Nov_Dec 2020

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020 - Complimentary Issue - www.qcfamilyfocus.com
Safe
Celebrations
POSITIONING STATEMENT
Last Minute
Budget Tips
QUAD CITIES
TUTOR
CONNECTION
What’s In A Name?
It’s All About Relationships

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2 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2020
Serving Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois
7
8
Raising A Junior Chef
14
United Way Quad Cities to unite students
with tutors for educational success.
Navigating the Holidays
When Your Relationship is New
16
SAFE CELEBRATIONS:
POPPING CHAMPAGNE CORKS
Publisher: Mike Mickle
Editor: Karen Mickle
Magazine Design: Jessie Smith
Videographer: Harry Walker
Owen Hoke
Contributing Editors
Denise Aden • Michael Boehm • Michael Carton • Evin Ersan
Dawn Leon • Mike Mickle • Kevin Smith • Jake Ward
Join thousands of others as they help us promote happy healthy families in the QCA.
Call 563-940-7875 for more information.
QC Family Focus Magazine is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mickle Communications Group LLC. Publication of advertising and articles does not
constitute endorsement. The publisher reserves the right to refuse and/or edit any materials for publication. You can contact us at QC Family Focus
Magazine, P.O. Box 194, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722, 563-940-7875 or email: mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.com. ©Copyright 2020.
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 3

Your Mickle’s Worth
Yikes!! How is the holiday season
already here?? Matt’s football season
flew by. It seemed we went from unsure
the Boys of Fall would even take the field
to him leaving Spartan Stadium for the
last time as a high school football player
in a matter of minutes. His brother took
that same walk out of the stadium 5 years
ago. It’s been 3 years since Kate took her
lap in the Spartan pool as a member of
the swim team and also left the field for
the last time as a member the marching
band. In six short months, Matt’s senior
year will come to an end. Gulp.
It would be an understatement to say we
are happy that all three will be with us for the holidays. While I miss the days when
they were younger and got excited for Christmas morning, I love watching them
interact as young adults. Kyle and Kate were extremely supportive of their younger
brother during the football season. They even gave him money or took him out
to lunch to celebrate the team
wins. They communicate on a
regular basis through the world
of technology but having them
all three home together will lead
to some fun conversations and
quality time.
As we wrap up 2020, I hope we
can all look back long enough
to realize we were tested but
survived. Let’s honor those we
lost. Let’s also enter 2021 with
a renewed sense of hope and a
greater appreciation for those
we love. Thank you all for being part of the QCFF Family. We love promoting
what’s most important.. families. We couldn’t continue without the support of all
of you. Wishing each of you a wonderful holiday season.
Take care,
Mike, Karen, Kyle, Kate and Matt
4 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

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QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 5

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and
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PBS KIDS and the PBS KIDS Logo are registered trademarks of Public Broadcasting Service. Used with permission. CURIOUS GEORGE® & © 2020 Universal Studios and/or HMH. All rights reserved. PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC © 2020 WGBH. Underlying © VBK Co., or VBK Co. and Elizabeth Kann. TM: VBK Co. All third-party
trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Used with permission. Wild Kratts® © 2020 Kratt Brothers Co. Ltd./ 9 Story Media Group Inc. Wild Kratts®, Creature Power® are owned by Kratt Brothers Company Ltd. All rights reserved. LET’S GO LUNA! © 2020 LATW Productions Inc. Molly of Denali, TM/© 2020 WGBH
Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD © 2012 The Fred Rogers Company. All rights reserved. NATURE CAT and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned by Spiffy Entertainment, LLC © 2020 Spiffy Entertainment, LLC, All rights reserved.
QC Family Focus - November 2018 23
27
QC Family Focus - November 2012
With
Ela Ersan
Pleasant Valley
High School Student
BUTTERSCOTCH BROWNIES
Most people love a good brownie. When you
want to take a break from traditional chocolate, consider
making up a batch of butterscotch brownies. Below is
my absolute favorite recipe.
I like to bring these to holiday events and
everyone goes crazy for them. These are the best
blonde brownies you will ever eat!
Ingredients
• 1 pound light brown sugar
• 1 1/2 sticks butter, melted
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup nuts, chopped
Directions
Melt sugar and butter together. Cool. Add
eggs. Mix flour, baking powder, salt, vanilla and nuts
together. Add to other mixture. Mix well. Bake in
greased 9x13 pan at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
www.cdkitchen.com/recipes/recs/1351/Best-Butterscotch-Brownies-Eve81197.shtml
6 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

Raising A Junior Chef
by Michael Carton Director of Education and Outreach, WQPT Quad Cities PBS
Who doesn’t love a grilled
cheese sandwich and a hot bowl
of tomato soup on a cold winter
day? Does it get much better than
that? Yes! I can tell you definitively
that there’s something even better
than cracking open a can of the
iconic red and white label soup
and peeling slices of cheese from
their individually-wrapped plastic
holders!
This meal is a go-to in
my kitchen when I’m looking for
something quick and easy to
warm me up, but I recently learned
there’s a way to take it to the next
level. My son received a copy
of America’s Test Kitchen’s The
Complete Cookbook for Young
Chefs for his
birthday. I
didn’t expect
him to love
the book as
much as he
did, but it was
all he could
talk about for
weeks!
After reading through all
the different recipes, he wouldn’t
stop talking about the home
made “Creamy Dreamy Tomato
Soup.” He seemed genuinely
amazed that tomato soup could
come from something other than
a can!
After hearing about the
“Creamy Dreamy Tomato Soup”
recipe for the 100th time, my wife
suggested we make it together.
The cookbook also has a recipe
for a grilled cheese sandwich, so
we decided to make the entire
meal. We wrote down all the
ingredients we’d
need, checked
the pantry to see
what we already
had, searched
Google to learn
what a shallot
looks like, and
went to our local
HyVee to buy the
ingredients we
still needed.
I think this
was the first time
in my son’s life that
he – personally
– had a purpose
for shopping at
the grocery store. He’s grocery
shopped with me countless
times, but this was the first time
he knew the entire list -and what
everything on the list would be
used for. He was beyond excited.
I had no idea someone could be
so thrilled to find a can of diced
tomatoes!
When we returned home,
we started cooking right away.
In my head, I thought we were
going to just make some soup
and a couple sandwiches - but
this experience provided us a
chance talk about kitchen safety,
using a blender, melting butter
in the microwave, and so much
more! We had a blast cooking
and talking with one another!
When our meal was
finished, we sat down together at
the kitchen table to enjoy the fruits
of our labor – and it was great!
Maybe it was the experience of
cooking the meal together that
did it, but it was easily the BEST
grilled cheese and tomato soup
I’d ever tried.
We spent the time eating
our dinner discussing the process
of making our meal. We could
taste all the different ingredients
that we put into the soup – and
we savored it all. We even took
the time to observe how the
shredded cheese melted inside
the buttered bread.
This was such a positive
experience for me and my son
that we’re already planning
to try out other recipes in his
cookbook. When we run out of
recipes in that book, we’ll take a
look at America’s Test Kitchen’s
baking cookbook for kids, their
podcast for kids (called Mystery
Recipe), and their “Young Chef’s
Club.” We’ll continue exploring
new ways to improve our favorite
foods – while enjoying some
quality bonding time as we cook
in our kitchen!
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 7

United Way Quad Cities to unite students
with tutors for educational success.
by Kevin Smith Communications Manager, United Way
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Quad
Cities students need more help than ever before to succeed
in school – and life. To assist families and students with
additional supports, United Way Quad Cities has teamed
up with local colleges to provide tutoring services, called
QC Tutor Connection, to area K-12 students.
“Parents are struggling with keeping their kids are
on track and need some assistance with home-based
learning,” said Rene Gellerman president and CEO of United
Way Quad Cities. “We’re being proactive in reimagining
how we ensure all our kids succeed in school. Education
has been and will continue to be the best investment in the
future of our region – and best pathway out of poverty. QC
Tutor Connection provides a bridge for families looking for
learning support and college students who are seeking work
experience to earn spending money and want to make a
difference.”
The QC Tutor Connection is a web-based platform
designed to connect families seeking tutoring services
for their children with tutors interested in providing these
services. “We have college students who have lost work or
internship opportunities due to the impact of COVID-19,”
noted Sandy Cassady, St. Ambrose University vice president
of strategic initiatives and United Way Quad Cities board
member. “The Quad Cities has top-quality college students
who care deeply about our community and people. At every
one of local our higher-ed institutions, you will find smart
8 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus
and driven change agents and problem solvers. Together,
through the QC Tutor Connection, they will provide Quad
Cities K-12 students the support they need to maximize
their learning and ensure a strong talent pipeline is being
developed. This is a perfect fit.”
Parents and guardians of students in Scott and
Rock Island counties who want to take advantage of this
program can visit www.QCTutorConnection.org to learn
more.
HOW IT WORKS
The platform allows parents to review profiles and
find an available tutor specializing in school subjects where
their student needs help. Once a parent/guardian finds a
tutor who best matches their needs and fits their schedule,
they can email the tutor and meet virtually.
Families and tutors will negotiate all details – such
as hourly rates and the location and scheduling of tutor
sessions – between themselves. For families who cannot
afford the tutor’s fee, some limited financial assistance is
available. Parents and guardians who wish to learn more
about financial assistance should contact Alex Kolker at
akolker@unitedwayqc.org to learn more.
MORE TUTORS ARE NEEDED
As Quad Cities schools switch to fully remote
learning models, more tutors are needed to assist students
struggling to meet their academic goals. Current college
students, graduates and retired teachers are invited to

register a tutor profile using the web platform. Tutors should
list their areas of expertise, availability and hourly rate to
allow parents to find them using QCTutorConnection.org.
“The pandemic is a once-in-a-generation health
crisis, but it’s also a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to
fold in solutions to problems that we’ve put off too long,”
said Gellerman. “Even before COVID-19, opportunity
and achievement gaps were particularly pronounced for
low-income and minority students, and now these are the
Quad Citizens who are most impacted by the shutting
down of schools and virtual learning.”
“When kids fall behind in school, they get frustrated
and check out before they drop out. We have to work
together as a community to keep that from happening.”
A late-summer survey by United Way identified that 49
percent of respondents expressed concerns about the
prospect of remote learning during the 2020-21 school
year. The survey results have guided and informed United
Way on how to best support local families through longterm
recovery and rebuilding during the time of COVID
through programs such as the QC Tutor Connection.
A COMMUNITY INVESTMENT
For those who want to help Quad Cities students,
but don’t have the expertise or time to tutor, a donation
of $150 can underwrite 10 hours of tutoring for a student.
That investment can greatly impact a student’s learning
experience during this pivotal time.
“Education opens doors, broadens horizons and
UNITING STUDENTS WITH TUTORS
FOR EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS
Education opens doors,
broadens horizons and sets kids
up for success. But in these
unprecedented times, learning
is tough.
That’s why we’re making it easy
for students and tutors to connect
at QCTutorConnection.org.
sets kids up for success,” Cassady said. “I’m confident
that Quad Citizens will rise to the occasion with their time
and donations to ensure every student has the support they
need to succeed in school, no matter their socioeconomic
status. We’re a community that doesn’t give up. When
we’re down, we help each other.”
For more information on finding a tutor, becoming
a tutor or donating so a student in need gets the extra help
he/she needs, visit QCTutorConnection.org.
MADE POSSIBLE BY UNITED WAY DONORS
Initial funding to develop and launch the QC Tutor
Connection has been provided by Women United, a
United Way donor network of 200 local women focused
on improving the lives of young Quad Citizens.
Women United aims to have every child schoolready
when they enter kindergarten and reading proficiently
by third grade, which is the biggest indicator of whether a
child will graduate high school.
For more information on Women United, visit
www.unitedwayqc.org/womenunited.
About United Way Quad Cities United Way is a communitybased
social change organization that puts opportunity in
the hands of all Quad Citizens. Working with our determined
partners, volunteers, advocates and donors, we lead the charge
to improve education, income and health – the building blocks
of opportunity. The result is a mobilized community where every
Quad Citizen is living their best possible life. unitedwayqc.org
LOCAL EDUCATION
THE NUMBERS:
Education is the
best investment
in the future of our region.
Summer vacation, referred to as
“summer slide,”
has grown by as much as 4X this year.
Students unable to read at grade
level by the end of third grade are
MORE LIKELY TO
DROP OUT
4xOF HIGH SCHOOL.
33%
of Quad Cities 3 rd
graders cannot
read proficiently.
Opportunity and achievement gaps are particularly
pronounced for low-income and minority students.
In 2019, UWQC
invested over
$2 million
in a wide variety of educational programs
in Rock Island and Scott counties.
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 9

Just For Kids
10 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

Christmas Morning Croissant Streusel Bake
Prep this decadent dish the night before and bake up while opening
presents on Christmas morning! Fluffy, buttery croissants soak in a
sweetened milk and egg custard overnight. Before baking it’s topped with
a brown sugar and chopped pecan streusel. Great to eat warm straight
out of the oven or at room temperature.
Ingredients:
• 2 cups 2% milk + add’l 3-4 T for icing
• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold
• 8 large croissants, broken into pieces
• 3 t vanilla extract
• 1 cup pecans, chopped
• 1 t salt
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 cup half & half
• 8 eggs
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 t almond extract
Instructions:
• Grease a 9x13 rimmed baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.
• Break apart the croissants into bite-sized pieces and arrange them into the pan, overlapping.
• In a large bowl whisk the eggs. Then adding in the milk, half and half, sugar and vanilla extract, again whisk to
combine. Evenly pour this mixture over the broken croissants. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
• In the morning preheat the oven to 375 degrees. While preheating remove the pan from the fridge and let it
stand at room temperature for 30 minutes.
• In a large bowl combine the brown sugar, chopped pecans, flour and salt. Using a cheese grater, grate the cold
butter into this bowl. Using your fingers toss and combine this mixture until blended and crumbly. Sprinkle the
streusel over the croissants.
• Bake uncovered for 40 minutes or until browned and the center is set (not jiggly). Let cool for 10-15 minutes.
• In a small bowl combine the powdered sugar, almond extract and one tablespoon of milk at a time until it
becomes a thin glaze. Drizzle the glaze over the croissant bake right before serving.
• Store any leftovers covered in the fridge for 2-3 days. Reheat leftovers.
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Santa Meltaway Cookies
Parents all around love these cookies because they are incredibly easy to
whip up on Christmas Eve, just in time for Santa. Slightly sweet, with a bit
of a shortbread feel, they get decorated with a light icing and sprinkles of
course!
INGREDIENTS:
Cookie Dough
• 1 1/2 sticks butter, unsalted and softened
• 1 t. vanilla
• 1 c. flour
Icing
• 3/4 c. powdered sugar
• 4-5 T. milk
• 1/2 c. powdered sugar
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1 T. almond extract
• Christmas sprinkles
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a cookie sheet and set aside.
• In a stand mixer or hand held mixer cream together the butter and powdered sugar. Add in the cornstarch and
vanilla, creaming together.
• Sift the salt and flour together and add to the batter. Scoop dough out into balls and place on the cookie sheet,
then flatten the balls out with the underside of a cup dipped in powdered sugar.
• Bake for 10 minutes. Allow to cool on a wire cookie rack.
• To make the icing, whisk together the powdered sugar, extract and milk. This should make a medium to thin
glaze, adding more milk if you need to thin it out.
• Place a small spoonful of icing in the middle of the cookie and add sprinkles. Allow glaze to harden.
Find 7 Differences
For more of Ally’s recipes check out the recipe section
at qcfamilyfocus.com or sweetandsavoryfood.com
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 11

The Feeling Of Christmas
by Dawn Leon Busy Mom Of 4 Kids
It has been awhile since I have written an
article for the magazine. Our lives have definitely
changed in the last 9 months. It has been hard to
find something light-hearted to write about. Things
have been a bit stressful for our family, and I am sure
you can say the same. My job as a nurse and my
husband’s job as a chiropractor have changed.
Doctor, dentist and even vet appointments
look different these days. I was driving my oldest son,
Eli, to his orthodontist appointment a few weeks ago.
Eli is fourteen; he knows it all, talks back on occasion,
and needs daily reminders to bring his hoarded dishes
from his room to the kitchen. His room is his oasis, so
I try to make the most of our 45-minute drives to the
orthodontist.
With Eli trapped in a moving vehicle with me,
we tend to actually have some wonderful chats. Our
particular chat that day centered around how excited
he was for the holidays. I honestly told him that we
would have to see how much he and his siblings got
for presents since they could close our operating
room down at the hospital at any time. This would
mean that I may lose hours. He said, “Mom, it’s not
about the presents, I just love Christmas. I love the
FEELING of it.”
What he said made me smile. I knew exactly
what Eli meant by that. We decorated early this year,
desperately trying to find some normalcy. He loves
listening to holiday songs on the radio and sings
proudly along to whatever song is playing. This past
weekend, after decorating the tree, we had the kids
stand on a step stool in the middle of the living room
and read their Christmas lists aloud. Every year we
give the kids a $20 limit to gift each other something.
It’s pretty adorable. These things haven’t changed,
and I welcome all of the usual and predictable
traditions of this season. It’s not about the presents.
It’s about being thankful in a time where every little
thing we have counts.
I pray we all get a reprieve from the stress of
the last 9 months and allow the holidays to create
some well-deserved warmth and comfort. I will admit
that I am weary, but my children remind me every day
that there is much joy in the little things. Cherish them
all. Kids still see all the good in the world. I need to
take some lessons from my kids in that regard.
From the Leon Family, have a wonderful
holiday however you are celebrating.
To quote Tiny Tim, a child who always saw the
good: God bless us, everyone.
12 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

Make Your List and Check it Twice
Last-minute budgeting tips
by Jake Ward VP of Marketing, R.I.A. Federal Credit Union
Holiday budgeting for 2020.
There’s no doubt about it, it’s been an
unusual year for everyone. Have you
managed to put anything aside for gift
giving, shipping to friends and family, or
maybe making a more elaborate home
display this year? If you haven’t – you’re
not alone. Here are some tips for last
minute budgeting!
#1 Make your gift list – ASAP!
Who do you need to buy for and what’s
your bottom-line limit? Establish it and
stick to it. Make gifts meaningful this
year -- consider something homemade,
or think of a fun and safe experience for
the person that won’t break the budget.
Some families make the decision to just
buy for the kids.
#2 Prioritize. What’s most
important this year? Buying for your
nearest and dearest? Giving to a charity,
thanking your neighbors? Or maybe lifting
your spirits with a big tree and tons of
decorations? Decide what you want to do
now, so you’re not overwhelmed later.
#3 Shop sales. Seems like a nobrainer,
right? If you’ve never really paid
attention to Black Friday or Cyber Monday,
now’s the time. Some stores are avoiding
in-person sales to prevent crowds. Keep
looking at your favorite shopping sites,
there are sales happening throughout the
fall. Not thinking about it yet? You can
put in some serious screen time and shop
Cyber Monday on November 30th.
• Some monthly buying tips -- November
is the month to buy TVs, smart home
devices, tablets, computers and smart
watches. It’s also a good time to check
out high-end beauty products and box
sets.
• Shop early for Santa toys this year.
Typically, hitting the stores in December
is a great way to save, but this year
you’re going to want to be prepared if
you’re little ones have their heart set on
something special.
#4 Low interest credit cards
and loans. Getting a low-rate holiday
loan or credit card (and using them
responsibly!) is another way to assist with
POSITIONING STATEMENT
holiday spending and improve your credit.
What’s In A Name?
It’s All About Relationships
Beginning Though the name “R.I.A.” November stems from Building 1st, lasting R.I.A. relationships FCU is the will
its roots with the Rock Island Arsenal, primary focus for R.I.A. As a community
offer R.I.A. has a long holiday been independent Visa and card credit at union, 2.9%, R.I.A. will invest with the time no
open to the entire community. However, to get to know their members and their
balance the perception transfer still exists that the fee; Credit as financial well goals in as order a to provide holiday them
Union is exclusive to employees of the with the right tools to acheive their goals.
loan Arsenal. program Now is the time to redefine for up to $5,000 that’s
what R.I.A. stands for. While R.I.A. will What Goes Around...
payable always respect over and honor 12 its history, months a In an era with of big banks rates and big as data, low
new positioning statement gives new life operating with integrity is becoming
as and 4.49%. meaning to the name Lower “R.I.A.” and interest a harder trait will to find make in a financial you
combats this outdated perception. institution. R.I.A. is committed to
feel much merrier in the
handling
long
your
run!
finances and data in a
manner that is ethical, transparent and
#5 Open a holiday savings
professional.
account – in February. Give yourself
Here To Move
Not content with “business as usual,”
a month to recover if you need to, then
R.I.A. is action-oriented. From helping
a member solve a financial challenge
open a holiday savings account for the
to positively impacting the community
through volunteering and sponsorships,
new year. At R.I.A. FCU, you can open
R.I.A. is motivated to action.
a holiday savings account any time
4
during the year, but you can only access
the money from October 1st through
December 31st. Even better, you can set
up a payroll deduction to automatically set
aside your goal amount. The money you’ll
have for next Christmas is guaranteed to
put a jingle in your step.
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 13

Navigating the Holidays
When Your Relationship is New
by Denise Aden, MSW LISW Quad Cities Counseling
Relationships during the
holidays can be tricky, no
matter if you’re talking about
parents, friends, colleagues, or
a new romantic partner.
It’s a time of year when your
heart longs for joy, connection,
and meaning. Expectations
can be very high, often too
high. Society sends you
messages about the perfect
gifts, the perfect decorations,
and perfect celebration.
So if you’re dating someone
new, you might transfer a lot of
these holiday feelings onto the
relationship.
There are also social
gatherings to navigate, what
gifts to get each other, and
whether they should meet your
family. These tips can help you
plan the best way to approach
the season.
Hold Off on Meeting Each
Other’s Families
Family holiday gatherings
can be wonderful, but they can
also be stressful and pressurefilled.
And if you bring a new
love interest over, chances are
your relatives may read too
much into it.
They might ask pressing
questions that make both of
you feel uncomfortable and
embarrassed. Parents and
siblings could be tempted to
share stories about you that
you want to keep under covers.
It’s best to hold off until you’ve
been dating for a while.
Manage Your Expectations
Emotions run high in
December. You’ve probably
seen so many romantic
Christmas and New Year
proposals on movies that your
mind starts to run away.
Even if you don’t let your
thoughts jump this far ahead,
you may secretly hope for a
significant, special, amazing
holiday experience with your
new boyfriend or girlfriend.
Try to manage your
expectations, however. Keep
things lighthearted and fun. Let
it go if those magical romantic
moments don’t happen this
year. Just focus on getting to
know each other.
Give Appropriate Gifts
Giving gifts is often tricky
in romantic relationships,
whether you’ve been married
for twenty years or dating for a
month.
It’s always thoughtful to
give a gift to someone you’re
dating, but you probably know
that they can read a lot into
14 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

some gifts (whether there’s an
underlying meaning).
Humorous gifts and edible
gifts can be great options for
new relationships.
Give Each Other Space
November and December
are busy months for everyone.
Major holidays involve travel,
extra social gatherings
(although 2020 may look
different), and lots of shopping
and preparation. Familial
obligations abound.
While you may want to
spend as much time as you
can with your new flame, they
might not have much room in
their schedule. And you both
may feel extra stress from the
season. So take it easy and
keep the reins loose. There will
be more time in the new year
to spend together.
Observe and Reflect
While it’s never good to read
too much into anything when
dating someone new, you can
learn a lot about someone by
how they handle the holidays.
Even if you don’t attend
gatherings together or meet
each other’s family, it’s
interesting to note their attitude
about those things. Do they get
stressed out by work parties?
Do they seem affectionate
toward their parents and eager
to visit them? Or are they
negative and irritated?
Make Your Own Holiday
Meaningful
A new romance usually
means feelings of infatuation
and all-consuming thoughts
about each other. But you
probably know that it’s
important to focus on yourself
and your needs as well.
Don’t let go of the traditions
that are meaningful to you
during this time. Do those
things you want to do and love
to do, even if the other person
can’t join you or be involved.
Invest in your relationships
with your family and friends;
revel in the joy and beauty of
the season. And, with planning
and forethought, you’ll be able
to make the most of your new
romance during the season as
well!
For more information on
managing life transitions, call
563-213-5100 and Denise
Aden, LISW will be happy to
help.
Client-Centered, Solution-Focused.
Do any of the following statements
resonate with you?
· You feel isolated.
· You lack confidence.
· You struggle to have time for yourself.
· You believe God has more for your life,
but it just isn’t happening.
If any of these are true for you,
counseling can help.
I’m Denise Aden, and I provide
counseling services here in the Quad
Cities area. I also offer counseling with a
Christian perspective, if you wish. I have
more than 30 years of experience, and
my approach is warm, compassionate,
client-centered and solution-focused.
Looking for more peace in your life?
Call me at (563) 213-5100 for
a free consultation.
Denise Aden, MSW, LISW
1970 Spruce Hills Drive · Bettendorf, IA 52722 · (563) 213-5100
info@quadcitiescounseling.com · quadcitiescounseling.com
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 15

SAFE CELEBRATIONS:
POPPING CHAMPAGNE CORKS
by Dr. Michael Boehm Eye Surgeons Associates
Many people celebrate a variety
of festive occasions—weddings,
anniversaries, Valentine’s Day or
the holidays—with champagne
or other alcoholic or nonalcoholic
sparkling beverages. A champagne
cork can fly up to 50 mph as it
leaves the bottle, so if a popping
cork strikes an eye, the celebration
can change into a tragedy.
A flying champagne cork
resembles a guided missile. It’s
the perfect size to penetrate the
normal protection afforded by
the orbital bones of the brow and
cheek surrounding the eyeball.
The eye damage resulting from
popped corks can vary from a
painful surface injury like a corneal
abrasion to a hemorrhage inside
the eye or more severe internal
damage, even blindness. It
may also precipitate glaucoma,
cataract, or dislocated lens and
retinal damage or detachment.
The effects may require immediate,
delayed, or lifelong medical or
surgical care. Even acute care may
not prevent permanent injury or
vision loss in some circumstances.
16 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus
Prevent eye injury by opening
sparkling beverages properly.
Never point an open pressurized
container at anyone’s face,
including your own.
American Academy of
Ophthalmology recommends
these 5 simple steps for safety:
1. Start with a cold bottle. Chill to
about 45 degrees, as the bubbles
(filled with gas) expand when
warm, causing pressure to build
and potentially making the cork
fly and maybe hitting someone
in the eye. Plus, champagne
tastes best chilled!
2. Treat the bottle gently. No
shaking prior to opening and do
not point it in anyone’s direction
when opening. This is how
someone loses an eye.
3. Control the cork. Remove the
foil covering the cork. The wire
protector covers the cork for
good reason. Keep pressure on
the cork with the palm of your
hand while carefully removing
the wire.
4. Place a towel over the bottle top
and grasp the cork. Tilt the top
away from yourself and others.
To break the seal, slowly twist the
bottle at the base while holding
the cork firmly with one hand
and twisting the cork slowly
upward. Counter the force of
the cork using slight downward
pressure just as the cork breaks
free, creating the signature pop.
A controlled release of the cork
may briefly diminish the festive
pop, but may actually prolong
the fizz of your poured beverage.
5. Make your toast to a Safe and
Happy Holiday Season! Cheers!
Michael Boehm, M.D. is a board certified
comprehensive ophthalmologist at Eye
Surgeons Associates with a fellowship in
cornea and external diseases and a specialty
interest in dry eye. Dr. Boehm practices at our
offices in Bettendorf and Rock Island. For more
information visit www.esaeyecare.com.
The material contained in this article is for
informational purposes only and is not intended
to be a substitute for professional medical
advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek
the advice of your physician or other qualified
health care provider.

For many guys, it’s the most terrifying journey
they will ever embark on. It’s also one of the more
gratifying. WHBF-Local 4 Weekend Sports Anchor will
soon enter the ranks of fatherhood. Dustin grew up in
Texas. He played sports in
high school and when it was
time to head to college, St.
Ambrose came calling. That
brought him to the Quad
Cities were he completed
his college education, met
the love of his life and even
started living out his dream
of being a sports anchor/
reporter.
While he’s excited to welcome his first child in
the next few months, he admits there’s some fear. Even
a former college football player isn’t fully sure how to
prepare for the upcoming life-changing moment. In
a recent Journey from Dude to Dad podcast, Dustin
talks with hosts, Mike Mickle and Kevin Walker about
the excitement, the nerves and even reveals the sex of
his unborn child. You can check it out on our website
at www.journey2dad.com. You’ll also find it on the
Journey from Dude to Dad Facebook page, follow
us on Instagram at Journey2Dad or on Twitter @
journey2dad. You can also hit us up on any of those
sites to tell you story about fatherhood or impending
fatherhood!
25% OFF
GLASSES
THROUGH DECEMBER
By Donating Your Old Pair
It’s good to give and receive. Donate your old glasses to the Lions
Club at any ESA location and receive 25% off your new glasses.
Time for a new prescription? Schedule an eye exam today.
(563) 323-2020 l (309) 793-2020 l esaeyecare.com
Offer is good through December ’20 only on prescription and
non-prescription glasses. Cannot be used with insurance or
combined with any other discounts or previous purchase.
See Optician for details.
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 17

WHAT DO
YOU BELIEVE?
by Evin Ersan College Reporter, Boston University
As a young adult, I am always trying to digest
the tremendous amounts of information that I see
and hear from friends, family, teachers, fellow
students, media, pop culture experts, advocates,
and politicians. It’s a lot. I’m sure that I am not
alone when I say it can all be overwhelming and
confusing at times, so how does a person decide
on their beliefs independent of all of the outside
influences?
Here are my thoughts on the subject:
I think it is important to be educated on the
topics you are deciding on. Taking the time to really
look at all sides of a topic is important. Listening
to those in our social circles is okay, but I believe
really studying a topic is so much more effective.
It helps take out the potential emotion and peer
pressure and allows you to just absorb quantified
information vs hyped opinions or self-serving
sound bites.
Read up on the history, find facts, and
investigate real case studies and different
philosophies surrounding a topic. Challenge your
thinking and know it is okay to change your mind
on something or not.
If you are leaning one way, be sure to spend
some time educating yourself on the counter
argument. Many times we gravitate to information
we already agree with, but learning more about the
thinking behind ideas we do not necessarily align
with can be very beneficial. 360 degree learning
makes us more well rounded people and helps us
understand how to work with others who may not
hold the same opinions as we do.
Sometimes it is not easy. Just when you feel
you have defined your thinking on an issue, you
may learn new information that will make you
rethink your position on it. That’s okay. That is what
belief systems are all about. If you never question
your own beliefs, you may find out later that you
supported something you really did not believe in.
As we get older, our stance on issues may change
because as we become older and wiser, we may
see things differently than when we were younger.
That is okay too. We have the right to change our
minds.
Rarely is there a 100% right answer on any
topic. There are almost always pros and cons in
holding a certain belief. However, it’s important
that we work together to come up with the best
solution for problems, regardless of what beliefs
we hold. The best ideas almost always come
through collaboration. For good collaboration to
happen, a variety of different people with different
experiences and different thinking must combine
their talents for a unified goal. There will always be
people who disagree with us, and that is actually
good. It keeps us engaged with our beliefs and
challenges our thinking.
I believe we are very fortunate to live in a
country where we have so many freedoms. Many
of those freedoms revolve around our right to hold
the beliefs we have and support the things we
believe are fair and right.
I encourage everyone reading this to take some
time to reflect and learn about your beliefs on your
own, away from too many outside influences. It
really does help guide you to a better understanding
of your place in this world.
18 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus

Eternal Peace
Pine Hill Cemetery Association
& Fairmount Cemetery Association
Pine Hill Cemetery Association
1530 E. 39th St. • Davenport, IA 52807
(563) 391-5130
A Non-Profit Cemetery Association
Serving the Quad-Cities Community for 163 Years
PineHillCemeteryDavenport.com
Fairmount Cemetery Association
Iowa’s Original Crematory
3902 Rockingham Rd. • Davenport, IA 52802
(563) 322-8663
Not-for-Profit Perpetual Care
Cemetery & Crematory Services
Fairmountcemeteryandcrematory.com
Established in 1855, Pine Hill
Cemetery is a not-for-profit,
locally owned business and
a place of peace, where
departed loved ones can
rest for eternity. Pine Hill
Cemetery has always taken
great pride in honoring the
memory of the community’s
loved ones.
We strive to meet the Quad
City area’s needs, and
our efforts and respectful
attention to detail include
the grounds and operations
of Fairmount Cemetery &
Crematory. Our Board of
Directors, management and
staff work together to make
both cemeteries respected
institutions within the
community. Feel free to visit
and recall fond memories of
the past.
in a world of mediocre & ordinary...
FIND THE
BUSINESS THAT WILL
IN THE QUAD CITIES!
Caught in the clutches of
the villain of indecision?
Find the business superheroes
at LocalsLoveUs.com
QC Family Focus I November/December 2020 19

m mickle
communications
video•print•design•marketing
“No other company in the Midwest is doing what you are doing.”
Eric Powell-Manager, Program Development- TLC Network
563.940.7875 • MICKLECOMMUNICATIONS.COM
Mickle Communications is the expert in telling your story.
MC is the only video production company to win a Silver Dome Award
for Best Documentary in Illinois and a 5-time Emmy Nominee.
Tackling topics no other video production
company in the QC is willing to cover.
#Whatcanwedoforyou
20 November/December 2020 I QC Family Focus