many creative ideas that can keep family time exciting.

• Move it outdoors and have a picnic.

• Turn off the television, cell phones, and the computer and have a conversation.  Go around the table and talk about the highs and lows of everyone's day and ask each other questions.

• Plan a theme for different meals - fiesta, dinner and a movie, fondue party, build your own burger or pizza, "favorites meal" (making each family member's preferred dish), and more.

• Take turns planning the meals.  One night Mom or Dad can arrange dinner, and the kids can prepare breakfast another day.  This will get everyone involved with meal planning, and it will give family members an opportunity to be creative.

• Dress up the dinner table, making the occasion seem special.  Use candles, table clothes, fancy dishes, or props for a themed dinner.

TOPS Club Inc. (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) is the original weight-loss support and wellness education organization.  Founded more than 63 years ago, TOPS is the only nonprofit, noncommercial weight-loss organization of its kind.  TOPS promotes successful weight management with a "Real People. Real Weight Loss." philosophy that combines support from others at weekly chapter meetings, healthy eating, regular exercise, and wellness information.  TOPS has about 170,000 members - male and female, age seven and older - in nearly 10,000 chapters throughout the United States and Canada.

Visitors are welcome to attend their first TOPS meeting free of charge.  Membership is affordable at just $26 per year, plus nominal chapter fees.  To find a local chapter, view www.tops.org or call (800) 932-8677.

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The Figge Art Museum is hosting a lecture entitled "Art, Urbanism, and the Parisian Experience: An Introduction" at 2:30 pm Sunday, October 16. The lecture, presented by Dr. Heidi E. Kraus, will serve as an introduction to a four-week seminar on Paris and French art to be held next at the Figge next spring.  In addition to a broad overview of major sites, monuments, and works of art, attention will also be focused on various aspects of Parisian life, including restaurants and cafés, shopping, education, and understanding cultural differences. The October 16 lecture and spring semester seminar are offered in conjunction with the Figge's member trip to Paris April 10-19, 2012.

Dr. Heidi E. Kraus received her Ph.D. in Art History from The University of Iowa in 2010, where she specialized in Eighteenth- and Nineteenth-Century French art.  Currently Dr. Kraus is the Postdoctoral Research Fellow at The University of Iowa Museum of Art and is co-curator of "Napoleon and the Art of Propaganda," an exhibition opening at the University of Iowa Museum of Art in October 2012.

Admission to the museum and tour is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members.

For information about museum programs, including the Figge Member trip to Paris, please visit the Figge website at www.figgeart.org.

 

-end-
In honor of National Pizza Month, The Bettendorf Happy Joe's will be offering a breakfast blowout bash for ONE DAY ONLY on Thursday, October 13 from 7am - 9pm.  This deal will happen no more than once a year and is available for dine in and carryout only on large omelet pizzas for just $5.99 + tax on October 13th. A large omelet pizza serves five people and is the perfect item to buy for your staff or group breakfast.  Be a super hero at a super price!

"This is an excellent opportunity for people to try our wonderful breakfast products at a fraction of the cost," says Bettendorf head coach, Adam Berntgen.  Our omelet pizza is served on a pan-style crust with eggs, cheese, and your favorite toppings. What a great day to try something new!"

The Bettendorf Happy Joe's also offers home-style cinnamon rolls that are baked daily, breakfast burritos, Happy Joe's Scramblers (similar to a breakfast skillet), and gourmet coffee.

"We've had tremendous success with our new breakfast products and are thrilled to offer an opportunity for the whole town to come in and try the omelet pizza at a ridiculous price! We want to make sure everyone gets a taste of the omelet pizza as we are confident that once they try it they'll come back for more!" stated Kristel Whitty-Ersan, Marketing Director for the company.

The omelet pizzas and cinnamon rolls are an excellent choice for business meetings and morning get-togethers. Happy Joe's breakfast items have been very popular with businesses, but the chain wants to ensure the general public knows that these products can be delivered to their homes, schools, organizations, and clubs as well. The products are offered all day long. The restaurant is available for business meetings and provides free space to groups that may want to come in for a morning meeting.

The $5.99 price point on a large omelet pizza will last for just one day, October 13th, so wake up and smell the omelet pizza, Bettendorf! Come on over to Happy Joe's!


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Finding The Best Fall Colors

The USDA Forest Service can help you find the best Fall colors

A new TV feature is available on the USDA FTP site

Filename: Fall Color feature

Download instructions:

The host: ftp://ocbmtcmedia.download.akamai.com

User name: usdanews

Password:  Newscontent1

The new file is in QuickTime Movie (H.264 ), MPEG 4, MPEG2 and HDV.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twNOResyOWU&feature=channel_video_title

video podcast: http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/usda-down-to-earth-video-podcast/id461819504?uo=4

RSS feed: http://downtoearth.usda.libsynpro.com/rss

Please email bob.ellison@usda.gov if you have problems or suggestions.

Also, use this free ftp client if you have problems.

http://filezilla-project.org/download.php?type+client

FEATURE - FINDING THE BEST FALL COLORS

INTRO: Leaf viewing season is upon us and the U-S-D-A's Forest Service has information on the best colors. The U-S-D-A's Bob Ellison has more. (1:25)

 

FALL IS HERE AND PEOPLE WANT TO SEE THE CHANGING LEAVES. BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW WHERE AND WHEN TO SEE THE BEST FALL COLORS? THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S FOREST SERVICE CAN HELP WITH ITS FALL COLORS WEB PAGE AND HOTLINE.

 

Tom Tidwell, Chief, USDA Forest Service: So you don't have to spend any time trying to wonder if this is the right weekend to get out. Call our hotline. We do have a website that you can go to that you can get the best up to date information. We keep it up to date and we're going to tell you when the Fall colors are peaking in the area where you want to visit.

 

MANY FACTORS INFLUENCE FALL COLORS SO THE FOREST SERVICE RELIES HEAVILY ON EYEWITNESS REPORTS.

 

Tidwell: And each year depending on how the weather develops in the Fall that helps dictate the color changes. So not only do have the science but we also have folks out there observing when these colors are changing so we can give you the best up to date information that's available.

 

AND WHILE FALL COLORS CAN BE ENJOYED IN MANY PLACES, TIDWELL SAYS SOME OF THE BEST VIEWING OPPORTUNITIES ARE IN THE NATIONAL FORESTS.

 

Tidwell: Where you have the variety of both the hardwoods and also of our conifers. So you get that combination of the brilliant, magnificent Fall colors also with that solid green color from our conifer trees.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION GO TO F-S DOT FED DOT U-S FORWARD SLASH FALL COLORS OR CALL ONE EIGHT HUNDRED THREE FIVE FOUR FOUR FIVE NINE FIVE. FOR THE U-S DEPARMENT OF AGRICULTURE, I'M BOB ELLISON.

Consequential visit includes outreach to core voters
LAKE JACKSON, Texas- 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul will campaign in Iowa for two days.  
The visit will occur on Friday-Saturday, October 21st- 22ndand will encompass three postponed campaign stops previously meant for earlier in the month, as well as a series of new events.

"Perhaps it was for the better that the prior one-day visit was re-organized since its elements are inserted into what will be a memorable, far more comprehensive visit to the Hawkeye State," said Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Iowa Chairman Drew Ivers.  

"Over the course of two days Ron Paul will reach out to media, manufacturing workers, voters at town hall meetings, college-age youth and persons of faith.  We expect this visit's impact to exceed that of any past visit, save for the generous amount of time Dr. Paul spent in the run-up to his near-statistical tie at the Ames Straw Poll," said Mr. Ivers.

Details of the events are as follows.  All times Central.

Friday, October 21, 2011
10:00 a.m.
Interviewed live in-studio w/ Jan Mickelson
WHO Radio - 1040am
2141 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, 50312

12:00 p.m.
Plant Tour & Meeting w/ American Wind Energy Association*
TPI Composites
2300 N 33rd Avenue E
Newton, IA 50208

3:00 p.m.
Davenport Town Hall Meeting
Figge Art Museum - John Deere Auditorium
225 West 2nd Street
Davenport, IA 52801

5:30 p.m.
Burlington Town Hall Meeting ***New Location***
Pzazz Convention and Event Center - Huckleberry Hall
3001 Winegard Drive
Burlington, IA 52601

8:00 p.m.
Speech
Ron Paul Celebrates Homecoming with Youth for Ron Paul
University of Iowa Memorial Union - Main Lounge
125 N. Madison Street
Iowa City, IA 52242

Saturday, October 22, 2011
10:00 a.m.  
Des Moines Town Hall
Embassy Suites on the River
101 E. Locust Street
Des Moines, IA 50309

5:00 p.m.  
Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition Presidential Candidate Forum
Iowa State Fairgrounds - Knapp Learning Center
3000 E. Grand Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
This event is open to the public, but tickets are required and available online at ffciowa.com, or by calling (515)225-1515.


*Open to media; not a public event.


Authorized and paid for by Ron Paul 2012 PCC Inc. www.RonPaul2012.com

By Johnathan Hladik, johnathanh@cfra.org, Center for Rural Affairs

Here at the Center for Rural Affairs we talk a lot about clean energy transmission. We've long recognized that improved transmission infrastructure is the key to job creation and economic development, in rural and urban communities alike.

Fortunately, others do too. Last week the Obama administration announced a plan to fast-track the approval of much-needed electric transmission lines. This follows the creation of two USDA Rural Development loan programs designed to improve transmission facilities in rural areas.

What does this mean for rural residents? It means that now is the time to become engaged. Each proposed line offers an opportunity for you to become involved almost every step of the way.

Before a project moves forward, the developer will look for input from the community. Each will hold educational meetings and open house events to share information and better understand your needs.  Objectives will be discussed, as will route estimations.

Next, most states require the developer to demonstrate project need, and to prove the project is in the public interest.  This determination is made by a state regulatory agency, most often the public service commission or a variation thereof.

Finally it will be time to determine the route. This offers yet another opportunity to weigh in and submit comments to your state regulatory agency. Your concerns will be taken into account and influence the final determination.

To get you started, we've created a transmission map. Visit http://www.cfra.org/clean-energy-transmission-map to find projects in your area and learn more about those affecting you.

Iowa Pork Producers will present restaurant with award on Wed. 10/12 at 11:45AM

Gramma's Kitchen selected the winner of IPPA's Best Breaded Pork Tenderloin Contest for 2011.

Gramma's Kitchen in Walcott has received this year's honor from IPPA for its breaded pork tenderloin sandwich and will receive a check for $500 and a plaque. The eatery is located near the World's Largest Truck Stop on Interstate 80 at the Walcott exit.

Gramma's Kitchen has been in business since 1980 and serves about 150 tenderloin sandwiches per week. The loins are bought from Reinhart  Foodservice and are tenderized and battered at the restaurant.

"We are absolutely excited about winning this award and it's so great that we are receiving such accolades for all of our hard work that we have put in these last several years," said Aaron Tuftee, one of the managers of Gramma's Kitchen.

Country House in Colo placed second and will receive a plaque and $250 from IPPA. Legal Limit Pub & Grill in Boone, The Rusty Duck in Dexter, and Newton's Paradise Café in Waterloo received honorable mention awards and each will receive a plaque.

Joe Golinghorst from Walcott nominated Gramma's Kitchen and will receive $100.

A total of 327 nominations were submitted for this year's contest and 34 received the required three or more nominations and became finalists. Judging by committee members was completed last month. The committee judges the pork tenderloin sandwiches on taste, physical characteristics and appearance.

All restaurants, cafes and taverns that serve breaded pork tenderloin sandwiches can be nominated for the award each year. Previous contest winners also are eligible, but are prohibited from winning two consecutive years.

Gramma's Kitchen is open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and is a member of the Heart of America group. You can find them on the web at www.heartofamericagroup.com. Gramma's Kitchen also has a Facebook page.

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