May 2013 • Complimentary Issue • www.qcfamilyfocus.com
Happy Mother ’s Day! Summer Camp Ideas
Lessons From Mom Family Fun on a Shoestring Budget
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May 2013
QC Family Focus
Serving Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois
Monthly
Publisher: Mike Mickle Editor: Karen Mickle Magazine Design: Jessie Smith Photographers: Tassy Johnson • Nick Martel Shannon Colgan • Estelle Nester Videographer: Harry Walker Contributing Editors
Jeff Ashcraft Diane Baker - Linda Barlow Brenda Boleyn Ph.D. Roger Brannan David W. Deuth Brooke Falline - Kim Fein
John Frederick, M.D.
Curtis Ford Tawnya Hambly Kelly Hendershot Kirk Marske Mike Mickle - Kim Mills Joni Mitchell Dr. David Moyer Dr. Traci Nelson Hassel Beth Peters Lisa M. Reisen - Beau Shay Steven Silverman, D.C., M.S. Julie Sisk - Vera Stokes Barbara Wiese Ph.D. James Zahara - Phyllis Zalenski Join thousands of others as they help us promote happy healthy families in the QCA. Call 563-940-7875 for more information.
QC Family Focus Magazine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mickle Communications Group LLC. Publication of advertising and articles does not constitute endorsement. The publisher reserves the right to refuse and/or edit any materials for publication. You can contact us at QC Family Focus Magazine, P.O. Box 194, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722, 563-940-7875 or email: mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.com. ©Copyright 2013.
7 Give Yourself a Hand! 8 Lessons 14 From Mom Family Fun 21 in Full Bloom Teens as 26 Teachers
Watch QC Family Focus come to life on television each Friday. Family Focus Friday only on WQAD’s midday newscast
Helping Your Child’s
Vocabulary Grow
Be sure to tune into WHBF on May 5th at 10:35pm for the next episode of Rule Ur Game. The only Quad City Show where Quad City teens are the reporters and they feature stories about the great things happening in their schools. We always visit at least 4 schools across the area, two from Illinois and two from Iowa. Rule Ur Game is hosted by WHBF Sports Director Jay Kidwell and produced by Mickle Communications! Go to our Rule Ur Game Facebook page and “like” us. Then suggest some stories we could cover at your school.
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Your Mickle’s Worth As I’m writing this, I’m having another one of those “shaking my head” moments. Matt just got in the shower about 2 minutes ago. We heard the shower door open and asked what he was doing....and..... wait for it....he says.... “I forgot to take my socks off before I got in the shower.” Please explain to me how you can step into the shower wearing an article (or in this case articles) of clothing without realizing it. Once again, I catch myself saying, “Only Matthew.” He can tell you the license plate number of EVERY vehicle his friend’s parents drive, but forgets to take his socks off in the shower. I give up. Meanwhile, Kyle has a device that looks like a zip lock bag on steroids over this foot when near water. He had surgery to repair a broken toe and it’s not allowed to get wet for a few more weeks. The surgery went well. He wouldn’t let me ask the surgeon if I could come to the operating room to hang out with him. I thought it was a good idea. Unfortunately, the cranky patient and his mother did not. Kyle is fascinated with the pin sticking out of his toe. He’s taking pictures of it, watching the recovering process closely and doesn’t mind sharing the photos with anyone who’d like to see them. I’d just as soon pass. Meanwhile, Kate seems to be the one who doesn’t forget things other than cleaning her room. That ALWAYS seems to slip her mind until she’s not allowed to hang out with friends unless it’s cleaned. Suddenly, it’s remarkably clutter-free, until you open her closet door. I’ve learned to push the door open and run for fear of an avalanche. May brings a birthday for my mom as well as Mother’s Day. I’m preparing for a trip south to see Mom in the next few days and I’m currently brainstorming for Mothers Day ideas for my lovely wife and Mom. How do you find something to say “thank you” for the woman who made sure you survived your teen years.. and the woman who singlehandedly keeps our lives in order. Mom tells stories that I have no recollection of. I’m pretty sure it was someone else who committed the foolish acts she speaks of. She is not letting me off the hook. Meanwhile, the mother of my children is the keeper of the schedule in our home. No matter how many times she tells me which child has what activity and when, it simply doesn’t stick. She’s learned if I am going
By Mike Mickle
to be in charge of delivering or picking up our children, I need a complete list with times and locations. Not that I’ve ever forgotten a child... for more than five minutes.... or maybe ten, but still Karen wants to make sure I’m armed with the necessary info to avoid any possibility that a Mickle child would be left standing outside a school, gym or friend’s house. I certainly don’t want to forget to say “thank you” to all of you for your support of QC Family Focus. You are reading the largest issue we have ever published and it wouldn’t be possible without your support. 100 schools, daycare facilities and preschools now distribute QCFF to EVERY student, we have media partnerships with WHBF, WQAD, WYEC, Mix 96 and B-100 and our education sections have some of the top experts in the community as contributors. To say we are humbled would be an understatement. We can’t thank you all enough for helping this publication grow. It’s about what we cherish most... family. I hope you have the opportunity to spend some time with the special mom in your life. Have a great month and we’ll check in with you in June!
Come on over to Texas Roadhouse for Mother’s Day! We’ll be opening at 10:30 a.m. on Mother’s Day and offering prime rib all day.
4005 E. 53rd St. Davenport, IA 563.355.2373 4
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Don’t Make Mom Wait, We Have Call Ahead Seating
Registration for Summer Recreation Program is now open! Splash Landing (swim lessons), Tot-Lot (3-5 year olds), Day Camps (all day camp), Sports & Games (M-F), Playgrounds (afternoons) and Camp Mac (Camp for persons with disabilities)
“It starts with Parks”- come out and play!
Splash landing opens for the season May 27th at 11:30am
2220 23rd St - 563-344-4124 - www.bettendorf.org/splash Coupons & season passes go on sale May 1st Reserve private swim rentals starting May 1st Hersey Track & Fields Event
May 18th 9-11am @ Bettendorf High School Track for all 9-14 years of age – FREE Community Event!
FREE Movies in the Park Held at Veterans Memorial Park at sundown
June 8th Madagascar 3 - June 15th Hotel Transylvania - June 22nd The Lorax June 29th Rise of the Guardians
QC Family Focus - may 2013
5
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Call 563-940-7154 or check out our website at www.qcjumps.com.
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may 2013 • QC Family Focus
n, she breathed a big, deep breath s feels SO amazing!” It was her body in and hands-free. Baby-wearing orld. Oh how I miss it!
Give Yourself a Hand! Joni Mitchell QC Mom - B100 Personality
Ten years ago, I remember feeling rather intimidated to enter the grocery store with three small children in tow. I had a five-year-old rambunctious boy, a two-year-old toddler and newborn baby girls. I remember wondering if I could handle them well enough to actually make it to checkout and back to the vehicle in one piece. Thankfully, I remembered a sling I wore my older daughter in when she was about four months old. That idea literally changed the way I was able to parent, shop and keep us (and “it”) all together. Baby-wearing, as it is called, is not a new idea at all. In fact, baby-wearing has practically been around since humans started having babies. In cultures all over the world, baby-wearing is a normal part of mothering. No clunky strollers, no funky contraptions with confusing straps, and the best part is some baby carriers can fold down and fit into your pocket or be worn as a part of your daily garb and looks fashionable too! The concepts and benefits of baby-wearing are well worth consideration. First, you are freeing up your hands so you can hold the hand of a toddler or young child. That, in and of itself, is very valuable. But more than that, it is doing something for you and your baby that promotes bonding, breastfeeding and something known as “quiet alertness.” According to www.askdrsears.com, “The behavioral state of quiet alertness also gives parents a better opportunity to interact with their baby. Notice how mother and baby position their faces in order to achieve this optimal visually interactive plane. The human face, especially in this position, is a potent stimulator for interpersonal bonding. In the kangaroo carry, baby has a 180-degree view of her environment and is able to scan her world. She learns to choose, picking out what she wishes to look at and shutting out what she doesn’t. This ability to make choices enhances learning. A sling baby learns a lot in the arms of a busy caregiver.” Baby-wearing, when worn properly, is a very safe and effective way to also promote the necessary bonding relationship with Dad. The deep vibration of a father’s voice is a very soothing sound for a baby, along with his smell, his heartbeat and his movements. Baby learns to identify both parents as capable of meeting and nurturing
his/her needs. When Dad wears his child, it is also helping give Mom a much needed break or just allows her extra time to spend with other children and family. It’s truly a win-win. Besides, there is something so extraordinarily cute about seeing a father wear his baby! I have found siblings also enjoy baby-wearing! In fact, we loved it so much in our house, baby dolls got worn with make-shift slings when all of my children were younger. I’ve taught many baby-wearing classes to a lot of pregnant women and Moms who were struggling with their milk supply in breastfeeding. Out of all the classes I’ve done, the most memorable baby wearing moment I’ve had, happened recently. A friend of mine was at her wit’s end with baby carriers because she had not learned how to properly wear any of her three children in a sling. Once we got it on her and baby in position, she breathed a big, deep breath and tears began to well up in her eyes. She gently said, “This feels SO amazing!” It was her body and heart’s reaction to her baby being close to her, snuggled in and hands-free. Baby-wearing moments allow the feeling that all is well and right in the world. Oh how I miss it!
Apps & More Verizon Wireless
Now that spring has finally sprung, it’s time to grab the kids and get outdoors. Whether you are looking for a new place to relax outside in your local area, or looking for a park while on a road trip, there’s an app to help you find the perfect spot! Use the ParksNReviews app to discover and explore more than 13,000 park locations across the country. Make Do on more you ever imagined selections based parkthan amenities including athletic fields, campgrounds and bike and walking trails, then with a Windows Phone. upload pictures and comments, add amenities and view ratings during or after your visit. The app is free and Live Tiles available on both Android and iOS devices. Pin apps, people and more to customize your Start screen
so advanced, yet so simple.
QC Family Focus - may 2013
People Hub
Get real-time updates from all
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Helping Your Child’s
Vocabulary Grow
Brenda Boleyn, Ph.D. & Barbara Wiese, Ph.D. Professors in the School of Education at St. Ambrose University.
It’s officially spring and signs of new growth are everywhere! Family activities, hobbies, and vacations tend to increase with the warmer weather, and they happen to provide wonderful opportunities to help your child’s vocabulary grow as well. You might think that vocabulary is best learned through formal instruction in school, but the truth is, children learn the meanings of most words indirectly through everyday experiences with oral and written language (Tompkins, 2011; Wasik, 2012). Young children learn word meanings through conversations with other people, particularly adults. As they engage in these conversations, children often hear adults repeat words several times and also may hear adults use new and interesting words. For this reason, you should take the opportunity to include sophisticated words in your conversations, with explanations if needed. Simply put, the more words you use, the more words your child will know; and the more words your child knows when he/she starts kindergarten, the more likely he/she is to become a skillful reader. That’s why taking your child to the zoo or aquarium, or taking a hike together through nature can be such a valuable pre-reading activity. It’s a great way to build vocabulary! Don’t be afraid to use words that your child may not know. The key is to use those words in contexts that will clue your child in to what they mean, perhaps by your facial expression or by pointing to an object. For instance, you can replace words such as happy or glad with more colorful words such as delighted, thrilled, or ecstatic. Find occasions to insert more scientific or technical words to describe something, such as labeling a cicada or monarch butterfly by its name when you and your child see one outside rather than calling it a bug. Every errand has opportunities for rich vocabulary, too. Perhaps the words stain or mend come up at the dry cleaners; prescription or dosage might come up at the pharmacy, so aim to use one or two new words while carrying out errands. Reading with your child is another terrific way to help your child hear and learn new words and to get those words into everyday talk. Your conversation 8
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
may go something like this, “The book says, ‘The boy tumbled down the hill,’ and look at the pictures! That reminds me of when you tumbled down the hill when we went sledding.” You might also play word games to pass the time (for instance while out to eat) to build descriptive vocabulary. You can pose questions like, “What is the stickiest item at the table? What on your plate tasted the most delectable? Who seems to be the jolliest person in the restaurant?” Take the time to share new words and build your child’s vocabulary. Be intentional about elevating your own vocabulary in conversations with your child. Read aloud to him/her every single day. Lastly, keep new words active within your home. As your child enters school and continues the path to reading, you’ll be enormously glad you did!
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QC Family Focus - may 2013
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may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Davenport 4959 Utica Ridge Rd. (563) 359-8080 Sarah Teller, Director Sarah@QCCDC.us
Silvis 1102 20th Ave. (309) 796-9090 Christy Leonhart, Director Christy@QCCDC.us
HEALTHY HABITS FOR MOTHER AND BABY Brooke Falline R.D.H., ABC Family Dentistry
This month’s article is geared towards the dos and don’ts of breast feeding, bottle feeding and the proper overall nutrition for you and your little one(s). If you are a new mother, caregiver or educator, I hope to provide you with some important information to promote healthy habits to last a lifetime. Breastfeeding and formula in a bottle are the normative standards for infant feeding and nutrition. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to create healthy feeding habits from day one. First and foremost, it is important to separate the actions of sleeping and eating. The purpose of this is to be sure you do not confuse sleeping with eating. It is normal for an infant to fall asleep while suckling or being bottle fed, but you do not want to breastfeed in
CAVITY FREE CLUB
bed or put the child to sleep with a bottle in the crib. If you sleep with the child while he/she is breastfeeding, the child will begin to think that falling asleep occurs only when being fed. The same holds true for placing the child in a crib with a bottle in hand. In essence, this practice is teaching your child a poor habit of eating while they are lying down. We recommend that you breastfeed or bottle feed in a different area other than where the child sleeps, wipe their mouth and any teeth present with a warm washcloth once they’ve finished feeding and then place them in their crib. Prevention is the key to a healthy mouth. We hope that by promoting healthy eating habits from the start that it will also prevent early childhood decay. Stay tuned for June’s article where I will be exploring in detail the topic of tooth decay!
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QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Kids benefit from Genesis Food School Linda Barlow
Helping youngsters with high sensitivity to foods
Tayden Bulten first smells the peanut butter on the bread. He brings it closer to his mouth and cautiously takes a small bite. Then another. “He’s eating peanut butter!’’ his mother, Andrea Moore, said as a few tears ran down her cheeks. “He has never eaten peanut butter.’’ It’s an important breakthrough for the 2-year-old, who attends Food School at the Genesis Pediatric Therapy Center in Bettendorf. Tayden and the two other boys in his class are not picky eaters. They are problem eaters. They have a high sensitivity to how food feels, smells, tastes, the temperature of it, and, appearance. They actually have a fear of certain foods. Their parents tell stories of birthday parties having gone badly because their child can’t tolerate having a cake anywhere near them. It’s not uncommon for children with feeding difficulties related to Sensory Processing Disorder to have a diet limited to less than 15 foods. For any number of reasons, the children in this Genesis Food School are among the estimated 20 percent of children from birth to 5 years old who experience feeding difficulties. Children on the autism spectrum, children with Down Syndrome, premature children and children diagnosed with ADHD are more likely to have feeding difficulties. Sometimes the rejection of foods is sensory. Unlike kids who transition naturally from the bottle to baby foods and then to finger foods by picking them up and popping them in their mouth, some kids even at a very young age can’t bear to pick up a food because it is wet, cold or they don’t like the feel of the food. The rejection can also be physical because of gastroesophageal reflux. It hurts to eat. These kids may have vomited frequently when they were on the bottle. “If they don’t like the touch, texture or taste, why would they eat it?’’ explained Megan Long, occupational therapist at Genesis Food School. “If they think it will hurt to eat a food, why would they eat it?” Genesis Food School works on a weekly basis to help expand the diets of three different groups of children, ranging in age between 18 months and 10 years old. It’s a long journey, said speech pathologist Deb Crooks. “We see a great deal of success but not overnight,’’ Crooks said. “You have to be in this for the long haul. One week a child may try something, then come back the next week and want nothing to do with it.’’ On some days, however, there are breakthroughs like Tayden trying peanut butter for the first time. A week later, his mother reported he ate a peanut butter sandwich every day that week. Tayden’s limited list of acceptable foods includes toddler foods from jars. His mother watches labels closely, trying to find foods with the most calories and protein. “You read labels. You find out that the lasagna in the jar is 150 calories, so you give him more of that,’’ she explained. The social issue The limited food favorites for kids like Tayden can lead to social conflict, edging toward social stigma for the kids and 12
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
parents. Andrea Moore has heard all the well-intentioned but uninformed advice. There is the 1960s era, “There are children starving in China” approach of making a child sit until he eats everything. It will never ever happen with these kids. There is the slightly less strong-armed tactic: “He’ll eat when he is hungry.” That isn’t the case with kids like these. They will eat only when something they like is available to them. Kids like Tayden may eat French fries, but only with a certain cut. They may eat chicken nuggets from one company or restaurant, but not from another. Tayden’s classmate, Ben Barnds, 3, will eat pizza but only from Olive Garden and Biaggi’s. Food School is one-hour each week. Tayden and his two classmates, who are referred by pediatricians, start with physical activity in the gym for about 20 minutes to get their bodies calm and ready to eat. Movement can help stimulate appetites, too. From the gym, Crooks and Long take the kids to the dining room. Parents are on the other side of the one-way mirror. The eating sessions are a theme party. One day during a Halloween party, the kids made “spiders” using crackers with peanut butter and pretzels for legs and eyes for raisins. The kids are encouraged to play with their food. Having food on their face and hands, or “wearing’’ their food is encouraged. Kids in this class, for whatever reason, didn’t play with food as they learned to eat. They didn’t like the temperature or the texture. They didn’t want their hands to get messy. Some kids are so adverse to touching the food offered that they immediately clean their hands with wet towels available to them. But touching is progress. All of the parents said their sons have added foods to their palates thanks to the class. Small Steps Feeding difficulties in children can be misunderstood by childcare providers, schools, relatives, family friends and even some pediatricians. A physician referral is required for the class. It helps to intervene early with kids who have very limited food favorites. “The earlier we can get kids in an environment with their peers who have the same issue, the better opportunity we have to make a difference,’’ Long said. For more information, call Genesis Outpatient Pediatric Therapy Center at (563) 421-3497.
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QC Family Focus - may 2013
13
Lessons From Mom Jeff Ashcraft Clear Channel Radio Marketing Manager
Today was an average day. I left the house in the dark after having a somewhat snippy conversation with my wife. Nothing spectacular and nothing tragic happened at work. It was one of those days in my life that is destined to be forgotten by time. While I was driving home from Iowa City, Crista called to tell me that my Mom had called and asked if we wanted to go out for dinner. Mom is 89 years old and quite frail. Lately she has been anything but energetic. She has been reminiscing about the past and is becoming more and more confused. Her body is slowly failing her, and her physical and spiritual energy are fading. Sometimes I am not very patient with her and that makes me sad. Anyway, she called and very much wanted to go out, so Crista picked her up from her apartment and she was dressed in a pretty blouse, shoes and her wheel chair ready to go. Usually these days she often is not ready to go and is completely baffled as to where her shoes, keys or other necessary items might be. Clean clothes, lipstick and shoes were a nice change of pace from the more recent patterns. We went to Culver’s on Jersey Ridge in Davenport because it has been remodeled, is clean, and there is one manager that whenever he sees Mom; treats her like royalty. He truly provides impressive customer service. Mom ordered her normal fish sandwich and mashed potatoes. She loves the mashed potatoes at Culver’s and it is one of the few things she can still eat. I sat their eating my chicken and salad with not much on my mind, but a definite fog of glumness prevailed. I watched as Crista and my Mom talked about purses, and how Mom wants a new purse since its fall now. She seems to really be living in an October frame of mind, and I quietly marveled at my wife’s patience and good humor in playing in Mom’s universe. Crista is so tranquil and good humored with her. Their relationship has become pretty profound over the last year. It was always quite good, but there is a new closeness and deeper spiritual quality to their connection. It is simply beautiful. Our meal was interrupted by a high pitched cackle. It came from the other side of a partition. Although I couldn’t see them, it was obvious that these were high school kids doing the only thing high school kids know to do – irritate middle aged, chubby bald men. Even my patient wife was becoming annoyed. In the booth next to these adolescent jokers I noticed a special needs man. He seemed very happy to enjoy his walleye sandwich and had Mom’s favorite mashed potatoes. He was clearly enjoying his meal and living in the moment – the polar opposite of my state of mind. He seemed infatuated with the high school kids in the booth next to him, and every time their giggles broke the sound barrier; he laughed right along with them. Even though I couldn’t see them, each time he engaged the teenagers with his own laugh or comment; there was awkwardness in the air. I had a feeling they were
14
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Photo left to right: Crista Ashcraft, Betty Ashcraft, Jeff Ashcraft.
making fun of him. I grew up with a special needs brother and still volunteer with a special needs organization, and I was beginning to lose my temper. As the scene went on for a few moments, teens were getting ready to leave and stood up. The special needs man kept engaging them and laughing with them and then apologizing. He was so sweet and so wanting to be part of the gang. He kept saying the one girl was so funny, and I thought I saw these kids start to give each other ‘the look’. Crista knows me all too well, and her eye caught mine. I was one step from the ledge. The teens began to file past him and to my complete shock they began talking with their new “friend”. As the last young man was walking by, a hand stretched out into the aisle, “My name’s Gary. She is really funny. My DVR is not working,” said the special needs man. What? My deceased down syndrome brother’s name was Gary. The next moment took my breath away. This mature young man grasped Gary’s hand and said, “I’m Brendan. She IS funny. Sorry about your DVR”. They smiled at each other and Gary was clearly happy. He was now part of the gang and his smile was one I haven’t seen on my face in years. I was wrong. These young people weren’t making fun of Gary at all. They treated him with dignity and respect. I found myself in a deeply serene and reflective moment. I looked back at Mom and realized she had missed the whole thing. She was picking at her mashed potatoes and talking about the new fall purse she was going to buy and how going out to dinner was her idea. Maybe she doesn’t live in quite the level of dementia I thought. Maybe Mom is connected with the Universe on a deeper plane than I give credit. Maybe God was working through my Mom and through Gary to help me realize that today was spectacular after all. Culver’s was the exact place I needed to be tonight. Good idea Mom.
Grow A Family Garden
Julie Sisk, WQAD As long as I can remember my dad has grown a large garden. We grew up on a farm and while he is not a farmer, he took advantage of having the space and used a big plot of the land to grow his own crops. Tomatoes, potatoes, lettuce, beans, zucchini are just a glimpse of the produce he still takes time to plant, weed and harvest each year. As an adult I really appreciate the fresh food and look forward to him bringing out his latest harvest when he visits and surely stocking up when we go to his house. I think/hope my love for fresh food is being instilled in my children as it was in me. I realize I have been spoiled by my dads dedication and realize that I too should start growing some of our food. So I am trying to find the time, between working full time, 3 small children, house work and everything else families do - I am starting small. Last year we started with one tomato plant. It was such a thrill for the kids to find tomatoes on the vine. So this is year I hope to expand to a few tomato and cucumber
plants, plus pumpkins. I know - its an extremely, extremely small step but I am hoping it “sprouts” into bigger things for me. I am beginning to research how to start an actual “garden” for the near future. While my dad would let us help plant or harvest, it was never something we regularly took part in (sorry dad). I know now I should have. So I will need plenty of advice, and am searching the internet. Here is some of what I am finding. First, figure out the best place to plant. A plot with plenty of sun that drains well is key. Then, remove rocks and fertilize. Prepare to invest a little money. Some of the expenses to expect are prepping the land, tools, fertilizer, wire mesh (to protect plants from critters) and plants/ seeds. Keep it simple, start small with only a few vegetables and add more as your experience grows. Choose seeds/plants that will grow well where you live. Do some research to make sure what you want to grow... will have the chance to thrive in your garden. And it seems simple but follow the directions... from the time to plant to how to space the seeds. The details can make all the difference. Then, weed and weed some more. Of course the best part is harvest and enjoy. I hope to take my garden plans to the next level soon. Maybe someday in the near future... I can bring my dad some of the vegetables from my own garden.
Recover from injury. IOWA LOCATIONS
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n 2535 Maplecrest Road, Ste. 8, Bettendorf
n Genesis Medical Center - Illini
n Genesis Pediatric Therapy 2535 Maplecrest Road, Ste. 23, Bettendorf
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n 3650 Avenue of the Cities, Moline
n Power Sports Performance Bettendorf YMCA 3800 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf
n Pediatric Therapy 2451 Coral Court #1, Coralville, IA
n 1414 W. Lombard Street, Davenport n 1702 E. 53rd Street, Davenport
When recovering from an injury you can be confident knowing you will receive team focused, high quality, compassionate, one-on-one care at Genesis Physical Rehabilitation clinics.
n 2720 W. Locust Street, Ste. 8B, Davenport n 1118 11th Street, DeWitt n 170 S. 4th Avenue, Eldridge n 1003 Canal Shore Drive, Ste. 2, LeClaire www.genesishealth.com/rehab
Call a location near YOU I 563-421-ACHE (2243) QC Family Focus - may 2013
15
Do you take your child to someone’s home for child care? If so, is your child care provider registered?
Registration with the Department of Human Services is the first step in providing quality child care and it’s FREE.
Encourage the person caring for your child to call Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa to find out how! 563/326-8221 Ask for Becky.
Once a child care provider has become registered in Scott County they qualify for items to use in their home business!
Scott County Kids Early Childhood Iowa 600 W. 4th Street Davenport, Iowa 52801 563/326-8221 www.scottcountykids.org 16
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Preschoolers from our website at https://store.extension.iastate.edu/ItemDetail.aspx Contact: Vera Stokes Nutrition and Health Specialist Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Vera Stokes Nutrition and Health Specialist vstokes@iastate.edu Iowa State University Extension and Outreach tops, ovens or electrical appliances. Here is a fun 563‐210‐0587
Kids can Cook
One of the best ways to get a child to try new foods or a new recipe is to get him involved in growing or purchasing the food, preparing it, and cleaning up afterwards. Helping you in the kitchen will also improve his self-confidence. Since a young child has limited skills, some tasks may not be suitable. The following list shows what kids at different ages typically can do (with maybe a few spills!) after you have shown them how to do it. Two-year-olds are learning to use the large muscles in their arms. Have them try: • Scrubbing vegetables and fruits • Wiping table tops • Dipping foods • Washing lettuce and salad greens Three-year-olds are learning to use their hands. Have them try: • Pouring pre-measured liquids into batter • Spreading peanut butter, jelly, and similar foods • Mixing ingredients • Clearing unbreakable items from the table after a meal • Putting unwanted items in the trash after cooking or after a meal Four and five-year-olds are learning to control small muscles in their hands. Have them try: • Peeling foods, such as bananas, oranges, and hard-boiled eggs • Mashing soft fruits and vegetables with a fork • Kneading dough • Unloading the dishwasher • Setting the table • Measuring dry ingredients • Cracking eggs into a bowl • Beating eggs or batter • Cutting soft foods, such as hard-boiled eggs, with a plastic knife Teach kids to always wash their hands before they start cooking. For safety reasons, have a child stand at or above the level of the activity. Use bowls and other supplies that won’t break. Offer them blunt knives and soft foods for cutting. Always supervise them, especially when they’re using knives, stove
recipe to get you started:
French Toast
Ingredients: 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 1 tablespoon oil thick sliced bread Powdered sugar or margarine and syrup, optional Directions: (Remember to wash your hands!) 1. In a mixing bowl, beat egg and milk together. 2. Heat oil in skillet on medium heat. 3. Dip both sides of bread in egg mixture. 4. Cook in skillet about 2 minutes on each side or until brown. 5. Dust with powdered sugar or serve with margarine and syrup if desired. Helpful Hints: Use a flat-bottom bowl or casserole dish for egg and milk mixture. It makes it a lot easier to dip the bread slices. Set the bowl close to the skillet so you don’t drip after dipping the bread. For additional information on feeding children, download
the publication, Food For Me Too, Nutrition for Toddlers and Preschoolers from our website at https://store.extension. iastate.edu/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=4597 .
Education Taxes? What is that? Tawnya Hambly Public Relations Director, Junior Achievement of the Heartland - www.jaheartland.org
In the past month you have probably heard many adults talking about taxes. What are taxes? And, why are they important? Taxes are money that people and businesses must pay for public goods and services provided by the government. Public goods and services provide benefits to many people and people may not be restricted from using them. Examples of public goods and services the government provides include parks, roads, fire stations, police stations, schools, recycling centers, national defense, and many more. Our government generally provides public goods and services because these businesses cannot earn a profit. This is an important economic role of government. Yet, these public goods and services use resources; and those resources must be paid for. So, let’s think about this… When you call a plumber to your home and the plumber fixes a drain, the plumber will leave you a bill to pay for the services. When you call a firefighter to your home and the firefighter puts out the fire, does the firefighter leave a bill for your services? The answer is no. Who pays the firefighter and the fire truck to put out the fire at your house? The government does. Where does the government get the money to pay for the resources (firefighter and fire truck) used to put the fire out? The government collects taxes. Taxes are a required payment to the government. By collecting taxes the government is able to provide public goods and services that everyone can benefit from. It is not practical for a family to go out and buy their own fire fighter and fire truck – it would be too expensive. Can you think of taxes your family has paid? Here are some examples, income tax on money earned from jobs, sales tax on purchases, and property tax on homes. Activity: Teresa graduated from college last year and got a job as a manager, earning $30,000 a year! She was really excited about earning so much money. After a year passes, Teresa sat down and computed her entire tax bill. No wonder she had a hard time making ends meet. Federal income taxes on her salary................ $3,400 Social Security and Medicare........................ $2,300 State income taxes on her salary.................... $1,000 Local property taxes on her new house.......... $ 800 18
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Sales taxes on her new car............................. $1,000 Sales tax on her purchases of goods and services...... $1,100 How much does Teresa pay in taxes? __________ What benefits will Teresa get from the taxes? ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ ___________________________________________ _________________________ Let’s review: Who pays taxes? __________________________ What does the government do with the taxes people pay? _______________________________________ Taxes are an important part of our community. Without taxes our community would not have roads, parks, schools, and many other important public goods and services that we use every day.
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qcairport.com It's not too early to make your summer travel plans!
Call your travel agent for airfares, schedules and packages from the QCIA.
Dedication Make Your Own Lightning!
James Zahara Storm Team 8 Chief Meteorologist - WQAD HD News 8 Thunderstorms have certainly blossomed this spring season! And what better place to be than indoors especially when severe thunderstorms are present. Lightning is unpredictable. Personally, any cloud that can create lighting is severe. Did you know that we have nothing today that can tell us where a lightning bolt is going to strike? True! Did you know that on rare occasions we’ve been struck by lightning? In a smaller setting we have. Have you ever touched a metal door handle in a dry room? If so, then you know that you can get shocked! Well, guess what? Lightning works the same way. Professor ‘Z’ is here to show you an experiment where you can make that same spark the safe way. Here are the items you’ll need: - Aluminum pie pan - Small piece of wool fabric - Styrofoam plate - Pencil with a new eraser - Flat thumbtack Push the thumbtack through the center of the aluminum pie pan from the bottom. Push the eraser end of the pencil into the thumbtack. Put the styrofoam plate upsidedown on a table. Rub the underneath of the plate quickly with the wool fabric for a solid minute. Immediately, pick up the aluminum pie pan using the pencil as a handle and place it on top of the upside-down styrofoam plate that you were just rubbing with the wool. Touch the edge of the aluminum pie
pan with your finger. Did you feel a shock? If you don’t feel anything, try rubbing the styrofoam plate again. Like most experiments, getting it the first time is a bonus. Once you feel the shock, try the experiment by turning the lights off. You should be able to see the spark this time!! Lightning is simply that, a giant spark. Why does lightning happen? It happens when the negative charges, which are called electrons, in the bottom of a cloud or in this experiment your finger, are attracted to the positive charges, which are called protons. This would be the ground or any high profile object like a tree or a building. In this experiment it would be the aluminum pie pan. The spark from this experiment would be a mini lightning bolt. Here’s a bonus experiment! When there’s lightning, there’s thunder. Thunder is created when the air surrounding the lightning bolt is heated but more importantly expands at the rapid rate. So fast, it breaks the sound barrier. It’s the same way when blowing a paper lunch bag. Ah yes, we’ve all done this before. After you blow it up, pop it! The popping noise acts the same way as thunder. Hmmm. Now what am I going to use to carry my lunch in?
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Family Fun on a Shoestring Kim Fein R.I.A. Federal Credit Union
During summer months, many parents struggle with keeping their children entertained because they fear it requires spending an arm and a leg. There’s good news; a little online searching or scouting the newspaper will help you find many family activities that are offered at little to no cost! Museums – We have great museums in the Quad City area which offer workshops, programs and even special summer rates. Go on their websites and look at their calendars to pick out your favorite events to attend this summer. Some also have an e-mail link so you can receive their newsletters and stay up to date on exhibits. Local Parks – Check schedules for free activities, tours and classes offered at parks, nature centers or even our local zoo. There are also several water parks on both sides of the Mississippi River. The Channel Cat Water Taxi is a fun inexpensive way to cross the river. One of their stops is at the Ben Butterworth Parkway where you can take a bike ride along the Great River Trail. Homemade ice cream is a great way to end a day of leisure or exploring! Making your own ice cream is super easy and can be a really fun project to do. We’ve got the scoop on a way to make this treat at home with no special appliances. What you’ll need: 1 tablespoon sugar ½ cup milk or half & half ¼ teaspoon vanilla 6 tablespoons rock salt 1 pint-sized plastic food storage bag 1 gallon-size plastic food storage bag Ice cubes How to make it: 1. Fill the large bag half full of ice, and add the rock salt. Seal the bag. 2. Put milk, vanilla and sugar into the small bag and seal it. 3. Place the small bag inside the large one and seal it again carefully. 4. Shake until the mixture is ice cream, which takes about 5 minutes. 5. Wipe off the top of the small bag, then open it carefully. Enjoy! Tips: A 1/2 cup milk will make about 1 scoop of ice cream, so double the recipe if you want more. But don’t increase the proportions more than that – a large amount might be too big for kids to pick-up because the ice itself is heavy. If there is a milk allergy, try this with fruit juice. Use straight pineapple juice – it’s a great fruit sorbet, or rice/soy milk as the milk substitute. 20
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Family Fun in Full Bloom Beth Peters Quad City Botanical Center This year the Quad City Botanical Center celebrates 15 years of growing minds through nature, and there has never been a better time to bring your family to visit! Adjacent to the Mississippi River in downtown Rock Island, the Quad City Botanical Center hosts many special events and programs throughout the year, providing a wide range of entertainment and tying back to the many gifts of the plant world. We offer a huge variety of special events throughout the calendar year. Families can drop in at any time during our regular hours for a self-guided tour of our gardens, grounds and greenhouse. With an indoor tropical atrium, a physically enabling garden, a G-Scale garden train exhibit, and seasonal gardens, there’s a lot for families to discover at the Quad City Botanical Center. With spring’s arrival, the Botanical Center welcomes seasonal gardens back to the soil. The Secret Garden is an interactive play area where children can dig for treasures, build their own creations out of misshapen wood blocks, or listen to the wind talk through the chime tree. From activity tables to planting beds to child-sized tools, children are able to put their creativity to use as they explore the gardens. The Scrambled Alphabet Garden and the goldfish pond are other fun outdoor spaces for children to investigate. On the other side of the Botanical Center, families will find our unique G-Scale Garden Train Railway, run on Sundays from 1-4pm. Children can also check out an explorer backpack free of charge to learn more as they explore, or try their hand at our scavenger hunt. There’s even more family fun to be had with our upcoming Mother’s Day and Father’s Day events. Our Mother’s Day Extravaganza (Sunday, May 12 from 11am2pm) invites families to decorate a terracotta planter and plant a plant while enjoying refreshments and other whimsical activities. Families can also build and paint a birdhouse with dad at our Father’s Day Birdhouse Bash (Sunday, June June 11-15 / 9 am-416 pmfrom 11am-2pm) while enjoying refreshments and lawn games. For each event, admission is $20.00 per family (up [must have completed 3rd grade] to 5 family members). Preregistration is required; call (309) June 11-15 / 9 am-4 pm 794-0991 x 208 to reserve your family’s place! $140 reGiSTraTiOn Fee inCLuDeS: The Quad City Botanical Center is a non-profit [includes daily snack, camp t-shirt and 2 lunches] June 11-15 / 9 am -4 pm to bringing people and plants together DaiLY SnaCK, Camp T-SHirT & TWO LunCHeS organization dedicated in fun and meaningful ways, and is a great place for families • nutrition • exercise $140 reGiSTraTiOn Fee inCLuDeS:• poise Capri Camp iS FOr STuDenTS GraDeS to have4-7 fun together. The Quad City Botanical Center is open (muST HaVe COmpLeTeD 3rD GraDe) DaiLY SnaCK, •Camp T-SHirT•& TWO LunCHeS hair care etiquette • fashion from 10am – 5pm Monday through Saturday, from 10am $140 reGiSTraTiOn Fee inCLuDeS: car e • nailGraDeS care • self esteem toSpaCe! 8pm on Tuesdays, and from 12pm – 5pm on Sundays. Capri Camp iS• skin FOr STuDenTS 4-7 reGiSTer nOW! LimiTeD (muST HaVe COmpLeTeD 3rD GraDe) DaiLY SnaCK, Camp T-SHirT & TWO LunCHeS Admission: Capri CeDar rapiDS Capri DaVenpOrT Capri DuBuQueAdults $6.00, Seniors $5.00, Youth (6-15 yrs) •2945 personal growthS.W. WiLLiamS parKWaY 2540 e. 53rD STreeT 395 main STreeT CeDar rapiDS, ia 52404 DaVenpOrT, ia 52807 DuBuQue, ia 53001 $4.00563-588-2379 Children (2-5yrs) $2.00, Children under 2 and Members 563-388-6642 Capri Camp iS FOr STuDenTS GraDeS 4-7 reGiSTer nOW!319-364-1541 LimiTeD SpaCe! (muST HaVe COmpLeTeD 3rD GraDe) free. Don’t miss Dollar Mondays this summer, from June 3 Capri CeDar rapiDS Capri DaVenpOrT Capri DuBuQue $50 DepOSiT YOur SpOT. DepOSiT Due395 maY 14. remaininG Due June 7, 2012. main STreeT 2945 WiLLiamS parKWaY S.W. 2540 SeCureS e. 53rD STreeT to August 12—admission to the Quad City Botanical Center pLeaSe maiL FOrm anD DepOSiT TO Capri COLLeGe, aTTn: Capri Camp. DuBuQue, ia 53001 CeDar rapiDS, ia 52404 DaVenpOrT, ia 52807 563-588-2379 319-364-1541 563-388-6642 is onlyLimiTeD $1! Dollar Mondays are sponsored by Family Credit Camper’S name: reGiSTer nOW! SpaCe! Capri CeDar rapiDS Capri DaVenpOrT Capri DuBuQue parenT’S name: P.O. Box 873 Union. There’s something for everyone at the Quad City $50 DepOSiT SeCureS YOur SpOT. DepOSiT Due maY 14. remaininG Due June 7, 2012. 2945 WiLLiamS parKWaY S.W. 2540 e. 53rD STreeT 395 main STreeT Dubuque, IA 52004-0873 aDDreSS: pLeaSe maiL FOrm anD DepOSiT TO Capri COLLeGe, aTTn: Capri Camp. CeDar rapiDS, ia 52404 DaVenpOrT, ia 52807 DuBuQue, ia 53001 Botanical us as we watch spring and summer 319-364-1541 563-388-6642Center—join 563-588-2379 Camper’S name: pHOne: come into bloom! parenT’S name: emaiL:
Limited space!
CAPRI CAMP
Capri Camp June 10-14, 2013 9 am - 42012 pm Capri Camp
Students Capri 2012 grades 4-7
Camp
2012
June 11-15 / 9am-4pm
$150 registration fee
Capri Camp 2012
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QC Family Focus - may 2013
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my daughter may participate in all Capri Camp activities, and i understand Capri College is not liable for injuries that may occur
aDDreSS: CHeCK THe LOCaTiOn YOu WiLL aTTenD: CeDar rapiDS DaVenpOrT DuBuQue while she is at Capri Camp. Capri College may use photos of my daughter for marketing purposes.
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DAVENPORT PUBLIC LIBRARY MAIN STREET LIBRARY
FAIRMOUNT BRANCH
EASTERN AVENUE BRANCH
SUMMER READING PROGRAM SATURDAY, JUNE 1 - THURSDAY, AUGUST 1 Summer Reading Kickoff Saturday, June 1 Noon - 4 PM Eastern Avenue Branch Library Enter and complete the 2013 Davenport Public Library Summer Reading Program for your chance to win a 20” bicycle from Jerry & Sparky’s Bicycle Shop! Checkout all of Davenport Public Library’s excellent resources & programs at 321 Main Street | 3000 N. Fairmount Street | 6000 Eastern Avenue | 563.326.7832 22
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
National Endowment for the Humanities Awards America’s Music Grant to Area Libraries The Bettendorf, Davenport, Moline, and Rock Island Public Libraries have been awarded a National Endowment for the Humanities grant to present the program America’s Music: A Film History of Our Popular Music from Blues to Bluegrass to Broadway. As one of 50 grant recipients nationwide, these four libraries will feature public programs focusing on 20th century music genres that are uniquely American and how they are ingrained in our nation’s history and culture. The cost for each event is FREE unless otherwise noted! For more details about the grant or for event times and locations, visit www.americasmusicqc.com. Here is a listing of the dates and times of the events taking place in the Quad-City Area.
COUNTRY AND BLUEGRASS Monday, April 29, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Western Illinois University - Quad Cities Film Screening & Discussion Tuesday, April 30, 7:00 p.m. Bettendorf Public Library Bluegrass performance featuring River Town
ROCK Monday, May 6, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bettendorf Public Library Film Screening & Discussion
Thursday, May 2, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bettendorf Public Library Film Screening & Discussion
Tuesday, May 7, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rock Island Main Library Film Screening & Discussion Thursday, May 9, 6:00 p.m. Rock Island Main Library Rock performance featuring Meet the Press
MAMBO AND HIP HOP Monday, May 13, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch Film Screening & Discussion Wednesday, May 15, 7:00 p.m. Davenport Public Library, Eastern Avenue Branch Hip Hop performance featuring Midwest Academy of Dance Thursday, May 16, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Western Illinois University - Quad Cities Film Screening & Discussion
SWING JAZZ Sunday, May 19, 6:00 p.m. River Music Experience - Polyrhythms Third Sunday Jazz Performance featuring The Bill Bell Trio $10 general admission, $15 reserved seating. Tickets available at the door or call 309-373-0790. Tuesday, May 21, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. River Music Experience Film Screening & Discussion Wednesday, May 22, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Moline Public Library Film Screening & Discussion
CELEBRATING AMERICA’S MUSIC IN THE QUAD CITIES Thursday, May 23rd, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Western Illinois University-Quad Cities
Come hear the stories of America's Music in the Quad Cities, and share your own. The final evening of the America's Music program will celebrate the great variety of music heard in the Quad Cities over the last fifty years as recorded in the archives of our public libraries and in your memories. Bring your stories, and your instruments too: we invite performers to an open mic to close the evening.
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Just For Kids!
Kid’s Calendar Free Kids Craft Day May 18th John Deere Pavilion 10:00am-4:00pm Theme: Gardening Craft: Garden in a Glove
Congratulations to Brandon Roberts from Davenport. He won 4 tickets to the Monster Jam show at the i wireless Center.
Capri Camp June 10-14 9 am - 4 pm Students grades 4-7 $150 registration fee [includes daily snack, camp t-shirt and 2 lunches] Go to www.capricollege.edu for more information
Get Your Savings Into Gear With Our New Rewards Program!
R.I.A. Federal Credit Union 563.355.3800 • 800.742.2848 www.riafcu.com 24
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Just For Kids!
Easy Spring Flowers
What you’ll need: Markers Newspapers or protective cover for work area Coffee filters Bumpy chenille stem (or regular chenille stem) How to make it: Cover work area with newspapers or other protective covering. Let children draw or color on 5-7 coffee filters with the markers. Random markings are just fine as detailed drawings won’t show up in this project. Place one coffee filter decorative side down on the table. Stack other coffee filters decorative side up on top. Fold coffee filters in half. Scrunch middle of the coffee filters (starting at the bottom coffee filter). Wrap chenille stem tightly around scrunched area to hold in place. Straighten chenille stem to use as flower stem. Let the children make a couple and put them in a basket to give to someone special for Mother’s Day. QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Teens as Teachers
Diane Baker Youth Development Educator, 4-H Military Programs, University of Illinois Extension Teens? Teachers? You bet!! Teens are a great addition to local youth programs – and can make excellent teachers with their peers or younger youth. Teens in teaching roles is a win-win-winwin situation. Who wins? Teens win! This is an excellent opportunity for teens. When involved in a formal Teens as Teachers program, teens learn many different things. Of course, there are the obvious things that you’ll learn – how to work with kids, how to prepare a lesson plan, different teaching techniques, and how to get kids excited about learning. But, you’ll probably learn lots more. Things like: working with others, appreciating differences in kids and peers, teamwork, planning and organizing, how to deal with challenging situations, and how much fun it can be to work with youth as a career path. Program staff win! Teens are an excellent addition to youth programs. Teens bring enthusiasm and creativity. Younger youth get excited about having teens as teachers and the teens are excellent role models for the kids in your program. Teens extend the possibilities of your program – they bring a fresh approach to current technology, physical activity, handson science and current issues in youth development. Teens as teachers extends the reach of your program more than you can imagine. Kids win! The excitement of teen teachers in youth programs is contagious. It’s natural for kids to look up to teens and admire their actions. So, when teens are leading programs, kids are quick to get excited about learning. Role modeling is very powerful so engaging teens in leadership roles in your program is a great way to model positive behavior and passion for learning. Communities win! Teens as teachers maximizes the efficiency of youth programs in your community. This model captures the passion of teens and pairs it with the needs of local programs. Younger kids get excited about learning in a structured out of school time program, teens develop their passions and learn to work with younger youth, adult program staff extend the reach of their programs because of the influence of teen teachers … and the result is an outstanding after-school or summer program. Good Teens as Teachers programs include: a program director devoted to the Teens as Teachers philosophy, a variety of opportunities in which teens can teach, high-quality curriculum resources, on-going training, and regular opportunities for debriefing. University of Illinois Extension 4-H is offering a new “Teens as Science Teachers” program this summer. There will be a wide variety of opportunities to get involved in teaching at summer day camps and fall after-school programs in the areas of nutrition / healthy lifestyles, gardening, robotics, video/ filmmaking, and biotechnology. For more information about this new Teens as Teachers initiative, contact: Diane Baker, 4-H Youth Development Educator at 309-756-9978 or bakerd@ illinois.edu. 26
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Parents, mentors, and career planning for students
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Kirk Marske Career Cruising Quad Cities, Director
In a few short weeks, high school seniors will finish their classes, enjoy the pomp and circumstance of graduation, and move into the next phase of their young adult lives. For many, this transition will take them to a four-year college. For the students and their parents, many factors will affect their education choices including tuition costs, course of study, and location of the college or university. But some decisions – or rather indecisions – can turn four-year college plans into a longer experience. Consider these facts: • 80% of college students start college without declaring a major • 50% of students in the U.S. change their major at least once • On average, students who change their major change it three times
Often these factors prevent students from graduating within four years as planned - with the average tuition at four-year institutions now over $22,000 per year, the extended stay can be a costly one. The good news is, whatever your student’s postgraduation plans, Career Cruising Quad Cities can help your student put their future in focus. A great starting point is the Career Matchmaker assessment tool in Career Cruising Quad Cities. When the assessment is completed, a list of careers strongly matching the student’s responses is produced. The student can then click on the career profile links to learn more about the careers, their education and training needs, and the institutions with majors and programs that support those careers. The Career Cruising Quad Cities events calendar also features many events presented to help students discover, explore, and experience their careers of interest. One of the events is the 3rd Annual CVMIllinois Mini-Medical Academy, coming this summer to Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences in Rock The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. Island – it’s a hands-on learning opportunity for students In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car interested in health care careers. During previous can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, academies, students performed cataract surgery on boat insure or ATV and even more. firstpay. to see sheep’s eyes, sutured a patch on the aorta of a heart, and e more you withsave Allstate, the Call lessme you how much you can save. fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car viewed a stents insertion demonstration. The college’s simulation lab will also offer hands-on activities. n save up tomore 33%.you Add coverage for your The insure with Allstate, themotorcycle, lessRd you pay. Christy Cox 5159 Utica Ridge The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. For students interested in art careers, the Figge In fact, safe drivers who insure home andsee car (563) 359-4079 oreoryou insure with Allstate, the less youtheir pay. Davenport, IA 52807 at ATV and save even more. Call me first to In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car Art Museum’s Summer Drawing Program helps talented 5159 Utica Ridge Rd. can save upinsure to 33%.their Addhome coverage t, drivers who andfor caryour motorcycle, Ph 563.359.4079 wsafe much you can save. Davenport high school art students participate in a college-level can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat Add or ATV and save evenmotorcycle, more. Call me first to see ve up to 33%. coverage for your ChristyCox@allstate.com boat or ATV and save more. Call me first to see experience with help from Western Illinois University how much you can save. r ATV and save even more. Calleven me first to see Christy Cox 1140 E Kimberly Rd Ste 200 professors. The program helps them prepare their how you can save. much you canmuch save. Davenport, IA 52807 (563) 359-4079 Christy Cox portfolios for college admission and scholarships. 5159 Ridge Rd. 563.391.1226 Ph Christy Cox (563) 359-4079 Christy CoxUtica These events and more are posted on the Career 5159 Utica Ridge Rd. (563) 359-4079 (563) Davenport 359-4079 Cruising Quad Cities calendar, which is updated Davenport ChristyCox@allstate.com 5159 Utica Ridge Rd. 5159 Utica Ridge Rd. regularly to always provide students with a list of ChristyCox@allstate.com Davenport Davenport Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to upcoming career and college preparation programs. Now availability. Allstate Fire offering and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company. ChristyCox@allstate.com ChristyCox@allstate.com Students can view the calendar while logged in to www. two locations to careercruising.com, and organizations can send their event information to kirk.marske@ja.org. better serve you!
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Career Cruising Quad Cities is a web-based career exploration program administered by Junior Achievement of the Heartland in partnership with The Moline Foundation. QC Family Focus - may 2013
27
U Ru r G le am e
College and Career Readiness and the ACT
(Note: This is the last in a series of three articles focusing on the ACT. Part One of the series addressed the topic, “What is the ACT?” Part Two discussed appropriate and inappropriate uses of standardized tests.)
The new buzzword in education is “college and career readiness”. Schools are challenged to raise the bar and closing the achievement gap for all students. ACT has established cut scores in each of its four subtests (English, Reading, Math, and Science Reasoning), which are meant to predict college readiness. According to ACT, a student who scores at that minimum level is purported to have a 75% chance of earning a “C” or better, a 50% chance of earning a “B” or better, and a 25% chance of earning an “A” in the equivalent college courses of English Composition, Social Studies, College Algebra, and Biology. ACT keeps its methodology inside a black box somewhere in some type of cloud, expecting all to trust that this is so.
CE LE R AT I ON ACQUAD CITIES
ACCELERATION: WHERE SERIOUS ATHLETES TRAIN LIKE THE PROS.
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may 2013 • QC Family Focus
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The ability to continually be retrained and learn, interpret and apply new information is essential in today’s job market whether one attends college or not. Therefore, it is not unreasonable for ACT to assume that minimum levels of proficiency as measured by these standards is critical for all high school graduates. ACT scores are calibrated with the PLAN (typically a sophomore test), and the EXPLORE (administered in either 8th or 9th grade), and schools receive “Linkage Reports”. These reports are helpful to schools and allow them to predict students’ eventual ACT performance and align curriculum and instructional practices accordingly so that they can intervene and help students grow toward higher ACT scores. The ACT annually asserts that approximately 30% of all high school graduates are “college ready”. According to ACT, one must meet the benchmark in all four tests to earn that designation. However, most college freshmen that choose to take a science course do not take Biology. Freshmen that take Biology most likely intend to major in Science or are pursuing a career in the medical profession. Therefore, the ACT college readiness benchmark of 24 is much higher than the other three benchmarks. As an example of why this is flawed, students with a composite ACT score of 26, which would be sufficient to be accepted at most selective and some highly selective universities and scores 23 in science while meeting the other three cut scores, would be included in the roughly 70% of students deemed unready for college. If the goal is to sell ACT products or beat up on public schools, then feel free to accept the factoid as gospel. If, however, one is genuinely concerned about their child’s actual potential to experience post-secondary success in college or on the job, be skeptical in August when this drum gets pounded again. Dr. David Moyer is the superintendent for Moline School District
No. 40. He has presented at multiple state and national conferences on assessment, organizational alignment, professional development and institutional change. He earned his doctorate in educational administration from Northern Illinois University. Moyer received a Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in English. He returned to the world of K-12 education after a career as a college baseball coach. A published author and book reviewer, Moyer has studied society and educational issues from a wide variety of perspectives.
Contributed by: Ally Billhorn
Lightened-Up Grilled Chicken Cajun Penne
If you want to impress dinner guests or even just your family, serve this dish! A knock-off of a popular chain restaurant dish, yet made a bit more healthy, this pasta will be sure to please even the pickiest palate. The slight kick of the red pepper flakes, makes this dish, but if you aren’t a fan of spicy, simply omit. It even is great served cold the next day! 1 boneless skinless chicken breast, sliced 1 1/2 c. penne pasta 1 red pepper, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 t. red pepper flakes 1 T. butter 1 c. milk 1/2 c. chicken broth 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese 1 t. mined onion salt - pepper - parsley Do ahead: Make the cajun sauce by sauteing the bell pepper, garlic and red pepper flakes in butter until tender. Add in milk, chicken stock, minced onion, salt and pepper and bring to a quick boil. Lower the heat and simmer until reduced by about one-quarter. Add in Parmesan cheese and simmer. Take off the heat and let cool. Can set aside while chicken cooks or prepare this well ahead and keep covered in the fridge. On a hot grill pan or skillet, cook salt and pepper seasoned chicken over medium high heat. While chicken is cooking, cook pasta according to directions. When both chicken and pasta are done, drain and combine both and combine with the reserved cajun sauce Sprinkle with parsley and serve hot.
Snickerdoodle Pudding Cookies
Wow. That is about all I can say about these cookies. They’ll make you want to take your original snickerdoodle cookie recipe and throw it out the window. Bake these for a friend, a bake sale, your co-workers, whomever....I promise they’ll be asking for the recipe mid-bite. 1 stick of butter, softened 1 1/2 c. sugar, plus 2 T. additional 2 eggs 2 3/4 c. flour 1 pkg. vanilla instant pudding mix 2 t. cream of tarter 1 t. baking soda 1/4 t. salt 2 t. cinnamon Cream butter, sugar, eggs in a mixer until fluffy. Add other remaining ingredients (minus the 2 T. sugar and 2 t. cinnamon) and combine. Refrigerate for up to 1 hour or overnight (covered). Preheat oven to 375 degrees. With a spoon or cookie scoop, roll into 1-inch balls. Roll in cinnamon/sugar mixture and place on greased baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes or just until golden. Cool on wire rack. Do not over bake - these are much better a little chewy than crispy.
For more of Ally’s recipes check out recipe section at www.qcfamilyfocus.com or www.sweetandsavoryfood.com QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Know Your Rights – New Credit Card Checkout Fees Phyllis Zalenski Family Resource Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension
When you use your credit card to buy certain goods and services, a new retailer checkout fee may be added to your bill. The fee results from a 2012 court settlement – an agreement over electronic payment costs - reached between retailers, nine major banks, and Visa and Master Card. The court ruling allows retailers to pass their credit card acceptance costs on to consumers in the form of a new fee. Not all merchants will charge this fee - each individual business will set its own policy. Make sure you know your rights – and the merchant’s responsibilities – before paying a fee to use your credit card! As a consumer, the key things you should know about checkout fees are: • New credit card rules started in January 2013, at which time checkout fees were allowed. • Surcharges are not permitted at all in ten states where
they are prohibited by state law. Iowa is not one of those ten states. Merchants… • can only charge checkout fees on credit card transactions. Charging a checkout fee on a debit card transaction is expressly prohibited. • who levy the fee must post a fee disclosure notice in three places: at the entrance to the establishment, point of sale, and on the receipt. • cannot levy a surcharge that is higher than the amount he pays the credit card company for the transaction, typically between 1.5 to 3% of the amount charged. These rules are designed to make sure merchants do not surprise you with a fee at the last minute, or try to hide the fee or overcharge you. Shop around to avoid checkout fees altogether. Support merchants and retailers that don’t charge a fee for using a credit or charge card.
Know the signs. n Headache or “pressure”
in head n Nausea or vomiting n Balance problems or
Brain injuries are serious.
dizziness n Double or blurry vision n Sensitivity to light n Sensitivity to noise n Feeling sluggish, hazy,
foggy or groggy n Concentration or memory
problems Genesis Concussion Management provides athletes with a comprehensive screening of balance function and cognition to establish baseline and monitor safe return to sport and classroom.
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n Confusion n Does not “feel right”
screenings provided at: Genesis Medical Center, Illini Campus Genesis Medical Center, Davenport
For information about Genesis Concussion Management, call (309) 281-4740 for Illinois or (563) 421-9660 for Iowa. 30
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Six Rules for Managing Credit Card Debt Kelly Hendershot, Marketing Communications Officer, DHCU Community Credit Union
If you want to be the master of your credit card debt load, follow these key rules: 1. Take inventory. How many credit cards do you have? What’s the balance and minimum monthly payment on each? What’s the total balance? If it’s more than you thought or can afford, it’s time to pare down. Enrolling in tools such as DHCU Community Credit Union’s free, Visa Transaction Alerts can keep you informed and helps detect fraud within seconds. 2. Check out the cost of your credit cards. What’s the interest rate on each card? What’s the annual fee? Does your card offer a grace period? If the card doesn’t have a grace period, or if you carry over a balance, or take a cash advance, you’re usually charged interest right away. 3. Get one low-fee or lower-interest card and use it wisely. Make DHCU your first stop when starting your search. Check to see if you can transfer existing debt from your various credit cards to your new lower-interest credit card. With rates as low as 9.9% APR*, no balance transaction fees and no annual fees, a DHCU Visa Platinum is the perfect way to reward yourself. 4. Make the largest monthly payment you can afford. Even though you may not be able to pay your balance in full, paying the monthly minimum may do little more than cover the accrued interest. Free, online tools such as Credit Card payoff and transfer value calculators can help you more effectively pay down your credit debt. 5. Watch out for “teaser rates.” Your mailbox may be brimming with unsolicited credit card offers that promise attractive low-interest rates. But if you read the fine print, you’ll see that after six months or so the issuer may double the low introductory rate. 6. If you get in over your head, don’t bury it in the sand. If you’re having trouble making your monthly payments, contact your creditors before they contact you. If you’re already screening calls from bill collectors, or refusing to open your mail, you need help. Please call 309-796-7500 in the Quad Cities, 563-2446506 in Clinton, 800-323-5109 toll-free, email info@dhcu.org or visit any DHCU location with any questions.
*APR=Annual Percentage Rate. Rates determined by individual credit history. All rates and terms are subject to change. Normal Lending Guidelines apply. Accounts are federally insured up to $250,000 by the NCUA, an agency of the federal government.
Cookies by Design
3382 Middle Road - Bettendorf IA 52722 563.332.4311 800.224.4387 www.IowaCookies.com M-Fri 8am-6pm Sat 10am-4pm QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Vitamin and mineral supplements... should we take them or not? By Steven Silverman, D.C., M.S. Faculty Clinician, Palmer Chiropractic Clinics According to the Health Supplement Stores Industry Profile there are about 5,000 health supplement companies with sales amounting to approximately $6 billion. The bulk of these sales are comprised of vitamin and mineral supplements. While we’re all familiar with these types of supplements, we may not realize that vitamins and minerals have vital roles in all life processes. Scientists are just now scratching the surface of the scope of functions that vitamins, minerals and other components of food play in health and well-being. Vitamins are known to have necessary functions in regards to many chemical reactions within the body and play important roles in cognitive function, healthy immune function, reducing the risk of neural tube defects such as spina bifida and anencephaly, reduction of the risks of vascular disease, and may play a role in reducing cataracts and macular degeneration. Minerals are known to play important roles in transmission of nerve signals, maintenance of healthy blood cells, muscular activity, maintaining normal acidbase balance and water distribution. They also play a role in preventing osteoporosis and free radical damage. Questions have been raised in the scientific community about whether the diet of typical Americans would supply 100 percent of the recommended amounts of these important micronutrients. In one study that took place between 1996 and 2005, numerous people were analyzed, including subjects ranging from professional athletes to sedentary individuals. The results of this study found that although the amount of calories ranged from excessive (proven by our expanding waistlines) to calorie
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deficient, the interesting result was that all of the subjects failed to meet the recommended amounts of these important micronutrients needed to maintain optimal health. It is common knowledge that the population of the United States is losing the “battle of the bulge” and that the number of people on a weight loss diet is growing on a daily basis. In a study from 2010, four popular diets were analyzed and the results showed that all four plans failed to provide the minimum recommended amounts of 27 micronutrients that were analyzed. This is alarming to me because these diets are recommended by many health professionals. This study found that these popular diets could put an individual into a state of deficiency that has been shown scientifically to increase the risks for many dangerous and debilitating health conditions and diseases. Might this be one of the reasons that these diets fail to accomplish their goals of people losing and maintaining a healthy weight? The question then arises as to what vitamins an individual should take and whether there is a specific type of vitamin that people should look for. For me, the best place for obtaining these important compounds is still from the food we eat. If we are not consuming the right amounts or combinations of foods to reach our goals I still want to obtain what I need from food sources. One way of doing this is taking a multivitamin such as Catalyn, made by Standard Process. Catalyn is a whole food supplement which contains 15 food sources to provide vitamins, minerals and all the important components of food as nature intended it. Many of the benefits of the components of food are still a mystery to scientists, so I would rather ingest a pill from whole food sources that contain all of its parts rather than what has been produced in a laboratory made of isolated components. Standard Process uses ingredients grown on their own organic farms. Even the water used to irrigate the crops is from naturally occurring artesian sources. Standard Process offers more than 160 whole foods supplements. The Palmer Chiropractic Clinics have chosen to offer Standard Process products for sale to patients, due to the overall quality of the products and the amount of research that supports their quality and effectiveness. The bottom line is that a healthy diet complete with lots of fruits and vegetables is the best way to get the vitamins and minerals you need. But if you feel you need vitamin or mineral supplements, look for whole food options. Many health professionals as well as those among the general public who have healthy diets believe that giving the body the proper nutrition allows the body to operate at its optimal level. The right nutrition also provides the body with the materials and ability to heal itself. One of the best health decisions you can make is to improve your diet. You’ll be amazed at how much more energy you have, how your sleep is improved and how your overall quality of life is improved.
Who takes care of you? Chiropractic care, being physically active and having proper nutrition can be good for the body in so many ways. Contact Dr. Silverman to learn more about how these critical factors can improve the health and wellness of your family. Featured Doctor: Steve Silverman, D.C., M.S. • Master’s Degree in nutrition • 100 hour chiropractic rehabilitation certification • Palmer techniques, Diversified, FlexionDistraction, Gonstead, Activator Methods • School sports physicals • 18 years of clinical experience
Davenport Clinic (563) 884-5801
Call for an appointment today.
Experience you can trust.
www.palmerclinics.com/qc
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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SUMMERTIME EYE INJURIES
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Dr. Frederick, with Eye Surgeons Associates, is board-certified with a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology. He is a member of the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Dr. Frederick practices in Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois. For more information, visit: esaeyecare.com.
A common injury in the summertime is a scratch on the surface of the eye (or corneal abrasion) from a foreign body, such as a tiny stone, grain of sand or other object. Small foreign bodies can be deflected into the eye at high velocity from the blades of lawn mowers or the lines of lawn trimmers. Children should not be allowed nearby while a lawn mower or lawn trimmer is being operated. Wearing safety glasses can prevent a large majority of these injuries. Ideally, safety goggles with polycarbonate (a type of plastic that is extremely strong, lightweight, and shatterproof) lenses and side shields should be worn whenever there is a risk of particles flying or for appropriate sports. Set an example by always wearing safety glasses/goggles yourself, while using power tools, lawn trimmers or hammering metal. If you do get a foreign body in your eye, often they will not cause immediate pain, but start to ache later that night or the next day. Material embedded in the eye is usually too small to see by the naked eye. If the symptoms do not resolve after irrigating the eye thoroughly with water (or saline) see your physician right away. Fireworks are another potential cause of severe eye injury. They cause damage by both direct injury from the force of the explosion and from exposure to a foreign body - the gunpowder, paper, plastic and wood materials used in their manufacture. Eye injuries from animal bites or scratches are also more common this time of year. Children are at higher risk due to their stature. Kids will also approach new animals without the caution that adults have learned. These types of injuries can be complicated by infection. Close observation of young children and a proper degree of caution around animals can prevent many of these encounters. While not an injury, we also need to recall potential damage to the eyes from the sun. We are well versed in the use of sunscreens, but don’t always remember to have our kids wear UV blocking sunglasses. This simple precaution may decrease the risk of cancers in and around the eye, cataracts and macular degeneration down the road. Eye protection, education and early treatment are the keys to prevention and minimizing the damage of eye injuries. The start of summer is a good time to revisit these issues with your children and family so everyone can enjoy the season a little safer!
Now that the weather is improving, and as the long warm days of summer approach, it’s natural that we engage in more outdoor activities. Children will be running from the ball diamond, to the playground, to the swimming pool, as fast as they can. During this fun-filled season, it’s easy to forget the possibility of injury. Eye injuries in particular are more common in the summertime. 90 percent of serious eye injuries are preventable through the use of appropriate protective eyewear. Here’s a few of the potential problems to be aware of. Baseball/softball injuries are quite common and may cause serious harm to the eye. Helmets are worn to prevent head injury, but often won’t protect the eyes. After a direct impact, from a thrown or batted ball, the orbital bones (or eye socket) may fracture. Anyone with a blow to the eye or surrounding area should be evaluated urgently. Other possible complications include hyphema (blood inside the eye), retinal detachment, bruising of the retina or optic nerve, or even rupture of the eye. Symptoms that should prompt immediate attention include loss of vision, pain in or around the eye, double vision, persistent flashes of light, floaters or shadows in the vision, or numbness in the cheek or teeth on the injured side. With any type of eye injury it may be difficult to assess the amount of damage from an external examination. Your eye doctor has special examination techniques and equipment to assess the extent of the injury.
John Frederick, M.D.
Battle Spring Allergies
either eliminated or lessened their allergy reactions. In addition to Chiropractic, you can also exercise regularly to not only combat stress, and in turn allergies, but to also get motion into the body, and make a more healthy spine and nervous system. I highly recommend exercises that anyone can do, such as walking, swimming, and yoga. Increasing your immune supporting foods such as green leafy vegetables and good fats, ones that are not hydrogenated, will help combat stress and eliminate or reduce allergies. Supplementing with A, C, E, Zinc, Selenium, and taking adrenal support often help as well. Sleep also is important; many Americans are often sleep deprived for long periods of time that causes many health issues such as allergies. Sleep allows us to repair from the stresses we incur on a daily basis. A few other natural remedies include saline solution to irrigate the nose removing irritants, washing your hair to remove pollen after you come outside, change your pillow case frequently to prevent pollen from hair being inhaled, and drinking peppermint tea which acts as a decongestant and an anti-inflammatory. So how does chiropractic reduce the symptoms of allergies? It is simple, chiropractic care releases stress on a patients nervous system. This allows the immune system to operate more effectively, which is beneficial to anyone and especially those suffering from allergies. The chiropractic approach is to remove subluxations, a term for a misaligned spinal vertebra pinching a nerve. Subluxations place stress on the nervous system. Free from nervous system stress, your body will work more effectively to neutralize the allergy-causing chemicals in your environment. Call a chiropractor to see if you can reduce the sneezing in your future.
Dr. Traci Nelson Hassel Nelson Chiropractic This time of year is much anticipated, however, dreaded by those who suffer from allergies. Thus, the entire body becomes hypersensitive and irritated. An allergy can present itself as a digestive disturbance or can affect the eyes, nose, throat, and skin. Depending upon the severity, it can sometimes be debilitating. Unfortunately, most people believe that all they can do is cover up their symptoms rather than correct the problem. What is causing these life altering allergies? In the body, when allergies occur, the body is in a hypersensitive state, as we mentioned earlier, irritated and inflamed. The body recognizes normal conditions, such as Spring pollination as an allergen or something foreign. When your body is under long periods of stress, it weakens the immune system and normal processes of the body. Some of these processes are digestion, mucous secretion, hydration of the eyes, and many more. Stress affects allergies directly, by keeping the body in this hypersensitive, irritated state. Cortisol, the main stress hormone weakens your adrenal glands that are involved with other hormones that are anti and pro inflammatory. When the body has an allergic reaction it is having an increased inflammatory response, such as excess mucous secretion. The medulla oblongata, housed within your spine, sends messages I Want a Healthy Spine.... to relieve my chronic back pain. from your nose for example, to determine how much mucous Diagnosing and treating chronic back and neck pain can be challenging and to secrete in response to the hormones. By chemically costly. Talk to your chiropractic physician about how chiropractic care may dealing with the mucous, provide you with relief from chronic pain. such as continuously using a decongestant, we are only further Put Chiropractic Care Into Your Health Routine. stressing the body and in turn causing more mucous. For your evaluation, contact your So what can we do Iowa chiropractic provider today: naturally to help these unpleasant allergies and their symptoms? Logo Firstly, to often correct the problem and directly affect our nervous system, we can see our Chiropractor. When the body Local Info: is under stress, either physical, emotional, or chemical, a normal healthy spine that is meant to have motion, misaligns or subluxates. Your Chiropractor will through a thorough examination and x-rays, detect and correct these subluxations. By removing the interference to the nervous system, the information can be properly sent to your mucous membranes www.IWantAHealthySpine.com for example. Many people who Insert name here are under Chiropractic care have chronicpain5x6ad.indd 1 1:40:01 35 PM QC Family Focus - may 10/8/2010 2013
When you need orthopaedic care to get back to 100%, choose the doctors of OS. There is no guessing who’s best for your unique needs because each OS doctors’ specialty is what they do – and all they do. No one else has the expertise. No one else offers the same results. Don’t settle for second best.
Choose OS – the only path in the Quad Cities to a better experience and better results.
John Hoffman, M.D. • Tuvi Mendel, M.D. • Tyson Cobb, M.D. Michael Dolphin, D.O. • Matthew Wilber, DPM, CWS fellowship trained specialists with advanced training in foot & ankle • hand & upper extremity • spine sports medicine • total joint replacement
OSquadcities.com • Davenport • Bettendorf • Moline • Clinton
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may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Call (563) 344-9292 for an appointment
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
Pioneering Hand Surgeries Get You Back to Work in Days Between two and three percent of U.S. adults suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome, and many more from its close cousin, cubital tunnel syndrome. Yet many would rather live with their pain than have surgery because invasive procedures require months of recovery and scarring. Still, for the millions who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome – over 200,000 a year require treatment – there’s finally good news. “We are now able to get our patients back to work in a matter of days instead of months, thanks to new carpal and cubital tunnel surgical techniques,” explains fellowshiptrained hand surgeon Tyson Cobb, M.D., of Orthopaedic Specialists, Davenport. Carpal Tunnel Signs and Symptoms Carpal tunnel syndrome and its related disorders are caused when inflammation from injury or some other source constricts the space at the bottom of the hand (the carpal tunnel) or in the elbow (cubital tunnel). That pressure restricts blood flow and impairs nerve function. In carpal tunnel syndrome, the median nerve doesn’t receive enough blood on its trip from the spinal cord through the carpal tunnel and into the thumb-ward half of the hand. That’s when symptoms begin. (If your symptoms show up in the pinkie-ward side of the hand, you may have cubital tunnel syndrome.) If many of the following items sound familiar, it’s time to see a doctor to get a firm carpal tunnel syndrome diagnosis: • Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring fingers • Pain wakes you up at night • Dropping things or fumbling with objects • Weak pinch and grip • Aching wrist • Gradual onset of pain Cubital tunnel syndrome results from compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow. Sufferers experience: • Numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers. • Weakness in hand, tenderness over nerve at elbow. • Sharp sudden pain on elbow contact. Days Instead of Months Dr. Cobb is one of six pioneering surgeons in the United States who have cut recovery times from months to days with new endoscopic surgical procedures. “I perform a very small incision at the wrist instead of a large open incision many doctors still use. Using an endoscope, I can relieve pressure off the nerve with minimal scarring,” says Dr. Cobb. The endoscopic carpal tunnel release procedure can take as little as 15 minutes and gets patients back to work the next day. “Carpal tunnel patients can often get back to limited duty work the day after surgery, and they usually return to full duty within a week,” says Dr.
Cobb. “For cubital tunnel procedures (which involve the elbow) it used to mean a 70-day recovery. We’ve cut that down to about seven days.” And the scars? Nearly gone! Dr. Cobb’s procedure uses a tiny incision that is closed with steri-strips, not an armful of stitches that have to be removed in a second procedure. With these new techniques, Dr. Cobb says there’s no reason to wait. “Not only are new treatments available that offer ten times faster recoveries, living with symptoms can harm you in the long run,” says Dr. Cobb. “When the pressure on nerves isn’t relieved, they can be damaged permanently, which lessens your chances of a full recovery.” Dr. Cobb is recognized as a pioneer in the field of hand surgery and is frequently invited to lecture and teach techniques worldwide. Dr. Cobb performs highly-technical hand and wrist operations using minimally invasive procedures, so you’ll be able to find relief from pain and discomfort faster and get back to living your life. Orthopaedic Specialists is made up of a team of experienced orthopaedic surgeons and healthcare professionals focused on minimally invasive procedures and new advancements in care that get their patients back to an active lifestyle quicker. To learn more about Orthopaedic Specialists, call 563.344.9292 or visit OSQuadCities.com. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/Orthopaedic-Specialists-PC.
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Clear the Air! Kim Mills Community Health Consultant-Tobacco Scott County Health Department
Clear the air by keeping secondhand smoke out of the home. Secondhand smoke is the mixture of the smoke given off by the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and the smoke breathed out from the lungs of smokers. Secondhand smoke has more than 250 known cancer causing or toxic chemicals. There is no healthy level of contact with secondhand smoke. Only 15% of cigarette smoke is breathed in by the smoker alone-85% stays in the air for everyone to breathe. Children spend the most time surrounded by secondhand smoke in the home. Secondhand smoke moves from one room to another, even if the door is closed. The toxic chemicals in secondhand smoke cling to rugs, curtains, clothes and other materials and can remain in a room for months. Children’s growing bodies are especially sensitive to the poisons in secondhand smoke. Asthma, lung infections, and ear infections are more common in children who are around smokers. Some of these problems can be serious and even lifethreatening. You can protect those around you from secondhand smoke by pledging to keep your home free from smoke. If you are a smoker, have a special smoking area outside
of the home and away from your family. Keep cigarettes, cigars, pipes, your lighter, your ashtray, etc. in your designated outside smoking area. You may want to consider quitting smoking as a way to protect your family. When trying to quit, keep your hands busy and have other things close by to put in your mouth when you are craving a cigarette. Chew sugar-free gum, snack on a carrot or celery stick, hard candy or sunflower seeds. Even chewing on a toothpick can help. Keep your mind off of cigarettes by working on projects in the home or by listening to your favorite music. If you need help quitting, use a nicotine replacement product; many are available both over the counter and with a prescription. Check with your doctor for more information or call Quitline Iowa at 1-800-Quit Now (1-800-784-8669). To spread the message about the dangers of secondhand smoke in the home, the Tobacco-Free QC (TFQC) Coalition has created a fact sheet to inform individuals and families of ways to keep their homes smoke-free. To view the fact sheet, visit our website at www.tobaccofreeqc.com. We want to encourage families to make a pledge to keep their homes smokefree. Get your family and friends involved by asking them to make their homes smoke-free too. To become active in helping to reduce the impact of tobacco in our community call the TFQC Coalition at 563-3268618.
Brought to you by the tobacco free qc coalition 38
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Give Yourself a Gift This Mother’s Day Curtis Ford Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP
For mothers of young children, Mother’s Day means gifts of painted pasta tube necklaces and hand-shaped “I love you” cards. As your children age, their cards and gifts may mature as well, but the second Sunday in May remains a hallmark of celebrating Mom. It is your children’s opportunity to show you how much they care. While your family celebrates you this year, take the time this year to give yourself and your family an important gift – the gift of security by creating an estate plan. Many young families feel they are too young or don’t have enough assets to need an estate plan. And while a key part of estate planning is the transfer of financial assets, there are some additional – and equally important – parts to consider, especially if you have young children: • A will or trust, naming guardians for your children, allowing you to select who you would like to raise
your children, not a judge who does not know your children, family or friends. • A property power of attorney, naming a trusted friend or adviser to serve as your agent to manage financial affairs in case of disability or death. • A health care power of attorney, again, naming a trusted friend or adviser to serve as your agent to make medical decisions in case of disability or incapacity. • A “HIPAA” authorization form, allowing the release of medical information to a designated agent in case of disability. An attorney experienced in estate planning can guide you through the process of creating these documents, as a gift to yourself this Mother’s Day.
Nash Nash Bean & Ford are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys. To receive a copy of our most recent newsletter “Your Estate Matters” or for a free consultation on Estate or Long Term Care Planning, call 800-644-5345, email info@nashbeanford.com or visit our website at www.nashbeanford.com, where you may also link to our blog and Facebook page. The firm devotes its practice primarily in the areas of estate, business and tax planning and related areas of the law, as well as elder law and trust administration and probate. We offer guidance and advice to our clients in every area of estate planning. This column is designed for general information purposes only, and is not intended, nor should be construed or relied upon, as legal advice. Please consult your attorney if specific legal information is desired.
Estate Planning Seminar from the Law Offices of Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP Your Family’s Future Depends on the Decisions You Make Today. Attend this important seminar and learn:
For us, planning our estate is about love, not death.
◆ The advantages and disadvantages of trusts and wills. ◆ How to plan your estate to minimize Illinois estate taxes. ◆ How to protect assets inherited by your heirs from lawsuits, divorce and other claims. ◆ How to protect your estate and provide for yourself and your family if you become incapacitated.
◆ What a Power of Attorney will and will not do for you. ◆ How to protect your home and assets from high nursing home costs. ◆ How to protect children from being unintentionally disinherited in second marriage families. ◆ How to plan your estate to make sure it passes to your family most efficiently.
Visit our website to learn more and for dates and locations of our upcoming seminars www.nashbeanford.com Attend one of these seminars and you’ll receive, a FREE, one-hour, private estate planning consultation to answer any questions you have about protecting your Estate and IRA.
REGISTER NOW: (309) 944-2188, (309) 762-9368 OR 1-800-644-5345 Register online: www.nashbeanford.com
Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP • Attorneys and Counselors at Law John Deere Rd. at 5030 38th Ave. Ste. 2 • Moline, IL 61265
445 U.S. Hwy 6 East • P. O. Box 63 • Geneseo, IL 61254
The Attorneys at Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP speak to area residents about living trusts and estate planning. They have helped hundreds of Illinois families plan their estates.
Seating is Limited, So Call 309-944-2188, (309) 762-9368 or 1-800-644-5345 Now! 24-Hour Seminar Reservation Line or Reserve Online at www.nashbeanford .com
QC Family Focus - may 2013
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There’s a lot more to your water bill than just water. When you turn on the tap, it’s easy to see what your water bill buys. What’s not as easy to see is what it takes to bring that water to your home. The miles of pipeline hidden below the ground. The facilities that draw water from the source. The plant where it’s treated and tested. The scientists, engineers, and maintenance crews working around the clock to make sure that water is always there when you need it. Your water payments are helping to build a better tomorrow by supporting needed improvements that will keep water flowing for all of us—today and well into the future. All for about a penny a gallon.
WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO. FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO, at iowaamwater.com. © 2012 American Water. “American Water” and the star logo are the registered 40 of American Water Works Company, Inc. All rights reserved. trademarks
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Take Time to Focus on Wise Water Use during National Drinking Water Week Lisa M. Reisen Manager, External Affairs, American Water
A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and provides for the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression. We often take our water supply for granted until it is threatened, either by drought, water main breaks, or as we experienced recently, rising flood waters. We rarely give a second thought to how the water that reaches our homes, schools, businesses and fire hydrants arrives to us when we turn on the tap. But, unless we take measures to protect this most precious of resources, our quality of life could suffer. Daily, we are losing this vital resource to tremendous waste and contamination. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that the amount of water leaked from U.S. homes could exceed more than 1 trillion gallons per year--that’s equivalent to the annual water use of Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami combined. That’s why the American Water Works Association has declared the week of May 5-11, 2013 National Drinking Water Week. The idea is to raise public awareness of the fundamental need for safe and reliable drinking water supplies for public health, fire protection, economic development, and the overall quality of life we enjoy. Drinking Water Week focuses on the successful environmental stewardship of water supplies and resources by member agencies, like Iowa American Water, investment in local water utility infrastructure to ensure the reliable supply of water now and in the future, and wise water use by individual consumers. There are several things we can all do every day to help preserve and protect water for future generations. They may not seem like much, but collectively, they save money as well as water: • Be conscious of your daily water use and take the necessary steps in your home to conserve this precious natural resource. • Be sure that leaking pipes and faucets – indoors
and outdoors – are repaired. • Take care in the use of garden, lawn, garage or other home products and ensure that they inadvertently do not find their way into groundwater. • Dispose of chemicals or other potentially harmful products properly and do not pour them directly into home drains, the sewer, street drains or the lawn. If each of us becomes more ‘water-wise’ and pays more attention to how our actions impact the environment and watershed, we can help preserve our most precious resource for future generations. Drinking Water Week is a great reminder that we are lucky to live in a time and place when access to a safe, reliable supply of water is just a turn of the tap away. Water is fundamental to our health and overall quality of life. It is also an exceptional value at only a penny per gallon. So the next time you hear that leaky faucet, take time to fix it. You’ll be doing your part to preserve an important, life sustaining natural resource! QC Family Focus - may 2013
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Bettendorf Health Care Center
A Place To Call Home
2730 Crow Creek Rd • Bettendorf, IA • (563) 332-7463 • We offer skilled rehab 6 days a week. That means you can get well and go home. • Our elegant dining area comes complete with china, crystal, linen table cloths and fa mily-style dining. • You never know when you might need special care. That’s why we work closely with all area hospitals and accept admissions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • We are conveniently located on Crow Creek in Bettendorf. •We offer tours of our facility 7 days a week! • Activities for all ages and abilities, a variety of religious services, and a caring and competent staff.
When you can’t go home, we’re the next best thing! 42
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
MOTHERS ARE VERY SPECIAL Roger Brannan Administrator, Bettendorf Health Care Center
Mothers are very special members of any family and certainly deserve recognition on Mother’s Day. Just think about it. A stay at home mom may cook over 1,000 meals a year for her family. Washing clothes for a family of four could easily be a 2,000 lbs. of clothes in a year’s time. Today, mothers not only have all that to worry about, but many today have a job to go to on top of the cooking and cleaning responsibilities. Back in the good old days, 50’s, and 60’s, my Mother stayed home with four of us kids while Dad worked but she still worked very hard. She always got up and cooked us a hot breakfast before we went off to school. While we were at school, she cleaned, baked, shopped, decorated, and ironed all our clothes.
As she got older, in her 50s, she saw all the other mothers working and decided to do the same in case dad kicked the bucket. She enrolled at the community college in the nursing program and in two years became a registered nurse. Mother went to work at St. Mary’s Hospital in Galesburg, IL and loved her job. In most cases mothers are the glue that keeps the family together and on the right track. That is my opinion and was the case in our family. I also believe that mothers have a special bond with their sons. My Dad worked so hard all the time, he was seldom home. So my Mother filled in the gaps and gave me guidance on a variety of subjects. Yes, mothers are special and certainly deserve recognition not only on Mother’s Day but every day.
2013 Quad Cities MS Walk Walk MS in the Quad Cities will be held on Saturday, May 18th in Veterans Memorial Park, Bettendorf. The festivities begin at 8:30 AM and the walk begins at 10:00 AM.
Join walkers in Davenport
Saturday May 11, 2013
and thousands nationwide to
Modern Woodmen Ballpark
help us reach our goal of
$500,000 and bring hope to millions of
Visit the Quad Cities MS Walk page for additional information on starting or joining a team.
mothers and babies affected each year.
Davenport, IA 8:00 am Registration 9:20 am Walk Begins www.promisewalk.org/Davenport davenport@preeclampsia.org
Thanks to our Local Sponsors! The Family of Shelly (Warner) Bridgewater Walcott Lions Club Nelson Brothers Insurance Schebler Company Sally Kent / Ruhl & Ruhl Realtors
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Toenail Fungus?
Revolutionary New Treatment PinPointe FootLaser Turn discolored and disfigured nails into clear and healthy nails FDA Approved PinPointe FootLaser Patented Laser Kills Nail Fungus Dramatic Results Achieved Painless ~ No Harm to Nail or Skin Usually Only One Treatment Needed
Call to schedule your free consultation: (563) 459-4000
TM
ORTHOPEDICS
Focused on You
Visit us online for photos, videos & more qcora.com follow us 44
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
As seen on:
Fungal Nails: New Advances in Treatment Beau Shay, DPM, AACFAS
more effective then the topical treatments and can be used for a much shorter time period. However, there are risks associated with the oral medications. They are processed through the liver, so anyone taking these medications will need liver function tests while on the medication. Another way to treat fungal toenails is to have the nails removed completely. This treatment is uncommon as the procedure can be painful and can carry risk of infection. This is effective in eliminating the fungus as the nail does not grow back. This may be more of an option for a person that has one or two toenails with fungus, but is not practical for a person that has fungus on most or all of their toenails. The latest, most effective, and safest way to treat toenail fungus is with a laser. Cynosure has recently received FDA approval on the PinPointe FootLaser™ to treat fungal toenails. This laser treatment is done in your physician’s office. It is designed for a single treatment, takes about 30 minutes to perform, and has little to no side effects. Most people see results as soon as three months and over 80% are cured by 9-12 months. The disadvantage is that the cost of the laser treatment is not typically covered by insurance. Toenail fungus is a very common problem in America and many people have been looking for a safe, effective way to rid themselves of those ugly, painful nails. Studies show that laser treatment is the safest and most effective treatment available to treat nail fungus.
Are your toenails thick, discolored, brittle, with a whitish substance on them? If so, you may have a very common fungal infection of your nails, also known as onychomycosis. It is estimated that roughly 14% of Americans have a fungal infection of their toenails. Those numbers are even higher in the elderly, immunocompromised, and people with family history of nail fungus. Treatments in the past have been unreliable and sometimes even harmful to your health. However, a new, safe, and effective treatment is showing great promise in the treatment of fungal nails. Causes: Onychomycosis, or fungus of the nails, is caused by yeasts and molds. The difficulty in treating this condition is not the fungus itself, but where the infection actually lives. The fungus actually gets under the nail, between the nail bed and the nail. Toenails are much more susceptible to fungus than are our fingernails. Toenails are mostly confined in a dark, moist, warm environment in our shoes, which is a breeding ground for fungus. Symptoms: The most common symptom of fungal nails is the discoloration of the nails. Typically, you will see a yellow streak within the nails or the entire nail may be yellow. Thickness is another major indicator of fungal infection of the nails. The thickness of the nails is what usually causes people the most concern, as it becomes very difficult to trim your nails. Another common symptom of fungal nail infection is that the nails become very brittle. A common complaint is when a nail will split very easily or crumble when trying to trim them. Treatments: There are four ways to attempt to treat fungal toenails. They include: topical, oral, “surgical,” and laser. Topical treatments for toenail fungus are the most common and cheapest method of treatment. Unfortunately, it is also the least effective method. They are usually very ineffective because they are unable to penetrate through the nail to where the fungus actually lies. Common oral medications include: Lamisil, Sporonox, and Fluconazole. The major advantages of the oral treatments are that they are much
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Sandwiched: Part I
David W. Deuth, President of Weerts Funeral Home You’re caring for someone – an elderly parent, perhaps – and along the way, you’re getting quite an education. With a great deal of hard work and sacrifice on your part, you’ve been able to keep them in their own home. Or perhaps they’re living in YOUR home. One way or another, it’s all worked out OK. Until now. Just in case you’re wondering . . . you’re not alone. According to a 2009 AARP survey, “…more than 42 million Americans provide family caregiving for an adult who needs help with daily activities”. The same survey indicates that “…an additional 61.6 million people provide at least some care during the year.” All at the same time, so intense has the care-giving role for your parent(s) become that you may actually be losing sight of another primary responsibility: your own family. Your kids may still call your nest “home”, whether toddlers or high-schoolers or anything in between. They need your time, your guidance, your attention, your affection...and your resources. You’re not alone here, either. Whether you know it or not, if you’re caring for a parent (or other relative) AND caring for (or financially supporting) your children, you’re among a rapidly growing number of Americans who find themselves sandwiched between their responsibilities and the generations to whom they’re responsible. No surprise, then, that you are now identified as one of the “Sandwich
Generation”. As the Sandwich Generation numbers continue to grow, a couple new varieties of “sandwiches” have been added to the menu: • Club Sandwich: those in their 50s or 60s sandwiched between aging parents, adult children and grandchildren, or those in their 30s and 40s, with young children, aging parents and grandparents. • Open Faced: anyone else involved in elder care. The implications of being “sandwiched” can range from minor to positively overwhelming – one of the most significant of which can be in the financial realm. As the economy continues to tighten and things continue to cost more and more, many seniors are finding that – despite everything that felt like proper retirement planning 20 years ago – it is very possible to outlive your money today. Now that the issue is identified and even has its own name, what are the workarounds? Do good solutions exist for those who are “sandwiched”? The answers to these questions vary, to be sure, and a one-size-fits-all solution is certain folly. The best approach is always to seek and obtain good, qualified professional advice for your particular set of circumstances . . . because if your planning doesn’t do what need it to do when you need it do what you GOT it to do, it’s about like having no plan at all. Next month, we’ll take a closer look at one particular scenario that we’re beginning to see more frequently among those who are being sandwiched. It might be an eye opener for some. Remember Well.
Statistics Source: Wikipedia.com. David W. Deuth, CFSP, is a funeral director and the owner of Weerts Funeral Home in Davenport. He can be reached at 563.424.7055 or by email at Dave@WeertsFH.com.
Just Like A Trusted Friend . . . We’ll Be Here When You Need Us
www.WeertsFH.com Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road | Davenport, Iowa 52807 | 563.355.4433 | m.weertsfh.com from web-enabled cell phones 46
may 2013 • QC Family Focus
Davenport Parks and Recreation
Spring/Summer Programs now open for registration!
Quality staff offer programs for all ages and abilities. RECREATION PARKS AND DAVENPORT
! e v i r Th
®
- Youth and Adult Sports - Aquatics - Special Needs Programming - Camps - Performing arts - Environmental Education - Senior Programming - Special Events
NEW Credit
ge Island Brid
- And much more!
itter cebook & Tw
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20135) R E M M U S 8-PARK (727 SPRING/ rks • 563-32 Friend us on
Registration is available online by visiting www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks or call 563-328-PARK (7275) for more details.
m/pa enportiowa.co www.cityofdav
Pick up your ‘Thrive’ catalog today! Davenport Parks and Recreation – Administration Office 700 W. River Drive. Davenport, IA 52802
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may 2013 • QC Family Focus