Dahl Ford and Christian Care have teamed up to give the Quad Cities community an opportunity to win free oil changes for a year?plus a complete auto detailing from Dahl Ford. All participants must do is be accepted as a friend of Christian Care and/or Dahl Ford on Facebook. They will then be entered in a drawing to win this unique prize package. Individuals who are accepted as a friend on Facebook by both Christian Care and Dahl Ford will double their chances of winning.

The contest runs from August 15 to September 15, 2011. For complete contest rules, please visit www.christiancareqc.org.

To find Christian Care on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/christiancareqc;

to find Dahl Ford on Facebook, go to www.facebook.com/thedahldifference.

Founded in 1916, Christian Care is a non-profit organization committed to serving the least, the last and the lost of the Quad Cities. The organization's vision is to eliminate homelessness, hopelessness, and domestic violence by transforming the lives of those they serve.

Christian Care's services are available to a growing number of homeless men and abused women and children 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to safe shelter, food, clothing, and personal care items, the organization provides a Community Meal Site as well as a 24/7 Crisis Line for those in need throughout the community and beyond. Its two facilities?a domestic violence shelter for women and children and a rescue mission for homeless men?allows it to focus on every member of the family. Christian Care serves homeless individuals, victims of domestic violence, veterans, men and women coming out of prison, and those with mental illness.

There is a good reason that customers keep coming back to Dahl Ford. Five generations of Dahl's have influenced the automobile industry for almost 100 years. This has been made possible through years of customer's loyalty, which stems from a constant focus on the customer's complete satisfaction with its products and services. The rich history of the family as they continue to grow alongside the automotive industry is a great legacy in the making. The Dahl family legacy will continue for generations to come as they are committed to making the "Dahl Difference".

"In Praise of the Pencil"
an  exhibit honoring 250 years of the first pencil factory in Germany

Sunday, August 21  2:00 pm.

Grand opening of the exhibit and prize ceremony for winning entrants.

• Featuring: Local Pencil Art Show
• The Fantastic Pencil Sculptures of Jennifer Maestre
• Pencil History and Design Timeline
• Famous Pencil Fans
• Pencil Collections
• How Pencils are Made DVD and Illustrated Steps
• Pencil Trivia and more!

ENTRY DEADLINE FOR THE PENCIL ART COMPETITION:  JULY 18, 2011

The German American Heritage Center (GAHC) invites you to submit works of art for an exhibition entitled "In Praise of the Pencil."  The purpose of the exhibit is to enrich public understanding of the role of Germany and German-Americans in the development and manufacture of the pencil as an artistic medium, a common tool in many trades, and a useful everyday object.  The pencil celebrates its 250^th

anniversary of mass manufacture in Germany in the year 2011.

"In Praise of the Pencil" is a juried exhibition open to artists living within a 250 miles radius of the Quad Cities. Works may be submitted for showing in two media, pencil sketches or sculpture in which pencils or pencil pieces are the primary construction material.  It is not necessary to feature the pencil itself as subject of the work. Pencils used may be graphite or colored. Artists may submit in one or both media and may have work exhibited in one or both media. Prizes will be awarded in two age divisions - junior artists in grades 6-12 and adult.

Specifics:   Sketches and sculpture must be original, created in the last two years and not previously exhibited at GAHC.   All work must be framed or supplied with a base and otherwise be ready to display with the artist's name, age division and title of the work on the back or under the base. Signed reproductions are excluded. Sketches have no size restrictions; sculpture should not exceed 27" in height.   Only three cases can accommodate a 25"width; most have shelves 16" wide. GAHC can refuse works which do not meet these requirements or are found unsuitable for exhibit. Prices should reflect a 35% commission retained by GAHC in event of a sale.

Entry: Fill out the entry form and list the title, size, medium and year created for each entry.  Note if a detail image is included.   Repeat process for each additional entry.  Submit images on a CD as jpg files with a minimum of 300 dpi resolution. Each file must be less than 5 MB. Label each file with a number that corresponds to the number on your entry blank and the title. To maintain anonymity for the blind jury, your name must not be included in the file's name, but do write your name on your disc.

Entry fee: $10 per entry; unlimited.

Awards and Prizes: Best of Show, First Place, Second Place and Third Place in each age division.

Jurors:   Work will be juried by Quad City Arts Public and Visual art Committee, the German American Heritage Center and a professional art educator in the local community.

Questions?    Contact Janet Brown-Lowe at GAHC (563) 322-8844 or director@gahc.org.   Additional entry blanks are available at GAHC or may be downloaded from the QC Arts website atwww.quadcityarts.com.

Funding for this exhibit through October 30 provided by the 

Riverboat Development Authority and Wenger Truck Lines.

CHICAGO - August 15, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today took action on the following bills:  

Bill No.: HB 83  

An Act Concerning: Courts  

Encourages juvenile courts to explore less restrictive alternatives before committing non-violent youth offenders to the Department of Juvenile Justice.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 308  

An Act Concerning: Regulation  

Beginning Jan. 1, the Department of Public Health shall issue permits for the construction and modification of closed loop well systems and shall certify and register closed loop contractors.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1127  

An Act Concerning: Finance  

Increases the Lake County Forest Preserve District's deadline for the issuance of bonds and requires that information regarding the potential impact on single-family homeowners be printed on the bond referendums.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1228  

An Act Concerning: Regulation  

Makes various changes to the Illinois Plumbing law, including procedures when a license is revoked.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1284  

An Act Concerning: Insurance  

Requires portable electronic device vendors to hold a license to sell or offer insurance policies.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1324  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Adds administrative buildings to the definition of "construction proposes" under the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Act and allows for sanitary districts to issue bonds for administrative buildings.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1339  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Municipalities may impose a fee up to $20 for bail processing against any person arrested for violating a bailable municipal ordinance or a state or federal law  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1375  

An Act Concerning: Finance  

Bidders in construction contracts must maintain their primary office of employment in Illinois.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1415  

An Act Concerning: Education  

Provides that if a school remains on academic watch status after two years following its placement, then State Board of Education may allow the school board to operate the school on a pilot full-year school plan, subject to federal appropriations.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1484  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Allows the Secretary of State to develop a process for citizens to receive a non-photo Illinois Identification Card or Illinois Disabled Person Identification Card if they are prohibited by religious convictions from being photographed or by showing their photograph.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1486  

An Act Concerning: Local Government                      

The Village of Bensenville has a deadline of December 31 of the 35th year (original ordinance May 19, 1998) to complete redevelopment project in their TIF district.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1541  

An Act Concerning: Transportation  

Allows local units of government to recover costs from damaged roadway property.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1573  

An Act Concerning: Transportation  

Requires railroad companies to have first aid kits on any vehicle used to transport railroad employees.  Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 1591  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Clarifies psychotropic medications, and ECT may be ordered without consent on an outpatient and inpatient basis for a patient involuntarily admitted to treatment; allows mental health providers the right to be represented by counsel at a commitment hearing; establishes the transportation of a mental health patients by a licensed ambulance service; and makes other changes to codes regarding mental health records.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1658  

An Act Concerning: Public Health                           

A medical certification of cause of death for a death certificate must note the presence of multi-drug resistant organisms if it is a contributing factor to or the cause of death.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1659  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Requires the Department of Human Services to notify the General Assembly when enrollment in any developmentally disabled facility declines by 10 percent; requires corresponding monies to be transferred to appropriate line items which will be serving the populations that moved.  

Action: Amendatorily Vetoed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 1953  

An Act Concerning: Safety  

Requires drycleaners who have received reimbursement for environmental cleanup actions to maintain insurance coverage for pollution remediation costs in the event of bankruptcy.   

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 2265  

An Act Concerning: Transportation                 

Defines "multifunction school-activity bus" as a school bus manufactured for the purpose of transporting 11 or more persons whose duties do not include transporting students to and from home or school bus stops.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 2554  

An Act Concerning: Local Government  

Auxiliary deputies may receive compensation as set by the county board, with the advice and consent of the sheriff, not to exceed the lowest hourly pay of a full-time sworn member of the regular county police or sheriff's department.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 2590  

An Act Concerning: Corrections  

Amends the Private Correctional Facility Moratorium Act to include units of local government and county sheriffs in the prohibition against contracting out the operation of a correctional facility  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 2982  

An Act Concerning: Health  

Requires the Department of Human Services to facilitate the creation of Regional Integrated Behavioral Health Networks throughout the state, which would seek to address the availability of mental health and substance abuse services in their region.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3134  

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Clarifies that the DPH Uniform DNR Advance Directive form must meet requirements to be considered physician orders for life-sustaining treatment form, and expands the form's stakeholder group consulted to include nurses and EMS systems.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3238  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

DNA samples must be submitted for those arrested for certain offenses, as well as those required to register as sex offenders.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: HB 3273  

An Act Concerning: Business  

Makes it a crime to sell or use the metal from a grave marker on a Veteran's grave, and results in a $1,000 penalty.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 3343  

An Act Concerning: Government  

Exempts the names, addresses and other personal information of participants and registrants in the programs of park districts, forest preserve districts, conservation districts, recreation agencies, and special recreation associations from the inspection and copying requirements of the FOIA.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: HB 3411  

An Act Concerning: Government  

Requires the Teacher Retirement Insurance Program Committee to identify proposed solutions to the funding shortfalls that are affecting the Teacher Health Insurance Security Fund and to report those solutions to Governor and the General Assembly within six months after the effective date.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 106  

An Act Concerning: Children  

Requires mandated reporters to share information in abuse and neglect investigations, even if the mandated reporter did not report the allegation of abuse and neglect.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 151  

An Act Concerning: Criminal Law  

Amends the crime of identity theft to include knowingly using, possessing or transferring a radio frequency identification device in furtherance of a felony.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Jan. 1  

Bill No.: SB 1807  

An Act Concerning: Corrections  

The Department of Corrections shall issue a parole violation warrant for any inmate who is on parole for a forcible felony who commits a new murder, Class X, Class 1, Class 2 or Class 3 offense.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately  

Bill No.: SB 1862        

An Act Concerning: State Government  

Provides that the Department of Central Management Services will implement a policy mandating all hard drives of surplus electronic data processing equipment to be erased, wiped, sanitized or destroyed in a manner that prevents retrieval of sensitive data before being sold, donated or transferred.  

Action: Signed  

Effective Date: Immediately    

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What: Ever wonder what it's like to be a farmer today?  Curious about the men and women who care for the fields that you drive by?  Now people in Muscatine have the opportunity to take a look into the life of an American farmer and learn more about the vital role they play in the world of agriculture today through the America's Farmers Mobile Experience.  Local farmer, Drew Yotter played a large role in bringing the traveling display to the Muscatine 50^th Anniversary and will serve as the host of the Mobile Experience while it is here.

The new Mobile Experience is a traveling 53-foot trailer that expands into 1,000-square feet of exhibit space that immerses visitors in the lives of America's farm families.  The tour is designed to educate consumers on modern agriculture and the challenges farmers face to meet the growing demands of the rapidly increasing world population.

Visitors will take a journey through three different focus areas with interactive tools and displays to better understand the life of an American farmer.

• An interactive globe will allow visitors to see population growth and how many people one acre of farmland will need to feed to meet the demand of the growing population.
• A 180-degree theater immerses visitors in a video experience that spotlights an American farm family and what they are currently doing to meet the world demand.  Hear three generations of farm women speak about what farm life means to them.
• Ag educators serve as personal guides teaching guests about the tools and technologies, including breeding, biotechnology and agronomics, that help farmers meet current challenges.

When: Tours will run from:

8:00 am -4:00 pm on August 19

8:00am- 4:00pm on August 20  

Where: Muscatine 50^th Anniversary

2500 Wiggins Road
Muscatine, IA 52761               

Who: Media and the general public are invited to tour the America's Farmers Mobile Experience and speak with local farmers and Monsanto Ag Educators.

Background:     The Mobile Experience will tour the U.S. stopping at a variety of urban and rural events to give people the opportunity to learn more about every aspect of the farmer's life, from food production to the challenges they face. For more information on Monsanto's America's Farmers' efforts or its Mobile Experience, please visit www.AmericasFarmers.com. 

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