Nearly
1,500 volunteers cleaned area streams, creeks, drainage ways, rivers,
and illegal-dump sites on Saturday, August 19, and removed more than
150,000 pounds of garbage, tires, and other illegally dumped items.
Xstream Cleanup, which took
place from 8:30 a.m. until noon, targeted 31 sites in both Scott and
Rock Island counties. Volunteers removed an estimated 5,200 tires,
2,200 bags of trash, 58 pieces of furniture, 36 appliances, 25
bicycles, and 22 pallets from area waterways. In addition, site
coordinators reported finding bags of clothing, a wine rack, shopping
carts, automotive parts, hair and beauty supplies, toilets, various
electronics, boat carpet, blankets, barge cable, safety cones,
recliners, and wire. At one site near Milan, volunteers found nearly
everything one would need to build and furnish a home including
carpet, appliances, furniture, wood, metal, drywall, siding, and
shingles. Volunteers donated more than 4,500 hours of work during the
cleanup. Organizers estimate that nearly $100,000 in staff time,
equipment, collection, and disposal costs were avoided with the help
of volunteers and in-kind donations for the event. Cleanups took
place in Bettendorf, Davenport, and LeClaire, Iowa; and East Moline,
Milan, Moline, Rock Island, and Taylor Ridge, Illinois. For more
information and to view photos from Xstream Cleanup, visit
(http://www.xstreamcleanup.org).
The Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre has announced that Bob Motz, a local environmentalist and former instructor at Rock Island High School and Augustana College, is the winner of its 2006 Environmental Stewardship Award. He was presented with the award recently at the Putnam during his annual "Raise Your Own Monarch Butterfly" workshop at the museum. This was the eighth year for the award.
Two national ranking publications, U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, have rated St. Ambrose among the top universities in the Midwest. U.S. News & World Report ranked St. Ambrose University 40th among Midwestern institutions in its "master's" category - which covers schools that offer a full complement of undergraduate and master's programs but few if any doctorate programs. The publication's 15 indicators of academic excellence included peer assessment, student retention, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, graduation rate, and alumni giving. St. Ambrose advanced 10 places in the 2006 report over last year's ranking. The Princeton Review, which uses student-opinion data to determine its rankings, has named St. Ambrose as one of its 158 best Midwestern colleges. Ratings place a high value on student satisfaction in such areas as academics, diversity, quality of life, and student activism. For more information, visit (http://www.sau.edu).
Teens with a passion for the pen are invited to the first meeting of Davenport Public Library's teen newsletter group on Monday, September 18, at 3:30 p.m., at the Fairmount Street library. Teens will get to name the newsletter, have access to the computer lab during after-school hours for writing articles, discuss topics of interest to teens, and assign stories. Registration is required. Register online at (http://www.davenportlibrary.com) or call (563) 326-7893.
Iowa's Economic Development Board recently approved a $500,000 short-term float loan and tax benefits for Hardi Midwest Incorporated. The company is seeking assistance to consolidate and modernize facilities in Davenport. The Hardi project would allow Davenport to retain 44 jobs, 22 of which pay an average of $26.62 per hour.
Living Lands & Waters is looking for volunteers to help remove the exotic and invasive species bush honeysuckle from Smith's Island, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers area located above Lock & Dam 14 between Pleasant Valley and LeClaire, Iowa. Honeysuckle threatens natural areas along the Smith's Island National Recreation Trail because of its dense and competitive coverage, shading out natural plants. Five and a half acres have been removed over the past three years through a partnership with the Corps and with the help of volunteers. Living Lands & Waters, a not-for-profit environmental organization headed by Chad Pregracke, is seeking out approximately 150 volunteers for work days September 9 and 16. There will be two sessions each day: 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. There will be work for every age, from hand-pulling new sprouts to dragging honeysuckle into piles that will later be chipped. Children should be accompanied by adults. Volunteers should wear long pants and boots. Lunch and water will be provided. Contact Kristen Ellis, river-bottom restoration coordinator, at (309) 236-1874 with any questions, or if you'll be in a group of 10 or more.
The Safe Routes to School program in Iowa is accepting grant applications through October 1. The program aims to increase safety and promote walking and bicycling to school. Parents, teachers, or local volunteers can start a program in their community. Examples of projects eligible for Safe Routes to School funding include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed-reduction improvements, pedestrian- and bicycle-crossing improvements, public-awareness campaigns, and student training on bicycle and pedestrian safety. For complete details and grant applications, visit (http://www.dot.state.ia.us/saferoutes).
With all the talk about alternative fuels, including E-85 and biodiesel, where in this area can these fuels be found? Drop me a line at (cityshorts@rcreader.com) and let me know.
