For the past three years, kids have eaten healthier breakfasts, lunches and snacks at school thanks to the bipartisan Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, which made the first meaningful improvements to the nutrition of foods and beverages served in cafeterias and sold in vending machines in 30 years. Thanks to the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act and other strategies, the national obesity trend is slowly reversing, and our children have more energy to learn and grow, greater opportunity to thrive, and better overall health.

As Congress turns its attention to reauthorizing the Act this year, it is important to remember that our children are battling a national obesity epidemic that costs $190.2 billion per year to treat and, according to retired U.S. generals, threatens our national security by making almost one in three young adults unfit to serve in our nation's military. If we don't continue to invest in our children's health, this generation will be the first to live shorter lives than their parents.

The Act has undoubtedly improved the quality of school meals as well as the health and wellbeing of our children and for those reasons is supported by parents, teachers, doctors and kids themselves. USDA continues to work with schools, listen carefully, and provide time, flexibility, guidance, and resources to help them serve the healthier meals. Now is not the time to backpedal on a healthier future for our kids?that is why Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is encouraging Congress to act quickly to reauthorize a strong Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act and support the ongoing success of the healthier meals.

• Kids are eating more healthy food and throwing less food away. Plate waste is not increasing. A study released in March 2015 by the University of Connecticut's Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity shows that students are eating more nutritious foods and discarding less of their lunches under the healthier standards. Kids ate 13 percent more of their entrees and nearly 20 percent more of their vegetables in 2014 than in 2012, which means that less food is ending up in the trash today than before the national standards were updated.

• Americans agree that healthier meals are the right thing for our kids. A poll released in mid-August by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation shows that 9 out of 10 Americans support national nutrition standards for school meals. Nearly 70% believe school meals are excellent or good, compared to just 26% in 2010, before the healthier school meals were implemented in schools.

• Students like the taste of the healthier school meals. A 2015 study from the University of California, Berkeley's School of Public Health found that nearly 90 percent of surveyed students liked at least some school meal options. And according to an August 2014 survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 70 percent of elementary school leaders nationwide reported that students liked the new lunches.

• Kids are eating more fruits and vegetables as a result of updated standards. A May 2014 Harvard School of Public Health study shows that, under the updated standards, kids are now eating 16 percent more vegetables and 23 percent more fruit at lunch.

• Parents support the healthier school meals. A September 2014 poll released by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Heart Association shows that 72 percent of parents favor strong nutrition standards for school meals and 91 percent support serving fruits or vegetables with every meal.

• Support for healthier school meals is bipartisan. A September 2014 poll released by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the American Heart Association found that 87 percent of Democrats, 70 percent of independents and more than half of registered voters with kids in public schools surveyed were supportive of the new meals.

• Over 95 percent of schools report that they are successfully meeting the updated nutrition standards. Students across the country are experiencing a healthier school environment with more nutritious options. The new meals are providing children more whole grains, fruits and vegetables, lean protein and low-fat dairy, as well as less sugar, fat, and sodium.

• USDA continues to work with schools as they implement the new standards. USDA recently launched an initiative called Team Up for School Nutrition Success that allows the schools who still face challenges to pair up and learn best practices from schools that are already successfully serving healthier meals. The program has provided training for more than 3,500 individuals and has been enthusiastically received by schools and school officials.

• School lunch revenue is up. Despite concerns raised about the impact of new standards on participation and costs, a USDA analysis suggests that last year, schools saw a net nationwide increase in revenue from school lunches of approximately $450 million. This includes the annual reimbursement rate adjustments, as well as increased revenue from paid meals and the additional 6 cents per meal for schools meeting the new meal standards.
• Participation is increasing substantially in many areas of the country. Total breakfast participation increased by 380,000 students from FY2013 to FY2014 and has increased by more than 3 million students since 2008. USDA has also received reports from many schools indicating a positive response to healthier offerings and increased participation.
  
  The Community Eligibility Provision under the HHFKA has been successfully implemented in over 14,000 schools. As a result, schools in low-income areas are now able to offer free, nutritious school meals to more than 6.8 million kids. Schools participating in CEP report increased revenue, decreased administrative costs, reduced program errors, and substantially higher program participation - on average, a 9 percent increase in school breakfast participation and 5 percent increase in school lunch.
  
  As more kids and schools continue to successfully make the transition to the new standards, USDA expects participation to keep growing.
• Virtually all schools continue to participate. Data from states indicated very few schools (only 0.51 percent of schools nationwide) reported dropping out of the programs due to struggles over providing kids healthy food. State agencies reported that the schools no longer participating in the NSLP were mainly residential child care institutions and smaller schools with very low percentages of children eligible for free and reduced price meals.
• USDA has and will continue to listen to stakeholders and provide guidance and flexibilities, as appropriate, to help schools and students adapt to the updated requirements. Early in the implementation process for school meals, when schools asked for flexibility to serve larger servings of grains and proteins within the overall calorie caps, USDA responded. In January of 2014, that flexibility was made permanent. USDA is also phasing other requirements in over the next several years. And hearing schools concerns on the lack of availability of whole grain products, USDA is allowing schools that have demonstrated difficulty in obtaining adequate whole grain items to submit a request to the States to use some traditional products for an additional two years while industry works to create better whole grain products.

Located at The University Club

1518 5th Ave, Moline, IL

Come for the experience in a stunning venue. This event, not too big and not too small, will help you plan your storybook wedding!

Tickets are $7 per person if ordered in advance. $10 at the door.

Click Here to purchase your tickets now! Or You can purchase tickets at the Dispatch/Argus customer service counter, 1720 Fifth Ave., downtown Moline. For more information call 309-757-5026

Davenport, Iowa - Don helps in the Café and walks Main Street. Millie, line dances on Thursday. And each morning, you'll find Jan leading group exercise classes. Just another day until you realize these are older adults, volunteering, exercising and staying active - each playing a role to help Quad City seniors Celebrate LIFE at CASI, The Center for Active Seniors.
The National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC) has deemed September National Senior Center Month and CASI - The Center for Active Seniors is celebrating. More than 5000 older adults will Celebrate LIFE this September at CASI during National Senior Center Month - dubbed A Celebration of LIFE - Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy . And like Don, Millie and Jan, the Quad Cities older adults are invited to participate, come together and Celebrate LIFE during National Senior Center Month.
"The Center for Active Seniors, Inc., CASI, as it is known to most, is the Quad Cities most comprehensive Senior Center. More than 80 events will happen throughout the month of September," said Laura Kopp President/CEO. "We're not your average senior center - we're here when you need us. But, don't take my word for it. Come experience CASI for yourself," added Kopp.
Senior Center Month kicks off on September 1st and 2nd when the Cities of Bettendorf and Davenport will each proclaim September as Senior Center Month. The Honorable Bob Gallagher, Mayor of Bettendorf and the Honorable Bill Gluba, Mayor of Davenport, will each proclaim September as Senior Center Month at their council meetings held September 1st and 2nd respectively. Both cities will recognize CASI's daily contributions to enhance the well-being of the older citizens of our communities.
In addition to CASI's normal schedule of activities, two special events, Laughs on Tap and Caring for the Caregiver tie in with Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy. Both events take place at CASI, 1035 W Kimberly Road, Davenport.

? Thursday, September 17th: Laughs on Tap is a first time event at CASI and serves as a Fun(ds) raising event to benefit activities and programs at Jane's Place CASI's Adult Day Service and CASI. ComedySportz, an Improv Comedy Group, will be onsite at CASI Thursday September 17th with Brews and Heavy Apps beginning at 5:30 followed by Draughts and Heavy Laughs beginning at 6:30 at CASI. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
To order tickets: www.Eventbrite.com /Laughs on Tap (http://www.eventbrite.com/e/laughs-on-tap-tickets-17834502477?aff=es2)
? Thursday, September 24th: Caring for The Caregiver, presented by Dr. Steve Kopp, PhD, LMFT, LMHC; Genesis Psychology Associates. Often overlooked and forgotten, yet the most important person to care for is the caregiver. When a caregivers needs are met, the person being cared for will benefit, too. Learn more during this special event, Thursday, September 24th. Cost is $10 per person and reservations can be made by calling CASI at 563.386.7477 or emailing info@CASIseniors.org
Here's a sampling of CASI's month long Celebration of LIFE - Learning, Independence, Friends and Energy, will take place during September. For a complete list of all activities is available online at www.CASIseniors.org.
Learning - expand your knowledge. Educational seminars including Caring for the Caregiver, Alzheimer's and Dementia awareness, Documents your kids will need when you're gone, Electronics Clinic and more will occur during September.
Independence - live on your terms. Celebrate your independence by attending the Stand Up to Prevent Falls Balance and mobility screenings, Flu shots and 20th Anniversary Band Concert of CASI's New Horizons Band.
Friends - enjoy life, laughter & feeling connected. A special showing of Still Alice starring Julianne Moore, card games, QC Times Plus 60 Art Intake Wine and Cheese reception, Jane's Place Open House and our feature event, Laughs on Tap starring Comedy Sports, while enjoying adult beverages and appetizers.
Energy - discover health & vitality. Throughout September celebrate with daily, gentle exercise, a Spine Clinic, Zumba Class, Line Dancing, Tai Chi and plenty of other fun & fitness activities.

The NISC's national celebration of senior centers began in 1979, as just a week in the month of May. Since then, thanks to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Aging Task Force, numerous mayoral proclamations have declared Senior Center Week.
In 1985, NISC was instrumental in achieving the first Senior Center Week Presidential Proclamation signed by President Ronald Reagan. In 2007, NISC designated the entire month of September as Senior Center Month to give centers greater flexibility in scheduling celebratory events.
? CASI - The Center For Active Seniors, Inc., established in 1973, serves the needs of older adults by providing a variety of events and daily activities keeping older Quad Citians socially, mentally and physically engaged. As 10,000 baby boomers turn age 65 every day, "senior citizen" is being redefined as is the senior lifestyle. CASI's multi -pronged approach to helping seniors age successfully includes health and wellness initiatives, social engagement opportunities, lifelong learning and volunteer opportunities to keep the older adult active and involved with our Quad Cities community.
? Senior Advocacy programs at CASI help older adults, their families, and caregivers with needs assessment helping partner them with other area agencies and programs keeping them in their own home for as long as is safely possible.
? CASI's Jane's Place, the only adult day services center in Eastern Iowa, provides a comfortable, homelike atmosphere for adults who need supervised care during the day due to stroke recovery, Alzheimer's and dementia. Jane's Place provides just the right amount of personal care allowing maximum independence while at Jane's Place Day Service Center.
? For more information about the programs and services offered through CASI, Jane's Place and/or Senior Advocacy, visit www.CASISeniors.org or call 563.386.7477.
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2015 Theme:  Working. For A Better Life.

QUAD CITIES -- The Quad City Labor Day Parade Alliance will hold their 32nd Annual Labor Day Parade in East Moline on Monday, September 7th. This year's Grand Marshall is Brother Tom Moritz, UFCW #431 1st Vice President and Iowa Vice President for the Quad City Federation of Labor. On Labor Day, more than sixty area unions, community non-profits, businesses, and elected officials will march west on 15th Avenue from 13th Street to 3rd Street in East Moline, IL. Line up begins at 8 a.m. at the John Deere Harvester Works Parking Lot: 1100 13th Avenue, East Moline, IL. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 1:00 p.m. After the parade, join us at the "Salute to Labor Chicken Fry" at Illiniwek Park, Rt 84 Hampton, IL. Serving from 11:30-3:00pm. The picnic tickets are $10 for adults and $6.00 for children under 12 and can be purchased at the event.

This Labor Day, we recognize the incredible achievements of America's working people and celebrate all those who make our country run. Many of us will be busy this weekend with barbecues, festivals and other types of family events. But this is also a time to truly consider what strengthens our families and take a look at how failed public policies have diminished working peoples' ability to sustain a good living and created an economy that is increasingly out of balance. Working people are the backbone of our economy and need to be recognized as such, both in word and deed. Too often, working people have taken a back seat to corporate interests that put profits above their pursuit of a better life?a better life they are perfectly willing to work for. Many hardworking people are frustrated because despite our sweat, our sacrifice and our innovation, too many of us struggle to support our families. We recognize the need for change, because the cost of living continues to rise while employers deny working people the wages and benefits needed to sustain their families.

Born from struggle and driven to find solutions, the labor movement is fighting back to correct this economic imbalance, and these efforts have captured the attention of everyone from the President to the Pope. We are determined to counteract these imbalances because we know they did not come about by chance. They have been the result of failed public policies and a rise in political and corporate attacks on working people. Simply put, it is time to change the rules. Working people are united under the banner of Raising Wages because America should have an economy of shared prosperity that lifts families up and strengthens our nation. By raising wages, providing for paid sick days, paid maternity leave and equal pay for equal work, combating wage theft and other things that stand in the way of economic stability, we can empower working people to not just survive, but thrive. On Labor Day, let us refocus on doing what is best for our families, our communities, our state and our nation. Working people everywhere are standing up and speaking out for fundamental, lasting change, regardless of whether they work in manufacturing, engineering, service or retail. Every day, they work hard and sacrifice to make our country stronger. This Labor Day should be a celebration of working families, because we are ready to speak up together, change the rules and bring lasting economic balance so every family can pursue the American Dream and work for a better life.