Davenport Second Ward Alderman Shawn Hamerlinck has announced his bid for the Republican nomination in State Senate District 42. Hamerlinck was first elected alderman in 2005, was reelected in 2007, and is a Youth Field Specialist in the Iowa State University Scott Country Extension office. In addition, Hamerlinck is an adjunct faculty member at Augustana College and Black Hawk College.

Trinity Regional Health System's Board of Directors last week announced the appointment of Andrea Y. Coleman as Trinity's new president and chief executive officer, effective March 10. Coleman will replace Bill Leaver, who became president and CEO of Trinity's parent organization, Iowa Health System, on January 1. Coleman currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer of Penrose St. Francis Health Services, the Colorado Springs hospital system of Centura Health, a faith-based health-delivery system headquartered in Denver.

Nearly 3,500 Iowans became new homeowners in 2007 with the assistance of the Iowa Finance Authority's low-interest loan program FirstHome. The program offers qualified first-time home-buyers affordable mortgage financing with a low, fixed interest rate and charges no discount points or origination fees. In calendar year 2007, a record 3,485 Iowans used FirstHome. This was an increase of nearly 500 loans from 2006 and was almost 1,000 loans greater than in 2005. In Scott County, 217 loans were closed for a total of more than $20 million. For more information, look at (http://www.iowafinanceauthority.gov ).

The Public Works Department of the City of East Moline has been cleaning out the historic Strand Theatre, 1006 15th Avenue, as part of the effort to improve and clean up the downtown. The city has received a $99,000 grant from the federal Department of Housing & Urban Development for partial renovation of the building. Repairs to the exterior wall and roof have been completed, and work on the front façade will commence as weather permits. All of this work, including the cleanup, is an effort to make the building marketable to a private developer for renovation.

Niabi Zoo has openings for volunteers. An informational meeting on Thursday, January 17, at 7 p.m. will answer questions about the volunteer program. The meeting will be held in the Kohler Discovery Center on the zoo grounds. Zoo volunteers help with educational programs, landscaping, diet preparation, and special events, among other things. No experience is required. Volunteers must be 18 years of age. Individuals who cannot attend the meeting can also volunteer by submitting the volunteer application, which is available at (http://niabizoo.com), or by calling the zoo education department at (309) 799-3482.