MOLINE, ILLINOIS - WQPT, Quad Cities PBS will host the 10th Annual Brew Ha Ha at LeClaire Park in downtown Davenport on Saturday, September 19th from 1 to 5 p.m.

The annual tasting event will celebrate its 10th Anniversary and will feature tasting a variety of brews and cheeses.

Musical performances by Minus Six will take place from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 5:00 p.m., and Penguins Comedy Club will present Dwayne Clark at 2:30 p.m. to bring the "ha ha" to Brew Ha Ha. The always popular Sports Corner will feature big screen televisions to catch Saturday's sports action. Admission to the Brew Ha Ha includes an event program, unlimited tasting, and a commemorative tasting glass.

"As we did last year, we are limiting the number of attendees" said event coordinator, Bea Brasel. "

Presenting Sponsors for Brew Ha Ha are Old Chicago, Rock 104.9, Rhythm City Casino and the River Cities' Reader along with KWQC, Pratt Audio Visual & Video Corporation, Dimitri Wine & Spirits, Inc., Glazer's Distributors of Iowa, Wolfe Beverage, Vanguard Distributing, Midwest Originals Booking, Penguin's Comedy Club, Cabot Cheese, Downtown Partnership, City of Davenport, Hawkeye Ice, Iowa American Water, Millennium Waste, Quad City Golf Cars and Sunbelt Rentals.

Tickets for Brew Ha Ha are $20.00 prior to the event and $25.00 at the gate. Tickets may be purchased at the WQPT offices, Old Chicago in Bettendorf, CO-OP Records in Davenport and Moline or at www.wqpt.org. Attendees must be 21 or older. Children in strollers and animals will not be admitted. Feel free to bring your own lawn chair.

Brew Ha Ha is a fundraising event to support WQPT, the local public television station located in Moline, Illinois.

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Policy Forum Begins at 10 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 13 at Lewis and Clark Community College

Godfrey, Ill. - The National Great Rivers Research and Education Center's (NGRREC) Annual Conference will culminate on the campus of Lewis and Clark Community College as conference attendees present recommendations related to sustainable practices in the Mississippi River Basin to key elected officials and decision makers. The Policy Forum will begin at 10 a.m. in the Commons, on the College's Godfrey campus.

NGRREC's conference entitled "Visions of a Sustainable Mississippi River" will take place Aug. 10-13 in Collinsville and on the College's campus. The conference has attracted more than 200 diverse participants with interest in the nation's largest river. Participants include stakeholders in the recreational, navigation, and agricultural sections, as well as researchers and natural resource professionals.

"Through conference presentations, panel discussions and workshops, our conference attendees will formulate new and useful insights and recommendations on four issues critical to the sustainable management of the Mississippi River and the human communities that depend on it," Dr. John Chick, NGRREC affiliate and organizer of the conference, said.

The four issues to be presented at the conference include Ecosystem Services and the Economic Value of the Mississippi River; Floodplain Connectivity, Flood Control and Hydrologic Regime; Ethanol Production and the Mississippi River; and Clean Water and the Mississippi River - Uses and Threats.

Policy makers in attendance at the Aug. 13 Policy Forum will include Congressman Jerry Costello (Illinois), Congressman John Duncan (Tennessee), Brigadier General Michael Walsh and members of the presidentially appointed Mississippi River Commission, Tinka Hyde, Water Division Director , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5,  William A. Spratlin, Water, Wetlands, and Pesticides Division Director, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Director, Marc Miller, and Colonel Thomas O'Hara. Other invited guests include Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, members of Congress' Mississippi River Caucus, representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other key policy makers and legislators dealing with environmental and river-related issues.

The conference is hosted by NGRREC and The Nature Conservancy. This year's keynote address will be given by Alexandra Cousteau, granddaughter of the legendary Jacque-Yves Cousteau and founder of Blue Legacy International. Cousteau will present "This Blue Planet" beginning at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 12 in the Hatheway Theater on the College's campus. The event is free and is open to the public.

For more information on the conference contact Chick at 618-466-9690.

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Davenport, Iowa - August 7, 2009 - Accomplishing your goals can be a difficult task but for USA Powerlifter Deborah Ferrell, overcoming obstacles is a skill that has given her world-wide recognition.  On Thursday, August 13, at 1:30pm, Ferrell will share her story with the Quad City community at a free public speaking event.

This 45-year old is a 4-time Master's World's Bench Press Champion and Champ of Champions.  She currently holds the Open and Master's world record in single lift bench press and is a 4-time Open World Bench Press Champion.  She is in the Quad Cities to help Palmer College of Chiropractic celebrate their 2009 homecoming and will participate in a free community presentation on goal setting, overcoming obstacles and achieving your personal best.

Deborah lives in Anchorage, Alaska and is a collections manager for GCI Communications.  She began lifting in 1996 and her best competition bench press is 420 lbs.  One of her motivations for success - being drug free.  She has been recognized by fellow lifters as the first drug-free female to bench over 400 lbs.

"When you think of powerlifting many think of it as a man's sport but Deborah along with her fellow female bench press athletes are changing that mind-set," said Jan Trimble, Executive Director of the North Family YMCA. "We are very excited to be able to share her inspirational story with our YMCA members, area athletes and the community at large.  Anyone looking for a way to discover the power within will not be disappointed."

Deborah will share here unique story and talk about her success in this physically and mentally challenging sport at 1:30pm, on Thursday, August 13, at the Paul Holzworth Auditorium, at Davenport North High School, 626 West 53^rd Street, Davenport.  This free community event is sponsored by Palmer College of Chiropractic, the North Family YMCA and Davenport Community School District.

The YMCA: A Long-Standing Commitment to Health of Spirit, Mind and Body

The Scott County Family Y is one of the area's largest community service organizations.  Serving more than 2-million people in 2008, the Scott County Family Y offers a variety of programs and services focused on the holistic development of children and youth, family strengthening and health and well-being for all.  The YMCA unites men, women and children of all ages, faiths, backgrounds, abilities and income levels - proudly serving the Quad Cities for nearly 150 years by building healthy spirit, mind and body for all. For more information visit the Scott County Family Y website, www.scottcountyfamilyy.org.

Bill provides more campus resources for student veterans

CHICAGO - August 7, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law a bill that provides greater educational and informational resources for veterans attending Illinois public colleges and universities.

"This legislation provides our student veterans with the needed information, assistance and guidance they deserve," said Governor Quinn. "It is necessary that we take care of these fine men and women who have served our country proudly and ensure they are aware of the resources and benefits that are available to them to further their education."

The Higher Education Veterans Service Act will require schools to create, publish and distribute a comprehensive guide of services available specifically to veterans at their institutions. The bill also requires schools with 1,000 or more full-time students to appoint a coordinator to act as a liaison between administrators and student veterans.

Senate Bill 1624 was sponsored by Sen. Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) and Rep. Mark Walker (D-Arlington Heights).

Within 60 days, schools must produce a comprehensive guide to services and post the information online. The measure is effective immediately.

Within six months, schools with 1,000 or more full-time students must appoint a Coordinator of Veterans and Military Personnel Student Services. The Coordinator will serve as an ombudsman to assist student veterans, military personnel and their families, and also act as a liaison and advocate with the college or university for the needs of student veterans.

"Many public and private universities have already gone above and beyond to serve veteran populations, and we hope this will further encourage best practices for student veterans throughout our state," said Illinois Department of Veterans' Affairs Director Dan Grant.

Governor Quinn was joined at the bill signing ceremony held at the University of Illinois at Chicago by UIC Dean of Students Linda Deanna; Dr. Randy Plunkett, National Director of Military Affairs for DeVry University; and Robert Malnik, Illinois State Director for Student Veterans of America.

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