Davenport, Iowa   5/11/10.  Scott County Kids Empowerment Board unanimously approved Fiscal Year 2011 budget investing over  $1.9 million dollars into Scott County early childhood programs.  The state and federal dollars are specifically allocated for programming to support the healthy development of children birth through age five residing in Scott County.  The Scott County Kids Empowerment Board members renewed their commitment to these families and the community by funding a continuum of services ranging from direct in-home services aimed at supporting children and families ensuring that early education and child care providers have affordable and accessible training opportunities in order to provide or expand a child's day in a high quality learning environment.

On a yearly basis, the Scott County Kids Empowerment Board reviews its community priorities and has current contract holders undergo a reapplication process with the purpose of insuring that the needs of children ages birth through five are being addressed.  At the board meeting held on May 11, 2010, Scott County Kids Empowerment Board members renewed contracts with many providers, including Genesis Visiting Nurses, who will continue to administer two programs, Universal Assessment and Bright Beginnings.  Their combined contracts total $536,318.00. Genesis Visiting Nurses partners with Genesis Health System and Trinity Medical Center in offering every Scott County mother and newborn a specialized complimentary hospital visit and a follow up home visit from a nurse.  This program is designed to support a successful transition from hospital to home and is vital for the newest Scott County citizens to begin a healthy and safe start.  The Bright Beginnings program provides ongoing home visitation services to families who qualify.  Additionally, Friendly House's contract was renewed.  They will continue to administer both child care and preschool scholarships for Scott County children who are under age five and whose families meet income guidelines.  The amount approved for the Friendly House contact was $631,622.00.

Scott County Kids Board members adjusted early childhood programming funding to meet the significant reduction of funds from the Office of Empowerment for FY 11.  The allocation from the Iowa legislation, was reduced by $159,401.00 for Scott County.  However, Board members were grateful for the amount knowing funding could have been reduced further.  Scott County Kids board president, Jennifer Kakert says, "despite the reduction in funds we are glad the legislature continues to recognize the importance of early childhood care and education.  We look forward to another successful year of partnering with a variety of agencies and individuals to offer vital services to our youngest citizens. "

A $1000 prize is offered to the last poet standing in a contest sponsored by the Christian Poets Guild.  The contest is free to enter and open to poets of any age.  Fifty prizes totaling more than $5000 will be awarded.

Poems of 21 lines or fewer on any subject and in any style will be judged by guild contest director Dr. Joseph Mellon.  "We love encouraging poets," he says, "and trust this contest will produce exciting results."

Entries my be received by May 31, and may be submitted by mail to Free Poetry Contest, 1299 S. Main St., #129, Yenka, CA 96097 or at www.freecontest.com.  A winners list will be sent to all entrants.

DAVENPORT, IOWA (May 5, 2010) The German American Heritage Center and Museum now includes about 4,000 square feet of state-of-the-art interactive exhibits including a new trivia video game, wired antique party line phones to listen to, and the audio-visual experience, "Step into my Shoes."  At"Step into my Shoes" you step on a set of the footprints, which then triggers a character to appear before them on a screen and talk about their experience as an immigrant. You may also try on clothing that immigrants would have worn during the turn of the century, and enjoy exploring many artifacts on display.The museum also includes two original restored hotel rooms, 1800s period style clothing that visitors may try on, many artifacts on display, and a mini-theater. The new interactive video game lets the visitor choose a character who portrays a German immigrant of the mid-1800s. They answer a set of trivia questions. Clues and answers to the questions can be found throughout the exhibit. When they finish answering the questions they are rewarded with two fun video games to play that simulate activities that were played by boys and girls during the turn of the century. Visitors enjoy an interactive experience as you learn about immigrants' journey 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.

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on Sundays from noon - 4 p.m. Admission is as follows: Adults: $5; Seniors: $4; Children: $3 (5 - 17 years old); Family: $12; Free for children under 5; and free for museum members. For more information on all of the museum's exhibits, programs, events, classes, and workshops visit www.gahc.org, facebook, or call 563-322-8844. The German American Heritage Center is located at the foot of Centennial Bridge at 712 West Second Street, Davenport, Iowa. The German American Heritage Center works to preserve and enrich the German immigrant experience and its impact on the American Culture. The museum also partners with other cultural groups to demonstrate the contributions immigrants from many countries and from varied backgrounds have made to the ethnic palette which is the United States.

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The Bettendorf Discovery Shop invites you to join them Monday, May 3rd for our Garden event. We are ready to welcome spring by filling the shop with all of the beautiful spring things that have been donated in the last year.

The store will be bursting with lovely items for your home and garden. Plants, flowers, pictures, dishes, yard decorations, birdhouses, the list goes on and on. We will also have lots of beautiful flowered clothing and accessories to brighten your day. There will be a lot of great things to see, so we hope that you can stop by and take part in the fun!

The Discovery Shop is an upscale resale shop that is celebrating 22 years of successful fund-raising in Bettendorf. Thanks to the generosity of the community, the Discovery Shop raises money by selling gently used items donated by individual donors and local businesses. Helping to make the shop such a success is the staff of wonderful volunteers that donate their time, if you are interested in joining our volunteer team we are always happy to have extra hands to help. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society for cancer research, education, patient services and advocacy.

Donations are accepted anytime the shop is open and a tax receipt is always available. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 am to 5 pm., Thursday from 10 am to 7 pm. and Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm.

We are thankful for all the wonderful donations and excited to have this fun event for our customers.