18 May 2015

The Kross - Selfless Project

By Tori Waite
Today's music comes in many varieties - some good some bad. Some like music that makes them sway, some like music they can sing to, and some like music that they can head bang along with. The thing that much popular music has in common now is the lyrics. Many artists sing of immoral and often illegal acts in their songs. The worst part is that the younger generation is singing along with this kind of music. What many of the generation will agree on is not that they like the lyrics, but that they like the music. What would happen if they music was still the same and the lyrics were a bit different? That is the kind of thing that The Kross radio station is trying to do. There are many non-secular stations and artist, but what about the metal heads? What about the people who really like to jam with music? That's why The Kross is a Christian Rock station.

The Kross believes that Christians are still God loving Christians no matter what they look like or what type of music they enjoy. In fact, they embrace many in the community that were left out of their churches because they did not assimilate into the church image. Through their uplifting music, The Kross tries to reach out and engage this generation of people that have left the church because they no longer feel comfortable being there. Because they no longer want to be a part of church, their music is the only thing that will grab their attention. The positive messages shared across The Kross radio may be the most positive, or the only positive, message they have heard all day.

The music shows love and acceptance of its listener's and calls on others to do the same. To show how other's can help, The Kross has created the Selfless Project in which others can be involved in reaching the Christians who have left the church. The video explains why the station got started and how they are getting others involved. By coming together for one cause, just a few can reach thousands of people who need help across the world.

The Kross is streaming worldwide through the internet and also playing through Google Play and Apple apps. The music is completely free to listeners. They do not have to listen to ads, watch videos, or pay for the apps. This is one of the many ways that The Kross is unique and seeks to reach out to this younger generation of 18-33 year old age group that consistently leave the church by the hundreds. Many of this age are tech savvy, but may not be making much income. Once they hear of a place to listen to free music, they will be sure to check it out.

The video is only a few short minutes: www.thekross.com
18 May 2015

ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County Webinars and Calendar

By Amanda Heitz

Summer Webinars Help Gardeners Grow in Knowledge June program offers landscaping designs and trough gardening information

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Scott County office is hosting the sixth annual "Growing Season" webinar series in June, July and August. Gardeners will learn about creative ideas for theme gardens, planting trough gardens, water features and conservation, attracting butterflies and bees, and growing herbs.

The three-part series, offered by the Iowa Master Gardener program, is open to all interested gardeners and features an Iowa Master Gardener and Iowa State University faculty or extension specialist presenting each of the two-hour courses. Participants are not required to have completed master gardener training to attend.

The June webinar, Design from Yard to Trough, with Iowa State University Department of Horticulture lecturer Lisa Orgler and Fayette County Master Gardener Gary Whittenbaugh, will be offered on June 17, 2015, at the Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane in Bettendorf, IA starting at 7 pm. Participants will learn how to add spark to landscape designs and dive into trough planters filled with conifers and their companions.  There is a $5.00 fee that is payable at the door.

"Garden design should be fun and represent the person who creates it," explained Orgler. "The theme garden design process is helpful to someone creating a garden in celebration of who they are as an artist, designer and gardener," Orgler said. Everyone taking this class will learn a simple five-step process to develop a theme from beginning to end.

"You can't have too many troughs in your garden," said Whittenbaugh who will demonstrate container gardening using troughs. "We'll use old muffin tins, cast iron pans and concrete planters for my favorite plants including conifers, hen and chicks and sedum." Whittenbaugh gives tours of his Franmara Gardens in Oelwein. As a master gardener volunteer he also speaks to groups around the state on dwarf conifers and trough gardens.

Growing Season webinars for July and August include :

  • Water in the Garden. ISU Extension and Outreach horticulturist Denny Schrock along with Boone County Master Gardener Jamie Beyer, will discuss various water saving techniques to apply to the garden and how to incorporate creative water features.  Water in the Garden will be held at the Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf, Ia on July 15, 2015 at 7 pm.  There is a $5.00 fee that is payable at the door.

  • Pollinators and Growing Herbs. Nathan Brockman, curator of the butterfly wing of Reiman Gardens at Iowa State, and Polk County Master Gardener Susan Appleget Hurst will educate attendees about attracting bees, birds and butterflies. They will also focus on growing, harvesting and preserving culinary herbs.  Pollinators and Growing Herbs will be held at the Scott County Extension Office, 875 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf, Ia on August 19 at 7pm.  There is a $5.00 fee that is payable at the door.

To register for any or all of the Growing Season webinars at the ISU Extension and Outreach Scott County office, contact Amanda Heitz at 563-359-7577 or aheitz@iastate.edu.  All master gardeners attending will earn two continuing education hours for each webinar.

SCOTT COUNTY EXTENSION CALENDAR

May 26, 2015 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

May 27, 2015 Master Gardener Hort Clinic, Bettendorf Public Library, 6 pm-8 pm

June 5, 2015 Pesticide Applicator Testing, Scott County Extension, 10 am-2 pm

June 9, 2015 Master Gardener Hort Clinic, West Campus of Eastern Iowa Community College,

June 23, 2015 Scott County Extension Council Meeting, Scott County Extension Office, 7:00 pm

6:30 pm-8:30 pm

Visit our events calendar at our web site:   http://dbs.extension.iastate.edu/calendar/

18 May 2015

Presentation Examines Hoover's Impact on the Upper Mississippi River

By Rick Martin

WEST BRANCH, IOWA– On Thursday, May 28, Dr. John O. Anfinson will examine Herbert Hoover's role in defining the upper Mississippi River we know today. The presentation is free and begins at 7 p.m. in the visitor center of Herbert Hoover National Historic Site.

Herbert Hoover played a key role in two major and contradictory projects on the upper river.  Through his position as Secretary of Commerce, Hoover helped establish the Upper Mississippi National Fish and Wildlife Refuge in 1924.  Six years later, as President, he approved construction of the 9-Foot Channel project, under which most of the Corps of Engineers built 23 locks and dams.  Most people assume the locks and dams were contrived during the 1930s as a New Deal project.  While built during the New Deal, the project had been authorized under President Hoover's administration.  In  his presentation, Dr. Anfinson will look at Hoover's role in these two important projects.

John Anfinson is superintendent of the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, a unit of the National Park Service on the Mississippi River in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Herbert Hoover National Historic Site and the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library and Museum are in West Branch, Iowa at exit 254 off I-80. Both are open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time. For more information go online at www.nps.gov/heho or call (319) 643-2541.


Herbert Hoover National Historic Site

110 Parkside Drive

PO Box 607

West Branch, Iowa 52358

319 643-2541 phone

319 643-7864 fax

www.nps.gov/heho

Twitter: @HooverNPS

Facebook: HerbertHooverNHS

18 May 2015

Rivermont Collegiate is Proud to be the 2015 Highest Ranking AP School in Iowa

By Jill Weitzel

With a 2015 Iowa AP (Advanced Placement) Index of 5.33, Rivermont Collegiate is again the top ranked AP school in Iowa.

The Belin-Blank Center of The University of Iowa College of Education annually releases the Iowa AP Index to recognize Iowa high schools for providing Advanced Placement opportunities. The 2015 Iowa AP Index is based on May 2014 AP exams and graduation data. The formula is the number of AP exams given divided by the number of students in the graduating class. A high AP Index is a reflection that a school has a culture that is supportive of and places emphasis on student participation in AP courses and exams.

It's important to note that Magnet schools, Specially Accredited College Preparatory schools (Rivermont Collegiate), non-accredited schools, and home schools are not included in the AP Index Top 50 ranking. These schools, however, can receive special recognition for their score, as Rivermont has. Furthermore, because all schools are scored using the same formula, the Iowa AP Index provides a fair comparison across all school sizes and types, whether schools are included in the AP Index Top 50 ranking or not.

 

For more information on the Iowa AP Index, visit http://www.iowaapindex.org/index.htm

Rivermont Collegiate is the Quad Cities' only Private College Prep School for PreSchool through 12th Grade.

Visit www.rivermontcollegiate.org or call 563-359-1366.

# # #
18 May 2015

Wear Orange on June 2nd to Promote an End to Gun Violence

By Nate and Cleo Pendleton

Pledge to wear orange on June 2 and show that you're one of the millions of Americans who believes we must do more to end gun violence in our country. People from all over the country will come together online and in person to declare June 2 National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Click below to automatically fill out your pledge, and you'll receive a reminder to wear orange on June 2 for National Gun Violence Awareness Day:

 http://act.everytown.org/sign/

Gun violence touches every corner of America. We don't have to live in a country where shootings happen every day. If we all stand up together and demand change, we will succeed.

Thank you for being part of this movement with us.  http://act.everytown.org/sign/wear-orange?source=emne_wear-orange&utm_source=em_n_&utm_medium=_e&utm_campaign=wear-orange&ak_proof=1&t=1&akid=2745.553404.xjV3-d

 

18 May 2015

QUAD CITIES VISITOR CENTER HOURS - BY LOCATION

By Cheryl Piersall
*Summer Hours are Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend

*Saturday's in Moline and Davenport May - October

*Rock Island District opens Friday and Saturdays June - September

*Segway Tours out of Union Station, April 1-November 1


1601 River Drive, Ste 110    Direct: 309-736-6833        Email: rspeer@visitquadcities.com

Monday - Friday: Noon-5pm (0ffice/Admin hours are 8:30am-5pm)

Saturday Winter Hours: 10am-4pm (2nd Saturday in March-Memorial Weekend)

Saturday Summer Hours: 9am-4pm (Memorial Day Weekend to Labor Day Weekend)



Visitor Center & Gift Shop at Union Station Downtown Davenport

102 S Harrison Street        Direct: 309-736-6834        Email: usvc@visitquadcities.com

Winter Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-4pm / Saturdays Seasonal 10am-4pm
(Saturday hours begin first weekend of May & end Thanksgiving Saturday)

Summer Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm / Saturday 9am-4pm
(Summer Hours Memorial Weekend to Labor Day Weekend)



Visitor Center & Gift Shop in The District Downtown Rock Island

226 17th Street    Direct: 309-736-6835        Email: districtvc@visitquadcities.com

OPEN: June - September

Hours: Friday & Saturday 10am-4pm



Quad City International Airport

2200 69th Avenue Moline, IL    Email: airportvc@visitquadcities.com

STAFFED: Monday - Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am to 5pm

 


Iowa 80 Trucking Museum Visitor Center (Inside Museum)

505 Sterling Drive Walcott, IA    Email: iowa80vc@visitquadcities.com

*This location provides visitor information "unmanned" except during the week of Trucker's Jamboree, Memorial, July 4th and Labor Weekends.

Museum Summer Hours: Monday-Saturday 9-5 / Sunday Noon-5

(Memorial Day to Labor Day)

Museum Winter Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 9-5 / Sunday Noon-5
18 May 2015

Smiddy Sponsors Bill Urging Preservation of In-Home Care

By Robert Jackson Jr.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is working to preserve care programs for seniors and disabled residents by sponsoring legislation urging the preservation of the several in-home care options for thousands of Illinois residents.
"The Governor's proposed increase to the Determination of Need score will have devastating consequences for seniors the developmentally disabled across the state," Smiddy said. "I'm happy the Governor shares my concern for the state's ballooning budget, but balancing that debt on the backs of our most vulnerable and frail residents is simply cruel."
Under current law, the Determination of Need (DON) score is used to identify need and determine eligibility for the Community Care Program and Home Service Program (HSP) which allows elderly and disabled people receive the care they need to remain in their homes. Governor Rauner has proposed an increase from the current standard of 29 to 37. At current enrollment levels, this increase would eliminate 10,000 people from eligibility for services they need to maintain their health and stay out of nursing homes. Smiddy is sponsoring House Resolution 344, which urges the governor to abandon the proposal to increase this score for determining eligibility to these two programs.
"Care programs are critical to the health of tens of thousands of people in our state and keeping these residents comfortable in their homes is much less expensive than state-sponsored stays in nursing facilities," Smiddy said. "Increasing the DON score to deny people in-home care will push them toward nursing home options and attempting to pass this change off as meaningful savings for the state is shortsighted and irresponsible."
House Resolution 344 was adopted by the House on May 6.
###
18 May 2015

EPA Inspections Reveal Hazardous Waste Violations at GKN Armstrong Wheels in Estherville and Armstrong, Iowa

By Angela Brees
(Lenexa, Kan., May 13, 2015) - EPA Region 7 compliance evaluation inspections at two GKN Armstrong Wheels, Inc., facilities in Iowa revealed violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) related to the storage and handling of hazardous waste at each facility. In a settlement filed recently in Lenexa, Kan., the company agreed to pay a $150,031 civil penalty to the United States.

Independent inspections at the company's Estherville and Armstrong locations revealed that the company operated each facility as a treatment, storage or disposal facility without a RCRA permit or RCRA interim status, in that they failed to comply with waste generator requirements. GKN Armstrong Wheels also failed to comply with manifesting regulations, universal waste regulations, and used oil regulations.

The two GKN Armstrong Wheels facilities manufacture steel wheels for the off-road industry, primarily for agricultural and construction industries. Both facilities are classified as large quantity generators (generating 1,000 kg of hazardous waste per month), and as small quantity handlers of universal waste (accumulating less than 5,000 kilograms of universal waste at any time). In addition, the facilities are used oil generators. All of these operations subject GKN Armstrong Wheels to regulation under RCRA.

Large quantity generators of hazardous waste may operate without a RCRA permit or interim status provided they comply with certain regulatory requirements. The generator requirements the company failed to comply with include conducting weekly hazardous waste inspections, properly labeling and closing hazardous waste containers, listing the emergency coordinator's contact information in a contingency plan, and training personnel in hazardous waste management procedures, among others.

By agreeing to the settlement with EPA, GKN Armstrong Wheels has certified that it is now in compliance with all requirements of the RCRA and its implementing regulations.

# # #

Learn more about EPA's civil enforcement of RCRA:

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/civil/rcra/index.html

18 May 2015

US Coast Guard releases 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics Report

By U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard Wednesday released its 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, revealing boating fatalities that year totaled 610, the second-lowest number of yearly boating fatalities on record.

From 2013 to 2014, deaths increased from 560 to 610, an 8.9 percent increase, injuries increased from 2,620 to 2,678, a 2.2 percent increase and the total number of accidents increased from 4,062 to 4,064, a 0.05 percent increase. Even with these increases as compared to the record low year of 2013, 2012 to 2014 collectively set record lows for accidents, deaths and injuries.

The fatality rate of 5.2 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels reflected a 10.6 percent increase from the previous year's rate of 4.7 deaths per 100,000 registered recreational vessels. Property damage totaled approximately $39 million.

"We thank our partners for their work in boating safety, particularly for the Wear It! and other key outreach initiatives promoting life jacket use, boating education efforts, and Operation Dry Water activities. Together, we focus on the important role of life jacket use, navigational knowledge and safe, sober boating to prevent accidents," said Capt. Jon Burton, director of inspections and compliance at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters.

The publication states alcohol use was the leading contributing factor in fatal boating accidents; it was listed as the leading factor in 21 percent of the deaths. Operator inattention, improper lookout, operator inexperience, excessive speed and alcohol use ranked as the top five primary contributing factors in accidents.

Where the cause of death was known, 78 percent of fatal boating accident victims drowned; of those drowning victims, 84 percent were not wearing a life jacket. Where boating instruction was known, 77 percent of deaths occurred on vessels where the operator had not received boating safety instructions. The most common types of vessels involved in reported accidents were open motorboats, personal watercraft and cabin motorboats. The vessel types with the highest number of fatalities were open motorboats, canoes and kayaks.

The Coast Guard reminds all boaters to boat responsibly while on the water: wear a life jacket; take a boating safety course; get a free vessel safety check; and avoid alcohol or other impairing substance consumption.

To view the 2014 Recreational Boating Statistics, please visit http://www.uscgboating.org/library/accident-statistics/Recreational-Boating-Statistics-2014.pdf

For more information on boating responsibly, please visit www.uscgboating.org.

###

18 May 2015

Dirty Art is good clean fun for the entire family!

By Micaela Booth

(ROCK ISLAND, IL - May 11, 2015) - The Downtown Rock Island Arts and Entertainment District and The ARTery is proud to present "Dirty Art" for the second year on May 23rd from noon to 6 p.m. Dirty Art is an interactive art event in downtown Rock Island. This interactive art event will allow attendees the opportunity to be part of the creation of art and get their hands "dirty" in the process. Dirty Art will feature interactive activities, live music, demonstrating artists, and more!

This year will unveil new and exciting activities at Dirty Art, and bring back a few fan favorites. Interactive art projects will line the sidewalks along 2nd Avenue from The ARTery (1629 2nd Ave) to 18th Street. Stop by The ARTery to create your own masterpiece on a mini canvas, after the event the mini canvases will be glued together to make a collage that will be on display in the lobby of The ARTery. Also at The ARTery will be a banner painting activity that will be on display during our summer festivals; Gumbo Ya Ya and Ya Maka My Weekend. Arts Alley will be full of a variety of children's art activities. It can get messy here; rest assured that all of the paint used in the children's area is washable tempera paint.

A very exciting feature of Dirty Art this year is that The Shoppes on 2nd (1700 2nd Avenue) will be the site of two instructed painting classes; the first class, "Bridge", will be held from noon-2 p.m., and the second, "Blooms", will be held from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Both canvases measure 9" X 12" in size. Reservations are being accepted, and are recommended. To reserve your seat call The District at 309-788-6311. Twenty seats are available at each class, so call today! The cost for the painting class is $5 in advance, and $10 at the door.

The Peepshow, a sculpture competition inspired by the iconic marshmallow confection, will also be held at The Shoppes on 2nd. Entries for The Peepshow are being accepted until May 20th. The Peepshow is open to artists, families, businesses, and anyone with a sense of humor. "This is a great competition for those artists who like to work with unique mediums, or for non-artists, like me, who just want to have a little fun making something original while you get rid of those extra Peeps you have in the cabinets!" said Micaela Booth, District Marketing & Events Specialist. Entry cost is $10, which will include 10 voting tokens. The public will be able to purchase voting tokens to vote for their favorite entry. Two winners will be selected, one in the youth category (15 years and younger), and one in the adult category (16 years and older). The winner for the youth category will win a $25 gift card, and the adult category will win a $50 gift card. Entry forms and a full list of details and rules can be found at www.ridistrict.com.

Many more activities and fun await you at Dirty Art! Join in on this family friendly event that is free to the public! For more information, please visit www.ridistrict.com.

Dirty Art is supported with Quad City Arts Dollar$ funds, provided by Hubbell-Waterman Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council Agency, John Deere, and the Doris and Victor Day Foundation.  Dirty Art is sponsored by The Dispatch-Argus, and WHBF.

The Downtown Rock Island Arts & Entertainment District (The District) is a 501(c)6 not-for-profit organization established in 1992 by local downtown merchants. The District's mission is to establish and manage downtown Rock Island as a creative and innovative experience by focusing on the development of the arts and quality special event management. It features retail shops, excellent restaurants, live entertainment, dinner theater, art galleries and several entertainment venues. Rock Island is located on the Mississippi River, three hours west of Chicago in an area known as the Quad-Cities which straddles the river and the Illinois/Iowa border. It is at the intersection of Interstate highways 74, 88 and 80 and is served by Quad City International Airport in Moline, IL.

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