Moline, IL

From the Moline Little League web site:

In 2009 Moline Little league will be restructuring our age groups with the addition of the AA Major League Division. This division is structured to accommodate experienced Minor League players who are interested in the competitive nature of the Major League but would like additional guaranteed playing time. Major League rules will be applied to this level of play which should be considered as preparation for more advanced play. This division will be assembled by a draft procedure similar to Major League and everyone 10 years of age or older must tryout. Those players already drafted on to Major League teams prior to 2009 will not be affected by the restructuring plan and will return to the same teams they were on in 2008.

My nine year old son will be starting little league season this week. Matt is in the "Minor League" division for 9 & 10 year olds. This will be the first time he has to face "kid pitch"...all the previous years have been coach pitch. This is also the first year he will be "playing by real rules" with walks, strike outs, base stealing...you know real baseball.

Should be a fun year, hope there will not be too many bruises from fire-balling 3^rd graders.

My 6 year old daughter Bailey will start Jane Addam's softball practice this week. The Easter Bunny brought her a new pink softball last week.

Play Ball!!!!!!!!!

The Illinois StateBoard of Education has recognized six Moline schools fro their academic achievements. Jane Addams Elementary School received one of the highest awards fro outstanding academic performance. The Academic Excellence Award. To qualify for this award a school must have 90% of their students meet or exceed state standards in both reading and math for 3 consecutive years. The school must have also made Adequate Yearly Progress as required by the No Child Left Behind Act.

Jane Addams is the first school in Rock Island County to receive the Academic Excellence Award. The Illinois State Board of Education also awarded Ericsson, Lincoln-Irving, Logan and Washington with The Spotlight Award. The Spotlight Award is given to schools with 50% low income students and 60% of students that met or exceeded state standards on both reading and math.

Hats off to all students, teachers, support staff and administration.

Go Maroons!

Moline IllinoisThis is for the month of March 2009.

Yes, Little League practice was supposed to start last Monday, March 30th. BUT NOOOO old man winter was not finished. He dumped 5 to 6 inches of heavy wet snow on the diamonds. Here it is a week later and yep more snow last night. Well the kids in the Moline School District have Spring vacation, I remember when we called it Easter break but I digress.

Where is that wacky Al Gore and his global warming scientists when you really need them?

I know it will warm up soon...probably too soon. Next thing you know it will be sunny and the bats will be going "PING" the bats used to "CRACK" but that was back in the aforementioned Easter break era.

It was nice to watch major league ball last night with my 9 year old on good old ESPN2 HD.

Yikes, just checked the weather forecast...tonights low 27 degrees.

Come on Al Gore show me what you got! Bring the heat, baby!

Here are some facts about Moline Illinois and the surrounding area. Sorry to all the media outlets who want to spread the doom and gloom. Here in the Quad City area we are holding out own. Yes we are down a little but I think the statistics ( and we all know about statistics) show that our LOCAL market is strong. All real estate is local!

o Current Listings 2/4/09 = 1913

o Current Listings 12/31/08 = 1948

o Current Listings 12/31/07 = 2123

o New Construction 2/4/09 = 238 (An eight month inventory)