The Moline Commercial Club hosted a private dinner party televised and taped by NIPPON TV and Channel 4 news on September 26th. 2011.  The menu was designed to highlight the delicious and healthy wild harvested Carp from the Illinois rivers.

The aim of  the dinner and the televised  taping was to highlight the upward potential of  American business as well as the creation of  jobs by increasing wild harvested fish from our waterways. To this purpose the dinner was arranged to serve a variety of  dishes for those who had never eaten  ' the  fish called carp' . The dinner was a huge success.  Chef Linda of the Moline Commercial Club prepared Stuffed Green Peppers, Lasagna, and Chili. The Chili was cooked in front of  the newscasters and reporters. All items were made with carp. Desserts were chocolate mousse and whipped cream on philo dough cups with fresh raspberry on top; and  chocolate, vanilla and raspberry cheesecake squares.

The advantages of  the carp is that the fish is NOT a bottom-feeder. It is healthy, and very easily digestible over some of the other fish and meat, and is low calorie, and tasteful: it actually absorbs the flavors of  the spices since it does not have its own taste. It is not a greasy fish. The carp has a blood line, which makes its consistency similar to hamburger meat or turkey, or chicken and it does not disintegrate in prepared dishes. It maintains a nice texture and consistency. It is substantial and is not flaky. Because it eats only plankton, it is a light and airy fish and stays on top. The comments were: we ate a lot of  food, but we do not feel heavy. Additionally, it is economical at half  to a third of  the price of  meat and most other fish.

In attendance at the dinner were the congressional office of Congressman Schilling and various members of The Moline Commercial Club.

The Moline Commercial Club is  looking to achieve three short term and long term goals:

1)      Remove the excess carp from the Illinois waterways, while still maintaining sustainability so the species are not endangered.

2)      Freeze and ship the wild harvest to countries overseas as well as the American market: both North and South America. An ideal conservative short term goal is 4 containers of  40,000 pounds per week.

3)      Make it available to the American families through awareness of  health advantages of  the carp, cooking techniques, and economics of  wild natural harvest, cost per family for a full meal as well as availability in local super markets and grocery stores.

Prepared dishes as well as smoked, raw mince and fillet can be purchased from The Moline Commercial Club.

Ready menus are:  Stuffed green peppers,  chili, lasagna, fillet with pasta with alfredo or tomato base sauce, fish balls, fish patties, and fish cakes.

Please contact 309-762-8547 to place your orders.  Email: molineclub@sbcglobal.net Additionally, raw uncooked fish may be purchased through the same number or email.

MT. PLEASANT, MICH. - A 1991 Monticello High School graduate and his wife have released a book of blog-inspired essays about their life with multiple sclerosis, and portions of the book's proceeds will benefit Camp Courageous.

In their publishing debut, "Despite MS, to Spite MS," Dan and Jennifer Digmann share personal stories of their journey?alone and together?coping with and rising above a disease for which there currently is no cure. 

Dan is the son of Monticello residents Roger and Nancy Digmann, and he currently lives with Jennifer in Mount Pleasant, Mich.

"We were quite overwhelmed when it first was suggested that we publish a book of our stories, but the more we thought about it we realized it was a needed step for us to take to increase MS awareness and help people to move forward with their lives," Dan Digmann said. "We wanted to give back to Camp Courageous for everything it's done for us and for everything it continues to do for the community and for the countless individuals with disabilities it serves year-round." 

Combined Dan and Jennifer Digmann have taken on MS for nearly 25 years and together they demonstrate the extremes of how this disease impacts people so differently. Jennifer was diagnosed in 1997; Dan was diagnosed two years later. She has secondary-progressive MS, while his is relapsing-remitting. The couple was married in 2005. 

"While our life isn't easy and we are always aware of our multiple sclerosis, we hope by sharing our stories we can comfort, educate and inspire you no matter what challenges you are facing," Jennifer writes in the book's foreword.

"Despite MS, to Spite MS," will be sold locally at the Camp Courageous Gift Shop, which will be open during the annual Camp Courageous of Iowa Pancake Breakfast and Open House scheduled for 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 25.

According to the National MS Society, more than 400,000 Americans have MS. Knowing these numbers makes it so much more amazing that Dan and Jennifer found each other in Michigan and continue to defy the odds they face together. 

In addition to maintaining a personal blog at www.danandjenniferdigmann.com, the Digmanns are regular contributors toHealthCentral.com. HealthCentral's more than 35 sites provide clinical resources and real-life support to those with life-changing conditions and serves more than 16.4 million visitors each month.

"Despite MS, to Spite MS" also is available online at www.DespiteMStoSpiteMS.com

Art workshops earn Area Girl Scouts New Patch

Davenport, Iowa - September 2011 - In collaboration with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, the Figge is hosting several art workshops and introducing a new FUN patch for area Girl Scouts.  The FUN patch program was designed as an alternative to the longer badge programs currently available through the Figge.  "We worked with the Girl Scout leadership experience coordinator to revamp the long badge programs," said Lynn Gingras-Taylor, Creative Arts Coordinator at the Figge.

Girl Scouts earn badges by participating in events that can sometimes last up to four hours. The FUN patch workshops are just two hours, with the first half hour spent on a docent-led tour of the museum's permanent collections. Tours are highlighted by art works that relate to the workshop's accompanying activity.  There are four FUN patch workshops currently available, one each for Daisy Scout, Brownie, Junior and Cadette/Senior/Ambassador levels.  Each workshop has a unique focus with studio activities that enhance and support the workshop theme.

In addition to the FUN patch workshops, the Figge offers longer workshops that Girl Scouts can participate in for badges. These workshops are 90 minutes to 3 hours long depending on the ages of the Girl Scouts and can be arranged at anytime throughout the year.  "Art helps you look at the world in a new way, it let's your mind breathe, " said Gingras-Taylor, underscoring the importance of the Girl Scouts programs at the Figge.

To learn more about Girl Scouts activities offered by the Figge and workshop registration, please contact the GSEIWI website (www.gseiwi.org) or the Figge website (www.figgeartmuseum.org).

The Figge Art Museum is located on the riverfront in Downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday's noon to 5 p.m. and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  To contact the museum, please call 563-326-7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org.

-end-

WEST BRANCH, IOWA–On Saturday, September 24, more than 180,000 volunteers will visit their favorite parks, beaches, wildlife preserves, or forests and chip in to help improve these treasured places. They'll be taking part in National Public Lands Day (NPLD), the largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands in our country.

This year marks the 18th annual National Public Lands Day, an event that brings together thousands of volunteers from coast to coast to improve and restore the lands and facilities that Americans use for recreation, education, exercise and just plain enjoyment. Last year more than 170,000 Americans participated at more than 2,000 sites in all 50 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, DC. More information about nationwide National Public Lands Day events can be found at www.publiclandsday.org.

On Saturday, September 24, Herbert Hoover National Historic Site will participate in National Public Lands Day with a volunteer project in the 81-acre tallgrass prairie. Volunteers are needed to help remove trees, shrubs, and weeds from the grassland, or with other projects to improve the park landscape. Volunteers interested in helping on September 24 may contact Adam Prato at (319) 643-7855. Work in the prairie will be from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center at 8:30 a.m. for an orientation and to get signed up. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable work clothes. Water, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, and insect repellent are recommended. Long pants and closed-toe footwear are required. "Volunteers who participate will be rewarded with coupons for free entry into their favorite federal public land areas that have entrance fees," said park superintendent Pete Swisher.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. Parking is limited so please allow extra time to find a parking space. For more information go online to www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site
110 Parkside Drive
PO Box 607
West Branch, Iowa  52358

319 643-2541 phone
319 643-7864 fax
www.nps.gov/heho