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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28 Mar 2011

Bettendorf Family Visits Grassley

By Grassley Press

WASHINGTON - March 28, 2011 - Senator Chuck Grassley met this month with Bettendorf resident Jeff Kling and his daughters Madison and Allison during their family trip to Washington, D.C. 

The Kling family and Grassley discussed the ongoing federal budget debate, the most recent Senate vote for a continuing resolution to prevent a government shutdown, and the daily responsibilities of a U.S. senator. 

"I'm glad that so many Iowa families, including the Kling's, make arrangements for a meeting when they're in Washington," Grassley said.  "This kind of dialogue, between elected representatives and the people we represent, is a big part of making the process of representative government work." 

Grassley makes it a priority to sit down with Iowans when they're in Washington.  In addition, in Iowa, he has had at least one constituent meeting in every one of Iowa's 99 counties every year since he was first elected to the Senate in 1980.  In addition to regular meetings, Grassley responds to every constituent letter, email and phone call.  He communicates with Iowans on facebook, twitter and at http://grassley.senate.gov.  He is a regular guest on public affairs programs statewide, where he responds to questions from Iowans. 

Meetings can be scheduled with Grassley at http://grassley.senate.gov.  Click on Info for Iowans and select Scheduling Requests.

 -30-

28 Mar 2011

Rock Island hosts race for the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area on April 30 Spring Chaser Goal: 500 participants for 5th annual 5k to raise $5,000

By Ann McGlynn

The Steve's Old Time Tap Spring Chaser, a 5K run/walk led by two Rock Island women, is set for April 30 at 9 a.m. in downtown Rock Island. The goal is to reach 500 participants and to raise $5,000 with the fifth-annual run benefitting the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area.

Since the race's inception in 2007, it has raised more than $10,000 for the organization.

"Our race started with 260 people in 2007. Last year, we reached just more than 400 participants," said Holly Sparkman, race co-director with Jayna Gallagher. "Our goal of 500 participants will mean more support for one of the most valuable organizations in the Quad-Cities."

The American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area serves Scott, Muscatine, and Louisa counties in Iowa and Rock Island, Henry, Mercer, Bureau, and a portion of Whiteside counties in Illinois.

Every day, on average, the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area works to reunite one family through the Armed Forces Emergency Services and International Social Services programs; reaches more than 107 people with lifesaving training in CPR, first aid, and water safety; and trains 28 youth and adults to be prepared and ready for potential disasters.

In 2010, 148 families in the area received assistance after a disaster threatened to destroy their lives. "On average, it costs $1,100 to assist a family of four following a fire," said Leslie Anthony, chief advancement officer for the Quad Cities chapter. "The $5,000 goal for the Spring Chaser could help five local families recover after a fire."

Steve's Old Time Tap is the lead sponsor of the race. Other sponsors include, Stern Beverage, Gas & Electric Credit Union, Cruz Plumbing, Meridian Title, CBS 4, Jumer's Casino, Crawford & Company, Huckleberry's, Cumulus Quad Cities and Nehlsen Communications.

Sparkman is the communications director for the Rock Island School District. Gallagher is the marketing coordinator at Nehlsen Communications in Moline. They are lifelong residents of the Quad Cities.

"This event started as a result of two Rock Islanders looking for a downtown race in their hometown," Gallagher said. "We've been fortunate enough to have the Quad City area support our event, and more importantly support a great cause. There is no better time to make a donation. With the disaster in Japan and the threat of flooding right here in the Quad Cities, please consider helping us reach our goal of raising $5,000 for the Red Cross."

To register or to get more information about sponsorships, go to www.springchaser.com, or visit www.facebook.com/springchaser5k.

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