20
Jul
2004
• You might not have heard of the American Community Survey (http://www.census.gov/acs/www), but you will. The new survey, unlike the traditional census every 10 years, will be taken every year at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars. It contains 24 pages of questions about your job, your income, your physical and emotional heath, your family status, your dwelling, and your habits. The survey asks, for instance, how many bathrooms you have in your house, how many miles you drive to work, how many days you were sick last year, and whether you have trouble getting up stairs. Americans are legally obligated to answer the survey and can be fined up to $1,000 per question if they refuse. Representative Ron Paul (R-Texas) recently introduced an amendment that would have eliminated funds for this survey, explaining on the House floor that perhaps the American people don't appreciate being threatened by Big Brother. You can see more on his Web site at (http://www.house.gov/paul/tst/tst2004/tst071204.htm).
• The Davenport City Council earlier this month voted to purchase the Mississippi Hotel downtown for $739,000. Purchase of the property, with an assessed value of $938,000, allows the planned expansion of the Adler Theatre to move forward so that the venue can host larger Broadway productions. As of July 1, 44 of the hotel's 117 housing units were occupied. City-assisted re-location of those residents is expected by mid-October. Davenport City Administrator Craig Malin has said he anticipates re-developing the portion of the hotel not needed for the Adler renovation for housing.
• Three students from Wood Intermediate School won first place at the National SECME Mousetrap Car Competition in Houston in late June. Students Michael Anderson, Kyle Barton, and Andrew Lang, led by coordinator Ignazia Bull, won at local and regional competitions to qualify for the national event. SECME's goal is to increase the number of students who will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Scott Morschhauser (formerly of the local band the Kabalas) has launched his own record label. Go-Go Golem Records will debut this fall with the release of the first CD by The Metrolites. The band, led by Morschhauser, was in discussions with various record labels when he decided to launch Go-Go Golem Records. Although there are no immediate plans to release other artists on the label, Morschhauser said he is confident the label will include them in the future. Look for Go-Go Golem Records' premiere CD release, tentatively titled The Metrolites in Spy-Fi, in stores in October.
• The youth group from Christ's Family Church will next month be collecting nonperishable food and toiletry items to help Eric O'Brien (a member of the church) and his Marine unit (#78072) serving in Iraq. To date, the group has collected enough supplies and postage money to send 42 boxes to O'Brien and his unit. The goal of the youth is to send 150 boxes, so each soldier in O'Brien's unit receives an encouraging care package. The collection will take place in the driveway of Christ's Family Church on Saturday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. O'Brien, 21, has attended Christ's Family Church since 1987. Before serving with the Marines, he lived in Moline and attended East Moline Christian School. Christ's Family Church is located at 4601 Utica Ridge Road in Davenport, across from Trinity at Terrace Park. For more information, contact the church office at (563)359-3765.
• The Iowa Attorney General's Office has taken the suggestion of a state representative from Bettendorf and installed a toll-free number for reporting suspected consumer fraud. Joe Hutter, a retired Bettendorf police officer and the Republican representative of the 82nd District, said he has been informed by an assistant attorney general that a new toll-free number, (888)777-4590, is in operation. Hutter introduced a bill to mandate such a number, and although it passed the House, it had not made it through the Senate when the recent legislative session ended.
• The Community Art Resource Tank (CART) in downtown Davenport held its first event earlier this week, featuring clients from social-service agencies being taught by local artists. The inaugural event was held Tuesday in the Union Arcade Building at 111 East Third Street in Davenport. CART is a not-for-profit art workspace dedicated to bringing art exposure and exploration to everyone, regardless of economic condition. For more information, call (563)323-2278.
• The latest issue of The Dingo, the Quad Cities-based humor magazine, has been released. A book-signing by "The Dingo Pack" - authors Sean Leary, Mark McLaughlin, Jason Tanamor, and Michael McCarty - is slated for 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, at Borders, 4000 East 53rd Street, Davenport. The Dingo features humor writers from across the U.S. and is distributed nationwide by Ingram Books and online at Amazon.com. For more information, check out the Dingo Web site at (http://www.dingoonline.com).
• The Davenport City Council earlier this month voted to purchase the Mississippi Hotel downtown for $739,000. Purchase of the property, with an assessed value of $938,000, allows the planned expansion of the Adler Theatre to move forward so that the venue can host larger Broadway productions. As of July 1, 44 of the hotel's 117 housing units were occupied. City-assisted re-location of those residents is expected by mid-October. Davenport City Administrator Craig Malin has said he anticipates re-developing the portion of the hotel not needed for the Adler renovation for housing.
• Three students from Wood Intermediate School won first place at the National SECME Mousetrap Car Competition in Houston in late June. Students Michael Anderson, Kyle Barton, and Andrew Lang, led by coordinator Ignazia Bull, won at local and regional competitions to qualify for the national event. SECME's goal is to increase the number of students who will be prepared to enter and complete post-secondary studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
• Scott Morschhauser (formerly of the local band the Kabalas) has launched his own record label. Go-Go Golem Records will debut this fall with the release of the first CD by The Metrolites. The band, led by Morschhauser, was in discussions with various record labels when he decided to launch Go-Go Golem Records. Although there are no immediate plans to release other artists on the label, Morschhauser said he is confident the label will include them in the future. Look for Go-Go Golem Records' premiere CD release, tentatively titled The Metrolites in Spy-Fi, in stores in October.
• The youth group from Christ's Family Church will next month be collecting nonperishable food and toiletry items to help Eric O'Brien (a member of the church) and his Marine unit (#78072) serving in Iraq. To date, the group has collected enough supplies and postage money to send 42 boxes to O'Brien and his unit. The goal of the youth is to send 150 boxes, so each soldier in O'Brien's unit receives an encouraging care package. The collection will take place in the driveway of Christ's Family Church on Saturday, August 7, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. O'Brien, 21, has attended Christ's Family Church since 1987. Before serving with the Marines, he lived in Moline and attended East Moline Christian School. Christ's Family Church is located at 4601 Utica Ridge Road in Davenport, across from Trinity at Terrace Park. For more information, contact the church office at (563)359-3765.
• The Iowa Attorney General's Office has taken the suggestion of a state representative from Bettendorf and installed a toll-free number for reporting suspected consumer fraud. Joe Hutter, a retired Bettendorf police officer and the Republican representative of the 82nd District, said he has been informed by an assistant attorney general that a new toll-free number, (888)777-4590, is in operation. Hutter introduced a bill to mandate such a number, and although it passed the House, it had not made it through the Senate when the recent legislative session ended.
• The Community Art Resource Tank (CART) in downtown Davenport held its first event earlier this week, featuring clients from social-service agencies being taught by local artists. The inaugural event was held Tuesday in the Union Arcade Building at 111 East Third Street in Davenport. CART is a not-for-profit art workspace dedicated to bringing art exposure and exploration to everyone, regardless of economic condition. For more information, call (563)323-2278.
• The latest issue of The Dingo, the Quad Cities-based humor magazine, has been released. A book-signing by "The Dingo Pack" - authors Sean Leary, Mark McLaughlin, Jason Tanamor, and Michael McCarty - is slated for 2 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, at Borders, 4000 East 53rd Street, Davenport. The Dingo features humor writers from across the U.S. and is distributed nationwide by Ingram Books and online at Amazon.com. For more information, check out the Dingo Web site at (http://www.dingoonline.com).
