Children are invited to Brucemore for a festive and memorable evening of holiday tradition?Santa, Snacks and Stories on Sunday, December 4 and Tuesday, December 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The mansion's holiday décor and the estate's seasonal spirit add to the evening's activities. In the Visitor Center, children will be delighted by two new activities: sing-a-long caroling with Brucemore's most famous resident, Leo the Lion, and a cookie decorating station. In the mansion, children will make reindeer hats, listen to a holiday story, and give Santa their wish-lists. In between activities, children and parents are invited to freely roam the mansion and ask any questions to the available stationary guides.

Admission is $7 per child and $5 per child of a Brucemore member. One adult is free per child admission; each additional adult is $5.  Space is limited. Call (319) 362-7375 for reservations. For further information or to register online, visit www.brucemore.org. Santa, Snacks, and Stories is sponsored by US Bank.

Brucemore, Iowa's only National Trust Historic Site, is located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The 26-acre park-like estate in the heart of Cedar Rapids boasts a delightful Queen Anne style mansion built between 1884 and 1886. Brucemore has been home to three prominent families who used the estate as a center for culture and the arts. The estate continues to be a hub for cultural, philanthropic, and educational activities. Each year thousands of visitors attend specialty tours, musical events, fine arts performances, children's programs, holiday celebrations, and garden walks held on the estate. For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

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Davenport. Iowa, November 7, 2011 -The new Fejervary Learning Center will have an open house on November 15, 2011 from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. Fejervary Park is located at 1759 W 12th Street.

On display at the Learning center will be a show area of the 50 state trees. Tree saplings will be given away at the event as supplies last. The Davenport Public Library will also present a story time for children at 3:30 pm and again at 4:15 pm. There will also be an adaptive gardening seminar, and advice in preparing beds for winter. Visitors can also see designs for the natural playground and tree deck, and Juan Diaz Rancheros will discuss their program and give visitors an opportunity to pet a horse. Juan Diez Rancheros, which provides therapy through horses for students from schools across Davenport, has been a part of Fejervary Park for several years.

Fejervary Learning Center is ongoing project to rejuvenate the facilities at Fejervary Park. After the zoo at Fejervary Park closed, Parks and Recreation created a five year plan that included created a children's center focused on environmental education. This open house will showcase progress to date on the Learning Center.

"This facility will provide a great exposure to nature for children," said Greg Wolf, environmental education supervisor for Parks and Recreation.

What :  Fejervary Learning Center Open House

When:  November 15, 2011, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Where:  Fejervary Park, 1759 W 12th Street, Davenport IA

Are you looking for a beautiful way to spend a Wednesday morning? Join Davenport Parks and Recreation at the Conservatory in Vander Veer Botanical park for our Senior Coffee. This informal program is designed to encourage senior citizens to visit the warmth of
the conservatory during the colder months and enjoy the color and fragrance of beautiful flowers.

On November 9th, participants will be able to enjoy the Traditional Chrysanthemum Display from 10 am - Noon. The cost for the program is $1 and each participant will have the opportunity to experience the sights, sounds and fragrances of the colorful and vibrant Chrysanthemums as well as enjoy refreshments. Davenport Parks and Recreation's Environmental Education staff will present a program on Turkeys at 10:30 am.

Preregistration is not required, for further information, please call, 326-7812.

ROCK ISLAND, Ill.  - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is waiving day-use fees for veterans, active and reserve component service members, and their families at the more than 2,400 Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide on Veterans Day, November 11.

The Rock Island District of the Army Corps of Engineers manages dozens of recreation areas throughout its area of responsibility which spans across most of Iowa and Illinois, as well as parts of Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin. At this time of year, most District recreation sites are closed for the season but many of the District's boat ramps on the Mississippi River will participate in the Veterans Day offer and waive day use fees. Boat ramps at the following locations will participate: Grant River, Blanding Landing, Pleasant Creek, Big Slough, Thomson Causeway, Cattail Slough, Clarks Ferry, Lock and Dam 13 and Shady Creek.

"This Veterans Day we will honor our veterans, active and reserve service members, and their families with an invitation to visit one of the thousands of Corps recreation sites nationwide, free of charge. As an active participant of the administration's America's Great Outdoors initiative, we hope that you will join us," said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works.

The day-use fee waiver requires only verbal confirmation of service. This waiver covers boat launch ramp and swim beach fees. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities such as group picnic shelters. Other agencies that manage recreation areas on Corps lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the Veterans Day waiver of fees in the areas that they manage.

"We began this initiative in 2006 to support and honor the men and women who have served our nation and the armed forces, and to encourage them and their families to visit and enjoy one of our many recreation sites," said Mike Ensch, Chief of Operations for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

With more than 370 million visits annually to 422 lake and river projects, the Corps is the largest federal provider of outdoor and water-based recreation in the nation. The more than 2,400 Corps-operated recreation areas nationwide provide a diverse range of outdoor activities to people of all ages, and the Corps estimates that 90 percent of its recreation projects are within 50 miles of metropolitan areas. To discover the Corps recreation site nearest you, please visit http://corpslakes.usace.army.mil/visitors/visitors.cfm