• Christopher J. Reich, director and CEO of the Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre, has resigned to accept a position with the Institute of Museum & Library Sciences (IMLS) in Washington, D.C. Reich was appointed director of the Putnam in May of 1996, and under his tenure, the Putnam completed the V.O. Figge Natural Science Wing (in 1999) and built and opened Iowa's only 3D IMAX theatre (in March 2002). With the addition of IMAX Theatre, the Putnam's average annual attendance has grown from 65,000 to 225,000 visitors. In his new position at IMLS, Reich will serve as a senior grant program specialist for the Office of Museum Services. There he will assume primary responsibility for the 21st Century Museum Professionals grant program, which supports a range of activities including professional training in all areas of museum operations and leadership development.
• The River Music Experience (RME) announced last week that it will be recognized at the 2006 Keeping the Blues Alive awards for its contribution to blues music. The RME will be one of 20 recipients at a January 28 ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee. The Davenport venue - which houses exhibits and features live music performances, including this past summer's inaugural River Roots Live festival - is the only center for American roots-music preservation. For more information on the RME, visit (http://www.rivermusicexperience.com).
• The University of Illinois Extension is adding a new "4-H Handy Kids, Handy Families Club" for special-needs youth ages 8 to 18 and their siblings, parents, and caretakers. It will be a great opportunity for special-needs youth to create 4-H projects, earn ribbons and premiums, sing songs, play games, and make new friends in a caring environment. Those interested in joining should attend the first "4-H Handy Kids, Handy Families Club" informational meeting on January 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office, 4550 Kennedy Drive in East Moline. For more information, call Lisa Sumner at (309)796-0512.
• In 1994, Illinois 10th District Congressman John Porter read a resolution into the Congressional Record designating February as National Bird Feeding Month, and 12 years later, February is still celebrated as the month to introduce a friend or neighbor to the benefits of backyard feeding. The resolution noted that one-third of the adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards, and according to a 2001 North America Survey of Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife Recreation, this translates into more than $3 billion spent annually on bird food and related products. Information on "The Six Steps to Turn Your Yard Into a Sanctuary for Birds" is available at (http://www.backyardbirdcare.org), and consumers interested in learning more about National Bird Feeding Month and Congressman Porter's proclamation can visit (http://www.wbfi.org).
• Fifteen Pleasant Valley Junior High students are starting an e-mail mentoring program, which consists of the weekly sharing of one e-mail message per week with a business sponsor. There will be a kickoff breakfast at Pleasant Valley Junior High, and a one-time job-shadowing opportunity later in the year. Following a career-interest inventory, the following career choices were decided upon: small-business owner, police officer, cook, Marine, cosmetologist, lawyer, band teacher, Air Force pilot, film critic, pediatrician, massage therapist, DJ, skater, auto mechanic, and drummer. Those interested in assisting should contact Tammy Chelf at (563)344-5810 or (tchelf@netexpress.net).
• Trinity has partnered with Life Line Screening, the nation's leading vascular screening service, to bring the high-quality imaging technology to neighborhoods at an affordable rate. Each screening location will be staffed with health professionals holding a variety of noninvasive screenings for aneurysms, strokes, osteoporosis, and coronary-artery disease. Life Line screenings will be held at various locations in the Quad Cities and the surrounding areas; the stroke, abdominal-aortic aneurysm, and peripheral arterial screenings cost $45, while the osteoporosis screening is $35. For more information, or to register for screenings, call Life Line at (800)779-6353.
• The Quad City Health Initiative has elected two new board members to four-year terms beginning this month: Ann Grove, of World Relief, and Roger Fuerstenberg, of the Davenport Community Schools. In addition, seven Board members are continuing for a second four-year term: Dr. Jim Lehman, Genesis Health System; Jill McLaughlin, Moline; Dr. Richard "Bud" Phillis, Milan; Karen Dowsett, Moline; Jerry Jones, of the Martin Luther King Center; Bill Leaver, of Trinity Regional Health System; and Sandra Potter-Marquardt, of Scott County Kids. The initiative raises awareness of health issues, encourages and creates projects to address gaps in health services, and fosters community collaboration in aspects of health. For more information or to join the efforts of the Quad City Health Initiative, call (563)421-2815 or visit (http://www.qchealthinitiative.org).
• The River Music Experience (RME) announced last week that it will be recognized at the 2006 Keeping the Blues Alive awards for its contribution to blues music. The RME will be one of 20 recipients at a January 28 ceremony in Memphis, Tennessee. The Davenport venue - which houses exhibits and features live music performances, including this past summer's inaugural River Roots Live festival - is the only center for American roots-music preservation. For more information on the RME, visit (http://www.rivermusicexperience.com).
• The University of Illinois Extension is adding a new "4-H Handy Kids, Handy Families Club" for special-needs youth ages 8 to 18 and their siblings, parents, and caretakers. It will be a great opportunity for special-needs youth to create 4-H projects, earn ribbons and premiums, sing songs, play games, and make new friends in a caring environment. Those interested in joining should attend the first "4-H Handy Kids, Handy Families Club" informational meeting on January 18 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Extension Office, 4550 Kennedy Drive in East Moline. For more information, call Lisa Sumner at (309)796-0512.
• In 1994, Illinois 10th District Congressman John Porter read a resolution into the Congressional Record designating February as National Bird Feeding Month, and 12 years later, February is still celebrated as the month to introduce a friend or neighbor to the benefits of backyard feeding. The resolution noted that one-third of the adult population feeds wild birds in their backyards, and according to a 2001 North America Survey of Hunting, Fishing & Wildlife Recreation, this translates into more than $3 billion spent annually on bird food and related products. Information on "The Six Steps to Turn Your Yard Into a Sanctuary for Birds" is available at (http://www.backyardbirdcare.org), and consumers interested in learning more about National Bird Feeding Month and Congressman Porter's proclamation can visit (http://www.wbfi.org).
• Fifteen Pleasant Valley Junior High students are starting an e-mail mentoring program, which consists of the weekly sharing of one e-mail message per week with a business sponsor. There will be a kickoff breakfast at Pleasant Valley Junior High, and a one-time job-shadowing opportunity later in the year. Following a career-interest inventory, the following career choices were decided upon: small-business owner, police officer, cook, Marine, cosmetologist, lawyer, band teacher, Air Force pilot, film critic, pediatrician, massage therapist, DJ, skater, auto mechanic, and drummer. Those interested in assisting should contact Tammy Chelf at (563)344-5810 or (tchelf@netexpress.net).
• Trinity has partnered with Life Line Screening, the nation's leading vascular screening service, to bring the high-quality imaging technology to neighborhoods at an affordable rate. Each screening location will be staffed with health professionals holding a variety of noninvasive screenings for aneurysms, strokes, osteoporosis, and coronary-artery disease. Life Line screenings will be held at various locations in the Quad Cities and the surrounding areas; the stroke, abdominal-aortic aneurysm, and peripheral arterial screenings cost $45, while the osteoporosis screening is $35. For more information, or to register for screenings, call Life Line at (800)779-6353.
• The Quad City Health Initiative has elected two new board members to four-year terms beginning this month: Ann Grove, of World Relief, and Roger Fuerstenberg, of the Davenport Community Schools. In addition, seven Board members are continuing for a second four-year term: Dr. Jim Lehman, Genesis Health System; Jill McLaughlin, Moline; Dr. Richard "Bud" Phillis, Milan; Karen Dowsett, Moline; Jerry Jones, of the Martin Luther King Center; Bill Leaver, of Trinity Regional Health System; and Sandra Potter-Marquardt, of Scott County Kids. The initiative raises awareness of health issues, encourages and creates projects to address gaps in health services, and fosters community collaboration in aspects of health. For more information or to join the efforts of the Quad City Health Initiative, call (563)421-2815 or visit (http://www.qchealthinitiative.org).
