On Friday September 11, Jordan Catholic School students will be dressed in RED, WHITE AND BLUE to show their love of country and their appreciation of those who work to keep us free and make us PROUD! Some children may dress in the fatigues of their parents who have served our country.

Olivia Grubbs, a sixth-grade student at John F. Kennedy Catholic School in Davenport, will receive a second place award from the national level of Modern Woodmen of America's 2009 School Speech Contest on Friday.

For her achievement in the fraternal organization's annual contest, Grubbs earns a $1,500 savings plan and two award plaques - one for herself and one for her school. Modern Woodmen Representative Ruth Ahnen, Davenport, will present the award. Grubbs is the daughter of Steve and Kelli Grubbs of Davenport.

The topic for this year's nationwide contest was "A person who has touched many lives." Modern Woodmen's tagline reads "Touching Lives. Securing Futures.^®" This year Modern Woodmen asked each student speaker to help uncover and tell the story of an individual who embodies the spirit of the tagline.

Grubbs chose to discuss Jerry Galloway, the late doctor and missionary who spent 20 years in the Congo. "He has touched many people through his medical work and his passion to live what he believed," she said. "He is the reason I've been inspired to be a more selfless person." Galloway left behind his family, friends and all possessions to touch lives in Africa. He set up a healthcare system, taught others how to perform surgeries and developed schools. "What defines Jerry Galloway is the contrast between the life he could have lived and the life he chose to live," said Grubbs.

The School Speech Contest, one of six Youth Educational Programs sponsored by Modern Woodmen, is provided to schools across the country at no charge. For more than 60 years, students have gained confidence and improved their communication skills by participating in this contest. More than 100,000 young people competed in 2009, of which 23 advanced to the national judging in June.

Founded in 1883, Modern Woodmen of America touches lives and secures futures. The fraternal benefit society offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

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550 Cities are asked to Participate in the Largest Organized Back-to-School Effort in U.S. History.

(Davenport) - "Education has become a matter of national security. Because we cannot control our schools, we cannot control our economy. And because we cannot control our economy, we cannot control and protect our quality of life in America," says Phillip Jackson, Executive Director of the Black Star Project, U.S.A. The Black Star Project is sponsoring the Million Father March 2009 on the first-day-of-school in nearly 300 cities across America.  The Million Father March has become a special day that fathers and men use to make a commitment to their children, their families, their communities and their country with their dynamic presence at a school.  This is a real Fathers Day!

The Million Father March 2009 will play-out at thousands of schools across America and in other parts of the world.  An estimated 600,000 men in 475 cities participated in 2008.  This year, an estimated 800,000 men from 550 cities are expected to participate.  The Million Father March also provides an escort of safety, support and encouragement to children of all ages on their first-day-of-school.  Jackson says, "Gang recruitment, bullying and random violence goes way down on any day that has a group of men at a school."

Participeants in the event include fathers, grandfathers, foster fathers, stepfathers, uncles, big brothers, cousins, significant male caregivers and friends of the family.  Although the event is created by Black men, women and men of all ethnicities are also encouraged to take their children to school on their first day.  Businesses are asked to give fathers and men two hours off that morning (with pay) to take their children to school.  Participating men will also be encouraged to volunteer at schools throughout the year.  A special effort will be make to coordinate Latino Fathers in La Marcha de Padres.

Since schools across America and the world start the new school year on different days and months, the March will be a rolling event that takes place on the first day of this school year in cities, villages and towns between August 3 and October 2, 2009.  The 2009 Million Father March is managed by The Black Star Project, U.S.A. and sponsored by the Schott Foundation for Public Information and United Neighbors, Inc. in partnership with the National PTA and the National Fatherhood Initiative.

You may email uneighbors@aol.com or call 563-322-7363 for more information.

Rock Island/Milan School District #41 Head Start/Preschool program is now taking applications for the 2009/2010 school year. The program serves children ages 3, 4 and 5 who are not eligible for kindergarten and whose families reside in Rock Island/Milan school area.

Families are provided a comprehensive Early Childhood Program for their children as well as other support services. Transportation is provided. There is no cost to families for these services.

The Head Start program is funded through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. The Preschool program is funded through the Illinois State Board of Education.

Applications are being taken from 7:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., Mondays through Fridays at the Head Start/Preschool office, 2101 - 6th Avenue, Rock Island.  For more information, or to schedule a different time, call the Head Start/Preschool office at 309-793-5900, ext 272.