Festival of Praise
Saturday September 3rd
LeClaire Park, Davenport

David Crowder Band
With special guest: Charlie Hall

Proceeds are going to improvements to Le Claire Park, our favorite Quad City venue!

Times and ticket information to be announced.

Event is sponsored by High Praise Unlimited.

More information available at: www.qcfestivalofpraise.com

New MLS Laser Treatment offers instant pain relief and promotes healing.

May 12, 2011 (Moline, IL) - Dr. Kevin Smith, D.P.M. has become the first podiatrist in the Quad-Cities to offer MLS laser therapy to his patients.  The FDA-approved treatment is quick, painless and offers quick instant relief of pain, swelling and inflammation without side effects.   The treatment has been used successfully to treat patients with heel pain, sprains and strains as well as relieving pain from arthritis of the foot, and helping to speed healing after foot surgery.

MLS Laser Therapy will compliment the broad array of treatments and therapies available at Dr. Smith's practice.  Dr. Smith calls the MLS system "the most promising treatment I have seen in years for relieving pain and promoting healing," said Dr. Smith, who purchased the device for his practice in April.  He added, "I was impressed not only by the results the MLS Laser produced, but also the broad range of problems it can treat."   MLS Laser Therapy has become a very popular pain relief option in the clinical practices where it is offered, with 90% of patients experiencing significant improvement of their symptoms in as few as one to two treatments.

Though lasers have been used by doctors for some 35 years, MLS Laser Therapy is a state-of-the-art breakthrough in restoring patient mobility. This innovative therapy works at a cellular level using a synchronized combination of laser emissions, simultaneously addressing swelling, pain and the loss of joint motion. The result is a significant leap forward and a huge departure from traditional treatments.

Dr. Smith explains, "Using the MLS Laser, the cells of the tendons, ligaments and muscles, even the skin repairs itself faster. As the inflammation is reduced, the pain subsides, helping the body achieve a speedy recovery."  Unlike some pharmacological solutions or invasive treatments, MLS Laser Therapy has no known negative side effects. Chronic conditions can be successfully controlled with one phase of 10 short treatments followed by an occasional maintenance treatment.

Treatments last 4 - 8 minutes each.   Benefit from these treatments generally last 48-72 hours.  A standard series of 6-7 treatments is recommended to achieve optimal, sometimes permanent results.  Because tissues can only absorb a limited amount of energy at a time, treatments must be separated by at least 15 hours.   "We're so pleased to be able to offer this remarkable treatment to our patients, especially those whose pain has been difficult to manage," said Dr. Smith.

Local thespians celebrate lives of Galenians during 18th annual walk

GALENA, Ill. - Eight former residents of Galena will present their riveting stories in live theatre format on Saturday and Sunday, June 11 and 12, at Greenwood Cemetery, Gear St., Galena. Guided 75-minute tours will step out every 20 minutes between the hours of 2 and 4:30 p.m. during the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society's 18th annual Cemetery Walk. An indoor "seated" performance at 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 18, will be held at Grace Episcopal Church.

"Greenwood Cemetery is a link to our past...like an open history book," said Ronn Toebaas, producer and director, who has assembled an outstanding cast of local actors to bring these wonderful stories to life.

Personalities profiled are: John and Mary Packard, a Galena entrepreneur and his wife who amassed a vast fortune through the production and sale of axle grease; Adele Gratiot Washburne, the first white child born in Galena, who later married the powerful politician Elihu B. Washburne and spent years living abroad when her husband was appointed Minister to France; Samuel Simpson Grant, younger brother to Ulysses, who was working in the Grant Leather Store at the time Ulysses arrived in Galena; Herman Kohlsaat and Nancy Baker, a powerful newspaper mogul who as a child befriended Mrs. Baker who made wonderful cookies (in subsequent years he brought noted dignitaries to her doorstep to sample her gingersnaps); Sarah Coates Harris, a progressive thinking Galena physician and lecturer who spoke eloquently on female anatomy, plant taxonomy, temperance, and a woman's right to vote (she was married to riverboat captain and early Galena entrepreneur Daniel S. Harris); and Mathias Meller, an immigrant from Germany who was one of Galena's most successful beer brewers.

Local actors portraying the Galenians include Ron and Kris Chapman, Jim Clark, Steve Coates, Carmen Ferguson, Deb Hyland, Carole Sullivan and Ted Williams. Historical research for the script was provided by local historians Scott Wolfe and Kris Chapman. Jenni Ackerman is coordinating the period costuming. Bryan Ackerman is Stage Manager in charge of technical direction.

Tickets are $12 per person for the guided theatrical tour and are available onsite the day of the performances or at the Galena History Museum, 211 S. Bench St., in advance. The performances are suitable for all ages; kids under 6 are free. No reservations are necessary; small groups will be formed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The addition of a performance the following Saturday evening, June 18, is recognition that some guests may have difficulty navigating the rolling cemetery terrain and paths. Weather and daytime work schedules sometimes prevent attendance as well, so a "seated" indoors performance is a welcome addition. Guests may enjoy the performance from a comfortable pew - also for $12 per person - at 8 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church, 309 Hill St., Galena.

The event is hosted by the Galena-Jo Daviess County Historical Society. Major sponsors include Vincent Monuments, US Bank, McCoy Insurance and Real Estate, and Merkle International. For more event information or to purchase tickets, contact the Museum at 815-777-9129 or visit www.galenahistorymuseum.org. For information about room availability, shopping, dining, attractions, events and more, go to www.galena.org, the Web site of the Galena/Jo Daviess County Convention & Visitors Bureau, or call 877-464-2536 toll-free.

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The Pontiac-Oakland Auto Museum will open to the public on July 23, 2011.  However, due to numerous requests by local, state, and national media outlets for access to the new museum prior to the official opening, we are allowing special press-only access to the museum between July 11th and July 16th.

Reporters, film crews, and still photographers are welcome to come to see the museum and meet with Tim Dye, the director of the museum, as well as with city officials, including Pontiac Mayor Robert Russell.

Although the museum will not be 100% complete at that time, we anticipate that over 90% of the artifacts, classic and antique cars, library materials, and other displays will be in place and ready for viewing.  Members of the press will be able to spend time seeing the collection as well as learning more about the Oakland and Pontiac brands, and the genesis of the museum project.

It is expected that the new museum will draw thousands of visitors each year to our city.  Among the thousands of items in the collection to be displayed are:

• 15 classic Oakland and Pontiac cars, and a horse buggy, dating back to the 1890's
• Over 300 linear feet of print materials in a resource library
• Dealer sales training films, pamphlets, and guides
• Over 2,000 gas station road maps from the 1930s, '40s, '50s, and '60s.
• Pontiac Car promotional items - signs, buttons, awards, etc.
• Over 2,000 oil cans and a marvelous collection of gasoline-related artifacts

The new museum joins the growing list of attractions in Pontiac, including the Route 66 Association of Illinois Hall of Fame and Museum, the International Walldog Mural and Sign Art Museum, the Livingston County War Museum, Looking for Lincoln Heritage sites, and the city's 21 colorful, outdoor murals.  Over the last few years, Pontiac has risen to become one of the state's most popular tourist destinations.  The number of visitors who come to our city has been increasing by nearly 20% each of the last three years.  We anticipate that the new museum will help us to continue that trend.

If you are interested in coming to preview the museum and/or interview Tim, Penny, or any of our city officials, please contact us and we will set things up to best meet your needs.  I can be reached by phone at (800) 835-2055, and by email at: tourism@pontiac.org.