An effort to restore a sedge meadow is underway at Nahant Marsh. The Friends of Nahant, along with landscape designer Alec Schorg (of Aunt Rhodie's Landscaping & Design Studio) and several community volunteers counted plants two Sundays in July and August. The counting is the first step in a vegetation survey in a meadow located at the northern edge of the marsh. The sedge is a rare reed-like grass with a solid stem. There are at least three species of sedge in the meadow. The sedges are competing with reed canary grass, an invasive plant that is taking over much of the four-acre meadow. The survey is designed to help decide which management techniques (mowing, burning, spraying) will work best to manage this land. The meadow restoration is part of a revised management plan at the marsh. In addition to the meadow, efforts are moving forward to extend the trail, hire a naturalist, and enclose the observation deck as a handicapped-accessible observation blind.
Iowa has received more than $740,000 from the U.S. Department of Transportation to evaluate air service in the state and conduct an airport land use planning study. The air service study will analyze air service markets statewide and locally, determine the current level of service provided and how the system is used, develop a forecast for future use, and identify strengths and shortcomings. The study will help develop guidance to assist airport sponsors in ensuring compatible land use that maintains safety. It would also develop a partnership approach to include airports in local land use planning.
A new project is evolving to permanently memorialize people who have sacrificed their lives or made significant contributions to emergency medical services: the Iowa EMS Memorial. The memorial is a monument that will feature a likeness of two providers proudly hoisting the traditional EMS Star of Life. The memorial will exhibit the names of all Iowa EMS providers who have perished in the line of service; the names of EMS providers who have made significant statewide contributions; and, upon request and with funding, names of EMS providers who have made significant contributions in their local communities. The Iowa EMS Association has formed a memorial committee that is committed to coordinating the efforts to raise the $55,000 necessary to commission, site, and dedicate the Iowa EMS Memorial. To date, $15,000 has been pledged by the West Des Moines EMS Association, the Jordan Creek Wal-Mart, and the Iowa EMS Association in support of this project. For more information, visit (http://www.iemsa.net).
Martial-arts
instructor and St. Ambrose University adjunct professor John Morrow
has received official word from Guinness World Records that he is the
new world-record-holder for the "Most Push-Ups (Using Back of
Hands) in One Minute."
The new record of 123 push-ups was set by Morrow on May 5 on
the St. Ambrose campus. Morrow broke the old record of 100. Morrow's
quest to break a world record was featured in the River
Cities' Reader on January 18, 2006.
The Grove to Grove Lower Wapsipinicon River Cleanup Project is a river cleanup with a twist: Participants paddle canoes down the river to pick up the trash, camp overnight, and attend land-based environmental education programs. Held August 26 and 27, the project will include a cleanup of 22 miles of the Wapsipinicon River - the majority of it in Clinton County - from Walnut Grove Park in Toronto, Iowa, to Allen's Grove Park north of Donahue, Iowa. Base camp is at Sherman Park in Clinton County. This event is sponsored by the Lower Wapsipinicon River Cleanup Project, a grassroots organization with a dual purpose: to remove trash from the river and dispose of it in an environmentally responsible manner; and to educate the public about the environment and the importance of caring for natural resources. For more information, call Melisa Petersen at (309) 737-9016 or e-mail K.J. Rebarcak at (rebar@netins.net).
Would you like to be a part of a short story discussion group that eats delicious desserts while discussing great literature? The Davenport Public Library's "Short & Sweets" program might be for you. This quick and easy program takes place at the Fairmount Street location on the second Tuesday of each month, from 10 to 11 a.m. The next meeting will be September 12, and the short story will be "Monie Changes Everything" by David Sedaris. All short stories will be provided to each registered participant. To register, contact the library at (563) 328-6833 or (dbartling@davenportlibrary.com).
The Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center (MVBRC) is again providing blood to help support the U.S. military's blood need. MVBRC will be shipping a series of Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP) units over the next 12 weeks to a designated military location. A new Armed Services Blood Program initiative utilizes these FFP products for initial treatment and response to injured soldiers. Individuals with AB blood type are being specifically asked to support this effort, because the AB blood type is the universal type for the FFP proposal. At this time, MVBRC is encouraging volunteer blood donors to keep their scheduled appointments and sustain their commitment to regular blood donations. Individuals with AB blood type are asked to contact the Blood Center to make an appointment. People can donate blood every 56 days. Individuals in the community wishing to schedule an appointment can call (563) 359-5401. For more information, look at (http://www.bloodcenter.org).
Farmers and rural businesses will receive nearly $2 million in grants and just more than $4 million in loans from the United States Department of Agriculture to help install renewable-energy systems and make energy-saving improvements to equipment. The funds are being awarded to farmers and small-town businesses to invest in energy-saving technology and renewable energy systems such as wind turbines, ethanol biodiesel production, anaerobic digesters, wood burners, and energy efficient grain dryers. The funds will come through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Renewable Energy Systems & Energy Efficiency Improvements Grant Program.
