New Special Amana Exhibit Opens March 5 at the German American Heritage Center
The German American Heritage Center is excited to bring you this new exhibit in partnership with the Amana Heritage Society. Along with several artifacts, fascinating personal stories from descendants bring to life trades Amana members brought from Germany including blacksmithing, baking, butchering, weaving and more.  The exhibit focuses on the time during the Great Depression when some members of the Amana communal society  made a difficult decision to move to the City of Davenport.

This exhibit is in honor of Henry R. and Marie A. Schaefer who emigrated from the Amana Colonies and the security of the communal society to Davenport to explore a new life outside the system. This exhibit is sponsored by the children of Henry R. and Marie A. Schaefer: Richard H. Schaefer, Marilyn L. Schaefer, Carol H. Schaefer,Suzan M. Schaefer, and Jack T. Schaefer.
German Language Classes
German Level I
Prerequisite:
None
Date: Meets Tuesdays afternoons starting March 23 - June 15 (No class April 20.)
Time/Location: 5:00-6:30 pm at the German American Heritage Center, 4th floor
Cost: Members: $75 for the course and $20 for the manual; Nonmembers: $95 for the class and $20 for the manual
Text: Chapters 1-4 of German - a Self-teaching Guide (available through the GAHC).
Vocabulary topics: greetings, introductions, telling about yourself and your family, useful expressions, numbers (measurements, currencies, sizes, temperature), food, restaurants & eating, hotels and overnight accommodations. Lessons may include additional topics as needed.
Grammar topics:  Subject and object pronouns, the many German words for "the" and "you,"  present tense forms of verbs, nouns and plurals, differences in German and English word order, introduction to adjectives, adverbs, and prepositions. To register call  563-322-8844.

German Level II
Class meets 90 minutes once a week for 12 weeks.
Prerequisite:
German I or some basic knowledge of German language.
Dates: Meets Tuesday evenings starting March 23 - June 15 (No class April 20.)
Time/Location: 7-8:30 pm at the German American Heritage Center, 4th floor
Cost: Members: $75 for the course and $20 for the manual; Nonmembers: $95 for the class and $20 for the manual
Text: Chapters 5-8  of the text German - a Self-teaching Guide (Available through the GAHC. This is a continuation of the same manual used in German I at GAHC.)
Vocabulary and conversation topics: Numbers, telling time, train and air travel, shopping, health care, & going to the doctor in Germany, entertainment and recreation.  Lessons may include additional topics as needed.
Grammar topics:  Review of Level I as needed; past and future tense forms of verbs; more about using adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, and prepositions; continued practice with German word order. To register call  563-322-8844. 


In This Issue
New Amana Exhibit in Quad Cities
German Language Classes
German Gardening Presentation
Bus Trip: Historic Kalona, Iowa
Schrebergärten:
Community Gardening in Germany and America
Date/Time: Saturday,
February 27, 2010 at 2 p.m.
Cost:
Free with general admission; Free for members
Place: German American Heritage Center, 712 W 2nd St., Davenport, Iowa

Description: Community gardening began in Germany during the Industrial Revolution as a way to escape from the dirty and polluted cities. Today, they still provide an "escape" for some, but are not limited to that alone. They provide learning experiences for children, a stress reliever for adults, and a source of fresh, cheap produce. The importance of community gardening is growing with higher food prices, increasing populations, and as a means of beautification of derelict neighborhoods and cities. This presentation will be given by Bryan Schmid.
ALL ABOARD!
Join us for a day trip to historic Kalona, Iowa on  Monday,  May 3, 2010 . Reserve your spot soon!

Time:
7:15 a.m.-5:35 p.m.
(Bus departs/returns at the German American Heritage Center)

Cost: Members $55;
Non-members $65
Includes transportation by motor coach, family style lunch in a farm house, and tours. Lunch will be in a farm house and served family style. Lunch will include roast beef, noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, bread, relish, pies and ice tea or coffee. 

Description:
Relive the 1800's when you visit the Historical Village with its 13 authentically restored buildings. Throughout the day you'll travel the scenic back-roads with our guides and experience a new sense of the hard work and family ethic that continues to mark the Amish way of life. We will explore Kalona Historic Village and Quilt & Textile Museum. Also enjoy a visit to the bakery, shops and general store. During the trip, you will also have an opportunity to watch a live horse auction as well. Watch demonstrations such as noodle making and cheese making, and traditional crafts including woodworking.
To reserve your spot for the trip, call 563-322-8844 before April 26. We encourage you to register soon, as space is limited.

On Saturday, February 27 at 10:00 am, the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a Winter tree identification program. Families and individuals are invited to be Winter tree detectives!  Participants will learn how to identify trees by looking at the bark, buds and seeds.  Please call to register (563) 328-3286.

Also on Saturday, February 27 at 1:00 pm, the Wapsi River Environmental Education Center will host a maple syruping demonstration. Join Tom Greene as he discusses the history and procedure of tapping trees for syrup.  Handouts and where to find tapping equipment wil be provided to participants.  Please call (563) 328-3286 to register.

The Wapsi River Environmental Education Center can be found 6 miles south of Wheatland or 1 mile northwest of Dixon, Iowa, by taking County Road Y4E. then turn north at 52nd Avenue and follow the signs for about 1 mile.

On Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 5:30pm, Mayor Duane Dawson read a proclamation declaring Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at "Milan Spay Day."

The simple objective is to encourage not only Milan residents, but also residents of the Quad Cities and surrounding area, to take responsibility for their pets by having them spayed or neutered.  Pets who are spayed or neutered are healthier and do not add to the heartbreaking tragedy of the pet overpopulation.  A spay or neuter surgery carries a one-time cost that is relatively small when you consider the benefits.  Your pet will live a longer and healthier life.

To mark this important date, the Quad City Animal Welfare Center will offer $5.00 cat spays and neuters to twenty-four Milan residents, made possible with the support of the Village of Milan.  Appointments wil be scheduled for Tuesday, February 16th and Tuesday, February 23rd.  To schedule a $5.00 cat spay or neuter, please contact the Quad City Animal Welfare Center low cost high quality clinic at 309-787-6830, ext. 26 and mention "Milan Spay Day."  Pet guardians who are not eligible for the program described above may take advantage of the low cost, high quality spay and neuter program by calling 309-7887-6830, ext 26.

The Quad City Animal Welfare Center is the only full service no-kill animal shelter located in the Quad Cities..  Our mission is a shelter for homeless animals, to support spay and neuter programs and to provide humane education.  QCAWC Adoption Center is open Monday-Saturday from 12:00pm until 5:00pm with extended hours on Wednesday until 6:00pm and closed on Sundays.  Our Low Cost, High Quality Vaccination Clinic is open every Wednesday at 1:00pm and the first Saturday of every month at 10:00am with no appointment necessary.  QCAWC is located at 724 West 2nd Ave, Milan.  Visit our website at www.qcawc.org.

$27,500 in Scholarship Money Given at Premier Night of the Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show.

(Davenport) The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend is pleased to announce the 2010 recipients of the Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show Scholarships:

Francesca Byczynski - Rock Island High School - Rock Island; The letter of recommendation was from Lujack Northpark Auto Plaza, Davenport. Francesca was awarded $5000.

Celine Hartman - Rock Falls High School - Rock Falls; the letter of recommendation was from Dixon Ford Lincoln Mercury Volkswagen Mazda, Dixon, Illinois. Celine was awarded $3,500.

Mitchel Heiar - Sherrard High School - Sherrard; the letter of recommendation was from Eriksen Chevrolet-Buick Inc, Milan. Mitchel was awarded $3,500.

Owen Pomije - Rock Island High School - Rock Island; the letter of recommendation was from Lujack Northpark Auto Plaza, Davenport.  Owen was awarded $5,000.

Mathew Purl - Assumption High School - Davenport; the letter of recommendation was from Reynolds Motor Co., East Moline. Mathew was awarded $3,500.

Benjamin Schwind - Central High School - Davenport; the letter of recommendation was from Lujack Northpark Auto Plaza, Davenport.  Benjamin was awarded $3,500.

Kelsey Swan - Rockridge High School - Taylor Ridge; the letter of recommendation was from Sexton Ford, Moline.  Kelsey was awarded $3,500.

The Auto Show has given to date over $150,000 in scholarships to 55 area students. Proceeds from the Auto Show support the Scholarship Fund. A special presentation of $15,000 was made by the Quad City Times to be deposited to the scholarship fund from sales efforts of the Auto Show Special Supplement. Sponsors of the Premier include : IH Mississippi Valley Credit Union, AutoTrader.com, Automated Data Processing, Detailers Training & Services, and Enterprise Car Rental.

Braley has led efforts ensuring thousands of troops will finally receive benefits

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) announced today that the Iowa National Guard will have a timeline by Friday detailing a plan of action to release long-overdue "Respite Leave" benefits to members. Braley has been leading efforts to fix this back pay problem and ensure that thousands of troops nationwide receive proper compensation. His Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act (HR 1222) was signed into law in October as part of the Fiscal Year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act and enables the Pentagon to release the promised benefits.

"I'm happy to announce that thousands of troops are one step closer to receiving the benefits they were promised and deserve," Braley said. "This is a problem I've been fighting to fix for more than two years now, and the Army's plan of action is a long-awaited step forward. Thousands of troops who bravely served our country deserve the compensation they earned, and I'll continue working on this issue until every affected soldier has a check in their hands."

Under Braley's fix, hundreds of Iowa National Guard members will be provided benefits they were promised under the Department of Defense's Post-Deployment/Mobilization Respite Absence (PDMRA) program, commonly known as "Respite Leave."

Due to a delay between the announcement of the PDMRA program by the Department of Defense and the implementation of the program by the individual services, thousands of soldiers from the Army National Guard - including almost 800 members of the Iowa National Guard - have not received proper Respite Leave compensation.  Over 22,000 Army National Guard members across the country were affected by this problem.

Braley first introduced the Guaranteed Benefits for Our Troops Act in July 2008.  It allows the Pentagon to retroactively grant up to $200 per day to affected troops.

The Department of the Army's memo is attached.

# # #

DES MOINES, IA (02/16/2010)(readMedia)-- The following students graduated from Drake University at the conclusion of the 2009 fall semester.

  • Sheila Beiermann of Cordova, IL earned a Master of Business Administration from the College of Business and Public Administration.

  • Scott Berg of Bettendorf, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

  • Rachel Davis of Davenport, IA earned a Juris Doctor from the Drake University Law School.

  • Lori Duncan of LeClaire, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

  • Sara Fitzer-Huston of Durant, IA earned a Master of Public Administration from the College of Business and Public Administration.

  • Linda Frederiksen of Bettendorf, IA earned a Master of Public Administration from the College of Business and Public Administration.

  • Jami McCubbin of Long Grove, IA earned a Bachelor of Science in Education in Secondary Teacher Education from the School of Education.

  • Janet McDonald of Bettendorf, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

  • Brett Nagle of Long Grove, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

  • Jonathan Noble of Bettendorf, IA earned a Juris Doctor from the Drake University Law School.

  • Patrick Seamer of Bettendorf, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

  • Brandon Tolle of Davenport, IA earned a Master of Science in Education from the School of Education.

Drake is a private, independent university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an enrollment of approximately 3,200 full-time undergraduate students from 45 states and 62 countries. Drake University's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal lives, professional accomplishments and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learning among students, faculty and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation.

Make your reservation today, National Pheasant Fest is February 26-28

Des Moines, Iowa - February 16, 2010 - In conjunction with Pheasants Forever's National Pheasant Fest, the Iowa Machine Shed restaurant in Des Moines, Iowa, has added pheasant to its menu for the weekend of the event. National Pheasant Fest 2010 is February 26-28 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

After taking in all that National Pheasant Fest has to offer and working up an appetite, attendees can enjoy a home-cooked quarter pheasant pan roasted and served in country gravy at the Iowa Machine Shed, located at Living History Farms in Urbandale, just minutes from downtown Des Moines.

"Our five word constitution is 'Dedicated to the American Farmer,'" said Cat Penton, Executive Staff for the Machine Shed chain of restaurants. "We want everyone who comes to our restaurant to receive the Machine Shed experience of made from scratch, home-cooked meals served in the traditions of the farming community. For many in town that weekend, those traditions center on days afield pheasant hunting followed by fantastic pheasant dishes."

The Iowa Machine Shed will serve pheasant on February 25-27 from 3PM to 10PM and on Sunday, February 28 from 11AM to 9AM. Additionally, if you'd like to know how to make this fantastic dish, Machine Shed Chef Roger Johnson will show Pheasant Fest attendees how he prepares the Machine Shed's special pheasant recipe. The demonstration will be at 2PM on Friday, February 26 in seminar room 5 at the Iowa Events Center.

MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc is the supplier of the pheasant to be served at the Machine Shed. MacFarlane Pheasants, Inc. was also supplier of the pheasant served at the Presidential Inaugural luncheon in 2009. The Machine Shed was started 31 years ago in Iowa by Mike Whalen, founder and CEO.

Attend National Pheasant Fest 2010
The Country's Largest Event for Upland Hunters, Sport Dog Owners and Wildlife Habitat Conservationists,
combining a national outdoor tradeshow, wildlife habitat seminar series, and family event complete with puppies, tractors, shotguns, and art.
Adults - $10 Daily * Ages 6-16 - $5 Daily * Ages 5 and Under - FREE
Weekend Special - $30 (Includes annual Pheasants Forever membership & hat, over $80 value)

The Independent Scholars' Evenings
continuing our evergreen poetry series in February:
"The Lion in Winter"
Poetry Presentation
by Poet John McBride, Ph.D
past-president, Quint City Poets,
FEBRUARY 18th. 2010
at
The Moline Club ( 2nd Floor)
513 16th. Street
Moline
at
7.00 p.m.
Light refreshments will be served
The event is free and open to the public.
Please call 309-762-9202 for further information.

Independent Scholars' Evenings
are sponsored by The Institute for Cultural and Healing Traditions, Ltd. a 501(c)3
and by The Moline Commercial Club.

TRIVIA!!!

An Evening of Fun & Fellowship

Put on your thinking cap and show us how many trivial facts you have stored in your head!

Reserve February 26th and join us at the Masonic Center, 511 E 65th St, Davenport.

Doors open at 6:30 PM, play starts at 7:00 PM.

Tables of up to eight, $10.00 per person.

Cash Prizes - Silent Auction - 50/50 and Heads or Tails.

BYOB

Soft drinks and snacks available.

Proceeds to benefit the Daughters of the Nile general fund.

Contact Audrey Adamson at 309-236-6804 or audreyadamson@augustana.edu

with questions or to reserve your table. Bring family, friends and neighbors.

Everyone Welcome!

Art and the African-American culture have been inextricably linked since the founding of this country.  Whether in song, dance or visual art, the African-American experience continues to be expressed with a passion born from spiritual beliefs, love, conviction, and trauma.
As the Quad Cities celebrates Black History Month, it welcomes the work of the well known speaker, author and psychologist Dr. Dwight Bailey.  A native of Cleveland, OH, Dr. Bailey relocated to the Quad Cities in 2007. His art has been inspired by nature and his strong connection to the African-American experience.
Dwight Bailey offers a glimpse into his world through the art exhibit: "Kaleidoscope".  This exhibit reflects Dwight's appreciation of the many colors of the human experience. His paintings capture the emotions of the patients he has seen throughout his career as a psychologist as well as the trials he has had to overcome as an African American man in the United States.
The vernissage is Friday February 19th, at the Phoenix Art Gallery, 1530 Fifth Avenue, Moline, IL.  Doors open at 6pm.  Music, wine, and light hors d' oeuvres will accompany a show that the Quad Cities will remember for many years to come.

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