Energy Ed announces dates and locations for the 2008 Energy Solutions Workshop series:

September 9 Quincy

September 10 Springfield

September 11 Mt. Vernon

September 16 Morris

September 17 Moline

Learn about opportunities to save energy and lower costs through this information-packed workshop! Topics include business energy resources, top efficiency recommendations and more. Learn about financial resources, new incentive programs and what's on the horizon in renewable energy. Don't miss this opportunity to improve your energy bottom line!

The Quincy workshop will be held from 8 am - 4:30pm at the Oakley Lindsay Center at 300 Civic Center Plaza. Lunch will be provided. Registration is $99 by August 27th or $119 after that date.

Visit www.EnergyEdCouncil.org for more information and to register online.

I don't know that I've ever heard farmers complain about rain in July. However, at this point in time, many are close to, if not entirely frustrated by the excessive moisture. At my home, just southeast of Quincy, I've recorded nearly 10 inches of rain in June (with 17 days of precipitation) and just over 10 inches of rain in July (with 19 days of precipitation).

For some producers (those that grow row crops only) the moisture has been great (as long as they have good drainage in their fields, the excess moisture hasn't harmed crop yield potential, however, the damage done to fields through erosion is another story). But for most producers, excessive moisture has been destructive.

I don't know that I've ever seen as much physical damage to fields and structures (terraces, etc.) than what has occurred this spring and summer. Erosion has been severe in many fields. Repairing of and soil removal from terraces will be a necessity on many farms. Hay making has been a challenge as well. There just hasn't been enough sunshine to allow drying to occur. One benefit- most pastures haven't produced this well in ages.

- Mike Roegge

On Saturday, August 2nd the fourth annual FoodFest was held in Washington Park to celebrate local food and farmers. Highlights of the day included a Chef Cook-off, a kiddie tractor pull, watermelon eating contests, tomato and salsa contests, educational activities for youth and lots of great food!

The winners of this year's Chef Contest were from Jorge the Crooks. All the participating chefs prepared delicious foods made from fruits and vegetables purchased at the farmers market prior to the contest.

Thank you to the 2008 Locally Grown FoodFest Sponsors: County Market, Two Rivers RC&D, Great River Economic Development Foundation, Historic Quincy Business District, Western Illinois Sustainable Ag Society, Quincy Area Convention and Visitors Bureau,

The Tri-State Development Summit Tourism Task Force recently completed a collective tourism brochure for the 35 counties within the Summit region. The brochure is an important tool for communities throughout the region to promote themselves as a travel destination. The project completion is very timely as gas prices rise and travelers find themselves vacationing closer to home. The brochure will be a great resource for people from St. Louis to Springfield to Des Moines in planning their summer getaway plans. Brochures may be picked up at the Oakley-Lindsay Center or the Villa Katherine in Quincy.

- Shelby Crow

Saturday, August 23, 2008

The event is family friendly and offers bike rides in varying lengths as well as a 5K walk. For information contact Jenny Arnold at jearnold@quincyil.gov. T-shirts will be given to the first 200 participants.

The Brown County Action Health and Social Services Team held their second annual Back to School Fair on Saturday, July 19 at the Brown County Middle School. The Back to School Fair provides a wide variety of free services and information in one day, at one location making it easy and convenient for parents to get their children prepared to go back to school.

This year's fair again featured free physicals, immunizations and haircuts. Thirty students received physicals provided by staff from Quincy Medical Group. The Brown County Public Health Department administered over 50 immunizations to seventeen children and over half of the students in attendance took advantage of the haircuts which were provided by nine different stylists from area salons. All participants were treated to a continental breakfast of assorted pastries and juice provided by DOT Foods. Every Student in attendance also received a goody bag filled with personal care items, useful information and some fun things for the kids as well.

The Brown County Action Team appreciates the community's support and sends out a huge thank you to all who donated items as well as their time, talents and services.

- Jori Bottoroff

The Orr Research Center 30^th Anniversary Field Day will be held, August 25, 2008, with registration at 3 p.m. at both the Beef and Crop Centers. Tours and speakers will begin at 3:30 at each center. A pitchfork fondue meal (beef and pork) will be served at 6 p.m. followed at 7 p.m. by the Anniversary Program.

The Crop Sciences Field Day will feature University of Illinois speakers who will discuss the following topics: Making profitable fungicide applications; Weed management; Grain marketing; Crop prospects; Corn rootworm and western bean cutworm. CCA hours are offered.

The 2008 Animal Science Field Day will feature an overview of current and past research with question and answer session, feeding programs using corn co-products with crop residues, and sire selection and the use of F1 bulls. Additionally, tours of the Orr Beef Center calving barn, feedlot, pastures & research facilities will be conducted

An indoor program will also be offered. The first session, Grain Marketing, will be feature sharing marketing techniques, crop insurance, and margin information to make the most from your yield. The second session will highlight the latest methods and guidelines for safely preserving foods. There is no cost for the program.

On September 16 the Institute for Excellence in Leadership will begin its third series of leadership development workshops with a session on "Mission Based Management". Keynote speaker for the day is Peter Brinckerhoff an internationally renowned trainer, author, and consultant to not-for-profit organizations.

The day will also include a keynote address at lunch that is open to the public. Brinckerhoff will discuss his newest award winning book. Cost for the luncheon is $25.

Other sessions in the monthly series are: Elements of Leadership, Human Resources Management for Nonprofits, Building Better Boards, Sustainable Nonprofits, Marketing and Public Relations, Measuring Nonprofit Impact, and Building Community Leadership.

The series of eight sessions will run from September 08 through April 09, on the second Friday of each month. The cost for a single day session is $150 and includes materials, breakfast and lunch. The cost for the full series is $1000. Register by contacting United Way of Adams County, Inc. at 222-5020. Participants are eligible for continuing education units. A full program and registration forms are listed on www.unitedwayadamsco.org, www.thecen.org, or www.extension.uiuc.edu/adams.

The Institute for Excellence in Leadership is a collaborative project of University of Illinois Extension, Center for Effective Nonprofits and United Way of Adams County, Inc. The long term goal of the Institute for Excellence in Leadership is to provide better trained, competent, efficient community organization leaders in the Tri-state region of Western Illinois, Eastern Missouri, and Southeast Iowa.

The Institute for Excellence in Leadership welcomes anyone seeking professional development in the area of community organization management, including staff; managers, volunteers, professional association employees, educators and private sector employees who wish to make a career change. Those who are interested in succession planning, building the skills of new managers and enhancing leadership within the organization are encouraged to participate.

- Carrie Edgar