What: Bucktown Bash! featuring "The Kraken"
Where: 225 East 2^nd Street
Date/Time: Friday, July 29 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Price: $15

(Davenport, Iowa) - MidCoast Fine Arts (MFA) is proud to announce that Bucktown Center for the Arts will celebrate its 6^thanniversary during Bucktown Bash! Friday, July 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This special event will feature a wide range of original local artwork for sale, live music, food, drinks, and more.

The infamous Muscatine River Monster, fondly known as "The Kraken," will be making its first appearance in the Quad-Cities during Bucktown Bash! This larger than life beast is an inflatable sculpture installation that must be seen to be believed. Its long tentacles will be beckoning the nearby Street Fest patrons to meander a little further down 2^nd Street in downtown Davenport on Friday.

Falling Up, a locally produced science fiction film, will be shown throughout the evening, and live music will be provided by Lock & Dam, Ragaman, and Rock Island Rhythm. A "Mirror,Mirror" fundraiser for MFA featuring works by local artists for sale will be held in conjunction with the "VANITY" show currently on display in the 2^nd floor gallery. MFA's own Dean Schroder will be showing his rarely seen functional art display, as well. Bucktown Bash! will also serve as a closing reception for the "And They Followed the Waters" exhibit on display in the 2^nd floor showcase.  

Food and beverage vendors will be available, and all of Bucktown's many shops and studios will be open. From jewelry and paintings to photography and sculpture, attendees of Bucktown Bash! can expect to discover a wide range of high quality artwork to peruse.

"I'm thrilled that MidCoast Fine Arts is hosting another amazing art event," said Heather Pederson, MFA Board President.   "We do know how to put on a great party, and with Bucktown Bash being bigger and better than ever, we're looking forward to the community showing their support by having a heart for art."

Admission is $15 at the door; however, patrons who visit a shop at Bucktown between July 20^th and July 28^th can pick up FREE tickets in advance! Please visit www.BucktownArts.com or www.Facebook.com/bucktownarts for additional event details. MFA would also like to provide a special thank you to Deere & Company for their support of Bucktown's Bash!

Bucktown Center for the Arts is made up of over a dozen unique shops and studios featuring creative, affordable, unusual and useable works of art for sale. Bucktown is a component of MidCoast Fine Arts, a leading Quad-City non-profit organization focused on stimulating our community's economic vitality through the support of regional visual arts and artists. Founded in July of 2005, Bucktown has played an important role in the continued growth of downtown Davenport's Cultural and Entertainment District.

For more information about MidCoast Fine Arts, please visit www.Midcoast.org. For additional details regarding "The Kraken," please visit www.MuscatineRiverMonster.com.

Appointments Continue Implementation of Workers' Compensation Reform Law

CHICAGO - July 20, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today announced 12 appointments to the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board. Today's action continues implementation of the historic workers' compensation reforms signed into law by the Governor last month. The Advisory Board will make recommendations on the appointment of arbitrators, among other duties. 

Effective immediately, Governor Quinn named Mitchell W. Abbett, Richard Aleksy, Aaron Anderson, Michael Carrigan, John Carpenter, Mark Denzler, Phillip Gruber, David Halffield, William Lowry, Mark Prince, Sean T. Stott and David Vite to serve as members of the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board.

"Each of these appointees brings the knowledge and experience to support us in reforming Illinois' workers' compensation system," said Governor Quinn. "Our efforts to overhaul and modernize workers' compensation are critical to improving our state's business climate. I want to thank these individuals for their commitment to our businesses and our workers, and I look forward to the board's recommendations."

In June, Governor Quinn signed House Bill 1698, a comprehensive overhaul of Illinois' workers' compensation system. The reforms are expected to save Illinois businesses between $500 and $750 million dollars, while continuing protections for injured workers. The reform package also includes a major overhaul of Illinois' troubled Workers' Compensation Commission. 

In addition to making arbitrator recommendations, the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board also assists the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission (IWCC) in formulating policies, setting priorities and developing administrative goals. The chairman of the IWCC serves as the ex officio chairman of the Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board consists of 12 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Members are unpaid, but may have expenses reimbursed. Six board members represent employees, and six represent employers; the structure is designed to balance the concerns of businesses, while ensuring critical protections for workers.

Profiles of the new Advisory Board members are attached.

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Mitchell Abbett has over 20 years of experience in workers' compensation, human resources, and in developing successful policies concerning health and safety in the workforce.  Mr. Abbett is currently the human resources and safety manager at Holten Meat Inc. Previously he worked as safety and training manager at The P.D. George Company, director of safety and insurance for the city of Granite City, a claims adjuster for Crawford Company and a personnel safety coordinator at Lanter Courier Corporation.

Richard Aleksy is a partner at Corti, Aleksy & Castaneda, P.C. Mr. Alesky has served as president and director of the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, and has been published extensively on workers' compensation law.

Aaron Anderson has been an employee-class representative for the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Advisory Board since 2009. He is currently the director and representative for the Painters District Council No. 30 in Aurora. Mr. Anderson has health and safety certifications from a number of organizations including the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, U.S. Environmental Agency, the American Red Cross and OSHA.

Michael Carrigan is the president of the Illinois AFL-CIO. Mr. Carrigan brings 30 years of experience with labor organizations, and first-hand knowledge of injured workers' experiences within the workers' compensation system. He has served on the Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission Advisory Board since 2005.

John Carpenter is the senior vice president of public policy for the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Carpenter's extensive business background includes work as vice president of corporate affairs for American Airlines, served on the boards of Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Midwest Board of Directors of the National Conference of Community & Justice, and the Board of Directors of the World Affairs Councils of America.

Mark Denzler is currently the vice president and chief operating officer at the Illinois Manufacturers' Association.  Mr. Denzler has also served the association's Illinois government affairs specialist, director of government affairs, and a legislative analyst.

David Halffield is the vice president of Sears Holdings Management Corporation and specializes in overseeing risk management and workers compensation claims. Mr. Halffield has also had past experience as the assistant director of casualty claims services at the Midwest Region of Aon Risk Services, a claims insurance manager at Chicago Bridge and Iron, and as a claims adjuster and supervisor at Liberty Mutual Insurance Company.

Phillip Gruber is the general vice president for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union. Mr. Gruber has been a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union Local Lodge 688 since 1972, and has served on the Workers' Compensation Advisory Board since 2007. 

William Lowry is a managing shareholder at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie and Lowry, PC. He is a member of the Workers' Compensation Lawyers Association, and has concentrations in trial and appellate workers' compensation and employer liability practice. He is the author of several articles on workers' compensation law, and he lectures throughout Illinois.

Mark Prince has been part of the Prince Law Firm in Marion, Illinois since 2004, representing clients that have been harmed on the job due to negligence or intentional misconduct. He has been awarded the William J. Harte award for his amicus curiae briefs, and he has lectured at multiple legal education seminars on the rights of injured people.

Sean Stott has 15 years of experience analyzing the Workers' Compensation Act as the director of governmental affairs for the Laborers' International Union of North America. He has also had prior experience with unions and workers compensation through his position as the legislative director for the Illinois AFL-CIO.

David Vite is currently the president and CEO of the Illinois Retail Merchants Association and has served for two years on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the National Retail Federation. He has served on the Employment Security Advisory Board since 1983, where he is the longest serving member.

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Much has been written about body image over the past decades - almost all of it suggesting that both men and women are growing increasingly dissatisfied with their physical selves. The 1997 Psychology Today Body Image Survey of 4,000 men and women asked participants about weight and attitudes towards their physiques and specific body parts. Fifty-six percent of women revealed that they were dissatisfied with their overall appearance, and an astounding 89% of women wanted to lose weight. Fifty-four percent of girls aged 13-19 were dissatisfied, and 41% of boys in the same age bracket reported overall dissatisfaction.

Concern with body image - the internal personal picture boys and girls have of their bodies - can become a major preoccupation during adolescence. The 'perfect body' as defined in the social culture can become a measure of self-worth and can cause many teens to undervalue other abilities, interests and talents. Adolescents must also deal with developmental challenges such as adjusting to hormonal and physical changes, as well as to new social and academic demands. Overemphasis on conforming to current standards of beauty renders them vulnerable to developing psychological problems.

Normative Discontent

In the early adolescent and pre-teen years, girls whose bodies develop at a different pace than the average are especially prone to dissatisfaction and low self-esteem. Girls who are precociously developed as well as those less well developed than peers are at risk. There have been very few studies examining adolescents' attitudes towards their bodies over time. However, in one such study, the authors measured body image, objective (rater) physical attractiveness and body mass index in the same 115 boys and girls at ages 13, 15, and 18. The results were compelling; across the same period in adolescence, girls' body image worsened while boys' improved. At age 13, the differences between the sexes were not dramatic, but the gap had widened considerably by age 15. The authors point out that as a normal consequence of puberty, girls experience an increase in body mass with an accumulation of fat around the hips and thighs.

Distortions of Body Image

Clearly, adolescent females who subjectively distort their body image, or those for whom there is a mismatch between their image and the environment, are at risk for several serious psychiatric disorders. Chief among these are the eating disorders - anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Anorexia nervosa, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSMIV) is an intense fear of gaining weight or becoming fat, even though underweight. Bulimia nervosa, felt to be a related disorder, is characterized by recurrent episodes of binge eating followed by recurrent inappropriate compensatory behavior such as purging) in order to prevent weight gain.

Contact:

Naomi Weinshenker, NYU Child Study Center, phone: 212-263-6622

Pasture improvement and rotational grazing are key topics for many beef and dairy producers, but one of the big challenges becomes subdivision, fencing, and watering systems over rolling or rough terrain. These topics will be discussed at a pasture walk at the farm of Bret DeLarm on Wednesday, August 3, at 1:00 pm.

DeLarm has subdivided a pasture that was previously in CRP, and installed a pipeline watering system. Dr. Ken Holscher, ISU entomologist, will attend the pasture walk to discuss fly control in cattle operations. NRCS staff will also be on hand to discuss cost share programs to assist in pasture improvement. The DeLarm pasture is located just to the east of their home at 2835 Hwy 64, between Wyoming and Mommouth.

Pasture walks are informal educational programs designed to demonstrate one or two key areas of interest, as well as answer any questions you might have. Each has a slightly different focus and producers are invited to attend any that are of interest to improving their own pasture management.

All producers who are dependent on forage production are invited to attend. If you have questions, or need detailed directions to the farm location, contact Denise Schwab in the Benton County Extension office at 319-472-4739.

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