The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced last week that it issued a permit to relocate the Rhythm City Casino riverboat to an area upstream of its current location on the Mississippi River in Davenport. The Corps found that Isle of Capri's performance of the work, in accordance with conditions of the permit, will have no significant impact on the environment and navigation, and is not contrary to the public interest. For more information, visit (http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/IsleofCapri/Permit.pdf) and (http://www.mvr.usace.army.mil/PublicAffairsOffice/IsleofCapri/Hearing.pdf).
The Quad City Botanical Center has received a $750,000 grant to build a children's garden from that National Scenic Byway Commission. The commission cited the benefit to the Mississippi River Parkway's Great River Road and the entire Quad Cities as reasons for awarding the second-largest grant in the country to the children's garden campaign. The significance of the Mississippi River's wildlife, vegetation, fish, plant succession, transportation, and geology, plus eagle aerie towers and overlook shelters will be featured. The design for the garden is by Herb Schaal of Fort Collins, Colorado. The total project cost is $4.8 million; fundraising to-date totals $1 million. For more information, call (309)794-0991.
The Davenport Public Library has been awarded an honorable mention in the Web-page/home-page category of the LAMA (Library Administration & Management Association) Best of Show competition. The Davenport library competed against 360 entries submitted from across the U.S. and Canada. The award will be presented at the 2006 LAMA Public Relations Swap & Shop event on June 25 at the ALA Annual Conference in New Orleans. View the award-winning Web site at (http://www.davenportlibrary.com). For more information about LAMA, go to (http://www.ala.org/ala/lama).
River Action is making available classes aboard the Channel Cat Water Taxi. Classes are one session each and will be held on Tuesday or Thursday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at a cost of $10 per person. For a brochure or registration, contact Michelle at (563)322-2969 or stop by 822 East River Drive between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Community Foundation of the Great River Bend (CFGRB) has reached $40 million in total assets, putting the organization in the top 25 percent of community foundations nationwide. The foundation last announced a milestone in March 2005, when its total assets reached $30 million. The Community Foundation is a collection of nearly 300 endowed and non-endowed funds whose assets provided more than 500 grants totaling more than $1.6 million to local organizations and programs last year. Community foundations such as the CFGRB represent one of the fastest growing sectors of philanthropy. They demonstrate a unique ability to leverage investments to preserve and improve the quality of life in the communities they represent. For more information, visit (http://www.cfgrb.org).
Grant applications are available for Iowa watershed-improvement committees and soil-and-water-conservation districts to improve water quality in Iowa. This past session, the Iowa legislature appropriated $5 million to the Watershed Improvement Fund to enhance water quality through locally directed watershed-improvement projects. The applications deadline is August 2. Complete details are available at (http://www.agriculture.state.ia.us/IWIRB.htm).
Earlier this month, Trinity began sponsoring the Trinity Mid-Week Market from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays in parking lot U next to the Bier Stube in downtown Moline. The new market features home-grown or -made products including produce, plants, pies, soups, crafts, soaps, free-range chicken, jellies, and jams. Trinity has also scheduled special health mini-fairs on the second Wednesday of each month to promote healthy eating and screenings.
The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) has recently created a new Quad Cities Kid's Guide. The 20-page guide is filled with kid-friendly activities, information, games, and puzzles that showcase the amenities of the Quad Cities. There are also fun facts on every page that highlight different trivia about the area. People can request the Quad Cities Kid's Guide from the QCCVB's Web site (http://www.visitquadcities.com), by calling (800)747-7800, or by stopping by Quad Cities Visitor Centers.
One Church One Child of Iowa will hold a "Children's Rally" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 24, at United Neighbors, 808 Harrison Street in Davenport. The event is meant to spotlight the need for foster and adoptive homes for racial-minority children. For more information, visit (http://www.iaococ.org).
GROW (Godly Restoration Outreach to Women) is a faith-based not-for-profit organization that provides lay counseling and support to women who are victims of domestic violence and abusive relationships, as well as help for women getting out of local county jails. The Scott County Sheriffs Office Correction Division recently recognized GROW Ministry as the 2006 Program of the Year. Contact Wendy at (309)631-8165 or GROW Ministry at (309)945-2676 for a list of opportunities and information on the ministry.
