24 Mar 2011

Calling All Bird Dogs for Iowa Pheasants Forever's Spring Fun Trial

By Tom
Pointers and flushers welcome in two divisions for April 23rd event to "Reload Iowa"
Riverside, Iowa - March 22, 2011 - Calling all bird dogs and their owners! Pheasants Forever is hosting a Spring Fun Trail on Saturday, April 23rd at Highland Hideaway Hunting in Riverside, Iowa. The trial is open to pointing and flushing breeds, with all proceeds going to Pheasants Forever's Reload Iowa effort to improve wildlife habitat and carry on Iowa's upland hunting tradition.
Pheasants Forever's Spring Fun Trial will include a singles (one hunter and one dog) and doubles (two hunters and one dog) division. In the singles division, hunter and dog will have 15 minutes to score on three quail, and in the doubles division, hunters and dog will have 20 minutes to score on five quail. The event is limited to the first 50 entries, and individuals and teams may enter multiple times. Prizes will be awarded for the first place winner in each division.
"Conservation efforts have always been spearheaded by hunters," said Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever's Regional Representative in eastern Iowa, "There's no more passionate group of hunters than bird dog owners, so it seems natural to use that passion to fuel Pheasants Forever's Reload Iowa initiative." One hundred percent of proceeds from Pheasants Forever's Spring Fun Trial will go to the Reload Iowa effort, which is Pheasants Forever's aggressive strategy for establishing and improving 1 million acres of wildlife habitat, increasing the number of upland hunters and increasing hunting-related revenue to local communities.
The singles event is $30 per run and the doubles event is $50 per run. Clay shooting (5 stand) will be available between runs for $10. Lunch will also be available. Visit Highland Hunting for directions. For more information about Pheasants Forever's Spring Fun Trial, including full rules, contact Ryan at (319) 330-6165 or Tom at (319) 828-2050 / Email Tom.
Iowa is home to 101 Pheasants Forever chapters, 3 Quail Forever chapters and more than 22,000 Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever members. For more information on "The Habitat Organization" in Iowa, visit Iowa Pheasants Forever.
24 Mar 2011

Maximizing Potential - Maximizing Value: Rewarding U Now Scholarship at Rivermont - Deadline Fast Approaching!

By Kendra Smith

You deserve a break!  Rivermont Collegiate has introduced the Rewarding U Now Scholarship for the 2011-12 academic year!  This renewable academic merit scholarship is available to all students entering grades 9-12 in 2011-12 who have earned a current year (2010-11) GPA of 3.85 or higher.  All qualifying students will be awarded $2,000 toward Rivermont annual tuition, renewable every year they attend Rivermont in grades 9-12 and meet scholarship criteria.  This is a potential value of $8,000 over 4 years!

The deadline for this fantastic opportunity is fast approaching!  Interested students must complete a Rivermont application, submit an official transcript from their current school, and compose an original 350-550 word essay.  Application materials and essays must be submitted to Rivermont no later than Monday, March 28th at 4:00 p.m.

This opportunity is available to both current Rivermont students and new applicants.  We wish to take as many eligible applications as possible and there is no limit on the number of scholarships to be awarded!  For details instructions on how to apply and essay topics, visit www.rvmt.org/scholarship

For additional information on Rivermont Collegiate and the Rewarding U Now Scholarship, contact Cindy Murray, Director of Admissions, at (563) 359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org

24 Mar 2011

Morrow Kicks Off "Push-Ups for Peace" Community Fundraiser

By Rick Martin

Participants Gather Push-Up Sponsors Around Town

MOLINE, IL--Morrow's Academy of Martial Arts kicked off its second annual "Push-Ups for Peace" fundraiser today. The event will take place April 30th at 2:30pm, in St. Ambrose University's Lee Lohman arena. Participants can download a sponsor sheet from www.morrowsacademy.com and start gathering sponsorships right away. Everyone is invited to participate, no matter your age, gender or occupation!

"I want people to join me in making history April 30th while raising awareness for our local children's charities," said Morrow. "Push-Ups for Peace is a Guinness World Record Attempt for the most pushups done by a group of people in one place for one hour. It is a fundraiser. All push-up proceeds are evenly divided between Quad City Children's Therapy Center, Kids Against Hunger, and the Make A Wish Foundation. Spectator admission proceeds will benefit the Rock Island Word of Life food pantry."

In addition to the group world record attempt, Morrow will attempt to set a new Guinness world record for the most push-ups on the backs of hands in one hour.

"In order to participate," explained Morrow, "choose the number of pushups you are able to do every minute for one hour. For example, if you choose 5 as your goal then you will do 5 pushups for one minute then rest. When the bell rings for the second minute you will do 5 more pushups. This will  continue until the hour is complete. At that time you will have completed 300 pushups! Feel free to choose 3 or 8 or 12 or any number of pushups you can complete every minute for one hour," he added.

First, download your sponsor sheet from http://morrowsacademy.com/sponsorsheet.htm.

Participants will collect pledges from their sponsors and put the monies and the sponsor form (complete with sponsor's name, pledge amount and type of payment) in an envelope. Checks should be made payable to The Morning Optimist Club. Participants must mark clearly, on the outside of their envelope, their name and the total monies which have been collected. Participants will turn in completed envelopes on the day of the event. There will be autographed posters and buttons on sale at the event; these proceeds will also go to charity.

Morrow asks that participants please arrive at the event at 2:30 to turn in envelopes and attend the event orientation. The push-ups event begins at 3pm. Every Saturday leading up to the April 30 event, Morrow is offering participants free training sessions. Join the group Saturdays at 2:30, in Morrow's Academy, 1321 - 5th Avenue, Moline.

ADMISSION FOR SPECTATORS: $3 per person (5 years old and younger are FREE).For more information call 309-764-1929 or visit www.morrowsacademy.com to download flyers and sponsor sheets.

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24 Mar 2011

Harkin Lauds USDA Expansion of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program

By Sen. Tom Harkin
Lawmaker authored the 2002 pilot program and then expanded it in 2008 farm bill

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today released the following statement on a USDA announcement that it will expand assistance to state agencies for schools participating in the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.  This year, USDA will provide $158 million nationwide to state agencies - over $2.3 million to Harkin's home state of Iowa - who in turn provide the funding to schools participating in the program.  As the former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, Harkin authored the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program in the 2002 farm bill as a pilot program to bring healthy foods to children at school.  Because of the rapid success of the program, in the 2008 farm bill (the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act), Harkin was able to expand the program nationwide with a focus on elementary schools with a high proportion of low-income students. When the 2008 bill's Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program is fully implemented, it will reach as many as 3 million elementary school children nationwide.

"As our nation works to ensure the health and nutrition of our children, one of the simplest things we can do is provide students with healthy, delicious alternatives to unhealthy snacks," said Harkin.  "The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program does just that by bringing fresh produce into schools - particularly to low-income students who may not otherwise have access to these nutritious foods.  The program has shown to be a tremendous success.  Both teachers and parents notice a change in student behavior and attentiveness, and kids love the great-tasting snacks.  At the same time, we are reducing long-term health care costs by raising a generation of children less likely to get sick or develop a chronic illness such as diabetes.

"I commend Secretary Vilsack for his hard work in implementing the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, and for his tireless efforts to promote the health of America's children.  As we begin initial discussions on the next farm bill, it is my hope that we will be able to expand this program even further and that we continue to work on other programs that increase the health and well-being of our nation's children."

Harkin has been a senate leader for over a decade in efforts to fight childhood obesity.  Information on these efforts can be found here.
24 Mar 2011

Severe Weather Has Begun Across the Country

By Missy Lundberg

March 22, 2011–Spring has arrived, and with it comes severe weather. Already this month State Farm has dispatched national catastrophe services teams across the country to assist local State Farm agents and claims personnel in accessing wind and hail damage.

The first wind and rain event of the season resulted in more than 10,000 claims across the country.

See how Illinois compares to others when it comes to most common insurance claims.

There isn`t a community in the nation that is immune to severe weather, but being prepared for spring storms can help you weather the inevitable.

Before severe weather strikes your neighborhood take some time to prepare:

·       Organize an evacuation plan and establish an emergency meeting place should your family get separated.

·       Make an emergency storm kit including a transistor radio, flashlight, batteries and simple first-aid items in a waterproof container.

·       Protect your property with a home inventory. An accurate inventory and proof of ownership at the time of loss can make claim settlement easier and faster.

·       Check to make sure your insurance coverage is up-to-date. Schedule time with your agent to discuss your insurance needs.

When severe weather rolls in, monitor the radio for weather updates. If you are instructed to evacuate, go to a shelter as directed by local authorities.

24 Mar 2011

New Treatment for Barrett's Esophagus Available in the Quad Cities

By Jake Glimco

Minimally-Invasive Treatment for Barrett's Esophagus Now Available in the Quad-Cities

Shown Effective in Treating Pre-Cancerous Condition

QUAD-CITIES - March 15, 2011 - Quad-City area patients affected by a common pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus now have access to an effective new minimally-invasive treatment that could prevent them from developing cancer of the esophagus.  HALO Radio Frequency Ablation is among a class of treatments recently cited by a leading medical group as the 'gold standard' for treating Barrett's esophagus.   Gastroenterology Consultants (GI Consultants) was the first Quad Cities clinic to use the BÂRRX Halo RF Ablation System to treat Barrett's esophagus.  GI Consultants has treated nearly 100 patients successfully as of this month, since its first treatment in September.  Barrett's is a pre-cancerous condition that can result from years of chronic gastro esophageal reflux disease or GERD.

"We have had very positive results so far in the Halo treatments we have administered so far." Said Rao Movva, MD gastroenterologist and founder of GI Consultants. GI Consultants is the first Quad-Cities clinic to offer the full range of BÂRRX treatments using radio frequency ablation.  Dr. Movva added, "Cancer of the esophagus is one of the only forms of cancer still on the rise.  By destroying precancerous tissue before it turns to cancer, Halo can do for esophageal cancer what colonoscopy is doing for colon cancer, preventing cancer before it occurs."

Just last week the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) issued guidelines recommending the removal of precancerous cells in patients with confirmed high-grade Barrett's esophagus utilizing endoscopic eradication therapy.  Such position papers set the 'gold standard' for treatment, because they are the result of extensive reviews of peer-reviewed literature, and input from not just GI physicians, but health plan representatives and consumer/patient advocates.  HALO uses an endoscope to administer RF waves directly to the pre-cancerous tissue.  The alternatives to RFA treatment include waiting and watching for further changes and followed by surgical removal of part of the esophagus if further signs are identified that cancer may be developing.

BÂRRX Medical President and CEO, Greg Barrett said, "We are extremely pleased the AGA Medical Position Statement confirms the usefulness of radiofrequency ablation for Barrett's patients with dysphasia. "  The AGA also says that high-risk Barrett's patients without dysphasia should also be considered for treatment.   Barrett added, "These guidelines validate what has been demonstrated in over 75,000 RFA procedures and 55 peer-reviewed published papers: pre-cancerous Barrett's tissue can be safely eliminated without surgery.  The AGA Medical Position Statement is a rigorously constructed publication that will assist BÂRRX and treating physicians in addressing payer policies so that RFA procedures are uniformly recognized as medically necessary services."

The AGA's new opinion follows similar clinical practice guidelines published in 2010 by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) addressing the management of patients with gastro esophageal reflux disease and Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's esophagus is a precancerous condition of the lining of the esophagus caused by gastro esophageal reflux disease (GERD). Left untreated, backward flow of stomach contents such as acid and bile into the esophagus can lead to injury and chronic inflammation of the esophagus lining. A proportion of GERD patients are thus at risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, which can lead to esophageal adenocarcinoma, a lethal cancer with a five-year survival rate of approximately 15%.

Gastroenterology Consultants is affiliated with Heartland Clinic, a collaborative between Valley Laboratories, Valley View Anesthesia, Midwest Clinical Research and Regional Surgicenter. This family of healing partners is committed to providing the highest quality testing and care available in the Quad-City region.  Learn more at www.gastroconsultantsqc.com.  GI Consultants is one of the founding participants of Colon Cancer Free QCA (CCFQCA), a consortium of competing gastroenterology practices committed to increasing the awareness of colon cancer and its risks.   Learn more about the initiative at www.coloncancerfreeQCA.com.

24 Mar 2011

DISCOVER SUMMER ADVENTURES AT RIVERMONT COLLEGIATE

By Tammi Burrell

Keep young minds sharp over the summer with educational programs at Rivermont Collegiate! Rivermont is offering an assortment of Summer Adventures for children from preschool age and up.  Programs cover a wide variety of interests - from cooking to poetry - to French and microbiology. Children from any school may register. Sessions run for one week from 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. or from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.; each session cost $110 and some require an additional $25 lab fee. Students attending two classes per day need to bring a sack lunch. Lunch time will be from 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Rivermont strives to prepare students who are grounded in the basics, yet able to think analytically and creatively, to confidently meet the challenges of the 21st century.  Check out full class descriptions and obtain a registration form at www.rvmt.org.

Preschool - Junior Kindergarten - Kindergarten

June 20-24          Mad Science! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 20-24          Stories & More (12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)

June 27-July 1     Cooking Class     (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 18-22            Take Me Out to the Ballgame (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades K - 2

July 18-22        Dig Into Dinosaurs (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades 1 - 5

June 20-24        Bits, Bytes and Hopefully NO Bugs! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 27-July 1     Poetry, The Symphony of Words (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

June 27-July 1     Got Game? (12:00 - 3:00 p.m.)

Grades 3 - 12

June 27-July 1     Une Semaine à Paris! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 18-22            Scrapadoodle (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

Grades 8 - 10

July 18-22            Seeing the Unseen: Basic Microbiology Techniques (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

July 25-30            Plagues & Poxes & Pestilence - Oh, My! (8:30 - 11:30 a.m.)

For enrollment information on Rivermont Collegiate contact Cindy Murray at 563-359-1366 ext. 302 or murray@rvmt.org.

For additional information on Summer Adventures at Rivermont Collegiate contact Tammi Burrell at 563-359-1366 ext. 337 or burrell@rvmt.org.

#   #   #

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only independent, non-sectarian, PS-12 college preparatory school, ranked #1 on Iowa's AP Index.

-END-

24 Mar 2011

BROADCAST SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE THROUGH WQPT

By Lora Adams

MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS is pleased to offer a $500 Broadcast Scholarship to students pursuing a career in broadcasting.

"For the last four years WQPT has been awarding a scholarship to a student majoring in broadcasting," said WQPT General Manager, Rick Best.   The annual award can be used for tuition, books and fees in any broadcast curriculum. WQPT will forward the scholarship funds to the student's educational institution.

Interested students may log on to wqpt.org for an application or by calling (309) 764-2400.  The criteria for the scholarship is:

Overall 2.5 GPA

Broadcast Classes 3.0 GPA (not applicable to incoming college freshmen)

Preference given to full-time students although part-timers are encouraged to apply.                                                    

Applications will be accepted through May 15, 2011for this scholarship.  New and continuing students in any broadcast curriculum may apply.  WQPT will select the recipient prior to the fall semester.

WQPT is a media service of Western Illinois University Quad Cities located in Moline, Illinois.

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24 Mar 2011

TEACHER PROGRAM OFFERED AT FIGGE

By Susan Horan

Learn about the Role of the Visual Arts in Education

The Figge Art Museum presents the program "Why Art History Matters" in conjunction with the new exhibition Celebrating Ideas: Bridging Communities with Augustana's Liberal Arts through the AGES from 4-5:30 pm Tuesday, March 29. The program will be presented by Dr. Catherine Goebel, Paul A. Anderson Chair for the Arts and Chair of the Art History Department at Augustana College. She is also co-curator of the exhibition, which runs through May 29. Dr. Goebel will explain how the visual arts are a resource for teaching critical thinking, comparative analysis, and chronological developments while highlighting several works in the exhibition. The program is also open to the public. Light refreshments will be served from 3:30-4:00 pm. Reservations are appreciated; please call 563.326.7804 x2045.

Admission to the museum and program is $5. Admission is free to Figge members, college professors and students.  

24 Mar 2011

Artists & Writers series offered at figge

By Susan Horan

Talk on Rendering Volcanoes in Art and Literature

The Figge Art Museum presents the third talk in the series Artists and Writers at 7 pm Thursday, March 24. Dr. Beatrice Jacobson, who teaches early American literature and creative nonfiction as well as courses in women's studies at St. Ambrose University, will present the lecture "Rendering Volcanoes." Professor Jacobson's focus on Emily Dickinson and her ongoing research in Ecuador have led to her interest in volcanoes and she will connect her research to the Figge painting The Bay of Naples by William Stanley Haseltine, which is on display in the American Gallery. The Artists and Writers series explores how writers and artists inspire each other as well as how writers and artists treat similar themes, and is part of the Figge's weekly Thursdays at the Figge programming. The final talk in the series is scheduled for March 31.

Admission to the museum and lecture is $7. Admission is free to Figge members and Institutional members. The Figge Arts Café and Bar will be open before and after the lecture.

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