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.
Genesis Health System has been selected as a recipient of the 2007 Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence Awards, Iowa's premier award recognizing higher performance management principles. Genesis received a bronze award and was one of seven Iowa organizations receiving gold, silver, or bronze awards for 2007. The Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence awards were established eight years ago to recognize those businesses and organizations in the state that have completed a strenuous review and evaluation of their organizational performance management. Genesis Health System and the other Iowa organizations recognized for 2007 will be presented their awards at the annual Governor's Recognition of Performance Excellence Celebration at the Hy-Vee Conference Center in West Des Moines on Thursday, February 21.
The Richardson-Sloane Special Collections Center of the Davenport Public Library Main Street location (321 Main Street) has created a new blog titled "Primary Selections from Special Collections." Patrons can view this blog by visiting the center's Web site at (http://www.qcmemory.org) or at (http://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc).This new blog showcases interesting items from the library's local history and genealogy collections, including many photographs. Other items on the blog include Davenporters of note, urban legends, and news about recently acquired local history and genealogy resources.
The Quad-City Disc Golf Club is once again hosting the Disc Golf Ice Bowl, set for February 3 at Devils Glen Park in Bettendorf. Proceeds from this year's event will benefit the River Bend Foodbank in Moline. Registration for the Ice Bowl opens at 10:30 a.m. and closes at 11 a.m. at the picnic shelter. The entry fee is $18 plus five canned goods for club members, and $20 plus five canned goods for nonmembers. For more information, visit (http://www.qcdiscgolfclub.com).
At a legislative breakfast on January 23, the Iowa Association of Chiefs of Police & Peace Officers presented its Legislative Leadership Award to State Representative Jim Lykam of Davenport.
University of Illinois Extension and the Illinois Quad City Chamber of Commerce are inviting those who work with people in poverty to join them for a poverty simulation and workshop on February 12. Participants may register for the Poverty Simulation & Understanding Poverty Workshop online at (http://www.extension.uiuc.edu/rockisland). The program will take place at Singing Bird Nature Center in Rock Island's Black Hawk State Historic Site. For more information or to register by phone, call (309) 796-0512.
People can get two $40 coupons from the federal government to help cover the price of digital converter boxes for their televisions. Traditional analog television broadcasts are scheduled to be replaced with digital broadcasts on February 17, 2009. Television sets that use antennas will require a converter box to receive the new digital broadcasts. Apply online at: (http://www.dtv2009.gov).
Iowa House File 120, introduced by State Representative Clel Baudler (R-Greenfield), would change the Iowa right-to-carry law to make Iowa a "shall-issue" state. According to HF120, any law-abiding person 21 years of age or older would be eligible for a permit to carry a concealed handgun if they pass a training and marksmanship course. Training would not be required for a renewal of the permit to carry a firearm. HF120 also has a reciprocity provision that allows a person possessing a valid out-of-state permit to carry a weapon to be entitled to the privileges and subject to the restrictions of Iowa law, provided the state that issued the license recognizes weapons permits issued in Iowa.
On Saturday, February 2, the Family Museum will spotlight Greece from 1 to 3 p.m. as part of its "A World of Culture" monthly series. This event will include traditional Greek music and dance; a classical Greek sculpture activity in which visitors can try sculpting with soap; a mosaic tiling activity; make-and-take puppets; Greek food samples; and storytelling. The event is free with museum admission. For more information on this and other events at the Family Museum, visit (http://www.familymuseum.org) or call (563)344-4106.
LeClaire, Iowa, has been selected as the ending point for the RAGBRAI bicycle ride on Saturday, July 26. In addition to RAGBRAI, the Quad Cities will be hosting the Bix Beiderbecke Memorial Jazz Fest July 24 to 27 and the Bix 7 on Saturday, July 26, and several thousand participants and spectators in the Amateur Softball Association Girls 18 & Under National Championship will begin arriving Sunday, July 27, for a week-long tournament.
