Simon signs "It Can Wait" pledge on national "No Text on Board" day

CHAMPAIGN - September 19, 2012. In her campaign to end texting while driving, Lt. Governor Sheila Simon today urged Parkland College students to take the "It Can Wait" pledge to practice safe texting.

As the Governor's point person on education reform and an advocate for community college students, Simon urged the Champaign undergraduates to log onto Facebook and take the pledge as part of a national "No Text on Board" event sponsored by AT&T and the Illinois Department of Transportation.

Nationwide, drivers are 23 times more likely to get in an accident if they text while driving. In the first half of 2011 in Illinois, cell phone distractions were the cause of more than 500 crashes.

"Most community college students commute to class on a daily basis and need to understand the grave danger of texting while driving," said Simon, who signed the pledge with students at John A. Logan College in Carterville last week. "I've taken the pledge to never text and drive, and I encourage students everywhere to join me. When you are driving, put down your phone - it can wait."

AT&T hosted 11 events throughout Illinois on the "No Text on Board" pledge day. Other supporters included Governor Pat Quinn, Secretary of State Jesse White, and officials of the Illinois State Police, the Illinois Tollway and IDOT. AT&T also premiered a new public service announcement from Chicago basketball star Derrick Rose that will appear on the AT&T website, Facebook page and YouTube Channel.

To take the pledge, you can log on to www.ItCanWait.com.

"Our goal is to save lives," said John Quinn, External Affairs Director, AT&T Illinois. "Too many lives have been forever changed by a texting-while-driving accident, and together, we want to spread the word about how deadly a single text can be. We're challenging everyone to take the pledge to never text and drive and to make it a lifelong commitment."

Parkland College Vice President for Student Services Dr. Linda Moore said that to promote safe driving among students, the college will provide an informational posting on its student intranet, as well as promoting the initiative through social media and its website.

"We want to ensure our students are safe and understand the message that texting and driving can have serious consequences. We want our students to stay on the path to a brighter future, and part of that path is traveling responsibly when driving," Moore said.

"We believe community colleges are uniquely positioned to help in the effort against texting and driving and we fully support the initiative from Lt. Governor Simon and AT&T," said Geoff Obrzut, president and CEO, Illinois Community College Board.

"I am confident that my colleagues from the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents join with me and Lt. Governor Simon in enthusiastically supporting the 'It Can Wait' anti-texting while driving campaign," said Margaret B. "Peg" Lee, Oakton Community College President and President of the Illinois Council of Community College Presidents.

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Health-Care Pro Discusses the Many Warning Signs

In the United States, women are assaulted or beaten once every nine seconds; worldwide, one in three women have been battered, raped or otherwise abused in her lifetime, according to women's advocacy organizations.

"That means most of us - while grocery shopping, at work or at home - come across several women a day who have either been abused, or are currently enduring abuse," says Linda O'Dochartaigh, a health professional and author of Peregrine (www.lavanderkatbooks.com). "It's a terrible fact of life for too many women, but if there is something we can do about it and we care about fellow human beings, then we must try."

There are several abuse resources available to women who are being abused, or friends of women who need advice, including:

TheHotline.org, National Domestic Violence Hotline, open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, 1-800-799-SAFE (7223)

HelpGuide.org, provides unbiased, advertising-free mental health information to give people the self-help options to help people understand, prevent, and resolve life's challenges

VineLink.com, allows women to search for an offender in custody by name or identification number, then register to be alerted if the offender is released,  transferred, or escapes

DAHMW.org, 1-888-7HELPLINE, offers crisis intervention and support services for victims of intimate partner violence and their families

Perhaps the best thing friends and family can do for a woman enduring domestic abuse is to be there for her - not only as a sympathetic ear, but also as a source of common sense that encourages her to take protective measures, O'Dochartaigh says. Before that, however, loved ones need to recognize that help is needed.

O'Dochartaigh reviews some of the warning signs:

• Clothing - Take notice of a change in clothing style or unusual fashion choices that would allow marks or bruises to be easily hidden. For instance, someone who wears long sleeves even in the dog days of summer may be trying to hide signs of abuse.

• Constant phone calls - Many abusers are very controlling and suspicious, so they will call their victims multiple times each day to "check in." This is a subtle way of manipulating their victims, to make them fearful of uttering a stray word that might alert someone that something is wrong. Many abusers are also jealous, and suspect their partner is cheating on them, and the constant calls are a way of making sure they aren't with anyone they aren't supposed to be around.

• Unaccountable injuries - Sometimes, obvious injuries such as arm bruises or black eyes are a way to show outward domination over the victim. Other times, abusers harm areas of the body that won't be seen by family, friends and coworkers.

• Frequent absences - Often missing work or school and other last-minute plan changes may be a woman hiding abuse, especially if she is otherwise reliable.

• Excessive guilt & culpability - Taking the blame for things that go wrong, even though she was clearly not the person responsible - or she is overly-emotional for her involvement - is a red flag.

• Fear of conflict - Being brow-beaten or physically beaten takes a heavy psychological toll, and anxiety bleeds into other relationships.

• Chronic uncertainty - Abusers often dominate every phase of a victim's life, including what she thinks she likes, so making basic decisions can prove challenging.

About Linda O'Dochartaigh

Linda O'Dochartaigh has worked in health care is an advocate for victims of child abuse and domestic violence.  She wants survivors to know that an enriched, stable and happy life is available to them. O'Dochartaigh is the mother of three grown children and is raising four adopted grandchildren.

Does our society hold too narrow a view of what defines strength?

The things many would point to as indicators - youth, wealth, a fully capable body - fall short, says Charles Gourgey, a veteran hospice music therapist and author of Judeochristianity: The Meaning and Discovery of Faith (www.judeochristianity.org), a book that explores the unifying faith elements of Judaism and Christianity.

"Youth is ephemeral, abundant wealth is for just a few, and we all experience some kind of disability, usually at several points in our lives," he says. "A car accident, the loss of a job or a home, grief over a loved one's dying: such things can happen to anyone and easily destroy our happiness."

Gourgey says some of the greatest strength he's ever seen was demonstrated by certain of his patients facing imminent death.

"Some people have complete love and grace when facing death - it's how they've lived their lives, and at the end of their lives, it's what supports them," he says. "Those who, at the end, are peaceful, grateful and confident share some common characteristics."
They are:

• Their love is non-self-interested. When we have awareness of and deepest respect and reverence for the individuality of others, we overcome the high walls of ego and experience a tremendous sense of freedom, says Gourgey. He says he continues to be inspired by patients who cared more for the well-being of others, including their fellow hospice patients, than themselves while facing their own mortality. Non-self-interested love - loving others for themselves without expecting or needing anything in return - is the greatest form of love, he says.

• They had an unwavering faith that transcended religious dogma. Faith is the knowledge that there is more to life than the apparent randomness of the material world; a sense that we are known to a greater reality and will return to that reality. No matter what their religion, the patients who were most at peace with their life's journey were those who had faith in something higher than themselves. The problem with many concepts of faith, Gourgey continues, is that people attach specific doctrines to it, which means some people will always be excluded. A unifying faith - that all people are connected and love is the force that binds us - allows for trust, compassion and caring.

• They were motivated by an innate sense of what is good. They didn't get mad at themselves; they didn't beat themselves up for mistakes they might have made in the past. That's because they were always guided by their sense of what is good, and they made their choices with that in mind. That did not prevent them from making some bad choices or mistakes over the course of their lives, Gourgey says. But when they erred, they addressed the problem with the same loving compassion they extended to others. "Their compassion overcame even any self-hate they may have experienced."

Many patients left lasting impressions on Gourgey, and taught him valuable life lessons. He remembers one in particular.

"She was in hospice, a retired nurse who had developed a rare, incurable disease," he recalls. "She would go around every day, checking to see what she could do for the other patients. She fetched blankets for a 104-year-old lady who always complained of cold feet. She sat with and listened to patients who needed company and someone to talk to. She had an attentive awareness about her, like she was fully in touch with her soul."

Gourgey was with the woman when she died.

"She was radiant, she just glowed. She kept repeating how grateful she was for her life," he says. "It was as if the life of love she'd lived was there to transport and support her at the end."

About Charles "Carlos" Gourgey

Charles "Carlos" Gourgey, PhD, LCAT, MT-BC, is a board-certified and New York state-licensed music therapist. He has more than 20 years of experience working in hospices and nursing homes, and for 10 years was music therapist for Cabrini Hospice in New York City. He has published articles on psychology and religion in various journals.

DeWitt, Iowa -- Sept. 17, 2012 -- Genesis Medical Center, DeWitt and the Kenneth H. McKay Center for Breast Health are offering a great deal that could protect the breast health of women who attend.

Genesis will host a free screening of "The Help" and a wine tasting on Monday, Oct. 22 at the DeWitt Opera House. The event begins at 6 p.m. with the screening at 7 p.m.

The event is being held during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to remind women to make an appointment for their mammogram. Enjoy the free event and encourage your friends to attend and to schedule their appointment.

Here is why a regular schedule of mammograms is so important:

• About 1 in 8 women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime.

• An estimated 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the U.S.

• A woman's risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if she has a first-degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

For more information about breast health at Genesis Health System, go to www.genesishealth.com/cbh.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds at their weekly news conference today that they are inviting all Iowa middle schools and high schools to submit a video about what their school is doing to prevent bullying and what more might be done, prior to the Governor's Bullying Prevention Summit, which will be held Nov. 27 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines.

They noted that each video should reflect the theme of "Preventing Bullying in Your School and Beyond." The audience for the video will include students, teachers, school administrators, parents and community leaders.

School, parents and businesses are encouraged to print out this flyer to help spread the word: https://governor.iowa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Bullying-Summit-Video-Contest-Flyer.pdf

Branstad says students should use this as an opportunity to tell your school's story about how bullying is being stopped, what more might be done, and how to better engage the community as a whole in bullying prevention efforts.

Videos that meet all contest guidelines will be posted to Governor Branstad's YouTube channel, with the public invited to choose their favorite between Nov. 12 and Nov. 21. Guidelines may be found at: https://preventbullying.iowa.gov/.

The top vote-getter will receive a $500 prize to be used for bullying prevention efforts at their school, along with a visit by the governor and lieutenant governor for an all-school assembly. The video contest winner will be announced at the Governor's Bullying Prevention Summit.

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(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds at their weekly news conference today revealed further details of the Governor's Bullying Prevention Summit this fall, including the line-up of speakers and a web site at which to register.

 

The summit will be held on Nov. 27, at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. Registration opens today on the website: https://preventbullying.iowa.gov/

 

 

The agenda for the Governor Bullying Prevention Summit is as follows:

 

8:30 a.m.- 10 a.m. Registration

10 a.m.- 10:05 a.m. Welcome - The Honorable Kim Reynolds, Lieutenant Governor of Iowa

10:05-10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks – The Honorable Terry Branstad, Governor of Iowa

10:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.     "It Takes a Community" Paul Gausman, Superintendent of the Sioux City School District

11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Breakout Sessions

 

Breakout Session One

"24/7 Bullying in the Digital Age"

Marsali Hancock, CEO and president of the Internet Keep Safe Coalition, will speak and moderate a panel discussion, followed by questions from the audience

 

Panelists:

  • Ben Barry, Guidance Counselor at Carlisle Middle School
  • Elizabeth Englander, Director of the Massachusetts Aggression Reduction Center at Bridgewater State University
  • Matt Shankles, Student at Linn-Mar High School, Marion
  • · Jenny Pfeifer, College student from Simpson College, Indianola 


Breakout Session Two

"Schools in the Legal Twilight Zone"

Tom Wheeler, Member of Frost Brown Todd LLC, Indianapolis, IN, and Past Chair of the National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys, will speak and moderate a panel discussion, followed by questions from the audience

 

Panelists:

  • Drew Bracken, Attorney at Ahlers & Cooney PC, Des Moines
  • Judy Bradshaw, Des Moines Chief of Police
  • Matt Carver, Legal Services Director for School Administrators of Iowa
  • Frank LoMonte, Executive Director of the Student Press Law Center, Arlington, VA
  • Beth Townsend, Director of the Iowa Civil Rights Commission

 

12 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. Box lunch available

12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. "Queen Bees and Wannabes: Teaching Social Competency" Rosalind Wiseman, Parenting and Bullying Expert whose book became the basis for the movie "Mean Girls"

1:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Breakout Sessions

 

Breakout Session One

"Sick from Bullying"

Diana Schroeder, Director of Bullying Prevention Initiatives for the Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention at Windber Research Institute in Windber, PA, will speak and moderate a panel discussion, followed by questions from the audience

 

Panelists:

  • Cheryll Jones, Health Services Coordinator and Director of Policy and Advocacy for Child Health Specialty Clinics, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
  • Dr. Jennifer Groos, pediatrician at Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, and vice president of the Iowa Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Laura Jackson, Executive Vice President, Health Care Strategy and Policy, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Des Moines
  • Sharon Guthrie, Executive Director of the Iowa School Nurse Organization
  • Michael Peters, Great Prairie Area Education Agency school social worker, Ottuwma

 

Breakout Session Two

"The Culture of Mean"

Barbara Coloroso, author of "The Bullied, the Bully and the Bystander," will speak and moderate a panel discussion, followed by questions from the audience

 

Panelists:

  • Ella Daft, Student at Newton Senior High School
  • Lori Eastwood, Counselor with Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, Decorah Office
  • Dave Kramer, Executive Director of the Iowa Pupil Transportation Association
  • Michelle Lane, Parent Advocate for Youngsters with Disabilities, Waterloo
  • Mike Schlesinger, Publisher of the Marshalltown Times-Republican

 

2:45 to 3:45 p.m. "Leadership Makes the Difference"

Conference-wide discussion moderated by Iowa Public Television's Dean Borg, followed by questions from the audience

 

Panelists:

  • Penny Bisignano, Consultant for Bullying Prevention and Intervention, Iowa Department of Education
  • Arthur Tate, Superintendent of the Davenport School District
  • Joel Pedersen, Superintendent of the Cardinal School District, Eldon
  • Emily Domayer, Student at Morningside College, Sioux City
  • Timothy Minard, Senior Vice President, U.S. Distribution, the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines
  • Nate Monson, Executive Director of Iowa Safe Schools, Des Moines
  • Nishan Singh, Student at Iowa State University, Ames

 

3:45 to 4 p.m. Final remarks by Jason Glass, Iowa Department of Education Director

 

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HIE Leading State Efforts to Improve Healthcare Outcomes

CHICAGO - September 14, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn announced the appointment of an accomplished healthcare industry administrator to serve as the first executive director of the Illinois Health Information Exchange Authority (HIE). Raul Recarey, will lead the state's efforts to establish a secure, accurate exchange of electronic health information.

"When health care professionals have access to a patient's comprehensive medical information, they can provide the best care possible," Governor Quinn said. "Raul Recarey has years of experience in the public and private health care industry, and I look forward to him building on our work to create a statewide health information exchange."

Recarey comes to Illinois from Missouri, where he was president of Missouri's Health Information Exchange, after having served as the chief operating officer and acting executive director of the West Virginia Health Information Network. Prior to that, Recarey was vice president of Health Programs at Wells Fargo Insurance Services. He also founded MedicorpCare, a consulting organization to help large, self-insured employer groups address rising healthcare costs; and he served as administrator for Miami General Hospital and has held executive positions with Best American Providers Inc., Managed Care of America PPO, Inc. and Medicorp, Inc. Recarey's appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.

"The healthcare field is in the midst of an exciting transition to electronic health records, and I look forward to working with the state's vibrant healthcare community to implement a Health Information Exchange that delivers on the promise of health information technology to provide improved care at lower cost, while assuring the privacy and security of personal health information," said Recarey.

The Illinois HIE Authority was created by statute in 2010 to operate a statewide electronic health information exchange. This system allows health care providers to exchange electronic health information in a secure environment to improve patient safety and treatment. More than 900 providers already share information securely through the Illinois HIE network, which is building the capacity to serve all providers statewide.

In addition, the HIE is developing additional services to provide authorized access to comprehensive medical records, prevent duplicate tests and procedures, and assure the accuracy of prescription drugs and other medical orders. The HIE Authority provides a long-term governance structure for Illinois' efforts to promote the widespread adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records for the improvement of health care quality and outcomes.

For more information about the state's health information exchange efforts and how health information technology can lead to safer, better, and more efficient care is available at www.hie.illinois.gov.

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DAVENPORT, Iowa–Area residents can safely dispose of old medications, exchange mercury thermometers for a digital,  drop off compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs and mercury thermostats, pick up and drop off medical sharps containers, have data-sensitive documents shredded, and new this year, drop off new and gently used home health equipment and supplies during Operation Medicine Cabinet, September 20-22, 2012.

Operation Medicine Cabinet will be in Eldridge, Bettendorf and Davenport from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the following locations:

•                    Thursday, September 20 at Medic EMS Facility, LeClaire Road & Highway 61, Eldridge

•                    Friday, September 21 at Surrey Heights Fire Station, 5002 Crow Creek Road, Bettendorf

•                    Saturday, September 22 at Scott Area Recycling Center, 5640 Carey Avenue, Davenport

Operation Medicine Cabinet events are free of charge and open to residents of eastern Iowa and western Illinois. Business waste will not be accepted at these events. Following is additional information and guidelines about each type of item that will be collected.

Medications

Properly disposing of pharmaceuticals and medications reduces the risk of mis-medication, accidental poisoning, theft, drug abuse and pollution of our waterways & groundwater caused by flushing. At the event:

•                    Prescription and non-prescription drugs will be accepted

•                    Medications can be left in original containers

•                    Scott County law-enforcement officials supervise the disposal of all materials

Document Shredding

Document Destruction and Recycling Services is providing secure document shredding to reduce the risk of identity theft. During the event, documents are kept in locked containers and then transported to their secure, certified facility for shredding. At the event:

•                    Documents for shredding should be in bags or cardboard boxes; containers will not be returned

•                    Only paper documents will be accepted for shredding

•                    Staples and paperclips in paper documents are acceptable

•                    Binders and metal rings in paper documents are not acceptable

Medical Sharps

Medical sharps, such as needles, lancets and syringes should not be thrown into the regular trash, as this poses a safety threat to children, pets and refuse collection & landfill employees. At the event:

•                    Sharps for disposal must be in a sealed, rigid container

•                    New red, rigid Sharps containers will be provided to customers upon request

Mercury-Containing Items

Items containing mercury, such as thermometers, thermostats and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs should not be thrown in the trash due to health and environmental concerns. At the event:

•                    Mercury thermometers, thermostats and CFLs must be packaged to prevent breakage

•                    Only one digital thermometer will be given per household

Home Health Equipment and Supplies

Habitat for Humanity ReStore recently opened a Health & Home division with a goal of diverting usable health products from area landfills and providing affordable home health equipment for those with health issues. Items that will be accepted at the event include :

•                    Canes

•                    Crutches

•                    Hand grips

•                    Packaged supplies that are unopened or not expired (bandage items, diapers, ostomy supplies, tubing, boots, slings)

•                    Shower chairs

•                    Vision magnifiers & other aids for low vision

•                    Walker baskets

•                    Wheelchairs

ReStore Health & Home accepts other medical supplies and equipment at their store. For more information, visit www.restoreqc.org or call (563) 349-7339.

This event is sponsored by: City of Bettendorf, Bettendorf Police Department, Davenport Police Department, Document Destruction and Recycling Services, Generations Area Agency on Aging, Habitat ReStore Health & Home, Iowa American Water, Medic EMS, Retired & Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Scott County Health Department, Scott County Sheriff's Office, Waste Commission of Scott County and Western Illinois Area Agency on Aging.

For additional information about the event, call Waste Commission of Scott County at (563) 381-1300 or visit www.wastecom.com.

This is the seventh annual Operation Medicine Cabinet. Last year's event served 1,275 households and yielded 18,805 pounds of material and 1,497 mercury-containing devices. This included approximately 1,711 pounds of pharmaceuticals, 831 pounds of sharps, 16,263 pounds of documents for shredding and 200 mercury thermometers, 21 mercury thermostats and 1,276 mercury-containing light bulbs.

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Waterford Family Dentistry to participate in Free Dentistry Day

Davenport, IA - People in the Davenport community will have the opportunity to receive free dentistry services ranging from cleanings, extractions and fillings at Waterford Family Dentistry located at 1850 East 53rd Street, Suite 5 on Friday, September 21st.

Dr. Adam Welty and team at Waterford Family Dentistry, along with the help of Dr. Tanner Flaherty and team, will be improving the oral health of needy citizens as part of Free Dentistry Day, a day dedicated providing dental care to the growing number of Americans without dental insurance.

"Now more than ever, there are people in Davenport who need dental services but have no means to afford them - whether they're out of a job, or just don't have dental insurance," said Dr. Welty. "This event is a great opportunity for us to share our time and resources with those less fortunate and give back to the community we serve."

"Our team is committed to lifetime dental care because good oral health is integral to overall health," said Dr. Flaherty. "By participating in this program, our goal is to engage patients and encourage them to adopt an ongoing oral care program and a lifelong regimen of preventative care."

Free cleanings, fillings and exams will be given on September 21st, between 8 am - 2 pm at. For more information, please call 563-344-8950 or visit www.freedentistryday.org. Appointments will be accepted on a first come first served basis the day of the event.

One third of Americans are living without dental insurance and current economic conditions leave little room to afford dental procedures. Without events like Free Dentistry Day, dental care simply isn't an option for many uninsured people.

About Waterford Family Dentistry

Dr. Welty and team are proud to serve the Davenport community, providing first-class general, cosmetic and restorative dentistry and outstanding patient service. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 563-344-8950 or visit www.waterfordfamilydentistry.com.

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