12
Aug
2003
• After more than a decade of research and analysis, the Restructured Upper Mississippi River & Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study is nearing completion. Public participation now and at upcoming public meetings is key to developing a plan to ensure the Mississippi and Illinois rivers continue to be nationally treasured ecological resources, as well as effective transportation systems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Rock Island District, is managing the study effort to map out the environmental and navigational needs of the Upper Mississippi and Illinois Rivers for the next 50 years. Over the next several months, the study team will be evaluating a set of tentative alternative plans for potential ecosystem restoration and navigation improvements. In October, those tentative plans will be presented at seven regional public meetings. The Final Feasibility Report will be transmitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, Office of Management & Budget, and Congress in October 2004. The public can monitor, comment, and participate through the study Web site at (http://www2.mvr.usace.army.mil/umr-iwwsns). For more information about the Upper Mississippi River & Illinois Waterway System Navigation Study, contact project manager Denny Lundberg at (309)794-5632 or the Rock Island District public-affairs office at (309)794-5274.
• During the month of July, the Davenport Museum of Art partnered with children from four community groups to create five large painted murals now on display at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. Two of the five panels feature the kids' interpretations of the under-construction Figge Arts Center building. The participating groups included the Center for Alcohol & Drug Services, Girls' Connection, Heritage 4H, and the Scott County YMCA. Children attending art classes at the museum also contributed to the murals. In all, more than 40 children worked on the pieces. The murals can be seen at the RiverCenter's north building through the end of the year, after which they will be installed on the construction fencing around the Figge Arts Center construction site.
• Rick's House of Hope, a trauma- and grief-recovery center for children, is helping area children who suffer from or have a loved one afflicted with cancer through the Pioneer Club support group. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Rick's House of Hope, 4867 Forest Grove Drive in Bettendorf. Each meeting includes a chuck-wagon supper, games, music, and sharing time inside a covered wagon. A donation of $2 per person for the meal is requested. Rick's House of Hope is a program of Prairie & River Spiritual Resources, a division of Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department. For more information about the Pioneer Club, call Rick's House of Hope at (563)324-9580 or Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department at (563)421-7970.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities (APQC) has recently received an award of $5,000 from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that will be used to support APQC's emergency client-assistance program. The emergency client-assistance program provides financial support to help APQC's clients pay for such basic living expenses as rent, utilities, food, and prescription medications. This program is funded through a combination of grant support and fundraising events such as the annual Friends for Life and Red Ribbon dinners. For more information about APQC, call the Illinois office at (309)788-5698 or the Iowa office at (563)421-4266, or visit the Web site (http://www.aidsprojectQC.org).
• Interested in participating in Davenport city government rather than complaining about it? Election packets are available in city clerk's office at 226 West Fourth Street for the November 4 city election. Affidavits of candidacy and nomination papers can be filed in the Office of the City Clerk starting August 11 and ending August 28. If you have questions, call Jackie Holecek at (563)326-6163.
• On Wednesday, August 6, SCI Ticketing, a company owned by the band String Cheese Incident and Madison House Incorporated, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. federal court in Denver claiming that ticketing giant Ticketmaster has monopolized the industry, using its market power to prevent competition for the sale of concert tickets. SCI Ticketing also alleges that Ticketmaster has entered into agreements with, among others, Clear Channel Communications to restrain trade in the market of concert tickets.
• The Genesis Thoracic Oncology Program and the American Cancer Society are working with the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics through the National Cancer Institute to enroll people in the National Lung Screening Trial, or NLST. The purpose of the eight-year study is to determine if early detection of lung cancer with either chest x-ray or spiral-computed tomography is effective in reducing lung-cancer deaths. NLST aims to show if people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage of lung cancer and improve long-term survival. For more information about the National Lung Screening Trial or for questions regarding lung cancer and smoking cessation, contact Wendy Ballou at (563)421-1961 or (ballouw@genesishealth.com).
• At the August 6 Davenport City Council meeting, aldermen adopted a resolution to facilitate the transition of the municipally funded Davenport Museum of Art to a private regional facility beginning September 1. The museum currently operates as a department of the City of Davenport. The City of Davenport will continue to provide annual financial support to the Davenport Museum of Art/Figge Arts Center through 2023. Any funding necessary to operate the museum beyond what is contributed by the city is the responsibility of the museum to raise. The City of Davenport will retain legal possession of its art collection but will name the museum as caretaker in perpetuity. The city will also continue to insure the collection. The museum will retain and transfer personnel from the city payroll to the museum payroll by September 1, 2004. Museum employees currently receive City of Davenport benefits including health insurance and IPERS. Under the new governance agreement, museum employees will be insured and receive retirement benefits privately through the museum.
• During the month of July, the Davenport Museum of Art partnered with children from four community groups to create five large painted murals now on display at the RiverCenter in downtown Davenport. Two of the five panels feature the kids' interpretations of the under-construction Figge Arts Center building. The participating groups included the Center for Alcohol & Drug Services, Girls' Connection, Heritage 4H, and the Scott County YMCA. Children attending art classes at the museum also contributed to the murals. In all, more than 40 children worked on the pieces. The murals can be seen at the RiverCenter's north building through the end of the year, after which they will be installed on the construction fencing around the Figge Arts Center construction site.
• Rick's House of Hope, a trauma- and grief-recovery center for children, is helping area children who suffer from or have a loved one afflicted with cancer through the Pioneer Club support group. The group meets the first and third Tuesdays of each month at 5:30 p.m. at Rick's House of Hope, 4867 Forest Grove Drive in Bettendorf. Each meeting includes a chuck-wagon supper, games, music, and sharing time inside a covered wagon. A donation of $2 per person for the meal is requested. Rick's House of Hope is a program of Prairie & River Spiritual Resources, a division of Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department. For more information about the Pioneer Club, call Rick's House of Hope at (563)324-9580 or Genesis Medical Center's Spiritual Care Department at (563)421-7970.
• AIDS Project Quad Cities (APQC) has recently received an award of $5,000 from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that will be used to support APQC's emergency client-assistance program. The emergency client-assistance program provides financial support to help APQC's clients pay for such basic living expenses as rent, utilities, food, and prescription medications. This program is funded through a combination of grant support and fundraising events such as the annual Friends for Life and Red Ribbon dinners. For more information about APQC, call the Illinois office at (309)788-5698 or the Iowa office at (563)421-4266, or visit the Web site (http://www.aidsprojectQC.org).
• Interested in participating in Davenport city government rather than complaining about it? Election packets are available in city clerk's office at 226 West Fourth Street for the November 4 city election. Affidavits of candidacy and nomination papers can be filed in the Office of the City Clerk starting August 11 and ending August 28. If you have questions, call Jackie Holecek at (563)326-6163.
• On Wednesday, August 6, SCI Ticketing, a company owned by the band String Cheese Incident and Madison House Incorporated, filed a lawsuit in the U.S. federal court in Denver claiming that ticketing giant Ticketmaster has monopolized the industry, using its market power to prevent competition for the sale of concert tickets. SCI Ticketing also alleges that Ticketmaster has entered into agreements with, among others, Clear Channel Communications to restrain trade in the market of concert tickets.
• The Genesis Thoracic Oncology Program and the American Cancer Society are working with the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics through the National Cancer Institute to enroll people in the National Lung Screening Trial, or NLST. The purpose of the eight-year study is to determine if early detection of lung cancer with either chest x-ray or spiral-computed tomography is effective in reducing lung-cancer deaths. NLST aims to show if people can be diagnosed at an earlier stage of lung cancer and improve long-term survival. For more information about the National Lung Screening Trial or for questions regarding lung cancer and smoking cessation, contact Wendy Ballou at (563)421-1961 or (ballouw@genesishealth.com).
• At the August 6 Davenport City Council meeting, aldermen adopted a resolution to facilitate the transition of the municipally funded Davenport Museum of Art to a private regional facility beginning September 1. The museum currently operates as a department of the City of Davenport. The City of Davenport will continue to provide annual financial support to the Davenport Museum of Art/Figge Arts Center through 2023. Any funding necessary to operate the museum beyond what is contributed by the city is the responsibility of the museum to raise. The City of Davenport will retain legal possession of its art collection but will name the museum as caretaker in perpetuity. The city will also continue to insure the collection. The museum will retain and transfer personnel from the city payroll to the museum payroll by September 1, 2004. Museum employees currently receive City of Davenport benefits including health insurance and IPERS. Under the new governance agreement, museum employees will be insured and receive retirement benefits privately through the museum.
