Quad City Family Focus December 2012
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Transcript of Quad City Family Focus December 2012
December 2012 • Complimentary Issue • www.qcfamilyfocus.com
Handling Holiday Stress
Tis The Season!
The Pros and Cons of
Purchasing Gift Cards
Win a NOOK Simple Touch Reader or a Leapster 2!
> Checking> Mortgages
> Consumer Loans> Credit Cards
Hello neighbor! DHCU Community Credit Union is ready to help you build your financial future.
We’re in the neighborhood. So stop by, enjoy a cup of coffee on us at our new location at the corner
of Middle and Belmont to see what we’ve built for you… a new place to call your financial home.
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BET TENDORF n CL INTON n DavENpORT n EasT MOL INE n GENEsEO n MI LaN n MOL INE
3QC Family Focus - December 2012
Contributing Editors
Diane Baker William Benevento, M.D.
Roger BrannanDavid W. Deuth
Curtis FordDawn Knutson
Tawnya Hambly Dr. Traci Nelson Hassel
Kelly Hendershot Kirk Marske Mike Mickle
Michael Oppelt, D.C. Lisa M. Reisen Phyllis Zalenski
Publisher: Mike MickleEditor: Karen Mickle
Magazine Design: Jessie SmithPhotographers:
QC Family Focus PhotographyTassy Johnson • Nick Martel
Shannon Colgan • Estelle NesterMichale Crumly
Videographer: Harry Walker
Join thousands of others as they help us promote happy healthy families in the QCA. Call 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: [email protected].
©Copyright 2012.
Serving Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois
Family FocusQCMonthly
December 2012
Watch QC Family Focus come to life on television each Friday.
Family Focus Friday only on WQAD’s midday newscast
7 Tis the season for good reading!Gift Cards: Buy, Give, and Use Wisely8
11 Cope With Holiday Stress by Taking Care of Yourself
15 Do You Hear WHat I Hear?
Challenge your Child to Imagine16
4 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
By Mike Mickle Sigh,itfinallyhappened.I’vebecome“that”dad.Youknowtheone,I’mclosertoageofbreakingahipthan being hip. I’mmore familiarwith a nook andcranny than thenookorkindle. I’ve alsobeen toldtonevermakepopmusicreferenceseveragain.Thatdemand came frommy oldest childwhen I simplysaid a friend had “themoves like Jagger.”That’s aMaroon Five reference for those of youwho don’tknow.Anyway,themomentthewordscameoutofmymouth,Kyle(whowassittingnexttoafriend)gotalookofcompletehorroronhisface.I’mnotsurprised.Ialsoshouldnotmentionthatanestrangedcoupleis“never,ever,ever,evergettingbacktogether”orevenhintthatImightgo“GangnamStyle”onthem.Truthis,I’dratherbelisteningtoChristmasmusicanyway! The poor kid has a right to be horrified. He isbombardedwithcomparisonstohisdearolddadonadailybasis.Ithinkhe’shadhisfillof“youlookjustlikeyourdad”,“yousoundjustlikeyourdad”,“youcertainly are your father’s son”, and my personalfavorite,“youhaveyourdad’ssenseofhumor”!I’msurewhenhe looks atme in horror it’s becausehedoesn’twanttobecomeme! Evenwithhislackofappreciationformywit,andKateandMatt’sembarassmentbymyactions,Istillenjoyeverymomentwehavetogetherasafamily.I’mlooking forward to awonderfulChristmasmorningat homewithKaren and the kids beforewe gather
Your Mickle’s Worth
withextended family tocelebrate.While the tripfrom Iowa to Illinois,back to Iowaanddown toOklahomabeforereturningbacktoIowa(allwhilecelebratingKyleandKate’sbirthdayinDecemberas well) is not an easy feat, I feel blessed thatwe have somanywonderful people in our livesto spend time with. I remember growing up inOklahomaandwaking to thesmellof the turkeycookingintheovenfollowedquicklybythesmellof “dressing” and numerous pies. Mom wouldwakemuch earlier than the rest of the family toprepare themeal. She is now 81 andwhile shecan’t bake a large selection of pies or prepare alargemeal,shestillhasahugwaitingforusandnooneeverleavesherhousehungry.Writingthisarticlemakesmewanttohopinthecarnowforthe12hourdrivetoseeher.Karen’sextendedfamilyismuchlargerthanmine.Herfamilygathersfor“KilleyChristmas”.Itnowspansfourgenerations.WithGrandmaKilleyturning102lastSeptember,the Christmas celebration has moved from herhometoacommunitycenter. Asanotheryearcomestoaclose,wordscan’texpress what your support of QC Family Focusmeans tous.2013 isshapingupto be an exciting year. We arehonoredtobesharingthejourneywithallofyou.Fromourfamilyto yours, Merry Christmas andHappyNewYear. MikeMickle
5QC Family Focus - December 2012
3885 Elmore Ave (across from Sam’s Club)
Davenport, IA 52807563-322-5867
www.monkeyjoes.com/davenportINFLATATABLESSANITIZED BY
DECEMBER SPECIALS FACEBOOK FAN MONDAYLike the Monkey Joes Davenport page and get the secret word every week for discounted admission.
TWO FOR TUESDAY2 admissions for just $12.50
WACKY WEDNESDAY$5 admission ALL Day!
TONS OF FUN THURSDAYBuy a large pizza and get a FREE pitcher
FAMILY TIME FRIDAY2 admissions and a large pizza for only $28
MonkeyJoesDavenport
Santa Claus is Comin’ to TOWN…the jungle we mean!!Come see us on
Saturday, December 15th 1:00pm- 2:30pm and visit with Santa Claus himself.
Monkey Joe wants to know who’s naughty and nice!
Purchase a Banana Bucks Gift Card & get a Monkey Joe’s Jumbo Paddleball. With every $50 purchase in gift cards, you will also
receive a Monkey Joe Free Admission Pass for future use!$20 OFF
any party package
Full-service parties mean our hosts HOST the Party for YOU. You bring the child and
the cake and let us do the rest!
May not be combined with any other offers or used on previously booked parties. Must present coupon at
booking. Valid exclusively at the Davenport and West Des Moines, IA locations. Party may be held at any time but
must be booked by 12-30-12.
6 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
321 Main S t r ee t | 3000 N. Fa i rmoun t S t r ee t | 6000 Ea s te rn Avenue | 563 .326 . 7832
Santa At the Library!
Sponsored by:
Davenport printing
Company
&
Wells Fargo Bank
Saturdays December 1, 8, & 15
10:00 - 11:30; 1:00 - 2:30*
* Must be in line by 2:15
Main Street Library Checkout all of Davenport Public Library’s excellent resources & programs at
7QC Family Focus - December 2012
Inthehustleandbustleof theholidaysbesureto take some timeout for quietmomentswith family.Youcanenjoysomequalitytimewiththekidsbysittingdowntogethertoreadsomegreatholidaybooks.Someclassics,somenewerstories,butallofthemcanleadtolastingholidaymemories and a great family tradition.Therearemanytochoosefrom,we’vecompiledalistofsomeofthemorepopularselections.
Twas the Night Before Christmas-This timelessclassic was first published in1823andstoodthetestoftime.To this day, there is no morepopular story told worldwideaschildrenanxiouslyawaitthearrivalofSanta. The Berenstain Bears
and the Joy of Giving- It seems our favorite bearsare all about the presents and need areminder of what the season is trulyabout.Itwaswrittenin1962andliketherestoftheBerenstainstoriesitendswithapositivemessage. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever-Thisisaclassicfrom1972.Olderchildrenwillenjoythisbook.ThesixmisbehavingHerdman kids take overthechurchpageantandreinterpretthestoryofChristmas.
The Elf on the Shelf- This book comes with acompanion. A magical elfthat mysteriously changeslocations every night whilethekidssleep.Iftheelfcomestovisityourhouse,rememberkids, he’swatching to see ifyou are naughty or nice andreportingbacktoSanta!
The Kvetch Who Stole Hanukkah-InthetownofOyville,the children were preparing forHanukkah. But the kvetch wholivedhighonthehillsaidwhathesaid every year: “The latkes smellbad, the dreidels make me dizzy,andtohearchildrenlaughputsmeinatizzy.”Thisyear,willHanukkahrepresent another great miracle,
finally bringing a smile tothekvetch’sface! Happy Hanukkah Corduroy- The sweetstuffed bear in overallsoffers toddlers anintroduction to thetraditions of Hanukkah,from lighting themenorahand hunting for geit toplayingdreidel. How the Grinch Stole Christmas-What would Christmas be withouttheGrinch?Kidslovethedastardlycharacterwhoplots
tocanceltheholiday.Muchtohisdismay,ithappensanyway,evenwithoutthepresents.Onceyou’veread thebook, thekidswill enjoy the movie versionsaswell! Li’l Rabbit’s Kwanzaa-Brer Rabbit meets Africantraditioninthistale.Li’lRabbitis not having a very goodKwanzaa. Granna Rabbit issick, and so his family won’tcelebrate his favorite part of
Kwanzaa this year: a big feast called Karamu. Li’lRabbitsetsouttofindGrannaRabbitaspecialtreatforKaramusoshecancelebrateanyway.Hedoesn’thavemuchluckuntilhisfriendshelphim. Polar Express-Thestoryofaboywhonolonger“believes”untilheboardsa trainwithotherchildren.That magicaljourneyleads to theNorth Pole and ameetingwithSanta.A beautifully toldstory that can leadto a great familymovienightaswell. There aremany more tochoose from but atleast we’ve givenyouafewsuggestionstohelpyouenjoythemagicof“familytime”withtheonesyoulove.
Tis the season for good reading!Davenport Public Library
8 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
hoppingforgiftscanbearealdilemma.JustwhatdoyougetyourfinickyAuntMary,your co-worker, or your child’s
babysitter? Gift cards may be theanswer: one size fits all, and therecipientscangetexactlywhattheywantfromaretailerorrestaurant. When you shop for a giftcard,theFederalTradeCommissionrecommendsthatyou:•Buyfromsourcesyouknowandtrust.•Read thefineprintbeforeyoubuy. Is therea fee tobuythecard?Ifyoubuyacardbyphoneoronline,arethereshippingandhandlingfees?Ifyoudon’tlikethetermsandconditions,buyelsewhere.
•Determinewhetheranyfeeswillbedeductedfromthecardafteryoupurchaseit.
•Inspect the card before you buy it.Verify that noneof the protective stickers have been removed.Makesure that the codes on the back of the card haven’tbeenscratchedofftorevealaPINnumber.Reportanydamagedcardstothestoresellingthecards.
•Give the recipient your original receipt so they canverifythecard’spurchaseincaseitislostorstolen.
•Consider the financial condition of the retailer orrestaurant.
Ifyouhaveagiftcard,besmartabouthowyouuseit:•Whenyougetthecard,readthecardandanytermsandconditions.Checkforanexpirationdateorfees.
•If it appears that thevalueofyourcardhasexpired,orthatfeeshavebeendeducted,contactthecompanythatissuedthecard.Theymaystillhonorthecardorreversethefees.
•Askthepersongivingyouthecardforthecard’stermsand conditions, the original purchase receipt, or thecard’sIDnumber;keepthisinformationinasafeplace.•Useyourcardassoonasyoucan.It’snotunusualtomisplace gift cards or forget you have them; usingthemearlywillhelpyougetthefullvalue.
•Treatyourcardlikecash.Ifyourcardislostorstolen,reportittotheissuerimmediately.Youmaynotrecoveranyofthevaluethatwasonthecard.Someissuerswillnotreplacecardsthatarelostorstolen,butotherissuerswill,forafee.Youmayneedtoshowproofofpurchaseand the ID number on the card. Most issuers have
SPhyllis Zalenski Family Resource Management Specialist, Iowa State University Extension
toll-free telephonenumbers you cancall to report a lostorstolencard.
•Ifyouhaveaproblemwith a gift card, contact the companythatissuedthecard.Ifyoucan’tresolvetheproblematthatlevel,youmaywanttofileacomplaintwiththeappropriateauthorities:
For cards issued by retailers, contact theFederalTradeCommission at ftc.gov or call toll-free:1-877-FTC-HELP. Or you may file a complaint withyourstateAttorneyGeneral. For cards issued by national banks, contactthe Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) CustomerAssistanceGroupby calling800-613-6743or sendingan e-mail to: [email protected]. TheOCCcharters,regulates,andsupervisesnationalbanks.
Gift Cards: Buy, Give, and Use Wisely
4005 E. 53rd St. • Davenport, IA • 563.355.2373
How about dinner at
Need A Perfect Gift?
9QC Family Focus - December 2012
Davenport Parks and Recreation
December ActivitiesCatch a film!Family Movie Night: December 14th
Get out and skate!Skate with Santa on December 22nd
Safe Winter Break Fun!
Public Ice Skating at The River’s EdgeVisit our our website for public skating times!
Find that perfect gift!
Holiday Gift Certificates available for anyone!
Golf, Sports, Recreation, and much More!
Have your next birthday with Davenport Parks and Recreation!
Themes for everyone: Sports, Fairytale Adventure, Nature and Garden and Golf
To book your party, call our party hotline 563-888-2088
Celebrate in Style
Reminder – Winter Session begins January 7th!Sign up now…classes filling fast!
Learn something new this winter!
For more information563-328-7275
www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks
December School Out Days: 26, 27, 28, 31Have the day off school? Spend the day at the River’s Edge
with fun activities, friendship and a safe, structured environment!
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Davenport Parks and Recreation
December ActivitiesCatch a film!Family Movie Night: December 14th
Get out and skate!Skate with Santa on December 22nd
Safe Winter Break Fun!
Public Ice Skating at The River’s EdgeVisit our our website for public skating times!
Find that perfect gift!
Holiday Gift Certificates available for anyone!
Golf, Sports, Recreation, and much More!
Have your next birthday with Davenport Parks and Recreation!
Themes for everyone: Sports, Fairytale Adventure, Nature and Garden and Golf
To book your party, call our party hotline 563-888-2088
Celebrate in Style
Reminder – Winter Session begins January 7th!Sign up now…classes filling fast!
Learn something new this winter!
For more information563-328-7275
www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks
December School Out Days: 26, 27, 28, 31Have the day off school? Spend the day at the River’s Edge
with fun activities, friendship and a safe, structured environment!
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Davenport Parks and Recreation
December ActivitiesCatch a film!Family Movie Night: December 14th
Get out and skate!Skate with Santa on December 22nd
Safe Winter Break Fun!
Public Ice Skating at The River’s EdgeVisit our our website for public skating times!
Find that perfect gift!
Holiday Gift Certificates available for anyone!
Golf, Sports, Recreation, and much More!
Have your next birthday with Davenport Parks and Recreation!
Themes for everyone: Sports, Fairytale Adventure, Nature and Garden and Golf
To book your party, call our party hotline 563-888-2088
Celebrate in Style
Reminder – Winter Session begins January 7th!Sign up now…classes filling fast!
Learn something new this winter!
For more information563-328-7275
www.cityofdavenportiowa.com/parks
December School Out Days: 26, 27, 28, 31Have the day off school? Spend the day at the River’s Edge
with fun activities, friendship and a safe, structured environment!
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
10 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
11QC Family Focus - December 2012
The holidays are always accompanied withexcitement and social commitment.For some it is thebesttimeoftheyear.Forotherstheholidaysrepresentnew expectations to be met and a frantic life pace.Howeverwechoosetolookattheholidays,thecommonthreadisstress. Not all stress is the same, and how we reactandrespondtoitisthedifferencebetweengoodstressand bad stress. Stress is expressed through hormonalfluctuations. The key to managing your stress is tohavea strategy tohelpcounteractyourbody’snaturalresponses. Following are eight tips that can help youmorefullyenjoytheholidays.1. Positive Perception: Every grey cloud has a silverlining,soalwaysidentifythepositiveattributesofatroublingsituation.
2. Nutrition:FoodisacornerstoneoftheThanksgivingthrough Christmas calendar run. Making goodfoodchoicescangoalongwaytomanagingstress.Teas such as Oolong and Chamomile have longbeen acknowledged as positive mood and immunepromoters. Fruits like oranges, clementines, appleslices,bananas,lemons,andkiwisareallpackedwithimmune boosting nutrients which keep you feelinggood.Omega3 fattyacidsarenowplaced in foodsfrom eggs to pasta to juices, so buying foods withtheomegadifferenceisabigsteptowardmoodandimmunesupport.
3. Motion:Eventhoughit’scoldoutside,stayingactiveand inmotion is essential to keeping yourmusclesstrong and your jointsmobile.More importantly, ithelpsyourheartandlungssupplyyourbrainandbodyall they need to keep you alert, happy and healthy.Regular exercise doesn’t necessarily involve goingto thegym.Mallwalkinghasbecomemymother’sfavoriteexerciseandsocialwinterclub.
4. Sunlight: Although you may not think of the sunin the frigid framework of winter, the sun remainsanimportantcatalysttovitaminDproductionandamoodstabilizer.
5. Deep Breathing:Takingtimetobatheyourbraininoxygen isalwaysbeneficial. Inhaleslowly foreight
Michael Oppelt, D.C., Faculty Clinician, Palmer Chiropractic Clinics
Cope With Holiday Stress by Taking Care of Yourself
seconds, hold the breath for another eight seconds,andthenexhaleslowlyforeightseconds.
6. Soft Love: Time with family, close friend(s), orperhapsapetalldeliverareductioninbloodpressureandstresshormonelevels.
7. Laughter:Whencalendarsarefullandthedayfallsshortinprovidingenoughtimetofinisheverythingthatneedsyourattention,theideaoflaughingmaysoundsilly.However, silly is good, andfinding the cracksinthechaoscancheeryouupandperhapsdeliverabeneficialattitudebreakthatisthedifferencebetweenanoverwhelmingdayandagoodday.Laughingisthebestnaturalmoodboostthebodyhastooffer!
8. Chiropractic Care: Adjustments are brilliant atmaintaining jointmobility,muscularbalance, aidingpainfreemotionandrestoringrestfulsleepcycles.Byfollowing all of these steps including a chiropractichealthplan, theholidayscanbe thebest timeof theyear.
Call your travel agent or the airline for airfares and schedules.
We’re mobile-friendly at
qcairport.com
Bring them home for the holidays!
12 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
interhasarrived.Asachilditalwaysbroughtwonderful thingssuchassnow,warmcozysweatshirtsandsweaters,makingsnowmen
andsnowangels,igloos,sleddingandhotchocolatewithlotsofmarshmallows. Butnowasanadult,winteralsobringswithit the feeling of anxiety and stress related to theHOLIDAYS!!!! Thereissomuchtoaccomplishinsuchashortamountoftime;organizingfamilyschedules, what to buy for that picky teenager,out of town relatives staying at your home, giftexpenses,findingtherightgiftfortherightperson,andshoppingforthosegiftsontopofyouralreadyhecticdailyschedule.Let’snotevendiscussmenuissues! Just thinking about all the tasks to beaccomplished in such a short amount of time canfeeloverwhelmingandstressfultomanyofus. HolidaytraditionscanbethecauseofstressORallowustosimplifyourholidaylives.Traditionsdo not have to be elaborate. Traditions can besimpleandfun.Gettingbacktothebasicsisagreatplace to start to “de-stress” your holiday season.Wesetourselvesupforfailureanddisappointmentif our expectations are too high and unattainable.Simple low-key traditions canbe accomplished ina short period of time, with littlemoney and canhelp to reduce our stress and give us a feeling ofaccomplishmentandsatisfaction. Start this holiday season off right. Takesometimetochoosewhatthebasicnecessitiesareforyourfamilytohaveasuccessfulstressreducedseason.HaveeachfamilymemberwritedownwhatmakestheHolidayseasonenjoyableforthem.(Forexample: family togetherness, a decorated tree, afavoritemeal,giftgiving,servingthelessfortunate,decorating the house, church service, etc.) Thenprioritizethislistbyimportancetotheentirefamily.(Forexample:priorityone,familygathering;prioritytwo, serving the less fortunate; priority three, giftgiving,etc.) Byprioritizingourholidayitgivesusfocusand remindsusofwhat is trulymost important tous.ThathugemealIpreparefortheentirefamilyiswonderfulandappreciated;however,it’sstressfulforme.TodecreasemystressIaskedfamilymembersiftheywouldbewillingtohaveapotluck.Notonly
W didthatlessenmytimecooking,groceryshoppingandcleaning,itsavedonexpenses.Mypriorityof“familytogetherness”wasaccomplishedandIfeltbetterandlessstressedwhenthathappened. Challenge yourself to pick one stressfulholiday event you can simplify this year and seewhatadifference itcanmake inyouroutlookontheholidayseason.Seeifitbringsyoualittlemorejoy.Suggestions: Drawnamesforgiftsandsetdollarlimitstohelpreduceexpensesandshoppingstress. DecoratetheChristmastreeasafamilyANDbeokaywiththefactthatmostoftheornamentsareonthebottomhalfofthetreebecausethatisallthehigherthekidscanreach!! Less is more when decorating…..onlydecorate the room you spend the most time in!Whyspendsomuchtimedecoratingroomspeopledon’tenterandwon’tappreciate.Savethatenergy.
Dawn Knutson, Family System Coordinator, Scott County Kids
Keppy Snow RemovalLet us do the shoveling and snow blowing this winter!
We can also hang your Christmas Iights!
Call 563-528-0972 or 563-528-6083
Nick Keppy and his professional staff will do the hard work while you enjoy the winter wonderland from the warmth of your home.
Plan ahead. Get on our schedule now. Don’t wait until the snow begins to fall!
13QC Family Focus - December 2012
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
14 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Sports Performance Videos- Let us document your athlete’s abilities in a professionally-produced DVD. Great for College scholarship applications. Sports Highlight Reels- Our experts can turn your team’s games into a slick highlight DVD that the players and their families will enjoy for years to come. Marketing Videos- A great way for non-profits or privately-owned businesses to spotlight what you have to offer. We’ll help develop the script, do the interviews and capture compelling video that shows what you bring to our community. Legacy Videos- The perfect way to document a loved one’s life. We’ll interview your family member, use family photos and video to create a mini-documentary that will be passed down for generations to come.
Mickle CommunicationsCompelling Video, Professionally Produced. Call 563-940-7875
or email [email protected]. Stop by our new office located inside
the River’s Edge! Across from Modern Woodmen Park 700 West River Drive in Davenport.
15QC Family Focus - December 2012
Do You Hear WHat I Hear?By Diane Baker Youth Development Educator,
4-H Military Programs, University of Illinois Extension ‘Tis the season … forfamily fun, holiday shopping,concerts, sporting events, specialcelebrations. But, do you findyourself so caught up in thefestivitiesandendless“todo”lists,thatyouforget themost importantthings this season (and throughouttheyear)–qualitytimewithfamilyandfriends? Asyouhurrythroughyourshoppinglist,rushtobakesomecookiesbeforegettingtothenexteventor activity, consider the time you are spendingwithfamilyandfriends.Areyoutakingthetimetohaveaqualityconversation?Areyoureallylisteningtowhatyourkidsoryourspousehavetosay?Orareyoupre-occupiedwithwonderingwhenyou’llwrapthegiftsorwhatgamesyou’llhavereadyfortheclassparty? Good communication depends on greatlisteningskills.It’sreallyeasyto“hear”whatothersaresaying,buttruly“listening”towhattheysaytakesfocusandintention.Somekeytipstorememberthisholiday season when you’re talking with family orfriends:·Stopwhatyou’redoingandfocus.Multi-taskingandlisteningdonotgotogether.Givingyourfullattentiontoyourchild,yourspouseoryourfriendisoneofthebestgiftsyoucangivethisholidayseason.Foldthelaundrylaterorrecordtheshowontelevisionsothatyoucanenjoyameaningfulconversation.
·Make eye contact – this sends the message thatyou are listening to them and you do care aboutwhattheyhavetosay.Sit(orstand)sothatyouarefacingoneanotherwithopenarms-sittingwithyourarms closed signals that you’re not interested andpositioning yourself so that you’re facing anotherdirectionclearlysendsthemessagethatyou’rereallynotinterestedinwhattheotherpersonhastosay.
·Avoiddistractions.Turnoffthetelevision,stayawayfromthecomputer,andignoreyourphonewhenyouget a textor a call. Giveyour full attention to theconversation.·Remember to “listen” to the non-verbal messagestoo. Communication isn’t only aboutwhat is saidwithwords.Itisalsoaboutwhatissaidwithfacialexpressions, tone of voice and body language. If
Protect more. For less.
Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
Christy Cox(563) 359-40795159 Utica Ridge [email protected]
The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat or ATV and save even more. Call me first to see how much you can save.
5159 Utica Ridge Rd Davenport, IA 52807
Ph 563.359.4079
1140 E Kimberly Rd Ste 200 Davenport, IA 52807
Ph 563.391.1226
Protect more. For less.
Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
Christy Cox(563) 359-40795159 Utica Ridge [email protected]
The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat or ATV and save even more. Call me first to see how much you can save.
Protect more. For less.
Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
Christy Cox(563) 359-40795159 Utica Ridge [email protected]
The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat or ATV and save even more. Call me first to see how much you can save.
Protect more. For less.
Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
Christy Cox(563) 359-40795159 Utica Ridge [email protected]
The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat or ATV and save even more. Call me first to see how much you can save.
Protect more. For less.
Discount subject to terms, conditions and availability. Actual savings will vary. Property insurance is subject to availability. Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company, Northbrook, IL. © 2009 Allstate Insurance Company.
Christy Cox(563) 359-40795159 Utica Ridge [email protected]
The more you insure with Allstate, the less you pay. In fact, safe drivers who insure their home and car can save up to 33%. Add coverage for your motorcycle, boat or ATV and save even more. Call me first to see how much you can save.
Now offering two locations to better serve you!
what isbeingsaidverballydoesn’tmatchwhat isbeing said non-verbally, pay attention to that andtalkaboutit.
·Respond appropriately – ask questions or ask thepersontalkingtoexpandonsomething.Forexample,whenyourchildtellsyou“Ihadfuntoday,”respondwith “Tellmemore about that –whatmadeyourdaysofun.”
·Avoid interrupting or making judgments. Again,becausewetendtoberushedthistimeofyear,wemay try to hurry through a conversation. Relax,enjoytheconversation,andbepatientandthoughtfulthroughouttheconversation. Bowsandwrappingpaperwillendupinthegarbage, gifts will be out-grown, but the time youtake to have meaningful conversations with yourfamily and friends will have an impact for manyyears to come. Giveyourself andyour lovedonesthegiftofyourtimeandattentionthisholidayseasonandenjoythestrongerrelationshipsthatyou’llbuildforalifetime.
16 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
“Try to be the first one up the mountain,The highest flying dream in the sky.Try your best to be an inspiration
For others that are still afraid and shy.Try to make the most of every moment
If you fail, get up and try again.Try each day a little harder
If you never try, you never win.”
This is aquote from the foreword toTheLittleEngine thatCould thefirst free book in aseries offered to Quad-City children from birthtoagefive. It iswrittenbyDollyPartonwhosefoundation has led the charge nationwide to getthesebooksintothehandsofchildren. Each month, close to 10,000 childrenin our community receive one of these booksto encourage interaction between parents and
United Way Staffguardiansandchildren. Theyalsoaredesignedtoinspirealifetimeloveofreading.Eachbookis selected by a national board and range fromstoriesoflittleenginestollamaswithredpajamasandstoriesdesignedtohelpchildrenlearnabouttheiremotions. At the end of this journey, right beforetheyenterschool,theyreceiveabookdiscussinggetting ready for Kindergarten. By this time,theyhavereceivedmuchmorethanbooks–theyhave shared adventures, learned the excitementof reading and imagined a bright future full ofpotential. WeinviteyoutoregisterachildinyourlifeforImaginationLibrarybyvisitingunitedwayqc.org.Eachchildinafamilyiseligibletoreceiveage-appropriatebooks. Also,share this informationwithyour friendsandfamily,because this isaneasygifttogivethisholidayseasonandwilllastalifetimeforthechildrenofourcommunity.
Challenge your Child to Imagine
Help protect what you value most.iTextAlert gives you extra peace of mind, without the cost of an expensive home security system. iTextAlert’s no-contract, easy-to-use sensor system sends you text message alerts to help you monitor your home and property.Available at K&K Hardware in Bettendorf, IDC Technology Solutions in Geneseo or online at iTextAlert.com.
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17QC Family Focus - December 2012
Holiday CookingThere is nothing better than biting into a warm, chewy, sweet cinnamon roll. But, who really has the time or takes the effort to make them from scratch anymore? It is a bit of a lost art. But these rolls...are so easy. You do not need to worry about yeast, rising times, etc. Simply, mix, fill, slice and bake. You will definitely not be disappointed! Oh, and did I mention they have pumpkin in them? Even better. Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls {no yeast required!}
For the rolls:2 1/4 cup flour (+ more if dough is too sticky)4 tsp baking powder1 tsp nutmeg2 tbs sugar1/4 tsp salt1/4 cup cold butter1 cup canned pumpkin1/3 cup milkFor the filling:3/4 cup brown sugar2 tbs of cinnamonFor the frosting:4 oz of cream cheese; room temperature1/2 cup (+/-) powdered sugarDirections: Sift together your dry ingredients. Cut butter into flour mixture using a pastry blender. Work the butter into pea sized pieces. Mix in pumpkin puree and milk. If dough is still sticky you can add a tbs of flour at a time until it is easy to work with. On a floured surface roll dough out to 1/2 inch thick rectangle. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll the dough into a long log. Cut into 1-2 inch thick slices. Place each roll into a buttered pie plate or cake pan OR into a muffin tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until rolls are golden and cooked through. Allow to cool 15 minutes. Mean-while in an electric mixer mix cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Pipe frosting onto rolls or slather over the top while warm.
If you haven’t gotten into the slow cooker rage, then you are a bit behind. Busy families, single parents, heck even col-lege students are breaking out those slow cookers to help get dinner on the table. This simple, easy and plentiful din-ner can be assembled in less than 5 minutes. It will make your house smell like your favorite barbecue joint and put smiles on everyone’s faces.
Spicy Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork 2 onions, peeled and quartered1 whole pork butt (pork shoulder roast)1 8 oz. can chipotle chiles in adobo sacue2 12 oz. cans Dr. Pepper4 T. brown sugarsaltpepperrolls or buns, for serving Get out your largest crockpot. Lay peeled and quartered onions in the bottom. Liber-ally season roast with salt and pepper, then place on top of the onions. Pour in canned chipotle chiles, brown sugar and Dr. Pepper. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Flip the roast halfway way through, around 4 hours in. When done, shred meat with a fork and serve on kaiser rolls. Add additional sauces or chopped pickles if you like.
18 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Asweenterthetoybuyingseason,hereareafewtipsontoysafetyandselection.Anestimated 17% of all eye injuries to childrenare caused by missile-type toys or toys withhardedgesordetachableparts.Youngstersareparticularly vulnerable during the excitementof the holidays. Many of these eye injuriesare preventable. The Illinois Society for thePreventionofBlindnessgives thesefollowingrecommendations:1.Be aware of how your children or
grandchildrenplaywiththeirtoys.Thereisnosubstituteforsensibleadultsupervision.
2.Keepinappropriatetoysawayfromchildrentooyoungortooinexperiencedtousethemproperly.
3.Makesure toyswillnotshatterwithroughhandlingorunderviolentimpact.
4.Readmanufacturers’ instructions for usingtoysproperlyandageappropriateness.
Trytoavoidprojectiletoyssuchasdarts,
bowsandarrows,andmissile-firingtoys.Lookfor toysmarkedwith“ASTM”,whichmeanstheproductmeetsthenationalsafetystandardsset by theAmerican Society for Testing andMaterials.Donotallowyourchildrentoplaywithnon-powderrifles,pelletgunsorBBguns.Theyareextremelydangerousandhavebeenreclassifiedasfirearmsandremovedfromtoydepartments. Don’t forget that sports equipment, apopular gift, should also include protectiveeyewear. Sports-related eye injuries accountforabout40,000eyeinjuriesannually,but90percentoftheseinjuriescouldbeavoidedwiththerightprotectiveANSIapprovedeyewear. HaveaSafeandHappyHolidaySeason!
WilliamBenevento,M.D.PresidentofEyeSurgeonsAssociates,Dr.Beneventoisaboardcertifiedophthalmolo-gist.Hehasspecialinterestindiabetesandthesurgicaltreatmentofcataractswiththelatesttechniques.Dr.BeneventopracticesatourofficesinBettendorfandMuscatineIowa.Formoreinformation,pleaseseeourwebsite:www.esaeyecare.com.
19QC Family Focus - December 2012
DedicationEducation
QC Family Focus is showing it’s Education Dedication this month by sponsoring a couple of holiday contests. Both are aimed at helping children
learn. Fill out the entry forms below for your chance to win. Good luck! We’re giving away a book... or a lot of them in this contest! Win a Nook Simple Touch Reader!
Name _________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________State_____________Phone number ________________________________
My favorite article in this month’s issue of QC Family Focus is ____________________________________________
Send entry form to:Look, I Won A Nook!, C/O QC Family Focus Magazine, P.O. Box 194, Bettendorf, Ia 52722
Entries must be postmarked by December 17th Only one entry per family please.
It’s the newest technology for your preschooler! Win a Leapster 2Name _________________________________________________________________________________________
Address _______________________________________________________________________________________
City_____________________________State_____________Phone number ________________________________
I pick up my copy of QC Family Focus at _____________________________________________________________
Send entry form to:
Look at my Leapster 2!, C/O QC Family Focus, P.O. Box 194, Bettendorf, IA 52722 Entries must be postmarked by December 17th. Only one entry per family please.
20 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Christmas Fun Facts
Education
21QC Family Focus - December 2012
Dedication
The holiday season is a time for giving. Manytimespeoplewillexchangegiftsforfun,buthaveyoueverthoughtaboutgivingtohelpothers?Thattypeofgivingiscalledphilanthropy.Let’stakeacloserlookatthiswordandunderstandhowitcanmakeadifferenceinourlives. Philanthropy is giving to others in an effort toincreasethewell-beingofpeople.Itisamethodofsharing.Somepeoplemaythinktheonlywaytogiveistoprovidemoney,butthereareotheroptions.PeoplehelpothersbygivinganyofthethreeW’s.DoyouknowwhatthethreeW’sinphilanthropyare? Wealth(givingmoney) Work(volunteeringtohelp) Wisdom(givingothersthebenefitofyourknowledge) To better understand the three W’s related tophilanthropy,let’sdothefollowingactivity. Activity1:Recently,theEastCoastwasdrasticallyaffected by Hurricane Sandy. You probably saw ontelevisionandreadontheinternetornewspaperhowmanypeople lost their homes from the storm. Can you thinkofwaysyoucouldhelpthevictimsofHurricaneSandy?WriteideasforeachWonthespaceprovidedbelow. Wealth:Doyouhavemoneytogive?Ifnot,howelsecouldyoumakemoneytohelp?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Work: If a storm likeHurricane Sandy hit yourcommunity,whatworkcouldyoudotohelpothers?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Wisdom: What kind of knowledge do you havethatotherscouldbenefitfrom?Youmightsurpriseyourselfofthetalentsyouhavethatcouldhelpsomeoneelse.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Tawnya Hambly Public Relations Director, Junior Achievement of the Heartland
Goodwork!Shareyourideaswithanadult.Askthemofwaystheyhavehelpedothersthroughworkorwisdom. You might think philanthropy is to only helpthe poor and needy, but that’s not true. Sometimes itis about increasing the well-being of people in otherareas, such as education, religion, health or other goodcauses. Organizations that depend on philanthropy areusually referred to as nonprofit organizations. They donotparticipateinmarketslikebusinessesbecausetheydonotseekaprofit.Instead,theyrelyonthegenerosityofpeopletohelpsupporttheirwork. OneexampleofanonprofitisJuniorAchievement.JA is an organization that promotes education aboutbusiness, economics and free enterprise. JA teachesstudents, like you, about important concepts related towork readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy.PeopleandbusinessesdonatemoneytoJA(wealth)andteachJAclasses(workandwisdom). Activity 2: What other nonprofit organizationscanyouthinkofinyourcommunity?Whoprovidesthewealth, work andwisdom for the nonprofit? List youranswersbelow.
NameofNonprofit:___________________________
Wealth:_____________________________________
Work:______________________________________
Wisdom:____________________________________
Beingabletosharewithothersisagoodfeeling.This holiday season challenge yourself to think aboutphilanthropyandhowyoucanhelpothers.Bigorsmall–nomatterhowyouhelpwillmakeadifferenceinsomeoneelse’slife.
22 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Just For Kids!Just For Kids!Kid’s Calendar
Winterfest • December 2ndThere will be a host of joyful family activities for everyone
including music, dancing by the Family Museum Dancers, refreshments, fun activities, and a visit from Santa later
in the afternoon. Visitors can view a 300-square-foot train set, toys from
the Museum’s Buddy “L” collection, and the animated figurines from the Petersen Harden Von Maur store. Admission to the
event and Museum gallery is FREE with the donation of a non-perishable food item or
personal item to be distributed locally. 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM Family Museum, 2900
Learning Campus Drive, Bettendorf, IA Call 563-344-4106 for more information.
The Nutcracker - Ballet Quad Cities
December 8th-9thFeaturing live music accompaniment by
Orchestra Iowa, this time-honored holiday favorite is set to Tchaikovsky’s famous
The NutcrackerSaturday, December 8th 1:00 & 7:30
Sunday, December 9th 1:00Adler Theater Davenport, IA
Ticket Prices Vary. Purchase tickets online through Ticketmaster at
www.ticketmaster.com Adler Theatre, 136 East 3rd Street,
Davenport, IA Call 309-786-3779 for more information.
Free Kid’s Craft Day • December 15thJohn Deere Pavilion
10:00am-4:00pmTheme: Evergreens/Trees Craft: Tree Ornaments
A Holiday in the Gardens
Deccember 15This evening event includes:
A whimsical theatrical interpretation of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, as a staged garden stroll. Holiday crafts for children that the whole family can enjoy. Roasting chestnuts, Christmas caroling and light refreshments. Don’t miss the
outdoor winter garden train railroad. This event is included in your paid admission
to the gardens. Adults $6.00, Seniors $5.00, Youth (6-15 yrs) $4.00 Children (2-5yrs)
$2.00, Children under 2 and Members of the Quad City Botanical Center free.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PMQuad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island, IL Call 309-794-
0991 for more information.
Frost Fest • December 16Join the Quad Cities River Bandits for their annual Frost Fest celebration. At
this FREE event, kids can meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, participate in board games
and crafts, and watch movies. 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Modern Woodman Park, 209 S
Gaines Street, Davenport, IA Call 563-322-6348 for more information.
23QC Family Focus - December 2012
Just For Kids!Just For Kids!
24 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Just For Kids!Just For Kids!
25QC Family Focus - December 2012
Just For Kids!Just For Kids!What do snowmen eat for breakfast? Frosted FlakesWhat do you get when you cross an apple with a Christmas Tree? A Pineapple What do you call people who are afraid of Santa? Claustrophobic
Cookie Cutter OrnamentsUse inexpensive aluminum cutters to turn out ornaments faster than you can bake a batch of cookies. Choose patterned papers or color photocopy pictures onto card stock. Trace cutter on top; cut out. Dab white craft glue along cutter’s edge. Press paper in place; let dry. Thread narrow ribbon through needle; poke between paper and cutter, and wrap ribbon around top of cutter. Slip a bead over ribbon’s ends; knot.
26 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
the galaxy at your fingertips.Balance work and play with a Samsung Galaxy Tablet.
unlimited talk, unlimited text& shareable data on up to 10 Devices
add a tablet to your plan for just $10/monthly access
After $40 monthly line access for smartphones and $50 monthly account access for 1GB of data (plus other charges)*.
*Our surcharges [incl. Fed. Univ. Svc. of 15.7% of interstate & int’l telecom charges (varies quarterly), 16¢ Regulatory & 99¢ Administrative/line/mo., & others by area] are not taxes (details: 1-888-684-1888); gov’t taxes & our surcharges could add 6%-42% to your bill. Activation/upgrade fee/line: Up to $35.IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Subject to Customer Agmt, Calling Plan & credit approval. Up to $175 early termination fee/line ($350 for advanced devices). Unlimited calling for directly dialed, live calls between individuals. Max 10 lines. Offers & coverage, varying by svc, not available everywhere; see vzw.com. © 2012 Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. Samsung and Galaxy Tab are both registered trademarks of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. © 2012 Verizon Wireless
Verizon Wireless Communications storeNorthPark Mall • Davenport, IA • 563-391-3066
ThecolderweatherisusheringinanewplaceforfamilyfunintheQuadCities.BassStreetLandingPlazainDowntownMolineisnowthehomeof“CenterIceatBassStreetLanding,”anoutdooriceskatingrink. Thefullsizeicerinkoffers“openskating”sevendaysaweek.Parents or grandparents can watch the kids skate from the warmindoorswhilegrabbingabite toeatat thegrillcompletewithflatscreentelevisions.Theindoorareawillbeconnectedtothebottomoftheparkingrampinthebassstreetlandingplaza.Skaterentalsareavailableaswell.Therateswillvarydependingon thedayof theweek. Longtime Quad Citian, Larry Rosmilso is the Director ofOperations. Larry hopes the ice rinkwill bring a new attraction,similartoMillenniumParkinChicago,forthosehereintheQuadCitiestoenjoy. Center IceatBassStreetLanding is aprojectofFinancialDistrictProperties,whichrecentlybuiltthenewKonebuilding.TheysayitwillcomecompletewithaZamboniiceresurfacingmachine. TherinkisbeingpurchasedandinstalledbyIceRinkEvents,acompanythatprovidesseasonalandpermanenticerinksaroundtheworld.It’scurrentlyopentheownersplantokeepitupandrunninguntilmidAprilof2013.
27QC Family Focus - December 2012
Reach Your Maximum PotentialIf you are one of the 80% of Americans who will suffer from
back pain, neck pain and headaches—or just want to improve
your range of motion, balance and endurance—the experts at
the Palmer Chiropractic Clinics can help.
To learn more about our services or to make an appointment,
call us today or visit us online at www.palmerclinics.com/qc.
Davenport Clinic(open Mon. – Sat.)(563) 884-5801
Moline Clinic(open Mon. – Fri.) (309) 764-4901
The primary care provider for spinal health and well-being
From Karen’s Kitchen As this issue of the QCFF was getting ready to go to the printer, the big news was the potential demise of the twinkie. Well never fear, I dug out my recipe box and found one to make your own twinkies! Not nearly as convenient but it will do in a pinch! Mock TwinkiesPrepare 1 yellow cake mix (pudding in the mix) as directed. Pour into 9 x 13 pan and bake 35-40 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool and removed from pan. Cut cake to the size of twinkies (approx. 16) and split in half. Twinkie Filling1 c. milk 5 TBSP flour1 c. sugar 1 tsp. salt1/2c. Crisco Solid 1/2 c. margarine1 tsp. vanilla Mix milk a little at a time with flour. Keep mixture smooth. Boil until thick, stirring con-stantly. When cool, beat until fluffy. Add other ingredients, beat in after each addition. Put filling between split layers of cake. (If your kitchen is warm, you may want to refrigerate filling so it will stiffen up.) Wrap twinkies in plastic wrap and enjoy being the hostess with the mostest!
28 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
QuadCityareastudentshavethetotalwork-readiness experience at their fingertips throughthe web-based career exploration program CareerCruisingQuadCities. Administered by Junior Achievement ofthe Heartland in partnership with the MolineFoundation,CareerCruisingQuadCities (CCQC)is awork-readiness programdevelopedbyCareerCruising, the leader inon-linecareerdevelopmentandeducationplanningforK-12schools. Students using the program can researchhundreds of careers to learn about the skills,experience,andeducationneededtosucceedinthecareersthatinterestthem.Studentscanalsoplanfortheircareerswithcomprehensiveskillsassessments,along with education, training, and financial aidresources. CareerCruisingQuadCities helps studentsmake connections with area businesses andprofessionalsbyincorporatingQuadCitycompaniesaspartofthelocalinformationavailabletostudents.Since2010,volunteersfromparticipatingcompanieshave servedason-line career coaches andofferedwork-basedlearningactivities(WLAs)suchasjobshadowing,mockinterviews,andcompanytours. More than 15,000 students use CareerCruisingQuadCitiesatschoolsin6QuadCityareacounties –Henry,Mercer,Rock Island, Stark andWhiteside Counties in Illinois, and Scott CountyinIowa.CCQCisavailabletoallstudents–fromat-risk and college bound students to teens withundetermined career goals and special educationstudents. Currently,CCQCoffers over 150 companyprofilestostudents,andcareercoachingandwork-basedlearningactivitiesareofferedbynearly100volunteers. One of CCQC’s biggest championshasbeen theQuadCitiesChamberofCommerce,andmany of itsmembers support the program asbusinesspartners. Oneofthekeyfeaturesistheportfoliotool,whichhelpsastudent record importantcareerandeducation information as they use the system.ResultsoftheirCareerMatchmakerassessment,forexample,aresavedtocreateastartingplacefortheir
Kirk Marske Director, Career Cruising Quad Cities
careerexplorationexperiences.Alistofsuggestedcareersiscreatedbasedonthestudent’sassessmentandthestudentcanexploretheircareersofinterestwiththeclickofamouse. Otherimportantinformationsuchaswritingsamples, work and volunteer experience, andnotableschoolaccomplishmentscanalsobesavedtotheirportfolio.Parentscanalsoregistertoviewtheirchild’sportfolio,enablingparentstoactivelyparticipateintheexplorationprocess. Future Education Dedication columnswill give more information about how parentscan get involved in CCQC through the portfoliofeature.Othercolumnswillfocusonhealthcareerdevelopment and STEM education efforts in theQuadCities,interestingCCQCcareercoachesandwork-basedlearningactivities,industrysupportofCCQC,andmore. IfyouareaprofessionalwhowouldliketovolunteerforCCQC,thereisnocosttoparticipateasabusinesspartneranditisopentoallbusinesses-visitwww.CareerCruisingQuadCities.orgtolearnmoreandregister.Or,contactCCQC:KirkMarske,Director–(309)277-3909,[email protected]
Quad City partnerships help area students explore careerson-line, in the classroom, and in the workplace
29QC Family Focus - December 2012
Youcangetaheadinlifebybeinggoodatwhatyoudo.Unfortunately,socanfraudsters.Use these tactics to steer clear of scams: Choose tough passwords.FraudstersuseFacebookand other social media profiles to figure out passwords.Thesescamartistsskimprofilestrollingforcommonnamesandphrasesthatconsumersoftenuseforpasswords. Createpasswordsthatcontainnumbers,letters,andsymbolsandaremorethansixcharacters. Don’t be an open book.Theinformationyouposton the Internet isn’t private. Use careful judgment aboutanythingyoupostonline. Shred personal documents. Thieves still stealpersonalinformationbydumpsterdiving. Useacross-cutshreddertodisposeofpaperitemscontaining personal information such as Social Securitynumbersandaccountnumbers,aswellasunsolicitedcreditcardapplicationsandreceipts. Ifshreddingathomeisnotconvenient,saveshreditems up to bring to a DHCU Community Credit UnionShredDay.Thisfree,on-siteshreddingisheldatadifferentDHCUlocationmonthlyfromAprilthroughOctober. Know with whom you’re dealing. Fraudstersposing as familymembersmay ask you towire funds orsendemergencycash.Ifyouhaveanyqualmsaboutemailsyoureceive,beleery.Contactthefamilymemberstheemailis supposedly from--outside theemail channel--andask iftheysenttheemail. Remember,DHCUwillNEVERcontactyouaskingforyourpersonalinformation. Thisgoesforanymeansofcommunication—mail,email,PC,SMStext,homephone,etc. Use caution when job hunting. If you find a jobonlinethatentailsworkingfromhomeandtheopportunityto make some quick cash, use caution. Fraudsters combonlinejobboardstopreyonthoseeagertofindwork. MoneyGram International has enhanced its fraudpreventionwebsite atmoneygram-preventfraud.com,withspecificadviceforanyoneinitiatingamoneytransfer: Throw:Disposeofofferspromisingeasyways toearnmoney.Beextracautious if theoffer requiresyou tosendmoneybeforeactuallyearningmoney. Know: Onlysendmoneytopeopleyouknow.Neversendmoneytostrangers. Show: Don’t share information about moneytransferswithanyoneexcepttherecipient. Call 309-796-7500 in the Quad Cities, 563-244-6506 in Clinton, 800-323-5109 toll-free, email [email protected] to learnmoreaboutprotectingyourfinancialidentity.
Kelly Hendershot, Marketing Communications Officer, DHCU Community Credit Union
DeWitt, IA 52742Downtown DeWitt 563.659.3911
Davenport, IA 52807Next To Texas Roadhouse563.359.3941
Follow us on www.neckersjewelers.com
Necker’s Jewelers is GIVING BACK to schools this
Holiday SeasonDecember 1- 31
A percentage of any purchases you make will go back to the school
of your choice!
Visit our website at www.neckersjewelers.com
for more information.
30 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Great Gift Ideas For SeniorsBy Roger Brannan Administrator, Bettendorf Health Care Center Doyouhavea“hard tobuyfor” loved one on your holidayshoppinglist?Sometimesthepeoplewhomeanthemosttoyoucanbethemostdifficulttobuyfor.Wehavecomeupwithalistofgiftideas for the favoritesenior inyourlife.1.Familytime–Atthetopofthelistis the gift of spending timewithfamily. Time with children and grandchildren cancreatebeautifulholidaymemoriesandisoftenmorepreciousthananythingelse.
2.Event tickets–Takeyour senior lovedone to theseasonalNutcrackerballetperformance,toamovieoraconcert.Funnevergoesoutofstyle!
3.Travelvouchers–Assistingwithtravelcostssuchasairlinevouchersortrainfare,orevencredittowardacruisemakesagreatgift.
4.Home projects –Many seniors have home “workprojects”thattheycan’tdothemselvesandcoulduseyourhelptocomplete.Offeryourselfashandymanforaday.
5.CarePackages-Thinkaboutthingsyourlovedoneorfriendusesregularly.Smallitemscanbeusefuland appreciated, such as tissues, lotion, soaps,comfy socks or slippers, favorite treats, etc. If alovedoneresidesinanassistedlivingfacility,thesesmallluxuriescanbeveryvaluable.
6.Photo keepsakes- Put together a memory book,small photo album, or fill up a memory cardof family pictures and put it in a digital photoframe. Help set up a pretty bulletin board in aprime location with photos, cards and importantinformation.
7.Consideracharitabledonationdoneinyourlovedone’s name. Someone who is very involved ina charity or has a favorite cause may appreciatethis as much as receiving a gift, and you candonate to almost any cause in creative wayssuchas“adopting”anendangeredanimal,helpingsomeonethrough“microlending”orgivingcharitygiftcards.
Justafewsuggestionstolettheseniorinyourlifeknowyouare thinkingof them. Again, inmostcases,thegiftofyourtimeisthemostpreciousgiftofall.
Just Like A Trusted Friend . . .
We’ll Be Here When You Need Us
Kimberly at Jersey Ridge Road | Davenport, Iowa 52807 | 563.355.4433 | m.weertsfh.com from web-enabled cell phones
www.WeertsFH.com
31QC Family Focus - December 2012
• 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 family-style dining.
• You never know when you might need specia l 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!
Bettendorf Health Care Center A Place To Call Home
2730 Crow Creek Rd • Bettendorf, IA • (563) 332-7463
32 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Create a new tradition this holiday seasonach family has its ownunique holiday traditions:meals, religious services,
gifts, gatherings and more. Thisyear, consider adding one moretraditiontoyourfamily’sholidays– discovering your family’sstories and legacies and sharingthem with all the generationsgatheredaroundtheholidaytable.Youmaybesurprisedatwhatyouwilllearn! As people look to the end of the year, andthe start of a new one, they frequently reflect onthe need tomake sure their financial plans are inplace.Familieswillreviewtheirassetsandupdatetheirwillsortrusts,butasvitalthesedocumentsare,thereisanotherimportantpiecetothepuzzle–theirpersonallegacy.Theholidaysaretheperfecttimetobeginpreservingyour–andyourfamily’s-stories,historyandvalues. Weurgepeopletodiscusstheirestateplanswith their families, beneficiaries and successor
Etrustees or executors to ensure their final wisheswillbecarriedout,butwealsourgefamiliestositdownattheholidays,andthroughouttheyear-tosharetheirstories.AskGrandpaabouthisschools.Ask Grandma how she met Grandpa. Discoveryouruncle’smilitaryservice.Whatdoyourparentsrememberbestabout theirowngrandparents?Tellyour children about the funniest scraps you gotinto with your siblings. Ask your children abouttheirbestmomentatschool,ontheballfieldorinaperformance. Foranevenmorememorableevent,capturethe discussions on video. Don’t worry aboutprofessionalquality,justsetupthecameraonawideangletocaptureeveryoneatthetableandtheletthediscussionsbegin! 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 309-944-2188, 309-762-9368 or 1-800-644-5345. You may also contact our firm by email at [email protected] or visit our web site at http://www.nashbeanford.com. 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.
By Curtis Ford Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP
Don’t Bet The Farm:Estate & Succession Planning for Farm Families
For us, planning our estateis about love, not death.
Your Family’s Future Depends on the Decisions You Make Today.Attend this important seminar and learn:
GALESBURG
Tuesday, July 106:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Best Western Prairie Inn300 S. Soangetaha Road
COLONA
Thursday, July 126:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Lavender Crest Winery5409 US Highway 6
Nash Nash Bean & Ford, LLP • Attorneys and Counselors at LawJohn Deere Rd. at 5030 38th Ave. Ste. 2 • Moline, IL 61265 445 U.S. Hwy 6 East • P. O. Box 63 • Geneseo, IL 61254The 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
Attend one of these seminars and you’ll receive, a FREE, one-hour, private estate planning consultationto answer any questions you have about protecting your Estate and IRA.
REGISTER NOW: (309) 944-2188, (309) 762-9368 OR 1-800-644-5345Register online: www.nashbeanford.com
� How you can protect your family from havingto sell the farm to pay estate taxes.
� How to avoid a family feud over division ofthe farm.
� How to reduce possible delays in operationsdue to probate.
� How to transition the farm operations in atimely manner.
� The advantages and disadvantages oftrusts and wills.
� How to plan your estate to minimizefederal estate taxes.
� How to protect the farm and yourestate and provide for yourself and yourfamily if you become incapacitated.
� What a Power of Attorney will andwill not do for you.
Call 1-800-644-5345 or visit our website, www.nashbeanford.com
for our upcoming seminars
33QC Family Focus - December 2012
www.IWantAHealthySpine.com
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Put Chiropractic Care Into Your Health Routine.
For your evaluation, contact your Iowa chiropractic provider today:
I Want a Healthy Spine.... to relieve my chronic back pain.
Diagnosing and treating chronic back and neck pain can be challenging and costly. Talk to your chiropractic physician about how chiropractic care may provide you with relief from chronic pain.
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Sleep right sleep tightBy Dr. Traci Nelson Hassel Nelson Chiropractic
s a chiropractor I amaskeddailyaboutpropersleep positions. This
isoneofmyfavoritequestionsbecause proper positions canrelievealotofmusculoskeletalpain and improper positionscan cause serious, long-termproblems.Wedospendathirdofourlivessleepingandthegoalittomaintainthenaturalcurvesofthespinewhilewerest. 14% of people sleep on their backs. Thekeytothispostureistohaveapillowthatsupportsyourneckbutdoesnotpropittoomuch.Anothercaution isproblemsthatcanoccurwithbreathingandsnoringduetothetonguefallingbackagainstthesoftpalate.Ifyousufferfromlowbackpaintryapillowunderyourknees. Armorhand tinglingornumbnesscanbenefitfromsupportingarmsonsmallpillowsasyou sleeponyourback. The second mostcommon position isstomach-sleeping andthis is the worst possiblechoice.Imaginesittinginaclassroomalldaywithyourneck turned to the side allday.Ouch!Ithyperflexesthe neck and put pressureonthespinalnerves.Italsoflattensoutthecurveinthelow back and could causelowbackpain.Ithasevenbeen shown to cause theabdomen to “pooch” out.Onewaytobreakthishabitis to use a body pillow infrontofyouasyousleeponyourside. So how should yousleep? The answer formost people is: on yourside with arms folded in
Afrontofyou. I cautionyou toavoidplacingyourarmaboveyourhead,layyourheadonyourarmorhandsunderyourface. Thesepositionscancauseshoulder,neckorjawproblemsrespectively.Makesurethatthepillowsupportsyourheadsoyouhaveastraightimaginarylinedownthenose,chin,centerofchestandbellybuttontokeepyourspinealigned.Also,makesureyoudonottuckyourkneestoofaruptowardyourchestinatightfetalpositiontoavoidexacerbationoflowbackpain.Apillowbetweenthekneeswillkeepthepelvislevelandreducelowbackpain. Certain people may have differentcomplaintsorphysical conditions thatwouldvarytheserecommendationssome.Ifyouhavespecificquestions you should ask your chiropractor. Ifyouhaveanyaches,painsordiscomfort thatonlyshowsupatnightorthatgetsworsewhileyouaresleeping you should also consult a chiropractoraswell. Thebestmattressorpillowintheworldcannot fix amisaligned or subluxated spine. Getyourspinecheckedandusegoodsleepingposture.Sweetdreams!
34 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
John Hoffman, M.D. • Tuvi Mendel, M.D. • Tyson Cobb, M.D.
Michael Dolphin, D.O. • Matthew Wilber, DPM, CWS
There is no guessing who’s best for your unique needs because each
OS doctors’ speciality 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.
OSquadcities.com • Davenport • Bettendorf • Moline • Clinton
When you need orthopaedic care to get back to 100%, choose the doctors of OS.
Call (563) 344-9292 for an appointment
fellowship trained specialists with advanced training in foot & ankle • hand & upper extremity • spinesports medicine • total joint replacement
35QC Family Focus - December 2012
The right to choice: Selecting the best orthopaedic specialist for your carehenprimarycarephysicians(PCPs)areaskedto treat pain associatedwith joints, bones, orligaments,theywillfrequentlyreferpatientsto
anorthopaedicspecialistformoreadvancedcare. But did you know that in all cases you canrequestareferraltoaspecificspecialtygroupfromyourPCP? “Physiciansmake referralsbasedonanumberoffactors.Whiletheirrecommendationsareimportant,rememberthatyouhavetherighttochoose,”saysDr.TuviMendel, footandanklespecialistatOrthopaedicSpecialists.“Doyourownresearchandaskaround.Ifyoudon’tagreewiththeinitialreferralprovidedbyyourPCP,knowthatyoucanrequestareferraltoaparticulargrouporspecialist.” TheadministrativeteamatyourPCP’sofficecanoftenfilloutyourpatientreferralformandhelp you make an appointment, so don’thesitatetoaskquestionsandseekassistance. According to Angie Van Utrecht,Director of Operations at OrthopaedicSpecialists,areferralisn’tneededatalltoseeaspecialist,unlessyourinsurancerequiresit. “Manyspecialistgroupsdon’trequirea referral inorder tobeseenor treated. AtOrthopaedicSpecialists,simplycallandmakeanappointment,”shesaid.Theonlyreasonthatwewouldrequireareferralisifapatienthasan HMO plan, and in that case, it isrequiredbytheinsurancecompanytoobtainone.“ Whether using thespecialist recommended byyour PCP, or deciding togo in adifferentdirection,it’s always worthwhileto research potentialspecialistsandseekasmuchinformation as possibleabout their education,experienceandreputation. “The challengepatients face today is thatthere is somuch informationavailable, it can be difficultto determine what will mostimpact their quality of care,specifically when it comes toorthopaedics,”saysVanUtrecht.
W “Inreality,youcanaskafewsimplequestionsorseekafewsimpleanswersandlearnagreatdeal.”With so much information now available online and through advertising, it’s important to know what you’re looking for when researching a specialist. Focus your research, which can be done bylookingonlineoratwebsites,callingtheoffice,pickingupprintmaterials,orthroughtrustedcontacts,ongettinganswerstothefollowingquestions:•Isyourspecialistboardcertified?Determineifheorshe is certified to focuson the specific areaof yourconcern.
•Is your specialist also fellowship trained? In otherwords,hasyourspecialistcompletedanextraprogramin the orthopaedic area of your concern and if so,
doeshecontinue topractice in thatarea? This isextremelyimportant,asitassuresyourspecialistwillhaveexpansiveexpertise.•Ifyouaregoingtoneedsurgery,howmanyofthesetypesofsurgeryhasyourspecialistdone? The more surgeries your specialisthas done, the more experience he or shewillhave.Additionally,youcanaskaboutinfectionratesandsuccessrates;specialistswhoareproudoftheirworkandsuccesswillreadilyprovidethisinformation.
•Doyouknowanyonewhohashadfirsthandexperience with the specialist? While
someone else’s treatment andresults can’t be compared towhat you will experience,you can rely on trustedword-of-mouth to gainan understanding of theoverallexperience. Deciding on aspecialist doesn’t haveto be overwhelming.Completetheresearch,ask trusted resources,and don’t settle forany care that isn’texactlyrightforyou.
Formoreinformationabout the procedures andservices that OrthopaedicSpecialistsprovides,pleasevisitourwebsiteatwww.osquadcities.com.
36 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
Imagine if you turned on the kitchen orshower faucet, or afirefighter hookedonto afirehydrant andnothinghappened.Or,what if all thewater your family used for drinking or cookinghadtobeboiledfirsttoeliminateharmfulbacteria?Thankfully,intheU.S.,waterservicesaresoreliablethatwehaven’thadtoworrywhetherhighqualitydrinkingwaterwillbeavailablewhenweturn thetap. We don’t think about the complex, verytechnicalprocessourwatergoesthroughtobecomesafeenoughtodrink.But,burieddeepunderground,miles and miles of pipes are constantly carryingwater throughout our service area from thewatertreatment plants that clean and distributewater topumping stations and on to your home.We don’tsee all the people – scientists, engineers, plantoperators,maintenancecrewsandcustomerserviceprofessionals -- working 24/7 so that everythingruns smoothly. From meeting environmentalqualitystandardstomakingsurethatenoughwateris availablewhen supply is low, or that there areadequatepressurelevelsforfireprotectionaswellas your morning shower, the work is happeningbeneath the surface, behind the scenes. And, formany people, since water is “out of sight, out ofmind,”it’seasytotakeforgranted. There’s an obvious cost to assure suchqualityanddependability.Thefacilitiesandsystemsprovidingwater services to customers takes threetimes more money to supply than other utilityproviders, yet it is typically the least expensiveofAmericans’ utility bills.Water and wastewaterservice isusually the lowerpercentageutilitycostperhousehold,atanaverageof12percent,comparedtogas/oilat18percent,telephoneat33percentandelectricityat37percent. Atthecostofaboutapennypergallon,wateris a tremendous value, especially considering thatthepriceofagallonofmilkorgastodayiscloseto$4! When pipes break, from stressors such asage, extreme changes in temperature or pressure,andsoilmovement,theycausedisruptiontohomesandbusinesses,aswellaswaste(intheUS,nearly7billiongallonsofwaterare losteachdayduetopipeleaksandruptures).However,evenwhenwater
Lisa M. Reisen, PHR Iowa American Water
mainsbreak,theserviceinterruptionistemporary(thankstowatercrewsworkingovertime),andsoonforgotten. Breaks are also more costly to repair.It’s estimated that emergency pipe repairs are 10timesmoreexpensivethanthecostofongoingpipemaintenanceandupgrades. Wateristhecommondenominatorinallofour lives.Weneed it to live.Wedependon it tocook and clean. It is an essential component foravitaleconomyandenvironment,not tomentionhealthandfire safety.Therefore,wemust respectit as the precious resource it is, as a luxury, notsomething to be taken for granted. And, whenwe value something, we generally are carefulnot towaste it. It’s something to think about thenexttimeyouturnonthetap–andthenturnitoffwhile brushing your teeth orwashing the dishes.Youcanlearnmoreaboutthevalueofwater,andsomesimplewaystousewaterwisely,byvisitingtheLearningCenteron the IowaAmericanWaterwebsite,atwww.iowaamwater.com.
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Happy Holidays
WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO. FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO, at iowaamwater.com.
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.
© 2012 American Water. “American Water” and the star logo are the registered trademarks of American Water Works Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
There’s a lot more to your water bill than just water.
37QC Family Focus - December 2012
WE CARE ABOUT WATER. IT’S WHAT WE DO. FIND OUT WHY YOU SHOULD, TOO, at iowaamwater.com.
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.
© 2012 American Water. “American Water” and the star logo are the registered trademarks of American Water Works Company, Inc. All rights reserved.
There’s a lot more to your water bill than just water.
38 December 2012 • QC Family Focus
By David W. Deuth, President of Weerts Funeral Home Itwasoneofthosewinterswhenkids–whousuallyhadtobecoaxedoutofbedsowewouldn’tbelateforschool–lovedtogetupearlyandlistentotheradiotoseeifschoolwaslateorcanceled. Late in the afternoon, it becameverysnowy. School had let out early and wehunkereddownaftersupperforaneveninginside. Just when the dishes were done,someonehada splendid idea.Homemadeicecream. MomandDadhadthecoolesthand-crankicecreamfreezerever,probablyfromthelate‘50’sorearly60’s.Theoutertubwas blue with flecks and the inner stainless steel churningcanisterheldthecreammixture.Abrineofsaltandiceseparatedthetwoandchilledthecovetedcreamygoodnessofhomemadeicecreamaswemanuallycrankedthehandleforwhatseemedlikehours. Mom began assembling the necessary ingredients as mymouthbegan towater.Sugar,check.Vanilla,check.HalfandHalf….whoa.NoHalfandHalf. Discussionensuedthatwemayhavetopostponethegreatsnowstormhomemadeicecreameventduetotheweather…andsansHalfandHalfinthehouse.Nonsense,mybrotherandIagreed.WelivedamerefewblocksfromthegrocerystoreandsurelywecouldmakeitthereandbacktogetacontainerofHalfandHalfifthat’sallwehadtodotogetsomehomemadeicecream. Musthaveicecream,musthaveicecream….. We gunned it and made our way into the grocery storeparking lot. “Notverybusy,”wequipped.No,notverybusyatall.Theywereclosedduetotheweather.Clearly,wewouldhavetoheadacrosstowntotheothergrocerystore.Bravelywefoughtourwaythroughdriftsofsnowandunplowedstreets…notanothercarinsightanywhere.Thesnowwassoheavy,thelightfromthestreetlightswasvisibleonlywhenyouweremerefeetawayfromthelightpoles.Musthaveicecream,musthaveicecream… Sliding into that parking lot, we quickly found that theywere closed, too. Surely SOMEONE was open in this townthat had someHalf andHalf.Gas stations in those days stillhadservicestations,notconveniencestores,sothatwasn’tanoption.Drovebyseveralcafes;closed. IworkedatthehospitalatthetimeandmusedthatperhapsIcouldfindsomeonefromsecuritytoescortmetothekitchenwhere I’d open the refrigerator door and magically discoverthe Half and Half and save the day. My brother mentionedsomethingaboutbeinganidiot… Well???Didhehaveanybetterideas?? Weslidthecaruptotheonlyplaceintownthatlookedlikeitwasopen:Gannon’sSupperClub.Imarchedoninthereandexplainedtothefirst–andonly–personIsawthatwedesperatefor Half andHalf. Explained howwe had the sugar and thevanillaandtheniftyicecreamfreezer….andhowwehadcriss-crossedtheentiretownonthisnoblemissiononlytobecruellycrushedbythesamelousysnowstormthatjusthoursearlierhadbeenourherowhenithadsparedusfromafewhoursofschool. She lookedatmekindof funnyanddisappeared into the
kitchen,returningmomentslaterwithacontainerofHalfandHalf.Idon’trecallwhatIpaidherforit,butIcarrieditwithbothhandsasthoughpreciousjewelsasImademywaybacktothecar. Leaping through the door like a superhero, I proudlydisplayed the trophy of our valiant efforts. Mom was quitesurprised,Ithink,thatwemadeithomewithoutgettingstuckinthesnowANDactuallyfoundsomeHalfandHalfsomewhere. Shemixeduptheingredientsandtherestofusjuststaredintrance-likesilenceasshepouredthecreamydelightintothestainlesssteelcanister.Icouldtasteitsgoodnessinmymind.Afterwe added the ice and the salt tomake thebrine in thebucket,weweremorethanready.Letthecrankingbegin. I cranked first.And cranked.And cranked. It should begettingthickerbynow… Mybrotherjumpedintocrankforawhile.Andhecranked.Andcranked. Then Dad took a turn cranking. And cranking. Andcranking.After25minutesofnon-stopcranking,wecheckedtheglorioustreasureinside:stillcompletelyliquid.Mustnotbecrankinghardenough. Istartedroundtwoofthecranking.Severalminuteslater,Irelinquishedthehandletomybrother.Hecrankedandcrankedandcranked.Wecheckedthecanisteragain;stillliquid. After we all took our turn at round three of non-stopcranking,wecrackedthelidopenagain.Stillliquid. Ireasonedthatweshouldtaste-testit.MaybeitjustLOOKSlike liquid, but is really smooth, creamy ice cream? I snucka spoonful and tasted it – anticipating the creamy goodness,whatever the form. It was horrible. It tasted like a glass ofsweetenedmilkthatgotintoafightwithasaltshaker. Aquickassessmentledustotherealizationthattheseamonthestainlesssteelcanisterhadasmallleakandthebrinehadseepedintothecovetedcreamygoodnessofouricecream.Weweredevastated. MUSThaveicecream,MUSThaveicecream… Heartbroken,we could onlywatch in stunned silence aswewerereducedtopouringthesalt-spoliedtreasuredownthedrain.Wedidn’thaveanystore-boughticecreaminthefreezerthatday.I’mnotsosurethatanyofuswouldhaveeatenitifwedid.Welaidtoresttheverycoolhand-crankicecreamfreezerwiththeflecks. Icanstillvividlyimaginethetasteofmom’shomemadeicecream.It’ssomethingspecial.AndIthinkwe’llmakesomethiswinter.MaybeduringChristmas. Preferablyduringasnowstorm. RememberWell. 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 [email protected].
Homemade Ice Cream
Happy Holidays FromPine Hill Cemetery Association
1530 E 39th St • Davenport
(563) 391-5130
www.pinehillcemeterydavenport.com