Mutual Med and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network proudly present the 11th Annual Share The Power of a Wish Gala to benefit Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Iowa.  The event will take place on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in the Mississippi Hall at the River Center and will be attended by more than 800 guests.  This year's event hosts are Shawn and Janelle Langan of GCO Carpet.

The Gala will include a brief presentation by several wish families as well as a live and silent auction. Two items that will be featured in the live auction include an all inclusive vacation for two to Aruba donated by Mutual Med and a fully assembled playhouse donated by Superior Sheds.

Event details:

    • Share the Power of a Wish Gala
    • The Mississippi Hall at the River Center
    • Saturday, February 6, 2010
    • 6:00 PM -- Silent Auction and Cocktails
    • 7:30 PM - Dinner, Program, Live Auction and Dance
    • Black-Tie Optional
    • To make a reservation or to donate an item for the auction, please contact
Dan Konrardy at 563-343-4794 or Dankonrardy@ruhlhomes.com

Announcing new changes for doeGALLERY!  After 4 years, doeGALLERY is expanding!  Emily Christenson is moving down the hall to hew own studio space:  e|c, Suite 205 @ the Bucktown Center for the Arts.

This November's FINAL FRIDAY will be the grand opening of her new space and her new exhibition: Rivers and Rain, Pieces of Denali new paintings by Emily Christenson.

Exhibition runs November 23rd until December 31st, 2009.

"This exhibition features 11 works started in the rain or water in Denali National Park and Healy, Alaska in the Spring of 2008.  This series focuses on my impressions of the uniqueness of the landscape in and around Denali National Park," says Christenson.

Please join us for this special Reception and Studio Grand Opening on Friday, November 27, 2009 from 6pm until 9pm.

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. (November 11, 2009) - Younkers kicks off the holiday season with its Community Day, the largest fundraising event of the year held on Saturday, November 14, with stores opening at 6:00 a.m. More than 15,000 groups company-wide will benefit from this one-day event which gives back to local non-profit groups and provides customers with special savings discounts and a great way to start their holiday shopping.


Savings booklets can be purchased at all stores on Community Day from organizations at the store entrances or from a sales associate. One hundred percent of the money from community day booklet sales is donated to local non-profit groups. Booklets are only $5 and contain one $10 coupon, good on an item of $10 or more; eight additional 20% off apparel coupons on regular and sale price merchandise; five merchandise items at special low prices available only with the booklet and a 30% early bird coupon that can be used from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.


"It's a win win for our organization and the people who purchase the booklet, said Becky Morgan, who oversees the fundraising for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Workcamps, "This event enables us to help others in need that we would not be able to help otherwise. We are grateful for The Bon-Ton Stores for having this event."


"Giving back to our hometowns is extremely important to our Company," said Bud Bergren, president and chief executive officer of The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. "We want to make a meaningful impact in our communities where our associates and customers live and work, and, we believe, our Community Day event is one way we can do that."

In 2008, the November Community Day event raised more than $6.2 million dollars for local non-profit 501C3 groups, schools and churches.


The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. operates 279 stores, including 12 furniture galleries, in 23 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson Pirie Scott, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates and, under the Parisian nameplate, stores in the Detroit, Michigan area. The stores offer a broad assortment of brand-name fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.


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Davenport, IA - Russell Construction is proud to announce the recent promotion of Susan Burroughs from Financial Accountant to Accounting Department Manager. Her new responsibilities include oversight and supervision of staff, management of accounting department functions, and collaboration with the Chief Financial Officer to complete financial statements.

As a seasoned Russell Construction employee, Susan has been with the company for 10 years, eight of which were in her previous role as a Financial Accountant. Initially, Susan served as an accounts payable clerk for two years. Her dedication to excellence has earned her this valuable promotion.

Angela Bagby, the Director of Marketing & Client Relations at Russell was recently selected by 24 of her peers to receive the Young Professional (YP) of the Year Award. This award is given on behalf of The Network, a Quad Cities initiative of the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce and the Iowa Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce to recognized leadership, talent and community involvement.

Your browser may not support display of this image.Angela has been deeply involved with The Network, serving on the Leadership Council, as well as an instrumental leader behind the inaugural i.network program which engages young professional interns outside the four walls of their workplace and college campus in hopes that they will stay in the Quad Cities upon graduation. Angela is also involved with the American Heart Association, Family Resources and United Way.

Judy Cushman, Executive Assistant to Jim Russell, was honored at the 22nd Annual Older Employee of the Year Awards Ceremony, as an Employee of Merit, from the Generations Area Agency on Aging, located in Davenport, IA. Judy, alongside twelve other individuals and one employer, were honored at an awards ceremony on November 10, 2009.

Judy has been with Russell for six years and serves as an integral employee, assisting Jim Russell, the Executive Team and Board of Directors. Her dedication to her job, impeccable organizational skills and positive attitude makes her a valuable asset to Russell.

Established in 1983, Russell Construction is a regional provider of Construction Management, Design Build and General Contracting services.  For more information on Russell Construction, please visit their corporate website at www.russellco.com.

WHO: GENERAL PUBLIC

WHAT: Wii FUN NIGHT FUNDRAISER

WHEN: FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2009 5:30 - 7:30 PM.

WHERE: IMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH, 3834 ROCKINGHAM ROAD, DAVENPORT.

Immanuel Lutheran Church & Preschool in Davenport, along with Christ Lutheran High School is having a Wii Fun Night Fundraiser on Friday, November 20th, 5:30 -7:30 p.m. There will be several Wii game stations, as well as other kid's games, a Cupcake Walk and face-painting. There will also be food. On the Menu: Soup, Chili, Hot dogs, Chili-dogs, Nachos, Popcorn, Pop, Cookies and Brownies. Tickets will be used for all games, cupcake walk and food; 5 tickets for $1. For more information contact Kathy Yaudas at the church office 563-324-6431. This event is supplemented by Thrivent Congregational money.

All proceeds will be divided and benefit: Christ Lutheran High School, Immanuel Lutheran Preschool and Immanuel's Lutheran Education Scholarships.

Wii hope you are able to join us!

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Less Smoking Leads to More Birthdays

ATLANTA - November 5, 2009 - As the official sponsor of birthdays, the American Cancer Society marks the 34th Great American Smokeout on November 19 by encouraging smokers to use the date to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By doing so, smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life - one that can lead to reducing cancer risk and creating more birthdays. Researchers say that quitting smoking can increase life expectancy - smokers who quit at age 35 gain an average of eight years of life expectancy; those who quit at age 55 gain about five years; and even long term smokers who quit at 65 gain three years 1 . Smokers who want to quit can call the American Cancer Society Quit For Life® Program operated and managed by Free & Clear® at 1-800-227-2345 for tobacco cessation and coaching services that can help increase their chances of quitting for good.

Research shows that people who stop smoking before age 50 can cut their risk of dying in the next 15 years in half compared with those who continue to smoke. Smokers who quit also reduce their risk of lung cancer - ten years after quitting, the lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker's. Some of the health effects of quitting are almost instant, too - heart rate and blood pressure drop 20 minutes after quitting.

"We know that quitting smoking is tough and that most smokers have to try several times before quitting for good," said Alan G. Thorson, MD, FACS, national volunteer president for the American Cancer Society. "The American Cancer Society offers a variety of effective resources ranging from online tips and tools to personalized telephone coaching by trained specialists. We hope that smokers will use the Great American Smokeout to map out a course of action that will help them to quit, and in turn to stay well and celebrate more birthdays."

The Great American Smokeout Web site (www.cancer.org/GreatAmericans) contains user-friendly tips and tools towards a smoke-free life. In addition to tip sheets and calculators, the site also offers downloadable desktop helpers to assist with planning to quit and succeeding in staying tobacco-free. The Quit Clock allows users to pick a quit day within 30 days, then counts down the selected day with tips for each day; and the Craving Stopper helps smokers beat cravings by offering a fun distraction. The American Cancer Society created the trademarked concept for and held its first Great American Smokeout in 1976 as a way to inspire and encourage smokers to quit for a day. One million people quit smoking for a day at the 1976 event in California. The Great American Smokeout encourages smokers to commit to making a long-term plan to quit smoking for good.

Important facts about tobacco use:

  • Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the U.S.
  • Cigarette smoking accounts for about 443,000 premature deaths - including 49,400 in nonsmokers.
  • Thirty percent of cancer deaths, including 87 percent of lung cancer deaths, can be attributed to tobacco.
  • Smoking also accounts for $193 billion in health care expenditures and productivity losses.
  • Great progress is being made in reducing tobacco use in the U.S., with adult smoking rates in 2007 declining among all adults to 19.8 percent.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing about $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, about 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

1Taylor DH et al., Benefits of smoking cessation for longevity. American Journal of Public Health 92:990-996 (2002)

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(Waterloo, IA) - Congressman Bruce Braley will host the 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ this Sunday, November 15th from 2:00-3:30 pm at the UAW Hall Local 838 in Waterloo, Iowa. The Honorable Tom Vilsack will be the keynote speaker at the event. The event is open to the public.

For ticket information or to learn more about the BBQ, visit www.brucebraley.com or call (319) 290-6516.

WHAT: 5th Annual Bruce, Blues and BBQ with the Honorable Tom Vilsack

WHEN: Sunday, November 15th from 2:00 pm until 3:30 pm

WHERE: UAW Hall Local 838, 2615 Washington Street, Waterloo, IA

CONTACT: Caitlin Legacki @ 919.442.8098

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DAVENPORT, IOWA (November 10, 2009) Admission is free for veterans on Veteran's Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at the German American Heritage Center & Museum. Hours on Veteran's Day are 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.


Current exhibits include the new interactive permanent exhibit, German-American Immigrant Experience. Visitors will enjoy an interactive experience as they explore immigrants' journeys by sea, train and foot, to their final destination at the German American Heritage Center building, which was originally a very busy hotel for thousands of immigrants in the 1860s. Two original hotel rooms are included in the exhibit. The exhibit also showcases several artifacts and contributions to the region by immigrants.


The current rotating exhibit is
"A to Zither" Exhibit. This exhibit explores the world of the zither instrument. Learn about this unique folk art instrument and the history of the Davenport Zither Ensemble.


For more information please visit www.gahc.org for photos, videos, programs, and events.


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Johnny's Italian Steakhouse will host a culinary class on November 11th at  6:30pm.  Participants will learn expert tips from top notch chefs and will be given an opportunity eat what they make.  The chef will teach the class to make Johnny's Signature Sausage Bread; it is perfect for at home parties!  In addition, a door prize, such as meal certificates, will be drawn at the conclusion of the class.  The cooking class is $10 to the public and includes light appetizers and a glass of wine or beverage.

For more information or to sign up, please call Johnny's Italian Steakhouse at 309.736.0100.

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This class is on the importance of Vitamin D and its consequences of deficiencies particularly here in this climate.  The  class is free along with a free dinner at Hampton Health an Wellness on Thursday, December 10th at 6:30pm. RSVP is required at 309 751 9790.

What is your Vitamin  D level?

Did you know Vitamin D is a key player in your overall healtlh?

It is implicated in the following conditions just to name a few:

Asthma
Autoimmune illness
Diabestes
Irritable Bowel/Digestive Disorders
Migranes
Depression
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Heart Disease and More

Join us on Thursday December 10th at 6:30 pm at Hampton Health and Wellness, 510 State Avenue in Hampton, Illinois.  Dr. Jenny Sechler will provide a free dinner and an opportunity for you to obtain a kit to test your vitamin D level. Valuable information will be shared as to the risks of having a low vitamin D level and the benefits of having a healthy level.  She will provide strategies to raising a low level including using light therapy right here safely in the wellness center.

If you are interested in identifying a missing link to your optimal health, call 309 751 9790 and reserve a seat for dinner.  If you want to assess your Vitamin D level, let us know ahead of time and we will have a kit waiting for you.  Bring a friend too!

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