Last week, the Rock Island Economic Growth Corporation broke ground on the long-anticipated McKesson Lofts at 110 19th Street. The $6.6-million mixed-use redevelopment project is in the heart of downtown Rock Island. Built in 1914, this 60,000-square-foot former warehouse has sat vacant for eight years. Redevelopment of the building has been on the drawing board for four years. The vision for McKesson Lofts is a mixed-use facility that incorporates environmentally friendly concepts suitable for residential living and high-tech commercial use. Completion of the first and second floors is anticipated in October 2008, with the entire project complete by September 2009.
Environmental caucuses are happening across Iowa in December to bring a grassroots voice on environmental and public-health concerns to state and national leaders. Caucuses in our area currently scheduled are Tuesday, December 11, at 7 p.m. at the new Davenport Police Facility, 416 North Harrison, and Monday, December 17, at a time to be announced at Scott County Public Library, 200 North Sixth Avenue in Eldridge. For more information, or if transportation is needed, contact Plains Justice at (319) 362-2120 or (jiduax@plainsjustice.org).
The Rock Island Main Library, at 401 19th Street, offers regularly scheduled computer-training sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays in its new lab. One-hour Internet workshops for intermediate users are every Tuesday at 10 a.m. One-hour word-processing tutorials for intermediate users are every Thursday at 10 a.m. The basic Internet session for beginners is offered at 1 p.m. on Tuesdays. All workshops are free and open to the public. Patrons should come to the Main Library reference desk and inform the librarian that they're waiting for the workshop. The free workshops are offered on a walk-in basis. Patrons may also schedule private Internet workshops. For more details, contact the reference desk at (309) 732-7341.
"Activity Based Alzheimer Care: Building a Therapeutic Program" will be held Wednesday, December 12, at the Moline Public Library (3210 41st Street) from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.This event is designed for anyone working with individuals with dementia. Attendees will explore the fundamental components of activity-based care, examine strategies for assessment, identify program-design options, discover ways to adapt activities, identify and evaluate programs, and apply lessons about teamwork. The registration deadline is December 7. For more information, contact the Alzheimer's Association at (563) 324-1022 or (Jerry.Schroeder@alz.org).
The Davenport Public Library's two locations locations are offering a free "Guide to the 2008 Iowa Caucuses," as researched by the library's reference department. In this compact yet comprehensive brochure, you will find a list of all Democratic and Republican nominees, books they have written (with annotations), contact information, and general information about the Iowa caucuses. This guide is available through January 3. For more information, call (563) 326-7844.
WQPT, the Quad Cities' PBS station, is now accepting entries for consideration to be featured in a new program that will highlight local filmmakers. In order to have a film considered, entrants should go to (http://www.wqpt.org) and fill out the entry form to send along with a DVD copy of the film, or call (309) 796-2424 to request an entry form. DVDs will not be returned unless they arrive with a postage-paid envelope. WQPT will be accepting films until January 3.
The International Thespian Society, a division of the Educational Theatre Association, just completed the fifth year of its national community-service initiative, Trick or Treat So Kids Can Eat. Thespian troupes from Camanche High School and Pleasant Valley High School collected 2,470 pounds of food for local charitable food programs. They joined more than 225 thespian troupes from across the United States to collect a total of 270,345 pounds of canned and nonperishable food in this year's campaign.
The Illinois State Police has proposed enacting a minimum age to obtain an Illinois Firearm Owner Identification (FOID) card. Illinois law does not set an age requirement for issuance of a FOID card with a parent's consent. The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) will determine if this rule will be enacted, but you can still submit comments on the proposal. Address your comments to: John M. Hosteny, Interim Chief Legal Counsel; Illinois State Police; 801 S. 7th St. Suite 1000-S; P.O. Box 19461; Springfield IL 61794-9461. You can also send your comments directly to JCAR at 700 Stratton Office Building; Springfield IL 62706 or (jcar@ilga.gov).
Fejervary Children's Zoo is now aglow with its annual drive-though lighting display. The public may come to view the lights through Tuesday, December 25, from 5 until 10 p.m.
