13
Jul
2004
• If you want to make a difference for your children and your community, school-board service might be the answer. Nominations for the three upcoming vacancies on the Davenport Community Schools Board of Education can be filed through August 5. School-board elections will be held September 14. The board seats currently held by Nikki DeFauw, Susan Low, and Richard Clewell are up for election this year. School-board members are locally elected public officials charged with accountability for student learning, determining educational goals, setting policy, overseeing school finances, and other duties. About 2,100 men and women serve on local school boards across Iowa. School-board members in Davenport serve three-year terms and are not paid. Nomination papers for school-board seats for the Davenport Community Schools are available from board secretary Linda Smith-Kortemeyer. School-board candidates must obtain the signatures of 50 registered voters. A free guide to board service, titled "Leaders Who Care," is also available from the board secretary, whose office is located in the Administrative Services Department at 1606 Brady Street in Davenport.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities has announced its recent approval by the Illinois Department of Public Health as an HIV-testing site. Effective immediately, HIV testing is available by appointment by calling (309)788-5698. Walk-in HIV testing might also be available. All HIV testing offered by AIDS Project Quad Cities is free and anonymous.
• John McBride of Bettendorf won second place and $500 in this year's National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) competition for his poem "Storm Sestina," describing his mother's fear of lightning. The NFSPS prize is one of seven awards in poetry competitions that McBride has won this year. He is a member of the Midwest Writing Center and president of the Quint City Poets Society. The Quint City Poets meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Bettendorf Library. The Midwest Writing Center, in the Rock Island District, has open-mic readings of poetry at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month.
• The Bettendorf transit system is now servicing the 53rd Street and Utica Ridge Road area. Passengers will be able to transfer with Davenport CitiBus at each end of the new route - at the Jovan building at 1421 Kimberly Road and Showcase Cinemas 53. Transfers at Jovan will be on the half-hour and the cinemas at 45 minutes after the hour. Trinity Terrace Park, Hy-Vee, and Borders are some of the businesses passengers will be able to visit using the bus system.
• The Davenport Community Schools Board of Education has named Norbert Schuerman, Ed.D., as interim superintendent for the district. Schuerman will serve in this capacity for approximately one year or until a permanent replacement is found for former superintendent James Blanche, who retired earlier this year. Schuerman will begin his duties on August 1 and will also be providing some consulting hours as needed during the remainder of July. He will be employed on a month-to-month basis until a new superintendent is in place.
• Saint Joseph Catholic Church, located at 1316 2nd Avenue in Rock Island, will present an arrangement in the spirit of the music of Bix Beiderbecke later this month. The choir will feature jazz and blues spiritual music at weekend masses Saturday, July 24, at 3:45 p.m. and Sunday, July 25, at 10 a.m. Pre-mass concerts begin a half-hour before the services. First celebrated in 1990, the Bix masses are a tradition at St. Joseph's, complementing the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival.
• Quad Citians Affirming Diversity's School PASS (School Personnel Assisting Sexual minority Students) program has received funding from both the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA). Created in 2003, School PASS identifies personnel in area schools who agree to be a resource and supportive ally for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students. These personnel are trained and provided information to help them create more affirming school environments for all students. A recent national survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network found that 91 percent of LGBTQ students reported hearing homophobic remarks frequently or often because of their sexual orientation. So far, approximately 60 personnel representing 26 schools are a part of this program. Funding from the RDA and SCRA will provide a briefcase of educational books and videos for area schools in helping to educate and inform the school community.
• The Parrot Head in Paradise Club social/picnic will be held on July 18 at Duck Creek Park in Davenport. This is the official local chapter of the Jimmy Buffett Fan Club with a membership of more than 200 people. Parrot Head in Paradise Club is a not-for-profit organization that raises money for local and national charities. More information is available at (http://www.qcph.com) or by e-mailing (info@qcph.com). Interested people should e-mail the club or contact Karla Buckrop at (309)787-3443.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities has announced its recent approval by the Illinois Department of Public Health as an HIV-testing site. Effective immediately, HIV testing is available by appointment by calling (309)788-5698. Walk-in HIV testing might also be available. All HIV testing offered by AIDS Project Quad Cities is free and anonymous.
• John McBride of Bettendorf won second place and $500 in this year's National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) competition for his poem "Storm Sestina," describing his mother's fear of lightning. The NFSPS prize is one of seven awards in poetry competitions that McBride has won this year. He is a member of the Midwest Writing Center and president of the Quint City Poets Society. The Quint City Poets meet at 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month at the Bettendorf Library. The Midwest Writing Center, in the Rock Island District, has open-mic readings of poetry at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month.
• The Bettendorf transit system is now servicing the 53rd Street and Utica Ridge Road area. Passengers will be able to transfer with Davenport CitiBus at each end of the new route - at the Jovan building at 1421 Kimberly Road and Showcase Cinemas 53. Transfers at Jovan will be on the half-hour and the cinemas at 45 minutes after the hour. Trinity Terrace Park, Hy-Vee, and Borders are some of the businesses passengers will be able to visit using the bus system.
• The Davenport Community Schools Board of Education has named Norbert Schuerman, Ed.D., as interim superintendent for the district. Schuerman will serve in this capacity for approximately one year or until a permanent replacement is found for former superintendent James Blanche, who retired earlier this year. Schuerman will begin his duties on August 1 and will also be providing some consulting hours as needed during the remainder of July. He will be employed on a month-to-month basis until a new superintendent is in place.
• Saint Joseph Catholic Church, located at 1316 2nd Avenue in Rock Island, will present an arrangement in the spirit of the music of Bix Beiderbecke later this month. The choir will feature jazz and blues spiritual music at weekend masses Saturday, July 24, at 3:45 p.m. and Sunday, July 25, at 10 a.m. Pre-mass concerts begin a half-hour before the services. First celebrated in 1990, the Bix masses are a tradition at St. Joseph's, complementing the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Festival.
• Quad Citians Affirming Diversity's School PASS (School Personnel Assisting Sexual minority Students) program has received funding from both the Riverboat Development Authority (RDA) and the Scott County Regional Authority (SCRA). Created in 2003, School PASS identifies personnel in area schools who agree to be a resource and supportive ally for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students. These personnel are trained and provided information to help them create more affirming school environments for all students. A recent national survey conducted by the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network found that 91 percent of LGBTQ students reported hearing homophobic remarks frequently or often because of their sexual orientation. So far, approximately 60 personnel representing 26 schools are a part of this program. Funding from the RDA and SCRA will provide a briefcase of educational books and videos for area schools in helping to educate and inform the school community.
• The Parrot Head in Paradise Club social/picnic will be held on July 18 at Duck Creek Park in Davenport. This is the official local chapter of the Jimmy Buffett Fan Club with a membership of more than 200 people. Parrot Head in Paradise Club is a not-for-profit organization that raises money for local and national charities. More information is available at (http://www.qcph.com) or by e-mailing (info@qcph.com). Interested people should e-mail the club or contact Karla Buckrop at (309)787-3443.
