19
Nov
2002
• The "Qualitative Assessment of Older Adults in Scott County, Iowa," a recently conducted survey, indicates that most seniors report they are active and independent and enjoy life. They are concerned about the high cost of health care, access to transportation, and loss of independence. Released by the Scott County Health Department, the survey was conducted to find out how older adults feel about "quality of life" factors including physical and mental health, community support, and services provided in the Scott County community. Copies of the survey are being distributed to many agencies in Scott County, including Center for Active Seniors, Generations Area Agency on Aging, local government officials, Genesis Medical Center, and Trinity Medical Center. The report is available online at (http://www.scottcountyiowa.com/health/assessments.html). Printed copies of the report are also available at the Scott County Health Department upon request.
• In response to a fire that broke out Wednesday, November 12, in East Moline, the American Red Cross in the Quad Cities area is ensuring that the affected family's emergency needs are being met. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations. To help victims of this and other disasters, make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area by calling (309)743-2166 or mailing a check to P.O. Box 888; Moline, Illinois 61266-0888.
• A Libertarian ballot initiative to end the state income tax in Massachusetts came within a few percentage points of winning. The effort received 45.4 percent of the vote. Eliminating the state income tax would take an estimated $9 billion annually out of state coffers and force an immediate 39-percent cut in state spending. Backers claim the savings for taxpayers would create between 300,000 and 500,000 jobs, enough to completely wipe out unemployment in the state. Opponents - including mainstream politicians and media organizations - predicted disaster if it passed. See the numbers for yourself at (http:\\www.EndTheIncomeTax.org).
• The North Family YMCA opened on November 1. Through a unique relationship, the Davenport Community School District and the Scott County Family Y have built a 50,000-square-foot, $6.6-million community-center YMCA that will be shared by high-school students and the community. The Scott County Family Y will manage the day-to-day activities and pay for all operating costs. This facility includes an eight-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, aerobics-training center, strength-training center, gymnasium, special-needs/family locker rooms, racquetball courts, teen center, family-services area, and multi-purpose room. You can see the facility for yourself at 624 West 53rd Street in Davenport.
• November is National Family Caregivers Month, and the American Heart Association is urging caregivers to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Knowing CPR will help caregivers respond quickly and appropriately in case of cardiac emergency. Those who are already trained should renew their skills every two years. About 85 percent of people who die from sudden cardiac arrest are 65 or older, and most cardiac arrests happen in the home, which means caregivers should be prepared to handle this emergency. The American Heart Association in the Quad Cities will be conducting free CPR training on Saturday, February 22, at the Isle of Capri Convention Center. For course times or to register, contact the American Heart Association office at (563)323-4321 or visit (http://www.americaheart.org/CPR).
• Students from 16 area high schools collected 1,082,184 pounds of food during the 2002 Student Hunger Drive. Corporate sponsors contributed 17,916 pounds of food, bringing the grand total to 1,100,100 pounds valued at $2,200,200. Since 1986, the Student Hunger Drive has collected 6,514,040 pounds of food valued at $13,028,080. The food is distributed by River Bend Foodbank to 120 pantries and shelters located in Scott, Rock Island, and Henry counties.
• Generations Area Agency on Aging needs volunteer drivers to deliver holiday meals to Scott County-area shut-ins on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Home-delivered meals are provided at no cost to the seniors. Those unable to volunteer their time can make a donation to offset food costs by calling the Area Agency on Aging. Businesses are also encouraged to sponsor meals for one of the holidays. Volunteers will be asked to share their time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the chosen holiday. To volunteer, to make a holiday-meal donation, or for more information, call Nancy Kay Cerny, program and resource developer, at (563)324-9085.
• The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) is switching its marketing efforts from printed direct mail to direct-e-mail campaigns that are less expensive to produce and distribute. The QCCVB has just completed the first part of a four-phase e-mail campaign that targets sporting-event planers, meeting planners, group-tour planners, and individual leisure travelers. The campaign has already generated numerous requests. The e-mail messages have links to surveys and the QCCVB's Web site, and provide a button to request more information. E-mail addresses for the leisure-travel campaign were generated through a Web survey that is in place on the QCCVB web site at (http://www.visitquadcities.com). More than 4,000 e-mail messages will be sent to leisure travelers.
• RiverBend Transit and Davenport CitiBus are working to ensure public transportation is available to the new Wal-Mart and Northridge Shopping Center through January 15. There is no fare for the fixed "Holiday Shuttle" route. The cost of the operation is being underwritten by Wal-Mart and property developer THF Realty. All of the shuttle vans are wheelchair-accessible. A split-service route is available Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with service resuming at 3:30 p.m. and concluding at 6:30 p.m. Saturday service is continuous from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information, call RiverBend Transit at (563)386-1350 or Davenport CitiBus at (563)888-2151.
• In response to a fire that broke out Wednesday, November 12, in East Moline, the American Red Cross in the Quad Cities area is ensuring that the affected family's emergency needs are being met. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations. To help victims of this and other disasters, make a financial contribution to the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area by calling (309)743-2166 or mailing a check to P.O. Box 888; Moline, Illinois 61266-0888.
• A Libertarian ballot initiative to end the state income tax in Massachusetts came within a few percentage points of winning. The effort received 45.4 percent of the vote. Eliminating the state income tax would take an estimated $9 billion annually out of state coffers and force an immediate 39-percent cut in state spending. Backers claim the savings for taxpayers would create between 300,000 and 500,000 jobs, enough to completely wipe out unemployment in the state. Opponents - including mainstream politicians and media organizations - predicted disaster if it passed. See the numbers for yourself at (http:\\www.EndTheIncomeTax.org).
• The North Family YMCA opened on November 1. Through a unique relationship, the Davenport Community School District and the Scott County Family Y have built a 50,000-square-foot, $6.6-million community-center YMCA that will be shared by high-school students and the community. The Scott County Family Y will manage the day-to-day activities and pay for all operating costs. This facility includes an eight-lane, 25-yard swimming pool, aerobics-training center, strength-training center, gymnasium, special-needs/family locker rooms, racquetball courts, teen center, family-services area, and multi-purpose room. You can see the facility for yourself at 624 West 53rd Street in Davenport.
• November is National Family Caregivers Month, and the American Heart Association is urging caregivers to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Knowing CPR will help caregivers respond quickly and appropriately in case of cardiac emergency. Those who are already trained should renew their skills every two years. About 85 percent of people who die from sudden cardiac arrest are 65 or older, and most cardiac arrests happen in the home, which means caregivers should be prepared to handle this emergency. The American Heart Association in the Quad Cities will be conducting free CPR training on Saturday, February 22, at the Isle of Capri Convention Center. For course times or to register, contact the American Heart Association office at (563)323-4321 or visit (http://www.americaheart.org/CPR).
• Students from 16 area high schools collected 1,082,184 pounds of food during the 2002 Student Hunger Drive. Corporate sponsors contributed 17,916 pounds of food, bringing the grand total to 1,100,100 pounds valued at $2,200,200. Since 1986, the Student Hunger Drive has collected 6,514,040 pounds of food valued at $13,028,080. The food is distributed by River Bend Foodbank to 120 pantries and shelters located in Scott, Rock Island, and Henry counties.
• Generations Area Agency on Aging needs volunteer drivers to deliver holiday meals to Scott County-area shut-ins on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Home-delivered meals are provided at no cost to the seniors. Those unable to volunteer their time can make a donation to offset food costs by calling the Area Agency on Aging. Businesses are also encouraged to sponsor meals for one of the holidays. Volunteers will be asked to share their time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the chosen holiday. To volunteer, to make a holiday-meal donation, or for more information, call Nancy Kay Cerny, program and resource developer, at (563)324-9085.
• The Quad Cities Convention & Visitors Bureau (QCCVB) is switching its marketing efforts from printed direct mail to direct-e-mail campaigns that are less expensive to produce and distribute. The QCCVB has just completed the first part of a four-phase e-mail campaign that targets sporting-event planers, meeting planners, group-tour planners, and individual leisure travelers. The campaign has already generated numerous requests. The e-mail messages have links to surveys and the QCCVB's Web site, and provide a button to request more information. E-mail addresses for the leisure-travel campaign were generated through a Web survey that is in place on the QCCVB web site at (http://www.visitquadcities.com). More than 4,000 e-mail messages will be sent to leisure travelers.
• RiverBend Transit and Davenport CitiBus are working to ensure public transportation is available to the new Wal-Mart and Northridge Shopping Center through January 15. There is no fare for the fixed "Holiday Shuttle" route. The cost of the operation is being underwritten by Wal-Mart and property developer THF Realty. All of the shuttle vans are wheelchair-accessible. A split-service route is available Monday through Friday 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., with service resuming at 3:30 p.m. and concluding at 6:30 p.m. Saturday service is continuous from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. For more information, call RiverBend Transit at (563)386-1350 or Davenport CitiBus at (563)888-2151.
