26
Jul
2005
• A 40-foot colon replica with appropriately sized polyps is intended to amuse, educate, and ultimately save lives. The Colossal Colon, a crawl-through replica of a human colon, is the creation of Molly McMaster, a colon-cancer survivor who was diagnosed with the disease on her 23rd birthday. The Colossal Colon, called Coco, will be a feature of the Genesis Health & Fitness Expo on Thursday, July 28, and Friday, July 29, at the RiverCenter in Davenport. The Colossal Colon exhibit includes examples of healthy colon tissue, several non-cancerous diseases of the colon, polyps, and various stages of colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the second-leading case of cancer death in the United States. The American Cancer Society predicts that approximately 145,000 cases will be diagnosed this year, and 56,000 people will die of colorectal cancer. However, colorectal cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers. More than 90 percent of all cases of colon cancer could be prevented through proper screening. Polyps that could eventually develop into cancer can be removed during a colonoscopy.
• The State Historical Society of Iowa has awarded St. Ambrose University a 2005 "Kids Count!" certificate of merit award for excellence in service to youth researchers. The award, which specifically cites the Catich Gallery & Archives at St. Ambrose, honors archives, museums, and university and specialized libraries that go the extra mile to make sixth- through 12th-grade children welcome as researchers. Diane Ferry, a student at North Scott High School, nominated St. Ambrose after working with art professor Kristin Quinn to access the archival materials of Father Edward Catich, the world-renowned calligrapher who founded the St. Ambrose Art Department. The awardees were selected in conjunction with the 2005 National History Day in Iowa events in April and May. Students spend months researching and developing their projects, often going to original sources, for competition at the local, state, and national levels.
• Investing in the Quad Cities just got easier thanks to the 2005 ATM promotion Investing in the Quad Cities. Simply use your ATM card at participating banks and credit unions during the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, July 29 through 31, and the Mississippi Valley Fair, August 2 through 7, and they will donate 10 cents for every ATM transaction to United Way. The following banks and credit unions are participating in the 2005 ATM promotion: Alcoa Employees & Community Credit Union; Commercial Federal Bank; Gas & Electric Credit Union; Northwest Bank & Trust Company; Quad-City Bank & Trust; Southeast National Bank; The Family Credit Union, and Walcott Trust & Savings Bank.
• Trinity Regional Health System has begun distributing bicycle helmets in all three of its emergency departments to children who are treated for injuries sustained from bicycle accidents. The 44 helmets were purchased by Trinity's pre-hospital advisory board, a group of 28 area emergency responders who provide care prior to a patient's arrival in the emergency department. In addition to Trinity, helmets have been provided to Trinity's associate hospital, Hammond Henry Hospital in Geneseo, for distribution. Under the program, any child who comes to the emergency department for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident will get a helmet, which protects and prevents traumatic brain injury, along with bicycle safety tips. All staff have been trained to measure each child's head circumference and size the helmet accordingly. In 2004, Trinity Regional Health System treated 78 young patients involved in bicycle accidents. So far in 2005, there have been 27 cases across all three campuses. Nationally, more than 380,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for bike-related injuries. According to Safe Kids USA, bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.
• Linda Matkovich of Blue Grass has been elected to the executive committee of the Iowa Governor's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council, an organization that advocates for improving the system of support and services for Iowans with disabilities. Matkovich is the CEO and co-founder of H.O.P.E., a provider agency for people with disabilities in central Iowa. She was appointed to a three-year term on the council by Governor Vilsack in 2003. Her election by council members to the executive committee is for one year. The DD Council is an independent state agency created in response to a federal law, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance & Bill of Rights Act. The purpose of the law is to assure that people with developmental disabilities and their families help design and have access to necessary services, supports, and other assistance.
• If you're seeking a unique and challenging way to get in shape while raising money for cancer research, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program might be the answer. Team in Training (TNT), the world's largest endurance sports training program, provides personalized coaching, group training, support, and the chance to meet new people, while the participants raise funds for blood-cancer research. The program is now recruiting volunteers for winter events. Participants have the option of running or walking a full or half marathon, cycling a 100-mile ride, or completing a triathlon. In addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention, and safety. Participants are also given tools to help them fundraise. The society arranges airfare and lodging to send participants to the event of their choice. The Iowa Chapter is recruiting teams to participate in events in places such as Honolulu, Walt Disney World, and Phoenix. Since Team in Training began in 1988, more than 265,000 participants have raised more than $600 million through TNT to help the society advance its mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. For additional TNT information, call the Iowa Chapter at (319)339-0072 or visit (http://www.teamintraining.org).
• In 2000, a poll conducted by the Discovery Channel found that 57 percent of Americans feared the IRS more than God. But few Americans realize that members of Congress and their employees are extremely well-insulated from the aggravations and horrors so many ordinary citizens face when April 15 looms. The IRS has long maintained two special "customer-service centers" to carefully assist lawmakers and Capitol Hill employees in filling out their tax forms. In 1995, it was estimated that this special service cost taxpayers $100,000. For more information, visit (http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=22).
• The State Historical Society of Iowa has awarded St. Ambrose University a 2005 "Kids Count!" certificate of merit award for excellence in service to youth researchers. The award, which specifically cites the Catich Gallery & Archives at St. Ambrose, honors archives, museums, and university and specialized libraries that go the extra mile to make sixth- through 12th-grade children welcome as researchers. Diane Ferry, a student at North Scott High School, nominated St. Ambrose after working with art professor Kristin Quinn to access the archival materials of Father Edward Catich, the world-renowned calligrapher who founded the St. Ambrose Art Department. The awardees were selected in conjunction with the 2005 National History Day in Iowa events in April and May. Students spend months researching and developing their projects, often going to original sources, for competition at the local, state, and national levels.
• Investing in the Quad Cities just got easier thanks to the 2005 ATM promotion Investing in the Quad Cities. Simply use your ATM card at participating banks and credit unions during the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival, July 29 through 31, and the Mississippi Valley Fair, August 2 through 7, and they will donate 10 cents for every ATM transaction to United Way. The following banks and credit unions are participating in the 2005 ATM promotion: Alcoa Employees & Community Credit Union; Commercial Federal Bank; Gas & Electric Credit Union; Northwest Bank & Trust Company; Quad-City Bank & Trust; Southeast National Bank; The Family Credit Union, and Walcott Trust & Savings Bank.
• Trinity Regional Health System has begun distributing bicycle helmets in all three of its emergency departments to children who are treated for injuries sustained from bicycle accidents. The 44 helmets were purchased by Trinity's pre-hospital advisory board, a group of 28 area emergency responders who provide care prior to a patient's arrival in the emergency department. In addition to Trinity, helmets have been provided to Trinity's associate hospital, Hammond Henry Hospital in Geneseo, for distribution. Under the program, any child who comes to the emergency department for injuries sustained in a bicycle accident will get a helmet, which protects and prevents traumatic brain injury, along with bicycle safety tips. All staff have been trained to measure each child's head circumference and size the helmet accordingly. In 2004, Trinity Regional Health System treated 78 young patients involved in bicycle accidents. So far in 2005, there have been 27 cases across all three campuses. Nationally, more than 380,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for bike-related injuries. According to Safe Kids USA, bicycle helmets reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85 percent and the risk of brain injury by as much as 88 percent.
• Linda Matkovich of Blue Grass has been elected to the executive committee of the Iowa Governor's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Council, an organization that advocates for improving the system of support and services for Iowans with disabilities. Matkovich is the CEO and co-founder of H.O.P.E., a provider agency for people with disabilities in central Iowa. She was appointed to a three-year term on the council by Governor Vilsack in 2003. Her election by council members to the executive committee is for one year. The DD Council is an independent state agency created in response to a federal law, the Developmental Disabilities Assistance & Bill of Rights Act. The purpose of the law is to assure that people with developmental disabilities and their families help design and have access to necessary services, supports, and other assistance.
• If you're seeking a unique and challenging way to get in shape while raising money for cancer research, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team in Training program might be the answer. Team in Training (TNT), the world's largest endurance sports training program, provides personalized coaching, group training, support, and the chance to meet new people, while the participants raise funds for blood-cancer research. The program is now recruiting volunteers for winter events. Participants have the option of running or walking a full or half marathon, cycling a 100-mile ride, or completing a triathlon. In addition to weekly training sessions under the guidance of a certified coach, TNT offers clinics on nutrition, equipment, injury prevention, and safety. Participants are also given tools to help them fundraise. The society arranges airfare and lodging to send participants to the event of their choice. The Iowa Chapter is recruiting teams to participate in events in places such as Honolulu, Walt Disney World, and Phoenix. Since Team in Training began in 1988, more than 265,000 participants have raised more than $600 million through TNT to help the society advance its mission: cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. For additional TNT information, call the Iowa Chapter at (319)339-0072 or visit (http://www.teamintraining.org).
• In 2000, a poll conducted by the Discovery Channel found that 57 percent of Americans feared the IRS more than God. But few Americans realize that members of Congress and their employees are extremely well-insulated from the aggravations and horrors so many ordinary citizens face when April 15 looms. The IRS has long maintained two special "customer-service centers" to carefully assist lawmakers and Capitol Hill employees in filling out their tax forms. In 1995, it was estimated that this special service cost taxpayers $100,000. For more information, visit (http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=22).
