22.02.2022 Views

February 2022 web

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

FEBRUARY 2022 - Complimentary Issue - www.qcfamilyfocus.com

ROW YOUR

WAY TO A

STRONGER

BODY

Need

Valentine’s

Day Ideas?

Check out

OFF

SES

DECEMBER

g Your Old Pair

e. Donate your old glasses to the Lions

d receive 25% off your new glasses.

? Schedule an eye exam today.

HOW TO

AVOID PINK

EYE IN

CHILDREN

) 793-2020 l esaeyecare.com

nly on prescription and

used with insurance or

or previous purchase.

tails.


Have an indoor space available and lots

of energy to burn off? Book your church,

school, or birthday party now!

Bounce

houses are

sanitized

before every

delivery!

Competitive prices. Carefully screened

and properly trained delivery staff.

Free delivery within 20 miles.

www.qcjumps.com

563-940-7154

2 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


FEBRUARY 2022

Serving Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois

6

8

“PINK-EYE”

12

HOW TO TEACH

TEENAGERS

ABOUT MONEY

Being a Y Quad City Rower

16

CREATING A SMART HOME

Publisher: Mike Mickle

Editor: Karen Mickle

Magazine Design: Jessie Smith

Contributing Editors

ISU Extension and Outreach • Ela Ersan • Evin Ersan

John Frederick, MD • Mike Mickle • Verizon Wireless

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 2022.

QC Family Focus I February 2022 3


Your Mickle’s Worth

Once again, the upstairs is dark, the

basement is quiet and there are fewer vehicles

in the garage and driveway. After having all

three of the kids home at different times during

the holidays and even having all three of them

together for a brief moment, they have returned

to their new lives. Matt has his second semester

of freshman year in college underway. Kate is

wrapping up her senior year in college and Kyle

is firmly entrenched in his career 4 hours south

of us.

Having all five of us home made the

holidays extra special. Now, it’s back to empty

bedrooms and the occasional weekend home

for each of them. I think Boomer is as happy to

see them as we are. He apparently doesn’t like

being an only child!

The parenting journey never ceases to

amaze me. Just when I think my work is done, I

realize it’s not. Mainly, because I still want to be

an active participant in our children’s lives and

they have graciously accepted our participation.

With that said, I am working on how much is

“too much” involvement in their lives. Karen is

better at defining that line than I am.

Hoping 2022 is a wonderful year for all

you!

Mike, Karen, Kyle, Kate, Matt and Boomer

Don’t Make Your Date Wait!

Schedule Ahead With

Our App!

Open from 11am - 11pm

on Valentine’s Day

4005 E. 53rd St.

Davenport, IA

4 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


Ask About Our

Heart-Shaped Pizzas

Ask About Our

Happy Valentine’s Day

Hey Dads!

We are on a very important journey together.

Fatherhood is an incredible time in our lives and

an important one, especially these days when our

children are under more stress than ever before.

Let’s join forces and support each other . Send us

photos of you and your family. Share your stories of

success and even the less than successful efforts.

We can learn from each other.

Our children are only young once. Take the

time to enjoy each stage of their life.

Send Pre-order

your stories your

to us and we’ll share them.

Heart-Shaped

You can email them to mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.

pizzas!

com. I’m looking forward to reading all of them!

Available Now Through Valentine’s Day.

Same price as a medium.

Happy Valentine’s Day

Heart-Shaped Ask about our Pizzas

SPECIALTY PIZZA OF THE WEEK!

just $ 19 99

WE HIGHLIGHT A NEW PIZZA EACH WEEK!

NOW HIRING!

603 Myatt Dr.

Pre-order your

Heart-Shaped

Wish pizzas! You Had A

Happiness Button?

Maquoketa, IA

Available Now Through Valentine’s Day.

Same price as a medium.

(563) 652-6721

Download our app!

Dine In • Carryout • Curbside • Delivery

QC Family Focus I February 2022 5


“PINK-EYE”

by John Frederick, MD Eye Surgeons Associates

“Pink-eye” is the lay term

commonly used to refer to

the abrupt development of

discharge and inflammation of

an eye. There are many reasons

why one or both eyes become

red, sensitive and develop a

discharge. Probably the most

common cause of such an event is a bacterial

or viral infection of the moist tissue which

covers and protects the eye. The technical

term for this tissue is conjunctiva, and its

inflammation is referred to by eye doctors as

conjunctivitis.

The conjunctiva on the eye’s surface

directly connects through tear drainage

pathways with the moist tissues lining the

nose and throat. Just as the nasal and throat

passages may be inflamed by viral and bacterial

infections, so too may the eye. Most of these

infections resolve in 1-2 weeks in the same way

that a cold might. Similarly, just as people with

coughs and runny noses are contagious to

others, people with conjunctivitis may spread

the illness. This is a frequent concern in school

and the workplace, but is usually not cause for

isolation of the affected person. Exceptions

to this policy include small children who are

apt to frequently rub their eyes and handle

things that others will touch, food handlers,

and health care personnel. The important

thing to remember is that as long as the eye

is uncomfortable and has a discharge, the

infectious agent is likely to be in the tears, and

may be left on objects handled after fingers

have been contaminated. Hand washing after

touching around an eye with conjunctivitis

dramatically reduces the chance for spread of

the disease. Separation of wash cloths and

towels from others decreases the potential of

spread to family members. Often the cause

for the infection is viral and antibiotics may be

of no benefit, however, some cases respond

favorably to a brief course of eye drops.

A compress applied to your closed eyelids

can relieve some of the discomfort of pink

6 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


eye. To make a compress, soak in water then

wring out a clean, lint-free cloth. If you have

conjunctivitis in one eye only, don’t use the

same cloth on both eyes so you won’t spread

the infection from one eye to the other. Overthe-counter

lubricating eyedrops (artificial

tears) may also provide relief from pink eye

symptoms.

Some guidelines regarding the necessity

of medical consultation for “pink-eye” may

be useful. It should be recognized that many

potentially serious eye diseases may begin

with the development of a red, watery eye.

In general, the common conjunctivitis will not

cause a significant change in vision (other

than that which clears with blinking and may

be blamed on excessive tearing), nor much

sensitivity to bright lights, or throbbing pain.

Therefore, an appointment with your eye care

provider should be sought in the situation of

pink-eye associated with decreased vision,

pain other than a sandy sensation, sensitivity to

light, a yellow, thick discharge, or persistence

of symptoms beyond ten days. Young children

should always be seen by an ophthalmologist

if a persistent red eye develops.

A new study finds that pink eye may be

a symptom of the coronavirus in kids. But

children get pink eye frequently and eye

symptoms alone are probably not a sign of the

virus. If you think your child has been exposed

to the virus or if they have other symptoms,

such as a fever or cough, then consider having

them tested for COVID.

Dr. Frederick, with Eye Surgeons Associates, is boardcertified

with a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology. He

is a member of the American Association for Pediatric

Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Dr. Frederick practices

at our offices in Bettendorf, Iowa and Rock Island, Illinois.

For more information, please see our website: 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.

SEE

BETTER

LIVE

BETTER

PEDIATRIC

EXAMS

Help your child see the wonders

of life. Start scheduling exams by

age three to detect serious vision

problems.

(563) 323-2020 l (309) 793-2020

ESAEYECARE.COM

QC Family Focus I February 2022 7


Being a Y Quad City Rower

by Ela Ersan PVHS Senior

I joined the Y Quad

Cities rowing team late in my

sophomore year of high school. A

neighborhood friend of my mom’s

had encouraged me to consider it,

and I will be forever grateful to her.

When I met with the rowing

coaches, they seemed to like the

fact that I had been involved in a

variety of athletics. However, they

made it clear to me that I was

getting a pretty late start, and if

I really wanted to get good at

rowing, it would be wise to drop all

my other sports. That was a tough

message for me to hear because

I loved my sports and had made

so many good friends through

them. However, after experiencing

one of the rowing practices, I was

intrigued. The Y Quad Cities team

is nationally recognized, and the

head coach, Dr. Peter Sharis, is

a local doctor, Harvard grad, and

former Olympic rower. So, while

I was intimidated about joining

this prestigious team, it was an

opportunity I just couldn’t turn

down.

Rowing didn’t come easy.

I spent the entire winter practicing

on an erg, a rowing machine, and

although I definitely got stronger,

I still had no technique and zero

water experience. When March

came around, I was very excited

8 February 2022 I QC Family Focus

because I could finally get some

real training on the water. I knew I

had a lot to learn, but I was ready

to get out on the Mississippi River

in a boat with my teammates.

Unfortunately, things don’t

always go as planned. Covid hit,

and it totally changed the entire

dynamics of our training. Typically

when you’re learning to row on

water, you’re in boats with other

experienced people who help

and guide you. Covid made that

impossible, so our water training

kept getting pushed back.

The good news was

while many sports had to cancel

their seasons entirely, we were

eventually able get on the water

to practice, but we had to row

in singles to ensure we stayed

socially distant. That was okay for

most of the team, but for a new

rower like me, transitioning from

the erg to water in a single boat is

far from ideal.

So there I am. I’m in this

boat by myself, stronger from my

winter training, but I don’t have

a clue how to do anything on

water. Our coaches are on a little

boat called a launch, calling out

instructions through a megaphone.

First of all, I can’t hear them very

well, and secondly, I don’t really

understand the terminology

they’re using. I was officially lost.

To make matters worse, even the

slightest movement in these boats

will make you tip and fall in the

water, and that’s just what I did

over and over again. It’s March, it’s

cold, I’m on the water, I have zero

experience, I’m alone in a boat, I’m

trying to pretend I understand what

everyone is saying, I keep falling in

the water, and there’s a worldwide

pandemic happening. This was

not the rowing experience I had

imagined in my head. However, as

tough as it all was, I never wanted to

quit. Looking back, I’m surprised

at that. Something inside me knew

this was right where I needed to

be, so I decided to keep a good

sense of humor about it all and just

keep trying.

Slowly but surely I got

better. It definitely took a while,

but rowing started to click, and I

was determined to learn all I could.

I was so inspired by my coaches

and teammates. They were all so

dedicated and such hard workers

and that made me want to work

harder. Learning in a single boat

actually turned out to be a pretty

good thing. It forced me to rely

on myself and learn from my

mistakes quickly. My coaches and

the whole team were instrumental

in my learning process. Without


their help and guidance, I never

would’ve been able to excel in

rowing. Being with them every

day made me feel like we were a

family. The supportive culture of

the team made a huge difference

in my training. We had a lot of

fun, but part of that support also

revolved around holding each

other accountable and pushing

each other to continuously

do better. Over time, my

understanding of the sport and

my strengths and weaknesses

improved greatly. I learned how

to be more coordinated and in

control on water, and I continued

to get stronger, both physically

and mentally. I also learned how

to get out of my comfort zone,

become more strategic, and

implement the feedback I was

given.

Eventually, my performance

improved to the point

where I started to feel like I was

actually worthy of being on this

amazing team.

It’s been almost 24

months since I joined the Y Quad

Cities Rowing team. In less than

two years, I have been fortunate

to earn several top medals along

with my teammates at nationally

recognized rowing events across

the country. I have had the

pleasure to meet and row with

many of the elite high school

rowers in our country.

It is hard for me to

believe I have come this far in

such a short amount of time.

I’ve worked extremely hard,

and I’m proud of my efforts, but

I also know that none of this

would’ve been possible without

the top-notch training, support,

and encouragement I received

from the fantastic Y Quad

Cities Coaches and my trusted

teammates. The program is

absolutely amazing.

The biggest thing

I’ve learned from my rowing

experience so far is that when an

opportunity presents itself, even

if it seems like a long shot, take

a chance, be committed, and go

for it!

I am excited to share that I

have committed to row at Boston

University, and will be attending

The School of Arts and Sciences

there this coming fall, Class of

2026!

Thank you to everyone

who has believed in me, and

supported me.

With

Ela Ersan

PVHS Senior

Pleasant Valley High School Student

DARK CHOCOLATE PUDDING

WITH MALTED CREAM!

I love dark chocolate anything and this pudding is

amazing! A deliciously rich and creamy treat. Perfect for

Valentine’s Day or anytime!

INGREDIENTS

FOR THE PUDDINGS

- 60g butter , plus extra for the ramekins

- 2 tbsp cocoa powder

- 100g 70% dark chocolate

- 2 eggs

- 100g caster sugar

- ½ tsp malt powder (we used Ovaltine)

FOR THE CREAM

- 100ml double cream

- 2 tbsp muscovado sugar

- 1 tbsp malt powder

TO SERVE

- 9 Maltesers , crushed into large chunks

- 3 glacé cherries , cut in half

- 1 tbsp chopped salted pistachios

METHOD

STEP 1- Butter three ramekins, dust with cocoa and set aside.

Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Melt the butter and

chocolate in a bowl over a pan of simmering water. In a separate

bowl, whisk together the eggs and sugar until light and fluffy, then

whisk in the chocolate mixture with the malt powder and a pinch

of salt. Divide the mixture between the ramekins and bake for 14

mins until they are just cooked with a slight wobble in the middle

to make a fondant, or 18 mins for a pudding. Remove from

the oven, turn out and serve warm now, or leave to cool in their

ramekins.

STEP 2- Whisk the cream, sugar and malt powder together to

soft peaks. Carefully turn the puddings out onto plates, then pile on

the Maltesers, cherries and pistachios, and serve with the malted

cream!

bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/dark-chocolate-pudding-malted-cream

QC Family Focus I February 2022 9


Just For Kids

Name:

Valentine's Day Word Scramble

Instructions: Unscramble the letters to find the words from the list below.

r o w a r

k i n p

e h a r t

g u h s

o l e v

w l o r s e f

p c i d u

d a r c

d e r

n a c y d

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _

_ _ _

_ _ _ _ _

10 February 2022 I QC Family Focus

CCrraayoonnnssAnnndCCrraavinnngss.coom


QC Family Focus I February 2022 11


HOW TO TEACH TEENAGERS

ABOUT MONEY

Everyone is feeling the

pressure from the increased costs

on everything from food to cars.

Teaching our kids about money at

a young age gives them a great

foundation to be able to manage

their money as adults.

Give them the responsibility of

a bank account.

By the time your child is a

teenager, you should be able to

set them up with a simple bank

account. Make sure they realize

what fees occur if they spend

more money than they have in

their account. This takes money

management to the next level,

and will (hopefully) prepare them

sit down and have the talk—the

for managing a much heftier

“how are we going to pay for

account when they get older.

college” talk. Let your teen know

Get them saving for college.

that student loans are an option

There’s no time like the

to fund their education but they

present to have your teen start

come at a cost and should be

saving for college. Do they plan

avoided if possible. Talk through

on working a summer job?

all the alternatives out there, like

Perfect! Too young to be hired at

going to community college,

a local store? There are still ways

going to an in-state university,

to make money- babysit, mow

working part-time while in school,

the yard in the summer or shovel

and applying for scholarships.

snow during winter months

Lots of scholarships are available

for your neighbors. Help your

if they are willing to put in the work

child decide how much of their

to apply for them.

paycheck goes to their college

Teach them the danger of credit

fund and how much can be used

cards.

for “fun” money- buying a new

As soon as your teen turns

video game, stopping at their

18, they’ll get credit card offers—

favorite coffee spot, or a new pair

especially once they’re in college.

of shoes they have been wanting.

If you haven’t taught them why

Maybe parents or grandparents

debt is a bad idea, they’ll become

will match whatever the child

yet another credit card victim.

saves in the college account to

There is plenty of time to worry

help out with school expenses.

about a credit score later so throw

Teach them to steer clear of

those offers in the shred bin.

student loans.

Get them on a simple budget.

Before your teen ever

Since your teen is glued to

applies to college, you need to

12 February 2022 I QC Family Focus

their mobile device anyway, get

them active on a simple budgeting

app. Now is the time to get your

teen in the habit of budgeting

their income—no matter how

small It is. They should learn the

importance of making a plan for

their money while they’re still

under your roof.

Introduce them to the magic of

compound interest.

We know what you’re

thinking. You can barely get your

teen to brush their hair—how in

the world are they supposed to

become investment savvy? The

earlier your teen can get started

investing, the better. Compound

interest is a magical thing!

Introduce your teen to it at an

early age, and they’ll get a head

start on preparing for their future.

By sitting down with your

teenager and having an open and

honest conversation, then they

will have a great start to managing

their money.


CHEESY POTATO SOUP

Need a quick and easy recipe that tastes great on a

cold winter day? This is a family favorite.

2 stalks celery, chopped

2 carrots, peeled and grated

1/2 c. onion, chopped

1 TBSP butter

2 10 1/2oz cans chicken broth

2 10 3/4oz cans cream of potato soup

1 1/2 cups of shredded Cheddar Cheese

3/4 c. sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, saute celery, carrots and onion

in butter. Add broth, simmer for 20 minutes. Stir

in soup, cheese and sour cream. Simmer for 15

minutes longer. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 6. Enjoy!

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 February 2022 13


HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED

TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS

by Evin Ersan College Reporter, Boston University

Let’s face it. Working toward your goals

can be extremely difficult, especially if they’re

goals that take a significant amount of time

to accomplish. It can be very tempting to get

off task, forget about, or consciously abandon

your goals entirely. One of the biggest reasons

for this is due to a loss of motivation, and I

can say without a doubt that not only have I

had moments where I have struggled to find

motivation for a particular goal but also I have

known many others who have experienced the

same struggles. So, if you think you’re the only

one who is having motivation struggles, think

again because this is actually quite common.

However, don’t worry! There are plenty of ways

to stay motivated! Here are my top seven

methods that I use to help me when I find myself

losing motivation:

1. Never Forget Why You Started in the First

Place

Never forget the reason why you started

working toward a goal. It can be easy to forget

what motivated you to start in the first place

when you are feeling down and unmotivated.

However, if you take just a little time each day,

especially when you are feeling down and

unmotivated, to remember why you started,

then you will find that your motivation to

continue to work for your goal will return.

2. Think of the Reward for Achieving Your

Goal

Thinking about how great it would be to

achieve your goal and all of the wonderful

benefits you’ll receive by achieving it can greatly

increase your overall motivation and willingness

to continue to work toward it. Remember, every

goal you set will have a distinct benefit for you.

Never forget that.

3. Never Lose Sight of the Big Picture

Another reason people lose motivation is

that they lose sight of the big picture. It can be

very easy to become bogged down thinking

about all the work you have to do to reach your

goal, especially when some of that work may not

14 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


directly apply to your goal. However, you have

to remember that no matter what you do on the

way to your goal, there is always some positive

aspect about it that can be applied to your

goal whether it be you improve your patience,

discipline, or other aspects about yourself by

doing it. Therefore, always ask yourself, “How

does this help me to achieve my goal either

directly, indirectly, or both even though I don’t

like doing it?”

4. Worker Smarter, Not Harder

Is it fun to do a ton of work within a very

short time frame? Of course not! It is very

stressful to do that, so don’t do it! A common

reason for why people lose motivation is that

they become overwhelmed because they put

off their work until the very end. Remember, the

best approach to a goal is to start early and to

be consistent. By doing this, you won’t have to

worry about becoming too overwhelmed.

5. Think of Those Who Have Doubted You,

Made Fun of You, Were Mean to You, or

Hurt You in Some Way in the Past

Everyone reading this has experienced

or will experience someone in their life who

does something that makes them feel angry,

frustrated, sad, and/or bad. A great way to stay

motivated while you work toward your goals is

to remember all of these people and what they

said and/or did to you! There is just something

about wanting to prove your haters wrong that

can give you that extra boost to keep working

hard toward your goals. Never Forget: Success

is the best revenge!

6. Think of All of Those Who Have Supported

You

Likewise, remembering those who have

and/or continue to support you and want what’s

best for you can be a great motivator for you as

well. These people could be anybody. Maybe it’s

your good friends. Maybe your family members.

Maybe it’s your lost loved ones. Maybe it’s all

of these people! Whatever the case, wanting to

make these people proud can be an excellent

way to stay motivated!

7. Think of Those Who You Aspire to Be Like

Thinking of those who you aspire to be like

can be a fantastic way to stay motivated! These

people can be the people who you know or

have known personally. However, they don’t

have to be. They can also be current or past

great leaders and/or successful people of the

world!

All in all, these are my personal favorite

methods to stay motivated. I hope you all found

these methods helpful, and I sincerely hope you

can use them to help you stay motivated while

working toward your goals! That’s all for now!

See you all next time!

If you enjoy and want more positive content,

feel free to check out my positivity products

dedicated to suicide prevention and follow me

on social media on my website, evinersan.com.

Stay Fit - Stay Sharp - Stay Positive!

Sincerely, Evin Ersan

YOUR AD

COULD BE

HERE!

m mickle

communications

video•print•design•marketing

Looking for the right company to tell

your company or organization’s story?

Talk to the experts at

Mickle Communications!

We are the ONLY company

that focuses on families of

ALL ages and abilities.

Email Mike at

mmickle@qcfamilyfocus.com

to set up a brainstorming session.

#whatcanwedoforyou

QC Family Focus I February 2022 15


CREATING A SMART HOME

by Verizon Wireless

“OK Google, what is a

smart home?” You might have

heard about home automation

in the news. Or maybe friends

and neighbors have talked

about how they’ve taken steps

to make their houses “smart.”

From convenience to

safety to fun, there are a lot of

benefits to home automation.

But you may not know how or

where to begin. For instance,

what should you do first,

choose a smart hub or pick

your devices? Do you start

with lighting or temperature

controls? What’s the best

smart home setup?

Without a little

background, it can be hard

to dive in. That’s why Verizon

put together this guide to the

basics. As an expert in wireless

and fiber-optic networking,

Verizon knows a bit about

connecting people and

devices. So, they have come

up with a few tips and ideas to

help you create your own smart

home.

What is a smart home?

As with any new

technology, there can be some

confusion about what’s behind

the buzzword. So, before we

start talking about device

compatibility and network

technology, let’s try to define

“smart home” as simply as we

can.

By taking advantage of

improvements in networking

technologies and innovations

in both connected devices

and voice recognition, it’s

now possible to bring many

aspects of your home online

– lighting, heating, entryways,

entertainment systems and

more. Lights that once had to be

flipped on and off at the switch

can now be commanded by

the sound of your voice. And

thermostats that had to be

adjusted by hand can now be

controlled remotely from your

smartphone. It’s automation

like this – spread throughout

an entire house – that makes a

home smart. To put it another

16 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


way, it’s the internet of things in

the home.

The best smart home

setups include an entire

network of intelligent devices,

allowing you to effortlessly

monitor and control any aspect

of your house whether you’re

home or away. These intelligent

devices – from doorbells to

motion sensors to appliances

– can be linked via Wi-Fi or a

similar cellular frequency to

your smartphone or a single

wireless hub. And each device

can be controlled from your

phone or by the sound of your

voice through a smart speaker.

But there’s no single

smart home concept. Your

home can contain as many or

as few devices as you want to

connect – it’s up to you how

complex you want your setup

to be.

Now that you have a

general idea of what a smart

home is, let’s dig into some

basics.

What does a smart home do?

A connected home adds

convenience and efficiency to

your life by helping to automate

minor tasks and chores. In

other words, it will help you

put some of your daily routine

on autopilot so you have more

time to do the things you love.

How can this technology

be applied to your home? You

might already be familiar with

some common smart home

devices – such as smart lights

and thermostats. But there’s

a whole plethora of devices

coming online. Here are some

examples of smart home

components and what they

can do:

• Lighting – Interior and exterior

lights can be commanded by

voice, programmed to turn

on when you arrive home,

or scheduled to come on

at dusk and switch off just

before sunrise.

• Entryways – Doors can be

locked and unlocked using

voice commands. Video

doorbells let you see who’s

approaching your home.

Garage doors can open

automatically when you pull

into the driveway.

• Kitchen – Coffee makers can

be scheduled to start brewing

as you wake up. Dishwashers

and washing machines can

send you an alert once the

cycle is complete.

• Entertainment – TVs can be

controlled with your voice.

Stereo systems can be

programmed to turn on when

you enter a room.

• Family & pets – Smart indoor

cameras can let you know the

kids have arrived safely home

from school. Intelligent baby

monitors allow you to keep an

eye on your newborn from the

next room. Smart pet feeders

let you refill the dog’s bowl

when you’re away from home.

• Landscaping – Robotic lawn

mowers can mow the lawn

for you. (Yes, really.) Sprinkler

systems can adjust watering

based on the weather.

Almost all of these

devices can be controlled from

your smartphone, and many

of them can be controlled with

voice commands through a

smart speaker. You’ll need to

do some setting up, but once

you have everything in place, it

works almost like magic.

Still want more info?

Head over to www.verizon.

com for more information

QC Family Focus I February 2022 17


POWERFUL ONLINE

TOOL FOR CAREGIVERS

contributed by ISU Extension and Outreach

Thirty-nine percent of all

adult Americans are caring for an

adult with a chronic health condition.

Caregiving can be a stressful

responsibility leading to poor

health, mental distress and less

life satisfaction for the caregiver.

It can be challenging for caregivers

to find the support that they

need, says Cindy Thompson, a

human sciences specialist with

Iowa State University Extension

and Outreach. ISU Extension

and Outreach offers educational

resources for family caregivers.

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is

a program for caregivers who

provide care for a spouse, parent

or friend with a chronic condition

such as dementia or Alzheimer’s

disease. The program provides

information, support strategies,

communication techniques,

stress reduction ideas and resources

to assist family caregivers

with their concerns related to

caregiving.

An online Powerful Tools

for Caregivers of Adults with

Chronic Conditions series is

scheduled for six Tuesdays, February

8 – March 15, from 10:00

am – 11:30 am. The virtual series,

held over Zoom, will provide you

with the tools you need to take

care of yourself. The program

costs $40 per person, and registration

can be found online at

https://bit.ly/18104ptc.

“Caregivers who thrive,

rather than just survive, understand

that by taking care of

themselves they are better able

to provide meaningful care,” said

Thompson, who specializes in

family wellbeing. To learn more,

visit https://www.extension.

iastate.edu/humansciences/ptctools.

Contact human sciences specialists

and certified class leaders

Cindy Thompson

(cpthom08@iastate.edu or

319-334-8013) or Phyllis Zalenski

(zalenski@iastate.edu or

319-465-3224) for questions or more

information.

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.

18 February 2022 I QC Family Focus


PASTAPalooza

$

6 99

Comes with two

pieces of garlic toast!

$

34 99

Feeds 8 to 10, comes with ten

pieces of garlic toast!

Celebrating

50 YEARS of HAPPY!

happyjoes.com

Download our app!

GREAT SAVINGS!

Now - February 28 • Valid only at participating locations.

TURN ANY PIZZA

INTO A PASTA OR

CREATE YOUR OWN!

ONLINE CODE: 247BT

$3 OFF Any Large Pizza

ONLINE CODE: 203BT

$2 OFF Any Medium Pizza

ONLINE CODE: 246BT

$1 OFF Any Small Pizza

Not valid with any other offer. Present coupon when ordering. No cash back.

One coupon per purchase. Tax, gratuity, and delivery charge not included.

Good at participating locations only. Enjoy by March 31, 2022.

QC Family Focus I February 2022 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 February 2022 I QC Family Focus

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!