31 Mar 2011

RED HAWK GOLF AND LEARNING CENTER OPENS FRIDAY, APRIL 1 SERVING QUAD CITY YOUTH

By Ron Summers
Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center will open for the season on Friday, April 1. Located at 6364 Northwest Boulevard in Davenport, customers can reach the golf course at 563-386-0348.

This 9-hole golf course and 3-hole practice course was formed in 2002 as a result of a partnership between the City of Davenport and the Quad Cities First Tee Program. The First Tee of the Quad Cities provides greater access to the game of golf for underprivileged and disadvantage youth in the Quad Cities. In its 8th year of operation at Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center, kids learn not only the joy of golf, but also lessons in integrity and other positive skills behavior. First Tee of the Quad Cities is a non-profit group that promotes golf and its virtues to the youth of the Quad Cities. Brant McGivern, the PGA professional at Red Hawk, is also the director of the First Tee Program.

Red Hawk is a unique, executive style golf course that offers programs for golfers of all ages, backgrounds and skill levels. The operation includes full service practice facilities and a driving range. Recent renovations include the addition of a lighted range for night practice, a large putting green and practice chipping green, and the addition of three ponds. One of the ponds along Pine Street is also now lighted. The 3-hole practice course and other training facilities make Red Hawk an ideal facility for beginners to learn the game of golf, and for more experienced players to improve their skills. Its 9-hole setup also allows for a quick game of golf for golfers of any skill level.

With the opening of Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center on April 1, all three public courses in the City of Davenport will now be open for the season. Many improvements are in place to insure a great experience; Duck Creek Golf Course recently unveiled a new Full-Service Practice Range.

• New Range-Ball Machines were purchased that will accept bills and credit cards.

• Kimberly Concessions is now operating the concession areas of all three courses.

• Various landscaping renovations are underway to improve all three courses.

"We're excited about all the improvements at our courses", said Troy Evans, Senior Revenue Facilities Manager for the City of Davenport. "Our championship course at Emeis, our classic course at Duck Creek, and our executive style course at Red Hawk offer golfers of the Quad Cities a great range of choices at the best value. More information on all City of Davenport golf courses can be found at www.golfdavenport.com.

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31 Mar 2011

Grassley, Feinstein Seek Testimony from Military on Synthetic Drug Use

By Sen Chuck Grassley

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), leaders of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, today asked the Defense Department to provide testimony at an upcoming hearing on synthetic drugs known as "K2" or "Spice," among other names.

The drugs are marketed as harmless, when in fact they are dangerous, and the deceptive marketing and easy availability have made them attractive to young consumers, including members of the military. Recent reports indicate increased disciplinary action by the Defense Department among members of the armed forces due to synthetic drug use.  The senators asked the Defense Department to provide written testimony for a hearing of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control on April 6, 2011, titled, "The Dangers of Synthetic Cannabinoids and Stimulants."

Earlier this month, Grassley, Feinstein and fellow senators introduced legislation to ban the chemicals used to make K2.  The legislation is called the Dangerous Synthetic Drug Control Act of 2011 and the David Mitchell Rozga Act, S. 605, named for the 18-year-old Iowan who took his own life soon after using K2 purchased from his local shopping mall. The father of David Rozga, Michael Rozga, will testify at the upcoming hearing.

Grassley is Co-chairman and Feinstein is Chairman of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.  Both senators serve on the Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the K2 legislation.  Grassley is ranking member of the committee.

The text of the Grassley-Feinstein letter to the Defense secretary is available here.

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31 Mar 2011

Grassley's concern about banks' repaying bail-outs with government funds

By Sen. Charles Grassley

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Grassley Warns of Bailed-out Banks' Repaying Bail-outs With Government Funds

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley is asking the Treasury secretary for assurances that banks bailed out with government funds will not be allowed to use another government program to pay back their bailouts.

"The reports that banks from New York to Nashville are using federal dollars from the so-called Small Business Lending Fund to increase profits and 'pay back' TARP make this look like another TARP-style money shuffle," Grassley said. "Replacing one form of government subsidy with another wasn't a repayment when GM did it and it still isn't.  The Treasury Department has an obligation to put the brakes on any tricky bookkeeping that misleads the American taxpayer and subverts what this program was supposed to do."

Grassley wrote to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, citing media reports and a bank earnings statement to investors that banks in Pennsylvania, Nashville and New York that received money through the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) are considering paying back that bailout with money received through the federal Small Business Lending Fund.  One bank touted increased "profitability" in converting TARP funds to Small Business Lending Funds in its quarterly earnings report.

Grassley asked Geithner for assurances that a repayment shuffle will not take place.  He asked for a description of Treasury's oversight plans to prevent such a shuffle and for information including a list of banks that have applied for loans under the small business program.

Last year, Grassley exposed the misleading nature of claims from the Treasury Department and General Motors that the company repaid a TARP loan through a business turn-around.  In fact, its repayment was via federal money held by the government.

The text of Grassley's letter to the Treasury secretary is available here.

29 Mar 2011

Free family event at the Figge

By Susan Horan

Event Explores 2,500 Years of Art in Augustana College's Collection

The Figge Art Museum presents "Building Bridges to the Past," a free family event from 1-3 pm on Saturday, April 2. The event is offered in conjunction with the museum's special exhibition Celebrating Ideas: Bridging Communities with Augustana's Liberal Arts through the AGES. Participants may enjoy Creative Activities in the studios from 1-3 pm, Story Time at 1:15 pm, 1:45 pm, and 2:15 pm in the Reading Room, and a film on American Impressionist Mary Cassatt at 2:30 pm in the auditorium. The Figge Café will offer several lunch options from 11:30-2:30 pm. Free admission to this event is generously sponsored by John Deere.

29 Mar 2011

Beauty of Life Lecture Offered

By Susan Horan

Artists & Writers series offered at Figge

The Figge Art Museum presents the final talk in the series Artists and Writers at 7 pm Thursday, March 31. Dr. Owen Rogal, who teaches nineteenth-century British literature, will present the lecture "The Beauty of Life: Ruskin, Morris, and Wright." Dr. Rogal will explain how John Ruskin, William Morris, and Frank Lloyd Wright made connections between the natural world and the things men and women make, between those things and the health of society, and between the things and the nature of the work that produces them. The talk explores what the three writers learned from each other, how Morris developed and spun Ruskin's ideas in new directions, and how both Ruskin and Morris's radical ideas about the role of art in society?what a building means, for example, to the lives of the people who live in it? shape in part Wright's own thinking and practices.

The Artists and Writers series is part of the Figge's weekly Thursdays at the Figge programming. Admission to the museum and lecture is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and Figge institutional members. The Figge Arts Café and Bar will be open before and after the lecture.

29 Mar 2011

School Board Candidates Forum

By m. mcneil
The final Moline School Board candidate forum is being held tonight, Tuesday, March 29, 2011 at John Deere Middle School in Moline at 7:00 pm.  Eight candidates have announced they will attend and field questions.  There are 11 seats at stake.  The media is invited to attend.
29 Mar 2011

April 17th Flea Market in Maquoketa

By Tom Callahan
Make plans now to attend the Annual Spring Flea Market, Antique, and Collectible Show held on Sunday, April 17th at the Jackson County Fairgrounds in Maquoketa, Iowa.

The show has been in existence for 25 years and is one of Iowa's largest shows with over 150 sellers participating with 100 sellers inside and 50-60 sellers outside.

The hours of the show are from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM.  Admission is only $3, with anyone 10 years and under free.  Parking is also free.  For buyers wanting to get an early start, early bird shoppers are welcome between the hours of 6:30 AM to 8:30 AM for an admission of $10 per person.

The Jackson County Fairgrounds is located at 1212 East Quarry Street on the far east side of Maquoketa.  For more information on the show, please call 319-462-0135.
29 Mar 2011

Comedy For A Cause 2 - Stand Up To Diabetes Fundraiser

By Chris Starman

LOCAL COMEDIANS STAND UP TO DIABETES

Davenport, IA March 29, 2011 - Local comedians lend a helping hand to the Eastern Iowa branch of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation as DubStar Presents: Comedy For A Cause 2 - Stand Up To Diabetes.  The event will take place April 8, 2011, from 8:00 to 11:00pm, at Uptown Neighborhood Bar & Grill (2340 Spruce Hills Drive, Bettendorf).  Tickets are $10 at the door, and $15 for a ticket and event shirt in advance. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the local JDRF.

"Having only moved to the US [from Ireland] in October, I am very honored to have been asked to be a part of this year's Comedy for a Cause, there is a wonderful energy about the event and I'm totally psyched about performing," stated Comedy For A Cause headliner, Colin Ryan.

"When I was asked to do this benefit last year, I was excited to help with such a great cause....but when I saw the turnout and support for this event, I was absolutely amazed." says comedian Jim Petersen.   "The talent is top-notch. DubStar does such a great job that I consider it an honor to be a part of this event."

Ten acts will perform for the event, including Quad Cities' residents: Brandon Gale, David Rotz, Chris Starman, Jim Petersen, Trish Mathias, and David Casas, and Tom Pearce who is type 1 diabetic himself.  The event will be headlined by Ryan from Monticello and the Tuttle Twins from Champaign, IL, and hosted by Bobby Ray Bunch of Bettendorf.

JDRF is a leader in setting the agenda for diabetes research worldwide, and is the largest charitable funder and advocate of type 1 research. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is a disease which strikes children and adults suddenly and requires multiple injections of insulin daily or a continuous infusion of insulin through a pump.   According to the American Diabetes Association, an estimated 25.8 million people in the United States, 8.3% of the population, have diabetes, with 7 million going undiagnosed.

DubStar is an amateur fundraising group founded in 2008 by Tony Boyer and Chris Starman; both have histories related to helping diabetics. DubStar's mission is to make a positive impact on deserving charities or groups, through fun and unique ways; "Party With A Purpose".  In January, DubStar hosted Minute To Win It, a recreation of the popular TV game show that raised funds for the Quad Cities Autism Center, and drew attention from NBC producers.  Additional information can be found at the DubStar website, www.facebook.com/DubStarQC.

 

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29 Mar 2011

Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild Meeting April 5th, 2011

By Colleen Sibthorp
The Mississippi Valley Quiters Guild will holds its monthly meeting on April 5th  at 1 PM and 7 PM at the First Congregational Church in Moline. Judy Hasheider will be giving a lecture and trunk show with a class to follow on Wednesday April 6th at the Butterworth Educational Center (Garage) from 9am -3pm. The class is her pattern"Uffizi". This is a class for all skill levels.

The Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, organized in 1983, to educate and encourage members in the quilting arts, and to stimulate interest in quilting in the local community.  Guild meetings are the first Tuesday of the month, at 1 PM and 7 PM, at the First Congregational Church, Moline, IL.  Current membership of 350, and is open to anyone who is interested.  Meetings consist of a business meeting, local, regional or national teachers, and a show-and-tell of projects completed by our members.  

The quilt guild participates in many community charity activities by donating time and quilts to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Family Resources, Crisis Pregnancy and Lutheran Social Services. The guild provides community educational demonstrations at local venues, with a biennial quilt show, held at the Mississippi Valley Fair Ground.  

For more information about the Mississippi Valley Quilters Guild, visit our website at mvqg.org.
28 Mar 2011

Author Donna Mander-Fiser Book Signing Event

By Nicholas Depew

WHEN: April 9, 2011

TIME: 1 - 3 p.m.

WHERE: Whistle Stop Java Shop, 400 4th St. W., Milan, IL 61264

WHAT: Donna Mander-Fiser, a resident of Milan, IL, will be available to sign copies of her book, Waiting for Pete to Go Home.

The first time I saw Pete, I thought he looked like a total fool. I was seventeen years old, out of high school, and working at my first job in Springfield, Illinois. Pete was a twenty-year-old college student, and he was thrashing about without any rhythm. It was obvious that he thought he was pretty cool. He was a total turn-off, but little did I know...we would fall in love. While Waiting for Pete to go Home, Donna Mander-Fiser experienced over a year of doubt and frustration. She treaded lonely and unfamiliar waters while caring for her husband in his dying days. She could never have imagined the unresponsive reaction of some friends and the fear of feeling single again. After Pete's death, Donna took comfort in memories of the life she and Pete shared by reminiscing about wedding anniversaries, family traditions, and Pete's fantastically told stories. Join first-time author Donna Mander-Fiser as she learns how to cope with illness, losing a loved one, and finally regaining her own life.

For more information, contact Jeff Fisher at 888-361-9473 or jfisher@tatepublishing.com

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