On November 13, the Community Vitality Task Force released the second-annual Community Vitality Snapshot Report. The snapshot is an annual quality-of-life report used to highlight the Quad Cities' strengths and weaknesses, and it focuses on seven areas: economy and employment; health and society; environment and resources; education and learning; arts, culture, and recreation; neighborhoods, housing, and safety; and belonging and leadership. The report provides statistics for issues that are considered critical to the growth and success of the Quad Cities, such as the annual average unemployment rate, the percentage of people without health insurance, and the crime rate. The snapshot can be downloaded at GenesisHealth.com/pdf/qchi_2008_snapshot.pdf. - Ashley Allen
Christian Care, a not-for-profit organization committed to ending homelessness and violence, has been awarded a $20,000 grant from The Amy Helpenstell Foundation. The funds were designated for Christian Care's Domestic Violence Shelter, located in Rock Island, which provided services to nearly 400 women and children in 2007.
Through November 30, the Rock Island Police Department will participate in the statewide safety-belt enforcement blitz. Officers will be posted at designated intersections to monitor seat-belt usage and will be issuing citations to those not in compliance.
Fire departments across Iowa received nearly $1.7 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program. Locally, Dewitt Volunteer Fire Department received $30,896 for operations and safety, and Princeton Volunteer Fire Department received $18,668 for operations and safety.
The Salvation Army's Give Us a Day campaign is in its second year and asks area businesses, organizations, and families to donate their time to staff the red kettles and ring bells to raise money. For more information, contact Sandi at (563) 340-4056.
Trinity Medical Center's West Campus has received the 2009 Clinical Excellence Award for Cardiac Surgery for the second year in a row from HealthGrades for its clinical outcomes. This award places Trinity in the top 10 percent of hospitals nationally for heart surgery. For more information, visit HealthGrades.com.
In an effort to raise funds for the building of an Eastern Avenue library, the Friends of the Davenport Public Library are working with Barnes & Noble to host a book fair at the NorthPark Mall store. On Sunday, December 7, Barnes & Noble will donate 10 percent of every sale made; just mention that your purchase is for the Davenport Public Library when you check out. For additional ways to donate, visit FriendsOfDavenportLibrary.org.
More than 1,000 participants are expected to lace up for the Scott County Family Y/McCarthy Bush's 22nd annual Turkey Trot run/walk. The Turkey Trot is on Thanksgiving Day - Thursday, November 27 - with the one-mile family fun run beginning at 8:30 a.m., and the five-mile run/walk at 9 a.m. at the Davenport Family YMCA. Registrations are being accepted at any Scott County Family Y branch, or online at GetMeRegistered.com. Prior to race day, the cost is $20 per person for the one-mile event and $25 per person for the five-mile run/walk.
The Livermore, located at 101 North College Avenue in downtown Aledo, will host a "Breakfast with Santa" on November 29 at 8:30 a.m. There will be a breakfast buffet and an opportunity for children to visit one-on-one with Santa, and Dream Photography will be present to capture the moment. Advance tickets are $10 each and are sold at The Livermore. For more information, call (309) 582-0838. - Ashley Allen
Elizabeth Harb, a 16-year-old figure skater from LeClaire, is partnering with Patryk Szalasny in international pairs competitions representing Poland and hopes to win one of Poland's two spots for the European Championships figure-skating competition to be held in Helsinki, Finland, in January. Elizabeth began skating a year ago with Patryk, Poland's 2003 and 2004 junior pairs champion. They will compete December 5 and 6 in the Polish Nationals competition, but Quad Citians can catch them first during Holiday Pops on November 22, along with other figure skaters from the Figure Skating Club of the Quad Cities.
